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
Mercer County
Shenango Reservoir
Anglers are catching crappie around the lake. Once the water temperatures warm, the fishing should get better as well.
Safe Boating Education
With boating season right around the corner, please use the following link for more information about boating courses in your area.
Shenango River
The Shenango River fish consumption advisory is in effect until further notice. The US Army Corp of Engineers tested the soils around the influences to the reservoir and the reservoir itself. The levels of pollutant were not an issue in these areas and it seems the only area affected in below the reservoir. Because of this advisory, trout stocking moved from below the reservoir to above the reservoir. The area above the reservoir from New Hamburg Bridge to just upstream of Big Bend is designated as Stocked Trout Waters Open to Year Round Fishing.
Other Trout Stocked Waters
Anglers are catching trout throughout the county. Trout will be stocked until the middle of May. Check the website for trout stocking locations and times.
Northcentral 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
Find a “Stocked Trout Waterway” near you! – http://fbweb.pa.gov/stocking/TroutStockingDetails_GIS.aspx
Tioga County
Pine Creek
Water levels are still a little high. Anglers are catching trout using live minnows, butterworms and waxworms. Roostertail and panther martin spinners are working well. Fly activity is minimal; however, anglers are seeing decent hatches of small, black/brown stoneflies in the upper stretches. Most action has been subsurface. Squirmy wormies and mop flies continue to be the ticket!! Olive or black streamer patterns will produce as well.
Hamilton Lake
With the warmer weather, fishing has improved over the last week. Anglers are catching trout, using live minnows, paste baits, butterworms and waxworms. A few fly anglers are catching trout using small streamers and wet flies, near the dam area.
Hamilton Lake is set to be stocked this week. Check the link above for more details on when and what time.
Anglers are also catching sunfish and Yellow Perch using minnows and redworms/night crawlers.
Lyman Run Lake
Anglers are catching Bluegills using live minnows, butterworms, wax worms and meal works, fished under a float.
Fly anglers are catching trout using a variety of dry flies, nymphs and wet flies. The water is very clear. Use lighter tippets.
Anglers fishing by boat are also catching fish by tolling with small spinners and spoons. Kastmasters and Phoebes in silver, gold and silver/green are working well.
Lyman Run Lake
Anglers are catching Bluegills using live minnows, butterworms, wax worms and meal works, fished under a float.
Fly anglers are catching trout using a variety of dry flies, nymphs and wet flies. The water is very clear. Use lighter tippets.
Anglers fishing by boat are also catching fish by tolling with small spinners and spoons. Kastmasters and Phoebes in silver, gold and silver/green are working well.
Hammond/Tioga Lakes
Anglers are catching a few Yellow Perch and Crappie. The water temperature is still in the 40’s. A few degrees warmer and fishing success should increase!
Hills Creek Lake
Anglers are catching a few Bluegill and Yellow Perch using live minnows, night crawlers and redworms. Photographers have been out on the water to capture photos of Loons. A few photographers were able to photograph a few Loons catching Yellow Perch!
Centre County
Foster Joseph Sayers Lake Spillway
Anglers continue to catch Crappie, Yellow Perch and Bluegill using butterworms, red worms, yellow twister tails, and beadhead nymphs.
Bald Eagle Creek
Anglers are catching trout using a variety of nymphs, streamers and lures. Anglers are also catching trout using live minnows, worms and butterworms.
Spring Creek
Water temperatures are in the mid-40s. There is a bit of color to the water. Water above Bellefonte is fishing great! Water below Bellefonte is still a bit high. Anglers are seeing Blue Wing Olives and crane flies hatching. Grannom Caddis are hatching below big spring in Bellefonte. A few Grannoms have been spotted at paradise as well.
Anglers are catching trout using nymphs (olive nymphs #18; baetis emergers #18-22; Walt’s Worms #12-16; olive scuds #14-18).
