Lake Wallenpaupack

[bulletbob]

Always wanted to fish it, and had the chance on 8/26.. Wasn't expecting much, but I guess was still disappointed.. My brother and his wife rented a place on the lake for the week,... We got out at the crack of dawn,, Not knowing the lake at all, we targeted rocky points and the drops around them.. Figuring we might get a few SMB, or at least some rock bass, perch, bluegills .. We used small jigs around the rocks/docks etc, small spinners as well.. I was appalled at the lack of hits and follows.. I mean you would think at least a few small bass or a stray rock bass or perch would be around... Even nightcrawlers failed to attract any attention.. For a hard mornings fishing our total for 3 guys, was 3 or 4 very small sunnies, a LMB around 7 inches, and 1 16 inch pickeral caught from a weed bed on a Rooster Tail... The massive hordes of boats on that lake is absolutely frightening.. In conversation with other fishermen, I could see we weren't alone in our poor showing as far as catching some fish... That lake has more boats than any lake I have ever seen anywhere.. I guess I wasn't ready for that type of scenario.. i heard the lake had a lot of wipers, stripers, walleyes,pike, muskies, perch, crappies cats etc... i wasn't really ready for a puke green/brown tinted lake, with a million boats clogging it, and a 73 degree surface temp.. I know we didn't know the lake but geez, live nightcrawlers are a sure bet on any lake for a few small bass, and maybe some perch or other reasonale sized panfish, or a bullhead.. or something... Did we do something wrong, or is august just the wrong time to fish this lake?.. i will say this.. Lake Wallenpaupack is "well used"...
btw, the local tackle store sold a small pack of Eagle Claw hooks[no leader] for $9.. I can buy them anywhere else on the planet for about $3...
In any case, I must say, I was pretty disappointed.. made me feel like a hacker, not being able to even get a few hits on worms.. We tried spots for shoreline on out to about 30 feet.. Same thing everywhere... nothing... bob

[jimmythegreek]

Never fished it but I know guys that do well up there. They mostly fish on the far sides of the lake and make long runs to get away from boat traffic. The larger fish roam open water, stripers and wipers are suspending this time of year chasing bait balls. I dont bass fish but a drop shot or herring under a float is always a winner no matter where, and trolling a naked herring or drifting them around bait and marks will usually get u at least a fish or two.

[baetis]

You may have just hit a bad day/week. I fished it 4th of July weekend, from the shore with the kids and had tons of panfish (perch, sunnies, some decent sized rock bass and small smb) on trout magnets. A lot of action considering the boat traffic and weather (cold front). I'm told to improve your odds, use herring and fish from dark until the first hour of light and/or last hour of light into dark.

[Capt. Lou]

Maybe time of year but if u went nites probaly better shot. I have avery good friend that fishes the lake diligently for stripers in spring, not fall since he is an avid hunter.
This spring thru early summer nite anglng only, took 55 stripers to 18#'s ,heres the kicker 90% on topwater poppers!
That's all he fishes for, but has taken the other species like walleyes & bass all nite action . he tells me it doesnt get good until about mid night .
My neighbor & I gonna run up there this fall if I can pull him off a couple on NJ lakes !!! :cool:

[Rickhem]

I've fished that lake for years, decades even. My parents have a house up there and the lake has done nothing but get busier and busier as time goes by.
First, it seems to be mostly a night fishery due to the boat traffic you saw yourself. And a Thursday night is often best after the lake has had a few days to calm down from the weekend. I've had good success throwing topwaters in by all the boat docks that line the lake. The lake is like glass at night and the plop-plop-plop of a jitterbug catches even in 20-25 feet of water. Walleye I catch trolling stickbaits or just hopping jigs along the bottom out in front of the state park campground, in front of the high school, or by the dike (although you lose a lot of stuff in the rocks by the dike). I havent caught any stripers even while drifting herring out in the open areas, but they do seem to show up on the fishfinder.
Sounds like you were fishing during one of the algea blooms too. That is probably two and a half strikes against you before you even started. Tough to fish in that pea soup.
Even the local clubs that used to have tournaments there would have them at night.

