Northwest Region
Get your fishing license ONLINE!
2019 PA Fishing Licenses went on sale December 1st.
REMINDER – Mandatory Cold Weather Life Jacket Wear November 1, 2018 and runs through April 30, 2019. Learn more here.
REMINDER – The PFBC does not monitor ice thickness. Ice thickness and conditions can vary greatly across the lake. Use caution as you head out onto the ice. A life jacket and a set of ice awls can be extremely important if you fall though the ice. Remember SAFETY FIRST: fishandboat.com/Boat/WaterandIceSafety/Pages/default.aspx
Erie County
Area Steelhead Tributaries
Anglers are catching steelhead throughout the Erie tributaries. While numbers vary, anglers seem to be catching the most Steelhead using a single egg or minnows under a float.
Presque Isle Bay
Anglers are having a hard time locating yellow perch from shore along the Bayfront.
Basic Boating course scheduled at the TREC
A PFBC Basic Boating course has been scheduled for March 24th from 8am to 4pm at the Tom Ridge Center on Presque Isle State Park. You must be preregistered to attend and you can do that by sending contact info to WCO Matt Visosky @ mvisosky@pa.gov.
Forest County
Allegheny River
Anglers are catching walleye, muskellunge, and northern pike in the Sand and Gravel Pool near Tionesta. Live bait such as creek chubs seem to be the most productive bait. Anglers are catching Walleye near Trunkyville and what is locally known as the Fireman’s Hole.
Tionesta Outflow
Musky and walleye fishing has traditionally been productive this time of year from the wall and the deep hole located near the Fishing Trail. Anglers are reminded that a Trout Permit is required to fish in the Outflow regardless of the species of fish targeted. Anglers using boats should note that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers prohibits boats from entering the Tionesta Outflow.
Mercer County
Shenango Reservoir
Ice fishing has been non-existent so far this year, but with the cold snap we have been experiencing, it won’t be long. Avoid venturing out on the ice alone. Shenango Reservoir is now designated as a Panfish Enhancement Lake. Crappie must be 9 inches to harvest and the creel limit went from 50 to 20.
Northcentral Region
HUNTERS, ANGLERS and BOATERS IMPORTANT REMINDER – MANDATORY COLD WEATHER 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.
For full regulation CLICK HERE – fishandboat.com/Boat/BoatingRegulations/Pages/MandatoryPFD.aspx
Tioga County
Anglers are reminded to check ice conditions and thickness prior to venturing out on the ice.
With warm weather earlier in the month, ice conditions on lakes will vary across the County. There will be spots of thin ice, so be on the look-out.
Temperatures are currently good and should help in building ice on most lakes.
Hills Creek Lake
The lake is frozen, but unevenly. The stumps area has had ice the longest and there are noticeable changes from old to new ice. A few anglers are fishing near the stumps end, but again, you need to check ice before going out.
Beechwood Lake
The lake is covered in ice, but again there will be areas of thin ice in some areas. Check the ice before heading out to fish.
Hamilton Lake
The lake is capped with clear ice. There is a patch of white ice close to the boat launch. Check the ice before heading out to fish.
Lycoming County
Rose Valley Lake
The lake has ice. Anglers are fishing, but are reminded to monitor ice conditions and thickness, prior to venturing out on the ice to fish. PFBC does not monitor ice thickness or conditions.
Clinton County
Fishing Creek
Water level and color is good. Water temperature is holding in the high 30s.
Anglers are catching trout using streamers and nymphs. Streamer patterns that are currently working are size #4-8 and colors olive or black. Don’t be afraid to throw a chartreuse streamer, they work too!
Nymph patterns that are working include flashback pheasant tail #14-18; pats rubberlegs #8-12; frenchie #14-18 and brown/black stonefly patterns #8-12.
Fish deep, targeting deep pools and soft edges of the pools.
Centre County
Foster Joseph Sayers Lake Spillway
Ice is beginning to build on the lake, but not quite there yet. Stay tuned over the next few weeks.
Spring Creek
Spring Creek is prime for some PA winter trout fishing! The stream temperature is holding in the low 40s, water color and level are just right.