Anglers are also catching trout using Blue Wing Olive, midge and crane fly dry flies on upper Spring Creek and Grannom Caddis dry flies on lower Spring Creek. (Blue Wing Olive #18-22; Midges #22-26, Grannom Caddis #12-14)
Suckers are spawning! Yellow or cream sucker spawn (#12-16) are catching trout, especially those stacked behind the suckers.
Clinton County
Fishing Creek
Water temperature near 40. Water is lower and clearing. Hatches are starting to get good!
Most success is occurring subsurface. Anglers are catching trout using nymphs (Frenchie #14-18; prince nymph #10-14; hares ear #12-16; black/brown stonefly nymphs #8-12).
Anglers are catching trout using streamers (black or olive #6-10) and nymphs (iron lotus #14-18; Frenchie #14-16; Prince nymph #12-16).
When fish are rising, a few anglers are catching trout using Blue Wing Olives (#18-22), midges (#22-26), Grannom Caddis (#12-14); Blue Quill (#16-18); Tan Caddis (#14-16).
West Branch Susquehanna River – Anglers are catching and releasing a few Smallmouth Bass, using lures and streamers.
A few anglers, using streamers and/or lures, are also catching the PA’s largest, native minnow in the Susquehanna River Basin, the Fallfish!
Northeastern Region
Southern Luzerne And Columbia Counties
Well, another successful opening day of trout season is in the books. Those anglers fishing creeks across the district, had little trouble finding and catching trout. Weather was beautiful, at least Saturday. Cold temperatures and rain kept many off the water Sunday. Success on the creeks was found using everything from power baits, to worms, to artificial flies and everything in between. Anglers on the lakes however, found it a little more difficult to entice the fish. Most likely, due to cold water temperatures and the fish finding deeper water. Fear not, it is a long season and in-season plantings are underway to ensure an enjoyable season.
Those anglers wishing to assist with in-season stockings, are advised to check the website for meeting times and locations. Help is always appreciated.
Anglers fishing impoundments for other species, are starting to have limited success with crappie and bluegill. This will only improve as the water temperatures warm.
With some nicer weather, we have also experienced more boating and fishing activity on the Susquehanna River as well. Anglers are reminded that both bass and walleye seasons are now closed, and the creel limit remains at zero.
Now is a good time to go over all of the safety equipment required for your vessel. If you are not certain what that is, you may want to register for one of the free Basic Boating Courses offered across the state.
Southeastern Region
Bucks County
The Tohickon Creek, The Delaware Canal and the East Branch Perkiomen Creek were restocked with trout on April 25. Check the website for all trout stockings in the region – http://fbweb.pa.gov/stocking/TroutStockingDetails_GIS.aspx
Levittown Lake and the Upper Neshaminy Creek stretch around Warrington were restocked on April 23.
Northampton County
Anglers have reported that there are still plenty of trout to be caught in many streams. Some people are limiting out up on the Lehigh Canal in Walnutport using various paste baits and/or minnows. The Bushkill Creek below 13th street also seems to be a popular section with some people limiting out and still others practicing catch and release. Jigging small rubber worms seems to be an effective technique for those fishing the Lehigh Canal in Bethlehem. For those who are interested in seeing where we stock the fish in the streams, there is still time. We have a few in-season stream stockings that take place until mid-May this year. Please refer to our website or app to check out the latest stream stockings and meeting places.
American Shad are running up the Delaware River currently. Many smaller shad have been caught on either darts or spoons. Many anglers enjoy the fight and thrill of reeling one of these fish in.
There are still a few spaces remaining for a Basic Boating Course this Saturday, 4/28, at the Jacobsburg EE Center. Registration ends Friday, 4/27. Register here – http://events.dcnr.pa.gov/event/basic_boating_course
Philadelphia County
The Striped Bass bite is picking up down below the Commodore Barry Bridge. Keep in mind the slot limit for Stripers in April and May for PA. The details on the regulation are found here, and search under Delaware River regulations – http://www.fishinpa.com/
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