Maurice
Well-known member
Thats some good local info Mike, Thanks.
Lake Marburg, York County, 2/13/2013
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Maurice,
I have caught (and released) a couple nice sized rainbows near the shore while I was nymph fishing for bluegills.
Every spring (as Mike explained) they put a truckload of stockers into the lake. Usually several places, but last year the whole truck was dumped in at "Sailboat Launch". Everybody caught like crazy for three days, then the trout dispersed and none were caught there again.
I've noticed hundreds of Cormorants appearing right after they stock the trout! I know they are protected, but I wish the duck hunters would take their shotguns in their boats and shoot as many as they can! Both islands get packed with the dirty birds every spring.
I see that they stock Crappie by the tens of thousands every year. That is the best fish for that lake. Muskies and Trout and Walleye and even Bass are OK, but the Crappie and Bluegill are the fishing fun IMHO! White Perch are also OK, I'm so glad someone put them in the lake!
JakesLeakyWaders
Active member
The rainbow I caught was over 20" for sure and fat. I heard reports of locations and methods on the lake that catch rainbows in numbers. People are fishing using nearly the same methods as were used with the cohos.
I know from accounts that there are still big bows in there. Its just that Marburg is such a deep decent sized lake and finding each species gets very technical / stroke of luck. I have found, the large rainbows seem to be adjacent to the same areas I have found the largest bass. And mostly its deep.
I know from accounts that there are still big bows in there. Its just that Marburg is such a deep decent sized lake and finding each species gets very technical / stroke of luck. I have found, the large rainbows seem to be adjacent to the same areas I have found the largest bass. And mostly its deep.
JoshM3357
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Mike
I found this thread internet fishing and just wanted to give you a little feedback.
The musky fishing this past season was great IMO. This past year was probably the least I fished but I saw more decent musky this year than ever. I didnt catch any monsters (mid upper 30's was my biggest) but had numerous short outings where I raised 2-3 fish in maybe a 2 hour session. This was all done from the bank too.
I should have a lot more free time this year to chase them.
Thanks for keeping Marburg a great fishery. The past 2 years it has treated me well.
I found this thread internet fishing and just wanted to give you a little feedback.
The musky fishing this past season was great IMO. This past year was probably the least I fished but I saw more decent musky this year than ever. I didnt catch any monsters (mid upper 30's was my biggest) but had numerous short outings where I raised 2-3 fish in maybe a 2 hour session. This was all done from the bank too.
I should have a lot more free time this year to chase them.
Thanks for keeping Marburg a great fishery. The past 2 years it has treated me well.
Josh,
Thanks for the feedback and glad that the lake (and muskies) have been good to you. We've stocked both tigers and pures, with some increase in the number of pures stocked, but a substantial boost to the overall muskellunge population with the addition of tigers, which I am able to have stocked at a much higher rate per acre.
Mike
Thanks for the feedback and glad that the lake (and muskies) have been good to you. We've stocked both tigers and pures, with some increase in the number of pures stocked, but a substantial boost to the overall muskellunge population with the addition of tigers, which I am able to have stocked at a much higher rate per acre.
Mike
Welcome, Josh. I'm pretty sure that I talked to you last summer at Marburg? if that's you in the pic?
You were using a spin rod with a plug, and you mentioned about all the pike and muskies in that lake?
I told you that I was after tiny bluegills with a tiny flyrod? This year I'm packin' a casting rod in my toon? ..... some "Rattin" in the weeds, and a big ole Senko on a 3/0!
If you want to target trout in that lake, it sounds like you'll want to find the thermocline layer of the water during most of the year.
For those who don't know, the temperature of deep lakes falls into roughly three layers during the warm part of the year- the warm layer near the surface, the cold layer at the bottom, and the thermocline, which is in between.
The cold layer is most often 39 degrees F/4C, which is the temperature where water is heaviest. (The miracle chemical property that explains why 32 F water floats when it becomes ice, and lakes don't ever freeze solid.) 39 degrees F is too cold for almost any fish species to prefer, which is why you won't catch much, if anything, if you fish the bottom depths of a deep lake.
Meanwhile, the surface layer might be around 75-80+ degrees in the summer, much too warm for trout.
The trout are like Goldilocks, and the thermocline layer is "just right".
So, drop a thermometer into the lake water, and you'll find it after a few soundings. Just make sure that uh the thermometer is attached to a line of some sort.
No doubt a fish finder will help, too, but that's cheating, isn't it?
If the trout in Marburg are like those in Maine trout lakes, there's one especially good time to find them in the shallows- for a few weeks after ice-out, in the spring. Often near the inlet feeder creeks.
For those who don't know, the temperature of deep lakes falls into roughly three layers during the warm part of the year- the warm layer near the surface, the cold layer at the bottom, and the thermocline, which is in between.
The cold layer is most often 39 degrees F/4C, which is the temperature where water is heaviest. (The miracle chemical property that explains why 32 F water floats when it becomes ice, and lakes don't ever freeze solid.) 39 degrees F is too cold for almost any fish species to prefer, which is why you won't catch much, if anything, if you fish the bottom depths of a deep lake.
Meanwhile, the surface layer might be around 75-80+ degrees in the summer, much too warm for trout.
The trout are like Goldilocks, and the thermocline layer is "just right".
So, drop a thermometer into the lake water, and you'll find it after a few soundings. Just make sure that uh the thermometer is attached to a line of some sort.
No doubt a fish finder will help, too, but that's cheating, isn't it?
If the trout in Marburg are like those in Maine trout lakes, there's one especially good time to find them in the shallows- for a few weeks after ice-out, in the spring. Often near the inlet feeder creeks.
I have never lived more than ten minutes from the lake. I pretty much live on the lake now and jog by it daily. I have spent most of my life fishing this lake. Back in the 90's the lake was very good for panfish and bass.
Despite what people will tell you I would never say it has been a good walleye or pike/muskie lake. Remember I have fished lake marburg every way there is to fish ice,boat,fly rod exc. But than again my idea of good is different than others.
To be honest with you I am not sure I have ever caught a muskie out there. I have caught a decent amount of pike though. As far as walleyes go id say its a joke sorry folks this is not a world class walleye fishery. You may catch one here and there while bass fishing but your wasting time if you target them.
The lake currently is not in good shape. The white perch are everywhere and it is POLLUTED with Gizzard Shad. Any of you that have boats with good electronics know this to be true. This lake needs stripers. The Old timers and the pa fish and boat that think the lake is a world class fishery are whats killing the lake. There is nothing but prey fish in the lake except bass. The pan fish populations are ok but size is pathetic because there is millions of white perch.
Than you get to fishing pressure which is very very high. Plus many of our hanover locals are not real good with catch and release many pan fish get taken out in the spring and I am talking about gills,crappies and yellow perch Not white perch. Last spring I was fishing for gills and a man on the shore was keeping them and throwing the white perch in the woods. Another problem is the stinking white perch can be really hard to catch. Sounds crazy but you can troll for them all day and catch next to nothing some days.
Despite what people will tell you I would never say it has been a good walleye or pike/muskie lake. Remember I have fished lake marburg every way there is to fish ice,boat,fly rod exc. But than again my idea of good is different than others.
To be honest with you I am not sure I have ever caught a muskie out there. I have caught a decent amount of pike though. As far as walleyes go id say its a joke sorry folks this is not a world class walleye fishery. You may catch one here and there while bass fishing but your wasting time if you target them.
The lake currently is not in good shape. The white perch are everywhere and it is POLLUTED with Gizzard Shad. Any of you that have boats with good electronics know this to be true. This lake needs stripers. The Old timers and the pa fish and boat that think the lake is a world class fishery are whats killing the lake. There is nothing but prey fish in the lake except bass. The pan fish populations are ok but size is pathetic because there is millions of white perch.
Than you get to fishing pressure which is very very high. Plus many of our hanover locals are not real good with catch and release many pan fish get taken out in the spring and I am talking about gills,crappies and yellow perch Not white perch. Last spring I was fishing for gills and a man on the shore was keeping them and throwing the white perch in the woods. Another problem is the stinking white perch can be really hard to catch. Sounds crazy but you can troll for them all day and catch next to nothing some days.
tennjed
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I think some of the folks that tend to think Marburg is all it can be need to take a few fishing trips. There are some real gem Lakes with in an eight hour drive of Hanover. New York has its finger lakes, lake oneida and chataqua (spelling) lake. All out of this world lakes.
Now I know you all will say yea but those lakes are huge compared to lake Marburg well ok. What about Maryland's Deep Creek Lake only a little bigger than Marburg but far and away a more productive lake. Than some of you will say none of these lakes have white perch ok. Well I have to tell you I would say all of Baltimore county's lakes Pretty Boy, Loch Raven, Liberty are far better than Marburg oh and liberty has stripers.
Folks Lake Marburg is a testament to how the state of PA mismanages its lakes. Plain and simple
Now I know you all will say yea but those lakes are huge compared to lake Marburg well ok. What about Maryland's Deep Creek Lake only a little bigger than Marburg but far and away a more productive lake. Than some of you will say none of these lakes have white perch ok. Well I have to tell you I would say all of Baltimore county's lakes Pretty Boy, Loch Raven, Liberty are far better than Marburg oh and liberty has stripers.
Folks Lake Marburg is a testament to how the state of PA mismanages its lakes. Plain and simple
trike 23: What specifically did "the state" do to mismanage the lake? For clarification purposes before you respond, "the state" did not introduce white perch or gizzard shad; those were apparently angler introductions. I can understand the desire to have a striped bass fishery, but based on much experience at other SE Pa lakes they would do little to "control" white perch or gizzard shad. Their value in that regard is undetectable.
trike 23: The only "control" that we have seen that is effetive in managing white perch populations is a naturally occurring fish kill, per Nockamixon Lake in 1985-1986. Gizzard shad periodically have naturally occurring fish kills during or just after the winter as energy reserves are depleted and vulnerability to diseases increases. Those populations in all cases we've seen quickly bounce back within a year.
JoshM3357
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Trike do you fish the same Lake Marburg?? It is tough at times but it is one of the better lakes in PA (I have fished all over PA). I have fished Marburg my whole life and have had many amazing days there.
Your statement about the white perch being hard to catch makes no sense either. If you give me a shoestring and a piece of metal resembling a hook I bet you I could still catch them. Im not trying to be ignorant but most of the people targeting white perch catch their fill every time they are out for them.
Your statement about the white perch being hard to catch makes no sense either. If you give me a shoestring and a piece of metal resembling a hook I bet you I could still catch them. Im not trying to be ignorant but most of the people targeting white perch catch their fill every time they are out for them.
Yes at times in the spring you could perhaps catch them on a shoe string. Once the heat of July and August show up no that is not the case. You almost always catch them yes but fill your livewell up till it can not hold any more Id say it becomes harder.The perch tend to feed on very small things most times of the year. They are not always in the mood to chase down a crawler harness are a spinner.
These fresh water white perch are not the same thing as there chesapeake bay cousins that eat anything.
I may be inclined to agree that Marburg is one of the best "lakes" in Pa. But if that is so it is only because other than lake Erie there are not many lakes in PA.
Like I stated earlier visit some of what new york has to offer and some of what Maryland has to offer and you will think a bit different of Lake Marburg.
I have fished lake Marburg since I was knee high to a grass hopper and I have caught many fish out of her. But the last fifteen years the lake has been on a down turn. The yellow Perch I used to catch by the hundreds are mostly a thing of the past. The days of ice fishing from sun up to sun down and catching bull bluegills all day is Over.The lake with all the shad and white perch is not the same place it once was.
If you are catching lots of big muskie out of Marburg God bless You im not at all calling you a lier. I dont really consider myself much of a muskie fisherman so any I would catch would be bass fishing anyways.
But I just have a hard time thinking Lake Marburg could become a destination for muskie anglers IMHO.
These fresh water white perch are not the same thing as there chesapeake bay cousins that eat anything.
I may be inclined to agree that Marburg is one of the best "lakes" in Pa. But if that is so it is only because other than lake Erie there are not many lakes in PA.
Like I stated earlier visit some of what new york has to offer and some of what Maryland has to offer and you will think a bit different of Lake Marburg.
I have fished lake Marburg since I was knee high to a grass hopper and I have caught many fish out of her. But the last fifteen years the lake has been on a down turn. The yellow Perch I used to catch by the hundreds are mostly a thing of the past. The days of ice fishing from sun up to sun down and catching bull bluegills all day is Over.The lake with all the shad and white perch is not the same place it once was.
If you are catching lots of big muskie out of Marburg God bless You im not at all calling you a lier. I dont really consider myself much of a muskie fisherman so any I would catch would be bass fishing anyways.
But I just have a hard time thinking Lake Marburg could become a destination for muskie anglers IMHO.
And Mike Pa is not very well known for having outstanding fishing. The best thing we have are our trout streams which they do everything in there power to screw up (think big spring). I think I went a little far blaming them for Marburg. The fact is the state is broke they can not really offer much help.
Its just sad that we drained Shepperd Myers and other small lakes in a state that does not have many good places to fish warm water fish. Most of the time when you want to get the boat out you know that means you will be doing a little driving.
Its just sad that we drained Shepperd Myers and other small lakes in a state that does not have many good places to fish warm water fish. Most of the time when you want to get the boat out you know that means you will be doing a little driving.
Really?
I fish Maryland a good bit and almost never see PA, DC or NJ plates when I'm down there. Up here in PA, on both trout streams and warm water locations (including Codorus SP) I see quite a few MD, DC and NJ plates. I can think of dozens of "good" places to fish WW fishes just here in SC PA (and that's without the Susky anymore).
I'm not a weekly regular on Marburg but I've fished it for over thirty years. Sure, the walleyes and yellow perch aren't what I remember them to be, but other game fish more than make up for it in my view. And yes the white perch can be tough to find in summer (like most fish in the lake) but I think they're pretty easy to catch when you find 'em.
You really seem to be down on Marburg.....to each his own.
I like it and believe, all things considered, it's better than 10 or 20 years ago.
