Reminder To All Anglers & Boaters
The PFBC does not monitor ice thickness. Ice thickness and conditions can vary greatly across a body of water. 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 through the ice. Remember SAFETY FIRST: fishandboat.com/safety.htm
Northwest Region
Western Erie County
Steelhead fishing is still in full swing. Anglers have been doing well especially in Elk Creek, North of Route 98.
Walnut Creek is steady but not getting the number of fish that Elk Creek is.
Fairview Gravel Pits has been recently stocked with trout and with the warmer weather last week it was fishable.
Anglers have been doing well on Crooked Creek as well, fishing North of Route 5 and above the nursery waters on Abel Road.
Remember to wear your life jacket this time of year on boats less than 16 feet in length and on all canoes and kayaks.
Also this is a new year – check to see if you have a valid Pennsylvania fishing license before you go out.
Creek temp: 38 degrees
Lake temp: 38 degrees
Northcentral Region
Remember to purchase your fishing license for 2017 OR buy a 10 year license! BUY YOUR LICENSE TODAY.
SAFETY REMINDER – If there is ice in your area and you plan on heading out to ice fish, always check the ice before going on it. Learn more about ice safety and fishing HERE.
Potter County
Boating season has ceased since the majority of the lakes have ice on them. Kayakers and canoers, with the appropriate cold weather gear, are paddling the streams and rivers.
REMINDER – The Mandatory Life Jacket Requirement began November 1 and lasts through April 30. Boaters are required to wear a life jacket while underway or at anchor on boats less than 16 feet in length or on any canoe or kayak. The requirement applies to all Pennsylvania waters.
Class A trout streams are providing good fishing for anglers. Anglers are catching trout using a variety of baits and flies. Remember to fish your bait, flies or lures slow this time of year.
Current ice conditions are poor, but with cold weather returning over the next few days, conditions may improve.
A few anglers are catching fish where streams flow into the lakes.
Tioga County
Fishing in Tioga County has slowed for many, but with ice locking up most of the lakes and farm ponds throughout the county, anglers have been enjoying many ice fishing opportunities.
Hills Creek and Beechwood Lake
Anglers are catching panfish at day break and right before dark using wax worms on small yellow, gold, silver and pink jig heads.
Anglers are also catching largemouth bass, chain pickerel and rainbow trout using Fathead Minnows on tip-ups. Fishing tip-ups 2 to 3 feet below the surface of the ice is working best for trout.
REMINDER – Anglers are limited to 5 devices including, hand lines, tip-ups, rods, and any other devices or instruments used to catch fish. Fishing devices or instruments used, must be under the immediate control of the angler and fished in holes no more than 10 inches across.
Western Lycoming County
It is approaching the time of year when many streams will begin to see the emergence of the little black stonefly. If you enjoy fishing the black stonefly hatch, be prepared to fish during the warm parts of the day and key in on days with temperatures in the mid to upper 40s.
Pine Creek
Trout are feeding on midge pupa near the water’s surface. They are rising about 15 to 20 feet out from the stream bank where the water is warmer.
Anglers are using small midge patterns to target trout on the surface. Anglers are also catching trout using streamer patterns, crank baits and gold/silver spinner baits. Remember to have patience and switch up your retrieve.
Lycoming County
Rose Valley Lake
Anglers are catching Walleye and panfish using a variety of techniques. Remember, PFBC does not monitor ice thickness/safety. Always check the ice before heading out.
Clinton County
Fishing Creek
Recent rain events did not raise the water level significantly. The water remains clear with a temperature in the 40s.
Anglers are catching trout using nymphs (e.g. beadhead prince #12-16; dark stone fly #6-10).
Anglers are also catching trout using olive and/or black streamer patterns (#6-10).
Centre County
Spring Creek
Recent rain events did not raise the water level significantly on upper Spring Creek, but the water is a little off color. Lower Spring Creek is up and off color. The water temperature is in the low 40s.
Anglers are catching trout using nymphs (e.g. sowbugs, scuds and green weenie).
Anglers are also catching trout using olive and/or black streamer patterns #6-10.
Anglers are catching trout on lower Spring Creek using streamers (e.g. size 6-10; olive or black colors) and spinners. The best time to be on the water is late morning or mid-afternoon.
Union/Snyder/Northumberland/ Montour Counties
Freezing and thawing has been the theme over the last few weeks. With these conditions, ice anglers need to remember to check ice conditions prior to going on the ice.
Faylor and Halfway Dam Lake
Up through the last week of 2016, anglers were ice fishing; however, weather conditions over the past week have decreased good ice conditions.
Southeastern Region
Creeks, rivers and lakes throughout the Southeast Region are still open water for fishing & boating. Weather forecasts indicate that it will be colder this coming weekend. The rain showers this week have raised the streams and rivers. Did you know that you can find stream gauge information available on the USGS website at usgs.gov?
With seasonably mild air temperatures, paddlesport enthusiasts have been seen out and about.
Remember: From November 1st through April 30th there is mandatory wear for life jackets from on boats less than 16 feet in length and all canoes and kayaks. Wearing your life jacket is the best way to prevent a boating fatality and we recommend you wear one all year, not just during the mandatory wear period.
Chester County
The White Clay Fly-Tying Club will meet at 6PM on Thursday, January 12th at the London Tract Meeting House in the White Clay Creek Preserve, located at the intersection of Sharpless & London Tract roads, Landenberg PA 19350, next to White Clay State Park Office. With the cold weather upon us, many of us are looking for a place to go or some activity to hold us over until we can wet a line again and this is the perfect thing. Fly tying materials are provided for those who do not yet have their own. Several flies are usually demonstrated and club members are happy to show you how it’s done, as well as spin a few stories about the last huge one that got away. Club mailing address is P.O. Box 762, Landenberg, PA 19350 for more information. Parking for club is behind the White Clay State Park Office.
The West Caln Sportsmen’s Club will have its next meeting on January 11th. The club owns 40 acres of property along Telegraph Road which includes a large clubhouse, an indoor and outdoor pistol range, rifle range, archery range and fish nursery located at Hibernia County Park. Meetings are held starting at 7:30 PM on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. Meetings are held at the West Caln Sportsmen’s Club at 1271 Telegraph Road, Coatesville, PA. 19320. The Club is always looking for new members. For more information you can send an email to wcsportsmen@verizon.net or check out the website at wcsportsmen.org.