Fishing at Mercersburg Reservoir, Franklin County, Pennsylvania

• Overview

  Out in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, sits Mercersburg Reservoir. It stands 1,004 feet above sea level. Small at around 3 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. For supplies, Mercersburg is 4.3 miles out. The nearest city of size is Baltimore, 82 miles away. The boundary is near enough that local access rules are worth double-checking.

• Where to Fish on Mercersburg Reservoir

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Fish documented in Franklin County include brown trout, rainbow trout, brook trout and rock bass. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Fish Mercersburg Reservoir to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 72°F; by January the average is down near 28°F. The season stretches long at both ends here. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Mercersburg Reservoir fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Meadow Grounds Lake, 5.8 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the position at Mercersburg Reservoir before loading the car.