The Waterways of Pittsburgh, Also Known As the Steel City, Make It a Unique and Beautiful City

photo-Jeff Knapp

by Dennis Tubbs

The waterways of Pittsburgh, also known as the Steel City, make it a unique and beautiful city. Most people admiring the view aren’t aware that the waters teem with life. In fact, there are over 50 fish species that can be found in Pittsburgh’s rivers. One of the most popular gamefish there is the smallmouth bass.

www.fish.state.pa.us The fish resembles the dominant food source for Smallmouth bass are members of the bass is tricky, but it is the key to catching sunfish family. They are native to the larger fish. A crankbait in a shad or fire- Ohio River Watershed, which includes tiger color is an excellent lure for locat- the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio ing bass schools. Plastic baits and jigs in rivers, locally known as the “Three Riv- blue and black or dark-brown are excel- ers.” Until the mid-1800s, smallmouth lent baits for use around rip-rap (par- bass could be found only in the Great tially submerged rocks) along the water’s Lakes and the Ohio River Watershed. edge. The shallow flats located down- With the industrial age and resulting stream of shoreline points are great pollution of the late 1800s, the number places to find bass. Casting slow-sink- of smallmouth bass declined in the Tubbsphoto-Dennis ing plastic lures over these flats is a te- Three Rivers. Steel production was the dious technique, but it can produce great dominant industry from the 1800s dividends for the patient angler. through the 1970s. Hence, Pittsburgh’s nickname is “Steel City.” Major pollu- baitcasting outfit spooled with 10- When to fish tion clean-up efforts through the 1980s pound-test line will also help you land Bass harvest season on the Three Riv- and 1990s resulted in a resurgence of the the river’s smallmouth bass. ers runs from the first Saturday after smallmouth bass population. Today, June 11 through October 1. The creel Pittsburgh-area anglers can regularly Bait limit is six fish that are 12 inches or enjoy the thrill of hooking smallmouth Live-bait anglers do very well with larger. The extended season runs from bass. Anglers report catching small- shiners in the 3-inch range and 1-inch October to April of the following year mouth bass in the 5- and 6-pound range to 2-inch crayfish. These live baits can with a creel limit of four fish that are 15 with fish of 1 to 3 pounds the norm. be found at many area tackle shops. inches or larger. Be certain to check the In two recent Pennsylvania Fish & Circle hooks placed through the bait’s Pennsylvania Summary of Fishing Regu- Boat Commission fish samplings, small- back help keep shiners looking livelier lations and Laws for current seasons be- mouth bass were the dominant and can therefore attract more strikes. fore heading to the Three Rivers. Spe- gamefish. In May 2003, Commission Circle hooks are preferred by local an- cific regulations on the Allegheny River’s biologists found 11 fish species during glers for catching larger fish. Pool 3 limit bass to a 15-inch minimum night electrofishing on the Monongahela For anglers who prefer to use artifi- year-round. Catch-and-release angling River at the Braddock Lock and Dam cial lures, the best advice is often “loca- for smallmouth bass on the Three Riv- tailwaters. Smallmouth bass accounted tion, location, location.” Locating habi- ers is open year-round. Please become for 43 percent of the gamefish and tat in which your favorite artificial lure familiar with all special regulations. panfish. In June 2004, during a similar In early spring, when the water tem- sampling on the Allegheny River in the perature reaches 50 degrees, smallmouth area of Lock and Dam #2, at Sharpsburg, bass can be found near shallow areas smallmouths accounted for 45 percent because they are in a pre-spawning of the surveyed gamefish and panfish. mode. At this time, fishing at any time The smallmouths in the Allegheny River of day can be productive. As the sum- sampling ranged from 4 to 20 inches mer sun warms the water past 60 de- long. To review the results of grees, bass move to deeper water and are current Three Rivers fish samplings, visit in post-spawn mode. They may be very the Commission’s web site, aggressive early in the morning or just www.fish.state.pa.us, and under “Re- before dusk. When summer weather gional Information” navigate to the Area raises water temperatures near 70 de- 8 Fisheries Management Reports. grees, smallmouth bass seek deeper water, often below locks and dams. At this Gear time, nighttime fishing is best for tempt- Steel-City smallmouth bass are great ing larger fish. As the water tempera- fighters, so when you fish on the rivers ture cools in the fall, smallmouths return

you need strong line. Spool your reel Knappphoto-Jeff to more shallow water. Fall is the best with a quality 8-pound- to 12-pound- time to catch a really big fish. When test line and consider a medium-action winter fishing on the river, there is only spinning rod-and-reel combo. A one thing to remember: Warmwater dis-

charges. A warmwater discharge dumps water into the river that is normally a higher temperature than the river water. The warmer water attracts baitfish. Look for pipes along the banks with water running out of them. On the coolest days, any discharge could be called a warmwater discharge. Where to fish 339. The city of Pittsburgh boat access is located off East Carson Street at River Front Park on the South side of Pittsburgh. River Front Park also has a handicapped fishing pier.

