Tom Evans.

APRIL
Crappies
Blue Marsh Lake
Crappies and largemouth bass are plentiful in this Berks County lake. To target crappies near the surface, fish crickets or grasshoppers on a light wire. Access is off Route 183.

Brook Trout
Clarion River
The Clarion River is stocked annually with trout at Tom’s Run. Fish the West Branch Clarion for best-bet brookies.

Access can be had in several locations off U.S. Route 219.

Brown Trout
Valley Creek
This Chester County creek can be accessed through Valley Forge National Historic Park.

Sections of Valley Creek are under special regulations, so be sure to check the rulebook before heading out to catch those big brown trout!

Access is off Route 23.

May
Brook Trout
Hickory Run
This Carbon County stream is swimming with wild brookies and brown trout! The Run ranges from 15 to 20 feet wide, with plenty of nice riffles and pools.

Hickory begins east of the turnpike, flows through Hickory Run State Park and eventually empties into the Lehigh River.

The greatest concentration of native brook trout can be found upstream. Access can be had from State Route 534.

Walleyes
Lake Nockamixon
Anglers land big walleyes and muskellunge while night-fishing this Bucks County lake located in Nockamixon State Park. The season on walleyes opens May 5.

This lake is also considered a hotspot for largemouth bass. Access is off Route 563.

Channel Catfish
Plum Creek Reservoir
This Armstrong County water, also known as Keystone Lake, offers up some big channel cats! Plum Creek is also home to brookies and lake trout, walleyes, bass, muskies, crappies and bluegills.

Access can be had off T690 or Route 210.

JUNE
Bullheads
Loyalhanna Lake
This Westmoreland County lake offers up good fishing for most warmwater species. In addition to bullheads, the lake is home to bass, muskies, walleyes and crappies.

Night-fish with chicken livers on bottom using a single or treble hook slip-rig. Access is off U.S. Route 22.

Smallmouth Bass
Tunkhannock Creek
When the seasonal no-harvest ban on bronzebacks is lifted on June 16, anglers will want to head to Tunkhannock Creek in Wyoming County.

The creek flows along Route 6. Lazy Brook Park offers easy access.

Striped Bass
Lake Wallenpaupack
This 5,700-acre manmade lake is split pretty much down the middle lengthwise between Wayne and Pike counties. Striped bass fishing is good here, and the lake is also home to trout, bass and muskellunge.

Wallenpaupack offers anglers a shot at some very big walleyes, too. Boat access can be had at several locations around the lake.

Check DeLorme’s Pennsylvania Atlas and Gazetteer, Map 54 for locations.