Fishing Holtzhauer Lake in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania

• Overview

  Holtzhauer Lake belongs to Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. It lies 1,056 feet above sea level. Small at around 4 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Supplies mean a trip to Brackenridge, 3.5 miles off. The nearest city of size is Pittsburgh, 19 miles away. The boundary is near enough that local access rules are worth double-checking.

• Where to Fish on Holtzhauer Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Fish documented in Westmoreland County include bluegill, largemouth bass, brown trout, white crappie and black crappie. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Fish Holtzhauer Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 27°F to 71°F. Spring and autumn are the strongest, but nothing is truly closed. Cover comes and goes, so treat it with suspicion rather than trust. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. The season on Holtzhauer Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. There is recorded parking some 130 yards off. A pier 100 yards from here gives a platform over deeper water. A toilet block sits 130 yards away. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. If the gate is shut, Owen Reservoir at 5.5 miles is the nearest alternative. Treat access at Holtzhauer Lake as something to verify.