Pennsylvania Fishing Report – May 7, 2015

Northeastern Region

In season trout stockings are underway, make sure to take advantage of these and enjoy some great fishing. Trout stocking schedules are separated by county and can found here: http://fbweb.pa.gov/stocking/TroutStockingDetails_GIS.aspx

Wyoming County

Fishing opportunities are increasing in the area.  Trout stocking is on schedule and the streams are in good shape.  The Susquehanna River is returning to fishable conditions, although there have not been many anglers fishing there yet.  The crappie anglers have been absent on the causeway at Lake Carey, but anglers from boats are having good luck.

Lackawanna County

Fishing has started to pick up as water temperatures rise. Anglers have been catching crappies at Ford’s Lake this past week. Make sure to get out and wet your line as this time of the year can produce some the best trout and crappie fishing!

Northern Wayne County

The trout streams are at good levels.  Anglers are catching trout on spinners, bait and flies.  The West Branch Delaware and Delaware Rivers are starting to come alive.  Numerous reports from anglers catching numbers of browns and rainbows are being received.  Shad are up to Narrowsburg and anglers are doing well with shad darts.

Northwest Region

Butler County

Harbar Acres Lake (SGL 95)

The lake was recently stocked with Brown and Brook Trout.  There are plenty of fish in the lake and it’s a great place to take the youngsters. Boating is permitted with electric motors only.

The Glades (SGL 95)

Fantastic catches of Channel Catfish have been reported at the old Christie Road Bridge. Try chicken livers at night for the best results.

Thorn Creek

Thorn creek is located south of the city of Butler along Rt. 8.  This was also recently stocked in-season but has had light pressure.  There are two miles of stream that are float stocked and offer all-day trout fishing opportunities.

Lake Oneida

Some crappies are being caught.  Please review the regulation posters located around the lake before engaging in any activities at this location.    The outflow of Lake Oneida (Connoquenessing Creek) is approved trout waters and requires a trout/salmon stamp to fish.  The lake does not require the trout/salmon permit.

Clarion County

Kahle Lake

Anglers are reporting some crappies, panfish and a few bass.

Upper Clarion River

Anglers are reporting some Smallmouth Bass and trout in the area near the PFBC’s Gravel Lick Access Area.

Piney Dam

Anglers have been reporting Channel Catfish, a few Walleyes and good numbers of Smallmouth Bass. The bass are being reported in the area from the PFBC’s Mill Creek Access upstream to Blyson Run.
Notice to all anglers & boaters recreating on Piney Dam. Beginning on April 1st 2015 thru October 31, 2016 Brookfield Power will draw down the level of Piney Dam to a level approximately 5 feet below normal pool to conduct repairs to the dam. These repairs will consist of the complete rebuild of the 14 discharge gates of the dam. The repairs to each gate will take approximately 6-8 weeks. Brookfield Power acknowledges the drawdown during this period will affect docks and recreation boating on Piney Dam. The drawdown may also affect the Toby & Mill Creek Boat Launches. Brookfield Power will be placing notices in the local newspapers to alert the public of the repairs and impacts to Piney Dam. They also will be placing signage at the Toby and Mill Creek boat launches to alert the boaters and anglers to the drawdown. Contact person at Brookfield Power for any questions is Randy Garletts. Phone number is 301-387-6616

Allegheny River

Walleyes, Smallmouth Bass and some Northern Pike are still being reported near the I-80 bridge, Parker islands and the mouths of the Clarion River & Redbank Creek. All boats, including canoes & kayaks, using the PFBC’s Parker & Brady’s Bend Access Areas must be registered to use these facilities.

Piney Creek DHALO Area

Anglers continue to do well in the project waters. Anglers are reminded only artificial lures maybe used in the project and the use or possession of bait is prohibited.

In Season Trout Stockings

Redbank Creek, Mill Creek, Canoe Creek & Turkey Run were stocked on 4/22/15
Toms Run & Coon Creek were stocked on 4/30
Notice to angler fishing Canoe Creek. The section of Canoe Creek that runs under the I-80 bridge on Tippecanoe Road was not stocked this year due to the road closure & construction work that is currently being conducted on the bridge there.
5/7 – Cathers Run & Mill Creek – Meet stocking truck 10:45 am Int. SR 36 & 66 Leeper Red & White Store.
5/13 – Redbank Creek – Meet stocking truck 10:30 am Plyler’s Buffet & Family Restaurant SR 36 Brookville.
5/14 – Bear, Silver & Beaver Creeks – Meet stocking truck 10:45am Bruin bowling alley SR268 in Bruin.
5/20 – East Sandy, Piney and Leatherwood Creeks – Meet stocking truck 11:15 am Exit 64 I-80 at Rehobeth Church Road parking lot.
5/22 – Toms Run – Meet stocking truck at 12 pm Cook Forest State Park SR 36 in Cooksburg.

