Spots around Allentown PA/ Lehigh Valley

[Sammy Suárez Bejaran]

Anyone know of any good fishing spots? My grandfather came to visit for a week and I'd like to go somewhere where he'll catch some decent fish. Tried nockamixon two days in a row but no luck. Only caught a small bluegill. Please help with any spot suggestions, thank you!

[new2BC4bass]

  and  

 

Sorry, but I don't.  I tried fishing for 2 years after I moved to this area, and then quit for 23 years.  However, at that time I only knew of Beltzville Lake and Lake Nockamixon.  Beltzville can be good fishing if you know the lake and can get out on it at night time in a boat.  Used to live next door to a young fellow who did quite well there, but he'd leave about 8 p.m. and get home about 12 hours later.  Forget about it during the day.  Too much boat traffic.

 

Do you have a boat?

 

Leaser Lake is an option.  Keeping fish is now legal there.  The lake had been drained for the dam to be repaired (rebuilt?).  I've heard the Muskies are reaching 40 inches and some decent size Largemouths are being caught.  Trout are also in the lake, but a boat helps a lot.  Just like any public lake these days, there is a lot of fishing pressure from the shore....which is how I have to fish.  It is a nice looking lake and I think you can walk all the way around it...with enough time on your hands.  

 

Minsi Lake is another option.  I've caught more fish there than anywhere else.....which isn't saying a lot.    It is also a trout stocked lake so you will need a trout stamp to fish it.  It is also a bass management lake.  Don't know if the lake is back up, but a few years ago it was down 4 feet due to a leak in the dam.  Deepest spot was about 14 feet before the drop.  Been 2-3 years since I was last there.  It is possible to walk around at least half of the shore.  There are also 2 fishing piers.

 

Depending on the route you take to Lake Nockamixon you can drive by Lake Towee.  Again a boat is almost mandatory.  Everyone with a boat fishes the far side....which I don't think can't be gotten to from shore.  Lake is very shallow on the boat ramp side.

 

Kaercher Creek Lake is no longer maintained by the state, county or whoever was taking care of it.  (My understanding is the lake was donated to the state.)  I heard the various governments had a dispute about whose responsibility it was to maintain the grounds.  Too bad as it was a nice place for a picnic.  However, the boat ramp is still open.  You can also walk that side of the lake....just can't drive any further than the boat ramp.  Trout, bass and Muskies along with catfish, sunnies and bluegills are some fish in the lake.  A friend told me he has seen large Muskies come up out of the water on the far side to take squirrels and birds off low over-hanging branches.

 

On any of these lakes live bait is your best option unless you have a boat.  Might be your best option even with a boat.  I fish strictly artificials.

 

If you have a boat, there are some nice fish in the Lehigh River.  Unload at Rt 33 boat ramp just off Rt33 and Freemansburg Ave.  I practiced at this ramp a lot over the past few years.  I've even managed to catch a few fish there, but catching one is definitely an unexpected bonus.  I've managed to catch Smallmouth, Rock bass, pickerel and (2 very nice) crappies at the ramp.  Even caught a 25 inch Muskie there one day.  However, I don't recommend fishing at the ramp.  Sometimes I've gone about 2 years in a row without catching one fish from that spot.

 

A boat capable of handling the Delaware River could produce a lot of Smallmouth bass for you.  There is a fourm on the Delaware River Smallmouth bass fishing.  It isn't unusual for guys to catch over 100 in one day.  Most aren't big, but a few are very nice.

 

I wish you and your grandfather the best of luck.  You are going to need it.  

 

EDIT:  If you don't mind a little drive, you could take a trip to Jim Thorpe (not too far from Beltzville) and fish Mauch Chunk Lake.  Pretty lake.  There is a beach there for swimming.  Place to buy food.  Boats for rent.  Can walk a lot of the shore.  And this is one lake where artificials can work very well...........but again a boat is the best bet.  Talked to one guy who hadn't been catching any, but saw another fisherman who was.  Asked what he was using.  Was lucky enough to have the right colored worms.  Said the next day his arms were sore from all the fish he caught after switching to the right colored bait.  He fished from his boat.

[Rob96]

Minsi Lake is drained for repairs. 

Leaser, with the exception of trout is still catch and release. 

The lehigh offers great opportunities for nice sized trout and dink to decent smallies. The Lehigh also offers muskies that are pushing 45"+.

[new2BC4bass]

18 hours ago, Rob96 said:

Minsi Lake is drained for repairs. 

Leaser, with the exception of trout is still catch and release. 

The lehigh offers great opportunities for nice sized trout and dink to decent smallies. The Lehigh also offers muskies that are pushing 45"+.

 

Wow.  Didn't know that.  Fishing was still available the last time I was there.

 

Still catch and release?  Just great.  It was suppose to be legal to keep fish (other than trout) after June 16, 2016.  Then it was pushed back to this year.  I didn't realize the state pushed it back again.  Wonder if I'll be able to keep a Largemouth from there before I die.    Actually it doesn't bother me as I practice catch-and-release anyway, but I know others like to eat some of the fish they catch.

 

A buddy's wife pulled a 6 pound plus Largemouth out of the Lehigh.  Pretty sure he said it was a Largemouth.  Also he and his wife hit the crappie run a couple years ago, and were hauling out a lot of nice ones.  The 2 I caught up by the Rt33 boat ramp were very nice.

[Rob96]

I read about a guy landing a 6# smallie just north of Sand Island on the Lehigh.