NW PA FISHING REPORT October 6, 2014. Brought to by PA Great Lakes Region tourism. What’s biting in the waters of Crawford, Erie, Mercer and Venango Counties? French Creek flowing through all four counties. Here is a wonderful account of an angler’s first musky caught from French Creek in September.
Darl, I’ve been waiting my whole life to send this email. Here’s a fish story for you. I have always read your work and looked at your photos in publications, so I know you live in Cochranton, PA. My Uncle Frank forwards me the “NW PA Fishing Report” which you publish, and my uncle has encouraged me to write you.
I’m 32 years old. I inherited my Grandpap’s and Grandma’s cottage located on French Creek upstream of the Cochranton Bridge. I live in Canonsburg, PA and grew up in the South Hills of PGH. But Cochranton is my second home. I’ve been fishing French Creek since I could hold a rod.
My Grandpa “Never caught a Muskie” and I’ve “Never caught a Muskie” – until this weekend. I just bought a Scanoe from Field and Stream in Washington, PA and a trolling motor earlier this month. I passed my Boater Safety Course, etc.
On Friday, September 19th, I was trolling above Shaw’s Landing with my 8-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter. I got what I felt to be snag, and lost my huge Muskie spinner which my Grandpap bought me 20 some years ago…I almost started crying!
On September 27th about 5 PM, I trolled right up thru the same spot where I lost my Grandpap’s lure the previous week.
This time (with my Dad in the boat) I landed a Monster Muskie. My Dad had to net it three times before we actually took possession of the fish. When I tried to measure it, it thrashed around the canoe pretty good – I had the fish taped at about 43-45 inches.
I can’t make this stuff up…the day I caught it, September 27th is my Grandpap and Grandma’s anniversary. They’ve both been in heaven for some time now…but I know my Grandpap “finally got to see a Muskie.”
I’m happy to say we released it safely back into the beautiful waters of French Creek.
Submitted Monday, September 29, 2014 by Steve Wesling, owner of property passed down from generation to generation on Powel Lane, Cochranton, PA.
Editor: Congratulations, Steve! I’m sure your grandfather is smiling from above.
Angler Al’s French Creek Report
- Sunday 9/29: After watching the Pirates and Steelers defeated, I beat my feet for French Creek. My bait of choice – live creek chubs. I rigged one rod with a huge chub and left it rest on a rock pile, and jigged with a second rod. From 5:30 to 7 PM not so much as a bump. Then the window opened just before dark and I spanked four decent smallies in 15 minutes.
- Friday 10/3: My guest Tom and I fished a skinny water section of French Creek by wading. While he chose to fly fish, I stuck to my spinning outfit and offered up live bait. A smallmouth bass started the party for me; thereafter Tom caught a feisty 14-inch rainbow trout on a white 3-inch Clouser Minnow. A few more smallmouths and an 18-inch walleye solidified our morning. (See Livewell photos)
- Much appreciation to Darl and the tackle sponsors who contribute to the prize package each month. I was certainly pleased to see that I was the winner last month and happier yet when it arrived by mail! While I have not fished any of the contents as of this Report, I will shortly. And I’ll send a report on how I did.
Ed Lawrence (Corry); filed 10/5: “Pike are hitting aggressively in French Creek. Most pike are coming on jigs while walleye fishing. Try a variety of color combinations until you find what walleyes are looking for.”
CRAWFORD COUNTY
Pymatuning Lake
Dave @ Richter’s Tackle Shop; filed 10/4: “Very few anglers on the lake, but those who are out are enjoying success. Some are catching walleyes on blades, others are catching largemouth bass around the weedbeds, and others are focusing on crappies. Hearing a lot of talk about the perch – some anglers are saying all are small, while others claim to catch keepers. And the doggone channel cats are still biting! One more tidbit: one of my customers caught a 32 inch musky (a small one) on a 13-inch Grandma Lure!”
Sydney @ Robinson’s Bait; filed 10/2: “Here on the North End of Pymatuning Lake, the perch are hitting nightcrawlers while drifting and still-fishing with bobbers. Several reports of 12 to 14-inch perch have been received. Numbers are up as well, reaching as high as 50 perch a day. We have had reports of hit & miss walleye catches ranging from 16 to 23 inches on purple/chrome Hot-N-Tots. The catfish remain hungry for anything you throw out. We will be here year round for your bait needs. We also have started shrink wrapping of boats and other summer ‘toys’ for winter storage at $9.00 per foot. We have winter storage on a first come, first serve basis. And if your aluminum boat has sprung a leak, we have a journeyman welder who specializes in aluminum welding. As our sign says, we are OPEN!”
