Rainbow trout, like this one displayed by Tom Ference, make up the bulk of Buffalo Creek's stockings.

Flowing through Butler and Armstrong counties, Buffalo Creek is an important trout fishing venue in west-central Pennsylvania. Located within the stocked section is a nearly four-mile-long Delayed Harvest, Artificial Lures Only project that is traditionally stocked in early March — weather and water conditions permitting — providing early season sport.

On a whole, Buffalo Creek is stocked from the Butler County town of Chicora down to the Sarver area in Armstrong County. The DHALO project waters flow from the mouth of Little Buffalo Run down to a point 0.6 miles upstream of the State Route 4035 bridge in Craigsville.

As is the case with many of the region’s trout streams, Buffalo Creek flows through private land. It’s trout fishing is courtesy of the landowners, a privilege reliant on continued good angler behavior.

Being of moderate gradient, and draining a watershed that includes significant agricultural usage, Buffalo Creek is subject to muddying quickly from spring rain and snow melt. The habitat within the project waters has been dramatically enhanced over the years thanks to stream improvement work accomplished by the Arrowhead Chapter of Trout Unlimited. This includes bank stabilization, flow deflectors and streamside access. Also, the chapter’s cooperative trout nursery augments the Fish and Boat Commission’s stocking efforts.

Buffalo Creek’s DHALO project features areas with easy streamside access as well as stretches that require a bit of a hike to fish. In general, trout are well distributed, especially when conditions allow for float stocking. Both rainbow and brown trout are planted, with higher numbers of the former.

U.S. Route 422 is found just to the south of this DHALO project. Anglers can reach the special regulations waters via several roads leading north from Route 422.

The lower end of the project can be reached from Bottom Creek Road, by turning west off SR 4035 (Craigsville Road). The special regulations area starts about a half-mile upstream of this intersection. Bottom Creek Road parallels Buffalo Creek, though well up the valley in most spots. Accessing the creek involves parking at turnouts along Bottom Creek Road and hiking down to the stream. Pull-offs are found at the Snyder access and at the site of a gated gas well road. This section of Buffalo Creek is the most removed from easy access, and is most likely to provide less crowded conditions, particularly during weekends. There is a nice mix of natural pools, as well as those created by flow-funneling devices.

Moving upstream, the next access is near Nichola Bridge (SR 3013). Nichola Road/Fennelton Road hug Buffalo Creek for around two miles. Anglers will find several roadside pull-offs. This stretch furnishes easy access, and correspondingly sees plenty of angler attention. Much of the bank stabilization work has been done in within this area.

The most upstream access on the DHALO project is at the Morrow Road Bridge. Morrow Road intersects with Fennelton Road. Hiking upstream of the bridge, to mouth of Little Buffalo Run (and the end of the project waters) will put you on more water enhanced with flow deflectors. A nice pool is located at Morrow Road Bridge. The stretch below this pool — toward Fennelton Road — is relatively featureless.

County Line Road (which leads to Morrow Road) and Nichola Road intersect with Route 422; anglers can reach the stream by turning north off Route 422 on either of these two secondary roads, which are located just west of Worthington.

Despite being subjected to siltation issues, Buffalo Creek supports a fair level of mayflies and caddis. Grammon caddis can be especially heavy, and tend to show up around mid-April.

Early season action, though, will likely involve dealing with higher, off-colored water. Dead drifting Woolly Buggers should get a reaction, though it’s often more productive to offer nymphs and egg patterns — drag-free — close to the bottom. All-purpose nymphs like the Pheasant Tail, Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear and Muskrat Nymph all tend to be productive. Many of Buffalo Creek’s trout are rainbows, and typically respond well to egg patterns like the Blood Dot and Glo Bug.

Buffalo Creek is also well-suited to the spin fisherman. Classic in-line spinners in sizes 0 up to 2 fair well, as do smaller spoons. Hardware incorporating gold often excels when the water is off-color, while silver finishes tend to be a tad better in clearer water. Pinching down the barbs and clipping a tine off treble hooks minimizes damage to the fish when using hardware.

Current fishing updates and tackle needs can be met at Transue’s Tackle in nearby West Kittanning. The U.S.G.S. flow gauge on Buffalo Creek at Iron Bridge provides a good means of determining stream conditions.

Jeff Knapp is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle.