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Run to border for fall walleyes

Fall is the best time to catch Delaware River walleyes.

Excellent fishing opportunities can be found just beyond our state's borders, and, in some cases, on our borders.

The following three angling options are good ones through the fall and into the winter.

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Delaware River Walleyes: Savvy anglers know that the best river fishing for walleyes begins in the late fall and continues through early spring, if the weather conditions allow wintertime fishing.Though the three rivers of Western Pennsylvania receive much of the state's walleye fishing attention, the Delaware River is a viable and underutilized cold-weather option.The best stretch to focus on walleyes begins at Sandts Eddy, Pa., and continues upriver to the Delaware Water Gap.The Delaware doesn't contain extremely high numbers of walleyes, but, during the fall, they begin to concentrate in defined locations. These locations are the long, deep, slow pools.These spots often get the name "eddy" associated with them. So when you find river spot that includes a locally dubbed name that includes the word "eddy," expect the place to hold November walleyes.This is a border water separating New Jersey and Pennsylvania. A resident Pennsylvania fishing license is valid for fishing from a boat in the river as well as the New Jersey side within this river section.Boat access areas include the Belvidere, Kittatinny, Worthington State Forest and Poxono areas.•

Deep Creek Lake Yellow Perch: Deep Creek is Maryland's largest lake and one of its most productive ones. The list of gamefish and panfish species it contains is a long and impressive one. One of many anglers' favorites is the lake's yellow perch population, a fishery that boasts both good numbers and size.Late fall and winter is one of the best times to target Deep Creek's perch. Ice fishing is especially popular. Safe ice in the early part of December is uncertain, but may be available later in the month. The lake's location at a higher elevation increases the chance of hard-water action.Deep Creek Lake covers 3,900 acres and provides 69 miles of shoreline. The vast majority of the lake's shoreline is owned by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.•

Conowingo Reservoir smallmouth bass: The presence of the Peach Bottom Nuclear Power Station on the shore of this Susquehanna River impoundment provides a fine opportunity to fish for largemouth and smallmouth bass, as both baitfish and gamefish congregate near the warm-water outflow.Water discharged from the plant's cooling towers rejoins the river by way of a discharge canal. This is one of the many times when it pays to have a surface temperature gauge on your boat.Water of differing temperatures doesn't quickly homogenize. Thus, the thermal plume for a warm water discharge will often hug the bank for hundreds of yards downstream. Your electronics can keep you in the zone, often away from a pack of boats hovering at the mouth of the discharge.Conowingo Lake extends downriver into Maryland, although the power plant if located in Pennsylvania. A reciprocal agreement between the states allows Pennsylvania anglers to fish from a boat with their resident license.Boat access is by way of a private ramp in Dorsey Park in York County. The ramp is located at the end of Lay Road.Jeff Knapp is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle.

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