Sightseeing today.
The downstream end of Allegheny Reservoir is here at Kinzua (pronounced kinzoo) Dam. The reservoir, built in 1965 for flood control and a small power plant. Is 27 miles long and as much as 137 feet deep. Muskelenge — Muskies — here will get as big as 50 inches in length… most fishermen here never catch one.
From the dam, the river runs south 195 river miles to Pittsburgh, where it joins the Monongahela (remember that elementary school song?) to form the Ohio.
Good to hear from you! Yeah, catching a muskie would be landmark catch by any standard, but a 50-inch fish is widely regarded as THE “holy grail” of a serious muskie angler. These anglers measure a successful day by the number of fish that follow their lures to the boat!
My Dad has caught two 50-inch fish in 90 years of life, on back-to-back days, while in Canada. The best I could muster on a trip to Canada was a 43 inch fish, but I was with Dad when I caught it. That day was a major highlight of my fishing life, now spanning 64 years of time. God willing, I still have time to catch a true giant. Wish me luck, Bill.
There are some large fish here, Dave. 12 or 15b “sheepshead”, if that’s the right term and the guy beside me knew what he was talking about, were circling around on the upstream side of the dam. They were huge. Idpput them at 50 or longer.
Hope you packed some fishing gear. You might luck out! Relaxing even if you don’t bag anything.
I did bring any with me, but that could change. 🙂
Are you a fisherman Bill? If not, maybe that could be part of this new life you are living! You could be the guy who catches that big fish!