Pictured above: A beautiful, Fishing Creek, Clinton County Brown Trout, caught during high flows on a black streamer pattern.
Northwest Region
Butler County
Lake Arthur
Fishing has been slow since spring’s arrival. Anglers are catching some Channel Catfish and Bluegill. In May, Hybrid Striped Bass fishing should pick up. Get your lanterns and stick baits ready for night time action at most of the lake’s access areas. Boaters will want to concentrate on “the flats” near the dam.
Harbor Acres Lake
The lake has been recently stocked with very nice trout; this is a great place to take the family. Anglers have had the best results using minnows.
Glade Run Lake
Recently opened again, it has been stocked with very nice sized trout. This is also another fantastic place to take the family to fish. Note: Please review and abide by all the posted regulations at this PFBC property.
Central Erie County
Presque Isle Bay
The Smallmouth Bass bite has started and many anglers are traveling to the bay to fish for bass. Anglers are targeting the areas off Perry’s Monument and the Niagara Boat Launch. Anglers are catching Northern Pike in Misery Bay and the Lagoons.
Lake Erie
Many anglers have taken to the lake already in search of Yellow Perch. Anglers seem to be targeting 40 foot of water off the cribs. All the area launch ramps and docks have been put in for use. Many of the buoys have also been placed around the State Park and the others will soon follow. Please adhere to the rules.
Mercer County
Shenango Reservoir
The lake temperature has decreased in the last couple of weeks. The water levels are up which has closed the Clark and Golden Run Boat Launches. Walleye season opened on Saturday May 6th and anglers took advantage of it by catching Walleye at the tailrace. Remember to check your boat’s registration sticker before you venture out on the lake. A blue “17” sticker expired March 31st of 2017.
Shenango River
The Shenango Outflow down to the Walnut Street Bridge is designated as a year round trout fishery so a current trout/salmon stamp is required to fish that area regardless of species of fish that you are targeting or harvesting. Don’t forget that mandatory Personal Flotation Device wear is no longer in effect unless you are boating on US Army Corp of Engineer Pittsburgh District Lakes where all occupants on boats under 16 feet in length and all canoes and kayaks are required to wear their Personal Flotation Device at all times.
Venango County
Allegheny River
Anglers are catching Smallmouth Bass when conditions on the river allow. Bass season is closed to harvest until Saturday, June 17th, 2017. Until that time, anglers are restricted to catch and release only; bass must be IMMEDIATELY returned to the water, unharmed.
French Creek
Anglers are catching Walleye and Northern Pike throughout the waterway.
Oil Creek
Oil Creek, from Rynd Farm through Drake Well, received an in-season trout stocking on April 27th.
OIL CREEK (SECTION 7) ADDED TO KEYSTONE SELECT TROUT STOCKED PROGRAM:
The 1.55-mile Lower Delayed Harvest (Petroleum Center to Columbia Farm Railroad Bridge) has been added to the PFBC Keystone Select program. Beyond an allotment of regularly stocked trout, anglers will have opportunity to catch additionally supplemented 14”-20” trophy trout.
Justus Lake
Justus Lake received its first in-season trout stocking on April 25th, and it is scheduled to receive an additional stocking on May 11th. Anglers are catching Rainbow Trout, Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, and Muskellunge throughout the lake. Anglers are catching Bluegills routinely targeting the shallows with good success from baits such as ants and jigs. Electric motors, operating with current registration, are permitted on Justus Lake. The use of internal combustion engines is PROHIBITED.
Kahle Lake
Anglers are catching good Largemouth Bass by the use of buzz baits throughout the lake, especially in shallow areas.
Northeasatern Region
Southern Wayne, Pike and Northern Monroe
Water conditions have been perfect for stocking trout throughout the district. Anglers have had great success catching trout in stocked trout waters. Streams are starting to drop after last week’s heavy rains and should create perfect flows for fishing this weekend.
Northern Pike and Southern Wayne Counties
Trout stockings are winding down for the season but there are still plenty of trout to be caught here in the Northeast. The cooler weather and recent rain are helping all the streams and lakes stay at the cooler temperatures that the trout like. The Lackawaxen River has always been a great source for trout fishing all year long. The River is fed from Lake Wallenpaupack thus creating a man-made cool fishery even during those hot summer months. Anglers on Shohola Lake and Greeley Lake are doing very well for crappies and bluegills. The shad have been a source of fun fishing in the Delaware and soon the stripers will follow.
As the boating season has also started, please be aware that the water temperatures are still in the 50’s. The cold water should be a sign for you to continue to wear you PFD’s at all times while on the waters. Safety first!
Northcentral Region
Get your license ONLINE – gonefishingpa.com
Tioga County
Water levels are on their way back down and Crappie fishing will be picking back up soon. Water clarity is improving in most of the lakes. With warmer weather forecasted to return, the bite should be great by mid-week next week!
