Friday, March 20, 2009

Top websites for bass fishing in Pennsylvania

Here are a few good websites on where to fish for bass in PA:

Game and Fish Magazine for Pennsylvania - sportsman's choice of reading on bass fishing

All About Fishing in Pennsylvania - encyclopedic coverage of bass in PA

PA Bass Federation - see calendar for regional bass tournaments

Stripers247 - information on hybrid striped bass fishing

Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission page on Black Bass - general information on largemouth, smallmouth, spotted bass

The Backwoods Angler - guide service shares fishing reports for the Delaware River and lots of pictures


Follow the bass pros


If you follow the pro-bass tournaments, Bass Fan is for you. It is a nice clean site of people news in the world of tournament bass fishing. Of course B.A.S.S. on ESPN is a standard-bearer. You can learn from pros Chad and Denny Brauer at their website hosting Brauerbass Fishing Articles. Ultimate Bass will help you stay current on industry news.

Now is the time to think about early bass waterin' holes. Bass Fishing USA offers interesting articles on how to find early spring bass, how to effectively cover potential bass waters, how to buy a bass boat, and bass baits worth more than money. Bassin' USA links to bass movies on YouTube. Shows handfeeding largemouth bass a live bluegill bait, feeding live mice to largemouths, underwater video footage. How to Bass.com adds fresh content frequently with some unusual stuff like a video showing how to rig a lizard and an uncensored collection of jokes. The Bass Pros offer bass shows on the web.

Expanding the horizon, a nice site to visit is Western Bass.com, an organized guide to bass fishing in California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and New Mexico. Click on the map for a list of lakes in each state.

Field and Stream now has an unbelievably clean and organized section on bass. The pictures are large, clear and the text is easy to read on a desktop computer. BassFishin.com is similar style of site, and so is Sportskool.

Game and Fish hosts the magazine's collection of bass fishing media, and you can read tons of bass fishing articles, tips, guide on Bass Pro Shop.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Fishing for striped bass

Here is an excellent starter article from PA Angler and Boater magazine titled Big-City Stripers.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Where to fish for muskie in PA

Anglers say the confluence of Tionesta Creek and the Allegheny River is an active place. Also north of Oil City. So is the Kinzua Dam near Hopewell Campground.

Trophy muskie can be caught at Chautauqua Lake, Conneaut Lake (which holds the record), and lesser known Kaercher Creek Lake. Lake Wallenpaupack is known to occasionally offer up a large muskie. Other places are Tamarack Lake, Lake Arthur, Pymatuning Reservoir, the tailwaters of Raystown, Marsh Creek, Lake Somerset, Loyalhanna Lake, Woodcock Creek Lake, Tionesta Lake, and Lake Wilhelm. Parts of Sugar, Edinboro, Canadhota, Shawnee and Donegal lakes are good, too.

The Lehigh River near the Tri-Boro Sportsmen's Club in Northampton and below the Chain Dam are known producing areas. Look for stocked musky areas where gizzard shad are running or bluegill are abundant.


Articles to read on musky

Frank Smolick, Lehigh's muskie champion, a no holes barred reality talk on what it's like to watch this monster fish with a mouthful of teeth rollover alongside the boat after a 20-minute fight.

Tom Dietz shares his views on Susquehanna muskies and Rich Faler writes on "Speed Trolling for Muskies." Red Childress tries to end false rumors about the ol' fish, five of 'em to be exact.


Magazine and Clubs

There is one authority magazine, Musky Hunter, you should subscribe before deciding to tackle a chase for the fish of 10,000 casts.

Don't go it alone. Clubs can be fun: the Three Rivers Chapter of Musky, Inc. and Penn-Jersey-Muskies, Inc. Chapter 50.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Monday, October 6, 2008

Cabbage pike

Pictures of the cabbage pike, more commonly called bowfin.

Conneaut-Geneva Marsh topographical map (Pennsylvania), where Ed Richards caught a 27 1/4" bowfin in September 2008.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

PA campgrounds with fishing lakes

Here is a partial list of campgrounds with fishing water, a lake, stream, or river. Take the whole family. Activities galore! Camp and fish, camp and fish, camp and fish.

CAUTION: ALWAYS BE ALERT FOR SUDDEN, RISING WATER OR FLASH FLOODING. MANY CAMPSITES ARE RIGHT NEAR THE WATER.

Boulder Woods
1050 Camp Skymount Road
Green Lane, PA 18054
(215) 257-7178

You can catch really big carp here. Yes, carp fight wildly on a hook. Largemouth bass streak between lily pads. Three swimming pools, clean bathhouses, laundromat keep you cool and clean. Play miniature golf, basketball, volleyball, throw a ringer or go for a hayride. Crafts and activities will keep you entertained. The solitude of a quiet fishing hole is desired.


Mountain Vista
50 Taylor Drive
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301
(570) 223-0111

Stocked fishing pond in the Pocono mountains offers a quiet retreat. Fifteen minutes from Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and Middle Delaware National Scenic River, Bushkill Falls and Twin Lakes.


Otter Lake Camp-Resort
Marshalls Creek, PA 18335
(570) 223-0123
(800) 345-1369

You'll find largemouth bass, bluegill in this 60-acre lake in a 250-acre campground wrapped by the 15,000-acre Pennsylvania State Forest.


