Reminder To All Anglers & Boaters
The PFBC does not monitor ice thickness. Ice thickness and conditions can vary greatly across a body of water. 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: fishandboat.com/safety.htm
Northwest Region
Crawford County
French Creek
Anglers are targeting Walleye by throwing a floating jig head tipped with a shiner. Anglers are fishing the current breaks within various sections of French Creek.
Erie County
Steelhead Tributaries
Anglers are catching Steelhead in Walnut Creek near the mouth. Depending on water conditions, a minnow under a float works well during this time of year. Anglers are catching Steelhead on Upper Elk Creek. Some of the Steelhead have been in the creeks for a month or more, so they can be darker in color than when they first came into the tributaries. Please consult this link below for updated Steelhead public fishing easements.
Northeasatern Region
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 though the ice. Remember SAFETY FIRST: http://fishandboat.com/safety.htm
Remember: From November 1st through April 30th there is mandatory wear for life jackets from on boats less than 16 feet in length and all canoes and kayaks. Wearing your life jacket is the best way to prevent a boating fatality and we recommend you wear one all year, not just during the mandatory wear period.
Wyoming County
Ice fishermen are disappointed. Rain and a period of warm temperatures melted the ice in the district as soon as the ice became thick enough to walk on the. Now, there is no safe ice anywhere in the county.
Fishing has been good on the Susquehanna River. Even though the water is lower than normal the fishing conditions are great and many anglers have found success. They have been catching walleye and musky have been caught in the area of Whites Ferry.
Northern Columbia and Luzerne Counties
Weather has been mild lately and ice on our area ponds and lakes has yet to provide the opportunity for ice fishing.
If you go out fishing after January 1st don’t forget to pick up your fishing license for the New Year. While you are at it you may want to consider a multi-year license and get the added convenience of not needing to purchase a new license every year.
Lackawanna County
There is no safe ice in the county. Most of the area lakes and ponds have begun to freeze over but none safe enough to fish. At Lackawanna Lake there is still open water under the Rt 407 bridge. Always test the ice before venturing out and consider wearing a float coat or life jacket for your safety.
Remember the PA American Water Company reservoirs (Maple Lk, Dunmore #1, Curtis and Elmhurst Reservoirs) are not open to ice fishing.
Northcentral Region
Remember to purchase your fishing license for 2017 OR buy a 10 year license! BUY YOUR LICENSE TODAY.
SAFETY REMINDER – If there is ice in your area and you plan on heading out to ice fish, always check the ice before going on it. Learn more about ice safety and fishing HERE.
Tioga County
Ice anglers are fishing the County’s three smaller lakes, Hills Creek, Hamilton and Beechwood Lakes; however, the ice is uneven and very slick. Make sure you bring your cleats and check the ice before heading out onto it.
Anglers are catching good numbers of Yellow Perch and Bluegills. A few anglers are catching Crappie. Jigging waxworms and maggots(spikes) is working best. Various color jigs are working.
Anglers are catching pickerel and bass using medium shiners and fatheads on tip-ups.
Centre County
Spring Creek
The water is off color and the level is up due to snowmelt and rain over the holiday weekend. The snowmelt has slowed fishing a little, but anglers are still catching trout.
Anglers are catching trout using streamer patterns (e.g. size 6-10; olive or black colors), and nymphs (e.g. walt’s worms, bead head pheasant tails).
Anglers are also catching trout on lower Spring Creek using small streamers (e.g. size 6-10; olive or black colors) and spinners. The best time to be on the water is late morning or mid-afternoon.
Southeastern Region
Bucks County
Delaware River
Walleye are hitting jigs and creature baits in deep water near structure. Some early winter rains have raised the water levels to the point where most of the river is accessible by boat again. The cold water, although still shallow, should not be underestimated by wading anglers. Use care, even when familiar with water conditions, as the cold water carries a much greater threat to wading anglers!
Nockamixon Lake
Use caution when heading out on the new ice for ice-fishing. Black and White Crappies are already in winter schools, and are converging around the submerged timber areas. Nockamixon Lake is under our Big Bass Regulations so please abide by these when ice fishing 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 though the ice. Remember SAFETY FIRST: http://fishandboat.com/safety.htm