Northwest Region
Clarion County
Piney Dam and the Upper Clarion River
Anglers are catching Smallmouth Bass in the shallows from Cooksburg 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 above the Millcreek Access Area. Anglers are catching some Channel Catfish at night.
Lower Clarion River
Anglers are catching Smallmouth Bass on the entire length of the river using flukes, spinnerbaits, and top water lures.
Allegheny River (Emlenton downstream to Lock #9)
Anglers are catching Smallmouth Bass on the entire length of the river. Anglers are catching Walleye near the Parker islands. Anglers are catching nice Channel Catfish at night.
Redbank Creek
Anglers are catching trout and Smallmouth Bass at the dam in New Bethlehem.
Beaver Creek Ponds Project
Anglers are catching Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, and catfish using a variety of lures.
Venango County
Allegheny River
Anglers are catching Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, and Northern Pike using a variety of soft plastic baits, spinnerbaits, stickbaits, and top water lures.
French Creek
Anglers are catching Smallmouth Bass and Northern Pike using a variety of soft plastic baits and some top water lures.
Justus Lake
Anglers are catching trout in 25’-40’ of water.
Kahle Lake
Anglers are catching Largemouth Bass throughout most of the day using soft plastic baits in a variety of colors.
Warren County
Allegheny River
Anglers are catching Smallmouth Bass near Betts Park in the Allegheny River. Another area for good size Smallmouth Bass is at the mouth of Glade Run close to Pennsylvania Ave Bridge. Anglers are catching nice Walleye and White Bass at the Kinzua Dam tail waters.
Northcentral Region
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Tioga County
Tioga Lake
Anglers and boaters interested in boating or fishing the lake should contact the park office for updates on opening/closing of launch locations.
Cowanesque Lake
Boaters are enjoying skiing, jet skiing, and tubing. Paddlers are also enjoying time on the water.
NOTE – Boaters are reminded to keep a look out for woody and other debris after recent rain events.
Anglers are catching fish near timber at the west end and in the weed beds. Anglers are catching Smallmouth near off-shore rock piles and weed edges. Areas near the dam are also fishing well.
A few anglers are catching Stripers using deep diving crankbaits and paddle tail swimbaits. White or shad colors are working best.
Anglers are also catching Musky using larger bass baits or small musky baits. 4-6 inch baits are working best. Chartruese and shad colors are popular.
Beechwood Lake
Paddlers looking for solitude are enjoying time on these two lakes.
PA Fish and Boat Commission habitat staff recently completed habitat work along the shoreline of Beechwood Lake. Anglers are catching Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass near these areas, using crank baits and a variety of soft plastics. Dropshotting 3-4” plastics are working best. In the evening, anglers are catching bass using topwater techniques.
With cooler water temperatures, anglers are also catching trout using dry flies. Past baits and wax worms, under a bobber are also working for trout.
Hammond Lake
Anglers are catching are catching bass using crankbaits and various plastics. Anglers are also catching Perch and Crappie by trolling or slowly drifting worms and minnows.
Hills Creek Lake
Anglers are catching bass in the weeds and lily pads. Texas or wacky rigged senkos are working. Try using a frog on the surface. Anglers are catching Bluegill and Yellow Perch as well.
Nessmuk Lake
Anglers are reminded that the lake is currently managed under catch and release regulations. No fish can be harvested.
Anglers are catching a releasing bass, using twister tails, whopper ploppers and small stickbaits. Most bass are between 8-12 inches. Anglers are also catching Bluegill and Crappie using small twister tails and mealworms. A few larger fish area also being reported.
Lycoming County
Rose Valley Lake
Anglers are catching bass and other panfish using a variety of techniques. Plastics, crank baits and live minnows are working best.
Clinton County
Fishing Creek
Fishing Creek is high and off color. With more rain in the forecast, expect those conditions to continue.
Anglers are catching trout using nymphs (dark/golden stone flies; pats rubberlegs; green weenie; stonefly nymphs). Anglers are also catching trout using streamers during and just after rain events. Target the banks and soft edges for best results.
West Branch Susquehanna River
Anglers are catching bass using crankbaits and plastics. A few anglers are catching bass using streamer patterns and poppers.
Centre County
Foster Joseph Sayers Lake
Access areas were recently opened; however, lots of debris remains in the water and near shorelines. Boaters should use caution, especially when towing tubes/skiers. Many trees/stumps are just below the surface. With more rain in the forecast boaters should contact the park office to check on closures of access areas.
Anglers are catching Crappie near the causeway using minnows. A few anglers are catching bass using plastics and crankbaits. Fishing has been slow due to high water levels.
Black Moshannon Lake
Moderate kayak/canoe activity has been reported. Anglers are catching bass and pickerel from the launch areas using rubber worms, spinners and live bait.
