Northwest Region
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Butler County
Lake Arthur
With winter approaching, anglers are catching catfish with some regularity. Preferred baits include chicken liver, shrimp or crawlers off the bottom. Anglers should try locations such as Rt. 528 access and Bear Run fishing pier. Anglers are Walleye on the old 422 road bed by using a jig or drift a nightcrawler for best results.
Glade Run Lake
Trout are the only species that may be taken. All other fish species if caught, must be immediately released unharmed. Boats must be registered or permitted to use this PFBC property. Boats dry-moored at the lake must have a valid Use Permit or registration. Moored boats must be removed by November 1st.
The Glades (SGL 95)
Don’t underestimate this lake for Channel Cats and big Largemouth Bass! The best bass fishing is by small boat. Nice sized cats are fishable from shore from early evening to early morning using almost any kind of bait; hotdogs, shrimp, liver, crawlers and minnows. Please keep the areas clean. Make sure to take all your trash with you!
NOTE: Boats accessing The Glades must be non-powered or electric motor only. Although no permits are required for non-powered boats, valid motorboat registration is required for boats using electric motors. Boats my not enter the waterfowl propagation area after August 31st. The propagation area is marked appropriately with yellow signs.
Clarion County
Kahle Lake
Anglers are catching a lot of largemouth bass and some panfish.
All anglers and boaters are reminded that all boats, including canoes and kayaks, are required to be registered or have a launch permit to use this facility.
Piney Dam and the Upper Clarion River
Anglers are catching Walleye in the late evening and early morning hours by trolling the shoreline areas. Anglers are catching some nice Smallmouth Bass during the daytime and Channel Catfish at night. All anglers and boaters using the Mill Creek and Gravel Lick Access Areas are reminded that all boats, including canoes and kayaks, are required to be registered or have a launch permit to use these facilities.
Lower Clarion River (Piney Dam to Confluence with Allegheny River)
Anglers are catching some nice Walleye and Smallmouth Bass in the rocky areas near the confluence with the Allegheny River.
Allegheny River (Emlenton to Lock #9)
Anglers are catching some nice Walleye in the area around the Parker Islands. Anglers are also catching good numbers of nice Smallmouth Bass during the day and Channel Catfish at night. All anglers and boaters using the Parker City and Brady’s Bend Access Areas are reminded that all boats, including canoes and kayaks, are required to be registered or have a launch permit to use these facilities.
Beaver Creek Ponds Project
Anglers are catching Largemouth Bass and panfish.
Northeast Region
Carbon County
Anglers fishing at Mauch Chunk Lake have been catching crappie from the fishing pier at Boat Launch A. A jig tipped with a minnow has been an effective method to catch the crappie. Most of the crappie action had been occurring towards the evening hours. Although very few walleyes are caught at Mauch Chunk Lake, one angler was successful to catch a 22-inch walleye while also fishing from the fishing pier. Bass action remains good; however, most bass are less than the minimum size of 15 inches. Mauch Chunk Lake is governed by the Big Bass Program Special Regulations.
Bass action at Beltzville Lake has been good in the upper reaches of the Pohopoco Creek bay and near the dam breast. Striped Bass have been active in the area of the Pine Run boat access during the early evening hours. Live bait, buck tail jigs and even chicken liver have been good choices to catch Striped Bass. Perch action has been good in several coves around the lake. Boating activity remains busy during the weekends at the lake.
Most of the trout stocked streams in the district have been flowing low in recent weeks and little to no fishing activity has been occurring. Anglers are reminded that the Extended Trout Season is now underway on Stocked Trout Waters and all waters downstream of Stocked Trout Waters. The daily creel limit of trout is now 3 (combined species).
Anglers are reminded that the Pohopoco Creek from the outlet of Beltzville Lake downstream to the cable across the creek at the Hideaway Hunting & Fishing Club is designated as both a Class A Wild Trout Stream and Stocked Trout Water. The Extended Season from September 3, 2019 through February 29, 2020 is No Harvest – Catch and Immediate Release Only.
Northcentral Region
REMINDER – Anglers are reminded that the “Extended Season” for trout began on September 3, 2019 and runs through December 31, 2019.
