FISHING REPORT

Lake Erie The walleye bite was good this week, with numbers of 8- to 10-pound fish reported. Brian Ruland of Erie did well in 77 feet off the point of the peninsula, while 65 to 70 feet was a productive depth for most anglers. The first trench also provided good yields for boaters out of Walnut. The perch bite was slower this week, with some fish coming in 55 to 60 feet. Alexander Barwin caught a 9-pound 1-ounce, 24 ½-inch brown trout last weekend.Allegheny River/Allegheny Reservoir (Warren County)Walleyes and bass were hitting in the lake and river this week. The river was yielding brown and rainbow trout, 16 to 24 inches. Northern pike, perch, and white bass were reported in the lake, and a few muskies were released in the river. Pymatuning Lake (Crawford County)
Crappies continued hitting off brush piles, stump fields and other deep structure during the day and moved shallower at dusk. Anglers were catching them on minnows under bobbers along the Epsyville/Andover Causeway. The walleye bite continued in mixed sizes and numbers. Anglers were drifting jigs tipped with crawlers or trolling crawler harnesses depending on how much wind there was. Crawford County angler Chelsey Gault caught a 48-inch muskie on live bait, and another local angler Johnny Bressman caught a 45-inch muskie on a Grandma lure. Perch and channel catfish also were reported.Conneaut Lake (Crawford County)
Anglers caught nice numbers of bluegills and crappies on the outside edge of weed beds and in deeper water. Tamarack Lake (Crawford County) Evening panfish action was reported but the muskie bite was slow in recent days. Woodcock Creek Lake (Crawford County)
A few walleyes were reported on leeches in deeper water. Some nice smallmouth bass were caught in recent days. Taylor Zarewicz, 15, caught a 36-inch muskie on a watermelon tube. He and his father Tom Zarewicz caught 8 smallmouth bass, including a 4-pounder. Canadohta Lake (Crawford County) Walleyes were hitting after dark along deep weed lines, with anglers casting perch-colored crankbaits over weed beds. A few northern pike and muskies were reported. A dead 51-inch muskie was found floating in the water with a deep gash on its side from a boat propeller. French Creek (Crawford, Venango counties) Small-size smallmouth bass were reported, along with spotty evening walleye action in the Venango County section of the creek. Canoe and kayak traffic has been heavy. Allegheny River (Venango County)Anglers reported smallmouth bass in mixed sizes up to 19 inches on Jitterbugs near riffles. Kahle Lake (Venango County)A draw-down for dam repairs makes boat-launching from a trailer almost impossible.
Oil Creek (Venango County)The trout bite is over in high water temperatures, but anglers were catching bass on crankbaits and spinners.Lake Wilhelm (Mercer County)Chester and Brian Harsh of Sheakleyville caught four nice walleyes up to 24 inches this week. Other anglers also reported walleyes over 20 inches on Hot n Tots in 8 to 12 feet. Numbers of largemouth bass were hitting. Panfishing was productive, but sizes were running small. Lake Arthur (Butler County)Bob Jesteadt of Prospect caught 8 crappies over 1-pound each near the 528 bridge Sunday. His largest was 2 pounds 7 ounces, 17-inches. Night-time hybrid striper action appeared to peak with this week’s hot temperatures. One angler caught a 14-pounder. Evening walleye action was decent with fish up to 24 inches reported.Allegheny RiverCatfish were hitting, with Gary Cahill of Tarentum earning a junior citation for a 16-pound 8-ounce flathead he landed on a sucker at Highland Park, Saturday. Smallmouth bass were hitting. Ohio RiverThe few anglers fishing in the heat reported average-size smallmouth bass, saugers, and walleyes.
Youghiogheny RiverGood trout fishing was reported in recent days, following last week’s stocking.Youghiogheny Lake (Fayette County)Anglers were catching nice smallnouths. Highpoint Lake (Somerset County)Logan Creighton of Farmington reported smallmouth bass up to 3 pounds. Other anglers reported bass and northern pike.Deep Creek Lake (Maryland)Jumbo perch, slab bluegills and average-size walleyes were reported.