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
Northwest Region
Clarion County
Kahle Lake
Anglers are catching a few crappies, Yellow Perch and Bluegills. The lake continues to be in a drawdown state. All boats, including canoes & kayaks must be registered or have a launch permit to use this facility.
Piney Dam
Anglers are catching some Yellow Perch and a few Walleyes. Piney Dam continues to be in a drawdown state and is approximately 6’ below normal pool levels. All boats, including canoes & kayaks, using the PFBC’s Mill Creek Access Area must be registered or have a launch permit to use this facility.
Allegheny River
Some anglers are catching a few Walleyes in the Foxburg pool.
Crawford County
Woodcock Creek
Woodcock Creek from the Woodcock Creek Dam outflow to the mouth is Stocked Trout Waters and is closed to ALL Fishing March 1st until 08:00 am on the opening day of trout season (April 15th). Additionally, Woodcock Creek above Woodcock Lake is Stocked Trout Waters. Woodcock Lake IS open year round to fishing and is not stocked with trout.
Tamarack Lake
Tamarack Lake construction is expected to begin late fall of 2017 and is scheduled for completion in early 2019.
Central Erie County
Presque Isle Bay
Yellow Perch fishing is in full swing right now with anglers catching good numbers of Yellow Perch. The bait of choice is minnows. Please remember the size limit is 7 Inches and the daily limit is 30.
Forest County
Allegheny River
Anglers are catching Walleye and Muskellunge from the shore and from boats. Anglers can also 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 Musky and Northern Pike.
Tionesta Outflow
Anglers have been successful fishing from the wall for Yellow Perch, Walleye and Musky. 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)
Anglers have been successful fishing for crappie, Yellow Perch and Bluegill from the Nebraska Bridge. The boat launch at Nebraska Bridge is open and anglers have been successful fishing the shoreline downstream of Nebraska Bridge.
Ross Run
The Kellettville Sportsman’s Club will be conducting a children’s fishing derby on April 22, 2017, at the Children Only Fishing Area of Ross Run. Children must be 12 years of age or younger to participate.
Northeasatern Region
Upcoming Program
The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission is providing a free Fly Fishing Introduction Program on Saturday, April 22 from 1p.m. to 5p.m. at Hillside Park in Lackawanna County. Preregistration is required! For more information and to preregister please visit: fbweb.pa.gov/calendar/
Reminders and Legal Notices
Anglers are reminded that Stocked Trout waters are closed from March 1st until the Regional Opening Day of Trout or the Regular Opening Day of Trout season. Anglers should consult the PA Fishing Summary booklet on the Trout waters that are included in the Regional Opening Day of Trout and the Regular Opening Day of Trout Season.
Those interested in assisting the Commission with our trout stocking program need to check our website for dates, times and meeting locations. Also, remember to dress for the weather. Wear sturdy footwear and only do what you feel is safe for you to do while at a stocking. Helping stock is great way to have fun and give back to the resource.
The trout stocking list is organized by county and can be found at: fbweb.pa.gov/stocking/TroutStockingDetails_GIS
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.
Western Bradford & Sullivan Counties
Due to unseasonably warm weather last week the ice is off at Hunters Lake and it has received its first stocking of the year. Remember this is a Stocked Trout Water Open to Year-Round Fishing and different regulations apply. No trout can be harvested until Opening Day. Please consult the 2017 Summary Guide for more information.
Southern Luzerne & Southern Columbia Counties
With the ice fishing season a bust, most anglers are eagerly awaiting the warmer days of spring, and the chance for some long overdue fishing opportunities. Enter Mother Nature; apparently she feels the need to impose her will upon us at least once more this year in the form of Winter Storm Stella. We caution all those who anticipated assisting with pre-season plantings of trout in the local waterways-check the schedule on the website because there have been a few stockings that have been rescheduled.
The stocking that was scheduled for the FEW Reservoir and Section 6 of the Lehigh River on April 13th, was moved to March 10th and has been successfully completed. Roaring Creek stocking was moved to April 13th. Beaver Run, Scotch Run and Lily Lake have also had changes made to the stocking dates.
That said, with section 6 of the Lehigh River being designated STOCKED TROUT WATERS OPEN TO YEAR ROUND FISHING, plenty of opportunity exists for those who can’t wait to wet a line. That is, if you are willing to brave the elements. Just remember, it is unlawful to creel or harvest trout from those waters prior to 8:00am on opening day.
