Next up in the our mini-series on Steelhead Alley is Conneaut Creek where steelhead run some 75 miles from the mouth of the river along Lake Erie in Conneaut, Ohio to the the headwaters in Dickonsburg, Pennsylvania.
Conneaut Creek is a high-quality stream that runs very clear due it's Chagrin shale and gravel bottom that minimizes suspended sediment. The Conneaut is recognized nationally for its steelhead fishing due in-part because it is stocked from both Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Ohio State Wild and Scenic River
Conneaut Creek in Ashtabula County was officially designated a State Wild and Scenic River on October 6, 2005. The designation provides state protection to a 21-mile stretch of the creek from the Ohio-Pennsylvania border to the former Penn Central Railroad bridge in the City of Conneaut on the Lake Erie shore.
Conneaut Creek - A Tale of Two States
Conneaut Creek is similar to Pennsylvania's Elk Creek, but larger, and winds its way through urban areas, rural landscapes, valleys, and gorges in both Pennsylvania and Ohio. The "Conny" gets excellent returns of both fall-run Pennsylvania strain steelhead and spring-run Manistee strain steelhead as a result of stocking by both the Pennsylvania Boat and Fish Commission and Ohio's Department of Natural Resources.
Conneaut Creek Steelhead Trout Fishing Map
If you are planning a trip to Conneaut Creek but are not sure where to go, a good place to start is the Ohio DNR Conneaut Creek Steelhead Trout Fishing Map which shows public access points.
Where to Fish Conneaut Creek
Public access to Conneaut Creek in Ohio is limited to the Conneaut Harbor and the Lakeville Park Access off Center Road as most of the river flows through private farmlands and woodlands. Pennsylvania offers better public access, primarily at bridge crossings, and fewer anglers.
Conneaut Creek Steelhead Trout Fishing Map
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Black River (OH): 41.464688, -82.165734
Chagrin River (OH): 41.677119, -81.437258
CHAGRIN RIVER AT WILLOUGHBY OH: 41.630881, -81.403445
Chagrin River (Eastlake Seawall): 41.674737, -81.440698
Chagrin River (Borac's Landing Boat Ramp): 41.665979, -81.422950
Chagrin River (Mitchell Field): 41.661995, -81.422165
Chagrin River (Chagrin River Park): 41.658670, -81.410100
Chagrin River (Gilson Park): 41.649506, -81.407421
Chagrin River (Todd Field): 41.641542, -81.403652
Chagrin River (Daniels Park): 41.628406, -81.400182
Chagrin River (N. Chagrin Reservation): 41.583224, -81.401445
Chagrin River (Rogers Road Field): 41.569557, -81.415172
Conneaut Creek (OH): 41.972512, -80.549560
Conneaut Creek (Lakeville Park Access): 41.893737, -80.574170
Conneaut Creek (Carter Rd Bridge Access): 41.870008, -80.401821
Conneaut Creek (Bridge Access): 41.890732, -80.400929
Conneaut Creek (Gage Road Access): 41.900315, -80.375443
Conneaut Creek (Griffy Road Bridge Access): 41.917513, -80.469075
Conneaut Creek (Rt 6N Bridge Access): 41.916902, -80.452689
Conneaut Creek (Mckee Road South Access): 41.919635, -80.430355
Conneaut Creek (Mckee Road North Access): 41.920554, -80.430480
Conneaut Creek (Rt 215 Bridge Access): 41.920204, -80.398485
Conneaut Creek (Old Bridge Abutment Access): 41.901268, -80.380119
Conneaut Creek (Breakwall): 41.967245, -80.554971
Conneaut Creek (Harbor): 41.970090, -80.551369
Conneaut Creek (Woodworth Road Boat Ramp): 41.952856, -80.542835
CONNEAUT CREEK AT CONNEAUT OH: 41.926944, -80.604167
Rocky River (OH): 41.490138, -81.836897
Rocky River (Lagoon Dam): 41.402561, -81.883992
Rocky River (Cedar Point Area): 41.407087, -81.885956