Hooker @ Hills Country Store; filed 9/29: “Brandon Gatti and two Amish friends fished on board Hooker’s Fishing Taxi on September 27. We started on the south side of the causeway pitching small Bobby Garland jigs on 4-pound Gamma Polyflex Line. We were targeting early morning fish cruising the concrete and broken rock near the Ohio side parking lot. We filled the cooler with an assortment of panfish. Large perch, hand-size bluegill and some respectable crappies made for an enjoyable day on the water. The group had traveled from Holmes County, Ohio and they were not disappointed. Thanks fellas. Fun was had by all.” (See Livewell photos)
Hooker continues: “Another season has come and gone on Pymatuning. As I reflect over the pictures of happy guests on Hooker’s Fishing Taxi, I first must say ‘Thank You All.’ Without their support it would be difficult to gather and share current and accurate information about this magnificent lake. Hooker’s Fishing Taxi is batting 1000 for the second year in a row. We were blessed with success for every species targeted. Some of the memorable catches included a 51-inch musky, two largemouth bass over 8 pounds, a sixty-year-old man’s first fish, bringing smiles and laughter into the boat. Or the cherished look of pride in a father’s eyes when his child brings in a slab crappie, launching a fishing partnership with him that will last a lifetime. The single Mom who struggled to teach her boys about the outdoors and in the process caught a carp as big as the boys. Sharing my boat with people has led to lasting and bonding memories. From ice out crappies on the rocks to chasing crappies while the colors of autumn reflect off the water, it has been my honor and pleasure to share my boat with everyone. I am taking Hooker’s Fishing Taxi to South Carolina for the winter. We will be in the Santee Cooper area. So if anybody wants to escape the winter for a day of fishing, please feel free to call me at 419-989-2121.”
Conneaut Lake
Al Moore (Cochranton); filed 9/28: “I fished Conneaut all morning on Saturday the 27th, catching only four dink bass. Returned on Sunday the 28th and caught 9 nice bass, including a 3-pound largemouth and four smallmouth bass.”
Marilyn Black (Cochranton); filed 9/27: “Darl and I worked Conneaut Lake over for four hours to see if the big smallmouth bass were moving up into the shallows for the fall feeding foray. Our conclusion was not yet. We only caught largemouth and pike in water less than 15 feet deep. We did come up with one FAT smallmouth from 24 feet, taken on a G. Loomis Drop-Shot Rod and 7-pound Gamma Touch. This fish was less than 20 inches in length but weighed 5 lbs. 5 oz. – it looked like a spring smallmouth on Lake Erie. Darl says all the smallmouths he has been catching in September on Conneaut have been eating very, very well.” (See Livewell photos)
Bryan Stuyvesant (Meadville); filed 9/24: “Hosting my friends Mike and Dave from Texas, we had an exciting evening at Conneaut Lake for smallmouth bass. We landed 8 nice smallies with the two largest going 5 pounds. All the fish came on suspending jerkbaits on one mid-lake hump. The key to the bite was a school of small bluegills dimpling the surface. We cast beyond the ‘gills and worked the jerkbaits down. Darl Black and I went back out the next evening. Although there had been no change in the weather, the bluegills were not up; we didn’t have a single hit on a jerkbait…except for one bluegill! We caught a couple smaller smallmouths at about 20 feet on drop-shot, along with several small largemouths in the weeds.
Sugar Lake
CJ Whitman (Franklin); filed 9/26: “Caught this 21-inch largemouth from Sugar Lake at 11:30 AM on 9/26 on a homemade rubber worm. Lost two other ones due to broken line, and then changed to heavier line.”
ERIE COUNTY
Brokenstraw Creek Drainage
Ed Lawrence (Corry); filed 10/5: “I’m still catching smallmouth bass and holdover trout from Brokenstraw and other NWPA streams. Native brook trout, displaying brilliant fall spawning colors, are being caught from small streams in the ANF as well as small headwater streams in Erie County. Brook trout can be caught on live bait and flashy streamers/lures. These fish must be released this time of year if caught upstream of approved trout waters. Use barbless hooks and handle with care. I am anxiously waiting for explosive steelhead to fill the Erie tributaries. For now, I’m archery hunting.”
Presque Isle Bay
Jeff @ B.A.C. Bait; filed 10/4: “Customers report some smallmouth bass moving back into the bay with the water cool down. Also, a few steelheads are in the bay. Crappies are hitting, too.”
