Pennsylvania Outdoor News Fishing Report – Nov. 10, 2017

Boaters are reminded that, as of Nov. 1, they are required to wear an appropriate life jacket when in a canoe, kayak or any other boat less than 16 feet long.

The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission continued to perform trout stockings in recent weeks. For a schedule, visit www.fishandboat.com.

NORTHWEST REGION

Lake Erie  — A few walleyes, smallmouth bass, and yellow perch were reported through the end of October, with bass hitting spinnerbaits, tubes, and soft plastic grubs. One angler released a 28-inch walleye on a tube in 20 feet of water.

Lake Erie tributaries — Excellent steelheading was reported through the end of October, with the tribs yielding numbers of fish on single eggs, skein, sucker spawn, spoons, crawlers, and minnows. Four Mile, Seven Mile, and Twenty Mile creeks were fishing better for some anglers than Twelve and Sixteen Mile creeks. The west-side streams were filled with steelhead. On Elk Creek, they were up to I-79, and on Walnut Creek, fish were reported from the Manchester Hole to the lake. Crooked Creek also was fishing well. Shore fishing was hit or miss, depending on the wind.

Presque Isle Bay (Erie County)  — During a late-October cool down, some perch were reported from the east, west, and south piers and the patrol and convention center docks. Largemouth bass were biting.

Lake LeBoeuf (Erie County) — Shore anglers were catching perch, running 8 to 12 inches, on minnows through late October. Some bluegills and crappies also were reported.

French Creek (Erie, Venango, Crawford, Mercer counties) — The walleye bite varied with conditions through late October. One angler caught a 25-inch northern pike on a creek chub.

Justus Lake (Venango County) — One angler released some nice, legal-size largemouth bass by trolling large creek minnows. A few bluegills also were reported, along with a couple of perch.

Allegheny River (Venango County) — Bass up to 3 and 4 pounds were biting on various baits from crankbaits to soft jerkbaits in late October around Oil City. The fall walleye bite was starting for anglers dead-drifting or jogging live creek minnows. One angler released a 29-inch female walleye.

Pymatuning Reservoir (Crawford County) — Anglers were catching walleyes on the south end in late October, with bladebaits productive for some anglers. A 28-incher and a 28½-incher were reported on jigging blades. The crappie bite was hit or miss; some anglers were doing okay on large fathead minnows and others were having success in 12 to 25 feet drop-shotting soft plastic shad patterns. Crappies and small perch were hitting off the causeway, as were a couple of small muskies.

Conneaut Lake (Crawford County) — Big bluegills were hitting for some anglers before weather turned colder in late October. Largemouth bass were biting Jitterbugs, and a 30-inch northern pike was released on a blue spinnerbait.

Lake Wilhelm (Mercer County) — Largemouth bass, including a 21-inch, 5-pounder, were released on a 5-inch rubber worm in late October. A few walleyes and some crappies also were reported.

Shenango River Reservoir (Mercer County) — Smallmouth and largemouth bass, white bass, and hybrid striped bass were hitting in late October. Crappies also were reported.

SOUTHWEST REGION

Keystone Power Dam (Armstrong County) — Numbers of largemouth bass were reported as water turned cooler in late October. Crappies up to 13-plus inches were reported.

Blue Spruce Lake (Indiana County) — Anglers were catching fall-stocked trout on minnows and spoons. Largemouth bass also were reported early in the day.

Two Lick Reservoir (Indiana County) — Perch were reported on minnows in recent weeks. Anglers also were catching largemouth bass.

Laurel Hill Lake (Somerset County) — Recently stocked trout were hitting in recent weeks at the top end of the lake.

Laurel Creek (Somerset County) —The delayed-harvest, artificial-lures- only/Keystone Select Stocked Trout Water section was yielding recently stocked trout in recent weeks.

Quemahoning Reservoir (Somerset County) — Northern pike were hitting as water cooled in recent weeks.

Youghiogheny River Reservoir (Somerset County) — Nice yields of smallmouth bass were reported through the end of October.

High Point Lake (Somerset County)  — An Oct. 8 bass tournament yielded 72 bass – all largemouths – including three around 4 pounds. The winning bag was five bass totaling 16½ pounds. Chain pickerel, yellow perch, sunfish, and crappies also were reported

Youghiogheny River (Fayette County) — Smallmouth bass, freshwater drum, trout, catfish, bluegills, yellow perch, rock bass, and walleyes were reported in recent weeks.

Monongahela River (Fayette County) — Walleyes were hitting below the locks.

Allegheny River (Allegheny County) — The water near Harmar was yielding smallmouth bass on minnows in recent weeks.

