Northwest Region
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2019 PA Fishing Licenses went on sale December 1st.
Clarion, Butler, and Armstrong Counties
Kahle Lake
Anglers continue to report catching Bluegills, Crappies, some perch and a few bass. All anglers & boaters are reminded that all boats, including canoes & kayaks, are required to be registered to use this facility.
Piney Dam & the Upper Clarion
Anglers are reporting catching some perch & crappies and a few bass & walleye. All anglers & boaters are reminded that all boats, including canoes & kayaks, are required to be registered to use the PFBC’s Mill Creek & Gravel Lick Access Areas
Lower Clarion River
(Piney Dam to Confluence with Allegheny River) – When the waters levels have been cooperating, anglers continue to report catching a few Walleye & bass near the confluence with the Allegheny River.
Allegheny River
(Emlenton to Lock #9) – When the water levels have been cooperating, Walleye & bass are being reported in the Parker City area. All anglers & boaters are reminded that all boats, including canoes & kayaks, are required to be registered to use the PFBC’s Parker City and Brady’s Bend Access Areas.
Beaver Creek Ponds Project
By regulation, the Beaver Creek Ponds Project is currently closed to all fishing until the opening day of bass season.
Trout Streams
With the cooler temperatures and high waters, the area still has been experiencing good numbers of trout.
Erie County
Lake Erie
Walleye fishing is hot and heavy right now, and you don’t have to go very deep. Anglers are picking up Walleye in as shallow as 30 to 35 feet. You can go deeper, and you may locate larger fish.
Yellow perch are also being caught, not in large limit number, but better than last year. You can find a couple small packs off Walnut and another from Gull Point.
Bass are being caught in Presque Isle Bay and in shallows on Lake Erie in good numbers.
When fishing Lake Erie, please check the weather forecasts to make the best judgement call on whether to go out or not. Stay safe!
Forest County
Allegheny River
Northern pike fishing has been productive using daredevils and live bait, near the Sand and Gravel Launch in Tionesta.
Canoes and kayaks should avoid stringing out across the river channel; it makes it difficult for jet boats to navigate the channel, due to their limited ability to maneuver in the shallow water. Please be courteous. Also, operators of unpowered watercraft (canoes and kayaks) are reminded that is illegal to operate while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
Tionesta Lake
Boaters are reminded that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Slow No Wake Area is still in effect; it extends from the point to the dam. Boaters are also reminded that they must be 100 feet from shore while traveling faster than slow no wake speed, or in other words, just in gear. Boats traveling faster than slow no wake speed must also stay 50 feet to the side of other boats that are underway and 100 feet to the rear of other boats underway. Courtesy and common sense can also ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable time boating.
Tionesta Outflow
Anglers have been successful catching musky from the wall and rip rap along the Tionesta Outflow, using artificial lures and live bait (panfish).
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers prohibits boats from entering the Tionesta Outflow. Also, it is illegal to operate a boat at a speed greater than slow no wake in a waterway less than 200 feet wide.
Venango County
BASS SEASON REOPENS:
The general bass season will open once again as of June 15th, 2019 (Saturday). The daily creel limit is 6 (combined species) and the minimum size limit is 12 inches regarding waters governed under Commonwealth Inland regulations.
In Venango County, both Justus Lake (Two Mile Run Reservoir) and Kahle Lake are governed under BIG BASS REGULATIONS. These locally specific waters have restrictions regarding a 15” minimum size limit and a daily creel limit of 4 (combined).
ALLEGHENY RIVER
The USGS depth gage in Franklin reflects a current water level of +/- 06’-06”. Anglers report continued frustrated by both the repeated swings in water level and clarity. Smallmouth Bass catches continue to be reported, best success was reported on jigs and spinners. Additionally, several reports of Walleye were received during the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
FRENCH CREEK
The USGS depth gage in Utica reflects a current water level of +/-03’-04”.
From Franklin through Utica, anglers have reported bass and, occasional, Walleye hook-ups.
Canoe and kayak traffic continues to increase with the summer boating season. All boaters are reminded to scout ahead and keep an eye out for any possible obstacles or strainers.
OIL CREEK
The USGS depth gage in Rouseville reflects a current water level of +/- 02’-09”.
Smallmouth Bass are being reported between Oil City and Rynd Farm.
TWOMILE RUN RESERVOIR (JUSTUS LAKE)
Bass, as well as trout, hook-ups continue to top the received catch reports.
REGISTRATION OF NON-POWERED WATERCRAFT REQUIRED AT PFBC LAKES/ACCESS AREAS
With the 2019 boating season in full swing, boaters are reminded that non-powered watercraft, which otherwise would not require registration, are required to display either current registration or a launch permit when launching or retrieving at all PFBC lakes and/or access areas. For a complete listing of regulations pertaining to PFBC properties, please refer to the following link: http://fishinpa.com/pfbcproperty.html.
Northcentral Region
Tioga County
Anglers are catching trout on most of the stocked trout waterways across the County. Stony Fork, Crooked Creek, Long Run, and Asaph are all fishing well. Anglers are also catching trout at Hamilton and Beechwood Lakes too. Powerbait, a variety of spinners, and live minnows are the baits of choice. At Hamilton, trout are hanging near the dock and up the creek.
