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While fishing out of North East in 55-80 feet of water May 13, Tommy Delvecchio of Racoon boated a 37-inch 25-pound lake trout. The state record, set in 2019, measured 40 inches and weighted 31 pounds 13 ounces.
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Fishing Report: Fish for Free Day set this weekend in Pa.

Tom Campbell

Fishing Report: Fish for Free Day set this weekend in Pa.

In a recent report on the status of Lake Erie walleye, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources estimated a 2022 population of 71 million walleye and the third highest harvest-per-hour rate on record.

Six of the last nine hatches, mostly in shallow western waters, were rated from above average to exceptional, including three of the largest walleye hatches ever sampled. DNR predicted “excellent fishing” in 2023 with most catches in the 15- to 24-inch range and some trophy-sized fish from the 2003-2010 year classes.

Sunday is the first of two Fish for Free Days in Pennsylvania. Adult residents and non-residents can fish without a license on any public waterway. All other regulations and private property laws remain in effect. The second Fish for Free Day is July 4.

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Lake Erie (Erie County) — Spawning smallmouths were in the creeks and bay, and good catches of bass, yellow perch and walleye were scored off the north and south piers. The Karavlan family of McCandless searched for smallmouth bass in Presque Isle Bay Saturday and Sunday, but found several largemouths, yellow perch and rock bass. Ronan Karavlan, 13, landed two giant sheepshead, or freshwater drum.

Bernie Holland of Upper St. Clair landed a 9.1-pound walleye on the Ohio River in 2020. A study of Three Rivers walleye has found unusually fast growth rates on the Ohio.
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Kayak anglers fishing east of the peninsula pulled walleye from nearshore waters of 5-25 feet.

Three weeks into walleye season, charter captains reported successful trolling trips, particularly during evenings in shallow water.

Drift fishing for walleye was scheduled to begin this weekend aboard the Perch Pirate, Erie’s only walleye-fishing headboat. On 112 trips in 2022, Perch Pirate anglers boated 1,302 walleye including 12 over 30 inches. Captain Bob Zawadzki said this year’s warm spring was likely to spark an early migration from the western basin. With walk-on rates of $55 plus mate’s tip for a half day of fishing, every angler — beginners, veterans and those with limited resources and without boats — has access to Lake Erie’s walleye fishery. Get details at 814-746-5809.

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Sunshine and partly cloudy skies were expected over Erie through the weekend with light northeasterly winds pushing waves of 1 foot or less.

Pymatuning Reservoir (Crawford County) — Crappie anglers caught hand-size slabs on tipped jigs and minnows under floats off Sibert Island Saturday. Walleye took crawler harnesses at dusk.

Tamarack Lake (Crawford County) — Tim Robeson of Franklin reported a 26-inch muskellunge caught while trolling a 6-inch diving lure and released Sunday.

Shenango River Lake (Mercer County) — Hybrid striped bass in the 20-inch range were caught on 2-inch fatheads rigged 4 feet under floats. Steven Hyson of Pittsburgh boated a 23-inch hybrid taken on a Rattletrap plug Tuesday evening.

Doug Shriber of Squirrel Hill caught and released an unusual muskie on the Allegheny River May 12.
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Lake Arthur (Butler County) — A 27-inch muskellunge took a bucktail zig-zagged over a submerged road Sunday evening. Four walleye in the 20-inch range were caught Monday over structure submerged last year by Ohio DNR.

Keystone Power Dam (Armstrong County) — In 60-degree water, using soft plastic lures at 5-8 feet, an Allegheny County angler boated five largemouths in the 15-inch range Tuesday. At depths of around 20 feet, bass were suspended at 5-8 feet.

Beaver River (Beaver County) — A Northern pike estimated at around 22 inches took a crankbait fished from shore near Bridgewater Riverside Trail across the water from McKinley Run.

Ohio River (Beaver County) — Good fishing was reported below the Montgomery Dam with anglers pulling out hybrid striped bass, walleye and big flatheads.

Carnegie Lake (Allegheny County) — A kids fishing derby sponsored by the nonprofit Let’s Go Fishing group was scheduled for 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. Saturday on the pond in Highland Park. Get details at 412-335-5846.

Ohio River (Allegheny County) — In recent weeks, catfish in the 35- to 40-pound range were boated almost daily in waters below The Point, where submerged industrial structure and debris create ideal flathead habitat.

Allegheny River (Allegheny County) — A Squirrel Hill angler had a busy morning on waters near Harmar May 18, boating two walleye in the 20-inch range, several smallmouths, a 5-pound flathead and a channel cat weighing about 9 pounds. A 10-inch smallmouth and a couple small rock bass were caught during Venture Outdoors’ Lunchtime Fishing program on the North Shore Riverwalk near Acrisure Stadium. The free program runs 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Wednesdays and provides loaner rods and tackle, live bait and fishing instruction. State fishing licenses are not required. Get details at 412-255-0564, ventureoutdoors.org.

Cross Creek Lake (Washington County) — In recent days, a kayak angler caught eight largemouths on crawlers. Another picked up bass using watermelon plastic worms on a drop shot rig. The bluegill bite continued to be hot, and with crappies still on spawning beds shore anglers caught 10- to 12 ½-inch slabs in 2-10 feet of water using soft plastics or fatheads.

File your fishing report and high-resolution digital photos (1MB minimum) at fishingreport@post-gazette.com. Include name, age (for under 18 years), town, species, size, body of water and details of the catch.

First Published: May 26, 2023, 9:30 a.m.
Updated: May 26, 2023, 2:44 p.m.

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While fishing out of North East in 55-80 feet of water May 13, Tommy Delvecchio of Racoon boated a 37-inch 25-pound lake trout. The state record, set in 2019, measured 40 inches and weighted 31 pounds 13 ounces.  (Tom Campbell)
Tom Campbell
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