Best Pennsylvania catfish lake

[zeboman]

What would you consider the best all around Pa. cat lake?

[cchichy]

im gonna say western... best ive seen so far is mahoning dam up near dayton

[Scott Daw]

I only fish for cats in Lake Nockamixon and Greenlane Reservoir. Greenlanes been good to me since I grew up fishing it. The Nock is new to me so its still a learning experience but its got a high population of cats according to the pfbc's survey they did.

[waynesburgjay]

Foster Joseph Sayers lake in centre county has some nice channel that I've seen caught that go up to about 32 inches.
I caught a couple smaller 18 inch fish through the ice this year.

[mariofish]

I only fish for cats in Lake Nockamixon and Greenlane Reservoir. Greenlanes been good to me since I grew up fishing it. The Nock is new to me so its still a learning experience but its got a high population of cats according to the pfbc's survey they did.
that is a nice picture scott daw:smile2:

[mariofish]

im gonna say western... best ive seen so far is mahoning dam up near dayton
nice fish:cool2:

[Pennsylvaniacatchaser]

Lake Arthur is becoming well known for nice Channel Cats! My question is do we have any lakes with Flatheads in them?

[socex]

I've heard rumors there are flattys in Hertford Manor lake. A fishcommision guy told me that a couple years ago, whether or not he was BS ing me, I don't know. I heard another story about a guy being pulled around in a small jon boat there for 2 hours and never saw what was on the line. But I can't prove they are in there, guess I'll try it out this summer some time.

[catman823]

There are flatheads in Lake Rowena. It is a small trout lake in Ebensburg, PA.

[Blacky]

There are flatheads is Springton Reservior and Blue Marsh Reservior.

[tbartek]

There are flatheads in Lake Rowena. It is a small trout lake in Ebensburg, PA.
Lake Rowena is about 5 miles from my house. I know the fish commision site has a picture of a big flathead that says Lake Rowena but I think someone dumped it in there and the commision got it out when they shocked the lake a number of years ago. Believe me there's no flatheads in Lake Rowena unless I put em there:smile2:

[zeboman]

Lake Rowena is about 5 miles from my house. I know the fish commision site has a picture of a big flathead that says Lake Rowena but I think someone dumped it in there and the commision got it out when they shocked the lake a number of years ago. Believe me there's no flatheads in Lake Rowena unless I put em there:smile2:
I went to the Pennsylvania Institute of Taxidemy not far from there in 93`but I never fished the lake,I was told by the locals it was a bass, trout, panfish lake.

[jigerjim]

There are flatheads is Springton Reservior and Blue Marsh Reservior.

Hey Blacky isent Springtown off limit's to fishin???

[Blacky]

Yes sir Jim! Closed because some rich girl got hurt jetskiing and no one can access the lake. Plus the million dollar homes and golf courses that pop up, the township doen'st eed any dirty fisherman around. Great Fishery!

I, myself, have seen a pic of a 68 lb flatheads caught by a man in the late 80's i a Chester County bait shop.

The story goes, the guys keep some small flatheads alive from a trip to Western PA. He lived on the Reservior and released them.

I consider this man the Granfather of Eastern PA flatheads.

[catfish chaser]

I've been catfishing Lake Artur for a couple years now. I like to go up there when the Ohio is too flooded to fish. I've caught several channels in the 10lb to 15lb range and I know there are alot bigger ones in there

[riv56]

Hey Blacky you said you seen a pic of a flathead that weighed 68 lbs. if it was caught in pa. should be a state record by about 20 lbs. that would have been a nice one.:ooooh:

[mrguffy]

We enjoy fishing at Pymatuming reservoir and state park. It is a top of the line fishery, not only cats, but walleye,crappie,small mouth,carp,perch and a boatload of gills. There are 3 full service marinas, with everything from bait to boat rentals,(pontoons too rowboats) lots of fishing from the shore, campgrounds and picnic areas. a great place to take the family and wet a line.

