East Branch Clarion River Lake is a sleeper for smallmouth bass anglers. This 1,371-acre flood control reservoir is in Elk County. Deep, with steep banks, the lake has been plagued by acidic water resulting in low fish density. Gill net surveys have revealed reasonably good numbers of smallmouths.

SOUTHEAST REGION
Catch rates in the Southeast Region generally are the best in the state, averaging 50.4 total bass per hour, with 12.3 per hour for bass longer than 12 inches, and 3.6 per hour for bass longer than 15 inches.

Struble Lake, a shallow lake in Chester County, is a great destination for anglers who are primarily interested in big bass. It has shown low bass densities, but produces a good number of larger bass. A survey in May 2004 showed the catch of bass longer than 12 inches was 11.4 per hour, while the catch of bass longer than 15 inches was 7.5 per hour. The latter figure is better than double the regional average and continues an improving trend.

Biologists were impressed with the catch of five largemouth bass longer than 18 inches, including a 20-inch fish that weighed 4 pounds.

An electro-shocking survey of Auburn Dam was conducted in May 2004 primarily for analysis of PCB contamination following up on a similar survey the previous year. Samples from two consecutive years are required to provide conclusive results. Previous flesh contamination analyses have resulted in one meal per month consumption advisories on bluegills and brown bullheads caught here. Although releasing bass appears to be the wisest policy, there are some nice bass here to be caught.

NORTHEAST REGION
Big Bass regulations were implemented at Mauch Chunk Lake for the 1997 fishing season. This 330-acre impoundment is near the town of Jim Thorpe in Carbon County. During April and May 2004, it was surveyed using trap nets and electro-shocking techniques. Trap net catch rates were low, but the electro-shocking results were another story. A total of 295 largemouth bass ranging in size from 3 inches to 22 inches were captured. The largest was 22 inches in length and weighed 6 pounds, 1 ounce. Catch rates were 49 bass per hour for total bass, 12.7 per hour for bass longer than 12 inches and 0.7 per hour for bass longer than 15 inches.

The report from this survey states that although the number of largemouth bass 15 inches and over remains low, the number of bass between 12 and 15 inches has remained more stable and higher than during the pre-Big Bass regulation era.

Anglers are reported to be very pleased with the fishing in this lake.

Bear Gap Reservoir and McWilliams Reservoir in Columbia and Northumberland counties are in a newly acquired portion of Delaware State Forest. McWilliams Reservoir is accessible only on foot. Both reservoirs are fed by South Branch Roaring Creek, which is acidic. Fishing is allowed on these reservoirs (and the portion of the creek within the state forest) strictly on a catch-and-release basis. Fish densities are considered low, but a reasonable number of largemouth bass range in length from 3 to 17 inches.

For more information about fishing for bass in Pennsylvania, contact the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, P.O. Box 67000, 1601 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000; or call (717) 705-7800.