Pymatuning Lake probably is the second-most well known Pennsylvania walleye water, next to Lake Erie. It had this reputation even before Lake Erie gained prominence. A report from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission on the Spring 2014 Trap Net Survey indicated that 2015 could be the best year for walleye fishing at Pymatuning in several years, at least. This is a bold outlook for a great walleye lake.

Weather conditions can have a significant effect on the results of fish surveys of this type. The report points out that weather conditions allowed walleye to be sampled at their spawning peak, an optimal time. While this probably influenced the number of walleye sampled, it also probably made the age/size structure figures more accurate than usual.

Sampling is accomplished using trapnets. Trapnets also collect other fish species which are included in the report.

The trapnet catch rate for 2014, just less than 5.0 per trapnet hour, is considerably greater than any other year sampled. The previous high was less than 3.0 per trapnet hour.

The survey revealed that 92 percent of the walleye population is longer than 15 inches. The greatest share of these walleye measured 16 inches to 19 inches. Walleye longer than 20 inches are more abundant than any year since 2009, and well above the average over the study period starting in 1989. The longest walleye in the sample measured 28 inches.

Strong year classes are a result of good survival from 2009, 2010 and 2011 fingerling stockings. These fish should insure that larger walleye will be relatively abundant for a few years, at least.

Muskellunge, another claim to widespread fame for Pymatuning Lake, numbers were limited in the trapnet sample by cold water. Nearly all were caught late in the sampling period. With 78 percent of the sample longer than 30 inches, this could be an entertaining year for muskie anglers. The longest muskie sampled measured 48 inches.

Now to my own Pymatuning Lake favorite, crappie.

The report states, “Panfish populations remain strong with good numbers of quality channel catfish, black crappie, bluegill and yellow perch.”

Size range for black crappie sampled was 4 inches to 15 inches. A surprising 84 percent were longer than 9 inches. Perhaps a large number of crappie less than 9 inches might be preferable for the long term outlook, but for this year and the next couple of years, plenty of good size crappie will be available.

Bluegill in the survey ranged from 2 inches to 9 inches, with 68% longer than 7 inches.

Yellow perch ranged in length from 3 inches to 13 inches with 22 percent longer than 9 inches.

Channel catfish ranged from 3 inches to 28 inches with 46 percent longer than 16 inches.

Pymatuning Lake has been one of my favorite places for fishing since I started to learn enough about the lake to catch fish with some degree of regularity. Those size characteristics in the 2014 trapnet survey were in line with what we have been catching there over the past several years. Usually targeting crappie, we commonly also catch channel cats, walleye, bluegill and perch.

Bluegill caught at Pymatuning have been larger, on average, than at any other lake I fish regularly. We have had little trouble catching all we want while releasing every one less than 8 inches. A few of the bluegill we have caught there have measured 11 inches.

We usually fish the area between, and south from, Clark Island and Harris Island. These larger islands are located near the northern tip of the lake. Linesville Launch, Alcatraz Launch and Wilson Launch all provide short distance boat access. These launches are all west from Linesville.

Fishing regulations for Pymatuning Lake are different from elsewhere in Pennsylvania because of a cooperative agreement between Pennsylvania and Ohio, which share the lake. Fishing is allowed year-round. Minimum size for walleye and sauger is 15 inches, for bass 12 inches and for muskellunge 30 inches. Boat motors are limited to 20 hp. Boaters licensed to fish one state may fish anywhere in the lake. Shore fishing is only allowed in the state for which an angler is licensed.

Be sure to confirm and check for more regulations in your regulations summary.