In Your Back Yard First, let me introduce the concept of In Your Back Yard. It is a monthly journey to some pretty cool places and things to do within a hour and a half to two hour drive of the city of Meadville. These places will be budget conscious and family friendly. So pack a lunch, fill up the gas tank, unplug the kids from their electronics and make some memories!
The first stop on our adventure is located in Western Crawford County. It is known to many as the place where the ducks walk on the fish, the Pymatuning Spillway is located at 12318 Hartstown Rd, Linesville, PA 16424. The spillway area itself has undergone some renovations in the years since I have started going there (we will not speak of how many years that actually may be). The snack bar, restrooms and tables as well as accessibility ramps have made it a great place to bring a family of all ages and abilities. A high concentration of carp that absolutely love bread and crackers are always waiting like baby birds in a nest. The gaping mouths are a completely monstrous sight that you just can not seem to look away from. On a side note, as a child I remember telling my younger sister that they could come up the drain in the bathtub. That was frowned upon later when she refused to take a bath for a few days but thankfully she was not scarred for life. Be sure to pack a few loaves of bread, old hotdog buns or even a couple sleeves of crackers. But, if you forget, don’t worry you can purchase bread for the fish on site or a variety of locations in the area.
If you get there and there does not seem to be a whole lot of bird activity, don’t fret. The sound of a twist tie on a bread wrapper carries remarkably well and soon you will be surrounded. The art of throwing the bread is a personal choice. Many tear off smaller pieces and wad them into balls for distance and accuracy. Toddlers tend to give one piece to the fish and then one piece to themselves so be aware of this when choosing what they will be throwing. Some throw a slice in to give the ducks a chance to gobble a mouthful or two before the carp suck it down. Some throw in entire non sliced loaves for maximum action. The latter choice often resembles a soccer match as the bread scoots around the surface until it gets water logged enough for the fish to get a bite.
The seagulls in the area are masters of acrobatics, toss a few small pieces up high and watch them dive to catch them. You may want to to forgo tossing it straight up as it has been known to cause quite a bird poo mess. But, if you have a pouting teenager in your group... well, bombs away!
Once you have had your fill of feeding the fish, pun intended, be sure to turn right out of the main parking lot and head towards Linesville. Within a short drive is the the Linesville Fish Hatchery located at 13300 Hartstown Rd, Linesville, Pa 16424. This great facility is open daily from 8am to 3:30pm. Inside the visitor center you will find many displays and activities for the kids as well as a large freshwater tank full of various fish that are native to Pennsylvania. Be sure to head downstairs if you are able to see the tank from the bottom as well as a view of the hatchery operations.
Both the towns of Linesville and Espyville offer places for snacks or lunch if you did not pack a picnic. Take the opportunity to look around or talk to a local for other cool places to visit while you are in the area. There are many activities such as hiking, fishing, camping and biking in the State Park so take some time to explore Your Back Yard. Until next time just remember “Not all those who wander are lost.” -J.R.R.Tolkien
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