Northwest Region
Crawford County
French Creek
Anglers are catching Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, and Northern Pike throughout the entire stretch of French Creek. With the holiday weekend coming up, there will be plenty of unpowered canoes and kayaks out on the creek so please be aware of your surroundings.
Eastern Erie County
Presque Isle Bay
Anglers are catching Smallmouth Bass throughout the bay at various depths. Anglers are catching Largemouth Bass in the Lagoons. Top water baits and various soft plastic baits are catching Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, and Yellow Perch. With the holiday weekend approaching, several different types of watercraft will be out and about on the bay. Please be aware of your surroundings and have a safe, enjoyable holiday weekend!
Mercer County
Lake Wilhelm
Anglers are catching crappie, Walleye, and Largemouth Bass throughout the lake. For panfish, use live bait such as minnows or grubs on a jig. For Walleye, target the gravel bottoms and the points towards the dam. For Largemouth Bass, the stumps on the North end of the lake are great habitat for bass.
Northeasatern Region
Carbon County
Although the in-season trout stockings in the district are completed, anglers are still reporting seeing and catching trout on most of the stocked trout waters. Live minnow, spinners, paste baits appear to be working the best. Fly anglers are also reporting good success on most of the streams as well. The Nesquehoning Creek, Mauch Chunk Creek, and the Lehigh River near Bowmanstown were recently stocked with trout by local sportsmen’s clubs. Anglers fishing the Lehigh River have had good success catching trout using spinners, stick baits. Some of the trout being caught on the Lehigh River are measuring up to 24 inches.
Crappie and bluegill action has been good at Mauch Chunk Lake near the area of the fishing pier at boat launch A. Anglers are reporting catching a good number of pickerel and bass (catch & release only). Striped Bass action still remains good at Beltzville Lake during the early morning or evening hours. A few anglers reported good success catching Striped Bass using chicken livers. A few anglers reported good success catching walleyes at the spill way area of Beltzville Lake.
With the warmer weather arriving, the boating activity has been increasing at Beltzville Lake and Mauch Chunk Lake during the weekends. Boaters are reminded to check all of the required safety equipment on their boats before venturing out onto the water. In addition, please check to make sure your boat is properly registered. Motorboats and boats powered by an electric motor must display a proper motorboat registration. Unpowered boats such as canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, rowboats, etc. launching at Commission lakes or access areas including PA State Parks launch or access areas must display either a Commission launch use permit or a PA State Parks launch permit or mooring permit.
Remember, alcohol is not permitted at Beltzville Lake and Mauch Chunk Lake on both the water and shore areas. Laws pertaining to the possession and or use of alcoholic beverages are strictly enforced.
Wyoming County and Northern Luzerne and Columbia Counties
Water temperatures have been abnormally low lately due to the rainy days and cool nights we had been experiencing up until early this week. Waterways that should be in the mid 60’s by now have been ranging from 48 to 52 degrees. Trout have been hitting in Harveys Creek lately especially along the Route 29 corridor. Spinners, spoons and minnows have been doing the trick. In Harveys Lake decent schools of yellow perch have been successfully targeted in the cove near the outlet. Schools are moving all around the cove. Once you pick up one keep trying in the same area. When you stop getting bites, move around until you find the school again.
With the warmer days we have been experiencing this week look for the water temperatures to warm quickly. Along with this warm up look for the sunfish to move rapidly into the shallows as they prepare to spawn. This is a great time to have some fun with a lightweight flyrod. Or, you can just put a jig on the end of your line with a small bobber, sweeten the deal with a grub or small piece of worm.
There have been a lot more boats are hitting the water this week. Along with making sure your safety gear is serviceable and in place make sure you check your registration. REMEMBER – if your sticker has a 17 on it is expired. All powered registrations expire March 31st in the year listed on the sticker. Be cautious of the cold water. Just because you are no longer required to wear your life jackets after April 30th doesn’t mean the danger of Sudden Cold Water Immersion is gone. Err on the safe side and wear your PFD!
