Fishing at Coal Bank Run, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania

• Overview

  Look for Coal Bank Run in the Armstrong County part of Pennsylvania. The country here is farm and woodlot. Lenape Heights sits 4.2 miles from the bank. Pittsburgh is the closest city, 31 miles away. Near neighbours include: 7.8 miles out stands Pearl Lake, Owen Reservoir sits 8.8 miles out, 12 miles out stands Shady Side Lake, Keystone Lake sits 12 miles out and 12 miles out stands Holtzhauer Lake. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Coal Bank Run

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Gravel runs and silted pools fish quite differently, so treat them apart. The head and tail of a pool beat the body of it. Species logged across Armstrong County include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, bluegill and black crappie. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Coal Bank Run the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 71°F and January about 26°F. The swings are modest, so patterns change slowly. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. The season on Coal Bank Run rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. There is a mapped slipway roughly half a mile away. There is a pier recorded roughly half a mile away. There is camping recorded roughly half a mile off. Mapping records toilets within half a mile. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Pearl Lake sits 7.8 miles off and takes the overflow. None of that is settled for Coal Bank Run in what we hold.