DISTRICT

Lake Erie: The walleye bite picked up this week in 65 to 70 feet out of Elk Creek, and in the second trench, where anglers also were catching a few steelhead. Perch fishing remained strong in 57 to 63 feet out of Elk and Trout Run and west of Walnut Creek, but was less consistent off the points. Leaders in the Poor Richard's annual big fish contest that ends Sunday are Dick Schreckengost of New Bethlehem with a 9-pound, 13-ounce, 32-inch walleye, and Bill Hovanec of Aliquippa with a 1-pound, 7-ounce, 14 3/4-inch perch. Presque Isle Bay was yielding numbers of bass and panfish around the weedbeds.

Allegheny River (Venango County): Anglers boated nice numbers of smallmouth bass up to 17 inches on various baits, including grubs and swimbaits. Flow was getting down to typical summertime lows, but had nice color.

Pymatuning Reservoir (Crawford County): A few nice walleyes were still hitting on worm harnesses in recent days, along with crappies around deeper structure. Numbers of channel catfish were reported. Shane Taylor, 15, of Etna took first place in the "most fish caught" category at last weekend's Pymatuning Lake Association Kids Free Fishing Derby with a total of 149 fish over two days.

Lake Wilhelm (Mercer County): Panfish and largemouth bass were being caught all over the lake, with the bigger fish hitting by the dam, launch one, and Dugan's Run. Mark Wheeler of Stoneboro caught a 21 1/2- inch, 5¹/₂-pound bass on a buzzbait. Robert Cross of Hadley caught a 46-inch, 36-pound muskie trolling a Rapala Tail Dancer for walleyes.

Shenango Reservoir (Mercer County): Crappies in mixed sizes, including many slabs, were hitting in the main channel of the lake, and in bays which have an influx of spring water. Hybrid stripers were hitting in the evening when fish come to shore to feed. Largemouths were reported close to the surface around downed trees and other structure. Smallmouths were in deeper water.

Lake Arthur (Butler County): Walleyes and nice numbers of bass and crappies were reported amid light fishing pressure in recent days. Some anglers were catching perch. Catfish abound.

Brady's Run Lake (Beaver County): Nice catches of largemouth bass were reported in recent days.

Allegheny River: The Venture Outdoors' Downtown TriAnglers released 19 fish at their Wednesday outing on the North Shore. Highlights included Tom Lippert's 22-inch channel catfish, Ken Migliorese's two freshwater drum, 19 and 16 inches, and Mike Kirshenbaum's 14-inch hybrid striped bass. A couple of anglers released small muskies near the 62nd Street Bridge and the Highland Park Dam in recent days. Smallmouth bass were reported at the mouth of Pine Creek.

Peters Creek Pond (Allegheny County): Ken Rankin leads the Shad Lure Bait and Tackle August Carp Contest with a 9-pound carp caught Saturday.

Monongahela River: Good conditions prevailed in recent days and anglers were catching numbers of smallmouth bass, catfish, and saugers between locks 2 and 4.

Ohio River: Nice-size walleyes were being caught below the back channel dam, and average walleyes, smallmouth bass, and a few small hybrid stripers in the back channel. Leetsdale was yielding average-size smallmouth bass in recent days. Catfish angling was productive.

Youghiogheny Reservoir (Fayette County): John Spittal of Ursina and friends caught a dozen smallmouth bass, 15 to 19 1/2 inches, in 20 feet Monday. Spittal released a 27-inch channel catfish in shallower water.

Youghiogheny River: Trout fishing was still productive around Confluence in recent days.

Cranberry Glade Lake (Somerset County): A nice-size northern pike was released on this 112-acre Pennsylvania Game Commission impoundment (in state gamelands 111) in recent days.

Somerset Lake (Somerset County): Largemouth bass, and a few walleyes and small crappies were reported in recent days on this 253-acre Big Bass Program impoundment.

Quemahoning Reservoir (Somerset County): Smallmouth and largemouth bass were reported in recent days. Dandy bluegills also were hitting.

Loyalhanna Lake (Westmoreland County): Largemouth bass, including a 4-pounder, were caught in recent days.

Conemaugh River (Indiana County): Numbers of smallmouth bass were reported in recent days.

Raystown Lake (Huntingdon County): The best striper fishing was early in the morning and just before dark last weekend. Fish were hitting at various depths, from surface to 30 feet, with early morning and dusk providing the best topwater action. Anglers were trolling live bait, such as gizzard shad and alewife, in clear water. Surface water temperatures were in the low 80s and boat traffic was heating up. In the deeper water, the bite tended to be in the upper 15 feet. In the backwater areas of the channels, the bite was deeper.

Spring Creek (Centre County): Yesterday's flow on this limestoner was higher than usual and a bit off-color. Tricos and surface feeders were reported on recent mornings. Other hatches included sporadic tan, olive and dun-color Caddis (16, 18) and small Blue-Winged Olives (22, 24). Green Weenies, Pheasant Tails, Hare's Ears, scuds, cress bugs and other nymphs was recommended, along with ants and beetles. For more, visit www.tcoflyfishing.com