Lake Erie and tributaries (Erie County): Some walleye had begun moving toward deeper northern waters. Walleyes were stacking at scattered depths and locations, although many charter captains put clients over 65-70 feet of water. Most baits were effective, but harnesses and spoons with at least a little flash performed best, especially at darker depths. Persistent waves kept some boats off the water during the holiday weekend, but the chop helped many anglers to limit out in short time. East of the peninsula low numbers of yellow perch were caught. Partly cloudy Erie skies were expected Sept. 7-8, thunderstorms Sept. 9.
Pymatuning Reservoir (Crawford County): A few largemouths and walleye were reported.
Lake Arthur (Butler County): Walleye were caught by anglers drifting crawlers over submerged road beds in the evening. Chicken liver was the hot bait for catfish.
Allegheny River (Clarion County): Smallmouths in good numbers continued to take soft plastics. Walleye catches were reported near the islands at Parker, and channel cats took chicken livers and cut bait at night.
Clarion River (Clarion County): Good smallmouth fishing was reported in shallows from Cooksburg to the Mill Creek Access Area. Walleye were taken mornings and evenings from McGourvey Run to Clarion Borough, and channel cats were caught at night. Smallmouths and a few walleye were taken from the Piney Dam outflow to the Allegheny River.
Redbank Creek (Clarion County): Smallmouth bass and brown and rainbow trout were caught at New Bethlehem. Below the dam walleye went for silver diving plugs and spoons.
Bradys Run Lake (Beaver County): Two rainbow trout in the 17-inch range were taken near the dam at dusk on “an old-school spinner.”
North Park Lake (Allegheny County): Lori Serling of Wexford caught a 20-inch channel catfish on red worms near the Mars Shelter Sept. 2.
Carnegie Lake (Allegheny County): Having been reborn this year following the boosterism of Rev. Spencer Simon’s Let’s Go Fishing ministry, Pittsburgh’s newest fishing hole will be dedicated by the Eastminster Presbyterian Church at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 9. The ministry includes anglers from several Pittsburgh churches who volunteer to teach fishing skills 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays through Sept. 22. The group will hold a Family Fishing Skills program 9 a.m. Oct. 6. The 2-acre Highland Park pond was stocked this with channel catfish, bluegills and adolescent largemouth bass. For details call, 412-335-5846.
Allegheny River (Allegheny County): Outstanding smallmouth action was reported by anglers throwing soft plastics to wood and industrial structure. A 30-inch flathead took a scored bluegill at night in a pothole near Tarentum, and other anglers too catfish using bloodworms or chicken livers fished on the bottom. Walleye went for bright spinners tossed at bridge pylons near Harmar. Muskies were caught in dam tailraces and tributary mouths. Fishing instructor Karen Gainey of Bellevue pulled a 23-inch channel cat onto the North Shore wharf with a blade bait Sept. 5 during Venture Outdoors’ TriAnglers fishing program. Rods, tackle and live bait are provided free. TriAnglers meets 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sept. 26. Get details at ventureoutdoors.org.
Monongahela River (Washington County): Anglers fishing structure-laden tributary mouths pulled out good numbers of walleye from legal size to 20 inches. Muskellunge were taken at dusk and dawn.
Cross Creek Lake (Washington County): Hand-size crappies went for soft plastics or tipped jigs at 10-15 feet.
High Point Lake (Somerset County): A draw-down was underway since Monday when a problem with the dam’s outflow mechanism was discovered. Representatives of the state Fish and Boat Commission, which owns and operates the lake and dam for fishing and boating, said they didn’t know how low the lake would be drawn. It remains open but launch ramps might be dry, anglers were advised to avoid walking in expansive mudflats and dam visitors were asked to remain 200 feet from big machinery being used during the dam’s repair.
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First Published: September 6, 2018, 10:34 p.m.