The Allegheny River’s Pool 7, which flows from the tailrace of Lock and Dam 8 near Mosgrove down to Lock and Dam 7 in Kittanning, supports a diverse fishery that includes plenty of cold weather opportunities.

But from late fall through early spring, species willing to tug on the line will be more limited. At this time, walleyes likely be the most prevalent. Saugers, crappies and muskies also will be present. Northern pike are being caught downriver in Pool 6, so it’s possible they might show up as well.

Other common species in Pool 7, which appear more often during warmer times, include smallmouth bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, carp and suckers.

In addition to Cowanshannock and Pine creeks, several smaller streams feed Pool 7, all of which provide habitat that collects gamefish.

Public boat access to this pool is limited to the Fish and Boat Commission’s ramp, found just inside the mouth of Cowanshannock Creek.

Heading upriver from Kittanning, one of the first noteworthy spots is a several acre side channel dredged out of the west bank. Locally, this spot is called “the Cove.”

The rectangular-shaped channel reaches depths of about 30 feet. It doesn’t have much in the way of cover, but it’s a productive piece of water.

It’s a particularly productive crappie spot from fall through spring, but muskies will hold there, especially during and after higher water events.

Crappies also will gather just outside the narrow mouth leading into the Cove.

Just upriver from the Cove is a gravel flat near the mouth of Limestone Run. From spring through fall, it’s a good smallmouth spot. On the opposite side of the river is the mouth of Cowanshannock Creek.

Walleyes and sauger will congregate just downriver of the stream’s mouth during the winter. Muskies will run up in Cowanshannock Creek to escape the river’s hard current.

About two miles above Cowanshannock, Hays Creek and Pine Creek both enter the river from the east side. An extensive shallow flat is found between the two stream mouths, one that gathers smallmouth bass at times.

There is a sizable gravel bar right at the mouth of Pine Creek, just upriver of the Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad Bridge. It’s one of the best spots on Pool 7 for the evening bite of walleyes and sauger.

The tailrace of Lock and Dam 8 often provides some action. Walleyes and sauger can school up in the slackwater provided by the lock chamber, which is on the east side of the dam. Fish often can be taken well down the river from the lock, secure in the calm water spot close to the bank. Shore anglers get a good crack at these fish, too.

When the river is low, walleyes and sauger often can be taken in the scour hole below the dam. Just remember that there is a restricted area below the dam that is off-limits to boats. It’s formed by an imaginary line running parallel to the dam that crosses the river in line with the end of the inside approach wall of the lock chamber. No boats are allowed between this line and the dam.

Jeff Knapp is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle.