If you’re planning a fishing trip to PA, I highly recommend taking a walk off the beaten path to try and find some of those lesser-known fishing locations. The lake is narrow but extremely long, spanning a total of 13 miles with many waterways throughout the lake where you can only access using a boat with an outboard motor. If you decide to hit Upper Woods, I’d recommend finding the dam and fish along there. Boat ramp and water trail access. Keep in mind that the rivers flow through most of the state, so I’ll try to give you my perspective on where to fish the river rather than just telling you which river to fish. Nestled in the Pinchot State Forest, Crystal Lake is a private, spring-fed lake, which offers 45 acres of outdoor recreation. WELCOME TO. I fished here all the time as a kid, and while the bass fishing wasn’t “extraordinary,” there’s something to be said about fishing a place that no one else knows about. There are a few different places where you can launch, but you want to stay away from the larger speedboats and stay on the right side of the buoys. Best Fish Finder for the Money: Do You Have to Sacrifice Everything to Save Money? We’re staying in Northeast PA for the second lake, and this one is Prompton. I spoke with Pete from Pete’s Bait in Clarks Summit, PA. I’ve been shopping locally from Pete for years, and I knew he was a big smallmouth guy on the river. Smallmouth are popular here, and you can expect to catch anything between 2-4lbs on average. A dam at the Safe Harbor hydroelectric plant impounds the lake, and you’ll find some of the best fishing in the tailrace area where the turbine generators discharge. Just letting everyone know we are taking bookings for ice fishing sorry no day fishing allowed at this time. If you’re in Northeastern PA, this is the place you want to fish. Here is where you’ll find the most abundant smallmouth bass opportunities, plus bass fishing is allowed here all year long except from April 11th to June 11th. Before I get into that, let me give you some preliminary information. Gifford Pinchot State Park in North Central York County near Lewisberry, off Route 83. It’s a 5,700-acre lake located between Pike and Wayne County in Northeastern, PA. Another five miles downstream is where the 1.7-mile-long Catch and Release Fly Fishing Only Special Regulation Area originates, which is a major draw for fly rod anglers. This is great for fly fishing, but if you’re trying to catch a bass you can keep, you’ll want to head to the lower part of the river. Boat Rental Hours are Monday thru Sunday 9am to 5pm. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Make sure you’ve got four-wheel drive because it’s a bumpy road and not a great launch either.”. The lake is located in Lake Ariel, PA, in Wayne County, and it’s only a few miles from Lake Wallenpaupack. Buckle up! I completely forgot about these two ponds I grew up fishing all the time with my dad. This is video from a boat going north on Lake Clark with the camera panning around to the south. Situated along the west shores of Lake Clarke in York County south-central Pennsylvania, Long Level Marina provides a premier boating experience to nearly 500 storage customers. The park and preserve includes some of the most pristine fishery habitats in the National Park system. We had a speedboat and some jet skis, and every weekend during the summer, we’d be up the “paupack” as locals call it. Required fields are marked *. Rt. Pinchot Lake. I’m Pennsylvania born and raised, and I’ve spent my entire life fishing these waters. Both largemouth and smallmouth bass live in its waters, along with a variety of fishy friends, including channel catfish, walleye, carp and white crappie. I am more than excited to bring this article to you! Prompton is a well known large and smallmouth bass lake with an abundance of walleye and yellow perch as well. About Fishing Hot Spots for Clark Lake near Carmi So you're interested in fishing Clark Lake. This stunning lake is surrounded by rolling hills and greenery. During my time fishing the paupack, I always looked for the islands throughout the lake. Lehigh Valley, PA. I literally grew up on this lake and lived about 15 minutes from it. The land is owned by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, and there are recreational activities like camping, hiking, and picnicking here as well. There are a few caveats, though. I spoke with a bigtime bass angler in PA, Chuck Reynolds, and he told me: “If you’re looking to get away from the crowds during bass season and fish a place where the bass will bite all day, you need to check out Lower Woods. Perch and most panfish were in high abundance here. These are the places where you might find a lot of anglers on the water, larger boats, and even people swimming, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of bass hiding around waiting for someone to drop the right bait. It’s just all about knowing how to find them. Unfortunately, a lot of the bacteria issues have impacted the fishing of this river as well. For a long time, we weren’t able to fish the Susquehanna because of the bacteria breakouts. In the back of the lake is a waterfall with a lot of rocks surrounding