Reminder: The PFBC does not monitor ice thickness. Ice thickness and conditions can vary greatly across a 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
S. Berks County/N. Lancaster County
There were many ice fishing opportunities over the past week for some happy anglers.
Live minnows and small jigs were the preferred bait. Trout are hitting at Kaercher Creek Lake in Hamburg and at Scott’s Run Lake in French Creek State Park. Tip a small jig with a meal worm, wax worm, or minnow to increase your chances at success. Bass and crappie fishing at Lake Ontelaunee has been great, with many bass taken on large minnows. The upper coves at Blue Marsh Lake are another good area for big crappies or a nice striper. Anglers at Middle Creek Lake in Lancaster County were putting some bass and catfish on the ice (remember to fish inside the line of buoys). Remember safety first, wear a float coat or life jacket, a good pair of cleats, and always check the ice conditions before heading out.
Gear up, and good fishing!
N. Chester County
Struble Lake: The ice fishing has been hot and cold during the past several weeks with the changes in the weather. Bluegills, Crappies and Yellow Perch are being taken on shiners, chubs, flathead minnows and mealworms as well. Fishing pressure is very high on weekends. Parking is not allowed on the grass areas nor at the boat ramp, citations are being issued for parking in those areas.
Marsh Creek Lake: Pressure at Marsh Creek is considerably lighter than at Struble Lake. Panfish are being taken with similar bait as Struble Lake anglers, as well as bright colored jigs.
The creeks are cold and in some cases ice covered with no activity observed. The French Creek C&R Fly Fishing Only area and the Pickering Creek DHALO are scheduled to be stocked on the February 19 with the East Brandywine DHALO to be stocked on the Feb 24, weather permitting. The Schuylkill River is congested with ice flows and generally not safe for boat traffic.
S. Chester County
The Orvis Store in Downingtown at 70 Quarry Rd, Downingtown Pa. 19335 will offer a free course Fly-Tying 101 on Saturday, February 21 from 9am until 11am. The course will cover everything that the beginning fly angler will need to know to get started in tying. Spring is almost here, take advantage of this opportunity to learn the art of fly tying. For more information you can call the store at 610-873-8400 or visit the website at www.orvis.com/downingtown
If you live in Southern Chester County on the south side of 322, consider coming out this year and helping to stock the approved trout waters. The approved waters include Beaver Creek, Buck Run, Brandywine West Branch, Pocopson Creek, Elk & Big Elk Creeks, Octoraro Creek East Branch (in-season only), and four sections of the White Clay Creek (including one Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Section). We had very little help last year on some of the stockings which made it difficult to distribute the fish as evenly as we would have liked to. We often get the angler who wants to call in and complain that his favorite hole was not stocked well enough, or for reasons of bad weather and proximity to the road and or, for lack of help, it may have to be passed by. The first thing we ask is if they came along to help stock and the usual answer is no. Stocking is a lot of fun and gives you a chance to give something back to the resource. It is also a great way to spend a day with a kid and to get them off the web and video games for a while. The web site below has been updated and will give you all the dates, times and meeting locations for any county in Pennsylvania. Thanks in advance for your help. http://fbweb.pa.gov/stocking/TroutStockingDetails_GIS.aspx
The Middle Branch White Clay Creek Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only (DHALO) section will be stocked with trout on Tuesday, February 24. We will be meeting at noon at Kerr Park. Officer Bonney will be stocking the East Branch Brandywine DHALO first, and we will then lead the truck down to Good Hope Road off of 896 to stock the Middle Branch White Clay Creek DHALO. Anglers can get to this section by taking Route 41 and continue to just south of Avondale and turn right (south) on Penn Green Road. Follow Penn Green Road to Good Hope Road and turn right on Good Hope. Go past Bank Road and Crestwood Road and you will come to the top of the DHALO section at the Good Hope Road Bridge.
If you would like to support our wounded and disabled veterans and service members you can do so through Project Healing Waters which is a nonprofit group of volunteers whose goal is to provide mental and physical rehabilitation to active and veteran military members with disabilities from any military engagement, through the therapeutic healing properties of fly fishing. The group is active in 46 states and provides one on one instruction in all aspects of fly fishing. Volunteers include guides, teachers, and experienced anglers. To donate or volunteer your time you can contact Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Inc., P.O. Box 695, La Plata, MD 20646. You can also get more information from the web at www.projecthealingwaters.org
Lancaster County
Muddy Run Lake revealed a handful of stalwart individuals over the past weekend. All were monitoring their tip-ups hoping to land a few of the lake’s many trout. One recurrent angler was successful in reeling in a 19” trout which was destined for the dinner plate. In past short- lived ice fishing seasons, the lake has yielded Largemouth Bass, Black Crappies, Yellow Perch, and even Common Carp in addition to anglers extended season creel limit of three trout.
Ice fishing enthusiasts who choose to use an inflatable life jacket for safety should note that inflatable devices may not work when the air temperature is at or below freezing. Please note this warning in the manufacturer’s label. The standard vest-type life jackets or a float coat may be a more predictable option.
Anglers are also advised that ice fishing is prohibited on the Octoraro Reservoir per the Chester Water Authority.
The Lancaster Masonic Lodge No. 43 will host a PFBC guest speaker at their Tuesday, February 17 meeting at the Masonic Center of Lancaster County, 213 West Chestnut Street, Lancaster. Waterways Conservation Officer Schmidt will provide a general presentation of the agency’s trout management plan and key in on the county-specific trout stocking program of Lancaster’s 22 Approved (Stocked) Trout Waters. The presentation will ‘tackle’ local trout fishing opportunities, the PFBC’s revised Mentored Youth program and; moreover, the laws and regulations specific to trout fishing. In his ongoing proactive efforts to distinguish between fact and ‘fish tales’, an opportunity for questions and answers will be extended. Various PFBC complimentary publications will be made available. The public is invited to attend free of charge. Doors open to the public at 7:00pm, with a 90 minute program start at 7:30pm.