Pennsylvania Fishing Report – February 15, 2018

Pictured above: Lots of anglers were out fishing Hamilton Lake this past weekend! Great turnout for their ice fishing tournament! (photo by Don Kelly)

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 through the ice. Remember SAFETY FIRST: fishandboat.com/Boat/WaterandIceSafetY

Crawford County

Conneaut Lake

Anglers are catching crappies, big Bluegill, and Northern Pike on the south end of the lake.

Canadohta Lake

Anglers are catching crappies, Northern Pike, and Walleye. Northern Pike and Walleye are coming off tip-ups with a large shiner.

Sugar Lake

Anglers are catching a few panfish, Largemouth Bass, and pickerel throughout the lake.

Erie County

Steelhead Tributaries

Anglers are catching Steelhead in various Erie County tributaries. As long as the Erie area does not get a lot of rain over the next few days, the weekend should be great fishing conditions. It would be best to contact the local bait shops before planning a trip up to Erie.

Presque Isle Bay

Ice Fishing is in full swing right now on the bay. Please use caution when venturing out on the ice. There is open water on the eastern end of the bay by DonJon’s Ship Yard and all the way over into Misery Bay. The best areas to fish right now are off Liberty Park and Chestnut Street. Anglers are catching Yellow Perch using minnows. Anglers are also catching Steelhead, Walleye, and Muskellunge through the ice using tip-ups with shiners or on a variety of lures.

Lake Pleasant

The ice fishing on Lake Pleasant has been good in 2018. Anglers are catching trout and panfish on small jigs and maggots.

Northeastern Region

Southern Luzerne & Columbia County

With fishing on the Susquehanna River impossible because of ice jams, more activity has been on the “hard water”. Unfortunately, fishing across the district is becoming more of a challenge as the season progresses, and fish move into “late ice” patterns.

The key to catching fish, particularly crappies and perch, is to first find them. Most anglers that are catching fish continue to stay mobile until the fish are found. Try locating the fish with a fish finder or an underwater camera if available. Keying in on the deeper depressions, or basins of the impoundment. Often, fish will be suspended in the deepest part of the lake this time of year.

Looking ahead, there will be a PA Basic Boating Class offered at Nescopeck State Park on March 17^th. This course is required for anyone operating a motorboat greater than 25hp, who was born After January 1^st, 1982. It is also required for anyone operating a PWC, regardless of age. Class begins at 8:00 am, and pre-registration is required. Check the website for additional information.

Also, March signals the start of yet another trout stocking season. Stocking dates, times and meeting locations have been posted on the website. Help is always appreciated, and it is a great way to help do some “pre-season” scouting for opening day.

One final note, once the weather breaks, many anglers will be anxious to hit the water in boats. Please remember, the water temps will be frigid. Wearing a flotation device is always a good idea. It is MANDATORY, for anyone in a boat less than 16 feet, and ALL canoes and kayaks, from November 1^st, through April 30^th.

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

Good ice conditions continue in Tioga County! The bite has slowed a little bit, but anglers are still catching a variety of fish. A few days of warm weather are moving in; however, this should have little impact on the ice for this weekend. Warm temperatures will make for slick conditions so make sure you have your cleats!

Hills Creek Lake

The bite has been spotty, but anglers are catching 8+ inch Bluegills in the “stumps” end of the lake. Anglers are catching Yellow Perch in the deeper water near the beach and dam. The Yellow Perch are varying in size, but a few anglers are catching perch in the 10-12” range!

Waxworms are working well. Silver, chartreuse, flow, pearl and firetiger jigs are working great! Tip ups with shiners are producing good catches of pickerel and bass in a variety of areas.

Hamilton Lake

There were 28 teams that participated in the recent Hamilton Lake Ice Fishing Tournament! Anglers are catching lots of panfish. A few nice perch and sunfish are being caught.

Anglers are catching Crappie as well. The deep water continues to be the most productive areas. Anglers are catching trout throughout the lake. Tip-ups and deadsticks, rigged with fatheads, pastebait or waxworms is working well. Jigging with waxworms is also working.

Cowanesque Lake

Anglers are catching small Yellow Perch and Crappie of mixed sizes using waxworms and minnows. Large Crappie, 13-14+inches, are being caught near downed trees and crib habitat areas.