Ohio River (Allegheny County)  — Numbers of smallmouth bass were reported, with salted, soft plastic worms effective around rocky structure and near the mouths of tributaries. A 19-inch hybrid striped bass was released at the Kilbuck access area by an angler targeting catfish with chicken livers. Walleyes were hitting on minnows and swimbaits in the back channel.

Raccoon Lake (Beaver County) — Recently stocked trout were reported on pastebaits, spinners, and minnows in recent weeks.

Brady’s Run Lake (Beaver County) — Largemouth bass up to 15 inches and panfish were reported in recent weeks, although the panfish were running small.

Monongahela River (Washington County) — Walleyes, saugers smallmouth bass, spotted bass and the occasional largemouth bass were hitting in recent weeks, with minnows and minnow-patterned lures productive.

Cross Creek Lake (Washington County) — A nice crappie bite was reported in recent weeks with small jigs and minnows effective.

NORTHCENTRAL REGION

Hamilton Lake (Tioga County) — Recently stocked trout were hitting doughbaits in chartreuse and rainbow colors, and spinners and spoons in recent weeks.

Tioga, Hammond and Cowanesque lakes (Tioga County) — Crappies were reported on fathead minnow and twister tails, and tubes, with most catches coming in eight to 15 feet of water through the end of October.

Fishing Creek (Clinton County) —Rainfall in late October bolstered the trout bite, with nymphs in the early-morning hours productive. Mayfly, stonefly and caddis nymphs, such as Princes (12-16), gold bead Pheasant Tails (12-18), and Green Weenies (12-16), were working well. After rainfall, streamers such as sculpin patterns, Slump Busters, and Sculp Snacks (6-10) were effective.

Foster Joseph Sayers Lake (Centre County) — Bass and crappies were reported on minnows, twister tails, crankbaits, soft plastics and tubes. Nice numbers were coming near the causeway and at Hunter Run Cut. The spillway was yielding panfish.

Bald Eagle Creek (Centre County) — Bass were hitting in the lower reaches on streamers, crankbaits and soft plastics.

Spring Creek (Centre County) — Rainfall made trout active in late October, with catches coming during the day on nymphs, such as Green Weenies and olive scuds, and olive and black streamers. Dry dropper presentations also were effective, with caddis on top and a Green Weenie or wet ant underneath. Dry flies, such as Blue-Wing Olives (18-22) and Tan Caddis (14-16), were taking the occasional rising trout.

Halfway Lake (Union County) — Recently stocked trout were reported through late October.

SOUTHCENTRAL REGION 

Raystown Lake (Huntingdon County) — Nice catches of lake trout were reported through late October, with fish staging in about 35 feet and hitting wobble spoons being trolled.

Raystown Branch Juniata River  — Smallmouth bass, rock bass, and channel catfish were hitting a night in recent weeks.

Juniata River — The smallmouth bass and walleye bites were improving in late October. Nice size smallmouth bass and walleyes were starting to hit.

Susquehanna River — Kayak anglers caught smallmouth bass up to 20 inches on flukes, buzzbaits, and whopper ploppers through late October.

NORTHEAST REGION

North Branch Susquehanna River (Bradford County) — Smallmouth bass, rock bass and channel catfish were reported in recent weeks.

Lake Wallenpaupack (Pike County) — Largemouth bass, including a few 5 and 6 pounders, were reported in recent weeks. Perch and catfish are also were hitting on live bait.

Shohola Lake (Pike County) — Bass were hitting in recent weeks.

North Branch Susquehanna River (Susquehanna County) — Smallmouth bass, walleyes and an occasional muskie were reported between Great Bend and Oakland.

Prompton Dam, Duck Harbor Pond, Delaware River — Smallmouth bass and walleyes were hitting in recent weeks.

SOUTHEAST REGION

Lake Ontelaunee (Berks County) — White perch and crappies were hitting at the Route 73 Quarry Hole, with plastic grubs on jig heads effective on panfish.

Nockamixon Lake (Bucks County) — Bass had moved deeper by late October and were taking live bait and artificials. Crappies in mixed sizes were reported in nice numbers.

Delaware River — Smallmouth bass were biting for boaters in Upper Black Eddy, Byrum, and Bull’s Island.

Lehigh River (Northampton County) — Largemouth bass were reported in recent weeks, with a 20-incher released on a topwater lure above the dam in Glendon.

Tuscarora Lake (Schuylkill County) — Numbers of trout were reported on pastebaits and wax worms through late October.  Spinners and redworms were less effective. Yellow perch were hitting crawlers and minnows.

Locust Lake (Schuylkill County) —Trout were biting in recent weeks on various flies, including Blue-Winged Olive patterns, and on crawlers.

Owl Creek Reservoir (Schuylkill County) — Bass were reported on live shiners in recent weeks. A few pickerel also were released.

Compiled by Deborah Weisberg