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Introduction
to the Fisheries of the StoneyCreek River Basin
For a list of local updated angling , visit STONYCREEK FISHERIES |
| Bens Creek, South Fork of Bens Creek |
| Description
- The Bens Creek and its South Fork are small yet reliable streams
for catching trout.[2003:The waters listed here are open to trout harvest
during the "extended season as of Dec 2002: Bens Creek ,Bens Creek- South
Fork] They flow along Route 985 for several miles making the stream
easily accessible. Numerous points of access include turn-offs and bridges
with the last point upstream on 985 being the Casa Nova bridge, where the
South Fork turns up to the Laurel Ridge. The North Fork of Bens
Creek is interupted by a reservoir owned by Greater Johnstown Water Authority
[North
Fork Reservoir]. Some North Fork feeder streams contain wild rainbow
trout, but flowing down from high on Laurel Ridge are difficult to get
to. Both forks and the mainsteam of Bens Creek are excellent cold-water
fisheries with superb water quality. Bens Creek is home to SCRIP's first
acid-mine drainage project,SCRIP
coordinated
the implementation of one of the first passive treatment systems in the
region with the construction of the Rock Tunnel site along Bens Creek in
Somerset County] which substantially improves the stream's water quality.
The
Mountain Laurel Chapter of Trout Unlimited has initiated an aggressive
habitat improvement project aimed at increasing the number of fish that
Bens Creek can hold.
Fish - Bens Creek contains brook, browns and rainbows. Some of these fish are stocked while wild species can be found in headwaters.[2003:Class A trout approved-PFBC-Bens Creek 818E Mixed Wild Brown/Brook Trout; 2.7 mi; from headwaters downstream to the Portage Water Authority backwater] Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of Bens Creek is that the headwaters or North Fork are home to wild reproducing rainbow trout, which is exceedingly rare in Pennsylvania. |
| Clear Shade Creek, Cub Run and Piney Run |
| Description
- Clear Shade Creek flows through the village of Ogletown and passes under
Route 56 east of Windber. Clear Shade is a medium-small sized stream with
very good water quality. Access is difficult because most of the stream
is enclosed in Gallitzen State Forest/Clear Shade Natural Area. However,
the stream can be reached via a dirt road named Clear Shade Road, which
turns off Route 56 near the Ranger Station and leads to the Fisherman's
Path, part of the John P. Saylor Trail; via township road 816, a dirt road
at the village of Ashtola; and where Route 160 crosses the stream south
of Windber. Although Clear Shade Creek has only limited access it is one
of the best cold water fisheries in the basin due to its phenomenal water
quality and excellent insect population.
Cub Run and Piney Run are small, delicate tributaries to Clear Shade high on Allegheny Ridge. Piney Run is a wild trout [2003: Wild Trout Class A-PFBC: Piney Run 818E Wild Brook Trout; 2.4 mi; from headdwaters downstream to T-816 bridge]stream due to its inhabitants and its flow through isolated and private forest land.[2003:The waters listed here are open to trout harvest during the "extended season as of Dec 2002: Piney Run,] Cub and Piney Run both contain wild reproducing brook and brown trout, no rainbows. [2003:officially classified as "approved trout waters."-PFBC] The insect population on both streams is extremely diverse and bounteous. The vegetation on these streams is very lush, so proper equipment is needed. Access to Cub Run [2003: Adult Trout Stocking Program Changes: restored to Cub Run, Somerset County-PFBC] can be obtained via Township Road 816 in Ashtola, which also crosses Clear Shade Creek. Fish - Clear Shade Creek is stocked by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission and the Windber Sportsmen's Club.[2003: Delayed Harvest Areas-PFBC-Clear Shade Creek - 1 mile; from the cable at Windber Water Dam upstream] Clear Shade [2003:officially classified as "approved trout waters."-PFBC] offers wild brook and brown trout, as well as the stocked fish. |
| Little Paint Creek and Elton Sportsman's Dam |
| Description-Elton
Sportman's Dam is located off Route 160 on a dirt road behind the Ridgeview
Development near Salix. The dam is a small body of water but is one of
the only dams in the county that can be legally fished. The dam contains
a plethora of warm water as well as the cold water fish species.[2003:PFBC-The
Elton Sportsmen Dam is a 5-acre impoundment in Cambria County that is stocked
with trout by the Fish and Boat Commission.The lake was surveyed by Commission
biologists April 2001 using two trap net sets and a night electrofishing
run.]
