The River "Y"

Took a few guests out to the Youghiogheny River on Wednesday, August 5. Water 1020 cfs and 56.5 degrees coming out of the dam. We fished from 9am-12pm on a mostly sunny afternoon. My guests had never picked up a rod before so the first hour we worked on our casting techniques.

They learned the basic roll cast which is the most effective way to cast on the “Yough.” They picked up on it very quickly and each one missed a fish within the first hour. There were numerous insects coming off the water including; Slate Drakes, Green Caddis, Yellow Stonefly’s and a number of small midges. We had most of our action on a #12 Copper John but missed a few on top as well.

For those of you who have never been on the “Yough” before, it is a bottom release tail water that stays cool all summer long when most of the other local streams get too warm for trout. This river contains some of the biggest trout in the east coast for the angler to cast too. We got the big one in the picture on a size # 18 Adams Catskill imitation. It was the first fish the client ever caught! What a way to spend a relaxing day in the Laurel Highlands.

The best fishing on the Youghiogheny is still to be had in the next couple of months. The brown trout will start spawning in the fall and get very aggressive. This is the time of year to throw gigantic streamers for huge fish. Let us know if you are interested in catching one of these leviathans!

-Matt Grobe, Recreation Manager