The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) has placed Bradford City Reservoir No. 2 (Gilbert Lane) under catch and release guidelines for the present time.
Brian Ensign, a member of Fisheries Management Area 2 of the PFBC, notes that the reason for the catch and release policy is to give the fish that have been stocked in the dam a chance to grow and reproduce.
Following the restoration of the of the impoundment, the Fish Commission stocked the waters with largemouth bass and forage fish in 2017. Then, in 2018, bluegills, along with more largemouth bass and forage fish, were added. This year, more largemouth bass, bluegills and possibly crappie and yellow perch will be stocked.
“We want to give the fish a chance to grow and expand in numbers,” said Ensign, adding, “Bass and panfish normally grow fast in warm water, but with the higher elevation and cooler water of Reservoir No. 2, the growing rate is going to be slowed.”
Mr. Ensign also noted that the Area 2 staff will survey the impoundment in 2020 to determine if the fish populations are growing in numbers and size. The results of the survey will determine if the waterway will be returned to fishing under the general Inland Waters Fishing Regulations of the Fish Commission.
“For the time being, the catch and release rules will apply, and there are signs posted describing the regulations,” Ensign noted.
Catch and release means fishing is permitted on a no harvest basis. It is unlawful to take, kill or possess any fish on these waters. Once caught, all fish shall be immediately returned to the water unharmed.
When asked about the possibility of trout being added to the reservoir, Mr. Ensign noted that there are no plans at present to stock trout in the dam.
Survey done on Reservoir No. 3
On the evening of May 23, 2018, members from the Area 2 team conducted a survey of Bradford City Reservoir No. 3 (Marilla) to evaluate the panfish and bass populations.
The electrofishing survey, which was conducted along the shoreline of the 40-acre impoundment, and done in two runs lasting a little over one hour, produced 449 fish of 12 different species.
Bluegill was the dominant species, with 165 being captured, the fish ranging from one to eight inches.
The survey also produced: 80 pumpkinseed (2-7 inches); 48 yellow perch (4-8 inches); two green sunfish (three inches), 11 white suckers (8-18 inches); three golden shiners (4-10 inches); and three white perch (6-8 inches); along with 84 largemouth bass and five smallmouth bass.
The largemouth bass ran four to 16 inches, and while present throughout the reservoir, the more productive areas were the coves containing aquatic vegetation on the northern and southern shores.
Ranging from eight to 21 inches, the smallmouth bass came from the deep water, rockier areas of the shore and along the breastworks of the dam.
Following the collection of data, Mr. Ensign noted, “The bluegill and pumpkinseed populations have good numbers, but they lack size. The yellow perch lack abundant numbers, but have some size.”
Also taken during the survey were 35 brook trout and 10 brown trout. Included in the count, the trout were not measured as it was a panfish survey.
The one surprise for the survey team was the discovery of the white perch in the waters. How they got there is unknown.
Native to the eastern portion of the Commonwealth, white perch are not hatchery raised or stocked by the Fish Commission.
Once introduced, white perch can quickly reproduce and outnumbers existing panfish populations, eventually becoming the predominant fish.
In summation, Mr. Ensign noted, “Bradford City Reservoir No. 3 provides excellent fishing opportunities for adult trout and largemouth bass, and the decent numbers of panfish populations adds to the fishing experience.”
New flathead catfish record
On April 6 this year, Jeff Bonawitz of Lancaster established a new state record when he hauled a 50-pound, seven-ounce flathead catfish from the Susquehanna River.
The old record of 48 pounds, six ounces was set by James Shabach, Jr., of Boyertown back in 2006, his fish coming from Blue Marsh Spillway.
Bonawitz, using an 8-foot medium action spinning rod loaded with 25-pound monofilament line and rigged with a live bluegill, hooked into the trophy fish in 22 feet of water just south of Lower Bear Island in York County.
Following a 25-minute battle, Bonawitz got the 42-inch fish into his boat.
After the brute was weighed and then certified by a member of the Fish Commission, Bonawitz, who had kept the fish alive, and his son returned the record catch to the river.
At present, a pair of Bradford anglers also hold state records.
Mike holly brought a 36.5-inch walleye through the ice in the Warren County section of the Allegheny Reservoir (Kinzua Dam) in 1980. The 17-pound, 9-ounce beauty beat the old record of 16 pounds, 12 ounces.
Carl Stoltz entered the record book on New Years Day 2003 when he landed a 35-pound northern pike while ice fishing the Red Bridge area of the Allegheny Reservoir, eclipsing the old mark of 33 pounds, eight ounces.
Other state records, year caught and county include:
Largemouth bass — 11 pounds, 3 ounces; 1983; Adams
Rock bass — 3 pounds, 2 ounces; 1971; Erie
Smallmouth bass — 8 pounds, 8 ounces; 1997; Berks
Striped bass (marine) — 53 pounds, 13 ounces; 1989; Delaware
Striped bass (landlocked lake) —53 pounds, 12 ounces; 1994; Huntington
White bass — 3 pounds, 15.7 ounces; 2002; Crawford
Bluegill — 2 pounds, 9 ounces; 1983; Armstrong
Carp — 52 pounds; 1962; Huntington
Bullhead catfish — 4 pounds, 4 ounces; 1983; Chester
Channel catfish — 35 pounds, 2.5 ounces; 1991; Northampton
Crappie — 4 pounds, 2.88 ounces; 2000; Tioga
Freshwater drum — 19 pounds, 14 ounces; 1994; Washington
Muskellunge — 54 pounds, 3 ounces; 1924; Crawford
White perch — 1 pound, 7 ounces; 1991; Northampton
Yellow perch — 2 pounds, 9 ounces; 2000; Carbon
Chain pickerel — 8 pounds, 14.8 ounces; 2002; Wayne
Atlantic salmon (landlocked lake) — 17 pounds, 2 ounces; 2001; Huntington
Chinook salmon — 28 pounds, 15 ounces; 1990; Erie
Coho salmon — 15 pounds, 5 ounces; 1985; Erie
Pink salmon — 4 pounds, 8 ounces; 1995; Erie
Sauger — 4 pounds; 2001; Lycoming
American white shad — 9 pounds, 9 ounces; 1986; Pike
Sucker — 12 pounds, 14.4 ounces; 2003; Forest
Brook trout — 7 pounds; 1996; Clinton
Brown trout — 19 pounds, 10 ounces; 2000; Erie
Lake trout — 27 pounds, 13 ounces; 1996; Erie
Palomino trout — 11 pounds, 10 ounces; 1986; Erie
Rainbow trout — 15 pounds, 6.25 ounces; 1986; Lehigh
Steelhead trout — 20 pounds, 3 ounces; 2001; Erie
