Hit Lake Marburg in my kayak briefly today. I like to patrol the coves in the springtime on the lookout for crappies, bass, and sunfish. There are also some big northern pike in the coves during the early spring as well. I threw a big streamer at some shoreline cover but no takers. Didn't see any bass, only one crappie. No pike. It may be a bit early for bass and panfish in the shallows but this is prime time for pike. Beautiful day to be on the water nevertheless. Water temp in the coves was 52 degrees, slightly stained due to creek runoff and boat wakes. Emergent vegetation is still almost non-existent where I was paddling, perhaps due to the cold water temps we've had for the past few months. Once the weeds emerge, things should improve.
Lake Marburg, York County, 17 April 09
- Thread starter Fishidiot
- Start date
JakesLeakyWaders
Active member
I used to spinfish Marburg a lot. If you paddle towards the dam, past the last cove on the right. there is an area that is like a shallow flat that goes out like 100 yards and then slopes off into deep water. I was bass fishing one year in my Coleman Scanoe with a Gary Yamamoto pumpkin spider jig on a 1/0 Gamagatzu hook. I hooked into what I thought was a nice bass in about 15-20 ft. of water. In the clear water of the lake I could see about 8-10 ft. down that it was definately not a largemouth but a very nice rainbow. I didn't measure it, but it had a huge girth like a bass. You never know what your giong to catch in Marburg, but I like to fish it deep, 15-40 ft. The lake is over 105ft. deep at it's deepest spot by the dam.
That is why the Codorus below the dam has reportedly been measured at 49 degrees on an August morning.
That is why the Codorus below the dam has reportedly been measured at 49 degrees on an August morning.
JLW,
I agree. Marburg is an incredible lake. I think a big part of this lake's versatility is the fact that it never really stratifies and thus has oxygen at the lower, colder, sections (Raystown is like this too). For this reason Marburg can hold trout year round. There are a few guys that target trout in the summer with downriggers and planer boards and they get some biggies, mostly rainbows. I don't know if this lake has smelt but, if it doesn't, they ought to stock some as they would probably thrive and the trout could really fatten on 'em. The Lakers and Salmon in Raystown feed on rainbow smelt.
I'd also like to see the PFBC stock striped bass (not hybrids) in this lake. I think it would be a superb striper fishery.
I agree. Marburg is an incredible lake. I think a big part of this lake's versatility is the fact that it never really stratifies and thus has oxygen at the lower, colder, sections (Raystown is like this too). For this reason Marburg can hold trout year round. There are a few guys that target trout in the summer with downriggers and planer boards and they get some biggies, mostly rainbows. I don't know if this lake has smelt but, if it doesn't, they ought to stock some as they would probably thrive and the trout could really fatten on 'em. The Lakers and Salmon in Raystown feed on rainbow smelt.
I'd also like to see the PFBC stock striped bass (not hybrids) in this lake. I think it would be a superb striper fishery.
Maurice
Well-known member
I remember a few years ago...maybe 2005 that the F&BC dumped like 300.000 fingerling rainbows in Marburg...I may be fuzzy on the numbers but I recall being excited to go down there a few weeks after with a rainbow trout rapala to smoke the largemouths. Alas, it never happened. but it was exciting to talk about. Its nice to hear some are being caught and at that size.
Mo,
Probably a few years prior to that, they stocked Coho Salmon in Marburg. This was a one time deal and the fish didn't survive although some were caught by fishermen. It got a lot of media attention but I have no idea why they tried that. I don't know anywhere else in PA that has Cohos. The salmon that are stocked in Raystown are Atlantic Salmon. Hopefully they'll continue to put fingerling trout in there as the lake has proven that it's a viable trout fishery.
Probably a few years prior to that, they stocked Coho Salmon in Marburg. This was a one time deal and the fish didn't survive although some were caught by fishermen. It got a lot of media attention but I have no idea why they tried that. I don't know anywhere else in PA that has Cohos. The salmon that are stocked in Raystown are Atlantic Salmon. Hopefully they'll continue to put fingerling trout in there as the lake has proven that it's a viable trout fishery.
JakesLeakyWaders
Active member
I remember reading about the Coho stocking. They were leftovers from a supposed Erie stocking. If I remember correctly they put 17,000 Coho Salmon in Marburg and that was about 15 years ago. My uncle told me a guy took him out there and they caught em at night near "the rocks" area. They threw in floating lights to draw in baitfish and then rigged up for a certain depth below the surface and would hit em' all night as he said it.
volcanomil
Member
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2007
- Messages
- 179
Marburg is a good lake. I fish it in the summer from my canoe, we catch tons of sinfish on poppers and a few bass by striping a wolly bugger just over the weed beds. The coves are usually the hot ticket - I always had good luck on the cove by the sailboat launch area.
