Rick99

thanks for the post. This makes a lot of sense. Year after year this Lake is so tough to fish yet some do well. I am assuming they have a honey hole that I need to find or get lucky and be where the fish are passing by. Blue Marsh is really tough too. I don't go there at all....I live 5 minutes above Marsh Creek Lake and am so happy I am close to fishing but frustration with this lake most of the time.

trying to find a topo map...if I do I will post. I had one but can't find it now.

Good to know, I've beating the banks including the banks of the points. I wouldn't have classfified them as structure but if that is what everyone else does than I learned something today.

Guys thanks for all the advice so far. Lundexplorer your dead on. I am struggling to adapt. I fish beating the banks and lay downs with plastic and crankbaits but have had zero luck during these tourneys for a few years now once the banks SMTP producing. Sorry if this is posted in the wrong forum, thought I put it in the general forum. Scale face, there is no deep structure or deep weed beds in this lake. I have been fishing it for years and took many a ride with my depth finder to map it and try to find structure. This is a common complaint about this lake. They are killing the weeds as well and he locals are mad as the bass population has limited places to hide. I think but I'm not sure the more advanced fisherman are fishing the points. I'm going to have to try and follow them to see. It's a really tough lake and our local forums always have posters complaint about getting skunked on such a big lake. Hopefully this Map will open. http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_003692.pdf

Here is the best Map I could find. I did post it last year http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_20030690.zip

Guys I'm looking for some advice and I know there are a lot of variables here but I'm looking for some basic help as I know a lot depends on the lake, time, weather water conditions etc...I fish Marsh Creek Lake here in PA. It's man made, deepest is 60 feet by the d**n.its something like 535 acres in total. There is no structure in any of the deeper waters. There's a few down trees and some cribs that were placed in 5 to 15 feet of water. Weeds are being sprayed and managed and very little growth. In June I was catching 4lbers (which is pretty good for PA) using 4.5inch plastic crawfish types weighted with a split shot and beating the banks. This lake is notorious for skunking people over the years. I usually do well in June every year and usually in 2 to 10 feet of water. I go to these Tournaments now on Tuesday Nights 6 to 10 and I keep getting skunked. I tried senko types, my crawfish types, crankbaits....nothing. There's usually about 22 boats. 10 to 15 getting skunked. Than there are the guys catching limits. I can't get advice from them but would love some pointers. Not sure if I'm missing a technique? I never fish with spinners or spoons. That's a big hole in my game. Not sure what they are using or where but I am on this lake a few times a week for a few years now and just can't get a grasp on how to fish this in July and August and catch limits at these tourneys. I tend to stay with weighted plastic creature types. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Went out for the second time with the baitcaster this morning. Used it from 8am to 2pm. Caught 3 LMB. Biggest was 5 1/2 lbs...that's pretty good for PA! Really beginning to like the baitcaster! Birds nest twice today but was able to clear it. When I work it right, it's awesome!

Alright guys thanks for all the good thoughts. I went out today and caught my first two LMB on my baitcaster rig and lost two more at the boat. It felt great catching my first few fish on it. I did struggle casting accurately with it, but it was my first time so I think I did better than I expected. The holes I could hit with my spinner rig I can not hit with the baitcaster yet. I can cast with a mean back hand but struggle with a sidearm cast lol..go figure. I'm happy one trip is down and will continue using this until I master it! I fished for about 10 hours today 8 were with the baitcaster and 2 with my spinner reel. My buddy at the end of the day told me he would have never lasted as long as I did using it and that I didn't due to bad at all considering it was my first time.

I'm 44years old and have used Spinner Reels my whole life. I fish a lot here inPA possibly 2 to 3 times a week. I just purchased a Abu Garcia Veritas 2.0 and a Lews Speed Reel. I am heading out tomorrow on a local lake to break it in but have been casting in the yard for alittle bit practicing. Why haven't I tried these before??? I really like it! No birds nests yet and seems to be a lot easier and faster without having to finger the line and flip the bail and cast. Hoping to master it quickly and if so, I ol be upgrading most of my equipment.

