Crawford County
Fishing has been slow. Winter drawdowns of both Woodcock Lake and Canadohta Lake are occurring.
Reminder: All boats moored at PFBC access areas must be removed by December 1st.
Conneaut Lake
All navigation buoys have been removed from the lake. Boaters should please use caution. The lake is starting to freeze up and has some slush ice around in pockets. Remember Cold Weather Life Jacket Wear has started and ALL people on boats less than 16ft and ALL canoes and kayaks MUST wear a life jacket.
Pymatuning Reservoir
The water levels are down for the winter so watch for shallow areas. Ice has started to form around the shoreline and it won’t be long before the rest of the lake freezes too. The mandatory cold weather life jacket wearing requirement is in effect until April 30, 2015.
Erie County
Lake Erie – When wave conditions permit, Steelhead shore anglers are doing well fishing off of the mouths of Walnut Creek, Trout Run, and Godfrey Run. Be sure to stay fifty yards away from the mouth of all these areas between the hours of 10pm and 5am.
Western Erie Tributaries
Steelhead stream anglers are having success on lower Walnut Creek when water conditions cooperate. Again, when water conditions cooperate, Upper Elk Creek is doing well. Stream conditions as of this writing are very low and clear.
Presque Isle Bay
Shore anglers are doing well on pan fish off the docks in Marina Lake. Angler success seems to be the best before sunrise. Shore anglers have also reported success with pan fish along the Bay Front.
Recent enforcement actions have resulted in a lot of prosecutions. The most common violations are snagging/foul hooking, litter, and over limit violations. Daily saturation patrols with both uniformed and plain cloths officers have continued to be very successful.
Mile Streams – Streams are low and clear and the steelhead fishing has slowed. The forecast this week is for snow and temperatures in the low 30’s and upper 20’s. There is a warm-up forecasted by the weekend.
If you’re coming to Erie to fish for Steelhead make sure you have the required permits. A Trout/Salmon Stamp and a Lake Erie permit are required to catch and keep Steelhead Trout.
Stream Temperature 46°
Lake Erie Temperature 49°
Inland Lake Temperature 49°
North East Marina and Shades Beach Safe Harbor are closed for the season.
Venango County
Allegheny River – The USGS depth gage in Franklin reads +/- 4’-08” which is down about 0’-04” from the last report. The water temperature is 41° which is down 10° from the last reporting date. Fishing pressure has been steady. Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, and Northern Pike continue to hold the attention of local anglers. Baits of choice have been tubes, jigs, and molded facsimiles.
French Creek – The USGS depth gage in Utica reads 3’-00” which is down about 1‘-04” since the last report. Due to wintery conditions, recreational boating traffic has essentially ceased on this waterway. Fishing pressure has been light, but for those out and about, bass and walleye hook-ups continue.
Oil Creek – The USGS depth gage in Rouseville reads +/- 2’-06”, which is down 0’-03” since the last report. Although angling activity has diminished throughout much of the stream, trout anglers may continue to experience activity. Given the current water temperatures, slow and deep may afford the best opportunity.
HYPOTHERMIA & 40 DEGREE WATER:
If immersed in 32-40 degree water, the average adult will experience exhaustion and/or unconsciousness in 15-30 minutes. The expected survival times in these water temperatures range from ½ hour to 1½ hours. Life jackets can help you survive cold water immersion by allowing you to float while using minimal energy, as well as insulating your body from the cold water. A snug-fitting life jacket is better than a loose-fitting one and provides greater insulation.
MANDATORY PFD (LIFE-JACKET) WEAR EFFECTIVE AS OF NOVEMBER 1, 2014
Signs like the one shown here have been posted at numerous high traffic launches throughout the Commonwealth as visual reminders that, during the period of November 1st through April 30th,
ALL BOATERS are required to wear a life jacket at all times while on watercraft less than 16’ in length or ANY canoe or kayak.
NAVIGATION HAZARD
Watercraft operators should be aware that the ice control device spanning the Allegheny River upstream of the State Street (Veteran’s) Bridge in Oil City is now in place. Boaters are urged to use caution when operating in this area. Recreational boats can use the provided navigation channel/slot located nearest the river right (northern) shore.
Note: All unpowered boats (canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, rowboats, etc.) launching or retrieving at PFBC access areas and DCNR state parks or forests must have a current boat registration (issued by any state), or PFBC Use Permit, or DCNR Launch or Mooring Permit. For more information, visit http://fishandboat.com/registration.htm.
Potter County
Kettle Creek – Anglers are catching trout using minnows. Even with the water temperatures at 40 degrees F and dropping to just above freezing, the trout are still chasing minnows! Dress for the weather and enjoy!
Tioga County
With recent cold weather, skim ice is beginning to form in the backwaters of most county lakes. Ice fishing may be just around the corner!
Pine Creek – The delayed harvest area is fishing great! Anglers are catching trout using caddis larvae imitations, midges, and streamers. Get your coat, hat, and gloves on, and come fishing!
Lycoming County
Rose Valley Lake – Anglers are catching late Fall bass and a few panfish. A variety of bait is working from worms to minnows.
West Branch Susquehanna River – Anglers are catching Walleye using a variety of baits. Weather is cold; but the bite is good!
Centre County
With the recent cold weather, skim ice is beginning to form on most county lakes.
Foster Joseph Sayers Dam – Anglers are catching some late Fall bass. Baits of choice are green jigs and brown pumpkin tubes.
Spring Creek – Fly anglers are catching trout using olive and black streamer patterns. They are also having luck using zebra midge patterns.
REMINDER: Hunters, boaters, and anglers are reminded that as of November 1, 2014 you MUST wear your PFD while onboard boats under 16 feet, including canoes and kayaks.
REMINDER: Hunting is permitted on PA Fish and Boat Commission property (unless otherwise posted); however, hunters need to make sure they do not encroach upon the safety zones extending from neighboring properties.
All anglers across the state need to be aware that bear and then deer rifle season are starting over the next two weeks and run until Saturday, December 13th. Make sure to wear fluorescent orange while fishing, a hat and vest will do the trick, to make sure hunters can clearly see. On Sundays wearing orange is not required as hunting is closed on Sundays. Good luck and be safe!
Northern Columbia and Luzerne Counties
Boaters are reminded of the Cold Water PFD Regulations. You are required to wear your PFD AT ALL TIMES when afloat in all boats under 16 feet in length from November 1st until April 30th. This applies to all canoes and kayaks regardless of length and even applies when the boat is at anchor. Be sure to boat safely and come home at the end of your day on the Commonwealth’s waters.
There have been skims of ice on small area ponds. Here’s hoping for a long and safe ice fishing season. Make sure you check your gear now so you are ready for first ice.
There are plenty of trout left from fall stockings in all streams and lakes that received trout in October. This cold weather may put them down, but make sure to get out and enjoy some trout fishing as we get a few warm days here and there.
Lackawanna County
This week’s recent artic air blast has caused anglers to take a pause from fishing. Fishing pressure during the past week has been extremely low. Several area farm ponds now have a layer of thin ice.
Water levels continue to be very low in the Lackawanna River and in some of the PA American Water Company reservoirs (Elmhurst and Curtis Reservoirs) that are open to fishing.
Work continues to progress on the Elmhurst Dam project. The construction should have little impact on the 2015 trout stocking program in the Roaring Brook below the dam.