Northern Pennsylvania Fishing Report | January 8, 2015

Northcentral Pennsylvania Regional Fishing and Boating Report

The cold weather of winter has finally arrived!  Ice is beginning to cover lakes and ponds throughout the region.  Hopefully you have your ice fishing gear, hot packs, cocoa, family, and friends all set to go! Remember SAFETY FIRST: http://fishandboat.com/water/ice_thickness.pdf

Check out some of these links to make sure you are ready for some good fishing:

Ice Fishing Tackle & Techniques (pdf)  

Ice Anglers Popular Panfish Mixed Catch (pdf)

 

Tioga County Fishing Report 

Ice conditions are looking good for this weekend.  Most lakes have thin ice on them now; but it is building fast with this cold snap!

Hills Creek Lake: A few anglers are catching Yellow Perch and Crappie using wax worms.  The ice is currently about 4 inches; but there are still some areas with thin ice or no ice.

NOTE: Bring the family and learn to Ice Fish at Hills Creek State Park’s Winterfest 2015! They will have snow shoeing, cross-country skiing, and more!! The event begins at 10a.m. on January 17, 2015.  More information.

Hamilton Lake: The lake is iced over and should be fishable by the weekend.

 

Potter County Fishing Report

Lyman Lake: Come learn how to ice fish at the Family Ice Fishing program being held on January 31, 2015!   More information:  http://fbweb.pa.gov/calendar/Gridview.aspx?TN=family_fishing&DT=1/31/2015&ID=D2EAA8FB-A83B-430B-A45D-F539DE990BFD&CAT=family_fishing&DAY=NODAY

 

Center County Fishing Report 

Spring Creek: Fishing is slow with the cold temperatures; but the few brave anglers out there are catching trout using olive or black streamers.  The trout you do catch are well worth it!!  Be sure to bring along your thermos of hot cocoa!

 

Pennsylvania Northwest Region Fishing and Boating Report 

Butler County Fishing Report

Glades Lake (State Game Lands 95)

Only manual and electric propulsion boats are allowed during specified dates. Ice fishing permitted. Shore fishing is permitted outside of the delineated propagation areas.  Regulatory posters are located at established access points; Christie Bridge, Spillway Vista, Kirt’s Ditch, and Thompson Road access.  Be familiar with the regulations before recreating on these waterways.

Harbor Acres Lake (State Game Lands 95)

This lake is open to year round fishing. This lake was stocked with trout in October and is a very good location for family fishing. Boat access is permitted with manual or electric propulsion only. Anglers must have a trout/salmon permit to possess trout taken from this waterway. Please review regulatory posters at this location and be familiar with legal requirements before recreating.

Lake Oneida/Thorn Run Reservoir 

These are privately held properties; owned by Pa. American Water and for recreational purposes, under the control of the Pa. Fish & Boat Commission. PFBC property regulations apply. Fishing is permitted during daylight hours and from shore only. Other activities such as but not limited to wading, swimming, boating, ice fishing, camping, trespassing on the dams or spillways and possession/consumption of alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited. Regulation signs are posted at many locations around these lakes. Please review the regulations and be familiar with them before fishing. These lakes hold bass, crappie, bluegill, perch, catfish and carp.

Lake Arthur

Winter months, before the ice completely covers the lake, is productive for Musky fishing. The best fishing is by boat trolling the ice edges. But, please remember that cold water boating has risks. Remember to always wear your life jacket.

 

Clarion County 

Piney Dam

Anglers are still reporting catching nice perch and some walleyes on minnows & nightcrawlers.

Kahle Lake

Anglers are still reporting catches of nice panfish. Small jigs tipped with maggots seem to be the best baits.

Allegheny River

Walleyes and some Northern Pike continue to be caught on shiners.

Piney Creek DHALO Area

Anglers are catching some trout on flies and lures in the project waters.

 

Crawford County Fishing Report

Fishing is slow. No ice fishing yet due to poor ice conditions.

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

Northern Columbia and Luzerne Counties

Cold weather this week may set ice on area ponds finally and hopefully this cold trend will continue to grow ice. A lot of anglers are itching to get out on the hardwater and we may get there quickly if this weather keeps up. With that in mind, we all must consider our safety when we do venture out. Go with a group or at least one partner or at the very least let someone know your plans. Make sure you cut a test hole before getting too far from the shore and wear a PFD. New line and terminal tackle is also a small investment to make to avoid losing a big fish later on.

Wyoming County
Throughout the month of December fishing in the Susquehanna River was excellent.  While there weren’t a lot of anglers, those who made it out were rewarded with quality catches of walleye and smallmouth bass.

The weather has changed and area lakes have begun to freeze, but there is not yet any safe ice for fishing.  If the weather forecasts are accurate, we can anticipate ice on are lakes in the not too distant future.  Be careful not to get too anxious and take foolish chances before the ice becomes safe.

Southern Wallenpaupack District
Ice fishermen are having very good success catching chain pickerel in some of the smaller and mid-sized impoundments using live bait; ice thickness varies greatly from place to place and most bodies of water do not have thick enough ice to be considered safe.

Southern Luzerne and Southern Columbia Counties
Those brave enough to withstand the frigid temperatures on the Susquehanna River, are reporting success with smallmouth bass and walleyes utilizing 3-4 inch twister tail grubs, or live bait.
Along the streams and impoundments though, there has been virtually no activity.

It seems that most anglers are in a state of flux, eagerly awaiting ice on local lakes. Fear not, with the sudden drop in temperatures it will not be much longer until we have fishable ice. Now is the time for those last minute checks and preparations of your ice fishing gear, to make certain all is ready.

Anglers, who are fishing the open water, are reminded again of the mandatory life jacket wear. This regulation pertains to boats under 16 feet, and all canoes and kayaks, from November 01 through April 30th. This regulation has been in effect for over two years now, so most should be aware of it.

There will be a Basic Boating Class held at Nescopeck State Park on March 7th. A boating Safety Certificate is required for anyone born January 1, 1982 or after, who operates a watercraft with a motor 26hp or greater. As well as anyone who operates a personal watercraft (jet ski).

Northern Wayne County
Ice fishing has started as fishing activity is being observed on a number of frozen lakes.  Many waterways still have a large portion of open water.  Anglers venturing out on the hard water may want to consider wearing a life jacket.  Anglers are having a lot success using jigs tipped with meal and wax worms.  Good catchers of bluegill, perch and crappie are being reported and observed at Belmont Lake and Prompton Dam.