Allegheny River
Allegheny River fishing in Pennsylvania means smallmouth bass and brown trout on a long, free flowing river below Kinzua Dam.
- 436 miRiver length
- 2Game fish
- 141Access points
In the FlyFishFinder appAbout the Allegheny
The Allegheny River starts in Potter County, Pennsylvania, runs north into New York and returns to Pennsylvania. It runs about 436 miles overall. Below Kinzua Dam near Warren the water is cold enough to hold trout. Farther downstream it becomes a warmwater river.
Brown trout and smallmouth bass are the fish here. The 126 mile stretch from Kinzua Dam to East Brady is free flowing with no dams or obstructions. Access is plentiful, and spots where a riffle tumbles into deep water are good places to start.
Route 59 follows the east side of the river from Warren to Kinzua Dam. Hemlock Road follows the west side and there is a fisherman's pier at the discharge on that side. A boat ramp sits at the base of the dam. Wading works well in many places, but a drift boat or kayak lets you cover a lot more water.
River flow from the dam changes, so call the Army Corps flow line before you go. The river has stocked and wild trout sections, so check the current Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission regulations.
Allegheny River below Conewango Creek at Warren, PA
Flow, last 24 hours
USGS readings, provisionalIs the Allegheny fishing today?
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Nearby gages
- Tionesta Creek at Lynch, PA9.3 mi away 65 cfs Below normal 46°F · 1.04 ft USGS 03017500
- Clarion River at Cooksburg, PA11.5 mi away 279 cfs Below normal 2.18 ft USGS 03029500
- Tionesta Creek at Tionesta Creek Dam, PA15.2 mi away 93 cfs Below normal 53°F · 0.91 ft USGS 03020000
- Clarion River at Ridgway, PA22.0 mi away 154 cfs Below normal 3.15 ft USGS 03029000
- West Branch Clarion River at Wilcox, PA24.4 mi away 16 cfs Below normal 45°F · 1.15 ft USGS 03028000
- Clarion River at Johnsonburg, PA24.5 mi away 117 cfs Below normal 47°F · 1.69 ft USGS 03028500
- Clarion River near Piney, PA25.5 mi away 70 cfs Below normal 1.71 ft USGS 03030500
- Oil Creek at Rouseville, PA28.2 mi away 93 cfs Below normal 2.15 ft USGS 03020500
No gages that close. Try a wider radius.
See every gage on the map and today's top 10 rivers in the free appData from the U.S. Geological Survey. Recent readings are provisional and may be revised.
Fish you'll catch
Tap a fish to see every Pennsylvania river that holds it.
Brown Trout
Hatching in November
What's on the water in the Allegheny watershed this month, and the fly to match.
All 12 hatches this year
Light bars show the season and dark bars the peak. The ringed month is this month.
Tips for fishing the Allegheny
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Check the dam release
Flows from Kinzua Dam change. Check before you leave.
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Wade the riffles
Smallmouth hold where riffles drop into deeper pools. Start there.
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Consider a boat
A boat or kayak reaches water that is hard to wade.
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Use sinking leaders for streamers
A sinking tip helps get streamers down in deeper runs.
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Use the app for access
The FlyFishFinder app maps public access points along the Allegheny so you can plan a float or wade day.
Every access point on the Allegheny, in your pocket.
- 141 mapped access points, with parking and put-ins
- Today's Fishability score, so you fish the day that lines up
- 7-day flow and water-temp trends for every gauge on the river
Rivers near the Allegheny
Allegheny River FAQ
When is the best time to fish the Allegheny River in Pennsylvania?
The river fishes year round. Smallmouth like warm months and trout like the cold tailwater near the dam.
Where can I fish the Allegheny River?
Below Kinzua Dam near Warren, with access along Route 59 and Hemlock Road. Downstream the river has plenty of public ramps.
Can you wade the Allegheny River?
Yes, in many places, but flows change. Check the dam release first.
What flies work on the Allegheny River?
Streamers, crayfish patterns and poppers work for smallmouth. The FlyFishFinder app shows what is working today.
What fish are in the Allegheny River?
Brown trout and smallmouth bass.
Are there special rules on the Allegheny River?
Some sections have special trout regulations. Check the current Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission rules.
