Quality sized smallmouth bass, like this one taken by Don Horvath of Uniontown, are available on the Allegheny River between Franklin and Kennerdell.

The Franklin to Kennerdell stretch of the middle Allegheny offers excellent fishing for the a variety of species, highlighted by smallmouth bass and walleyes. These are excellent waters to ply from midsummer into the fall.

What makes the middle Allegheny so hospitable to warm-water gamefish species is its good water quality along with a healthy blend of riffles, runs and pools. The Franklin to Kennerdell stretch certainly exhibits a nice mix of this character, flowing 18 miles through a heavily wooded valley, winding its way around island splits, lengthy riffles and slower pools. The corridor is sprinkled in spots with riverside dwellings, many of them seasonal, but some that issue smoke from the chimney year-round.

Boat access can be found at the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s Franklin access area, located off Elk Street just downriver of the Route 322 bridge. A nice ramp is provided for trailered boats. Prop boats can run within the pool the ramp is located in; just don’t attempt to venture upriver of the bridge, or downriver of the pool as it transitions into a shallow riffle near the mouth of Glenfern Creek, which joins the Allegheny from the west side.

Below Franklin the Allegheny leaves civilization behind, flowing past three major islands on its way to where the Belmar Railroad Bridge (which now carries a hiking/biking trail across the river) crosses the river just below the mouth of East Sandy Creek. In general, the current picks up as the river squeezes past islands, making these waters good spots for both smallmouth bass and walleyes. A primary food source for the river’s bass and walleyes is the streamlined chub, dubbed locally “riffle runner” for its disposition of preferring fast waters. Hence bass and walleyes, at least the ones actively feeding, will be in and around faster current areas until the water temperature drops to around 60, which usually happens mid to late October.

Below Belmar Railroad Bridge the Allegheny flows past a long string of islands, with the main channel being river left (looking downriver). The various current seams present along the many shoals associated with these islands are excellent spots to target for bass and ‘eyes.

As the river spills out of this pool a long riffle begins, one that runs for several hundred yards. It’s along this riffle, river left, that Indian God Rock is located, a large sandstone boulder featuring carved images estimated by some to be around 800 years old.

The long pool fed by this lengthy riffle is productive, featuring moderate current and plenty of rock-lined shorelines to offer ambush points for bass. Big Sandy Creek and Synder Run both add their flows to the river, and form good fish-attracting habitat near their mouths. The Fish and Boat Commission’s Fisherman’s Cove Access Area is found within this pool. It can be reached via Route 8 and Fisherman’s Cove Road. Located roughly at the mid-point of the Franklin-to-Kennerdell river portion, Fisherman’s Cove serves as a nice access point for day floats, breaking the river up into a more manageable length.

As both the Franklin and Fisherman’s Cove ramps are governed by the Fish and Boat Commission, nonpowered boats must be registered or have a launch permit for use.

From Fisherman’s Cove down to Kennerdell one will find more riffles and pools as the river flows past Whitherup Island and some smaller “scrub” islands. Near the mouth of Pine Hill Run the Allegheny enters a longer, mostly deeper pool that fronts the town of Kennerdell. There is a private fee launch in Kennerdell, a couple hundred yards above the Kennerdell Road Bridge.

Jeff Knapp is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle.