Did someone say steelhead?
It's early, but they've been spotted in the Erie tributaries. So have Coho salmon and brown trout. As of yesterday, at least a dozen steelheads had been seen in the Manchester Hole and at the Walnut Creek project waters.
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Trout Run also is drawing anglers. Go with spoons, such as Cleos, mornings and evenings. Powerbait is good after dark. In daylight, when water is low and clear, keep lines light (4- to 6-pound test). Wooly buggers are working for fly anglers. Beginning September 4, the creel limit is reduced to three 15-inchers.
There's a bounty of bass at Shade's Beach, about six miles east of Presque Isle Bay and in the bay, too. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Waterways Conservation Officer John Bowser suggests that shore anglers on Presque Isle try the Chestnut Street launch along the Bayfront Highway, the channel entering Marina Bay, and anywhere along Misery Bay near the monument at the end of Presque Isle.
September 22 is "Fish for Free Day," one of two days a year when you don't need a license to fish.
ALLEGHENY RIVER Despite a poor bass bite in the Pittsburgh pools, a 20-inch, 3.8-pound smallmouth was caught on live bait Sunday at the mouth of Bull Creek. Good catches are reported from Tidioute to Tionesta, where surface lures are working well, especially at dusk. Walleye are scarce. A 48-inch, 32-pound tiger muskie was caught on spinner bait at the Sharpsburg dam August 2 by Mike Kopelic of Pittsburgh.
CONNEAUT LAKE, CRAWFORD COUNTY Bass are taking a backseat to bluegills and bowfin. Crappie have turned on in 12 feet of water outside the weed lines.
KINZUA DAM, WARREN COUNTY The reservoir is low but yielding nice walleye to spinners being trolled. White bass are active. Perch are hit and miss, but once you get into them, they're plentiful, especially at Willow Bay and Corn Planter Bay. At the tailwaters, the walleye bite is fair. The smallmouth bite is better.
OHIO RIVER Except for sheepshead, catches are meager. A 4-foot gar was caught at the back channel dam by Brian Vizzi.
PYMATUNING, CRAWFORD/MERCER COUNTIES The north side is starting to heat up. Perch are biting. So are crappie. Some fishermen are limiting out on walleye, with sizes averaging 18 inches. There's a good smallmouth bite, and catfish are consistent.
CANONSBURG DAM, WASHINGTON COUNTY Robert Paul caught a 12-pound carp on a doughball, putting him in the lead in the Shad Lure Bait and Tackle August carp contest. Jeff Kennedy had been ahead with a 10-pounder caught on the Monongahela River.
LAKE ARTHUR, BUTLER COUNTY Recent rains might raise water levels, which have been about a foot below average. Catfish are biting. Bass are spotty, with evenings the best bet.
YOUGHIOGHENY RIVER Sheepshead have made a surprising appearance. Keith White of Pittsburgh caught a 24-inch rainbow trout on a Rooster Tail Sunday at Connellsville, under the Route 119 bridge. The smallmouth fishing is strong there, too.
SHENANGO LAKE, MERCER COUNTY Hybrid stripers are taking any topwater bait. Crappie and bass are biting close to shore early in the morning and at dusk. Try leeches. Or troll chartreuse Hot-n-Tots for bigger fish in the Celery Farm area, though water has been lower than normal.
LAKE WILHELM, MERCER COUNTY Perch have turned on, especially under the I-79 bridge. Jack Wagner of Pittsburgh has been taking 30 to 50, averaging 11 inches, every day for about a week. Large amounts of largemouth are being taken. Walleye are scarce.
LOYALHANNA CREEK, WESTMORELAND COUNTY "It's loaded with bass, but they're not really biting," reports Rich Kacsuta of Loyalhanna Fishing Post. Thomas Owens and his son, Thomas, Jr., 7, of Ligonier, caught a cooler full of bluegills, including a 12.8-ounce, 9.5-incher, on crawlers at a local farm pond.
LAKE SOMERSET, SOMERSET COUNTY Bass and pike are providing good action on crawlers.
FRENCH CREEK, CRAWFORD COUNTY The walleye and smallmouth takes have been good.
TAMARACK LAKE, CRAWFORD COUNTY Bluegills have been the best bet. Crappie, 10 and 11 inches, are catching up. More bass are hitting.
TWO MILE RUN CREEK/LAKE JUSTUS, VENANGO COUNTY The bass, muskie and perch takes are all good.
EDINBORO LAKE, ERIE COUNTY Bass have been biting on spinner baits and worms. Crappie and bluegill are still going strong.
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