For more information, call the Reading and Berks County Visitors Bureau at 1-800-443-6610, or log onto www.readingberkspa.com.

KAERCHER CREEK LAKE
In the northeast corner of Berks County, small Kaercher Creek Lake features abundant bass, including some big ones. The 31-acre lake near Hamburg has a heavily wooded shoreline with plenty of overhanging trees. After a stormy winter, lots of fallen limbs and laydown trees appear along its banks.

That’s important because many largemouths will build their nests under the cover of these trees.

Their pre-spawn staging sites are along the dropoff out from the bank areas, and in the spring, their immediate post-spawn retreat will be around the same locations. This is where spring bass anglers should concentrate their efforts.

To reach Kaercher State Park, take Route 61 north to the Hamburg exit off South Fourth Street. At the third traffic light, turn right onto State Street (Old Route 22). Proceed about one mile to the park’s entrance, which is marked.

A new Hamburg exit off I-78 recently opened, making it easier to exit the interstate and get to the park.

For more information, phone (610) 372-8939 or (610) 374-8839.

LAKE NOCKAMIXON
The PFBC rates Bucks County’s Lake Nockamixon as the No. 1 impoundment for largemouth bass in the Southeast Region. Few anglers would argue the point!

The 1,450-acre impoundment routinely produces good numbers of largemouths and some quality fish. It also has a fair number of smallmouth bass in distinct habitats, and these fish are generally quite hefty, too.

But with its wide variety of structure and habitat, Lake Nockamixon is not a particularly easy place to fish. It’s sometimes hard to know what the bass are doing.

In early spring, anglers should concentrate on the western end of the lake, where Three Mile Run and Tohickon Creek enter substantial bays.

Later in the season, move downstream to the stump fields along the southern shoreline and the burgeoning weedbeds on the indented northern shore.

The PFBC rates Lake Nockamixon in Bucks County as the No. 1 impoundment for largemouth bass in the Southeast Region. Few anglers would argue the point!

During the spring of 2008, the park’s rental cabins will not be available until at least May 2, due to a construction project. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources reports that the cabins will become available once work is completed.

The state park has two boat ramps along Route 563 and one ramp across the lake at Three Mile Run Road. The lake has a 20-horsepower motor limit.

For more information, contact the state park office at (215) 529-7300.

MAUCH CHUNK LAKE
Last year we heard only good things about the bass fishing on Carbon County’s Mauch (pronounced “maw”) Chunk Lake.

Reportedly, respectable numbers of largemouths in the 2.5- to 3.5-pound range were being caught day and night. When I heard the rumor, I went there with a friend and we were pleasantly surprised to find the rumor wasn’t a lie.

A substantial year-class of fish had matured to the point that the bass fishing was fine. And with the vast majority of anglers practicing catch-and-release, there should still be good numbers of bass there this season.

Some individual bass from other year-classes added spice at Mauch Chunk last year. A number of 22-inch largemouths weighing over 6 pounds were caught at the 330-acre impoundment.