ICE FISHING
The recent cold weather and the forecast for some additional frigid temperatures seem to predict some excellent ice fishing on the horizon for hard water anglers in the Columbia-Montour County area.
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is doing its part by providing a good supply of trout just in time for the resurgence of good ice. Tuesday, February 2nd fish were stocked at Lake Took a While located at the PPL area along Route 11 north of Berwick. That’s the good news. The bad news is this lake is not open to ice fishing. The trout will be there when the ice begins to subside. You may question why the trout would be stocked during the winter in waters not open to ice fishing. The official answer from a Fish Commission spokesman is that the purpose of the winter stocking is not necessarily to provide fish for ice fishing. It is to provide trout for the extended season that continues through March in some area. Shore fisherman should have some fun at Lake-Took-A-While as soon as spring arrives.
Trout were stocked at Briar Creek Lake in Columbia County on Wednesday, February 3rd at 12:30 p.m. This lake is located off Route 93 just outside of Berwick. There is plenty of parking and there will probably be enough anglers to help you determine where to fish if you haven’t tried this lake before. The trout stocked on Wednesday were, in a word, magnificent. Mark Pisko, area Waterway Conservation Officer, said the fish placed in Briar Creek Lake averaged one pound each. One angler almost immediately caught one fish over 20 inches.
Trout will also be placed in Hunter’s Lake, Sullivan County on the 22nd of February. This body of water is in Sullivan County not far from Muncy Valley.
I asked a veteran ice fisherman what is working best on trout. He smiled and said, “Whatever they are biting on the day you are fishing.” Not much help there but I would guess the old stand-bys, including meal and wax worms, live minnows and small jigs will put a few fish on the ice. The small Rapala lures seem to be the lure most ice fishermen talk about for catching everything from trout to panfish to pickerel. If trout isn’t your favorite fish you can try Lake Chillasquaqua at the Montour Preserve near Washingtonville. Please read all the signs carefully as there are some sections of the lake the off limits to anglers.
CAUTION…Remember you always need to check the condition of the ice before fishing. The waters mentioned above are not monitored in any way by anyone to determine if there is safe ice. You may want to make a few sample holes near the shore to determine the thickness of the ice. Never go fishing alone.
Finally . . . Just a reminder a new 2010 fishing license is required for all fishing. There are also different rules and regulations at various waters. These rules are posted at the boat ramps. Review them carefully before starting to fish.