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
Allegheny River
Anglers are catching nice Walleye and some Smallmouth Bass on the entire length of the river. Anglers are catching a few Northern Pike and Muskellunge near the confluences of the Clarion River and Redbank Creek.
Piney Creek Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only Area
The Piney Creek DHALO area was stocked with trout on 3/8/19. Anglers are catching good numbers of trout. Anglers are reminded the use or possession of bait in the project waters is prohibited.
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.
Erie County
Lake Erie Tributaries
The Lake Erie tributaries have been stocked with steelhead smolts. These are the future of our steelhead fishery so use caution if you catch one. Lake Erie tributaries will close April 11th at midnight until April 13th at 8 am.
Area Trout Streams
The inland streams have been stocked with adult trout waiting for April 13th. Worms, spinners, and paste baits should all work.
Lawrence County
Neshannock Creek
Anglers are catching trout in the Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures only section on a variety of flies and spinners. The best colors for flies are bright or dark green. There is also a hatch happening now on the Neshannock, so they should start hitting on surface flies.
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 – STATEWIDE MENTORED YOUTH TROUT DAY IS APRIL 6, 2019!!
CLICK HERE LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS FUN FAMILY OPPORTUNITY and WHAT YOU NEED to PARTICIPATE!
Elk County
Union County
Tioga County
Most of the County lakes are free of ice now. Water temperatures are still quite cold.
Hamilton and Beechwood Lakes – (Lakes listed as “Stocked Trout Waters Open to Year-Round Fishing)
Anglers are catching trout using silver spoons and a variety of spinners and flies.
Upper Pine Creek
Fly anglers are catching trout using wooly buggers and other small sculpin patterns. A few fly anglers are also catching trout using a variety of nymph patterns. The Keystone Select section of Pine Creek is due to be stocked Friday, April 5, 2019!
Tioga and Cowanesque Spillways
Anglers are catching Yellow Perch using live minnows, bucktail jigs and small swimbaits. White, chartreuse and minnow colors are working best.
Center County
Foster Joseph Sayers Lake
The spillway is still the place to go for panfish! Anglers continue to catch fish using live bait, spinners and fly patterns. Fly patterns that are working include – green squirmy wormy, and green streamer patterns.
Spring Creek
Spring Creek is still running at a great level and temperature. Rain is in the forecast over the next few days, so conditions will change. Water temperature is currently in the mid 40s.
Anglers continue to catch trout using blue wing olive (BWO) nymphs and emergers (#18-22). BWO dry flies are also working (#18-22).
Anglers are also having success using the following nymph patterns- sucker spawn (#10-14); black zebra midge #18-22; walt’s worm #12-16; olive scud #14-18.
Suckers are on the move. Target areas below shallow riffles with your sucker spawn pattern.
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 and Western Lycoming County
Lakes and streams across the Counties are free of ice now. Many anglers are targeting panfish, bass, pike and musky, while waiting to fish Stocked Trout Waters that open on April 13, 2019. A few boaters are out exploring the rivers and streams as well.
West Branch Susquehanna River
Anglers are catching musky using crankbaits, large streamer patterns and live bait. Fish your selected tactic slow and see what happens! Anglers are also catching yellow per using live bait and small crankbaits.
Fishing Creek
The water is on its way back down. Rain is predicted over the next day or so. Depending on the amount of rain on the way will determine your fishing experience. Be prepared to fish in low-water and high-water conditions. Water temperature is holding in the mid 40s.
Due to cold nights, fishing has been slow, but the air and water temps are increasing each week, triggering more aquatic insect movement and fish movement!
Anglers continue to catch trout in the deep runs, fishing nymphs under an indicator on the cold days.
Anglers, who put their time in, are catching trout using large golden stoneflies, pats rubberlegs #8-12; Frenchie #14-18; iron lotus (#16-18);flashback pheasant tail nymph #14-18 and orange/peach mopflies.
Bring along some sculpin patterns, black/olive streamers #4-8.
Make sure you also pack a few blue wing olive and blue quill dry flies for those warmer days. You never know!
Suckers are also on the move, bring a few sucker spawn patterns just in case.
Northeastern Region
Northern Luzerne County
Area waterways are getting ready for the Trout Opener! Volunteers, Fish Culturists and WCO’s are busy getting the waterways stocked for the big day but there is still much to do. Make sure you check out the Stocking Schedule on our agency’s website for information on where, when and how to participate. It can be found here: https://fbweb.pa.gov/stocking/TroutStockingDetails_GIS.aspx
Most area ponds and lakes are already ice free and some anglers are having luck at area lakes like Took-A-While and Harveys Lake fishing for bass and panfish. They might all still be a little sluggish due to water temperatures, but they sure are hungry lately. Soft Plastics and crankbaits fished deep and slow are turning the bite on for largemouth. Make sure to remember if you are in a boat less than 16 or in a canoe or kayak you need to wear a personal flotation device until April 30th.
Columbia and Southern Luzerne County
March has been a busy month for sure. Trout fisherman have eagerly been awaiting stocking season, and it as of this writing, we are right in the thick of the pre-season stockings of your favorite waterways.
