Pennsylvania Fishing Report – March 28, 2019

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.

Crawford County

Linesville State Fish Hatchery’s Open House

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) will hold their annual spring Open House at the Linesville State Fish Hatchery on Saturday, April 6, 2019, from 11:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Shake off that cabin fever and come on out to this great family event.

Visitors to the Open House will have the chance to: watch the Walleye spawning process including fish sorting, removing/fertilizing eggs, see native fish species in the 10,000-gallon viewing tank, buy a $3 t-shirt and put a fish print on it, and purchase your 2019 Pennsylvania Fishing License or multi-year fishing licenses at Open House! Shuttle service from the parking areas to the Visitor Center will be provided. There’s something for everyone, so follow the crowd to the hatchery.

Venango County

Statewide Mentored Youth Day on April 6, 2019

Here are five children friendly spots on a handful of Venango County’s Stocked Trout Waters…

1. Justus Lake: Twomile Run County Park—within Oakland Township & Sugarcreek Borough
2. Oil Creek: Oil Creek State Park to Drake Well along bike trail—within Cornplanter, Cherrytree & Oil Creek Township(s).
3. East Sandy Creek: SR 322 through Cranberry-Rockland Road (Rails to Trails Bike Path)—in Rockland Twp.
4. Sandy Creek: Seneca Hills Bible Camp (Old SR 8 @ Pecan)—in Victory Township.
5. Sugar Creek: SR 427 Bridge through baseball field(s)—in Cooperstown Borough.

Walleye closure on Commonwealth Inland Waters

Anglers are reminded that Walleye season closed on March 15. As of that date, through 12:01 A.M. on May 4, no Walleye may be taken, killed, or held in possession.

Allegheny River

Anglers are catching Smallmouth Bass between Oil City and Franklin.

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!

Jefferson County

Centre County

Foster Joseph Sayers Lake

Anglers continue to catch panfish at the spillway. Live bait, spinners and fly patterns are working well. Fly patterns that are working include – green squirmy wormy, and green streamer patterns.

Spring Creek

Spring Creek is a perfect fishing level right now. Rain is in the forecast over the next few days, so conditions will change. Water temperature is currently in the mid 40s.

Anglers are catching trout using blue wing olive (BWO) nymphs and emergers (#18-22). BWO dry flies are also working (#18-22). Make sure you get a good drift, trout are getting picky about the ones they take!

Anglers are also having success using the following nymph patterns- black zebra midge #18-22; walt’s worm #12-16; olive scud #14-18.

Suckers are on the move. A few anglers are catching suckers while targeting trout, so pack a few sucker spawn patterns as well!

Olive and black slumpbusters #6-10, will work on the rainy days or just after the rains. 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 are catching trout in the deep runs, fishing nymphs under an indicator on the cold days. Try a squirmy wormy under the New Zealand indicator. Very sensitive system!

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.

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 blue wing olive hatch. The are catching trout using bluewing olives (#18-22).

Suckers are also on the move, bring a few sucker spawn patterns just in case.

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 https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/141260.

Lackawanna County

Curtis Reservoir is significantly free of ice. Plenty of open water exists to fish for some outstanding perch.  Maple Lake, Griffin Pond and Dunmore #1 are also significantly free of ice. Elmhurst Reservoir is mostly covered in ice and not fish able. Anglers should check the billboards located at each parking lot for specific regulations which govern the activities on water company property.

Trout stocking is in full swing this week. The Lackawanna River will be stocked this year. The river will receive fish from the vision 2000 lot downstream to just upstream of the Simpson bridge. The upper section will not receive preseason fishing due to the ongoing construction project.

Southeastern Region

Chester County

The boat dock at Chambers Lake is pulled out of the water each winter to prevent damage to it during the freezing weather. With the return of the warm weather, the boat dock has been returned to the water and is now available for launching and retrieving your boat. Good luck.

This is your last chance to apply for the 2019 Camp Cadet program as the deadline is fast approaching, May 10th. Camp Cadet will be held at Camp Saginaw in Chester County on August 12th to the 16th. The program that was started in 1991 for 50 boys had almost 100 participants last year, both boys and girls. The program is a weeklong stay over hosted by local law enforcement that is free to the participants. To apply for the program you must live in Chester County and be between 12 and 14 years of age. The purpose of the program is to promote a positive relationship between law enforcement and the children in our community. The camp brings members from different backgrounds together to form teams and to promote self-esteem and a positive attitude. Part of the program includes fishing classes, a water safety program as well as a smart angler program. The deadline for applications for the camp is May 10th 2019. For more information you can go to the website at http://www.cccampcadet.org/

If you have been waiting for your big break into Bass Tournament Fishing, this may be it. Captain Jim is having a Bass Open Tournament at the Octoraro Reservoir on Sunday, April 7th from 6:30 AM till 12:30 PM, (6 Hours). To get to the lake, simply get on Rt 1 in Southern Chester County and get off on the Rt 472 Exit. Turn West on Rt 472 West and you will go over the Rt 472 Bridge and at the top of the next hill you will turn left on to Spruce Grove Road. You will go about a mile and at the bottom of the hill you will see the lake and the Fishing Headquarters on your left. The physical address for the Fishing Headquarters is 212 Spruce Grove Road, Kirkwood, PA. 17536, For even more information call Captain Jim, phone 717-529-2488 or visit his website at http://www.jimsbait.net/tournaments   Only fishing from boats is permitted, limit of two persons per boat.

