PFBC 2007 Biologist Report - Frankstown Branch of the Juniata River

Frankstown Branch of the Juniata River

Blair County

July 27, 2007
Sampling Technique – Towed Boat Electrofishing

Frankstown Branch of the Juniata River

The Frankstown Branch of the Juniata River originates at the confluence of Pine Run and Beaverdam Creek near the town of Claysburg and flows in an easterly direction to its mouth at the Juniata River. The headwater section of the river is managed as a trout stocked fishery and provides recreational angling for stocked trout. The remainder of the river is managed as a warm water fishery. The entire Frankstown Branch of the Juniata River is regulated under Conventional Statewide Regulations.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s Fisheries Management biologists conducted a survey of the Frankstown Branch of the Juniata River in the vicinity of Kladder Station downstream to Gesseytown. This biological survey was intended to provide the details necessary to identify areas on the river where warm water fishing opportunities were present.

Redbreast sunfish collected during sampling

A wide variety of warmwater and coolwater gamefish were captured including redbreast sunfish, rock bass, smallmouth bass, yellow bullhead, brown bullhead, pumpkinseed, white sucker, fallfish, hatchery trout and wild brown trout. Table 1 below depicts the specific number and size of the gamefish collected.

Table 1. Total gamefish captured by electrofishing two 300meter (328yards) survey sites.

Species	Number Captured	Size Range (Inches)
Fallfish	1	1 larger than 10”
Rock bass	33	2 – 10
Brown bullhead	1	5
White sucker	293	115 larger than 12”
Pumpkinseed	6	3 – 4
Yellow bullhead	69	3 – 10
Smallmouth bass	4	2 – 14
Redbreast sunfish	58	2 – 7
Wild brown trout	18	6 – 11
Hatchery brown trout	1	10
Hatchery rainbow trout	2	10 – 11

Rock bass collected during sampling

Results of the survey indicated that angling opportunities were present on a limited basis for rock bass, redbreast sunfish and an occasional smallmouth bass. Yellow bullhead were present in good numbers but were typically small. For those wishing to fish for white suckers the Frankstown Branch held good numbers and good-sized fish. As always, anglers should concentrate their efforts in areas with the best habitat and avoid the long shallow riffle areas that are present as a result of the limited rainfall this year.

The yellow dotted line depicts the survey reach sampled on the Frankstown Branch of the Juniata River

-- Area 7

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