Fishing Stairway Lake in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania

• Overview

  In Pennsylvania, Stairway Lake belongs to Schuylkill County. Beyond the shoreline you have open valley. It measures about 181 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The outline measures near 4.5 miles, so local knowledge counts. It is the biggest water on our Schuylkill County list. Start from Lake Wynonah, 2.6 miles down the road. The big place round here is Allentown, 33 miles distant. A county boundary sits nearby, which can matter for local access rules.

• Where to Fish on Stairway Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Fish documented in Schuylkill County include brown trout, brook trout and bluegill. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Stairway Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 72°F at the top of summer and 27°F at the bottom of winter. Spring and autumn are the strongest, but nothing is truly closed. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. The season on Stairway Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Launch at PFBC Boat Ramp, half a mile from the water. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Should this one be busy, Fawn Lake is 3 miles off. For Stairway Lake in particular, ask before you travel.