Fishing Report: As high waters recede, fishing improves
season opens June 15 on lakes, rivers and streams with the standard 12-inch minimum and a daily limit of six. On Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and tributaries, the summer bass season opens the same day with a 15-inch minimum and a daily limit of four. Bass can be taken year-round at Pymatuning Reservoir, 12inch minimum and a five-fish daily limit.
Lake Erie
(Erie County) As bay water warmed, anglers caught smallmouths in the shallows. Bigger bass were taken out on the lake. Walleye anglers trolled and drifted over 20-40 feet of water, and one hit the limit trolling a Husky Jerk crankbait behind a Dipsy Diver at 40 feet. Cloud cover was expected Friday and increasing chances of rain Sunday and Monday.
Pymatuning Reservoir
(Crawford County) When weather permitted, hand-size crappies were taken near the spillway.
Conneaut Lake
(Crawford County) Anglers reported good crappie fishing in bad weather conditions.
Allegheny River
(Allegheny County) With waters dropping Wednesday, John Force of McKees Rocks pulled two smallmouths and a rock bass onto the North Shore wharf during Venture Outdoors’ free weekly TriAnglers fishing program (ventureoutdoors.org, 412-255-0564).
Harrison Hills Park
(Allegheny County) The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will hold a free Family Fishing Program at the Broken Branch Pavilion at 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Free, all equipment provided, fishing license requirements will be waived (fishandboat.com).
Youghiogheny River
(Allegheny County) Smallmouths, panfish and trout were caught as high, muddy waters receded.
Loyalhanna Creek
(Westmoreland County) Blown out last weekend. A U.S. Geological Survey monitor at Kingston Dam showed the stream dropped about 7 feet between May 30 and June 6.
Burrell Lake Park
(Westmoreland County) A fishing derby will be held for kids age 15 and under Saturday. Registration 7:30-9 a.m., fishing 911 a.m. Contact the Tri-County Trout Club at 412-298-0964.
Laurel Hill Creek
(Somerset County) May 31 through June 2, high muddy water passed through the Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only area and poured over the spillway, clouding the creek all the way to Confluence.
Jones Mill Creek
(Somerset County) Steep, small and quick to drain, the stream provided some of the only fishable water on Laurel Ridge last weekend. Several trout were caught on nymphs and released near the pump house.
Cross Creek Lake
(Washington County) Post-spawn crappies were suspended at 8-12 feet in 15 feet of water. Live minnows worked best, but many crappies went for 1/16ounce to 1/32-ounce jigs in chartreuse, red or yellow with chartreuse Twister tails. Spawning bluegills took maggots or meal worms under bobbers.
Peters Lake
(Washington County) Bass in the 12- to 15inch range and crappies of 913 inches were taken. Earlier this year, a 5-pound 4-ounce largemouth was reported.
Cherry Valley
Lake (Washington County) An angler posted on a fishing blog that he landed a 7-pound 6-ounce largemouth.
Youghiogheny River
(Fayette County) Discharge at the dam dropped from 2,000 cubic feet per second May 31 to about 260 on June 1, and has held steady since Tuesday at just under 500 cubic feet per second, according to a U.S. Geological Survey monitor at the dam. Venture Outdoors will hold a daylong onthe-water class on catching trout with wet flies and streamers at Ohiopyle June 15, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Class size is limited and a fishing license requirements apply. Admission is $85, members $65 (ventureoutdoors.org, 412-255-0564).
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