FISHING REPORT
Lake Erie and tributaries
(Erie County): With the lake temperature still in the low 50s, one angler reported so many pre-spawn catfish stacking up off Elk Creek that they got in the way when landing other fish. Albert Stone and Steven Czink of Erie landed flatheads in the 35-inch range Sunday night. Smallmouth bass were caught in the bay, and Northern pike continued to take spinners in the lagoons. One fly angler reported catching and releasing a 40½inch pike while stripping in a streamer in shallows about a foot beyond grass in Pond of the Woods.
Pymatuning Reservoir (Crawford): A 46½-inch muskellunge with 21-inch girth took a handmade cedar crankbait being trolled on 100pound-test line by Jimbo Hoffman of Ohioville.
Lake Arthur (Butler County): Shore anglers took crappies
from shore using live minnows.
Ohio River (Beaver County): The waters from Monaca to below the Montgomery Dam were “on fire” with flathead catfish, and anglers were hot on their pursuit. Kevin Snyder of Baden and Joseph Gordon of Robinson caught more than 150 pounds of flatheads Saturday night. Josh Britt of Monaca hauled in a whopper walleye measuring 31½ inches and weighing almost 11 pounds using a blue-green shallow-running crankbait. A good smallmouth bite was reported near the Dashields Dam in Crescent.
Beaver River (Beaver County): Northern pike and muskellunge spawning runs were on, and anglers met them below the Fallston Bridge. Reddi Bait fishing shop owner Tim Reddinger reported 15 caught and released last week. “Have never seen it like this,” he said.
Carnegie Lake (Allegheny County): Let’s Go Fishing, a group providing fishing instruction and opportunities for urban youth, will hold its annual Fishing Derby for kids ages 515 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Saturday. Gear, bait, lunch and help from certified instructors will be provided. Free with pre-registration at www.pittsburghletsgofishing.club.
Allegheny River (Allegheny County): In cloudy, fast-moving water, John Force of McKees Rocks caught four smallmouth bass with combined length of 84 inches using crawlers and corn during this week’s Venture Outdoors TriAnglers lunchtime fishing program. With the help of certified instructors, the free activity is held 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Wednesdays on the wharf under the Clemente Bridge on the North Shore. Tackle and bait are provided, licenses are not required. Get details at www.ventureoutdoors.org or 412-2550564.
Peters Creek (Allegheny County): Weeks after the final 2022 stocking, the waterway in Large continues to hold trout. Using live minnows
Monday, Terry Kuznicki of North Baldwin kept five rainbows up to 14 inches and released many more. This is Peters Creek’s second season as a state-stocked fishery.
North Park Lake (Allegheny County): Hand-size bluegills took red worms under bobbers near weeds off East Ingomar Road. Rainbow trout went for spinners at dusk.
Twin Lakes (Westmoreland County): Trout moved to shallower water on cloudy days. Five were taken in 90 minutes casting live minnows off the lower dam Saturday morning.
Loyalhanna Creek (Westmoreland County): An angler from Ligonier released a 22inch golden rainbow trout caught using a spinner and ultralight rod in the Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only area, part of the state’s Keystone Select program in which large numbers of former nursery breeders are stocked.
Canonsburg Lake( Washington County): An angler from Canonsburg reported catching trout on live minnows under floats cast to the deep side of drop offs.
Cross Creek Lake (Washington County): Steven Etland of Washington, Pa., called in about a catch of 20-plus crappies taken from shore with an ultra-light spinning outfit baited with mealworms under bobbers set at about 10 feet.
Youghiogheny River (Fayette, Somerset counties): Brightly colored rainbow trout were caught on flies and spinners near the campground below the dam.
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.