Pennsylvania Fishing Report – July 14, 2016

Northwest Region

Crawford County

Canadohta Lake

Anglers are still catching Largemouth Bass and Rock Bass. A few anglers are catching a couple Walleye and Muskellunge but fishing is slow.

Woodcock Creek Lake

Anglers are catching a few Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass. Muskellunge have been reported as well.

Woodcock Creek

Bowfins have moved up from French Creek. A few smaller walleyes are being reported as well.

French Creek

The water level is low and may be more difficult to canoe/kayak certain sections.

Forest County

Allegheny River

Water levels on the Allegheny River have increased which could aide in productive fishing.

Tionesta Lake

Musky anglers have been successful on Tionesta Lake. Trolling has been productive in the marina area and near the dam.

Tionesta Outflow

Catfish anglers have been successful in past years fishing the Tionesta Outflow near the fishing trail. Access to the Tionesta Outflow is restricted on the primitive camping side; however anglers are permitted to drive into the RV camping area to access the outflow.

Sand and Gravel Launch

The Sand and Gravel Launch located in Tionesta is a private launch. The landowner has provided this access to the public free of charge and in order to keep the property open, boaters and anglers who use the access must respect this privilege. Please obey all posted signs and if a restroom is needed, please walk into Tionesta and ask to use a restroom.

Venango County

Allegheny River

Smallmouth Bass catches continue to be reported. The best success was reported on tubes and top-water lures. Additionally, with the recent discoloration, catfish anglers are returning to their favorite haunts… as previously reported, cut bait is the top reported choice.

French Creek

Fishing activity continues to increase as weather and water conditions improve. From Utica through Franklin, anglers have begun reporting sporadic Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, and Walleye hook-ups. Recent increases in the instances of littering have been reported from Carlton through Utica. Law enforcement patrols in the area have been increased.

Oil Creek

Smallmouth Bass are being reported from Rynd Farm through the Allegheny confluence. Low flow and increasing water temperatures have caused trout to stack in the cooler flows of the incoming tributaries.

Kahle Lake

Anglers are reporting modest Bluegill and Yellow Perch catches. Very few crappie hook-ups have been reported. Also, anglers are reporting several Largemouth Bass catches with averages around 15 inches and weighing in excess of 1.5 pounds.

Two Mile Run Reservoir (Justus Lake)

Anglers are reporting trout harvests at depths between 20’-25’. Sporadic Bluegill harvests have been reported with ants and jigs being the baits of choice. Largemouth Bass harvests are being reported in the southern end of the lake between the swim beach and the dam.

REGISTRATION OF NON-POWERED WATERCRAFT REQUIRED AT PFBC LAKES/ACCESS AREAS:

With the 2016 boating season beginning in full swing, boaters are reminded that ALL non-powered watercraft are required to display either current registration or a launch permit when launching or retrieving at all PFBC lakes and/or access areas. For a complete listing of regulations pertaining to PFBC properties, please refer to the following link: http://fishinpa.com/pfbcproperty.html.

Northeastern Region

Southern Pike & Wayne Counties

Anglers in the area have been having limited fishing success. Fishing activity has been sporadic, although sunfish are still cooperating in the smaller impoundments.

Wyoming County

Susquehanna River water levels are low but anglers are reporting some success with Smallmouth Bass and Catfish.

Anglers have been having success on area lakes. The best strategy has been fishing in the early morning or evening hours, during the hotter weather we’ve been having. Shady areas are the best targets, such as around tree lined shorelines or docks. Also some lakes appear to be getting more aquatic plant growth than usual due to the hot dry conditions.

Northcentral Region

Tioga County

It has been hot, humid and the county hasn’t gotten much rain over the last week; however, fishing on the lakes has been great! The best fishing has been in the morning and evening.

Walleye fishing is going strong on Hammond, Tioga and Beechwood Lake. Anglers are catching Walleye using crawler harnesses. Most of the Walleye are being caught near the bottom. Anglers using a bottom bouncer or 3 way rig and a .5-1.5 oz weight are having the best luck. Colors that are working are silver, blue, purple, red/orange and chartreuse. Yellow Perch, carp and a few Striped Bass are being caught using the same rig.

Upper Pine Creek

A small amount of rain fell over the weekend. It was just enough to dampen the soil, but not enough to impact water levels.

