Northwest Region
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REMINDER:
Mandatory Cold Weather Life Jacket Wear begins on November 1, 2019 and runs through April 30, 2020. Learn more here
Erie County
Steelhead Tributaries
Fishing in Western Erie County is good right now. Anglers are catching steelhead on all of the tributaries. Walnut Creek is the slowest at the time being. Elk Creek has Steelhead all the way up to Interstate 79. Crooked Creek has been producing the biggest steelhead and the most consistent fishing so far this season. The mouths of Walnut and Elk Creek have been relatively slow this year, but anglers are still catching fish in the morning and evening hours.
Mercer County
Shenango Reservoir
The drawdown for winter pool has started. During this time of year, boaters share the waters with hunters so be respectful of each other. The Shenango Reservoir is designated as a panfish enhancement area. This means that crappie must be 9 inches in length and the creel limit has dropped from 50 to 20 crappie per day. All other panfish still have a 50 fish creel limit, but only 20 of the total can be crappie.
Venango County
Allegheny River
Anglers are catching smallmouth bass primarily on tubes, jigs, and spinners.
Anglers are catching some nice walleye as well throughout the county section of the river.
Oil Creek
Anglers are catching Smallmouth Bass on live bait and minnows. The Lower Delayed Harvest/Keystone Select waters of Oil Creek received its annual fall stocking on October 2, 2019.
French Creek
Anglers are catching Smallmouth Bass and Walleye using jigs tipped with Shiners and grubs.
Justus Lake
Anglers are catching trout on worms and Smallmouth Bass on live bait. Boaters are reminded that only manual, wind powered, and/or electric motor driven watercraft are permitted on Justus Lake. The use of internal combustion engines is PROHIBITED.
Northcentral Region
REMINDER:
Mandatory Cold Weather Life Jacket Wear begins on November 1, 2019 and runs through April 30, 2020. Learn more here
Clinton County
West Branch Susquehanna River
Anglers are catching a few musky and a few Smallmouth Bass using a variety of techniques.
Fishing Creek
The water temperature remains in the 40s. Water levels is average for this time of year.
Anglers are catching trout using olive or black streamer patterns. Other fly patterns that are catching trout include peach/orange egg, flashback pheasant tail, Frenchie, hares ear and large stonefly nymphs.
Try to key in to the deeper runs or pools for the trout.
Centre County
Spring Creek
The water temperature is in the 40s. Water flow and clarity is also good. Anglers are catching trout using nymphs and streamers.
Fly patterns that are currently working include peach/orange egg patterns, sow bugs, scuds, walt’s worm and bead head pheasant tails.
Streamer colors that are working include olive or black patterns.
Southeastern Region
Chester County
A Basic Boating course will be held on Saturday February 29th at Hibernia County Park Hibernia Mansion at 1 Park Road in Coatesville, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Boating Safety Education Certificates are required for all operators of personal watercraft, regardless of age, and for boat operators born after January 1, 1982 that operate motorboats of more than 25 horsepower. This free PA Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC) course is designed to help boaters make better informed decisions on the water. Instructors will provide course materials and information via a classroom setting to help you reduce the risk of injury and conflict on the water. Those who successfully complete the course may obtain this certificate, which is good for a lifetime (fees apply). A minimum of eight hours of classroom instruction is required to pass the course. Participants should bring a lunch and snacks. Space is limited so register soon. Pre-registration is required by emailing Andy Desko at adesko@pa.gov or by phone at 215-968-3631. You can also get more information on the web at http://fbweb.pa.gov/Calendar/All_Gridview.aspx?TN=boating_courses&DAY=ALL
A Basic Boating course will be held on Sunday March 1st at Hibernia County Park Hibernia Mansion at 1 Park Road in Coatesville, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Boating Safety Education Certificates are required for all operators of personal watercraft, regardless of age, and for boat operators born after January 1, 1982 that operate motorboats of more than 25 horsepower. This free PA Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC) course is designed to help boaters make better informed decisions on the water. Instructors will provide course materials and information via a classroom setting to help you reduce the risk of injury and conflict on the water. Those who successfully complete the course may obtain this certificate, which is good for a lifetime (fees apply). A minimum of eight hours of classroom instruction is required to pass the course. Participants should bring a lunch and snacks. Space is limited so register soon. Pre-registration is required by emailing Andy Desko at adesko@pa.gov or by phone at 215-968-3631. You can also get more information on the web at http://fbweb.pa.gov/Calendar/All_Gridview.aspx?TN=boating_courses&DAY=ALL
Berks County/N. Montgomery County
It was a beautiful fall day in Berks County on Wednesday the 6th of November for the winter stocking of Lake Antietam. The weather was great, the fish looked great, and the water was nice and cold. Deep Creek Lake in Montgomery County also got stocked from the same truck. The trout came from Huntsdale Hatchery and couldn’t have looked better, so grab your rods and get there and enjoy some wonderful winter trout fishing. Keep in mind we are in the extended trout season with the daily creel limit of 3 fish.