Pennsylvania Fishing Report – July 19, 2018

Northwest Region

Clarion County

Kahle Lake

Anglers are catching Largemouth Bass and a few Bluegills throughout the lake.

Piney Dam and the Upper Clarion River

Anglers are catching Smallmouth Bass in the shallows upstream from Cooksburg and downstream to the PFBC Millcreek Access Area. Anglers are catching Walleye in the early morning and late evening hours in the area from the Clarion Borough water plant upstream to the Millcreek Access Area. Anglers are catching Channel Catfish at night in that section as well.

Lower Clarion River

Anglers are catching Smallmouth Bass the entire length of the river. Anglers are using crankbaits, top water lures, and several varieties of soft plastic lures to catch several varieties of fish. Anglers are catching Walleye near Turkey Run and Grassy Flats.

Allegheny River (Emlenton downstream to Lock #9)

Anglers are catching Smallmouth Bass in the entire length of the river. Anglers are catching Channel Catfish at night.

Boaters recreating on the East Brady pool are reminded that Redbank Creek, by special regulation, will now be designated as a “Slow no Wake Area.” This “Slow no Wake Area” will be from the confluence with the Allegheny River upstream approximately 2 miles. This regulation took effect on July 1, 2018.

Redbank Creek (Mayport downstream to confluence with the Allegheny River)

Anglers are catching trout and Smallmouth Bass at the Dam in New Bethlehem.

Beaver Creek Ponds Project

Anglers are catching some Largemouth Bass and Bluegill in several ponds in the project area.

Erie County

Lake Erie

Anglers are catching Walleye in 40 feet of water and deeper. Anglers are using stick baits off mini boards and dipsy divers are producing very well. Some drift fishing is also producing Walleye. Single or double bladed worm harnesses are catching Walleye too. Anglers are catching Yellow Perch in some decent numbers. Anglers are targeting out in front of Shades Beach and off the first break wall in about 45 feet of water. From shore, the South Pier in the City of Erie has been good after dark with anglers catching some Walleye.

Northcentral Region

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Centre County

Spring Creek

Levels on Spring Creek are great, good flows and color. Nymphing early and late will be the most productive. Some trico action can be found in the mornings so be prepared! Avoid the mid-day heat and sun for the best action.

Tioga County

Bass fishing has been good on most of the lakes. Light weed growth on Hammond and Cowanesque has made fishing tougher than expected with fish moving to new areas of the lake. Look for timber and offshore structure to find fish. Overhands or other shaded areas are good places to target too in shallow water. The smaller lakes have been fishing well too with anglers finding a good grog bite on Hills Creek and Beechwood. Topwater action in the evenings has bee good on most of the lakes. Perch and bluegills are also biting. Live minnows, worms, and slider grubs were all popular this week.

Hammond Lake

The hybrid striper bite continues to be very good on Hammond Lake. Crawler harnesses, crankbaits and stick baits are all working. Greens, purples, blues and shad patterns have all been popular. Some have been spotted herding bait on the surface in the evening and after dark. Try a shad or bone colored popper or a spook style lure for topwater action. Target drop-offs and deeper water. Areas near the dam and throughout the creek channel have been best.

Northeastern Region

Northern Wayne County

Belmont Lake

The Largemouth Bass fishing is picking up at Belmont Lake. Early morning hours and fishing around weed beds and structure seems to be doing the trick.

Prompton Dam

Prompton Dam is producing Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass in the morning and evening, live bait and jigs are working well. Panfish are active on the shoreline using bobbers and worms.

Northern Susquehanna County

Susquehanna River

Smallmouth bass and Channel Catfish are very active on the Susquehanna River. The Smallmouth Bass are aggressive to clippers (hellgrammites) any time of day. The Channel Catfish are very active late afternoon into the evening.

Eastern Bradford County

Channel Catfish are active most any time of day. Some reports have them hitting crankbaits. Chicken liver, night walkers or another type of stink bait usually works well. Numerous reports of Smallmouth Bass have been received hitting a wide variety of baits.

Monroe County

Private community lakes fishing pressure ramping up with the Largemouth Bass hitting strong on copper colored spinners. Anglers reports good crappie action too with assorted colored jigs.

Carbon County

With the recent warmer weather, fishing activity on most of the trout stocked waters in the district is very light.  Anglers fishing the Pohopoco Creek, downstream from the dam breast of Beltzville Lake, have reported good success catching trout as the water temperatures is usually much colder than most of the other trout stocked waters in the district.  Mauch Chunk Creek has also been providing good trout fishing opportunities.  Anglers fishing the Lehigh River, near the Bowmanstown area, have been catching trout on fly, stick baits and spinner.

The Smallmouth Bass action has also been good on Lehigh River in recent weeks.  Anglers fishing the slower moving pools have been doing well catching catfish and eels during the evenings.  Bass action at Mauch Chunk Lake continues to be good.  However, most bass are less than the minimum size of 15 inches.  Anglers are reminded that this lake is governed by the Big Bass Program Special Regulations.  Crappie are being caught by boat anglers off of the boat launch B area of the lake.  Anglers fishing from the fishing pier at boat launch A of the lake have been doing well catching pickerel, bass, and especially catfish during the evenings.

