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.
Erie County
Presque Isle Bay
Anglers are catching Northern Bay in several of the small bays using flashy spinnerbaits. Anglers are catching panfish and Largemouth Bass in Misery Bay.
Forest County
Allegheny River
Northern Pike and Muskellunge fishing has been productive from shore and boats. Anglers can access the Sand and Gravel Island from the parking area near the Lighthouse and walk to the Allegheny River or Tionesta Creek. The confluence of the Allegheny River and Council Run is productive for Musky and Northern Pike. Walleye season is currently closed until May 4, 2019.
Tionesta Outflow
Anglers are reminded that they must have purchased a trout permit to fish in the Tionesta Outflow, regardless of fishing for or keeping trout.
Tionesta Lake (Nebraska Bridge)
Water levels fluctuate which could cause the boat launch and road to become inaccessible. Anglers are catching crappie, Yellow Perch, and Bluegill from the bridge.
Mercer County
Shenango Reservoir
The Shenango Reservoir is designated as a panfish enhancement area. That means crappie must be 9 inches long and the creel limit has dropped from 50 to 20 crappie a day. All other panfish still have a creel limit of 50, but only 20 of them can be crappie.
Northcentral Region
In-Season 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!
Tioga County
Anglers across the County are catching lots of trout, using pink salmon eggs, butterworms, red worms, wax worms, kastmaster spoons and roostertails. In the lakes, anglers are catching trout using small spinners/spoons while trolling. Paste baits in the colors, chartreuse, rainbow and salmon peach are also working well.
Bass fishing is beginning to pick up! Water temperature are still low, holding in the high 40’s. A few of the shallow lakes are creeping into the 50’s. Jerkbaits, jigs and shallow diving squarebill crankbaits, fished with intermittent pauses are working well. As the water temperatures increase, so will the bite!
Anglers are also catching Yellow Perch and Crappie in lakes across the County, using live minnows. Afternoons and evenings seem to be the best times to be on the waters.
Elk County
On opening day of PA’s Trout Season, many anglers were out enjoying time together and catching trout in Elk County! The following photos are of anglers who enjoyed their opening day of trout on Mead Run and Boggy Run, Elk County! (photos by Brian Ensign)
Center County
Foster Joseph Sayers Lake
Anglers are catching Yellow Perch, Crappie, Bluegill and Pumpkinseeds, using live bait (e.g. wax worms, minnows, worms) and fly patterns ( e.g. squirmy wormies – color orange and green). A few lucky anglers are also catching some trout!
Anglers are also catching panfish at Hunter Run Cut, using similar techniques.
Spring Creek
Spring Creek is currently high and off color. With more rain on the way, it would be best to get out on the stream in the next two days prior to the next weather system moving in. Water temperature is currently in the mid 40s.
Anglers are catching trout, using the following nymph patterns- sucker spawn (#10-14); black zebra midge #18-22; walt’s worm #12-16; olive scud #14-18.
Anglers are also catching trout using blue wing olive (BWO) nymphs and emergers (#18-22). BWO dry flies are also working (#18-22).
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!
Grannom Caddis are hatching on lower Spring Creek. Anglers are catching trout using grannom dry flies and caddis larvae patterns.
Clinton County
Fishing Creek
Fishing Creek is up and will continue to rise with more rain in the forecast. Water temperature is holding in the mid 40s. Get out on the water before the front moves in this coming weekend, the water may not be fishable until the middle to the end of next week!
Anglers currently seeing lots of grannom caddis hatch! Be sure to not only pack some grannom dry flies, but to also pack some caddis pupa to swing through your favourite waters.
Anglers continue to catch trout using orange egg patterns, orange mop flies, and several other nymph patterns (e.g. Iron lotus #16-18; pats rubberlegs #8-12; Frenchie #14-18; iron lotus (#16-18);flashback pheasant tail nymph #14-18 ).
If you venture out during the high water event, predicted for this coming weekend, bring along some sculpin patterns, black/olive streamers #4-8 to fish along the banks!
Northeastern Region
Columbia County
Carbon County
As the Regular Opening Day of Trout season began on Saturday, most of the trout stocked streams in the district were flowing high and muddy resulting in an unusual lower amount of angler pressure and trout being caught. However, Hickory Run Lake, Hickory Run Creek (trout stocked section) and Sand Spring Run within Hickory Run State Park received a large amount of fishing pressure with most anglers catching trout.
