SW Pennsylvania Thread

[HPBB]

FishingPunk, atleast you had one on. Ok, I saw it you didn't. If I don't catch something this sunday I might cry :'(, and that's not a pretty sight.

[Pittsburgh Reeler]

Well, HPBB, neither of us had to cry this weekend. But maybe I will cry if I can't reach my next goal: to catch one LEGAL bass! (baby steps, baby steps) ;D

plus my face got really red too, but can't decide if it is sunburn or windburn either!!!

FishingPunk, atleast you had one on. Ok, I saw it you didn't. If I don't catch something this sunday I might cry :'(, and that's not a pretty sight.

[HPBB]

hey you caught something  

I think it was  more wind burn. it has faded alot since last night. I has sun screen on, so most was wind burn, but I know I was really red yesterday.

[Pittsburgh Reeler]

From reports I have recieved, bass fishing has been good at Yellowcreek. Along with pike.

I can say for myself, this was the first weekend camping and fishing there for bass.  Yesterday evening, I caught a 16 1/2 BEAUTY from the shore (why, oh why, couldn't that have been for a tournament!!!!!!!!), on a tube.  My cousin caught 2 on a red shad plastic worm, and another cousin says that green and white spinnerbaits are working for him by the boat dock.

I have seen some big ones not within a foot or so from the shore, right in front of my face torturing me, but couldn't aggravate them enough to get 'em to bite before I had to drive back to the 'Burgh for work today  :-[

[Lard_Bass]

FishingPunk, congrats on the 16 1/2.  

I was at Raccoon this past Sunday while on a family picnic.  I fished a couple of hears and had one legit hit (and miss) and a bunch of bass following.  A lot of fish were feeding off the surface during midday.  I suspect it was trout.  I saw some trout caught and a sucker.  But not much else.  

I haven't been out much lately due to work.  Anyone seeing some good action out there?  I will probably hit Cross Creek soon and let you guys know how I do.

[smizener]

A buddy of mine fished the Yough River near Smithton and said he didn't catch anything under 15". Lots of trout too. Said his son caught a 22" rainbow. I guess there are some tagged fish in that area for a chance at winning money. I think you have to donate to a local fish club though to claim it.

[Pittsburgh Reeler]

I fished at Peters Lake (Washington/ McMurray area) Monday evening with some friends, we were there around 7:00 PM till dark.  We caught a ton of little bass,  maybe 1 or 2 were barely legal at 12" but I wasn't measuring. I caught all mine on a green pumpkin tube and one on a orange pumpkin Senko (wacky) , and my friends were using live redworms.  Even though they were small, it was fun as hell.

Right before we left, though, my friend caught what must have been at least a 15" one on a live redworm on the tiniest little hook, right before it was completely dark.  I couldn't believe it.  

[Lard_Bass]

FishingPunk, I fish Peters Lake park frequently.  I have caught only little bass there.  I have a lot of success there with Rat-L-Traps like baits and t-rigged green worms (I add a little chartreuse on the tail).  Also, topwater lures like Pop-R and Chug Bugs have done well for me.  It's a fun lake and I like taking the kids down there a lot.

Where else do you fish in the South Hills?

[Pittsburgh Reeler]

Hi Lard Bass- I live near Carrick.  Unfortunately, I think our options are limited!!!    I have fished Canonsburg, with none to little luck, and Peters.  The one my friend caught was nice!!! Biggest one I seen out of there. I want to try Peters Creek, I think it's called, out on 51 by the Large Hotel. Someone told me it was good.

Cross Creek, I've fished once. not much luck but I know others who have had great luck. It is supposed to be a hidden gem. Caught some trout at North Park before.

Since becoming obsessed with bass fishing, I joined a bass club in March, so I could get out there and get lots of practice from a boat. We fished Mosquito in OH twice, and Crooked Creek in Ford City.  

Mostly, I fish a lot at Yellowcreek, i know I keep saying that, but that is where I have a camper so we are there a lot!

