Experience Fishing in the Pocono Mountains

POCONO MOUNTAINS, Pa. – From shad, muskie, panfish, and pickerel to bass and some of the best trout in the country, fishing in the Pocono Mountains is an experience to be had. One hundred and fifty lakes, 170 miles of river including the Delaware, Lehigh, and Lackawaxen Rivers, and seven state parks can be found in the Pocono Mountains region, making it a prime fishing destination with a clean environment that has been protected by the wildlife conservation and management efforts of the state of Pennsylvania.

Fly fishing is a particularly popular sport in the Pocono Mountains, comparable to any other fly fishing hot spots throughout the United States and in other parts of the world. ORVIS fly fishing centers and schools can be found at area resorts such as Pocono Manor Golf Resort & Spa, in Pocono Manor; Skytop Lodge, in Skytop; and Big Two Resorts, in Blakeslee. Pocono Manor has hosted the International Women’s Fly Fishers, as well as world-renowned first lady of fly fishing Joan Wulff.

The variety of cool and warm water fish found in the Pocono Mountains allows for year-round fishing. Trout season opens mid-April and extends throughout a majority of the year. Millions of shad pass through the Delaware Water Gap from mid-April through early June, and large and small mouth bass season opens mid-May and continues throughout the fall months. Even in the winter when temperatures drop, avid fishermen who aren’t afraid to brave the cold enjoy ice fishing on frozen lakes in the Pocono Mountains.

Lake Wallenpaupack, one of the largest man-made lakes in Pennsylvania, is set on the boarders of Pike and Wayne counties in the Pocono Mountains and offers 52 miles of uninterrupted shoreline. This fishing hot spot has an abundance of smallmouth bass, large walleyes, trophy brown trout, striped bass, and much more.

Many people, especially those with children, enjoy fishing at one of the regions commercial hatcheries, which include Big Brown Fish & Pay Lake, Paradise Trout Preserve, and more. Others go to one of the area’s state parks. Beltzville, Gouldsboro, Hickory Run, Promised Land, Lehigh Gorge, and Tobyhanna are all popular state parks that allow fishing.

Comprehensive Pocono Mountains visitor information can be found online at 800poconos.com or by phone at 800-POCONOS. The Pocono Mountains Vacation Bureau, Inc. is the official destination marketing organization for the four counties of Carbon, Monroe, Pike, and Wayne in northeastern Pennsylvania.
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