Northwest Region
Crawford County
French Creek
Anglers are reporting Northern Pike, Walleye, and Smallmouth Bass being caught the lower stretches of French Creek. Small blade baits and fire tiger stick baits seem to get the most reaction strikes. A nice 8 mile paddle to kayak and fish would be the section from Cochranton to Utica. Jigs tipped with tubes or rubber worms seem to be doing good with in that section.
Erie County
Lake Erie—Eastern area
Anglers are reporting some panfish being taken at Eaton Reservoir, Lake LeBoeuf, and Lake Pleasant. The bait of choice is still grubs and minnows. Anglers out of the North East Marina are catching Walleye in 51 feet of water from the marina to the New York state line. Smallmouth Bass are still being taken from the W’s to Shades Beach. Yellow Perch action has picked up in 35 to 55 feet of water off of the Greenfield, Shades Beach & Freeport. Angles are still catching Yellow Perch and Smallmouth Bass off of the North and South Piers.
For current Lake Erie conditions call the North East Marina at 814-725-8244. There is also a Lake Erie Near-Shore Weather/Information Buoy five miles off the mainland that allows boaters access to real time water conditions. Go to: www.PaLakeErieBuoy.com.
Butler County
Lake Arthur
All sizes of Largemouth Bass are being caught along the shorelines and in the coves using a night crawler and bouncing it along the bottom. Nice catches of Crappie have been reported using a white twister tail with a 1/16 oz. jig head. Draw them out of the submerged brush piles in 7 – 9 feet of water. Monster Channel Catfish have also been wreaking havoc on fishing gear. A fat crawler off the bottom in a variety of areas has been popular bait for these catfish.
Northeast Region
Monroe County
Private community lakes had a lot of small boating traffic this past holiday weekend. No life jackets seemed to be the thing most forgotten in the rush to enjoy the boat or kayak. Remember: One wearable and properly sized life jacket is required for each person on board. Also, children under the age of 13 must be wearing their life jacket at all time while underway.
Wyoming County
Fishing conditions in the county are as one would expect in the early summer. Trout stream temperatures have risen to a level where any remaining trout have become lethargic. Fishing in the Susquehanna River has been good with reports of anglers catching Smallmouth Bass, walleye and catfish. Area lakes and ponds have been fishing well for bass and panfish anglers.
Northern Susquehanna & Eastern Bradford Counties
Now is a great time to get out after some panfish. Anglers have been doing well with worms and bobbers at several lakes in Susquehanna County. Sometimes this may be the only thing they’ll hit; this just goes to show sometimes you don’t really “need” all that fancy gear.
Kayaking and canoeing have really taken off in the last couple of years. Boaters are reminded to check to make sure their launch permits are current and always read posted signs! Launch permits are accepted on all PFBC and DCNR properties in the Commonwealth. While a boat registration may be a better option for folks planning to do some traveling in other states.
Northern Columbia and Luzerne Counties
With warmer weather on the horizon many anglers are getting ready for warm water fishing action. Some may not be ready to let go of trout fishing quite yet though, for these folks I would recommend getting out to area Approved trout Waters that have recently been restocked. Some great places to try are Pine Creek and Harveys Creek in Luzerne County and Briar Creek Lake in Columbia. These three waters have recently been well stocked with trout as we wind the season down.
Some advice for boaters: Change your lower unit oil = cheap insurance for your lower unit. Remove your prop and check for fishing line, charge and check you batteries, inspect your fire extinguisher and thoroughly inspect your PFD’S! Let’s make this a safe boating season!
Southern Luzerne and Southern Columbia Counties
With the stocking season behind us, the local waterways are providing more than ample opportunities for trout anglers and fishing pressure has been light. With the warmer weather, it is best to fish early or late in the day. Most anglers are finding success with anything from wax worms to power bait to artificials.
Anglers on the Susquehanna River are having success with walleye, especially below the Bloomsburg launch. Musky activity has also been good between West Nanticoke and Mocanaqua.
Lily Lake continues to offer excellent fishing for trout, bass and pickerel, as well as panfish.
With the pleasure boat season fast approaching boaters are reminded to review the boating regulations found in the Boating Handbook, as well as local regulations on the waters you boat.
As always, boating and alcohol do not mix, and there is a zero tolerance for BUI in the district.
Northcentral Region
Centre County
Sayers Lake
Anglers are doing well with Black /White Crappies around the lake. Upper Greens, Lower Green, Causeway, Marina, Summer/ Winter Launch, and Hunter Run Cut have all been productive. Minnows floated under a bobber have seemed to be having the best success. Twister tails floated under a bobber have also been producing good results. Some sunfish have also been reported.
Boating activity has been moderate with warmer weather. The marina is now open at the lake, as well as all access areas. Pool level is up to normal summer level.
Black Moshannon Lake
Anglers have been catching some bass, sunfish, and pickerel in the access areas around the lake using live bait and twistertails.
