Pictured above: Bill Savage had another great day on the ice on a recent fishing trip to Sayers Lake. Thank you for sharing your story! (photo by – Bill Savage)
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 nice Yellow Perch, Bluegills, and crappies throughout the lake.
Piney Dam
Piney Dam is no longer in a drawdown state. Work completed on the dam this fall and water levels returned to normal pool levels. Currently, the entire impoundment is ice covered.
Crawford County
Conneaut Lake
Anglers are catching crappie and Bluegills on the south end of the lake.
Pymatuning Reservoir
Anglers are catching Walleye, crappie, and Largemouth Bass off Tuttle and Jamestown campgrounds.
Lake Canadohta
Be sure to check out the 2017 Muskellunge Trap Net survey results from Lake Canadohta.
If you enjoy Muskellunge fishing, head over to the Musky Management Plan to get the updated 2017 Muskellunge Plan.
Lawrence County
Bessemer Lake
Anglers are catching trout through the ice using a variety of baits. One of the most popular baits is a jig tipped with a few maggots.
Mercer County
Lake Wilhelm
Anglers are catching crappie and panfish near launch 2.
Northeasatern Region
Northern Luzerne County and Wyoming County
Oxbow Lake
Anglers at Oxbow Lake have been rewarded for their efforts by a bounty of nice sized bluegills. Most of the activity is coming in the afternoons in 10 – 12 feet of waters. Move around until you find the fish as they are holding tightly.
Lake Winola
Anglers at Lake Winola are catching plenty of nice perch and a few nice bluegills. The area off and to the left of the cottager’s association and out towards the middle from there seems to be hot right now.
Frances Slocum
Frances Slocum has still been giving up some smaller panfish but the bite has been slowing at times lately.
Lake Jean
Lake Jean still mostly a Ghost town with the Catch and Release regulations in place.
Harveys Lake’s
Most area waters still have good ice. However, we urge caution as you get back out there after the thaw and rain of last week. Most shorelines have some rotten ice and areas around stumps have gotten soft in places in the shallows. Harveys Lake’s shoreline is far less than ideal right now for access as most areas (including around the PFBC launch) have a great deal of open water near shore.
Be careful and good luck!
S. Luzerne and Columbia County
Most local trout streams have been frozen over, and activity on those has been nonexistent as well.
For those who enjoy ice fishing, fish on. For those who are eagerly awaiting the open water to once again ply their craft, now is the time to prepare your gear. And, don’t forget about the numerous outdoor shows available. Stop by a PFBC booth to chat with the local WCO or purchase your fishing license.
FEW Reservoir, Lily Lake and Nuangola Lake
With the extreme cold temperatures experienced recently, there has been no shortage of ice for those anglers wishing to get out onto the hard water. FEW Reservoir, Lily Lake and Nuangola Lake have all been producing panfish, for those who were able to locate them.
Susquehanna River
Ice jams on the Susquehanna River has made fishing or boating impossible. However, should conditions change, boaters are reminded of the mandatory wear period for flotation devices, on boats less than 16 feet in length, and all canoes and kayaks.
Monroe County
Ice fishing pressure was very light this past weekend. The anglers that did go out reported the bite was off too. Most anglers had very little luck with a large variety of baits and techniques being used.
Northern Wayne, Northern Susquehanna & Eastern Bradford Counties
Ice fishing standing water is the only game in town. The rivers are clogged with ice and nearly impossible to fish.
Northern Wayne County: Ice fishermen are everywhere. Catches vary from perch at Belmont Lake, some large pickerel at Long Pond to panfish at White Oak Pond. Medium shiners and jigs with wax worms are always the way to go.
Northern Susquehanna County: Jigging is producing some high-quality crappie and perch at Dunn Pond. Lake Montrose is exploding with bluegill and perch while jigging.
Eastern Bradford County: Cooks Pond is producing some fine crappie with medium to small shiners on tip ups or jigging with wax worms near the bottom.
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
Tioga County is frozen and so are the most popular ice fishing lakes. With the warm weekend days, lakes have been packed with anglers of all ages, and the fish have been biting.
Hills Creek Lake
Anglers are catching Chain Pickerel using tipups with fat head minnows. Anglers are also catching panfish, near the stumps, using wax worms.
Anglers are catching Crappie just before sunrise and into the first 2 hours of daylight.
Hamilton Lake
Nearly 50 anglers were on the ice! Anglers are catching trout using wax worms just below the ice. Some of the trout are being caught in 18 feet of water about mid-lake, using green and pink paste baits.
REMINDER – Make sure you review fishing regulations and ice safety tips before heading out fishing.
Centre County
Foster Joseph Sayers Lake
Anglers are continuing to catch Yellow Perch, Crappie, and bass. Small jigs, tipped with waxworms or maggots are working best. Most of the fish are in about 18-20 feet of water.
Anglers are catching bass using small jigs, tipped with wax worms.
Spring Creek
Water temperature is in the 40s. Water color is green with decent visibility.
Most trout are taking nymphs (e.g. black zebra midge #18-22; walt’s worm #12-16; sow bug #14-16)
Anglers are also catching trout using small streamer patterns in the colors olive or black. The bite is a little slow, but certainly worth it!
Clinton County
Fishing Creek
Water temperatures are in the upper 30s. The water is slightly above average and has good color.
Most trout are staying in deep pools, near structure (e.g. logs, rocks, undercut banks). A few anglers are catching trout near the “drop-offs” (e.g. area where shallow water tappers into deeper channels/pools).
Anglers are catching trout using olive streamer patterns (size #6-10).
Nymphs are also working (e.g. iron lotus (#14-18); Frenchie (#14-16); goldbead pheasant tail (#12-18); prince (#12-16).
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
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).
Schuylkill County
Locust Lake
Locust Lake has had inconsistent ice throughout the last few days, but when anglers did go out on the ice, they did very well. Trout were caught on jigs tipped with wax worms near the beach area.
Tuscarora Lake
Tuscarora Lake has been tough for the ice anglers this year, but can be productive at times. Several trout are still being caught near the boat cove and along the beach. Perch and crappies are also being caught on occasion as well near the dam breast. Pickerel fishing is good for those willing to walk up to the shallow end of the lake near the mouth of Locust Creek. Large shiners have done well for Pickerel.
Little Schuylkill River
The Little Schuylkill River is still a good place for open water trout fishing. There is almost no fishing pressure, and there is still a good number of fish throughout the stocked area of the stream.
Chester County
Basic Boating course February 7 and Thursday, February 8 from 3 PM to 7 PM. from 8 AM to 5 PM.
Only a few seats remaining for the upcoming Basic Boating course which will be held at Springton Manor Farm Ranger Station, on Wednesday, February 7 and Thursday, February 8 from 3 PM to 7 PM. This is a two-day course and to get credit for the course you will need to attend both full days. 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. Space is limited so register soon. Pre-registration is required by emailing Andy Desko at adesko@pa.gov or by phone at 215-968-3631. You can also get more information on the web at http://fbweb.pa.gov/Calendar/All_Gridview.aspx?TN=boating_courses&DAY=ALL
Basic Boating course February 17 from 8 AM to 5 PM.
There are only a few seats remaining in the Basic Boating course which will be held at Springton Manor Farm Ranger Station, on Saturday, February 17 from 8 AM to 5 PM. This is an all-day course and you need to be there for the entire day to get credit for the course. 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. Pre-registration is required by emailing Andy Desko at or by phone at 215-968-3631. You can also get more information on the web at http://fbweb.pa.gov/Calendar/All_Gridview.aspx?TN=boating_courses&DAY=ALL