We are kicking off the First Day of Spring NW PA Fishing Report with BIG NEWS. The Fishing Report Prize Packet Giveaway for this coming season is BIG. Anyone who contributes to the Fishing Report at least once a month is eligible to win; if you contribute twice a month, your name goes in the hat twice for the monthly drawing.
Lure Packet: Thanks to friends at Rapala, Tru-Turn Hooks, Road Runner, Uncle Josh, Get Bit Baits, Lake Fork Tackle, Bobby Garland, Gene Larew, Yum, Scum Frog, Thill and Lindy, this season’s Field Test Packet has 17 items with a retail value of over $80.00! One Field Test Packet will be awarded each month from April through November.
Gamma Line Giveaway: Instead of giving away a particular spool of Gamma Line provided by the company which you may not find useful in your fishing, this season the winning contributor will receive a filler spool of the Gamma Line you desire (Polyflex, Edge Fluorocarbon, Touch Fluorocarbon, or Torque) in the pound-test you really want to test out.
However, there is a new caveat: I am not going to automatically send out the prize – you’ve got to locate the winning names in the Report. I will draw one name each for the Lure Packet and the Gamma Line once a month, with the announcement appearing somewhere in the second monthly issue of the Fishing Report. When you spot your name as a winner, send me an email with your shipping address to claim a prize. Lure Packets will be sent directly from me, and the line will come to you by way of Gamma.
No giveaway in this Special Report; watch for the winning name in the second issue of the Fishing Report each month starting in April.
The NW PA Fishing Report welcomes Griffins Bait & Tackle Shop at Cooperstown in Venango County and Harvey’s Hook Line n Sinker Tackle Shop at Mt. Hope in Crawford County as new contributing tackle shops to the Fishing Report. Both tackle shops have opened recently and have special events planned for this year. Stop in and say “Hi!”
News Flash from the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission: Mentored Youth Fishing Days are rescheduled to May 10 due to thick ice still covering many lakes in the state. The program is designed to encourage adults to take kids fishing and promote outdoor recreation. The Mentored Days would have been the week before trout season, but the Fish Commission does not expect all lakes to be ice free. Go to www.GoneFishingPA.com for more details.
In conjunction with major tackle manufacturers, the NW PA Fishing Report will sponsor a special Crappie Technique Fishing Seminar at Pymatuning Lake on Thursday, May 15. Although the seminar is free, seating is limited and you will need to have a ticket. Free tickets will be available at certain area tackle shops. More about this in April issues of the Fishing Report.
Open Buddy Bass Tournaments for Spring 2014
– April 27 – Clarion County Bassmasters Pymatuning Open, contact Tom Jackson at 724-290-3900
– May 10 – Bassmasters of Crawford County Spring Classic at Pymatuning, contact Eric Marsh at 814-336-9119
– June 29 – Clarion County Bassmasters PIB/Erie Open, contact Tom Jackson at 724-290-3900
Now to the fishing…
FRENCH CREEK – Flowing through all four counties
Dustin Shay (Meadville) 3/17: Dustin reports the ice jams have broken up on the creek; however there are large slabs of ice lying on the banks making it impossible to reach many favorite early spring spots at this time.
CRAWFORD COUNTY
Pymatuning Lake
Espyville Outdoors reports anglers were still on the ice as of March 18. At the north end of Pymatuning between Tuttle Point and the Spillway, ice anglers were catching good numbers of crappies and perch on minnows in about 8 feet of water. A few anglers were jigging Sonars for walleye at the Linesville Spillway but have not had much success. Water is open from Spillway out for 100 yards.
Pymatuning Lake Association conducted an ice fishing tournament during Winter Fun Days in February. See photos of winning fish on the Livewell Page.
Sugar Lake & Woodcock Lake
Griffins Bait & Tackle Shop; 3/14: Reports anglers on the ice are still catching pickerel, bluegills and some sizeable crappies from Sugar Lake. Bob Keith caught a 46”, 23 lb. musky at Woodcock Lake recently; photo supplied by Griffins Bait.
Canadohta Lake
Timberland Bait & Tackle conducted another successful ice fishing tournament on Canadohta in February. This is the longest running ice fishing tournament in NW PA. It was a tough day of fishing for the 250 anglers; no large musky was caught. Bob Keith took top honors with a northern pike.
