NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA FISHING REPORT

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NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA FISHING REPORT Published by Blackwolfe Communications LLC Issue: December 17, 2018 The NW PA Fishing Report is brought to

Brown, Erie trib The Landing Net by Darl Black Dave at Richter s Bait refers to it as the in between time and Russ at Gateway Tackle calls it limbo

It starts sometime during December in NW PA and may last until sometime in January. Flowing water offers the only fishing opportunities.

Trout (including steelhead), walleye and perch are usually targeted, and with a little warm up perhaps smallmouth bass.

1 NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA FISHING REPORT Published by Blackwolfe Communications LLC Issue: December 17, 2018 The NW PA Fishing Report is brought to you by: Fishing with Darl Black Guide Service Jeff Knapp PB lb. eye, Allegheny River Chad Foster 10 lb. Brown, Erie trib The Landing Net by Darl Black Dave at Richter s Bait refers to it as the in between time and Russ at Gateway Tackle calls it limbo the period when skim ice cover on the lakes prevents launching boats, but ice isn t thick enough to permit ice fishing. It starts sometime during December in NW PA and may last until sometime in January. Flowing water offers the only fishing opportunities. But water temperature typically in the 30s restricts which species are truly active. Trout (including steelhead), walleye and perch are usually targeted, and with a little warm up perhaps smallmouth bass. But with water temp in the mid to low 30s, even flowing water may chunk up with ice at any time. Yet the hardcore keep on fishing. With above average temps forecast for the next 30 days, it s a flip of the coin as to whether there will be safe ice in January or if you will need to pull that boat out of storage.

2 The NW PA Fishing Report provides timely angling information for Crawford, Erie, Mercer, and Venango counties. Fishing comments and photos are offered by regional tackle shops and area anglers. The NW PA Fishing Report is based on experiences, observations and opinions of individual contributors; information sources are considered reliable but comments are not independently verified. In providing information or pictures, you are agreeing to your comments being edited for clarity and brevity, and posted to websites and distributed electronically. NW PA FISHING REPORT for Published by Blackwolfe Communications LLC County by County Report FRENCH CREEK Flowing through all four counties Editor s note: No reports from anglers or area shops. However, French Creek looks to be in excellent condition for late fall walleye fishing. Creek flow is somewhat high (but not too high) and water color is somewhat dingy (but not muddy). Get out there and fish! CRAWFORD COUNTY Pymatuning Lake Richter s Bait & Tackle; filed 12/17: We were doing pretty good on walleye right before the lake iced over roughly 1-1/2 weeks ago. Once I found the walleye deep on the South End, I was catching legal-size fish on Vib-E Blades; others were getting them on jig-n-minnow. Then the lake iced over but not thick enough for fishing. However, with warmer weather this past week, bays opened up as did some areas on the main lake. If we continue with above average temps and some rain, we may be able to launch again. I m checking it tonight after work. With the bays opened over this past weekend, some guys were catching yellow perch and bluegills from shore. Also hearing of some legal walleyes coming from the river outflow section, too. Gateway Tackle; filed 12/17: We are in that state of limbo between open water and safe ice. Last catches of walleyes we made were almost two weeks ago from the boat. I m hearing some folks are catching panfish off the Jamestown docks.

ERIE COUNTY Presque Isle Bay Dominic @ Lake Erie Bait & Tackle; filed 12/17: We lost our skim ice this past weekend. Some guys were launching boats.

Anglers on North and South Pier are seeing some big perch and occasional walleye.

Erie Tributaries Lynn @ East End Angler; filed 12/17: The East Side stream are giving up some steelhead and brown trout mainly in the lower sections of streams.

Eaton Lake reportedly had 4 inches of ice, but that may not be true now after the warm up. Lake Pleasant received its winter stocking of trout. The Minnow Man was able to fill our tanks with emeralds.

