⚠️ Always verify special regulations for the specific water you're fishing. Some Three Rivers sections have special rules. Check walleye/sauger dates — season has a spring closure.
PA DEP has consumption advisories for the Three Rivers based on industrial history. Know before you eat:
🚫 Mon River — Catfish & Carp: Significant industrial history. PA DEP recommends limiting consumption. Bottom feeders accumulate PCBs and heavy metals in river sediment.
⚠️ Allegheny River — Catfish & Carp: Moderate advisories in lower Pittsburgh pools. Consumption limits apply — especially for large fish. Smallmouth bass generally safer.
✅ Upper Yough / Tributaries: Cleaner water upstream. Trout and smallmouth from Connellsville and above generally carry fewer advisories.
ℹ️ Pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children under 12 should follow the strictest limits for all river species.