Northeastern Region
Southern Luzerne & Southern Columbia Counties
With the opening day of trout season approaching quickly, now is the time to make those last minute preparations, with regards to equipment.
Stocking season is in full swing, and many eager fishermen have been out on the stockings to assist. That is greatly appreciated, and words cannot express the gratitude of the agency for the dedicated men and women who assist us in this endeavor.
That said, fishing on the creeks may have shut down until opening day but, let’s not forget about Mentored Youth Day which is almost upon us. There have been some changes this year and anglers are encouraged to review the regulations on the website in order to avoid conflicts.
We are fortunate this year as it appears all of the Trout Stocked Waters will be stocked in time for the event.
Also, the Nescopeck Creek Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Section was recently stocked, which is open to fishing year round. As are Lily Lake, Lake Irena, FEW Reservoir and section 6 of the Lehigh River. Please consult your 2016 Pennsylvania Fishing Summary Guide for specific regulations on each one of these waterways BEFORE fishing.
NOTE: A MISTAKE WAS MADE IN THIS YEARS SUMMARY BOOK. FRANCIS E. WALTER RESERVOIR WAS LISTED AS “APPROVED TROUT WATERS” IT SHOULD READ “APPROVED TROUT WATERS, OPEN TO YEAR ROUND FISHING”
Fishing on the Susquehanna River has been good. Many anglers are reporting catches of Smallmouth Bass and walleye. Soft plastics, crankbaits and live bait seem to be working best.
Boaters are again reminded, of the mandatory PFD wear period is in effect through April 30th. This applies to anyone in a boat less than 16 feet, and ALL canoes and kayaks.
Carbon County
Although the weather was somewhat uncomfortable during the kick off of the Regional Opening Day of Trout season on the Lizard and Mahoning Creeks a number of anglers were observed on most areas of the streams. Anglers reported seeing and catching some trout, but the colder temperatures and low and clear water levels appeared to give the trout lock jaw. Anglers reported catching trout on night crawlers, minnows, spinners, dough bait and cheese. A number of golden trout measuring between 19 -22 inches were observed being caught On Sunday, both streams received very light to no fishing pressure due to the windy and colder weather. A number of trout were still observed in the streams.
On Saturday, April 9th at 8 am to 7:30 pm, is the Statewide Mentored Youth Trout Day. Youth under the age of 16 can join a mentor (adult) angler who has a current PA Fishing License and Trout Permit to fish on Stocked Trout Waters regulated under the Regular Opening Day for Trout. Youth less than 16 years of age must obtain a Mentored Youth Fishing Permit or the Voluntary Youth Fishing Permit. Youth are permitted to keep two trout, 7 inches or larger while Mentors (adults) must practice catch & release.
Anglers are reminded that the other Stocked Trout Waters in the district are closed until the start of Regular Opening Day for Trout which begins on April 16th at 8 am. Anglers should consult the 2016 PA Fishing Summary for the listing of Stocked Trout Waters in the district.
Little to no fishing activity was occurring on both Beltzville Lake and Mauch Chunk Lake. Boaters and boat anglers are reminded that although the regulatory buoys such as Slow No Wake are not in place on Beltzville Lake, the regulations pertaining to those areas are still in effect and enforced. Maps of the lake are posted at each boat launch indicating the Slow No Wake areas.
A Basic Boating Education Course is being offered at Beltzville State Park on April 25th, and April 27th, from 6pm – 10pm each night. There is no charge for the course, but all participants must pre-register, and attend both sessions. Persons interested in attending the course should contact the Park Office at 610-377-0045 to pre-register.
On April 13th, the Nesquehoning Creek, Mauch Chunk Creek, Lehigh Canal and Drakes Creek will receive a pre-season trout stocking. Persons interested in assisting with the stocking should meet the stocking truck along the dirt pull off at the intersection of Rt. 54 and Stock St., Nesquehoning at 11:30 am.