3 ERIE COUNTY Presque Isle Bay Lake Erie Bait & Tackle; filed 12/17: We lost our skim ice this past weekend. Some guys were launching boats. Other anglers were fishing off the Marina Lake docks in open water; they are catching yellow perch, steelhead and the occasional walleye. Anglers on North and South Pier are seeing some big perch and occasional walleye. The word over the weekend from Liberty Park on City side was the perch were suspended about 10 feet and not in a feeding mood. Erie Tributaries East End Angler; filed 12/17: The East Side stream are giving up some steelhead and brown trout mainly in the lower sections of streams. I m hearing the perch fishing at Marina Lake, South Pier and Liberty Pier has been off and on. And I m still hearing of a walleye turning up off the docks and piers of the Bay every now and then. Eaton Lake reportedly had 4 inches of ice, but that may not be true now after the warm up. Lake Pleasant received its winter stocking of trout. The Minnow Man was able to fill our tanks with emeralds. Poor Richards; filed 12/17: Anglers experienced a decent week on the streams given that it s December. Good numbers of Browns and Steelheads taken. Baits used depended on water level and clarity as the steams have been up and down recently. Single egg, minnows and muted fly patterns for low and clear; egg skein and brighter colored flies for dirty water. Some fresh steelhead entered the streams during the recent snow melt. Elk Creek Sports; filed 12/17: Elk has been up and down. Catches have been good, especially for stocked browns. We had no complaints from anglers about catches this past week. Hopefully we get some reasonable amount of rain on Friday to bring the creeks back up. Most people say they want snow for Christmas we want rain. Unless you are an angler, you don t get it! Fish West PA; filed 12/16: With most of the inland lakes skimmed over with ice, we have been venturing to Lake Erie and doing well on both steelhead and brown trout. Ever changing conditions means versatility becomes a must! Decent weather is helping. See photo of James Swearingen with beautiful brown at left. Merry Christmas everyone from all of us a FISH WEST PA.

Bill Logan (Pleasantville); filed 12/5: On the 5 th, I landed five steelheads on egg patterns and streams. Drove through a white out at Edinboro on way home. Came home to ribs and cherry pie.

VENANGO COUNTY Sugar Creek Angler Al @ Buttermilk Hill; filed 12/9: During his visit each year over Thanksgiving, my brother -in-law Doc Das from Hendersonville, NC, and I trout fish on Sugar Creek.

But Doc did catch 2 rainbow trout before we switched over to spinning rods. I had a few dozen crawlers for us, however I had asked him to bring some worms from down south.

4 Bill Logan (Pleasantville); filed 12/5: On the 5 th, I landed five steelheads on egg patterns and streams. Drove through a white out at Edinboro on way home. Came home to ribs and cherry pie. Life is good. MERCER COUNTY No reports except that some panfish are being caught off the docks at Lake Wilhelm Marina. VENANGO COUNTY Sugar Creek Angler Buttermilk Hill; filed 12/9: During his visit each year over Thanksgiving, my brother -in-law Doc Das from Hendersonville, NC, and I trout fish on Sugar Creek. This year the temperature was an all time low for us. Thursday morning s 15 degrees became an issue as our fly rod eyelets constantly were icing up. But Doc did catch 2 rainbow trout before we switched over to spinning rods. I had a few dozen crawlers for us, however I had asked him to bring some worms from down south. I used these worms earlier this year during his July visit, and they were hardy wigglers. The trout liked them too! At the end of our two-day outing our totals were: Al 13 trout (largest a 17-inch rainbow) Doc 8 (largest a 14-inch brown) We brought back our 3 fish limit each day to release in my pond. On Sunday s it s all about Steelers football. But with a night game on Dec 2 nd, I was happy to go back down to Sugar Creek to fish those leftover worms. I caught 3 average size rainbows. On Sunday the 9 th, with a 4:30 Steelers game, I headed back to Sugar. Drifting one of those red worms in a large pool beneath a bridge, a big brownie sucked it in! Wow did he do battle. However, I won the nearly 25-inch fish now swims in my pond.

Allegheny River Jeff Knapp @ Keystone Connection Guide Service; filed 12-16: Recent fishing activity has been outstanding.

We re getting both numbers and size on guide trips and buddy trips. Plenty of keepers in the 16 to 20-inch range, as well as large females which we release.

During the recent period Keystone produced my personal best inland (not Great Lakes) smallmouth bass at 5.56 pounds/22.25 inches. Getting the walleyes on hair jigs, jig-n-minnow and blade baits.

) Pete Cartwright @ Smallies on the Yough; filed 12/16: We fished the Allegheny on the 15 th. Water temp was cold. We used 412ubes to land some nice smallmouth and a few walleyes.

Mike McFadden at Mike s Custom Baits; filed 12/16: The walleye fishing in the river has been very good this late fall when the water level was up.