All signed up....looking forward to another great year!

Just called two airlines. Looks like anything over 80 inches must be shipped through cargo with an account number. My rods are 7ft long one piece....how do I get them to my destination? THANKS

Great story...that was a great day!

Thanks guys, lots of tactics here to try!

Thanks Roger, ok so is this thinking accurate? The long arm of this lake which is located to the right of the boat ramps is showing contour lines that are pretty separated which is the closet thing to a "flat". In spawning, LMB should be using these flats in the upper arm to spawn. Right now, they should be migrating closer to the deeper water but staying close enough to these flats to eat. So fishing between the first curve in that arm and conestoga road would be a strategic place to look for structure, weeds etc and should be productive? Second question, I thought I read somewhere that it was better to fish for bass where the contour lines are closest. Did I read that wrong? Thanks for all the replys!

http://www.fish.state.pa.us/water/habitat/mgmt_plans/lake/marsh_creek.pdf This is the only other map that exists of this lake. I have looked everywhere even county orgs but these two maps are it. Please expand, would love to learn whatever your willing to share with us...thanks!

Any help would be great. I know where I think I would fish it, but looking for a map reading pro...LOL...to tell me your thoughts. Thanks!

Hey GADawgs, I live right above Marsh Creek Lake. I fish it often, usually 2 to 3 times a week. I just moved down here about three years ago and fished it since. I have been out last week (2 trips ) and netted 6 LMB One was over 4lbs the rest were between 2 and 3 lbs. Its a hard Lake to fish in my opinion. I have one spot that I always catch a 4lber at but that may be the only catch I have all day. As it gets hotter, it gets harder to catch them. I use home made plastics senko types and crawfish types. I struggle reading the Lake as well. I seem to always fish in 3 to 5ft of water. I watch alot of guys fishing behind me in 10ft of water but have no seen them pull anything in. Was wondering about jig fishing the lake in deeper water but never did this before and everytime I go out, I fall back to beating the shore line. I could use a class in reading my fishfinder and some instructions from a fisherman who jigs in deep water. Anyone willing to share there technique?

Thank you!

ok here I am lost. I thought I fill it with lake water, add the please release me and than turn it on and leave it on when I add a fish. This is wrong?

Thanks Tom great info here. So it is ok, following your directions above, to leave the pump continuously on?

I have been searching the boards and found topics on how to make a home made live well. I purchased a 100qt Cooler and a Super Fish Saver aerator kit as well as Please release me to add to the water. I am going to enter some local tourneys this year that are on Tuesday nights from 6pm to 10pm from June thru August. Question I have is this will the pump in the water generate to much heat for the fish for a 4 hour trip? Does anyone use these homemade livewells and if so do you run the pump the whole time the fish are in the livewell? Thanks for your help!

I know I ll get the smell but I wasn't sure if the oils are ok. I think some use essential oils or extracts for flavoring. The oils she has are fragrance oils for soaps and candles. Is this the same oils used in scenting baits?

my wife makes candles and has fragrance oils in the house. I was wondering if adding these scents to a base like worm oil would it work in soft plastic? Kinda got me thinking that the Grape Shad oil would almost be the same except they probably use a fish oil base with a grape scent. Any thoughts? Thanks!

Thanks everyone for the feed back. Going to just have to breakdown and buy another rod...lol...wife is going to love this!

Going striper fishing in the fall out in the bay/ ocean. Is this combo ok to handle striper fishing? Biggest two rods I have 1st. St Croix Mojo bass. 7'. Medium fast 6 to 12 lbs test with a pflueger president able to hold max 175yds 12lb test 2nd St Croix Tournament Bass 6'8" medium xtra fast rated 6 to 12 lbs test as well. I keep reading everyone is using 20lbs plus line....would I need to switch to braid since my reel can't hold 20lbs test? Thanks for any help.