Northwest Region
Erie County
Lake Erie
Anglers are catching Smallmouth Bass by using tubes, drop shots, and other finesse fishing styles. Anglers are catching some very nice Lake Trout just offshore of the North East Marina.
Presque Isle Bay
Anglers are catching Smallmouth Bass in the bay by using tubes, jerk baits, drop shots, and a variety of finesse fishing styles. Anglers are catching Yellow Perch in the Water Works area on Presque Isle.
Forest County
Tionesta Creek
Fly anglers are catching trout using caddis dry flies and nymphs. Some Blue Wing Olives are hatching in the morning in about a size 20. Recently, anglers are catching trout between Mayburg to Kellettville from a stocking on April 16, 2018.
East Hickory Creek DHALO
Anglers have historically done well using Green Drake dry flies around the Memorial Day weekend. Anglers should fish the evening hours to catch the Green Drake hatch.
Tionesta Outflow
During the evening hours, anglers are reporting a caddis hatch at the outflow. Anglers are catching trout using Blue Wing Olives in the morning and caddis during the day. Anglers must possess a current trout and salmon permit to fish in the Outflow, regardless of specifically fishing for trout.
Maple Creek and Spring Creek
The Marienville Rod and Gun Club has recently stocked Maple and Spring Creek.
Ross Run
The Kellettville Sportsman’s Club will be stocking on Memorial Day weekend at the Children Only Fishing Area on Ross Run. The Fish and Boat Commission will also stock the Children’s Area on May 21, 2018.
Beaver Run
Trout are still holding in Beaver Run. Anglers should fish the undercut banks and around submerged logs, with minnows or worms, using a small hook and light line. The Fish and Boat Commission will be stocking Beaver Run on May 14, 2018.
Salmon Creek
With the recent trout stockings, anglers are catching trout using minnows. With low and clear water conditions, it is beneficial to use small hooks and cover the entire hook with bait.
Venango County
Allegheny River
Anglers are catching Smallmouth Bass on tubes, jerk baits, flukes, and a variety of soft plastic baits.
French Creek
From Utica through Franklin, anglers are catching Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, and Walleye using jigs, crankbaits, and spinners.
Oil Creek
Anglers are catching Smallmouth Bass and the occasional Walleye between Oil City and Rynd Farm. The area from Rynd Farm upstream through Drake Well, including the Keystone Select and Delayed Harvest Artificial Lure Only section, received their in-season trout stocking on 04/26/2018.
Kahle Lake
Anglers are catching Largemouth Bass on crankbaits, jigs, and a variety of soft plastic baits.
Justus Lake
Two Mile Run Reservoir (Justus Lake) received a scheduled in-season trout stocking on 04/24/2018.
Registration of unpowered watercraft required at PFBC Lakes/Access Areas:
With the beginning of the 2018 boating season, boaters are reminded that unpowered watercraft, which otherwise would not require registration, are required to display either current registration or a launch permit when launching or retrieving at all PFBC lakes and/or access areas. For a complete listing of regulations pertaining to PFBC properties, click here.
An Angler’s Code of Ethics:
Many local landowners extend anglers the courtesy of recreational fishing opportunities. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission signage is routinely placed along stream sections open to public fishing. When in doubt, stay out. Ethical anglers DO NOT litter, camp, build fires, cut trees, block property, or operate any motorized vehicle or ATV on property of another without advanced permission of the landowner. These unlawful actions will, and do, get ground POSTED!
Northcentral Region
Get your 1, 3, 5 OR 10 YEAR FISHING LICENSE ONLINE NOW – http://www.gonefishingpa.com/
Find a “Stocked Trout Waterway” near you! – http://fbweb.pa.gov/stocking/TroutStockingDetails_GIS.aspx
Tioga County
Pine Creek
The water is in great shape right now and the hatches are good! Anglers are seeing heavy caddis hatches and Hendricksons as well. Anglers are catching trout, early in the day, using Hendrickson patterns. Rusty spinners are working well, later in the day. Anglers are also catching trout using tan caddis #14. A few sporadic March Browns and Blue Wing Olives are also hatching.
