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.
Butler County
Harbar Acres Lake
Harbar Acres lake is a trout-stocked lake located on State Game Lands 95. This lake is closed to all fishing from March 1 to 8 a.m. on the opening of trout season on Saturday April 13, 2019.
Glade Run Lake
This lake is closed to fishing from March 1 until the 8 a.m. on the opening day of trout season on April 13, 2019. Unpowered boats using the Commission’s Glade Run Lake property must have a valid PFBC Use Permit, DCNR Launch Permit, or unpowered registration. These permits or unpowered registrations must be properly displayed on the appropriate watercraft. Electric motors are permitted with proper motor boat registration.
Trout-Stocked Waters
These waters are closed to fishing from March 1 until 8 a.m. on the opening of trout season on April 13, 2019. Please check the 2019 Fishing Summary or the PFBC website for a list of these waterways.
Erie County
Area Steelhead Streams
Anglers are still catching steelhead in the streams when there is open water. The fishing at the Walnut Creek Marina has been steady the last few weeks when there is fishable water. Steelhead smolts will be going into the streams this month. Please be careful with them as they are our future.
Lake Pleasant
Lake Pleasant is now closed until 8am on the first day of trout season which is April 13, 2019.
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: Walleye season is just around the corner! The season comes in during the middle of March. Check out our regulations online or by using the FREE “FishboatPA” App!
REMINDER – TROUT season on all “STOCKED TROUT WATERWAYS” is CLOSED until opening day. Use the link above and come help PFBC stock!
Tioga County
Good ice conditions are still around this first week of March! With cold temperatures here to stay through the weekend, the weekend ice bite should be good!
Fishing is currently good on Hamilton, Hills Creek and Beechwood lakes.
REMINDER – Anglers need to check ice conditions prior to venturing out on the ice.
Hills Creek Lake
Anglers are catching many of their fish near the stumps end and the middle of the lake. Bass and pickerel are holding close to the stumps and the shoreline. Anglers are catching bass and pickerel, using medium and large shiners.
Anglers are also catching most of their panfish near the stumps and shorelines. Mornings and evenings are fishing best. Anglers are catching Crappie during the last few hours of the day and into the night. Popular jig colors include glow, white, green, clown, chartreuse, perch and silver. Green plastics are also working well. Rig them on a 4mm tungsten jig and see what happens!
Hamilton Lake
Anglers are catching Bluegill, Crappie and Yellow Perch, using waxworms, minnows and larger jigs for the big perch. Fishing is best in the deeper water found toward the dam.
Beechwood Lake
Anglers are catching pickerel and bass, using shiners. Anglers are also catching some small, perch along with some keepers. Crappie are biting on live minnows and waxworms.
Centre County
Snyder, Union, Northumberland Counties
Trout streams, open to year-round trout fishing – Be sure to check out Penn’s Creek and White Deer Creek to sooth your cabin fever! Make sure to check the special regulations and section boundaries before you go out.
Penns Creek Regulation NOTE – Also, of note the Section of Penns Creek from the top of Jolly’s Grove to Cherry Run has become Catch and Release artificial lures only. We are going to stock the section below Route 235 for the first time this year. So that section will be closed until the regular opening day. Look for the signs along the stream for the boundary. They will be posted on or before the first stocking.
Centre County
Foster Joseph Sayers Lake
The lake is drawn down. Many anglers continue to fish open waters near the old Rt 150 road bed. Anglers are catching panfish using live baits and jigs.
Spring Creek
Spring Creek is in great shape for some wonderful winter fishing! Water temperatures are 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. Try some Blue Wing Olive nymph and emerger patterns as well!
Anglers using Olive or black streamer patterns are also catching trout. Sizes #6-10 are working best. Slumpbusters will work too.
Clinton and Lycoming Counties
Little Pine Lake
Anglers are catching trout, panfish, Smallmouth Bass, pickerel, catfish and perch.
West Branch Susquehanna River
Anglers are catching Musky in the river! Many boats are staying ashore due to ice chunks floating down the river.
REMINDER – Mandatory lifejacket wear is in effect through the end of April.
Rose Valley Lake
Anglers are catching Yellow Perch and Pickerel. Anglers are also catching bass and one angler caught a 29” Walleye through the ice!
REMINDER – Walleye season opens the middle of March!
Fishing Creek
The water color and flow are good. Anglers are catching trout in upper Fishing Creek, using small micro nymphs on the bottom of the stream. A few anglers are catching trout in the shallows, on the sunny days as well.
Nymphs that continue to work well include 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.
Keep an eye out, a few Blue Wing Olives have been spotted. You may want to pack a few BWO (#18-22) for your trip too!
Northeastern Region
Northern Luzerne County
Area waters have been unpredictable regarding success through the ice. Most anglers have been pulling smaller panfish through the ice at places like Frances Slocum and Moon Lake with an occasional nice largemouth or pickerel. The Susquehanna River has been running at good levels and mostly free of ice, but the bite has been slow for bass and walleye as the water has been extremely cold. Please be cautious going out on the ice from now until the thaw. Thickness can vary from point to point and it is best to drill a couple of holes in shallow water before going out to get an idea of what to expect as you head out.
Trout Stocking is now underway, and anglers need to be aware that most Trout Stocked Waters are closed to ALL FISHING until the opening day of Trout Season. As always WCO’s are glad to have help getting the fish into the water in preparation for the first day. And there is no better way for you to get a sneak peek at our hatcheries best and maybe learn a new spot or two where you can fish on our trout waters. Refer to the Trout Stocking List on our agency’s website for dates, times and locations to meet the truck!
