WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
In Indiana County, Repine Run has been removed from the approved trout-stocking list due to a loss of water, perhaps related to past mining activity in the area. Repine had received 300 trout annually, but also has some wild trout.

Streams in southwestern Pennsylvania that continue to be managed as wild trout waters include Camp Run, which falls under the state’s Brook Trout Enhancement Program; and Higgins Run, which boasts a fair wild brown trout fishery, according to Rick Lorson, a PFBC fisheries manager.

Higgins Run is in Somerset County near Stoystown. Camp Run is in Westmoreland County and offers about 4.1 miles of water, most of which is in the public domain and thus open to the public.

Most of the trout streams in southwestern Pennsylvania receive a fair degree of attention from anglers. However, Lorson did feel a couple of waters in his area are underutilized following the opening weekend surge.

In Westmoreland County, Sewickley Creek flows through a suburban-rural setting. It’s about 15 feet wide. The stocked section is above a point where mine-acid drainage enters the creek. Lorson said the stream has not been used as heavily as he had anticipated, given its close proximity to population centers.

Sewickley Creek has been stocked since the early ’90s but may come off the list if angler interest doesn’t increase.

Lorson also noted two important trout fisheries that are managed via the trout fingerling program. Included are the Youghiogheny River and Stoney Creek. The Youghiogheny is a large river that can handle more fishing pressure. Stoney Creek has been able to maintain good numbers of trout during the 10 years that it has been on the fingerling program.

A decade ago, water quality improved on Stoney Creek to the point where it could be stocked again. Browns and rainbows are the focus species on Stoney Creek.

In Lawrence County, the major change has been on Big Run, a tributary to the Shenango River. According to Freeman Johns, a PFBC fish biologist, about three miles of water has been added to the stocking list.

“The additional section is near New Castle,” Johns reported. “One of the really nice things about this addition is that it will have a children’s area on it. Three of the local sportsmen’s groups -- as well as Joe Morris, the Lawrence County conservation officer -- have been instrumental in creating this children’s area, which will involve about 1,000 feet of the creek. A handicapped-access area is also planned.”

Johns explained that the lower portion of Big Run, which flows through Cascade Park, has been an established Approved Trout Water. The additional three miles are above the lower section and extend up to the Route 388 bridge.

“There are limited trout-fishing opportunities in the district where I work. But following the first two weeks, angler attention really tails off,” noted Johns. “The lower two-thirds of Cool Spring Creek, near Mercer, has some really nice water. Yellow Creek goes into the stream, and there is a delayed-harvest area.”