About:

Completed in 1967, Beechwood Lake is a 67-acre impoundment located near Sabinsville, PA, approximately 20 miles from Wellsboro.  It is a well established warm water fishery that is also stocked with trout in the spring and late fall.  Anglers can target Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Chain Pickerel, Panfish, and more.  Beechwood can be fished by boat or from shore with 1 boat launch and plenty of shoreline access.  Walk the edges and dam, or park at a pull off on Lakeside Drive.  Boating is limited to electric motor only or unpowered vessels. 

Beechwood Lake features a variety of natural habitat, including fallen trees, weed beds, lily pads, rocks, and shoreline cover. These areas provide excellent opportunities for anglers targeting largemouth bass, crappie, perch, bluegill, and other warmwater species.

Beechwood Lake is also a favorite ice fishing destination and every year, CV Anglers hosts an annual ice fishing tournament that draws dozens of teams. 

In the coming years, Beechwood is expected to undergo dam repairs and is on the drawdown list.  We will update if/when that work begins. 

Maps, Directions, and Fishing information can be found below 

Fish Species at Beechwood Lake

Largemouth Bass & Smallmouth Bass

Beechwood Lake is known for quality bass fishing. With fallen trees, lily pads, and weeds, it's great for topwater baits and texas rigged soft plastics. Spinnerbaits and chatterbaits also work well around weed edges.  Try ned rigs, shaky heads, and similar tactics along the dam and around weeds or dropoffs.

Recommended bass tackle:

• Hollow Body Frogs
• Spinnerbaits
• Soft plastic worms and creature baits
• Squarebill Crankbaits
• Chatterbaits

Places to Target:

• Fallen trees
• Edges and open pockets around vegetation
• Lily pads
• Dam rip rap

Crappie, Perch & Other Panfish

Panfish are a favorite target at Beechwood Lake, especially in the spring, fall, and winter months.  

Effective crappie and panfish gear setups:

• Small tube jigs
• Marabou jigs
• Curly-tail grubs
• Live minnows
• Slip bobbers
• Light spinning gear

Other Species

Beechwood Lake also supports a variety of other popular species, including:

• Walleye (Last Stocked 2015)
• Bullhead catfish
• Channel catfish
• Chain Pickerel

Walleyes were last stocked in 2015, but anglers still catch them somewhat regularly, particularly in the spring and fall months.  Trolling or drifting with nightcrawler rigs tends to be best.

Chain pickerel up to two-foot long are often caught and can be found in and around weedy areas or structure.  They are aggressive and will readily take live shiners, as well as panfish and bass lures.  Spinnerbaits, topwaters, and swimbaits are favorites to target them.  

Target bullheads at night with nightcrawlers, chicken liver, or commercially available catfish baits (We like Catfish Charlie dough balls)

Recommended Tackle For Fish Hills Creek Lake

Bass Gear (also good for pickerel)

Rods

• Medium action spinning rods 6-7’ will work for live bait, soft plastics & finesse lures
• Medium Heavy - Heavy baitcasting rods 6’8”-7’6” are preferred for topwater lures, moving baits, jigs and heavier texas rigs

Line

• 8-15lb monofilament or fluorocarbon for live bait and soft plastics
• 30-50lb braided line for topwater frogs
• Heavier fluorocarbon or braid/leader combos are excellent for texas rigs in and around the weeds/timber.  We like 15-20lb to help pull fish out of cover.

Lures

• Hollow body frogs, toads, and similar topwater baits
• Texas rigged creature baits and soft plastic worms
• Jigs (Swim jigs and structure style heads tend to be best)
• Chatterbaits & Spinnerbaits
• Ned Rigs

Panfish & Trout Gear

Rods

• Ultralight - Medium Light spinning rod 6-7’ 
• Ultralight - Medium Light spincast combos 4-7’ (great for beginners)
• Our favorite panfish and trout setups are  7’ Light action rods with  1000 or 2000 series reels

Line

• 4-8lb monofilament is versatile for a variety of applications
• 4-8lb fluorocarbon works well for leader material, or subsurface presentations.  Keep in mind that fluoro sinks and does not work well with bobbers, unless used as a leader

Baits & Lures

• Live minnows, nightcrawlers, redworms, mealworms, or waxworms all work well for panfish.  Rig them on a size 6-10 hook
• Small soft plastic minnow, worm, and bug imitations.  Rig them on a 1/32 or 1/16 jighead
• Small topwater poppers or plopper style baits.

Best Fishing Areas

Beechwood Lake offers many productive areas to explore.  From shore, anglers can enjoy fishing near the boat launch for trout, bass, and panfish.  Much of the shoreline is accessible from the launch to the dam.  On the other side, access is possible along Lake Drive Road at multiple small pull offs.  From a boat, look for fallen or submerged trees on the Lake Drive side.  Weed beds and lily pads surround much of the backside of the lake as well that hold good numbers of bass and panfish.

Also target:

• Weed lines
• Lily pads
• Shoreline cover (especially overhanging trees and cattails)
• Dam riprap
• Deeper transitions

The lake’s natural structure makes it a great place to explore different techniques and seasonal patterns.  Trolling weedlines can be an effective way to find roaming trout or crappies, and the occasional walleye too.

Boating & Lake Access

Valid Pa Boat Registration or Pa Launch Permit Required

Beechwood Lake is ideal for small fishing boats, kayaks, canoes, and other non-gas-powered watercraft. Boating is limited to electric motors and unpowered boats, helping to maintain the lake’s peaceful fishing atmosphere. 

A fishing platform is also available for anglers at the boat launch

Seasonal Fishing Tips

Spring

Bass, crappie, and panfish become active as water temperatures rise and spawning season starts. Target shallow cover, warming shorelines, and spawning areas. Emerging weedbeds and fallen timber are good places to start with squarebill crankbaits, plastics, and live baits.  Topwater baits like a buzzbait or walking baits can be excellent for bass and pickerel over the emerging weeds and lily pads too.  Stocked trout can be caught from shore using powerbait, spoons, spinners, and various live baits.  As trout move deeper, consider fishing power bait off the bottom.  Fly fishing can be excellent too with dry flies or small streamers through much of April and May

Summer

Lily pads can get thick and weed beds extend quite a ways from shore.  These areas offer good cover for all species of fish.  Target the edges and sparser areas with plastics.  Drag topwater frogs and toads over the thicker patches  Drifting nightcrawlers or minnows in deeper water works well for perch, walleye, and other panfish.  Fallen trees and submerged structure/timber are great places to find bass.  Similarly, look for bass holding near the dam.

Fall

Cooling water can create excellent feeding opportunities. Try moving baits, crankbaits, and baitfish imitations. As weeds die back, look for remaining green patches or timber structure to hold fish.  Beechwood is typically stocked with trout again late in the fall (early December) too.  

Winter

Beechwood Lake is a popular ice fishing destination and typically has ice starting in mid-late December and lasting through early-mid March.  Panfish and trout are popular target species.  Hole hopping with small tungsten jigs and wax worms is a great way to catch perch, crappies, and bluegills. Trout can be caught using the same jigs, as well as live minnows or powerbait on tip ups.  Pending suitable conditions, CV Anglers club typically holds an annual ice fishing tournament in mid February.  Check our social media pages or our 'news' blog for updates when the time comes, or contact the club.  Remember to ALWAYS check conditions yourself before heading out onto the ice. 

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