Last 14 days
Daily flow table
| Date | Low | Average | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Oct 13 | 7.9 | 9.1 | 9.5 |
| Mon, Oct 12 | 7.9 | 8.9 | 9.5 |
| Sun, Oct 11 | 7.9 | 8.7 | 9.5 |
| Sat, Oct 10 | 7.5 | 8.4 | 9.5 |
| Fri, Oct 9 | 7.5 | 8.4 | 9.5 |
| Thu, Oct 8 | 7.9 | 9.0 | 10.3 |
| Wed, Oct 7 | 7.5 | 9.1 | 10.3 |
| Tue, Oct 6 | 8.9 | 9.7 | 10.3 |
| Mon, Oct 5 | 7.5 | 9.9 | 11.1 |
| Sun, Oct 4 | 7.5 | 9.4 | 12.9 |
| Sat, Oct 3 | 7.9 | 13.8 | 24.4 |
| Fri, Oct 2 | 8.4 | 22.0 | 58.3 |
| Thu, Oct 1 | 7.5 | 10.8 | 14.9 |
| Wed, Sep 30 | 7.0 | 8.8 | 11.1 |
| Tue, Sep 29 | 7.5 | 9.4 | 12.0 |
Daily low, average and high flow in cfs, Eastern time. The current day is partial.
What the RiverTrax app adds
- Alerts at your range
Pick the flow you like and RiverTrax notifies you when Walnut Creek gets there.
- A home-screen widget
See Walnut Creek's flow, gauge height and trend on your iPhone home screen without opening anything.
- All your rivers in one list
Save Walnut Creek and other Steelhead Alley gauges as favorites and check them at a glance.
What's normal, and when the run happens
Walnut Creek enters Lake Erie at PA Fish & Boat's Walnut Creek Access in Fairview, just west of Erie. PA Fish & Boat says steelhead run up the tributaries from October through April, and DIY Fly Fishing says Walnut usually fishes best in fall and early winter, with a mix of wild and stocked fish.
We haven't found a published best-flow range for Walnut Creek, so this page compares today's flow with what's normal for the date instead. DIY Fly Fishing gives the same advice: if the flow is well above or below normal, conditions may not be ideal. PA Fish & Boat's steelhead guide rates Walnut as a medium creek that's usually fishable again 1–2 days after rain. The gauge's normals come from about 18 years of records, fewer than the Ohio rivers have.
| Date | Low year (25%) | Median | High year (75%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15 | 15 | 22 | 50 |
| Nov 1 | 39 | 50 | 145 |
| Nov 15 | 26 | 52 | 84 |
| Dec 1 | 51 | 112 | 151 |
| Dec 15 | 33 | 57 | 228 |
| Jan 15 | 35 | 48 | 65 |
| Feb 15 | 37 | 51 | 94 |
| Mar 15 | 49 | 64 | 116 |
| Apr 15 | 35 | 58 | 75 |
| May 15 | 24 | 42 | 116 |
Access and parking
From PA Fish & Boat's Erie tributary parking data, from the mouth upstream. On easements, stay between the stream and the marked boundary.
- Walnut Creek Access, at the mouthMap location
Fish & Boat Commission property with ample parking and a boat launch. Fishing from the Manchester Road bridge to the mouth on both sides unless posted. The east bank of the Manchester Hole is posted closed; PFBC asks anglers to respect it. Source: PA Fish & Boat
- Route 5Map location
Landowner easement with limited parking along Route 5; access via the stream. The boundary is marked. Source: PA Fish & Boat
- Dutch RoadMap location
Fish & Boat Commission property. Parking off Dutch Road is very limited, so don't park along the railroad tracks; walking access is difficult. Source: PA Fish & Boat
- Asbury Woods, Route 832Map location
Millcreek Township School District property. Park off Route 832 (Sterrettania Road) and follow the path north to the walking bridge; the boundary is marked. Source: PA Fish & Boat
- Veterans Park, Zimmerly RoadMap location
Millcreek Township park with ample parking; fishing from Zimmerly Road upstream 2,600 feet. Source: PA Fish & Boat
- Zimmerly ParkMap location
Millcreek Township park with limited parking, including an ADA-accessible parking area, access trail and fishing platform. Source: PA Fish & Boat
Parking details from PA Fish & Boat's Erie tributary parking data (last updated January 2023).
Stocking
Across its Lake Erie tributaries, PA Fish & Boat has said it stocks more than a million juvenile steelhead a year; it doesn't publish a per-creek number on its steelhead page. Source: PA Fish & Boat (2016).
Common questions
What flow is best for steelhead on Walnut Creek?
We haven't found a published range for Walnut Creek. DIY Fly Fishing's advice is to compare the flow with what's normal for the date, and conditions may not be ideal when it's well above or below normal. That's what this page shows.
Can I fish Walnut Creek at night?
It depends where. From September 8 until the April trout opener, Walnut between Route 5 and the Manchester Road bridge is closed from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise, but from the Manchester Road bridge down to the lake there's no time restriction.
Where can I park to fish Walnut Creek?
PA Fish & Boat lists the Walnut Creek Access at the mouth, Route 5, Dutch Road, Asbury Woods off Route 832, Veterans Park on Zimmerly Road and Zimmerly Park.
How fast does Walnut Creek clear after rain?
PA Fish & Boat's steelhead guide rates Walnut a medium creek that's usually fishable again 1–2 days after rain.
What are the steelhead rules on Walnut Creek?
Pennsylvania's rules cover all its Lake Erie tributaries: a 15-inch minimum for steelhead, and a daily limit of three trout and salmon combined from the day after Labor Day until the spring trout opener, then five through Labor Day. You need a Pennsylvania fishing license plus a Lake Erie permit or a combination trout/Lake Erie permit. From September 8 until the April trout opener, the tributaries are closed to fishing from 10 PM to 5 AM, with exceptions on parts of Walnut and Elk creeks. 2026 Pennsylvania Fishing Summary, Lake Erie page (PDF).