Northcentral Region
Centre County
REMINDER: Mentored Youth Trout Day Statewide is THIS Saturday, April 9, 2016!!
LEARN how you can participate HERE: http://fishandboat.com/MentoredYouth.htm
Spring Creek
Anglers are catching trout using nymphs and streamers. Midge’s and blue wing olives are hatching during the mid-afternoon hours. Anglers are also catching trout using sucker spawn patterns.
Penns Creek
Anglers are catching trout using nymphs and streamers. A few blue wing olive and hendrickson mayflies have been spotted on warm afternoons. More insects will begin to hatch as the weather warms-up.
Clinton County
Fishing Creek
Anglers are catching trout using caddis larvae, bead head pheasant tail and blue wing olive nymph patterns. A few anglers are catching trout using dry fly patterns (e.g. midge and blue wing olives).
Lycoming County
Pine Creek
Anglers are catching trout using streamer patterns on the Catch-and-Release All Tackle section of Pine Creek. The Brown Trout being caught are beautiful in color and measure between 14-20 inches!
Little Pine Creek
Anglers are catching trout using nymphs and streamers in the Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only section.
Southeastern Region
S. Chester County
The crappie bite is on. They are starting to come out of Struble, Octoraro Reservoir, and Chambers Lake. The District Officer has measured crappies up to 15 ¾ inches at Octoraro Reservoir and 15 ½ inches at Chambers Lake in past years and there is no reason to not expect the same this year. Use crappie jigs or small minnows fished 3 -5 feet under a pencil bobber. Anglers in boats are more successful because they are better able to access structure and locate a school. Boat rentals (rowboats are inexpensive to rent, it is the motor that makes it expensive) can be had at Octoraro Reservoir and Marsh Creek Reservoir. Usually this time of year, one fish on the hook means that there is a school in that same area. Good Luck!
The Buck Run Section 2, the East Branch White Clay Creek Section 2 and the East Branch White Clay Creek Section 3 will be stocked with trout on Tuesday April 19. On our last stocking we had only three helpers at the end of the run, one for the truck and two to carry buckets. Please consider coming out and lending a hand. We will meet the big white stocking truck loaded with angling fun in the lane across from the Sadsburyville Post Office at 11:30 AM.
The White Clay Creek, Middle Branch Section 2, from T364 (Good Hope Road Bridge) to SR3009 (Guernsey Road) has been stocked with trout. The stocking locations for the White Clay Middle Branch Section 2, were Guernsey Road Bridge at 39-48’12.4″ North and 75-50’02.9″ West, East Avondale Road Bridge at Chambers Road at 39-47’46.5″ North and 75-49’29.5″ West, Wickerton Road Stop #1 at 39-47’37.3″ North and 75-49’24.3″ West, Wickerton Road Stop #2at 39-47’19.7″ North and 75-49’11.9″ West, Wickerton Road Bridge and Pennock Bridge Road at 39-47’10.3 North and 75-49’01.8 West, Church Hill Road and Creek Road at 39-47’20.8″ North and 75-48’08.8″ West, Creek Road (Dirt Road) Stop #1 at 39-47’11.8″ North and 75-48’10.1″ West, Creek Road (Bend on Dirt Road) Stop #2 at 39-47’02.8″ North and 75-48’10.9″ West, Chesterville & Creek Road Bridge at 39-46’54.3″ North and 75-48’01.8″ West, North Creek Road (200 Block) Stop #3 at 39-46’10.1″ North and 75-47’53.6″ West, Mercer Mill Road Bridge at 39-45’59.4″ North and 75-47’41.9″ West, and North Creek Road Stop #4 above Delayed Harvest Area and Good Hope Road at 39-45’46.9″ North and 75-47’09.8″ West. Thanks to Forest for coordinating the stocking and John and Scott for all the help.