Pre-season bass fishing has been good on Hammond, Hills Creek and Cowanesque Lakes. Smallmouth and Largemouth are being caught and released, using jigs, bladed jigs, and spinner baits. A few anglers are catching and releasing bass weighing near 7lbs!
Hills Creek Lake
Anglers are catching Bluegills and Bullhead Catfish using nightcrawlers. Anglers are also catching a few Yellow Perch and Crappie using live minnows.
Hamilton Lake
Anglers are catching trout using live minnows, small spoons and dough baits. Bright colored baits are working best in the murky waters.
Pine Creek
The stream is still up, but water clarity is improving. The temperatures is in the low 50s. By this weekend, wading conditions should improve along with the fishing conditions.
Small streams, like Asaph Run, Long Run and Stonyfork Creek are still running high. Anglers are catching trout using redworms, small nightcrawlers, mealworms and live minnows. Fly anglers are catching trout using worm patterns and dark wooly buggers.
Cameron/Clinton County
Streams are beginning to return to normal flows. Make sure you pack plenty of split shot/weight to get your flies and/or bait to the bottom of the streams.
Fishing Creek
The water temperature is in the high 40s to low 50s. The water level is still high, but clarity is much better.
Anglers are catching trout using mayfly, stonefly and caddis nymphs(e.g. Frenchie #14-16; gold bead pheasant tail #12-18; Prince #12-16; dark stonefly nymphs). Most trout are eating just below the water surface.
A few Quill Gordons, March Browns, Hendricksons, Sulphers, Bluewing Olives, midges and craneflies have been spotted. Make sure you stash a few dry flies in your box, just in case (e.g. midges size #22-26, Blue Quill #14-16; Bluewing Olives size #18-22, Quill Gordons #14-16; Grannom Caddis #12-14).
Streamers are moving a few trout. Target the “soft water”, near the banks and structure (e.g. logs, large stones etc). Anglers are catching a few trout using olive/black streamers size 6-10.
Centre County
Water temperature is in the high 40s to low 50s. The water level is still high, but the water color is good right now. The sulphur hatch is almost in full swing. It should be rocking by later this weekend!
Anglers are currently, catching trout using nymphs (e.g. sulphur nymphs, hot spot sow bug, walt’s worm, black zebra midge, deep sparkle pupa and a variety of other caddis larvae patterns).
Anglers are also catching trout using dry flies (e.g. sulphur, blue wing olives sizes #18-22; tan caddis #14-16;midges sizes 22-26).
Anglers are catching trout on lower Spring Creek, using spinners and live bait.
Southeastern Region
Bucks County
Anglers have been catching Striped Bass below the New Hope Wing Dam, near the 202 Bridge, Neshaminy State Park shoreline and Burlington/Bristol Bridge areas. Fish are hitting live eels, poppers, crankbaits and poppers. Smaller stripers have been taking clams and bloodworms all up and down the river. Catfish have also been taking these baits.
N. Chester County
Marsh Creek Lake: Crappie fishing has slowed a bit. Best baits are small bright jigs and minnows.
Bass activity has also been slow for this time of the year. The best soft plastics have been large black, purple, dark green and pumpkin seed worms. Best live baits are crayfish, minnows and night crawlers.
Creeks: French Creek, Pickering Creek, East Brandywine Creek and West Valley Creek are flowing at suitable levels and fishing well. The fishing pressure has been very light for this time of the year, which means there are many trout left. The Pickering & East Brandywine Creeks were stocked today (5/9) Water temps have been hovering around 58 degrees, which makes for really good fishing.
Spin anglers have been doing fair with spinners; a few are having great success with small crank baits. Bait anglers are doing equally well with minnows, small wax and mealworms. Fly anglers have reported taking trout on black caddis, stoneflies, and midges. Wooly buggers are also producing good results for the fly anglers.
Remember, you may never have bait in your possession in any of the Special Regulation Areas, and you may not possess fish in the Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only Areas until June 15 when the daily limit is (3).
The Fly Fishing Area is Catch & Release Only.
E. Schuylkill County
Trout fishing has been very good in the Little Schuylkill River for the last few weeks. Water levels are up slightly and it has a good color to it. Pressure has been moderate especially during the weekdays but plenty of fish are still holding up throughout the stocked stretch. May 11 is the final trout stocking on the stream for the year, but it should be good fishing all year long. Mealworms and minnows have been excellent all year, spinners and jerkbaits are working better as the water temperature rises.
Locust Lake is starting to see more boats on the water as camping season gets underway. Trout are being caught in the lake near shore on all types of baits and lures. Baits floated just off the bottom seem to do really well for trout. The lake receives another stocking on May 19.