Rocky River (Morley Ford): 41.459249, -81.822230
Rocky River (Brookpark Overpass): 41.417378, -81.857337
Rocky River (Mastic Picnic Access): 41.432877, -81.848846
Rocky River (Mastic Woods): 41.442988, -81.841123
Rocky River (Blue Bank Pools): 41.443117, -81.829141
Rocky River (Lorain Rd Bridge): 41.452893, -81.824387
Rocky River (Horse Ford): 41.464230, -81.818642
Rocky River (Access): 41.476920, -81.823794
Rocky River (Rock Cliff Spring & Pool): 41.468659, -81.824580
Rocky River (Madison Pool): 41.465670, -81.827760
Rocky River (Emerald Necklace Access): 41.477718, -81.832011
ROCKY RIVER NEAR BEREA OH: 41.406715, -81.887082
Vermilion River (OH): 41.424450, -82.364845
Vermilion Municipal Boat Launch: 41.420143, -82.356567
Vermilion River (Jerusalem Road Access): 41.402325, -82.326515
Vermilion River (Mill Hollow Bacon Woods Park): 41.380497, -82.320000
Vermilion River (Bacon Woods Access): 41.390953, -82.330956
Vermilion River (Peasley Road Access): 41.361187, -82.310860
Vermilion River (Gore Orphanage Road Access): 41.360195, -82.334206
Vermilion River (Schoefle Garden Access): 41.330662, -82.350563
Vermilion River (Wakeman Dam Access): 41.254848, -82.399857
VERMILION RIVER NEAR VERMILION OH: 41.381990, -82.316827
Grand River (OH): 41.719361, -81.228528
Grand River (Mentor Headlands & Breakwall): 41.760390, -81.281791
Grand River (Fairport Harbor Park): 41.758164, -81.275682
Grand River (Painesville City Park & Old Dam): 41.730981, -81.236151
Grand River (Helen Hazen Wyman Park): 41.704904, -81.231036
Grand River (Mason's Landing): 41.726739, -81.185049
Grand River (Indian Point Park): 41.719945, -81.175636
Grand River (Hidden Valley Park): 41.741159, -81.049002
Grand River (Riverview Park): 41.740686, -81.041453
Grand River (Hogsback Ridge Park): 41.744071, -81.030810
Grand River (Harpersfield Dam): 41.756944, -80.943868
GRAND RIVER NEAR PAINESVILLE OH: 41.718934, -81.227879
Ashtablua River (Walnut Beach Breakwall): 41.900924, -80.806789
Ashtabula River (Cedarquist Park): 41.874941, -80.782573
Ashtabula River (Indian Trails Park): 41.855630, -80.762070
Ashtabula River (Olins Bridge): 41.862710, -80.721110
Ashtabula River (Green Hills Rd): 41.852620, -80.727430
Ashtabula River (Benetka Rd): 41.848790, -80.689380
Ashtabula River (Root Road): 41.833330, -80.620020
Huron River (Ohio): 41.394130, -82.554610
Huron River (Rt. 6 Access): 41.390360, -82.552630
Huron River (Valley Resort): 41.355710, -82.557200
Huron River (Private Access): 41.336910, -82.579250
Huron River (Coupling Reserve): 41.324280, -82.588500
Huron River West Branch (Milan Area): 41.286730, -82.642900
Huron River West Branch (Hwy 16): 41.245890, -82.690830
Huron River West Branch (Frank Clark Park): 41.241810, -82.692510
Twentymile Creek-1: 42.260300, -79.781410
Twentymile Creek-2: 42.239820, -79.772420
Twentymile Creek-3: 42.239820, -79.772420
Sixteenmile Creek: 42.240970, -79.833040
Twelvemile Creek: 42.211110, -79.915220
Cascade Creek-1: 42.125550, -80.110500
Cascade Creek-2: 42.118520, -80.117890
Presque Isle: 42.147710, -80.129730
Walnut Creek-1: 42.075310, -80.238110
Walnut Creek-2: 42.065940, -80.228800
Walnut Creek-3: 42.056210, -80.223860
Walnut Creek-4: 42.046970, -80.171950
Walnut Creek-5: 42.056310, -80.142810
Trout Run: 42.058510, -80.272520
Godfrey Run: 42.043830, -80.310210
Elk Creek-1: 42.020950, -80.374670
Elk Creek-2: 42.020060, -80.368090
Elk Creek-3: 42.007150, -80.353200
Elk Creek-4: 42.007150, -80.353200
Elk Creek-5: 42.007150, -80.353200
Elk Creek-6: 41.998200, -80.336530
Elk Creek-7: 41.998200, -80.336530
Elk Creek-8: 41.991790, -80.318810