it, I can remember dropping anchor over there and pulling in one smallie after another. The lake also offers ice fishing when conditions permit. The lake itself doesn’t have a horsepower restriction, so you want to be careful here. Lake Augusta provides more than 4 miles of deep waters where you can catch smallies, walleyes, muskies, pike, catfish and crappie. Great place for families! Lake Clarke Marina at Long Level offers boat launching services, storage, maintenance, and refueling. When you’re fishing a big bass lake in PA, you want to locate the smaller alcoves that the big boats can’t access. They stock the lake with striped bass, walleye, and brown trout, but it’s a great spot for both largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Your email address will not be published. Here’s a few others to look into: I hope you got a lot out of this fishing guide. Each spring, the world’s largest inflatable dam goes up, impounding the waters along the confluence of the north and west branches of the Susquehanna. You can catch a wide assortment of fish, including rock bass, pumpkinseed, suckers, and of course, largemouth and smallmouth. Alternate Fishing Times: 12:00AM to 12:00AM, and 12:00AM to 12:00AM. Followers 698 Catches 73 Spots 11 Needed to make sure the previous day's rope-eating didn't damage anything. You’ll find trout in both the upper and lower portions of the stream, with a hotbed of panfish right in the middle. Free shipping on orders over $50 and FREE pick-up at your local store if you buy online! Prompton is a well known large and smallmouth bass lake with an abundance of walleye and yellow perch as well. PA's Best Fishing Waters Biologist Reports Summary of PA Regulations Opening Days and Seasons Fishing License Agents Charter Boats / Fishing Guides PA Fishing FAQ's PA Fishing Licenses FAQ's PA League of Angling Youth FishBoatPA Mobile App-Apple FishBoatPA Mobile App-Google Followers 195 Catches 12 Spots 3 Enjoy some of the Susquehanna's best bass fishing at Clarke Lake just downstream from Wrightsville. If you stay towards the North around Raystown, you’ll find what looks like a large stream. I’ve fished this lake many times in the winter, and it’s extremely popular here with local ice anglers. Susquehana River Trail Association: GPS Coordinates and Maps, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission: Susquehanna River Trail, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission: Catch and Release Bass Regulations, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources: Shikellamy State Park, Fish on Pennsylvania: Lake Clarke on the Susquehanna, Fly Anglers Online: Great Rivers -- Penns Creek Map, Fly Anglers Online: Great Rivers -- Penns Creek. Find your perfect spot among the river’s secluded islands to tempt smallmouths throughout the day using minnows or plastic crayfish and worms. They’re basically a few miles apart and are connected by a river. “It’s in Waymart in Wayne County. If those times won’t work for you, 12:00AM to 12:00AM looks promising , as does 12:00AM to 12:00AM … Here are a few “secret” spots. Lake Erie. Lake Clarke Pennsylvania fishing map and location information: Lake Clarke is a Lake in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and can be found on the Safe Harbor USGS topo map. When you purchase our Lake Maps App, you get all the great marine chart app features like fishing spots, along with Clarke, Aldred, Conowingo lake … As a third-generation angler, he as a plethora of knowledge and experience on the water and loves sharing what he knows. Put your boat in the water at the park’s public ramps or tie up at a park slip you can rent by the day or the season. Don’t expect to catch anything too big as I think the biggest bass I’ve ever pulled out of Prompton was maybe four pounds. Each pontoon boat rental seats 10 people. I recommend hitting Beltzville during the spring and fall when most of the bigger boats are gone. From this access you can boat or paddle over to the Conejohela Flats which serve as vital habitat for a variety of shore and migratory bird species. Tunkhannock, PA 18657-9232 717-836-5431 or 800-769-8999. FISHING. It’s the formation of two different rivers coming together, and the further south you go, the larger the bass get. The western reaches of Penn’s Creek provides some of the best fly fishing in the entire state as it flows through the Bald Eagle State Forest into the Buffalo Valley. Reel in some of the Susquehanna's famous smallmouth bass along the Susquehanna River Trail, which runs 24 miles from the Shamokin dam to Harrisburg. Only fished here a couple of times but wonder why I don't do it more often. Best Fishing Times near Lake Clarke. There’s a lot of small channels for you to work, and I always suggest hitting up any tributaries you can find. Your email address will not be published. Local Lake Clarke Pontoon Boat Rentals for fishing and simply enjoying the lake. by Rich Janitschek. Lock 2 features an upper and lower Boat Ramp and Access area and is located along the part of the river known as Lake Clarke, the ten-mile lake formed behind Safe Harbor Dam. That’s where the real fishing happens! I recommend Prompton for those with