Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - 13

Brokenstraw Creek

Flowing west to east through a broad valley
in central Warren County, Brokenstraw Creek
is stocked with trout and supports a decent
smallmouth bass population. Late summer
flows generally restrict paddling to the lower
section of the creek. Fly and kayak angler Gary
Kell occasionally fishes Brokenstraw Creek
during the summer for smallmouth bass,
preferring the stretch from the city park in
Youngsville to Buckaloons Recreation Area on
the Allegheny River. “This float appears rather
short on a map, but it takes me at least half
the day or longer to effectively cover all the good water by
frequently getting out of the kayak. My most effective fly is a
Wooly Sculpin, which I tie both weighted and unweighted.
Poppers are also very productive. Most of the smallmouth
bass I catch are 10 to 12 inches, but a few are 15 inches or
better. And, I’ve taken the occasional bass pushing 4 pounds
from deeper pools. After passing under the Irvine bridge
and before you reach the Allegheny River, watch for a small
path on the left that goes up to the Buckaloons Day Use
Area. This is the take out spot.”

Debris is a dangerous strainer during high water. However, it is a
great habitat for pike, muskies and bass in low summer flows and
should be fished from a position that does not allow the current to
pull the boat into the strainer.

ERIE

French Creek

Oil Creek

Oil Creek, a tributary of the Allegheny River in Venango
County, is famously known for the first commercial oil well
in 1859. From Drake Well Museum outside of Titusville
south to Rynd Farm north of Rouseville, Oil Creek flows
through scenic Oil Creek State Park gorge. Smallmouth
bass and stocked trout are the primary gamefish species in
this section. Typically by July, the flow on Oil Creek is too
low for floating. Kayak anglers wait for a good rain to raise
the water level. Putting in at Jersey Bridge near Drake Well
Museum and
taking out at
Kayak and canoe rentals Petroleum
Center is a
and shuttle services
long paddle
•	Allegheny	Outfitters
allowing
www.alleghenyoutfitters.com
little time to
814-723-1203
fish. A more
manageable
•	Carried	Away	Recreation
float from
www.carriedawayrecreation.com
Rynd Farm
724-343-1313
Canoe Launch
•	Conewango	Kayak-Canoe	Rentals
to Justus Park
www.paddleconewango.com
Canoe Launch
814-688-7647
in downtown
Oil City (at
•	Outdoor	Allegheny	River	Services
the mouth of
www.oarsontheallegheny.com
Oil Creek) is
814-388-9122
generally more
•	Stoney	Crick	Kayak	&	Canoe
productive for
www.stoneycrick.com
smallmouth
814-626-1114
bass.

PFBC website: www.fishandboat.com

Cussewago
Creek

Brokenstraw
Creek

C

RA

O
WF

RD

WARREN

Oil
Creek

MERCER

VE

N
NA

GO

Conewago
Creek
Water Trail

Sandy Creek
Shenango River
LAWRENCE

Brown trout
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • May/June 2013

13

http://www.alleghenyoutfitters.com http://www.carriedawayrecreation.com http://www.paddleconewango.com http://www.oarsontheallegheny.com http://www.stoneycrick.com http://www.fishandboat.com

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013

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