Reminder: The PFBC does not monitor ice thickness. Ice thickness and conditions can vary greatly across the lake. Use caution as you head out onto the ice. A life jacket and a set of ice awls can be extremely important if you fall though the ice. Remember SAFETY FIRST: http://fishandboat.com/safety.htm
Butler County
Lake Arthur – Fishing success has slowed in recent weeks at most of the popular locations. Traditional weed bed hot spots have been the least productive. Those catching decent panfish are focusing on structure such as submerged log piles or the rail road beds. Small minnows or small jigs tipped with maggots have worked the best. Large shiners and chubs have been the least successful baits. Hits are coming from both tip ups and active jigging. Bass fishing has been notably slow.
Clarion County
Piney Dam – Some anglers have been observed fishing in the areas of the Toby Bridge and Doe Run. Anglers should use extreme caution if choosing to ice fish on Piney Dam as the water levels and ice continually fluctuate there.
Kahle Lake – Anglers have been reporting hit or miss catches. Anglers that are willing to drill lots of holes and search for the fish are reporting some nice panfish.
Allegheny River – Nothing to report due to ice cover on the entire river.
Crawford County
Conneaut Lake – The area out in front of the Ice House Park and the Navigation Company has been seeing some nice Bluegills and a few Northern Pike. PLEASE be careful not to get too close to the open water. Both the above places are using bubblers and the ice in these areas near the edge is unsafe.
Erie County
Ice fishing is in full swing out on Presque Isle State Park.
Misery Bay has been hit or miss depending on the day. There have been reports that the bay is full of Shad.
The Stink Hole has been producing some nice Bluegills and decent Yellow Perch.
The bay out in front of Vista #1 & #2 has been producing some Yellow Perch and Bluegills and an occasional Steelhead.
Chestnut Street has been seeing some nice Yellow Perch but it’s a long walk.
Mercer County
Shenango Reservoir – Ice fishing has commenced. Catches of panfish are being caught in the popular fishing areas including Golden Run and the Celery Farm. Bringing a few safety items with you can save your life or the life of someone close by. A throwable life jacket attached to a length of rope, a pair of ice awls, or simply a rope will prove useful in case of an accident. Remember your first step in an ice or any emergency is to call 9-1-1.
Shenango River – The water levels are lower than usual, but large piles of ice make boating difficult. There was a report that one boater floating the Shenango Water Trail that had to get out because of an ice jam blocking his voyage. There are still plenty of stocked trout below the Shenango Reservoir outflow. This area is designated as a year round trout fishery so a current trout/salmon stamp is required to fish the area from the outflow to the Walnut Street Bridge regardless of species of fish that you are targeting or harvesting. The creel limit is 3 fish.
Tioga County
About 6-7 inches of snow is covering lakes across the County. Typical of the “mid-ice” season, the bite has slowed down. The fish are still eating, but their bite is more subtle. You just have to be on your toes!
Beechwood – Anglers are catching nice trout using wax worms and minnows. They are also catching Yellow Perch using wax worms. A few Bass and Pickerel are being caught on shiners.
Cowanesque – The bite on the lake is slow, but a few anglers are out fishing. Near the campground, a few anglers are catching Musky and Bass on shiners and suckers.
Yellow Perch and Bluegill are being caught on jigs tipped with wax worms near the West end of the lake.
Hills Creek Lake – Anglers are catching Yellow Perch. A few of the Yellow Perch are measuring 13 inches! Anglers are also catching nice Bluegill. Baits that are working are jigs tipped with wax worms or maggots.
Fishing near stumps and along the dam is working best.
A few anglers are fishing tip-ups with shiners and catching nice Pickerel in the shallows. One Pickerel measured 24 inches in length.
A few 4 pound Bass are also being caught in shallow water on tip-ups with shiners.
Hamilton Lake – Hamilton continues to have the most angling pressure. Good numbers of fish are still being caught by all who venture out!
Yellow Perch, Crappie and Bluegill are being caught using wax worms. Most of the fish are being caught in 20+ feet of water.
The larger Yellow Perch and Bluegill are being caught in 8-12 feet of water. The area near the dam seems to be the best fishing location right now.
Trout are being caught all over the lake on jigs tipped with wax worms. The trout are holding high in the water column.
A few trout are being caught using tip-ups with paste baits or rosey red minnows. Fish near the surface are much more active than those holding on the bottom of the lake.
Hammond Lake – Fishing is slow, but a few anglers are catching Crappie and Bluegill. The best fishing location is the section of lake near Rout 287. Wax worms and fathead minnows are the bait of choice.
McKean County
The recent foot of snow has created a bit of slush on-top of ice across the County. Anglers are reminded to check ice prior to going out. Make sure you have appropriate safety gear (e.g. PFDs, ice awls, ice cleats, ice staff).
Allegheny Reservoir – Anglers are catching Walleye, Yellow Perch and Pike. Most of the best fishing is near Kinzua Point, Kinzua arm, in addition to the North and West shorelines.
Marilla Reservoir – Anglers are catching trout left over from the December stocking. Come on out!
Lycoming County
West Branch Susquehanna River – Anglers are catching Crappie near Arch Street, Duboistown, PA.
REMINDER: Anglers need to request permission to utilize private property for parking or walking access to waterways in PA.
Anglers are also reminded to monitor ice conditions and utilize appropriate safety gear (PFD, ice awls, ice staff, ice cleats) when venturing onto ice.
Rose Valley Lake – Anglers are catching Bluegill, Yellow Perch and Walleye. Best baits are jigs tipped with wax worms or maggots. Live minnows are also working well.
