Smaller impoundments, typically ones of 300-350 acres and less, offer much to the bass angler.

It’s common for such bodies of water to support relatively high numbers of bass, often times largemouth bass, but in some instances smallmouth bass. Smaller-scale bass waters make finding bass an easier task; chances are good you’re putting your lure in front of fish.

Also, one can expect a more tranquil experience, which often is not the case on larger lakes and impoundments where power boat activity is common.

As many Pennsylvania anglers know, during the past decade-plus many smaller impoundments have been drained due to safety concerns with dam structures. As funding has become available, repair work has been completed with refilling and restocking taking place.

This is good news for anglers returning to some of their favorite waters, as well as added venues for folks looking to try new places, in many cases ones benefiting from the burst of aquatic life common in new and reclaimed impoundments.

Here’s a sampling of some of the state’s better mini bass waters, along with the most recent data from Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission surveys to give you the best idea of the bass fisheries present.

Dutch Fork Lake

This 91-acre Washington County impoundment was refilled in 2013, following a draining made necessary due to damage to the lake’s spillway. The lake was emptied in 2004. Stocking by the PFBC of largemouth bass, bluegill, white crappie and channel catfish began once the lake refilled.

Night electrofishing conducted in the spring of 2019 collected largemouth bass up to 20 inches in length and at a rate exceeding that required to meet Big Bass Enhancement Regulations.

Fisheries Management Area 8 assessed the largemouth bass fishing situation as “continuing to be excellent, and only improve as the population of bass increases.”

Dutch Fork Lake is owned by the Fish and Boat Commission and is limited to non-powered and electric motors only.

Brady’s Run Lake

This 28-acre lake is part of Beaver County’s Brady’s Run Park. It was restocked by the Fish and Boat Commission during 2010-11 following a period in which the small lake was drained, dredged and refilled.

Though much of the fishing attention at Brady’s Run Lake is during the spring from trout anglers pursuing adult trout stocked by the PFBC, the lake also supports a good warmwater fishery, particularly that of largemouth bass. When AFM Area 1 personnel conducted a survey during the spring of 2017, including nighttime electrofishing efforts, they were impressed with the largemouth bass population, terming the catch rate and size distribution as excellent, citing strong year classes in 2015 and 2016.

Kahle Lake

This 251-acre lake is owned by the Fish and Boat Commission and lies in Clarion and Venango counties. Historically, this productive body of water has supported a dense population of largemouth bass, which was again evident during the survey of 2018 conducted by the Fish and Boat Commission and Clarion University of Pennsylvania.

Night electrofishing activities done during October of 2018 collected 1,456 largemouth bass, at a rate of 260.8 per hour. AFM Area 2 personnel termed this catch rate as exceptional compared to other Northwest Pennsylvania waters.

Kahle Lake is currently being maintained at a pool level approximately three feet below full, due to concerns about the integrity of the spillway. Not considered a high risk, plans are to continue to hold this pool level until funds are available for necessary repairs. Kahle is managed under Big Bass Enhancement Regulations and is limited to non-powered and electric motors only.

Colyer Lake

Found in Centre County, 77-acre Colyer Lake is owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and managed by the PFBC for fishing and boating. The lake was drawn down to address structural concerns with the dam structure and refilled in 2015.

During the drawdown, numerous improvements were made, including the addition of logs, Christmas tree piles and post clusters. The lake bed was also limed to improve the lake’s water chemistry and productivity.

Nighttime electrofishing efforts done in 2017 and 2018 revealed a good largemouth bass population in addition to several other species. The lake was managed under Catch and Release Regulations initially to allow populations to become self-supporting but is now under standard statewide regulations.

Opossum Lake

Cumberland County’s Opossum Lake is another example of a Fish and Boat Commission-owned lake that was lowered and subsequently refilled and is again providing good fishing for Largemouth Bass.

Emptied in 2008 to repair the dam and spillway, the lake was refilled in 2013 to a 47-acre pool, somewhat lower than its original 59-acre surface area. During its lowering habitat structures were added to the lake.

Surveyed in both 2015 and 2018, AFM Area 7 personnel documented a largemouth bass fishery that is improving in size structure. The 2018 effort collected bass at a rate of 78 per hour, with 63 percent in the 10-inch to 11-inch range.

PFBC assessment of the two surveys documented recruitment of the largemouth bass quality and preferred sizes.

Jeff Knapp is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle.