Northwest Region
Erie County
Lake Erie
Yellow Perch fishing off of Presque Isle is really slow right now. The perch pack off Walnut is still producing decent numbers. Anglers are reporting Walleye fishing is still good throughout the lake.
Walnut Creek
Some Steelhead have been caught at Walnut Creek but the numbers are still few. Another few weeks with some rain and the Steelhead should be heading upstream for some angler fun.
Forest County
Allegheny River
Smallmouth Bass fishing has improved. Anglers reported catching Smallmouth Bass near the West Hickory Bridge. Anglers are also catching Musky near the confluence of Tionesta Creek and the Allegheny River. Boat operators should be aware of the aquatic weeds, especially jet motor operators.
Tionesta Lake
Musky anglers have been productive trolling due to the decrease in recreational boating activity. Anglers fishing at Nebraska Bridge have been successful catching panfish from the bridge.
Maple Creek
The Marienville Rod and Gun Club are moving the trout stocking to mid or late September depending upon water levels and temperature. Anglers, note that the limit for trout is now 3 per day.
Spring Creek
The Marienville Road and Gun Club are moving the trout stocking to mid or late September depending upon water levels and temperature. Anglers, note that the limit for trout is now 3 per day.
Clarion River
Trout and Smallmouth Bass fishing should pick up in September and October. The Clarion River in Cooksburg is an excellent place to observe the fall colors while onboard a canoe or kayak. Please remember to have onboard or wear a PFD. It is mandatory that people onboard kayaks, canoes and boats less than 16 feet in length, wear a PFD at all times from November 1st through April 30th. In addition, children 12 years old or younger are required to wear a PFD while onboard all kayaks, canoes and boats less than 20 feet in length, year around, while underway (not at anchor).
Northcentral Region
Despite recent rain events, many of the NC region streams are still low and clear. Anglers are having most of their luck catching fish on lakes and rivers (e.g. Walleye, Crappie, bass, catfish).
Tioga County
As late fall approaches, the recreational boating season is quickly coming to an end. Thankfully we made it through the summer months without any reported boat accidents or other serious incidents on Tioga County waterways.
Fall is the time of year when most of the boaters are anglers targeting bass during “pre-winter” feeding.
NOTE: If you are using a boat, double check your safety equipment before heading out on the lake. Make sure you have what you need to be safe and legal on PA waterways. Use the link below find the checklist appropriate for your boat: http://fishandboat.com/boatcrs/03boathandbook/chap2_11_min.htm
Also be sure that you are aware of all the areas on the lakes that are marked slow no wake and operate your boat in the appropriate manner when in these areas.
Cowanesque Lake
Anglers are catching Black Bass using the drop-shot method with different plastics and colors at 12-14 feet.
Beechwood Lake
Anglers are catching Walleye trolling with crawler harnesses at a depth of 14-16 feet. Anglers are catching Crappie close to shore using small green/white/black jigs in 8-10 feet of water.
Cedar Run
Trout fishing is picking up a little. The water temperature has decreased, but the water level is still low and clear. Anglers are catching trout using dry flies (e.g. terrestrials – beetle) or small spinner baits in the early morning hours.
REMINDER: We are in the “Extended Trout Season” now. Make sure you are aware of the regulations on your waterway. Click here to learn more: fishinpa.com
Elk County
PFBC’s WCO McMann attended the recent Elk County Youth Field Day at the St. Mary’s Sportsman’s Club. 142 Youth participated in the event and caught lots of trout using worms.
PFBC and WCO McMann would like to thank all of the helpers that came out to assist at the Elk County Youth Field Day fishing station.
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Insert photo caption #1: Pictured here are the individuals who assisted WCO McMann at the fishing station. Thank you for your help and dedication to get youth out fishing! Pictured from left to right: Gene Gavazzi; Dave Polaski; US Army Corp Ranger Art Myers; Dale Heeter; Tim Fitch; and Carmen Peluso; Jim Dippold.
