Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2017 - 25

A soft plastic beaver-style
lure is very effective for
bass. Use a footballstyle jig head, and
don't forget to split the
tail for more action.

Fastening docks
permanently to the lake
bottom is not allowed,
so be aware that in many
cases chains and cables
anchor docks to the bottom of
the lake. Some docks are held in
place with long vertical pipes. There
are nearly 2,000 docks on the lake, ideal
places for fish to lurk waiting for a minnow meal. Trespassing
on docks is illegal. If you hook a chain, cable or the dock itself,
cut your line.
A productive live bait set-up consists of minnows, worms or
crayfish fished off a bobber tossed from shore or from a boat
towards shore, over a weed bed or alongside a dock.
Most bass anglers fish with artificial lures. During early
summer, there's a good topwater bite with medium-sized plugs
and popper type baits. For more strikes, replace the front hook
with a red hook and use a marker to put more red on the bait.
If the lure doesn't have a flashy tail, get some flash material
from the tackle shop and fix it to the rear hook.
As summer progresses, it's all about finesse fishing. Try a
two-piece spider-type lure. Colors including pumpkin seed
and motor oil work best. Affix the skirt and tail on a 1/8-ounce
football-style jig head. Fish it slow. You can't fish this setup
too slow. Using the lighter jig head will prevent the lure from
getting constantly hung on weeds and rocks when you toss it
towards the shore and work it back to the boat.
Another plastic bait that works well in summer is the
beaver-style lure. Use the same 1/8-ounce football-style jig

A favorite among summer bass anglers is the tube bait. Colors
including salty, pumpkin or green with flecks work well. You
can't fish this bait too slow.
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A 1/8-ounce teardrop style jig head works best with medium-sized
tube baits on Lake Wallenpaupack. By keeping the weight of the
jig head light, you'll experience less snags on vegetation and rocks.

head, and select the smaller beaver-style lure. Don't forget to
split the tail for more action. If you find thicker vegetation
on Lake Wallenpaupack, go to a heavier jig head and larger
beaver-style lure. With 20-pound fluorocarbon line, you
can pitch the heavier offering into the thick stuff and fish
vertically. The heavier combination will drop straight down
through the weeds.
If you like tube fishing, now is the time to use a 1/8-ounce
teardrop jig head and tube bait. Colors including motor oil,
pumpkin seed with flecks and dark green work best.
As we transition from July to August, the lake's water warms.
Boat action on the weekends and holidays muddy up the water,
so fish early while the water is still clear. Select a black, slim,
swimming stickbait in the Senko-style and rig it on a 1/16-ounce
darter head jig. This bait also requires patience, and you can't
fish it too slow. Using a spinning rod, cast this bait far. When
it hits the water, give it some slack, but keep in contact with
the bait. The Senko style bait will sink slowly, and the slightest
twitch of the rod will give it the action bass can't resist.
Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass share the
lake with 24 other fish species that are illustrated with
identification on a free 9-inch by 4-inch waterproof card
available at the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau, Route 6,
Hawley. A good tackle box contains a variety of lures to take
advantage of other sportfishing opportunities when you're
not bustin' bass at Lake Wallenpaupack.
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * July/August 2017

25
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