Northwest Region
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2019 PA Fishing Licenses went on sale December 1st.
Crawford County
Conneaut Lake
Temporary Restriction at Conneaut Lake, Crawford County
Pursuant to the authority of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s regulations, 58 Pa. Code 103.3(c) (relating to restrictions for special areas), boats are temporarily limited to slow, no wake speed on Conneaut Lake, Crawford County. This speed restriction is effective immediately and will remain in effect until further notice. This action is being taken due to high water levels and resultant hazards that may threaten the safety of persons, property or both.
Mercer County
Shenango Reservoir
Anglers are catching crappie, White Bass, and Hybrid Striped Bass using a variety of soft plastic baits. All occupants on boats under 16 feet in length and on all canoes and kayaks are required to wear their Personal Flotation Device on all US Army Corp of Engineer Pittsburgh District Lakes.
Lake Wilhelm
Anglers are catching Largemouth Bass, crappie, and Walleye using a variety of soft plastic baits and live baits on jigs.
Northcentral Region
Tioga County
Venomous snake season is full swing and snake hunters are reporting a good number of Timber Rattlesnake sightings on log piles adjacent to pipelines and powerlines. If you do go on a venomous snake hunt, be sure to acquire the appropriate safety equipment, handling gear, and licenses.
If you are a recreational boater who has a power boat and want to avoid the crowds, Hammond and Cowanesque Lakes are the place to be. Boating traffic is minimal during the weeks, but on the weekends the lakes can be crowded. Use caution if you decide to boat on those lakes, and please obey the marked “slow no wake” areas.
With the rainfall, the recreational paddling opportunities on Pine Creek in the Canyon are perfect, and so are the views. Paddlers are reporting wildlife sightings while afloat, good flows for family enjoyment, and also recommending bug spray.
Small streams are fishing well! Asaph Run is fishing well and there are lots of trout!
Pine Creek
Due to recent rain events, Pine Creek is high. It is on it’s way back down;however, with more rain predicted over the next few days it may rise once again. Marsh Creek is dumping lots of muddy water during rain events.
If the rain doesn’t arrive, Upper Pine Creek should be “fishable” this coming weekend.
Hammond and Cowanesque Lakes
Both lakes are fishing well. Anglers are catching bass using black/blue and blue craw colors. Jigs and squarebill crankbaits are also working near shallow structure and weeds. If you are fishing offshore, strike king series 5, 5xd and 6xd are working well too! Colors that are working are sexy shad, blue back, and chartreuse.
Hills Creek, Beechwood and Nessmuk Lakes
All three lakes are fishing well! Weeds are getting thick and topwater frog action is on fire! Anglers using lunker hunt lunker frog or lunker hunt prop frog are catching fish. Anglers, fishing near weeds, are catching fish using a variety of soft plastics. Shades of green are working best.
Clinton County
Fishing Creek
Due to recent rain events the water level is up and off color, but still fishable. 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.
Anglers are 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).
Most of the dry fly 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).
During or after rain events, fish olive or black streamer patterns (Headbanger sculpin #4-8) work well.
Centre County
Upper Bald Eagle Creek
Due to recent rain events, the stream level and color continue to fluctuate regularly. Anglers are catching trout using a variety of nymph patterns. Nymph patterns that are working well include beadhead green weenie, chartreuse beadhead mop fly, rainbow warrior and beadhead prince nymph. A few anglers are also catching trout using streamer patterns. Anglers are also catching trout using live minnows just before and after rain events.
Young anglers had a grand time fly fishing for the first time on Bald Eagle Creek! They caught trout using green weenie, mop fly and streamer patterns. Below are photos of the young anglers – Halena Fischer, Chloe Eamigh and Paige Kotary. Well done ladies! Thank you for sharing your stories! (photos provided by anglers)
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 up and slightly off color. 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).
A few sulphurs are still around, but the hatch is finishing up. 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
On Saturday, June 22, 2019, Lackawanna State Park will be hosting a Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission ‘Fish with a Waterways Conservation Officer Day’ from 10 am to 1 pm. There is no charge for the class, but all participants MUST pre-register at this link: https://my.register-ed.com/eventregistration/roster/143014
Heavy, widespread rain has been creating high flows in local streams and rivers. The conditions, especially with the already heavy flows, plus more precipitation can create water conditions too dangerous to fish. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) does monitor stream flows across the state and this is a great resource to use when timing flows to make sure you don’t show up to your favorite river to find it unfishable. To look at real-time flows from USGS visit: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/pa/nwis/rt
Northern Luzerne County
The bite has slowed down for panfish in many areas across the region. Bass fishing has been marginal at Harveys Lake with some folks doing well with rubber off the rock points. There is still some largemouth action around the structure along the shore.
