Reports compiled by Dennis Tubbs (dtubbs@state.pa.us), Southwest Regional Outreach and Education Coordinator, using information provided by Waterways Conservation Officers, Area Fisheries Managers and other PFBC staff.

There have been some boats going out on Crooked Creek Lake with the recent warm weather.  Those anglers have mostly caught small crappies.

There has been very little activity going on in the Allegheny River or elsewhere in the county.

Cambria County

Anglers continue to catch nice size trout from Lake Rowena and Duman Dam.  Some anglers are catching bluegill and crappie at Glendale Lake.

Anglers are reminded that creel and size limits for bass taken from Commonwealth inland lakes changes on November 1st.  Creel and size limits for bass taken from Commonwealth rivers and streams changes on October 1st.  Please review your 2009 Fishing Summary book for details.

Northern Somerset County

A few anglers have been fishing at Lake Somerset and catching crappies.  The average size has been about 9 inches.

Trout anglers have been catching some nice trout at Laurel Hill State Park in the Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only (DHALO)  section.  Most of the anglers have been using small nymphs.

There also have been some trout hitting at the top end of Laurel Hill Lake below the bridge.  Currently the lake is drawn down, but is in the process of refilling in time for ice fishing.

Kooser Lake is drawn way down with very little water available to go fishing.

A few northern pike have been caught at the Quemahoning Reservoir. 

Westmoreland County

Anglers are still catching trout at Twin Lakes mostly on artificial scented bait.

Anglers are reminded that due to the threat of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus (VHS) they cannot use eggs or skein from the Lake Erie watershed unless it is cured.

Walleyes are being caught on the Allegheny River.  Hot baits are minnow-tipped jigs in chartreuse and white. 
 
Trout and small bluegills are biting at Deer Lakes.  Live bait (grubs, maggots, mealworms, wax worms) is the key there.
 
With the warm spell that covered the region over in early November, some boaters took to the water for a last cruise and or fishing trip.  Water temperatures are falling and boaters and anglers should wear their PFDs (life jacket) while out at this time of year.

If fishing, remember that you need to display your fishing license while fishing.  Unlike Phil, we do not hibernate.  Fishing without a license is not tolerated.
  
Greene and Southern Washington County

A fair amount of anglers at Dunlap Lake took advantage of the nice weather in early November.  They were having decent success catching trout using scented artificial bait and nightcrawlers fished off the bottom.

A few anglers were also enjoying the weather at Grays Landing Lock and Dam.  They were having pretty good success catching walleye that averaged around 16 inches in length.  They were also catching sauger that averaged between 13 and 16 inches in length.  Most of the fish were caught drift fishing live minnows or nightcrawlers with about a quarter of an ounce of weight attached.

Westmoreland County

Fishing has been spotty in Westmoreland County. 

Not much action on the Youghiogheny River or the streams.  Some anglers are hitting Indian Creek Delayed Harvest Area and seeing plenty of fish.

Most of the action is concentrated on Twin Lakes, Mammoth Park, and St. Vincent's Lake.  Mostly trout and carp are being targeted with good numbers of trout being caught.

Trout are consistently being taken throughout the stocking length of Montour Run.  Catch rates have been in the two-three per hour range.

Fayette County

Dunlap Lake and Virgin Run Lake have plenty of trout from the October stocking.

Southern Somerset County

Fishing has been slow.  Water levels have come up on local streams and with some warmer weather fishing should be good.

Cranberry Glade Lake is being drawn down three feet this winter for weed control.  The lake’s draw down will continue every other year until conditions improve. 
Anglers are catching nice-sized rainbow and brown trout in the Youghiogheny River Tailrace on a variety of baits.

Crappie are still being caught at Lake Somerset.

A lot of northern pike are hitting at High Point Lake.

Anglers are catching nice size trout at Duman Dam and Lake Rowena.

