FISHING REPORT
Lake Erie and tributaries (Erie County): In the bay, yellow perch were taken in the shallows and off the North and South piers. A good-size northern and several largemouth bass were caught at dusk on jerkbaits off Long Pond on Presque Isle, and on some tributaries anglers caught stream-spawning smallmouths and a few lingering steelhead. In four days on the lake, XTR Fishing Charters put two anglers on fat bronzebacks including eight over 5 pounds and one weighing nearly 7.5 pounds. Shore anglers found walleye at night, as did boaters trolling in 1525 feet of water. Lake trout continued to be caught off North East. Showers and warm temperatures were expected Friday afternoon through Sunday.
Conneaut Lake (Crawford County): Anglers continued to catch crappies off the
northern canals.
Lake Wilhelm (Mercer County): Panfish and largemouths were pulled from The Stumps near Sheakleyville.
Shenango Reservoir (Mercer County): Unseasonably cool water kept crappies in deeper water,
Ohio River (Beaver County): Like a light turning on, catfish action surged when the water temperature reached 61 degrees. What may be the region’s first blue catfish of the year was caught and released last week by Preston Britt, 13, of Monaca. The veteran catfish angler took the 16.86pound male at night on cut bait at Montgomery Dam. The largest catfish species in North America, blues can reach more than 40 inches in Northern waters. Regionally extinct in Pennsylvania for 100 years, they have been moving up the Ohio River since a reintroduction program in West Virginia, where the state record is nearly 44 inches, 44½ pounds. Debbie Smith of Raccoon boated a 41-pound flathead at night on cut bait below Montgomery Dam, and Justine Shelleby of Baden landed a 39.48-pounder taken on cut bait at Dashield Dam.
Carnegie Lake (Allegheny County): A once-abandoned and refurbished industrial pool is slowly growing into one of Pittsburgh’s outdoor recreation destinations. Since 2018, the 2-acre warm-water pond in Highland Park has attracted hundreds of anglers, mostly kids, casting for channel catfish, largemouth bass and bluegills stocked by the state Fish and Boat Commission. This year, nearly 100 fish were caught at three events held by the Dilworth School Youth Fishing Club at Carnegie Lake. On May 28, the Let’s Go Fishing club [https://www.pittsburghletsgofishing. will sponsor a fishing derby for anglers age 5-15 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Loaner fishing gear, bait and lunch will be provided, and state-certified fishing instructors will assist. No fee or licenses required, but RSVP at, https://www.pittsburghletsgofishing. fishing-derby/form is requested. Carnegie Lake is located on Lake Road near the Rhododendron Shelter.
Allegheny River (Allegheny County): TriAnglers, a summer fishing program of Venture Outdoors, is back after 20plus seasons. Certified fishing instructors with loaner rods and tackle meet 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Wednesdays on the North Shore wharf under the Clemente Bridge in the shadow of PNC Park. Free bait is donated by Island Firearms, and the Fish and Boat Commission waives license requirements. The program is ADA compliant and adaptive fishing gear can be reserved on prior request [Lo@ventureoutdoors.org]. TriAnglers is funded by a grant from Old Joe Club Charities. Wednesday, in an on-and-off drizzle, John Force of McKees Rocks caught a 26-inch smallmouth buffalo on a crawler doused in garlic spray. The fish was released.
Cross Creek Lake (Washington County): On goodweather days, anglers continued to hook up with crappies and bluegills.
Whiteley Creek, North Fork Dunkard Fork (Greene County): Following the state’s final spring stocking in late April, trout continued to take spinners and flies. Jo Lee Anderson, 13, of Waynesburg, caught her first fish, an 18-inch rainbow trout, on a Panther Martin spinner at Ryerson Station State Park.
File your fishing report and high-resolution digital photos (1MB minimum) at fishingreport@ Include name, age (for under 18 years), town, species, size, body of water and details of the catch.