I was hoping to start a thread focused on SW PA (Pittsburgh surrounding area).  I visit some other forums but most of them are not too active for this region and not devoted mainly to bass fishing.  I was hoping people could post recaps of their outings, where they went, and any tips they would like to share for that specific spot.  

I live in the South Hills and will be hitting lakes such as Canonsburg, Cross Creek, Peters Lake / Dam #2, Dunlap, and High Point.  I will make some trips to Lake Arthur and then hope to try some new lakes (I am relatively new to the area and will continue to explore).  

Also, if anyone spots any tackle deals, please share them.  I have been hitting the Wally Worlds and buiying up Strike King 3x, FLW, and Waveworm soft plastics (.50 to 1.00 per bag).  Gander Mt. had some nice Spro crankbaits for $1.99 and stone jigs $1.50.   I will be heading out to Cabelas this weekend to check out their Spring sale.  I will post a follow up if anything looks decent.

I'm relatively new to the area as well (6 months) and one good small mouth area I am aware of is Dunkard creek in Greene co pa and Monongalia co wv.  There are also a lot of Muskiees in there too.

Well, here's my first report.  I went to Peters Lake and found ICE!  Argh!!!  The whole lake was still frozen over.   As I was staring at the lake, someone walked by and told me that Canonsburg was completely thawed (suprising since it's only a .5 mile away but has a lot less shade too).

I ventured over to Canonsburg lake and saw a lot of people fishing.  I am not a big fan of this lake but decided to spend the time talking to a couple of guys.  They were catching trout which surprised me because I thought trout fishing didn't start until April 14th.  Also, I thought any trout protected lakes were off limits to fishing.  Any PA residents can clarify this for me?   I believe the extended season for bass is Catch and Release right now (which is all I do anyways).

I am from aspinwall,  north hills , grew up fishing the highland park dam.

this will be my 3rd year fishing the KBBC www.kbass.com

Ive fished all the major  lakes around the area.

New guys feel free to shoot me any questions

Ive been out 3 times in 2007 still looking for the first fish too

my first tourney is moraine on the 31st if its thawed out.

Not sure with the trout regulation. There are different ones for different water. Most "approved trout waters" close mid march till opening day in April. Bass is in winter regulation now. 4 fish over 15 inches. the C&R season starts opening day of trout till second sat in June.

My first tournament is March 24th at Shenango Lake... :-?  ice is starting to melt

There are many good bass waters around Pittsburgh. I live in the eastern Subs, Monroeville/North Versailles area. You fish from a boat or from the bank?

Crooked Creek is good. The Yough River and the Yough Lake are great SM waters. ask about any water, If I can help I will. Haven't been out this year yet. Just getting the boat all together now. Had to buy a new motor this year and get it set up. I think I will try to get out This Sunday, if its not that bad.

On tackle, Dick's have some good sales on right now, just watch what the register rings those lures up as. I was Monroeville's Dick's last week, and like most if a lure I use is on sale I buy a lot of them if I use them often. The prices that they were marked is not what was coming up at the register. They total came to just over $114, > but after correcting all the price mistakes, my new total was $43.59 . They had a lot of their Zoom plastic on sale for . 97 but still rung up over $3.00. some stuff that was on sale for $1.99 was still coming up over $7.00. Not knocking Dick's I have gotten a lot of stuff there over the years, and still will, but keep an eye open. they are not fast on updating their computers for sale prices

I went to Cabelas today for their spring sale and wasn't really impressed.  Their best deal was on some Cabelas knock-off Rat-L-Traps I thought (buy one get one free at $1.99).  When I got to the register, they said it was a misprint and the knockoffs were only 50% off.  So, each was a $1.99.   >

The best deal I got was a new fly fishing rod.  I got a discontinued St. Croix Premier 4 piece (9 ft 6 wt) at only $55 (original $110).  I paired it with a Cabelas Prestige reel that was on sale from $49.99 to $29.99.  

There was also a cooler full of GYCB baits (grubs, hula grubs, some craws) but really bright colors (bright red, chartreuse, orange) for $2.99.  

I am also new to this forum.  Just bought a fishing boat last year and I'm learning my way around the boat and lakes in the Northwest Pa area.  Made quite a few trips to Moraine last year but that has been it. Would be very interested in sharing ideas about fishing in the Pittsburgh area.  Thanks.

I went through the PFBC handbook and saw that lakes / streams can be listed under both Approved Trout Waters (no fishing from now until opening day) and Early Season (fishing permitted until March 31 but closed from April 1 to 14).  If it is listed under Early Season, the lake is open for fishing with size and creel limits.

I also typically fish from the bank but got a canoe last fall.  I am itching to get out there and fish.

What baits did you guys have success in this area with?  I am going to try a lot of jigs and spinnerbaits this year.  

