The Tionesta may be float-fished by canoe, from an access point in Sheffield on the West Branch to Tionesta Lake. Through May, there's typically enough flow for canoeing. State Route 666 follows the creek from Barnes to Kellettville, providing great access. Canoe anglers will find several places to put in or take out.

There are several campgrounds in the area. Get more information by contacting the Allegheny National Forest office, 222 Liberty Street, P.O. Box 847, Warren, PA 16365; by calling (814) 723-5150; or logging on to www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/allegheny.

ALLEGHENY RIVER
If you're looking for quality trout fishing based on size, the best trout stream in Pennsylvania is the Special Regulations section of the Allegheny River from the Kinzua Dam to the mouth of Conewango Creek at Warren. This is the only stream in the commonwealth where you can reasonably expect to catch trout in the 4- to 7-pound class. Brown and rainbow trout measuring 14 to 20 inches are common. Top end is more than 10 pounds.

Catching these big trout with consistency requires a slight change in tactics from those used in most of our other trout streams. If you're a lake-run rainbow angler, bring your steelheading tackle.

Top baits are emerald shiners or night crawlers. Also effective are jigs, stick baits, spoons and spinners, but they should be a size larger than you'd normally use for trout in other streams.

These trout are stocked as fingerlings, which makes them virtually wild fish. Catching them requires more skill than landing the typical adults that are stocked into most of our streams each year before trout season opens and during the first few weeks of the season.

Access is from state Route 59 along the south bank, or from Hemlock Road along the north bank. By far the most popular place is along Dixon Island, the first large island below Kinzua Dam. There's parking and public land at Big Bend Recreation Area just below the dam.

For the best trout-fishing experience on the Allegheny River, float-fish from the Big Bend area to Warren. This stretch is suitable for canoes or smaller boats. Canoe rentals and guide service are available in Warren.

For more information, contact the Northern Alleghenies Vacation Region, 315 Second Avenue, P.O. Box 804, Warren, PA 16365; or call 1-800-224-7802 for more details.

Trout-fishing rules for this stretch of the Allegheny are listed under Miscellaneous Special Regulations in the fishing regulations summary.

SLIPPERY ROCK CREEK
Folks in the Pittsburgh area love their trout fishing and are willing to travel to find it. But there's some fine fishing reasonably close to home. One dandy trout stream is Slippery Rock Creek. It flows generally southward through Butler and Lawrence counties before emptying into the Beaver River in Beaver County.

The best public access to Slippery Rock Creek is in McConnells Mill State Park in the southeast corner of Lawrence County. Manicured trails provide access to some remote stretches.