[HPBB]

I was out at Donegal Lake ( off exit 91 on the pike, take rt 711 north lake is about 2-3 mile north)  Its a TM only lake.

Bass fishing was great today 30-35 fish Bass in 5 hours , only 2 under 12inches and most 14-15 inches, biggest 17 1/4 inches. Best day of fishing ( numbers) I have had in a long time. Lost about 10 fish too.  And a bonus Muskie,  about 25 inches , fun.  That lake was realy good like that back in the early 90's then the fish seemed to disapear, the past few years the fish have seem always to be small, I guess they grew. caught them on Zoom finess worm, and Rat-L-trap.

The best thing was there was about 13-15 boats out today and I was the only one fishing for Bass, everybody else was fishing for Trout.

[Pittsburgh Reeler]

HPBB,

Too bad it wasn't like that at Berlin!!!      :'(

[flyhatch]

I fished the clarion near Cook Forest State Park.

12 on thurs

6 on friday

in only about 2 hours fishing each day.

thats a great river for smallies

golden shiners were the best bait but tubes and jacks worms worked too

also gycb fat baby craw accounted for one.

either erie or pymy this weekend

10 4 over and out

e

[Lard_Bass]

I went out on Cross Creek Lake on Monday and got skunked.  Granted I spent more time tying lures on for my son than fishing.  I saw a bunch of large carp and panfish swimming in the shallows but couldn't locate any bass.  From talking to other anglers on the lake, most who were fishing for bass got skunked.  Panfish bite was strong though.  I saw a couple of guys with full stringers.  

Surface water temp was 75 degrees.  

[Lucky Craft Man]

Cross Creek, I've fished once. not much luck but I know others who have had great luck. It is supposed to be a hidden gem. Caught some trout at North Park before.

I would say Cross Creek was a hidden gem 10 years ago.  I used to fish from shore back then (which is limited) and still caught some nice bass.  I went out last wednesday on a boat and caught six (all under 13" and one around 5", which hit a 6" worm).  That lake is soooooooo over fished and I'm sure there are still some nice ones in there, but catching them is a little more challenging then it once was.  Canonsburg Lake and Peters Lake are not very good either.  Peters Lake could be a very nice lake with some management and Canonsburg needs some rehabilitation (the sediment in that lake is unreal).  Unfortunately, to find some good fishing oppurtunities, I have to drive a little ways, but the good news is that there are some great fishing spots less then 2 hours away in various directions.

[BASS fisherman]

I gaurantee you that there are alot of really great places to fish within 40 minutes of your house.  You just have to find them, or know people who know them.  

My lips are shut, so don't even ask.  ;D

[Pittsburgh Reeler]

yeah, i don't fish canonsburg anymore.  Peter's Lake is good if you take kids, there are a lot of small bass that will hit, esp. in the evening.  i haven't been to cross creek this year yet.  that was just what i had heard.

i had an AWESOME fishing weekend at Yellow Creek, my aunt and I caught lots of smallies and LM's ,most over 15 inches.  (Yellow creek has big bass regs.)

The last one I caught (but did not officially land)  had black lips though, looked like a largemouth.   i didn't get a chance to inspect further before he flopped off my hook.  Anyone know what's up with the mouth?  my aunt swore it was a small mouth, but it looked like a largemouth to me.  i never heard of a Goth Fish before, but I guess he could have been rocking out to some Marilyn Manson in the weeds!   (yeah, well at least i think its funny.)

Those yellow creek bass loooovvvveeee the senkos!!!  And, i caught my first one on a baitcaster, with a tube. yay.

[Lard_Bass]

I gaurantee you that there are alot of really great places to fish within 40 minutes of your house.  You just have to find them, or know people who know them.  

My lips are shut, so don't even ask.  ;D

So not even a nice frosty one will get you to open those lips?  

