Blue Marsh Lake Fishing, Size, Depth, And More

Pennsylvania has many refreshing lakes, rivers, and creeks, perfect for swimming, boating, and fishing. Blue Marsh Lake is a popular artificial lake in the state with lots to do. This lake receives over 900,000 visitors each year. Throughout this article, we are going to dive into Blue Marsh Lake, including fun activities you can do in and around the lake.

Location

Blue Marsh Lake is located in Reading, Pennsylvania in Berks County. Reading is a city in Pennsylvania with a population of around 95,000. It was founded in 1748 but was incorporated as a city on March 16, 1847. The surface area of the city is 10.08 square miles.

Blue Marsh Lake Size

This lovely lake has a surface area of 1,150 acres and is about 8 miles long. The maximum depth of the lake is 53 feet and it sits at an elevation of 335 feet. The dam that created Blue Marsh Lake is 1,775 feet long and 98 feet tall.

History

Blue Marsh Lake is man-made. Construction began in 1974 and was completed in 1979. The dam and lake are located on the Tulpehocken Creek. This lake and the dam were created for water supply, flood control, and recreational activities. It’s a multi-purpose lake, which replaced a village with the same name. The Blue Marsh Village previously had many old farms, homes, a schoolhouse, a church, a general store, and a post office.

Fishing

Now that we know a little more about this wonderful lake, we can discuss the fun things you can do. One of the best things to do here is fishing. Blue Marsh Lake has a diverse fish population with striped bass, catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, and walleye. To fish, you can either pull over near the highway and fish on the shore, fish from a boat, or the lake border trail. This lovely hidden gem is a great place to fish all day. It’s filled with vegetation, which also means shade.

Boating

On this lake are three boat launch ramps. It’s a popular spot for anglers and boaters. You can also take kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards on the water. You also don’t have to bring your own as there are multiple rental companies nearby.

During holidays and summers, the boat launches to fill up quickly. One boat launch in this lake is the Dry Brooks Boat Launch in Leesport, Pennsylvania. It’s relatively small and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Another boat launch operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on this lake is the State Hill Boat Launch. It’s the largest boat launch on the lake and is in Sinking Spring. Here you can find a waterless Comfort Station year-round. Last but not least is the Sheidy Boat Launch operated by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. Although the Dry Brooks Boat Launch is small, the Sheidy Boat Launch is the smallest on the lake. This boat launch is located in Bernville. To use it, you need the proper state permit.

Hiking

Blue Marsh Lake has over 30 miles of hiking trails. On the Blue Marsh Lake Trail, you can hike, bike, and ride a horse. It goes around the lake. Another popular hiking trail in the area is the Union Canal Connector Trail. The difficulty level is easy. It’s a 1.8-mile trail for hiking and biking only. It’s a great trail if you want to bird-watch.

You can also hike the Tulpehocken Creek Loop, which runs for about 2 miles. It has some hills but is listed as easy. If you want a slightly more difficult hiking trail, you can also take the Foxtrot Hiking Loop. It’s easy to difficult and runs for about 1.5 miles. This trail has orange markings and offers beautiful views of the creek and dam.

Camping and Other Activities

Camping is another popular activity near Blue Marsh Lake. You can camp in tents or an RV. Camping is just one activity to enjoy near the lake. The lake also has a small swimming beach, perfect for beating the heat during summer. Picnicking and bird watching are other popular activities. You can bring your food and plan a lovely family day on the lake. Bird watching is easiest while hiking a trail, but you can also see birds while in the water. Some birds common near this recreational lake are blue jays, mourning doves, Canadian geese, wood ducks, and herring gulls.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © cwieders/Shutterstock.com