Pennsylvania Brethren! 2024

Stryder917 reply :

The New Year is almost upon us, so how was your year of fishing this year?

any new PRs?

new favorite tactics/baits/lures/flies?

My year of fishing started off pretty horribly, ice didn't come off the lakes up here in Northwestern PA until late (Kinzua Lake and East Branch - Clarion Reservoir are the only lakes near me - worth fishing within an hour). Got to be decent fishing only in the second week of may

- as a side note, we typically make a crappie trip up every year to Tioga for three days - usually the group of us split up 500 fish between the big group, this year we barely managed to get 110 (that whole week was 40-50 degrees and extremely windy - may 3-5), but the second week, it FINALLY warmed up, and we did pretty well, and started getting into bass - which we obv didn't keep.

Musky fishing this year was rough, caught a few alright-ish ones.. but most we caught were under 26 inches... or they were pike.

Catfishing this year was spectacular, hammered tons of nice Channels, and boy did they taste good.

walleye was horrendous this year.. every fish I grabbed ahold of was like 10 inches at my main walleye lake.

best bass fishing all summer for me was with the trusty fly rod..and I think I definitely will adopt that into my arsenal more thoroughly this year, as that w as fairly new.

how bout it guys?

Catch 22 reply :

I`ve been to Kinzua many times even though I live far away. I like to chase the eyes north of de border. Chances are you know the Bell boys that I fish and stay with up that way.

I have a few interesting stories to tell if we ever meet..

C22

Stryder917 reply :

Kinzua... good ol' Kinzua..

Always some interesting folk up in this direction. It's a nice lake, but can get nasty in the blink of an eye... real finicky too with where the fish hide out.. you can be in the most perfect spot, on the most perfect day anyone had ever seen, and every danged fish in the lake will be suspended above 100' of water in the middle of the lake..

I know a few Bells from both Custer City and Bradford that fish the zoo hard.

I'm not surprised you have a few stories, haha, I do as well. Never know who you're going to run into up there.. either get mugged, hugged, or drugged

Catch 22 reply :

I heard Straub`s Beer Co in St Marys laided off two workers since I don`t get up there much anymore. Sorry for that.

I used to fish the river at Warren, some ,not much.

Stryder917 reply :

They did lay off two.. their management is a little rough, we know the family that owns it really well (St. Marys is rather small, everyone knows everyone). Good beer, but sometimes they need to check their attitude towards their workers - all in all good guys though.

The river, where it comes in to warren, I actually caught some beautiful browns this year, way more fun, and bigger fish than I ever do for steelhead in Erie.

the real action this year, though has been right at the spillway, at late night, watching the massive paddlefish swimming under the lights, beautiful, majestic creature, man.. watched that thing making loops for hours while we were fishing

Catch 22 reply :

That's wild,didn`t know paddle fish are in there.

Stryder917 reply :

yup! NY state stocks them and (I believe) Lake sturgeon - both were originally in the lake but faded out.

There are a significant number of paddlefish up on the NY side, but below the spillway there are 5 or 6 that are of great size swimming around, If you ever come up this way and are up to fish a night, I could show you some of them, as well as some good walleye fishing.

At night, there's this small pipe spitting a small stream of water into the spillway from 10-15 feet above, and there's a great deal of light coming down from the power-plant, and they swim around by that pipe, one that we've seen regularly is probably around 55" or so, one night it even kicked its tail out of the water before it took off like a rocket, it was beautiful and insane to see.

Catch 22 reply :

Cool,1`ll keep that in mind if I come up.Thanks

C22

Stryder917 reply :

Definitely, message me if you ever wanna fish anywhere up here - St. Marys, Bradford, Warren, sometimes we hit up State College, get ahold of me some time brother

SPEEDBEAD. reply :

Had a very good early part of the year but two major rain events caused some drastic changes to my normal lake. Usually my best fishing is done through the summer months and this summer just didn't yield anything really worthwhile.

Inching closer to the DD mark. That's the ultimate goal.

Stryder917 reply :

On 12/11/2014 at 10:47 PM, SPEEDBEAD. said:

Had a very good early part of the year but two major rain events caused some drastic changes to my normal lake. Usually my best fishing is done through the summer months and this summer just didn't yield anything really worthwhile.

Inching closer to the DD mark. That's the ultimate goal.

Same with my lake, huge rainstorm that had Ridgway underwater, and flooded most of north central/northwestern PA...

both main lakes I fish were inaccessible by boat.

My best fishing is through the hot summer months as well, and into early fall.

what's your normal lake if you don't mind me asking?

