Reports compiled by Andrew Desko (adesko@state.pa.us), Southeast Region Education Specialist, using information provided by Waterways Conservation Officers, Area Fisheries Managers and other PFBC staff.

Many people are preoccupied with preparations for the fall and winter season.  Don't forget about the boat!  Make sure to winterize the boat’s engine before freezing temperatures descend on the area.  Save it from a cracked block or lower unit.

Don’t put the fishing rods away!  Levittown Lake and Lake Luxembourg were stocked with rainbow trout in October.  Anglers report that the trout are hitting on small silver spoons or spinners at Levittown Lake along the second base line.  At Lake Luxembourg, paste baits seem to work well.  The desired color varies from day to day so bring an assortment. 

One important reminder - during the Extended Season for Trout, the minimum size remains at 7 inches but the daily limit is reduced to 3 trout.

Chester County

Southern Chester County District 4084 would like to welcome Deputy Officer Walls to the district and congratulate him on completion of training. PFBC staff are sure he will be an asset and look forward to working with him.

Lancaster County

Muddy Run Lake and the West Branch of Octoraro Creek (Catch & Release Fly Fishing Only) both received fall stocking of rainbow trout on Thursday, October 8.  Catches at Muddy Run Lake have been limited; success has been found utilizing white paste bait.  Two separate stretches of the W. Branch Octoraro Creek were float-stocked downstream from the 472 bridge and downstream from the Puseyville Road Bridge.

Anglers are advised that license display remains a requirement in PA as stated on the license.  Waterways Conservation Officers continue to find licenses that are not signed.  WCOs want to see the current license displayed – not a past year’s license or licenses from other states.  It is advantageous to have a photocopy of a driver’s license or other positive ID in the plastic license holder with the license.  Positive ID is a requirement of PA Title 30 Fish & Boat Code; Section 2703 (a).

Northampton County

Bryce Weidlick, age 14, did not let an early snowfall keep him from catching three nice trout at Minsi Lake on 10/15

Bushkill Creek and Minsi Lake received a fall stocking on 10/15. The warm weather has improved fishing activity and fish are being caught on a variety of baits. Spinners, paste baits and worms have been productive.

Fly anglers on Saucon Creek have been enjoying blue winged olive hatches in the Trophy Trout Special Regulation Area. The hatch has been starting around 1:30PM and many fish have been rising to feed on the tiny mayfly. Successful patterns have been BWO duns in size #18 and #20, parachute patterns in size #20, and emerger patterns in size #20. Blue winged olives are also hatching on Monocacy Creek.

Fishing pressure has been light on the Lehigh River and Delaware River. Some anglers have been pursuing catfish in the Raubs Island section of the Delaware River and have been successful using small sunfish for bait. Reports of catfish in the 10-15 lb. range. Other anglers are finding trout and smallmouth bass at the mouths of each river’s tributaries. The confluence areas of Hokendauqua Creek on the Lehigh River and Bushkill Creek on the Delaware River have been productive.

Many waterfowl hunters have been asking if they can hunt the Lehigh River at the PFBC Rt. 33 Boat Access Area. The PFBC allows hunters to access the river at this location and other PFBC properties in Northampton County, such as Sandt's Eddy on the Delaware River, East Bangor Dam and Minsi Lake. In regards to the Rt. 33 site, all hunting must be done from a watercraft. No hunting may be done from the islands in this section of the river as they are privately owned. When using a boat on any waterway, waterfowl hunters are reminded to follow all PFBC boating regulations.

Philadelphia County

Maintenance staff removed the floating docks and walkways from Frankford Arsenal on November 3 and from Commodore Barry access on November 4.

Schuylkill County

Volunteers build turtle basking platforms for Tuscarora Lake

Several trees have been felled into Tuscarora Lake.  These should provide fall bass fishing opportunities and great structure for winter panfish action.  Turtle basking platforms have also been placed in Tuscarora Lake.  These provide overhead structure for fish as well as a resting place for turtles.

