Northwest Region
Clarion County
Kahle Lake
Kahle Lake continues to be in a drawdown state. The level of the lake has been raised approximately 3’. If no problems exist, the lake will be maintained at this level. Anglers and boaters are reporting that with all the new shoreline cover that was created by raising the water levels the lake looks like a different lake. The fish seem to be liking the new cover and are taking advantage of it. Anglers are reporting catching good numbers of Largemouth Bass and some Bluegills, crappies & Yellow Perch. Anglers and boaters are reminded that Kahle Lake is a PFBC owned lake. All boats, including canoes and kayaks, must be registered or have a launch permit to use this facility.
Piney Dam
Piney Dam continues to be in a drawdown state and is approximately 6’ below normal pool levels. Anglers fishing by boat are catching some bass, perch and a few crappies. Shoreline anglers are catching some Channel Catfish and a few perch. Anglers and boaters using the PFBC’s Mill Creek and Gravel Lick Access Areas are reminded that these are PFBC owned access areas and that all boats, including canoes and kayaks, must be registered or have a launch permit to use these facilities.
Allegheny River
The waters levels have been consistently high due to continued rains.
Redbank Creek
Anglers are catching trout from Mayport to the dam in New Bethlehem.
Beaver Creek Ponds Project
Currently, the Beaver Ponds are closed to all fishing.
Piney Creek DHALO Area
The project waters were stocked on 5/12/17. Anglers are reminded that use or possession of bait and the keeping or possession of trout while fishing in the project waters is prohibited.
Trout Streams
• Beaver Creek & East Sandy Creek were stocked on 5/11/17.
• Piney Creek & Leatherwood Creek were stocked on 5/12/17 – A special thanks goes out to State Representative Donna Oberlander who assisted with the stocking of Piney Creek
• Redbank Creek was stocked on 5/12/17.
• Mill Creek & Cather’s Run were stocked on 5/16/17.
• Toms Run was stocked on 5/22/17.
Forest County
Tionesta Creek
Trout were stocked from Barnes to Mayburg on May 16, 2017. Fly anglers are catching trout by using caddis dry flies and nymphs. Some Blue Wing Olives have been hatching in the morning in about a size 20.
East Hickory Creek DHALO
Anglers have historically done well using Green Drake dry flies around the Memorial Day weekend. Anglers should fish the evening hours to dark to catch the Green Drake hatch.
Tionesta Outflow
During the evening hours a substantial caddis and mayfly hatch has been observed at the outflow. Trout anglers have been successful using Blue Wing Olives in the morning, caddis during the day, and mayfly spinners in the evening. Anglers must possess a current trout and salmon permit to fish in the Outflow, regardless of specifically fishing for trout.
Maple Creek and Spring Creek
The Marienville Rod and Gun Club has recently stocked Maple and Spring Creek.
Ross Run
The Kellettville Sportsman’s Club will be holding a children’s fishing derby on Memorial Day weekend at the Children Only Fishing Area on Ross Run.
Beaver Run
Trout are still holding in Beaver Run. Anglers should fish the undercut banks and around submerged logs, with minnows or worms, using a small hook and light line.
Warren County
Farnsworth Branch
Anglers are catching trout in the Farnsworth Branch. Anglers are using salted minnows for bait and are doing really well. This stream has very little pressure so there’s still plenty of trout left in the stream.
Northeasatern Region
Small, localized thunderstorms throughout part of the region have and will continue for the next week to spike stream and river flows. A great resource to use to check to see if areas have been hit with heavy rains that can cause muddy water and unsafe fishing conditions is the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) National Water Information System which monitors stream flows on many Pennsylvania streams and rivers. To check out current stream flows on these waterways check their website at: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/pa/nwis/rt
The cool nights and rain have kept the region’s trout streams in great condition for anglers. Many of these streams are already seeing little pressure and there are many trout left in the stocked waterways. This is a great time of year to fish as the trout are most active as the water temperatures are in the perfect range for them to feed. Fly anglers are finding success nymphing throughout the day and many evenings are seeing hatches of a multitude of Caddis – tan, cinnamon and dark varieties; Mayflies – sulphurs, light cahills, march browns, slate drakes, and bwos; Stoneflies – yellow sallies, brown and goldens. If you see a trout rising just observe what bugs are on the water and see what the fish is rising to. If you aren’t sure what they are rising to just reach for a dry fly about the same size of the bugs on the water. A parachute adams (size 14, 16 or 18) has been working very well as it imitates many different hatches.
Western Bradford and Sullivan County
North Branch of the Susquehanna River
Water levels have dropped some and the slight color has fish active. Anglers are catching musky, walleye, and Smallmouth Bass (catch and immediate release) while jigging. Various colors and patterns are proving successful.
Northcentral Region
Get your license ONLINE – gonefishingpa.com/
Cameron County
Water levels in streams across the county are great! Anglers are catching trout using a variety of flies, live baits and lures.
