After a couple of rainy weekends, summer returned and the fishing activity picked up again on Blue Marsh Lake.  Bass fishing seemed to be productive along the west shore of the main channel below the no-wake zones.  Spinners and crankbaits took some large bass, and an angler reported catching a 30- inch musky in the same area. A 28 lb. flathead catfish was recently caught at the lake.  Some striper action was reported near the dam breast area of the lake.

Boaters should slow down when approaching fishing boats and other watercraft drifting on the lake.  Safety is our number one priority, so do not be surprised if a patrol boat stops you if you do not reduce speed.

An upcoming program at Blue Marsh Lake is "Wildlands Weekend" to be held Sept. 11 and 12th at the Day Use Area with all types of family oriented activities throughout both days. Entry to the park is free and the food is great!

Bucks County

The summer doldrums are upon us and water temperatures are high everywhere. Anglers have been reporting no action in lower Bucks County’s rivers, lakes & streams.  Die-hard anglers itching to be out on the water should try for some catfish.  Anglers can still catch catfish in the Delaware River if they know when to fish for them.  Fish tend to be less active during the day.  This is due to the high water temperatures that tend to make the fish less aggressive so they can conserve their energy.  The best time to fish for catfish during the hot summer months is in the evening after sunset.  Time your outing on the river so that you are fishing during the change between incoming and outgoing tides.

Chester County

Bass anglers on Marsh Creek Lake were successful in and around the weed beds. The best baits to use are jigs and jerk baits. Large rubber worms are working best in the weeds. Anglers are catching bluegills and crappies on minnows, mealworms and wax worms. Marsh Creek Lake is a Big Bass Lake. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass must be at least 15 inches in length to keep.

French Creek, Pickering Creek, East Brandywine Creek, and West Valley Creek are very low and the water temperatures are in the 70’s.  Fish the early morning hours or late evenings and land fish as quickly as possible when practicing catch and release. Fly anglers should try small midge flies in sizes 24 – 32 on top. Small hares ears, pheasant tail and scuds are great options for nymphing.  You may never have bait in your possession in Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only (DHALO) areas or Catch and Release Fly Fishing Only areas and you may possess only (3) trout in DHALO areas until Labor Day.

Bass anglers along the Black Rock area of the Schuylkill River have been reporting very slow action most of the summer; however, the catfish have been very active.  Use chicken livers for channel catfish and live bait for the flatheads.

Stay clear of the fish ladder at the Black Rock Dam! You may not fish within the fishway/fish ladder/fish passage facility. It is unlawful for any person to fish within a radius of 100’ of the entrance or exit points of the chute or fish ladder, and you must stay 100’ below the boil of the dam when fishing there.

Lehigh County

The smallmouth bass were active on the Lehigh River at the ends of deeper runs in the river.  Very low water levels have fish congregated in these areas.  Try fishing below the Hamilton Street Dam and the Canal Park areas in Allentown. Another productive area has been around the Slatington area downstream of the Main Street Bridge.   Try using live minnows, leeches, and worms. Some anglers caught fish on spinners. 

Fly anglers are catching trout on the Little Lehigh using midge patterns in the Catch and Release Fly Fishing Only Area and throughout the entire Parkway downstream of Bogarts Bridge.  The water has been flowing low and clear.  Wear natural colored clothes and be very careful not to spook fish while approaching the stream.

Northampton County

Fly anglers in Northampton County are still enjoying trico hatches on area streams. Cooler nighttime temperatures this past week have revived the hatch on Saucon Creek, Monocacy Creek and Bushkill Creek. If you are having trouble catching fish during this hatch in low water conditions, try casting to rising fish from an upstream position and let your offering drift downstream to the fish. Such an approach will reduce the chances of "lining" rising fish. 

Anglers with spinning gear continue to find stocked trout in Martins Creek, Saucon Creek, and Bushkill Creek. Early mornings and evenings are the best times to fish these waters. In-line spinners fished through riffles and runs have been producing the best results. 

The bass bite at Minsi Lake has been slow over the past week. The lake is 2 feet below normal levels due to the lack of rain. Panfish are still biting for anglers using fishing worms rigged under a bobber. 

The Walnutport stretch of the Lehigh River has been providing great smallmouth action. Anglers are able to wade many areas of this section with the low flow levels.  They have been finding fish using rubber worms and jerk baits.

Anglers are catching bass at Marsh Creek Lake in deep water and around the weed beds. Try using crank baits and jerk baits. Use large rubber worms and jigs in and around the weed beds. The best rubber worm colors are black, purple, dark green rubber and pumpkin seed. Bluegills and crappies are taking minnows, mealworms and waxworms. Marsh Creek Lake is a Big Bass Lake.

