Pennsylvania Fishing Report – March 5, 2020

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 through the ice.
REMEMBER – SAFETY FIRST:  https://www.fishandboat.com/Fish/Fishing/Pages/IceWinterFishing.aspx

Venango County

Stocked Trout Waters Closure

Stocked Trout Waters are closed to all fishing activities as of March 1st. Stocked Trout Waters will reopen with the start of the statewide trout season, which is at 8:00 A.M. on Saturday, April 18, 2020.

Walleye Closure (Commonwealth Inland Waters)

Anglers are reminded that walleye season closes starting March 15th. As of that date, through 12:01 A.M. on Saturday, May 2nd, no Walleye may be taken, killed, or held in field possession.

Venango County Trout Stocking for 2020

Trout stocking in Venango County begins on March 4^th. Individuals wishing to attend are urged to reference the 2020 TROUT STOCKING link found on the agency’s home page, at www.fishandboat.com, in order to verify the appropriate date and time of your favorite stream(s).

Allegheny River

Boaters are reminded that the ice control device, just upstream of Oil City’s State Street Bridge, remains in place.

French Creek

A few anglers targeting walleye continue to try their luck along the stream’s middle reaches within the county; however, water is very murky.

Oil Creek

With flowing water and moderate conditions, anglers continue their luck in either of the Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures areas (Petroleum Center & Drake Well).

Warren County

Allegheny River

Anglers are catching smallmouth bass around Betts Park by the Route 6 bridge. Anglers are catching nice size muskellunge near Buckaloons on the river. Anglers are catching smallmouth bass near the Tidioute Access Area using grubs as bait.

Northeastern Region

PA Trout Strocking Schedules
2020 Pennsylvania Trout Stocking Schedules are now available: https://fbweb.pa.gov/stocking/TroutStockingDetails_GIS.aspx

Get your fishing license ONLINE!
2020 Pennsylvania Fishing Licenses are now on sale!  Buy fishing licenses and gift vouchers at more than 650 agents across the state or online at: GoneFishingPa.com

REMINDER:
The Mandatory Cold Weather Life Jacket Wear is now in effect and runs from November 1st through April 30th. You must wear a Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device while underway or at anchor on boats less than 16 feet in length and any canoe or kayak.

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 through the ice.

REMEMBER – SAFETY FIRST:  https://www.fishandboat.com/Fish/Fishing/Pages/IceWinterFishing.aspx

Wyoming County

Over the last couple of weeks, generally, the Susquehanna River has been ideal for early season anglers. Anglers fishing the Susquehanna River from Falls to Laceyville have been catching nice sized walleye. The most effective bait has still been live minnows, but artificial swimbaits and jigs provided some success as well. Early last week the river was at its best condition for water clarity and temperature and a few experienced anglers caught their limit of walleye as well as some nice-sized channel catfish and smallmouth bass in the mix.

Susquehanna County

With a very limited ice fishing season there has not been a lot of opportunity throughout the region to enjoy time on the hard water. Before this last warm spell, some nice fish were caught by anglers on Stump Pond in New Milford. Hopefully next year we will have a better season!

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

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.

Tioga County

Reminder: Warm weather over the past few days has made ice conditions variable and potentially dangerous. 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.

Hills Creek

Recent warm temperatures and rain have put a damper on ice fishing. As the season transitions to spring, anglers are reminded to use extreme caution when venturing out on the water. Fishing in the area will heat up as fish become more active given the warming temperatures.

Clinton and Lycoming Counties

West Branch Susquehanna River

Anglers are reporting success fishing for muskellunge and walleye. Recent warmer temperatures have fish active; it is a great time to get out on the water as spring is fast approaching. Remember to use caution when fishing this time of year as warmer days can be deceiving to how cold the water is. The mandatory cold-weather life jacket wear regulation is still in effect.

Pine Creek

The water temperature is currently in the high 30’s. Little Black Stoneflies are currently hatching with the occasional report of Blue-Winged Olives on warmer days. Anglers continue to report sub-surface techniques as being the most productive using both nymphs and streamers.

Fishing Creek

The water temperature is currently in the low 40’s. The creek is fishing well and currently has great color. Stoneflies and caddis larvae imitations are currently working well in slower-moving tail outs and pocket water. Hot patterns include biot epoxy brown stone and pheasant tail nymphs. Streamers are also effective this time of year.

