Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2014 - 27

Frances E. Walter Reservoir can be reached from
use, primarily fishing and camping, in 2005. Francis E.
Route 940 West, from Exit 284 off Route 80. When you
Walter Reservoir is an 80-acre reservoir offering good
exit Route 80, take 115 North to the first traffic light.
fishing. It is accessible by a single paved road that leads
Make a left turn, and follow Route 940 several miles.
directly to the only boat ramp.
When you see the entrance sign for Frances E. Walter
In the spring, the reservoir will average from 100 feet
Reservoir, turn right. The road will take you to the ramp.
to about 25 feet in depth, and it is noted for excellent
If traveling from Scranton-Wilkes Barre area, take Route
crappie fishing. Large crappies are often taken. During the
437, which runs into Route 940, and then turn east.
long summer, the lake is constantly dropping in depth.
When we arrived at the ramp in September, the water
was at a low, clear level.
We opted to fish the shoreline on the north side
of the lake. Bass would be within easy casting along
the shore in about 3 to 10 feet of water. We both
started the day using 4- to 5-inch soft plastic lures
in chartreuse color. Working the shoreline slowly,
we were able to catch and release a good number of
Largemouth Bass.
We continued fishing towards the mouth of
the dam where the Lehigh River entered. Now,
we were in 4 to 8 feet of clear water and were able
to see a lot of bass. However, we disturbed a lot
of them too, so we resorted to using a variety of
lures. Eventually, we resumed catching bass but
not heavyweights. We caught some good pickerel
on soft plastics. The pickerel exposed themselves
when we observed them chasing baitfish, and they
were easy pickings for our curly-tailed grubs and
The entrance to Shohola Falls Waterfowl Management Area and
soft plastic minnows.
We were still fishing the backwaters in shallow water Shohola Lake, off Route 6.
when I saw a pair of Rainbow Trout that looked to be
Shohola Lake
more than 20 inches long. I immediately, and carefully,
When we went from the deep, cool water of Frances E.
worked the soft plastics past them, but they would not
Walter Reservoir to the shallow, weedy waters of Shohola
strike. Robert saw more trout and had the same result.
Lake, we made a drastic change. Whereas we were fishing
The big Rainbow Trout were not feeding. Both the
in water that could be as deep as 60 feet, Shohola Lake has
Lehigh River and Bear Creek flow into the dam and are
an average depth of roughly 9 feet, but it was mostly about 5
heavily stocked with trout in the spring. Thus, it is only
feet. We were told that big bass were the major gamefish in
natural that trout settle into the dam until the stream
the lake because of the presence of considerable cover and
temperatures grew uncomfortable in the summer. I
a good supply of food. Bob O'Dell and another friend of
believe that the trout feed well in the dam and have the
mine, Jim Lager, told me about the possibility of catching big
natural instinct to travel back to the streams in the fall.
Largemouth Bass as well as pickerel, so I was anxious to test
In addition, trout were still in season, and there were
my skill and luck on Shohola Lake. We fished Shohola Lake in
plenty of them.
late September and early October.
We fished during a week in mid-September and
I wanted to gather more information about Shohola
only noted four other boats on the lake. It was like
Lake and was able to secure some data from a Pennsylvania
fishing in a private lake. If you have an open date
biologist report that was impressive. In a routine survey,
this fall, check out the fishing at Frances E. Walter
trap nets were placed and left overnight in the lake and
Reservoir or fish a local stream or lake, and enjoy the
reported the following species of fish. The nets captured
fun of fall fishing in Pennsylvania. Speaking of boats,
297 Bluegills, 264 Black Crappies, 212 Brown Bullheads,
there is a strictly enforced 10 mph speed limit on the
173 Yellow Bullheads, 106 Yellow Perch, 29 Largemouth
lake whether you are using a bass boat or a jonboat.
Bass, 19 White Suckers, 10 Pumpkinseeds and 40 pickerel. I
We fished from noon to 5:00 p.m., so we only covered
considered this a substantial catch and was satisfied that the
a fraction of the lake. There are enough shallows and
lake held a lot of fish. Shohola Lake is on Route 6 halfway
shoreline to fish to keep you busy for a full day. The
between Milford and Hawley. It is very easy to find.
shoreline is very rocky, and we do not advise anglers
Shohola Lake is a manmade lake, 1,137 acres, and is located
to attempt any shore fishing where the drop-offs are
on Pennsylvania Game Lands No. 180 in Shohola Township,
steep. Wear a life jacket.
PFBC website: www.fishandboat.com

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * September/October 2014

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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2014

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