10/3 Fishing Report
The Fall Guide season is off to a great start.
**Exciting news! We now have a variety of steelhead and egg patterns available in our fly bins at Allegheny Outfitters!
**Bait on The Fly now offers Nitro Green Canadian Night Crawlers—great news for those who have been asking, they're finally here!
The recent 40-degree nights are doing a great job of cooling down the local water temperatures, making this our favorite time of year for fishing and guiding. The Allegheny and Clarion Rivers, two of our most popular tailwaters, are hitting their prime. These cooler water temperatures not only enhance the fishing we enjoy but are also crucial for the trout we love to catch, as fall marks their spawning season. There's something magical about the vibrant hues of brown trout in their spawning colors combined with the picturesque autumn leaves, creating a magical day on the water.
**That being said if you notice spawning fish please leave them be !!
Brown trout usually feed more aggressively leading up to the spawn, focusing on high-calorie prey like baitfish and larger insects to gain weight, making streamers a great choice for fly anglers and live bait like minnows and night crawlers working well for bait fishermen.There are far too many streamer patterns in my fly boxes to count, but it seems like trial and error is the key to success. Some days, an unweighted fly does the trick; other days, heavily weighted flies on a full sinking line get the job done. After the spawn, their feeding often slows down and becomes more sporadic as they move into deeper water and more shaded areas, focusing on replacing the fat reserves and calories lost during the spawning season. Not to be deterred, these fish will often go after a large Rapala or articulated streamer pattern as an easy protein packed meal.
When water temperatures settle into the 60s, smallmouth bass ramp up their feeding in anticipation of the winter slowdown. During this time, they become more aggressive and are often found in shallower waters, especially around rocky structures and drop-offs. This is prime time for topwater action, with conventional anglers having great results using frog and mouse lures. Meanwhile, fly anglers continue to see success with the dependable Boggle Bug, making it an exciting season for both methods. Last but definitely not least, live bait has always produced when all else has failed. Make sure to visit our Bait on the Fly bait cooler at Allegheny Outfitters for the freshest bait in town!
Steelhead Alley As of October 2nd, 2025, steelhead fishing in Lake Erie remains slow. Anglers are managing some catches at creek mouths and beaches, especially in the early morning. Still, more rain and cooler temperatures are needed to boost conditions. We’re happy to announce we have a selection of egg patterns and various Steelhead flies available at Allegheny Outfitters. If you’re headed that way fishing and need a more current update, feel free to reach out!
Chapman Dam State Park is still producing some 4-6# Largemouth bass. Fishing in the late afternoon and evening, when water temperatures are at their peak, will likely be your best strategy as we move further into fall. A Boogle Bug Popper of any color for our fly fisherman while Buzz Baits and Jigs have been the most reliable producers when fishing conventional gear.
The Kinzua Dam Tailwaters on both the Hemlock Rd and Route 59 sides have been seeing a lot of fishing pressure lately. The bait fisherman have been reporting quantities of sizeable fish being caught, quite possibly why the Night Crawlers have been flying out the door at Allegheny Outfitters.
The Allegheny River water temperatures are cooling but still a bit on the high side to safely target trout, although some trout are moving nearest the Kinzua Dam. The musky, walleye, and smallmouth seem to be eager to feed with the water now under 70 degrees. Plenty of great fishing to be had on the entire river. ** Paying attention to productive water types and finding similar areas seems to be the name of the game. Topwater Frogs and Mice are catching lots of fish in the shallows.
The East Branch of the Clarion River continues to be our first choice when we are looking to fly fish and will continue to be until we have safe water temperatures to safely target trout elsewhere.
Here’s a list of essential flies to pack if you’re planning a trip to Allegheny, Clarion, or the East Branch tailwater. All the flies mentioned can be found at Allegheny Outfitters in the Hatch Run Fly Fishing fly bin.
Glo-Bug #12-14 Nuke Egg #14 Y2k Egg Fly- #12 Frenchie Nymph - #12-18 a variety of both dark and light imitations. Lafontaine Sparkle Pupa - #14-18 Olive and Tan. Stimulator Dry Fly - #8-10 Dry Dropper approach for picky trout. Sexy Walts Worm - #12-16 Pheasant Tail Nymph - # 12-18 Pats Rubber Legs - #6-10 Pink Squirmy Worm - #12 Rainbow Warrior - #12-16
Hatch Run Fly Fishing has the flies, bait, and local knowledge to make your next visit to the area in and around the Allegheny National Forest a success. Text or call for up to date information 814-706-1958.
**The infamous Steelhead season is fast approaching, we now have a selection of flies for your Steelhead Alley needs. l will again be offering guided trips for steelhead as well as migratory browns covering the Lake Erie and Lake Ontario Tributaries.