Northwest Region
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2019 PA Fishing Licenses went on sale December 1st.
Erie County
Lake Erie
Anglers are catching limits of Walleye anywhere from 20 feet of water all the way out to 80 feet of water. Anglers are using stick baits and crawler harnesses with great success. Anglers are catching Walleye during the evening hours at the Wall on Elk Creek. Yellow Perch fishing is still slow at the current time, but it should pick up in the next few weeks.
Fairview Gravel Pits
Anglers are catching a few trout at the Fairview Gravel Pit as well.
Lawrence County
Bessemer Lake
Anglers are catching Largemouth Bass on minnows, worms, and assorted soft plastics in either purple or blue in color. Anglers are catching trout using a white crankbait.
Mercer County
Shenango Reservoir
The summer boating season is in full swing. The panfish fishing has been very productive around the reservoir with catches of crappie found in deeper water. The lake is close to normal summer pool. The Shenango Reservoir has been designated as a panfish enhancement area. This means that crappie must be 9 inches and the creel limit has dropped from 50 fish to 20. All other panfish still have a 50 fish creel limit, but only 20 of the total can be crappie.
Trout Stocked Waters
The last of the stocking for the summer has been completed. A special thanks to all the individuals that volunteered and helped stock trout.
Warren County
Allegheny River
Anglers are catching Smallmouth Bass by Betts Park using spinners, assorted soft plastic lures, and topwater presentations.
Kinzua Reservoir
Sugar Bay is a great area for Walleye fishing. Several Walleye anglers are using jigs tipped with a nightcrawler or spinners.
Northeast Region
Carbon County
Wayne County
The Striper fishing at Lake Wallenpaupack has been on fire this year. Anglers continue to well at all hours of the day using live alewives suspended from a float. Get out and experience some great fishing at Lake Wallenpaupack!
Boating traffic on Lake Wallenpaupack has been sporadic and has been weather dictated.
Northern Luzerne County
Fishing success has been spotty lately. With higher than normal temperatures and fluctuating water levels it really has been a gamble trying to put fish on the stringer. The Susquehanna River is still consistently fishing well for Smallmouth Bass but they almost all are coming in just an inch under the minimum. Some nice Channel Catfish are being landed but they have been few and far between.
Water temperatures on the trout streams are rather high right now and it is best to avoid stressing the trout there this time of year.
Folks fishing in Lake Jean at Rickett’s Glen State Park have been having luck with the largemouth and an occasional yellow perch. Anglers heading there are reminded that the lake is still under Catch and Release Regulations.
Our local Waterways Conservation Officer had the occasion this past weekend to help a boater out with a medical emergency. He had cut his foot badly on a piece of railing and only had paper towels on his boat to try and dress the wound. Our WCO cleaned up the wound and patched him up with a sterile dressing and surgical tape. This is a reminder that EVERY boat should have a first aid kit on-board. You can consider buying a pre-packaged kit with most of the essentials or you can build one from scratch knowing what you may need in an emergency. Take time to really consider your possible needs as well as special needs you know may be present with those folks you regularly have on your boat. Considering how expensive boating can seem at times a good first aid kit is EXTREMELY affordable insurance for the safety of you and your passengers and may keep a minor injury from ending your day prematurely on the water.
Northcentral Region
Clinton and Western Lycoming Counties
Anglers continue to report success around the district. With the water levels a bit higher and cooler into the warm months, the trout have remained active. Many people have taken to their favorite locations on the clear warm nights to sit under the glow of a lantern to do some cat fishing. Anglers have reported good success with the standard chicken liver and night crawler baits. The bass fishing had a lull just after the spawn; but is now in full swing again. Musky anglers have done well recently working topwater baits or fishing the seams of warmer and cooler waters.
The boating has been phenomenal with good water levels and plenty of warm days. Paddle craft and motorized boats have certainly taken advantage of the conditions. The popular areas are Pine Creek, Bald Eagle Creek and the West Branch Susquehanna River. Water levels have begun to drop, which may put a lull in the activity; but with some rain forecasted, paddling the streams may be good throughout the summer this year.
Southeastern Region
Chester County
The Next meeting of the White Clay Fly-Tying Club will be at 6PM on Thursday August 1st 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. With the cold weather that has been hanging on, many of us are looking for a place to go or some activity to hold us over until we can wet a line again and this is the perfect thing. 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.
If you have been waiting for your big break into Bass Tournament Fishing, this may be it. Captain Jim is having a Bass Open Tournament at the Octoraro Reservoir on Sunday, July 28th from 6:00 AM till 12:00 PM, (6 Hours). To get to the lake, simply get on Rt 1 in Southern Chester County and get off on the Rt 472 Exit. Turn West on Rt 472 West and you will go over the Rt 472 Bridge and at the top of the next hill you will turn left on to Spruce Grove Road. You will go about a mile and at the bottom of the hill you will see the lake and the Fishing Headquarters on your left. The physical address for the Fishing Headquarters is 212 Spruce Grove Road, Kirkwood, PA. 17536, For even more information call Captain Jim, phone 717-529-2488 or visit his website at http://www.jimsbait.net/tournaments Only fishing from boats is permitted, limit of two persons per boat.
The Lancaster Farm & Home Center will host its Annual Fishing & Hunting Flea Market & Show on Saturday August 10th at the Lancaster Farm & Home Center, located at 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster, PA. 17601, from 9 AM to 1 PM. For more information you can contact Ron Funk at 717-371-0395 or go to the website at https://pa-vendors.com/events/lancaster-county/lancaster-pa-hunting-fishing-shows/
Lehigh County
Despite the heat and low water levels, fly-fishing anglers are using dry flies to catch trout raising late in the evening on the Little Lehigh River. This is occurring in the fly-fishing only section.
Northampton County
Anglers have been catching Smallmouth Bass on the Delaware River in the area of the PPL boat access in Lower Mt. Bethel on white twisters and shallow diving lures. Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch and Black Crappie have been caught on the Lehigh River in the area of the Rt 33 boat access on various lures. For those looking to get out on the boat this summer, please remember to bring your Coast Guard approved life jacket. Many new life jacket styles make it possible to be safe by wearing them, and not get too hot.
Lastly, Minsi Lake has been busy with activity as fish structures have been installed in the dry lake bed in preparation for the refilling.
Philadelphia County
There have been several reports of Northern Snakehead fish being caught and or seen in the Philadelphia area. Most of them have been caught historically at FDR park in the Lakes however we have been receiving reports from the Delaware River and Schuylkill Rivers as well. The latest confirmed report is in the Manayunk Canal area. If you believe that you have come across one please take a photograph of the fish and contact the PA Fish and Boat Commission via our website at www.fish.pa.us and report the fish. Make sure you include the county, body of water, average size of the fish and if at all possible a photograph. Please be aware: you cannot possess live snakeheads in the commonwealth. They must be killed immediately.