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 have again been stocked with trout. The stocking locations for the Big Elk Creek were Camp Saginaw at 39-46’08.0″ North and 75-54’53.5″ West, Saginaw Road Bridge at 39-45’44.7″ North and 75-55’13.1″ West, Kings Row Road at bend at 39-45’31.0″ North and 75-54’48.3″ West, Kings Row Road Covered Bridge at 39-45’22.3″ North, 75-54’44.5″ West, State Road Bridge at 39-45’02.2″ North and 75-54’03.0 West. There has not been fishing pressure due to the wind and plunging temperature, so there are fish available.
The boat docks at Chambers Lake and Struble Reservoir are pulled out of the water each winter to prevent damage to them during the freezing weather. With the return of the warm weather, the boat docks at both locations have been installed and are now available for launching and retrieving a boat. In addition, the launch area at Struble has been deepened a bit to make launching and retrieving that boat a little easier.
The back cove at Chambers Lake is closed to boating seasonally as it is a waterfowl propagation area, and it is closed from now until June 15th so that waterfowl may use it as a nesting area. This area is one of the more productive areas of Chambers Lake for bass, as it is full of stumps and vegetation. This timing works out well this year with the opening day of bass around that same time. The area is closed now and the District WCO will add a post to this regional report when it is re-opened.
Lancaster County
The Saturday, April 2nd Opener saw anglers streamside on the county’s 23 stocked trout waters despite the morning rain, many of whom were up and out early to secure their favorite fishing spots. With clearing skies in the afternoon, another set of anglers ventured out to water’s edge to ply their skills in landing trout. With significant portions of streams having been float-stocked with the pre-season plants of Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout and trophy Golden Rainbow Trout, opportunities abounded for solitary fishing experiences. In particular, the float-stocked sections of the West Branch Little Conestoga rewarded anglers who walked and worked the stream bank with multiple catches throughout these sections.
On Tuesday, April 5 the Big Beaver Creek and Little Beaver Creek received the first of the county’s in-season plants of Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout. By 6:00PM, it looked like a Tuesday Season Opener on Big Beaver Creek.
Significant sections of the Big Beaver Creek were float stocked as per below:
Float Stocked Sections of Stocked Trout Waters
| Stocked Trout Water | Section |
| Big Beaver Creek | Downstream From 20 Main St. New Providence To 1930 Beaver Valley Pike- Downstream From Concrete Bridge At Near Old Rd & Beaver Valley Pike Downstream From Krantz Mill Road Bridge Downstream From 92 Refton Road Downstream From Smithville Road Bridge |
With its headwaters located on property at 1190 May Post Office Road, Quarryville [Eden Twp. – near Springville Road]. Big Beaver Creek flows 10.6 miles before meeting the Pequea Creek approximately 500 yards upstream from the bridge at Herrville Road. The stocked portion of Big Beaver Creek traverses 5.34 miles with its Upper Limit at SR 222 (Beaver Valley Pike) and White Oak Road -and its Lower Limit at the mouth where it enters the Pequea Creek.
*Anglers are advised that the property at 15 Main Street, New Providence is posted, subsequently Big Beaver Creek was not stocked upstream of this location.
Anglers are reminded to maintain separate creels/stringers from other people in their group for identifying each person’s creel/harvest of the day.
Our Officers in the field get asked about chumming with corn, there is an answer to this question on our FAQ page of the website here: http://fishandboat.com/images/pages/qa/fish_regs/corn_chum.htm
Our Officers also get asked if anglers can continue to fish after they have caught there creel limit for the day, there is also a response to this question on our FAQ page here: http://fishandboat.com/images/pages/qa/fish_regs/culling.htm
Philadelphia & S. Montgomery County
Mentored Youth Trout Day in Philadelphia and Southern Montgomery Counties was very successful this year. There were several youth who caught their first fish ever on Saturday March 26. The Wissahickon Creek, Loch Alsh Reservoir, Stoney Creek and Keppner Creek were stocked prior to the Mentored Day. A rationale for the program is available on our website here: http://www.fishandboat.com/promo/youth/mentored/rationale.pdf