Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 6

By region

Northwest Region (Butler, Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest,
Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, Warren)
Fishing opportunities abound in the northwest. For those
attending schools such as Penn State-Behrend, Gannon
University, Edinboro University, Grove City College, Slippery
Rock University, Theil College, and others, this region boasts
tremendous and varied places to hit the water. Lake Erie, Erie
County, is well known for its phenomenal bass fishing as well
as great opportunities for Walleyes and perch. Great fishing
can be found at Presque Isle State Park, and it was during my
own college days that I discovered the fantastic shore fishing
many locations in this park provide anglers. In the fall and
over winter break, students can take advantage of some of the
best steelhead fishing in the country. Elk Creek and Walnut
Creek are popular destinations and have many locations that
provide public access.
The nearby Allegheny National Forest boasts plenty of
water teeming with native wild Brook Trout and some stocked
waters as well. Kinzua Dam, Warren County, is another
location worth exploring. Of course, Pymatuning Reservoir,
Crawford County, also makes the list of fantastic fishing
destinations in this region. Not only is it one of the state's top
Walleye waters, it is also a great lake to pursue crappies and
other panfish in the spring. Not as well known, but a great
little lake that is worth exploration in the northwest is Justus
Lake, Venango County. I have seen it give up some truly
stunning Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass.
Northcentral Region (Cameron, Centre, Clearfield,
Clinton, Elk, Jefferson, Lycoming, McKean, Montour,
Northumberland, Potter, Snyder, Tioga, Union)
Fishing in northcentral Pennsylvania can be exceptional
and students looking to take advantage of it will find
plenty of great destinations waiting for them. Students of
Penn State's main campus, Mansfield University, Bucknell
University, and other schools in this part of the state will
have no trouble finding locations to ease the strain of college
pressures. Lakes like Foster Joseph Sayers Reservoir, Centre

A college angler with a nice steelhead caught in Elk Creek,
Erie County.

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * January/February 2021

Mansfield University student Aaron Morder with a gorgeous
Brown Trout caught in the Northcentral Region.

County, provide great bass fishing as well as shore fishing for
Channel Catfish and panfish. Although a lesser-known and
targeted species, Common Carp fishing can be a blast on this
lake, and I enjoyed it immensely during my own college days.
Any mention of fishing in the northcentral region must
include the famed trout waters near State College that include
Spring Creek and Penns Creek. I cut my own fly fishing
teeth on them while attending Penn State. While they can be
humbling at times, they also teach an observant angler much
about reading water and hatches. Both streams have abundant
public access points. Bald Eagle Creek is another great stream in
Centre County that should not be overlooked.
Northeast Region (Bradford, Carbon, Columbia,
Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Sullivan, Susquehanna,
Wayne, Wyoming)
For students whose academic pursuits land them at Wilkes
University, Johnson College, Keystone College, Lackawanna
College, King's College, Marywood University, and other
schools in this region, fantastic fishing is never far away.
Lake Wallenpaupack, Pike and Wayne counties, is a large
and diverse fishery that is worth a visit. It is truly a multispecies lake that has great fishing for Largemouth Bass and
Smallmouth Bass. The biggest Yellow Perch I have ever caught
came during a trip to this lake while I was in college. Beltzville
Lake, Carbon County, is also a good destination to pursue not
only bass and panfish, but it offers fishing opportunities for
Striped Bass as well.
This region of the state is also home to some first-class trout
fishing. Streams here like the Aquashicola Creek, Buckwha
Creek, Mahoning Creek, and Pohopoco Creek all provide
opportunities for both stocked and wild trout.
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021

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