Fishing at Hillcrest Lake, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania

• Overview

  Within Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, you have Hillcrest Lake. This is rolling bush ground. At roughly 9 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. It is a small entry by Luzerne County standards. Start from Glen Lyon, 5.2 miles down the road. Then East Berwick, 8.4 miles, and Nescopeck, 9 miles. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Hillcrest Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Across Luzerne County, recorded fish include brown trout, brook trout and largemouth bass. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Hillcrest Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 70°F on average, January about 24°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late March. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late March and starts locking again about late December. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. At Hillcrest Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Sorber Pond, 1.4 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. The position on Hillcrest Lake is worth confirming on the day.