Another popular Northwest Region trout lake is Lake Pleasant, a natural lake in northeastern Erie County. Take the Route 8 (Hammett) exit off Interstate Route 90, follow Route 8 south about three miles and then turn right onto Mark Road. Follow Mark Road to the T-intersection and turn left onto Lake Pleasant Road. Follow Lake Pleasant Road about five miles to the lake.

Bait and tackle are available along Route 5 near North East and in the Erie area, where anglers will also find lodging and other services.

More information is available through the Erie Convention and Visitors Bureau, 109 Boston Store Place, Erie, PA 16501-2312; call (800) 524-3743, or visit the Web site at www.eriepa.com.

Lake Pleasant is one of the region's Early-Season Trout-Stocked Waters Program lakes. It was last stocked Dec. 13, and the next stocking will be Feb. 21.

The lake covers about 60 acres and has some depth, so trout can elude anglers. There should be some good opportunities through the ice-fishing period.

The lake also holds some nice yellow perch, crappies and sunfish.

NORTHCENTRAL REGION
Another of the first Pennsylvania lakes to get safe ice is Beechwood Lake in northern Tioga County. An Early-Season Trout-Stocked Waters Program lake, it is scheduled for stocking this winter on Feb. 10. There should be a few trout remaining from previous stockings to provide decent ice-fishing earlier in the winter.

The lake also holds crappies, sunfish, bass, walleyes and chain pickerel.

Beechwood Lake is about two miles southeast of Sabinsville on state Route 4012. Take Route 349 North from Route 6 at Gaines to Sabinsville. Tackle and lodging are available in Wellsboro.

For more information, contact the Tioga County Visitors Bureau, 114 Main St., Wellsboro, PA 16901; call (888) TIOGA28 or (570) 724-0635 for information about local services.

Kettle Creek Lake in Clinton County is one of the larger stocked trout lakes at about 165 acres, although it is drawn down during winter, which aids ice-fishermen by concentrating the fish. It is also quite deep and holds plenty of trout between stockings. This is an Early-Season Trout-Stocked Waters Program lake.

Stockings in Kettle Creek also support a winter fishery. Stocking this winter is slated for Feb. 10. Though technically a U.S. Corps of Engineers flood control reservoir, it is in Kettle Creek State Park. In addition to trout, there are yellow perch, sunfish, bass and chain pickerel.

The park is along state Route 4001 seven miles north of Westport and Route 120. This is remote territory, so anglers should plan on stocking up on supplies before they get near the lake.

For park information, contact Kettle Creek State Park, 97 Kettle Creek Park Lane, Renovo, PA 17764-9708, (570) 923-6004, e-mail kettlecreeksp@state.pa.us.

Get local information through the Clinton County Economic Partnership, 212 North Jay St., Lock Haven, PA, or call (888) 388-6991.

Cloe Lake in Jefferson County is in the Early-Season Trout-Stocked Waters Program and receives a double stocking of trout each winter. The first was Dec. 14, and the second will be Feb. 1.

To get there, take Route 36 East from Punxsutawney, turn north on Lipp Road and proceed west on state Route 2002.

Information on local services is available from the Northwest Pennsylvania Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau, 175 Main St., Brookville, PA 15825, or call (800) 348-9393.

NORTHEAST REGION
Take advantage of double wintertime stockings at Upper Woods Pond in Wayne County, another Early-Season Trout-Stocked Waters Program lake. It was stocked Nov. 3 and will be replenished on Feb. 23.