Northwest Region
Get your license ONLINE – 2018 Fishing License go on sale December 1st: gonefishingpa.com/
REMINDER – Mandatory Cold Weather Life Jacket Wear began on November 1, 2017 and runs through April 30, 2018.
Learn more here: http://www.fishandboat.com/Boat/BoatingRegulations/Pages/MandatoryPFD.aspx
REMINDER The PFBC does not monitor ice thickness. Ice thickness and conditions can vary greatly across the lake. Use caution as you head out onto the ice. A life jacket and a set of ice awls can be extremely important if you fall though the ice. Remember SAFETY FIRST: fishandboat.com/Boat/WaterandIceSafetY
Clarion County
Kahle Lake
Ice anglers are catching good numbers of Yellow Perch, Bluegills, and crappies.
Piney Dam
Piney Dam is no longer in a drawdown state. The work was completed on the dam this fall and water levels are being returned to normal pool levels.
Beaver Creek Ponds Project
By regulation, the Beaver Creek Ponds Project is closed to all fishing.
Erie County
Presque Isle Bay
Presque Isle Bay is iced over and anglers are fishing the entire bay west of Dobbins Landing. Anglers should use caution on the east end of the bay due to ice breaking activities. Anglers are catching Yellow Perch off Liberty Park and Chestnut Street by using minnows. Anglers are catching Yellow Perch and crappie in Misery Bay. Misery Bay can be challenging at times because it is full of Northern Pike and Largemouth Bass.
Area Steelhead Tributaries
With the record snowfall that Erie received around Christmas, many of the streams are not accessible. Most streams are frozen, but a warm up is in the forecast so streams could open up.
Lake Pleasant
Anglers are catching panfish on Lake Pleasant using small jigs and insect larva through the ice.
Forest County
Allegheny River
The Allegheny River in Tionesta is frozen and not accessible by boat.
Tionesta Outflow
Open water has provided anglers the opportunity to fish from the wall for Yellow Perch, Walleye, and Muskellunge. Anglers need a Trout Permit to fish in the Tionesta Outflow, regardless of the species they are targeting.
Northeasatern Region
Carbon County
Despite the recent brutal temperatures over the weekend, Ice anglers fishing Mauch Chunk Lake near the vicinity of Boat Launch B were observed catching bass, pickerel and perch. One angler reported catching a 15-inch Largemouth Bass and perch measuring between 13 to 14 inches. Most bass and pickerel were caught by using a tip-ups baited with minnows while the perch were caught while jigging a jig head tipped with waxworms or minnows. Beltzville Lake still had open sections of waters at the Pine Run boat launch and near the dam breast.
As with most waterways, the ice conditions are not monitored at Mauch Chunk Lake and Beltzville Lake. Before venturing out on to the ice make sure to check the ice conditions. The ice may not be the same thickness all over. Avoid dark, honeycombed or porous ice areas and areas with multiple pressure cracks, brush, logs or docks. Always take a partner along and let others know where you are going and when you will return. Know how to dress for the cold and wear a personal flotation vest or have a throwable personal flotation device (seat cushion) in case of an emergency. It is also a good practice to carry a set of ice awls to pull yourself up onto the ice in the event you fall through.
Little to no fishing activity is occurring on the Lehigh River or the other streams in the district as most streams including the Lehigh River are iced over in most places.
Anglers are reminded that the Pohopoco Creek from the outlet of Beltzville Lake downstream approximately 2.90 miles to the cable across from the creek at the Hideaway Hunting & Fishing Club is designated as a Class A Wild Trout Water and is a No Harvest-Catch and Immediate Release of Trout Only during the extended trout season.
As we are now in the 2018 fishing season, please be sure (anglers 16 years of age or older) to have your valid 2018 PA Fishing License and trout /salmon permit (if required).
Northern Pike and Southern Wayne Counties
COLD is the reason for the season. The ice has come early this year due to the extreme cold weather. Most ponds and lakes in the region have six or more inches of good ice. Anglers are catching lots of perch and pickerel Lake Wallenpaupack using mostly live bait. Lake Greeley has been doing well for bluegills and at Shohola Lake the bass and pickerel are doing well. Just be careful and always check your ice conditions before venturing out. With the extreme cold weather conditions it is recommended to dress in layers and protect your face and hands from getting frost bitten. Have fun but be safe and be smart.
Pike, Wayne & Monroe Counties
The recent cold snap has improved ice conditions in but put a damper on fishing activities.
