Lake Wallenpaupack (41°24’47?N 75°14’25?W? / ?41.41306°N 75.24028°W? / 41.41306; -75.24028) is an artificial reservoir in Pennsylvania, USA. It was created in 1927 by PPL, the PA Power & Light Company, for hydroelectric purposes. It is located near Hawley, on the border of Pike and Wayne counties in northeastern Pennsylvania. The Lenape Indians named the area “Wallenpaupack” which means “The Stream of Swift and Slow Water.”
In order to create the lake, the dam was constructed on Wallenpaupack Creek at Wilsonville. The land of Wilsonville and the surrounding area in the valley was purchased by PPL from about 100 owners at about $20 an acre and all property was razed or moved. Seventeen miles of roads and telephone poles were rerouted, and one cemetery had to be relocated. The former town of Wilsonville now lies under the water near the dam.[1]
Lake Wallenpaupack is a center of recreation for the surrounding communities, providing boating and fishing access in the summertime, as well as ice skating and ice fishing in the winter. Lake fish include smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, rock bass, walleye, muskellunge, pickerel, rainbow trout, brown trout, catfish and yellow perch. Striped bass and hybrid striped bass have been stocked in the lake. The lake is 13 miles (21 km) long, has 52 miles (84 km) of shoreline, and is about 60 feet (18 m) deep at its maximum depth.
The lake was the subject of “Booze Cruise”, a 2006 episode of the NBC sitcom, The Office. In the episode of the show, which is set in nearby Scranton, the office crew goes on a “motivational” cruise on the lake. The episode was actually recorded in Long Beach Harbor, not the actual Lake Wallenpaupack. Interestingly the episode placed the time being January, but this is impossible because all boats and docks must be removed in October. Also, at this time the lake is frozen making any boat navigation impossible.
When, Where and with What to fish:
The spring and fall are the absolute best times to catch smallies on the Pack. The smallies outnumber the largemouth almost 9 to 1 on the lake. However, the largemouth population has been on the rise recently due to more abundant vegetation. Spawn and pre-spawn bass can be caught with jerkbaits, spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Just like any other lake in the spring, target on the transition routes from the depths to the spawning flats. From the end of May to the middle of July the topwater action is phenomenol. During the summer the fish go deep so if you like finesse fishing- this is the ticket. Fishing during the first two hours of safe light and at night during the summer can be phenomenol. I’m talking big smallies- 3-4 pounders. You might even hook into a 5 pound trophy. In the fall, the smallies will rip the rod right out of your hand. They are actively feeding for the winter. Spinnerbaits and crankbaits are the ticket in the fall.
Recommended Boat Ramps:
State Ramp
The preferred launch ramp is the state ramp in Mangan cove on the North end of the lake. There is no fee for launching. The launch has three ramps and one dock to tie up to. Most boats pull up to the shoreline for weigh-ins since there aren’t any docks. There is plenty of room for club tournaments. The NABA/Renegade trails launch out of this ramp. There are no gas pumps at this launch. The ramp is off of Rt. 590 just a mile or so West of the Rt. 590/ Rt. 6 junction. There is plenty of parking for tournaments up to 50 boats. Most tournaments are run out of this ramp. Beware, there is a no wake area when you launch. I can’t tell you the number of times people have been stopped by the Coast Guard Auxillary/Fish and Game Commission.
Caffrey Ramp
This is the other ramp that I would consider running a tournament out of. There is a $5 launching fee and plenty of parking. Not as much parking as the State Ramp but enough for a tournament. There is a gas pump at this facility. There are two ramps and a dock to tie up to. Most boats pull up to the shoreline for weigh-ins since the floating docks are usually full. Besides they are private docks. A good number of tournaments are run out of this ramp. This ramp is located off of Rt. 590 approx. 3 miles West of the State Ramp.
Ledgedale Ramp
This is the only other ramp that I would consider launching from. I’m not sure tournaments are run out of this one but if you’re traveling from the South to visit the lake this would be the closest place to launch. You’ll save yourself about 15-20 minutes. The launch has two ramps and the fee is $5. It is located at the Southern end of the lake where the Wallenpaupack creek feeds the Lake. It is located off of Rt. 507 about a mile from the Rt. 84/ Rt. 507 junction.
Lake Wallenpaupack
