Northwest Region
Erie County
Lake Erie
Anglers are catching Lake Trout in good numbers near shore off North East. Steelhead are being caught from shore off East Ave Launch, South Pier and all lake access points in West County. Please remember if you’re fishing at Trout Run or Godfrey Run you must be 50 yards away from the mouth between 10pm and 5am. Anglers have started catching Yellow Perch from shore in Presque Isle Bay and off the South Pier.
Tributaries
All named and numbered streams have Steelhead in them. The fish ladders on 4 Mile Creek have been working and Steelhead have made it above Route 5. On Elk Creek steelhead are all the way to I-79. Water levels have been up and down this month now that the Erie area has actually started to see rain. It seems the best baits have been single eggs, egg sacks and minnows.
Boating
Please remember the water is cold this time of year and on any boat, we suggest you wear your life jacket. If you are in a canoe, kayak or boat less than 16 feet you must wear a life jacket while out on the water during this time of mandatory cold weather wear, from November 1 through April 30.
Northcentral Region
HUNTERS, ANGLERS and BOATERS IMPORTANT REMINDER – MANDATORY COLD WEATERH LIFE JACKET WEAR
November 1 – April 30th:
Everyone on a boat less than 16 feet in length and all canoes and kayaks are REQUIRED to properly wear a US Coast Guard approved life jacket.
Full regulation: fishandboat.com/Boat/BoatingRegulations
REMINDER: Trout are spawning. Stay alert/aware and be cautious of your foot placement to be sure you do not step on their redds (trout nests created for their eggs in clean gravel). Let spawning trout do their thing and do not target them. Future generations of “stream bred” trout depend on your care this time of year.
Tioga County
Pine Creek
Pine Creek is still running above normal, but water clarity is good. Anglers are catching trout using olive/black wooly buggers, various nymphs and a variety of streamer patterns.
Lyman and Hamilton Lakes
The lakes were recently stocked and are fishing well!
Lycoming County
West Branch Susquehanna River
With water levels on their way back down, anglers are catching lots of bass.
A few anglers are also seeing musky chasing their lures/flies and live baits.
Rose Valley Lake
Anglers are catching panfish and bass on a variety of baits.
Clinton County
Fishing Creek
Water levels are still up and slightly off color. Water temperature is in the 40s.
Nymph patterns that are currently working include flashback pheasant tail #14-18; frenchie #14-18; green weenie #12-16; caddis larvae #12-16; stone fly nymphs, brown #8-12.
Anglers are also catching trout using streamer patterns (e.g. size #4-8 and colors olive or black are working).
Centre County
Spring Creek
Water levels are still up. Water color is good. Temperature is in the high 40s to low 50s.
Anglers are seeing a few trout rising to Bluewing Olives in the later afternoons. Be sure to bring along a few BWO’s #18-22!
Nymphing is the way to go! Anglers are catching trout using the following nymph patterns – hot spot sow bugs#14-16; green weenie #12-16; walt’s worm #12-16; mop flies are also working.
Anglers are also catching trout using smaller, olive or black streamers (#6-10) along the banks.
Northeastern Region
Boaters are reminded that the mandatory PFD wear season is upon us. All persons in a boat less than 16 feet, or any size canoe or kayak, is now required to wear a flotation device regardless of age from Nov. 1 until April 30 next year.
Carbon County
With the hunting season underway little to no fishing activity is occurring on most of the district’s stocked trout waters. However, several anglers have been fishing the Pohopoco Creek and reported good success catching trout. Anglers are reminded that the Pohopoco Creek is designated as both a Class A Wild Trout Stream and Stocked Trout Water, from the outlet of Beltzville Lake downstream to the cable across the stream at the Hideaway Hunting & Fishing Club. The extended trout season for this section of stream is a No – Harvest – Catch and Immediate Release Only.
Some of the other stocked trout waters in the district that can provide good fall / winter trout fishing are the Aquashicola Creek, Buckwa Creek, Princess Run (Monroe County) and Mauch Chunk Creek. Due to recent rain events, the Lehigh River has been flowing high and little to no fishing activity has been occurring.
Boat anglers fishing Beltzville Lake have reported doing well catching bass. A few anglers have also reported good success catching striped bass near the Preachers Camp access area of the lake. The boat launch docks, and the Slow No Wake regulatory buoys have been removed from Beltzville Lake for the winter. Boaters are reminded that although the Slow No Wake buoys have been removed for the season that the regulations pertaining to Slow No Wake are still in effect and enforced. Maps of Beltzville Lake are posted at each boat launch indicating the Slow No Wake areas.
Although the fishing activity has been slow at Mauch Chunk Lake in recent weeks a few boat anglers have reported good bass and pickerel action near boat launch B. Boat anglers have also reported good success catching perch, bluegills near boat launch A and near the swimming area of the lake.
Northern Pike and Southern Wayne Counties
The weather has been very wet and now with cold and snow coming into the area, the angler and boater activity has been slow. Anglers who are venturing out, despite the weather, have caught bass and some stripers on Lake Wallenpaupack.
Southeastern Region
Lancaster County
On Thursday, November 8, Solanco High School students in support of the School’s Service Day conducted a stream-side clean-up on the West Branch Octoraro Creek on Black Rock Road. A popular fishing spot during trout season, this area transitions to a popular recreational area to beat the summer heat. Regrettably this quiet area also is a place for illegal dumping. The 19 students working in teams of 2-3 were diligent in their efforts collecting a wide variety of litter and dumping debris. The assembled mountain of trash included 12 tires, 2 television sets, a mini-fridge, computer monitor, diapers, upholstered chairs, numerous alcohol cans and bottles. In a distressing sign of the times; hypodermic needles were also collected and safely disposed of. It should be underscored that what was not found was obvious litter left behind by anglers. Thank you for cleaning up the waterway!
Outdoor enthusiasts are encouraged to report observed littering/dumping violations to the PFBC’s Southeast Region Law Enforcement Headquarters at 717-626-0228. Thank you to the local anglers who do take the time to pack some trash back out after a day of fishing!
Lehigh County
Due to cooler water temperatures, the Muskies has been more active at Leaser Lake. Anglers are catching 30 to 50-inch Muskies using larger spoons, jerk baits, and lifelike imitation lures at depths from 10 to 15 feet. Most of the action seems to be coming from the North Launch. Remember, November 1 to April 30 is the mandatory PFD wear period for all canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, and boats less than 16 feet.