Pennsylvania's 2004 Fishing Calendar
Here's a sampling of 36 dream trips for you to consider as you plan your 2004 fishing vacation getaways.
| 2004 FISHING CALENDAR
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The calendar is in PDF format. The Adobe Reader can be downloaded for free here.
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By Mike Bleech
Remember all of the fishing you planned to do last year but never got around to doing? Don't let that happen to you this season. Now is the time to start making plans. Your life will likely be just as busy this year, but the following suggestions should help you plan the best fishing trips of your life:
JANUARY
Northern Pike
Allegheny Reservoir The Allegheny Reservoir is the best trophy northern pike fishery in the state. The state-record pike, a 35-pound giant, was caught through the ice here last winter.
Pike can be found anywhere in the lake, but Willow Bay and Chapel Bay are particularly good.
Tip-ups baited with large emerald shiners catch most of the pike, although golden shiners are every bit as effective. Hook a shiner near the dorsal fin with a treble hook.
Crappies
High Point Lake A good year-class of black crappies should mean good fishing at High Point Lake. Look for them around the edges of deeper water this month.
Bluegills
Hills Creek Lake Small and out of the way, Hills Creek Lake is a good place to put together a nice mess of bluegills. It is situated in Hills Creek State Park, in central Tioga County.
FEBRUARY
Saugers
Monongahela River February is generally a tough month for fishing, but it is a good time to catch bigger fish. Because water quality has been improving, fishing has been improving in the Monongahela River. This month, if ice does not cause problems, fishing should be good for saugers and for walleyes in the same places.
Richard Lorson, area fisheries manager, suggested fishing below either the Maxwell Lock and Dam or the Braddock Lock and Dam. As was the case with most of the state's rivers last year, unusually high summer flows kept fishing pressure down, so fish that normally would have been caught are still there, and they are larger now.
Panfish
Sayres Lake Sayres Lake in northern Centre County has a good mix of crappies, yellow perch and bluegills. According to Bruce Hollender, area fisheries manager, anglers should concentrate on the lower end of this lake this month, especially for perch and crappies.
Trout
Lake Winola The only access to Lake Winola in Wyoming County is via the Fish and Boat Commission access, but this little lake is worth the effort. It is stocked with rainbow trout, including some that hold over and grow to trophy size.
MARCH
Steelhead
Elk Creek Steelhead in the Lake Erie tributaries might provide some of the most exciting fishing in the state. Elk Creek is a good place to start because it is one of the lake's larger tributaries and access is good. The public access site between Route 5 and the lake is a good place to start.
Water conditions are critical to the best fishing. Expect the best action when the stream flow is a bit high and the water has some color. Early in the month, ice can be a problem in the Northwest Region.
Walleyes
Blue Marsh Dam Tailwaters High outflow through Blue Marsh Dam in Berks County attracts walleyes this month. This might be the best walleye fishing in the southeast corner when conditions are right and if it happens before the walleye season closes. Fish close to the dam using live minnows. Some walleyes over 25 inches are taken here.
Crappies
Lake Wilhelm Get onto Lake Wilhelm in Mercer County early this month for excellent crappie fishing before the ice deteriorates. Fish toward the lower end of the lake in depths of 12 to 22 feet. Area bait shops should have shiners, which are more effective than fathead minnows.
Photo by Ron Sinfelt
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APRIL
Trout
Stocked Streams Pennsylvania trout streams are stocked via formula, so anglers can expect fishing of nearly the same quality wherever they go.
The real trick to finding the best fishing is finding the best water conditions. Water temperatures will probably be quite low in the streams of the three northern regions, so expect more active trout in the Southeast, Southcentral or Southwest regions this month.
Another important factor is water level and clarity. Normally, some streams are high and muddy as a result of spring rains or snow melt. Watch statewide weather reports during the week leading to opening Saturday. If the streams in the area you intend to fish are muddy and high and you do not want to travel far, check the headwaters streams where there is little human development. These are usually clearer than the downstream stretches.
Crappies
Pymatuning Lake Pymatuning Lake in Crawford County has some very good year-classes of crappies and annual growth is excellent.
Good crappie fishing can be found anywhere around the lake. To get started, try the northern end in the stumps near the Wilson and Alkatraz boat launches.
Trout
Allegheny Reservoir You might not even see another trout angler on the Allegheny Reservoir if you fish on a weekday. Brown and rainbow trout up to 12 pounds are a possibility here. Troll with 4-inch to 6-inch stick baits. Hot areas include anywhere in the Kinzua Arm, near the trash boom and at Sugar Bay.
MAY
Smallmouth Bass
Lake Erie May is one of the top months for fishing in Pennsylvania, so planning a trip is a tough call, but it is hard to imagine any fishing better than going for smallmouth bass at Lake Erie. You will never get a better chance to catch smallmouths in the 5- to 7-pound class.
The key to finding the best concentrations of smallmouths is in locating irregular rocky structure. Such cover can be found scattered along the Pennsylvania section of the lake. North East Marina, east of Erie, is a good starting point. Check depths of 15 to 40 feet.
Walleyes
Harveys Lake Fish and Boat Commission biologists have determined that Harveys Lake has a good population of walleyes. The problem has been that few anglers have learned how to catch them. May is a good month to get after them in shallower water under low-light conditions. Cast stick baits or slender deep-diving lures.
Hybrid Stripers
Shenango Lake Hybrid striped bass fishing is really starting to come on at Shenango Lake. Also, anglers are learning how to catch them. Try the eastern end of the lake close to the old creek channel. Watch for stripers chasing shad or alewives to the surface, and then cast to them with stick baits or white jigs.
JUNE
Striped Bass
Delaware River Anglers have been making good catches of stripers on the Delaware River in Pike and Monroe counties. The best section for larger fish has been from the Mongaup Pool downstream through the Milford area. The action starts in early spring and lasts through mid-October.
One trick is to fish around the mouths of cool tributaries, according to Dave Arnold, area fisheries manager. Shad-type lures work best, especially jigs or crankbaits. Stick with natural colors including silver and white with some blue or green on the back.
Walleyes
Glendale Lake Anglers are still having a hard time catching walleyes at Glendale Lake in northern Cambria County, but Fish and Boat Commission surveys indicate that 'eyes are here in good numbers.
Brown Trout
Allegheny River The Allegheny River from the Kinzua Dam to Warren ranks among the best trout fisheries in the eastern United States. June is prime time for fly-fishing. Try larger nymphs and wet flies. For the bigger browns, use live minnows or night crawlers.
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