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Clinton County
Fishing Creek
The water temperature is holding in the upper 50’s. The water is low and clear. Anglers are catching trout in the early morning and late evening hours using nymphs (e.g. dark stone flies; prince nymph; pheasant tail nymph).
Trout are rising in the late evening hours to caddis, terrestrials and a few Blue Wing Olives. Patterns that are working include: tan caddis; blue wing olives; midges.
Try working a small streamer in deep pools in the early morning or late evening hours. You might be surprised what you will catch!
Centre County
Foster Joseph Sayers Lake
Anglers are catching Black Crappie and Yellow Perch under the causeway bridge and at Hunter Run Cut. The most successful technique is a live minnow fished under a bobber.
Anglers are also catching Channel Catfish using chicken livers in the Hunter Run Cut area.
A few anglers are catching bass using spinner bait, rubber worms and plastics.
Spring Creek & Lower Bald Eagle Creek
Recent rain events brought a little color to the stream, but the water levels have remained steady. The current water temperature is in the 60’s.
Anglers are catching trout using a variety of dry fly and/or nymph patterns (e.g. tan caddis; midges; blue wing olives; green weenie; pheasant tail nymph; walt’s worm). Anglers are also catching trout using live baits.
The best time to be on the water is early morning and late evening. Be patient and fish your favourite runs/holes thoroughly.
Southeastern Region
S. Chester County
The local WCO is always getting questions about the fish that are found in Chambers Lake, Hibernia County Park, as well as questions about if we would consider stocking trout and walleye in the lake. We did stock trout in the lake at one time and had angler turnout that was so low it was surprising. If you just have to fish for trout the West Branch of the Brandywine Creek is walking distance away and is very heavily stocked with trout. Chambers Lake provides wonderful fishing opportunities for many species which include, Large & Smallmouth Bass, Tiger Musky, Chain Pickerel, Channel Catfish, Black & White Crappie, Bluegill, Green, Redbreast, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, and Yellow Perch. As for Walleye, one of the staff at Hibernia asked our Fisheries Manager, Mike Kaufmann, if that would be possible. Here is Mike’s reply:
“I was involved in some of the early planning fish habitat before the lake was constructed and set the lake up with the various stockings that have occurred since its construction. While on its face the lake (Chambers), might seem to be suitable for walleye stocking, it is highly unlikely that the stockings would be successful due to the great abundance of largemouth bass combined with the lake’s relatively small size, (80 acres). Based on past experiences in SE Pa and NW Pa, as well as reports from the scientific literature, largemouth bass in moderately high to high densities usually prevent the development of anything but meager walleye fisheries and many expensive walleye fingerlings need to be stocked in order to provide these meager fisheries (along with expensive forage for the bass). That is the reason why we stopped stocking walleye in Marsh Creek Lake, but continued at Struble. The bass population in Marsh Creek Lake is substantial, while that in Struble is of fairly low density (but nice size fish) and the walleye populations that developed from stockings were reflective of that. Struble’s walleye population varies in abundance, but it meets the statewide abundance standard. Past evidence from Chambers Lake has also provided guidance that stocked walleye fingerlings would most likely be decimated by bass predation. This is why we believe that both the tiger muskellunge and channel catfish failed to produce desirable fisheries except, in the channel catfish case, when the lake was young and the bass population and channel catfish populations were building together. Later, however, after the bass population reached a very good to high density repeated channel catfish stockings and attempted tiger muskellunge stockings were not successful to any desirable extent. Given the aforementioned experiences, I could not recommend the stocking of walleye in Chambers”.
Philadelphia County
The Philly Fun Fishing Fest was held this past Saturday, 9/10. We had 195 participants and 297 fish caught. The event is made possible by staff from the Philadelphia Water Department, The Schuylkill River Development Corporation, the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Department and the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. PFBC Outreach and Law Enforcement staff was on hand to assist and provided fishing rods & tackle on loan, and provided a waiver to allow participants to fish without a fishing license requirement during the hours of the program.