SW REGION REPORTS
REGION COUNTIES -- Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Somerset, Washington, Westmoreland (County Guide)
October 17, 2018
Eastern Allegheny County
Deer Lakes and the Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only (DHALO) section of Deer Creek were scheduled to get a fall stocking on October 2, 2018. Due to high water temperatures they were cancelled. They have been rescheduled for October 25, 2018.
The Allegheny River is running high and cool, but the fishing is hot. Smallmouth Bass and Walleye are fattening up for the winter ahead. Hot baits right now are minnows and worms, with minnows being preferred. Target creek mouths and slack water behind any projection of land and you will have some great fishing. One angler was catching 12 to 16-inch Smallmouth Bass on just about every cast.
The Allegheny River is running high and debris is making its way downstream. Couple this with the leaf drop soon expected and that debris will be very hard to see. Boaters are urged to use extreme caution.
As the water temperatures drop and the boating season fades, we may still get a few unseasonably warm days. Boaters are urged to wear their life jacket even if the air temperatures are warm. Sudden immersion into cold water while not wearing a life jacket can, and often does, have deadly consequences.
Northern Somerset County
Laurel Hill Lake and Laurel Hill Creek Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only (DHALO) sections 3 and were stocked on October 4, 2018. The stocking consisted of all nice average size Brown Trout. There are plenty of opportunities to fish during the month of October. Many holdover trout were observed prior to the stocking.
Quemahoning Reservoir anglers have been catching some nice Northern Pike and a few legal Yellow Perch. Water conditions are perfect at the reservoir.
Anglers are catching plenty of trout in the Stonycreek River since the river conditions stabilized.
Northern Washington County
Trout fishing at Canonsburg Lake and Dutch Fork Lake has been slow; however, as we get further into fall and the water cools, trout fishing tends to improve.
The Monongahela River remains high and muddy with not many anglers fishing the usual fall locations. As soon as water conditions improve, so should the fishing on the Mon.
The best fishing in the Northern Washington County area has been Cross Creek Lake. The Crappie have moved in shallower and are hitting live bait, small minnow imitations, and jigs. Largemouth Bass fishing has been steady with some nice sized fish caught this past week.
October 10, 2018
Beaver County
Raccoon Lake received its fall allotment of trout on October 3, 2018. Several children showed up to help bucket the trout into the lake. The Rainbow Trout looked fat and happy swimming up and down the shoreline of the lake taunting the children that were trying to catch them.
Anglers are catching a few Flathead Catfish on the Ohio River in the 30-pound range over the past two weeks. High water has been making it difficult to land big fish.
Northern Washington County
Canonsburg Lake and Dutch Fork Lake were stocked with trout on October 2, 2018. Both locations will provide anglers with excellent options for fall fishing in Washington County. With the water being stained at Canonsburg Lake due to storms, scented baits such as live bait and paste bait will produce well.
Cross Creek Lake is fishing well for Largemouth Bass and crappie. The crappie are moving in more shallow areas as the water cools. Anglers are catching crappie up to 15 inches throughout the lake on live minnows and soft plastics.
Northern Westmoreland County
The district received its fall stockings of trout. Keystone Lake, Northmoreland Lake, and the Loyalhanna Creek Keystone Select Stocked Trout Waters section have all received their allotments of fish. Because the fish were larger, two stocking trucks were necessary to complete the stocking. A large quantity of Brook Trout and Rainbow Trout were placed into all three bodies of water.
For those anglers looking to fish for Brown Trout, Mammoth Lake and Indian Lake received Brown Trout only.
Loyalhanna Creek Keystone Select was unfishable the day of stocking due to discolored water but is now running high but clear. With Brook Trout being stocked in there it should take long to find the fish. Remember that the Keystone Select program fish cannot be harvested this time of year.
Reports compiled by Miranda (Mandy) Smith (RA-FBSWFISHNRPT@pa.gov), Southwest Region Education Specialist, using information provided by Waterways Conservation Officers, Area Fisheries Managers and other PFBC staff.