Mentored Youth Trout Day will again be held the week prior to opening day. See the website to verify the waters you wish to fish have been stocked, as well as other useful information.
All local waterways in the district, have been receiving little to no fishing or boating pressure recently. This is due largely in part to the adverse weather conditions. After all, it is March in Northeastern PA.
Southeastern Region
Berks County
On March 6, Furnace Creek, Spring Creek, and Wyomissing Creek were stocked. There was a great turnout of stocking helpers. The creeks will be stocked again during the in-season on April 19, and hopefully more helpers are out to attend!
The Delayed Harvest Artificial Lure Only (DHALO) sections 6 and 7 of the Tulpehocken Creek will be stocked on March 21. Meeting time is 12pm at the Blue Marsh Lake Visitors Center. Stop out and lend a hand, you will get a chance to see the trout being stocked in section 7, which is now a part of the Keystone Select Trout Waters program. A special thanks goes out to TCO Fly shop, who have volunteered to float stock both sections.
Chester County
The Middle Branch White Clay Creek, Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only, section was stocked with trout on Thursday, March 9. This section is also a Keystone Select Trout Water. The trophy fish were big, some of them really big. Thank you to all the individuals who came out to help and special thanks to the White Clay Fly Fishers for the float stocking help. The stocked section is a 1.7 mile stretch that runs from Good Hope Road at 39 45′ 43.7″ North, 75 47′ 03.9″ West to the confluence with the East Branch White Clay in the White Clay Creek Preserve at 39 44′ 57.7″ North, 75 46′ 10.4″ West. The points that were stocked are Good Hope Road at 39 45′ 43.7″ North, 75 47′ 03.9″ West, the Iron Bridge on London Tract in the center of the section at 39 45′ 16.2″ North, 75 46′ 51.6″ West.
Two maps of the DCNR White Clay Creek Preserve are available, regular and large print at http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us
To get to the Middle Branch White Clay Creek, Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only section, take Route 41 to just south of Avondale and turn south on Penn Green Road. Follow Penn Green Road to Good Hope Road and turn right on Good Hope. Go past Bank Road and Crestwood Road and you will come to the top of the Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only section of the Middle Branch White Clay. Limited Parking is available on either side of the bridge. More parking is available in the lot near the Iron Bridge at London Tract in the center of the section. For more information on The White Clay Creek Preserve, you can call the park office at 610-274-2900. The park office is located at 39 44′ 48.1″ North, 75 46′ 27.2″ West. The nature center is located at39 44′ 46.4″ North and 75 46′ 29.6″ West.
Beaver Creek and Buck Run will be stocked on Tuesday, March 21. We will be meeting the stocking truck across from the Sadsburyville Post Office at 11:30 AM. If you have not yet taken a kid on a stocking, put it on your list of things that you have to do. Thanks!
The White Clay Creek East Branch, Section 3 from the White Clay Creek Preserve Boundary to the mouth and the White Clay Creek Middle Branch Section 2 from the T364 Bridge at Good Hope Road to Guernsey Rd will be stocked with Trout on Monday March 20th. The truck will meet us at the Avondale Post Office at noon. We could really use some more help. Please consider giving us a hand getting these fish in the water. Remember that these waters are closed to fishing until the regional opening day, which is Saturday April 1st at 8 AM.
The Pocopson Creek Section 2, from SR 3027 (Red Lion Road) to the mouth has been stocked with trout. This section is stocked trout waters and is closed to fishing until 8 AM on the regional opening day, this year, Saturday April 1st. The stocking locations for the Pocopson Creek Section 2, are Haines Mill Road Bridge at 39-53’52.5″ North and 75-40’48.6″ West, Locust Grove Road Bridge at 39-53’56.0″ North and 75-40’14.5″ West, Unionville Lenape Road Bridge near Route 52 at 39-53’55.6″ North and 75-39’45.0″ West, Red Bridge Road Bridge at 39-54’06.6″ North and 75-39’13.6″ West, Brintons Bridge Road Stop #1 at 39-53’47.2 North and 75-37’55.0 West, Dirt Lane on Brintons Bridge Road, Stop #2 39-53’38.8″ North and 75-37’41.6″ West, Thanks to Forest C., for coordinating the stocking and the very few individuals who assisted us. As is usually the case when it is cold or rainy, we had very little help and it was a struggle to get the fish in the water.
