Cold water breathes life into Allegheny River
Lake Erie and tributaries (Erie County) At midweek creeks were low and clear. Anglers were abundant but steehead trout were hard to find and line shy. Two fishermen reported silver bullets moving into the mouth of Elk Creek at dusk Sunday and Monday, but the fish were not observed feeding and seemed to have retreated to the lake by dawn. A few hookups were reported at the larger creek mouths. Few fish were biting in the bay, but lake trout were taken in shallows from Sixteenmile Creek to Barcelona, N.Y.
Pymatuning Reservoir (Crawford County) An annual vegetation drawdown of about 2½ feet was completed. Slab perch and walleye in the 20inch range went for blade baits in waters south of the Jamestown campground.
Shenango Lake (Mercer County) Outstanding crappie fishing was reported with fish suspended at 10-15 feet over wood.
Allegheny River (Allegheny County) Cold snow melt from the north invigorated smallmouths throughout most of the river, with good fishing reported as far south as Freeport.
North Park Lake (Allegheny County) A few anglers took advantage of the good weather, and several rainbow trout in the 14- to 16-inch range were taken. A big winter stocking of rainbows, which generally includes some hatchery-retired brood stock browns, is scheduled for Dec. 16.
Loyalhanna Creek (Westmoreland County) The Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only stretch, stocked with rainbows and some big browns last month, continued