Northwest Region
Get your fishing license ONLINE!
2019 PA Fishing Licenses went on sale December 1st.
Crawford County
Conneaut Lake
The SLOW NO WAKE restrictions that were placed on Conneaut Lake on June 20 have now been lifted.
Erie County
Lake Erie
Anglers are catching Walleye in 50 feet of water on crawler rigs and plugs. Anglers are catching lake trout out of Northeast Marina in 100 feet of water with plugs. Anglers are catching yellow perch, but it has been hit or miss. Anglers are catching smallmouth bass at the W’s near Northeast Marina in 30 feet of water using drop shot rigs and jerkbaits.
Lake Pleasant
Anglers are catching panfish on Lake Pleasant with worms and bobbers.
Venango County
Allegheny River
Anglers are catching smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike, and a few muskellunge throughout the Venango county stretch of river. Anglers are using soft plastic baits when the water clarity clears and using spinnerbaits or chatterbaits when the water clarity is stained. If you are looking for a nice easy 10-mile holiday float then look at Franklin to Fisherman’s Cove. The float provides the paddler with scenic views and great fishing!
Northcentral Region
Clinton County
Fishing Creek
The stream is in great shape for fishing! Water temperature is in the high 50s. There is some color to the water.
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).
Anglers are catching trout using dry flies, just before dark. Tan, Elk Hair caddis and black caddis, blue quills, ISOs and midges. 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).
Centre County
Foster Joseph Sayers Lake
Anglers are catching panfish using red worms, baby nightcrawlers and live minnows. Anglers are catching the majority of the panfish near PFBC, shoreline, habitat structures.
Bald Eagle Creek
Anglers are catching trout using live minnows, spinners. Anglers are also catching trout using nymph patterns – waltz worm, sexy waltz worm, hares ear and squirmy wormies.
Spring Creek
Spring Creek water is great for fishing right now. It is slightly high and a bit off color, but fishing great! Water temperature is in the high 50s.
Anglers fishing in the early morning hours and late evening hours. When trout are rising, anglers are catching trout using dry flies (Elk hair caddis- tan #14-16; Midges #22-26, ant patterns and sunken ant #12-18).
Anglers are also catching trout using nymphs (e.g. green weenies are working best). Other nymph patterns that are working include iron lotus (#16-18);hot spot sow bug (#14-16); walt’s worm (#12-16); black zebra midge (#18-22).
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
E. Berks/N. Montgomery Counties
Crappie are still being caught over at Lake Ontelaunee. Through the recent heat wave, anglers are still bringing in nice size Crappie from the warming water at Lake Ontelaunee. Jig Heads with soft plastics still seem to be the preferred bait.
W. Berks County
A PA Basic Boating Course was held at the Blue Marsh Conference Center on June 22, 2019. Twelve people attended and successfully passed the exam to earn their Boating Safety Education Certificate. Look on the Fish and Boat website for upcoming courses that may be held in your area.
Due to high water events and unsafe conditions, Blue Marsh Lake boat ramps were closed last week, they are open again at the timing of this report, but please check the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Facebook page status before heading out with all the rain events that have been happening this summer.
PA Fish and Boat Commission’s Epler’s Access on the Schuylkill River was recently reopened to the public after being closed for repairs to the access road leading into the property.
The Friends of Kaercher Creek held a bass fishing tournament on June 22, 2019 at PFBC’s Kaercher Dam located in Windsor Township. The large bass of the day was a 20-inch largemouth bass weighing in at over 4-pounds. Anglers are reminded that Kaercher Dam is managed under Big Bass regulations, the minimum size for both small and largemouth bass is 15 inches, and a harvest limit of four.
Chester County
The second and last fish for free day in Pennsylvania is Thursday, July 4th. The perfect chance during the 4th of July weekend to get out yourself, or with a child and see what fishing is about. If you don’t have equipment, you can contact Hibernia County Park, one of our equipment loaner sites and borrow all the fishing equipment you need, as well as get expert advice on where and how to fish from Park Staff members who have been trained as fishing instructors by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. Chambers Lake is available to fish in Hibernia County Park and has a variety of fun to catch species, catfish, pickerel, crappie, bass, and perch. Remember that while you do not need a license to fish on Thursday, July 4th only, that all other regulations, what you can keep and minimum sizes etc., are still in force. Also keep in mind that the only day that is fish for free day is Thursday July 4th, all anglers 16 and over are required to have a license in Pennsylvania the rest of the year.
Northampton County
Now that the American Shad run in the Delaware River has passed, anglers are heading out in search of bass and some nighttime carp and catfishing. Largemouth Bass have been caught around the PPL boat launch in Lower Mt. Bethel on shallow diving lures. Anglers have also been in search of Largemouth Bass on the North side of City Park Island in the Lehigh River. The shallow North side of the island is typically pretty good for bass, but there have been few reports of fish being caught here. For those just looking to hit the rivers in smaller watercraft such as canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards, please remember to have with you an appropriately sized lifejacket on board for each person.