Crawford County

French Creek

Water levels are great for fishing and boating. Reminder there is a portage at Cochranton due to bridge construction.

Geneva Swamp

Bowfin and Northern Pike are starting to hit.

Conneaut Lake

Large Bluegill and crappie are hitting at the North end.

Area Waters

Reminder for all these places…If you take it in, Take it out with you.

Lawrence County

Bessemer Lake and Cascade Quarry

These impoundments were recently stocked with trout.  The fish at Cascade Quarry were striking almost all of the anglers’ offerings within minutes of being stocked!

Mercer County

Lake Wilhelm

Crappie are biting in the stumps.

Western Erie County

Walnut Creek Marina

The marina and the channel are to begin getting dredged out on Monday May 4, tentatively.The slips here are supposed to be in by May 9th if at all possible.  The lake had ice on it later this year so everything got held up a bit. The office at Walnut Creek is open on Thursday thru Sunday from 7 AM till 5:30 PM. until May 9.  Then we will be open and fully staffed seven days a week the usual hours of:  Monday – Thursday from 8am till 6:30pm, Friday and Saturday from 6am till 10pm and Sundays from 6am till 8pm.

Public Access to Free Life Jackets Provided to Help Make Local Boating Safer.
Walnut Creek Access – Beginning May of 2015 the PFBC announces it will open a new Life Jacket Loaner Stand located in the lobby of the Administration building at Walnut Creek Marina courtesy of the Sea Tow Foundation, through a grant from The Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund.  These Life Jackets are to be used to replace missing or damaged PFD’s or use for extra guests on your boats.  The life jackets are free to be borrowed and are available in a variety of sizes ranging from infant to adult XL.  The life jackets are to be returned at the end of the day.  We will have a sign-out sheet for people to sign out the life jackets.

Northcentral Region

Tioga County

Upper Pine Creek

Anglers are catching lots of trout using small caddis patterns, rusty spinners, and blue dun patterns on the surface.

Anglers using spinning gear are catching trout on spinners, small spoons, waxworms and live minnows.

Hamilton Lake

This lake has been “THE” lake to fish so far this year. Trout and panfish continue to bite and anglers continue to catch! Anglers are catching trout on a variety of spinners and spoons. Gold, purple, chartreuse and silver colored spinners and spoons are working best. They are also catching trout on waxworms, fatheads and doughbaits. Garlic scented baits are working best this season.

Hammond and Tioga Lakes

Anglers are catching lots of Crappie! The Crappie are moving into to shore and feeding heavily right now. Anglers are catching Crappie on live minnows, white and chartreuse twister tail grubs, small stickbaits and waxworms. The next two weeks will be the best fishing of the season if the weather continues to cooperate!

Cowanesque Lake

Anglers are catching bass using chatterbaits, crankbaits, creature baits and jigs.

Crappies are also starting to bite. Anglers are catching Crappie near artificial structure and standing timber.

Marsh Creek

Anglers are catching good numbers of trout using salmon eggs, waxworms and mealworms. Fly anglers are catching trout on olive and dark green streamer patterns. A variety of nymph patterns are also working.

McKean County

Water levels are beginning to drop across the County and water temperatures are on the rise. May 4, 2015 was the first time the water temperatures were above 50F.

Allegheny Reservoir

Water levels are down slightly.

REMINDER: You must wear your lifejacket on the reservoir while underway in all canoes, kayaks and boats less than 16ft in length.

Anglers are catching Walleye at the Southern end of the reservoir, but the bite is slow.

Centre County

Foster Joseph Sayers Lake

Anglers are catching Crappie near the causeway, Bald Eagle Launch and the Hunter Run cut area. Live minnows and twistertails under a bobber are working best.

Boating pressure has been moderate. Most of the access areas are currently open with the exception of East and West Launch areas. Both will be open for Memorial Day weekend.

Black Moshannon Lake

Anglers are catching Yellow Perch and Pickerel fishing from shore. Minnows and a variety of spinners are working well. A variety of rubber worms are also working.

A moderate number of unpowered kayaks and canoes are utilizing the lake.

Bald Eagle Creek, Cold Stream, Cold Stream Dam, Six Mile, Black Moshannon Creek

Anglers are catching trout on all of these waterways. Everything from paste baits, waxworms, redworms and minnows are working.

Spring Creek

Anglers are catching trout using walt’s worms, zebra midges, caddis larvae patterns and caddis adult patterns. Early morning and late evening are the most productive times to be on the water.

Clinton County

Fishing Creek

Anglers are catching trout on caddis larvae imitations, walt’s worms and adult caddis patterns. Early morning and late evening are the best times to be on the water!

