Photo by Ron Sinfelt

The biggest question about bass fishing in Pennsylvania this year is: "Will the weather cooperate?"

Unusually large amounts of rainfall during the past two summers have left a lot of bass anglers unfulfilled. The good side of this is that many of the bass that would normally have been harvested are still out there with a couple of extra years of growth. With good weather, steadily improving and expanding bass fisheries, catch-and- release ethics and sound management, we could be in for a great year of bass fishing.

Bob Lorantas, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's Warmwater Unit leader, took a more scientific, cautious approach to predicting bass-fishing opportunities this year.

"In the case of lakes, we can say that 2005 is going to look a little bit like 2004."

Allowing that weather was poor in 2004, he said that the young-of-year index would be similar.

"In terms of rivers, in some ways we'll see somewhat similar numbers of legal-sized bass."

He elaborated that the number of legal-sized bass in our rivers might be slightly down; however, there might also be a couple of larger year-classes that are more abundant than usual.

"But it's not going to be a great big jump in the number of big fish," he added.

Among the major river systems, the Susquehanna has the most exciting outlook, with a modest increase in the number of bass larger than 15 inches. In the Ohio River system, the only real good news is the 2002 year-class.

"It's been a while since we've had a bumper year-class, which we usually see every 10 years," Lorantas said.

Bass population fluctuations are probably greater in rivers than in lakes. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has been tracking spawning success in rivers since 1987, but only since 1999 on an increasingly large scale in lakes. Some of these efforts will be examined in detail when we look at specific regions.

"We have been looking closely at young-of-the-year production. We are also going to review special regulations for bass and see how they are performing," Lorantas said.

Many Pennsylvania anglers urge more stocking of bass to correct what they perceive as inadequate populations. The reason behind this probably is due to the success of the state's massive trout-stocking program. But stocking bass in the same manner that trout are stocked, as catchable size adults for put-and-take fishing is not practical. It is not done in any state on a widespread basis. Bass are usually stocked as fingerlings. Not since 1980 have bass fry been stocked.

Bass stocking is usually done to reclaim lakes, or when natural reproduction is insufficient to maintain suitable numbers in the available habitat.

Occasionally, 2-year-old adult bass are stocked in ponds or small lakes. This is done because the bass stocked in these ponds must be past the size where they will be consumed by bluegills.

"Since 1974, annually we stock an average 39,000 fingerlings," Lorantas said.

Last year, 16,850 bass fingerlings were stocked, just 585 in 2003, about 18,500 in 2002, and 23,900 the year before that.

"The numbers jump around based exclusively on need," Lorantas explained.

The only significant bass regulation change that appears somewhat likely in the near future is a reciprocal agreement on the Delaware River between Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. This may make bass fishing legal year 'round, but with a catch-and-release period during the spawning season.

Interested anglers should watch the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's Web site for an opportunity to comment on any proposed change.

SOUTHWEST REGION
Dutch Fork Lake in Washington County was drained last November due to damage to the spillway caused by Hurricane Ivan. The Fish and Boat Commission, with the assistance of numerous volunteers, conducted a fish salvage operation that revealed what a tremendous bass fishery this had been. Almost all of the salvaged bass were longer than 12 inches, including many greater than 18 inches. Dozens of bass weighed more than 5 pounds, with some exceeding 8 pounds. This was attributed to a hearty gizzard shad forage base.