Northern Pike and Southern Wayne Counties
Ice fishing is still going strong here in the district. Most of the anglers are on Lake Wallenpaupack, Shohola Lake, and a few of the private community lakes. Fish being caught are stripers, Brown Trout, pickerel, crappie and other panfish. Most successful anglers are using live bait. The ice conditions seem to be holding but could change fast, so always pre-drill that ice near the shoreline before venturing out on the ice.
Trout season is soon approaching, and stockings have already begun. Try and take time to volunteer your help with these stockings.
Northern Wayne County
Ice fishing is still in full swing. White Oak Pond is producing some bass on tip up during the day. Crappie are active in the late afternoon while jigging. Perch are being caught in large numbers at various times of the day while jigging.
Northern Susquehanna County
Perch and crappie are being taken at Dunn Pond and Lake Montrose while jigging.
Eastern Bradford County
Some crappie are being taken through the ice while jigging at lakes across the district.
Western Bradford & Sullivan County
Freshly stocked trout in Hunters Lake fell victim to the popular trout magnet. Fortunately for the fish, the anglers were practicing catch and release.
Be mindful of deteriorating ice conditions, especially “shore” ice if you are venturing out for ice angling pursuits.
Southeastern Region
Chester County
The Big Elk Creek, Section 1, from the confluence with the East Branch & West Branch Elk Creek to T307 Camp Bonsall Road and the East Branch Big Elk, Section 2, from New London Township line to the Confluence with the West Branch Elk Creek will be stocked with trout on Wednesday, March 13th. The meeting place is the intersection of Route 896 and Route 1 at noon. We need help stocking these fish so please come out to help. Thank you.
The White Clay Creek East Branch Section 2, which is the East Branch of the White Clay Creek from Woodview Road to the White Clay Creek State Preserve boundary will be stocked with trout on Monday March 11th. The stocking truck will meet us at the Avondale Post Office at noon. Give a little something back to the resource that we all enjoy and come out and help us get these fish in the water for the Regional Opening Day which is March 30th at 8 AM this year.
The East Branch Brandywine Creek, Section 5, from Dowlin Forge Road, SR 4004, Lat. 40 0347. Long. 75.7085 to Pennsylvania Avenue in Downingtown, Lat. 400070, Long 75.7065, Pickering Creek Section 2, and Valley Creek West Section 2, will be stocked with Trout on Tuesday March 12th. We will meet the big white truck full of fishing adventures at the Ridge Fire Company located on Route 23 at noon. With the up and down weather we have at this time of year it is often difficult to get a lot of help during a stocking, so please consider coming out to give something back to the resource and come out to help us get these beauties into the creek. Remember that the “Stocked Trout Waters” are closed to all fishing from March 1st until the opening of the “Regional Opening Day” which is March 30th at 0800 AM this year. Thanks for your help.
The East Branch Brandywine Creek, from SR 4031, Lat. 40 0920. Long. 75.7748 to Pennsylvania Avenue in Downingtown, was stocked with Trout on Wednesday March 6th. We will meet the big white truck full of fishing adventures at the Glenmore Fire Company located at Fairview Road and Route 282 at noon. With the up and down weather we have at this time of year it is often difficult to get a lot of help during a stocking, so please consider coming out to give something back to the resource and come out to help us get these beauties into the creek. Remember that the “Stocked Trout Waters” are closed to all fishing from March 1st until the opening of the “Regional Opening Day” which is March 30th at 0800 AM this year. Thanks for your help.
The White Clay Middle Branch Section 3, Delayed Harvest Artificial lures Only Section, also Keystone Select, from Good Hope Rd Bridge to the mouth, and the Middle Branch White Clay Creek, Section 2, from Good Hope Road to Guernsey Road, was stocked with trout on Thursday March 7th. We will meet the big white truck filled with fishing fun, at noon on at the Avondale Post Office. Come on out and help us stock.
SE Montgomery County/W Philadelphia
With the continuing cold weather, February was another slow month on district waterways, however, the good news is spring is finally right around the corner. As the weather begins to improve, anglers and boaters will be eager to get back out on the water. All are reminded to remain aware that water temperatures will remain dangerously cold into the fishing and boating season, and so cold weather mandatory PFD wear remains in effect through the last day of April for all boaters. Spring trout stocking schedules are now available on the PFBC website and fishboatpa app, so check them out and feel free to come to any of our stockings and help put fish in your favorite streams!
N. Montgomery County/W. Berks County
Lake Ontelaunee
With the recent freezing and thawing of the lake, anglers are reporting very nice Crappies in the Peters Cove Section of the Lake and the main body. Anglers have been tracking the wind and braving the cold to get Crappies out of the Lake along Rte. 73 and on the East side of the lake off Maiden Creek Rd. Jig Heads with rubber grubs seem to be doing the trick.
E. Schuylkill County
Although Stocked Trout Waters are closed until the Regional Opening Day of trout season, there are several opportunities to still catch fish this month. The Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only Area of the Little Schuylkill River is open year-round and is due to be stocked with trout on March 12th. The fishing has been very slow lately but with a good stocking of fresh fish the area below New Ringgold will be good and see moderate fishing pressure.
Tuscarora Lake also stays open year-round and will see little pressure this time of year. As this month warms up anglers can have success fishing for crappies and pickerel. Crappies will be in good numbers off any structures and can be caught with minnows or small jigs. Pickerel are most susceptible to large shiners but will also hit spinnerbaits and jerkbaits as well.
The Schuylkill River also gives anglers another place to fish. The river can be good for trout from New Philadelphia downstream to Schuylkill Haven. It also has a good number of smallmouth near the Port Clinton area.