Licensed To Reel

Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay (Erie County): As conditions allowed, anglers were releasing smallmouth bass up to 4 pounds in 15-25 feet in the main lake, and smallmouths on tubes, grubs and soft and hard jerkbaits in the bay. Northern pike were hitting in the bay. Perch were reported on shiners. The night bite on walleyes along the Erie shoreline began last weekend.

Allegheny River, Allegheny Reservoir (Warren County): River anglers caught brown trout up to 6 pounds and walleyes last weekend. The Red Bridge area of the reservoir was yielding smallmouth bass up to 5 pounds and walleyes.

Allegheny River (Venango County): Before conditions turned high and muddy, local anglers released smallmouth bass up to 16 inches on tubes.

Justus Lake (Venango County): Crappies, rock bass, largemouth and smallmouth bass and bluegills were reported on small fatheads under floats near shoreline wood.

Oil Creek (Venango County): Prior to this week'sblown-out conditions this week, trout were rising to grannom caddisflies.

French Creek (Erie, Crawford and Venango counties): Before rainfall blew out the stream, bowfins up to 26 inches were released, along with a few bullheads.

Pymatuning Reservoir (Crawford County): Anglers caught nice crappies off the causeway in high water Wednesday evening. Butch and Helen Marietta of Hunker won the recent Keystone Bass Buddy Circuit tournament with six fish totaling 23?? pounds. Jim Lambert of Wexford caught the 5??-pound tournament lunker. Numbers of walleyes from sub-legal to 25??-inches, 7 pounds were reported on crankbaits, Hot-n-Tots, and jigs and crawlers drifted on the bottom in 15-22 feet. Crappies also were hitting on tube jigs and minnows near brush piles and ledges. A few perch and white bass were reported, and a couple of muskies were landed by shore anglers near the dam.

Conneaut Lake (Crawford County): Large muskies were sighted in recent weeks. Carp were plentiful. A decent bass bite and a few small northern pike were reported.

Tamarack Lake (Crawford County): Crappie catches were sporadic in recent weeks, with few big fish reported.

Woodcock Lake (Crawford County): Walleyes were hitting mornings and evenings in recent weeks. A 46-inch muskie also was reported.

Sugar Lake (Crawford County): Largemouth bass up to 19 inches were released.

Canadohta Lake (Crawford County): Walleyes up to 20 inches were caught by anglers slow-trolling jointed crankbaits and worm harnesses in four feet of water.

Lake Arthur (Butler County): Citation-size crappies caught last weekend included a 1-pound 5-ounce, 13??-incher by Rich Moyta of Coraopolis, and a 1-pound 7-ouncer and a 1??-pounder by Val and Ron Raehn, respectively. Another angler caught 30 keepers in two days. Water was in the low 60s Monday.

Lake Wilhelm (Mercer County): Crappies, bluegills and walleyes were hitting along with largemouth bass in mixed sizes.

Crooked Creek Lake (Armstrong County): Bluegills were reported, with some limits taken.

Shenango Lake (Mercer County): Despite high water, perch and bluegills were hitting in shallow water in the back of bays. The tailrace was yielding walleyes.

Neshannock Creek (Mercer County): Prior to thisBefore the blow-out conditions this week, week's blown-out conditions, caddisflies and march browns were hatching.

Allegheny River (Allegheny County): Shore anglers at the mouth of Deer Creek caught small catfish Tuesday, and a 30-inch walleye was landed below Lock 3 in Cheswick. Conditions Thursday were high and muddy.

Ohio River (Allegheny County): Shore anglers were catching walleyes and flathead catfish on live bait below Dashields Dam and at Montour Run in high, muddy conditions.

Youghiogheny River, Youghiogheny Reservoir (Fayette, Westmoreland counties): Fishable conditions were reported in the outflow in recent days, but rainfall rendered tributaries unfishable. Meadow Run was stocked with trout Tuesday. Walleye catches were reported in the reservoir.

Spring Creek (Centre County): Water was higher than normal and a little off-color Wednesday. Hatches included sulphurs (size 14, 16), tan caddisflies (14, 16) and midges.

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