'Tailwaters are the salvation of trout fishing'

Tailwater trout fisheries are among the most popular and sought after angling destination locations in the country. Simply put, a tailwater is created by a downstream coldwater release from a man-made impoundment. The cold water provides optimal water temperatures trout require as well as for the aquatic life that they depend on to consume to grow and survive. Although the reality is the construction of water impoundments have also destroyed countless miles of flowing water, they have also breathed new life into many others.

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Legendary angler Lefty Kreh once said, “Tailwaters are the salvation of trout fishing.” His comment may be even more accurate in the future than it is today. Tailwaters may be the only hedge coldwater angling and anglers will have to offset the current and future impacts of climate change. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have determined that the average temperature in the U. S. has increased 1.6 degrees in the last 30 years. According to the National Wildlife Federation and confirmed by the National Academy of Sciences of the USA, habitat for coldwater species is projected to decline by 50% by the end of the 20th Century.

Even without that future threat many well known and popular trout waters also begin to warm as summer heats up. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission have now placed educational signage along these waters throughout the state. They inform anglers that as water temperatures begin to exceed 68 degrees even trout that are released can still suffer stress or perish after an exhaustive fight on the end of a line.

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There are many coldwater tailwater fisheries across North American that provide outstanding angling opportunities and extend the trout fishing season well into the hotter months. Among the finest is perhaps the North Platte River upstream, downstream, and through the city of Casper, Wyoming. The well-known Grey Reef and Miracle Mile sections are legendary in angling circles. The Grey Reef stretch is estimated to hold 8,700 trout per mile with the fish averaging between 17 and 20 inches and larger. The trout are all wild stream-bred rainbow and brown trout, which adds to the quality of the angling experience.

Ted Oppegard, of Somerset, makes at least two trips a year to the North Platte. “This is world-class fishing at its best," he said. "I have fished other outstanding waters in the west, but the North Platte is by far the best angling I have experienced.”

Among the many guide services that now provide float trips on the North Platte is the Wyoming Fly Fishing Guide Service, also the first fishing outfitter on the river dating back to 1987. Current owners Ryan and Liz Anderson now operate the service and fly shop just outside of Casper. Liz puts into perspective the growing attraction of the water. “In the 14 years we have owned and operated the guide service we have experienced an increase of four times the number of anglers now fishing the river and hiring the multiple guides that work out of our shop.”

Of course, exponential angling interest growth driven by quality tailwaters is not just relegated to the American west. The White, South Holston and Watauga Rivers in the Southeast have become well known for their super-productive trout angling.

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In eastern Pennsylvania, the Delaware and Lehigh Rivers, among others, also provide outstanding tailwater fishing. The Delaware receives cold water from reservoirs constructed on its East and West Branches and is a productive wild rainbow trout tailwater for its first 27 miles downstream along the Pennsylvania and New Jersey shoreline. Water releases from the Francis Walter Dam now extend the coldwater trout season well into the summer on the Lehigh River creating yet another destination coldwater fishery.

Even the southwestern portion of Pennsylvania encompasses unique tailwater fisheries. The tailwater section of the Youghiogheny River, flowing out of the Youghiogheny Reservoir, with its origin in Somerset County, flows 16 miles to its confluence with the Monongahela River. The middle "Yough,” which is the first 11 miles below the reservoir, is comparable in size to waters such as the North Platte and is the home of wary and large trout that can be accessed by float fishing as well as wading by following the Great Allegheny Passage trail downstream all the way to Ohiopyle State Park.

The trout in the Yough are not wild and mostly originate from fingerling stockings from the Fish and Boat Commission, which creates a fertile year-round fishery with trout in the 15-inch to 24-inch range. Professional fishing guides now operate on the water that is often better known for its white water boating experience.

Yet another southwest region tailwater, and actually the state’s newest tailwater, is the last 1.3 miles of Quemahoning Creek before it enters the Stonycreek River in Conemaugh Township, Somerset County. This section of the creek was altered drastically just after the turn of the 20th century with the construction of the Quemahoning Reservoir and the subsequent dredging of its rock bottom stream habitat. After the formerly private reservoir was publicly acquired in 2000, a mandated daily conservation water release, not to be confused with the popular occasional whitewater releases, restored historic flow and coldwater to the stream.

The Somerset Conservation District also administered, designed and implemented two phases of habitat restoration projects in the past with a new major third phase under construction right now. The project will, among other improvements, narrow the stream channel and create riffles.

District Watershed Specialist Greg Shustrick is overseeing the project. “This phase of fish habitat installation will not just include designed structures, but will add tons of rock to the stream that will restore the natural habitat that was removed over 100 years ago," he said. "We believe the existing coldwater coupled with this habitat restoration will increase macro-invertebrate species, improve the fish holding capacity and increase the quantity of the already existing fish pollution and could eventually create a wild trout fishery.”

Not all of these current productive tailwaters have always been angling hotspots despite existing downstream of reservoirs. For example, the North Platte, Youghiogheny and Quemahoning may all be very different types of tailwaters. However, they do share one common denominator and that is they have all recovered from water-quality degradation through the efforts of public and private sector-driven initiatives. Back in 1958 the North Platte was considered the most polluted river in the country. The Youghiogheny was severely impacted from abandoned mine drainage for decades and the Quemahoning suffered from both water quantity deprivation and complete eradication of its natural habitat.

Today all three offer different experiences and opportunities, but share the ability to be resilient when given a chance at recovery. They all now provide not only extended coldwater recreational opportunities, but are driving significant positive economic impacts in their respective regions proving that natural resources coupled with man-made alterations and facilities can still function in harmony.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Len Lichvar story about coldwater trout fishing