Conneaut Lake
Timberland Bait & Tackle second ice fishing tournament for 2014 was conducted on Conneaut Lake with 150 anglers participating. Conditions were perfect and many fish were caught. View photos on Livewell page. Winners were:
Steve Elmen of Guys Mills with 45-1/2 inch musky
Mike Kozalla of Saegertown with 33-1/4 inch northern pike
Kevin Hall of Meadville with 11-3/4 inch crappie
Nick Bosko of Meadville with 12 inch perch
ERIE COUNTY
Erie Tributary Streams
Rick Gariloff (Trout Run Bait & Tackle); 3/19: “Streams are finally open in Erie! Fishermen are doing well on Elk, Crooked and at Trout Run. Eggs, emerald shiners, crawlers, jigs and streamers are all producing fish. Upper Elk is clear above I-90; lower Elk is being impacted by ice jam above Rt. 20, slowly melting. However those fishing lower Elk have also picked up Brown Trout. Fish range from new to old, even past I-79.”
Dan Seaman (Elk Creek Sports); 3/18: “There is open water on Elk from Whiteman’s Bridge to the mouth of the creek. The mouth is still closed but the access is open. Fishermen have been having great luck on both browns and steelheads. The upper stream at the West Road Bridge was open also. The big problem is the major ice jam that extends from the old Rt. 20 bridge in Girard at the Legion to Rt. 90; it is the worst I have ever seen on the creek, and it could create major problems for landowners downstream and any fishermen in the stream when it lets go.”
Presque Isle Bay
Thomas Watral, Erie; 3/12: “The Bay is starting to open up in a few areas. Many anglers are still ice fishing. Let’s hope things turn around and the ice melts quickly so we can get on the perch. I am making and offering for sale my custom Perch Rigs made with Gamma Line, and a few other items. Swing by 3024 Holmes Street in Erie on the East Side and check out the rigs.”
Dave Lefebre, Erie; 3/16: “Still 20 inches of ice on Misery Bay as of Sunday. Using tiny Trigger soft plastic larva baits, Mitchell and I caught enough bluegill for a fish dinner. My Marcum Underwater Camera showed hundreds of bluegills and crappies milling around the bottom in about 13 feet.”
Ric Gariloff (Trout Run Bait & Tackle); 3/19: Ric wins the Lindy Rigging Pack for being the initial contributor to provide a report and photo of this spring’s first open water crappies. (See photo) Ric says these crappies were taken in open water in PIB but was not specific – I’m guessing the Lagoons or the open water near Head of Bay. The challenge went out earlier this month to all contributors to produce the first crappie, walleye or musky from open water.
MERCER COUNTY
Lake Wilhelm
Darl Black (Cochranton); 3/9: “I stopped by Wilhelm last Sunday after hearing from Mike at Jigger Tackle that anglers were catching nice crappies near the dam. I was pleasantly surprised with what I saw, considering angler complaints about small crappies at the lake due to the gizzard shad over population in recent years. Maybe things are turning around.”
Shenango River Lake
Chuck Sari (Franklin); 3/2: “Kevin and my grandson Reece have been fishing Shenango all winter with great success. Attached is a picture of Reece on Saturday, March 1 with a couple nice crappies. We have been using small jigs tipped with maggots and our Vexilar sonars.”
Ken Smith (Sharon); 3/6: “I fished the swim beach area twice this week, and I’m headed back there today. The shoreline is solid right now but that can change as soon as they start holding back water again. As usual this time of year, the crappie bite is great. Bigger fish are moving in from the deeper water and feeding up. I’ve been using plastic and doing very well.”
Darl Black (Cochranton); 3/12: “I swung by Chestnut Swim Beach area on Shenango Lake to check out angler success. One angler had a bucket full of nice crappies – all taken on small minnows.”
VENANGO COUNT
Allegheny River
Note: Ice jams had been blocking major parts of the river in Venango County. However within the last couple days, the ice has given way, but some ramps remain closed due to huge chunks of ice sitting on the ramps. Here are some reports from up and down the river.
Gene Winger (Oil City); 3/19: “I just checked the river…it looks like the ice jam in Oil City eddy move out last night. The next issue is going to be getting the ice buildup off the marina ramp. I’m estimating at least 5 feet of thick ice chunks from water’s edge half way up ramp…more than my Kubota can handle. FYI – I have my G3 1756 w/Yamaha 60/40 jet, fully equipped including 6’ Talon, fishfinders, 2 bank charger, etc. Call me at 814-676-2623.
Wiegel’s Bros. Marine reports some anglers going out of Franklin ramp last week, but didn’t catch any walleyes; concerned about ice chunks in the river.
Bill Logan and Jim Simionelli report catching some nice brown trout in the tailrace area below Kinzua Dam in the past couple weeks.
Keith Eshbaugh (Dutch Fork Lures) reports fishing the Three Rivers area on March 10. He caught 10 walleyes and a few catfish, plus accidental catch of a 30” paddlefish. Jigging Rapala’s and blade baits were best. Schools of catfish were in the deeper holes.
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