The West Caln Sportsmen are having an open house on Saturday, March 18th, at their Trout Nursery located on Sugarmens Road, right across from the Lions Head entrance to Hibernia County Park. To get to the Nursery, just get on Wagontown Road and turn on to Sugarmens Road, go about 150 feet and you will see the nursery on your right. The open house will be from 9 AM until 1 PM. You will have a chance to tour the nursery, and to speak to some of the West Caln Club members as well as park staff and PA Fish & Boat Commission Officers. Stocking schedules will be available at the open house as well. For more information, you can call the Hibernia County Park Office at 610-383-3812.
If you have been waiting for your big break into Bass Tournament Fishing, this may be it. Captain Jim is having a Bass Open Tournament at the Octoraro Reservoir on Sunday, April 9th from 6:30 AM till 12:30 PM, (6 Hours). To get to the lake, simply get on Rt 1 in Southern Chester County and get off on the Rt 472 Exit. Turn West on Rt 472 West and you will go over the Rt 472 Bridge and at the top of the next hill you will turn left on to Spruce Grove Road. You will go about a mile and at the bottom of the hill you will see the lake and the Fishing Headquarters on your left. The physical address for the Fishing Headquarters is 212 Spruce Grove Road, Kirkwood, PA. 17536, For even more information call Captain Jim, phone 717-529-2488 or visit his website at http://www.jimsbait.net/ . Only fishing from boats is permitted, limit of two persons per boat.
The Orvis Store in Downingtown at 70 Quarry Rd, Downingtown Pa. 19335 will offer a free course Fly-Fishing 101 on Saturday March 18TH from 9:00AM till 11:00AM. The course will cover everything that the beginning fly fisherman will need to know to get started in fly fishing. For more information you can call the store at 610-873-8400 or visit the website at orvis.com/downingtown
If you are looking for an easy place to take a young child fishing, Springton Manor Farm has a small ½ acre, approx. 7 ½ deep pond that is well populated with warm water fish. The pond makes a great place to teach someone to fish because of the cleared shoreline. Some of the largest trees in Chester County, named the King and Queen, help to moderate the wind. Bass & sunfish can be found in the pond, which is catch and release only. If you do not have a fishing rod or fishing tackle, you can borrow a fishing rod, reel and tackle box through the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commissions rod & tackle loaner program at the park from 08:30 AM to 4:00 PM, April through November. The park is located at 860 Springton Road, Glenmoore, PA. 19343, or call 610-942-2450 for more information or on borrowing equipment. A fishing license is required of individuals who are 16 years old and over that fish any Pennsylvania waters.
The West Caln Sportsmen will be stocking the West Branch of the Brandywine Creek on Saturday, March 25 at their Trout Nursery located on Sugarmens Road, right across from the Lions Head entrance to Hibernia County Park. The stocking is expected to run from about 6 Am till about noon. Stocking schedules will be available during the stocking. Take some time and come on out and help us get ready for the opening of the Regional Opening day, which this year is Saturday April 1st at 8 AM.
The White Clay Fly-Tying club will meet at 6PM on Thursday March 16th at the London Tract Meeting House in the White Clay Creek Preserve, located at the intersection of Sharpless & London Tract roads, Landenberg PA 19350, next to White Clay State Park Office. With the cold weather upon us, many of us are looking for a place to go or some activity to hold us over until we can wet a line again and this is the perfect thing. Fly tying materials are provided for those who do not yet have their own. Several flies are usually demonstrated and club members are happy to show you how it’s done, as well as spin a few stories about the last huge one that got away. Club mailing address is P.O. Box 762, Landenberg, PA 19350 for more information. Parking for club is behind the White Clay State Park Office.
The Indian Run, Section 2, from Pleasant View Road to the mouth, Little Muddy Creek, Section, 2, from Bowmansville Rd, to 140 yards downstream of 897, and Middle Creek, Section 2, from Middle Creek Dam to West Lime Rock Road, will be stocked with Trout on Thursday March 23rd. The truck will meet us at the Middle Creek Visitors Center at 11:30 AM. Please consider giving us a hand getting these fish in the water. Thanks.