Fish- [2003:-PFBC-Besides trout, 10 additional fish species were collected during the survey. All fish species, except for brown bullheads, were collected in low numbers. Brown bullheads were abundant but they were small in size and in poor condition. Elton Sportsmen Dam would not be the place to fish for large numbers and sizes of bass, bluegill, yellow perch, and crappie. Recreational angling potential is dominated by opportunities for stocked trout.][2003:The waters listed here are open to trout harvest during the "extended season as of Dec 2002-PFBC-Elton Sportsman's Dam, Little Paint Creek, Cambria County] Little Paint Creek [2003:officially classified as "approved trout waters."-PFBC] is a small stream flowing through Elton Sportsman's Dam. It flows south along Route 160 through Elton and enters Paint Creek at Scalp Level. Access to the stream is readily available because it is close to 160 and Scalp Level. |
| Beaverdam Creek |
| Description- Beaverdam Creek [2003:officially classified as "approved trout waters."-PFBC-from headwaters downstream to the mouth], a smaller stream, flows directly into the Stonycreek River just South of Stoystown. Beaverdam Creek [2003:The waters listed here are open to trout harvest during the "extended season as of Dec 2002: Beaverdam Creek], for the most part, flows along Dunmeyer Road, which makes the stream easily accessible. The stream is primarily an early season stream due to its smaller size and water quality.[2003 Preseason Stocking-PFBC-Beaverdam Creek: Somerset-Quemahoning Twp Line to T-647 Bridge] |
| Quemahoning Creek |
| Description-
Quemahoning Creek originates in a remote section of Somerset County near
the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The lower portion of the stream was dammed in
the early 20th Century to supply industrial water for mills in Johnstown[Quemahoning
Reservoir]. The Jenner Community Sportsmen's Club places
fish in the upper reaches and in tributaries such as Card Machine Run,
Pickings Run and Roaring Run.
[2003:PFBC-Wilderness trout stream designation "where stream remoteness and populations of naturally reproducing trout combine to offer sport fishing opportunity for the recreation of anglers in a wilderness setting away from roads or vehicular access." Roaring Run is a small freestone stream located in northwestern Somerset County near Jennerstown, Pennsylvania. It is a tributary to Quemahoning Creek and contains a naturally reproducing brook trout population. Roaring Run, Section 01 (from the headwaters downstream to Boswell Reservoir), contains a Class B naturally reproducing brook trout population. Roaring Run continues to harbor a robust brook trout population for this size stream coming off the Laurel Ridge. It also provides a wild brook trout fishery in a remote setting;effective January 1, 1998] |
| Beaverdam Run |
| Description-
Beaverdam Run [2003: Wild Trout Class A-PFBC: UNT to Beaverdam Run-818E
Wild Brown Trout; from headwaters downstream to mouth;1.8 mi.;Nearest Town: Jennerstown] originates just west of the Bedford County line high on Allegheny Ridge. [2003:The waters listed here are open to trout harvest during the "extended season as of Dec 2002: Beaverdam Run, Cambria county & Somerset county] It flows through woodland to Dark Shade Creek just north of Central City. The water runs cold all year and despite the diminutive size aquatic insects, the crayfish and baitfish are abundant. The Upper reaches hold a fine population of wild brown trout, but because the waterway is small and surrounded by a lush vegetation coupled with wary trout, the angling can be challenging. The lower section holds stocked fish year round and is more angler accessible.[2003:-PFBC-Beaverdam Run offer viable populations of wild trout in addition to stocked fish. The wild fish are a testament to the potential of the region in streams not impacted by mine discharges.] [2003: Wild Trout Class A-PFBC: UNT to Beaverdam Run-818E; Mixed Wild Brook/Brown Trout; from pond outflow on SR1035 near Daley downstream to 1.1 km downstream SR1018; Nearest town: Jennerstown][2003:PFBC-our vulnerable streams are located in the sandstone mountainous regions of Pennsylvania. Stocked trout streams vulnerable to further acidification:Somerset County,Beaverdam Run] |
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