Northwest Region
Get your fishing license ONLINE!
2020 Fishing Licenses are now available for purchase – Click here to purchase
REMINDER:
Mandatory Cold Weather Life Jacket Wear began on November 1, 2019 and runs through April 30, 2020 for anyone on boats less than 16 feet and in all canoes and kayaks. Learn more here
Reminder: The PFBC does not monitor ice thickness. Ice thickness and conditions can vary greatly across the lake. Use caution as you head out onto the ice. A life jacket and a set of ice awls can be extremely important if you fall though the ice.
REMEMBER – SAFETY FIRST: https://www.fishandboat.com/Fish/Fishing/Pages/IceWinterFishing.aspx
Mercer County
Shenango Reservoir
Ice fishing has been non-existent so far this year, due to the exceptionally warm weather we have been experiencing. A few anglers have been taking advantage of the unseasonably warm weather to venture out and fish. Anglers are catching crappie and Yellow Perch. A reminder that Shenango Reservoir is now designated as a Panfish Enhancement Lake. Crappie must be 9 inches to harvest and the creel limit went from 50 to 20.
Shenango River
The Shenango River fish consumption advisory is still in effect until further notice.
Warren County
Allegheny River
Anglers are catching Smallmouth Bass around Betts Park by the Route 6 bridge. Anglers are catching Muskellunge around the Buckaloons area. Anglers are catching Smallmouth Bass near the Tidioute PFBC Access Area Smallmouth Bass by using grubs as bait.
Northcentral Region
REMINDER:
Mandatory Cold Weather Life Jacket wear began on November 1, 2019 and ends on April 30, 2020 for all canoes, kayaks and boats under 16 feet in length. Learn more here
Ice fishing safety and more!
Check out PA Fish and Boat Commission’s Ice/Winter Fishing Page for Ice Safety tips, Ice Fishing tips and more! – https://www.fishandboat.com/Fish/Fishing/Pages/IceWinterFishing.aspx
Tioga County
Recent cold temperatures have helped build ice however, anglers are still not ice fishing. As cold weather stays consistent, look for ice fishing opportunities by the end of this week.
Reminder: Always check ice conditions yourself before heading out on the lake. It is a good idea to contact local sporting goods stores for ice condition updates prior to venturing out.
Hamilton Lake
Anglers have been catching stocked trout off the dock at the boat launch using paste baits and wax worms. Some anglers report success fishing in the spillway.
Pine Creek
The Keystone Select was recently extended, and many anglers are reporting approval of the extension. If you find yourself looking to get outside, this section of water provides a great opportunity for fishing.
Centre County
Spring Creek
The creek is fishing well even with cooler temperatures. Anglers report good midday success nymphing slow moving pocket water.
Hot patterns for anglers right now include pheasant tail nymphs and hot spot sow bugs. Olive and black slumpbusters have been reported to move hungry trout as well.
Southeastern Region
Get your fishing license ONLINE!
2020 Fishing Licenses are now available for purchase – Click here to purchase
REMINDER:
Mandatory Cold Weather Life Jacket Wear began on November 1, 2019 and runs through April 30, 2020 for anyone on boats less than 16 feet and in all canoes and kayaks. Learn more here
Chester County
The White Clay Fly-Tying club will meet at 6 PM on Thursday, January 23 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. At the last club meeting, Frank taught a few of the members how to tie the Ridley Ugly, which he said is supposed to imitate a yellow jacket or bee. Many of you 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.
It is beginning to look like ice fishing is not going to happen in the Southeast this year. For those of you that are looking for fishing opportunities prior to the Regional Opening Day, (April 4th this year), the White Clay Creek DHALO, Trophy Select Section, is always open. The DHALO section is from Good Hope Road, downstream 1.7 miles to the confluence with the mouth of the White Clay Creek. This secluded and scenic stream is also Keystone Select Stocked Trout Waters, so it is stocked with some big fish (14-20 inches) each year by the Fish & Boat Commission. The White Clay Fly-fishers recently stocked the section with over 400 beautiful brown trout, so finding fish in the 11 to 15-inch size is not uncommon. At a recent club meeting of the White Clay Fly-Fishers several anglers reported catching nice size brown trout. Remember that this is a Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Section so make sure you follow the law, and don’t forget to bring and display your fishing license and trout stamp if you’re 16 or older. See the Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures and Trophy Select Regulations for more info. Good Luck.
Delaware County
Fishermen in Delaware County seem to be taking advantage of the mild temperatures thus far this winter. Anglers are fishing for trout throughout Chester Creek and the Fly-Fishing section on Ridley Creek. There have been a handful of anglers daily along the Delaware River behind UPS as well.
