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
Warren County
Kinzua Reservoir
Anglers are catching nice sized Yellow Perch around Webbs Ferry Boat Launch. Anglers are catching Northern Pike and Walleye around the Willow Bay Boat Launch.
VENANGO COUNTY TROUT STOCKING FOR 2018:
Trout stocking in Venango County begins on March 07th…
Individuals wishing to attend are urged to reference the 2018 TROUT STOCKING link found on the agency’s home page, at fishandboat.com, in order to verify the appropriate date and time of your favorite stream(s).
ALLEGHENY RIVER:
Fishing/Boating
The USGS depth gage in Franklin reflects a current water level of +/- 06’-02”. Water temperature stands at, approximately, 35°F.
Fishing-
Fishing activities are returning, given the ice-break-up and return of open water. At this time, anglers are primarily targeting walleye.
Boating-
No boating is occurring as of reporting date.
FRENCH CREEK:
Fishing/Boating-
The USGS depth gage in Utica reflects a current water level of +/-04’-10”.
Fishing-
Fishing activities are returning; however pressure and catch reports remain light. At this time, anglers are primarily targeting walleye and pike, and those encountered were using shiners and jigs.
Boating-
No boating is occurring as of reporting date.
OIL CREEK:
Fishing/Boating-
The USGS depth gage in Rouseville reflects a current water level of +/- 3’-09”.
Fishing-
Fishing pressure remains minimal. However, with a return of open flowing water, anglers are encouraged to try either of the Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures areas (Petroleum Center & Drake Well).
Boating-
No boating is occurring as of reporting date.
JUSTUS LAKE (TWOMILE RUN RESERVOIR):
Fishing
Fishing activity, despite previous ice-over, has been extremely sparse on Justus since the last reporting date.
Boating-
No boating is occurring as of reporting date.
KAHLE LAKE:
Catches of both bluegill and crappies were still being reported.
Northeastern 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).
Lackawanna County
Recent rains and warm weather have caused some area lakes and ponds to be unstable. Areas where streams flow into lakes and some shorelines have seen deterioration of the ice. Many lakes and ponds have areas of open water. Anglers should use caution when considering going on the ice.
The PA American Water Company lakes that are open to shoreline fishing are still frozen over. They are not able to be fished.
The fishing prior to the unseasonably warm weather was slow at Lackawanna Lake, Desandis Pond and Merli Sernowski Lake.
The Lackawanna River and Roaring Brook has been rising over the past few days. Fishing has been good with some trout being landed.
Check out the PFBC Habitat Map for more structure locations – fishandboat.com/Resource/Habitat/Documents/lakePlans/cowanesque.pdf
Northern Luzerne and Wyoming County
Area ice conditions are deteriorating and the bite has been slowing down a bit in many places. With warmer weather in the forecast it may be a great time to get out on some open water for a change. Many area trout streams are in great shape for fishing right now. Unlike when you last fished them in the fall the temperatures are no longer so warm and you can worry less about exhausting the fish.
Great streams to get out on right now include Harveys Creek (including the Keystone Select section – be aware of the requirements!), Bowman’s Creek, South Branch Tunkhannock and the Mehoopany. Presentations should be slow and take the effort to make your offering pass right in front of a targeted fish. Great artificials for this technique include heavier spoons and streamers. Understand that calorie efficiency is very important right now and you should make sure that the offering you are presenting is worth it for the effort the trout has to put in to take the bait. If these fail to work you can switch to nymphing in quiet pockets in the current where fish will hold up conserving their energy waiting for something appetizing to swing by.
Northcentral Region
Get your 1, 3, 5 OR 10 YEAR FISHING LICENSE ONLINE NOW – gonefishingpa.com/
With recent rain events and melting snow, streams and rivers are tempting for kayakers to get on the water; however, all boaters should use extreme caution when venturing out for early spring experiences on the water.
REMINDER – NOVEMBER 1st – APRIL 30th it is MANDATORY COLD WEATHER LIFE JACKET WEAR – http://www.fishandboat.com/boat/boatingregulations/pages/mandatorypfd.aspx
DO YOU know how to be SAFE on the water?
