Your top small mouth bass & large mouth lakes in Pa.

[TheGLOV]

These 4 posts of designated for feedback from Pennsylvania anglers!

Let's discuss.

Who's up first?

List your lakes and maybe your experiences (fish tales!)

Tight lines to all!!

 

[Ct. Lion]

I will offer up Lake Wallenpaupack again for smallies. When fishing live herring for trout and walleye I catch a lot of suspended small mouth bass which are also feeding on the herring balls. Very popular bass tournament destination. The lake limits tournaments to 50 per year.
The second lake I have never fished but it has everything I like in it so it would be a destination lake if I had the time. This is the huge Raystown Lake impoundment. It also is a bass tournament destination lake and I believe they limit tournaments to 100 per year. It also has a lot of boat launches. It has every fish in the Glov's four posts. So one spot fits everyone's objective.
The best of all is Lake Erie. There is no better body of water anywhere for walleye and smallies. The bench mark for a smallie being huge is over 5lbs in virtually any lake. That bench mark on Erie is 6lbs. For walleye anything over 30 inches is a monster almost anywhere. In Erie this is common trolling worm harnesses in the central basin out in 60-70 feet of water.

 

[PearlSUJam]

These 4 posts of designated for feedback from Pennsylvania anglers!

Let's discuss.

Who's up first?

List your lakes and maybe your experiences (fish tales!)

Tight lines to all!!

Private Lake X for largemouth and private Lake Z for smallmouth.

Which is why I primarily fish upstate NY.

 

[PearlSUJam]

There is no better body of water anywhere for walleye and smallies

I would say Lake Ontario for the smallies part. The NY state record was tied a couple of years back and 5 -7 pounders are common.

8-4 smallmouth bass ties New York State Record


August 31, 2016
smallmouth.jpg

Patrick Hildenbrand
Patrick Hildenbrand caught this freaky-fat smallmouth in a derby in the 1000 Islands area of the St. Lawrence River this weekend.

 

[BBG65]

In Pennsylvania, Lake Erie has to be the smallmouth king, both for size and numbers. I can't imagine anywhere else being close. There also is pretty good largemouth fishing in Presque Isle Bay, but smallies are the big name here.

 

[BornALion]

My best days are on private lakes. Paupak is always hit or miss but we usually don't get up there until the fall. Most of my fishing is on Griffin Reservoir near Clarks Summit since i can be there in 2 minutes on my side by side. Duck Harbor past Honesdale is also very good.

 

[PearlSUJam]

In Pennsylvania, Lake Erie has to be the smallmouth king, both for size and numbers. I can't imagine anywhere else being close. There also is pretty good largemouth fishing in Presque Isle Bay, but smallies are the big name here.

Being in NEPA, it's much closer for me to get to the Ontario basin. You're correct. Erie is great.

 

[paulrandythomas]

I will offer up Lake Wallenpaupack again for smallies. When fishing live herring for trout and walleye I catch a lot of suspended small mouth bass which are also feeding on the herring balls. Very popular bass tournament destination. The lake limits tournaments to 50 per year.
The second lake I have never fished but it has everything I like in it so it would be a destination lake if I had the time. This is the huge Raystown Lake impoundment. It also is a bass tournament destination lake and I believe they limit tournaments to 100 per year. It also has a lot of boat launches. It has every fish in the Glov's four posts. So one spot fits everyone's objective.
The best of all is Lake Erie. There is no better body of water anywhere for walleye and smallies. The bench mark for a smallie being huge is over 5lbs in virtually any lake. That bench mark on Erie is 6lbs. For walleye anything over 30 inches is a monster almost anywhere. In Erie this is common trolling worm harnesses in the central basin out in 60-70 feet of water.

Lake Raystown blows. It is more of a recreational lake than a fishing lake. Yes, there are some massive stripers in there, but fishing it in the warm months is very frustrating with all of the boat traffic.

 

[RedBankerEngr]

Pine Creek in Lycoming, Clinton, and Tioga Counties! Big scenery but smaller fish!

 

[chiro31]

I gave up fishing lakes in Pa too pressured, people roll up on top of you if you are in a decent spot. I head north to Ontario. Fish the Rideau chain, Champlain early season, St Lawrence. I caught a verified 6lb 2oz smallie on “The Larry” last yr. with a 9lb eye in the same drift. Big Rideau can be good for largies. I got another largie spot but I’d have to kill ya

 

[PAgeologist]

Lake Raystown blows. It is more of a recreational lake than a fishing lake. Yes, there are some massive stripers in there, but fishing it in the warm months is very frustrating with all of the boat traffic.

Growing up we had a bass boat with a 150 hp motor, so you could ski and tube behind it. Once the rec boaters hit the water, we traded the rods for skis and tubes still enjoyed the lake. Great times on the lake doing both.

 

[doofis]

Presque Isle Bay of Lake Erie for smallmouths. I was out there today. We caught smallies, a pike, a gar, and panfish.