LARD_BASS

Try some T-rigger tube jigs,  in deeper open water try tubes with a jig head inside them. also once the water warms up ( by early may) one work "Senko"

an nice small lake to fish in a canoe, would be Glade Mills, just off of rt 228 and rt 8 by saxonburg.

NH_Bass:

what hp motor do you have on your boat? I guess its 20hp or under since your one Morain. Some lakes are still 10 HP limited. Does running your boat on unlimited HP lake bother you? also where do you live? You said northwest Pa. there are some great lake up in the north and in the south. Can give you info on what is closer.

Looks like we got a warm front coming in! 66 on Thursday and 70 by Friday.

HPBB, thanks for the lake recommendation for a canoe. I will check it out sometime this year. Another thanks for the tube idea. I have been rigging Gitzits this way. I might have to pick up some heavier jig heads for deeper water. What do you recommend (1/4 oz)?

Any of you guys trying for trout or are you just going for bass?

BTW, check out Dick's. The PFBC book has a $10 off $50 coupon and a lot of their lures are on sale this week. Rapalas are 20% off. I was able to pick up a Minn Kota portable battery charger for $50 (price matched because Gander has it on sale). I used the coupon for another $10 off and there's a $15 mail in rebate. At the end of the day, the charger ran me only $25.

NHBass, how much HP do you have on your boat?  A lot of lakes are 9.9HP or less.  

Hi Guys - thanks for the feedback. I have a Starcraft Starfire 16 with a 15hp Merc.  I top out at a screaming 8mph on a good day. I am at full throttle so it's just a matter of a deep v boat with a small engine ... and that's OK with me.  I'm not looking to set any speed records.  I have heard that the rivers are great fishing but I don't know if I have enough hp and I don't really know where to put in.  I did some research and most launch sites seem to be private.  

I know I have not even scratched the surface as far as Moraine goes so that is where I have been spending my time. Mostly around the dam and some of the back bay areas north of the dam.  I bought a topo map this winter and have been doing some homework.  I hope to do better this spring.  

Any suggestions from members of this forum would be great. Thanks.

NH_BASS

where in the area do you live? You must be looking at the wrong lauch ramps, there are many public ramps all over the rivers. And your boat is not to small for them. I have 2 boats and my small one is a 15 foot Stracraft SS ( deep V) with a 15 merc ( I get around 12-13mph out of it).

With that 15 merc. does it have 9.9 stickers? If so you can get on almost any water in PA. there are many lake in the area that  your boat would be great on. Like I said where do you live? Moraine is a nice lake, but there are many other area lakes that I think are better fishing then there.

NH_BASS

Moraine is a nice lake, but there are many other area lakes that I think are better fishing then there.

Which lakes are better?  I am a big fan of Cross Creek (given proximity).  I am going to try Glade Mills based on your recommendation for canoe fishing.  

Cross creek is good.

other lakes

Crooked Creek Unlimited HP

High Point Lake electric motor only

those are the best two around here in my opinion

THESE other ones are good too.

Keystone Power Dam 10HP limit

Edinboro Lake unlimited HP

Yough River anywhere in the river with your canoe

Yough Dam (lake) unlimited HP

Donegal lake electric motor only

Yellow Creek lake 20 Hp limit

Prince galitzin (glendale lake) 20HP limit

Hi HPBB and all-

Yes, my mech does have 9.9 stickers. Someone told me it is a 9.9 engine with a different carb installed to get the 15hp.  I'm not sure - that may be a fish story.  I live in the Wexford area and keep the boat at a storage facility on Rt 19 north - no room in the back yard.  The boat is very close to I79 and the turnpike so I can get to almost anywhere without too much trouble.  The trouble is I don't really know where to go.  Looks like your earlier posting with the lake listings is a good place to start.  

I have talked to a few other fisherman at Moraine and they seem to think the lake is nothing like it used to be.  I'm not sure if that's the case or if I just don't know the lake well enough yet to fish it. Up until last year when I got the boat it was all shore fishing off of 528 (around the bridge).

What would be your recommendations for early season fishing?  Can I take my boat on High Point and just use the trolling motor?  What about the river?  o I have enough hp and how do I find out about launch sites.  I was using the PA Fish and Boat Commission web site to look at thr rivers and everything seemed to be private.  

HPBB,

Thanks for the lake recs.  I have been to High Point.  I like the lake a lot because, at least when I have been there, it doesn't seem to have a lot of fishing pressure.  I caught some walleye there.  My only issue is that I can't find a topo map of the lake.  

NH_BASS.

