Reports compiled by Walt Dietz (wdietz@state.pa.us), Northeast Regional Outreach and Education Coordinator, using information provided by Waterways Conservation Officers, Area Fisheries Managers and other PFBC staff.

Recent snow and rain have raised the water levels in the Susquehanna River providing greater boating accessibility. Try using twister tail tipped jigs and live minnows to catch smallmouth bass and walleye in slack water areas. 

Carbon County

Most area waters are receiving little to no fishing pressure due to the start of the hunting season.  Flies and live bait are working well for catching trout at Pohopoco Creek, Mauch Chunk Creek, and Aquashicola Creek.  Anglers have had good luck catching trout at Mud Run in Hickory Run State Park.  Keep in mind that this 2.5 mile section of stream is under Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only regulations.  Various sections of the Lehigh River have also been producing trout. 

Walleye and striped bass action has been good on Beltzville Lake while largemouth bass action has slowed.  Fishing spinnerbaits or stickbaits over weed beds has been productive for pickerel on both Mauch Chunk Lake and Beltzville Lake during the recent weeks.

Lackawanna County

Recent cooler temperatures have caused anglers to put their rods away for the time being.  Fishing and boating activities across the county have been slow over the past week.  Projected warmer temperatures this week may change things.  Plenty of good fishing opportunities remain.

Northern Luzerne County

Harveys Lake is still holding a lot of nice brown trout near the PFBC Access.  They don't seem to want to leave this shallow area but are also being pretty finicky when it comes to feeding.  A fresh bunch of rainbow trout are prowling the waters of Sylvan Lake.  If you can find them, you can catch them with fathead minnows below slip bobbers or the old standby paste baits.

Southern Luzerne County

Anglers are still catching trout and panfish using paste baits and minnows at Lily Lake.

Live bait and twister-tails have been working well catching walleye on the Susquehanna River and several nice sized walleye have been caught recently.  Smallmouth bass fishing on the river has slowed down but a few catfish are still being caught using nightcrawlers and chicken livers.

Boating activity is still busy at all river access points.  Walleye anglers especially have been using PFBC Appletree, Nesbit Park, Breslau, Hunlock and PFBC Union accesses. Boating activity on Lily Lake and Francis Walter Dam has slowed down due to lower water conditions at Francis Walter Dam and a draw down at Lily Lake.

Southern Pike County and Northeastern Monroe

On Tuesday, October 28, Bushkill Creek and Dingmans Creek received its fall stocking of trout.  Fishing activity on the two streams has been very light and that may be due to the high water levels. The few anglers that are fishing are catching nice sized rainbow trout using spinners on the Bushkill Creek near the Route 209 Bridge.  A few fly-fishermen had success casting wooly buggers and nymphs in the ripples at Dingmans Creek.

Walleye fishing on the Delaware River has been on the rise with the nights getting cooler and the water temperature dropping.  Not many walleye were caught over the weekend but anglers had success catching good sized smallmouth bass under the Dingmans Ferry Bridge.

Area lakes and ponds received little fishing pressure over the past week.

Susquehanna County

Trout fishing opportunities remain available at Quaker Lake even though the PFBC docks have been pulled from the water.  Keep in mind that the lake is part of the Early Season Trout stocked waters program even though it is not listed in the 2008 Summary of Fishing regulations.

The Susquehanna River stage measured at Towanda was 0.06 feet on October 20th and was forecasted to fall to 0.01 feet on October 21.  Boaters are cautioned that these levels present dangerous conditions and substantially increase the risk of collisions with rocks and shoals.

Carbon County

Anglers are doing well catching striped bass using live bait, chicken livers or crankbaits at Beltzville Lake.  Bass action at Beltzville has been slow the last few days.  Bass and pickerel action still appears to be good at Mauch Chunk Lake. 

Smallmouth bass action is slow on the Lehigh River.  A few anglers caught trout on the Lehigh above the Route 895 Bridge at West Bowmans and some anglers caught walleye near Weissport.

Trout action has been good on the Pohopoco Creek downstream of Beltzville Lake.  Anglers have been doing well catching trout on Mauch Chunk Creek and Aquashicola Creek. 

