Fishing PA | Labor Day Fishing Opportunities

Fishing PA Hotspots to Seek Out on Labor Day Weekend

Fishing Hotspots | By Don Manning

Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer but the start of some great fishing opportunities. Fishing Labor Day weekend and beyond has some great benefits. Fall is a perfect time to hit the water in search of all different kinds of species. As the weather cools down the waters, fishing action across Pennsylvania intensifies. Almost every Pennsylvania fishing hotspot will be less crowded, have better fishing and possibly even be stocked with trout again! 

Benefits to Fishing Labor Day Weekend and Beyond

Although Fall means Winter is fast approaching (for ice anglers that is great news), the end of summer has its benefits. Fishing Labor Day weekend in Pennsylvania can be crowded, we will give you that. But it has one important benefit to those who may be traveling into the state for the weekend. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is offering $1 fishing licenses for Monday September 5th. This gives those who do not fish much or who may be visiting a cheap alternative for fishing on the holiday. 

The real fishing benefits come after Labor Day Monday. Fishing beyond Labor Day weekend in Pennsylvania has three important benefits to consider when you are trying to decide on making a fishing trip to the water or not.

1. Crowds are gone. Since summer is over, kids are back to school and many families are no longer vacationing on premier fishing places in Pennsylvania. This gives you more fishing opportunities in special regulation streams, high traffic lakes and other areas that see a spike in people over the summer.
2. Fishing is better. Hot summer days are not ideal for catching fish after fish. Most waterways warm up and fish change their patterns. Specifically, trout are severely affected by warm water and will not (and should not be fished for) bite in the late summer. The challenges of late summer trout fishing in Pennsylvania lessen as cooler air and waters start to develop. Bass also become more active and the bite in many lakes and rivers in Pennsylvania starts to increase this time of year.
3. More fish. Pennsylvania trout stockings start up again in many trout waterways. Lakes are stocked in preparation for ice fishing and special regulation trout streams are loaded up for the fall trout bite. The hardest thing is deciding where to fish for trout.

5 Places to Consider Fishing Labor Day Weekend

Walker Lake

Walker Lake, located in Snyder County, near Troxelville is a hidden treasure. It is a PFBC Lake consisting of walleye, pike, bluegills, largemouth bass, bullhead catfish and black crappie. This impoundment is 239 acres in size and is limited to electric motors only. It was drained some years ago for dam improvement but has bounced back tremendously, producing some quality fish. Its maximum depth is 32 feet and it has many man-made structures throughout the lake holding nice schools of crappies and bluegills. The PFBC has a stocking program of walleye and northern pike fingerlings in the lake as well. Access is nice, with a well-designed boat launching ramp and ample parking for you trailer.

Donegal Lake

Donegal Lake is located in Westmoreland County. This lake is 90 acres in size with a maximum depth of 20 feet and restricted to electric motors only. There are two access areas on this small lake where you can launch your boat from or fish. Donegal Lake holds rainbow trout, largemouth bass, bluegill, sunfish, black crappie, channel catfish and musky. Most anglers fish this lake for trout in the fall as it gets another trout stocking on October 4th, 2016. Bass population in the lake is good, but big fish are few and far between.

Marsh Creek Lake

Marsh Creek Lake is located in Chester county and is 535 acres in size with a maximum depth of 60 feet. There are boat ramps located on the east and west sides of the lake with boating restricted to electric motors only. Marsh Creek Lake contains largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, perch, channel catfish, tiger musky and walleye. Fall is the best time to bass fish in the Pennsylvania fishing hotspot. In addition to fishing, there is a swimming beach, public facilities and other park amenities available for use.

Pine Creek

Pine Creek, or sometimes called Big Pine by the many anglers and locals who know it, is located in Lycoming County. It holds and gets stocked for trout but the gem of Pine Creek is the Catch and Release All Tackle trout fishing section at the town of Slate Run. This area holds monster brown trout. The section was the product of years of hard work by the Slate Run Tackle Shop, strong fly angler community support and help from the PFBC. Big Pine is also a great smallmouth bass fishery. Warmer waters in Big Pine mean smallie fishing but as water temperatures decreases, start looking for trout fishing opportunities. The creek offers many access points from its confluence with the West Branch of the Susquehanna River upstream along PA State Route 414 to Potter County.

Tamarack Lake

Tamarack Lake is located in Crawford County and is 574 acres in size. This lake is relatively shallow (max. depth 14 feet) and has dams at both ends of the lake. Tamarack has seven access areas on the northeast and southwest side of the lake. Fish for species such as largemouth bass, musky, walleye, smallmouth bass, black crappie, yellow perch and carp. Many anglers target muskies exclusively in this lake due to their size and numbers, but do not forget about the nice largemouth bass that can be found in this lake also. Fish in the weeds till the cooler water kills them back for your best chances at landing some fish. Tamarack Lake is restricted to electric motors only.

To wrap up, holiday weekends are some of the best weekends of the year. Friends, family and fishing are all top choices, especially on Labor Day. Labor Day fishing opportunities and fishing events abound, take advantage and start your fall fishing in Pennsylvania off right.