Northwest Region
Purchase your 2022 Pennsylvania Fishing Licenses!
Mandatory Cold Weather Life Jacket Wear
Mandatory cold weather life jacket wear began on November 1st. This means that a person must wear a US Coast Guard approved personal flotation device (PFD or life jacket) while underway or at anchor on boats less than 16 feet in length or any canoe or kayak from November 1st through April 30th.
REMINDER: Once there is ice on the lakes, be sure to check the ice thickness and have safety gear ready before venturing out on the ice. Ice anglers should be sure to drill test holes as you make your way out on the ice. It is highly recommended to wear a PFD or a float coat, wear yak-tracks on your boots, and use ice awls while on the ice. For more information about ice fishing in PA, click here.
Crawford County
Woodcock Creek Lake
Ice anglers are catching Smallmouth Bass, pan fish, and Walleye. They are catching the occasional Muskellunge as well.
Woodcock Creek
Anglers are catching Muskellunge, Walleye, and panfish below the dam.
French Creek
Anglers are catching Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, and panfish. Reminder to boaters using the PFBC access to the creek, boats must be properly registered before using PFBC accesses. Also be sure to have all required safety equipment on board prior to start of your float.
Canadohta Lake
The lake is drawn down for winter. Anglers are catching panfish, Walleye, and Muskellunge through the ice.
Sugar Lake
Anglers are catching panfish, Chain Pickerel, Bowfin, and Largemouth Bass through the ice.
Tamarack Lake
The lake is open to hunters, boaters, and anglers. Anglers remember the lake is still listed as catch and release only. Anglers are catching Largemouth Bass and panfish through the ice.
Erie County
Lake Erie Tributaries
The tribs are pretty much all locked up with ice. Anglers still may find select spots with swifter running water that are open.
Presque Isle Bay
Ice fishing on the bay is in full swing. Anglers can enter the ice in many locations. Chestnut Street Launch, Liberty Park, Vista 3, Misery Bay, and Horseshoe Pond are the popular locations. Anglers are catching crappies in Misery Bay. Anglers are catching Yellow Perch off Liberty Park and Chestnut Street Launch.
Lake Pleasant
Ice fishing has been good on Lake Pleasant. Ice anglers are catching crappie and trout at Lake Pleasant. It is illegal to use live minnows at Lake Pleasant and any Emerald Shiners being used south of I90 must be certified. Always keep your receipt from the bait store for your minnows. Lake Pleasant will be closed starting February 20, 2022!
Lake LeBouef
Anglers are catching crappie and Yellow Perch at Lake LeBouef.
Howard Eaton Reservoir
The parking lots at Howard Eaton Reservoir have been plowed so fishing can be done at the reservoir.
Lake Erie
All the ramps to Lake Erie are frozen in.
Stocked Trout Waters
All Stocked Trout Waters are closed to all fishing (including taking of minnows) from February 21, 2022 to 8 a.m. on the opening day of trout season.
Northeastern Region
Wayne County
Ice fishing has been in full force since the temperatures have dropped in the region. Many anglers have been catching crappie and perch on most frozen ponds and lakes. Live bait is working well to keep the fish biting. It is cold so we strongly encourage you dress appropriately for the weather. Its recommended that you were a PFD or float coat while on the ice.
Northern Carbon and Southern Monroe County
Most lakes across the district are completely frozen over. Anglers, on some of the private impoundments, have reported catching crappie and other panfish using jigs tipped with wax worms. Anglers, ice skaters, and anyone who ventures onto the ice are reminded to always check ice conditions prior to getting onto the ice, and to remain aware of changing weather conditions.
To view more information on ice safety, an ice thickness chart and other safety information visit: Ice/Winter Fishing (fishandboat.com)
Trout stocking schedules will be available to the public soon. Monitor our social media pages and website to be the first to know when your favorite streams will be stocked! Reminder, there is now only one statewide trout opening day. This will occur on the first Saturday of April. The youth day will be the Saturday prior.
Northwest Monroe, Southern Wayne, and Western Pike County
Ice fishing is beginning to heat up in the heart of the Poconos, as many lakes are starting see solid ice. Many lakes, such as Tobyhanna and Brady’s, in are seeing as much as 8-12 inches of ice. Many individuals have been taking the opportunity to get out and they have been rewarded for doing so.