On the second day of the Regular Opening Day of Trout season, most streams began to drop and were less muddy in color which resulted in more anglers visiting the streams and catching trout using paste baits, spinner, and live bait. Prior to the beginning of the in-season trout stockings, most stocked waters still had a good number of trout left from the start of the Regular Opening Day of the Trout season. The Aquashicola Creek, Buckwa Creek (Monroe County Section), Princess Run (Monroe County) and the Lizard Creek have recently received an in-season trout stocking. Although, these streams had recently received an in-season trout stocking, fishing pressure has been light due to the streams flowing higher than usual and being discolored due to recent rain events.
The Lehigh River has been flowing very high due to recent rain events and little to no fishing activity has been occurring on the river.
On April 22, the Nesquehoning Creek, Mauch Chunk Creek and the Lehigh Canal will receive an in-season trout stocking. Persons wishing to assist with this stocking should meet the stocking truck at the dirt pull off at the intersection of Rt. 54 & Park Ave., Nesquehoning at 12:15 pm.
On April 25, the Mahoning Creek will receive an in-season trout stocking. Persons wishing to assist with this stocking should meet the stocking truck at the dirt lot along Rt. 443 Normal Square at 12:00 pm.
Anglers are to be reminded that as of April 13th, the harvest of bass (catch & immediate release only) is now closed through June 14th.
Boaters and boat anglers are reminded that a person shall wear a Coast Guard approved personal flotation device (PFD or life jacket) during the cold weather months from November 1st through April 30th while underway or at anchor on boats less than 16 feet in length or any canoe or kayak.
Western Bradford & Sullivan County
Trout were biting on the Little Schrader and were particularly fond of the trout magnet. Anglers reported white and pink as most effective colors.
Lackawanna County
Anglers packed the streams, rivers and lakes throughout the county for the opening day of trout season. Heavy rains on Friday night and early Saturday morning caused many of the local streams to turn brown and run high. Fishing in many areas was difficult but those persistent anglers did well on the opening day.
At Lake Wilson anglers did very well and there are still plenty of limits left. In the Roaring Brook anglers didn’t do as well as in previous years due to the high-water levels. Again, those anglers that found slower water and were persistent ended up with their limits. At Merli Sarnowski Lake anglers did very well from boats and the shore. The fish were biting paste baits and both gold and silver metal fish replica baits. At Lackawanna Lake, the crappies were biting under the Rt 407 bridge and those anglers fishing for trout did well from their boats. Shoreline fishing was slower than previous years.
Northern Wayne County
Trout season has arrived! All the lakes are finally ice free. Many large trout were landed on both the mentored youth day and the opening day of trout season. Bass season is now closed to harvest. It’s a great time of year to target crappie and perch.
Northern Susquehanna County
Trout season has arrived! All the lakes are finally ice free. Many large trout were landed on both the mentored youth day and the opening day of trout season. Bass season is now closed to harvest. It’s a great time of year to target crappie and perch.
Eastern Bradford County
Trout season has arrived! All the lakes are finally ice free. Many large trout were landed on both the mentored youth day and the opening day of trout season. Bass season is now closed to harvest. It’s a great time of year to target crappie and perch.
Southeastern Region
Chester County
The White Clay Middle Branch Section 3, Delayed Harvest Artificial lures Only Section (from Good Hope Rd Bridge to the mouth) will be stocked with trout on Wednesday, April 24. We will meet the truck at noon at the Avondale Post Office. This is the section of stream listed as Keystone Select Stocked Trout Waters. Come on out and help us stock. Thanks!
The next meeting of the White Clay Fly-Tying Club will be at 6PM on Thursday, April 18 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. 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-Fishing 101 on Saturday, April 20 from 9AM until 11:30AM. The course will cover everything that the beginning fly angler 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 http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=hkbrtgrab&oeidk=a07eg3zwmnhe856b455
The Orvis Store in Downingtown at 70 Quarry Rd, Downingtown Pa. 19335 will offer a free course Fly-Fishing 101 on Thursday, April 18 from 5:30 PM till 8 PM. 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 http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=hkbrtgrab&oeidk=a07eg6c9nnl4f1c2ade
Stroud Water Research at 970 Spencer Road, Avondale, PA 19311 will host a brown bag lecture on the invasive Spotted Lanternfly on Tuesday April 23 from 12 PM to 1 PM. For more information go to the web http://www.stroudcenter.org/events .