Fishing Report For Lake Ontelaunee, PA

Current Report: Good To Very Good

Because no boats are allowed on the lake, the lake receives very limited fishing pressure. Anglers willing to wade out into the lake, reaching areas not feasible from the bank, are catching some very nice bass. 4 to 6 pound bass are caught quite regularly, and plenty of 2 to 3 pounders to keep your interest.

WINTER. The cold of Winter has isolated largemouth around deeper structure, flats, points and creek channels. Water temperatures are currently in the low 30's, and bass can be found on the bottom, or suspending from 10 to 18 feet deep, occasionally shallower on warm, sunny days. Often, some of the larger bass will isolate away from schools in 5 or so feet deeper water. They are currently being caught in coves around Maiden Creek, and around the dam. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring. Ice fishing is popular once the ice is safe. Slow presentations with drop shots, jigs, finesse worms, or lipless crankbaits are often the key to getting bites, just before, during and after, ice fishing.

SPRING. Once water temperatures rise into the low 60's, largemouth will move from deep wintering holes, to shallower water near spawning areas. Anglers report good topwater action from mid Spring through Summer, especially early in the morning, and on cloudy days. Vibrating jigs, crankbaits, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits typically get bites just away from the shoreline. At this time they are feeding aggressively in about 3 to 8 feet of water, and 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, around 10 feet deep. Deep-diving crankbaits, vibrating jigs, drop shots, plastic worms, jigs, spoons, and swimbaits catch bass during this period.

SUMMER. Water temperatures will warm considerably in Summer. Bass will feed shallow, early and late in the day, where they are typically caught in 5 to 10 feet of water, on topwater lures, frogs, square-bill crankbaits, spinnerbaits and a variety of other lures. Largemouth bass here feed on alewives, small sunfish and crawfish. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on points, channel edges, and ledges 10 to 15 feet deep. Wacky-rigged stick worms always catch finicky bass when the bite is slow. Some of the best reports typically come from anglers fishing around weedlines on the west shore.

FALL. When Fall arrives, bass here will follow schools of baitfish into coves and shallow bays where crankbaits, swimbaits, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits have been successful in prior years. In early Fall, anglers typically have success in 8 to 12 feet of water, around points and shallow flats leading to deeper water. As deeper water cools, bait and bass move out to ledges, channel edges, points and humps. Some of the larger bass will seclude themselves away from the school, often in slightly deeper water.

Current Report: Good To Very Good

Like bass, the catfish here receive very limited fishing pressure. They are eager to bite most any catfish baits, shrimp, nightcrawlers and cut bait. Fishing for channel catfish from the bank is often accessible on flats, ledges and drop offs, especially if they have cover. Fishing late in the day until midnight often produces the best fishing activity as this is prime feeding time for channel cats.

WINTER. This cold, Winter weather has channel catfish gathering in deep holes. They are virtually dormant, especially now that the water has cooled into the 40's. They hole up in pockets, deeper channels, ledges, and the basin areas from 12 to 25 feet deep and await warmer water. Slow presentations, especially with cut bait, can still entice strikes. Often during mid day, through the afternoon, anglers are catching them a bit shallower on the same structure. Once ice is safe, anglers can reach areas not accessible while fishing from the bank.

SPRING. In Spring, when water temperatures rise into the high 40's, channel catfish start their migration into coves, and up the river. Early in the season, look for them 8 to 15 feet deep. 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 in 4 to 10 feet of water. Following the spawn, they move out toward the basin in 12 to 15 feet of water. Anglers are using slip sinkers, 3-way rigs, or Carolina rigs to get, and keep, the bait close to the bottom. Later in Spring focus on shallower flats, late evening and into the night.

SUMMER. In Summer, slow-moving water, at the river end of the lake may draw catfish to feed. Otherwise they are scattering, locating cover in slightly cooler water. Reports indicate the most successful anglers are using nightcrawlers, cut bait, minnows 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 produces some of the best results, as this is their prime feeding time.

FALL. Fall is one of the better times of year for catching channel catfish. Early in Fall they cruise the shallows in 5 to 10 feet of water, in search of food. 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 10 to 20 feet deep. Fishing for channel catfish is often productive around any kind of structure. Road beds, stumps, wood, creek channels and rocky points are all good places to begin. They typically remain in these areas and feed aggressively in preparation for Winter. Use a slip sinker or Carolina rig setup, with cut bait, nightcrawlers, shrimp or prepared baits.

Current Report: Very Good To Excellent

Fat white perch here feed on small fish and invertebrates. These baits continue to work now that the ice is gone. Anglers are catching them from the bank, in 4 to 10 feet of water around vegetation. As Summer warms the water, they will move a little deeper, and can be found 15 feet deep, or deeper. A healthy, stable population of white perch reside here, and are the most prominent species in the lake. Yellow perch are bonus, but are not here in big numbers.

WINTER. Fishing for perch is currently good using minnows, mealworms, maggots, and nightcrawlers. The cold of winter finds perch in search of food and stable water conditions. Mid-depth flats are ideal Winter holding spots. The North Shore, near Graffiti Bridge, has been producing good catches. Early in Winter, perch are caught when they are feeding in weedy areas, in 4 to 10 of water. Later in Winter, as the lake freezes over they often descend slightly deeper. Plenty of white perch were caught last winter through the ice, and there's no reason to expect any different this year. Popular baits include small spoons, minnows, mealworms, maggots, and nightcrawlers.

SPRING. Perch spawn in Spring when the water temperature warms to the mid 50's and mid 60's. Docks, bridges, vegetation, trees and brush all attract white perch in search of a meal. Anglers catch them 3 to 8 feet of water, using spinnerbaits, spinners, minnows, mealworms, maggots, and nightcrawlers. Late Spring finds perch in 6 to 14 feet of water, on flats and points.

SUMMER. Fat white perch here feed primarily on small fish and invertebrates. Spinners, underspins, small crankbaits, mealworms, nightcrawlers and maggots are catching perch in 15 to 25 feet of water. In early Summer, plus the first and last hours of the day, seek them out in feeding zones, 8 to 12 feet deep. Drop-offs, standing timber, lay-down trees, shallow weed lines, and in areas with submerged vegetation, are key feeding spots.

FALL. Early Fall finds white perch feeding in 6 to 12 feet of water around shallow weedlines. Later in the Fall, they begin migrating toward Winter holding areas, often in the deeper sections, around the edges of weedbeds, drop offs along flats, channel edges, rock piles and humps. Minnows, spinners, and small jigs are ideal this time of year.