Northwest Region
Warren County
Chapman Dam
Chapman Lake has been drawn down and the dam rehabilitation work has finally begun. The work is scheduled to be completed by December 2018. Fishing, boating, or entering the lakebed is prohibited during this time.
Allegheny River
Anglers are catching panfish, Walleye, and White Bass at the Kinzua Dam release area. Anglers are catching Bluegill, Smallmouth Bass, and Walleye around Mead Island.
Conewango Creek
Anglers are catching panfish at Point Park where the Conewango Creek and the Allegheny River meet.
Cold Weather Boating
Just a reminder to boaters that from November 1 through April 30, boaters are required by law to wear their life jackets on boats less than 16 feet in length or any canoe or kayak.
Northeasatern Region
Boaters are reminded that that beginning November 1 and lasting through April 30, they are required to wear a life jacket while underway or at anchor on boats less than 16 feet in length or on any canoe or kayak.
Fall trout stockings are in full swing throughout the region but some dates have recently changed. Please check the online stocking schedule for updates and changes to the stocking list HERE.
Now is a good time to do some basic maintenance to your boat and motor so that things will be ready to go next spring.
Fog your motor. Simply run the motor until it starts to warm up and then inject fogging oil until it stalls out. This will protect your pistons and cylinder walls during storage.
Change the lower unit oil on all outboards. Use this opportunity to inspect the oil for signs of problems. Some traces of metal are not really cause for concern as they may indicate normal wear. If you are finding larger chunks and metal shavings this may indicate that you may need to take a closer look inside the gear case. Water in your oil can cause it to appear milky or may be present settled out. If you find signs of water in your oil you need to take a good look at the seal on the shaft behind the prop.
Pull the batteries and place them in a cool, dry location. Place them on a board or plastic shelf instead of just storing directly on a concrete floor. Batteries should never be stored directly on concrete.
Items made out of rope or foam (anchor lines, dock lines, life jackets, seat cushions, etc.) should be removed from storage on the vessel. This will allow them to become and stay dry over the winter. It will also protect them from rodents seeking nesting materials and insulation for bedding. Take the time to inspect lines and life jackets for signs of wear or damage. Replace these items or repair as necessary.
Treat any gas left in the vessel for ethanol and to prevent gumming. And finally, remove your fire extinguisher and store in an area that will protect it from repeated freeze/thaw cycles. Metal bodied extinguishers with plastic valves on top are susceptible to pressure loss when exposed to temperature extremes.
When all of this is done, grab your vest and your rods and head on out to your favorite waterway. Autumn is a great time for fishing and the bite always gets better as fish prepare for a long winter fasting.
Northcentral Region
REMINDER – Mandatory Cold Weather Life Jacket Wear began on November 1, 2017 and runs through April 30, 2018.
Beginning in 2012, the following regulation was established:
A person shall wear a Coast Guard approved personal flotation device (PFD or life jacket) during the cold weather months from November 1st through April 30th while underway or at anchor on boats less than 16 feet in length or any canoe or kayak.
Learn more at fishandboat.com
Get your license ONLINE – gonefishingpa.com/
Elk County
Waterway Conservation Officer, Tom McMann, and the PA Fish and Boat Commission would like to thank volunteers who assisted the Elk County Conservation District, Elk County Solid Waste Authority, St. Marys Area Ecology Club, Keep PA Beautiful and the PA Game Commission for all of their help with the Riparian Clean-up of the Clarion River!!
Volunteers removed 1,080 pounds of trash, 260 pounds of tires and a 500 pound tractor tire from the riparian area! Many of the items were located on State Game Lands and would have been dangerous to wildlife and the waterways that support our communities.
Thank you to all that organized the clean-up and all of those who came out to help!
Lycoming County
West Branch Susquehanna River
Prior to the continued rain events, anglers were catching Crappie and Smallmouth Bass
CLinton County
Fishing Creek
More rain this week and through this coming weekend is great for water flows! The water was high in the beginning of the week, but is beginning to fall. More rain this weekend, should help stabilize flows for a little while. Water temperature is in the 50s. The water is a little off color.
Anglers are catching trout using small streamer patterns (size #6-10). Fish the banks and structure and see what happens!
Anglers are also catching trout using nymphs (e.g. #14-16 frenchi; #12-16 bead head prince nymph; #6-10 black stone; #12-18 bead head pheasant tail)
Centre County
Spring Creek
Rain has rolled into the County and more is predicted for over this coming weekend. Water temperature is in the 50s. The water is off color. Fishing should be good throughout the week and over the weekend.
Anglers are catching trout throughout the day, using nymphs (e.g. green weenie, hot spot sow bug, olive scuds, small mayfly patterns, midge larvae patterns).
Make sure you have a few olive and/or black streamer patterns (#6-10) to throw during or just after the rain events!
Southeastern Region
Anglers fishing the Delaware River (in upper Bucks and Northampton Counties) have have been catching Smallmouth Bass with a bunch of smaller Striped Bass. Try minnows, grubs, tubes, spinners and weighted rubber worms.
Bucks County
Levittown Lake
Levittown Lake was restocked and anglers are catching on paste baits, wax worms, mealworms and spoons.
Southern Chester County
White Clay Middle Branch
The Middle Branch White Clay Creek Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only Keystone Select Waters section was stocked with trout on Tuesday, October 31. Thank you to all the individuals who came out to help and special thanks to the White Clay Fly Fishers for the very nice and plentiful Brown Trout that they provided. The stocked section is a 1.7 mile stretch that runs from Good Hope Road at 39 45′ 43.7″ North, 75 47′ 03.9″ West to the confluence with the East Branch White Clay in the White Clay Creek Preserve at 39 44′ 57.7″ North, 75 46′ 10.4″ West. The fish were float stocked by the White Clay Fly Fishers at two points, with about half the fish at each location. The points that were stocked are Good Hope Road at 39 45′ 43.7″ North, 75 47′ 03.9″ West, and the Iron Bridge on London Tract in the center of the section at 39 45′ 16.2″ North, 75 46′ 51.6″ West, The Bridge on Sharpless Road at 39 45′ 01.9″ North, 75 46′ 16.3″ is the lower limit of the stocked area.
From November 1 until April 30 of the following year, all boaters in boats less than 16 feet and all canoes and kayaks must wear a life jacket while boating. The fine for not wearing a life jacket as required during this time and or for not having the required life jackets on board starts at $120.50 and goes up depending on how many people are not wearing or how many pieces of equipment or life jackets you are missing. As a rule, we do not give warnings for safety violations. Also, do not forget a whistle, it is hard to yell for help in cold water. Yes, it can happen to you! The district Waterways Conservation Officer just recently transported a kayaker on Marsh Creek Reservoir that had capsized his boat into cold water and was too cold to paddle back to the launch. This gentleman was 36 years old and stated he had been kayaking for over 10 years.
The Next meeting of the White Clay Fly-Tying Club will be at 6PM on Thursday November 9 at the London Tract Meeting House in the White Clay Creek Preserve, located at the intersection of Sharpless & London Tract roads, Landenberg PA 19350,