Photo by Jim Spencer

By July, Pennsylvania lakes have become the prime target for bass anglers seeking their favorite quarry. The thought of pulling trout from the still waters of a summer lake is far from their minds. But for anglers who still yearn to feel the pull of a fighting trout, there are some excellent Pennsylvania lakes where they can find plenty of action at this time of year.

The most important element that a July trout lake must possess, which all Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission fishery managers agree upon, is a thermocline. What this means in reference to a July trout lake is the area of subsurface water where the oxygen level is high enough and the water temperature cool enough to allow trout to keep functioning in a manner where they will move about without stress to freely pursue food.

Unlike warmwater species, such as bass, catfish and panfish, which do well in warm waters with lower oxygen levels, trout need water temperatures in the 45- to 55-degree range with a steady supply of dissolved oxygen.

Not all Pennsylvania lakes that are stocked with trout have this feature in summer, but by the same token there are many that do. The following list briefly covers the picks of Pennsylvania's fisheries managers for the top 10 trout lakes in July:

LAKE MARBURGH
Found in the southwest corner of York County and within Codorus State Park, this 1,275-acre lake with 26 miles of shoreline is one of Pennsylvania's best bets for summer trout action. Mike Kaufmann, Area 6 fisheries manager for the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, said Lake Marburgh has undergone several different approaches by the Fish and Boat Commission through the years in an attempt to establishing good trout populations for year-round fishing.

"A few years back, we tried stocking fingerlings, but warmwater species in the lake preyed upon them," Kaufmann said. "Now we put 4,200 adult trout in the lake the first week of the season that average 10 to 12 inches in length. By the following year, there are many trout in the lake that average 15 to 18 inches in length. This stocking system, along with the abundant smelt population, keeps good numbers of big fish in the mix for anglers who choose to fish here."

To reach Lake Marburgh, take Exit 8 from Interstate 83, go 18 miles west on state Route 216 through Hanover, turn right (onto state Route 216 east), and go three miles to the park. This lake allows unlimited horsepower motors, has paved launching roads and large parking facilities.

LOCUST LAKE
In northern Schuylkill County, this 52-acre lake is within 1,089-acre Locust Lake State Park. This is one of the PFBC's "high-intensity" trout lakes and is stocked accordingly. That means the normal pre-season stocking of 2,900 brown and brook trout are only part of the total number stocked. Although final numbers are not available, Locust Lake will receive in-season stockings and fall-winter stockings.

This lake allows only electric motors, has ample parking and hard-surface launching facilities. It is seven miles north of the city of Pottsville and is two miles southwest of Exit 131A (Hometown) off Interstate 81.

LEISURE LAKE
When filled (it is in a current draw-down for dam repairs that are scheduled to be finished soon), this Lehigh County lake covers 117 acres. Nestled along the Blue Mountains on its northern edge, with fields of tall summer grasses along the rest of its perimeter, this Management Area 6 lake receives fall and winter stockings in addition to in-season stockings. It also received 289 brook trout and 2,520 rainbow trout in a pre-season stocking.