Northwest Region
Clarion County
Kahle Lake
Anglers are catching good numbers of Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow Perch, and a few crappie. 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 feet below normal pool levels. When waters levels had been favorable, anglers were catching some Smallmouth Bass, Walleyes, and Channel Catfish. 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.
Redbank Creek
Anglers are catching a few Walleye from below the dam in New Bethlehem to the confluence with the Allegheny River.
Beaver Creek Ponds Project
Anglers are catching Largemouth Bass and Bluegill using soft plastic baits and jigs tipped with mealworms.
Crawford County
Canadohta Lake
Anglers are catching some nice Largemouth Bass using soft plastic baits and top water lures.
Woodcock Lake
Anglers are catching Bowfin that are moving up from French Creek along with a few Walleyes and Muskellunge. Reminder: it is illegal to throw Bowfin or any fish up in the weeds or rocks and leave them. Either toss them back into the water or take them home and dispose of them there.
Lawrence County
Neshannock Creek
Despite the high air and water temperatures, anglers are still catching stocked trout out of the Neshannock Creek. Anglers are catching trout using wooly buggers on a fly rod and other anglers are catching trout on mealworms and maggots.
Northeasatern Region
Carbon County
Anglers fishing the district’s Stocked Trout Waters have found a lot of success and very little pressure from other anglers. Anglers on the Pohopoco Creek are reporting good success catching trout. The section of the Pohopoco Creek downstream of the Beltzville Lake spillway, which is designated as both a Class A Wild Trout Stream and Stocked Trout Waters, was recently stocked by a local sportsmen club. Anglers are reminded that persons (16 years of age or older) are required to possess a valid PA Fishing License and must also possess a valid Trout /Salmon permit to fish this section of stream. The Extended Trout season from September 5, through February 28, 2018 is a No Harvest – Catch and Immediate Release Only.
Lehigh River
Anglers fishing the near Bowmanstown and the Palmerton area have reported good success catching trout and bass.
Mauch Chunk Lake
Mauch Chunk Lake has been producing some nice size perch with some measuring 13 – 14 inches in the area of boat launch B. Bass action still remains good, but most bass are measuring less than 15 inches. Mauch Chunk Lake is governed by the Big Bass Program Special Regulations. Crappie action was good in recently weeks in the area of the fishing pier at boat launch A.
Beltzville Lake
Beltzville Lake has been producing some striped bass and walleye action in the evenings and early morning hours. Catfish, panfish, white bass action appears to be good in most cove areas of the lake.
Boating activity has increased on both Mauch Chunk Lake and Beltzville Lake during the weekends. Boaters are reminded to check all of the required safety equipment on their boats such as USCG Approved personal flotation devices for each person on the boat including that it is of the appropriate size for the person intended; a type IV USCG Approved throw device (boats 16’ or more in length, except canoes & kayaks); USCG Approved Fire Extinguisher (if required); Sound Device; and the navigation lights (must be displayed from sunset to sunrise and during periods of restricted visibility) are in working order.
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.
Northern Pike and Southern Wayne Counties
Lake Wallenpaupack
Fishing has been relatively slow across the district. Lake Wallenpaupack anglers are finding Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass are being caught on crank baits and worm rigs in and around dock areas, the stripers are being caught mostly at dusk or in the early mornings using live bait, the panfish are still going strong anywhere around the lake.
Boating on Lake Wallenpaupack has been light but the lake has been really choppy due to the persistent winds that seem to be in the area every day. Be careful and remember to have all of your safety equipment onboard as you venture out on any body of water this season.
Shohola Lake
Shohola Lake is weeded up and is hard to get around on but the bass are big that are being caught. The pickerel are doing really well on Lake Greeley using top water lures.
Southern Wayne and Western Pike Counties
Recent rainfall events have slowed fishing activity in the district. Anglers are still having good success catching sunfish in Lake Wallenpaupack and smaller impoundments.
