So I'm looking for some answers about wading these two outflows.

** Is it legal to wade in the Kinzua outflow?
If yes, where is a common access point to leave my vehicle?
Any hazards that aren't obvious such as sudden dam releases?

Any other advice to someone who has not fished either area?

I'm lookin to fish kinzua in the morning, hang out int the ANF and then hit Tionesta in the evening.

Appreciate any advice/answers.
Thanks

Lots of people better suited to answer in detail (jolie, pghmarty, bing), but here's what I learned this year:

Kinzua: Illegal to wade upstream of the "No Wading" signs. If you get caught, be prepared to pay a fine. Park at the visitors center, walk down to the river. Pretty self explanatory from there. You can also access from the Hemlock, or hatchery side.

The water is pumping pretty well right now, particularly since they've lowered the reservoir. Slimy bottom. Wading staff and felt waders are a must, IMO. When they generate electricity, you can feel the increased water flow. At least I could. Longest 15 minutes of my life. But I'd do it again in a heartbeat. It was fun.

Like I said, lots of people better suited to give detailed, specific info. This summer was my first foray into the tailwaters. Lots of fun, just be smart and be safe.

Lots of people better suited to answer in detail (jolie, pghmarty, bing),

Probably better for Jolie and Bing

I only shore fish that area about twice a year and only wade the shallows below the visitor center on one of the trips.
When I go to Kinzua I am staying at my parents house in Bradford and shore fish Sugar Run or Willow Bay that is much closer.
By boat I fish the bays or sometimes drift the middle.
Sugar Run has the remains of a bridge showing and a roadbed that extends from that.
Walk the road that should be out of the water with the low reservoir level now then wade out on either side.
No sudden drop offs or swift current but sometimes a soft spot of mud.

I also know a stream with a few native trout that should be legal size now-they were just under in the spring.
As a Kinzua tradition "I'm not tellin where they are"

tionesta is ok to wade dont know that id wade right by the dam but a lil down would be ok. the area from the dam down to the swimming are would be ur best bet.

By no wading at Kinzua they mean don't even be getting your feet wet. They cut you no slack on that issue if you get caught. Probably with good reason as there are many places where the bottom is fine gravel boardering deep holes and will wash out from under your feet. One such spot is at the round overlook on the 59 side.

double post

This site gives the current conditions including flow rate (cubic feet/second).
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?03012550

This site forecasts the conditions for the next three days.
http://wmw.lrp.usace.army.mil/current/forecast.html

That second site is tricky though. Let's say that the forecasted flow for tomorrow is 1900 and for the day after it is 5000. Don't be surprised when you go fishing tomorrow and the flow is 5000. They raise and lower around 9 am so eventhough it says it won't be 5000 until two days from now it'll actually change at around 9 am tomorrow. Ubertracker taught me that thankfully.

Be careful where and when you wade up there. That current is nothing to trifle with.

ORIGINAL: CU@theriver

So I'm looking for some answers about wading these two outflows.

Lots of good advice on this thread lets see what I can add.

ORIGINAL: CU@theriver
** Is it legal to wade in the Kinzua outflow?
If yes, where is a common access point to leave my vehicle?

as everyone said you can only fish below a line of three markers on the river.

First you will have to choose between the two sides of the river.  The easiest way is from RT59 out of warren, where you can park at a large visitors center.  The mentioned observation tower is on this side, it is also right "on the line" of where you can wade.  The other side is hemlock road, a small street that heads out of warren just on the north side of the glade (pennsylvania avenue) bridge.  On this side is a several parking spots, including the fishing Pier at the top of the road.  Don't wade Anywhere near the fishing pier, you are VERY visible to employees at the electric plant as well as any visiting fish wardens. 

ok,  for wading purposes I would point out that MOST of hemlock side is posted (the signs angle downstream on the hemlock side) and that access on the hemlock side is a little tricky.  On the other hand, I Don't recommend wading above the boat launch on the 59side.  Most people on the 59 side are actually heading for dixon island or lower.  The boat launch is near the downstream end of the visitors center parking lot.

