The Pymatuning Spillway in Linesville

I say it every year - you have to see it to believe it. I'm not sure what's more fascinating - the giant carp at Pymatuning's Spillway in Linesville or the fact that thousands of people visit each year. According to this internet article, it's the second most popular attraction in Pennsylvania (the Liberty Bell is number one). That's probably a stretch, but it is remarkable that this draws such a crowd.

Visitors (or 'hurlers', according to Roadside America), throw bread to the seemingly ravenous fish. The larger carp can weigh 40 or 50 pounds!  The competition between the fish and ducks (or geese) for the bread isn't always pretty. One of our cousins saw a bird being eaten by the fish.

In 2008, officials decided that the bread wasn't healthy for the carp and visitors could only feed pellets to the fish. You can see the New York Times article here. As you can imagine, that didn't go over well. Within a few months, the bread was back, and the New York Times wrote about the Spillway again (here).  

The Wall Street Journal also wrote about the Spillway (here). In case you're curious, yes people do fall in each year, and no the fish do not eat them. 

In case you're hungry after all of that, there is a little stand that sells food. Fudge anyone?

The Pymatuning Spillway

You really have to see the Spillway to believe it. This roadside attraction is supposedly the 2nd largest tourist draw in Pennsylvania. Located in Linesville on the spillway of Pymatuning Lake, the spillway holds thousands of giant carp. People come from all around to feed bread to these fish. The water is so thick with fish that the carp literally fight to get back in the water at times. To make it even more interesting, the ducks also try to get the bread - hence the Spillway's line - the place where ducks walk on fish. Make sure to scroll down to the see the video.

Pymatuning Spillway Update

Looks like the people have spoken. January 1, 2009 was to mean the end of feeding bread to fish at the Spillway in Linesville. After much public outcry, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources decided that the feeding can continue for another year. This doesn't necessarily mean the end of the debate, however. It's merely another year for the Department to evaluate the decision. Until then, enjoy watching these giant carp flop on top of each other as they fight for loaves of bread.

Pymatuning Spillway makes the New York Times!

Today's New York Times reported on the bread controversy at the Linesville Spillway. Click on this link to read the article. Many thanks to my brother for pointing this out.

The Spillway at Pymatuning - 'Where Ducks Walk on Fish'

The Spillway definitely falls in the 'have to see it to believe it' category. Since the 1930's, people have fed bread to the fish at the Spillway in Pymatuning Reservoir. The fish have grown to gargantuan sizes (we were guessing at least 25 inches and maybe 20 pounds). These carp pile on top of each other to fight for the loaves of stale white bread and hot dog buns that people toss in. The small concession stand at the Spillway even sells bags of bread to the hoards of tourists that stop to visit. According to the Roadside America website, this is the 2nd most visited attraction in the state of Pennsylvania (topped only by the Liberty Bell). The fish become so crowded that the Spillway has earned the title 'Where the Ducks Walk on Fish'. Below you can see a duck actually walking on the fish.

We're ready with our bags of bread...

If you didn't bring your own bread, don't worry - they sell it at the Spillway...

Beginning January, 2009, a no-bread policy will be enforced, and the Spillway will only sell fish food pellets. I'm betting that people continue to bring their own bread.

Somehow, among all of these dark grey/brown carp, there is this one gold carp. We call her Goldie.