Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 20

Fairview Lake

for PERCH and BASS
by Alex Zidock Jr.
photos by the author
In northeast Pennsylvania, Fairview Lake, Pike County,
gets overshadowed as a prime fishing destination by Lake
Wallenpaupack located less than 1 mile to the west. Lake
Wallenpaupack's 5,700 acres dwarfs Fairview Lake's 192
acres. Since there is only one narrow launch ramp with
spaces for about 10 cars with trailers at Fairview Lake, many
would-be summer anglers prefer the bigger lake with easier
access. Both lakes allow boats with unlimited horsepower.
However, in the fall, about mid-September and when the
summer tourist traffic subsides, activity at Fairview Lake
quiets down, offering anglers the experience of catching
Yellow Perch and bass.
Except for the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission's
boat launch located at the southeast cove off Gumbletown
Road, the entire shoreline of Fairview Lake is privately
owned. Mostly second homes, this community is one where
many home and cabin transfers have stayed in the families
for years. The lake is known for one of the nations oldest
girls summer camp, Camp Oneka, still in operation since
1908. Included among famous alumni are Princess Grace of
Monaco and her daughter Princess Caroline.
Trout stocked in Fairview Lake like the deep, cool
spring-fed holes that reach 48 feet. Some shallow coves with
lily pads and grasses offer cover for a variety of panfish,
Chain Pickerel, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass and
Walleyes. There are Yellow Bullheads, Brown Bullheads,
Channel Catfish and Alewife.

20

WAYNE
COUNTY
PIKE
COUNTY

Fairview Lake
Along the northeast side of
Fairview Lake, the location
of Camp Oneka and
where the water is
MONROE
just a few feet from
COUNTY
Route 390, there is a
productive area for Yellow
Perch. Water leaves the
lake here through a small
spillway under the highway.
Cold fronts influence Yellow Perch less than other panfish.
In the fall, Yellow Perch can be found in some summer haunts.
Just out from the docks at Camp Oneka, there is an unusual,
underwater ridge that runs directly across the lake, where the
water depth ranges from 5- to 15-feet. Fishing this drop-off,
and where the water drops-off to 15 feet along the stretch of
Route 390, can be productive for Yellow Perch. You may need
to move around some to find a school of perch. If the perch
are small, move to deeper water. Once you find a school of
perch, it is sometimes a good idea to leave the first one you
catch in the water a little longer before you boat the fish. The
action of the first perch can create a feeding frenzy.
There are a variety of small baits suitable for catching perch.
Most jigs work better when tipped with live bait. I like to add
a mealworm or small piece of worm to light jigs. I think the
added attraction causes the perch to keep the jig in its mouth a
little longer. Being close to the Delaware River and a tackle box
full of shad darts, I found success fishing for Yellow Perch with
a bobber and drop rig, tipping the shad dart with live bait,
usually a mealworm.
During September and early October, many docks are
still in the water at Fairview Lake. Fishing around docks for
Yellow Perch and bass is always good. However, remember

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * September/October 2019	

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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019

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