Pennsylvania Fishing Report – April 23, 2020

Northwest Region

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2020 Fishing Licenses are now available for purchase – Click here to purchase

REMINDER:
Mandatory Cold Weather Life Jacket Wear began on November 1, 2019 and runs through April 30, 2020 for anyone on boats less than 16 feet and in all canoes and kayaks. Learn more here

NOTE ON EFFECTS OF COVID-19 ON 2020 TROUT STOCKING AND MORE Trout stocking will be conducted on an accelerated schedule. To ensure public safety, volunteers will NOT be permitted to assist with stocking activities.

To complete trout stocking operations without the assistance of the public, the PFBC will modify stocking methods for this year. For further information on this and other effects on PFBC activities and operations please click here.

Erie County

Walnut Creek

Anglers are catching Smallmouth Bass at the mouth of Walnut Creek

Lake Erie

Walleye should be coming near shore very soon and anglers should have luck fishing near the mouths of the tributaries especially in the early morning and evening hours. Anglers are catching Yellow Perch off Walnut Creek and off the old Hammermill stacks.

Presque Isle Bay

Anglers are catching Yellow Perch along the Presque Isle Bay shoreline. PLEASE practice social distancing while fishing from shore and on boats.

Notes for Anglers and Boaters

Fishing Licenses can be in paper form or in electronic form this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. New boat registrations, registration renewals, launch permit purchased via mail or online may be delayed due to our current situation. Please keep copies of any receipts, written checks or print offs to show that things are in the process.

Northcentral Region

REMINDER:
Mandatory Cold Weather Life Jacket wear began on November 1, 2019 and ends on April 30, 2020 for all canoes, kayaks and boats under 16 feet in length. Learn more here

Tioga County

Asaph Run

Anglers are catching Trout throughout the stream. Anglers are reporting having success near the campground using pink and chartreuse paste baits. Live bait is also working well right now.

Tioga County

Anglers are having success fishing for Trout on many of the stocked trout waterways in the county. Anglers are reporting catching Trout using wax worms, pink salmon eggs, gold spinners and a variety of powerbaits.

Tioga Hammond and Cowanesque Lakes

Currently, anglers are taking advantage of the nice weather and starting to look for spawning panfish in some of the lakes in the county. The water temperature is still a little too cold however, some anglers are reporting catching some nice Bass. Remember, currently there is no harvest on largemouth and smallmouth bass in lakes, rivers and streams. Catch and immediate release only.

Potter County

Lyman Run Lake

Anglers are reporting having success catching trout using a variety of techniques. Artificial lures and live bait are working well right now. Gold spinners, as well as paste baits in chartreuse and pink, are currently catching fish.

Clinton County

Fishing Creek

The creek is currently flowing above average and the water temperature is in the low 50’s. Subsurface techniques are working the best right now however, there is some action on the surface. Grannoms, Hendrickson’s and blue-winged olives are all currently hatching. Small streamers are currently working well in the current water conditions.

Centre County

Spring Creek

Currently, the water temperature is in the low 50’s. The creek is flowing slightly above average with recent rainfall but continues to remain fishable. There is some action on the surface however, nymphing continues to be the most productive technique. Pheasant tail nymphs and sucker spawn imitations are hot patterns right now. Streamers will also work well to entice some hungry fish.

Southeastern Region

Northampton County

Anglers have been catching trout in streams around the county. Several of the streams are still on track to receive additional trout, so there will be more opportunities in the coming weeks.

Some locations where we traditionally stock trout are within local parks that are closed at the time of this report. If the local jurisdiction has closed a park along a trout stream, we will not stock it. Please practice social distancing and avoid crowding while fishing.

Minsi Lake

Minsi Lake is open for fishing and boating. Please note that ONLY the stocked trout there may be harvested, additionally if using a boat, please make sure that the boat has been properly registered prior to being used.