Beltzville Lake has been producing some good bass action near the powerline area of the lake and the upper reaches of the Pohopoco Creek Bay area of the lake.  Anglers have been reporting catching Striped Bass at different areas of the lake.  Most Striped Bass are being caught during the evening or early morning hours.  Live minnow, chicken livers and red & white buck tail jigs trolled from the boat appear to work effectively.

Powered and Non-powered boat traffic at both Beltzville Lake and Mauch Chunk Lake has been very heavy during the weekends.  Boaters are reminded to check all the required safety equipment on their boats before venturing out onto the water.   In addition, please check to make sure your boat is properly registered.  Motorboats and boats powered by an electric motor must display a proper motorboat registration.

Unpowered boats such as canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, rowboats, etc. launching at Commission lakes or access areas including PA State Parks launch or access areas must display either a Commission launch use permit or a PA State Parks launch permit or mooring permit.  Remember, alcohol is not permitted at Beltzville Lake and Mauch Chunk Lake on both the water and shore areas.  Laws pertaining to the possession and or use of alcoholic beverages are strictly enforced.

Southern Luzerne & Columbia County

Lehigh River

Those anglers that are targeting trout are still finding success across the district. You won’t pull a limit out of one hole and you may have to do some walking but, the fish are definitely still there. Success has mostly been toward evening and at daybreak. Dry flies and nymphs in the Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only sections and small grubs, wax worms or meal worms seem to be the go to bait elsewhere. Anglers fishing the Lehigh River are catching trout on small minnows and minnow replicas as well.

Susquehanna River

The Susquehanna River has been on fire for Smallmouth Bass. The best bets are crayfish and crayfish imitators in the form of crankbaits or soft plastics.
Walleye anglers are catching on the Susquehanna also. 3 and 4-inch twist tail grubs on a lead head jigs in white seems to be working best. Those finding the most success with walleyes however, are targeting them specifically and tailoring the methods accordingly.

Lily Lake

Lily Lake has been producing trout, although they have been deep. This almost limits those catches to those in some type of boat. Speaking of boats, there are no exceptions to the wake restrictions or horsepower limits on that lake. Read the sign boards carefully at any new body of water you visit.

Bass and pickerel action on Lily Lake has been good as well. Again, target the species of fish you want to catch. Do not just “chuck and hope for some luck.”

Francis E. Walter Reservoir

Francis E. Walter Reservoir is still producing nice trout in the arm of the Lehigh and panfish are being caught as well.

REMINDER: Boaters are reminded to please check ALL safety equipment prior to leaving shore. It is the operator’s responsibility, even if the boat is borrowed from a friend or relative. As always the zero tolerance for Boating Under the Influence is in effect, regardless of the type of boat you are operating.

Southeastern Region

Lancaster County

The recent confirmed discovery of the Northern Snakehead in Lancaster County waters is creating chatter amongst the local angling community.

Northern Snakeheads were first confirmed in Pennsylvania in July 2004 after an angler caught and preserved two from the 17-acre Meadow Lake in Philadelphia County. In 2017, there was a verified report of a Northern Snakehead from a water in Berks County, and there are records of them in the Maryland portion of Octoraro Creek

Pa Regulations Related to Northern Snakehead:

• It is unlawful for a person to sell, purchase, offer for sale or barter live Snakehead species in Pennsylvania.
• It is unlawful to possess live Snakehead species in Pennsylvania.
• It is unlawful to introduce or import live Snakehead species into Pennsylvania waters.
• Transportation of live Snakehead species in or through Pennsylvania is prohibited.

Please note that Northern Snakeheads are similar to the native Bowfin. Here is a poster that shows the differences between the two – http://www.fishandboat.com/Fish/PennsylvaniaFishes/Documents/snakehead-poster.pdf

IF YOU CATCH ONE…

Anglers catching Snakeheads should dispose of them properly. Leaving fish carcasses on the bank is not proper disposal. Anglers suspecting they have caught a Snakehead are encouraged to NOT release it and report it to the Commission at the contact information on our Snakehead web page on the website at www.fishandboat.com.

Schuylkill County

Water levels have been very low and offer little opportunity to kayak or canoe on the Little Schuylkill River or the Schuylkill River.

Trout fishing has been good in the early morning hours in the rivers on worms, minnows, and spinners. During the middle of the day it has been very tough. Most of the lakes and impoundments have seen a turn from trout to warmwater species of fish being caught.

Tuscarora Lake has been up and down for bass fishermen. Panfish are almost always eager to hit throughout the lake with the weedy end of the lake being the most popular. A few Chain Pickerel are also being caught, but Walleye and Musky have been hard to find.

Locust Lake has seen the trout move to the middle of the lake to deeper water. Trout anglers at Locust need to have a boat to have any success. The lake still has good bass and pickerel fishing near the shoreline as well as plenty of sunfish.