Anglers are catching bass using shallow running crankbaits and top-water techniques.

Hammond and Tioga Lake

Anglers are catching a few Striped Bass Hybrids using crankbaits, top-water and trolling techniques. The morning hours are best.

Anglers are catching bass using various plastics, shallow running crankbaits and top-water. Evening is the best time to be on the water. The bass are being caught near weeds and timber.

A few anglers are catching bass on top in the no wake zone and around the shorelines.

Lots of big catfish are being caught this week! A number of catfish caught have measured at 30+ inches. Cut bait, live shiners, night crawlers and stink baits are working best. Most of the catfish are being caught in the late evening hours. Look for deep holes with access to shallow water. Areas like Mill Bay on Tioga Lake or the points near the swimming area on Hammond Lake are good places to start.

Anglers are also catching musky using live suckers, various crankbaits and spinnerbaits.

Clinton County

West Branch Susquehanna River

Anglers are catching carp, Yellow Perch, catfish and Smallmouth Bass between Lock Haven and Jersey Shore.

Poppers, crank baits and spinners are working well for Smallmouth Bass. Worms and crayfish are working well for Carp. Yellow Perch are taking worms and minnows.

Centre County

Bald Eagle Creek

Anglers are catching trout using small, beadhead nymphs (e.g. green weenie; pheasant tail; prince; squirmy wormy).

Anglers are catching carp using crayfish, crayfish fly patterns and beadhead squirmy wormies.

Foster Joseph Sayers Lake

Anglers are catching Crappie near the causeway. Minnows and small twister tails seem to be working best. Anglers are also catching Channel Catfish near upper and lower greens run area. Chicken livers are the bait of choice.

Bass are also being caught near submerged road beds around the lake. Crank baits and poppers are working well.

Spring Creek

Anglers are catching trout using Trico mayflies in the morning hours. Most of the trout are feeding subsurface. Target shade lines and deeper pools.

Anglers are catching trout using small nymphs throughout the day (e.g. pheasant tail, bead head Frenchie, black zebra midge larvae, walt’s worm, sow bugs, green weenie).

Terrestrials are also working (e.g. ants, beetles).

Keep an eye on water levels and temperatures here: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/pa/nwis/uv?site_no=01546500

Southeastern Region

Bucks County

Nockamixon Lake

Bluegills were taking minnows off the Three Mile Run launch around the post cluster habitat structure placed in the cove there.

N. Chester County

Marsh Creek Lake

Bass are being caught in the deeper water as well as in and around the weed beds. Best baits to use are crankbaits and spinnerbaits, with very large rubber worms and jigs working best in the weeds. The best rubber worm colors are black, purple, dark green or pumpkin seed. Bluegills and crappies are taking minnows as well as meal and wax worms. Marsh Creek Lake is a Big Bass Lake, your catch must be at least 15” to keep.

Streams

French Creek, Pickering Creek, East Brandywine Creek and West Valley Creek are low and very warm due to the 90+ degree heat this summer. The local streams have not been fishing well this summer, according to reports by local anglers.

Schuylkill River

Black Rock Area: The Cromby Power Plant area down to the Black Rock Dam has been good for Flathead Catfish with live Bluegills and night crawlers. Channel Catfish are taking liver. Crankbaits and live bait have been best producers for the bass. The Smallmouth Bass fishing has been good this spring and summer. Note: Stay clear of the fish ladder at the Black Rock Dam. You may not fish within the fishway/fish ladder fish passage facility. It is unlawful for any person to fish within a radius of 100’ of the entrance, or exit points of the chute or fish ladder passage way, and you must stay 100’ below the boil below the dam when fishing there.

Northampton County

Despite the lower water levels in many of the streams and rivers, anglers are still having luck catching fish. You may need to alter your strategy to catch them, though. In Minsi Lake, with the vegetation getting thick, weedless topwater lures are working well. Other anglers are fly fishing for Bluegills and other panfish with great success.

In the Lehigh River, Smallmouth Bass have been caught through the Borough of Northampton.

Brown Trout are still being caught in some of the lower portions of the Bushkill Creek. There are also reports of people catching trout in various streams with deep cool pools or undercut banks. They are out there, and you just need to look a bit further. As a reminder, anyone who is fishing from a boat (powered or non-powered) must have a lifejacket available for each person on board.