Northwest Region
Mercer County
Shenango Reservoir
Anglers are catching panfish around the shorelines. Anglers are catching largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and catfish at several locations throughout the reservoir. Now is the perfect time to enjoy the colorful autumn foliage by kayak. Please remember while kayaking on Shenango Reservoir along with other US Army Corp of Engineer Pittsburgh District Lakes a life jacket must be worn at all times on boats under 16 feet in length and on kayaks and canoes.
Shenango River
The Shenango River Outflow is designated as a catch and release zone for all species. There is a DO NOT EAT Advisory for the section of river in Mercer County and Lawrence County. The Fall Trout stocking that usually occurs in the section from the dam in Sharpsville to the Walnut Street Bridge will not occur this year. The PFBC will be stocking the river from the New Hamburg Bridge downstream.
Venango County
Allegheny River
Anglers are catching nice sized Smallmouth Bass throughout the entire stretch of the river. Top water lures and soft plastic baits seem to get the most hits on retrieve. Anglers are catching Northern Pike and Musky using live bait and spinners.
Northeasatern Region
This past week has provided the region with a last blast of summer heat and humidity. The hot weather had many boaters and anglers out enjoying the weather on water on many different waters throughout the northeast. While the weather provided great boating weather the hot weather mixed with the low water conditions put the fish down during the day and anglers were finding some places were giving up catches at a slow rate.
The good news is that cooler weather is on the way and with it the bite will pick back up. The cool temperatures signal the beginning of fall and put the fish on the feed as they try to feed to prepare for the winter. This can provide some the best fishing and least fishing pressure of the entire year because most anglers have hung up their boots, winterized their boats and stored there rods away.
Fall stocking is about to begin throughout the state and they can be checked here: http://fbweb.pa.gov/stocking/TroutStockingDetails_GIS.aspx
Make sure to get out and enjoy the fall stockings. They provide great fishing with beautiful fall foliage surrounding you!
The Fall is also a great time to enjoy the boating in Pennsylvania. For more information on boating in Pennsylvania please visit: http://fishandboat.com/boating.htm
Northcentral Region
Get your license ONLINE – gonefishingpa.com/
Trout Spawning Season – It is that time of year again! Native Brook Trout and Wild Brown Trout are beginning their annual spawning ritual. The female trout work hard to clean areas of small gravel, near springs/clean, oxygenated water to lay their eggs in these trout redds/nests. Keep an eye out and be sure not to step on the redds or stress spawning trout by fishing over them.
Reminder – Streams designated at Class A Wild Trout Streams, harvest or killing of trout is prohibited during this time of year.
NOTE – If you are fishing and see a rock dam that was built during summer months, please take a moment and remove the obstruction. This will help the spawning trout get to critical spawning habitat. Thank you, in advance, to those of you who take the initiative to help out!
Fall Stocking – Fall trout stocking season is beginning. You and your family are welcome to come out and help stock! Check out our webpage for a list of locations and times. http://fbweb.pa.gov/stocking/TroutStockingDetails_GIS.aspx
REMEMBER – This is the time of year that the trout limit decreases from 5 – 3 for the extended trout season. Please consult your regulation book for more information.
Tioga County
Slate and Cedar Run
Fall water levels are good and anglers are catching trout! Anglers are catching trout using grasshopper, black ant and beetle patterns. Other flies that are working well are the green weenie and midge patterns.
Reminder – Slate and Cedar Run are managed under special regulations. Make sure you check the PA Fish and Boat Commission Summary for those regulations. fishinpa.com
Cowanesque Lake
Some of the best fishing occurs in the fall months. Anglers are catching Tiger Musky using large white and orange curly tail jigs. A few anglers are catching Tiger Musky using live Bluegills. The best bite seems to be between midnight and 3 a.m.
Clearfield County
Curwensville Lake
Tiger Muskellunge were stocked at the lake early this week. They should reach legal size (40inches) within 4-5 years.
were stocked earlier this week. (Photo by WCO McKenrick)
Clinton County
Fishing Creek
Water temperature is in the 60s. Water levels are still low and clear.
Small nymphs continue to work best in the early morning to mid-day hours. Anglers are catching trout using mayfly, stonefly and caddis nymphs (e.g. Frenchie #14-16; gold bead pheasant tail #12-18; Prince #12-16; green weenie #12-16).
Centre County
Spring Creek
Water levels are low and clear. Water temperature is in the low 60s. In the afternoon hours, anglers are catching trout using tan caddis patterns on top.
Anglers are catching trout throughout the day fishing subsurface, using nymphs (e.g. green weenie, hot spot sow bug, walt’s worm, small mayfly patterns, midge larvae patterns).
Anglers are also catching trout using a dry dropper system (e.g. caddis on top and a wet ant underneath).
Blue Wing Olives(#18-22) and Tan Caddis (#14-16)dry flies will catch trout that are rising sporadically.
Southeastern Region
Berks County
Schuylkill River
Anglers are catching Smallmouth Bass in the Schuylkill River in the Birdsboro area on tubes and plastics.
N. Chester County
Marsh Creek Lake
Bluegills and crappies are taking mealworms, wax worms, minnows and small jigs, and they can be found in and around structure along the shore. Bass fishing reports have been somewhat mixed. Anglers catching bass have reported taking them on jigs, spinners and crank baits. The best colors to use on Marsh Creek Lake are large black, purple, dark green or pumpkinseed rubber worms. The best live baits are crayfish, minnows and night crawlers.
Streams
French Creek, Pickering Creek, East Brandywine Creek and West Valley Creeks are clear and warm after the hot week we just had. The cool nights should cool down the water temps, and the trout fishing will improve in the coming weeks. Hoppers, ants, and crickets are good flies this time of the year. The East Brandywine Creek Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only will be stocked again on October 4.
Remember, you may never have bait in your possession in the Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only areas, and no trout may be had in your possession from the day after Labor Day until June 15 of 2018 (Possession is (3) minimum size of 9”). The Fly Fishing Area is Catch & Release Only.
Schuylkill River
Black Rock area; Smallmouth Bass and Largemouth Bass fishing near the Cromby Power Plant outflow has been good this season. Crankbaits and live bait are still the best producers. Catfishing the past month has been good, with anglers taking large Flatheads on Bluegills and night crawlers. Channel Catfish have been caught using the standard fare of chicken liver. When fishing at the Black Rock Dam stay clear of the fish ladder area. Violators caught within 100’ of the fish ladder will be cited. Respect the river and wear a PFD while onboard a boat.