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
The 2019 Trout Stocking Schedule is online. If you are interested in helping with trout stocking, search for your county from the drop-down list on the schedule. Pick your favorite stream to meet the stocking trout on the date and time of stocking.
Clarion County
Kahle Lake
Anglers are catching Yellow Perch, crappie, Bluegill, and Largemouth Bass.
Piney Dam
Anglers are catching some Yellow Perch and Walleye throughout the lake.
Pre-Season Trout Stockings
3/19 @ 11:15 am = Canoe Creek, Beaver Creek, Turkey Run & Richey Run – Meet stocking truck at Exit 53 (Knox) of I-80 @ parking lot located on north side of I-80.
3/29 @ 10:30 am = Redbank Creek – Meet stocking truck at Plyler’s Buffet & Family Restaurant State Route 36 in Brookville
4/1 @ 11:30 am = Bear & Silver Creeks (Butler County), East Sandy Creek – Meet stocking truck at the Bruin Bowling alley located on State Route 268 in Bruin.
4/2 @ 11 am = Toms Run – Meet stocking truck at Cooks Forest state Park on State Route 36 in Cooksburg.
4/11 @ 10:45 am = Cathers Run & Mill Creek – Meet Stocking truck at the Leeper Red & White store located at the intersection of State Route 66 & 36 in Leeper.
4/23 @ 10:45 am = Mill Creek, Canoe Creek, Beaver Creek & Turkey Run – Meet Stocking truck at the Leeper Red & White store located at the intersection of State Route 66 & 36 in Leeper.
4/25 @ 10:30 am = Redbank Creek – Meet stocking truck at Plyler’s Buffet & Family Restaurant State Route 36 in Brookville.
4/25 @ 11:30 am = Toms Run & Coon Creek – Meet stocking truck at Cooks Forest State Park on State Route 36 in Cooksburg.
Forest County
Allegheny River
Anglers are catching Northern Pike and Yellow Perch near the Sand and Gravel Boat Launch. Musky and Walleye anglers are doing well fishing from boats in the Sand and Gravel pool. Anglers utilizing boats should make sure they are displaying their current validation sticker. All Pennsylvania boat registrations expire on March 31st of the year indicated on the validation sticker .
Tionesta Outflow
Anglers are catching Musky from the wall and in the cove located near the RV camping area.
Northcentral Region
Trout stocking season is in full swing!
Want something fun to do with your family, friends, church group, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and/or classroom? Join us by meeting our hatchery trucks and Waterway Conservation Officers at our designated “trout stocking meeting locations”!
FIND A TROUT STOCKING date and location that suits you!
REMINDER – TROUT season on all “STOCKED TROUT WATERWAYS” is CLOSED until opening day. Use the link above and come help PFBC stock!
Tioga County
Currently, ice angers are still out ice fishing; however, warm weather, long days and potential rain in the forecast might bring ice fishing season to a close real soon. Depending on what the rain does, ice anglers, may be able to get out one last time this coming weekend.
REMINDER – Ice anglers are always encouraged to check ice conditions prior to venturing out. Do not go on ice that is questionable. fishing is still occurring across most of the County. Warm weather
Hills Creek Lake
Anglers are catching Bluegill near the stump area. Yellow Perch are beginning to move into the shallows. Anglers are experiencing a good Crappie bite in the evenings.
Hamilton and Beechwood Lake
Anglers continue to do well on both lakes.
NOTE – the Corps lakes will be the first to become unfishable for ice anglers. Rain means rising water levels which will deteriorate the shorelines and float the ice, currently on the lakes.
Tioga Lake Spillway
Anglers continue to do well, catching Walleye and panfish, using fathead minnows and medium shiners.
REMINDER – Walleye season CLOSES on March 14th.
McKean County
Centre County
Foster Joseph Sayers Lake
The lake is drawn down and spring flows are beginning to infiltrate the lake. Ice angling is gone, but the beginning of a great fishing year is building with every rain event. Stay tuned!
Spring Creek
Spring Creek is currently dropping; however, with rain in the forecast later this week, be prepared for water levels to increase. Water temperature is currently in the mid 40s.
Anglers are catching trout using the following nymph patterns- black zebra midge #18-22; walt’s worm #12-16; olive scud #14-18.
Be sure to bring along a few Blue Wing Olive dry flies size #18-22. As the water temperatures warm, on sunny days, you may see a few BWOs hatching!
With predicted rain events, be sure to bring along a few olive or black streamer patterns to fish along the stream banks.
Clinton County
Fishing Creek
The water is currently up due to snow melt over the last few days. Rain is predicted for the weekend, be prepared to fish high, off color waters. Water temperature is currently in the 40s. Be prepared to spend extra time in your “lucky spots”, as the snow melt has many of the trout holding deep in the pools.
Although the snow melt has slowed the bite down, anglers continue to catch trout using large golden stoneflies, pats rubberlegs #8-12; Frenchie #14-18; flashback pheasant tail nymph #14-18 and orange/peach mopflies.
Streamers are also working. Bring along some sculpin patterns, black/olive streamers #4-8.
On warm, sunny days, Blue Wing Olives will begin to hatch. Make sure you stow a few BWO (#18-22) in your pack!
Northeastern Region
Cccarbon County
With the preseason trout stockings now occurring hopefully it will be a sign that spring is just around the corner. Persons who may be interested with in assisting with the pre-season and or in-season trout stockings are encouraged to consult the PA Fish & Boat Commission website to check when the trout stockings are occurring.
Anglers are reminded that Stocked Trout Waters in the district are now closed until the Regular Opening Day of Trout or the Regional Opening Day of Trout season. Anglers should consult the PA Fishing Summary booklet on the Stocked Trout Waters that are included in the Regular Opening Day of Trout and the Regional Opening Day of Trout Season.
Anglers are reminded that the portion of the Lehigh River 0.33 miles upriver of the Glen Onoko Bridge located within the Lehigh Gorge State Park and downriver to the confluence of Mauch Chunk Creek, Jim Thorpe is now a Stocked Trout Water Open to Year –Round fishing. However, no trout maybe taken or possessed during the closed period from March 1st to the Regular Opening Day of trout season. In addition to possessing a valid PA Fishing License if required, a valid trout / salmon permit is required when fishing rivers or streams designated as Stocked Trout Waters open to year –round fishing.
On Saturday, March 23th at 8 am, the Regional Mentored Youth Trout Day will occur on the Stocked Trout Waters within the 18 Southeastern regional counties including on the Lizard Creek, and the Mahoning Creek in Carbon County. Mentored Youth under the age of 16 can join a mentored adult who has a current PA Fishing License and trout permit to fish on the Mentored Youth Day. Youth anglers must obtain a Mentored Youth Fishing Permit or the Voluntary Youth Fishing License. Adult anglers are permitted to fish but may not harvest trout and must return the trout from the waters taken from unharmed. Mentored Youth may harvest up to two trout with a minimum size of seven inches.
On Saturday, March 30th at 8 am, the Regional Opening Day of trout season will then occur within the 18 Southeastern regional counties including the Lizard Creek and the Mahoning Creek in Carbon County.
Boaters are also reminded to wear their life jacket while on boats less than 16’ in length and all canoes and kayaks through April 30th
Southern Wayne, Western Pike and Northern Monroe Counties
Anglers continue to have good luck catching pickerel and perch using live bait in smaller impoundments. Anglers need to be aware of fishing restrictions starting March 1 through opening day of trout season in Stocked Trout Waters such as: Tobyhanna Lake, Promised Land Lower Lake and Fairview Lake and should consult their fishing summary.