Northwest Region
Butler County
Lake Arthur
Water is still cold (54 degrees) for good fishing. Some anglers are reporting success with Striped Bass in deeper water. Other fish species are slow to bite. Warmer weather will bring an increase in fishing activity.
Harbor Acres Lake
Trout fishing is good at this waterway. Just about any bait is catching fish but minnows have consistently been the best. Anglers are reporting nice sized trout in this waterway.
Mercer County
Shenango Reservoir
The water level is normal for this time of year. Anglers are reporting catches of panfish all around the lake. If it is your first time venturing out this year, make sure you pick up a license before you fish. Although the mandatory wear is over for this spring, the US Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District Lakes have a year round mandatory wear for all canoes and kayaks and boats under 16 feet in length. Remember your first step in an emergency is to call 9-1-1.
Shenango River
Walleye are out of season but the river is open to trout fishing. This area is designated as a year round trout fishery so a current trout/salmon stamp is required to fish the area from the outflow to the Walnut Street Bridge regardless of species of fish that you are targeting or harvesting.
Neshannock Creek
New for this year, the area of the Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only section of the Neshannock Creek in Volant is classified as a Keystone Select Stocked Trout Waters. This is the only stream with this designation in the Northwest and it is only one of six in the entire state. Trout two and three years old and measuring 14-20 inches will be stocked in this water which is open to fishing year round.
Venango County
Allegheny River
The USGS depth gage in Franklin reflects a current water level of +/- 06’-06”. Water temperature is ranging between 62-68° Fahrenheit, which is 10-14 degrees lower than last year at this time. Smallmouth Bass catch rates continue to be reported with the best success reported on tubes.
French Creek
Fishing activity continues to increase, as weather and water conditions improve. From Franklin through Utica, anglers have begun reporting sporadic Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, and Walleye hook-ups. The USGS depth gage in Utica reflects a current water level of +/-04’-09”. Despite less than ideal weather conditions, canoeists and kayakers are once again being seen along this waterway.
Oil Creek
The USGS depth gage in Rouseville reflects a current water level of +/- 4’-09”. Smallmouth Bass and Walleye are being reported between Oil City and Rynd Farm. The area from Rynd Farm upstream through Drake Well, including the Delayed Harvest Artificial Lure Only section(s), recently received its in-season trout stocking.
Kahle Lake
Given water temperatures, Largemouth Bass reports should be on the upswing soon. Top choices may be crank bait, jigs or a spinner.
Two Mile Run Reservoir (Justus Lake)
Trout harvests are currently at the top of the reported catch list; however, some Bluegill catches were reported.
REGISTRATION OF NON-POWERED WATERCRAFT REQUIRED AT PFBC LAKES/ACCESS AREAS:
With the 2016 boating season beginning, boaters are reminded that non-powered watercraft, which otherwise would not require registration, are required to display either current registration or a launch permit when launching or retrieving at all PFBC lakes and/or access areas. For a complete listing of regulations pertaining to PFBC properties, please refer to the following link: http://fishinpa.com/pfbcproperty.html.
AN ANGLER’S CODE OF ETHICS:
Many local landowners extend anglers the courtesy of recreational fishing opportunities. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission signage is routinely placed along stream sections open to public fishing. When in doubt, stay out. Ethical anglers DO NOT litter, camp, build fires, cut trees, block property, or operate any motorized vehicle or ATV on property of another without advanced permission of the landowner. These unlawful actions will, and do, get ground POSTED!
Northeastern Region
Lackawanna County
Anglers were catching trout at Lackawanna Lake prior to the stocking truck arriving this past weekend. Rainbow colored paste bait seemed to do the trick. Anglers using pinhead minnows also did very well.
The Roaring Brook in Elmhurst, Dunmore and Scranton was stocked with trout earlier this week (Tuesday). The water temperature was a perfect 54° but river levels were high because of recent heavy rains. Those anglers that fished out of the fast current did best. Pinhead minnows and spinners worked really well.
Western Bradford & Sullivan County
Anglers targeting trout with live bait report success using wax worms and butter worms on the Loyalsock Creek. One fly fishing angler reported good success with Hendricksons when fishing Loyalsock Creek.
Monroe County
Shad have been running in Delaware River for past two weeks. Numbers are increasing as the weather get warmer. Although this past weekend, the bite was off because of the temperature drop.
