Watershed

In addition to the water releases from the Stillwater Dam, Aylesworth Creek also contributes as a major tributary to the Main Branch of the Lackawanna River. Water flow information regarding Stillwater Dam and Aylesworth Dam as well as recreational information for Stillwater Lake and Aylesworth Creek Lake is available from USACE. Numerous other tributaries (Leggetts Creek and Roaring Brook, in particular) contribute to the volume of water flowing into the Lackawanna River as it continues its journey through central Lackawanna and northeastern Luzerne Counties. Three USGS Streamflow Gauges are located on the Main Branch of the Lackawanna River at Forest City, Archbald, and Old Forge.

History

The Lackawanna River was assaulted for many years of its history by a once bustling coal, iron, and textile economy within the Lackawanna Valley. By the end of the "King Coal" era in the early 1960s, the once pristine Lackawanna River was nothing more than a sewage-fouled, acid mine drainage laden, silt and trash filled waterway. It was a river void of vegatation, fish, and macroinvertabrates. The legacy of the anthracite coal industry still lingers along the banks of the Lackawanna River in the form of culm banks, communities developed during the hey-day of the coal industry, and the subsequent erosion, flooding, and CSO problems inherent in the history of this region.

These problems continue to adversely affect the Lackawanna River and its communities; however, a renaissance and citizen concern for the Lackawanna River and its environs has occured which is continuing to help Mother Nature recover from the past abuses heaped on this once pristine river valley. An ironic example of this recovery is the role which the anthracite mine outfalls play today. The acidic mine water gushing from these outfalls once killed the trout and macroinvertebrates which inhabited the River. Today, the constant flow of 50 degree water (with little or no acidity) from these same mine outfalls provide a tempering effect to the Rivers' water. You can witness this effect by standing near any of the active outfalls in the dead of winter and see the clear water channel. Additionally, this cool water provides decreased water temperatures throughout the hot summer months and during periods of drought.

Flyfishing for Lackawanna River Wild Brown Trout

A diverse flyfishing environment replete with the major mayfly hatches as well as caddis, stone flies, terrestrial, and bait fish challenges the flyfisherman on a daily basis. Fly fishermen will find that a well presented streamer or nymph pattern will take many trout during the winter months. Surface activity in the form of caddis flies begins as early as warm afternoons in late March and early April. The best hatches on the Lackawanna River arrive in mid May through June. Hatches of Light Cahill and Sulphurs are considered to be the best of the mayfly hatches on the River. Other excellent mayfly hatches include Blue Winged Olives, Blue Quills, March Browns. Many varieties of caddis emerge throughout the warmer months. Tricos appear in abundance during the summer months. When the water levels drop most trout will feed in the deeper holes on tiny midge patterns as small as size 26 and 28. As an alternative, try a pattern such as a Griffiths Gnat in sizes 18 or 20. Remember to confine your fishing to early morning and late evening during the summer months. This is better for the trout because they can not afford to waste their valuable energy fighting a fisherman on a hot summer afternoon. Late summer and fall patterns call for terrestrial (ants, beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, and inchworms). Recently, stoneflies have been observed by fly fishermen as well as by the River Watch macroinvertebrate collections and water quality sampling. This is certainly an encouraging sign since stoneflies are the least pollution tolerant of the macroinvertebrates which call the Lackawanna River their home.

Trout Fishing the Lackawanna River

Trout fishing can be divided into two major categories along the Main Branch of the Lackawanna River: Statewide General Regulations and Wild Brown Class A Trophy Trout Regulations.

From the Stillwater Dam site downstream to the southern city limits of Carbondale, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission stocks brown, brook, and rainbow trout at many locations throughout this approximately 15 mile reach of the Lackawanna River. Many public roads and access points are available throughout this reach of the River. Additionally local groups in Carbondale stock trout for a Kids Fishing Derby. If you're in the neighborhood during these stockings or at the time of the derby, stop by and help a youngster catch a trout. Fishermen will find this section productive in the early season using baits ranging from worms and minnows to nymphs and streamers. When the days grow warmer and the river levels recede after the spring thaw, dry fly fishing with a caddis or mayfly imitation works very well. In late summer and fall look for trout rising to small midge flies or terrestrials. In late fall and winter it is time to cycle again to nymphs and minnow imitations.

From the southern city limits of Carbondale downstream to the Lackawanna Avenue bridge in Olyphant, the Lackawanna River is regulated under Class A Wild Brown Trout Water and does not receive any stocked trout. Fishing is confined to artificial lures or flies. This Special Regulation area is open to fishing year round with a creel limit of two trout over fourteen inches daily during the regular trout season. The average size brown trout in this section of the Lackawanna River is nine to fourteen inches, with many brown trout in the eighteen to twenty inch range.

From the Gilmartin Street bridge in Archbald downstream to the Lackawanna Avenue bridge in Olyphant, Class A Wild Brown Trophy Trout regulations apply. An exception within this approximately 5.2 mile reach is a 0.7 mile section at Mellow Park in Peckville which is regulated under General Regulations. You can get access to this reach of the River at the Archbald Borough Building, Laurel Street ballfield, Winton Street bridge, along the Rail Trail near the Constitution Avenue bridge, "Deckers Bridge", Robert Mellow Park in Peckville, Philip Condella Park in the flats section of Olyphant, and the Lackawanna Avenue bridge at Olyphant/Blakely corners.

Approximately 20 miles of water from the Lackawanna Avenue bridge in Olyphant downstream to Scranton is unstocked water, although some wild brown trout do survive in this warmer and generally degraded water. Beginning at the Route 81 bridge at the Scranton\Dickson City line, the Lackawanna changes gradually to a warm water fishery. This water is unstocked due to higher water temperature especially in the area below Scranton. However, fishing can be good in the area below the Olyphant Bridge, in Dickson City near the Lackawanna County Public Services Building, and near the bridge on Boulevard Avenue. Further downstream some good trout fishing can be found near the confluence of Leggetts Creek, below the Parker Street Bridge in the Green Ridge area, and at the Broadway Street Bridge below Steamtown National Historic Site. In Dickson City there is a Kids Fishing Derby sponsored by local sportsmens club. The club stocks several hundred trout annually with many fish remaining after the derby is finished. In the future, the fishery below Dickson City can only become better with public awareness of the potential the Lackawanna River holds.

Downstream from Scranton to the junction with the Susquehanna River, the Lackawanna River is terribly degraded and holds little present promise for the trout fisherperson.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is following up with stringent enforcement of the Trophy Trout regulations to prevent over fishing although the best regulations come from the conservation minded angler. The practice of catch and release fishing can only serve to improve and preserve this outstanding fishery for many years to come. Remember that youngsters will take our place on this water and we want them to have a better fishery than we are enjoying. And, please practice Catch and Release on the Lackawanna River as well as other wild trout fisheries. A wild trout is much too important to catch only once. Save our wild trout for the youngsters who will be wading these waterways after we are gone.

For more information on fishing the Lackawanna River see your summary of fishing regulations published by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. For more information on hatches see Pennsylvania Trout Streams and Their Hatches by Charles Meck and Trout Streams of Pennsylvania by Dwight Landis. Contact Len Gorney or Lackawanna Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited for additional information.