[bulletbob]

Got it, thanks guys.. The boat pressure borders on insanity.. i would bet it fishes much better in lets say mid May to mid June on early morning week days, and then maybe mid oct -mid November, and once the tourist season is in full swing, nights only... meh, not my cup of tea.. Too many gigantic 600 HP boats doing 50 mph,.... and jets skis??? fuggettabotit... Our Finger Lakes have so much less insanity, and when the Susquehanna cools down and clears up, 30 big SMB standing on the shorline is not uncommon if you know where to go.. Still, the thought of a big fresh water striper or a 10 pound walleye... They say wallenpaupack has some very big fish......... bob

[Capt. Lou]

Also I might add that 30+ yrs back I fished this LK extensively for trout !
We used too rent a cabin in spring & troll up some nice brownies & Wallrye !
If u know how to troll deep & use down temps probably still can catch something !
Browns , stripers & walleye have preferred temp ranges that r very close , so running the lures at proper temp will probably get one of those babies .
Cannot fight boat traffic but in spring / fall probably due Ok if u get it right.:cool:

[bulletbob]

Also I might add that 30+ yrs back I fished this LK extensively for trout !
We used too rent a cabin in spring & troll up some nice brownies & Wallrye !
If u know how to troll deep & use down temps probably still can catch something !
Browns , stripers & walleye have preferred temp ranges that r very close , so running the lures at proper temp will probably get one of those babies .
Cannot fight boat traffic but in spring / fall probably due Ok if u get it right.:cool:

Thanks capt Lou.. I hear what you are saying.. Bottom line through is this..
I live near the Finger lakes, and we have world class trolling for salmonids.. Browns, rainbows. lakers and landlocks.. I am not much of a troller, I usually jig, and do ok.. Walleyes are plentiful in the rivers here, but its a spring and fall thing more or less.. I sometimes catch 3 or 4 in an hour standing on a rock, when conditions are right.. Light tackle, 1/4 jigs is all you need.. To deep troll on Wallenpaupack would require a big learning curve.. I probably like the idea of fishing that lake better than the reality of rigging a boat with down riggers, and then driving 2 1/2 hours down a dozen times to learn to fish it right.. Getting old and lazy ... In spring up here, you can catch big salmonids in a 14 footers and a couple flat lines... .. I am sure Wallenpaupack still gives up some great fish to those that know its secrets. I just don't feel the burn to learn.. I like the IDEA of 10 pound walleyes, but when I can get 2 pounders without a boat, I default and take the easy way out... We were looking at homes around Greentown Pa, but after seeing the pressure that is put on that lake, I think we'll pass, and I'll keep looking... bob

[Lard Almighty]

We were looking at homes around Greentown Pa, but after seeing the pressure that is put on that lake, I think we'll pass, and I'll keep looking... bobMaybe try about 20 miles north in the Honesdale area. Prompton Reservoir is nearby, which is supposed to be very good for walleye, and I've never seen that many boats on it, even in mid summer. Also, there are lots of smaller lakes around there with very good fishing, and the Dyberry and Lackawaxen rivers can be decent for trout.

[bulletbob]

Maybe try about 20 miles north in the Honesdale area. Prompton Reservoir is nearby, which is supposed to be very good for walleye, and I've never seen that many boats on it, even in mid summer. Also, there are lots of smaller lakes around there with very good fishing, and the Dyberry and Lackawaxen rivers can be decent for trout.

Thanks LA... I dunno, not to get off topic, but in reality, what I REALLY want to do is get a second place closer to the NJ shore.. I thought the Poconos area would be a good compromise.. Lots of rustic places, and wooded seclusion that my lunatic wife enjoys, BUT I could be at the NJ shore in less than 2 hours, and still have some good sweet water fishing in Pa, AND the Sussex/Warren county NJ lakes and streams.. I like fresh water fishing, but my heart is really still in the salt, so I still keep an eye on Monmouth.Ocean.. Just getting so crowded, and stupid expensive though... bob

[jimmythegreek]

bob the problem with the salt is its so expensive all the way around. houses are crazy priced, then u REALLY need a boat to do any kind of serious fishing, theres a very short window for the surf guys. I personally love the boating aspect of fishing, its like 60/40 for me, I cant stand sitting on shore or in the water fishing, UNLESS its a hot bite and theres action. And remember wallenpaupack is alot bigger but the ratio is prob less than hopatcong is, for the size LH is the boat #s are insane, yet all the regulars manage to put good catches of stripers and some eyes all year long, even mid summer on weekends. You go do ur damage before sunrise to 9-10ish and go about ur weekend like normal, I do it all summer long. If you wanna cast and fish shallow like u stated, ur not gonna be catching stripers and walleyes in the summer very often, thats a fact, not in a lake anyways. U have to do some type of trolling, whether deep water live bait/lures or working weed edges bottom bouncing for eyes. The fishing u mention is river fishing, its not even close to the same thing. To fish big water u need a proper rig, and the proper electronics to have consistent success. Fishing aint cheap even if you stand on shore, tackle, rods, and lures/bait is pricey, add in fuel and boat and supplies and you gotta wonder sometimes. Hell I have 2 boats and bought the 2nd one just so I can fish the big water, I was getting beat up in my 16.5 side console, and theres days im beat up in the 19footer too, but I got fish to show for it :) Problem is the best fishing is usually in the big water and thats where the yahoos wanna do 50 w 3 engines, no respect for us. There isnt a smaller no wake lake I kno of that has it all like LH does, LH has every species of fish we have in NJ and plenty of them, we need a 9.9 or electric only that has it all around here just for the fisherman, and make it no kill too!!