Lycoming County

Pine Creek

Anglers are catching trout using double bead, yellow stonefly nymphs and black stonefly nymphs. One young angler caught a nice brown trout using a white rooster tail.

Southeastern Region

S. Chester County

The White Clay Creek East Branch Section 2, the White Clay Creek East Branch Section 3, the White Clay Creek Section 1, & the Pocopson Creek Section 2, will be stocked on Tuesday May 12, 2015 at 12:00pm. The meeting location is the Avondale Post Office. Hope to see you there for the last stocking of the Southern Chester County District for this year.

The West Branch Brandywine Creek Section 3 was just stocked on May 5. Thanks to everyone that took the time to come out to help and the County Park Rangers for stocking from the UTVs.
Anglers are already catching 14 inch crappies at Octoraro Reservoir. If you are looking for some great fishing opportunities while trying to get away from the crowds of trout anglers, then try Octoraro Reservoir in Southern Chester and Lancaster County. Octoraro Reservoir is easy to find. Simply get on Route 1 in Southern Chester County and get off on the Route 472 Exit. Turn West on Route 472 West and you will go over the Route 472 Bridge and at the top of the next hill you will turn left on to Spruce Grove Road. You will go about a mile and at the bottom of the hill you will see the lake and the Fishing Headquarters on your left. The physical address for the Fishing Headquarters is 212 Spruce Grove Road, Kirkwood, PA. 17536, phone 717-529-2488.
 Octoraro Reservoir is about 669 acres in size and is about 29 feet deep at its deepest. It is the property of the Chester Water Authority for the purpose of providing drinking water. Use of a boat at the reservoir is at your own risk as the reservoir is not a flood control lake. This means that sudden storms can cause sudden rapid rises in water depth so all boats are required to leave the lake in the event of a storm and as always a United States Coast Guard Approved Wearable Personal Flotation Device is required for each person on board. Remember that life jackets must be worn at all times between November 1 and April 30, children 12 and under must also wear a properly sized life jacket at all times while underway. Boats can be rented from Captain Jim at the Fishing Headquarters, with paddles or electric motors for an additional charge or you can bring your own boat. If you bring your own boat there is a $4.50 boat launching fee. Boats can be stored at the launch as well, contact Captain Jim for more information. You can catch catfish, (10 pounders are common). There are White & Channel Catfish & Brown Bullheads), Common Carp, (huge carp and lots of them) Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass (one was weighed in at 5 lbs.), yellow perch and sunfish. White & Black Crappies at the lake have been found up to 15 3/4 inches long. These are usually caught from mid-April to early-June, by fishing with small fathead minnows around the trees and structure that have fallen around the lakes shorelines. Walleye and some Northern Pike are also being caught. There is a good forage base in the lake of Spotfin and Spottail Shiner, Gizzard Shad and Golden Shiners. Most of the fish population is through natural reproduction at this time and has been for years. The PA Fish & Boat Commission has not stocked the lake since the mid 1980’s as the populations in the lake have been able to maintain themselves since that time.
The boat ramp area also has a picnic area available for your use, picnic tables, barbecue grills and an area large enough to play outdoor games. There are also a few hiking trails available to walkers and hikers around the area. A small portion of the reservoir is restricted and may not be entered. A map is available from the Fishing Headquarters that shows these areas. There are also areas that are Restricted Waterfowl Nesting Areas, also shown on the map. The Fishing Headquarters and Captain Jim are available with lots of friendly free advice on the best bait to use and spot to fish and boating safety information. The Fishing Headquarters also sells fishing rods and reels, bait, terminal tackle, snacks, PFD’s, and fishing licenses as well. All of Pennsylvania’s fishing and boating laws are in effect at the Reservoir and are enforced. Boat launching is permitted from the Fishing Headquarters only. Drugs, alcohol, camping, campfires, dogs, horses, firearms and littering are prohibited. The Chester Water Authority reserves the right to close access to the Reservoir. Hours for boating on the Reservoir are sunrise to sunset in April, August, September and October, and 6am until 8pm during May, June & July. Call 717-529-2488 for more detailed information. Remember that fish are a valuable resource and the Chester Water Authority asks you to keep what you need and release the rest. Since all the boats must launch from the Fishing Headquarters and the lake is so large and only allows electric motors you can easily find a quiet spot if you are willing to paddle a little or power up a bit to get away from the boat launch.
Fishing from shore is equally productive for some species. Access from shore is from the Route 472 Bridge, Chester County Side with parking limited to about 15 cars. Between the Spruce Grove Road Bridges there is parking for about 10 cars, and the Fishing Headquarters parking lot can hold well over 50 cars. Shoreline is available to fish from that parking lot and the first bridge on Spruce Grove Road is within easy walking distance from the parking lot. Good Luck!