Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 26
REFUELING
Oil Creek
by Vic Attardo
photos by the author
The sheen and shine of Oil Creek, Crawford and Venango
counties, spreads gracefully in the fall. The historic cold
water stream in the historic valley-where petroleum was
first tapped in 1859-is restocked with trout, making it
a fine place to enjoy fall's changing colors while catching
feisty fish.
Coming from the other side of Pennsylvania, I recall the
first time I drove west to dunk my toes in waters named
after a product known more for polluting streams than
contributing to clarity and fishability.
Oil Creek is a clear stream with a golden, rocky base,
flowing through wooded hills, around grassy banks, under
old bridges and, just beyond its shorelines, hikers' trails
and unique historic artifacts. Since 13 miles of the stream is
surrounded by a state park, access on Oil Creek is excellent.
I have made many trips to Oil Creek. During my fall
fishing trips, the stream ran with a clear flow and with a
host of trout and forage-providing aquatic life.
Two special regulation Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures
Only sections encompassing about 21/2 miles of Oil Creek
are the focus of the fishing. The first is the 1-mile stretch
26
from the two green posts near the Drake Well Museum
downstream to Oil Creek State Park hiking trail bridge.
The second is the newer designation of a Keystone Select
Stocked Trout Water, a 1.55-mile section from the bridge
at Petroleum Center downstream to the railroad bridge at
Columbia Farm.
My favorite autumn section centers around the SR 1004
bridge and winds its way downstream. Here, the stream
is roughly 100 feet wide and makes wide curves, creating
corresponding riffles and pools. The pools around the
bridge are a hotspot with trout congregating in the deeper
runs. I particularly like pushing through the high grasses
and shallow banks towards the 90 degree curves on this
section of the stream.
The ironic thing about stocked trout is its ability to
swim, and thus move from where it was stocked. I have
caught some fine individual fish by walking and scouting
along the entire park-bound stream until I found the lone
riser that did not see a fly in a while.
A preliminary discussion on how to fish Oil Creek
in the fall would center on the available insect life. A
thorough usage of caddis patterns attracts trout to the fly
rod. However, I think it is just as important to consider the
likely conditions you will face on the stream and how to
work these conditions.
Unless major storms have rumbled through, Oil Creek
is often clear with a moderate to low flow during the fall.
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * September/October 2019
www.gonefishingpa.com
http://www.gonefishingpa.com
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019
Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - Cover1
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - Cover2
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 4
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 5
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 6
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 7
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 8
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 9
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 10
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 11
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 12
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 13
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 14
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 15
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 16
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 17
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 18
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 19
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 20
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 21
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 22
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 23
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 24
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 25
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 26
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 27
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 28
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 29
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 30
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 31
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 37
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 38
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 40
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 42
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 53
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 63
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - Cover3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - Cover4
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