While I have not seen any monster size crappie yet, the crappie bite is just coming on. I am seeing a few nice size crappie starting to come out of Struble, and Chambers Lake and Octoraro has to be just warming up as well. I have seen crappie to 15 ¾ inches at Octoraro Reservoir and 15 ½ inches at Chambers in past years and have no reason to not expect the same this year. Just use “crappie jigs” or small minnows fished 3 -5 feet under a pencil bobber and fish around structure, downed or sunken trees is almost always a good spot. Boat anglers doing better because they are better able to find the structure and locate a school. Boat rentals, (rowboats are inexpensive to rent, it is the motor that makes it expensive), can be had at Octoraro Reservoir and Marsh Creek Reservoirs. Usually this time of year if you can find one fish you will find a bunch more with him. Octoraro Reservoir opens April 1^st. Good Luck!

The West Branch of the Brandywine Creek Section 3 has been stocked with trout by the West Caln Sportsmen’s Club Trout Nursery. Almost 30 members of the club and a few members of the public braved the almost knee deep mud and the fallen trees that still litter the banks of the stream from the recent ice storm. The stocking points where downstream of the Cedar Knoll Bridge, a float was used to distribute the fish to the old dam and picnic area at 40-01′ 41.2 North and 75-50’50.5″ West, the Hatfield Road Bridge at 40-00’54.4″ North and 75-50’38.3″ West , Rim Trail RR Bed Stop #1 at 40-01’02.3″ North and 75-50’42.3″ West, the Rim Trail Bridge at 40-01’18.6″ North and 75-50’50.5″ West, below the Wagontown Road Bridge at 40-01’19.0″ North and 75-50’50.5″ West, above Wagontown Road Bridge at 40-01’19.8″ North and 75-50’51.6″ West, and below the Hatfield Road Bridge, the area known locally as “Flat Rock”. Thanks to all the club members that took the time to come out to help make the Regional Opening Day a success.

Delaware County

Trout stocking in Delaware County has been underway since the first week of March.  From the looks of things, the county streams received some nice fish!    Some great brood Rainbows and Golden Rainbows went into almost all the local streams so far.  We have been lucky to have some great volunteers that have been assisting us with the stockings.  Don’t let that discourage you from coming out though…. we can always use help.  Delco Anglers and Conservationists are the local cooperative nursery that also raises local trout for additional angling opportunities.  Their tentative stocking list is as follows:

3/22  Ridley Creek-  Ridley Creek Park upstream from Plantation and along the bike trail

3/29  Chester Creek– Station Rd. and Locksley Rd.

3/29  Crum Creek– Smedley Park

4/6    Darby Creek– Saw Mill Rd. and Willows Park

4/13  Ridley Creek– Upper Providence Twp. Park- Rose Tree Rd. and the bike trail in Ridley Creek State Park

4/26  Chester Creek– Lenni (come join the 4/27 tournament sponsored by the Lenni Athletic Club)

5/24    Darby Creek– Kent Park (come join the 33rd annual trout derby on 5/25)

Please support the Delco Anglers if you see them out on the waterways looking for a donation.

There have been several anglers seen along the Delaware River looking for the early run Striped Bass.  Water temps are still very cold, and I haven’t heard of any catches yet.   There is warmer weather in the forecast, so get your gear ready!

Northampton County

Spring has officially begun, with that, it’s time to usher in the unofficial start of spring this Saturday with the Regional opening day of trout season. With no major hiccups to the stocking schedule, all the streams have now been stocked and are ready to go. For those who want to avoid the crowds on opening day, you can consider fishing one of our Special Regulation Areas, such as the Catch and Release area on Bushkill Creek. For those living in Bethlehem consider the Trophy Trout sections of both Saucon Creek or Monocacy Creek. Lastly, there are plenty of stockings yet to come, so feel free to check out our online stocking list and consider coming out for and In-season stocking.

Eastern Schuylkill County

Trout season is right around the corner with the Regional Opening Day coming up on March 30^th. Stocked Trout Waters are closed until then except for the Mentored Youth Day. All Stocked Trout Waters on the Eastern half of the county have been stocked.

There are plenty of open waters to fish during the month of March including the Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only area of the Little Schuylkill River near New Ringgold. This area was recently stocked with trout and remains open year round. Fishermen have been catching fish on various flies and lures. Spinner fishermen have done well working the spinners slowly in the current. Rubber worms and small jerkbaits have also done well throughout the stream.

Tuscarora Lake is a Stocked Trout Lake open to year-round fishing and can provide fishing for various species of fish. Crappie fishing should be picking up at the lake as Spring is upon us. Trees and other structures should hold plenty of Crappie, Bluegill, as well as Pickerel.