[Skunk City]

bob the problem with the salt is its so expensive all the way around. Houses are crazy priced, then u really need a boat to do any kind of serious fishing, theres a very short window for the surf guys. I personally love the boating aspect of fishing, its like 60/40 for me, i cant stand sitting on shore or in the water fishing, unless its a hot bite and theres action. And remember wallenpaupack is alot bigger but the ratio is prob less than hopatcong is, for the size lh is the boat #s are insane, yet all the regulars manage to put good catches of stripers and some eyes all year long, even mid summer on weekends. You go do ur damage before sunrise to 9-10ish and go about ur weekend like normal, i do it all summer long. If you wanna cast and fish shallow like u stated, ur not gonna be catching stripers and walleyes in the summer very often, thats a fact, not in a lake anyways. U have to do some type of trolling, whether deep water live bait/lures or working weed edges bottom bouncing for eyes. The fishing u mention is river fishing, its not even close to the same thing. To fish big water u need a proper rig, and the proper electronics to have consistent success. Fishing aint cheap even if you stand on shore, tackle, rods, and lures/bait is pricey, add in fuel and boat and supplies and you gotta wonder sometimes. Hell i have 2 boats and bought the 2nd one just so i can fish the big water, i was getting beat up in my 16.5 side console, and theres days im beat up in the 19footer too, but i got fish to show for it :) problem is the best fishing is usually in the big water and thats where the yahoos wanna do 50 w 3 engines, no respect for us. There isnt a smaller no wake lake i kno of that has it all like lh does, lh has every species of fish we have in nj and plenty of them, we need a 9.9 or electric only that has it all around here just for the fisherman, and make it no kill too!!

This!!!!

[bulletbob]

bob the problem with the salt is its so expensive all the way around. houses are crazy priced, then u REALLY need a boat to do any kind of serious fishing, theres a very short window for the surf guys. I personally love the boating aspect of fishing, its like 60/40 for me, I cant stand sitting on shore or in the water fishing, UNLESS its a hot bite and theres action. And remember wallenpaupack is alot bigger but the ratio is prob less than hopatcong is, for the size LH is the boat #s are insane, yet all the regulars manage to put good catches of stripers and some eyes all year long, even mid summer on weekends. You go do ur damage before sunrise to 9-10ish and go about ur weekend like normal, I do it all summer long. If you wanna cast and fish shallow like u stated, ur not gonna be catching stripers and walleyes in the summer very often, thats a fact, not in a lake anyways. U have to do some type of trolling, whether deep water live bait/lures or working weed edges bottom bouncing for eyes. The fishing u mention is river fishing, its not even close to the same thing. To fish big water u need a proper rig, and the proper electronics to have consistent success. Fishing aint cheap even if you stand on shore, tackle, rods, and lures/bait is pricey, add in fuel and boat and supplies and you gotta wonder sometimes. Hell I have 2 boats and bought the 2nd one just so I can fish the big water, I was getting beat up in my 16.5 side console, and theres days im beat up in the 19footer too, but I got fish to show for it :) Problem is the best fishing is usually in the big water and thats where the yahoos wanna do 50 w 3 engines, no respect for us. There isnt a smaller no wake lake I kno of that has it all like LH does, LH has every species of fish we have in NJ and plenty of them, we need a 9.9 or electric only that has it all around here just for the fisherman, and make it no kill too!!

