Fishing Report For Octoraro Lake, PA

Current Report: Good To Very Good

FALL. Now that Fall has arrived, bass here have moved shallow, following schools of baitfish into coves and shallow bays around 3 to 12 feet of water. Because of boat motor limitations, Octoraro Lake receives limited fishing pressure. The lake is loaded with bass and they are eager to bite. Tournament anglers report using a wide variety of lures, but stick worms rigged Texas style, or wacky style, are catching lots of fish. Vibrating swim jigs also catch a lot of fish here. The main body of the lake is producing well, but when water levels are high, the river ends are a good place to catch big bass. Currently topwater, jerkbaits, lipless crankbaits, slow-rolled spinnerbaits and stick worms are catching most of the bass around vegetation. 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 15 feet of water.

WINTER. Winter will isolate largemouth around slightly deeper structure, flats, points and creek channels. They can be found from 10 to 18 feet deep. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring. Slow presentations are key to getting bites. On warmer days, especially during late afternoons, bass may move into 8 to 12 feet of water to feed.

SPRING. Once water temperatures rise into the low 60's, largemouth will move from deep wintering holes, to shallower water nearby spawning areas. Vibrating jigs, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits typically get bites just away from the shoreline. At this time they are feeding aggressively in about 2 to 6 feet of water, and preparing for the spawn. Once water warms into the mid to high 60's, they will move into 1 to 4 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 2 to 10 feet of water, on square-bill crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Wacky-rigged stick worms always catch finicky bass when the bite is slow. Largemouth bass here feed on shad, herring, small sunfish and crawfish. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on points, channel edges, and ledges 8 to 18 feet deep. Some of the best reports seem to be from anglers fishing around undercut banks along the northern arm.

Current Report: Good

FALL. Early Fall finds yellow perch feeding aggressively in 6 to 18 feet of water. White perch are an important part of the diet for bass in Octoraro Lake. The ones which survive to bigger sizes become a nice target for anglers who also like a fish fry. A small under spin jig, tipped with live minnows, or minnow-shaped plastics, is working to catch perch. A slow-steady retrieve, bumping bottom, is triggering bites. Later in the season, they begin to migrate toward Winter holding areas. Small crankbaits, imitating minnows are catching quality white perch, according to reports by locals. These perch are growing to good size due to fertile water and plenty of vegetation and cover. Fishing around docks, and outside weed lines with small lures is drawing them out of cover.

WINTER. The cold of winter drives perch deeper again in search of food and stable water conditions. Perch often feed in weedy areas, in 10 to 25 of water, this time of year. Good catches are being reported using minnows, spoons, underspins, and jigs tipped with nightcrawlers, fished around deep ledges and humps in mid lake, steep rocky banks, and creek channel bends.

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 in 3 to 10 feet of water, all attract white perch in search of a meal. They spawn on shallow flats around 2 to 4 feet deep. Anglers catch them shallow, using spinnerbaits, spinners, minnows, mealworms, maggots, and nightcrawlers.

SUMMER. Fat white perch here feed primarily on small fish and invertebrates. Spinners, underspins, small crankbaits, mealworms, nightcrawlers and maggots are catching perch in 6 to 15 feet of water. Seek them out around drop-offs, and areas with submerged vegetation.

Current Report: Good

Although local anglers report catching catfish on a wide variety of baits, one of the easiest, and productive, baits is a gob of good old nightcrawlers.

FALL. Fall is one of the better times of year for catching channel catfish. Early in Fall they cruise the 8 to 22 feet deep shallows, 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 25 feet deep. The mouths of both the East Branch, and the West Branch, plus structure in the area of the dam, are ideal spots in Fall. 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, 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 12 to 30 feet deep and await warmer water. Slow presentations, especially cut bait, can still entice strikes. Often during 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. Early in the season, look for them in 6 to 20 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. Later in Spring, focus on shallower flats, 6 to 10 feet deep, into late evening.

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 6 to 18 feet during the day, and 4 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.