Northwest Region
Purchase your 2022 Pennsylvania Fishing Licenses!
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.
Forest County
Allegheny River
Northern Pike and Muskellunge fishing has been productive from the shore and from boats. Anglers can access the Sand and Gravel Island from the parking area near the Lighthouse and walk to the Allegheny River or Tionesta Creek. The confluence of the Allegheny River and Council Run is also productive for Muskellunge and Northern Pike.
Tionesta Outflow
Anglers are reminded that they must have purchased a Trout Permit to fish in the Tionesta Outflow, regardless of fishing for, or keeping trout.
Tionesta Lake (Nebraska Bridge)
Water levels fluctuate which could cause the boat launch and road to become inaccessible. Anglers have caught crappies, Yellow Perch, and Bluegill from the bridge in past years.
Ross Run
The Kellettville Sportsman’s Club will be stocking trout on April 23, 2022, at the Children Only Fishing Area on Ross Run. Children must be 15 years of age or younger to fish in the Children Only Area.
Tom’s Run
The Marienville Rod and Gun Club will stock the Children’s Pond on Tom’s Run each week from Memorial Day weekend through June.
Northeastern Region
Wyoming County
Currently, most Stocked Trout Waters in the district area are running at near perfect levels for this time of year. Trout have had the opportunity to become acclimated and can be found spread throughout the streams. West Branch Meshoppen Creek and Bowmans Creek have been two of the better streams to fish this year.
A variety of presentations have been working well including live bait, spinners, spoons, and flies. For those that prefer not to fish streams, Lake Winola has been producing nice sized trout on spoons and crappie on white jigs. The Susquehanna River remains high and muddy, but a few Channel Catfish are being caught on nightcrawlers.
Columbia and Southern Luzerne Counties
Another trout opener is in the books and those willing to brave the cold temps on the opener, had mixed results. There is no shortage of fish and as the weather and water continues to warm the fishing will only get better. Trout are being had across the district’s Stocked Trout Waters, on anything from the most delicate dry flies to rudimentary grocery store baits such as cheese and marshmallows.
Crappies have begun to stage for the spawn, and decent sized fish have been had at Lily Lake, Francis E. Walter Resevoir and Mud Pond. If you find one, there will likely be many others.
The Susquehanna River has been running high, swift, and muddy which has caused very limited boating and fishing opportunities. Most anglers are finding limited success using live or scented artificial baits. Using a lure with a lot of vibration or noise can also bring a few fish to hand. Regardless of what species you’re in search of the season has just begun and better fishing days are ahead of us.
Northwest. Monroe, Southern Wayne, and Western Pike Counties
Trout season is officially here, and anglers have been taking full advantage of the freshly stocked trout and the recent nice weather. Tobyhanna and Promised Land Lower Lake have been very popular with both lakes already receiving an in-season stocking of many nice sized trout. Anglers from both lakes are reporting great catch reports so far this year, with many anglers taking their limit with nice sized trout. Worms, green paste baits, and gold spinners seem to be doing the trick.
The Lehigh River, near Gouldsboro, has been tough fishing so far this year due to high, fast water making the fish more spread out and tight lipped than usual. This is sure to change as the rain becomes less frequent, the water warms, and another stocking occurs in a few weeks.
The recent surge in rain has also caused the stocking of the West Branch of the Wallenpaupack Creek to be postponed last week until the 21st of this month.
Boating activity is beginning to pick up on Lake Wallenpaupack. Many boaters that haven’t been on the water yet are dusting off their covers and filling up their gas in preparation for a busy boating season on the lake.