Northwest Region
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Butler County
Lake Arthur
Anglers are catching largemouth bass on the weed bed areas at the back end of many coves using rubber worms and tubes. Anglers are catching panfish by using minnows in brush piles near the shoreline.
Glade Run Lake
Trout are the only species that may be harvested. All other caught fish species must be immediately released unharmed. Unpowered or electric-powered boats must be registered or permitted to use this PFBC property.
The Glades (SGL 95)
Don’t underestimate this lake for channel catfish and big largemouth bass! The best bass fishing is by small boat. Nice sized catfish are fishable from shore during the early evening to early morning hours using almost any kind of bait; hotdogs, shrimp, liver, crawlers and minnows. Please keep these areas clean! Make sure to take all your trash with you! Boats accessing The Glades must be unpowered or electric motor only. Although no permits are required for unpowered boats due to this being a part of the State Game Lands, valid motorboat registration is required for boats using electric motors. Boats may not enter the waterfowl propagation area after August 31. The propagation area is marked appropriately with yellow signs.
Erie County
Lake Erie
Fishing in Western Erie County is great now. Walleye fishing is staying steady. Anglers are catching Walleye between 45-70 feet of water and they seem to be at the bottom of the water column so try fishing deeper. Plugs, crawler harnesses, and spoons all seem to be working. Anglers are catching Lake Trout in 100 to 113 feet of water. Yellow Perch are slow, but anglers are doing decent in about 37 feet of water straight out from the condos. For current Lake Erie conditions, contact the Northeast Marina at (814) 725-8244.
Elk Creek
Anglers are catching channel catfish near the mouth of Elk Creek in the early morning hours and just before dark.
Lake LeBouef
Anglers are catching northern pike, panfish, and bowfin from the docks. Nightcrawlers are the preferred bait.
Lake Pleasant
Anglers are catching largemouth bass and panfish on the western side of Lake Pleasant from boats.
Mercer County
Venango County
Allegheny River
Anglers are catching Smallmouth Bass on tubes, spinners, and live bait. Anglers are catching Channel Catfish on cut-bait and fresh chicken livers. Anglers are catching Northern Pike on topwater lures and spinners.
Oil Creek
Anglers are catching Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, and Walleye from the Allegheny River confluence upstream to slightly beyond the borough of Rouseville.
Sugar Creek
Anglers reported exceptional trout hookups over the last month, with some catch and release anglers topping 30+ in a day’s outing. The length of the stocked water section (Creek Road-Sugarcreek Drive) continues to produce, however, the highest concentrations were reported throughout the borough of Cooperstown.
Two Mile Run Reservoir (Justus Lake)
Anglers are catching smallmouth and largemouth Bass, trout, and the occasional Yellow Perch.
French Creek
All boaters are reminded to scout ahead and keep an eye out for any possible obstacles or strainers.
Northeast Region
Wyoming County
The Susquehanna River remains in prime condition for summer fishing. The water conditions are currently clear and Smallmouth Bass have been hitting flies, jigs, spinners, and topwater plugs. Nice sized Channel Catfish have also been biting very well on the river, especially at night. The best catfish baits have been cut bait and nightcrawlers. Wyoming County area stocked trout streams with deeper pools and cool water are still holding nice sized Rainbow Trout. Trout have been caught on flies and live bait.
Carbon County
Although most of the fishing activity has been occurring on the lakes, a number of anglers fishing the trout stocked streams in the district have reported good success catching trout using fly, spinners or bait. The Buckwa Creek, Aquashicola Creek, Pohopoco Creek, and the Mauch Chunk Creek have been providing good trout fishing opportunities. A number of these streams contain a holdover of trout.
Boat anglers fishing Mauch Chunk Lake have been successful catching crappies some measuring fourteen inches off of the boat launch B area of the lake. Most of the crappie are being caught using soft bait lures or a jig tipped with a minnow. Bass action remains good at the lake. However, most of the bass are less than the minimum size of fifteen inches. Mauch Chunk Lake is governed by the Big Bass Program Special Regulations. Anglers fishing in the area of boat launch A have been successful catching nice size panfish and during the evenings a number of catfish have also been caught.
Striped bass action at Beltzville Lake remains good in the early morning or evening hours. Alewives, bucktail jigs, stick baits and even chicken liver have produced good results in catching striped bass. Bass action has been good at Beltzville Lake in the upper area of the Pohopoco Bay, power line area and near the dam breast. Panfish action remains good in most of the cove areas of the lake.
Anglers fishing the Lehigh River near Bowmanstown, and the Palmerton pool had reported good success catching Smallmouth Bass.
Boat traffic at Beltzville Lake remains busy, especially during the weekends. Boaters are encouraged to check the maps of Beltzville Lake that are posted at the boat launches indicating the Slow No Wake areas and the Water-Skiing area. Buoys are in place identifying the Special Regulation areas and the laws pertaining to these areas are strictly enforced. Boaters are always reminded to check all the required safety equipment on their boats before venturing out onto the water. In addition, please check to make sure your boat is properly registered. Motorboats and boats powered by an electric motor must display a proper motorboat registration. Unpowered boats such as canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, rowboats, etc. launching at Commission lakes or access areas including PA State Parks launch or access areas must display either a Commission launch use permit or a PA State Parks launch permit or mooring permit.
Remember, alcohol is not permitted at Beltzville Lake and Mauch Chunk Lake on both the water and shore areas. Laws pertaining to the possession and or use of alcoholic beverages are strictly enforced.
Northcentral Region
W. Northumberland/Snyder/Montour
The Adam T. Bower Memorial Dam (aka the Fabridam), that turns the Susquehanna River into Lake Augusta in the Sunbury area, is being deflated early by the DCNR at Shikellamy State Park because Bag #6 is losing air pressure. Although temporary repairs were made in June, a more permanent solution needs to be made in order to get the dam finished before the 2020 boating season begins. According to the park, because water levels will need to be dropped to begin the repairs, all boats that rent slips in the state park marina must be removed by September 3, as there may not be access to boat launches and docks.
Tioga County
Kelsey Street Dam
Anglers have found success fishing black-colored soft plastics; and, one angler even reported catching a 6lb Largemouth Bass using this bait. The panfish bite has been very good as well, using red worms and wax worms.
Hamilton Lake
If you find yourself looking to have a fish fry, Hamilton Lake is the place to find your fish. Reports from two anglers had 98 crappies caught from a boat just off the boat launch area using soft plastics reeled at a very slow pace between 6 AM and 10 AM. Once the sun hit the water, the bite slowed significantly.