SEPTEMBER
Largemouth Bass: George B. Stevenson Dam
This little lake does not get much respect for its largemouth bass fishing. Nonetheless, it has produced some of the biggest bass in the state during recent years, like the 8-pound largemouth that was the fourth-largest fish reported during the 2003 season.

This is a popular place for local anglers. Most fishermen anchor and fish live bait toward the upper end of the lake, down from the boat ramp. Boats are limited to manual power or electric motors.

Bluegills: Lake Wilhelm
Lake Wilhelm in Maurice K. Goddard State Park in Mercer County is one of the best panfish lakes in the state. A 2004 survey by Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission biologists revealed an excellent population of bluegills in the 6- to 8-inch class. Look for these fish toward the upper end of the lake.

Striped Bass: Beltzville Lake
Things start happening with striped bass as fall approaches at Beltzville Lake in Carbon County. One of the hot areas may be near Preachers Camp Boat Access. Try live minnows or white jigs.

OCTOBER
Crappies: Sayers Lake
Surveys by biologists in early June 2004 revealed a good crop of black crappies that were 6 to 8 inches. They should be of respectable size this fall.

Sayers Lake in Centre County is a Corps of Engineers flood control reservoir. It is drawn down in preparation for spring run-off. Look for crappies to migrate toward the dam as water levels drop. They will often suspend well above bottom.

White Bass: Kinzua Dam Tailwaters
Lightly regarded locally, white bass fishing in the tailwaters of Kinzua Dam gets spectacular during fall. Many of these fish are very large, in the 12- to 18-inch class. Fish for them in the calmest places between the dam and the "No Boats" signs. Note that wading is forbidden. The best bait is an emerald shiner, but you can catch plenty of them using artificial lures that imitate emerald shiners.

Largemouth Bass: Glade Run Lake
A relatively tiny lake, 52 acres, Glade Run Lake offers some of the better largemouth bass fishing in the Southwest Region. A survey by biologists last May turned up bass as long as 22 inches and the best catch rate since surveys began in 1990. Most were 10 to 12 inches.

NOVEMBER
Muskellunge: Lake Arthur
Lake Arthur, a 3,200-acre impoundment in Butler County, gained a reputation for big largemouth bass. Now this productive lake has gotten hot for big muskies. A 2004 survey by Fish and Boat Commission biologists revealed a large muskie population, including a lot of them more than 40 inches in length. One of the captured and released muskies measured 51 inches.

The size of these muskies warrants the use of big lures. Offer them something at least 8 inches in length, and foot-long lures are not inappropriate.

Steelhead: Walnut Creek
The annual run of steelhead from Lake Erie into the tributary creeks is in full swing during November. Access to the creeks is a major obstacle. Walnut Creek has good access on Fish and Boat Commission property near the mouth, enhanced by habitat improvements. It does get crowded, but plenty of fish are caught here, including some of the biggest of the season.

Northern Pike: Allegheny Reservoir
You will probably be the only angler on this big lake. But if you want to catch a big northern pike, the Allegheny Reservoir is the place to do it, and there is no better time than November. This water yielded the state-record pike in 2003, a 35-pound fish. Fish large live minnows in the bays and close to fallen trees.

DECEMBER
Walleyes: Susquehanna River
Walleye fishing in the Susquehanna River appears to be steadily improving from one end to the other. Michael Kaufmann, an area fisheries manager, suggests fishing below the power dams downstream from Harrisburg. This can be done from boats or from catwalks below the dams.

A popular fishing method is casting jigs tipped with minnows. Carry an assortment of jig sizes to match the current conditions. Jig color can be important. Be sure to carry chartreuse, orange, white, lime green and black.

You might need an ounce of weight if the fish are in heavy current, or 1/8 ounce if they are suspending off to the sides of currents.

Trout: Bradford Reservoir No. 3
At those lakes along the northern tier of counties which freeze soonest and which are stocked with trout, ice-fishing is great during December. One example is Bradford Reservoir No. 3 in McKean County.

Walleyes: Raystown Lake
Raystown Lake has a good walleye population, including plenty of big walleyes. This is apparent from the spring spawning run at Great Trough Creek. But few anglers have been able to figure out how to catch them with any degree of consistency. Try late fall and early winter before the lake freezes over.

This is typically a great time to catch walleyes from large reservoirs. The walleyes tend to migrate toward spawning areas, or at least toward the upper end of the lake.

For more information about fishing in Pennsylvania, contact the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, P.O. Box 67000, 1601 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000; call (717) 705-7800, or visit the Web site at www.fish.state.pa.us.

There is too much great fishing in Pennsylvania to do it all in one short lifetime, but as each year begins, we can make plans to sample as much of it as possible.