Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 14

in Northwestern Pennsylvania
by Darl Black

photos by the author

Some people love winter. They can't get enough of the cold,
the snow and of course, the ice.
I'm not one of them. I don't like the cold, the snow and
most of all the ice on lakes and streams.
Make no mistake about it. Given the choice between ice
fishing and casting in open water, I'm going to take open
water every time.
But, this is northwestern Pennsylvania. Where can you
find open water in January and February? Perhaps, more
places than you may think.
First off, our winter weather in recent years has been
unpredictable to say the least. Some years have featured
intense cold with a thick layer of ice on all water, like last
season. However, there are also mild winters with minimal
snow and thin ice cover on lakes.

14

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * January/February 2015

During a normal winter in northwestern Pennsylvania,
we can expect skim ice cover on most lakes around early
to mid-December, thereby rendering boat launching and
shoreline fishing on impounded water null and void.
However, flowing water remains open for some time after
lakes freeze over.
As winter cold continues, flowing water will chunk-up
with edge ice and eventually the pool sections will freeze
over. An unexpected mid-winter warming trend in late
January or early February often melts sections of the creeks
and streams, while an extended period of warmth may even
open the Allegheny River.
If these warming trends do not occur, there are still some
spots in northwestern Pennsylvania where you can cast a line
in open waters. Before identifying these sites, let's take a look
PFBC Facebook: PaFishandBoat



Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015

Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - Cover1
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - Cover2
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 4
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 6
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 7
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 8
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 9
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 10
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 11
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 12
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 13
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 14
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 15
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 16
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 17
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 18
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 19
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 20
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 21
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 22
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 23
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 24
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 25
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 26
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 27
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 28
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 29
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 30
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 31
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 32
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 33
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 28
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 34
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 35
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 36
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 37
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 38
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 39
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 40
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 41
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 42
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 43
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 44
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 45
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 46
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 47
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 48
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 49
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 50
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 51
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 52
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 53
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 54
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 55
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 56
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 57
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 58
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 59
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 60
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 61
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 62
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - Cover3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - Cover4
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