Elk Creek-9: 41.991790, -80.318810
Elk Creek-10: 41.991790, -80.318810
Elk Creek-11: 41.993160, -80.218560
Elk Creek-12: 41.997110, -80.199450
Elk Creek-13: 42.004380, -80.202600
Elk Creek-14: 42.003700, -80.189260
Elk Creek-15: 42.002740, -80.174050
Elk Creek-16: 41.997260, -80.163780
Elk Creek-17: 42.002510, -80.143040
Crooked Creek-1: 41.994120, -80.419530
Crooked Creek-2: 41.994120, -80.419530
Crooked Creek-3: 41.983490, -80.401950
Crooked Creek-4: 41.983490, -80.401950
Crooked Creek-5: 41.983490, -80.401950
Raccoon Creek-1: 41.989430, -80.480680
Raccoon Creek-2: 41.976400, -80.472230
Raccoon Creek-3: 41.967970, -80.462930
East Branch Conneaut Creek, PA: 41.894380, -80.370240
West Branch Conneaut Creek, PA: 41.867760, -80.471080
NY - Cattaraugus Creek : 42.562121, -79.094267
NY - Chautauqua Creek: 42.202965, -79.591095
Twentymile Creek, PA: 42.263111, -79.784210
HURON RIVER AT MILAN OH: 41.300885, -82.608233
BLACK RIVER AT ELYRIA OH: 41.380324, -82.104593
Canadaway Creek, NY: 42.475496, -79.364646
Cattaraugus Creek (Lower), NY: 42.456067, -78.812560
Cattaraugus Creek (Lower), NY: 42.473846, -78.744743
Cattaraugus Creek (Lower), NY: 42.483415, -78.700132
Cattaraugus Creek (Lower), NY: 42.443692, -78.903905
Cayuga Inlet, NY: 42.368737, -76.554022
Cayuga Inlet, NY: 42.384280, -76.553295
Cayuga Inlet, NY: 42.353973, -76.544816
Cayuga Inlet, NY: 42.347026, -76.540545
Cayuga Inlet, NY: 42.338423, -76.529626
Chautauqua Creek, NY: 42.305822, -79.578375
Eighteen Mile Creek, NY: 42.711456, -78.966497
Eighteen Mile Creek, NY: 42.699249, -78.940697
Eighteen Mile Creek, NY: 42.706650, -78.892991
Eighteen Mile Creek, NY: 43.336163, -78.717152
Eighteen Mile Creek, NY: 43.317312, -78.715370
Cattaraugus Creek 5, NY: 42.536283, -78.457809
Cattaraugus Creek 6, NY: 42.586084, -78.335112
Cattaraugus Creek 3, NY: 42.483438, -78.700132
Cattaraugus Creek 2, NY: 42.455766, -78.812014
Cattaraugus Creek 1, NY: 42.443673, -78.903923
Cattaraugus Creek 4, NY: 42.534669, -78.478240
Cayuga Inlet 4, NY: 42.338428, -76.529602
Cayuga Inlet 1, NY: 42.384159, -76.553304
Cayuga Inlet 2, NY: 42.368737, -76.554031
Cayuga Inlet 3, NY: 42.347040, -76.540539
Cayuta Creek 2, NY: 42.268607, -76.682588
Cayuta Creek 1, NY: 42.227309, -76.611908
Chautauqua Creek 1, NY: 42.305845, -79.578139
Eighteenmile Creek 1, NY: 42.711456, -78.966497
Eighteenmile Creek 2, NY: 42.699340, -78.940677
Eighteenmile Creek 3, NY: 42.706645, -78.892990
Fishing: 40.162731, -79.029559
Download the DIY Fly Fishing App to get turn-by-turn directions to access points shown on the map above.
Spend less time looking for places to fish and more time fishing!
When to Fish Conneaut Creek
Conneaut Creek fishes best when the stream flow is between 150-350 cfs. The USGS Conneaut Creek flow gauge near Conneaut, OH provides real-time stream flow data and can be used to judge when to fish. The chart below shows the Conneaut Creek stream flow (in cfs) for the past seven days. Conneaut Creek usually takes about 3-4 days to clear and return to normal flows after a rainfall.
Ideal Flow (cfs)
150-350
Average Run-off Time
3-4 days
Anglers seeking big steelhead without big crowds may find Conneaut Creek made to order, especially late in the year (December) when fish have reached the remote upper portion of Pennsylvania's largest Lake Erie tributary.
Ken is an avid fisherman of 40+ years who loves to explore and is on a quest to map the best places for fly fishing in America. He created DIY Fly Fishing and the DIY Fly Fishing App to share this information and help you find new places to fish. Have a question? You can get in touch with Ken here.
