Pennsylvania Fishing Report – January 7, 2016

Northwest Region

Butler County

Lake Arthur

Drift fishing the old creek beds with a spoon or worm harness for Striped Bass and Walleye have been productive.

Harbor Acres Lake

Plenty of opportunity still exists for trout fishing. This body of water was stocked in October with some big Brown and Rainbow Trout.

Lake Oneida/Thorn Run Reservoir

Visitors are reminded that these bodies of water are accessible for shore fishing only from dawn to dusk. No other activities are permitted without express permission from the owner; American Water. Please read the regulatory signs posted at these water areas before engaging in any recreational activities.

NOTICE: Operators of boats less than 16 feet in length and on all canoes and kayaks are reminded that from 01 November to the end of April, personal floatation devices (Life jackets) must be worn by all persons on board. Wear your Life Jacket.

Crawford County

French Creek

Due to a lot of rain French Creek and Cussewago are running high. Anglers are reporting a few Walleyes being caught throughout French Creek.

Eastern Erie County

Steelhead Tributaries

The rainfall through December has brought the stream levels up. Pressure is light but there is some Steelhead in the streams. The inland lakes Lake Pleasant, Eaton Reservoir, and Lake Leboeuf are still open (no ice). Water temperatures are dropping and the forecast is for seasonal temperatures and precipitation.

Northeast Region

Southern Luzerne & Southern Columbia Counties

With the region experiencing an El Nino winter, ice fishing in the region has been non-existent. Largely in part, to the lack of ice anywhere in the area.

That being said, anglers have been doing very well on the Susquehanna River for walleye and Smallmouth Bass. Top baits continue to be soft plastics, or live bait. Some anglers are also reporting catches of catfish, using hot dogs soaked in garlic and cherry drink powder.

Fly fishermen on the DHALO section of the Nescopeck Creek, have reported catches of trout, dead drifting nymph patterns, such as scuds or caddis.

With the warmer than usual weather resulting in open water, both on the rivers and impoundments, boaters are again reminded of the mandatory life jacket wear period for anyone in a boat less than 16 feet and all canoes and kayaks.

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

Northcentral Region

Tioga County

This week’s cold temperatures iced over a few local ponds and lakes; however, warm temperatures and rain predicted for this weekend will create unsafe ice conditions.

Colder temperatures are predicted to return next week, creating a “reel” possibility for ice fishing opportunities next weekend! Conditions may change, so stay tuned.

REMEMBER, SAFETY FIRST: http://fishandboat.com/water/ice_thickness.pdf

McKean County

PA Fish and Boat Commission would like to thank all of the volunteers who helped with trout stocking throughout the 2015 fishing season! Our officer is looking forward to the 2016 stocking season in McKean County!

The recent cold snap began building ice on small ponds and swamps; however, moderate temperatures and rain predicted for the upcoming weekend will degrade ice conditions. As always, use caution prior to going out on ice covered waterways.

Centre County

Penns Creek

Water levels are slowly dropping and clarity is improving. Water temperatures are in the mid 30s to low 40s.

Anglers are having a great time on Penns Creek. Fish are hanging tight to the bottom of the stream, but are hungry!

Anglers using a stonefly nymph and caddis fly larvae pattern, in tandem, are catching quite a few trout. Streamers are also working well along the banks and in slack water areas.

Patterns that are working best are beadhead prince nymphs, pheasant tails, caddis larvae and olive or black sculpin patterns.

Anglers using spinning gear are also having luck catching trout.

USGS Penns Creek water level at Penns Creek, PA: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?01555000

Spring Creek

Water levels are dropping and temperatures are holding in the mid 30s to low 40s. Warmer temperatures and rain predicted for this coming weekend will provide great streamer fishing conditions!

Anglers are currently catching trout using a variety of nymph patterns throughout the day. Patterns that are working include sow bug, walt’s worm, olive scud and pheasant tail.

Olive or black streamers are working well in slack water and/or next to streambanks.

With colder temperatures, the best time to fish is late morning to mid-afternoon.

USGS Spring Creek water level at Houserville, PA : http://waterdata.usgs.gov/pa/nwis/uv?site_no=01546400

Southeastern Region

Bucks County

Anglers are catching trout, crappies, bluegills and white perch out of Lake Luxembourg in Core Creek County Park.

Philadelphia County

Anglers willing to brave the cold are still pulling trout and sunfish out of the Pennypack Creek.

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