-I'm a ways away from that double digit figure yet, haha, I need to dedicate more time to bass this summer, as I tend to fish musky in the summer and fall, and bass when I'm not fishing musky, but usually smallmouth - as they're more plentiful near me.

My biggest smally was 5 lbs, and biggest largemouth was just about 7 lbs

I'll get there eventually just learned of a new bass spot locally, so will definitely be hitting that up when I can

SPEEDBEAD. reply :

I'm devoting more time to musky now too. I fish the upper Potomac for them so with being river fish, they don't have the girth of lake fish but man, do they have some shoulders on them during a fight!

tomustang reply :

Crappie has been a lot lower here as well, much shorter numbers and thinner offerings. I didn't even keep any this year.

I can't complain for this bass season, it's still going for me until the water gets hard. The wife and I had 4 over 7lb and numerous over 5lb.

I really didn't get out as much as I wanted to due to other reasons, but I'm satisfied.

a1712 reply :

Speedbead, your DD is coming, just a matter of time. You're in the correct waters, you definitely know what your doing, it's just being there at the right time. I say by August. Brian.

Dwight Hottle reply :

I got a new largemouth PB but I had to sneak down to Florida to do it. Smallie fishing on lake Erie was tougher this year than most other years.

Mobydick reply :

I focused on finding some new water this year, specifically creeks. The best fishing I had this year was early fall, both for numbers and size. I fished some new areas and was very impressed with the quality of fish but not the quantity. I have been spending a lot of time on my map software, next year will be very interesting!

PAGreg reply :

Sadly Tioga was not as good this year as the previous year. Coldsvt and I love fishing there but didn't spend much time there this year. We fished Cowanesque quite a bit instead. The cow fished amazing this year.

Spent a lot more time on the finger lakes this year and learned a ton. I'm now addicted to pitching docks.

Cannot wait for spring! Coldsvt and I are looking to head to Smith Mountain lake in March to get an early start on the season. Last March we hit Lake Norman.

ColdSVT reply :

I had a great year both by myself and with PAgreg. Our skill certainly improved and we also fished a lot of new water

I got better at deep crankin and drop shots, got a personal best hybrid striper, and i won the Tackle Shack Open

Only got skunked once and that was the last trip on the cow in late october

Tioga was tough this year while i had my best year ever on cowanesque. I also did very well on hammond this year...good numbers and size. Only took me forever to figure out hammond lol

Megastink reply :

I love in SE Pa. Had a great season. Won some tournies, Improved my game, made the right decisions when I had to. Looking forward to this next year!

tomustang reply :

On 12/18/2014 at 1:20 AM, Megastink said:
I love in SE Pa. Had a great season. Won some tournies, Improved my game, made the right decisions when I had to. Looking forward to this next year!

Hopefully you'll find a decent boat next year

Megastink reply :

On 12/18/2014 at 2:17 AM, tomustang said:
Hopefully you'll find a decent boat next year

Gotta put the boat on hold until the wedding is paid for, then the house..... Then the tow vehicle..... Then kids....... Oh well......

SPEEDBEAD. reply :

On 12/19/2014 at 4:05 AM, Megastink said:
Gotta put the boat on hold until the wedding is paid for, then the house..... Then the tow vehicle..... Then kids....... Oh well......

Hey, need a wedding photographer?

Megastink reply :

On 12/19/2014 at 10:27 PM, SPEEDBEAD. said:
Hey, need a wedding photographer?

Why yes, we do. But we're not there yet in the planning. Message me if you have info.

ColdSVT reply :

^^^dont do it!!!!!!

Fishing is more important that marriage!

SPEEDBEAD. reply :

On 12/23/2014 at 10:59 AM, Megastink said:
Why yes, we do. But we're not there yet in the planning. Message me if you have info.

PM on its way

Gundog reply :

The susquehanna river was good to me last year. Caught a good number of smallmouths and the occasional walleye, musky or fallfish. The sizes were good and only a few had the black blotches that they have become to be known for. I didn't try any new baits last year but I've vowed to give the neko rig and shakey heads a try this year. Also I want to give drop shotting more of a chance this year. Last year I felt I should have done it more when the fishing slows down in the mid summer. Other than that I just hope I get more time on the water this year. Its my same new years wish for all of you.

Trenton reply :

Anyone near Bedford county, I fish in a small local tournament series

SPEEDBEAD. reply :

On 1/25/2015 at 2:40 AM, Downman74 said:
Anyone near Bedford county, I fish in a small local tournament series

I love me some Koon and Gordon on occasion. The Que too.

