Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2022 - 40

INTERMEDIATE
Ice Fishing
Hot Spots
in Western
Pennsylvania
by Jerry Bush
photo-Janelle Howard
W
estern Pennsylvania offers many ice fishing
opportunities, and some anglers may be surprised
to find safe ice nearly as far south as Pittsburgh.
Erie County
Lake Pleasant is stocked in the spring and the winter with
trout. It is a favorite location for ice fishing enthusiasts.
Howard Eaton Reservoir is near Pennsylvania's border with
New York. Its expanse of 159 acres is a panfish hot spot. You
may also catch Northern Pike and Walleyes.
LeBoeuf Lake, near Waterford, holds Largemouth Bass and
Northern Pike. Some large Bluegills are also found in this lake.
No conversation about Erie County's ice fishing is complete
without deserved recognition given to Lake Erie's Presque
Isle Bay. Species found in Presque Isle Bay include Bluegills,
Northern Pike, Pumpkinseeds, bass, crappies, perch, and
steelhead. Coaxing one of the larger gamefish through an
8-inch hole in the ice is challenging. Recognizing the current
hot spots at Presque Isle is easy. Look for the " tent cities " -an
affectionate name describing the conglomeration of ice fishing
shelters on the ice.
Crawford County
With a surface area of 925 acres, Conneaut Lake is
Pennsylvania's largest natural lake. Here, perch and panfish
are most targeted in winter, but many anglers hope for
Muskellunge and Walleyes as well.
With more than 17,000 acres of water, Pymatuning Reservoir
is king in Crawford County. Anglers seek Muskellunge,
Walleyes, bass, panfish, and perch. Most of the Muskellunge
stocked in Pennsylvania are spawned from brood stock from
Pymatuning Reservoir. Pymatuning Reservoir is western
Pennsylvania's most productive winter Walleye fishery.
Mercer County
Heading south, we find Mercer County's ice fishing season
is a week or two shorter than Erie and Crawford counties, but
40
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater
safe ice is available most years for 4 to 6 weeks. Shenango
River Lake may be the best body of water in western
Pennsylvania to consistently catch big Bluegills and large
crappies, as well as White Bass.
Lake Wilhelm's 1,680 acres is a fun fishery to collect a
mixed bucket of Bluegills, crappies, perch, and a few Walleyes.
Butler County
Only 40-miles north of Pittsburgh, Lake Arthur holds
3,225 acres of water in Moraine State Park, and most years it
provides safe ice fishing for 2 to 3 weeks. Lake Arthur is home
to Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, and
panfish. Some Muskellunge and Walleyes are also present.
Gear
Panfish are most often attracted to tear drop jigs
tipped with maggots, mealworms, or pieces of red worms.
Sometimes, soft plastic grubs of various colors work well.
Most catches occur when the jig is bounced a few inches from
the bottom.
Larger gamefish prefer a lead head jig tipped with a
minnow submerged below a rod and reel or attached to a
tip-up device. Use baitfish
lures and spoons.
A 2-foot rod and
plastic reel with a spring
bobber at the end of the
pole catches as many fish
as other rods. A manual
auger is sufficient for
most ice fishing anglers,
but a motorized auger is
desired by true enthusiasts
who are constantly
on the ice in the most
northern counties.
To check State Park
ice conditions:
dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/
WinterReport/Pages/default.aspx
fishandboat.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mQm7WkeNic&t=2s http://dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/WinterReport/Pages/default.aspx http://dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/WinterReport/Pages/default.aspx http://www.fishandboat.com

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2022

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