Lake Erie and tributaries: The streams were fishable yesterday. Although one angler was spotted on Walnut Creek as early as 4:30 a.m., with frigid temperatures starting to put a little slush and edge ice on streams, it may be better to wait until late morning after thawing has occurred. Anglers are advised to dress appropriately. Some folks are targeting burbot (freshwater cod), anticipating annual winter runs in the channel from the lake to Presque Isle Bay, but there are no reports of catches yet. Perch also were coming off the north and south piers in recent days, as weather permitted.

Allegheny River: Some of the bigger walleyes were beginning to bite in recent days, with reports of 20-plus-inch hits. Releases of nice-size browns and rainbows also were reported in the tailwaters. Releases from the Kinzua Dam made the river higher. Skim ice was forming in the coves in Chapel Fork and Red Bridge.

Chapman Dam Reservoir (Warren County): In anticipation of ice angling, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission stocked trout Tuesday.

Allegheny River (Venango, Forest, Armstrong counties): Fombell-based muskie guide Howard Wagner released a 52-inch, 41-pound muskie at 5 p.m. Wednesday. He released a 43-incher Tuesday. Two anglers caught several walleyes up to 18 inches and one 2??-pound smallmouth on tube jigs, hair jigs and a jerkbait in 37-degree water. The Tionesta stretch yielded nothing for at least one veteran river angler. The Armstrong County portion was productive Sunday, with an angler releasing a dozen walleyes up to 19 inches on jigs and minnows and jigging spoons in 33-degree water. Areas of ice were expected to begin forming in falling temperatures.

Justus Lake (Venango County): Trout were stocked Tuesday.

Pymatuning Reservoir (Crawford County): A duck hunter reported Wednesday that some of the bays were developing skim ice, and anglers were catching nice crappies and bluegills off the docks of the marina at Jamestown.

Lake Arthur (Butler County): A skim-coat of ice was reported mid-week in the north end of Muddy Creek and the back ends of Shannon and Swamp runs. With cold temperatures in the forecast, anticipation of ice fishing was building. One or two anglers were targeting crappies from the bank around the Route 528 bridge area Monday in milder temperatures.

Lake Wilhelm (Mercer County): Several inches of snow fell Tuesday night, covering some skim ice from the causeway toward I-79 and in "the stumps."

Allegheny River, Ohio River (Allegheny County): The walleye bite was slow amid very little fishing pressure at Locks 2 and 3 on the Allegheny, with two anglers reporting just three small walleyes each. Two anglers at Dashields Dam caught a few average-size walleyes.

Twin Lakes (Westmoreland County): A little trout action was reported earlier this week on scented artificials, double blade baits and bucktail in-line spinnerbaits

Spring Creek (Centre County): Above-average but fishable flow was reported mid-week, and a few midges, Blue-Winged Olives (20, 22), and craneflies were hatching. Although the trout spawn is over, anglers are urged to avoid empty redds as some eggs may still be developing.

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