Trenton reply :

Nice I grew up right down the road from them. Don't get to fish them as much as I would like too anymore. You should show up for the annual first day tournament down there this year

SPEEDBEAD. reply :

On Koon?

Didnt know they had a tournament on it. Never know, depends on how my bite is going this year.

Trenton reply :

Yes sir opening day tournament hopefully I get to see you there. Ice fishing can only do so much for the urge to start throwin some crank baits of the front deck

fishballer06 reply :

On 1/25/2015 at 2:40 AM, Downman74 said:
Anyone near Bedford county, I fish in a small local tournament series

Born and graduated from Bedford.

Trenton reply :

Same here brother. Class of 2011 and no other place I'd be

fishballer06 reply :

Class of '06. I live in Pittsburgh now, but my family is still in Bedford.

Trenton reply :

What's the last name?

fishballer06 reply :

On 1/29/2015 at 12:40 PM, Downman74 said:
What's the last name?

You can PM me if you'd like to talk more.

new2BC4bass reply :

Fishing in general sucks near me. The park in Hamburg (next to Cabela's) closed the road to get in except for soccer practice and games and when the club that is located there puts on a shindig. Boat ramp is open. Can walk around lake to fish, but can't drive any further than the ramp. Bathrooms locked. Grills and tables removed. Fields not cut. All because the various governments can't agree on whose responsibility it is to maintain the park. Bet the people who donated the lake and surrounding property are rolling over in their graves.

Fishing in this area has depressed me to the point that I hardly ever go. All I'll do is go to a local river boat ramp for some practice and to try different combos. I wouldn't have near as much gear if the fishing was any good. I'd be fishing instead of looking for new rods and reels to try out.

Minsi Lake is a shallow lake. A hole in the dam made it shallower. Can't unload boats at the upper end. Tomustang and wife manage to catch some nice fish there and out of the Lehigh River. Haven't used my Porta-Bote in 3 years. Fishing on the fishing pier at Lake Nockamixon wasn't any better this year than any other year. No fish can last long with the fishing pressure. I'm probably one of the very few willing to practice catch and release there.

I fish every chance I get when I visit Florida each year. Luckily my brother-in-law loves to bass fish and my wife doesn't mind too much as long as I take her somewhere a couple times while we are there.

Hope the price of gas stays down. Looks like this coming year will see me driving an hour to an hour and a half to try and find a decent place to fish. Maybe south since the one poster did so well down there.

tracker01 reply :

I feel your pain. Hey, I go up to Cabelas a few times a year and I never knew that a lake was in the area. I most always have a rod in my suv just in case I bump into some new water. How would I find this park?

Thanks

Gundog reply :

New2BC4bass Kaercher Creek can be a tough lake to fish. I use to fish it abit when I was working down that way. I always had good luck with smaller baits like 4 inch Berkley power worms and tubes. I've read about the stupidity they are having in that area in regards to the lake. Its sad they are ruining the only good fishing spot in the area over a petty squabble. Hope the fishing gets better for you this year.

Trenton reply :

Anyone going to Harrisburg for the sports show next week? Me and the family are headed down Monday the 9th. Gonna buy some bulk plastics down there and who knows what else.

seawitch reply :

Anybody fish in the elk county area? I used to fish at Kyle lake when I was a kid but I heard it's pretty dried up around there. The best fishing I can find Is flyfishing in the clarion but it seems like a good bass lake in northcentral/ western Pennsylvania is almost nonexistent nowadays. I'm looking at buying a boat at the shore somewhere in New Jersey or Maryland, but fishing at home just sucks. Any suggestions or secret spots anybody would share?

Trenton reply :

Sorry I'm a bit further south then you I mean. If your ever in bedford county let me know I can show you some places or you can go to Huntingdon and hit up raystown lake for some nice nice fish

seawitch reply :

Ya raystown is Nice. I went down there with my buddy in late May in a small little bass boat he has. But it was a little bit of a problem getting around in that huge body of water with a slow little boat. It was a beautiful day when we went and we did catch a couple big bass and had a endless supply of sunnys and small largemouth. I'm thinking of making a couple more runs down there this spring

Trenton reply :

Let me know when. And if you and your buddy have a chance the small tournament series I'm in does 2-3 trips to the inlets if raystown. I go with my dad trolling for striper but if I had a bigger bass boat I'd be there almost every weekend fishing for largemouth and giant smallmouth

seawitch reply :

Yeah thanks man. Do you jig for striper too? If you do what do they like?

