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.
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
Piney and Leatherwoods Creeks
Lawrence County
Cascade Quarry
A few anglers are catching trout using plastic worms. The best colors seem to be white and lime green. They are also catching trout using a variety of spinners and spoons.
Mercer County
Shenango Reservoir
The Shenango Reservoir is designated as a panfish enhancement area. This means that crappie must be 9 inches long with a creel limit of 20. All other panfish still have a 50 fish creel limit, but only 20 of those can be crappie. With boating season right around the corner, check our website for Boating Safety Courses in your area.
Trout Stocked Waters
A reminder that all Trout Stocked Waters are closed to all fishing from March 1 to 8 am on the opening day of trout season on April 13th.
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” are CLOSED until opening day. Use the link above and come help PFBC stock!
Centre County
Foster Joseph Sayers Lake
Anglers are catching all kinds of panfish at the spillway, using a variety of techniques, from live bait to flies! Live minnows and worms are working, as well as, green squirmy wormy fly patterns.
Spring Creek
Spring Creek is up due to recent snow melt. Rain is in the forecast for the next few days, so expect the water level to rise and the color to be off. 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. It is also that time of year to begin bringing a few sucker spawn patterns!
On the warm, sunny days, anglers are catching trout using bluewing olive dry flies #18-22. Be sure to also bring along a few bluewing olive emergers and nymphs. This way you can keep fishing, even when the trout stop rising!
Make sure you have streamers packed and ready to go. Olive and black slumpbusters #6-10, will work. Target the slow, back waters and stream banks for a pleasant Spring Creek surprise!
Clinton County
Fishing Creek
The water is still up and slightly green in color. Expect the water to rise and become more off color over the next few days, due to rain events on the way. Water temperature is currently in the 40s.
Anglers, who put their time in, are catching 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.
A few anglers who are on the water during the afternoons are catching a nice bluewing olive hatch. The are catching trout using bluewing olives (#18-22).
It’s also that time of year to begin throwing a few sucker spawn patterns!
Northeastern Region
On Saturday, April 27, 2019, Beltzville State Park will be hosting a Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Introduction to Fly Fishing program from 10 am to 3 pm. There is no charge for the class, but all participants MUST pre-register at: register-ed.com/events/view/141260
Lackawanna County
Ice conditions have significantly deteriorated across the county over the past week. Use extreme caution if considering ice fishing in Lackawanna County.
At Lackawanna Lake, the shoreline has deteriorated and there is open water under the 407 bridge and below bullhead bay. The lake is open water fished in some areas.
Ice remains on the water company reservoirs but is deteriorating as well. There is not enough open water for fishing yet.
Trout stocking begins Tuesday, March 19th with Lackawanna Lake getting fish.
Susquehanna County
Ice fishing season has come to an end with ice quality deteriorating quickly and making conditions unsafe to step foot on the hard water. Last week anglers found the fish hungry and willing to bite on their last ice fishing trips of the season.
Southeastern Region
Streams and lakes are getting stocked with trout across the region in anticipation of the 2019 Mentored Youth Trout Day on March 23, and the Southeast Regional Opening Day of Trout on March 30. The Mentored Youth Trout Day is one day on March 23 starting at 8AM. Read more about this great program
Please note that not all Stocked Trout Waters will be stocked in time for the Mentored Youth Trout Day. Please research your county at the 2019 Trout Stocking Schedule to make sure which of your local waters will have trout.
Berks County
The Crappies have started pre-spawn activities and the action is heating up around the shorelines at Blue Marsh Lake and Lake Ontelaunee. Live minnows are a local favorite, but jigs can get the job done as well.
Preseason trout stockings are in full swing, check out the ‘FishBoatPA’ app for Android or Apple for stocking dates throughout the Commonwealth. Anyone interested in float stocking suitable sections of streams are encouraged to show up at a stocking and discuss with the local WCO.
Boating has picked up lately at Blue Marsh; Boaters are reminded that the Cold Water Mandatory Wear law is still in effect until April 30. There are no docks currently in the water at Blue Marsh, so be prepared if you decide to come out; check the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers website for dock placement updates.
Chester County
The White Clay Creek East Branch, Section 3, from the White Clay Creek Preserve Boundary to the mouth and the White Clay Creek Section 1, from the confluence of the East and Middle branches of the White Clay creeks to the Delaware State line will be stocked with Trout on Wednesday March 27th. The truck will meet us at the Avondale Post Office at noon. We could really use some more help. Please consider giving us a hand getting these fish in the water. Thanks.
The West Branch of the Brandywine Creek Section 3, that is, from Cedar Knoll Bridge down to Route 340 will be stocked with trout on Tuesday March 26th. We will meet across from the Sadsburyville Post Office at 11:30 AM. Please come out and help us make it a great regional opening day, Saturday March 30th, at 8 AM.
Could you possibly do updates for Butler county? We fish at lake Arthur and updates would be helpful. Thanks