Anglers using spinning gear are also catching trout. A few anglers are catching trout using butterworms, waxworms and live minnows. Salmon eggs (pink shrimp, garlic or natural) are also working.
Hamilton and Hills Creek Lakes
Anglers are catching Yellow Perch. Nightcrawlers, fathead minnows and butterworms are working best.
A few anglers are catching Crappie;however, the bite is still slow. Bass are beginning to move into the shallows.
Cowanesque Lake
Bass are moving into the shallows. Anglers are catching and releasing bass, using squarebill crankbaits, jerkbaits and various plastics. Green pumpkin colors are working best.
Centre County
Foster Joseph Sayers Lake Spillway
Anglers are catching Crappie, Yellow Perch and Bluegill using butterworms, red worms, yellow twister tails, and beadhead nymphs.
A few anglers are catching Chain Pickerel, using small, beadhead nymph patterns.
Foster Joseph Sayers Lake
With warm temperatures moving in, boating activity has increased. The lake is near summer pool levels.
Anglers are catching Crappie and Yellow Perch around the lake. A few anglers are catching Crappie in the shallows. Anglers are also catching Yellow Perch at Hunter Run Cut, using redworms.
Anglers are also catching Crappie near the marina, using minnows and twistertails.
Bald Eagle, Black Moshannon, Penns, Cold Stream, Six Mile and Marsh Creeks
Anglers are catching trout using a variety of bait (e.g. paste baits, waxworms, redworms, spinners and minnows.)
Spring Creek
Water temperatures are in the mid-50s. Water flow and color is perfect!
Sulphurs are hatching and trout are rising to them! Anglers are catching trout using dry flies (e.g. Suphers #14-16; Tan Caddis #14-16; Blue Wing Olives #18-22; Crane Fly #14-16 and/or midges #22-26).
If trout are not consistently rising, stick with nymphs. Anglers are catching trout using nymphs (e.g. Hot spot sow bug #14-16; Baetis emergers #18-22; olive scud #14-18; walt’s worm #12-16; sulphur patterns #12-14).
With some rain events in the forecast, make sure you bring along some streamers (olive/black #4-8). Target the stream banks and/or structure.
Clinton County
Fishing Creek
Water temperature is in the mid-50s. Currently has great flow and color!
Anglers are catching trout using nymphs. Unless you see trout rising consistently, stick with nymphs! Nymphs are working best (e.g. Frenchie #14-18; Flashback nymphs #14-18; Zebra midge #18-24; Pats rubberlegs #8-12).
When the trout are rising make sure you have some dry flies with you (e.g. Tan Caddis #12-14; Blue Quill #16-18; Blue Wing Olive #18-22; March Brown #8-12; Midges #20-26).
With some rain events in the forecast, make sure you bring along some streamers (olive/black #4-8). Target the stream banks and/or structure.
West Branch Susquehanna River
Anglers are catching and releasing a few Smallmouth Bass, using lures and/or streamers.
Most bass are still in the deeper channels and/or near structure.
Northeastern Region
Wyoming and Northern Luzerne Counties
Area trout waters are just about to see the last of our stocking until the chill of Autumn comes around. With the unseasonably cold weather we had experienced back in April stream temperatures are still quite cool and the trout are loving it and reacting well to their new home. They have been responding to fishing efforts with gusto. Many waters are brimming with trout right now and most are reporting success everywhere.
With those cold temperatures that the trout are loving, we are finding that other warmer water loving fish are responding quite slowly this year so far. One notable exception is the crappies at Harveys Lake. Anglers are experiencing success in the Grotto Cove and at other areas around the lake in shallower water. Oxbow Lake and Stevens have been giving up some real nice Bluegills as long as you put your time in and find where they are staging.
