spring, so bait is a better choice out- side of the special-regulation area. “Try the Ontelaunee and Maiden CastCast AAwayway creeks complex, Berks and Lehigh Southcentral, Southeast counties,” Mike says. “These streams PA for the Early Opener are long and easily accessible from PA Route 143, which parallels both by Art Michaels streams. They offer small to large wa- ter with good midday hatches in late March and early April, and the area Fish & Boat Commission area fi sh- Area 6 Fisheries Manager Mike is scenic farm country with room to eries managers Mike Kaufmann and Kaufmann also offers excellent advice fi sh.” Dave Miko have specifi c suggestions for the southeastern counties. “In Leaser Lake, another suggestion, is on where to fi sh the early opening day muddy conditions or cold water con- close by if stream fi shing isn’t good. in 18 southeastern counties, and how ditions, fi sh with bait,” he says. “Par- Under low fl ow conditions, though, to score. ticularly good in muddy water are Mike says to avoid Maiden Creek. “Big Spring Creek, Cumberland corn, paste baits and worms.” Mike also suggests the White Clay County, offers 2.3 miles of limestone “In clearer water conditions, try Creek complex, southern Chester spring creek waters for great fi shing,” Otter Creek, York County. It’s scenic County, which includes White Clay says Dave Miko. “Big Spring Creek with a long stocked section,” Mike Creek, Middle Branch White Clay gets muddy only after heavy rain, so says. “Ridley Creek, Delaware County, Creek, and East Branch White Clay it provides clear-water fi shing when in Ridley Creek State Park, is scenic in Creek. “As a group, these streams offer many other streams are muddy.” Drift portions of the park with some walk- miles of fi shing,” he says. “The water live bait here. in fi shing, but it tends to be crowded.” temperature is usually not a problem Dave recommends Dauphin Coun- Mike says it might be best to wait un- in early spring.” ty’s Clark Creek, which is 24 miles til late morning or early afternoon to Mike says that in cold water con- long with a 2.4-mile Catch-and-Re- begin fi shing if crowds are expected ditions, all of these streams may pro- lease, Fly-Fishing-Only section. “This in the case of good weather. Water vide better fi shing in midday and stream offers the opportunity to catch temperature isn’t usually a problem in the afternoon, and that an added brook and brown trout in the stocked in early spring. bonus is that they’ll be less crowded section that runs through State Game Mike suggests the Little Schuylkill than at 8 a.m. Lands 211,” Dave says. “The stream River, Schuylkill County. “There are Both Mike and Dave suggest heading offers productive fi shing in low, clear many opportunities in several stocked out to one of the trout-stocked lakes water because the relatively fast cur- sections here,” he says. Mike says that or streams that are downstream of a rents force fi sh to make quick deci- the Little Schuylkill River is good lake if this spring is wet with very high sions about offerings. Live bait and throughout the spring in all sections, fl ows. Review the list of trout-stocked spinners work well here.” with the Port Clinton section warm- lakes in the 2007 Pennsylvania Fishing Dave thinks that Little Marsh ing earlier than the rest. The Little Summary or on the Commission’s web Creek’s 7 miles in Adams County are Schuylkill tends to run cold in early site, www.fi sh.state.pa.us. also a good spot. He says this low- gradient stream offers good fi shing in high, muddy water because fl ows won’t be so fast that they make fi shing overly diffi cult. The stream is stocked with brook and brown trout. Try live bait, small crankbaits and paste baits. Dave picks Cocolamus Creek, 10 miles long in Juniata County, as an- other good spot. “Stocked with brown and rainbow trout, this stream should offer anglers good opening day and early season catches,” Dave says. “This low-gradient stream provides ample opportunities for both high-water French Creek, Chester County

and clear-water conditions.” Michaels photo-Art

www.fi sh.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2007 7