- Blackwolfe Communications

NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA FISHING REPORT
Published by Blackwolfe Communications LLC
Issue: April 20, 2016
The NW PA Fishing Report provides timely angling information for Crawford, Erie, Mercer
and Venango Counties – covering all species and all waters open to the public. The fishing
comments and photos are offered by regional tackle shops and area anglers, compiled
and published twice a month. The NW PA Fishing Report is based on experiences, observations and opinions of individual contributors; information sources are considered reliable but comments are not independently verified. In providing information or pictures,
you are agreeing to your comments being edited, and posted to websites and distributed
electronically.
The NW PA Fishing Report is brought to you by:
Pennsylvania’ Great Lakes Region (www.PaGreatLakes.com)
Black Knight Industries, Oil City (www.GammaFishing.com)
Wiegel Brothers Marine, Franklin (www.wiegelbrothersmarine.com)
The Landing Net
by Darl Black
At last, late April and it feels like true spring has finally arrived! What a difference a week
makes! Crappies and largemouth bass are biting at Pymatuning and other area lakes. The
smallmouth bass bite in the river has kicked into gear. But March and early April 2016 will
be remembered for is the awesome yellow perch fishing in Presque Isle Bay. Jumbos…
larger perch than most anglers have ever seen. It started last fall
when the perch followed the shiners into PIB. And it took off again
at ice out on the Bay. You might say it climaxed with a potential new
State Record Yellow Perch of 2 pounds 14 ounces. (See photo at
right.) Although perch are now departing the Bay, that’s not the end
of it. Anglers continue to catch BIG perch in 40 to 50 feet off The
Point of the Peninsula. Go fish!
OPENING THIS ISSUE OF THE NW PA FISHING REPORT WITH UPCOMING EVENTS
What:
CRAPPIE FISHING SEMINAR
When:
Where:
Thursday, May 19th at 7:00 pm
Reynolds VFW
@ 115 Edgewood Dr. Ext., Transfer
Presentations on various crappie fishing techniques, including Spider Rigging by Dan
Dannenmueller, 2 time Angler of Year on Crappie Master Tour. Plus, a presentation on
choosing and using today’s sonar to help you catch more crappie. Your questions answered by a panel of experts from Garmin Electronics, Gamma Line, TTI/Blakemore
Fishing; Bobby Garland Crappie Baits, Driftmaster Rod Holders and B’n’M Crappie Rods.
Seminar is free, but seating is limited. Obtain free tickets at any of the following bait
and tackle shops in the Shenango- Pymatuning-Wilhelm triangle:
Consumer Direct Sports
(CDS), Grove City, PA…5
Points Country Convenience, OH…Hills Country
Store, Route 7, OH…
Richter’s General Store,
Jamestown PA…
Jamestown Boat Livery…
Duck-N-Drake, Lake
Road, OH…Gateway
Tackle, Andover OH…
Poff’s Place, Espyville
PA…Robinson’s Bait, Linesville PA…Fergie's Bait, Lake Wilhelm…Lake Wilhelm
Marina...Griffins Bait, Cooperstown PA.
Pymatuning Lake Association Tournaments
2016 CRAPPIE Tournament, April 30. First place $500.00. Team entry fee $45.00. Registration forms and rules at www.pymatuninglake.com; email [email protected].
2016 WALLEYE Tournament, May 14. First Place $500.00. Team entry fee $45.00.
Registration forms and rules at www.pymatuninglake.com; email [email protected].
NW PA FISHING REPORT for April 20, 2016
This Report is brought to you by PA Great Lakes Region tourism with additional sponsorship from Wiegel Brothers Marine and Gamma Fishing.
We answer the question “What’s biting in the lakes, streams, and rivers of Crawford, Erie,
Mercer and Venango counties?”
CRAWFORD COUNTY
Pymatuning Lake
Norm @ Jamestown Boat Livery; filed 4/18: “Beautiful weekend weather resulted in a
busy weekend on South End. Crappies are moving into the bays. However the walleye
bite has been off for this time of year. Shore waders have been catching ‘eyes in the
evening around dusk on jig-n-minnow and long minnow plugs – my son caught 11 ‘eye
over the weekend while wading. But the daytime walleye bite was not good this weekend. Several days ago, a group of musky fishermen were trolling around the islands and
bays on the South End. One boat said they caught 8 muskies but all were small. Another
boat had a 45 incher.”
