News

Cool News – It’s been a long hot, dry summer.  But cooler temps are now in the forecast; with water temps on the way down various fish species are responding positively.  If you’ve been on hiatus from fishing all summer due to hot weather, it’s the time to get back onto the water.  The best fishing since spring on inland lakes and rivers can be enjoyed in Northwest Pennsylvania from now until ice-up in December.

Hot News – Several tackle manufacturers have offered to supply lure samples to the angler whose name is drawn from among weekly Fishing Report contributors.  For September, the Rapala Group is sending new Terminator Spinnerbaits, Trigger Soft Plastic and the new Ultralight Rapala Minnow that Mike Horrobin was talking about in his report last week.  For October, Blakemore will be sending special Road Runner kits designed for fish species in our region; Blakemore kits will be sent direct from the factory.  And for November, the folks at PRADCO hope to have their new F2 scent 2-inch Yum Fat Tube available to hand out to Fishing Report winners.   Weekly winners will be receiving samples of the newest 2012 lures before they are available to the general public.  Please test them out as soon as you have an opportunity and let the Fishing Report know how they work for you.

Big News – A Fast-Sinking Sebile Magic Swimmer 228 (9”, 5 oz musky-size) will be awarded to the Fishing Report contributor who provides the biggest musky photo between September 1, 2011 and December 1, 2011.  Fish size determined by length, measured to closest inch.   Musky must be caught from a waterway inErie, Crawford, Mercer or Venango County.  This awesome lure will be presented to the individual who sends in the photo.  So if your buddy catches a trophy musky, you snap a picture, email it to darlblack@windstream.net and you might win this musky-catching bait.  In order to facilitate live release, musky will be judged by length to the nearest whole inch – measure and release!  If there are ties in the length, one name will be drawn as winner.  (Photos must be of entire fish – hand-held, in cradle net, or on flat surface.)

Off-the-Press News – If you are evaluating options in the purchase of a fishing craft for flowing water smallmouth, be sure to get a copy of the Sept/Oct BASSMASTER magazine to read my article on “World of River Watercraft.”  Also, check out my article in the Sept/Oct PA ANGLER & BOATER on frog lure fishing into the early fall – still prime pad time.  In addition, to see the secret baits of musky hunters, check out Marilyn’s article about Fishing Report contributor Bill Logan also in the current ANGLER.

Gamma News – Through fall of 2011, Black Knight Industries will continue awarding a spool of Gamma PolyFlex Line to a weekly winner drawn from among contributors sending in photos.

 

French Creek (Erie, Crawford and Venango Counties)

 

Dustin Shay (Meadville): It was a summer long quest, but Dustin Shay finally landed a flathead catfish from French Creek.  At 27-inches, it wasn’t a giant but it was a nice flathead; the fish took a rock bass being used as bait.  No picture available due to night conditions and only a cell phone camera.  He also missed powerful runs on a 9-inch crappie and 10-inch suckers.  I’m sure Dustin will continue his quest for the 20-pound-plus monster flathead that got away last week.

 

Russell Chaney (Meadville): While fishing the Creek over the holiday weekend, Russ reports that both smallmouth bass and walleye have started hitting minnow-type baits – including jerkbaits and crankbaits.  He says those fish which he observed all summer in the clear-water holes but would not bite, are finally chasing minnows due to that little drop in water temperature.

 

Crawford County Waters

 

Pymatuning Lake

Dave Richter (Richter’s General Store): “The walleye bite picked up some this holiday weekend.  A number of customers stopped back with some nice fish – no limits, but everyone had three or four walleye from 15 inches to mid 20 inches.  The biggest fish was a 26-inch ‘eye taken by a 9 year old – his first walleye ever.  Unfortunately I did not get his name.  Worm harnesses continued to be the ticket for walleye.  There were lots of nice crappies taken over the weekend, too.  And a surprising number of fishermen seem to be fishing for bass at Pymatuning – somewhat odd for this time of year.”

 

Chris Hall (Espyville Outdoors): “The crappie activity is still great around the causeway.  White jigheads with white curly tails tipped with a minnow are the catching a lot of crappies.  Other baits are working too, but the aforementioned combo seems to be most productive.

