As good as the casting areas are, most Pymatuning muskie anglers tend to troll, working the shallows along the weed line. Some suspended fish are also taken in open water areas.

As of this writing, the motor restriction on Pymatuning remained at 10 horsepower, though raising it has been considered. Good boat access sites on the Pennsylvania side are Jamestown and Snodgrass on the southern part of the lake, and Manning and Linesville on the northern part. Good access areas are also available on the Ohio side of the lake.

A Pennsylvania license is good for fishing from a boat anywhere on the lake, but anglers will need an Ohio license to fish from that shore.

MONONGAHELA RIVER
Consider the Monongahela River as a sleeper muskie water. Despite its dramatic cleanup, the river still isn't regarded as much of a muskie water by most anglers, who target walleyes, saugers and black bass instead.

The fact is, however, that the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission stocks both pure and tiger hybrids (a cross between muskellunge and northern pike) throughout much of the river. Surveys conducted indicate a good return on these stockings, with a dense population of river muskies being present.

Three of the better areas include Pool 3, the Maxwell Pool and the Pittsburgh Pool. Pool 3 extends from Locks and Dam 3 at Elizabeth upriver to Locks and Dam 4 at Charleroi. The Maxwell Locks and Dam creates the Maxwell Pool, which extends upriver to the Grays Landing L&D. The Pittsburgh Pool runs from the point in Pittsburgh upriver to Locks and Dam 2 at Braddock. Each of these three pools averages about 1,400 acres.

The pools of the Monongahela River are somewhat like small lakes. Weedy flats are present in some locations. Tributary areas tend to provide some of the best habitat. Current-deflecting gravel bars are often located at such places.

Current is influenced by recent precipitation and the amount of water being released through upriver dam gates. Current is always a significant factor in locating fish in a river system, the Monongahela River included. High current tends to push fish behind current-breaking obstructions, while during low flows, fish have the rein of the river.

Numbers of forage fish vary from year to year, based primarily on the hatches of the past couple of springs. When their numbers are up, gizzard shad become an important food fish on the Monongahela. All three rivers in western Pennsylvania had good baitfish production last spring.

Mon River access areas include the Southside Access in Pittsburgh, the Speers and Monongahela accesses in Washington County, Rice's Landing in Greene County and Point Marion and East Fredrickstown accesses in Fayette County. These are larger landings.

Many riverside towns also feature municipal ramps. There is no horsepower restriction on the Monongahela River. This is an industrial river with plenty of commercial barge traffic. Navigation charts can be purchased from the Government bookstore by visiting http://bookstore.gpo.gov.