Catasauqua Lake Fishing in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania

• Overview

  In Pennsylvania, Catasauqua Lake belongs to Lehigh County. Beyond the shoreline you have open valley. Surface area runs to about 5 acres — small enough to read in one session. It lies lower than most water we list in Pennsylvania. Fullerton lies 0.7 miles from the water. Catasauqua follows at 1.3 miles, then North Catasauqua at 1.6 miles. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Catasauqua Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Across Lehigh County, recorded fish include brown trout, largemouth bass and bluegill. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Catasauqua Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 28°F and July at about 74°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Fishing continues through most of the calendar, with quiet spells rather than closures. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. The season on Catasauqua Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Mapping shows parking within 110 yards. Fishing from a pier is possible 40 yards away. Toilets are 160 yards away, which matters on a long session. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Ranger Lake at 4.7 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position at Catasauqua Lake before loading the car.