For information about places to stay and other services near the Allegheny Reservoir, contact the Allegheny National Forest Vacation Bureau, 80 East Corydon Street, Suite 114, Bradford, PA 16701; or call (800) 473-9370.

ALLEGHENY RIVER
The Allegheny River is another place that will not likely produce record-class brown trout, but it does hold some specimens over 10 pounds. Top end is probably around 14 pounds, but fish of this size are rare.

This is certainly the best trophy brown trout stream in Pennsylvania. Probably the most limiting factor on the size of brown trout here is that they are within reach of anglers. Unlike the lakes, there are no great depths where they are beyond the reach of most anglers.

Special regulations apply to the Allegheny River from the Kinzua Dam to the mouth of Conewango Creek, at Warren. Trout fishing is allowed year 'round, but trout may be kept only from the start of the regular statewide trout season through Labor Day, when the minimum size is 14 inches and the daily creel limit is two trout.

The Special Regulations stretch of the Allegheny River has a good supply of shiners, which pass through the gates of the Kinzua Dam. But the main diet of these big browns is crayfish.

The largest brown trout on record from the Allegheny River was a 14-pound, 2-ounce fish caught in 2001 that was the largest reported in Pennsylvania for the year. An 11-pound brown trout caught here in 2002 was the third largest reported in the state that year.

Information about services along the Special Regulations section of the Allegheny River is available from the Northern Alleghenies Vacation Region, 315 Second Avenue, P.O. Box 804, Warren, PA 16365; or call (800) 224-7802.

FISHING CREEK
Humphreys caught his 1977 state-record brown trout from Fishing Creek in Clinton County. Although it was a freakishly big brown trout for that creek, this creek has yielded other huge browns, among them a 12-pound, 12-ounce fish that was the largest reported in the state in 1981.

"Most of that stream is unstocked, so those are wild brown trout," said Greene, who noted that he caught his biggest brown trout, a 10-pound fish, in Fishing Creek.

Greene explained that Fishing Creek has an average width of 45 to 50 feet. There are several deep pools that are 8 to 10 feet deep. Crayfish and a good population of slimy sculpins provide the main forage for brown trout.

Get information about services in the Fishing Creek area from the Clinton County Economic Partnership, 212 North Jay Street, Lock Haven, PA; or call (888) 388-6991 or (570) 748-5782.

Greene suggested Spring Creek and its tributary, Logan Branch, in Centre County for some large brown trout.

FINDING BIG BROWNS
Big brown trout live in places that might seem unlikely, often in streams where they have never been caught. These are oddball trout, fish that live longer than most and are so reclusive that they are seldom seen even though they live in creeks that are pounded by trout anglers.

These trout get big because they do not feed when most anglers are fishing. They do not reach trophy size by feeding on the same things normal trout eat. In fact, they live long enough to eat their own kind.

Heavyweight browns can be caught, but only with tactics very few trout anglers use. Two tactics might be the downfall of such trout -- night-fishing or fishing in high, muddy water. If you're going to specialize in taking trophy-class browns, be prepared to receive an education!

For more information about brown trout fishing opportunities in the Keystone State, contact the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, P.O. Box 67000, 1601 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000; call (717) 705-7800; or visit the PFBC's Web site at www.fish.state.pa.us.