Northwest Region
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Clarion County
Kahle Lake
Anglers are catching largemouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch, and crappie.
All anglers and boaters are reminded that all boats, including canoes and kayaks, are required to be registered to use this facility.
Piney Dam and the Upper Clarion River
Anglers are catching Smallmouth Bass in the shallows from Cooksburg downstream to the PFBC Millcreek Access Area. Anglers are catching Walleye in the early morning and late evening hours in the area from the Clarion Borough water plant upstream to Blyson Run. Anglers are catching nice Channel Catfish at night. All anglers and boaters are reminded that all boats, including canoes and kayaks, are required to be registered to use the PFBC’s Mill Creek and Gravel Lick Access Area’s.
Lower Clarion River
Anglers are catching smallmouth bass and a few walleye on the entire length of the river.
Erie County
Lake Erie
Walleye fishing is beginning to slow down. Anglers are catching Walleye in 60-90 feet of water. Anglers are doing the best at around 65 feet. Yellow Perch fishing seems to be picking up a little. Anglers are having the best luck jigging between 35-45 feet of water west of Walnut Creek. Anglers are catching a few Steelhead in the lake just outside of Walnut and Elk Creek.
Warren County
Allegheny River
Anglers are catching Smallmouth Bass around Betts Park by the Route 6 bridge. Anglers are catching nice sized Muskellunge in the section near Buckaloons using a variety of topwater lures and spinnerbaits.
Mandatory Cold Weather Life Jacket Wear
A person shall wear a Coast Guard approved personal flotation device (PFD or life jacket) during the cold weather months from November 1st through April 30th while underway or at anchor on boats less than 16 feet in length or any canoe or kayak.
Northeast Region
Fall Trout Stockings will begin October 1 and continue through mid-December. For more information and where and when the Fall & Winter stockings occur please visit: http://fbweb.pa.gov/stocking/TroutStockingDetails_GIS.aspx
The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission will be providing a Family Fishing Program at the Wilkes-Barre River Common on September 28th from 11am to 4pm. To pre-register and for more information please visit: https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/148844
With the cooler weather comes cooler water and the fishing in the region has begun to heat up over the past week. Area rivers and streams are still running low and could use a bit of rain to raise the levels to help both the fish and the anglers targeting them. Look for excellent fishing immediately after a rain event this time of year as the waters are rising but not yet muddied. Also, with lakes and ponds starting to cool down from their summer highs and this means you should find fish starting to stray from the deepest, coolest spots back into the shallows. Bass in both rivers and lakes will be starting to feed up before winter and the fall can be the best time to catch multiple large bass from the best fishing spots as they will be much more aggressive.
Lackawanna County
The fishing has been a little slower over the past couple of weeks but it’s about to get a whole lot better. The Roaring Brook from Dunmore to the East Scranton Teener League Field, Merli Sarnowski County Park Lake and Lackawanna Lake are all about to get stocked with trout at the beginning of October.
Water levels are very low in the Lackawanna River. Trout can get stressed easily in warm low water. Anglers should consider waiting until water levels come up and the temperature cools.
The crappie are back under the Route 407 bridge at Lackawanna Lake. Pinhead minnows have been working well. Anglers who are persistent continue to catch trout near the swimming pool area and the pier area of the lake. Rainbow colored paste baits have also worked well.
Northcentral Region
The region’s streams and rivers are low. Cool, overnight air temperatures are keeping water temperatures low. Anglers are fishing rivers and lakes for bass. The bass bite is slow but should pick-up over the next week.
Clinton County
Fishing Creek
The water level remains low and clear. The water temperature is in the 60’s. Fish spook easy in low water. Use stealth as you approach your favourite fishing area.
Allow slow, anglers are catching trout in pocket water and deep holes. The early morning hours and late evening hours are the best time to be on the water. Light weight nymphs are working well (e.g. green weenie, Frenchie, hares ear).
Dry flies that continue to work include – Elk hair caddis, midges and ISO spinners.
Centre County
Spring Creek
Spring Creek is low and clear with the water temperature holding in the 60s. Long casts will be key in most areas.
Early morning and late evening are the best hours to be on the stream. Anglers are catching trout using dry flies and nymphs. Caddis flies are still around and can tease trout to the surface during the day.
Dry flies that are working include – tan caddis, midges, terrestrials
Nymph patterns that are working include – green weenie; wet ant; hot spot sow bug.
Southeastern Region
E. Schuylkill County
The fishing in the area is starting to pick up with the water slowly cooling down and the lakes turning over. Perch are being caught at Locust Lake on worms in the morning but seem to shut down after lunch. Trout fishing at the lake has also picked up as the trout are coming near the shorelines again. Minnows and butterworms have worked well.
Catfish are hitting on the usual baits of chicken livers, night crawlers and shrimp in the Schuylkill River near Landingville. Bass fishing has been decent in the mornings and at dusk but slow during the heat of the day. Bass fishing in the rivers and streams has been tough due to low water levels.
The Little Schuylkill River still has a good number of trout but continues to have low water on the upper sections of the stream.
Tuscarora Lake has been drawn down approximately 8 feet below normal levels and will be down into November. The shoreline is very accessible for most of the lake, but trailered boats will not be able to launch. Canoes, kayaks, and small boats are still able to launch if carried farther up the boat cove. Trout stocking picks up again October 7 at Tuscarora Lake. Fall trout fishing can prove to be a lot of fun and there is generally very little pressure.
Chester County
The East Branch of the Brandywine Creek Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only waters from Dorlans Mill Road, at Latitude 40.0477 and Longitude 75.7169 to Dowlin Forge Road at Latitude 40.0347 and Longitude 75.7085 will be stocked on Wednesday October the 9th. We will meet the big white truck at Kerr Park at noon. Please come out and help us with this fall stocking and to give something back to the resource.
Are you looking to join a local Sportsmen’s Club? Consider attending one of the meetings of the West Caln Sportsmen’s Club. The club owns 40 acres of property along Telegraph Road which includes a large clubhouse, an indoor and outdoor pistol range, rifle range, archery range and fish nursery located at Hibernia County Park. Meetings are held starting at 7:30 PM on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, so the next meeting will be on October 9th. Meetings are held at the West Caln Sportsmen’s Club at 1271 Telegraph Road, Coatesville, PA. 19320. The Club is always looking for new members. For more information you can send an email to wcsportsmen@verizon.net or check out the website at http://wcsportsmen.org/
The Next meeting of the White Clay Fly-Tying Club will be at 6PM on Thursday, September 26 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 the club is behind the White Clay State Park Office.