Laurie @ Duck-N-Drake; filed 4/18: “Finally a great
weather weekend and anglers were out in force. The regulars were doing well on crappies in the North End bays.
Shoreline waders have been getting walleyes in the evenings. When we had a breezy day, some guys were successful drifting a jig-n-crawler during the day.”
Gateway Tackle; filed 4/18: “Lots of anglers out over weekend. Walleyes are still being
caught around the causeway on jig-n-minnow. Crappies are moving in shallower water;
minnows are best bait. Some perch are reported as well.”
Patty @ Poff’s; filed 4/18: “Crappie bite has started. Some walleyes are still being caught
on blade baits along the causeway and humps.”
Robinson’s Bait; filed 4/18: “Crappies are in tight to brush. Not hearing much about daytime walleye success this past weekend; lake was too flat. However, they are catching
walleyes at dusk on Rapala Minnows or a twister jig with a piece of crawler.”
RJ Graham @ Graham Jigs; filed 4/18: “I fished Pymatuning on
Thursday, the 14th; we only caught 6 bass – water temp was cold at
42 degrees – tough day. Returned on Friday, and a little better day
with 8 bass and a musky; water had warmed to 48 degrees. On Saturday, I had a good day, catching nice fish by flipping the bank as
well as some nice bass in 8 feet on a crankbait; temp was 57 degrees. On Sunday, I fished the Bassmasters of Crawford County Club
Tournament. I lost a giant bass in the morning and ended up weighing 5 fish for 10 pounds; could not get the big bite I needed. All bass
came on a jig along the bank; water temp was 64 degrees.” (See
photos in Livewell)
RJ Graham with musky
Ken Anderson (Tionesta); filed 4/18: “I was at Pymi on Sunday the 17th. Water temps increased quickly during the day in the shallow bays in the North End. The temps ranged
from 57 to 65 degrees, depending on location and time of day. People were catching crappies at Tuttle Island where depth transitioned from 5 to 2 feet of water. The same depth
range held true for the area between Linesville Beach and Amish Bay (Stewart’s Bay?).
Bass fishing was challenging because there was no wind most of the day. A light breeze at
2:45 pm from the west turned the bass on. Most participants in a small club weigh-in at 4
pm at Linesville Marina hoisted limit bags. First place team weighed 8 fish for just over 22
pounds; second place team weighted a 4.67 pound lunker.”
Bill Cusick (Greenville); filed 4/18: “On Thursday I caught a 24 inch walleye on a jig-nminnow in 20 feet of water. On Friday the 15th, my buddy John Edward caught a 25 inch
‘eye on a jig-n-minnow.” See photos
Kevin Austin (Farrell); filed 4/18: “I fished the North End of Pymatuning over the weekend.
Had a pretty good day on crappies! See my photo.”
Kevin Austin’s crappies
Bill Cusick’s walleye
John Edward’s ‘eye
Canadohta Lake
Jerry @ Timberland Bait; filed 4/18: “This past weekend was absolutely spectacular with
anglers getting out. I had record sales and record number of customers – it was non-stop
on Friday. Everyone was gearing up for trout season. We had lots of reports of successful
trout anglers on local streams. Most of the fish were taken on Rosey Reds (minnows) and
Butter Worms. Also, the crappies started hitting on the lake; they were thick in the Lagoon area on the southeast corner of the lake.”
ERIE COUNTY
Presque Isle Bay and Lake Erie
Rich @ Erie Sport Store; filed 4/19: “The perch fishing in
Presque Isle Bay has slowed down after about 6 weeks of excellent fishing. Anglers caught some crappies in the marinas
during the past week. With the calm weather, fishermen are
now fishing the lake. Perch fishing has been reported as good
off Walnut Creek in 30 to 40 feet of water. Fishermen are
catching perch off The Point in 40 to 50 feet and off Shades
Beach in 35 t0 45 feet. On the evening of the 18th, Jim Rzomp,
Bob Hoffman and I caught our 90 perch in 45 feet of water off
Main lake perch 45 feet
The Point of the Peninsula. We were hounded by dozens of big
white perch and silver bass.
