Kinzua Walleye Fishing

Kinzua Walleye Fishing

Kinzua Lake is home to two record walleyes one for the state of Pennsylvania and one for the state of New York. This is quite remarkable due to both of these states boarder Lake Erie, but Kinzua Lake owns the records for both. The lake is a 24.2 miles in length and has areas that have over 100 feet of water. There is a good population of walleye in Kinzua, however many of them are on the smaller side. In early June and late May it is much easier to catch legal and above sized walleye due to the fish being in shallower water in the 15 to 20 foot range.

During these times of year it's easy to locate walleye they seem to be on every rocky flat, humps, and points, but as the summer turns hotter the walleye will move to their deep haunts during the day and they are best fished for at night. I have found multiple techniques, which seem to work quite well in Kinzua Lake for walleye. One of my favorite techniques is to utilize a bottom bouncer and either a Northland Gum-Drop worm harness or a standard crawler harness with a flashy willow leaf. Also during the early period after walleye season opens jigging with a jig and half a nightcrawler is very productive but this technique works best in late May and June. When the heat is up it's time to speed things up and troll bottom bouncers with crawler harnesses. Silver seems to work the best and you can get some great reaction strikes by trolling at 1.5 to 2 mph with a heavy bottom bouncer (2 oz to 4 oz} and crawler harness. Some of the better fishing locations seem to be located in the state of New York on the Seneca Indian Reservation. If you are going to fish on the Reservation you will need to invest in a Seneca Nation of Indians fishing license, which can be purchased in Salamanca at the One Stop convenience store. In Pennsylvania areas such as Cornplater Bay, Sugar Bay, and Willow Bay that are in the northern sections, and in the Kinzua Branch at the southern sections of the lake are all excellent places that produce walleye in Kinzua Lake. So the next time your thinking about hitting Lake Erie and it looks like it's going to be to rough to make it out on the Lake consider Kinzua Lake to do some walleye fishing you won't be disappointed.

Kinzua Lake Boat Launches

Big Bend Access Area
Paved. Suitable mostly for canoes and smaller boats. Just downstream of Kinzua Dam on the Allegheny River.

Elijah Run
Paved. From Kinzua Dam take PA Route 59 east to intersection of Allegheny National Forest Route 262 (Longhouse Drive). Turn right onto Longhouse Drive and proceed for 4 miles to launch area. Distance from Kinzua Dam is approximately 7 miles. Fee charged.

Friends (Quaker Area)
Gravel entrance road with paved ramp. Located just off N.Y. Route 280 approximately 7 miles north of the PA state line. Open Memorial Day through Labor Day. Fee charged.

Highbanks Campground
Paved. From Warren, PA, take Scandia Road north for approximately 25 miles. Campground is on the right. Follow signs to the launch area. Fee charged.

Kiasutha Campground
Paved. From Kinzua Dam take Route 59 east to the intersection of Allegheny National Forest Route 262 (Longhouse Drive). Turn right onto Longhouse Drive and proceed for 9 miles to campground entrance. Follow signs to launch area. Distance from Kinzua Dam is approximately 12 miles. Fee charged.

Kinzua-Wolf Run Marina
Paved. From Kinzua Dam take Route 59 east for approximately 3 miles. Marina is on left. Fee charged.

Onoville Marina
Paved. From Warren, PA, take Scandia Road north for approximately 22 miles. Marina entrance is on right. Fee charged.

Webbs Ferry
Paved. From Warren, PA, take Scandia Road north for approximately 17 miles. Launch area entrance is on the right. Fee charged.

Places to Stay


Campgrounds in and around the Alleghany National Forest

Dewdrop - 74 family campsites, each containing a picnic table, fire ring, and tent pad. Flush toilets, pressurized water fountains, a trailer dump station, and hot water showers are also available. A children's play area, a concrete boat launch with parking, and an interpretive trail complete the list of facilities. Firewood may be obtained from dead and down trees.

Kiasutha - 90 family campsites, each containing a picnic table, fire ring, and tent pad. Paved loop roads and spurs provide firm support for recreational vehicles and trailers. Flush toilets, pressurized water fountains, hot showers, and a trailer dump station are available. Firewood may be obtained from dead and down trees. The large, grassy, swimming beach and picnic area have a capacity of 900 people. The day use area also includes a children's playground, a concrete boat launch with a loading dock, excellent parking facilities, and a bathhouse.

Red Bridge - 65 campsites, each containing a picnic table, fire ring, and tent pad. Hot water showers, vault and flush toilets, pressurized water fountains, and a trailer dump station are available. Sites wiht electricity, water and sewage hookups are available. Firewood and ice are available on-site. Dead and down wood may be used as firewood.

Tracy Ridge - 19 spacious, tree-shaded campsites, each containing a picnic table, fire ring, and tent pad. Hand-pumped water, vault toilets, and a trailer dump station are also available. Firewood may be obtained from dead and down trees.

Willow Bay - 100 family campsites, each containing a picnic table, fire ring, and tent pad. Facilities include hot water showers, flush and vault toilets, pressurized water fountains, and a trailer dump station. Dead and down wood may be used as firewood.

Kinzua East KOA Kampground/Cabins - Hiking, swimming pool, hayrides, horseshoes, basketball, volleyball, boat rides & rental, recreation room, convenience store, propane, laundry, public phones.

Cabin Rentals

Willow Bay Campground - 5 rustic cabins (no indoor plumbing), each containing a picnic table and fire ring. Facilities at bathhouses include hot water showers and flush and vault toilets. Pressurized water fountains and a trailer dump station are available at the facility.

Kinzua East KOA Cabins - Kinzua Heights Bradford, PA 16701
Information: (814) 368-3662

Hotels in Warren PA


Holiday Inn of Warren
210 Ludlow St, Warren - (814) 726-3000

Super 8 Warren
204 Struthers St., Warren - (814) 723-8881

Holiday Inn Warren (Kinzua Dam-Allegheny)
210 Ludlow Street, Warren - (877) 863-4780