French Creek, Pickering Creek, East Brandywine Creek and West Valley Creek were running low and warm this summer due to inconsistent rainfall and the hot air temperatures. If planning to fish for trout fish in the early morning or late evening, land fish as quickly as possible when practicing catch and release. For the fly anglers, small midge flies in sizes 24 – 32 are the best producers on top. Small hares ears, pheasant tail and scuds are best for nymphing.  You may never have bait in possession in Fly-Fishing Only or Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only areas and you may possess only (3) trout in the Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only area until Labor Day.

The catfish action is excellent in and around the Black Rock Area along the Schuylkill River.  Try chicken liver for channel catfish and live bait for the flatheads.

Stay 100 feet away from the fish ladder at the Black Rock Dam. You may not fish within the fishway, fish ladder/fish passage facility. It is unlawful for any person to fish within 100 feet of the entrance or exit points of the chute or fish ladder passageway, and you must stay 100 feet below the boil of the dam when fishing there as well.

Respect the river and wear a PFD/life jacket while onboard a boat.

S. Chester County

There was a bass tournament at Octoraro Reservoir on Saturday, August 14. The winning team was H. Benner and K. Urban with the highest total weight and the lunker bass as well. The lunker was a 20½ inch long largemouth bass that weighed 5 pounds and 2 ounces. More information on Octoraro Reservoir and future tournaments is available from Captain Jim at the Fishing Headquarters. The physical address for the Fishing Headquarters is 212 Spruce Grove Road, Kirkwood, PA. 17536. Information can also be obtained by calling the Headquarters at 717-529-2488.

Anglers and boaters have many questions on Struble Lake, which is located in Honey Brook Township in the southern half of Chester County. The most direct way to reach Struble Lake is to drive to the intersection of Route 322 and Route 10 in Honey Brook. Head East on Route 322 at this point for 4.6 miles and then turn left on to Chestnut Tree Road. Go 2.9 miles and you will come to the second stop sign on Chestnut Tree Road and turn left on to Morgantown Road and drive for 1/2 mile. Turn left into the Struble Lake launch area and parking lot. If you have a GPS unit, the coordinates are 40.1118 x -75.8630.

Here is some history and general information on this under-utilized fishing and boating resource. The lake was first proposed in the 1960s as a means of flood control and a watershed storage supply. Ground was first broken and construction of the lake began in 1970 and was completed in 1971. The Struble Lake property is 386 acres, while the lake is 146 acres of that. It has a shoreline of about 1.8 miles and an average depth of 6 feet, with a maximum depth of 21 feet near the center of the dam. The dam is about 1480 feet long and 31 feet high. It functions as an area for recreation, flood control and watershed storage.  Struble Lake is controlled by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. Boating opportunities are limited to unpowered boats and vessels using electric motors only. Swimming, swim aids, sailboards, etc are not permitted. There is a dock, boat ramps and ample parking available. Unpowered boats (canoes/kayaks) must have a PFBC or DCNR launch permit or valid registration.  Power vessels using electric motors must have valid registration. A rest area is available at the boat ramp.   When fishing from a boat at night, make sure that you have the correct lighting configuration for your boat between sunset and sunrise.  

The fishing regulations for Struble Lake fall under the Commonwealth Inland Waters section of the fishing summary book.  Follow all seasons, sizes and creel limits when fishing. Fishing regulations are designed to improve fish populations and fishing opportunities, but they work if anglers follow them! 

Fish structure was placed in the lake on a number of occasions. The lake provides opportunities for warm water and cool water species. You can expect to find crappies, yellow perch, walleye, bass, sunfish, catfish & carp at Struble Lake. Recent fish surveys have shown that there are large bass & walleyes at Struble Lake.  The largest walleye found in surveys was 25 inches long and weighed 6.6 pounds. Bluegill and perch numbers were average but the fish were smaller on average. The channel catfish population is excellent!  The largest channel catfish taken in survey measured at 32 inches long and weighed 14 pounds. You can find information for lighting requirements based on your boat type in the Boating Handbook. You should also always wear a properly fitted personal flotation device equipped with a waterproof light and whistle.

Lancaster County

Colerain Township and property owner Chester Water Authority have restricted the popular fishing access along the West Branch of Octoraro Creek near Black Rock because of excessive litter. Anglers need to respect the landowner.  Take your trash away from the water.  Pick up trash along the lakes and rivers before leaving a fishing destination, even if it is not your own.  Your actions can help keep popular fishing spots open!

The barriers that have been in place for the 472-bridge project have been moved further upstream; however, this area remains open to walk-in anglers for both the bait section and the downstream Fly-Fishing Only section.  Anglers observing any property damage should report observations to Southeast Regional Law Enforcement Headquarters at 717-626-0228 or PA State Police at 717-664-1180.