This is the time of the year that lake trout should be hitting. Try off of North East in shallow water and work your way out to deeper water inside The Mountain. For best results,
fish as close to bottom as you can. Erie Sport Store has all the tackle you need for perch
and lake trout – stop by to check out our selection.”
Mike @ Lake Erie Bait & Tackle; filed 4/18: “Lots of anglers in the Bay over the weekend.
It has been a great spring of perch fishing in the Bay with a potential new State Record
perch caught in the Bay. (See photo) But the perch success in the Bay is slowing with
most of the remaining action taking place on the peninsula side rather than docks on city
side. On the main lake, smallmouth bass are starting to move in close to the W’s and
Stacks, as well as the mouth of the channel. By next weekend, there should be numbers
of smallmouths in the Bay.”
Paul Stewart (Butler); filed 4/18: “I went perch fishing at Presque Isle on Saturday, but
the east wind made for extremely tough fishing for everyone we talked to. Most anglers
were empty handed or only had a few. Everyone is hoping for a wind shift from any direction but east for this coming weekend!”
Lake Erie Tributaries
Shelby @ Poor Richards; filed 4/18: “Steelheads are pretty much gone from the streams.
The focus now is stocked trout in the tributaries.”
Becky @ Elk Creek Sports; filed 4/18: “They had a great opening day of trout on the
streams. Anglers are catching some nice stocked brown trout. A couple fellows found
some fresh-run steelhead in a pool, and we are hoping if we get rain this week we might
see a few final steelies move up the streams. Smallmouth bass and suckers are in lower
end of Elk Creek. One customer stopped with a Tiger Trout (hybrid of brown and brook
trout) that he caught from Conneaut Creek – check out the photo!”
Erie Inland Trout
Dave Horvath; filed 4/18: “We finally got moved to northern Crawford County. For the
first time in many years I didn’t fish on opening day of trout. Instead, I helped out the
kids fishing derby at Mallory Run sponsored by Edinboro Masonic Lodge 416. Gander
Mountain supplied the prizes. It was a great day. Here are our future fishermen and
women. See the attached photos.”
Hybrid Tiger Trout
MERCER COUNTY
Dave Horvath photos
Youth event in Edinboro
Deer Creek, Wolf Creek and trout fishing
Mike @ CDS; filed 4/18: “For the opening week of trout season, I floated Wolf Creek in
my kayak down to Slippery Rock Creek. I caught and released smallmouth bass, not
trout, on a Rebel Crayfish crankbait. Customers said the smaller creeks for best for trout
this year because the larger creeks were still high and muddy from the melt off. Some of
our customers are buying Bomber Long A to cast for walleyes at Pymatuning right at
dusk.”
Marilyn Black (Cochranton); filed 4/18: “I stopped by the special Kids Only Fishing Area
on Deer Creek on opening day. A project of the Trout Unlimited Deer Creek Committee,
the area was packed with youngsters having fun catching trout. Sponsors provided food
and goodie bag of tackle. Check out some of the photos from the
event in Livewell!”
Patrick Covert; filed 4/9: “Attached is a photo of the brown trout that
my son Mitchell caught on a pink trout worm on the Mentored Youth
Day on April 9. The fish came from Big Run, a tributary in the Shenango River watershed.” (editor—Mitchell is a real trooper given the
snowy conditions of Mentored Youth Day.)
Lake Julia at Buhl Park
Kevin Austin (Farrell); filed 4/17: “I took my great nephew
and my grandson fishing to Lake Julia for opening day. I
taught them how to catch bluegill for their first time out, and
they had a ball catching fish! See my photo.”
Kevin Austin photo
Lake Wilhelm
Vickie @ Fergie's Bait; filed 4/17: “After the cold and deep snow of last weekend, anglers were telling me that the surface temperature of Lake Wilhelm had dropped back
into the 40s and catches have been slim. But the heat wave of this most recent weekend
should bring the water temp up and get panfish and bass bite going for the coming
week.”
Shenango River Lake
Ken Smith (Sharon); filed 4/18: “I fished Shenango on Sunday. The lake is high and muddy from the snow melt and rain. I found some keeper crappies in 14 feet of water, close
to the river channel – back in the Golden Run area. Longline trolled jigs tipped with
Crappie Nibbles did the trick.”
Kevin Austin (Farrell); filed 4/16: “I went to Shenango today. Fishing was slow but I did
manage to catch some crappies. They were in 18 to 19 feet of water on the bottom. I
used a clear jig, and a white/chartreuse jig to catch them.”
