Fishing the Conowingo Reservior ...

Disclaimer: This information is not intended to be a complete guide to fishing the area nor does it cover all the danger areas that are mentioned. It is just a few facts from my brief fishing visits.

It had been more than three decades since I traveled to the Conowingo Reservoir and now it was time to return. Back in 1984 our goal then was to launch below Holtwood Dam and motor down to the Peach Bottom power plant to fish the warm water discharge. In the fall, when the main river is cold the power plant discharge makes a huge water temperature difference of ten to twenty degrees warmer. This attracts bait fish and in turn, of course, the larger fish in the food chain. Largemouth Bass, Crappies and Stripers congregate and present a unique opportunity.

Len with a vintage display!

On that day, back in 1984, the conditions were perfect and we had a terrific catch. I might add that at that time "Catch and Release" was not being practiced by many anglers and therefore we filled our stringer as the picture shows. Today, however, I would not even think of keeping those fish ... well unless they were tasty walleyes!

Consider yourself forewarned!

The Conowingo Reservoir is the lower part of the Susquehanna River as it flows through Pennsylvania and then crosses the Maryland border. The upper part, below Holtwood Dam is very treacherous to navigate due to huge boulders that are hidden just below the surface.

Strong currents, created by the release of water from the dam, can surprise boaters and cause loss of control. In addition to that there is also a water release from the Muddy Run Reservoir just a little south of Holtwood Dam that can also take control of watercraft and have tragic endings.

A bird's eye view from Google Maps

The point here is that if you are not familiar with your boat and the area just below the dam, you should stay away and fish further downstream.








Fishing downstream is more like a large lake. The current is there but not as noticeable. There are flats, drop-offs and shoreline structures that hold fish. The Peach Bottom power plant is on the western side and it is always worth checking that out if the main body of water is below 60 degrees. There is strong current there which is created by the discharge of warm water. Move up toward the discharge and let the flow carry you downstream while casting plugs for bass and stripers. As you distance yourself from the main flow but still in the warmer water you can also anchor and fish for catfish or other quarry.


So, getting back to current day, now here it is 2017 and I have been down there twice this spring. The Smallmouth bass are abundant as are the catfish, walleye and other species. The fishing this spring has been pretty good and we are slowly but surely learning more and more about the area. Smallmouth Bass have been our main target and they have cooperated to some degree. Typical rocky shorelines eddies created by exposed boulders seem to be the holding spots for bronzebacks this time of year. There seems to be abundant numbers of fish in the 1 to 2 pound range but there are also some that exceed 5 pounds.

Den displays his all time "PB"

Fishing with all the commonly used lures is a good choice but our best success has been with jig heads tipped with rubber creatures of some sort. Let the current flow and water depth dictate the weight of your jig head. I have found that 1/16 and 1/8 ounce is best but be prepared to lose a few as the rocky bottom will grab them if the fish do not.

Len with typical Smallie

Our most recent trip was May 24th. We ended up with 22 Smallmouth and 1 bonus Walleye. They were chasing small spinner baits and jig heads tipped with three inch white Mr. Twister tails. For the most part the fish were holding at the edges of current in three to eight feet of water.







This area is also home to many different forms of wildlife. Eagles, Heron and Osprey are very common as are many types of waterfowl. Keep your camera ready and scan the sky and shoreline for the unexpected photo opportunities.


If your interested in fishing this body of water I would encourage you to do some research on water levels, outflows from the dams and discharges etc. From Pottstown it will take you about 1 hour and 45 minutes to get there. As far as I know there is a boat launch near the Peach Bottom power plant and a Pa. Fish Commission launch off River Road on the west side. I did a quick on-line search but here again you are tasked with digging up more information on your own. Here is a link to get you started: The Conowingo-Reservoir

If you like diversified fishing conditions and multi-species opportunities then maybe planning a visit to the Conowingo Reservior is in your future!