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Raystown Lake Fishing Guide

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's largest lake fully in the state, with a striped bass fishery.

Trip at a Glance

Anglers come to Raystown Lake for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and striped bass. The best months overall are Apr to Jun, Sep to Oct. In October, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and striped bass are in season, and Soft Stick Bait, Ned Rig and Bass Jig are a good place to start. There are 12 shops within 45 miles (3 fly, 9 bait and tackle); the closest is The Outpost Bait & Tackle Shop in Huntingdon, 4 mi away. Spring Creek is 32 mi away if you want to make a trip of it.

Best Months

Apr to Jun, Sep to Oct

In October

Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Striped Bass

Methods

Spin, cast & bait

Season at a Glance

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What You'll Catch

Raystown Lake Species

Largemouth Bass

Prime Now
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Best: Mar to Jun, Sep to Oct

Smallmouth Bass

Prime Now
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Best: Apr to Oct

Striped Bass

Prime Now
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Best: Apr to Jun, Sep to Nov

Plan by Month

What to Use

Month
Fish

13 picks for October. ● means in season that month.

  • Walking Topwater 4 to 5 in

    Lure

    Topwater · Striped Bass, Largemouth Bass · Surface blitzes.

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  • Soft Stick Bait 4 to 5 in

    Lure

    Soft Plastic · Largemouth Bass

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  • Ned Rig 2.5 to 3 in

    Lure

    Finesse · Smallmouth Bass

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  • Bass Jig 3/8 to 1 oz

    Lure

    Jig · Largemouth Bass

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  • Spinnerbait 3/8 to 3/4 oz

    Lure

    Moving Bait · Largemouth Bass · Stained water.

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  • Bladed Jig 3/8 to 1/2 oz

    Lure

    Moving Bait · Largemouth Bass · Around grass.

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  • Squarebill Crankbait 1.5 to 2.5 in

    Lure

    Crankbait · Largemouth Bass

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  • Lipless Crankbait 1/2 to 3/4 oz

    Lure

    Crankbait · Largemouth Bass

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  • Suspending Jerkbait 4 to 5 in

    Lure

    Hard Bait · Smallmouth Bass

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  • Paddle-Tail Swimbait 3 to 5 in

    Lure

    Soft Plastic · Striped Bass

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  • Tube Jig 3 to 4 in

    Lure

    Soft Plastic · Smallmouth Bass

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  • Bucktail Jig 1/4 to 2 oz

    Lure

    Jig · Striped Bass

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  • Live Minnows 1 to 3 in

    Bait

    Live Bait · Striped Bass, Largemouth Bass · Live shad or herring.

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Rod & Reel

Recommended Setups

Largemouth Bass

Fly 9 ft 7 or 8 wt rod, bass-taper floating line, 12 to 16 lb leader for poppers and divers.

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium-heavy baitcasting rod, 7:1 reel, 15 lb fluorocarbon or 50 lb braid around heavy cover.

Smallmouth Bass

Fly 9 ft 6 or 7 wt rod, floating line, 10 to 12 lb leader. Crayfish patterns, Clousers, and poppers.

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium spinning rod, 2500 reel, 8 lb braid to a 6 to 8 lb fluorocarbon leader.

Striped Bass

Fly 9 ft 9 wt rod, intermediate or sinking line, 20 lb leader. Clousers and Deceivers.

Spin / Cast 7 to 8 ft medium-heavy spinning rod, 4000 to 5000 reel, 30 lb braid with a 20 to 30 lb leader.

Matched to These Species

Gear for Raystown Lake

Soft Plastics

Yamamoto Senko 5 in

The original salted stick bait. Fish it weightless or wacky rigged.

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Crankbaits

Strike King KVD 1.5 Squarebill

A shallow squarebill that deflects off wood and rock.

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Crankbaits

Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap

The classic lipless rattling crankbait for flats and schooling fish.

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Rods

St. Croix Triumph Spinning Rod

A sensitive, lightweight rod for finesse plastics and jigs.

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Line

PowerPro Spectra Braided Line

Thin, strong braid for long casts, sensitivity, and pulling fish from cover.

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Topwater

Heddon Zara Spook

The walk-the-dog topwater that works in fresh and salt.

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Rod & Reel Combos

Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Combo

Nearly unbreakable and sensitive enough for most freshwater fishing. A safe first combo.

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Reels

Shimano Sedona Spinning Reel

A smooth, durable reel in sizes for trout through inshore saltwater.

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Within 45 Miles

Shops Near Raystown Lake

Make It a Trip

Nearby Water

Rivers & Streams · Pennsylvania · 32 mi

Spring Creek

A State College limestone creek with high numbers of wild brown trout.

Brown Trout

Rivers & Streams · Pennsylvania · 44 mi

Penns Creek

Pennsylvania's largest limestone stream with wild browns and a big green drake hatch.

Brown Trout

Rivers & Streams · Pennsylvania · 54 mi

Yellow Breeches Creek

A limestone creek at Allenberry with a famous catch-and-release stretch and white fly hatch.

Brown Trout · Rainbow Trout

Rivers & Streams · Pennsylvania · 59 mi

Susquehanna River

A wide, shallow river near Harrisburg with famous smallmouth fishing.

Smallmouth Bass · Walleye