Conowingo Info?

[vanmc]

I have never fished down at Conowingo and I was hoping to get some advice as to where to launch my boat and good areas to target. I hear it is a good spot so i am anxious to give it a try. Any info would be great. Thanks

[Midnitebasser]

vanmc, Conowingo Reservoir is a good place in the spring and fall, in the summer it gets pretty tough. First thing is to be careful, the upper end of the lake is very rocky with a lot of islands and the Muddy Run pump up lake intake/discharge is located on the Lancaster Co. side of the lake, it gets very turbulent when they are discharging water, but this can turn the fish on and is a popular area to fish. Below the islands you have to watch for all the junk floating in the lake, mostly wood and some of the wood consists of logs that are big and barely visible. The lake is about 9000 acres and 16 miles between dams and if it's windy it can get rough.

OK now on to the fishing. In my opinion April Thur the beginning of July is the best time to fish Conowingo Reservoir. The fish seem to really turn on when it hits the 50 degree mark. My best lures are a jig&pig, tube, rattle trap and when the water temp gets around the 60 mark I add plastic worms. Those are my lure choices but I wouldn't hesitate to throw a jerk bait and or a crank bait. You can catch fish the length of the lake in the spring. Since you have never fished the lake I would say start at the north part and work your way south. You can also fish the Peach Bottom warm water discharge but it does get crowded on the weekends.

Their are several boat ramps on the lake, the following 4 are the ones I would recommend. The one I use most of the time is the Muddy Creek Access off of RT 372. When you cross the river on Rt 372 make a left on River Rd just after you come off the bridge, follow River Rd to the sign, it's on the left. Next is Dorsey Park (Private) it belongs to Peach Bottom Nuclear Power Plant, after you cross the river on Rt 372 go to the stop sign and make a left on Rt 74 go left onto PA Route 851 then left on Lay Road, follow to access. Peach Bottom Marina (Private) this is a pay ramp, when you get to the blinking stop light in Buck take PA Route 272 south to Spring Valley Road, then take Slate Valley Road to the marina. You will be launching in a creek, when you come under the railroad bridge into the lake be careful there is a big flat below Mount Johnson Island and there is a lot of shallow water. The last one is Glen Cove and is in MD. and is also a pay ramp. Take Rt 1 south, cross the dam, after you will pass the weigh station on the right you will come to a light at 623, make a right on 623 go to the first stop sign and make a right, this will take you to the marina, you might want to take a ride down and check this ramp out to see how it is set up, you might not like it but it is in the lower end of the lake. Sorry for such a long post but wanted to cover as much as I could, hope you didn't fall asleep reading it and hope it helps. If you want more info send me a PM through the message board and I will try to help.

[vanmc]

Thanks for all the helpful info. I think i am going to give it a try this Sunday. I assume i can use my gas engine on the lake. Also just to make sure I am looking at the right place. It is the muddy run reservoir when looking at the map correct? Thanks again.

[vanmc]

I actually think i am looking at the wrong place on the map. Is the Conowingo Reservior part of the Susquehanna river. Having never been and just reading about it I am clueless. Thanks again for the help

[Midnitebasser]

Conowingo Reservoir is part of the Susquehanna River, it is unlimited HP. If you are looking at the Muddy Run pump up lake, there is no boating allowed and very limited shore fishing and then there is the small lake in the Muddy Run Park, it's not a very big lake maybe 150 acres and you can use your boat there but electric motors only.