Thompson Run (Crawford County)

[JSky]

Question for those who might be familiar with this stream. I’ve fished Thompson Run on and off for 40 years, mostly off lately. It was listed as a natural reproduction stream, now I see it is classified as a wild trout class A stream. With this big rains opening weekend I abandoned bigger water and went looking upstream on smaller water like Thompson Run, where I had a lot of success decades ago.

To my surprise they entire upper stretch of the river is posted, but not “no trespassing” posted rather it is covered with signs that say “no fishing”, and the signs say waters are patrolled to keep fishermen out.

Anyone know if this is some overzealous land owners, or is the state doing something to close the waters to help the class a fishery reproduce more fish?

 

[dudemanspecial]

Question for those who might be familiar with this stream. I’ve fished Thompson Run on and off for 40 years, mostly off lately. It was listed as a natural reproduction stream, now I see it is classified as a wild trout class A stream. With this big rains opening weekend I abandoned bigger water and went looking upstream on smaller water like Thompson Run, where I had a lot of success decades ago.

To my surprise they entire upper stretch of the river is posted, but not “no trespassing” posted rather it is covered with signs that say “no fishing”, and the signs say waters are patrolled to keep fishermen out.

Anyone know if this is some overzealous land owners, or is the state doing something to close the waters to help the class a fishery reproduce more fish?

I couldn't imagine the state putting signs up that doesn't indicate PFBC on them

 

[wildtrout2]

I'd think if the State were involved, the signs would indicate that? Sounds like overzealous property owners to me. That's why they stopped stocking my local stream. Must have been typing at the same time dudeman. 🙂

 

[troutbert]

It seems like it's fairly common for stocked wild trout streams to be put on the Class A list after they are posted.

 

[JSky]

It seems like it's fairly common for stocked wild trout streams to be put on the Class A list after they are posted.

I read that five times and got more confused each time LOL. Care to explain?

 

[JSky]

I couldn't imagine the state putting signs up that doesn't indicate PFBC on them

You’d think the standard “Posted, No trespassing” signs would work. The “no fishing / water is patrolled” signs seems oddly specific. I bet the landowner uses it as his own honey hole and doesn’t want anyone else catching his big browns.

 

[wildtrout2]

I read that five times and got more confused each time LOL.

You're not alone.

 

[wildtrout2]

You’d think the standard “Posted, No trespassing” signs would work. The “no fishing / water is patrolled” signs seems oddly specific. I bet the landowner uses it as his own honey hole and doesn’t want anyone else catching his big browns.

I think "patrolled" is meant to be more intimidating. 😉

 

[troutbert]

I read that five times and got more confused each time LOL. Care to explain?

It's just something I noticed.

Many stocked streams with wild trout populations get put on the Class A list after the landowner posts the land.

I haven't kept a list of such streams, but there have been many over the years.

 

[Trapshooter]

Is Thompson Run a public stream?

 

[jifigz]

It seems like it's fairly common for stocked wild trout streams to be put on the Class A list after they are posted.

What he says here makes perfect sense, and it seems a rather plausible explanation.

 

[Swattie87]

I read that five times and got more confused each time LOL. Care to explain?

It can only be understood by those who already know what it means. 😜

(I think) he’s implying that sometimes a stream has survey data to support it being Class A, but it is not listed as so. The stream is stocked. Then, all of a sudden, a portion, or all, of the stocked section gets posted to where it doesn’t warrant the PFBC allocating fish there since the public can’t fish it. Then, also all of a sudden, it gets listed as Class A. When the biomass to support Class A was there the whole time.

 

[troutbert]

It can only be understood by those who already know what it means. 😜

(I think) he’s implying that sometimes a stream has survey data to support it being Class A, but it is not listed as so. The stream is stocked. Then, all of a sudden, a portion, or all, of the stocked section gets posted to where it doesn’t warrant the PFBC allocating fish there since the public can’t fish it. Then, also all of a sudden, it gets listed as Class A. When the biomass to support Class A was there the whole time.

I just reported that something that I've seen occur numerous times.

I didn't write anything about the possible causes of this.

 

[JSky]

Is Thompson Run a public stream?

It is a stocked stream. The lower reach, approximately 1/4 mile that dumps into Oil Creek is not considered class A. They stock that lower bridge area, then stock the next bridge up that is considered class A. Above that, the best wild trout water is now all posted no fishing. Wasn’t like that in the past.

 

[Swattie87]

I just reported that something that I've seen occur numerous times.

I didn't write anything about the possible causes of this.

Agree.

Then I implied it. I’m not saying it’s necessarily a bad thing. I’d rather have it stocked, and have access to it, then Class A, and posted.

 

[RLeep2]

There is a significant stretch of private water (as in leased to a club) that covers the section of Thompson in roughly the upper 25% of the main stem and then continues up (Thompson trib) Shirley Run for another maybe mile and a half. This is the water with the "no fishing" signs. This is nothing new and as best I can recall, has been the situation since sometimes in the 1970's.

The idea that any Class A portion of Thompson is stocked is incorrect. The class A section (and the no fishing signs) begin at the 3rd bridge above PA Route 8 and goes upstream from there. So far as I am aware, the access situation on the balance of Thompson (from the private water to the mouth) has remained fundamentally unchanged for a very long time, as in a half century or so.

 

[PennKev]

This is nothing new and as best I can recall, has been the situation since sometimes in the 1970's.

^This.

 

[TroutHunter814]

Yea
I haven’t ( tried) to fish it in over 20 years, and it was locked up tightly then.
Little to no access, so I never returned.

 

[HopBack]

It is a stocked stream. The lower reach, approximately 1/4 mile that dumps into Oil Creek is not considered class A. They stock that lower bridge area, then stock the next bridge up that is considered class A. Above that, the best wild trout water is now all posted no fishing. Wasn’t like that in the past.

Stocked doesn’t equal public though.