Shawnee Lake near East Stroudsburg: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Shawnee Lake is set in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. The surroundings are rolling hill. Small at around 11 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. By elevation it sits in the lower part of our Pennsylvania listings. East Stroudsburg at 4.5 miles is the nearest place to stop. Stroudsburg follows at 5.6 miles, then Arlington Heights at 6.5 miles. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Shawnee Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. County-wide records name brown trout, brook trout, bluegill, largemouth bass and chain pickerel. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Shawnee Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 71°F and January reads 26°F. The year turns gently, without extremes at either end. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. On Shawnee Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. The car has to stay half a mile away, which shapes how much tackle you bring. A campsite is mapped about half a mile away, which makes an early start easier. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Camp Sun Mountain Lake, 0.4 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Rules at Shawnee Lake are worth checking on the day.