If you are looking for a great fishing destination in Southeastern Pennsylvania, you might want to check out Nockamixon Lake. This 1,450-acre lake is located in Nockamixon State Park, about an hour north of Philadelphia1. It is a warmwater fishery and a Big Bass Lake, meaning it has a variety of fish species and some trophy-sized bass23. In this blog post, I will tell you more about the different types of fish you can catch in Nockamixon Lake and some tips on how to catch them.
Largemouth Bass
Largemouth bass are the most popular and abundant game fish in Nockamixon Lake. They can grow up to 8 pounds or more, thanks to the lake’s plentiful forage of alewives and gizzard shad4. However, they can also be challenging to catch, as they are well-fed and selective. The best time to fish for largemouth bass is in the spring and fall, when they are more active and shallow4.
The lake has a lot of shoreline structure that attracts bass, such as rocky banks, stump fields, flats, drop-offs, and weed beds4. You can use a variety of baits and techniques to target them, depending on the season and conditions. Some of the most effective baits are jigs, Texas-rigged worms, Zoom Flukes, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, and topwater frogs4. You should also pay attention to the fish habitat structures that have been installed throughout the lake by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission3. These include post clusters, rubble piles, and porcupine cribs that provide cover and ambush points for bass3.
Nockamixon Lake is part of Pennsylvania’s Big Bass Program, which means there are special regulations for bass fishing. The minimum size limit is 15 inches, and you can only keep four bass per day3. You should also practice catch-and-release whenever possible to preserve the quality of the fishery.
Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth bass are less common than largemouth bass in Nockamixon Lake, but they can still provide some exciting fishing action. They tend to prefer deeper and cooler water than largemouths, especially in summer4. They also tend to be more aggressive and fight harder than largemouths4.
The best places to look for smallmouth bass are near the dam at the eastern end of the lake, where the water is deeper and rockier4. You can also find them along steep drop-offs and points on the main lake4. Some of the best baits for smallmouth bass are crankbaits, tube jigs, drop-shot rigs, and live minnows4. You should use light line and finesse presentations to entice these wary fish.
Smallmouth bass are subject to the same regulations as largemouth bass in Nockamixon Lake. The minimum size limit is 15 inches, and you can only keep four bass per day3.
Channel Catfish
Channel catfish are another abundant and popular game fish in Nockamixon Lake. They can grow up to 20 pounds or more, and they are available year-round24. They are especially active at night and during cloudy or rainy days4.
The best places to find channel catfish are near the bottom of deep holes, channels, and flats on the main lake4. You can also find them near inflowing creeks like Tohickon Creek and Haycock Run4. Some of the best baits for channel catfish are chicken liver, nightcrawlers, cut bait, stink bait, and live shiners4. You should use heavy line and strong hooks to handle these powerful fish.
Channel catfish have no minimum size limit in Nockamixon Lake. You can keep 50 catfish per day (combined with white catfish), but only five can be over 20 inches long3.
White Catfish
White catfish are similar to channel catfish, but they have a smaller and more rounded head, a shorter anal fin, and a white chin barbel4. They are also smaller in size, usually less than 5 pounds4. They are more common in the upper end of the lake, where the water is shallower and muddier4.
The best places to find white catfish are near the bottom of shallow flats, coves, and creek mouths4. You can use the same baits as for channel catfish, such as chicken liver, nightcrawlers, cut bait, stink bait, and live shiners4. You should also use heavy line and strong hooks to avoid losing these fish.
White catfish have no minimum size limit in Nockamixon Lake. You can keep 50 catfish per day (combined with channel catfish), but only five can be over 20 inches long3.
Walleye
Walleye are a prized game fish in Nockamixon Lake. They can grow up to 10 pounds or more, and they have excellent table quality24. They are most active in low-light conditions, such as dawn, dusk, and night4.
The best places to find walleye are near the bottom of deep points, humps, and drop-offs on the main lake4. You can also find them near the dam and along the old creek channels4. Some of the best baits for walleye are jigging spoons, blade baits, jig-and-minnow combos, and live shiners4. You should use light line and subtle movements to trigger strikes from these finicky fish.
Walleye have a minimum size limit of 15 inches in Nockamixon Lake. You can keep six walleye per day3.
Other Fish Species
Nockamixon Lake also has a variety of other fish species that you can catch for fun or food. Some of these include:
- Black crappie and white crappie: These are panfish that can grow up to 14 inches or more. They are most abundant in spring and fall, when they school near shallow cover like stumps, weeds, and brush piles. You can catch them with small jigs, minnows, or worms. There is no minimum size limit or daily creel limit for crappies in Nockamixon Lake3.
- Bluegill and pumpkinseed sunfish: These are small but feisty panfish that can be caught year-round. They are most common in shallow water near weeds, docks, and rocks. You can catch them with small hooks and worms, crickets, or maggots. There is no minimum size limit or daily creel limit for sunfish in Nockamixon Lake3.
- White perch and yellow perch: These are schooling fish that can grow up to 12 inches or more. They are most active in spring and fall, when they move into shallow water to spawn. You can catch them with small jigs, spinners, minnows, or worms. There is no minimum size limit or daily creel limit for perch in Nockamixon Lake3.
- Hybrid striped bass: These are a cross between white bass and striped bass that can grow up to 15 pounds or more. They are stocked periodically by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission to provide an additional sport fishery. They are most active in summer and fall, when they chase schools of shad on the surface. You can catch them with topwater plugs, spoons, jigs, or live shiners. The minimum size limit for hybrid striped bass is 20 inches in Nockamixon Lake. You can keep two hybrid striped bass per day3.
- Chain pickerel: These are toothy predators that can grow up to 24 inches or more. They are most common in the upper end of the lake, where the water is shallower and weedy. You can catch them with spinners, spoons, jerkbaits, or live minnows. You should use a wire leader to prevent bite-offs. The minimum size limit for chain pickerel is 15 inches in Nockamixon Lake. You can keep four chain pickerel per day3.
- Muskie and tiger muskie: These are the largest and rarest fish in Nockamixon Lake. They can grow up to 50 inches or more and weigh over 30 pounds. Muskie are purebred muskellunge that are native to Pennsylvania waters. Tiger muskie are a hybrid between muskie and northern pike that are stocked by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. They are most active in spring and fall, when they patrol the edges of weed beds and drop-offs. You can catch them with large plugs, bucktails, swimbaits, or live suckers.
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Author: John Rowan
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