Check out the PFBC Habitat Map for more structure locations – fishandboat.com/Resource/Habitat/Documents/lakePlans/cowanesque.pdf

Hammond Lake

A few anglers are catching Yellow Perch, Bluegill and Crappie, fishing the drop-offs near RT 287.

Beechwood Lake

Anglers continue to catch trout using waxworms, fatheads and pastebaits. Anglers are also catching pickerel and bass, using medium and large shiners.

Lycoming County

West Branch Susquehanna River

Anglers are catching Musky using a variety of lures and large fly patterns. It is a bit slow, but the bite and fight are certainly worth the wait!!

REMINDER – NOVEMBER 1^st – APRIL 30^th it is MANDATORY COLD WEATHER LIFE JACKET WEAR – http://www.fishandboat.com/boat/boatingregulations/pages/mandatorypfd.aspx

Centre County

Foster Joseph Sayers Lake

Ice Conditions are favorable over most of the lake. Anglers fishing in multiple areas (e.g.Hunter Run Cut, coves and the main lake). Ice conditions will change over the next few days of warmer weather. Make sure you test the ice prior to going out on it.

Anglers are catching Yellow Perch and Crappie in areas near the beach and summer winter launch.
Anglers are also catching Crappie and Yellow Perch in Hunter Run Cut area, the main lake off Hunter Run Cut and the cove between East and West Launch.

Success has been reported using tip-ups with minnows. Jigging small jigs tipped with waxworms or maggots are working best. A few anglers are also catching fishing using fathead minnows.

Black Moshannon Lake

Anglers are catching bass and pickerel using tip-ups with shiners and targeting the edge of the weed beds. A few anglers are also catching Yellow Perch, Crappie and other sunfish using waxworms or maggots in the creek channel (6-7’ depth).

Spring Creek

Water temperature is in the 40s. Water color is good.

Anglers are catching trout using nymphs (e.g. pink or orange egg patterns, 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.

Southeastern Region

Berks County

Tulpehocken Creek

Stocking season is right around the corner! Volunteers are welcomed and appreciated. We will be float stocking the Keystone Select stretch (Sections 6 & 7) of Tulpehocken Creek on March 6. We will be meeting at the Blue Marsh Park Office at 1200. Bring some chest waders and a net if you would like to help float stock. We will also still do the normal bucket stops in addition to the float stocking. Come on out and see the big Keystone Select Browns!

Lake Ontelaunee

Ice still remains at the area lakes and is providing good ice fishing opportunities. Anglers are pulling some nice size crappie and bass up through the ice at Lake Ontelaunee. There has been some ice melting in the cove at Peter’s Creek area of Lake Ontelaunee, so shore-based anglers can go try their luck as well.

Bucks County

Please keep in mind with the upcoming Mentored Youth Day that not all waters will be stocked with trout before this event on March 24.

Nockamixon Lake

Most of the Ice has become unsafe, proceed with caution! The Middle of the lake is open, but it will be awhile until the boat launches are open water, weather depending obviously

Lake Towhee

As of 2/7/2018, Lake Towhee still had a few guys out on it. Panfish and chain pickerel are still the main fish here for winter fishing.

Nockamixon Lake and Lake Towhee are enrolled in the PA Fish and Boat Commission’s Big Bass Program! http://pfbc.pa.gov/fishpub/summaryad/bigbass.html

East Branch Perkiomen Creek!

Trout Stocking is right around the corner. If you have been looking for an opportunity to get kids out to see a trout stocking, Saturday 3/3/2018 we will be stocking trout in the East Branch Perkiomen Creek! This is a good stocking for families with children t attend as it is held on a Saturday and is mostly from the road in a park-like setting! For other opportunities to get out and help us stock some trout in Bucks County, See: http://fbweb.pa.gov/stocking/TroutStockingDetails_GIS.aspx

S. Chester County

The next meeting of the White Clay Fly Fishers will be held on Tuesday, February 20 starting at 7 PM at the London Tract Baptist Meetinghouse which is at the intersection of Sharpless and London Tract Road in Landenberg Pa. 19350. This is a great club that stocks the White Clay Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only section. New members are always welcome. For more information on the club or the meeting you can visit the website at whiteclayflyfishers.org