Wrestling in a flathead catfish more than a yard long would be the catch of a lifetime for some anglers. This week on the Ohio River, Dave Hawk of Ross did it twice in a day.
“Just wanted to say fishing this season has been great on the Ohio River! I caught the two flathead catfish pictured within 24 hours of each other, a few days back,” he wrote.
“The first fish was caught during the day, and came in at 39 inches, 29 pounds. The second fish came that night measuring in at 43 inches, 38 pounds. Both were released unharmed.
“It would appear that the measures being taken to clean up our waterways seems to be working, because I along with many friends have caught way more fish of quality this year!"
Lake Erie (Erie County) Rough waters hampered fishing this week with 5-foot waves before the winds slowed in recent days. Walleye were stacked in thick schools, some taken as deep as 75 feet. Drifting while bouncing crawler harnesses near the bottom worked better than trolling with spoons and harnesses. A two-man limit taken at 55-60 feet in four hours was reported just off The Trench using small spoons in blues, purples and greens. Tyler Mack of Cranberry boated a 30-inch walleye on a drop-shot rig at 55 feet about 1 mile off shore on Aug. 16.
Lake Wilhelm (Mercer County) A 25-inch walleye was iced and a 22-inch largemouth bass was released.
French Creek (Crawford County) The waterway gave up several Northern pike to anglers using crankbaits and live baits. Smallmouths took tubes and live bait.
Justus Lake (Venango County) Smallmouth bass and rainbow trout were caught in 25-40 feet of water.
Allegheny River (Venango County) Gavin Miller, 8, of McCandless took a 19-inch smallmouth on the surface using a Whopper Plopper about 5 miles south of Franklin near East Sandy Creek. Other anglers reported smallmouths going for tubes and soft plastics. Muskies and Northerns took live minnows, and flathead, channel and bullhead catfish were caught.
Lake Arthur (Butler County) Hybrid striped bass were caught in shallow bays. Anglers caught them by working Bombers or rigging live baits including alewifes, shiners and crawlers.
Neshannock Creek (Lawrence County) Smallmouth bass went for soft plastics and tube jigs.
Ohio River (Beaver County) Flatheads and channel cats went for cut bait and bluegills. Largemouths took crankbaits.
Raccoon Lake (Beaver County) Anglers reported largemouths caught on live minnows under bobbers.
Bradys Run Lake (Beaver County) Largemouths were taken, and waters remained cool enough for rainbow trout.
Allegheny River (Allegheny County) Venture Outdoors’ TriAnglers collectively landed 172 inches of fish Wednesday including a 24-inch channel cat that took a chicken nugget fished by Frank McCormick of McKees Rocks. Get more information about the free lunchtime fishing program at 412-255-0564, ventureoutdoors.org.
Kiskiminetas River (Westmoreland County) Kayak anglers continued to catch smallmouth bass at dawn.
Cross Creek Lake (Washington County) Dan Huellen of Carnegie took a 21-inch largemouth weighing more than 5 pounds on a crawler Aug. 14.
Youghiogheny River Lake (Somerset, Fayette counties) Boat anglers found walleye in deep, cool waters.
Quemahoning Reservoir (Somerset County) Walleye and smallmouth bass were caught.
High Point Lake (Somerset County) Anglers reported hand-size bluegills.
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First Published: August 22, 2019, 8:18 p.m.