I grew up fishing on the Susquehanna (60's -early 80's), from Accomac to Conowingo. When i started fishing Lake Erie in the early 90's, i could not believe how big an average smallmouth was. First time, out in my 12 foot rowboat, i had a stringer of 3 or 4 big ones. Man, i thought i was the shizzle! Turns out, guys who knew what they were doing had caught dozens like those.

Largemouth - farm ponds.

Growing up, it was Lake Grubb, near Mountville, PA. Back before it was a park. Old ore hole... woods and steep banks... songs of woodthrushes... clear water... bass on the prowl.

 

[Indian rocks rich]

Lake Raystown blows. It is more of a recreational lake than a fishing lake. Yes, there are some massive stripers in there, but fishing it in the warm months is very frustrating with all of the boat traffic.

Yea fishing at night is recommended. Lake wallenpaupack gets heavy boat pressure. But lots of good fishing if you go when the boaters are off

 

[PearlandLion]

I’m a big fan of Rose Valley Lake in Lycoming County. Great setting and no big motors.

 

[chiro31]

How do u post a picture from an I phone, my kid caught a doozie smallie a week ago

 

[lbujoe33]

Yea fishing at night is recommended. Lake wallenpaupack gets heavy boat pressure. But lots of good fishing if you go when the boaters are off

I have my own honey hole in Northeastern PA. I caught an 8 lb walleye, 5 pound smallmouth, 5 lb largemouth, and a 12 inch bluegill.

 

[lbujoe33]

Several years ago, I fished Lake Oneida and caught tons of nice walleye and smallmouths. Unfortunately, my fishing partner ( Brother-in-law) passed away a few years ago and passion has diminished. He was an awesome person and a great fisherman. Plenty of good times with him. It really sucked the life out of me.

 

[Agoodnap]

IMO, Manor and Upper Van Sciver lakes at Penn Warner Club (William Penn's estate, now a waste company property) is the best fishing in PA for Large Mouth, Pike, and Crappie. It's private, but anyone with some money can get a membership. Located in Lower Bucks County (Tullytown).

 

[Indian rocks rich]

I have my own honey hole in Northeastern PA. I caught an 8 lb walleye, 5 pound smallmouth, 5 lb largemouth, and a 12 inch bluegill.

Caught a 30 inch walleye last year around Memorial Day at wallenpaupack big fish are there

 

[Gitzit]

Lake Erie is the best if you can get out on it. If you want a trophy Large mouth Cowanesque in northern Pa. is good. Lots of Musky also. I caught my personnel best there of 8 pounds and a second best at 7 pounds.

Raystown is my home lake but it sucks. Too many guides taking fish out with live bait.

 

[BBG65]

Presque Isle Bay of Lake Erie for smallmouths. I was out there today. We caught smallies, a pike, a gar, and panfish.

I grew up fishing on the Susquehanna (60's -early 80's), from Accomac to Conowingo. When i started fishing Lake Erie in the early 90's, i could not believe how big an average smallmouth was. First time, out in my 12 foot rowboat, i had a stringer of 3 or 4 big ones. Man, i thought i was the shizzle! Turns out, guys who knew what they were doing had caught dozens like those.

Largemouth - farm ponds.

Growing up, it was Lake Grubb, near Mountville, PA. Back before it was a park. Old ore hole... woods and steep banks... songs of woodthrushes... clear water... bass on the prowl.

Sometime soon, the smallies will migrate out of the bay into the main lake.

 

[cment]

Delete. Wrong quote.

 

[Sooner Lion]

These 4 posts of designated for feedback from Pennsylvania anglers!

Let's discuss.

Who's up first?

List your lakes and maybe your experiences (fish tales!)

Tight lines to all!!

1. Toledo Bend
2. Sam Rayburn
3. Lake Falcon
4. Lake Fork
5. Lake Amistad

 

[PearlSUJam]

1. Toledo Bend
2. Sam Rayburn
3. Lake Falcon
4. Lake Fork
5. Lake Amistad

Remember when Amistad was on fire?

 

[lbujoe33]

Caught a 30 inch walleye last year around Memorial Day at wallenpaupack big fish are there

I knew a guy who caught a 14.5 lb walleye from the Pack.

 

[BBG65]

I know a guy who caught a 15 lb. 12 oz. eye from the Allegheny in Feb. and his fishing buddy caught 5 in one day from 10 to 13 lbs. from the same spot in Jan., all on Rapalas.

 

[PAgeologist]

If you're into stripers/hybrids, my dad just got back from Lake Arthur near Grove City. He said they caught a ton of good eating size (6-10 lbs). He went with his cousin, who has certainly mastered finding and catching them.

 

[SEPATOPTEN]

Not Pennsy but I have had a day where I caught 39 largemouth and a afternoon into early evening where I hooked 42 largemouth. Some of the best fishing is on golf courses.

 

[PSU Mike]

Streams are much more fun for smallies.

 

[SEPATOPTEN]

Streams are much more fun for smallies.

I fish the delaware slightly North of the "Trenton Makes" bridge.