We are seeing good catch numbers in Tobyhanna Lake, with most individuals catching decent size pickerel and perch. Brady’s Lake has seen people pulling out nice sized Black Crappie, a species that is common in that lake.
Lake Wallenpaupack has seen its share of ice as well, with as many as 50 people fishing around Mangan Cove on any given day. The area of the lake by Ledgedale has also seen decent ice, with as much as 8 inches, and people are taking advantage of it.
As a reminder, please use caution when going out onto the ice and be sure to test it before beginning your fishing excursion. Be sure to pack proper gear, wear enough clothing and let someone know where you are going.
Southeastern Region
Northern Bucks County
The 2022 stocking season is approaching, and the stocking schedules are posted on the website for you to keep an eye on when your favorite stream is scheduled to be stocked!
Remember that the schedules are subject to change due to weather and other factors.
Please note that all waters designated as Stocked Trout Waters will close on February 21st. Trout may not be harvested until the statewide Mentored Youth day (March 26th) and Statewide Opening Day (April 2nd). Information about the Mentored Youth program can be found at: fishandboat.com/Fish/FishingRegulations/Pages/MentoredYouthProgram.aspx
Those of you who are looking to buy a fishing license online can use our license sales website at huntfish.pa.gov. It is a one stop shop for all you fishing/hunting license, boat registration, launch permit needs.
North Chester County
Marsh Creek & Struble Lake: The ice fishing has been decent at Struble Lake. Small Crappies and Bluegills with an occasional largemouth bass have been caught. Bluegills and crappies are being taken on shiners and chubs, mealworms, and small jigs of various colors well. The ice thickness varies across the lake. The ice on Marsh Creek is not nearly as thick as Struble Lake. skim ice along the edges of Marsh Creek Lake, so be careful and don’t take anything for granted.
The creeks are cold and, in some cases, ice covered with no activity observed. The French Creek Fly Fishing only area, Pickering, East Brandywine & West Valley DHALOs are all scheduled to be stocked on February 22nd.
Southern Bucks County
Trout season is slowly closing in upon us bringing with it many changes for this year. Stocking schedules will be posted in our website at: https://www.fishandboat.com
Please remember that changes may be made when needed due to weather or other outside factors.
If you haven’t already done so, go to https://www.huntfish.pa.gov/ to buy you fishing license (and trout stamp if you’re planning on fishing for trout). Here you can also purchase hunting and licenses, launch permits, boat registration renewals, permits and the like on any device. After purchase, you can download your fishing license and print it at home.
For permits and registrations, you will be mailed your documents. Updating information to include address changes is made quite simpler as well. You still have the option of visiting your local store that participates in the license sales program.
Please note, that the new licenses are now green instead of yellow. Multiyear licenses that are yellow do NOT need to be replaced.
For more information, you can visit the PA State Pressroom article at https://www.media.pa.gov/pages/fish-and-boat-commission-details.aspx?newsid=361.
There will be a single Statewide Mentored Youth Trout Day, and a single Statewide Opening Day of trout season this year.
Mentored Youth Day will be held on the 26th of March. Fishing begins at 08:00 a.m. Youth under 16 years old, with a Mentored Youth Permit OR a Voluntary Youth Fishing License and accompanied by a mentor who has a valid fishing license and trout permit, can fish in certain trout stocked waters before regional opening day. Youth anglers may possess a total of two trout (combined species) with a minimum length of 7 inches. Adult anglers are prohibited from possessing trout.
For more information and specific rules and regulations pertaining to mentored youth day, visit our website at http://www.fishandboat.com/Fish/FishingRegulations/Pages/MentoredYouthProgram.aspx. The only two locations that will be stocked for mentored youth day in Southern Bucks County are Levittown Lake and Lake Luxembourg at Core Creek Park.
Regional opening day of trout this year is April 2nd at 08:00 a.m.
As a continued reminder, the mandatory cold weather personal flotation device wear remains in effect.
Visit our site at http://www.fishandboat.com/Boat/WaterandIceSafety/Pages/default.aspx for more details.