Tionesta Creek, flowing through portions of Warren and Forest counties, provides anglers with a quality trout-fishing experience in a big stream setting, as well as solid smallmouth bass angling. The many feeder streams that enter Tionesta add to the opportunities, furnishing options for both stocked trout and native brook trout.  

The main stem of Tionesta Creek is formed in the southern Warren County town of Barnes, where the South Branch and West Branch of the Tionesta come together. From there, it flows in a more-or-less southerly direction for over 30 miles, entering Forest County near the town of Lynch, until its course is slowed by the backwaters of Tionesta Lake, a federal flood control impoundment, at Nebraska Bridge.  

“It’s a really good trout stream, especially for folks that enjoy fishing those larger creeks,” said Al Woomer, who is the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission fisheries manager for the upper Allegheny River drainage. “There is a good diversity, with large pools and stretches of riffles. As with all bigger streams, there are some lengthy stretches that are shallow and featureless, lacking the cover to hold trout. Much of it flows through Allegheny National Forest, so it’s quite scenic, with good public access.”

Woomer said the upper portion of the main stem, from Barnes down to Mayburg, is classified as high use and gets a proportionally high number of stocked trout. This is due in large part to the fact the stream flows through public land. The lower portion of stocked water, from Mayburg down to Kelletville, has some posted private land, and is stocked at a slightly lower rate.

“It’s not a big difference,” Woomer added. “And the fish move around a lot. A person fishing either section isn’t likely to notice it.”

Tionesta Creek doesn’t hold any wild trout. According to Woomer, good fishing for stocked trout typically continues through mid to late June, depending on how quickly hot summer weather arrives. During the odd cool/wet summer, Tionesta can provide good trout action throughout the summer months.

The entire length of Tionesta supports a good warmwater fishery, primarily smallmouth bass. They are present from Barnes all the way down to the backwaters of the reservoir at Nebraska bridge. Good numbers of 12 to 15-inch smallmouth are available, particularly from Kelletville downstream.  

Angler access is excellent on Tionesta. State Route 666 parallels the creek from Barnes down to Kelletville. A short distance below Kelletville Route 666 leaves the creek, but is picked up by Ross Run Road, then Tionesta Creek Road, and finally Jug Handle Road. The final two miles — prior to being crossed by Nebraska bridge — the creek leaves any road.

During decent flows Tionesta Creek can be floated with a kayak or small canoe.

During low water, though, a person will spend significant time dragging a canoe. Access can be accomplished at Sheffield (on the lower end of the West Branch of Tionesta), Lynch bridge, Kelletville bridge, and Nebraska bridge.

Several stocked trout streams feed Tionesta Creek, and often provide good trout fishing further into the summer. This included Blue Jay Creek and Coon Creek.  

Though there is some private land and camps, much of Blue Jay is in the national forest.

Access is good, with Blue Jay Road paralleling the stream.

It’s stocked twice in-season.  

Coon Creek joins Tionesta Creek a bit upstream of Nebraska bridge.

It’s only stocked once in-season. Coon Creek isn’t stocked the whole way to the mouth, the downstream point being the mouth of Irish Run. The area below Irish Run is quite remote, providing an opportunity for adventurous anglers looking to explore for stockies that have migrated downstream. Coon Creek flows through State Game Land 24 and a portion of Collins Pine property (on which hunting and fishing is permitted).  

Woomer said that nearly all of the named small streams and brooks (as opposed to unnamed tributaries) that feed Tionesta Creek have populations of native brook trout. Minister Creek, which empties into Tionesta between Lynch and Mayburg, has enhanced wild brook trout regulations, meaning no brook trout can be killed or had in possession. There are no tackle restrictions.  

“With an odd exception, they don’t support Class A or B densities of brook trout, but they do have enough to make for a worthwhile fishing experience,” he explained.

Woomer noted that native brook trout populations vary within the drainage, and fluctuate within the same streams for reasons which aren’t completely understood. In general, though, brook trout populations are often better in the lower reaches of these small runs, rather than the headwaters. He explained that the tops of the ridges have very little buffering capacity to offset acid rain, as well as the naturally acidic boggy terrain from which these streams sometimes originate.

The buffering ability of the strata often improves a bit further down the valley.

Given the wealth of fishing opportunities provided by Tionesta Creek and its many feeders, it makes sense to spend more than a single day there, a feat easy to accomplish with the camping options. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has a campground at Kelletville. The Forest Service has a campground at Minister Creek, near the mouth. Primitive camping is also permitted in most areas of the national forest.

Jeff Knapp is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle.