Northwest Region
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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
Crawford County
Sugar Lake
Anglers are reporting catching some Northern Pike, Chain Pickerel, and Largemouth Bass through the ice. Anglers should try a tip-up rigged with a large shiner for Northern Pike.
Erie County
Lake Pleasant
Anglers are catching trout and panfish on Lake Pleasant with live baits including grubs and minnows.
Eaton Reservoir
Eaton Reservoir is a hot spot for panfish and Northern Pike. Live bait seems to work the best such as grubs, maggots, wax worms, and minnows.
Venango County
Justus Lake
Anglers are catching trout and panfish through the ice when conditions allow. The bait of choice is a jig tipped with a meal or wax worm bounced off the bottom.
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
Ice anglers are fishing Hamilton, Beechwood and Hills Creek Lakes. Although all three lakes have ice, anglers are reminded to check conditions prior to venturing on the ice. There are still a few spots with thin ice. Rain is in the forecast over the next day; however, cold temperatures will return by the weekend. The cold temperatures will continue to build the ice on the lakes.
A few anglers are fishing on Pisgah and Lyman Run Lakes as well.
Hills Creek Lake
Anglers are catching Yellow Perch and Bluegills near the stumps and toward the dam portion of the lake. Minnows and shiners are working well.
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.
Anglers continue to catch trout. Tumbler spoons, custom jigs and spins slender spoon are working. Silvers, green, gold and orange colors are working best. Similar colored jigs are also working.
Lycoming County
Rose Valley Lake
Anglers are catching Yellow Perch and Bluegill in 6 feet of water, using Wonderbread 4mm tungsten jigs tipped with wax worms. The bite is best at mid-day. Anglers are also catching bass and pickerel using large shiners under tip-ups.
Centre County
Foster Joseph Sayers Lake Spillway
Anglers are catching panfish at Hunter Run Cut, in 22 feet of water using gold 3mm tungsten tear drops with spikes.
Spring Creek
Spring Creek is in great shape! The stream temperature is holding in the low 40s, water color and level are just right.
Nymphs and streamers are the way to go in high water on Spring Creek! 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.
Clinton County
Fishing Creek
Water level is high, but the color is good. Water temperature is holding in the high 30s. Streamers and nymphs are working best.
Anglers are catching trout using streamers and nymphs. Streamer patterns that are currently working are size #4-8 and colors olive or black.
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.
Make sure you target the deeper pools, slow edges and near structure (e.g. logs, large rocks, bridge piers).
Northeastern Region
Western Bradford & Sullivan County
Ice has begun to form on most of the lakes and ponds in the district. Exercise caution when ice fishing and monitor ice thickness closely, especially with expected snow fall. Early reports indicate walleye are being caught in the Susquehanna River coves on live minnows.
Susquehanna County
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!
With winter storms in the forecast and the already saturated ground please be careful if trying to fish any moving water this winter. These storms can easily push water up high and fast and create dangerous conditions. You can watch the waterflows at: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/pa/nwis/rt. There are stream monitoring stations on many streams across the Commonwealth and checking these will help keep you safe and keep you off the water when water levels are too high.