Dave Lefebre (Erie); filed 10/4: “The Bay is turning over. Lots of largemouth bass up shallow being taken on a variety of baits. Still some bass deep, but it requires very precise casting to a ‘spot on spot’ to catch a big one. On Friday, my best largemouth was 5.5 pounds. Bass will be shallow for a little while until water temperature drops and they return to deeper water again.”
Steven Knebel (Franklin); filed 9/27: “A great day on Presque Isle Bay was had on Saturday, September 27. I caught a limit of largemouth bass on soft plastics; the four best fish totaled 13 lbs. 9 oz. The water temp was 66 degrees and the weeds are starting to die off; boat traffic was light.” (See Livewell photo)
Thomas Watral’s Bay Report:
- 9/21 – Windy on the bay but lots of people slamming perch, panfish and catfish. Hotspots are Border Dock, South Pier. Perch are hitting minnows and wax worms.
- 9/26 – Went fishing to the docks today. Slammed perch on spot-tail shiners on Subiki Rigs; most perch were 8 to 10 inches. On the South Pier they were catching white bass on Kastmaster spoons.
- 9/28 – Fished Dobbins Landing today and caught large perch up to 14 inches. The day before they were catching small walleyes at Border Dock.
- 9/30 – Perch are on fire in the Bay and on the lake off Gull Point in 75 feet of water. Perch and crappies in Bay are being taken on spot-tail shiners, or jigs tipped with wax worm.
- 10/3 – I went fishing yesterday from noon until 3 PM. Landed 35 perch, one walleye and one catfish on crawlers and minnows. Casting a Subiki rig into 28 feet of water and reeling slowly worked best. My advice is to fish early or late in the day. Stop by my bait shop on McKinley Ave East side to get your rigs and live bait; open 8 to 8.
Lake Erie
Rich Weber @ Erie Sport Stores; filed 10/3: “Perch fishing has been at its peak during the past few weeks…weather permitting it may continue for a short time. Many anglers have reported limit catches of large, plump perch (11” to 14”). These fish are being caught all through PA waters and into Ohio at depths from 60 to 70 feet. Hotspots include North of the Point; off the Lighthouse; North of Walnut Creek; and north of Conneaut Harbor in Ohio. Anglers have also caught walleyes while perch fishing. Walleye fishing has been good just outside and even among the perch schools. Dennis Smith caught a 28-inch walleye while perch fishing with us this past week.” (See Livewell photos)
Bryan Stuyvesant (Meadville); filed 10/1: “On September 26, I fished the main lake. I caught 7 smallmouth bass in deep water. The largest one weighed 4 pounds; it was taken on a drop-shot rig. On October 1, Darl Black and I fished out of North East Marina. We landed over 20 smallmouths with the largest one going two ounces shy of 4 pounds. All bass over 3 pounds came on tubes. Smaller bass came on various experimental baits. Darl caught over 20 gobies on a lipless crankbait yo-yoed off the bottom.” (See Livewell photos)
Erie Tributaries
Gary @ Poor Richards; filed 10/4: “Steelheads are at the creek mouths with some in the lower sections. We are waiting for some serious rain.”
Becky @ Elk Creek Sports Store; filed 10/4: “I was just down checking on Elk. The rain down south has raised the level some but it remains clear. Anglers tell me there are fish up to the Tubes.”
Note: what difference a day makes!
Andy @ Trout Run Bait & Tackle; filed 10/5: “The water rose overnight. This morning they were hammering them on Elk and Walnut. Elk is now blown out right now, but should be back down by tomorrow. Lots of fish in the streams. There is great fishing in the Lake at mouth of Trout Run when wind is right. Single eggs and minnows for creek fish; Sucker Spawn if fly fishing. In the lake it is Power Bait and spoons, or stripping streamers if fly fishing.
MERCER COUNTY
Lake Wilhelm
Vickie @ Fergie’s Bait; filed 10/4: “Customer reported catching a mess of big bluegills in the shallows on the 27th. Other customers report decent crappies between Launch #2 and Launch #4 on the 28th. Another customer stopped by with a 14” largemouth bass. Due to drawdown, shoreline fishermen are having problems fishing from the bank; best to have a boat right now – no problems launching.”
Bill @ Griffin’s Bait and Tackle; filed 10/3: “Alex Tafoya caught a 21-inch walleye at Lake Wilhelm.”
