Pennsylvania Outdoor News Fishing Report – March 16, 2018

Anglers are reminded that walleye season ends March 15 and will reopen May 6.

Anglers also are reminded that all trout-stocked waters will remain closed to fishing from March 1 until 8 a.m. on the opening day of trout season, which in the southeast counties is Saturday, March 31, and in the rest of the state Saturday, April 14.

Stockings are now underway across the state. For a schedule, visit www.fishandboat.com.

Boaters are advised that the mandatory life jacket regulation remains in effect until April 30, requiring them to wear life jackets in boats less than 16 feet long and in canoes and kayaks.

NORTHWEST REGION

Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay — As of March 2, panfishing was productive in the bay. Nice catches of perch and bluegills were reported in shallow water, although the crappie bite was inconsistent. Some steelhead were hitting in the bay and at the mouths of the creeks. Some steelhead were reported in the creeks on skein and nymphs.

French Creek (Erie, Mercer, Venango, Crawford counties) — Walleyes and northern pike were hitting shiners and jigs in recent weeks.

Kinzua Reservoir (Warren County) — Yellow perch were reported around the Webbs Ferry boat launch in recent weeks. Northern pike and walleyes were hitting around the Willow Bay boat launch.

Allegheny River (Warren County) — A 45.3-inch muskie was released in recent weeks.

Allegheny River (Venango County) — Walleyes were hitting on shiner-tipped jigs as conditions allowed in recent weeks.

Kahle Lake (Clarion County) — Anglers were catching bluegills and crappies in recent weeks.

Piney Dam (Clarion County)  — Water levels are at normal pool. The dam had been drawn down for construction work, which has been completed.

Shenango River Reservoir (Mercer County) — As of March 1, anglers were boating on the lake to target crappies.

Shenango River (Mercer County) — Anglers are advised that Section 3 has been added to the Stocked Trout Open to Year-Round Fishing program to compensate for lost fishing opportunities on Section 4. The change allows anglers to fish for trout on a catch-and-release basis between March 1 and the opening day of trout season and to fish for warm water species during the same period. A trout stamp is needed to fish in Section 3.

Pymatuning Reservoir (Crawford County) — Some perch and walleyes were reported through early March.

Lake Arthur (Butler County) — Appalachian Trails reported March 4 that some boaters were venturing onto the lake, and catching a few northern pike up to 32 inches; largemouth bass, including a 6-pound,  4-ouncer and nice crappies if they can locate brush piles.

SOUTHWEST REGION

Monongahela River (Allegheny County) — The Duck Hollow area was yielding walleyes 17 to 22 inches and hybrid striped bass.

Little Chartiers Creek (Washington County) — Despite difficult conditions from heavy rainfall through mid-February, anglers were catching a few trout on scented baits.

Dunlap Creek Lake (Fayette County) —Anglers were catching trout at “the pipes” through mid-February.

Yellow Creek Lake (Indiana County) — In the final days of ice season, anglers were catching northern pike on shiners and minnows, yellow perch, bluegills and largemouth bass.

NORTHCENTRAL REGION

Spring Creek (Centre County) — Anglers were catching trout on streamers (6-10) in olive and black targeted at banks and structure in late February. Nymphs, such as sow bugs, Walt’s Worms, and Squirmy Wormys, also were taking fish.

Penns Creek (Union, Clinton counties) — TCO Fly Shop reported March 3 that conditions were blown-out and dirty, running 2,250 cubic feet per second, when 453 cfs is average. Water was in the high 30s. Midges (20-24) were hatching.

Fishing Creek (Clinton County) — Dark-colored streamers fished along the edges of high water were taking some trout through late February when water was in the upper 30s and was high and off-color.

Tioga Lake Spillway (Tioga County) — Numbers of walleyes were hitting on live shiners in the spillway through early March.

Lackawanna River, Roaring Brook (Lackawanna County) — Some trout were being released through mid-February.

Harveys, Bowman’s, South Branch Tunkhannock, Mehoopany creeks (Wyoming County) — Spoons, streamers and nymphs were taking trout in recent weeks.

SOUTHCENTRAL REGION

Memorial Lake (Lebanon County) — Coble’s Bait Shop reported March 4 that anglers were catching some bass, crappies and other panfish.

Sweet Arrow Lake (Lebanon County) — Panfish were reported as of March 4.

Lake Side Quarry (Lebanon County) —This Trout-Stocked Water Open To Fishing Year-Round was yielding yellow perch, bluegills and panfish through March 4, reported Coble’s Bait Shop.

Susquehanna River (Dauphin County) — As conditions allowed, anglers were catching big flathead catfish up to 40 pounds, smallmouth bass 19-plus inches, and walleyes up to 24 inches in recent weeks.

Yellow Breeches Creek (Cumberland County) — Water was high, off-color, and in the low 40s in early March, according to TCO Fly Shop. Scuds and nymphs were recommended as conditions allowed. Hatches included ICSI Midges (18-24) and Scuds CZ (12-20). The Near Nuff Sculpin (6-18) was a productive pattern.

NORTHEAST REGION

Lake Wallenpaupack (Pike County) — Wacky Worm Bait Shop reported March 3 that before ice fishing ended, anglers were catching striped bass up to 20 pounds on live bait.

Schuylkill River — Brown trout, including a 27-incher, were reported through the end of February.

Brodhead, McMichaels creeks (Monroe County) — Holdover brown trout up to 14 inches were reported in recent weeks as conditions allowed.

