Northwest Region
Erie County
Lake Erie
Yellow Perch fishing changes from day to day out on the lake. During the week of 7/18 the perch were located in 43 foot of water between Shades Beach and Shorewood. Walleye fishing is great right now so if you go out and target them you should do very well.
Mercer County
Shenango Reservoir
The water levels are normal for this time of year. The Crappie have spawned out and moved to deeper water. White Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass are being caught around the lake. Anglers are reporting Channel Catfish are being caught as well. Keep in mind that there is mandatory wear for all canoes and kayaks and boats under 16 feet in length while boating the US Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District waters. Boating pressure has been down, even during the holidays.
Shenango River
A reminder that the outflow of the dam to the Walnut Street Bridge is designated as a year round trout fishery which means that a current trout/salmon stamp is required to fish the area regardless of species of fish that you are targeting or harvesting.
Venango County
Allegheny River
Anglers are reporting catching several nice Smallmouth Bass throughout the Franklin area when the water and weather cooperate. Tubes, flukes, and a few smaller jerk baits or crankbaits seem to be the ticket when the bass hit.
Justus Lake
Anglers are reporting catching several nice Tiger Muskellunge and Rainbow Trout recently. They are also reporting Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass being caught in the shallows on frogs or buzz baits late in the evening or early morning.
Northeastern Region
Northern Pike and Southern Wayne Counties
Large and Smallmouth Bass are being caught in the early mornings or at night throughout the district. The hot temperatures and resultant warmer water has made fishing very slow during the mid-morning to afternoon times. Striped Bass and Brown Trout fishing has slowed down with anglers finding them in deeper waters.
Panfish anglers have been holding their own in most of the other water of the district.
Boating is in full swing and as the summer progresses please be safe and mindful of the increase traffic of our lakes and rivers. WEAR your PFD’s and enjoy your time in our beautiful state.
Lackawanna County
Recent warm temperatures have caused anglers to shift their tactics. Fishing has been better during the early morning hours and the pre-dark hours of the day. Some nice Largemouth Bass have landed over the past week at Griffin Pond. Panfish have been biting since spring at Lackawanna Lake; especially under the Rt 407 bridge and near the swimming pool area of the lake. Small panfish were biting at Elmhurst Reservoir in the area of the parking lot near the former bridge. Pinhead minnows were catching fish at nearly every cast.
Northcentral Region
Tioga County
The weather continues to be very hot and water levels on all of Tioga counties stocked trout waters, class A wild trout waters, and wilderness trout waters are very low. If you are a trout angler and are looking to pursue these fish, please be very careful when landing the trout, if you plan to release it, that you don’t kill the fish. Anglers have been having very good success trout fishing at night with large streamer patterns, surface disturbing lures, and wax worms.
The Smallmouth Bass and Walleye fishing has been the best in years on Pine Creek according to the Area Fisheries Manager and local anglers. Anglers have been picking up Walleye and Smallmouth Bass in the large deep pool on Big Pine Creek at night using 4 to 6 inch white crank baits and olive tubes.
Fishing on Beechwood Lake has been very good this summer. Recent creel checks and angler interactions have shown a very good number of Largemouth Bass, Walleye, and Panfish being caught and harvested on the lake. Fish have been caught at depths between 12 and 14 feet using worm harnesses with night crawlers and green fluoresce jigs.
Anglers fishing the Tioga River at the spillway have been reporting success catching Walleye, Channel Catfish, and Smallmouth Bass using large Creek Chubs, Shiners, and popper lures on fly rods and spin casting rigs.
If you are planning on going fishing, remember to buy a fishing license and become familiar with the rules and regulations. Also, boating season is at its peak, and boaters are encouraged to take a boater’s safety course, if they have not completed one. And, remember that all boats, canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards must have a United States Coast Guard Approved life jacket on board.
Clinton and Western Lycoming Counties
Hot weather has plagued Big Pine Creek for the majority of the summer and the water is hot and low. Stocked trout have found their way to the mouths of most cold water tributaries on Big Pine Creek and in particular within the Catch And Release All Tackle Section in Slate Run. It is not unlawful to fish for these fish in this section of Big Pine Creek, but anglers are being informed that all trout species in this specially regulated section of Big Pine Creek are protected from being harvested or killed. Anglers are encouraged when fishing in this section of water to use very good judgment on whether or not to fish for these trout and realize that it is unlawful to kill or release a fish unharmed in this specially regulated water.
Anglers are still picking up good numbers of stocked trout in Little Pine Lake and the Delayed Harvest section on Little Pine Creek. Success has been through the use of paste bait, salmon eggs, spinners, minnows, and trolling wet flies. Most of the success has been early in the morning and after dark.
Southeastern Region
Berks County
The bass are striking over at Lake Ontelaunee in Berks County. With the heat wave sweeping through the state, the bass haven’t been as active, but recent rain brought bass out of the depths to feed. Try plastic worms or crank baits through the lily pads. Anglers are also getting Common Carp back under the old West Shore Drive Bridge. If you’re out in the middle of the day, try the fishing in the depths of the quarry hole off Rte. 73 just up from the main parking lot. Good Luck!
S. Chester County
Anglers are catching Largemouth Bass at Chambers Lake. One pair of anglers had mentioned catching ten bass in two hours of fishing while being checked by the local WCO. Motor oil and pumpkinseed plastic worms seemed to be the favorite artificial, but night crawlers and small shiners also produced fish. The best areas to fish have been along the face of the dam (It is accessible by boat only. Park visitors are not allowed on the dam.), and along the shoreline on the PFBC-controlled boat ramp parking area.
E. Schuylkill County
The Little Schuylkill River has had low to moderate flows through the summer making it difficult to kayak. The fishing has been good in the deeper holes. Trout are being caught throughout the stocked areas on spinners, meal worms, and redworms. There has been little pressure on the stream lately, providing anglers with a peaceful fishing opportunity with plenty of quality trout fishing. The Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only area of the Little Schuylkill near New Ringgold has been excellent for trout fishing in the last month. Some very large trout have been caught recently on various lures, and wooly buggers have worked well for fly anglers.
Tuscarora Lake has not seen many anglers lately, but has seen quite a bit of boat activity. Kayakers have been using the lake in large numbers probably due to the quiet, calm atmosphere.
Locust Lake had moderate fishing pressure recently with Largemouth Bass hitting on spinnerbaits, jigs, and night crawlers. The occasional trout can still be caught by boaters in the deeper parts of the lake.
The Owl Creek Reservoirs are full and have seen very few anglers or boats. Both reservoirs can be good for bass. Remember they are catch and release only lakes.