Yes you can change a 9.9 to a 15, but now in Pa that isn't tha much of a deal since most state parkes are 20hp now, and most guys run 25hp with 20 stickers on them. You can use your boat at high point and any other electric only lake, just don't run your gas motor. You have enough Hp for the rivers, and launches are everywhere depending on what river and where you want to go. You want to fish the Alleghey, yough, mon or Ohio?

early season places. I would say Crooked Creek( in about 3 weeks) & keystone power dam. In may, mid to late may. Try Edinboro, I know its Unlimited, but its so small its funny. Your boat is great for that lake. From mid May on, the rivers are great. The lower yough and middle allegheny are good. Also one of the best spring places is erie bay in late may, your boat is fine in the bay. so is your canoe LARDBASS. Misery Bay( no wake) is the best. Big bass

here are a few public launches:

Alleghey river, Kittanning. take Rt 28 north, to Rt 422 east take business 422 into kittanning. at the bottom of the hill there is Sheetze. the ramp is right there on the left.

Alleghey River Ford city(same pool as above but another ramp) rt 28N to rt422 east, to rt 66 south, about 3 miles come to sheetze, make right at light. go down hill keep bearing to the left. You will come to a bridge, do not cross it, make left before it, fallow road along river and come to a Y bear right then left on dirt road. ramp is right there.

Yough River, McKeesport:

take turnpike east to monroeville exit. go to monroevill at first light make left onto Rt 48 S. You will take this for about 10 miles. pass a Tom Clark Chevy on right, mile down road come to a T. Make Rt onto Rt 148 , go 2 -3 miles to a T, make left. Go over bridge. at end of bridge make right. At stop sign make right, not hard right,  go to stop sign and make right. road ends at ramp. This is at the mouth of the yough so the Mon is there to.

Yough River Boston,

same as above at first T make left stay on rt 48 S. go over bridge make right at light. Make first right road ends at water.

If you let me know what river you want to fish and what area of it I can tell you where the launch ramps are. also if you need directions to lakes I can help.

Anyone wet a line this weekend?  I did a little shore fishing with the kids at Peters Lake Park.  No luck.

In the next couple of weeks, if I have more free time, I am going to check out some of HPBB's lake recs.  One question, are there any lakes that have a good family area for my kids to play at?  Lake Arthur is nice because there is so many trails and things to do.  My kids give up fishing too fast.   :'(

HPBB,

Thanks for the fantastic information on the rivers.  I think I'll start with the Allegheny. That may be a little easier coming from the north hills. Any suggections on fishing techniques? What kind of fish in this section of the river - walleye, smallmouth ???.

Also, can you tell me a little more about the Holiday Park Bass club listed on your postings?  Is it open to new members?  

Thanks again for the great information on lakes and rivers in the area.  Sounds like I have some scouting trips to make on the week-ends.

NH_BASS

that section is great for SM, eyes, and big Muskies. Tube work best for SM, there are lots of weed beds up there. As for Holiday Park. we don't have any opening left for riders this year, and we stop takeing new members first of may. I know you have a boat, but we fish all unlimited HP water and only use the 9.9hp boats as a last resort.  If you are interested keep in touch and in 2008 there might be some openings. If any openings open up before may I'll let you know.

HPBB,

thanks for the update on Holiday Park.  I'm going to try to get a quick scouting trip to Alleghey river, Kittanning this week.  Today was a bust with the all day rain.

NH_BASS

I would stay off the rivers right now. I was up in that area today and the Allegheny is still up a little, very very fast and muddy. Not very safe right now. If your willing to brave the weather this weeknd, since winter is coming back, check out Crooked Creek. I was up ther sunday, in the rain, . Holiday Park had a tournament, lots of fish caught. i would go there, infact I am going there on friday. If you check it out, use red rat-l-traps and green T-rigged tubes around trees. Like I said I'll be there friday. Hey here is a picture of my boat and truck, if you see me stop and say hi. I also sent you some more directions to ramps.

HPBB

PS Sea Nymph Boat, with a 75 Suzuki outboard, Grey Chevy Tahoe

Deal update.

Gander Mountain: $1.99 Powerbaits, .99 Strike King 3x Plastics, $1.99 Mann's Minus 4  & Minus 8 Cranks.  There was a bunch of other stuff like spinners and strike king spinnerbaits ($3) on sale too.

Dick's: 20% of Rapala baits (excluding Minnow Rap), Daiwa Hardbaits (2 for $7), $50 breathable waders, Fireline $8

Shut out if you see any deals in the area.

Where's everyone headed for opening day?  The forecast does not look too promising.  I haven't decided yet but most likely going to try for some trout at Linden Creek.  

Hello all! First time poster here. I guess you could call me a real rookie when it comes to fishing. Tried fishing a few times as a kid, never caught anything, so therefore, thought it was a waste of time. My brothers got me into it a couple of years ago and I got hooked! Bought my own equipment last year but I'm still learning the ropes. I just bought a boat last week and am anxious to use it. I live in the White Oak area, southeast of Pittsburgh and hope to fish the rivers and lakes in the area. Love bass fishing but will try anything that involves relaxing and casting!

This seems like a great forum for getting suggestions and input from all of you that are experienced and know SW PA. Look forward to all of your input!