Northcentral Region
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Tioga County
Water temperatures on the lakes across the county are beginning to climb. Crappie fishing is best during the late evening and night hours.
Anglers are also, catching and releasing bass across the region. Crankbaits and spinnerbaits are working best.
Tioga and Hammond Lake
Anglers are catching Crappie on both lakes. The Crappie are moving in to shore late in the day and holding in deep water in the mornings.
Anglers are also catching Bluegill and Yellow Perch using worms.
Hills Creek Lake
Anglers are catching Yellow Perch, Bluegills and some Crappie using night crawlers, redworms and minnows.
Pine Creek
Water levels are good. Anglers are catching trout using spinners, butterworms, wax worms and mealworms.
Potter County
Kettle Creek
There are lots of trout to be caught! The trout are more spread out throughout the stream this year, thanks to volunteers!
Anglers are catching Brown Trout using a variety of techniques. A few anglers are catching trout using March Brown dry flies and wet flies.
Anglers are catching Brook Trout in some of the small streams. A variety of dry flies are working.
Clinton County
Fishing Creek
The water temperature is in the low 50s. The water level and color is just right.
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 #6-10). Most trout are eating just below the water surface.
Make sure you stash a few dry flies in your box (e.g. sulpher #14-16; March Brown #12; midges #22-26, Bluewing Olives size #18-22, Tan Caddis #12-14).
Streamers are still 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
Spring Creek
Water temperature is in the low 50s. The water level and color is fantastic. Sulphers are hatching and trout are rising!
Anglers are catching most of their trout subsurface, 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#14-16; blue wing olives sizes #18-22; tan caddis #14-16;midges sizes 22-26).
Bald Eagle Creek
Anglers are catching trout using sulphur nymphs and sulphur dry flies. Spinners and minnows are also working well.
Southeastern Region
N. Chester County
Marsh Creek Lake
Bluegills, crappies and perch are being caught on small jigs and baits.
Bass are taking jigs, spinners and crank baits. They are also being taken on large black, purple or dark green and pumpkin seed rubber worms. Best live baits are crayfish, minnows and night crawlers.
Streams:
The French Creek, Pickering Creek, East Brandywine Creek and West Valley Creek are in good condition and the fishing pressure has been light.
Bait anglers are doing well on trout with paste bait and small rubber jigs.
Spin anglers are also doing equally well on spinners, particularly gold spinners, and a few are having great success with small crank baits.
Fly anglers have reported taking trout on black caddis, stoneflies, and midges. Small pheasant tail and hares ears nymphs in sizes (18-24) have been producing great results lately.
Remember, you may never have bait in your possession in any of the Special Regulation Areas. The Fly Fishing Area is Catch & Release Only. You may not possess fish in the Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only Areas until June 15.
Schuylkill River
Black Rock area; Smallmouth and Largemouth bass fishing near the Cromby Power Plant outflow has been slow. Crankbaits and live bait are still the best producers. Several catfish anglers have been taking Channel Catfish on liver and Flathead Catfish on live bait. Note: Stay clear of the fish ladder at Black Rock Dam. Violators caught fishing within 100’ of that area will be prosecuted
Northampton County
The spring trout stockings for the county are completed; however, there are still plenty of opportunities to catch trout. The lower sections of the Bushkill Creek and the Little Bushkill Creek were two of the last streams to receive a stocking.
Minsi Lake provides an opportunity to catch and keep an unlimited amount of fish species as we enter this last week of angling before there is no water left, due to the drawdown (trout regulations still apply).
Anglers on the Delaware River are still catching American shad in the 20-22” range on shad darts and spoons. Some anglers have inadvertently caught Striped Bass on the river up by the PPL plant at Martins Creek.
Lastly, thank you to all of the volunteers who came out and put in countless hours to help with trout stocking this spring. It is because of their efforts that we were able to get all the trout in, and spread them out on the streams throughout the county.