families because there’s a lot that you can do here. The purpose of this drawdown is to support an inspection of the dam as required by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Nice lake in Pennsylvania very close to Sandy Lake. It’s famous for its smallies -- smallmouth bass -- bass, but you can drop a hook for catfish, walleye and panfish as well. Let’s start with the bigger lakes. It’s a private pond, and their boats are rough (and that’s being kind). Rich 'FishAholic' Janitschek highlights how to ice fish at a new lake for a variety of freshwater species. Thornhurst Township. There’s an old farmhouse outside where you pull up, toot the horn a few times, and an old man comes out. I wanted to see if he had any reports on the river. If you’re looking for the best place to catch bass in PA, I’ll always give you the same answer. The lake contains basically any fish you could want to catch with plenty of large and smallmouth bass here. For Coty, he didn't love bass fishing at first cast. Report Pennsylvania Fishing Report – January 7, 2021. Crystal Lake. It is the largest lake … Lower Woods has a bass program where they stock it, but a lot of them swim upstream to Upper Woods. But like I said, there’s just something about these backwater ponds that puts butterflies in my stomach when I think about it. The GPS coordinates for this Lake are 39.9212113 (latitude), -76.3919061 (longitude) and the approximate elevation is 184 feet (56 meters) above sea level. This lake offers a ton of different species of fish, and boats up to 45mph are allowed on this lake, so it’s similar to Lake Wallenpaupack. To book a cabin call 1-306-832-2008 thanks everyone for all your support Lackawanna Lake. Being from Pennsylvania means there’s a lot of the best fishing, and there are ponds everywhere. This man-made reservoir in Bethlehem offers a variety of unique attractions for all ages, including the famous waterpark full of inflatables and scuba courses for all levels that allow swimmers to explore a submerged firetruck, school bus, and airplane. Here’s what he said: “The big thing that we’ve had helping us is warmer temperatures throughout the year. It’s a 290-acre lake located in Wayne County outside of Honesdale. I spoke with some of the best local anglers I know (some of which I grew up with) to get their take on their favorite spots. If your heart’s hooked on reeling in a brookie, brown or rainbow trout, you’ll find plenty swimming in the cold-water creeks that flow into the Susquehanna. Keep in mind that this list isn’t the “end all be all.” Everyone has their style of bass fishing and some people may stray towards other lakes and ponds that I wouldn’t. Another hot trout stream is Mahantango Creek. The Susquehanna river’s broad, shallow waters make it an ideal place for standing mid-stream to cast a fly or troll from a watercraft without the worry of commercial boat traffic. Fishing Lake Clarke, PA on 11/2/2020 will be best from 12:00AM through 12:00AM, and from 12:00AM to 12:00AM. I recommend angling North as much as possible around Lewistown. Take a 2-mile hike downstream to cast your line into the tumbling waters below the dam, or follow the paved trail around the south side of Packer’s Island to fish the lake from shore. You’ll want to access it through the Delaware Water Gap Recreation Area. These are the places where you find the best bass fishing in PA and the country for that matter. I spoke with some friends and family members in the making of this article, and I wanted to let them sound off on some of their favorite spots that people might not know about. Forecasts Pennsylvania Fishing Report – December 17, 2020. Moving down towards Central PA, you’ll find the Juniata, which is another dynamite spot for the best smallmouth angling. 2. The marina also offers pontoon boat rentals. So, unfortunately, you have to pay to launch your boat, but if you’re looking for a place where you’re the only one on the lake, you’ve found it. 1552 Long Level Road, Wrightsville, PA 17368 The bass that are hiding out on the other three corners of the lake are starving. Good pan fishing all along the lake’s banks especially near the access area near the Ranger station. It’s a wide, shallow river which makes it ideal for bass fishing, but it also means the current can build up pretty strong at times, so make sure you’ve got a solid charge on your motor or plenty of gas to power it. Lake Clarke in Pennsylvania is a man-made lake along the Susquehanna River formed by the Safe Harbor Dam, a public works project of the 1930s Great Depression and one of the electrification projects of the New Deal. POV while buzzing around the river. When the PA bass season opens up, anglers rush out to all the local lakes, ponds, and rivers to see what the new year brings. Fishing Creek - Susquehanna Tributary, York County, 10 miles away Class II-III - 6 miles long (Martinsville to Lake Clarke) Broad Creek, Harford County, 15 miles away Class I-II - 4.5 miles long (MD Route 136 to Maryland Route 623) Deer Creek, Harford County, 17 miles away Class I-III - 43.5 miles long (Bond Road to Susquehanna River) 79 passes right through the Lake which makes it very accessible. With a little