Trenton reply :

I've never tried no. Mostly we troll with live bait, umbrella rigs, or at night sleep on the boat and fish off the bottom for them and lake trout

Delaware Valley Tackle reply :

On 2/2/2015 at 4:19 AM, new2BC4bass said:

Fishing in general sucks near me. The park in Hamburg (next to Cabela's) closed the road to get in except for soccer practice and games and when the club that is located there puts on a shindig. Boat ramp is open. Can walk around lake to fish, but can't drive any further than the ramp. Bathrooms locked. Grills and tables removed. Fields not cut. All because the various governments can't agree on whose responsibility it is to maintain the park. Bet the people who donated the lake and surrounding property are rolling over in their graves.

Fishing in this area has depressed me to the point that I hardly ever go. All I'll do is go to a local river boat ramp for some practice and to try different combos. I wouldn't have near as much gear if the fishing was any good. I'd be fishing instead of looking for new rods and reels to try out.

Minsi Lake is a shallow lake. A hole in the dam made it shallower. Can't unload boats at the upper end. Tomustang and wife manage to catch some nice fish there and out of the Lehigh River. Haven't used my Porta-Bote in 3 years. Fishing on the fishing pier at Lake Nockamixon wasn't any better this year than any other year. No fish can last long with the fishing pressure. I'm probably one of the very few willing to practice catch and release there.

I fish every chance I get when I visit Florida each year. Luckily my brother-in-law loves to bass fish and my wife doesn't mind too much as long as I take her somewhere a couple times while we are there.

Hope the price of gas stays down. Looks like this coming year will see me driving an hour to an hour and a half to try and find a decent place to fish. Maybe south since the one poster did so well down there.

Are Wynonah or Ontelaunee any good? There's some park land on the shore so there should be access.

Bruce424 reply :

On 2/5/2015 at 2:34 AM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:
Are Wynonah or Ontelaunee any good? There's some park land on the shore so there should be access.

The thing with the lakes like ontelaunee nockamixon or bluemarsh. Is that ya kinda have to hike the shoreline to find the right cover or structure to fish. Yea it's tiring and sucks. But it's worth it and pretty cool when ya figure a lake out when others say it sucks. Haha. Ontelaunee lake is one that you find the right cover you find fish. I think when you see wood in or near the weeds it's good fishing. But it is a littered with "bucket fisherman" that keep anything they catch. The lake is alright just makes you have to think a little.

Megastink reply :

Anytime I hear someone say "this lake sucks" and something like "hike the shore", I get tingles inside! Lakes like that usually mean the offshore bite is dominant. Nockamixon is a great example. I catch my best largies between 15-35ft.

tomustang reply :

I've heard Ontelaunee is sweet catfish lake. It is big enough and can't be fished by boat, nor are you allowed to swim it. So it is perfect as a bucket lake. I fished it twice but didn't yield anything so I haven't gone back. It simple isn't worth the drive+shore walking for me.

tomustang reply :

On 2/8/2015 at 11:27 AM, Megastink said:
Lakes like that usually mean the offshore bite is dominant. Nockamixon is a great example.

Being held back by politics is what helps it. Such a big lake wasted on a 20hp restriction

seawitch reply :

Does anyone know where I can get some jjs magic near or around state college

Trenton reply :

On 2/19/2015 at 6:31 AM, seawitch said:
Does anyone know where I can get some jjs magic near or around state college

Order from Tackle warehouse

a1712 reply :

On 2/19/2015 at 12:15 PM, downman74 said:
Order from Tackle warehouse

Exactly, you don't even need to leave the house. Brian.

Dogmatic reply :

On 2/8/2015 at 12:15 PM, tomustang said:
Being held back by politics is what helps it. Such a big lake wasted on a 20hp restriction

Perfect for those of us that possess "Nock Specials". Do your homework, with four ramps, know the section you want to fish and where to put in. But I heard The Nock has no fish, fished out, over run by bucket brigades! ; )

Trenton reply :

Just wondering if anyone is catching bass here in pa at this time. Through the ice, river, power plant lakes??? Anything just getting so bored not being able to take the boat out. But on a good note they dropped my tournament series schedule so anyone interested in some local tourneys PM me it's a good time meet a lot of good guys.

tomustang reply :

On 2/19/2015 at 7:00 PM, Dogmatic said:
Perfect for those of us that possess "Nock Specials".

Saves trolling batteries.

If I lived closer and dedicated my time there I would run a small motor on a bigger boat for sure.

-David- reply :

I live about a mile from Nockamixon and keep a boat there for the summer. I don't mind the 20 HP limit for THIS lake but don't like having only a 20 HP motor because it does limit where else we can use it.

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