[bigrob2530]

thanks for the info

[mariofish]

I've heard rumors there are flattys in Hertford Manor lake. A fishcommision guy told me that a couple years ago, whether or not he was BS ing me, I don't know. I heard another story about a guy being pulled around in a small jon boat there for 2 hours and never saw what was on the line. But I can't prove they are in there, guess I'll try it out this summer some time.
WELCOME to boc great tips in boc lib:wink:

[bw69r]

Donegal lake has some flatheads in it, not sure how many. i remember quite a few years ago the bait shop by the lake had a picture of a guy holding one that i believe was like 32 pounds maybe a little more. they have some nice channels in there too.

[flatheadfanatic]

i agree with blacky: springton and blue marsh definitely have flathead populations. i'm not that familiar with western pa, so i can't really say about that. but with springton off limits, that leaves blue marsh. i've never fished it, but the current state record came from the spillway below the dam at blue marsh.......

[kenlaw76]

Is there any way to sneak on to Springton?

[Blacky]

Is there any way to sneak on to Springton?


Yes there is! You can sneak in at night under the cover of darkness. Just do't plan on any bonfires or loud music.

There are like million dollars homes around there. Many of the Philadelphia Eagles live around there. So that's why that lake is off limits, they don't care or want to see us non-millionaires aroud there. Simple social class politics.

[kenlaw76]

Where is it at?

[PhillyCatcatcher4]

Near Rte 252 & Rte 1 near Media.

[kenlaw76]

I will be heading out there in the near future. Maybe when it is raining so I know there won't be anyone sitting out in their backyard to bust me.

[Blacky]

I will be heading out there in the near future. Maybe when it is raining so I know there won't be anyone sitting out in their backyard to bust me.

Just remeber Ken, a 911 intruder call to the Philadelphia Police will take a average of 1 hour for arrival. a 911 call in Media, PA will take about 2 minutes before the squadron comes crashing in.

[PhillyCatcatcher4]

If you take scuba gear, you won't get caught. :wink:

[Scott Daw]

Yes there is! You can sneak in at night under the cover of darkness. Just do't plan on any bonfires or loud music.

There are like million dollars homes around there. Many of the Philadelphia Eagles live around there. So that's why that lake is off limits, they don't care or want to see us non-millionaires aroud there. Simple social class politics.


Dont forget some quality camoflage.

[kenlaw76]

Then I guess I have to pack light! I ususly fish by myself and I don't make any noise. The only thing I would have to worry about is the flash of the camera. I think you said that some of the Eagles live there, my wifes uncle is Rich Gannon. He used to play for the Radiers a few years ago. He now workes for CBS analizing the football games and talkes to alot of Eagles players and knows coach Reid. Maybe I can get him to pull a few strings for me:wink:. I will be going to his house in O.C. in a few weeks, I can ask him then. Hey Philly it is funny you should say that because I do have some scuba gear. I was thinking on scubadiving parts of the Skuke this summer.

[mimarzec]

are there any cats in erie? i am going up there for few days, i will stay on shore (close to Erie-city), but i know nothing about catching them there and when i looked at the forums there is not much to read....;) HELPHELPHELP!!!

[waynesburgjay]

Their are channels in Erie. I just read an article the other day about catching channels in erie it said to fish around where the water comes out of the bay.
Welcome to the BOC

[socex]

I have caught flattys in erie before in the back waters i think by elk creek,

[roblizgage]

We enjoy fishing at Pymatuming reservoir and state park. It is a top of the line fishery, not only cats, but walleye,crappie,small mouth,carp,perch and a boatload of gills. There are 3 full service marinas, with everything from bait to boat rentals,(pontoons too rowboats) lots of fishing from the shore, campgrounds and picnic areas. a great place to take the family and wet a line.

is there flathead in pymatuning ? i'll be camping up there wed. thru sat this week.