Moderate Kayak and Canoe activity has been observed over the past week.
Black Moshannon Creek, Six Mile Run, Cold Stream Dam, Bald Eagle Creek
Anglers have been having success for trout on these area streams. Most success has been with minnows or waxworms. Anglers are having the most success targeting deeper holes or areas where feeder stream enter in. Water conditions are unseasonably low and water temperature are higher than normal pushing the trout into the cooler water.
Spring Creek
Anglers have been enjoying some good dry fly hatches. Small blue wing olives seem to be working. Anglers have been successful on lower Spring Creek using spinners and live bait.
Bald Eagle State Park
There will be a Family Fishing Festival on Saturday, June 6, 2015, from 4-8PM. To register for the program, please visit our website: http://fbweb.pa.gov/calendar/
McKean County
Water temps are still fairly cold up here, even with the warm weather. Please make sure you have the appropriate lifejackets onboard when boating in the northern tier of PA.
Also, when underway in the Allegheny Reservoir, you are required to wear your PFD in all canoes, kayaks, and boats under 16 ft. This regulation is in effect year- round on the Reservoir, and is Federal, as well as State, law.
One more week of trout stocking up here until the end of the month. Water levels are low, but rain is in the forecast for this week; so we hope that will bring the stream levels up a bit. Stream temps are currently within range for stocking, and we are hopeful they will continue to stay there for this week.
Tioga County
Hammond Lake
Hammond Lake has still been fishing pretty well. The Crappies are about mid-spawn and shore fishing has been tough; but boaters are still finding decent numbers of fish in 8-15 feet of water, holding tight to the bottom. Minnows and small paddle tail and curly tail grubs have worked. White and baitfish colors have been the most popular.
Anglers are catching lots of trout on Hamilton Lake! It was recently restocked, and anglers are doing very well using gold or silver spinners and spoons, as well as live minnows and butterworms. Various doughbaits have worked too, in chartreuse, yellow, and rainbow colors.
Cowanesque
Up on Cowanesque, anglers are catching lots of very nice bass using a variety of lures, including spinnerbaits, jigs, creature baits, and crankbaits. Crawfish, black/blue, and green pumpkin have all been popular colors. Some crappies are being caught, as well, using small grubs and live minnows.
Hills Creek
Hills Creek is fishing well for bluegills and bass. Waxworms, redworms, nightcrawlers, and mealworms are all working. Now’s a great time to take the kids out to catch lots of panfish! Anglers are doing well from shore and by boat or kayak.
Pine Creek
The drakes are hatching! This is going to be a great week of fly fishing! Anglers are catching fish on brown and green drake patterns, as well as smaller caddis and sulphur patterns. Spin fishermen are catching fish using butterworms, silver spoons, waxworms, and live minnows. There is a lot of trout in Upper Pine right now. Get out there and get some!
Southeastern Region
The lack of rain may be depressing for lawn enthusiasts, but it does provide some safer conditions for wading into the streams for a little fishing action. Always look for a silver lining. Wading is a great excuse to cool off in these hot conditions, and you might as well take the fishing rod along. Clear stream conditions are also a great opportunity to watch a fish come in for the strike on a dry fly or lure. It also gives the fish a better opportunity to watch us, so work on those stalking skills to avoid their attention. The dry conditions may be history as meteorologists are predicting a few storms later this week and into the weekend. You can watch stream levels courtesy of USGS monitoring stations on their website here: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/pa/nwis/current/?type=flow
Berks County
It’s that time of year again for the panfish to start hitting up at Lake Ontelaunee in Berks County. Anglers are catching crappies and some perch back at the Peter’s Creek section on small jigs and plastic grubs. Anglers are also catching catfish on chicken liver and worms off West Shore Drive near the old bridge. With the seasonably warmer temperatures during the day, try getting out early in the morning for the morning bite, or later in the evening. Good luck and enjoy!
Bucks County
Anglers are still taking a few trout out of Lake Luxembourg at Core Creek County Park. Try paste bait in a couple different colors. White, chartreuse and yellow are good options. A few anglers have been fishing Neshaminy Creek. You might still find a trout below either of the dams in the Tyler State Park section, and the Smallmouth Bass and panfish have been taking spinners. One angler caught & released several panfish working terrestrial floating flies in the clear water conditions, though the storms predicted all this week may put a damper on the low and clear streams. American Shad were still caught over the past week around Trenton and New Hope in the Delaware River. The Delaware River around Trenton is also a spot to try for larger Striped Bass now. Try bunker, bloodworms and clams. If live bait isn’t for you, try large stickbaits and shad-body rubber lures.
Philadelphia County
Trout can still be found in Pennypack Creek. Try mealworms, waxworms, small jigs & spinners. Anglers are catching Smallmouth Bass, Rock Bass and other sunfish as well.