Lackawanna County

Lackawanna Lake saw plenty of anglers this past week.  Anglers are still targeting the nice trout that were recently stocked and are having success using paste baits.

Quite a few anglers have been targeting the brook trout that were recently stocked at Merli Sarnoski Park.  Many have been catching their limits since the trout were stocked.  Spinners, paste baits, and live pin head minnows are doing the trick.

Northern Luzerne County

Trout were recently stocked at Harveys Lake and Sylvan Lake.  Some lucky anglers caught their limits but there are still a lot of trout left.  Try fishing a minnow rigged below a bobber.  Trout paste bait fished on the bottom or below a bobber has also been working well.

Southern Luzerne County

Anglers have been catching brook trout using waxworms, minnows, and paste baits at Lake Irena.  Lily Lake has recently been stocked with rainbow trout and anglers are having success using paste baits, waxworms, and spinners. Anglers are also catching bass and pan fish at the lake.  At Francis Walter Dam, anglers have been catching bass, panfish and some trout using various spinners and live bait.  Try using paste baits and redworms to catch trout at Lake Took-A-While.

Anglers have been catching smallmouth bass using tubes and live bait on the Susquehanna River.  Catfish are being caught using nightcrawlers and chicken liver and anglers are catching some walleye as well.

Activity on the Susquehanna River has slowed down but a few boaters have been using the PFBC Union Access and Nesbit Park Access.  A few boaters have been using Lily Lake during recent trout stocking. Boaters are reminded to read the rules and regulations prior to launching. The entire lake is currently Slow No Wake until next Memorial Day.  Some paddlers and a few bass and crappie anglers have been boating at Francis Walter Dam.

Monroe County

Trout anglers are enjoying the cooler weather and getting some last minute fishing in before the waters freeze. The cooler weather has increased the activity of the trout and anglers are having success on McMichaels Creek and Brodhead Creek.  Plain old silver metal spinners seem to be working best.

The Lehigh River and late harvest section of Tobyhanna Creek were recently stocked.  Brook trout are being caught on the Lehigh with salted or live minnows.  Anglers fishing the Tobyhanna are reminded that the late harvest section is artificial lures only.

Most boaters have been taking their boats off Lake Wallenpaupack for the season.  All slips need to be removed from the lake by November 30th.  This is a good time of year to check over hoses and lines, and to do any repairs that are needed.

Northern Pike County

Smallmouth bass are still biting in Lake Wallenpaupack.  Bluegill and perch are still a favorite all over area waterways. 

Some striped bass and smallmouth bass are being caught on the Delaware River.  Trout stockings continue to offer good fishing in the Lackawaxen River.

Most boaters throughout the area have finished for the year.

Southern Pike and Northeastern Monroe County

Fall stocking of trout in Bushkill Creek Catch and Release Fly Fishing Special Regulations Area, Bushkill Creek along Creek Road and Dingmans Creek Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only Special Regulations section is scheduled for Tuesday October 28, 2008.  Anyone interested is encouraged to meet us at the Resica Boy Scout Parking Lot off Route 402 at 1:00 p.m.

Anglers pursuing panfish on Promised Land Lake have been catching perch, bluegills and crappie.  These panfish are being caught on minnows, jigs, mealworms, waxworms, and earthworms.

Sullivan County

Anglers fishing from boats on Hunters Lake are catching trout just off the bottom in water 10 to 14 feet deep.   Green paste baits are working best.

Susquehanna County

Boaters on the Susquehanna River should exercise extreme caution due to rainfall at near record lows over the last month. Many rocks and obstructions that would not normally be exposed now present a hazard to boaters travelling above no wake speed.

Wyoming County

South Branch Tunkhannock Creek and the Catch and Release section of Bowman’s Creek were both recently stocked with trout for the fall fishing season.  Now is a great time to get out and do some fishing before the cold weather sets in. Fish should be feeding actively as the water temperatures get colder.

Water levels on the Susquehanna River are very low right now.  Boaters should use caution and keep a lookout for exposed obstacles.