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.
SAFETY FIRST: fishandboat.com/Boat/WaterandIceSafety/Pages/default.aspx
Northcentral Region
Tioga County
Hills Creek Lake
Anglers are catching panfish and bass using, plastics. Green and black are the go-to colors. Jigs with waxworms are also working well.
Beechwood Lake
Anglers are catching lots of trout, using spoons and fathead minnows.
Centre County
Foster Joseph Sayers Lake
Ice anglers continue to have luck at Hunter Run Cut. Anglers are catching a variety of panfish using a variety of techniques.
NOTE – Anglers are reminded to always check ice conditions, prior to venturing out on the ice.
Spring Creek
Spring Creek is up, but the color is good. The water temperature is in the mid 40s.
Anglers are catching trout using the following nymph patterns- peach/orange mopflies, orange egg patterns, squirmy wormies #12; walt’s worm #12-16; olive scuds #14-18.
Clinton County
Fishing Creek
The stream is currently up and off color. The water temperature is in the low 40s. Fishing is slow, but if you put in the time and have patience a stream or well weighted nymphs, on the bottom should produce.
Nymph that are currently working are large golden stoneflies, pats rubberlegs #8-12; Frenchie #14-18; flashback pheasant tail nymph #14-18 and orange/peach mopflies.
Streamers that are working include sculpin patterns, black/olive streamers #4-8.
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/Fish/Fishing/Pages/IceWinterFishing.aspx
2019 Pennsylvania Fishing Licenses are now on sale! Buy fishing licenses and gift vouchers at more than 650 agents across the state or online at: GoneFishingPa.com
2019 Pennsylvania Trout Stocking Schedules are now available: https://fbweb.pa.gov/stocking/TroutStockingDetails_GIS.aspx
Remember that all Stocked Trout Waters here in the Southeast, are closed to fishing from March 1 to the opening day of the Regional Opening Day of Trout Season, this year at 8AM on March 30th. You are deemed to be fishing in Stocked Trout Waters if you have any fishing equipment within 25 feet of a stream, lake or pond that is closed to fishing. Stocked Trout Waters are defined as those waters that have significant portions that are open to public fishing and are stocked with trout by the Commission no trout may be taken or possessed on these waters from March 1st to the opening of the Regional Opening Day of Trout Season, once again this year, at 8AM on March 30th. Here in Southeastern PA you have many special regulation waters that are open to year-round fishing.
The Lancaster Hunting & Fishing Show & Flea Market will be on March 2nd at the Lancaster Home Center at 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster, PA 17601 from 9AM to 4PM. For information you can contact Ron Funk at 717-371-0395 or visit the web at http://www.farmandhomecenter.com
Chester County
If you live in Chester County and would like to get involved with a club that supports activities such as the Chester County Envirothon, The Special Needs Fishing Rodeo, Invasive Plant Removal, Trail Maintenance, as well as the preservation of Chester County’s History, then you might want to consider The Friends of Hibernia. The Friends of Hibernia is a group which assists the Chester County Parks and Recreation Department to carry out its objectives for Hibernia County Park, including the encouragement of the restoration and preservation of the Hibernia Mansion, general improvement of the park facilities, and the advancement of educational and recreational benefits to the citizens of Chester County. Membership information can be obtained by mail to Friends of Hibernia, Post Office Box 355, Wagontown, PA 19376. Meetings are held on the 4th Thursday of the month at 7PM at Hibernia County Park, 610-383-3812. The next meeting will be held on February 27th.
The White Clay Fly-Tying club will meet at 6PM on Thursday, February 28th at the London Tract Meeting House in the White Clay Creek Preserve, located at the intersection of Sharpless & London Tract roads, Landenberg, PA 19350, next to White Clay State Park Office. With the cold weather upon us, many of us are looking for a place to go or some activity to hold us over until we can wet a line again and this is the perfect thing. Fly tying materials are provided for those who do not yet have their own. Several flies are usually demonstrated, and club members are happy to show you how it’s done, as well as spin a few stories about the last huge one that got away. Club mailing address is P.O. Box 762, Landenberg, PA 19350 for more information. Parking for club is behind the White Clay State Park Office.
The Orvis Store in Downingtown at 70 Quarry Rd, Downingtown PA 19335 will offer a free course Fly-Tying 101 on Saturday, March 2nd from 9AM until 11AM. The course will cover everything that the beginning fly fisherman will need to know to get started in tying. Spring is almost here, take advantage of this opportunity to learn the art of fly tying. For more information you can call the store at 610-873-8400 or visit the website at www.orvis.com/downingtown
The Brandywine Trout and Conservation Club is holding a Kids Fishing Clinic on Saturday, March 16th from 9AM to noon. Presenters will demonstrate tactics and how to catch those elusive trout. This is a fun yearly event that the children really enjoy. If you are interested in joining or for more information you can go to the club’s website at http://brandywinetrout.net/home.html or by mail at P.O. Box 32, Downingtown, PA 19335.
The West Caln Sportsmen’s Club has been actively involved in the local stocking of the Brandywine Creek. Each spring the club stocks 4500+ Trout in the West Branch of the Brandywine Creek. The stocked Trout are raised in the West Caln Sportsmen’s Club Trout Nursery located in Hibernia County Park. The trout originate from the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission as fingerlings and are then raised by club members. The club also provides trophy-size fish for a Handicap Fishing Rodeo through contributions and help from local business and individual Trout sponsorships. The club is located at 1271 Telegraph Road. Mailing address is P.O. Box 58, Wagontown, PA 19376. Phone 610-384-5710. Web address http://www.wcsportsmen.org
The Orvis Store in Downingtown at 70 Quarry Rd, Downingtown PA 19335 will offer a free course Fly-Fishing 101 on Saturday, March 2nd from 9:45AM until 12PM. The course will cover everything that the beginning fly fisherman will need to know to get started in fly fishing. For more information you can call the store at 610-873-8400 or visit the website at www.orvis.com/downingtown
Lancaster County
The Fly Fishing Show returns to the Lancaster County Convention Center for its eighth incarnation on Saturday, March 9th 9AM – 5:30PM and Sunday, March 10th 9AM – 4:30PM. Scouts under 16 in uniform are admitted free of charge. The PFBC will have an exhibit with many of our popular and informative complimentary publications. Additionally, PA Fishing Licenses will be available for purchase. The Lancaster County District Officer will be staffing the exhibit on both days and will be available to highlight local trout fishing opportunities, specifically on the County’s two Special Regulation Waters; Catch and Release Fly-Fishing Only – West Branch Octoraro Creek and the Donegal Creek. Bring the family out and learn more about the 2019 Mentored Youth Trout Days and the County’s and Commonwealth’s many trout fishing opportunities. The show is well attended and well presented, including casting demonstrations as well as fly tying with notables Bob Clouser and Joe Humphreys.
Again, this year the International Fly Fishing Film Festival will be screened on Saturday, March 9th at 6:00PM. For show ticket purchase and complete event information link to: https://flyfishingshow.com/lancaster-pa/