VENANGO COUNTY
Venango trout streams
Bill @ Griffins Bait; filed 4/18: “Here at Griffins Bait & Tackle, a big Thank You goes out
to all those fishermen who shop at Griffins. WOW, what a difference a week makes!
From fishing in deep snow and 32 degrees on Mentored Youth Day last Saturday to sunny and 72 degrees on Opening Day this weekend. Fishermen were out in droves. The
Mentored Youth Day was a success for 6 year old Bradley Graham, while fishing Sugar
Cree with his grandfather Ron Graham. Elias Raber caught this 19 inch brown on Little
Sugar using a Mepps Spinner. Check out the photos!”
Bradley Graham
Elias Raber
Stan Huefner
George Cavanaugh; filed 4/16: “My buddy Tim and I fished a few hours on Pithole Creek
near the stone arch during opening day. We landed 5 trout all in the 12” to 16” range, including 2 browns, 2 rainbows and 1 brook trout. We used minnows and fished them deep.”
Ken Anderson (Tionesta); filed 4/18: “Opening Day on Tionesta Creek in Forest County was
a treat with three generations of Andersons represented. All caught fish but it was not
easy. Water elevation and color were great and the weather was one of nicest in years.”
Angler Al (Franklin); filed 4/18: “Fishing buddy Stan Huefner and I ventured down to a remote stretch of Sugar Creek for opening morning of trout season. Using red worms rigged
suspended with a float indicator, Stan immediately began catching trout. Most were rainbows in the 10 to 13 inch range. A couple brown trout were a little
nicer. A variety of other baits including salmon eggs, mealworms,
wax worms and butter worms also worked. Together our total catch
was 18 fish. In the afternoon, I went to Oil Creek and caught my first
smallmouth bass of the year with a minnow. On Monday, I took my
guest Doris (from Texas) fishing for her first time. The weather was
beautiful and so was the rainbow trout she caught at Justus Lake by
flat lining a minnow on a Tru-Turn Blood Red baithook.”
John Hummel (Kennerdell); filed 4/17: “After the previous weekend of 8 inches of snow
followed by two days of hard rain, it was hard to believe the perfect weather that greeted
us for the opening day of trout season on East Sandy Creek. There were plenty of folks out
trying their luck and testing their skills. But catching was slow most of the weekend. Josh
Varhola and Raymie Mazanek, both from Vandergrift, used all their fishing talent to show
the older guys how to catch ‘em as usual.”
Chuck Sari (Franklin); filed 4/17: “Even in the snow storm, my grandkids had a successful
outing during the Mentored Youth Fishing Day on East Branch of Sugar Creek, catching
about 50 trout, including this 18 inch
Palomino and a 21 inch Rainbow. All
the fish were taken on minnows. See
photos.”
18-inch Palomino
21-inch Rainbow
Allegheny River
Steve Udick (Oil City); filed 4/18: “I fished Monday the 18th with Jim Allen in my canoe. We
had a great time. Jim landed the first fish within 50 yards of the put-in point. We anchored
up behind Siverly and I landed a nice 19.5 inch smallmouth on the magic Firetiger Shad
Rap. We ended the day with Jim getting three bass and I caught three bass and four walleyes, all on Helsinki Shad Rapala Husky Jerks. A nice day of fun and sun.” (See photos in
Livewell)
Dale Black @ Gamma Line; filed 4/18: “I fished two days over the trout opener weekend
with my son Jake on the river. On Saturday we only caught about six or seven smallmouth
bass. But with one more day of warming, Sunday was spectacular. We landed and released
59 smallmouth bass between the two of us. All were taken on tubes. Jake took pics of several of the nicer fish.” (See photos in Livewell)
Pete Cartwright @ Smallies on the Yough; filed 4/17: “On April 15th I guided my client Joe
on the Allegheny River. He caught his first walleye ever and a few decent smallmouth bass
using 412ubes from 412Bait Company. The bite was good at times on the 5 hour trip. I
fished the river again on the opening day of trout, and guess what? I caught a brown trout!
The smallmouth fishing was pretty good with a few bigger fish being caught on
412ubes.” (See photos in Livewell)
LIVEWELL OVERFLOW starts here!