Target the stream banks, soft seams and structure (e.g. downed trees, large rocks etc).
Anglers are catching trout using the following patterns squirmy wormies #12; walt’s worm #12-16; olive scuds #14-18).
Olive, white, and/or black streamers (#4-8) are also working.
Northeastern Region
Northern Luzerne County
The district officer was patrolling the area surrounding Harris Pond and recently encountered a rare species that is not native to this part of the Commonwealth. This “Sea Turtle” was caught near the base of a tree. Probably looking for a new nesting site for next season or in search of fishable Ice like the rest of us right now.
If anyone knows someone missing a Plush Sea Turtle from the Harris Pond area, please let us know.
On a more serious note the only fishable ice in the district is at Rickett’s Glen State Park. As Lake Jean is still restricted to catch and release fishing (look to see this change in 2020!) not many folks are making the effort to get out there. Colder weather in the predicted future will hopefully get us out on the hard water.
Without ice to get out on fishermen have been VERY few and far between. So, there isn’t much information on what’s biting where right now. Just be sure to be safe going out on new ice and walking along flowing waters as conditions right now merit caution for both.
Carbon County
Fishing activity on most of the district’s waters have been very light to no activity occurring in recent weeks. However, a few anglers braving the colder weather and water were fishing the Lehigh River near the Palmerton area and reported good success catching trout using spinners, soft baits. Anglers also fishing the Mauch Chunk Creek in Jim Thorpe had reported good success catching trout using minnow or spinners.
With the colder weather arriving, the ice is now beginning to form at Mauch Chunk Lake and Beltzville Lake near the Preachers Camp access area. Hopefully, if the colder temperatures continue it may be possible that anglers will soon be able to get out on the ice. Remember, before venturing out on to the ice make sure to check the ice conditions. The ice may not be the same thickness all over. Avoid dark, honeycombed or porous ice areas and areas with multiple pressure cracks, brush, logs or docks. Always take a partner along and let others know where you are going and when you will return. Know how to dress for the cold and wear a personal flotation vest or have a throwable personal flotation device (seat cushion) in case of an emergency. It is also a good practice to carry a set of ice awls to pull yourself up onto the ice in the event you fall through.
Southeastern Region
REMINDER – Mandatory Cold Weather Life Jacket Wear began on November 1, 2018 and runs through April 30, 2019, while underway or at anchor on boats less than 16 feet in length and for all canoes and kayaks.
The 2019 PA Fishing Licenses are available! Buy now and be ready for the season!
Northern Bucks County
So far there is no ice fishing in our forecast but have your ice gear ready to go if the weather patterns shift and cold arrives. Now is the time to have your ice angling gear ready to go, so if we get that cold snap in February you are ready to go. There are usually good ice angling opportunities in the district starting at Lake Towhee. As water temps drop, the Nockamixon Lake coves, Giving Pond Recreation Area and Lake Galena can offer some good ice angling if it gets cold and stays cold. Always use caution on new ice, and don’t go alone. Additionally, always let someone know where you are heading out to and when you plan on returning.
Anglers are reporting that they are catching trout still, following the October stocking of the East Branch Perkiomen Creek section 2 (Perkasie/Sellersville section). Some of the weather early this winter has been warm enough for small insect hatches. If you’ve never tried winter trout fishing, give it a try one of these unseasonably warm days.
Eastern Schuylkill County
Locust Lake has had inconsistent ice throughout the last few days, but when anglers get out on the ice they should do very well. Good numbers of trout can usually be caught on jigs tipped with wax worms near the beach area.
Tuscarora Lake has been tough for fishermen this year but can be productive at times. Several trout are still being caught near the boat cove and along the beach. Perch and crappies are also being caught on occasion as well near the dam breast. Pickerel fishing is good for those willing to walk up to the shallow end of the lake near the mouth of Locust Creek. Large shiners have done well for pickerel.
The Little Schuylkill River is still a good place for open water trout fishing. There has been moderate fishing pressure and still a good number of fish throughout the stocked area of the stream.