Hoopes Reservoir Fishing in New Castle County, Delaware

• Overview

  Set in New Castle County, Hoopes Reservoir is a Delaware water. It stands 243 feet above sea level. It runs to roughly 188 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. The shoreline runs about 3.1 miles, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. By size it stands out even at Delaware level. Greenville sits 1.6 miles from the bank. Elsmere follows at 3.4 miles, then Hockessin at 3.7 miles. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Hoopes Reservoir

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Fish documented in New Castle County include striped bass, redbreast sunfish and bluegill. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Hoopes Reservoir responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 75°F in July and bottoms out near 31°F in January. In milder years the surface never sets. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Plan around that when you fish Hoopes Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. There are toilets mapped about half a mile away. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Cool Spring Reservoir, 4.2 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Treat access at Hoopes Reservoir as something to verify.