344. This is a private access at the photo-Dennis Tubbs INTERSTATE Dock of the Bay (The Crow’s Nest) in 76 ALLEGHENY Boating Sharpsburg. A fee is charged to launch anglers who at boat at this marina. INTERSTATE Allegheny don’t do so well 345. A private marina located at the 79 River are often astounded end of 13th Street in Sharpsburg. A to see shoreline fee is charged to launch at boat 344 anglers pulling at this marina. 345 bass out of the 348. Aspinwall Ma- L/D 3 water near the rina, located in Ohio Point. Aspinwall, is private. A River L/D 2 348 fee is charged to launch a boat at this marina. Pittsburgh For a list of all boat accesses on the Three Rivers, refer to the Fish 339 18th Street off & Boat Commission’s “Fishing & East Carson Street on Boating Map” or the “Southwest Re- Monongahela the south side of Pitts- gional Guide.” You can order both of burgh. these publications by contacting the River Locks and dams. Commission at P.O. Box 67000, Harris- Smallmouth bass love the burg PA 17106, or online view and burgh. Boating an- consistent temperature and download the printable order form at glers who fish all day with- high oxygen levels found the Commission’s web site, out a bite are often astounded below the locks and dams, www.fish.state.pa.us. You can also view to see shoreline anglers pulling known as tailwaters. Fishing regional maps and access amenities by bass out of the water near the the tailwaters of any of the clicking “Online Maps” on the left side Point. During the past several years, locks and dams can produce the larg- of the Commission web site’s main page anglers have seen an increase in produc- est bass in the area. Many of these spots and then navigating to the area you tivity when fishing parallel to the shore- are accessible by road and have desig- want. line, against the concrete wall. nated fishing areas. Look for the signs For shore-based anglers, easy access North shore. Fishing the north to the lock and dam access areas. Be sure to the rivers can be gained by the bike shoreline between the stadiums, Heinz to observe all security measures. trails that parallel the rivers. To find a Field and PNC Park, has produced nice • Emsworth Lock and Dam on the printable map of the bike trails, visit: bass catches but not large numbers of Ohio River are located just northwest of www.friendsoftheriverfront.org. fish. Pittsburgh off PA Route 65. The dam is River Front Park. From June 6.3 river miles downriver from the Point. Shore-fishing hotspots through early September, River Front • Lock and Dam #2 on the Allegheny Point State Park. Point State Park is Park is rarely without a shoreline angler River at Sharpsburg are located north- located at the “Point,” the confluence of because it is one of the most productive east of Pittsburgh off PA Route 28. The the Three Rivers in downtown Pitts- spots in the city. The park is located on dam is 6.7 river miles upriver from the of the bridge piers and the creek mouth. This area is good for using crankbaits and slowly drifting live bait below the piers. When using sonar to locate fish, look for variations in the bottom contour. Af- ter finding a hole or dip, fish the area by working your lure into deeper water from the upriver side. Bucktail jigs have Point. The best fishing at this dam is on Back channel of Davis Island. Davis been successful when using this tech- the Route 28 side, not near the lock is the second island on the Ohio River nique. chambers. on the left side of the main channel. Be • Lock and Dam #3 on the Allegheny careful when entering the back channel River at Cheswick are located northeast because the opening is shallow. The Catch and release Catch-and-release angling has been a of Pittsburgh off Freeport Road. To opening is a nice flat to fish in the spring. significant factor in the recovery of the reach Freeport Road, take PA Route 28 Farther down the back channel there are north from Pittsburgh and exit onto enticing rocky banks with overhanging Three Rivers bass fishery. Anglers should release fish as quickly as possible, Freeport Road at the Harmar exit. Turn brush—great places to jig and flip a keeping them above water only just long left, north, to the lock and dam. The dam worm. enough to take a picture. To estimate is 14.5 river miles upriver from the Point. Back channel Washington’s Land- the weight of your catch, visit the The best fishing is just off Freeport Road ing. Washington’s Landing is the first Commission’s web site and view or print at the dam. Parking is available just island you encounter when traveling up above the river. This parking area is pri- the Allegheny River. The island is 2 miles the smallmouth bass part of the vately owned; please park at the end of upstream of the Point. Motor into the Commission’s “Weight-Length Estima- tor.” This will make it possible for you the area. channel at a no-wake speed and look out for rowers. The row- to estimate the weight with a quick mea- Hotspots for ing club docks are lo- surement of your fish. boat anglers cated in the channel. The key to success This area is also nice for boat anglers is mov- to fish in high water. More Resources ing water. Smallmouth The upper channel • Navigation charts of the Allegh- bass prefer the opening is very shal- eny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers downriver side of low. The safest way in are available from the U.S. Army bridge piers and the and out of the chan- Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh Dis- mouth of feeder nel is by using the trict. Details are available online at streams. Bass favor the downriver opening. www.lrp.usace.army.mil/nav/ moving water. Look Six Mile Island. navcharts.htm, or contact the between the downriver Yes, this island is 6 Corps at: U.S. Army Corps of Engi- flow and the return up- miles from the Point, neers, Pittsburgh District, 2032 Wil- flow in these areas and cast your lure in and it is the second island on the Allegh- liam S. Moorhead Federal Building, the “seam.” eny River. Fish the upper point just be- 1000 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA Chartiers Creek. The creek mouth is low Lock and Dam #2. The biggest fish 15222-4186; (412) 395-7500. The on the Ohio River 2.25 miles down- have come from the back side of the is- main web site address is stream of the Point. As you boat down land point, just across from the marina. www.lrp.usace.army.mil. the Ohio River, stay to the left of Brunot Glenwood Highway Bridge/Streets • You’ll find a wealth of informa- Island, the first island on the Ohio River. Run. From the south side boat access tion on fish, fishing and boating in The mouth of Chartiers Creek will be on turn right, upriver, and motor to the Pennsylvania on the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission’s web site, your left, the river’s south side. This spot third bridge. This is the Glenwood photos-Jeff Knapp is great when the water is high and fish Bridge, and the mouth of Streets Run is www.fish.state.pa.us. move out of the main river. on the left shore. Fish the downriver side