Community Corner

Trout Anglers Turn Out For Opening Day

The Big Sewickley Creek is a popular fishing spot on the first day of trout season.

The brisk temperatures and gloomy overcast didn’t stop local fishing fans from wading into the waters Saturday on the opening day of trout season.

For many eager to be out in the water again, the Big Sewickley Creek proved to be a popular fishing spot.

Pittsburgh residents Ed Thomas, 63, and his daughter Jennifer Thomas, 26, arrived bright and early to try their luck at the official 8 a.m. start time of the season. For Jennifer Thomas, the trip was her first to fish in , but Ed Thomas said he’s been driving down for years to fish in Big Sewickley Creek.

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“He comes every year,” Jennifer Thomas said.

“This used to be one of the best spots,” Ed Thomas said. “The creek changes each year from the current.”

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In a parking lot across from the fast-moving creek, they packed up their pickup to go home while describing the conditions as cold and the water rough because of the constant downpour. The Thomases ended up leaving with only one trout – mainly because Jennifer Thomas made her father throw the other fish they caught back in the water. They kept the trout that swallowed a hook, Ed Thomas said.

While some came before the starting time, others came hours after and made out just fine.  

Chuck Abercrombie and his 10-year-old daughter Hannah, both of Bellevue, said they spent only about an hour fishing before taking a break to get some lunch shortly after 11 a.m. In that short time, the father-daughter duo didn’t take long to hook two trout on stringers. The scenario was much different from last year, Chuck Abercrombie said.

“We fished here last year, and she limited out in about five minutes,” he said.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission stocked millions of hatchery-raised brook, brown and rainbow trout in nearly 1,000 streams and lakes statewide, including the Big Sewickley Creek.

Robert Toth, 48, of Baden, said the abundance made it almost effortless to catch trout.

“The first day, it’s sort of kind of easy,” he said.

Despite the cold, Toth enjoyed the day on the water with his son, Austin, 12, who has been fishing with his father all his life and hunting since he was 5.

The two started exactly at 8 a.m., standing under a bridge to avoid the constant rain. Before noon, the father-son team had reeled in seven fish.

“You’re only allowed five, but we keep throwing them back,” Toth said.

ANOTHER FAMILY

Much like the families outdoors who carried on their traditions on the first day of trout season, the in Bell Acres continued its own annual tradition inside the fire hall.

A pancake was served starting at 4 a.m. for early risers to fill their bellies before heading to the creek.

Assistant Fire Chief Wayne Fortuna spent the morning flipping pancakes. He said he wasn’t surprised by the weather, which has become another sort of tradition for trout season in Western Pennsylvania. 

“It always rains on the first day of trout. Cold and rain,” Fortuna said.

Still, the workers who put on the fishing breakfast said they were happy with a large turnout. Even those who weren’t fishing for good fortune somehow found it.

Breakfast cashier Paulette Hannah celebrated her 58th birthday by volunteering at the breakfast. A candle-lit birthday cake and a rendition of “Happy Birthday” gave her quite a surprise and brought her to tears. Other volunteers said Hannah deserved the birthday wishes.

Trout season runs through Labor Day, Sept. 5.


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