On Lake Erie, some charter captains reported walleye-filled coolers since the May 4 opening of walleye, sauger and saugeye season.
Most walleye caught in Lake Erie's Pennsylvania waters were spawned on the shallow western basin off Toledo, Ohio, and migrated east. Some homegrown walleye spawn off Erie County shores.
Statewide in 2024, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission expects to plant nearly 2 million 1- to 2-inch walleye fingerlings about 1 month old, which in three or four years will grow to about 15 inches, legal size in Pennsylvania. About 13 million smaller 3-day-old walleye fry are expected to be stocked in lakes across the state.
Walleye are not stocked in Pennsylvania rivers that sustain natural walleye reproduction, including the Monongahela, Ohio and Allegheny.
Ohio Department of Natural Resources is reporting another good spawn in 2024. In July, when the Lake Erie walleye migration reaches the Ohio state line, Pennsylvania anglers can expect 2- to 6-year-old walleye ranging from 15-24 inches. Some from earlier year classes are expected to stretch to least 28 inches, according to ODNR.
Unlike its close cousin the walleye, sauger (12-inch minimum size) have dark spots forming in lengthwise rows on the dorsal fins, and do not have a white edge on the bottom tip of the tail. The saugeye (15-inch minimum) is a hybrid cross of a walleye and sauger. Usually bred in a hatchery, saugeye grow larger than their sauger parents and are stocked in traditional sauger waters in southwestern Pennsylvania.
Lake Erie and tributaries (Erie County) Walleye anglers trolling worm harnesses in 10-20 feet of water at night reported hookups. Walleye were caught near shore off Shades Beach. In Presque Isle Bay, minnows under floats attracted crappies and perch. Smallmouth bass and suckers were caught on several tributaries as the creek spawn continued. Stream-spawning smallmouths and suckers were caught on select tributaries.
Pymatuning Reservoir (Crawford County) Anglers trolling spinners and crawler harnesses near the spillway at dusk caught walleye in the 18-inch range.
Lake Arthur (Butler County) Crappies moved closer to shore at the start of the spawn. Mature females were on structure in 14-16 feet of water at 64 degrees. Males had not yet bloomed into spawning colors but were in shallow water searching for nesting sites. Some anglers caught, released and reported their catches.
“I swung various soft plastics on 1/16-ounce bubble-eyed jig heads to get it done,” said Joe Fazio, creator of the Pittsburgh-based YouTube site Crappie Crushin' TV.
Raccoon Lake (Beaver County) Justin Croise and Van Miller of Monaca caught five rainbow trout following a stocking Tuesday by the Fish and Boat Commission.
Traverse Creek (Beaver County) On Tuesday, the stocking trucks stopped at points from the lake outflow to the mouth at Raccoon Creek. Before the high water returned, Mary Savese caught a 20-inch golden rainbow on a Trout Worm near the Raccoon Park Road bridge.
Donegal Lake (Westmoreland County) A Fish and Boat truck dropped off a load of rainbow trout Monday. Despite cloudy water last week, anglers reported good catches on live minnows off Launch No. 2.
Indian Lake (Westmoreland County) Rainbow trout were stocked Monday. Waters stayed muddy throughout April, but trout continued feeding, particularly in deep water near the footbridge. Alice Archer, 8, of Trafford caught her first fish, a 14-inch rainbow, while fishing with her grandfather Tuesday.
Sewickley Creek (Westmoreland County) Brown and rainbow trout were stocked Monday from Fairgrounds Road Bridge to a point below Brinkerton Extension. Several anglers reported catches near the mouth of Welty Run.
Youghiogheny River (Fayette County) A short but heavily fished section from the dam outflow to Casselman Run is expected to be stocked with browns, rainbows and golden rainbows Monday. The stocking was rescheduled from April 11. Last week, fly fisherman Robert Stograph of Connellsville released rainbow trout up to 18 inches while swinging streamers from the Campground to Drake Run.
Dunlap, Georges, Mountain creeks (Fayette County) Brown and rainbow trout were stocked Wednesday.
Raytown Branch Juniata River (Somerset County) Rainbow trout were to be stocked Friday from a point below Route 31 to the county line near New Baltimore.
File your fishing report and fish photos at FishingReport@post-@gazette.com. Include name, age for under 18 years,.town, waters, species, size and details of the catch.
First Published: May 10, 2024, 4:29 p.m.
Updated: May 10, 2024, 11:30 p.m.
