Page 2 - Fishing Report 12-15-14

NW PA FISHING REPORT for December 15, 2014
Brought to you by PA Great Lakes Region tourism
What’s biting in the lakes, streams and rivers of Crawford, Erie, Mercer and Venango Counties?

FRENCH CREEK – Flowing through all four counties
By November 21, French Creek was
chunked up solid with ice in all pools and
slow stretches; only the shallow riffles re-
mained open. With the severe cold that
had settled into the area, it appeared
French Creek fishing was over for the year.
Less than three weeks later, French Creek is
November 21/ db photo completely ice free. This has been one crazy December 15/ db photo
fall.

Angler Al (Franklin):
- 11/30 – “What a nice morning to be alive. Weather whispered to me
“go fishing!” I took for French Creek around 9 AM and on my very first
cast hooked up a trophy-size walleye. It ripped the chartreuse floater jig
I had tipped with a creek chub. The fish battled strong. With net ready
at the bank, I was about to scoop when the fish rolled and cut my line…
this left me feeling as though I should have attended church! Did catch
two healthy northern pike and lost a third one before my noon depar-
Pike/Angler Al photo
ture.”
- 12/7 – “The weather seems to be playing out nicely for Sunday fishing. I
returned to French Creek after spending a few hours trapping and
catching shiner baits in Sugar Creek. Didn’t take long to hook up on a
battle, which I won this time. A nice 27” walleye spanked a white
floating jig head as I slowly bounced the weight on the retrieve. My Go-
Pro camera recorded the affair. Thereafter the camera captured a sec-
ond fight won with a 22 incher to net. I called my friend Evan who lives
in the Village of Utica, and he came by to snap a photo for me.”
‘eye/Angler Al photo
CRAWFORD COUNTY

Pymatuning Lake
Dave @ Richter’s Bait & Tackle; filed 12/15: “Been a wild fall. Now that deer and duck season is over, I
hope to get back to some fishing. My son and I did make it out on Black Friday for a few hours in the
evening. We fished the lower end of Pymatuning on a spot that’ve caught a lot of walleye over the
years. However, neither of us turned up a walleye on blade baits. There are a few locals still chasing
walleyes in boats and making some decent catches on blade baits up in the Snodgrass area. Looks like
the lake will be ice free through the holidays. Anglers have been fishing from the docks at the Jame-
stown Marina; they are catching bluegills and small crappies. A number of anglers have been fishing in
the Shenango River downstream of the dam and catching crappies and a few walleyes.”