Pine Creek
Pine Creek is running at perfect levels right now and fishing excellent! Between PFBC and local club trout stocking, there are plenty of trout on Upper Pine Creek. Fly hatches currently occurring on the stream include – In the evening, Slate Drakes and Rusty Spinners. Other hatches occurring include lime sallies, yellow sallies, golden stones, caddis, sulphurs, gray fox, light cahills and more! Keep a variety of flies on-hand! Anglers are also catching trout using nymphs of any of the hatches listed above. A few anglers are doing very well using a rubber prince nymph and a halo Czech nymph!
Anglers, using spinning gear, butterworms, wax worms, and live minnows are also catching lots of trout. Joe’s flies spinners and a variety of roostertails,Brown trout, gold, or silver Rapalas are working well too.
Hammond Lake
Anglers are catching Crappie near weed beds and by trolling near structure that are just off-shore. Berkley Flicker Shads in purple, green and shad colors are working well. Both jointed and standard patterns are working. Close to shore, Crappie magnets are still working well.
Hills Creek, Hamilton and Beechwood Lakes
Anglers are catching Yellow Perch, Crappie and Bluegill near weeds and timber. At Hills Creek, the weeds are heavy, anglers, pitching baits into the open pockets are catching fish. Live minnows are also working well!
Lycoming County
Rose Valley Lake
Anglers are catching Bluegill, Yellow Perch and Chain Pickerel. Fishing half a worm under a bobber is working for anglers fishing from shore. Remember to adjust the depth of your bait, when you find one fish, you usually find more!
REMINDER
Boaters must ensure they have a current boat registration or launch permit if non-powered prior to heading out on the lake. If you are mooring your boat at the lake, a valid boat registration is required to partake in this. A launch permit does not meet the requirement.
Clinton and Western Lycoming County
Fishing Creek
The stream is currently at good fishing levels. More rain is predicted over the next few days. Stay alert and be ready to change your approach according to fluctuating water levels. Water temperature is holding in the mid 50s.
There are currently lots of hatches occurring and they come in waves. Most of the action is occurring just before dark. Tan and black caddis, blue quills, light cahills etc. Anglers are catching trout in the evening hours using the following fly patterns – Elk Hair Caddis Tan (#14-18); Black Caddis (#14-16; ISO (#8-12); midges (#20-26).
Anglers are also catching trout, using nymphs. Nymph patterns that are currently working include (Iron lotus #16-18; dirty bird hares ear #12-16; flashback pheasant tail #14-18; pats rubberlegs #8-12).
During or after rain events, fish olive or black streamer patterns (Headbanger sculpin #4-8) work well.
Centre County
Foster Joseph Sayers Lake
Anglers are catching and releasing bass using half a night crawler under a bobber. Anglers are also catching Pumpkinseeds, Crappie, Rock Bass and Bluegill using the same technique!
Spring Creek
REMINDER – IMPORTANT TEMPORARY CLOSURE NOTICE – For the period of JUNE 10-June 21, 2019 the H.R. Stackhouse Facility (Fisherman’s Paradise) parking area and grounds between the entrance gate and the lower trail gate will be CLOSED for public safety while well drilling operations occur.
Spring Creek water levels are perfect for fishing right now. Water temperature is in the 50s. More rain is predicted over the next few days, so make sure you have streamers with you (e.g.olive or black streamer patterns (slumpbusters #6-10).
When trout are rising, anglers are catching trout using dry flies (Sulphur Dun #16-18; Sulphur emergers #14-16; Elk hair caddis- tan or black #14-16; Midges #22-26). A few anglers are catching trout using rusty spinners during early morning and late evening.
Anglers are also catching trout using nymphs (e.g. Sulphur and baetis nymphs are working best). Other nymph patterns that are working include iron lotus (#16-18); wet ant (#12-18);hot spot sow bug (#14-16); walt’s worm (#12-16); black zebra midge (#18-22).
Northeastern Region
Western Bradford & Sullivan County
Carp activity is picking up in the North Branch Susquehanna River. Anglers targeting carp are having good luck from shore using a variety of creative bait. Bowfishing anglers are also reporting seeing and taking some nice carp when water conditions cooperate.
Southern Wayne and Northern Monroe Counties
Cooler water temperatures have kept Black Crappie spawning and anglers are having very good success continuing to catch them using a variety of natural and artificial baits. Angers are also having great success catching sunfish in the smaller impoundments.
Wyoming County
Weather and water conditions have been very good this past week, providing for good fishing conditions on local creeks and the Susquehanna River. Many anglers are still catching trout on streams such as Bowman’s Creek and the South Branch of the Tunkhannock Creek to name a few. This is still a great time of year to get out and enjoy some excellent trout fishing in Wyoming County.
The Susquehanna River has been slightly stained but in overall good condition, and anglers are having decent results. Channel Catfish are biting on a variety of baits. The most productive catfish baits have been chicken livers and chunks of cut bait.