5 Allegheny River Jeff Keystone Connection Guide Service; filed 12-16: Recent fishing activity has been outstanding. With water temperatures dropping into the 30s I ve been targeting walleye on both the middle (free-flowing) and lower (navigable) Allegheny River. We re getting both numbers and size on guide trips and buddy trips. Plenty of keepers in the 16 to 20-inch range, as well as large females which we release. Recently the river produced my personal best walleye, at pounds/31 inches. On Keystone Power Dam we re still catching big smallmouth bass, along with occasional walleye and tiger musky. During the recent period Keystone produced my personal best inland (not Great Lakes) smallmouth bass at 5.56 pounds/22.25 inches. Getting the walleyes on hair jigs, jig-n-minnow and blade baits. Blade baits for smallies. I ll continue guiding as long as the weather and river/lake conditions allow. (PS Last minute call from Jeff saying the smallmouth bite at Keystone appears to have ended.) Pete Smallies on the Yough; filed 12/16: We fished the Allegheny on the 15 th. Water temp was cold. We used 412ubes to land some nice smallmouth and a few walleyes. All smallies were 16 to 20 inches. The bite was pretty good for an hour or so, then it slowed. This might be the last trip until spring but you never know! Mike McFadden at Mike s Custom Baits; filed 12/16: The walleye fishing in the river has been very good this late fall when the water level was up. We were limiting out on decent walleyes around Thanksgiving. But gradually the river level dropped and the walleye bite slowed. On my last couple trips this past week, I ve only managed a few sub legal walleyes and maybe one or two legal ones. On the 16 th, I actually caught more 12 to 14-inch smallmouth bass than walleye, including one four-pound smallie all on Ned Rigs. Bill Logan (Pleasantville); filed 12/15: I was musky fished the Allegheny today near Tionesta. I had a 30 pounder follow my bait, a huge half-pound curly tail grub. I kept casting. It followed again. I kept casting. It hit. Game on! I could hardly hold it on my musky rod with 80 lb. braid. I expected the rod to snap. Water temperature was in the mid-30s. Finally played it out enough to guide it into the net. But the hooks tangled in the mesh by the rim. I had a 50 inch plus musky across my net but not in it. It thrashed and got free. What a thrill! Life is good today.

Annual Bronzeback Friday Outing (Go Fish instead of shop) The day after

our annual Bronzeback Friday bass outing on the river.

However, we caught more smallmouth than expected, bringing 12 big bass

All bass came on Mike s Custom Tubes, Galida s Grubz and Jimmy D s River

I had invited other anglers who were fishing over Thanksgiving weekend to

And I explained there would be a drawing from among those who sent photos

Isle Tackle, Bobby Garland Crappie Baits, Road Runner Lures, Gamma Line,

6 Annual Bronzeback Friday Outing (Go Fish instead of shop) The day after Thanksgiving, Marilyn and I joined Dale Black of Gamma Fishing Line for our annual Bronzeback Friday bass outing on the river. With water temperature at 34 degrees, we didn t have high hopes. However, we caught more smallmouth than expected, bringing 12 big bass over the gunwale for a quick photo before releasing them. All bass came on Mike s Custom Tubes, Galida s Grubz and Jimmy D s River Bug hair jigs. I had invited other anglers who were fishing over Thanksgiving weekend to send photos of their Smallmouth Bass catches as well. And I explained there would be a drawing from among those who sent photos for an end-ofyear lure pack from Galida s Grubz, 412bait Company, Someday Isle Tackle, Bobby Garland Crappie Baits, Road Runner Lures, Gamma Line, Thill Floats, Yum and Polarized Safety Glasses from Al Bell s American First Aid. The winner is Chris Schuit, who was fishing with Jeff Knapp. Darl Dale Marilyn RJ Graham Jim Melvin Chris Schuit

7 The Livewell Brought to you by: Wiegel Brothers Marine 704 ½ Elk Street Franklin, PA Phone It s Walleye Time on the Allegheny River! From now until freeze-up Go Fish! Jeff Knapp photo Dale Black Big Mike McFadden Fully rigged jet boat ready to fish at Wiegel s

Black Knight Industries Oil City, PA 16301 www.gammafishing.com www.froghairfishing.

Bill Logan drawn for spool of Gamma Line in this issue of the Fishing Report. Chris Schuit drawn as winner of Braonzeback Friday tackle pack.

8 Black Knight Industries Oil City, PA You can find GAMMA LINE locally at the following tackle shops: Consumer Direct Sports (CDS) Grove City Outlet Mall, PA Maurer s Trading Post Franklin, PA Robinson s Bait & Tackle Linesville, PA Bill Logan drawn for spool of Gamma Line in this issue of the Fishing Report. Chris Schuit drawn as winner of Braonzeback Friday tackle pack. Chad Foster & Jeff Knapp receive pack of Galida s Grubz for their photos on cover. Brock Morocco receives pack of Galida s Grubz for December parting picture. Please your shipping address to Darl Black to claim your prize. From everyone at Blackwolfe Communications, PA Great Lakes Region tourism, Wiegel Brothers Marine and Gamma Fishing Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Photo by Brock Morocco

NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA FISHING REPORT

NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA FISHING REPORT Published by Blackwolfe Communications LLC Issue: December 13, 2017 The NW PA Fishing Report is brought to you by: Fishing with Darl Black Guide Service The Landing