Pete Cartwright and friends wade
their way to Allegheny River fish!
Bassmaster Elite Angler Dave Lefebre’s Tip for May
“May is almost upon us. Without a doubt, May is my favorite time
of the year because everything is biting on NW PA inland lakes. I’ll
tie on a spinnerbait, swim jig or Chatterbait and simply go down the
bank casting for bass – catching and releasing dozens of bass a day.
But I always have a light rod rigged
for crappies on deck, too. It will
have a bobber and a 2 inch Yamamoto Panfish Grub. When I see a
likely looking crappie cover, I’ll cast the bobber rig just
beyond it and swim it pass the cover slowly. I catch
some of the biggest crappies of the year on Pymatuning, Edinboro, and Wilhelm this time of year.” Dave
Fishing with Darl Black Guide Service is currently booking
crappie/bluegill or walleye trips at Pymatuning for late April
through July as well as bluegill/crappie trips at Conneaut Lake for
August & September. All tackle and bait provided, including rods
and reels. To learn more about area waters and take home some
fish fillets, too, book a guided fishing trip. Or give a gift certificate
of a guided trip to a friend for a special occasion. Visit my guide
page on the internet at www.BlackwolfeCommunications.com and
“Like” my Facebook Page “Fishing with Darl Black” for more information. Then email me direct at [email protected] to
discuss a date. Once again this season in cooperation with GAMMA FISHING, each
booked guide trip in 2016 will receive a sample spool of GAMMA’s Optic Yellow Panfish Line in 4 pound-test – the best light line I have ever used.
The Livewell
Brought to you by:
Wiegel Brothers Marine
704 ½ Elk Street
Franklin, PA 16323
814-437-2077
www.wiegelbrothersmarine.com
[email protected]
Boat of the Month: Don’t be left behind this summer. Get boating on the river with this Express Jet
Boat from Wiegel Bros.
Steve Udick’s Fun and Sun on the River!
Dale Black showing the proper 2-hand
hold for bass to prevent jaw damage.
Angler Al’s 1st smallie of 2016
Sugar Creek tout anglers
RJ at Pymatuning
Erie Jumbo Yellow Perch
Livewell Overflow...Opening Day Trout at the Kids Only Project on
Mercer County’s Deer Creek!
Photos by Marilyn Black
Deer Creek Special Kids Only Section
Ryan Handlow & Dad
Lexy Thomas
Trout Unlimited Project
Michael, Aubree and Libby
Cody Delman
Sponsors
Libby Erdley
Branden Newbury and
Kristen Thomas
Black Knight Industries
Oil City, PA 16301
www.gammafishing.com
www.froghairfishing.com
Gamma Fishing Tip
You can find GAMMA line locally at the following tackle shops:
Consumer Direct Sports – Grove City, PA
Griffins Bait & Tackle – Cooperstown, PA
Hill’s County Store – Williamsfield, OH
Maurer’s Trading Post—Franklin, PA
Robinson’s Bait & Tackle — Espyville, PA
Dave Horvath is the winner of tackle prize for this issue of the Fishing Report.
Please email your shipping address to Darl Black to claim your prize.
Dale Black says: “I acquired the rights to GAMMA fishing line several years ago because it
was the best line I had ever used. Of course that wasn’t just my opinion. It was the opinion of practically every angler who has tried it. I’m pleased to have the support of a significant number of professional bass, crappie, walleye and catfish anglers who feel the
same way about the line. But don’t take my word for it. Go to our website at
www.GammaFishing.com to learn about the special treatment which makes our line so
popular with pros and everyday anglers. If buying local, you can find some GAMMA Line
products at CDS near the Grove City Outlet Mall, Maurer’s Trading Post @ Rt. 8 Franklin,
Griffin’s Bait Cooperstown, Robinson’s Bait Espyville and Hill’s Country Store in Williamsfield, OH. For a complete listing of our
Polyflex, Edge Fluorocarbon, Torque Braid
and our new Optic Yellow Panfish Line,
visit our website. Or if you book a guide
trip with Fishing with Darl Black Guide
Service this year, you will receive a sample
spool of our Panfish Line. No, Darl and I
are not related, but we both adamantly
believe GAMMA Panfish is the strongest
yet most manageable line on the market
in 2 to 8 pound test.”
Russ Bailey and Dale Black on Pymatuning Lake