Page 8 - Fishing Report | 9-13-17

came for white bass – but didn’t get any big ones. Caught a few crap-
pies, too, but they were on the small size, too. Hope to get back down
again this fall for white bass.
Memo to self for 2018: Do not go fishing to Shenango or Conneaut on
Labor Day Weekend.

VENANGO COUNTY

Justus Lake
Angler Al (Franklin); filed 8-29: Although breezy on this day at Justus
Lake, I saved on battery by letting the wind push the boat along. Out in
front of the beach the weedbeds are beginning to die off. The large-
mouth population is still plentiful here. During the early fall season, I

tend to catch more legal size bass (15 inches) than during the summer.
Live creek chubs drifted 30 feet behind the boat with enough weight to
keep them down around 14 to 16 feet is an excellent presentation that
will also get the attention of a tiger musky. (See photo)

Allegheny River
Jeff Knapp @ Keystone Connection Guide Service; filed 9-10: Smallmouth bass action on the
middle Allegheny River continues to be good. Most of my full-day trips are producing 40 to 50

smallies per day on average – some more, some less, depending on the mood of the fish. Re-
cent cold nights have dropped the water temp about 10 degrees, but I’m still finding bass in
summer-like spots – pockets along riffles, tail-out of pools, head of pools, etc. Soft jerkbaits like
the Winco River Darter and Rapala X-Raps have been the ticket most days. (See photos in Live-
well Overflow)
Gene Winger (Oil City); filed 9-10: I was out several evenings and a couple mornings from 8-21
through 9-1. With the river low and clear, I’m finding fish scattered everywhere – in riffles,

deep pools and tail end of deeper pools. I’m catching mostly smaller bass. My best evenings
have been with topwater, catching lots of nice sized bass and several walleyes the last hour be-
fore dusk. Prior to the topwater bite, I had good luck using a Ned Rig Head
with a Winco 3” Baby Stick Worm and deadsticking it in deeper pools. This
week I only got out Saturday morning (mechanical issues) but had a really
great time on the water. I caught a dozen bass on tubes and Winco Swim
Bait. This included a 32 inch 10 lb. walleye – my biggest of the season. How-
ever, my Go-Pro was out of commission so no pictures. All fish were re-

leased so I catch them again another day!
Steve Udick (Oil City); filed 9-9: The horrible weather finally moved out this
afternoon, so Jim Allen and I ran down to fish behind Alcom Island . There
was a good topwater bite. The Jitterbug was the lure of choice. Lots of fun!

Udick photo