DISTRICT

Lake Erie: Excellent perch fishing continued in recent days in 55 to 62 feet north and west of Walnut Creek, and in 55 to 60 feet off the point of the peninsula. The walleye bite was inconsistent but improving slightly. Anglers were running plugs and bouncing crawler harnesses off the bottom in 30 to 35 feet and fishing crawler harnesses and dipsy divers off the first trench in 70 feet. As of yesterday, leaders in the Poor Richard's Bait and Tackle annual big fish contest were Dick Schreckengost of New Bethlehem with a 9-pound, 13-ounce, 32-inch walleye, and Bill Hovanec of Aliquippa with a 1-pound, 7-ounce, 14 3/4-inch perch. Few steelhead catches were reported in the lake, with fish not yet schooling in the deeper water. Presque Isle Bay was yielding largemouth bass and assorted panfish.

Pymatuning Reservoir (Crawford County): Anglers were still picking up a few walleyes trolling worm harnesses and Hot 'n Tots in recent days. Some crappies were being caught around structure in the deeper water. Smallmouth and largemouth bass were hitting around weedbeds. An angler released a 40 1/2-inch muskie at the outflow.

Conneaut Lake (Crawford County): Professional BASS angler Paul Hirosky of Guys Mills and Jon DeArment of Meadville won Friday's Fourth Annual United Way Bass Classic with 6 largemouths and 2 smallmouths totaling almost 22 pounds. They also caught the lunker, a near 4-pound largemouth.

Lake Wilhelm (Mercer County): Ernie Pate of Butler and Ken Pate of Chicora won the Reynoldsville Bass Club tournament Sunday with five largemouth bass totaling almost 21 pounds. Dave Lalonde of Pittsburgh caught two 18-inch largemouths on a buzz bait this week. Skip Feigert of Hermitage caught a 3-pound 3-ounce, 21-inch walleye on a Hot 'n Tot. He and Tom Lancaster of Hermitage caught 15 largemouths on Hot 'n Tots. Johnnie Petritus of Monaca caught two largemouths, 17 and 13 1/2 inches, on crankbaits. Angie Lynch of Franklin Park caught her first largemouth, a 16 3/4-incher, on a rubber worm. Clarence Yost of Robinson Township released a 36-inch muskie on a worm harness. His wife Vera caught a 16-inch largemouth on a Hot 'n Tot.

Shenango Reservoir/Shenango River (Mercer County): Crappies were reported in the deeper water of the reservoir in recent days, with the bite closer to shore in the evening hours. Largemouth bass were hitting on top; the smallmouths were deeper. Catfish were reported in the bays. The river near Sharon was yielding smallmouths and catfish.

Lake Arthur (Butler County): Walter Parish and Brian Lallement won last weekend's tournament with four largemouth bass totaling more than 9 3/4-pounds. Paul and Joe Iman caught the 5 1/3-pound lunker largemouth. Don Wagner of Shaler boated largemouth bass up to 4 pounds in recent days. Ted Wong caught a couple of 22-inch walleyes drift-fishing the road beds. Anglers also reported channel catfish up to 24 inches, along with bluegills. The Costello family of Glenshaw released a 48-inch muskie and a couple of smaller ones in recent weeks.

Allegheny River: Nice catches of saugers, walleyes, smallmouth bass, catfish and carp were reported at the mouths of Deer and Pine creeks, locks three and four and other spots on the river. Anglers were also seeing a lot of longnosed gar below Highland Park. Highlights of the Venture Outdoors Downtown TriAnglers' Wednesday outing on the North Shore included Ken Migliorese's 21-inch channel catfish, Morgan Hezlep's 12-inch mooneye, Tom Lippert's 19-inch smallmouth buffalo, John Force's 19-inch muskie and Mike Kirshenbaum's 18-inch flathead catfish.

Deer Creek (Allegheny County): Brian Sell of Plum caught a 4-pound largemouth bass and three smallmouths July 24.

Monongahela River: Ken Schomer still led the Shad Lure Bait and Tackle July catfish contest yesterday with a 29-pound flathead caught July 2. A good bass bite was reported on the river in recent days.

Ohio River: A 40-inch flathead catfish was released in the back channel on a recent night. Numbers of smallmouth bass were reported from boat and shore in the back channel.

Youghiogheny Reservoir (Fayette County): Fair smallmouth and walleye bites were reported in high water this week. Jim Gwynn of Bentleyville and Dave Jenko of Pittsburgh won last weekend's charity tournament with three walleyes totaling a little more than 10 pounds. Rich and Mark Fike of Farmington caught the nearly 5-pound lunker walleye. Anglers also were catching big bluegills, perch and catfish. Trout were hitting in the outflow.

Spring Creek (Centre County): Flow was normal yesterday on this limestoner. Trico and surface feeders were occurring on recent mornings. Tan, olive, and dun-colored Caddis (16-18) were hatching sporadically. Small Blue-Winged Olives (22, 24) also were hatching. Ants and beetles were a good bet along the banks and under trees. Nymphing Green Weenies, scuds, cressbugs, Pheasant Tails and Hare's Ears, Walt's Worms and zebra midges also was recommended. For more, visit www.tcoflyfishing.com.

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