Please remember that the Catch and Release regulations are still in effect for Lake Jean at Rickett’s Glen State Park and should be lifted sometime this coming January. If the rain ever slows down, we may see normal fishing return to the Susquehanna River. For now, Catfish are about all the fish that are hitting with any consistency.
Southeastern Region
Gaun First Catch Center
The Gaun First Catch Center (GFCC) is up and running with public fishing programs for the 2019 season! The Gaun First Catch Center provides opportunities to learn about fishing or improve existing skills in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties. To join one of their outings, please refer to the GFCC website at: https://www.fishandboat.com/Fish/GaunFirstCatch/Pages/default.aspx
The GFCC is running a Family Fishing Program this Saturday, June 22 at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge in Philadelphia from 3PM-6PM. You can go to the website link above to fill out our online registration for this event.
Berks County
It was a beautiful day on the water for Berks County Youth Field Day. 70+ kids attended to learn the basics of hunting and fishing and Boating. Special thanks to Kutztown Rod and Gun for hosting the event and allowing our Waterway Conservation Officers to use their pond to kids the basics of canoeing program.
Lehigh County
Anglers are catching trout during the morning hours in the southwest cove across from the fishing pier at Leaser Lake using small spinners and shiners.
Chester County
The Next meeting of the White Clay Fly-Tying Club will be at 6PM on Thursday June 20th 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.
Nice size and numbers of yellow perch are being caught at Marsh Creek Lake. Anglers fishing from boats in Carpenters Cove at the lake showed us nice size yellow perch while we were on boat patrol at the lake yesterday. The best bait was small shiners fished under a bobber, but one young angler was also doing well on red worms, also fished under a bobber. Fishing around structure, trees that had fallen into the lake seemed to be the key to success.
If you live in Southern Chester County and are interested in fly fishing, consider joining the White Clay Fly Fishers. Meetings are held at 7 PM on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at the London Tract Meetinghouse 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. This means that the next meeting will be held on Tuesday June 18th. Parking for meetings is behind the White Clay State Park Office. The club’s mailing address is P.O. Box 762, Landenberg, PA 19350 for membership information. The club teaches fly tying, fly fishing, holds fishing trips, outings, picnics, does stream clean ups, has a library of over 100 fly fishing books and dvds that you can borrow and gives presentations on fly fishing by special guests at the end of the monthly meetings.
Bass season opened on June 15 and here in Chester County, and we have some great lakes to catch them. We have two lakes in the Big Bass Waters program, Marsh Creek Lake and Chambers Lake. Marsh Creek Lake in Marsh Creek State Park is located near Eagle in Upper Uwchlan Township and is 535 acres. It has two boat ramps and lots of shoreline and structure to fish. You can rent a boat powered by an electric motor which will increase your odds of catching that special trophy. It can get busy on a warm or holiday weekend, so you might want to get there early to get a chance at some quieter fishing. Chambers Lake, located in Hibernia County Park in West Caln Township is a smaller lake, about 80 acres in size, has one boat launch and does not have as much opportunity to fish structure, this mostly since it is a much newer lake and the structure, fallen trees etc. have not had the same amount of time to develop. Both lakes are “Big Bass Waters” so the minimum size to keep a bass is 15″ and the daily limit is 4. Three other great bass waters here in Chester County, none of these are “Big Bass Waters” they are Coatesville Reservoir in West Caln Township near the Coatesville Country Club, Struble Lake in Honey Brook Township, and I have saved the best for last, Octoraro Reservoir which is near Oxford in Lower Oxford Township. Struble is just slightly larger than Chambers Lake but has been established much longer and so once again you have a great opportunity to fish a lot of structure and shallow points and drop offs. Fishing from shore is limited so you might want to consider bringing a boat to have better access to the fish at this lake. Coatesville Reservoir does not allow boating, is well established and does have many cleared areas that you can fish from. This lake seems to produce less fish, however because of less fishing seems to produce some lunkers, and I have seen several four- and five-pound bass come out of this lake. Last, Octoraro Reservoir, is very well established in terms of structure and fish populations. They hold tournaments there throughout the year and the weigh ins are fun to watch and I have seen lots of trophy size, 5 pounds and up to 8-pound bass brought to the scales. Shoreline fishing is available all over the lake. You can rent a boat and launch your own boat at Neary’s Bait & Tackle on Spruce Grove Road, the lake extends into Lancaster County, and there is a $4.50 launch fee. Try natural bait, large crawlers and minnows, but also rubber worms, scented and unscented and lures. Good luck.