Armstrong lake fine for bass
With the arrival of summer, many anglers will concentrate on bass. Crooked Creek Lake continues to provide a high-quality bass fishery, along with several other warmwater species.
Crooked Creek Lake is located in southern Armstrong County, off Route 66 between Leechburg and Ford City. A major tributary of the Allegheny River, Crooked Creek is impounded about seven miles upstream from its confluence with the river. At normal pool, the lake section stretches about five miles upstream, covering 350 acres.
Operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Crooked Creek Lake's primary purpose is flood control. As such, it is subject to significant and rapid level fluctuations.
However, the lake does contain an impressive population of largemouth bass and white crappies. Smallmouth bass also are found in decent numbers.
Tiger muskies have been stocked in the past, and they show up occasionally. The lake also holds an impressive channel catfish population.
Crooked Creek Lake lives up to its name. It winds through what is mostly a steep-sided, forested valley covered in mature timber.
The inside turns of the major creek bends form long, tapering points that break up the steep shoreline drops. The most significant of these is found in the lower portion of the lake. The upstream side of this peninsula houses the swimming area, but a considerable portion of it is open to fishing.
Though relatively narrow, two decent-sized bays are found on the lake. The valley that drains Beers Run forms a bay. This is also where the boat launch is located.
On the opposite side of the lake, downstream from the boat launch, is the bay formed by Horney Run. The area uplake of the mouth of Beers Run (the boat launch bay) is comprised mostly of shallow soft-bottom flats. For the most part, the only deeper water in this section is located directly in the main Crooked Creek channel. The extreme lower end of the lake, below the swimming area, is a no-wake zone. The lake has no horsepower restriction and sees plenty of recreational boating use during busy summer weekends.
Anglers will find a variety of cover options for fish. Because the lake doesn't undergo a winter drawdown, most summers they also will find a decent level of weedgrowth in the shallows. The shallow uplake flats can become quite weedy. Shoreline laydowns are common. Brushpiles have been placed over the years, mostly in depths of 12 feet or less.
Rocky areas exist, especially in the lower end of the lake. The turns of the primary and secondary creek channels form bass-holding structures. Paying attention to your sonar will key you to small flats that exist along seemingly featureless sections of shoreline.
The lake's outflow is by way of a tunnel-style discharge. A good tailrace fishery exists below the dam, with excellent drive-to access and a fishing pier.
The tailrace fishery tends to be "restocked" following periods of heavy discharge, as fish move through the dam. One of the best times to fish the area is following such an event, after the flow has return to a more normal rate.
A large parking lot is located at the lone boat launch. A change this year is the elimination of the courtesy dock. Instead, the Corps of Engineers has improved the "soft landing area" on the upstream side of the ramp, which the agency said will allow the area to be open more days of the year during fluctuating lake levels. A $4 daily launch fee is charged, with an annual day use pass available.
Call 724-763-3161 for information on Crooked Creek Lake. A daily lake and recreation report can be heard by calling 724-763-2764.