 

“A few walleye have been reported, but no consistent pattern,” continues Hall.  “Keepers have been reported around the weedbeds; other fishermen report walleye caught deep along the channel.  Green-bladed worm harnesses and American Freshwater Fisherman Walleye Wizard are getting the nod.  Bass activity has been decent, with some anglers scoring by throwing small shad colored crankbaits around the lily pads.”

 

Eric Heil (Franklin): “Not a bad day at Pymatuning for bass on Saturday, despite the hot and humid conditions.  Largemouth and smallmouth bit early, although they were tentative.  I caught about 15 total bass, mostly on a Booyah Spinnerbait and Yum Wooly Bug around weeds and wood.”

 

Ken Smith (Sharon): “I fished Pymatuning on Friday with Tim Odem of Farrell.  The bite was great for crappies, perch and bluegills.  We caught over 60 combined between the two of us.  We kept 25 crappies over 11 inches for Tim’s Annual Labor Day Fish Fry.  Some panfish were caught hang-gliding Southern Pro Jigs, but the majority were taken by casting MicroSpoon’s new soft plastic that goes on sale this month.  Go to www.microspoons.com to see them.”

 

Rob Genter (Tidioute): “The Bassmasters of Crawford County had their end-of-year championship on Pymatuning this past weekend.  Darren Potts won the two-day event with 29 pounds.  Lunker on Saturday was 4.24 pounds and lunker on Sunday was 4.28 pounds.  Everyone caught fish, with 25 limits in two day.  Competitors caught fish in a variety of lure presentations, including skipping tubes to cover, flipping jigs, crankbaits, and even spinnerbaits in the weeds.”

 

Conneaut Lake

Chuck Papinchak (Cochranton): “Robbie Wasser and I fished ConneautLakeon Friday.  We caught a number of bass and several northern pike.  Robbie caught over a dozen largemouth by drop-shotting a four inch Yum Dinger.  I caught the biggest pike – a 26-incher.  Our other big fish included a 17-inch smallmouth bass and 4-pound largemouth, plus a huge bowfin on a Rebel Pop R.”

 

Erie County Waters

 

Presque Isle Bay

Al Napcopoulos (B.A.C. Bait): “With Fish-For-Free Day on the holiday, I was extremely busy.  People who had never fished, or not fished in sometime, were in the store to get bait.  Anglers are still catching crappie off the North Pier along with a few perch.  Crappies are starting to show up inMarinaBay, too.  I had reports of largemouth in the 4 to 5-pound range coming from weed edges in the Bay.”

 

Jon Parker (Pittsburgh): “I fished Presque Isle on Saturday with a buddy of mine.  We went with the intent of catching bass, but the bite wasn’t very good.  We tried everything we could think of, from dirt shallow to fishing the channel – and never figured out the fish.  We did however catch a nice 28” bowfin while fishing around a ball of bait off a weed edge.  We observed the baitfish getting blown up, so I rigged a weightless Fluke and tossed it into the area.  To my surprise, I caught a bowfin – first one I’ve ever caught in PIB even though I’ve fished here for years.  When I first saw it, I thought it was a small pike.  Sorry about the picture in the net, but that fish was too difficult to hold!”

 

 

Lake Erie

Jeff Stabb (Poor Richards): “Perch fishing remains strong – when the weather allows the boats to get out.   They were catching them good north ofWalnut Creekin 50 to 54 feet of water.  Walleye fishing slowed down last week; the few ‘eye reports I had were of fish being taken in 65 to 70 feet of water along the Ohio line and in 80 to 90 feet northeast of the Peninsula.”

Danny Shay (Meadville): On Saturday, a text message from Danny Shay to Dustin and relayed to me read “38 feet of water, not a boat in sight, 3 limits of big perch in 90 minutes, photo attached.”

 

Lake Erie tributaries

Jeff Stabb (Poor Richards): “Don’t get excited yet, but there are a few steelhead showing up at the mouths of the tributaries – not enough to warrant a trip from downstate – but steelhead are on the move!”

 

Mercer County Waters

 

Lake Wilhelm

Bob Mohra (Fergies Bait): “It’s been somewhat slow down here for bass and walleye, but they are catching crappies in two to five feet of water – a surprise for this time of year.  Bass anglers stopped by to say the best lure going right now is a football head tipped with a shortened soft plastic crawdad, dragged on deep structure.  The Terminator Football Head has been getting a lot of play.”

