Sunday is one of two Pennsylvania fish-for-free days. Anyone can legally fish on the state's waterways with no fishing license required. Lake Erie permits are also not required. All other fishing regulations and private property laws apply. Scattered thunderstorms were predicted from Lake Erie to West Virginia through Memorial Day weekend.
Lake Erie and tributaries (Erie County) Fog and waves up to 4 feet kept most boaters off the lake. Smallish yellow perch and crappies were caught in the bay.
Conneaut Lake (Crawford County) Black and white crappies were taken on live minnows and tipped jigs, and largemouths were caught on the north end. The Conneaut Lake Access Area will be closed May 26-29 for road repavement.
Allegheny River (Warren County) The Starbrick Access will be closed May 28-June 2 for road and parking lot repavement.
East Hickory Creek (Forest County) The annual Memorial Day weekend Green Drake hatch was expected to erupt from early evening through dusk on stream sections including the Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only stretch.
Spring and Maple creeks, Tom’s Run (Forest County) The state stocked Spring Creek with trout from the Hill Farm to Halton April 30. Marienville Rod and Gun Club stocked both Spring and Maple creeks and will deliver trout weekly through June at the Tom’s Run Children’s Area, which is open to kids 15 and younger and special-needs anglers.
Ross Run (Forest County) A children’s area stocked with trout by Kellettville Sportsman’s Club is open for kids up to 15 years old.
Bessemer Quarry (Lawrence County) A 24-inch rainbow trout, caught by John Love of Wexford on an ice jig tipped with a red worm, was returned to the lake.
Lake Arthur (Butler County) The crappie spawn was on with 12- to 16-inch slabs reported.
Keystone Power Dam (Armstrong County) The Atwood Access will be closed June 2-8 for repaving of the road and parking area.
Pine Creek (Allegheny County) Jack Rahuba of Glenshaw took a plump rainbow trout that stretched to 21 inches with 10-inch girth.
Deer Creek (Allegheny County) A 22-inch golden rainbow and 19-inch brown trout were caught by Sam Uminski, 17, of Indianola.
Canonsburg Lake (Washington County) Anglers continued to catch rainbow trout.
Monongahela River (Greene, Washington counties) Walleye suspended on rocky shorelines and in large tributaries went for split-tail plastic grubs on 1/16-inch jig heads.
Quemahoning Reservoir (Somerset County) A 38-inch Northern pike and walleye were taken. Fish habitat structures constructed by Berlin School District students were submerged May 14.
Little Juniata River (Blair County) Chris Coleman of McMurray caught and released an 18-inch rainbow trout taken on a Sulfur Emerger near Tyrone on May 13.
Vacation catch Fly fisherman Josh Jacobs of Bridgeville landed a 28-inch bull trout from a drift boat on the Elk River near Fernie, British Columbia. Bulls were formerly called Dolly Varden trout, but have been reclassified as a separate species.
File your fishing 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 details of the catch.
First Published: May 21, 2020, 6:06 p.m.