About:
Located 2.5 miles from downtown Wellsboro, PA, Hamilton Lake is a 42 acre reservoir and a Stocked Trout water with year round fishing. It also boasts a healthy population of largemouth bass, yellow perch, crappie and panfish. With an average depth of 10-12 feet and a maximum depth of 28 feet. On the end opposite of the dam there is plenty of shallower water with grass, cat tails and lilies, which is great for bass and panfish.
This quiet lake is popular with shore anglers, kayak fishermen, and those using small electric-powered boats.
Whether you are chasing stocked trout in the spring, working shoreline cover for bass, or enjoying a relaxing day catching panfish with the family, Hamilton Lake is a great place to spend a day on the water.
Fish Species at Hamilton Lake
Largemouth Bass
Hamilton Lake offers fun bass fishing with a nice population of largemouth. Anglers can expect to catch good numbers of 1-3lb fish with a chance of some larger fish too! Look for bass in weedy shallows in the upper end, or holding along shoreline cover. A few fallen and submerged trees also hold fish all season long. Texas rigged soft plastics, swimbaits, whopper ploppers, chatterbaits, and buzzbaits all consistently catch fish.
Crappie, Perch & Other Panfish
Panfish are fun to target all year long with good populations of bluegills, black crappies, and yellow perch.
Other Species
Hamilton Lake is also home to chain pickerel, bullheads, and some channel catfish.
Recommended Tackle For Hamilton Lake
Bass & Pickerel Gear
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
- Drop shot or wacky rigged soft plastic worms
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Texas rigged creature baits and soft plastic worms
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Chatterbaits & Spinnerbaits
Panfish & Trout Gear
Rods
- Ultralight - Medium Light spinning rod 6-7’
- Ultralight - Medium Light spincast combos 4-7’ (great for beginners)
- Our favorite panfish setup is a 7’ Light action rod with a 1000 or 2000 series reel
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 minnows, worms, and bug imitations. Rig them on a 1/32 or 1/16 jighead
- Small topwater poppers or plopper style baits.
- Powerbait dough baits and nibbles
Bullhead/Catfish Gear
Rods
- Medium to medium heavy 6-7' spinning or casting rods.
Line
- 10-20lb monofilament
- 20-40lb braid w/ monofilament or fluorocarbon leader
Baits
- Nightcrawlers
- Live shiners
- Cut bait
- Commercially available catfish baits - Like Catfish Charlies Dough Balls
Best Fishing Areas
Hamilton Lake is easily accessible from shore near both the boat launch and by the dam with 2 public parking lots off of Roundtop road. The dam end has a steep hill to get to the water, but the shoreline is easy to fish with walkable paths and minimal shoreline vegetation. Weeds can get thick near the boat launch and in some spots off both corners of the dam.
By boat or canoe/kayak, the far shoreline has downed trees and submerged timber that hold fish all season long.
Also target:
- Overhanging shoreline vegetation
- Dam rip rap
- Deeper rocks and transitions (particularly towards the middle of the lake)
Hamilton is a family friendly lake and a great place to take the kids for a day of fishing. Open shoreline access and plenty of panfish make this an ideal spot when other lakes get too weedy to fish from shore, particularly late in the summer.
Boating & Lake Access
Valid Pa Boat Registration or Pa Launch Permit Required
Hamilton Lake is ideal for small fishing boats, kayaks, canoes, and other non-gas-powered watercraft. Boating is limited to electric motors and unpowered boats.
A small floating fishing dock is available at the boat launch.
Seasonal Fishing Tips
Spring
Bass, crappie, and panfish become active as water temperatures rise and spawning season starts. Target shallow areas near the dock and the roadside shoreline. Stocked trout are easy to catch near the boat launch and closer to the dam. Live minnows and powerbait are favorites every spring! Typically, trout are catchable through late June, until water temperatures get into the 70s. This lake does tend to flood and dirty easily with spring rains and snow melts. Be sure to call or check our fishing reports for the latest updates.
Summer
Water levels can get tricky for boat access in drier summers. Canoe and Kayak access is generally no issue, but if water levels drop, launching a trailered boat may be difficult. Weeds can get thick around the dock offering a good frog or buzzbait bite for bass and pickerel. Hamilton has minimal structure and any fallen trees and submerged timber will hold fish. Don't overlook shoreline weeds too. Overhangs and tall grass can provide enough shade to hold bass very tight to the shoreline. Make a parallel cast along the shore to target these fish. Finesse presentations like dropshots and wacky rigs work excellent.
For panfish, target the same submerged timber and weed edges with small plastics, live minnows, or redworms.
Bullhead fishing in the late summer can be excellent! Areas around the dam are a great place to start.
Fall
Cooling water can create excellent feeding opportunities. Try moving baits, crankbaits, and baitfish imitations. The top water bite can be excellent too. Trout are restocked in October and fishing for them with flies, live baits, or small stick baits and spinners can be effective. Trout are stocked at the boat launch and many will run up the creek too.
Winter
Hamilton Lake is a popular ice fishing destination when conditions are sufficient. It generally has a reliable ice season lasting from late December to early March. Trout, yellow perch, bluegill, and crappie are the most common winter targets. Panfish will often also roam the open water and hole hopping is a great way to catch fish on the move. Jawjackers or tipups rigged with minnows or powerbait work great for trout. Give us a call for the latest ice updates and remember to always check ice conditions before heading out.