Beltzville Lake (Carbon County) — Before ice fishing ended, anglers were reporting nice catches of perch and smallmouth bass.

SOUTHEAST REGION

Middle Creek Lake (Lancaster County) — Largemouth bass, and numbers of panfish and brown bullheads were reported March 4 by Coble’s Bait Shop.

Ridley Creek (Delaware County) — Trout were reported in the Fly Fishing Only section, and from Sycamore Dam to the bridge by the parking lot.

Delaware River — Anglers were awaiting the striped bass run that usually starts in March.

Tulpehocken Creek (Berks County) — Conditions were high and muddy and water was 46 degrees, TCO Fly Shop reported March 3. Big streamers and nymphing were recommended. Hatches included black, olive, and cream-colored midges (18-28), Sow Bugs (18-22), and Blue-Winged Olives (20-24). Productive patterns included Pheasant Tails (16-22), CDC Pop Midges (22-24), and Rainbow Warriors (16-20).

Trout-stocked waters open yearRound

The following are open in March as Trout-Stocked Waters Open to Year-Round Fishing:

North Park Lake, Allegheny County

Mahoning Creek (from dam outflow to the confluence of Pine Run), Armstrong County

Brady’s Run Lake, Raccoon Lake, Beaver County

Koon Lake, Bedford County

Tulpehocken Creek (from the covered bridge at T-921 to the mouth of Kaercher Creek Dam)

Canoe Creek Lake, Blair County

Mountain Lake, Bradford County

Sugar Run, Bradford County

Lake Luxembourg, Bucks County

Francis E. Walter Reservoir (Bear Creek Reservoir), Carbon and Luzerne counties

Lehigh River, from the outlet of the F.E. Walter Reservoir to the confluence with Sandy Run, Carbon and Luzerne counties

George B. Stevenson Reservoir, Cameron County

West Creek, Cameron County

West Branch Susquehanna River (from 1001 Bridge near Hyde to first Railroad Bridge downstream of the confluence with Moose Creek), Clearfield County

Kettle Creek Lake, Clinton County

Briar Creek Lake, Columbia County

Mountain Creek (from Adams County line to the backwaters of Laurel Lake), Cumberland County

Stony Creek (from 0.4 mile upstream of Cold Spring Road downstream to State Game Land 211 gate), Dauphin, Lebanon counties

Straight Creek, Elk County

West Creek (from SR 1008 at Rathbun downstream to SR 3001 at Howard Siding), Elk County

Dunlap Creek Lake, Fayette County

Youghiogheny River (from the lake to the confluence of the Casselman River), Fayette and Somerset counties

Tionesta Creek (from the Tionesta Dam outflow downstream), Forest County

Cummings Reservoir (Blue Spruce Lake), Indiana County

Lackawanna Lake, Lackawanna County

Muddy Run Rec Lake. Lancaster County

Cascade Quarry, Lawrence County

Lakeside Quarry, Lebanon County

Stony Creek (from 0.4 mile upstream of Cold Spring Road to State Game Lands #211 gate), Dauphin and Lebanon counties

Francis Slocum Lake, Luzerne County

Francis E. Walter Reservoir (Bear Creek Reservoir), Luzerne, Carbon counties

Harvey’s Lake, Luzerne County

Lake Irena, Luzerne County

Lake Took A While (Riverlands), Luzerne County

Lehigh River (from the outlet of F.E. Walter Reservoir downstream to the confluence with Sandy Run, Luzerne and Carbon counties

Lily Lake, Luzerne County

Moon Lake, Luzerne County

Sylvan Lake, Luzerne County

Little Pine Lake, Lycoming County

Pine Creek  (from the confluence with Bonnell Run at DCNR Clark Farm Access Area to the confluence with Little Pine Creek), Luzerne County

Pine Creek (from SR 0414 bridge in Blackwell to the confluence with Slate Run), Luzerne and Tioga counties

Meade Run, McKean County

Hidden Lake, Monroe County

Minsi Lake (under drawdown), Northampton County

Little Buffalo Lake (Holman Lake), Perry County

Sweet Arrow Lake, Schuylkill County

Tuscarora Lake (fall stocking) Schuylkill County

Blue Hole Creek (from the confluence with Garys Run to the mouth), Somerset County

Fall Creek  (from the confluence with Ansell Run to the mouth), Somerset County

Laurel Hill Lake, Somerset County

Youghiogheny River (from the lake to the confluence of the Casselman River), Fayette, Somerset counties

Hunters Lake, Sullivan County

Quaker Lake, Susquehanna County

Beechwood Lake, Tioga County

Hamilton Lake, Tioga County

Pine Creek (from the SR 0414 bridge in Blackwell to the confluence with Slate Run), Tioga County

Two Mile Run Reservoir (Justus Lake), Venango County

Canonsburg Lake, Washington County

Duck Harbor Pond, Wayne County

Upper Woods Pond, Wayne County

Keystone Lake, Westmoreland County

Northmoreland Lake, Westmore-land County

Twin Lakes Number One Reservoir (Lower Twin Lake), Westmoreland County

Twin Lakes Number Two Reservoir (Upper Twin Lake), Westmoreland County

Lake Winola, Wyoming County

Mehoopany Creek  (from the confluence with Kasson Brook to confluence of North Fork Mehoopany Creek), Wyoming County

South Branch Codorus Creek (from SR 0616 in Centerville to T-527) Wyoming County

Compiled by Deborah Weisberg