Some of the hottest bass fishing on the lake is the water around the Threemile Run launch on the south side of the impoundment. The weedy arm that is infused from the flow of Threemile Run is a good spot. So is the long Tohickon Creek arm opposite the Threemile Run boat launch. If you can be first in line on an August morning, these areas are certainly the places to go. But if the parade of anglers has already started, plan to motor downlake toward the dam.

Because it's a bit of a ride and out of view from the main lake, the area around Mink Road and also the rocky shoreline near the dam are less pressured. Steep cliff walls that dive into the water mean the lower lake is the home of more smallmouths than largemouths. Still, these are not small smallies. The deep water and good structure, as well as a solid forage base, make this the home of the biggest lake smallmouths in the region. Local rivers have higher smallmouth numbers, but Lake Nockamixon has larger fish.

Consider starting your August Nockamixon activities late in the evening and continue through dark. The larger areas of the impoundment are prime for summer fishing. The main marina on the north side of the lake where all the sailboats are docked is off-limits, but the nearby shoreline heading back up the lake is one of the least fished of all. The banks from the marina west toward the fishing pier get a thick crop of weeds, and bass may be pulled out from under them using floating baits.

Another less traveled spot is across from the Haycock boat ramp at the far eastern end of the lake. The shoreline near the ramp is too shallow for summer fishing, but the long wall opposite the launch is a good choice, though it is generally not weedy.

Lake Nockamixon is in the state park of the same name. The facility has cabin rentals but no tent camping. The park is five miles east of Quakertown from Route 313 to Route 563.

Call (215) 529-7300 for more information.

LAKE ARTHUR
Lake Arthur in Butler County is another heavily pressured impoundment, but with 3,225 acres and at least 10 major coves and bays, plus many more smaller ones, there is plenty of room to play on this lake.

Lake Arthur is divided by routes 422 and 528, which cross the impoundment. Route 528 has three boat launches not far from the highway, including two on either side of the bridge and a third farther north in Muddy Creek cove.

The three launches will put you into some fine summer largemouth spots, namely Shannon Run, Swamp Run and Muddy Creek. The back of Swamp Run is a propagation area and is off-limits. However, the shoreline weeds through Muddy Creek and Shannon Run hold a considerable number of largemouths. Lake Arthur is indeed a weedy lake and any of the coves that have grass and floating vegetation will hold bass this month.

There aren't many places where you can wade and fish for bass on a lake like this, but shore-bound anglers should try the Crescent Bay section of the impoundment. I used a fly rod to catch largemouths late on a summer's evening below the picnic tables along the Pleasant Valley area.

The best way to reach the ramps on the west end of Lake Arthur is to take Interstate Route 79 to Exit 96 and follow Badger Hill Road to Porter's Cove. There are copious signs giving directions to the area. The ramp at Porter's Cove is in the back of a large summer-weedy bay, a great place for largemouths.