Thorn Reservoir, Pennsylvania: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Thorn Reservoir stands in Butler County, Pennsylvania. It sits at 1,050 feet above sea level. At about 41 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Shanor-Northvue sits 2.9 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Pittsburgh is the closest city, 32 miles away. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Thorn Reservoir

  Depth figures are not published for this one. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Across Butler County, recorded fish include largemouth bass, bluegill and black crappie. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. At Thorn Reservoir the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 71°F, the coldest about 26°F. The calendar is generous: something works in nearly every month. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. Anyone fishing Thorn Reservoir regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. The nearest alternative is Lake Oneida, 2.1 miles out. Signs at Thorn Reservoir carry more weight than any list.