Northcentral Region
Get your 1, 3, 5 OR 10 YEAR FISHING LICENSE ONLINE NOW – gonefishingpa.com/
ICE is NICE! Learn more about ice fishing SAFETY and ice FISHING here – fishandboat.com/Fish/Fishing/Pages/IceWinterFishing.aspx
Learn more here: http://www.fishandboat.com/Boat/BoatingRegulations/Pages/MandatoryPFD.aspx
NOTE: PA Fish and Boat Commission does not monitor ice thickness. Make sure you test ice conditions prior to venturing out to ice fish and be sure to take safety precautions (e.g. wear a float jacket or life jacket).
Tioga County
Cold weather has created great ice conditions across the County! Anglers are fishing most lakes.
REMINDER – Always check ice conditions before venturing out onto the ice.
Hills Creek Lake
Hills Creek Lake has had the most angler pressure over the last week. Many of the anglers are fishing at the top end of the lake near the stumps. Anglers fishing this area are targeting Bluegills. The best times to be on the water seems to be between sunrise and 9a.m. and Just before sunset and into the night.
Anglers, catching Yellow Perch, are targeting the lower end of the lake, just off of the sand bars.
Anglers are catching Bluegill and Yellow Perch using waxworms, mealworms and maggots.
Bass and pickerel are also being caught using tipups rigged with medium shiners near the weedlines.
Hamilton Lake
The lake is low, but anglers are having success through the ice.
Anglers are catching Bluegill, Yellow Perch and trout using jigs tipped with waxworms. Fathead minnows on tipups are also working. The deeper water seems to be the key area for fishing success.
Anglers, targeting trout, are having success at the shallow end of the lake, near the boat launch. Anglers targeting panfish are having success fishing over the rock piles, near the pump house.
Hammond Lake
A few anglers are fishing and catching Black and White Crappie, using waxworms and live minnows. Target areas with habitat structures in 10-20 feet of water for best results.
Beechwood Lake
Anglers are catching trout using waxworms, minnows and mealworms. Glow, silver, chartreuse and pink jigs, tipped with bait or soft plastics are working well.
Cowanesque Lake
Anglers are catching Yellow Perch and Crappie, using live minnows and waxworms. Anglers are catching lots of Crappie, especially near the habitat structures. Angler use is currently low, but the bite is ON!
ALERT – There are s few areas of open water and varied ice conditions, especially on the East end of the lake.
Potter County
Lyman Run Lake
Anglers are catching trout and sunfish, using waxworms, mealworms and mousees.
Clinton County
Fishing Creek
Water temperatures are in the 30s. The water level is below average. Currently there is lots of ice in the narrows. Warm temperatures are expected to return later this week, but they will only be around for a short while.
Most of the trout are holding in deep pools, near structure (e.g. logs, rocks, undercut banks).
Anglers are currently catching trout using streamers (size #6-10). Nymphs are also working (e.g. iron lotus (#14-18); Frenchie (#14-16); goldbead pheasant tail (#12-18); prince (#12-16).
Centre County
Foster Joseph Sayers Lake
Anglers are ice fishing in several locations (e.g. Hunter Run Cut, Main lake off of the beach area and just off of Lower Greens Access Area). Anglers are catching lots of Yellow Perch, Crappie and Bluegill, using jigs tipped with waxworms or maggots.
Tipups with fathead minnows are also working well. Anglers fishing the main lake area are reporting catches of Yellow Perch and occasional Channel Catfish and Bass.
Black Moshannon Lake
Angler pressure is light; however, anglers are catching Yellow Perch and Bluegill jigging, near weedbed edges. Tipups with minnows are catching pickerel and bass.
Colyer Lake
Anglers are catching panfish while jigging near the parking area.
REMINDER – Colyer Lake is currently being managed as NO HARVEST, CATCH and RELEASE.
Spring Creek
Water temperatures are in the mid-upper 40s to low 50s. The water level is low. Warmer air temperatures and rain is predicted for later this week, but the warmer temperatures won’t last long.
Be prepared to get out and do some streamer fishing during the warmer days and rain events.
Anglers are catching trout using nymphs (e.g. black zebra midge (#18-22); olive scud (#14-18); caddis larvae patterns (#14-16).
Anglers are also catching trout using Olive and/or black streamers (#6-10).
Southeastern Region
Get your 1, 3, 5 OR 10 YEAR FISHING LICENSE ONLINE NOW – gonefishingpa.com/
ICE is NICE! Learn more about ice fishing SAFETY and ice FISHING here – fishandboat.com/Fish/Fishing/Pages/IceWinterFishing.aspx
NOTE: PA Fish and Boat Commission does not monitor ice thickness. Make sure you test ice conditions prior to venturing out to ice fish and be sure to take safety precautions (e.g. wear a float jacket or life jacket).
As a continued reminder, the mandatory cold weather personal flotation device-wear remains in effect. Visit our site at http://www.fishandboat.com/Boat/WaterandIceSafety/Pages/default.aspx for more details
Having a bit of the seasonal blues and wishing for something until the Regional Opening Day of Trout here in Southeastern Pennsylvania? Then consider attending what is said to be the largest Outdoor Show in the United States, the Great American Outdoor Show, which be held in the Farm Show Complex, February 3-11. It should be the perfect way to get you back into the excitement of another angling year. The show is an easy commute for those of us here in Southeastern Pennsylvania. The show should give you the opportunity to attend a variety of classes and presentations, view exhibits, and see what hundreds of vendors and volunteers have to offer in a venue of over 650,000 square feet in nine different halls. For more information you can visit the website at https://www.greatamericanoutdoorshow.org
Northern Bucks County
Lake Towhee
Lake Towhee has produced for anglers on the ice seeking panfish. Wax worms and maggots jigged seem to be the most successful bait. Minnows and jigging spoons have produced Chain Pickerel.
Nockamixon Lake
Anglers at Nockamixon Lake have been finding fish in the coves. The main lake body had some inconsistent ice conditions. Use caution as the temperature warms up and predicted rain falls later this week. If you’ve been thinking of moving past panfish, anglers catch nice musky through the ice here. Anglers have been successful in less-than 12 feet of water using creek chubs as bait. There are also Yellow Perch, an ice fishing favorite in Nockamixon. They can be difficult to locate, but when you find them, they are a tasty treat for the frying pan!
Delaware River
Ice has most of the Delaware River locked up making boating impossible. Shore fishing is extremely limited due to the cold. Watch for conditions to change later in the week.
South Chester County
One of the most productive ways to catch fish is to go fishing through the ice. Anglers are lost each year due to going through thin ice. Be careful, be safe. The most important consideration when ice fishing is the type of ice and the actual thickness of the ice. The ice thickness on all of the lakes in the Southern Chester County district and most others in Pennsylvania are not monitored so you will need to do a little of your own homework before deciding to go out on the ice. There are a number of factors to consider when deciding whether the ice is thick enough to be safe besides thickness. Clear ice is stronger than slush ice, or white ice, also called snow ice. The thickness of the ice on a body of water can vary from one spot to another so you should check ice thickness starting from a safe location very near shore and then every 50 feet or so as you go out. Ice can be suddenly much thinner in an area just yards away from thick safe clear ice because of an underwater spring, decaying vegetation, large schools of fish, currents, snow, temperature, etc., It would probably be best to go out with an experienced ice-fishing angler who knows that specific body of water for your first outing. You might also want to consider wearing a float coat, it will keep you warm while fishing and if you do go through the ice it will keep you afloat. Ice awls are another good idea. These can be used to pull yourself from the ice if you should go through. Almost every year people go through the ice at Struble Reservoir. Struble Res. can be especially dangerous as it has many springs and areas with stumps near the surface and decaying vegetation that can make it dangerous if you are not familiar with it. Ice fishing is also permitted at Marsh Creek Lake, but it is not permitted at Chambers Lake or Octoraro Reservoir. There is information available on the web about ice fishing safety and it is important to read and learn about ice safety before going out. Ice thickness website is http://fishandboat.com/water/ice_thickness.pdf Good Luck!
Marsh Creek
Marsh Creek anglers are catching Yellow Perch off the ice. Ice fishing tip ups baited with small mealworms or fathead shiners rigged about a foot off the bottom are the preferred method. There are many small perch with the occasional 10 to 11 inch bruiser. Anglers are recommending to fish in the middle of the lake across from Carpenters Cove. Good luck!
A Basic Boating course will be held on Saturday January 13 at Hibernia County Park Hibernia Mansion at 1 Park Road in Coatesville, from 7:30 AM to 5 PM. Boating Safety Education Certificates are required for all operators of personal watercraft, regardless of age, and for boat operators born after January 1, 1982 that operate motorboats of more than 25 horsepower. This free PA Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC) course is designed to help boaters make better informed decisions on the water. Instructors will provide course materials and information via a classroom setting to help you reduce the risk of injury and conflict on the water. Those who successfully complete the course may obtain this certificate, which is good for a lifetime (fees apply). A minimum of eight hours of classroom instruction is required to pass the course. Participants should bring a lunch and snacks. There will be a few other classes in Chester County in February. Pre-registration is required at adesko@pa.gov You can also get more information on the web at http://fbweb.pa.gov/Calendar/All_Gridview.aspx?TN=boating_courses&DAY=ALL
The White Clay Flyfishers are offering Fly Fishing Classes. The classes are on six Tuesdays, starting on February 13 and ending on April 3 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at the London Tract Meeting House. A valid 2018 fishing license and Trout Stamp is required. For more information you can go to http://www.whiteclayflyfishers.org/calendar-of-events/