Where to take my 4yr old?

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fishinpreacher
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2012/07/11 12:00:54 (permalink)

Where to take my 4yr old?

Ok folks, I'm looking for some advice here. After dropping my 5yr old off at Camp Christian in Mill Run PA, tomorrow morning for a day camp I want to take my 4yr old son fishing in my 16 foot boat. we'll be fishing with live bait for whatever bites, & I'm more concerned with numbers than I am size. 
The two places I have thought about are Yough lake and Donegal lake here are my thoughts about both.
 
Yough Lake- the Pros would be it's a bigger lake so I'm sure I can launch my boat and can use my outboard.  The Cons would be that I literally don't know the lake at all and would have no idea where to head to target panfish. I would be launching my boat from the launch at the dam just above the outflow. (I don't have my fish finder set up yet, so that will be no help)
 
Donegal- the Pros are that it's a smaller lake and the fish will be easier to find. However the Cons are that I can only use my trolling motor (which isn't really a problem) and that with the hot weather and no rain I'm not sure the depth of the water will be sufficient to launch my boat.
Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated. Like I said not looking for monsters just want to keep my boy entertained catching panfish or whatever else might bite.
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    countryboy981
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    Re:Where to take my 4yr old? 2012/07/11 12:22:41 (permalink)
    This time of year donegal seems to be full of weeds, last year I had a small Jon boat out there with a trolling motor and I pretty much had to stay in the middle of the lake......If you want to catch some nice size panfish I'd try greenlick or maybe acme dam
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    eyesandgillz
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    Re:Where to take my 4yr old? 2012/07/11 14:21:34 (permalink)
    From what Sam said in another post, near impossible to launch a 16' boat at Greenlick with the low water.  I am sure it hasn't gotten better since his post a week or two ago.  Bridgeport may be an option but don't expect any monsters out of there.  Even when the water isn't low, it is a little bit of a pain to launch my 14' boat there.  It is right next to Greenlick.   Usually lots of small gills and crappie in there eager to bite.  Probably lots of weeds in Bridgeport though.  I have never fished it this time of year.
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    Byteme90k
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    Re:Where to take my 4yr old? 2012/07/11 14:32:06 (permalink)
    i started my boy with a bucket of minnows at Lake Arthur from my 16' boat, still his favorite lake 5 years later.
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    flyingmoles
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    Re:Where to take my 4yr old? 2012/07/11 16:50:31 (permalink)
    there's 0% chance of getting a 16'er on greenlick. maybe donegal. it was low but not nearly as low as greenlick. there aren't as many dead fish all over the shore at donegal either.
     
    i'd go with yough dam. at least it has water in it.
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    davef
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    Re:Where to take my 4yr old? 2012/07/11 18:16:25 (permalink)
    I think the deep water at the Yough will cause problems due to the steep drop offs.  I believe most of the shore willows are probably no longer under water due to the low water conditions.
     
    I would maybe try Cranberry Lake as it's closer than any other though weeds are probably a problem there also.  My reasoning is with a 4 year old they will be happy catching anything and I'd hope there would be a lot of panfish still at Cranberry.  Even if it's chocked with weeds the pan fish should hit worms below a float  if you can find  a opening in the weeds.  It's also a very shallow lake so it might be easier to find some fish.  If you don't know where it is head for the windmills on the ridge top.
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    flyingmoles
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    Re:Where to take my 4yr old? 2012/07/12 06:05:05 (permalink)
    on a side note. while dropping off one kid @ camp. you'll be right on mill run reservoir. there is a mating pair of bald eagles there. last time i saw them, they had a young eagle flying with them. their nest is on the camp christian side of the reservoir.
    #7
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