Anglers aboard boats have been catching channel cats out of the Columbia River Park on chicken liver.  Catfish in the 16-inch to 18-inch long range are being landed regularly in the evening between 9:00 PM and 1:00 AM.

Northampton County

Catfish were the hot ticket in Northampton County last week. Anglers pursuing big catfish in the Delaware River and Lehigh River were successful fishing throughout the night, with some of the best catches occurring between 12:00 AM and 2:00 AM. Chicken livers are a staple for catfish, but anglers using two rods should experiment with other bait in addition to the livers. Lunchmeats, such as ham and roast beef, can make great catfish bait. Stink baits purchased at bait shops are another recommended option. Offering some variety can improve your catch rates!

It was difficult to fish for bass at Minsi Lake last week. The lake level is low and the weed growth continues to take over the lake. Anglers fishing the lake in the evening with “weedless” plastic baits seem to be the most successful. The panfish are biting at the lake, so it is a good time to take a young angler out to the lake and introduce them to fishing. These fish provide a great opportunity to introduce anglers to the sport.  They are quick to strike and often provide a strong fight for their size.  Rigging a worm under a bobber float and fishing along the weed lines will usually result in a "dancing bobber" in no time!        

Schuylkill County

If you are willing to walk to remote places, hike & fish along the Schuylkill River below the Auburn Dam falls.  Anglers are catching smallmouth bass in notable numbers and size from the falls downstream to Auburn.  Try some soft plastic baits and twister tail jigs.  Anglers fishing the pool at the Auburn Dam falls are catching large smallmouth bass and chain pickerel using creek chubs and large shiners rigged to swim freely under bobbers. 

The Little Schuylkill River from Tamaqua to Port Clinton is holding trout. 

Releases on the Still Creek Reservoir north of Tamaqua are keeping the entire stream at an optimal water level and temperature.  Late summer hatches should give the fly anglers some opportunities on this popular stream.

This could be the last excessively hot weekend of the summer, but probably not.  Boating in these extremely hot temperatures is similar to working or exercising in it.  Boat operators & passengers need to be careful.

Hot temperatures and excessive humidity have created some miserable conditions and if you are not careful; it can cause many problems no matter what your age is.  Heat related illnesses could occur if you are paddling a kayak/canoe or just driving around on your powerboat.

Drink plenty of fluids and reduce your activity level.  It is no joke! Make sure to have plenty of fluids for yourself, your family and your pets while recreating on the water!

Bucks County

The Delaware River has been flowing low due to the lack of rain.  Fish are appearing to hold in areas of preferred habitat. The fish are not spreading out into the river.

Kyle Sheaffer of Doylestown was fishing with his father on the Delaware River in the Bulls Island Area. Kyle caught this large flathead catfish from his father’s boat using cut bait. Kyle's father recognized this catch as an invasive species that does not belong in the Delaware River. Art and Kyle removed the catfish from the river. Anglers who catch flathead catfish in the Schuylkill River and Delaware River are encouraged to not release them. Read more about flathead catfish here: http://www.fishandboat.com/catfish_flathead.htm

Here is Dennis Haring and his fishing partner/daughter, Melisa, from Allentown. This largemouth bass was caught on 8/5/10 during the Thursday night Nockamixon Buddy Tournament.  It was the winning fish at 5 lbs., 7 oz.! The fish was released alive immediately following the weigh-in. Mr. Haring fishes the lake often and has won the tournament two weeks in a row.

Northampton County

The trout fishing has been great on Martins Creek, Bushkill Creek and Saucon Creek early in the morning. Fly-anglers have been successful using terrestrial patterns such as ants and foam beatles. Other anglers are catching fish at the same time of day working spinners through riffles and runs.

The Lehigh River smallmouths have been active in the area of the PFBC Route 33 boat launch. Most anglers are catching fish upriver from the launch on plastic worms rigged "wacky style." Anglers targeting weed beds along the riverbanks have caught a few small muskies in the 30”-35” range.

The action at Minsi Lake has been slow over the past week. Anglers have reported catching a few largemouths, but fishing pressure has been light at the lake. Anglers fishing the lake in the evening are having the most success.

The Delaware River continues to flow low and clear. Only a few boats have been running the river and fishing pressure has been light. Catfish anglers have been out at night below the city of Easton with limited success.

Those interested in tubing and rafting the Delaware River are reminded that the PFBC does not allow swimming aids such as inner tubes and rafts to be launched or retrieved at our properties. This means these devices are not allowed at our Sandt's Eddy property along Route 611.