In some years, saugers, like this one, outnumber walleyes in Pool 4 of the Allegheny River.

Walleyes and their closely-related sauger cousins that inhabit large rivers tend to migrate upstream with the arrival of fall. This precursor to the spawn-driven movements of early spring results in high numbers of fish stacked up below barriers such as dams. In the case of Allegheny River Pool 4, a wealth of habitat within the first three miles downstream of Lock and Dam 5 provides excellent winter fishing opportunities, particularly if the weather is comparatively mild.

Pool 4 begins at Lock and Dam 5 at Schenley and extends down to Lock and Dam 4 at Natrona, about six miles. Like all eight of the navigation dams on the 70 miles of the lower Allegheny River, these structures are fixed crest, simply a concrete wall that spans the width of the river, with a single lock chamber located along the west bank. In the case of Lock and Dam 5, a hydroelectric facility is located on the east end of the dam.    

Walleyes on large rivers tend to collect not only below dams, but at the mouths of feeder waters as well. Small feeders typically feature rock bars at their mouths that form reduced- current eddies the fish favor, particularly when water temperatures are frigid. Larger tributaries are also to their liking due to the abundance of baitfish commonly found there. In the case of Pool 4, both the Kiskiminetas River and Buffalo Creek join the Allegheny in the upper portion of the pool.  

A sound river walleye fishing strategy, for the boat angler, is to drift over likely spots throughout the day and then anchor toward evening, when fish are likely to gather in more specific feeding locations. Likewise, the bank angler is smart to limit activities to the last couple hours of daylight (and into the nighttime) when fish move into the shallows. Pool 4 has many spots to apply such efforts.

The tailrace of Lock and Dam 5 features a deep plunge hole, one scoured from the constant flow over the dam, particularly during high water events. This hole — which attains depths around 30 feet — quickly rises to a shallow gravel flat that tops off in the three to six-foot range. When flows are average for this time of year the back edge of this hole is a productive spot, particularly the area toward the east side of the river. Bear in mind that there is a restricted area below the dam in which boat may not enter. Though buoys will likely not be in place now, the boundary of the restricted area runs across the river from the downriver edge of the lock chamber approach wall. It’s neither legal or safe to enter the restricted area from a boat. When flows are high there tends to be too much current for this area to fish well.

Shore fishing opportunities exist on both banks in the tailrace area. From the west side of the river, the area below the lock mouth can be reached from River Road out of Freeport. A fishing pier exists at the hydroelectric facility on the river’s west side, accessible by way of Schenley Road off Route 66.

Walleyes can be taken by drifting from the lock mouth down to the mouth of Dock Hollow Run, staying in the deeper channel maintained for commercial boat traffic.

The Kiskiminetas River joins the Allegheny from the east a few hundred yards below Lock and Dam 5. A small island helps deflect the force of the river’s current in this area. A productive drift can be made along the mouth of the Kiski, all the way down to the railroad bridge that crosses the Allegheny. The Kiski mouth can also be a great spot to anchor as twilight approaches; the area where the currents from the two rivers meet is usually the sweet spot.

Buffalo Creek enters the Allegheny from the west, directly under the Route 356 bridge. Like the mouth of the Kiski, this tends to gather walleyes. Make daytime drifts from just upriver of the Buffalo Creek mouth, starting adjacent to an old bridge abutment. Then drift on down past the creek mouth. When flows are low, the fish can scatter out toward the Route 356 bridge pier. Higher flows push them closer to the creek mouth. This is also a good spot to anchor for the evening bite. Shore anglers can reach walleyes here, particularly from the downriver side of the creek mouth.

About 200 yards downriver of the mouth of Buffalo, along the outside bend of the river, is another productive hole that has the reduced current situation that collects walleyes. Floating debris on the surface often paints a visual line of the current edge the fish use.

Boat access to Pool 4 is provided by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s access area on lower Buffalo Creek, about one hundred yards up from the mouth.

Jeff Knapp is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle.