The Stonycreek is a classic freestone river that offers a near-wilderness trout fishery in its upper reaches, a mixed trout and smallmouth bass fishery in its middle section and a improving fishery throughout its entire 43-mile length. For the inspiring story of the Stony's near-death and resurrection, click here. For information on where to fish now, check the resources below.

Bens Creek is a trout stream, stocked by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, located in the northern end of The Stonycreek Corridor in suburban Johnstown. Its North and South forks both have naturally reproducing trout populations. Because of the annual stocking program, the Stonycreek River tends to hold trout just downstream from the mouth of Bens Creek.
Quemahoning Lake is good-sized, at five miles in length and 12 billion gallons in capacity. It can be deep - up to 90 feet in spots. And divers and fishers alike will confirm: The Que holds some big fish. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, walleye, trout, carp and pan fish are among its denizens. Lake fishing is regulated by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Boats are restricted to 17 feet in length and cannot use gasoline-powered motors. There is a handicap-accessible fishing pier located in the Family Recreation Area.
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The Stonycreek River was almost dead a generation ago. More stringent regulations on coal mining and the efforts of conservation and sporting groups have brought the Stony back to life. A 2008 watershed assessment discovered 30 species of fish including seven game species. The assessment also documented different fisheries in the river.
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The Stonycreek Gorge, extending for nine miles from the Glessner Bridge on Township Route 565 to the Trostletown Bridge on Township Route 647, is considered one of the nation's best reclaimed trout fisheries and offers near-wilderness conditions.
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The Middle Stony, an 11-mile section from Kantner along U.S. Route 30 to Hollsopple, is a smallmouth bass fishery. According to a 2008 watershed assessment, the Stony's greatest diversity of aquatic life was found around Kantner.
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The Canyon, Lower and Bottom sections of the Stony - approximately 13 miles total - is a mixed fishery. The 2008 assessment documented the most fish in the river just downstream of the mouth of Bens Creek.
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The Mountain Laurel Chapter of Trout Unlimited is a volunteer-based organization that works to preserve and develop coldwater aquatic habitats for conservation and recreation. For more information on all of the fisheries within The Stonycreek Corridor, visit this organization's website.
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The Somerset County Conservation District sponsored the 2008 Stonycreek River Watershed Reassessment in cooperation with the Pennsylvania
Fish & Boat Commission and a variety of local
watershed groups.
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Quemahoning Creek Tailwater Fishery
The last 1.3 miles of Quemahoning Creek downstream of the Quemahoning Dam is now Pennsylvania's newest tailwater trout fishery. No special tackle restrictions are in place. However, trout cannot be harvested in this section from the day after Labor Day until the opening day of trout season.
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Copyright ©2008 Stonycreek Quemahoning Initiative
Stonycreek-Quemahoning Initiative is a 501(c)(3) and a supporting organization of Conemaugh Valley Conservancy
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