 

Ken Anderson (Tionesta): “I fished Wilhelm on Wednesday from 8 AMto lunchtime.  I got four largemouth bass – three of which were quality fish.  All fish were caught on a 3/8-ounce white Booyah Tandem Spinnerbait.”

 

Jon Parker (Pittsburgh): “Our club fished a tournament on Wilhelm the last weekend in August.  It was a tough bite all day with most guys bringing in only a few small keepers.  The guys who did well got their fish on soft plastics.  Hand-poured Sweet Beavers, NetBait Paca Craws and ribbon worms seemed to work best.  Working the laydowns on the lower end of the lake produced limits for some, while others worked offshore ledges.  I was one of the offshore guys and only managed five bass all day.  However, one of mine was over four pounds.  I had to fish very slowly to get bites.   I was unable to catch them on crankbaits like I normally do.  The winner, Mike Kopelic ofPittsburgh, had a 3-fish tournament limit of 10 pounds with a 5.09 pound lunker.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shenango Lake and River

Chad Templin (Meadville): “Upon returning from our summer hiatus, my fishing buddy and I took heed of your advice and tried a different spot, to wit: ShenangoRiverLakein MercerCounty.  We blundered upon a wolf pack of white bass and managed to tear up a couple dozen in a little over 2 hours.  Several fish were in the 3 pound range.  Attached are pics of our efforts.  All fish were caught on BS Spoons and BS Blades.  Surface water temps were in the mid 70s.  Kudos to DB for steering us in the right direction!”

 

 

Neshannock Creek

Bob Shuey (Neshannock Creek Fly Shop) recommends trout fishermen wait until the mid-October stocking of the special regulation area before returning to fish on Neshannock.  “In the meantime, stop down at the shop for all your steelhead needs!”

 

Venango County Waters

 

Allegheny River

Jeff Knapp (Keystone Connection Guide Service): “It’s been a weird summer on the river for me.  Typically I find a bunch of bass in and around the fast water.  It has always been an area I could count on, no matter how low or how clear the water.  This year it’s been a couple fish here and couple there.  Some fish in moving water, but a lot in the moderate runs and quite a few out in deep holes.  Some days close to the banks, other times mid river.  It’s different every day.  Ready for summer to end, and I’m really looking forward to fall fishing in the river.”

 

Chris Wolfgong (OilCity): “Along with my dad Larry and Dale Black, I fished the river around Oil City on Wednesday evening this past week.  Dad caught a couple fish on a Dinger.  Dale landed a dozen smallmouths on Green Pumpkin Dingers and a white Houdini Shad – all his fish were over 14 inches with one going 17.5 inches.  I got three in the 16 to 17 inch range on Houdini Shads, and lost two toothy critters that exploded violently on the soft jerkbaits before breaking my line.”  (See Photo #8)

 

Chuck Sari (Franklin), his son Kevin and Kevin’s son Reece fished the Allegheny on Saturday, September 3 and again on Monday morning with live minnows (chubs, riffle runners and sand pike all caught in French Creek).  “Reece is 4-1/2 years gold and is our official netter,” says Chuck. “On Saturday we caught 10 bass and a small walleye.  As soon as the sun hit the water, the bite slowed.  On Monday, the fishing was better; we caught 15 bass and a walleye.  The bass were larger with the biggest fish going 17 inches.  We’ve been out most weekends in August but had nothing to report.  As the water is cooling the fish are getting more active.  Hopefully the larger walleye will start hitting soon.  The river is still very low and clear, but weeds aren’t bad yet.” (See Photo #9)

 

Ken Anderson (Tidioute): I fished the Allegheny on Saturday morning with my brother.  We caught seven bass, but only three were over 12 inches.  The fish were taken on a Rapala Skitter Prop, Rapala J-11 Minnow, Joes Fly-Spinner and Mister Twister Jig.  The action was slow but I did see fish-chasing bait prior to the fog lifting.  With the down turn in temperature, the action should improve shortly.”

