Carbon County
Since the hunting season has been underway and the colder weather arriving most fishing and boating activities in the district has been very light. However, a number of anglers who have taken advantage of some of the warmer days have been fishing the Pohopoco Creek and reported doing well catching trout.
The Lehigh River from Lehighton downriver to Palmerton also has been producing some nice size trout including a few reports of walleye being caught near Weissport.
The water level at Beltzville Lake continues to be low. Boat anglers had reported doing well catching bass while the lake was being lowered. Shore anglers reported catching a few striped bass using live bait during the evenings off the Pine Run boat launch area. Pickerel were active near the Preachers Camp access area including some nice size perch being caught in the upper reaches of the Pohopoco Bay area. Boaters are reminded to use caution while boating at Beltzville Lake due to the lower water levels.
Fishing activity at Mauch Chunk has been very light in the last few weeks. The lake level at Mauch Chunk Lake is also lower than usual. A few anglers reported catching perch near the dam breast area of the lake.
Note: Boaters are also reminded that during the period from November 1st through April 30th you must wear a life jacket on boats less than 16’ or on any canoe or kayak.
Southern Wallenpaupack
Angling pressure has been very low. Ice is too thin to fish on right now and the rain has put people off from fishing. The rain has put much needed water into local waterways, if anglers are able to ignore the weather and fish they will do well.
Wyoming County
There have been few anglers in this area over the past couple of weeks. Lake fishing has been non-existent due to a light coat of ice on the surface of area lakes. There have been a few anglers fishing in the Susquehanna River with moderate success. River levels rose significantly over the weekend. Weather forecasts for the next few days do not make fishing opportunities likely.
Northern Wayne County
There is little to fishing due mostly to conditions and hunting season. There is skim ice on some waterways; anglers should be reminded that 4” of solid black ice is the minimum that is recommended. Now is a good time to prepare your ice fishing gear and make sure your auger starts.
Northcentral Regional Fishing and Boating Report
December 10, 2014:
McKean County
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will be stocking Marilla Reservoir on Monday, December 15, for the winter trout plant. The truck will be at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford gym parking lot at 10AM to meet volunteers. NOTE: There is currently no safe ice anywhere in the District. Please refer to this guide before venturing out onto any ice! fishandboat.com/water/ice_thickness.pdf
Clearfield County
The Bellefonte Hatchery will be doing its winter trout stocking at Parker Lake on December 17. This was rescheduled from October 8. For more details about this run, as well as others thru-out the state, click on the “Winter Stockings Statewide” button, which is found here: http://fbweb.pa.gov/stocking/TroutStockingDetails_GIS.aspx.
Tioga County
A winter trout stocking will occur on December 17 at Beechwood Lake.
Keep tabs on water levels on Upper Pine Creek at this USGS link:
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/pa/nwis/uv/?site_no=01548500&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060,00010
Elk County
Oswaya Hatchery has a winter trout stocking planned for December 15 for the Ridgeway Reservoir.
Union County
Check out the USGS water levels on West Branch Susquehanna near Lewisburg, PA
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/pa/nwis/uv/?site_no=01553500&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060,00010
Jefferson County
Cloe Lake is expected to be stocked with winter trout on December 16.
Potter County
USGS water levels on Kettle Creek at Westport can be found here: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/pa/nwis/uv?site_no=01545000
REMINDER: Boating can be a fun and safe activity just about year round, especially when the proper procedures are in place; but high winds, icy waters, and freezing temperatures can pose serious risks. Anglers and waterfowl hunters braving icy waters this winter must wear life jackets and are encouraged to arm themselves with the tools and knowledge necessary to survive, should a boating incident occur. In addition, hunters, boaters, and anglers are reminded that as of November 1, you MUST wear your life jacket while onboard boats under 16 feet, including canoes and kayaks.
Tips for Cold-Weather Angling As a rule of thumb, if the sum of the air and water temperatures added together equals less than 100 degrees and you fall into the water, you could be at risk for hypothermia. Hypothermia occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce it. Cold water can rob the body of heat 25 times faster than cold air; so time is of the upmost importance should a boater fall in the water. If a boater’s core body temperature drops below normal (98.6 degrees F), the risk of becoming hypothermic increases dramatically. For more tips, please read this article: http://fishandboat.com/anglerboater/2008/01janfeb/feat2cold.pdf. Please be safe!
Northwest Region Fishing and Boating Report
December 10, 2014
Clarion County
Piney Dam – Anglers are still reporting catching nice perch and a few Walleyes on minnows and night crawlers.
Kahle Lake – Anglers are still reporting catching nice panfish and a few bass. Small jigs tipped with maggots seem to be the best baits.
Allegheny River – Walleyes continue to be caught on minnows. Anglers have also reported catching several large Muskies.
Piney Creek DHALO Area – Anglers are catching some trout on flies and lures in the project waters.
Erie County (Eastern)
Temperatures this week are forecasted to be in the upper 30’s to low 40’s. The Mile Streams are open. Angler pressures have been low this week, but there are fish in the creeks. Lake Pleasant will receive its winter trout stockings December 16th. The inland lakes Lake Pleasant, Eaton Reservoir, Edinboro Lake & Lake Leboeuf are still open (no ice). The PFBC does not monitor ice conditions.
Area temperatures are: Lake Erie 41°; Steelhead streams 41°; Presque Isle Bay 41°; inland lakes 40º
Erie County (Western)
Lake Erie – Steelhead shore anglers are doing well when wave conditions permit off the mouth of Walnut Creek, Trout Run, and Godfrey Run. Between the hours of 10pm and 5am, be sure to stay fifty (50) yards away from the mouth of Trout Run and Godfrey Run.
Western Tributaries – Fairview State Fish Hatchery has already been pulling steelhead from Trout Run. After egg collection, some of these fish have been returned to Upper Walnut Creek. Steelhead stream anglers are having success on Lower Walnut Creek and Elk Creek when water conditions cooperate.
Walnut Creek Access – The water is low and clear and there are few fresh fish coming in. They are mostly little fish down at the bottom. Most fish are up high in the creeks.
Recent enforcement actions have resulted in a lot of prosecutions; the most common being snagging/foul hooking, a lot of litter, and over limit violations. Daily saturation patrols with both uniformed and plain cloths officers have continued to be very successful. A recent poaching case involved three suspects from Michigan. They were issued various charges totaling over $2000 and seizure of approximately 25 steelhead trout which were illegally taken from Walnut Creek.
Presque Isle Bay – Shore anglers are doing well on panfish off the docks in Marina Lake. Shore anglers have also reported success with panfish along the Bayfront.
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.