Pa-474 Reservoir Fishing Guide, Mercer County, Pennsylvania

• Overview

  Out in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, sits Pa-474 Reservoir. It lies 1,243 feet above sea level. At 3 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. It is a small entry by Mercer County standards. The closest town, Stoneboro, is 0.6 miles away. Pittsburgh is the closest city, 62 miles away. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Pa-474 Reservoir

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Records held for Mercer County cover largemouth bass, black crappie, white crappie and smallmouth bass. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Anyone new to this water should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 69°F and January near 24°F on the long-run figures. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Break-up comes around late March, and the run that follows is short and strong. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late March until roughly late December. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. The season on this water rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. There is a mapped slipway roughly 0.9 miles away. The car has to stay half a mile away, which shapes how much tackle you bring. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Should this one be busy, Sandy Lake is 1.1 miles off. The position on this water is worth confirming on the day.