Lackawanna County
Water levels at Elmhurst Reservoir are down and about 30 feet of shoreline has been created. Anglers are now able to navigate around the reservoirs edge. Bass, pickerel and panfish continue to bite at Elmhurst. The crappie fishing has slowed down somewhat. Anglers have been catching fish using live bait.
Kayaks and canoes have dominated the landscape at Lackawanna Lake. Boat traffic has been quite slow over the past week. Anglers are still catching trout using paste baits on the bottom near the swimming pool area and the south launch.
Anglers continue to catch trout at the “wall” in Dunmore in the Roaring Brook.
Northcentral Region
Get your license ONLINE – gonefishingpa.com/
Tioga County
Hammond Lake
Water temps are at 76-77 degrees. The lake is off color with about 3-4 feet of visibility. Anglers are catching bass along the campground shoreline using Strike King 5Xd’s and fishing near the drop offs. Chartreuse Sexy Shad and Sexy Blue Back Herring colors are working well. Approximately an hour after dark fish are feeding on the surface.
Pine Creek
Anglers are catching trout in the Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only area. Size 18 Rusty Spinners and size 14 cream spinners are working well. A few light cahills are still around too.
Water temperatures are beginning to rise, so make sure any trout caught are kept in the water and released as quickly as possible.
Tioga Lake (spillway)
Anglers are catching Channel Catfish and Walleye. One angler caught an Eel on a recent fishing trip!
Clinton County
Fishing Creek
Water temperature is in the mid 50s to low 60s. Water levels are currently low and clear; however, predicted rain events over the next few days will change water conditions quickly. Be prepared to fish low and high water conditions.
Small nymphs are working best in the early morning to mid-day hours. Anglers are catching trout using mayfly, stonefly and caddis nymphs during the mid-day hours(e.g. Frenchie #14-16; gold bead pheasant tail #12-18; Prince #12-16; swimming ISO nymph #10-12). Thread bodied mayfly patterns continue to work well in shallow riffles.
Trout are rising, sporadically. Mid-day to evening hours are best. Carry the following dry flies, just in case you see a few trout rising (e.g. Slate Drake #10-12; midges #22-26, Bluewing Olives size #18-22, Tan Caddis #12-14; Light Cahill #12-14).
If you are fishing just after a rain event, make sure you have a few streamers/spinners along!
West Branch Susquehanna River
Anglers are catching Smallmouth Bass using live minnows, rooster tails and white streamers. A few Rock Bass and Yellow Perch are also being caught. Many of the Smallmouth are being caught in shallow water areas, near islands, grassy areas or submerged logs. A few of the larger Smallmouth are being caught along the ledges (e.g. Where shallow areas drop off into deep pools.)
Anglers are catching catfish in the late evening and into the night, using live minnows and chicken liver. A few anglers are also doing well, trolling for Walleye.
Centre County
Spring Creek
Water levels are good. Water temperature is in the 50s. Rain is predicted over the next few days, be prepared to switch up your approach this weekend!
Anglers are catching trout using tricos in the early morning hours.
Anglers are catching trout throughout the day fishing 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).
Trout are rising sporadically to dry flies. Anglers are catching trout using trico #20-26; tan caddis #14-16; light cahill #14-16; blue wing olives sizes #18-22; midges sizes 22-26.
If you are fishing just after a rain event, make sure you have a few olive or black streamers and/or spinners ready to go!
Southeastern Region
S. Montgomery County/Philadelphia County
There have been several reports of snakehead fish being caught and or seen in the Philadelphia area. Most of them have been caught historically at FDR park in the lakes; however, we have been receiving reports from the Delaware River and Schuylkill Rivers as well. The latest confirmed report is in the Darby Creek area. If you believe that you have come across one, please take a photograph of the fish and contact the PA Fish and Boat Commission via our website at fishandboat.com and report the fish. Make sure you include the county, body of water, average size of the fish and, if at all possible, a photograph. Please be aware: You cannot possess live snakeheads in the Commonwealth. They must be killed immediately.