Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2023 - 30

Fishing from
State Park Marina Docks
by Marilyn Black
I
t may not have made the Hallmark card repertoire,
but " Happy Dock Day " is something to celebrate!
Several state parks across Pennsylvania include
marina facilities where boats are moored by seasonal
renters. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation
and Natural Resources regulations require that all boats
must be removed from state park marinas on October 31.
In some state parks where docks remain in the water
all winter long, anglers are encouraged to fish from the
docks starting November 1, which Bo Bartholomew,
Mercer County, has coined " Happy Dock Day. " He and
other fishing buddies make a point of gathering at their
favorite state park marina to be among the first to cast
a line into the newly available fishing zone, which was
off-limits during the active boating season.
Open water months
In Pennsylvania, the water adjacent to marina docks
generally does not freeze during November and most of
December, and it thaws in early spring. The wide floating
gangway dock surfaces are well-suited to anglers and their
fishing gear.
All three marinas in Pymatuning State Park, Crawford
County, become magnets for anglers at the start of
November. The Jamestown Marina docks are in deeper
30
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater
photo-Marilyn Black
water than those at the Espyville and Linesville marinas.
Anglers are allowed to fish until March 31 from these docks.
The fishing ending date at the marina on Lake Wilhelm
in Maurice K. Goddard State Park, Mercer County, Presque
Isle State Park, Erie County, Lake Marburg in Codorus
State Park, York County, and Prince Gallitzin State Park,
Cambria County is April 30. At Bald Eagle State Park, the
dock mooring does not begin until May 15, so the dock
fishing remains available through May 14 yearly on Foster
Joseph Sayers Reservoir, Centre County. Be careful. Wave
action makes some of the docks bouncy, and wet dock
surfaces are slippery.
Ice around docks
The docks provide even more advantages for anglers
once the ice sets, typically in January and February. Anglers
who fear walking on the ice can sit or stand on the wide
docks and lower their lures or live bait through ice openings
they cut with augers. Or, they may re-use holes already
made by others earlier in the day.
Be aware that sunlight warms the upright metal posts,
and ice close to the posts tends to be thinner than ice away
from the docks.
fishandboat.com
http://www.fishandboat.com

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2023

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2023 - Cover1
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2023 - Cover2
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2023 - 3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2023 - 4
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2023 - 5
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2023 - 6
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2023 - 7
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2023 - 8
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2023 - 9
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2023 - 13
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2023 - 14
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2023 - Cover3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2023 - Cover4
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