Even though the Cold Water Wear Requirements for PFD’s have ended as of May 1st boaters and anglers on boats are reminded that that water around them is still awful cold even though the temperatures in the air are not. It is ALWAYS a good idea to wear your PFD anytime you are out on our Commonwealth’s waters.
Lackawanna County
Manny Gorden Pond at McDade Park were stocked with trout this past Saturday. Remember the pond is limited to children 12 years old and younger. The pond is posted with the regulations.
Anglers are catching trout on paste baits at DeSandis Pond in Daleville, Lackawanna Lake in Wallsville and at Merli Sarnowski Lake outside of Carbondale. Many anglers have reported not catching trout until they switched to paste bait at these lakes. Rainbow color seems to work best at Lackawanna Lake.
Anglers continue to do well, fishing for trout in both sections of the Roaring Brook. There are plenty of fish between the dam and the bridge in Elmhurst.
Anglers are catching plenty of fish off the wall in the south branch Tunkhannock, behind the dam at the state park.
Merli Sarnowski Lake will get its’ final spring trout stocking this Thursday (May 10th). Anglers have been doing well near the dam.
Bluegill fishing at Lackawanna Lake has really picked up in the area between the “Silo” bridge and “Bullhead Bay”. Red worms, pinheads and wax worms are doing the trick.
Southern Luzerne/Columbia County
With the in-season plantings of trout well underway, anglers are having no trouble finding success on local trout streams. Success is coming with everything from small artificial lures and nymphs, to paste baits and corn. Anglers however, are finding trout in the impoundments a little less eager. Successful anglers are catching them on or close to bottom, or at least in the deeper holes. Hopefully, with the warmer weather, the water temperature will rise and those fish will become a little more aggressive.
Crappie and bluegill fishing across the district has begun to really heat up. Especially at Mud Pond and FEW Reservoir. Anglers have also had some success at the reservoirs in Conrad Weiser State Forest. Anglers are reminded, this is strictly a “Catch and Release” zone. All fish caught, must be immediately released unharmed back into the water from which they came.
As we head into warmer weather, boaters are again cautioned of the zero tolerance for BUI within the district.
With boating season upon our doorstep, it is not too late to register for one of the Basic Boating Courses across the state. Those who sit through the course will usually not be disappointed. Even the most experienced boaters will normally learn something.
With that in mind, now is the time to look over all safety equipment for your boat, and ensure everything is in working, and serviceable condition.
Monroe and Wayne Counties
Despite recent rainfall events, trout anglers have had great success fishing Tobyhanna Lk., Tobyhanna Ck. and the Lehigh River in Monroe County. Fathead minnows proved the best bait.
Southeastern Region
Delaware River
American Shad are in the river! Anglers have been catching fish in the Morrisville area up to New Hope. Shad spoons and shad darts are a staple lure for shad fishing. The Striped Bass have been biting near the Commodore Berry bridge. Anglers are landing stripers from the airport area up to Tacony on the blood worms, bunker and clams.
Lancaster County
The PFBC is holding a Family Fishing Festival at Nockamixon State Park’s Tohickon Access on Saturday, May 19, 2018 from 9:00AM-1:00PM.
Family Fishing Festivals are a convenient way to introduce friends and family to the sport of fishing at no cost. This educational event is designed for families with little or no fishing experience. Participants will learn basic fishing skills and have an opportunity to practice those skills while fishing during the program.
The PFBC is waiving the fishing license requirement during the program for registered Family Fishing Festival participants 16 and older. The program is open to all ages, including children ages 5 and older. The PFBC provides equipment, bait, and tackle. PFBC staff will be present to teach skills and assist those who fish. Preregistration is required.
Visit www.GoneFishingPa.com to register or learn more about these programs.
For more information, contact Andrew Desko at adesko@pa.gov or 215-968-3631.