Sylvania Lake Fishing near Barryville, Pennsylvania

• Overview

  The Pike County end of Pennsylvania holds Sylvania Lake. The setting is rolling bush. Small at around 9 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. On size it sits at the modest end of our Pike County list. For a base, Barryville sits 6.2 miles out. Further out sit Hemlock Farms (6.6 miles) and Sunrise Lake (7.8 miles). The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Sylvania Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Fish documented in Pike County include yellow perch, brown trout and bluegill. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Sylvania Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 23°F in January and 69°F in July. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Count the season from break-up, usually early April. Climate figures give an open season running early April to late December. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Sylvania Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. For a change of water, Lake Greeley is 1.3 miles distant. Where Sylvania Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.