Fishing the Chautauqua/Allegheny Region

Located just west of the City of Jamestown NY, Chautauqua Lake is a hotbed for trophy musky and walleye fishing.  The Chautauqua-Allegheny Region forms the southeast corner of the Southern Tier of NY State from Olean to the Pennsylvania border.  This is a land of rolling foothills of the Allegheny Mountains leading to the fertile plains of Lake Erie.  This area is primarily farms and forest.

Chautauqua Lake facts:

*18 miles long and 1-3 miles wide
*Max depth is 78 feet
*Very weedy shorelines which provide excellent structure for muskies, walleye, panfish and
smallmouth bass.
* Click HERE for an in depth overview of Chautauqua Lake

The Allegheny Reservoir is 27 miles long with 90 miles of shoreline.  The Reservoir is contained within the Allegheny National Forest and is much different than Chautauqua Lake.  The “Res” is a very deep, clear body of water with very little subsurface structure as all timber was cut prior to filling in 1965.  When fishing the Reservoir, trolling is a primary technique for chasing muskies, pike and walleye.  The fish tend to roam so being familiar with their seasonal movements is the key to having productive days on the water. 

The Middle Allegheny River begins at the outflow of Kinzua Dam and travels 106 miles south to the town of Emlenton.  In 1992, 86 of those miles were designated as a National and Senic River; 37 miles of which are within the forest proclamation boundary of the Allegheny National Forest.  This river section is among the most prolific fisheries in the US.  Trophy populations of trout, walleye, musky and pike thrive year around. Catches of 10 pound walleye, 5 pound brown/rainbow trout and 30 pound muskies are not uncommon.  Since this section is navigable ONLY by jet boat, there are many days when you will not see another fishing boat!!

Tionesta Lake winds its way through the rugged hills of northwestern Pennsylvania, This lake offers a unique setting for a diversity of outdoor recreational fun. The Seneca named this area “where the water separates the land”. Tionesta offers a rich history where narrow gauge railroads dotted the surrounding countryside hauling out virgin timber from the surrounding hillsides. Fishermen have found Tionesta to be enticing and productive. Another unique feature are the 48 lakeshore campsites that offer fishermen and families interested in camping along the lake the opportunity to do so.  While Tionesta Lake is relatively smal in stature, it is currently producing large muskies.  The 2010 adult population is reaching maturity due to the intensive stockings of 1993-94 and the practice of catch and release.

Note:  All musky, pike and trout trips are catch and release only.