Kinzua Dam
Anglers are catching and releasing bass, using white lures/jig heads. Anglers are also catching Walleye.
Tioga County
Fishing is great across the county!
Tioga and Hammond Lake
Anglers are catching Crappie, Yellow Perch and Bluegill. Live minnows and night crawlers are working best. Anglers are also catching and releasing bass using topwaters, crank baits and soft plastics in shallow waters.
Hamilton Lake
Anglers are catching trout using live minnows and dough baits. Small, silver or gold spoons are working well.
Anglers are catching Crappie using live minnows and small, chartreuse jigs.
Hills Creek Lake
Anglers are catching Yellow Perch and Bluegills using redworms, minnows and small jigs.
Pine Creek
There are a lot of trout right now! Anglers are catching trout using butterworms, wax worms and minnows.
Fly anglers are catching trout using a variety of fly patterns (e.g. March Browns, Bluewing Olives, sulphurs, cahills and caddis patterns). Green Drakes are just beginning and should be in full swing soon!
Jefferson County
Native Brook Trout/Wild Brown Trout streams across the county are in perfect condition for fishing. Flows are good and this is a great time of year to explore!
Redbank Creek
Recent rain events have caused the water to rise and turn a bit off color. Anglers are catching trout using streamers and nymphs. A few anglers are catching trout using night crawlers.
Brown Drakes, March Browns, Sulphers and various caddis flies were hatching just before the rains. June will start out with some great fishing conditions!
North Fork Redbank Creek (Fly Fishing Only Section)
Water levels are high, but anglers are still catching trout using a variety of nymphs (e.g. mop flies and walt’s worms). The evening seems to be the best time to target rising trout with March Brown and sulphur dries.
Clear Creek
The water levels are great for fishing right now. Anglers are catching trout using streamers and nymphs (e.g. pheasant tails, hares ears and zebra midges).
Note – The bottom half of the pond is closed due to the swimming area being open.
Clinton County
Fishing Creek
The water temperature is in the 50s. The water level and color is perfect. Lots of insects around, so pack your gear and head out!
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. Green Drake #6-8; Coffin Fly #6-8; Slate Drake #10-12; March Brown #12; midges #22-26, Bluewing Olives size #18-22, Tan Caddis #12-14).
Centre County
Spring Creek
After recent rain events, the water is high and muddy. There are still plenty of fish rising though. The water temperature is in the low 50s.
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. x-caddis tan #14-18; sulphur#14-16; blue wing olives sizes #18-22;midges sizes 22-26).
Snyder/Union/Northumberland County
Anglers are catching bass and Walleye in the Sunbury area. Tubes with blue/silver flakes and chartreuse are working well in clear water.
Rapid Run
Anglers are catching trout using small, gold spinners.
Southeastern Region
Bucks County
Nockamixon Lake
Bass anglers have been reporting good post-spawn bass action along weed beds in less than 12’ of water. So far this spring, weed beds and aquatic vegetation have gotten a good start and along with providing good cover, they also provide a great area to target fish. Soft plastics during the day and topwater at night are the most used tactics for bass. Alewives and gizzard shad have been in their breeding balls for a little while now and are the preferred live bait for those anglers targeting striped bass. Most fish are caught near rock cliff drop-offs and points, where stripers can use the underwater topography to ambush baitfish.
Delaware River
Shad are all done for the year, and many anglers that WCOs have encountered reported their best year fishing for shad in the past decade. Many anglers reported that they only keep shad that were injured/exhausted while being caught, and catch and release seems to be preferred. Some striper action is still being had south of the New Hope wing-dam south to the tidal section. Topwater plugs seem to be the ticket, with WCOs encountering many anglers keeping fish within the slot limit below the Calhoun Street Bridge. Seasons and limits are as follows:
Delaware River and Estuary below Calhoun Street Bridge:
-Jan. 1 through March 31 – 1 fish per day, Min Size 28 inches.
-April 1 through May 31- 2 fish per day, slot limit 21 to 25 inches
-June 1 through Dec. 31 – 1 fish per day, Min Size 28 inches.
Delaware River above Calhoun Street Bridge
Open year round, -1 fish per day, Min Size 28 inches.
Lehigh County
Anglers are having success catching trout throughout Jordan Parkway downstream of MacArthur Rd and near the Jordan Creek Parkway Community Garden in Scherersville.
Schuylkill County
Little Schuylkill River
Trout fishing is beginning to slow down for most of the county but the Little Schuylkill River is still a great stream to catch lots of trout. Water levels continue to fluctuate with the heavier rains, but have remained at fishable levels.
Tuscarora Lake
Tuscarora Lake has been excellent for Yellow Perch and Bluegills recently. Some anglers also reported catching crappies close to the shoreline this month. Largemouth Bass and Chain Pickerel are also starting to hit more frequently throughout the lake.
Locust Lake
Locust Lake is starting to see trout transition to the deeper water near the middle of the lake and the Largemouth Bass and panfish are seen more frequently along the shorelines.