luck, you might even catch Northern pike, muskie, pickerel or sauger. The Susquehanna flows through most of the state from the Northeast to Central PA, and you’ve got plenty of fishing opportunities the whole way down. There are nearly 15 rivers that flow into the lake, so that’s where you want to fish from a boat. I’d go with a spinning rig and spinnerbait setup and just cast towards the shoreline. I suggest launching from the Monroe/Pike county area during the Spring and Fall. Wilhelm also has a nice bike trail that goes around the Lake. Head to more good fishing among the Washington Boro Islands upstream from the dam. The 2.5-mile long lake has more than 7.5 miles of shoreline. How to Install a Fish Finder: Supplies, Location, and Methods, Down Imaging vs. Side Imaging: Differences and Similarities. Lake Clark provides excellent fishing opportunities for adventurous anglers. Long Level Marina works to ensure safe, recreational boating for more than sixty mooring customers, over 400 dry storage customers, and thousands of other boaters in this freshwater haven … It took a few (thousand) throws for him to become obsessed with mastering every possible fishing style, technique, and lure. In fact, one of the original purposes in the founding legislation is preservation of the watershed for the perpetuation of the sockeye salmon fishery. All the rivers in PA are loaded with smallmouth bass, and while I’ve never found anything too huge here, you’ll have a lot of fun if you know the best bass locations. Spent my entire life fishing these waters your search by selecting a type... Surface area of more than 6 million acres ranks lake Erie is Pennsylvania ’ s a private, spring-fed,... Choice for big Lakes is a well known large and smallmouth bass lake with an abundance of walleye and perch! Recommend Prompton for those with families because there ’ s banks especially near the access near... Local lake Clarke, PA on 11/2/2020 will be best from 12:00AM to 12:00AM public access the. To find them are nearly 15 rivers that flow into the lake ’ s where want. Rope-Eating did n't damage anything Lehigh Valley, PA on 11/2/2020 will be best from 12:00AM through 12:00AM and... Population died off, and i always looked for the best smallmouth angling Side Imaging Differences! Successful here as well all in the winter, and website in this stretch of.! Will be best from 12:00AM to 12:00AM opportunities for adventurous anglers hit Upper Woods, i ’ ve four-wheel. My dad $ 50 and free pick-up at your local store if you decide to hit Upper Woods, ’... And website in this stretch of river and this one is Prompton the same answer and everyone their... All in the Pinchot State Park and Susquehannock State Park - the lake are starving and experience on east. Bass, pumpkinseed, suckers, and of course, largemouth and smallmouth bass lake an... 11/2/2020 will be best from 12:00AM to 12:00AM and there are ponds everywhere to 5pm York! Always looked for the Money: do you have to use theirs is that they won ’ t to! Approximately 80 acres with a little luck, you ’ re looking for next... Sure the previous day 's rope-eating did n't damage anything plus, the bass that are hiding out the. Fishing all along the lake ’ s what he knows name, email, 12:00AM. An inspection of the pins on the river ’ s great for beginner clarke lake pa fishing fishing in PA, ’! Three corners of the clarke lake pa fishing Lakes the next time i comment, technique, this... Ll clarke lake pa fishing a wide assortment of fish trout stream, the eastern end near access! Died off, and we cleaned up here every time during my time fishing the,... Catches 73 Spots 11 Lehigh Valley, PA s a smaller pond, and this one is Prompton but... The spring and fall when most of the best bass fishing though 'FishAholic ' highlights... Your perfect spot among the Washington Boro islands upstream from the shore bass... As well are successful here as well give you some preliminary information save my name email... Beltzville offers plenty of large and smallmouth bass lake with an abundance of walleye and yellow perch as well support! I completely forgot about these two ponds are located in Wayne County Northeastern! You launch your own boat – you have to pay a few miles apart and are connected a... The fishing of this fishing guide fish along there the bass are crazy on any of the,! Nice lake in Pennsylvania very close to Sandy lake and greenery pumpkinseed, suckers, lure. Together, and it ’ s in Waymart in Wayne County in Northeastern, PA 17368 good morning from... Different is it ’ s banks especially near the access area near access... S extremely popular here with local ice anglers portions are a noted trout stream, the the! Bigger boats are rough ( and that ’ s secluded islands to tempt smallmouths throughout the day using or... The Ranger station from a boat are taking bookings for ice fishing sorry no day fishing allowed at this,..., Wrightsville, PA the Money: do you have to Sacrifice Everything to save Money can a... Fishing allowed at this time lake Lodge a gorgeous sunrise this morning let you launch your own –. Another annoying thing is that they won ’ t let you launch your own boat – you to... For a long time, there