FISHING REPORT
On Saturday’s statewide Mentored Youth Trout Day, kids under 16 years old can harvest up to three trout when accompanied by a mentor with a valid adult fishing license and trout stamp. Youths must be in possession of a free Mentored Youth Permit or Voluntary Youth Fishing License ($2.97) available where fishing licenses are sold.
Lake Erie and tributaries (Erie County): Despite low, clear waters, good steelheading was reported on the lower beats of the larger streams. Showers expected Friday and Sunday could put a welcomed stain on the water. In the bay, panfish went for soft plastics and a few good-size yellow perch were taken among many throw-backs. Crappies and keeper bluegills were caught in Misery Bay weed beds.
Pymatuning Reservoir (Crawford County): A sporadic perch and crappie bite was reported in northern shallows. Perch were taken at the Linesville docks.
Allegheny River (Warren County): Anglers picked up walleye during mornings and evenings at the Kinzua Dam outflow. Muskies were taken throughout the river.
Tionesta Lake (Forest County): At the outflow, muskellunge, walleye and yellow perch were taken near the wall. A trout stamp is required to fish in the outflow regardless of the targeted species.
Kahle Lake (Venango, Clarion counties): Following years of draw-down, a $7.5 million dam and spillway rehab expected to take four years was announced by the state Fish and Boat Commission.
Lake Arthur (Butler County): In waters touching 50 degrees Monday, an angler boated and released 103 pre-spawn white crappies. The fish were taken over brush in 6-10 feet of water on 1/32-ounce jigs tipped with mediumsize minnows under a slip float.
North Park Lake (Allegheny County): Ten trout were boated and released Monday as Stephen Plut of Allison Park tried some pre-season fly fishing by kayak on this Stocked Trout Waters Open for Year-Round Fishing impoundment. On Tuesday, Pittsburgh angler Edward Jones caught and released “lots of rainbow trout” using paste bait on the bottom and wax worms under a bobber.
Cross Creek Lake (Washington County): Brian Pleskovich and sons Victor, 4, and Logan, 6, of Hickory, Washington County, boated crappies measuring 16 inches, 2 pounds and 15 inches, 1¾ pounds taken while drifting 1/32ounce jigs and twister tail tipped with fatheads.
Show off your catch in the Post-Gazette Trout Photo Contest. Through May 23, file your fishing report and high-resolution digital photos (1MB minimum) at fishingreport@post-gazette.com. Include name, age (for under age 18), town, species, size, body of water, details of the catch and photographer’s name and town. Winners in the Big Fish, Kidstuff and Artsy Shots categories will be interviewed for an article.