 

Darl Black (Cochranton): “How far up on a shallow gravel bar can 40 HP jet push a river boat before you can shut down the engine?  Answer: Almost 50 feet!  Coming around a bend, a flotilla of holiday frolickers in canoes forced me to go wide and I missed a crucial line on a narrow mid-river chute through a riffle.  Fortunately, Dale Black and Chris Wolfgong were just down river a little ways, and they assisted me in getting my boat floating again – otherwise I would have been waiting on high tide!  Fishing wise, there was a soft jerkbait bite happening in the AM; between our two boats, we caught several smallmouth and a couple small walleye.  We each had a quality fish in the 17 to 18 inch range.  The river was extremely busy with canoes, kayaks and goose hunters.”  (See Photo #10)

 

Justus Lake

Bill Logan (Pleasantville): “I fished JustusLakeon Friday, catching nine largemouth bass on tubes and Zipper Worms; lost four other fish.”

Oil Creek

Mike Laskowski (Oil Creek Outfitters): “Please stop in the shop for your fall fly fishing supplies and material, but I would not recommend fishing Oil Creek for trout until mid-October after the stocking.  The water was so low and so warm this summer, I don’t think many trout survived.”

 

Gamma Salutes

A spool of Gamma PloyFlex Line goes out to Chad Templin for his white bass photos fromShenangoLake.  Locally, Gamma Line is available at Poor Richards Bait & Tackle (Fairview); John’s Bait (Meadville); Espyville Outdoors (Espyville); and CDS (Grove City).

 

September Rapala Awards

The winner of the September 5th drawing for Rapala Lure pack is Jon Parker of Pittsburgh.  See the full line of Rapala/Storm/Terminator/Trigger X and VMC tackle at www.Rapala.com.

 

Outdoor Calendar of Events

 

Sept 18         Allegheny RiverBass Team Tournament #1

$100 per team; for info contact Eric Heil lt.heil@yahoo.com

 

Oct 1               River Watcher Float on Shenango; Pymi Outflow toGreenville

Info: Hugh Clark greengrass@windstream.net

 

Oct 1&2          Antlers and Anglers Showcase, CrawfordCountyFairgrounds

For information, contact Joan Kocan at jkocan@agoc.com

 

Oct 16            Allegheny RiverBass Team Tournament #2

$100 per team; for info contact Eric Heil lt.heil@yahoo.com

 

Nov 5              PA Steelhead Expo atRainbowGardens,Erie,PA

1 PM to 9 PM; contact steve@steelheadexpo.com for info

 

Information contributed by:

–       Chris’ Tackle Box, Jamestown, PA

–       Maurer’s Trading Post, Franklin, PA

–       Oil Creek Outfitters, Titusville, PA

–       John’s Bait & Tackle, Meadville, PA

–       Van Tassel’s Timberland Bait, Canadohta Lake, PA

–       Fergie’s Bait & Tackle, Sandy Lake, PA

–       R & L Bait & Tackle, Greenville, PA

–       B.A.C. Bait & Tackle, Erie, PA

–       Poor Richards Bait & Tackle, Fairview, PA

–       Presque Isle Angler, Erie, PA

–       Neshannock Creek Fly Shop, Volant, PA

–       Erie Sports Store, Erie, PA

–       CLTackle.com

–       Espyville Outdoors, Espyville, PA

–       Farrell’s Hook, Line & Stitch, Meadville, PA

–       Consumer Direct Sports, Grove City, PA

–       Jigger Wholesale Tackle, Franklin, PA

–       Area anglers

 

Sponsored by: PA Great Lakes Region

& GAMMA Fishing Line (now owned by Black Knight Industries of Oil City)

 

Connect to all counties at www.PaGreatLakes.com

–       Crawford County Convention &Visitors Bureau at www.visitcrawford.org

–       VisitErie at www.visiterie.com

–       VisitMercerCountyPA at www.visitmercercountypa.com

–       Oil Region Alliance at www.oilregion.org

 

 Note: The information in the NW PA Weekly Fishing Report is based on the observations and opinions of individuals at the reporting tackle shops and expert area anglers.  Although the information is reliable, it is not independently verified.

 

If you have fishing information or a picture of your catch from one of the waters in the following counties, please contact Darl Black at darlblack@windstream.net

In providing a picture, you are agreeing to it being posted on the Fishing Report.

Keep Up with More NW PA Fishing at http://darlblack.blogspot.com