I never had luck shore fishing from Cross Creek.  I had some really good luck with Canonsburg last year but I think all the fish that were dumped in there from the Dutch Fork closing are long gone.   And I agree that Canonsburg and Peters need some help.  I think Canonsburg, if funding doesn't show up to dredge all that sediment, will be drawn down in the next several years.  

Anyone fish Lake Arthur recently? I am thinking of making a trip up there.

[BASS fisherman]

Check it out!  

http://www.pagameandfish.com/fishing/bass-fishing/PA_0607_02/index.html

[Lard_Bass]

Thread has been quiet latetly.  Hopefully everyone has been fishing.  I hit Dunlap Lake last weekend and caught a couple of bass (15-18 in) on flukes.  How's everyone else fairing?  

[HPBB]

Haven't really be out much, been really busy. Have fished a few club tournaments. in the past few weeks, Edinboro was really good, Ohio river by Neville Island was hard fishing, but not out much. I think I'll fish this sat if I can. Not sure where though. Was fishing Donegal in late may and early June Alot, really catching a lot up there. ussially fish the Yough Dam alot this time of year, but haveing motor problems in my big boat, and taking a 9.9hp boat down there on the weekends isn't much fun. Like I said I am going to try to get out sat afternoon/eve not sure where one of these.

Donegal

Yough River out of Boston

Keystone Power Dam

Crooked Creek

Laurel hill

I'll let you know how I do.

[Pittsburgh Reeler]

Well, I caught three LM over 18" last time i went to Yellowcreek, but i was fishing a real shallow creek and creek mouth in a jonboat, so i'm sure it is an area not receiving any pressure the big ones are hiding there. Going back out tonite for the weekend.  I'll report next week.

Finally got my first tournament keeper on Sunday in the Ohio River. About freakin' time!  ;D  I've fed the bait monkey ample meals, I've prayed and threw change to the fish gods, I've kissed the big fish before releasing them.  I guess it finally all paid off.

[Lard_Bass]

Anyone been to Racoon lately?  I am thinking of heading out there Sunday.  

HPBB, is there any bass in Donegal?  According to PFBC's website, it lists only Mukie, Trout, Cats, and Sauger.  

Lastly, anyone been to Green Lick Lake?  I see it's near Donegal.  I fish Dunlap which isn't too far from either Donegal and Green Lick.

[Lard_Bass]

I hit Cross Creek with my son on Sunday.  I caught a couple nice bass on Gitzits.  Water was 79 degrees.  Both my son and I had numerouse missed hits on the Gitzits before we had to call it a day (fished for only 3 hours).  Other anglers I bumped into caught some nice ones as well.  One guy said senkos were working for him.  He had no luck with flukes (neither did I).  Cranks didn't work for us either.  

 

[Pittsburgh Reeler]

Don't know about those places.  Yellowcreek- 4 smallmouth on Satuday. 2 on senko's, 2 on Lake Fork Pumpkin Trick Worms, one drop-shot and one shakey head.

[HPBB]

Lard_Bass:

never even heard of Green Lick till you said it. Had to look on a map to find it, so no never fished it.

Yes, Donegal has a good population of bass.

Been fish for bass up there 25 years. the lake was great in the early 90's and kinda fell off for a while. Still caught bass, but most were small under 10 inches. This year the sizes are coming back. was up there in late may and had a few 30+ fish days (really 4-5 hour trips) most fish over 14. was up there this past Sunday & fishing was hard. caught 4 fast on buzz baits then nothing the rest of the day. water is looking weird. lake just had an algee bloom and those storms last week must have sent some sewage into the lake. It smelled bad. Donegal is an electric motor lake. its not that big, but its one of the biggest electric only lake around here. I think High point is the only one bigger than it. Its easy to shore fish and wade fish. If you using a boat on a trailer, launch out of the second launch (closer to the dam) its deeper. If its a car topper the first is OK and very few people use it.

I think I am going down to the Yough Dam this weekend. not sure yet. If my buddy want to we are going. Since we have to take his boat. Mine is down with a blown motor. that is why I have been fishing the small TM only lake a lot lately.