Keep watch on the river when heading from this side.  right now water flow is 1800 and the "path" to dixon island is "open" from the 59.  Recently though I has swung closer to 2200.  beyond 2200 I would say that you will struggle a bit to get into fishable water, once you get to the rapids.
If the water is high, try wading from the hemlock side. its much easier to cross the little channel than to tackle the whole river coming down as riffle/rapids.

ORIGINAL: CU@theriver
Any hazards that aren't obvious such as sudden dam releases?

slippery rocks, shifting rocks, heavy current. yes.  Be careful of any rock!  I get nervous in waders when I get to bigger rocks.  if you can walk on top of the same rock it prolly has a wicked drop on one side.  look around and you'll see rocks like that ABOVE the water.

I'm a little worried about saying too much... but I feel the need to warn you about one area.  in the area I've recommended (downstream of the boat launch), there is a place with some of those rocks.  Downstream of the Dixon island Rapids, don't hug the 59side shore.  There are some big boulders along that stretch.

ORIGINAL: CU@theriver
Any other advice to someone who has not fished either area? I'm lookin to fish kinzua in the morning, hang out int the ANF and then hit Tionesta in the evening.

mmm, what to say about a morning wading in kinzua?  first be reasonable about your expectations- They have stocked thousand and thousands of small rainbow trout (with a smattering of browns).  Even throwing big rapallas, sometimes all we can connect to is those dang fingerlings.  I would think your chance of connecting to a small rainbow is MUCH higher with a little fly.  If you've read the TWer thread, you know that many fly fishermen recommend a bigger streamer to discourage the little guys. 

I would put in a little more time than what you sound like your planning.  The alleghany river is BIG and to just fish an couple hours means you've barely tried it.  Even I usually put in 3-4 hours per night.  for a wading fishermen the action starts near the rapids of dixon island and just keeps going and going.  look at the whole river on google maps to get an idea of the layout of the river.

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I'm going to add that although you've said your wading the river that there is advantages to not wading.  Without waders, much of the tailwaters opens up, because you either aren't allowed to wade (esp on t he hemlock side) or wouldn't want to.  Waders only give you access to the extreme downstream waters of the tailwaters. the rest of the tailwaters are fished from the shore.

ok this is enough to get you started.  reply with questions if you think of anything else.  I recommend looking at a satellite image of it from google, reading the tailwaters thread and scoping on even more information by searching for old posts.  You never know, maybe us "tight lipped" anglers let the cat out the bag during an old post.

CU at the River: Jolie's advice is spot on. If you're fly fishing theres nothing wrong with fishing from shore on the 59 side. The river can be an intimidating place for a fly fisher. I remember when I first started fly fishing it thinking "How the heck do I fish this place? I can only cast 30-40 feet". So I had to fish that 30 feet of river as best I could, getting a good drift, cherry picking the little pockets and runs within my reach, and it worked. I caught a Brown up there in Early April 5 or 6 years back that I thought was a carp when it was hooked, just fishing close to shore. I've had decent days catching a mixed bag of trout and walleye by starting way up by the wall on the 59 side, and fishing down to the big hole downstream of the observation tower with an orange and white zonker streamer. The closer to the dam you get the more slippery the rocks get because of the mist. Its not a bad idea to wear studded felt wading boots when shore fishing up by the wall.

sonofZ,

wow, it seems to me like it'd be real hard to get a good backcast in spots up near the wall. Good job!  the furthest up I ever tried fly fishing is the observation tower.  its definitely possible to get a backcast in there.

but you made the point.  This is a BIG river and a 40' cast doesn't reach much of the river. thats one of the very biggest issues with fly fishing here, you can reach SO much more water with a rapalla (of course, unless you're truly talented at fly casting).

anyways fly fishing between the wall and boat launch is, as SOFZ says possible but wading is really problematic.  downstream of the signs and above the boat launch there are sudden drop offs.