Soaring Eagle Campground
4092 River Road
Equinunk, PA 18417
(570) 224-4666

Fish for smallmouth bass, trout, and walleye from a kayak or canoe on the unspoiled Upper Delaware River above Kellam's Bridge.


Lake Moc A Tek Campground
1/4 mile off RT 590 on Piefer Road
Lakeville, PA.
570-226-3433

Cast a hook from your tent into the water after largemouth bass. Ten lakefront sites in this 70-acre campground.


Pine Cradle Lake
Rome, PA 18837
(570) 247-2424

Be entertained while you fish in the 18-acre largemouth bass lake. "Bluegrass by the Lake 2008" on September 5 and 6 featuring Slewfoot and Hillbilly Water.


Pettecote Junction Campground
400 Beach Road
Cedar Run, PA 17727
(570) 353-7183

Fly fish for trout steps from your campsite stream side. You're really up in the mountains, covered with 100,000-acres of state forest.


Keen Lake Camping and Cottage Resort
155 Keen Lake Road
Waymart, PA 18472
(570) 488-6161
(800) 443-0412

Fish for bass, bluegill, crappie, perch, pickerel at private, 90-acre lake in Pocono mountains.


Riverside Campground
125 S. Main Street
Montgomery, PA 17752
(570) 547-6289

Fill your creel with trout from six nearby streams: Blackhole Creek (on the property), Loyalsock Creek, Lycoming Creek, Muncy Creek, Spring Creek, South Creek.


Clayton Park Recreational Area
Swoyer Road
Lake Ariel, PA 18436
(570) 698-6080

Fish the 450-acres of the second largest lake in Wayne County, Lake Henry. Variety of species to target.


Ironwood Point Recreation Area
155 Burns Hill Road
Greentown, PA 18426
(570) 857-0880

Thirteen tent sites on the edge of Lake Wallenpaupack.


Hidden Valley Camping Resort
162 Hidden Valley Lane
Mifflinburg, PA 17844
Phone: (570)966-1330

Partake in small lake fishing. Pony rides and a petting zoo for children. Church services at this former dairy farm.


Lazy K Campground
102 Township Line Road
Bechtelsville, PA 19505
(610) 367-8576
(888) 367-8576

Forty-six acres holds two fishing ponds and a country stream.


Mountain Springs Camping Resort, Inc.
3450 Mountain Road
Shartlesville, PA 19554-0365
(610) 488-6859

Three catch and release ponds for your fishing delight.


Evergreen Lake Campground
2375 Benders Drive
Bath, PA 18014
(610) 837-6401

Twenty-five acre lake at the base of Blue Mountain. Campground opened in 1965 on 300-acres.


Artillery Ridge
610 Taneytown Road
Gettysburg, PA 17325
(717) 334-1288
(866) 932-2674

This place is a favorite! If the fish won't bite, forget 'em! Climb aboard horseback for a guided tour of the battlefields. Riding in the hoof prints is an unequaled way to experience our nation's history. Observe the 800-square foot Battle of Gettysburg diorama as 20,000 model hand-painted soldiers and horses recreate three days of the bloodiest Civil War fighting.

Spring Gulch Resort Campground
475 Lynch Road
New Holland, PA 17557
(717) 354-3100
(866) 864-8524

Spend quiet time lakeside while your lady gets a manicure, pedicure or massage at the day spa.


Red Run Campground
877 Martin Church Road
New Holland, PA 17557
(717) 445-4526

Four acres of catch and release fishing in the midst of Mennonite farmlands.


Paradise Stream Family Campground
693 Paradise Stream Road (Couchtown Road)
Loysville, PA 17047
(717) 789-2117

Camp along the trout water in Sherman’s Creek, or hide under shady sites around a 6-acre lake. Distant mountain range views. Hayrides to local Amish farms.


Mirror Lake
112 Trout Run Drive
New Florence, PA 15944
(724) 235-9983

Anglers are pulling real decent sized fish and money out of this pay lake.


Wheel-In Campground
113 Wheelin Campground (Plumcreek Road)
Shelocta, PA 15774
(724) 354-3693

Wheel-in for some Plum Creek trout.


Cooper's Lake Campground
205 Currie Road
Slippery Rock, PA 16057
(724) 368-8710

Manicured campground in scenic Slippery Rock is on par with private club. Ten acre bass, bluegill, catfish, perch lake in 500-acre setting.


Pioneer Park Campground
273 Trent Road
Somerset, PA 15501
(814) 445-6348

Three spring-fed lakes at the foot of Laurel Ridge Mountains.


Folly’s End Campground
8600 Avonia Road
Route 98
Girard, PA 16417
(814) 474-5730

Well-known for serious steelhead fishing in Elk Creek gorge. Pro fly and tackle shop in campground.


Brookdale Family Campground
25164 State Hwy 27
Meadville, PA 16335
(814) 789-3251
(888) 789-9186

Family camping cabins at water's edge on Wagon Lake. Fish on your campsite, sit around a campfire reflecting off the water. Near comforts of pool and main building. Seven other ponds for casting.


Whispering Winds Campground
277 Tollgate Road
Sheffield, PA 16347-0267
814-968-4377

Native trout Deer Lick Creek runs through the full length of the campground.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Pennsylvania Water Trails

Travel PA water trails in historic areas.

Website traffic shows great interest in paddling the trails. Plan ahead.