Trout have been caught in Tuscarora Lake on minnows and other live baits.  The Little Schuylkill River is full of hold-over trout in the area of Tamaqua.  Brown and rainbow trout are being landed on worms and minnows between Elm Street and Pine Street.

While fishing has decreased in southern Chester County, don't put the boat away! The fall colors are almost at their peak in Hibernia County Park. With its diversity of fields, forest, wetlands, the 90 acre Chambers Lake and a scenic section of the West Branch of Brandywine Creek, Hibernia County Park offers a variety of photographic opportunities. Chambers Lake has a nice boat ramp with ample parking. Boats (electric motor only) are allowed and must be registered or have a valid launch permit. One great shot is capturing the way the lake mirrors the trees on its shoreline. Whether using a film camera or digital camera, always use a polarizer. Dew, water and the shine on the leaves will reflect light back to the camera and act to dilute the photograph’s colors.

Always wear a life jacket when boating, but definitely do when the water temperature drops. Don't forget to tie a whistle to the life jacket. A trail map is available at the park office or there is more information online at Chester County Parks & Recreation.

Waterways Conservation Officers often receive questions about what kind of work in and along a stream, lake, pond, and other waterway requires a permit. There is almost nothing that can be done in or along a stream or watercourse that does not require a permit. PA Department of Environmental Protection Chapter 105 states that any activity proposed in, along, or across, or projecting into a watercourse, floodway or body of water, including a wetland or wetlands, requires a permit. One of the purposes of a permit is to protect the waterway by submitting what can be a simple plan for review prior to any actual construction. This allows the experts an opportunity to help guide applicants through the process and protect our water resources at the same time. In Chester County, the Chester County Soil Conservation District is available to assist by determining which permit is needed for different projects including stream improvement, habitat structure, restoration and stream bank stabilization, canopy cover, plantings, wetland improvement, and environmental complaints. An environmental complaint is a tip or report relating to a possible pollution or to any activity that could have a negative impact on our water resources. The suspected responsible party could be a facility or an individual. Since no one is exempt from permit requirements and the fines can be severe, making use of this valuable resource is vital to protect the forthcoming project and the environment. Contact the Chester Co. Conservation District at:

Chester County Conservation District
Willowdale Town Center
688 Unionville Road Suite 200
Kennett Square, PA 19348
610.925.4920 ~ Fax 610.925.4925
www.chesco.org/conservation 
Email: ccsoil@chesco.org

If outside Chester County, consult the local directory for the Soil Conservation District in your county.

Lancaster County

Fisheries Biologists surveyed Lake Clarke on the Susquehanna River below Columbia and Wrightsville this past week and found large numbers of young-of-year walleye in the 7 to 10 inch range.  The numbers were similar to the young-of-year class surveyed three years ago.  Those fish now should be in the 16 to 17 inch range.  The young-of-year class found this year and three years back will provide great walleye fishing on the Susquehanna River for years to come.

Lehigh County

Recent state & Co-op stocking of trout in the Little Lehigh is providing excellent angling opportunities.  Focus on the section of the Little Lehigh within the Lehigh Parkway from Oxford Street downstream to Martin Luther King Blvd.  The rainbow trout have been caught on paste baits, bread & pink salmon eggs.

The smallmouth bass action remains slow on the Lehigh River.  Anglers using live minnows have been successful.

Montgomery County

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is in the process of removing two dams on the Schuylkill River in Montgomery County.  The Plymouth Dam between West Conshohocken and Conshohocken boroughs and the Vincent Dam (also known as the Yankee Dam) in Limerick Township are currently being removed.  These wooden crib dams were both in disrepair and unsafe.  Removal of these two dams will open up the Schuylkill River from Philadelphia to Berks County for American shad and other fish migrations and eliminate hazards to navigation.  Anglers and boaters should stay out of the removal zones while the work is in progress.

Fall colors on the river also mean fallen leaves on the water.  Boaters with jet motors should be alert for leaves clogging jet intakes.