Fishing Report For Lake Arthur, PA

Current Fishing Report: Poor To Good

Reports by locals point out that the best fishing is during Spring and Fall.

Hybrid striped bass here tend to run in sizeable schools. The use of new fish-locating electronics is helping anglers catch more hybrid stripers. Forward-facing, and side scanning, sonar is currently one of the the best ways to locate schools of both wipers and baitfish. It is particularly helpful in deep water. Once located, hybrid striped bass are being caught by trolling, casting or jigging, depending on depth.

FALL. In Fall, hybrid stripers return to shallow water, the upper end of the lake, and into inflowing water if available. Early in the day wipers chase bait to the surface and feed aggressively, making this an excellent time for topwater action. Mid day they move into 8 to 20 feet of water. Look for structure nearby deeper sections in channels, and fish them thoroughly. Most any lure that resembles shad will catch wipers at this time of year.

WINTER. In Winter, hybrid stripers again hang out in deeper water and feed close to the bottom. Warm afternoons occasionally draw stripers shallower, so look for them around the 10-foot range as they feed on roaming schools of alewives and gizzard shad. In Winter it is important to locate schools of bait, then look for wipers schooling below the bait. Fish finders, and forward facing sonar, are a big help in locating these roaming schools. After ice out ice fish are being caught while trolling or drift fishing. Spoons, swimbaits, blade baits, crankbaits, live bait and cut bait are typically effective this time of year. Due to slower metabolism, anglers are triggering more strikes by making slower presentations.

SPRING. When water temperatures rise into the mid 60's now, it's the ideal time for hybrid stripers to spawn. There are plenty of hybrids averaging 2 to 3 pounds, with an occasional 5-pound plus fish being caught. In Spring, work wind-blown points, creeks, and the upper end of the lake if there is inflowing water. If they spawn, they will lay eggs in flowing water. Look for deeper holes in the river channels, as they are a good holding place for hybrid stripers after the spawn.

SUMMER. In Summer, these wipers typically hang out in 10 to 20 feet of water (deeper where possible), staying close to schools of bait. Morning often draws hybrid stripers to much shallower water, so look for them around the 8 to 12-foot range as they feed on shallow, roaming schools of alewives and gizzard shad. Being successful at fishing for stripers in Summer is a matter of locating schools of bait, and the wolf packs of wipers are likely to be nearby. Fish finders, and sonar electronics, are a big help in locating these roaming schools. Nice wipers are being caught by casting, trolling or drift fishing. Spoons, blade baits, crankbaits, live bait and cut bait are all effective here.

Current Fishing Report: Good

Bass fishing is currently experiencing major changes in the way anglers are approaching the sport. The expanded use of high-tech fish finders is giving anglers, who fish from a boat, a distinct advantage. The fishing hasn't really changed, but the catch rate has increased considerably. The advent of new lures and equipment has improved success for anglers fishing from the bank as well. Savvy anglers, who study bass patterns, continue to catch nice fish, with or without the new gadgets.

FALL. Now that Fall has arrived, bass here have moved shallow, following schools of baitfish into coves and shallow bays around 4 to 15 feet of water. Currently topwater, jerkbaits, crankbaits, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits are catching most of the bass. The Keystone Bass Buddy Circuit reported that it took nearly a 3-pound average to take the top spot in the 2024 Lake Arthur event. Later in Fall, as deeper water cools, bait and bass move out to ledges, channel edges, points and humps where flutter spoons, jigs and drop shots are often good choices in 8 to 20 feet of water.

WINTER. Winter will isolate largemouth around slightly deeper structure, flats, points and creek channels. They can be found from 15 to 20 feet deep. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring. Slow presentations are key to getting bites.

SPRING. Once water temperatures rise into the low 60's, largemouth will move from deep wintering holes, to shallower water nearby spawning areas. Alewives and gizzard shad are the primary diet for bass here, so lures imitating them are catching good numbers, as well as an occasional trophy fish. Vibrating jigs, jerkbaits. spinnerbaits and crankbaits typically get bites just away from the shoreline. I prefer mid-range crankbaits, like the Rapala DT-6, which are a good way to cover lots of water. At this time they are feeding aggressively in about 3 to 10 feet of water, preparing for the spawn. Once water warms into the mid to high 60's, they will move into 2 to 6 feet of water, and create nests, then lay their eggs. Immediately afterwards, females move to deeper water and males remain to guard the eggs, and then the fry. After a couple weeks, the males also move to slightly deeper water. Deep-diving crankbaits, vibrating jigs, plastic worms and swimbaits are catching bass during this period.

SUMMER. Water temperatures will warm considerably in Summer. Bass will feed shallow, early and late in the day, where they will be caught in 5 to 20 feet of water. Topwater, square-bill crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Wacky-rigged stick worms always catch finicky bass when the bite is slow. Largemouth bass here feed on gizzard shad, alewives, small sunfish, and crawfish. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on points, channel edges, and ledges 15 to 20 feet deep.

Current Fishing Report: Good To Very Good

Although forward-facing sonar and other high-tech fish finders were designed for bass fishing, many catfish anglers, who fish from a boat, are now using them to locate channel catfish. With this they are now catching more catfish, by focusing on productive water. The catch rate has increased considerably, and anglers are picking their targets to catch the bigger cats. New baits, line and rigging methods have also improved success for bank fishing enthusiasts. Savvy anglers, who study catfish life cycle and patterns, are still managing to catch nice fish, with or without these new tools.

FALL. Fall is one of the better times of year for catching channel catfish. Early in Fall they cruise the shallows, in search of food. Channel cats are virtually all over the lake, and a simple bait like earthworms and alewives are reportedly top producers here. Most anywhere you can get to the shoreline you have a chance to catch channel catfish. The Bear Run Fishing Pier is a good place for those who prefer easy access. Later, in the season they migrate away from the shallows and current, to moderately deep flats and channel edges on the main body of the lake. They can typically be found from 4 to 20 feet deep. Fishing for channel catfish is often productive around any kind of structure. Road beds, creek channels and rocky points are all good places to begin. Drift fishing or slow-trolling baits along mid-depth structure is popular and generally productive. Use a slip sinker or Carolina rig setup. Use cut bait, alewives, nightcrawlers, shrimp or prepared baits. They remain in these areas and feed aggressively in preparation for Winter.

WINTER. In Winter, the channel cats gather in deep holes and go virtually dormant, especially if water cools into the 40's. They hole up in pockets, deeper channels, ledges, and the basin areas from 15 to 20 feet deep and await warmer water. Slow presentations, especially cut bait, can still entice strikes. Often mid day through the afternoon anglers are catching them a bit shallower on the same structure.

SPRING. In Spring, when water temperatures rise into the high 40's, channel catfish start their migration into coves and up river. Look for them in 4 to 12 feet of water. They hold here, and feed aggressively, around relatively shallow cover until water warms into the mid 70's, at which time they begin the spawn process. Anglers are using slip sinkers, 3-way rigs, or Carolina rigs to get, and keep, the bait close to the bottom. Focus on shallow flats in late evening. There are good numbers of decent-size channel catfish being caught.

SUMMER. In Summer, slow-moving water, at the river end of the lake draws catfish to feed, in mid depths. Now they are scattering, locating cover in slightly cooler water. Reports indicate the most successful anglers are using nightcrawlers, cut bait or shrimp. Most channel cats hold in 8 to 20 feet during the day, and 5 to 10 feet during the night. Fishing from late in the day until midnight is producing some of the best results, as this is their prime feeding time.