The Delaware River Striped Bass Tournament has a tentative date of April 18. Complete details for the tournament are being discussed, as some regulatory changes are looming. Anglers should be advised that the Striped Bass Regs for the Delaware River will probably be different than what is posted in your summary book. The final rulemaking on this year’s regulations won’t happen until mid-February at the earliest. Recent discussions with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has promulgated states to refine their regulations to support plans to protect and enhance the fishery. The currently posted slot limit ranges for the season beginning April 1st is subject to change, as well as the size of the 1 fish limit currently listed for March 1st to March 31st. Additionally, Pennsylvania is considering adopting circle hook regulations for bait fishing in the Delaware River and its estuaries. Pay attention to the reports and contact your local WCO or Region Office before you set out to fish for the stripers in March.
Trout stocking schedules for the 2020 season should be published soon. Most of the Delco stockings will be status quo, with minimal changes. The District WCO will have pocket stocking guides available by mid-February. Check with WCO Evancho when you see him if you need one or contact your local State Rep’s office. Copies are often available in Rep. Barrar, Rep Braneky, Rep. Delloso, and Rep. Zabel’s offices.
Lancaster County
Donegal Trout Unlimited will be conducting a Fishing Creek Watershed public forum on Thursday January 23, 2020 to further educate the public as to water quality initiatives and Fishing Creek restoration projects within the Fishing Creek watershed. Fishing Creek is a PFBC Stocked Trout Water designated as a High Quality-Cold Water Fishery by PA DEPs Chapter 93 Water Quality Standards. To read more and register refer to the link below: https://www.townlively.com/public-forum-to-focus-on-fishing-creek/
In 2006 a Fishing Creek Watershed Assessment was prepared by Rettew Associates for the Lancaster County Conservancy as funded in part by a grant from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund under the administration of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation and by a Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grant administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Per the studies executive summary introduction which provides a descriptive overview of the watershed: “The Fishing Creek Watershed encompasses 14.2 square miles of rolling farmland and forested woodlots and ravines in southern Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The watershed is drained by the main stem of Fishing Creek (12.2 miles in length), which is fed by 18 unnamed tributaries of varying lengths (totaling 17 miles). Fishing Creek originates just east of the village of Rawlinsville, PA in Providence Township and flows south through Drumore Township and the steep river hills to its confluence with the Susquehanna River. The rural watershed is predominantly comprised of agricultural lands including fields, pastureland, barnyards and farmsteads. Deciduous, coniferous and mixed forests (comprising less than a third of the watershed) are concentrated along Fishing Creek and most of its tributaries. Institutional, residential and urban land uses also dot the watershed’s landscape. Designated as a High Quality-Cold Water Fishery, Fishing Creek supports a diverse aquatic macroinvertebrate community and a wild brown trout fishery that has the potential of even becoming better through the implementation of agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) and restoration remedies at various impaired stream segments in the watershed.”
DTU is to be commended for their leadership in acquisition of grant funding and meeting with riparian landowners to bring restoration projects from concept to conclusion. As a PFBC Stocked Trout Water since 2003, the PFBC currently stocks from access points extending for 8.5 miles of the total 12.2 miles from headwaters at near to Rawlinsville to the mouth with the Susquehanna River. The 2020 Trout Opener is slated for Saturday, April 4, plan accordingly to catch your creel at either of the two recent years improved creek sections. In 2018 a stream restoration project was completed at Camp Andrews, with installation of 21 in-stream devices that will serve to slow stormwater runoff, trap sediment and provide fish habitat.
In 2019, work was completed on two riparian properties nearer to the PFBC Stocked Trout Water Lower Limit, fish habitat structures extended to approximately 5,000-lineal feet of Fishing Creek. Installed structures included 1,629 feet of mudsill, 195 feet of rock or log toe, twenty-one single rock or log vanes, seven rock cross vanes, five random boulder clusters, four large wood removals or placements, and two livestock crossings.
Northampton County
Anglers have been catching Brown trout and a few Rainbow Trout in the Martins Creek above the lower dam. These anglers were using nymph patterns with fly rods. During the nice weather in January anglers have been seen fishing Saucon Creek in Saucon Park. This Trophy Trout regulated section is a great place to find some larger Brown Trout. Anglers are reminded to read the signs and be familiar with the regulations, and boundaries of the section. Lastly, the adult trout stocking schedule should be published on the website soon. Trout stocking in the spring is a great way to assist in the stocking process, as well as provide an opportunity to get out of the house as the temperatures start to warm.