Kehms Lake in York County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Kehms Lake sits in York County, out in Pennsylvania. The shore lies 39 miles out. Small at around 5 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. On size it sits at the modest end of our York County list. Spry is the closest place, 1 mile off. Baltimore sits 43 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Kehms Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Across York County, recorded fish include bluegill, largemouth bass, walleye and black crappie. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Work Kehms Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 75°F and January reads 29°F. A long season, with weather mattering more than the month. Cover comes and goes, so treat it with suspicion rather than trust. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. Kehms Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. A pier or jetty stands half a mile away, which helps on a crowded bank. Toilets show in mapping about half a mile away. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. The nearest alternative is Lake Redman, 2.7 miles out. Check the position at Kehms Lake before loading the car.