RJ Graham (Tionesta); filed 9/26: “Austin Weaver and I went to Wilhelm last week. It was tough. But we managed to land 6 largemouth bass – five by pitching jigs to wood and one by cranking. We covered the entire lake and the electric motor only area. The grass was still in good shape.” (See Livewell photos)
Shenango River Lake
Ken Smith (Sharon); filed 9/30: “I fished Shenango on 9/28. It was a slow day for keeper-size crappies, but I managed to put 10 over 10 inches in the livewell; the biggest was 14 inches. The lake is slowly turning over with surface temps higher than normal for this time of year. The smaller fish are schooling but the bigger ones are scattered in the deeper water. I would catch a couple at each spot and then move on. I could have kept a lot more that were fat black crappies but I didn’t feel like cleaning a lot.” (See Livewell photos)
Jim McClave (Mercer); filed 9/30: “I’ve been to Shenango twice in two weeks. I’m getting crappies at the railroad bridge near Mahaney. I’ve been docking up at the concrete pylons right under the bridge. Catching crappies on minnows fished near the bottom. Most are small, but getting a ‘decent’ one every now and then. Nothing like big ones at Pymatuning…I wonder why Shenango’s crappies are always smaller than Pymatuning?”
Al Moore (Cochranton); filed 9/23: “I fished a bass tournament on Shenango on the 20th. I caught 14 bass but not one of legal size. I went back the next day to figure them out…caught a 5-pound 1-ounce largemouth and 3-pound smallmouth plus several two-pound bass – all on jig-n-pig. I would have won the tournament the day before if I had that catch!” (See Livewell photos)
Bill @ Griffins Bait & Tackle; filed 10/3/13: “The father of customer Tom Carr caught a 30-inch 13-pound striper at Shenango Lake.” (See Livewell photos)
VENANGO COUNTY
Sugar Creek
Bill @ Griffin’s Bait & Tackle; filed 10/3: “Dave Baker caught a 21 inch brown trout in Sugar Creek near Wyattville. See photo.”
Allegheny River
Louis Letterle (Franklin); filed 10/1: “I have not sent in a report this year so far. With two teenagers in sports, school activities, etc., my fishing is limited. My kids and I did spend time on the Allegheny River and French Creek this summer doing paddle boarding, kayaking and boating but little fishing. Regardless, I always look forward to the NW PA Fishing Report; it keeps me up to date. I did make it out this past week on the river a couple times, and had plenty of action with smallmouth of all sizes. See photos of my two largest smallmouths.” (See Livewell photos)
Dale Black @ Gamma Line; filed 9/29: “I got out last Saturday and Sunday. I did alright, but nothing big. Most smallies were caught on Yum Dingers and tubes. Also caught a couple walleye and a northern pike.”
Jimmy Whitley (Kennerdell); filed 9/27: “Due to mild weather, the flatheads are still eating on the river. Prime months are August and September, but it may carry into October if it stays warm. Granddaughter caught her first catfish – doing it right as taught by papa Jimmy.” (See Livewell photos)
Pete Cartwright @ Smallies on the Yough; filed 9/27: “On September 21, we fished the Allegheny for three days. The fishing was challenging at times, and finding active fish became hard. But when we did find them we caught some nice ones. Including a few 18 to 19-inch fall bronze beauties; we go them on tube baits and plastic craws from 412 Bait Company. The smallies were scattered but did see some grouping; hope to get back up in a couple weeks.” (See Livewell photos)
RJ Graham (Tionesta); filed 9/26: “Last Monday Austin Weaver fished with me on the river near Oil City. It was a decent night, catching a number of smallmouths. Austin caught his first smallmouth bass; see photo. On the 27th, my Dad and I fished Oil City pool. It was really a tough bite, catching only 8 bass with no size to them.”
Keith Eshbaugh @ Dutch Fork Lures; filed 9/26: “Shawn McMahon joined me to fish the river near Pittsburgh. We caught sheephead, walleye, smallmouth, wipers and one really big catfish on jigging Rapala, blade baits and bucktails. The flathead took a white bucktail jig on 10 pound test line; it took 25 minutes to land. Not sure of the weight – but it was heavy! See photo. Water needs to cool to improve the river bite.” (See Livewell photos)
Bill Logan (Pleasantville) filed 9/25: “Fishing out of Tidioute, I got 9 bass and 2 walleyes. One walleye was a submarine, but I didn’t have a chance to tape or weigh it. I would say it was 30 inches; it hit a musky glide bait in ten feet of water. I had it out of the water too long trying to get it and the plug out of the net. Camera fell over while trying to get picture, so I just released the big walleye.”
Darl Black (Cochranton); filed 9/22: “Fished for photos with guide Jeff Knapp for an article for In-Fisherman Bass Guide 2015. Spent less than 3 hours on the river and caught several photo fish on soft jerkbaits and Rapala X-