Learn more about size limits and creel limits for the “Extended Season” by clicking the link below – https://www.fishandboat.com/Fish/PennsylvaniaFishes/Trout/Pages/TroutSeasonOverview.aspx
FALL STOCKING SEASON – PA Fish and Boat Commission’s Fall Stocking season is just around the corner. Click the link to see our fall stocking list – http://fbweb.pa.gov/stocking/TroutStockingDetails_GIS.aspx
Elk County
Hamilton Lake
Crappie fishing is still excellent on Hamilton Lake. Near the upper end of the lake, in 4-8 feet of water, anglers catching Crappie using small jigs on 1/8 oz. heads, fished near the top end of the lake in 4-8 feet of water. Anglers are reminded, if they take a boat on the lake, to make sure all required safety equipment is on-board and that your launch permit/boat registration is up to date.
Hills Creek Lake
A fall drawdown of the lake is planned. This may impact boating activities (e.g. launching and retrieving boats). Please call the park office prior to a trip to the waterway.
Northumberland, Union and Snyder Counties
Susquehanna River
The Fibri-Dam in Sunbury is being deflated for maintenance. The river will be several feet lower than normal summer level; therefore, boaters and anglers must keep watch for obstructions and areas of shallow water. Boaters and anglers must stay out of the designated exclusion zone of the Fabri-dam.
The bass bite is slow, but a few anglers are catching bass using tubes, grubs, and minnows. With water temperatures dropping and weather changing, the bass bite should improve over the next few weeks.
Clinton County
Fishing Creek
The water is low and clear. Tough fishing conditions should improve with rain in the forecast over the next few days. Water temperature is in the 60s.
Anglers who venture out are having luck in early morning and late evening hours. With water this low, stealth is key. If you don’t have confidence fishing low, clear pools, target the pocket water with small nymphs.
Nymph patterns that continued to work include – beadhead green weenie (#12-16), Frenchie (#14-18), flashback pheasant tail nymph (#14-18), iron lotus (#16-18) and hares ear(#12-16).
Dry flies that continue to work include – Elk hair caddis (#8-12), midges (#20-26) and ISO spinners (#8-12).
Centre County
Spring Creek
Spring Creek is back down and clearing. A few days of rain should bump water levels a bit. Water temperature is in the 60s.
Anglers are catching fish in the early morning and late evening hours. Terrestrial patterns continue to tease trout to the surface and reward patient anglers.
Nymph patterns that are working include – green weenie (#10-18); wet ant (#12-18); hot spot sow bug (#14-16); iron lotus (#16-18).
During or just after rain events, olive or black streamer patterns will work well, near the stream banks (#6-10).
Southeastern Region
E. Berks & N. Montgomery Counties
Anglers on the Schuylkill River are landing large Flathead Catfish this time of year. Bluegill seems to be the preferred bait, but fish are being landed on all sorts of baits from Night Crawlers to Chicken Livers. With the weather getting cooler in the evenings it’s a great time of year to get out at night and enjoy some great Catfishing. Just downstream of the Black Rock Dam is a great place to fish from the shore. Montgomery County Parks maintain the Canal Park on the Mont Clare side of the River. This park offers ample parking and is open all evening to anglers. All Montgomery Park rules apply at this location a sign board is in place listing all the local rules, which include No Open Fires & No Alcohol on Park Property.
Philadelphia County
The Philly Fun Fishing Fest was held this past Saturday, September 7 along the Schuylkill Banks Greenway. Here are some of the stats from this year’s event. The Fishing Fest is a partnership event led by Philadelphia Water Department, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, Schuylkill Banks and the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission.
- 112 participants
- 250 fish caught
- 11 different species
- Channel Catfish
- Flathead Catfish
- American Eel
- Bluegill
- White Perch
- Blue Back Herring
- Spot
- Striped Bass
- Yellow Perch
- Crappie
- American Shad
Northampton County
The PA Fish & Boat Commission will be holding a Basic Boating Course at Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center on Saturday, October 5, 2019 from 9AM – 5PM. Jacobsburg EE Center is located at 400 Belfast Road, Nazareth, PA 18064. The course is free. Registration is required. Please bring your own lunch. Registration is handled via the Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center online calendar at https://events.dcnr.pa.gov/
Boating courses are fun for the entire family and are offered at many locations throughout the state and in your own home. People who successfully complete a Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission approved boating course are issued a Boating Safety Education Certificate good for a lifetime. There is a $10 fee to process the certificate.
Boating Safety Education Certificates are required:
- To operate a personal watercraft
- For persons born on or after January 1, 1982, to operate boats powered by motors greater than 25 horsepower.
For questions about the course, contact Andrew Desko at 215-968-3631 or adesko@pa.gov