Somerset County

The northern pike are biting at the Quemahoning Reservoir.  One angler caught and released a 35-inch pike.  The large brown trout are also showing up.  The Quemahoning Reservoir is not designated as "Approved Trout Waters", therefore the season on taking trout is closed until the opening day of trout season.  Take a camera and release them.

Anglers are catching some crappies and bluegills at Lake Somerset.

Trout anglers are few this time of year, but there are plenty of trout still in the larger streams.

Believe it or not, there are still a few boats cruising occasionally on the Monongahela River.  Most of the people that are going out are those wanting to get a look at the fall foliage from the river.  There are also some fisherman going out to take advantage of the fall walleye, sauger, smallmouth bass, white bass and hybrid bass fishing.

There have been a few fishermen fishing from the bank at Grays Landing Lock and Dam and Point Marion Lock and Dam.  They are catching a few walleye in the 15-inch range and a few smallmouth bass in the 10-inch to 13-inch range.  Most of the walleye are being caught drifting live minnows on a drop shot rig.  Most of the smallmouth are being caught using the same method with either live minnow or nightcrawlers as bait.

There have been quite a few anglers fishing at Dunlap Lake but the bite has been slow.  They are catching a few trout that have been averaging around 11 inches in size.  Scented artificial soft bait and live minnows seem to be the bait of choice.

The recent stocking of Montour Run has drawn many anglers to this highly accessible creek.  The stocked fish, a mix of brook trout and rainbow trout in the 11-inch to 14-inch range, were holdovers from the spring stocking class.

Marshall Lake got the fish that were salvaged from North Park Lake, but there hasn’t been much talk of any major action there fishing for the big boys.

North Park Lake, an impoundment located near McCandless, Pa., Allegheny County, is scheduled to be drained starting September 8, 2009. The purpose of the complete drawdown is for major reconstruction of the lake to include sediment removal and installation of habitat structures. The project is being jointly funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Allegheny County. This lake is owned by Allegheny County as part of the County Parks system within North Park. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) manages the lake for fishing and boating opportunities. Recreational angling levels have been measured at very high levels at North Park Lake. The PFBC targets fish management of the lake for largemouth bass, channel catfish, panfish, and stocked trout in spring, fall, and late winter programs. The lake rehabilitation work is scheduled to be completed by May 2011. Trout stocking and warmwater fish management will resume at that time

In conjunction with the start of the draw down, the PFBC is removing season, size and daily creel limit restrictions for fishing at North Park Lake starting September 8, 2009. The relaxing of fishing restrictions does not apply to Pine Creek upstream and downstream of the impoundment. The Commission will conduct fish salvage operations in conjunction with the draw down of the lake. Enhancing opportunities for anglers to harvest fish prior to salvage efforts provides both additional recreational opportunities and can help reduce the number of fish that will either be captured/transported or potentially stranded when the water level drops.

Individuals or organizations interested in assisting with formal fish salvage operations can contact the PFBC's Fisheries Management Office in Somerset at 814-445-3454 or rlorson@state.pa.us. The Commission has not established a date for formal fish salvage efforts; lake conditions will dictate timing and it is projected to be in mid-October.

Donegal Lake, a 90 acre impoundment located just off the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Donegal Township, Westmoreland County, is scheduled for an overwinter drawdown to start September 11, 2009. The lake is owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and managed by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) for recreational fishing and boating. The purpose of the 8 foot drawdown is for fish population management and weed reduction. Overabundant lake weeds can lead to unbalanced fish populations and difficult fishing. The PFBC targets fish management of the lake for largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, and stocked trout in spring, fall, and late winter programs. The lake will remain open to fishing and boating and trout stocking will continue during the drawdown period. The lake is scheduled to begin refilling on March 1, 2010.

Questions or comments about fish management and fishing at Donegal Lake can be directed to Area Fisheries Manager Rick Lorson at 814-445-3454 or rlorson@state.pa.us.