Drop Shot Fishing on Lake Wallenpaupack
Lake Wallenpaupack · Pennsylvania · Northeast
Lake Wallenpaupack sits in Pike County at roughly 1,160 feet elevation in the Pocono highlands, covering about 5,700 acres with a maximum depth near 60 feet and a mean depth around 22 feet. The lake is a Pennsylvania Power & Light impoundment from the 1920s, and its glacial origins left it with a rocky, irregular bottom, hard-sand flats, and scattered submerged timber in the back coves — a structure mix that supports both largemouth in the shallower, weedier arms and smallmouth along the main-lake rock transitions. Water clarity tends toward the clearer end for a northeast reservoir, typically 6–12 feet of visibility depending on season, which puts finesse presentations and natural color palettes at a premium.
The drop shot suspends a soft plastic bait above the bottom on a fixed line, keeping it in the strike zone longer than any other rig. Originally a West Coast technique, it now dominates clear-water and finesse situations nationwide. Works vertically over structure or on a long cast.
Drop Shot Setup for Lake Wallenpaupack
| Rod | 7' medium-light to medium spinning rod, fast action |
| Reel | 2500–3000 size spinning reel, 6.2:1 or higher |
| Line | 6–8 lb fluorocarbon main line or 10 lb braid + 8 lb fluoro leader |
| Weight | 1/8–3/8 oz tungsten drop shot weight (heavier in current or deep water) |
| Hook | #1 or #2 Gamakatsu Finesse Wide Gap, 6–18 inches above weight |
Seasonal Tactics on Lake Wallenpaupack
Lake: Pre-spawn largemouth push into the protected coves on the northern end as water temps climb toward 55–60°F in late April and early May; smallmouth stage on main-lake rocky points in 10–18 feet before moving shallower to spawn. Jerkbaits on the rock transitions and Texas-rigged creature baits flipped to laydowns in cove timber both produce well.
Drop Shot: Target staging fish on points and drop-offs in 8–20 feet. Nose-hook a 6" Roboworm or Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm.
Lake: Thermoclines establish by July, pushing smallmouth to suspend over 25–40 ft basin areas near main-lake structure; largemouth hold tight to emergent vegetation and dock edges in 4–8 feet. Topwater early morning on the weedy flats gives way to drop-shot and tube rigs on the deeper rock structure by midday.
Drop Shot: Go deep — 20–40 feet on main lake structure. Shake in place with minimal movement. Shad colors dominate.
Lake: Falling water temps in September and October trigger smallmouth to chase shad and shiners on main-lake points; largemouth feed aggressively in the back coves before the turnover. Swimbaits, inline spinners, and lipless crankbaits cover water efficiently during this feeding window.
Drop Shot: Follow baitfish to secondary points and pockets. Faster retrieve works as fish get more aggressive.
Lake: Wallenpaupack is a popular ice-fishing destination once it freezes, typically January–February; open-water bass fishing slows sharply but finesse jigging with small tubes or blade baits over rocky structure in 20–35 feet can still produce smallmouth on unseasonably warm afternoons.
Drop Shot: Slowest presentation of the year. Dead-stick a 4" finesse worm at the bottom. Let it sit 10–15 seconds between shakes.
Best Conditions
Clear to stained water, pressured fish, cold fronts, post-spawn suspended bass, deep structure in summer
Use a Palomar knot and leave the tag end pointing up to keep the hook riding correctly. Most anglers tie it wrong.
More Techniques for Lake Wallenpaupack
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