With the Mentored Youth day scheduled for April 6th, now is the time to go over all that gear, review the regulations, verify your favorite waterway has been stocked, and find a young angler to take fishing.
Anglers are having little trouble finding fish at the Lehigh River, FEW Reservoir, Lake Irena and Lily Lake. These waters are regulated as Trout Stocked Waters Open to Year-Round Fishing and can be fished now, please check the 2019 Summary Guide for complete details and regulations. Also, the Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only section of the Nescopeck Creek has recently been stocked and anglers should encounter hungry trout there as well. Be certain to review the regulations on these waters prior to fishing. While open to fishing, all three waterways have a zero-creel limit for trout. Also, mere possession of any type of bait or bait substance is prohibited on the DHALO sections.
Some anglers are reporting smallmouth bass success on the Susquehanna River. Tube baits seem to be the ticket lately.
Boaters are reminded of the Mandatory Life Jacket regulation in effect through April 30th. Any person in a boat less than 16 feet and all canoes and kayaks, regardless of length, are required to be wearing a USCG approved wearable flotation device.
Boaters are further reminded of the horsepower restrictions on Lily Lake and FEW Reservoir, and of course, don’t drink and boat!
Southeastern Region
Bucks County
And so, the trout season begins! Thank you to all who have come out to help stock so far. And thank you in advance to those planning to help during the in-season stockings.
On Mentored Youth Day and Regional Opening Day people had great success using green, yellow, and white paste baits, as well as wax worms and even some spoons and spinners. Anglers had some great success at the Delaware Canal in both Yardley and Washington Crossing Thompson-Neely Sections.
As a continued reminder, mandatory cold weather personal flotation device wear remains in effect until April 30. However, it is recommended to ALWAYS wear your personal flotation device at all times. Visit our site at http://www.fishandboat.com/Boat/WaterandIceSafety/Pages/default.aspx for more details.
Berks County
In-season trout stockings are underway, and conditions have been great so far this year. Anglers are having success with all the usual tackle (paste bait, small jigs, corn, spinner sand flies).
Boating and fishing has been heating up at Blue Marsh Lake. The lake is currently at summer pool level, and all courtesy docks have been installed at the launches. Remember to check your life jackets for proper fit and serviceability, ensure your fire extinguisher is charged and operational, and your boat registration is up to date before heading out on the water.
Some spring bass fisherman have been having success on Blue Marsh Lake and Lake Ontelaunee, the weather is looking good for the next two weeks prior to the close of the season (April 13).
Manatawny Creek Sections 2,4,6, and 8 received their preseason stocking on Monday March 25th. A float box crew floated from just below the Earl Township line to the Earl Township Recreation Area along Manatawny Rd. No fish were placed under the Rte. 562 Bridge. The bridge is currently under construction. Please, anglers – respect the construction site and the workers and stay clear of the work area. Enjoy and Happy Fishing!
Chester County
The White Clay Creek East Branch Section 3, from the White Clay Creek Preserve Boundary to the mouth has been stocked with trout. Remember that this is stocked trout waters and so is closed to fishing until the Regional opening day, this year March 30th at 8 AM. The stocking locations for the White Clay East Branch Section 3, were Penn Green Road at the top of the Preserve Boundary at 39-46’24.2″ North and 75-46’11.1″ West, London Tract Road at 39-46’07.6″ North and 75-45’54.2″ West, and Yeatmans Station Road at 39-45’54.2″ North and 75-45’45.8″ West. Thanks to Forest for coordinating the stocking.
The East Branch Octoraro Creek Section 2, West Branch Brandywine Creek Section 3, and Beaver Creek Section 2, are scheduled to be stocked on Wednesday April 3rd at 11:30 AM. The meeting place is the lane across from the Sadsburyville Post Office. Take the opportunity to introduce a child to a lifetime of fishing and outdoor adventures. Children love stocking fish! If you have not taken a child on a trout stocking yet, put it on your got to do list and bring a camera to catch all those smiles.
Lehigh County
You couldn’t ask for a nicer Regional Opening Day in Lehigh County. With temperatures reaching high 60s, anglers were visible all throughout the county. Large crowds awaited the 8am start along Jordan Creek in Jordan Parkway. (see attached picture). With warmer water temperatures in the southern end anglers immediately were able to hook on to trout at the 8am start.
(SE Photo 1 & 2) Photo Caption: Ethan Fels from Macungie was able to land this monster 26-inch Golden Rainbow out of Jordan Creek. Throughout the day, the District WCO was able to see many anglers enjoying the conditions and catching trout!
E. Schuylkill County
Locust Lake was very good for trout fishing on the opening day of trout season. Anglers were catching some trout from shore on minnows and wax worms. The lake is due to be stocked again on April 20 with Brook and Brown trout.
The Little Schuylkill River has seen a lot of angling pressure throughout the stocked areas, but still hold a lot of trout. Trout are being caught on all the common baits, gold spinners, and chartreuse colored lures have worked as well. The Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only area of the river has seen quite a bit of pressure and has proven to be tougher as the season progresses. As hatches of insects start to come off expect fly fishing to increase through this section.
The Schuylkill River is at a moderate water level for canoes and kayaks to travel from Auburn to Port Clinton. A few have floated this section already, just make sure you dress appropriately and wear your life jacket.