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Fishing Lehigh River: what the data says
The Lehigh through the Poconos gorge. a cold freestone for wild and stocked trout, with smallmouth bass in the lower reaches. The river tops out around 10 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
Rainbow Trout fishing at Lehigh River
In spring, rainbow trout run shallow here, mostly 3 to 10 ft. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 10 ft. Current seam (mile 21.1) is the standout, a current seam at roughly 6 ft, rated prime for spring rainbow trout. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 2 to 10 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Brown Trout fishing at Lehigh River
In spring, brown trout run shallow here, mostly 1 to 10 ft. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 1 to 10 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Current seam (mile 21.1): a current seam around 6 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is after dark and early morning. Summer baits: a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | night & dawn | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 2 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 1 to 10 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Lehigh River
Start shallow in spring: smallmouth bass sit in 3 to 10 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Riffle & run (mile 7.4): a rock pile around 4 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. A drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Notable structure
- Heilman Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 9 ft
- Penn Lake Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 9 ft
- Sunrise Lake Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 9 ft
- Lowhead weir tailrace: dam tailrace, around 9 ft
- Outlet Lock 27 tailrace: dam tailrace, around 9 ft
- Francis E. Walter Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 9 ft
- Pohopoco Creek Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 2.8): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 5.6): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 18.9): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 23.6): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 27.0): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 32.3): creek channel, around 8 ft
Common questions
How deep is Lehigh River?
Lehigh River is about 10 ft at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Lehigh River?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, brown trout on Lehigh River.
Where is the best fishing spot on Lehigh River?
Current seam (mile 21.1) is the top-rated area: a current seam in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Lehigh River?
For rainbow trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Delaware River (Upper) · Susquehanna River · Juniata River · Allegheny River · Youghiogheny River · Lake Erie - Eastern Basin
See how Lehigh River stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Pennsylvania · best brown trout lakes in Pennsylvania
Browse all Pennsylvania fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.