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Rating depth structure for largemouth bass.
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3,560-acre reservoir near Sharpsville. A fertile USACE flood-control lake in western PA with strong walleye, muskie and crappie fishing. The lake tops out around 35 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. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
Shenango River Lake maps at 3,454 acres behind 53.1 miles of shoreline, with 14 islands in the mix. An index of 6.4 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. About 86% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft on the modeled chart — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Call it 9.9 mi long by 4.1 mi wide at the broadest reach. Mercer County claims this one. Its nearest charted neighbour, Mosquito Creek Lake, is 18 mi to the west.
Start shallow in spring: walleye sit in 4 to 15 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 15 to 35 ft, and winter fish settle into 11 to 35 ft. The spot to know is Pymatuning Creek inflow, an inflow / creek mouth in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around the evening and early morning. Throw a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Pymatuning Creek inflow (4 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (16 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 11 to 35 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (16 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 11 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (30 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Spring muskellunge on Shenango River Lake hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 8 to 25 ft in summer and finish the year down in 15 to 35 ft. Put Break off the point first on the milk run — a drop-off near 16 ft that grades prime for fall. The feeding windows run the evening and early morning. The summer box starts with a double-10 bucktail or a topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper).
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Shallow bay flat (4 ft) | Smaller bucktail (#8 blades), 6" glide bait |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (9 ft) | Double-10 bucktail, Topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper) |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | midday & dusk | Break off the point (16 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), 10"+ glide bait |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (30 ft) | Large rubber, crawled slow |
Spring crappie on Shenango River Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 25 ft, and by winter most fish are in 15 to 35 ft. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 30 ft, prime for winter. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled).
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (4 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (16 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Break off the point (16 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (30 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Early season largemouth bass use the shallows, holding in 2 to 10 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 20 ft, then a winter hold in 15 to 35 ft. Put Shallow bay flat first on the milk run — a weed flat near 4 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (4 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (16 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (9 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (16 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Early season channel catfish use the shallows, holding in 3 to 12 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 25 ft, then a winter hold in 11 to 35 ft. Put Pymatuning Creek inflow first on the milk run — an inflow / creek mouth near 4 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Pymatuning Creek inflow (4 ft) | |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Break off the point (16 ft) | |
| Fall | 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Deep basin (30 ft) | |
| Winter | 11 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (30 ft) |
Early season flathead catfish use the shallows, holding in 5 to 20 ft. Summer is an 8 to 30 ft game here, winter an 11 to 35 ft one. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 30 ft, prime for fall. Best bite is after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | night & dusk | Pymatuning Creek inflow (4 ft) | |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (30 ft) | |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (30 ft) | |
| Winter | 11 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (30 ft) |
The chart marks 15 structure features on Shenango River Lake; the deepest is Deep basin at about 30 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Pennsylvania waters are set by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission — and special regulations can apply to Shenango River Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Pennsylvania fishing regulations →
Shenango River Lake is about 35 ft (11 m) deep 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.
Anglers target walleye, muskellunge, crappie, largemouth bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish on Shenango River Lake.
Pymatuning Creek inflow is the top-rated area: an inflow / creek mouth in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in spring. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For walleye, the summer bite is best in the evening and early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Shenango River Lake is regulated by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. Check the official Pennsylvania regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Mosquito Creek Lake 18 mi, OH · Pymatuning Reservoir 20 mi, OH/PA · Conneaut Lake 23 mi · New Lyme Lake 25 mi, OH · Lake Arthur 31 mi · Lake Milton 33 mi, OH · East Branch Reservoir 38 mi, OH · Berlin Lake 39 mi, OH · West Branch Reservoir 39 mi, OH · LaDue Reservoir 42 mi, OH · Guilford Lake 42 mi, OH · Punderson Lake 42 mi, OH
See how Shenango River Lake stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Pennsylvania · best walleye lakes in Pennsylvania · best crappie lakes in Pennsylvania · best channel catfish lakes in Pennsylvania
Browse all Pennsylvania fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.