Hey guys.  I've been reading some articles and watching some videos of people fishing in "powerplant lakes."  It is something I've never really thought about or considered. 

 

How would I go about finding a powerplant lake?  Are there any in PA?  Or NJ?  It would be pretty nice to be able to fish for a few more months.

 

Thanks!

 

- Dale

A Google search turned up these 2, Lake Chillisquaque and Lake Galena

Conowingo Reservoir, about an hour from Philly down route 1.  It is the First dam on the Susky.

 

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=I-95+S&daddr=U.S.+1+S&hl=en&sll=39.670464,-76.16478&sspn=0.109142,0.154324&geocode=FfO8YAIdGZyE-w%3BFR0aXQIdIaV1-w&mra=me&mrsp=1,0&sz=13&t=m&z=13

A Google search turned up these 2, Lake Chillisquaque and Lake Galena

 

Conowingo Reservoir, about an hour from Philly down route 1.  It is the First dam on the Susky.

 

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=I-95+S&daddr=U.S.+1+S&hl=en&sll=39.670464,-76.16478&sspn=0.109142,0.154324&geocode=FfO8YAIdGZyE-w%3BFR0aXQIdIaV1-w&mra=me&mrsp=1,0&sz=13&t=m&z=13

 

Wow. Thanks guys.  I searched this a bunch on google and couldn't find anything.  I'll have to look into Lake Galena a bit more since that is closer to me.  I'm familiar with that lake and have been to the park there.  But the lake is probably 30 miles from the Limerick powerplant, which is apparently what the water supply is used to cool.  I'll have to see how much of an impact that cooling has on the water over the course of 30 miles.

I don't think lake Galena is impacted very much from a temperature standpoint.  It's an odd lake to begin with.  I grew up about 10 minutes away and fished it often, always from shore.  It can be a tough lake to figure out, but may be more manageable if you're fishing from a boat.  I've pulled some decent fish out, but there's a 'banned' area, where boats can't enter and you're not permitted to fish in.  Of course, it's this area of the lake where there's ton of cover with lay downs and pads and visible weed lines.   Just looks like a fishing paradise.  I actually struck up a conversation with someone while fishing at Nox a few years ago who mentioned there was a warm water discharge pond somewhere near quakertown that was teaming with big fish.  I have no reason to doubt him, as he pulled out his iphone and showed me a picture of a pig that hit 8lbs on his digital scale. He didn't mention the exact location, and I'm not one to pry about other peoples honey holes, but I will admit to spending more than a few hours scrolling through google maps to find it.  No luck as of yet.  

Don't bother with Chillisquaque. I live a mile away and its a wasteland of a lake. Electric motor only and not many fish.

PPL also owns lake wallenpaupack too. These lakes really aren't warmed much by disharge like southern lakes. There used to be a power plant in the susquehanna in Sunbury that discharged warm water and caused fish to congregate. That plant is shutdown now.

Don't bother with Chillisquaque. I live a mile away and its a wasteland of a lake. Electric motor only and not many fish.

PPL also owns lake wallenpaupack too. These lakes really aren't warmed much by disharge like southern lakes. There used to be a power plant in the susquehanna in Sunbury that discharged warm water and caused fish to congregate. That plant is shutdown now.

 

well now... that is all unfortunate news. haha

We would fish the warm water discharge at the power plant in Trenton years ago. Not sure if it is run as much now but that is where we would find them in the winter.

^{Conowingo lake on the Susquehanna River. Go to the Peach Bottom nuke plant, use the ramp at the  north end,run about a half mile south along the plant and cooling towers to fish the warm water discharge. Great in the winter because it averages about 12 to 15 deg above average lake temp.Stripers,lmb,sm, and eyes too. Good luck. Watch for the stripers to bust shad,then be ready to jerk bait them. They only stay up for a few minutes. Be patient,as they usually show up again.}

^C22