TEST your PADDLING KNOWLEDGE, using PA’s FREE Paddle Sports Safety Course – https://www.boaterexam.com/paddling/
STOCKING SEASON
PA Fish and Boat Commission staff will be out in full swing, stocking trout across the state soon! Stocking our PA streams would not be possible without the help from the public in each area.
Bring your family, school group, and/or friends out to help stock trout near you! Find a date using the link below and meet up with our Waterway Conservation Officer(s), hatchery staff and many others to release trout into the streams!
STOCKING SCHEDULE – http://fbweb.pa.gov/stocking/TroutStockingDetails_GIS.aspx
Tioga County
As of today, a few anglers are still fishing through the ice; however, with the warming temperatures and rain, ice conditions are deteriorating fast. If you head out, BE SURE to check ice conditions before venturing on the ice.
Tioga Lake Spillway
Anglers are catching lots of Walleye using live shiners in the spillway.
Clearfield County
With recent heavy rain, melting snow and warming air temperatures, ice conditions are deteriorating across the county.
Streams are bank full and kayakers are urged to use extreme caution if they venture out.
Centre County
Spring Creek
Water temperature is in the 40s. Water is still up and off color, with little visibility.
Anglers are catching trout using streamer patterns (e.g. size 6-10) in the colors olive or black. Target stream banks and structure. Be sure to be patient, you will like the results!
Anglers are also catching trout using nymphs (e.g. squirmy wormy, mini mop flies, walt’s worm, sow bugs).
If the water is up and dirty, search for areas with “clean water” coming from tributaries and/or side channels.
Clinton County
Fishing Creek
Water temperature is in the upper 30s and off color. With the recent rain events and snow melt are keeping the water levels good.
Anglers are catching trout using nymphs (e.g. Frenchie #14-16; Goldbead pheasant tail #12-18; beadhead Prince #12-16).
Anglers using dark colored streamers in deep pools are also doing well. A few anglers are catching trout using an occasional white streamer too! Be sure to fish the streamers slow and deep. Patience is key for an exciting take!
Southeastern Region
The Fly Fishing Show in Lancaster, PA is coming up on Saturday, March 3 and Sunday, March 4. PFBC Staff will be present with a booth to sell fishing licenses and answer questions! Check their website for details at flyfishingshow.com
The Greater Philadelphia Boat Show is approaching from March 9-11. Our agency will have a booth at this event all weekend to sell fishing licenses and answer questions. We will be holding our Southeast Region Sportsmen’s Forum at this event on Saturday, March 10 from 10AM to noon. The Fish and Boat Commission has scheduled a series of Sportsmen’s Forums across the state to solicit opinions from anglers and boaters on how the PFBC can best conserve aquatic resources while creating more opportunities for fishing and boating recreation. The forums will feature an overview of the existing programs of the agency and a discussion of its current financial state of affairs. A question and answer period will follow. Check out the Boat Show’s website for details at phillyboatshow.com
S. Chester County
Four special regulations waters, Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only Areas and one Fly Fishing Only Catch & Release only, will be stocked on Tuesday, February 27. Conservations Officers and stocking volunteers will meet the stocking truck at noon at the Ridge Fire Hall on Route 23. These are East Branch Brandywine Creek, 1.2 mile stretch from SR 4019 (Dorlans Mill Road) downstream to SR 4004 (Dowlin Forge Road). Pickering Creek, 1.5 miles from SR 1019 (Charlestown Road) downstream to 330 yards upstream of the railroad bridge. West Valley Creek starts 1.2 miles from the confluence with the unnamed tributary (locally known as Colebrook Run) upstream of SR 2020 (Boot Road) downstream to 0.25 miles of the railroad tunnel. There is also a Catch and Release Fly Fishing Only section of French Creek, from the breached dam upstream of the T491 Bridge to Hollow Road. These are all open to year-round fishing, so while all the Stocked Trout Waters will close to fishing on March 1, anglers can continue to fish all of these streams. PFBC staff can always use help spreading the fish around so come on out and give back to the resource. Good Luck!