Coyler Lake
Moderate kayak/canoe activity has been reported. Anglers are catching bass, Pickerel and sunfish. Twistertails, minnows and worms are working best.
NOTE – Anglers are reminded that Colyer Lake is a Catch and Release lake for all species.
Spring Creek
Spring Creek is high and off color. More rain is expected later this week. If you are heading out to fish this weekend, be sure to pack streamers and worm patterns! Olive, black or white slumpbusters (size #6-10) will work great along the banks.
Anglers are catching trout using worm patterns (squirmy wormies, walt’s worms). Green weenies will also work.
A few anglers are catching trout using terrestrials (ants/beetles) along the bank edges.
Northeastern Region
Northern Pike and Southern Wayne Counties
The recent rains have made a lot of the streams and rivers in the region very high. This has made fishing in these waters very dangerous due to flooding conditions. The lakes on the other hand have been doing very well. Lake Wallenpaupack has been providing good fishing for perch and panfish. Anglers have been catching bass in areas around docks and in areas where the streams enter the lake. The big stripers have gone deep due to the warm lake temperatures, but anglers are still catching them in the 15” to 20” size mostly on live bait. Lake Shohola is really weedy at this time of year, but the bass and pickerel are always a good catch. Lake Greeley has been producing panfish mostly in the area down towards the dam.
Boating activities have been spotty as well due to the weather. The Delaware River has been a good spot for rafting and a little more challenging due to faster waters. The National Park Service has implemented a mandatory wear of PFD’s during these times of high water. As always be safe.
Western Bradford and Sullivan Counties
Fishing in much of the region has been affected by persistent rain creating dangerous conditions. Anglers fishing Hoagland Branch late last week into early this week had great success finding both wild and stocked trout using fly tackle and woolly buggers.
Wyoming and Northern Luzerne Counties
Area boaters frequenting the river should be aware that current flood conditions may have moved obstructions from their previous locations and may have caused shifts in safe boating channels. After the high water recedes you should boat with caution until you are confident of the location of submerged hazards.
Anglers in area ponds like Harris and Frances Slocum are reporting reduced catches and have mentioned that most catches were dominated by smaller sunfish as of late. Water temperatures are still warm and you need to get creative to bring fish to creel this time of year. Concentrate your efforts around dropoffs, tributaries, structure and the shaded areas of your favorite small lakes and ponds. The fish are still there, they didn’t go anywhere, you just need to find and entice them.
Larger lakes like Harveys, Carey and Winola should be approached in the same manner. But in these waters, you need to consider boat traffic and its effects on fish movement and location. Concentrate your efforts in the early mornings on weekends or during weekdays in the mornings and early evening into the night. Higher water temperatures mean lower dissolved oxygen in all waters. Try to limit your impact on the fish you catch and plan to release by shortening the time spent fighting the fish, using barbless (or pinched barb) hooks and limiting the time the fish is kept out of water. We all benefit when these precautions are taken.
Anglers are advised that Catch and Release Regulations still apply to Lake Jean at Rickett’s Glen State Park.
Southeastern Region
Bucks County
Delaware River:
August rains have brought high and muddy conditions on the Delaware River. For the first two weeks of the month, the river has been about unfishable, and that is forecasted to continue. If you are new to fishing the river, the USGS has online up-to-date real time stream flow rates posted on its websites. Using this tool will allow you to see the how high the river is before heading out. If you are not extremely familiar with the river, wait until flows recede before boating and fishing the beautiful Delaware.
Nockamixon Lake
Anglers are catching catfish in waters less than 20 feet deep. Chicken livers, earthworms, cut bait and commercial baits are still the catfish favorites. Fish baits on the bottom. Catfish also commonly hit lures meant for gamefish! Anglers fishing topwater lures and swimbaits are routinely surprised that catfish will hit these baits. After rains arrive, catfish can be found in the inlets of Tohickon Creek, Haycock Run Creek and Three-Mile Run Creek. Due to lack of public property along the lake in this area, Three Mile Run is accessible by boat only. Both Haycock Run and Tohickon Cove have some shoreline access for catfish action.
Nockamixon Lake has White Catfish, Channel Catfish and Brown and Yellow Bullhead Catfish.
Berks County
Hopewell Lake and Scott’s Run Lake are both being drawn down so DCNR can complete repairs on the dam.
Blue Marsh Lake has had fluctuating water levels for the past month due to the deluge of rains in August. Boaters are advised to keep alert for floating debris as a result of the flooding activities. Anglers are having great success fishing for catfish during the high water events.
There has been a rash of water rescues in the Schuylkill River for kayakers and rafters. Boaters are encouraged to check water conditions before launching any watercraft, and avoid paddling when the river is running high and fast. If you are on the water, be sure to wear your life jacket and have a sound producing device to alert others in case you find yourself in trouble.