Cattaraugus Creek - Cattaraugus Creek is approximately 68
miles long stretching from Java Lake, in Wyoming County, to it's mouth
at lake Erie. Only the lower 37 miles, from the Springville Dam to Lake
Erie, is accessible to lake-run fish.
Approximately 53% of the lower watershed runs through Zoar Valley.
The stream bed consists mainly of shale with numerous stretches of
gravel. Below Gowanda, in the Seneca Nation, the Cattaraugus slows
down and the bottom becomes gravely with pockets of sand and silt in
the slower stretches. It has about a 25% wild steelhead.
I look at this area and I am amazed at what glacial encroachment did.
The headwaters of Cattaraugus Creek are in the rolling hills of
Wyoming County. As it flows out of the southwest corner of Wyoming
County it forms the boundary between Erie and Cattaraugus Counties.
It remains the southern border of Erie County all the way to Lake Erie
near Silver Creek, New York. One of the highlights is the scenic beauty
in the section known as Zoar Valley, near Gowanda, New York.
The main thing I love about this river is that I can fish it the way I fish an
atlantic salmon river.
miles long stretching from Java Lake, in Wyoming County, to it's mouth
at lake Erie. Only the lower 37 miles, from the Springville Dam to Lake
Erie, is accessible to lake-run fish.
Approximately 53% of the lower watershed runs through Zoar Valley.
The stream bed consists mainly of shale with numerous stretches of
gravel. Below Gowanda, in the Seneca Nation, the Cattaraugus slows
down and the bottom becomes gravely with pockets of sand and silt in
the slower stretches. It has about a 25% wild steelhead.
I look at this area and I am amazed at what glacial encroachment did.
The headwaters of Cattaraugus Creek are in the rolling hills of
Wyoming County. As it flows out of the southwest corner of Wyoming
County it forms the boundary between Erie and Cattaraugus Counties.
It remains the southern border of Erie County all the way to Lake Erie
near Silver Creek, New York. One of the highlights is the scenic beauty
in the section known as Zoar Valley, near Gowanda, New York.
The main thing I love about this river is that I can fish it the way I fish an
atlantic salmon river.
Steelhead and Solitude?
Our friend Tom knows how to land them!
When this stream becomes off color from heavy
rain, it will stay that way for quite a while, sometimes
weeks!
You will need a permit to fish the reservation water
and a N.Y. license to fish the N.Y. water. I play it
safe and get both.
You are not permitted to use two flies in N.Y. but
this doesn't apply to the reservation waters.
rain, it will stay that way for quite a while, sometimes
weeks!
You will need a permit to fish the reservation water
and a N.Y. license to fish the N.Y. water. I play it
safe and get both.
You are not permitted to use two flies in N.Y. but
this doesn't apply to the reservation waters.
| We prefer, and we think it is to your advantage, to fish a Teeny WF Mini Tip line here. This has a 5 ft. sink tip which makes it easy to cast and the flies swing perfectly. |
| Cast HERE for stream conditions. Fish it at 300 and falling for easy wading. Fish it at 400 and falling for good fishing. Cast HERE for weather. |
Many articles have been written on this river and
with new authors popping up every day, many
more will follow. All will feature theirs or their
freinds flies.
The patterns that really work are a well-kept local
secret. We know some of them and out of
respect, we won't divulge these.
with new authors popping up every day, many
more will follow. All will feature theirs or their
freinds flies.
The patterns that really work are a well-kept local
secret. We know some of them and out of
respect, we won't divulge these.
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| The Contented Angler Amy & Joe Gablick 147 Jefferson Avenue Lower Burrell, PA. 15068 724-337-0437 |
| "Having cast your fly-say a little across and downwards, let it sweep round into the stream. You needn't humor it, it will find it's place without it, and will not require any humoring on your part beyond free permission to do as it likes ; and be sure to keep an eye upon it just as it sweeps into the stream, for that is a very fatal moment, and it is odds, if there's "a fusshe aboot", if you don't at the last fatal curve see a boil, ay, and feel a pluck too, if you are not in too great haste, which will send your blood spinning with ecxitement." Francis Francis "A Book on Angling" 1867 |