REMINDER: Anglers utilizing Rose Valley Lake should report any violations, including property violations, to PA Fish and Boat Commission’s Northcentral Region Law Enforcement 814-359-5250.
Thomas’s Dam – Anglers are catching Bluegill using maggots and wax worms.
State Game Land 252 Ponds – Anglers are catching Bluegill and Largemouth Bass. Wax worms and maggots are working for Bluegill. Live minnows and wax worms are working for Bass.
Centre County
Black Moshannon Lake – The bite has been a bit slow, but anglers are still catching Pickerel, Yellow Perch and Crappie. Anglers are catching the fish near the fishing pier and boat launch areas 1and 2.
Foster Joseph Sayers Lake – REMINDER: Foster Joseph Sayers Lake is regulated under the Panfish Enhancement program http://fishandboat.com/fishpub/summary/panfish.html. Information about this program is located on all sign boards in the parking areas and on page 16 of the 2015 PA Fishing Summary Guide.
Beach area: Anglers are catching Yellow Perch and Crappie using jigs tipped with wax worms or maggots.
Hunter Run Cut area: Anglers are catching Crappie, Yellow Perch and Bluegill. Jigs tipped with maggots or wax worms are working. Tip-ups with shiners or fathead minnows are also working.
Lower Greens Run area: Anglers are catching lots of Bluegills at Lower Greens Run. Silver tungsten 3mm (1/8 inch) jigs tipped with spikes (maggots) or wax worms.
Spring Creek – Anglers are catching trout using nymphs and streamers. Most success is at Fisherman’s Paradise.
Clinton County
Anglers are catching trout using streamers. Olive and black streamer colors are working best. The bite is a bit slow, but the trout that are eating are worth the wait (e.g. 16-20 inches in length)!
Southern Luzerne & Southern Columbia Counties
With the arrival of fishable ice, anglers have been flocking to local lakes, ponds and reservoirs to try their luck on the hard water. Success is being found just about anywhere, anglers have been catching panfish, pickerel and bass. Panfish have been taking wax worms and meal worms on an ice jig, with pickerel and bass preferring large shiners.
With the ice piles and jams, there is no activity on the Susquehanna River, or local streams.
Those wishing to learn more about ice fishing, or ice safety are encouraged to attend DCNR’s Winterfest being held at Nescopeck State Park on February 7th.
Northern Wallenpaupack District
Ice fishing is in full swing here in the Northeast. Many anglers are having great success with catching pickerel, perch, and bluegills on many of the frozen pond and lakes in the district. Remember to always check your ice conditions before venturing out especially if you are going out onto rivers and streams. Moving water is much more dangerous. Also remember to pack out everything that you pack in. We don’t want to lose areas to fishing because of anglers leaving their trash on the ice.
Susquehanna County
Ice fishing with tip ups baited with shiners has been providing excellent fishing on the hard water. Bridget Bendock, age 11, thought she had the biggest Largemouth Bass of the day with the 18 incher she’s seen with. However, before she could unhook it Patty Bendock caught a 23+ inch version. Both fish were released after pictures were taken. Congratulations to both Bridget and Patty for a couple great fish! A total of 14 bass and one perch were caught and released during the afternoon prior to the snowstorm.
Berks County
Chester County
Many anglers (over 30 individuals) at Struble Reservoir this past Sunday put fish on the ice. Catches ranged from a few small sunfish to a 15-inch Largemouth Bass. Anglers with the best luck had fish finders and reported that the fish were 8 to 10 feet down in 12 to 14 feet of water. Try small fathead minnows or shiners, but small worms and wax worms work as well. Sunfish to 7 inches were common, crappies to 10 inches and some very nice Yellow Perch up to 11 inches were harvested. No report of Walleyes on this outing, although they are in Struble Reservoir in numbers and are often caught through the ice. Don’t forget your Pennsylvania 2015 fishing license if you are 16 or older and you are limited to 5 tip ups when ice fishing and your hole cannot be larger than 10 inches.
The Orvis Store in Downingtown will offer a free course on Fly-Tying 101 this coming Saturday, February 14th from 10AM until noon. It could be a Valentine’s Day date opportunity! The course will cover everything that the beginning fly angler will need to know to get started in tying. For more information, call the store at 610-873-8400 or visit the website at www.orvis.com/downingtown
Delaware County
A few anglers have tried fishing in the FFO area on Ridley Creek when the weather is warmer. Otherwise, attached is the printable Delaware County Trout Stocking list for 2015. Just print and fold. Please come out and help with the stocking fun. (Link to Delaware County Stocking Schedule PDF)
East Philadelphia County
This year join us in the Philadelphia area for the Mentored Youth Fishing Day. On March 28, 2015, all Approved Trout Waters (Stocked Trout Waters) will be open to Mentored Youth Fishing from 8am through 7 pm. To participate, anglers 16 years of age or older (adult anglers) must possess a valid Pennsylvania fishing license and current trout/salmon permit and be accompanied by a youth (less than 16 years of age) who has obtained a Mentored Youth fishing permit or Voluntary Youth fishing license from the Commission. Please be advised that although all Approved Trout Waters will be open for fishing, only select waters will be stacked by that date. Please check our website at www.fishandboat.com for the most up to date information regarding the waters that will be stocked prior to that date. Waters that will be stocked in time for the Mentored Youth Fishing Day are highlighted in the stocking calendar.
Anglers may keep two trout each with a minimum size of 7 inches. All other laws and regulations apply.
Philadelphia County/S. Montgomery County
A few hardy anglers have been on Stony Creek working power baits and spinners. Due to very cold temperatures in January, ice is impacting water flow on both the Schuylkill River and Delaware River.