Belmont Lake near Forest City: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Belmont Lake sits in Susquehanna County, out in Pennsylvania. The bank is 1,952 feet above sea level. Roughly 173 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. There is roughly 3.2 miles of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. Few waters listed in Susquehanna County are bigger. Forest City lies 8.7 miles from the water. Simpson is 13 miles away, with Waymart at 14 miles. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Belmont Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Across Susquehanna County, recorded fish include brown trout, brook trout and smallmouth bass. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Fish Belmont Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 65°F at the top of summer and 19°F at the bottom of winter. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Winter locks it down, and mid April brings it back. Break-up near mid April, freeze-up near mid December: that is the shape of an average year. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. On Belmont Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Should this one be busy, Lake Lorain is 2.6 miles off. Treat access at Belmont Lake as something to verify.