Centre County

Spring Creek

Currently, the water temperature is in the 40’s. Anglers are reporting catching the occasional fish on dry flies as Blue-Winged Olives are becoming more frequent given the warming temperatures. This will only continue to improve in the coming weeks. Nymphing the slower moving pockets is currently producing the most success. Pheasant tail nymphs, as well as egg patterns, are working well right now. Sculpin patterns are also producing fish.

Southeastern Region

Please note that waterways regulated as Stocked Trout Waters are now closed to fishing until the SE Regional Opening Day of Trout Season on April 4. There are plenty of special regulation trout waters that are open to year-round fishing, and lakes, rivers and streams that are not regulated as Stocked Trout Waters are open to fishing at this time if you are looking to get out and cast a line in this spring-like weather!

There are two expos this weekend in the region where we will have a booth. The Fly Fishing Show in the Lancaster County Convention Center, and the Philly Boat Show at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks. They both have websites and Facebook pages where you can find times, directions and other details. Stop by the booths to pick up free literature, chat with PFBC staff and we can sell licenses online using the Outdoor Shop, or show you how to access the online shop so you can buy your license from home.

Chester County

The Orvis Store in Downingtown at 70 Quarry Rd will offer a free course Fly-Fishing 101 on Saturday March 21 from 9:00AM till 11:30AM. The course will cover everything that the beginning fly fisherman will need to know to get started in fly fishing.  For more information you can call the store at 610-873-8400 or visit the website at www.orvis.com/downingtown

The Orvis Store in Downingtown at 70 Quarry Rd will offer a free course Fly-Fishing 101 on Sunday, March 22 from 9:00AM till 11:30AM. The course will cover everything that the beginning fly fisherman will need to know to get started in fly fishing.  For more information you can call the store at 610-873-8400 or visit the website at www.orvis.com/downingtown

The White Clay Fly-Tying club will meet at 6 PM on Thursday, March 12th 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. 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. The club mailing address is P.O. Box 762, Landenberg, PA 19350 for more information. Parking for club is behind the White Clay State Park Office.

The West Branch Brandywine Creek Section 3, that is, from Cedar Knoll Bridge down to Route 340 will be stocked with trout on Thursday March 12th. We will meet across from the Sadsburyville Post Office at 11:30 AM. Please come out and help us make it a great regional opening day, Saturday, April 4, at 8 AM.

The Little Cocalico Creek, Section 2, from 250 yards upstream of Resh Road, to the mouth, Muddy Creek, section 2, from 100 yards upstream of the Pleasant Valley Road Bridge to the 897 Bridge in Fivepointville, and Rock Run, Section 2, from the campground boundary just a little more than 1 mile south of the Berks County Line to the mouth, have been stocked with trout. Remember that all three streams are closed until the Regional Opening Day of trout, April 4th at 8 AM this year. The stocking locations for the Little Cocalico Creek were the Hat Factory stop #2, Ware House #3, Miller Road #4, the Pipe Yard #5, Mechanic Drive #6, Main Street Route 897 #7, and Resh Road #8. The stocking points for Muddy Creek were the Township Office #1, Long Lane #2, the fenced gate on Pleasant Valley Road #3 and the Bridge on Fivepointville Road #4. The stocking points for Rock Run were behind an Amish School #1, the King Farm #2, and Oaklyn Drive #3. Thanks to everyone who came out and braved the pouring rain to assist with the stocking and thanks to Dick D. for coordinating the effort.

The Big Elk Creek, Section 1, from the confluence with the East Branch & West Branch Elk Creek to T307 Camp Bonsall Road and the East Branch Big Elk, Section 2, from New London Township line to the Confluence with the West Branch Elk Creek, and the White Clay Creek, Middle Branch Section 2, will be stocked with trout on Monday, March 9th. We will meet at the intersection of Route 1 and Route 896, we will be on 896 at 12:00 PM. On one of my most recent stocking in Lancaster, we had only two persons to help stock the trout. Please come out to assist us with the stocking.

Beaver Creek, Pocopson Creek and Buck Run will be stocked with trout on Tuesday, March 10. We will be meeting the stocking truck across from the Sadsburyville Post Office at noon. Once again, we have had very little help on our stockings and our staff would appreciate if you can come out to give something back to the resource. If you have not yet taken a kid on a stocking, put it on your list of things that you must do. Thanks. Tom