FISHING REPORT

Lake Erie and tributaries

(Erie County) Steelhead fishing slowed during periods of low flow. Fish entered the mouths of the larger tributaries at night and retreated back to the lake at mid-morning. Hot baits included live minnows, golden spinners and streamers. Last week, fly fishermen Stephen Johnson and Trevor Dar of Greensburg caught and released five steelhead in the 18- to 23inch range on Elk Creek between Folly’s End Campground and Struchen Flats Park. Most walleye charters were shutting down for the season, but a few limits were reported at 90-100 feet straight out of Walnut and Sevenmile creeks. Lots of walleye were marked, but hookups occurred in small

separated areas. Smallmouth bass took soft plastics in weedy drop-offs out of Northeast.

Pymatuning Reservoir (Crawford County) Muskellunge took large trolled lures in cool waters. One angler reported several legal walleye that went for harnesses, but said there were a lot of throwbacks. No crappie action was reported, but after noon, bluegills took tipped jigs at 10-15 feet.

French Creek (Venango, Mercer counties) In Franklin, a walleye in the 20-inch range was caught from shore upstream from the Allegheny River confluence. Morning smallmouth fishing was slow, but when the water warmed the fish went for soft plastics.

Shenango Reservoir (Mercer County) Flathead catfish up to 32 inches were caught on cut bait.

Ohio River (Beaver, Allegheny

counties) On Wednesday, the state Fish and Boat Commission launched a 20year project to reintroduce blue catfish in their native range on the Ohio, Monongahela and lower Allegheny rivers. Fingerlings 4-4½ inches were stocked in waters off The Point and Kilbuck. Thursday, stocking was expected off Leetsdale and Monaca, Beaver County. Further stockings were expected at points downstream to the West Virginia line. A total of 40,000 blue catfish fingerlings was expected to be planted in the Ohio River this week. A management plan calls for fingerling and 8- to 10-inch adolescent blues to be stocked in the Monongahela River and parts of the Allegheny River in 2023. At northern latitudes, blues grow to about 65 pounds. Fingerlings that survive were expected to reach adult size in about eight years.

Keystone, Northmoreland lakes (Westmoreland County) Regulated for Stocked Trout Waters Open for Year-Round Fishing, the lakes are scheduled to receive deliveries of rainbow trout Wednesday.

Loyalhanna Creek (Westmoreland County) On Wednesday, the Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only stretch is scheduled for a state stocking of rainbow trout

Virgin Run Lake (Fayette County) Fish and Boat is expected to stock rainbow trout in Stocked Trout Waters Open for Year-Round Fishing on Tuesday.

Monongahela River (Fayette County) A 37-inch flathead catfish was caught on cut bait in waters off Brownsville.

Dunbar Creek (Fayette County) The Catch and Release Fly Fishing Only waters are scheduled to receive a fall stocking of brown and rainbow trout Tuesday.

Laurel Hill Creek (Somerset County) The upper and lower Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only areas are expected to get a stocking of rainbow trout Wednesday.

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.

— John Hayes