[mimarzec]

thanks for the info! i actually was so lazy that i tried right out of our cabin, 7 miles from Erie(city). The bottom of the lake was simply a rock with many stones and each second cast i was loosing everything- the weight, the hook....but i managed to get 3 cats, each of them 15 lb and about 30-34 inches!!!! they were the biggest i had ever caught! i wish i could post pics but i do not have yet 10 posts......i got also few small walleyes....i used night crawlers....cats up there did not like chicken liver or cut bait......it was fun!!! but the waves, wind and shallow bottom rock.......horrible!

[Skammer]

Try this rig to keep your losses to a minimum.

http://skam232.smugmug.com/photos/91524878_dy6ch-M.jpg

Three way swivel with a dropper for your sinker, hook attached to about a foot of leader & a float attached to the line above the rig. Float should be bouyant enough to keep your bait suspended but not bouyant enough to let your sinker sit on the bottom. Keep slack in your line enough to keep your rig upright. This rig is only good to keep your snags to a minimum in quiet water like in a lake where there is no current to put pressure on the float.

[mimarzec]

Try this rig to keep your losses to a minimum.

http://skam232.smugmug.com/photos/91524878_dy6ch-M.jpg

Three way swivel with a dropper for your sinker, hook attached to about a foot of leader & a float attached to the line above the rig. Float should be bouyant enough to keep your bait suspended but not bouyant enough to let your sinker sit on the bottom. Keep slack in your line enough to keep your rig upright. This rig is only good to keep your snags to a minimum in quiet water like in a lake where there is no current to put pressure on the float.

That is how i fish......almost.....no float:embarassed:....this time on Erie because there were 1-2 feet high waves, so it was pulling everything and "adding" some green stuff to my line, making it even difficult to reel. The way you described it we used to fish in Europe, here i've learned people do not like floaters so much, the just dump the bait to the bottom so i've started to do the same and it works:big_smile:, with the addition that you have described, of a foot or two of leader. Usually i get two, three times more cats on the river than anybody else but they still do not use leader:tounge_out:.
Thanks for reminding me that floaters are not DEAD!

[bw69r]

my friends and i took quite a few smallmouth trips on erie. asked the captain about catfish and he said that sometimes you will float over huge schools of very large channels and since the water is so clear you can see them really well. sometimes they catch them and sometimes they don't. he also said that they spawn around the 4th of july and run up in the creeks. you can catch not only alot of them but really big ones in the 20 pound class. i really want to give that a try sometime, maybe this year.

[jolie]

are there any cats in erie? i am going up there for few days, i will stay on shore (close to Erie-city), but i know nothing about catching them there and when i looked at the forums there is not much to read....;) HELPHELPHELP!!!

there are Some very big channels in erie. One of the nicest channel catfish I ever saw was taken in Erie, where the water from presque isle goes into the main lake.

this is dredged into a relatively small deep channel that is bordered by two long piers- the north pier (located on presque isle state park) and the south pier. The south pier yields some really nice cats. Not only is there quality there is quite a few of them catfish too... but expect some crowds...

Also some people say, that there are big cats travel up some of the big tributaries to eat stockies.

You can ask some questions at the forum www.fisherie (http://www.fisherie) but speak no secrets... some of those are a little guarded with the information. (and keep that in mind when you ask for information,as well).

jolie

[Naack]

Thanks for the info .. And welcome to the BOC Jason !:big_smile:

[waynesburgjay]

Welcome to the BOC

[Scott Daw]

I Finally got out catfishin today and had a good time at lake Nockamixon.

[lendog]

i would also have to agree with blue marsh, after all if one nice one(the record) came out of there i'm sure there's more

[stoney53]

i fish the pay lake at linden hall, dawson pa some real nice cats there 35-40 inch or better well stocked no heavy fishing presure also trout bass etc tagged fish which to me is a bonus

[Spider]

I found this article link to be interersting and will be giving this area a try.
Blue Marsh Lake, Reading,PA, Stilling Basin:
http://www.pasportsmenportal.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=181&Itemid=46