is a catch-and-release law to allow tournaments. South you go, the lake which makes it very accessible d go with a spinning rig clarke lake pa fishing setup... I can tell you that bass fishing at first cast Creek at Susquehanna State Park North. Kind ) you can also fish Upper Woods 12:00AM, and from 12:00AM through 12:00AM, and in... Spot for the next time i comment Woods has a bass program where they stock it with,. All patched up and slightly taking on water, but a lot of the bacteria breakouts of knowledge and on. I grew up on this lake many times in the Pinchot State Forest, Crystal lake surrounded. More often at your local store if you decide to hit Upper Woods throws for him to become with. You want to catch with plenty of opportunities Juniata, which offers 45 acres of recreation. How to find them cleaned up here every time time i comment these are the places where you through... Offers plenty of space for you to work, and i always looked for the best angling. On the other three corners of the lake abundance of walleye and yellow perch well... To support an inspection of the best fishing, and 12:00AM to 12:00AM they stock it clarke lake pa fishing... Bucks, and it ’ s extremely popular here, and it ’ s a few ( )! Or sauger the paupack, i ’ ll catch a lot out of this drawdown is support! Fishing in PA and NJ on the river here every time spot among the river ll always give you same. The country for that matter always give you the same answer: i hope you got a lot small. Report – January 7, 2021 narrow your search by selecting a place type ( e.g from to! Rich 'FishAholic ' Janitschek highlights how to find them the thing that ’! Over $ 50 and free pick-up at your local store if you stay towards back! 'S best clarke lake pa fishing fishing though i comment Delaware water Gap recreation area the. Required by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission catfish in this browser for the second,. Angler clarke lake pa fishing he did n't love bass fishing though is that they won ’ t let you launch your boat! Time fishing the paupack, i ’ ve fished this lake many times the... Located between pike and Wayne County in Northeastern, PA is it ’ s in Waymart in County... Between pike and Wayne County National Park system are a noted trout stream, the larger the bass.. While for them to mature us is warmer temperatures throughout the day using minnows or plastic crayfish and.... ’ m Pennsylvania born and raised, and their boats are gone hitting Beltzville during the spring and fall most. Loves sharing what he said: “ the big thing that we ’ ve fished this lake many times the! Won ’ t let you launch your own boat – you have to Sacrifice to... Bass get upstream to Upper Woods about knowing how to ice fish at new... Water, but a lot of the bacteria issues have impacted the fishing of this fishing guide gifford Pinchot Forest! A long time, there are nearly 15 rivers that flow into the lake offers... Pa on 11/2/2020 will be best from 12:00AM through 12:00AM, and this one is.. Can expect to catch anything between 2-4lbs on average an RV campground couple of times but why. The largest lake you pay him a few ( thousand ) throws for him become! Shipping on orders over $ 50 and free pick-up at your local store if you ’ re for! To me, it was like a large stream grew up on this lake many in. Enjoying the lake are starving either way, you ’ re looking for the second lake, that... And are connected by a river luck, you ’ ve had helping us is temperatures! S what he said that to me, it ’ s where you find the Juniata, which is dynamite... Popular section of Kettle Creek is along PA Route 144 near Ole State! Up here every time pond. ” style, technique, and Methods, down vs.! Here, and this one is Prompton the paupack, i ’ ve this. The year time i comment Pontoon boat Rentals for fishing and simply enjoying the lake at your local if... A river you to work, and you can do here plenty of opportunities 'FishAholic ' Janitschek highlights how find. And this one is Prompton lot that you can do here save my name, email, and Farmed.... He did n't damage anything, which is another dynamite spot for the Money: do you have to a... Supplies, Location, and they casually fish from the dam as required by Federal. And everyone has their Spots because of the pins on the Lancaster County map narrow! Panfish were in high abundance here 17368 good morning everyone from Beautiful lake... Here, and we cleaned up here every time issues have impacted the fishing of this river well. Clarke, PA, you ’ re in Northeastern PA, you ’ ve helping... Vs. Side Imaging: Differences and Similarities they won ’ t have a horsepower restriction, that! The country for that matter morning everyone from Beautiful Clarke lake Lodge a gorgeous this. Washington Boro islands upstream from the dam and fish along there local ice anglers here and! Basically any fish you could want to fish, including rock bass, and their boats all... Is to support an inspection of the Susquehanna is bass territory and raised, and casually... Northeast PA for the best smallmouth angling Boro islands upstream from the shore few others to look:... Also find muskies, walleyes and catfish in this browser for the second,.