Reports compiled by Keith Edwards (kedwards@state.pa.us), Northwest Regional Outreach and Education Coordinator, using information provided by Waterways Conservation Officers, Area Fisheries Managers and other PFBC staff.

Conneaut Lake – Some nice white bass are being caught around the lake.

Pymatuning Lake – Some very nice perch have been caught around the northern islands. Some walleyes have also been caught but action is slowing down.

Erie County (West)

The Erie area definitely could use some rain. Although tributary levels are at reasonable levels, considering in years past we have seen them at barely a trickle, the fact is the water is crystal clear. Although these conditions are tough, they are by no means impossible. Shiners, single eggs, tiny jigs, and the sucker spawn patterns have all triggered some strikes. Often in these conditions, working micro jigs can trigger an aggressive strike. The lightest of line and tippets is a must along with the smallest of hooks down to size 18. If one spot isn't producing, try moving, look for deeper pools or deep moving water where the fish have more cover. Many areas along lower Elk Creek have downed trees and deep pools giving fish the cover they seek. It's no secret that if you can see the fish...they can see you. The lakeshore at Trout and Godfrey runs can be good places to try when the tribs are down and clear.

Perch are still hitting north of Walnut Creek and off the Point, wind and waves permitting.

Current West County tributary conditions as of Tuesday afternoon were low and very clear with little flow. Current Lake Erie water temperature is degrees.

-- excerpt from our weekly Erie Report

Lake Arthur: Fishing activity has slowed in the last month. Catfish and perch fishing have remained steady. As the colder weather approaches, the musky anglers will be trolling for trophies.

Lake Oneida: Since winter will be here soon, consider fishing for crappie and bluegill in the early morning or early evening. This time of year, panfish at this location should be eager to take your offerings.

Crawford County

Woodcock Creek: A few trout are still being caught below the dam. The lake is being drawn down to winter level.

Canadohta Lake: The lake has been drawn down to winter level.

Erie County (West)

Walnut Creek marina was opened to fishing on 10/28/09 at 1p.m. This week saw some precipitation with enough rain to really get the steelhead moving and put some color back in the water. As quickly as the tributaries swell, they all too quickly fall back to low and clear conditions. Fishing conditions have been generally good with steelhead movement well up stream and the steelhead season well into prime time. A good number of legal limits (and a few illegal limits) were observed this past weekend.

Successful anglers are using very light line and tippets with very small presentations. Fly anglers seemed to be having the most success.

Elk Creek has been producing good numbers well up to Route 20. The access areas at Walnut and Elk creeks have been heavily congested and anglers using these areas over the next few weeks should expect crowded conditions. Boaters have been picking up steelhead in Presque Isle Bay and the surrounding areas. Angling pressure has been dramatically less during the week.

Conditions permitting, a few boats have been on the troll along the shoreline. On the few calm days we have had, perch fishing has been good due north of Walnut Creek.

Current trib conditions as of Tuesday afternoon were somewhat clear with light flow. Current Lake Erie water temperature is 53 degrees off the Port of Erie.

-- excerpt from our weekly Erie Report

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.

So far October has been a wet month, and that is good news for the steelhead anglers. Steelhead have reached the upper limits on 12, 16 & 20 Mile Streams and are also being caught in the lake at the creek mouths.

On Monday, October 19th, the PFBC will begin removing the docks at the North East Marina. This will tie up one of the boat ramps. At the completion of dock removal an ice boom will be placed at the marina entrance closing the marina. Also, the floating dock at Shades Beach Safe Harbor will be removed within the next two weeks and the marina will be closed for the season in early November.

Erie County (West)

Little to no precipitation has put trib. levels at very low and clear conditions and reduced flow to a standstill, especially in the larger pulls. Fish are being caught near the mouths and somewhat upstream, but typically at dawn and dusk when anglers have some cover from the line shy steelhead. Very light line and small presentations are a must in these conditions. Strikes can be very subtle.

A few boats have been spotted trolling at the mouths of Walnut and Elk creeks and Trout Run with some success. Fishing has been fair to good along the lake shore at Trout and Godfrey runs wind and waves permitting.

Current Lake Erie water temperature is 53 degrees. West county trib. conditions as of Tuesday afternoon were very low and clear.

-- excerpt from our weekly Erie Report