FISHING REPORT
Lake Erie (Erie County) At night, resident walleye were active near shore. By day, the bite was slow in 30-40 feet of water, but the ‘eyes were active at 10-15 feet east of Walnut creek. Shore anglers hooked up with panfish around the bay. Anglers fishing in shallows, near shore and in the bay reported good special-season bass fishing (one harvest daily of 20 inches-plus in Lake Erie and tributaries). The general season for large- and smallmouth bass opens June 11 with a daily limit of four combined species 15 inches and larger. Unguarded bass eggs are extremely vulnerable to predation. It is considered unethical and non-conservational to pull bass off spawning beds.
Pymatuning Reservoir (Crawford County) The largest inland lake in Pennsylvania continued putting muskellunge under fishing baits. Dave Marinkovic of New Brighton, Beaver County, boated a 47.75-pounder estimated to weigh about 39 pounds. The fish took a deep diving Leo Lure Magnum crankbait and was released.
Ohio River (Beaver, Allegheny counties) Day anglers found flatheads in the shade under logs and industrial debris. Night anglers found them everywhere, particularly from the Ohio-West Virginia line to the big bend at Monaca. Walter Townsend boated a 36-inch flathead taken on cut bait the night of May 29 off Little Sewickley Creek below the Dashields Dam. During the Memorial Day weekend, shore fisherman Tommy Locksneid of McCandless released a 37incher that destroyed his landing net after taking a scored bluegill at about midnight in the tailwater below the Ben Avon side of the Emsworth Dam.
Allegheny River (Allegheny County) On a warm and partly cloudy Wednesday, Tommy Lippert of Spring Garden pulled a 22½-inch flathead and 24-inch smallmouth buffalo onto the North Shore wharf during Venture Outdoors’ TriAnglers fishing program. The weekly free lunchtime activity runs 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. under the Clemente Bridge with certified fishing instructors; no license required and no charge for rods, tackle and live bait. Get details https://www.ventureoutdoors.org/ or 412-2550564.
Donegal Lake (Westmoreland County) As waters warmed, white was the hot color as bass went for white plastics and spinnerbaits.
Indian Lake (Westmoreland County) On sunny days largemouths were pulled from the shade under the sprinklers and covered bridge. It’s catchand-release until June 11.
Twin Lakes (Westmoreland County) Take Dad fishing on Father’s Day, June 19, at a free fishing derby at Twin Lakes Park near Greensburg. Registration is open 7 a.m. to noon, and the contest runs 8 a.m.-1 p.m. First- and secondplace trophies and merchandise awarded for catch of the day, longest trout, carp and other fish in adult and youth categories. Includes a door prize drawing for registered youth participants under 16 years old. State fishing licenses and trout stamps required of adult anglers age 16 and over. Details are available at www.co.westmoreland.pa.us/parks or 724– 830-3950.
Burrell Lake ( Westmoreland County) On June 11 the Burrell Lake Park Kids’ Fishing Derby returns for all anglers age 15 and younger. Prizes awarded for longest fish of each species; grand prize for longest fish overall. Free registration starts at 7:30 a.m.; fishing 9-11 a.m.; grab bag, prizes and free lunch, 11-11:30 a.m. Catch and release only; Burrell residency is not required. Located at Delbertya Road, New Kensington. Get details, tctcnews@gmail.com or 412298-0964.
Cross Creek Lake (Washington County) Spawning bluegills at the outer edge of weed beds went for ant jigs in various colors tipped with mealworms or maggots. Limits were caught on this panfish enhancement impoundment. Post-spawn crappies were at 6-10 feet, and a channel catfish in the 20 inch range was caught. Former Avella resident Patrick Clark, now of Georgia, boated several small bass before his Sluggo lured a 4- to 5-pounder to the edge of the boat, where it turned and dove back under a weed bed.
Youghiogheny River (Fayette, Somerset counties) Trout were caught following independent club stockings and by bouncing 1- to 2-inch crawler parts off the bottom under riffles.
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.