Big Run Cove on the south side of the lake is so big it has a number of pocket coves all to itself. If the water temperature is above 75 degrees, look to the coves close to the main lake to provide the best daytime action. Muskrat Cove on the east side of Big Run and Duck Cove on the opposite side are good in the evening because of feeder streams that run down from the surrounding hills. If the runs are dry, look elsewhere.

Lake Arthur is in Moraine State Park, which covers 16,725 acres. Each year, over one million people visit this park. The facility has 11 cabins, but no camping is allowed except for organized groups. For information, call (724) 368-8811.

PINCHOT LAKE
Harrisburg-area anglers hoping to escape the heat can run down to Pinchot Lake and find some excellent largemouth fishing. This 340-acre impoundment is a conglomeration of weeds, large boulders, swimming beaches and cattail-choked shorelines. Besides these traditional bass hideouts, there is good fishing around the lake's three boat launches and also at a strange gauging station located in the lake's northwest bay.

Though it is near Conewago Creek, officials seemed to have dropped the name, Conewago Lake, commonly used for many years. It is now being referred to as Pinchot Lake. This makes sense because the impoundment is part of Gifford Pinchot State Park. The Pinchot name is cited in the PFBC rulebook under the big-bass regulations, but numerous older references still refer to the impoundment as Conewago Lake.

By any name this is a good bass lake, as evidenced by the special regulations and the fact it entertains numerous summer night tournaments. Many of the larger bass taken during these contests are caught in the deep water by the dam. Boat Launch No. 3, located off Alpine Road, is the closest ramp on the south side of the lake to the dam.

During the summer, bass anglers seem to favor one of two zones when fishing Pinchot Lake. Either they head to the northeastern end of the lake where the dam is, or they launch at Ramp No. 1 on the northwestern side of the impoundment.

The entire middle third of Pinchot Lake is often neglected during the hot months. There don't seem to be as many weeds in this portion and pleasure boats often clog it.

My own daytime forays usually begin at Ramp No. 1 out toward the large bay to the first swimming area. Route 74 serves Ramp No. 1 and there is a large cattail-lined cove behind the highway bridge.

If you're night-fishing, the shoreline often holds a multitude of smaller bass. I also favor the boulder field on the south side of the lake in the corner near the swimming beach. This structure, along with deep weedbeds, holds a lot of big fish.

With 340 campsites and 10 rental cabins, Pinchot Lake is a good place for a family fishing vacation. The impoundment is off Route 177. Harrisburg anglers may travel south on I-83 to the Lewisberry exit, where there are signs giving directions to the park.

Call (717) 432-5011 for information.

LAKE AUGUSTA
To me, this just part of the Susquehanna River and is not a lake at all. But the PFBC insists on calling the waters above the river's infamous Fabridam, Lake Augusta. The fact is that this dammed juncture below the West Branch and North Branch Susquehanna is an excellent smallmouth fishery.