Northwestern Pa. weekend fishing report: Soggy spring continues but trout, bass are biting
Lack of rainfall is not an issue for anglers in northwestern Pennsylvania. However, a lack of reasonably warm, sunny days is.
During regular conversations with regional tackle shops, most proprietors have mentioned to me that the overabundance of cool, wet and windy weather has made a negative impact on their sales because the majority of anglers don’t do soggy. On the other hand, fisherpersons who are willing to put up with the foul spring weather are catching fish.
“In Lake Erie, the deep-water lake trout bite remains strong, and smallmouth bass are hitting in shallower water, including an opportunity for shore-bound anglers at the mouths of Sixteen Mile and Twenty Mile Creeks,” stated Kirk at East End Angler. “In Presque Isle Bay, smallmouths are spreading into shallower water and northern pike are smashing lures in the shallower sub-bays of Presque Isle. Perch are making their presence known to anglers on the South Pier. After dark, walleyes are showing up in the usual spring spots in the Bay.
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"Also, I had reports of pike and crappies hitting at Eaton Reservoir. One more thing, Shades Beach launch is open with docks in place.”
Dominic at Poor Richard's had personal success on crappies in Presque Isle Bay this past week, and there were solid reports of the walleye night bite from piers on city-side of PIB. He confirmed walleye are hitting long minnow plugs such as Bandits.
Fishing before the high, dirty water elevated Elk Creek flow, Bill at Tudor's set out to catch smallmouth bass with a fly rod only to encounter a surprising number of steelhead still in the lower stream. “These post-spawn steelhead were healthy and in good shape as several went airborne, although all showed typical spawning stress injuries. It’s a great day in May when you catch smallmouth bass, steelhead and stocked brown trout on a streamer – well worth a trip to Elk!”
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The walleye bite at Pymatuning Lake is shifting to greater success off the humps during the day with live bait, and somewhat less success casting plugs at night along the shoreline, said Gus at Richter’s Bait. “I’ve received reports of crappie catches from shallower brush piles and cribs on the south end of the lake. Meanwhile, the spring musky bite continues for anglers trolling large plugs through the bays.”
As an Army Corps of Engineers flood control lake, Shenango Lake is always impacted by heavy rains. The lake level has come up and several ramps are closed said Randy at Fish West PA. “As the water was rising, we were having some success on northern pike, smallmouth bass and white bass in very shallow water. Until the lake level drops and clears some, Shenango likely isn’t worth fishing. But be ready for the white bass run up both the Shenango River and Pymatuning Creek arms anytime now.”
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If weekend plans included spending the opening day of inland walleye season May 7 on French Creek or Allegheny River, you might want to consider alternatives due to the high, muddy flow for both these waters.
Contributors:
East End Angler, 4702 East Lake Road, Erie; 814-898-3474
FishUSA Pro Shop, 6960 W. Ridge Rd., Fairview; 800-922-1219
Poor Richard’s Bait & Tackle, 6821 West Lake Road, Lake City; 814-474-5623
Elk Creek Sports, 10543 Old Lake Road, Lake City; 814-774-8755
Tudor Hook-N-Nook, 10079 Cross Station Ext., Girard; 814-323-5886
Richter’s Bait & Tackle, 2936 Williamsfield Road, Jamestown, PA; 724-932-5372
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: NW Pa. fishing report: Soggy spring continues but trout, bass biting
