It took a Mars family a half-hour to wrestle a flathead catfish estimated to weigh 40 pounds onto the dock at Fox Chapel Marina near Blawnox on the Allegheny River on Sept. 7.
“We were just having a little fun at the marina and decided to let the kids fish for a little,” said Eric Munshower. “After baiting the hook [with a piece of hot dog] for one of our kids, I tossed in the line and set the rod on our dock box.”
Within minutes the fish took the bait, tightening the 10-pound-test line.
“My wife [Loni] set the hook and passed the rod to me to get him in,” said Mr. Munshower. “I grabbed the rod and wrestled with this guy for about 30 minutes, finally getting him on the dock by sticking my hand in his mouth.”
Mr. Munshower said he wishes he had a measuring tape and scale. Daughter Brecklyn, 7, snapped a few photos before the Munshowers released the big fish.
Fox Chapel Marina is not far downstream from Sycamore and Ninemile islands, where big flatheads were reported earlier this year.
Lake Erie (Erie County) Mixed reports on walleye described some anglers finding the fish at 60-70 feet. Markers showed ’eyes in waters as deep as 80 feet. Anglers fished spoons with Dipseys and crawler harnesses on riggers, while others ran boards and plugs. In shallower waters, a few steelhead trout were reported among the walleye. Yellow perch, which have been spotty all summer, were hard to find. Choppy waves were expected with 20 mph winds from the south-southeast Friday, showers Saturday and sunny skies Monday.
Pymatuning Reservoir (Crawford County) A few largemouth bass and crappies were taken from shore.
Clarion River (Clarion County) Anglers reported good walleye and smallmouth fishing on the rocks near the river’s mouth.
Lake Arthur (Butler County) Walleye were pulled off submerged road beds by dropping jigs or drifting crawlers. Channel cats picked chicken livers, shrimp and crawlers off the bottom at Porter’s Cove and near the Route 528 bridge.
Allegheny River (Armstrong County) The oxbow at Bradys Bend gave up sizable smallmouths by day and channel cats at night. Good-size walleye were taken near Parker Islands.
Crooked Creek (Armstrong County) Waters were high and muddy with floating debris.
Carnegie Lake (Allegheny County) Ian Alexander of Monroeville, the Let’s Go Fishing ministry’s 2018 Youth Angler of the Year, proved last year’s success wasn’t beginner’s luck when he landed two nice bass and a couple of channel cats on a fly rod on Sept. 7. Let’s Go Fishing and the Pittsburgh Casting Club each donated $500 to purchase 800 channel catfish, which the groups stocked last week. Jumbo bluegills and largemouths in the 12- to 14-inch range are expected to be stocked in October.
Ohio River (Allegheny County) With waters cooling, one angler landed a 31-inch, 13-pound flathead catfish.
Allegheny River (Allegheny County) The TriAnglers came up empty Wednesday with no fish landed during the lunchtime program on the North Shore. Venture Outdoors’ summer TriAnglers season will close Sept. 25.
Loyalhanna Lake (Westmoreland County) Mud and floating debris that had hounded the lake all summer finally settled and anglers took nice bass off wood and rocky outcroppings. Crappies went for live minnows.
Keystone Lake (Westmoreland County) Anglers casting bright green crankbaits reported catching dozens of big largemouths within two hours on the state park impoundment.
Youghiogheny River Lake (Fayette, Somerset counties) Fish kills were reported as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continued a drawdown that has dropped waters below the seasonal pool level. Smallmouths and a few Northern pike were caught.
Youghiogheny River (Fayette County) The state Fish and Boat Commission reported anglers took trout, smallmouths, walleye, crappies, flatheads and channel cats in clear waters from Connellsville to Layton.
Quemahoning Reservoir (Somerset County) A few fishermen had the 900-acre lake to themselves during a heavy smallmouth bite.
Laurel Hill Lake (Somerset County) Trout were caught just after dawn.
File your report and high-resolution digital photos (1MB minimum) at fishingreport@post-gazette.com. Include name, age (for children), town, species, size, body of water and other details.
First Published: September 12, 2019, 9:05 p.m.
