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By GEORGE SMITH georges@leader.net
 Sunday, February 23, 2003 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 13C 





WILKES-BARRE - Look around. It's everywhere. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ice, that is. Rock hard, foot-deep, snow-covered, beautiful ice. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It's been years since such consistent cold blanketed Northeastern
Pennsylvania, and since mid-January ice anglers have had just about free reign
to fish on whatever waterway they choose on ice that is more than a foot
thick. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Even the Susquehanna River has come into play, where the bravest (some
would say foolhardy) anglers are venturing on to frozen backwaters in search
of bass and walleye. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 While ice thickness and the safety it offers is always suspect when dealing
with dynamic moving water such as river and streams, anglers have been
venturing safely onto lakes and ponds. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 They've been traipsing into coves and setting up over channels in an effort
to locate fish. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Although thin or dangerous ice has not been reported, it's always wise to
drill test holes to determine its exact depth before dragging out the sleds
and buckets and other gear. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 What follows is a listing of hotspots where anglers can catch fish through
the ice in Northeastern Pennsylvania. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The waterways are easily accessible and are not listed in any particular
order; they all can give up good fish on the right day. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Harveys Lake: You have to take advantage of the ice and fish Harveys. The
658-acre waterway holds trout, bass, panfish, pickerel, walleye and almost
every other sporting fish species. Take note that special regulations apply;
three trout daily may be taken, and only one can exceed 18 inches. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Reports indicate the lake is entirely frozen over, which has not happened
in recent memory. Although the lake has about nine miles of shoreline, most of
it is private and therefore inaccessible. Park at the Fish and Boat Commission
boat launch and walk to wherever your warmly booted feet take you. Fish at
night for the lake's famed, nocturnal walleye. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Moon Lake: This is a great spot for novice anglers, or anglers with kids.
The lake is located in Moon Lake County Park in Plymouth Township and
encompasses 47 acres. The little lake holds enormous bass that feed heavily on
the thousands of trout that are liberated there each year. The Fish and Boat
Commission released 1,000 rainbows in the lake during winter stocking
operations. Suffice to say bass and trout are at the top of the food chain. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Lackawanna Lake: Located in Lackawanna State Park in Lackawanna County,
this 2.5-mile-long lake with 7.5 miles of shoreline receives more stocked
trout than any other lake in the region. A word to the wise: Fish for trout,
but don't neglect the bass. Last May, the Fish Commission electrofished a
largemouth measuring 21 inches and weighing 5.2 pounds. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The lake is fed by Kennedy Creek the South Branch of Tunkhannock Creek and
holds muskie, walleye, bass and pickerel as well as the stocked trout. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Frances Slocum Lake: This is a popular, 165-acre lake located in Frances
Slocum State Park, Kingston Township. Virtually all of it is accessible from
shore. It receives trout from stocking operations, but its true glamour fish
are the secretive muskie and walleye that few anglers are able catch with
consistency. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Two years ago the Fish Commission captured 95 walleye during net traps
survey work. All ranged between 17 and 26 inches. One muskie was also taken;
it measured 46 inches and exceeded the limit of a 30-pound scale. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 One of these days I'm going to fish for muskie at the lake using adult
trout I've caught legally. And when the sun sets, I'll fish for walleye in the
submerged creekbed using fathead minnows and leeches. Take note that Frances
Slocum is under Fish and Boat Commission Big Bass Regulations. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Lily Lake: This 160-acre lake at Pond Hill is stocked heavily with trout
and holds bass, panfish and northern pike. Try fishing near the spillway for
trout; to the north of the lake, near the ledges, for bass; and in the lake's
shallow, eastern-most coves for northerns. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The largest northern recorded last March during Fish Commission survey work
measured 40.5 inches and weighed 17.6 pounds. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Lake Jean: This 254-acre lake within Ricketts Glen State Park is a sleeper.
I'm sure it will one day spring to life. It holds bass, pickerel and panfish,
and in years past nice muskellunge have come from its waters. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I remember as a young angler drooling over the photographs of huge fish
taken from the lake that were displayed at the boat rental concession. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I want to believe such big fish still swim there and will be caught when
the lake awakens. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Gouldsboro Lake: I know the 250-acre lake was drained some years ago, and I
know the great perch and bluegill fishing never really returned to what it
used to be. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But I believe the fishery will bounce back. And I wouldn't mind being on
the ice when it did. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Lake Wallenpaupack: Any survey of ice fishing spots would be incomplete if
this 5,700-acre lake in Pike and Wayne counties owned by PPL wasn't mentioned. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 It's so large and has so many intriguing coves that it often frustrates
veteran anglers. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In my experience, the trick to fishing it successfully is to move around.
Don't sit over a handful of holes if fish aren't biting. You must go out and
actively find fish. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Want a hotspot? Try Walts Cove west of Paupack Point. Seeley Brook enters
the lake at this cove and seems to attract fish in cold weather. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Be careful on this lake, as water levels can fluctuate. It can be unnerving
to drill a hole and find the water level to be 5 feet below the ice. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 George Smith, a Times Leader staff writer, can be reached at 829-7230. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Abundant, Thick Ice In Area Warms Hearts Of Anglers