Northcentral Region
Tioga County
Due to weather changes, Crappie fishing has slowed down a little. If the area gets a span of 2-3 days of warm weather the Crappie will move back in to spawn. Although the bite has been slow, it has been steady with most of the Crappie catching reports coming from Hammond Lake. The majority of the Crappie being caught are between 11-13 inches. Similar size Crappie are being caught on Tioga and Cowanesque Lake.
Anglers are catching and releasing bass using a variety of jerkbaits and jigs.
Lycoming County
Pine Creek
Water levels have been up the last few days, but are beginning to fall and should provide great fishing conditions for this weekend!
Prior to the rain event over the last few days, anglers were catching Brown and Rainbow Trout near the village of Slate Run. Trout were being caught using dry flies (e.g. march browns; caddis). Trout were also being caught using nymphs (e.g. bead head prince nymphs; caddis larvae).
Currently, with the water slightly up and a little off color, anglers are catching trout using streamers and spinners.
West Branch Susquehanna River
Anglers are catching and releasing bass. Anglers are also catching Yellow Perch just below Lock Haven.
Clinton County
Fishing Creek
Anglers are catching trout using nymphs (e.g. bead head Frenchie; olive bird of prey; bead head pheasant tail; green weenie). Anglers are also catching trout using dry flies from late afternoon into the evening hours (e.g. tan caddis; midges; Hendrickson; blue quill, sulphurs).
Nymphing has been the most productive. Anglers using the dry-dropper technique (e.g. rig = dry fly with a nymph about 2 feet below the dry fly) are having the most success. Using the dry-dropper technique provides anglers with a chance to catch trout on the surface and/or under the water!
Centre County
Foster Joseph Sayers Lake
Anglers are catching and releasing bass. Anglers are also catching Crappie and Yellow Perch. Baits/lures of choice are jigs, twister tails, live minnows, and night crawlers.
Penns Creek
Hatches are a little early this year. March Browns are in full swing right now along with Blue Wing Olives. A few Sulphurs have also been spotted!
Anglers are catching trout using nymph patterns. Morning fishing after cloudy, warm nights has been best for nymph fishing. Trout are sipping March Brown dries. Most success is occurring in pools with some current. Try a large March Brown emerger with upright wings, like the Quigley Cripple!
Other dry fly patterns that are working: Sulphurs; Tan Caddis; Hendrickson; Blue Quill; midges; Blue Wing Olive.
Nymph patterns that are working: bead head prince; Kaufman stonefly; caddis larva; bead head pheasant tail
Anglers are also catching trout using sculpin patterns and rapalas. Silver rapalas are working best.
Spring Creek
The Sulphurs are hatching!! Anglers are catching trout using size 14-16 Sulphur dry fly patterns. Anglers are also catching trout using Blue Wing Olives in the mid-afternoon hours. Trout are feeding best in the broken water areas.
Anglers are also catching trout using nymphs (e.g. cress bugs; scuds; midge larvae and small mayfly nymphs).
Southeastern Region
Northern Chester County
Marsh Creek
Bluegills and crappies are taking the usual baits for this time of the year; meal and wax worms, minnows and small brightly colored jigs. Bass have been taking jigs, spinners and crank baits. Best colors to use are large black, purple or dark green rubber worms and pumpkin seed. Best live baits right now are crayfish, minnows and night crawlers. It is illegal to target bass on their redds.
French, Pickering, East Brandywine and West Valley Creeks
Both are low & warm for this time of year. Water temps have been hovering in the low 60’s and fishing pressure has been very light which means there is still a lot of trout fishing left. Spin fishermen have been doing well with spinner and small soft plastic baits. Bait fishermen are doing equally well with minnows & worms, while some are taking fish on small wax and mealworms. Fly fishermen have reported taking trout on black caddis, stoneflies and midges. Small pheasant tail and hares ears nymphs are also producing good results for the fly fishermen.
A few Remembers: you may never have bait in your possession in any of the Special Regulation Areas, the Fly Fishing Only Area is Catch & Release only and you may not possess fish in the Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only Areas until June 15.
Schuylkill River
In the Black Rock area both Smallmouth and Largemouth bass fishing near the Cromby Power Plant outflow has picked up. Crankbaits and live bait are still the best producers. There have also been cat fishermen who have caught channel cats on liver and flatheads on live bait.
Note: Stay clear of the fish ladder at Black Rock Dam. Violators caught fishing within 100’ of that area will be prosecuted.