Page 6 - Fishing Report | 2-15-2017

The best late winter presentations for walleyes include hair jigs (usually tipped with live
minnow or dosed with a good scent), suspending minnow baits (such as the Rapala
Husky Jerk), and a sonar-style jigging blade. Jigs are slow-rolled along the bottom. Sus-
pending minnow baits can be reeled very slowly creating a side-to-side wobble or fished
with a slow pull-pause retrieved. Typically the best blade bait presentation is burping
(slow lift off the bottom until vibrate then sitting it back down). Vigorous ripping of a
blade increases the chances of foul-hooking a walleye; keeping a foul hooked fish risks a
fine from the WWCO who may be looking over your shoulder. The exact presentation will
be determined somewhat by the depth of water you are fishing.

Late Winter Hotspot:

Middle Allegheny River – With river free of ice, there are outstanding fishing opportuni-
ties for walleyes during the late winter period as long the flow is not too high and water
not too dirty. Shoreline fishing can be productive in select deeper eddies where public
access is possible. The area of shoreline just downstream of the Oil City Marina ramp is
one of the most popular shore fishing sites. Also, among the better late winter spots on
the river are the mouths of incoming tributaries. If unfamiliar with the river, obtain a
copy of the “Middle Allegheny River Water Trail” brochure from Oil Region Alliance or
the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission.

French Creek – It seems that winter’s higher-than-summer flow stimulates walleyes as
spawn time approaches. However, shoreline fishing can be impeded by slippery banks.
Local anglers know the pull-off sites along a streamside road where winter holes can be
reached. One of the most popular sites is the confluence of Conneautee Creek a couple
miles downstream of Cambridge Springs. Referred to as The Point, walleye and musky
are taken from the current breaklines of the two merging streams. For more detailed ac-
cess, request a “French Creek Water Trail” map from Visit Erie or Crawford County Con-
vention & Visitors Bureau.

Walleye Tailwater Fisheries: Shenango Dam, Pymatun-
ing Dam, and Woodcock Creek Dam. Higher stream
flows attract gamefish from downstream to the outflow
section, perhaps arriving to dine on stunned baitfish that
come though the dam or because the late winter walleye
tendency is to move upstream against the current to
spawn thereby stacking up below a dam . The high water
creates shoreline pocket eddies which generally hold
catchable fish. However, extremely high discharge rates Woodcock Dam tailrace