Page 3 - Fishing Report | 1-18-18

MERCER
Lake Wilhelm: 4 to 6 inches in center of lake; edges weak and entry is risky
Shenango Lake: Unstable due to rise in water level in flood control reservoir

VENANGO
Justus Lake: No report, but anglers reportedly on ice
Kahle Lake: No report on thickness, but anglers reportedly on ice

COUNTY by COUNTY REPORTS

FRENCH CREEK - Flowing through all four counties
Editor’s note: With the rapid thaw & rain followed by rapid re-freeze, French Creek has sec-
tions blown out with flooding in low area as well as broken ice jamming other sections of the

creek creating ice dams. There is the potential of more flooding with the next forecast thaw/
rain cycle this weekend.

Al Bell (Franklin); filed 12-19 – end of year: The warming temperature motivated me to grab a
few rods and head to French Creek. With one rod on the bottom rigged with a white floating
jighead and tipped with a lively medium-size shiner, I began casting with a second rod. I had a
Road Runner tipped with a small shiner on it. First cast I tell ya, a 24-1/2 inch Northern Pike
spanked it. Thereafter another pike and then a small walleye. The other rod bounced and
thinking it was a toothy critter, to my surprise I landed a hard-fighting sucker…I sure do like

that we’re back to open water…

CRAWFORD COUNTY

Pymatuning Lake

Richter’s Bait & Tackle; filed 1-15: A few anglers are back on the ice on
South End near the Jamestown Boat Ramp and Marina. Ice is reported to
be 6 to 8 inches in the area. They are having success on crappies, perch
and bluegills. Ken Smith photo

Russ @ Gateway Bait & Tackle; filed 1-16: Anglers were doing very well on walleye prior to
the big thaw with numerous individuals getting limits of ‘eyes. Anglers were entering the ice
near Stocker Island, Wexford and Snodgrass Ramp. Crappies, perch and a few ‘eyes were being

caught around Tuttle Point. However the re-freeze is very inconsistent, with ice thickness rang-
ing from 3 to 8 inches. On last Monday, I broke through a hundred yards from shore with my
spud bar, and abandoned my attempt to fish.