Northwest Region
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
Clarion County
Kahle Lake
Anglers are catching some Bluegills, crappies, and Yellow Perch.
Piney Dam and the Upper Clarion River
Anglers are catching Yellow Perch and a few Walleye.
Lower Clarion River (Piney Dam to Confluence with Allegheny River)
Anglers are catching a few Muskellunge and Northern Pike near the confluence with the Allegheny River.
Allegheny River (Emlenton to Lock #9)
The PFBC’s Parker City and Brady’s Bend Access Areas have reopened. Anglers are catching Northern Pike, Walleye, and Smallmouth Bass in the Parker area.
Redbank Creek
Anglers are catching Northern Pike and a few Walleye near the dam in New Bethlehem. Some anglers are catching Northern Pike and a few Muskellunge at the confluence with the Allegheny River.
Preseason Trout Stockings
4/12/18 Cather’s Run and Mill Creek – Meet the stocking truck at 11:30am at the Leeper Red & White Store located at the intersection on SR 66 & SR 36 in Leeper.
Erie County
Steelhead Tributaries
The Lake Erie tributaries have been stocked with Steelhead smolts. These are the future of our Steelhead fishery so use caution if you catch one. Lake Erie tributaries will close on April 12th at midnight until April 14th at 8 am. Stocking of the tributaries will take place on Friday, April 13th and we will be meeting at St. Francis-Xavier Church on Rt. 99 at 11:00 am.
Presque Isle Bay
Anglers are catching Yellow Perch from boats in front of DonJon Ship Yard. Minnows and small jigs from boats are working well.
Forest County
Allegheny Reservoir
Anglers are catching Northern Pike and Muskellunge from the shore and from boats. Anglers can also access the Sand and Gravel Island from the parking area near the Lighthouse and walk to the Allegheny River or Tionesta Creek. The confluence of the Allegheny River and Council Run is also productive for Musky and Northern Pike. Northern Pike must be 24 inches or more to keep and Musky must be 40 inches or more to keep. The daily limit for pike is (2) and musky is (1). Walleye season is currently closed until May 5, 2018.
Tionesta Outflow
Anglers must purchase a Trout Permit to fish in the Tionesta Outflow, regardless of fishing for or keeping trout.
Trout Stocked Waters
All trout stocked waters are closed to fishing until 8:00am on Saturday April 14, 2018 (Please consult your 2018 Summary of Fishing Regulations for a complete list of Trout Stocked Waters.)
Ross Run
The Kellettville Sportsman’s Club will be conducting a children’s fishing derby on April 15, 2018, at the Children Only Fishing Area of Ross Run. Children must be 12 years of age or younger to participate.
Northeastern Region
Wayne County
Northeastern Region
Get your 1, 3, 5 OR 10 YEAR FISHING LICENSE ONLINE NOW – http://www.gonefishingpa.com/
REMINDER – NOVEMBER 1st – APRIL 30th it is MANDATORY COLD WEATHER LIFE JACKET WEAR – http://www.fishandboat.com/boat/boatingregulations/pages/mandatorypfd.aspx
Trout stocking schedules are UP! – http://fbweb.pa.gov/stocking/TroutStockingDetails_GIS.aspx
REMINDER – APRIL 14, 2018 is PFBC’s STATEWIDE OPENING DAY OF TROUT SEASON!! Take someone who has never fished out for a great day of trout fishing!!
Tioga County
Hamilton Lake and Pine Creek “Keystone Select Section”
Anglers are catching trout using black roostertails, yellow/red, brown and black Joe’s Flies, silver and silver/blue Kastmasters and various other lures.
Anglers are also catching trout using nymphs (e.g.stonefly patterns, copper johns, worm patterns). Streamer patterns are also working well (e.g.wooly buggers, marabou muddlers, and sculpin patterns).
Hills Creek Lake
Anglers are starting to catch Yellow Perch. Water temperature is still low, but with warm weather moving into the area, anglers should expect the bite to improve!
Anglers are catching Yellow Perch using fathead minnows and nightcrawlers.
Bass fishing is slow, but a few are being caught using Jerkbaits, crankbaits, various jigs and plastics. Topwater action should turn on soon as water temperatures warm.
Jefferson County
Cloe Lake
Centre County
Bald Eagle Creek
Spring Creek
Water temperature is in the 40s, water is clear and levels are good!
Anglers are catching trout using nymphs (olive nymphs #18; baetis emergers #18-22; Walt’s Worms #12-16; olive scuds #14-18 and black zebra midges #18-22).
Anglers are also catching trout using Blue Wing Olives and midge dry flies. (Blue Wing Olive #18-22; Midges #22-26)
Anglers are catching trout on lower Spring Creek using Grannom caddis (#12-14)!
A few anglers are still catching trout using olive or black streamers near the current breaks and banks (slumpbusters #6-10).
Clinton County
Fishing Creek
Water temperature is in the low 40s and water levels are good. The water color is also good!
Anglers are catching trout using streamers (black or olive #6-10) and nymphs (iron lotus #14-18; Frenchie #14-16; Prince nymph #12-16).
A few anglers are also catching trout using Blue Wing Olives (#18-22) and midges (#22-26)!
Southeastern Region
Bucks County
Chester County
The crappie bite is on! Crappies are starting to come out of Octoraro Reservoir. Anglers are catching them fishing underneath the Bridge on Route 472, and along the Spruce Grove Road Bridge by fishing near the bridge structure using small minnows or fathead minnows fished deep under a pencil bobber, or by using traditional crappie baits. If using a minnow, keep changing the depth until you find the one that works. The District WCO has measured 15 ½ inch crappie at Octoraro Reservoir in past years. Boat anglers are doing a bit better because they are better able to find the structure and locate a school. Boat rentals (rowboats are inexpensive to rent, it is the motor that makes it expensive), can be had at Octoraro Reservoir and Marsh Creek Reservoirs. Usually this time of year if you can find one fish, then you will find a bunch more with him.
Pocopson Elementary School held its annual “Trout in the Classroom” release day event. With support from the Stroud Water Research Center and Trout Unlimited, the students set up an aquarium complete with filtration, aeration and a chiller. They then receive from the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission a shipment of Brook Trout fry which the students raise until they are large enough to be released into a local Stocked Trout Water. In this case the stream selected was the Pocopson Creek. This is an educational event that allows the students to learn all about the importance of water quality, different types of streams, freestone and limestone, watersheds, and the different fish found in warm water versus cold water streams, and to learn about aquatic invertebrates. On release day, the students took the fingerling Brook Trout down to the Pocopson Creek, and each student received a Brook Trout in a clear plastic cup and after closely examining the fish for a few minutes they released the fish into the creek. Most of the students while examining the fish gave them a name. Some of the names heard were Nemo, Bubbles, Stripes, Gill, and Shamu. The school made a video of the release with the help of the official school drone. This is a wonderful opportunity for the students to learn all about the importance of protecting our environment and gives them a chance to get some hands-on experience in conservation. For more information on the program contact your local trout Unlimited chapter or go to the website at https://www.tu.org/TIC.
The Buck Run Section 2, the East Branch White Clay Creek Section 2 and the East Branch White Clay Creek Section 3 will be stocked with trout on Tuesday April 17. We will meet the big white stocking truck loaded with angling fun in the lane across from the Sadsburyville Post Office at 11:30 AM. Come on out and spend a day fishing and giving something back to the resource.