Great reply Jimmy.. I have plenty of boats.. An 18 footer with 100 hp.. 15 ft whaler style side console w/30, and a very solid Grumman 4.4 side console 14 foot aluminum..Have nice higher end Garmin color sounders as well.. I know you have to fish deep in big lakes.. Up here I regularly jig in 100 ft+... the Finger Lakes reach 600+ feet deep!...
Its just that I prefer casting or jigging to trolling.. I fully realize that on these big lakes trolling is the answer much of the time.. I would prefer to fish for the stripers/hybrids/walleyes the way the LH bait guys do.. Live Sawbellies[ Herring to NJ guys].. I don't catch near as many salmonids as the deep trollers up here, but it is just so boring, and the fish fight like a water filled boot when dragged up from 100 feet behind a moving boat, and the mortality rate is horrible if you want to release them.. When I lived at the NJ shore [Union Beach and Forked River], I never trolled either.. If I couldn't catch with jigs, or bait or casting, I went without.. Lets put it this way, so maybe I can try and clear up my foggy writing.. Last time I fished here in Cayuga Lake, I caught 4 lakers jigging and dropped a couple as well in 70 FOW... A good troller can catch double that in a decent half day.. However, I only burned 3 gallons of gas, and caught my fish on 1 handed bass tackle with 10 lb test, and the fish fought me to my knees.
I kept only 1 and the others I released headed back down like rockets.. A troller would have had big huge noodle rods, with heavy line, and scads of hardware flying, as the lakers were dragged behind the moving boat, not able give a good account of themselves at all, and then would have to be nursed before they could muster the strength to get back down to deep water... I dunno, If fishing for FW stripers on Wally means trolling, I will take a pass, UNLESS I find a place to buy locally down there.. In that event I will do what I did when I moved here to NY from NJ.. Put some time in, ask questions, discover patterns, and find some methods that work..

Personally, I think the Stripers/Wipers/Walleyes in Wallenpaupack would hit deep jigged stuff, or Sawbellies fished deep, Just have to find them, and then go when the lake isn't being churned into green foam by jet skies>>> We'll see what the future holds.. Meantime, the nights are getting cooler, and the Walleyes will start hitting soon just a few miles from here!,,, Yeah a 20 incher is a big one in the river, but I can catch them on 6 pound test, on a 1/16 ounce jig.. Trade off??.. yeah, but like I said previously, I always default to my inherent laziness!.. I hope to send you guys some reports from up here, and maybe I can convince one or two guys to come up for a day to jig lakers or walleyes, the "lazy way"!... Thanks to all for the great responses and solid advice!.. bob

[jrock]

Hey Bob may I suggest picking up two portable cannon down riggers. They are cheap and can be easily screwed on and off your boat. And if you only drag one rod on each downrigger when you get a fish on one you can turn your motor off and reel in the fish the same way as if you hooked it jigging. So you won't catch as much fish as the guys trolling with 10 rods out bug you will catch more than you would just jigging, and you can experience the fight by stopping the motor once your hooked up. I went to Seneca lake with my two portable cannon riggers and caught plenty of fish with my relatively cheap set-up. Plus I was trolling with my 9.9 merc. Mariner 4-stroke which burned about a gallon of gas all day, "$3.75". Also with only two rods out on calm days I can troll using my 55lb. Thrust minnkota. Brand new my portable riggers go for about 75 bucks , plus 25 bucks for the 6 pound ball, and about 8 bucks for the release. About 100 bucks for each setup 200 total. If you spend some time lookin on ebay or Craigslist you can get them even cheaper. Hope this info helps you out, like I said I went to Seneca with my setup last month and caught rainbows l, salmon, and Lakers two of which were pushing 10lbs.

[bulletbob]

jrock.. I have often thought about getting a few small riggers, but never pulled the trigger.. I am pretty die hard jigging guy and catch plenty of big lakers that way on CayugaSeneca/Keuka... Rainbows, Browns and Salmon are much tougher to catch on jigs, and are really a bycatch, although I did get an 11 pound brown 2 years ago jigging. I sometimes flat line troll in spring and fall, and I do exactly as you stated.. I stop the motor, and fight the fish without dragging it..


I might get a few small riggers, we'll see.. On these huge lakes its the only way to catch what are locally know as "silver fish" with any real consisency.. Rainbows,Browns,LL Salmon..


. Lake Trout fishing is very good jigging- sometimes better than trolling, but its ALL lakers..
The "silver fish" aren't everywhere, and if you don't troll you simply don't catch many..

I know that Hybrid Stripers are taken jigging and with bait on the bigger north jersey lakes,, but that good trollers seem to get them very consistently... I can afford riggers, thats not the issue..

Its weird.. If I start downrigger trolling, I will feel that I somehow "sold out" I guess... Oh well, Walleye and SMB fishing will be getting good in the river pretty soon. For next season however, I will certainly consider your good advice,, It will help a lot on the big lakes up here.. I have the boats too, just gotta get off my ass and find a few good portable downriggers... bob