Don't expect to catch a lot of trout here. This lake is best suited to serious anglers focused on seeking the biggest trout in the commonwealth.

Wallenpaupack is a fairly deep lake. Look for big browns close to the thermocline, probably in or along the upper edge. Even more important is the presence of alewives. Watch your sonar for schools of these oily fish, then for the big marks around them. Get spoons or stick baits down to those "big marks" with downriggers or trolling sinkers.

Brown trout are the wariest of all trout species. Run lures at least 100 feet behind downrigger balls (farther is better) and use line no heavier than 12-pound-test from the release to the lure. Downrigger releases can be hard on lighter lines, however; so heavier running line is recommended.

Lake Wallenpaupack has a surface area of 5,700 acres and is situated along the Wayne County/Pike County border. Head east from Scranton on I-84 then exit north on PA Route 507.

Get information about local services from Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau, Inc., 1004 Main Street, Stroudsburg, PA 18360. Contact them at 1-800-762-6667 or via e-mail at pocomts@poconos.org, or visit their Web site at www.800poconos.com.

For a copy of the Lake Wallenpaupack Boating Guide, which provides an overview of the state's rules and regulations for Lake Wallenpaupack trout fishing, call 1-800-354-8383 or write to PPL Lake Office, P.O. Box 122, Hawley, PA 18428-0122.

UPPER WOODS POND
This smaller lake in Wayne County is worth checking for summer trout action. Upper Woods Pond is a natural glacial lake covering about 80 acres. It's quite deep, though, with an average depth of 29 feet and a maximum depth of nearly 73 feet. State Game Lands No. 159 surrounds it. The Fish and Boat Commission maintains a boat access with a surfaced launch ramp. Boats are limited to electric-powered motors.

This lake is stocked with both adult and fingerling brook trout and rainbow trout.

Upper Woods Pond is the perfect place to use portable downriggers to get lures into cold water. Rainbow trout generally prefer smaller lures than do brown trout of similar size.

For information about local services, contact the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau, Inc. (see above).

RAYSTOWN LAKE
Because of its excellent forage base, Raystown Lake has developed into a fine lake trout fishery. This is a big lake with a lot of deep water, so you may have to spend some time locating the trout. Concentrate on finding schools of forage fish in deeper water, generally down-lake from Seven Points.

Lake trout tend to be a lot more cooperative that the other trout. Once you find them, it should be easy to catch them -- with the right tactics. Most lake trout anglers troll spoons off downriggers. Stick baits or wobbling lures can sometimes be more productive. Adding spinner rigs or dodgers ahead of lures can help, but these detract from the enjoyment of playing caught fish.