Northwest Region
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2019 PA Fishing Licenses went on sale December 1st.
Erie County
Lake Erie
Anglers are catching Walleye anywhere from 14 feet to 80 feet of water. Anglers are using plugs, crawler harnesses, and spoons to catch their limit of Walleye in a timely fashion. For current Lake Erie conditions, contact the Northeast Marina at (814)725-8244.
Lake LeBouef
Anglers are catching panfish and Bowfin from the docks using nightcrawlers.
Lawrence County
Bessemer Lake
Anglers are catching bass while jigging with rubber worms that are brown/green with black glitter. Fly anglers are catching Bluegill with green and brown flies.
Venango County
Allegheny River
Anglers are catching Smallmouth Bass with the best success on tubes, crankbaits, and stick baits.
French Creek
Anglers, between Utica and Franklin, are catching northern pike, smallmouth bass, and walleye. Anglers are using tubes, assorted soft plastics, and jigs to catch a variety of fish.
Oil Creek
Anglers are catching smallmouth bass from Drake Well through the Allegheny River confluence.
Kahle Lake
Anglers are catching bluegill, yellow perch, and crappie. Anglers are catching Largemouth Bass using white and/or chartreuse grubs.
Northeast Region
Southern Luzerne & Columbia County
Even with the recent high temperatures across the district, anglers willing to adapt have had success fishing local waterways. Impoundments across the area have been producing bass and panfish, for those willing to change tactics. Often the key has been fishing deeper, finding structure, shade or where cooler tributaries enter the impoundment.
As far as local trout streams, the fish are still there. Early morning and later in the evenings are when they will be willing to bite, so anglers must change strategies and target active fish. You won’t pull a limit of trout from a single hole this time of year. But, those willing to put in work and find fish will have success.
Boaters are again urged to check safety equipment before going on the water. Also, be mindful of your wake! We have had multiple instances as of late, of conflicts on the water due to inattentive operators making a wake with boats too close to shorelines, docks and drifting boats. It is YOUR responsibility as an operator, to know the laws pertaining to operating your watercraft.
For those boaters interested in becoming a safer boater, and those who need a Boating Safety Certificate, there will be a Basic Boating Course offered at Nescopeck State Park on September 14, 2019. Pre-registration is required, see the website for additional information.
Southeastern Region
This weekend is the SE Region Mentored Youth Catfish Opportunity at the Children’s Pond at Lake Nockamixon near Quakertown. The details for the event are provided on the link here. No registration required – https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/145972
Adults must have a PA Fishing License and mentored youth must have a Mentored Youth Permit or a Voluntary Youth Fishing License. Youth can keep two fish and adults can fish catch & release during the event.
There will be demonstrations on how to catch, fillet and cook catfish from 2PM-5PM this Saturday. The pond will be stocked around 10:30AM on Saturday. Any interested helpers are welcome to come out and help with the stocking on Saturday at the Children’s Pond. Fishing will occur from noon to 11PM on Saturday and from sunrise to 11PM on Sunday.
Chester County
The Next meeting of the White Clay Fly-Tying Club will be at 6PM on Thursday August 8th 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, and yes, the Meeting House has air conditioning! 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.
The Gaun Panfish Meet-up that was scheduled for August 24th at the Octoraro Reservoir has been cancelled.
The next meeting of The Friends of Hibernia will be this Thursday, August 22nd at 7:00 PM at the Hibernia County Park Historical Annex. Members support trout and catfish stocking for the children’s pond, the handicap fishing rodeo, as well as the Chester County Envirothon. Membership information can be obtained by mail to Friends of Hibernia, Post Office Box 355, Wagontown, PA. 19376. You can also get more information by contacting the Hibernia County Park Office, at 610-383-3812.
If you live in the Southern Chester County area 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 August 20th. 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.