Pa. Winter Freshwater Report
C. Berg Morning call
FRESHWATER
Wallenpaupack Sports Shop, Hawley (570-226-4797): There is still ice at Shohola Lake, Fairview Lake and Lake Greely?there is 7-10 inches on the main lakes, but edges are soft and anglers must exercise extreme caution when venturing out?most of Lake Wallenpaupack is open water, and a few locals have been talking about launching their boats rather than waiting for enough cold weather to freeze the surface.
Four Seasons Sporting Goods, Jim Thorpe (570-325-4364): No fishable ice left in the region?local creeks and Lehigh River are attracting lots of trout fishermen?mealworms are working on Mauch Chunk Creek?small plugs and spinners enticing trout in Lehigh River?angling pressure on area lakes is light.
Peck's Pond Store, Dingmans Ferry, (570-775-7237): Ice at Peck's Pond is getting soft, with lots of areas covered with water?there were fishermen out on the ice over the weekend, but conditions aren't safe anymore?no word on how weekend anglers fared.
Willie's Bait & Tackle, Cementon (610-261-2767): Willie says trout are still being caught at Leaser Lake?Lehigh River is high and clear, but few fish being taken?one customer reported good trout action in Coplay and Hockendauqua creeks?another customer reported catching some nice trout in the Little Lehigh Creek.
Backwoods Angler Guide Service, Bethlehem, (610-868-9349): Blaine Mengel says Delaware River is around 7 feet at the Belvidere gauge?water is a little dirty but receding?some boat ramps are muddy and full of debris due to recent high water?water temperatures in upper 30s?Mengel fished Saturday and caught some big smallmouth bass on Don's Millennium Jigs?fish were found in eddies adjacent to wintering holes in 6-8 feet of water?Schuylkill River has been producing good smallmouth action recently for those using dark-colored jigs and tubes?look for fish in slack water portions of eddies?walleye fishermen in the Delaware and Susquehanna rivers have been doing well with jigs tipped with live bait.
Mike's Bait & Sports Shop, Nazareth, (610-759-2905): Local anglers were out in force over weekend, thanks to beautiful weather?there are still 8 -10 inches of ice at Promised Land, Shohola Lake and Little Mud Pond?good panfish reports coming from Little Mud Pond?lots of large brook trout, from 16-18 inches, are being caught at Tobyhanna Lake, which also has good ice?Lake Minsi is all open water in the deep end, but boat launch area is still packed with ice.
Anglers Paradise and Marine, Whitehall (610-433-2500): Bill says numerous customers headed to Shohola Lake over weekend?good ice remains there, and decent catches of bass and pickerel are being reported by those using large shiners?Delaware River smallmouth and walleye bite has been OK?some anglers reporting 3-5 fish per trip, which is pretty good for this time of year?good catch-and-release trout action on Little Lehigh Creek?some trout being taken from shore at Leaser Lake?yellow Powerbait is the most popular choice there.
Nockamixon Sport Shop, Quakertown (215-538-9553): Josh says trout are biting in the Saucon, Little Lehigh and Cooks creeks?wooly buggers working well for fly fishermen?fathead minnows and waxworms are good live bait choices?Delaware River should be producing walleyes?lots of large yellow perch and sunfish taking jigs tipped with waxworms at Lake Galena?a few locals are reporting good pickerel action at Lake Nockamixon?large shiners are best bait there?boaters should still be able to pick up some striped bass using vertical jigging techniques.
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