| Clarion County
Piney Dam: With the recreational boating season winding down, the waters on Piney Dam have calmed. Anglers have been reporting catches of some perch & walleyes. Preferred baits have been minnows, night crawlers, crawfish, colored Hot-n-Tots and gold colored Rapalas. Anglers have been doing well by drifting the areas around the Toby & Route 322 Bridges with night crawlers and minnows or by trolling the shallow areas with crawfish colored Hot-n -Tots and gold colored Rapalas.
Kahle Lake: With the cooler temperatures anglers have been catching some bass, bluegills, crappies & perch. Anglers fishing for bass should try crank baits, jigs or spinner baits. Anglers fishing for crappies and bluegills should try small jigs tipped with maggots or wax worms. Anglers fishing for perch should try drifting with night crawlers or minnows.
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will begin a winter drawdown in October, lowering the lake level by approximately 6 feet between October and March. The drawdown is part of the PFBC’s strategy to reduce and control aquatic vegetation congestion in the lake, which has adversely affected fishing conditions and some fish species. Shoreline areas near access points, bays and inlets have had serious congestion for the last several years that hampered fishing. This is the second year for the winter drawdown on Kahle Lake and some relief from vegetation congestion was observed this year from the first winter drawdown but a second should provide additional vegetation control. Winter drawdowns control vegetation by exposing the lake bed in shallow areas to drying and the freezing temperatures of winter which kill the plants. In addition to vegetation control, spillway repairs are scheduled to be completed this fall that required a drawdown of the lake level. In March, the stop logs that are removed to draw down the lake will be placed back into the tower of the dam. Then, runoff from streams entering the lake, snowmelt, and rainfall combine to refill the lake.
Allegheny River: Smallmouth bass are still being caught in good numbers around the islands between Foxburg & Parker. Walleyes & muskies are being caught with live baits at the mouths of Redbank Creek and the Clarion River.
Several of the bass tournaments held last month in the East Brady Area have yielded some very impressive smallmouth bass with an occasional walleye or musky.
Anglers, boaters & other outdoor enthusiasts are reminded that the Parker Access Area is now a PA Fish & Boat Commission controlled access area. In 2008 a cooperative agreement was signed between the City of Parker and the Pa Fish & Boat Commission. As part of the agreement, the PFBC made upgrades to the access area. All boats, canoes & kayaks using this facility must have a current PA Fish & Boat Commission powered or non-powered registration to use this facility.
Beaver Creek Ponds Project: Located along State Route 208 just south of the Borough of Knox, this is a wonderful place to take a kid or the entire family fishing. The ponds are loaded with bass, bluegills, crappies, perch and walleyes. The project is owned and maintained by the Clarion County Alliance for Wetlands & Wildlife. Please remember that this is a special regulations area that is closed to all fishing from January 1 thru to the opening day of bass season. Once the season is open, bass must be a minimum size limit of 15 inches with a creel limit of 2 per day on the entire project area. Panfish have a creel limit of 10 per day combined species on the entire area.
Upper Clarion River: Anglers are reporting catches of trout, bass and an occasional walleye. Due to the cool summer temperatures we had this year, the trout held over very well. Anglers trying their luck for trout should concentrate near the mouths of Cathers or Blyson runs. With trout beginning their fall spawning cycle these areas should be hot spots for some large brown trout. Anglers and boaters using the Upper Clarion River will notice that the PFBC recently completed upgrades to the PFBC’s Gravel Lick Access Area. The parking area has been enlarged, stoned & graveled. A ramp has been built from the parking area down to the water’s edge making access to the river much safer. Boaters using this access are reminded this is a PFBC Access Area. All boats including canoes & kayaks must be registered to use this facility.
Lower Clarion River: This section doesn’t receive much angling pressure this time of the year so you are likely to catch just about anything. This section of the river contains populations of bass, walleye, northern pike with an occasional musky. Trout can be found around the mouths of Canoe Creek & Turkey Run. With trout entering their fall spawning cycle, these areas should be hot spots for large brown trout.
