Pennsylvania Fishing Report – July 20, 2017

Pictured above: On a recent fishing trip to a wild trout stream in Potter County, Josh Blass caught this beautiful wild Brown Trout. Congratulations on your catch Josh! Thank you for sharing your story! (photo provided by angler)

Northwest Region

Forest County

Allegheny River

Anglers are catching Smallmouth Bass using tube jigs and live bait. Anglers are also catching Northern Pike in the Tionesta Sand and Gravel pool using spoons and live bait (chubs) from shore and boat. Some anglers are catching Walleye near the confluence of the Allegheny River and Tionesta Creek. Boaters should be cautious of the bridge construction area near Hunters Station. Please follow the warning and informational buoys that mark the construction area.

Tionesta Lake

Boaters must be 100 feet from shore while traveling faster that slow no wake speed, or in other words, in gear. Anglers are catching Muskellunge and panfish in both slow no wake areas. Anglers are catching Bluegill, Yellow Perch, and the occasional Smallmouth Bass. Nebraska Bridge has been productive in the evening hours for crappie and catfish. Anglers may fish from the bridge; however, they should remain cautious due to passing traffic.

Tionesta Creek

Tionesta Creek from Kellettville to Nebraska Bridge is productive for Smallmouth Bass and Muskellunge. Anglers can launch a canoe or kayak from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers campground at Kellettville and fish to Nebraska Bridge. Canoes and kayaks must be registered or have a launch permit to use the PFBC Access Area at Nebraska Bridge. Anglers/boaters can also take out at the U.S. Army Corps launch located near Jug Handle Run, which does not require registration or a permit.

Tionesta Outflow

Anglers are catching Muskellunge and Walleye from the wall, however, anglers should have a net on hand if they attempt to reel a fish in from the wall. The area located below the wall is still closed for repairs and is off limits for entry. Yellow Perch fishing has been productive on the campground side of the outflow using bobbers and fishing in the eddy near the concrete pier.

Venango County

Allegheny River

Before the last rain event, anglers were catching Smallmouth Bass alongside the slower, deeper, and shaded water nearest the larger shoreline boulders. Crankbaits seemed to be the top choice. Anglers are catching Muskellunge and Northern Pike throughout the river corridor. Live bait and lures, eight inches or smaller, were the baits of choice.

Oil Creek

Anglers are catching Muskellunge and Northern Pike throughout the lower reaches of this waterway. Live bait and lures, eight inches or smaller, were the baits of choice.

Reminder…

The Delayed Harvest Artificial Lure area(s) [DHALO] opened to harvest as of June 15th. From the period of June 15th through Labor Day, the daily creel limit is three (3) combined species of trout AND the minimum size limit is nine (9) inches.

Bullion Run Conservation Plan

Through continued work of the Venango County Conservation District (VCCD), from funding provided by the Coldwater Heritage Partnership, Bullion Run (Kennerdell, PA) is receiving further attention towards determining “biomass, population status, and distribution” of its wild trout populations. The efforts of VCCD, along with support from the Scrubgrass Creek Watershed Association and Redhorse Environmental, will further protect the only tributary within the Scrubgrass Creek watershed sustaining wild trout populations. Initial electroshocking results yielded no less than three (3) age, and five (5) size, classes of naturally occurring brook and brown trout.

Northeasatern Region

Wyoming and Northern Columbia and Northern Luzerne Counties

Lake Winola

Fishermen are catching bass with some regularity when concentrating efforts on the lily pads, around docks and other structure and off rocky points. Most fish are being fooled by soft plastics and jigs. Panfish have been hit and miss. Trout are still being caught by anglers. Most successful anglers report using paste baits on the bottom or live bait suspended close to it.

Harveys Lake

The perch bite has slowed dramatically and the big brown trout have been hard to find. Boat traffic has been way down most weekends so the lake may be worth a shot on the weekends. Best times to go on the weekends are before noon and after 5pm.

Susquehanna River

Some nice catches of catfish have been reported lately. Smallmouth have been cooperating but sizes have been nothing to write home about.

Frances Slocum

Bullheads have been hitting off the mooring area near pavilion 3 and in the cove found there. Late evening and even in the day people have reported some luck for them in these areas. Almost any bait presented on the bottom can get results.

Most area ponds and lakes have warmed up considerably and the spawn is well over for panfish and bass. Small panfish can be found in the shallows just about everywhere but anglers looking for slabs need to concentrate on areas with cover and shade, tributary inlets and slightly deeper water to find their prize. Consider small ice jigs tipped with grubs and suspended from a bobber in areas where you think they might be hiding.

Northern Wayne County

The trout streams are still teeming with fish. A variety of spinners, flies and live bait are doing the trick. Early in morning and late afternoon are the best times to hit the streams. Trout are also active at Upper Woods Pond, along with Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass. Large live bait and deep diving crank baits are doing the trick.

Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass are hitting during the afternoon at Long Pond, Duck Harbor Pond and Prompton Dam.

Smallmouth Bass are easy to catch on the Delaware River, stonecats are one of the best summer baits.

Northern Susquehanna County

All the lakes and ponds are hot with panfish and bass. A bobber and a worm are working on the edges for panfish, try a large shiner for Largemouth Bass.

The Susquehanna River from Oakland to Hallstead is providing some great Smallmouth Bass and walleye fishing. Jigs and medium shiners are the best bet.

Eastern Bradford County

The channel catfishing is about as good as it gets! Although chicken liver and other assorted stink baits are optimal, reports of catfish up to 12 pounds have been reported on jigs, spinners and crankbaits.

The Smallmouth Bass are also in a feeding frenzy, many anglers have reported large numbers of smallmouths but the majority are sub-legal size. Remember 12” is the minimum size.

Northcentral Region

Get your license ONLINE – gonefishingpa.com/

Potter County

Water levels are still good and the trout fishing has continued into July! Anglers are catching wild trout using flies and spinners.

Interested in learning more about PA’s Wild Trout and their future? REGISTER today for the PA Fish and Boat Commission’s Wild Trout Summit!

Tioga County

Hammond Lake

Anglers are catching bass using reaction innovations beavers, whopper ploppers, creature baits and crankbaits.

Lyman Lake

Anglers are catching bass using crankbaits and poppers. One angler landed 40 bass using a 110 plopper while kayak fishing!

Cameron County

Anglers are catching lots of Smallmouth Bass using crayfish and/or crayfish imitations.

Anglers are also catching trout using unweighted baits, lures and flies.

Clinton County

Fishing Creek

Water temperature is in the low 60s. Water levels are good and there is a bit of color from recent rain events.

Small nymphs are still 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).

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).

Make sure you pack a few beetles and/or ants along. Cast a beetle/ant along the water’s edge and see what happens!

West Branch Susquehanna River

Anglers are catching Smallmouth Bass using live minnows, rooster tails, crankbaits, and poppers. Many of the Smallmouth are being caught in shallow water areas, near islands, grassy areas or submerged logs.

Centre County

Bald Eagle Creek

Anglers are catching trout and bass using green weenie and green mop flies. Spinners and live minnows are also catching trout in the early morning hours.

On sunny days, target the shade lines and deep pools or fish early morning/late evening hours.

Anglers are also catching carp using bits of worm and/or the squirmy wormy fly pattern.

Spring Creek

Water levels are good. Water temperature is in the low 60s. Rain predicted over the next few days will keep water levels up.

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, green mop flies).

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.

Anglers are also catching trout using terrestrials (e.g. ants, beetles).

Southeastern Region

Berks County

The recent heatwave has cooled the Largemouth Bass bite over at Lake Ontelaunee, but try working plastic worms and crank baits through the lily pads. Anglers are also getting Common Carp and Channel Catfish back under the old West Shore Dr Bridge. If you’re out in the middle of the day, try the fishing in the depths of the quarry hole off Rte. 73 just up from the main parking lot. Good luck!

Bucks County

Delaware River

From Trenton up to Stockton, most anglers have been catching Striped Bass while fishing around the bridges with live eels, white perch and plugs. From Washington’s Crossing up to Lambertville, anglers are having success with eels, soft plastic shad bodies and poppers for the Stripers. Anglers are catching Smallmouth Bass up and down the river. Try soft plastic worms rigged wacky style, crayfish imitations and soft plastic worms.

Montgomery County

Schuylkill River

Anglers are catching Flathead Catfish below the Black Rock dam using American eels, Bluegills and White Perch. Channel Catfish are taking nightcrawlers, shrimp and chicken livers. Common Carp are taking boilies and different carp dough baits.

E. Schuylkill County

Water levels have been very high the last week due to heavy rainfalls. Kayaks and canoes have plenty of water in the Little Schuylkill River and the Schuylkill River. Some sections are dangerous due to trees and debris causing “strainers” (Allows water through but not a boat or person). Boaters should check the area out before floating through and always have a lifejacket. Trout fishing has been good in the early morning hours in the rivers on worms, minnows, and spinners. During the middle of the day it has been very tough. Most of the lakes and impoundments have seen a turn from trout to warmwater species.

Tuscarora Lake

Tuscarora Lake has been up and down for bass anglers. Panfish are almost always eager to hit throughout the lake with the weedy end of the lake being the most popular. A few Chain Pickerel are also being caught, but Walleyes and Muskies have been hard to find.

Locust Lake

Locust Lake has seen the trout move to the middle of the lake to deeper water. Trout anglers at Locust need to have a boat to have any success. The lake still has Largemouth Bass, sunfish and Chain Pickerel action near the shoreline.