Redbank Creek: Anglers continue to catch trout and bass on Redbank Creek from the Clarion County line downstream to the dam in New Bethlehem. With the cool summer temperatures we had this year the trout have held over very well. From the dam in New Bethlehem downstream to the mouth at the Allegheny River, anglers continue to have a mixed bag of angling opportunities. This area has populations of trout, bass, walleyes & northern pike. The area immediately below the dam is good for just about anything this time of year. Anglers looking for trout should concentrate below the dam and around the mouth of Leatherwood Creek. The mouth of Redbank Creek is a good area for walleyes, northern pike and large muskies that migrate up the creek from the Allegheny River this time of year.
Piney Creek Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only Area: This area was stocked by the PFBC on October 1st with 400 rainbow trout. Anglers are reminded that this area is a special regulations area. Angling can only be conducted with artificial lures only. Bait cannot be possessed or used in the entire project area. All trout caught must be immediately released back into the water.
Crawford County
Conneaut Lake: Fishing pressure picked up this week with the warmer weather. Anglers were reporting good catches of white bass all week. Walleyes in the 16 to 20 inch range have also been reported in recent weeks. Northern pike, bluegills, and a few crappies were also being caught in good numbers.
Erie County (Central)
Substantial steelhead runs have been fewer compared to previous years but good numbers have entered Four Mile Creek and are gathered at the lower fishing hole near the mouth. Cascade Creek and Mill Creek have very few steelhead, but additional runs are anticipated with cooling temperatures and increased rainfall. Lower Cascade Creek has become inundated with gravel, large rocks, and concrete barriers that have been washed down to the area of the creek near the wooden footbridge apparently impeding the travel of steelhead. Seven Mile Creek has very few steelhead, mostly due to a large tree that has blocked the mouth of the creek. Perch fishing on the South Pier has picked up and is anticipated to pick up near the head of Presque Isle Bay very soon. Perch fishing in the lake off the point is excellent.
Please review the following instructions pertaining to angler access to lower Four Mile Creek:
The Lawrence Park Golf Club is graciously permitting anglers to access their property to fish the lower section of Four Mile Creek (west side) from the dam down to the mouth. However, the way anglers access that section of stream has changed for this year, and will remain changed until further notice. Anglers are no longer permitted to utilize the foot bridge at the dam in order to cross the stream. From now on, anglers must enter the stream from the area between the dam and the Lawrence Park Fishing Club property line. This area is immediately next to (north of) the dam. Anglers must enter the stream from this point, and then walk in the stream down to the mouth to access the west bank (lower fishing hole).
In previous years, anglers were permitted to utilize the foot bridge to cross the stream then walk along the top of the west bank, then hop down over the bank to access the west side of the stream: THIS IS NO LONGER PERMITTED. Anglers must stay in the stream and walk down to the west side of the mouth. NO EXCEPTIONS.
ALSO: ANGLERS ARE STILL PROHIBITED FROM TRESPASSING ON THE EAST SIDE OF LOWER FOUR MILE CREEK (from the center line of the stream eastward) UNLESS THEY ARE A MEMBER OF THE LAWRENCE PARK FISHING CLUB (MEMBERS ONLY). TRESPASSERS WILL BE PROSECUTED.
Mercer County
Lake Wilhelm: The panfish bite continues to be slow, with reports of numerous small fish being caught lake wide. The lake is currently on a draw down so use caution with the lower water conditions.
Shenango Lake: Anglers have been reporting catches of crappie and white bass/hybrid striped bass around the access areas of the lake. Individuals are catching a combination of walleye and trout below the outflow.
Cool Spring Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only project has been stocked for the fall. The trout were bigger than usual. Remember that the limit now is 3 fish.
ATTENTION HUNTERS using boats--remember that hunters who use a boat fall under the same regulations as any other boater. DON’T FORGET YOUR LIFE JACKETS!!!! With cold water, hypothermia will be an issue. |