Best Fishing and Boating in PA State Parks Codorus by Alice Stitt photos by the author State Park

Located in the southwest corner of serve the water supply needs of a pri- kellunge, tiger muskellunge, walleyes, York County, Codorus State Park is vate industry and the town of Spring catfi sh and carp. Additionally, the Fish another gem in the crown of Pennsyl- Grove, as well as provide a public rec- & Boat Commission regularly stocks vania’s state parks. Boasting 26 miles reation area. Lake Marburg was cre- preseason trout in the lake from Janu- of shoreline, and with depths of up to ated in 1966 by an earth-fi lled dam ary through April. 110 feet, Lake Marburg is the park’s across . The original Big fi sh are not uncommon. Park prime attraction. The many different park was known as Codorus Creek manager Warren Werntz reports that types of fi shing and boating oppor- State Park. Lake Marburg was named in 1994, a 53.5-inch musky was taken tunities at Lake Marburg easily meet for the small community of Marburg, from the lake, and in 2003, a 31.5-inch and exceed the expectations of area now covered by the lake. walleye was caught. and visiting anglers and boaters. Lake Marburg is a warmwater in the 25-inch range have been landed A cooperative project between the fi shery. Its most popular fi sh spe- during some of the yearly bass tour- Commonwealth of PA and P.H. Glad- cies include yellow perch, naments. Regular catches of 12- to felter Paper Company of Spring Grove, and crappies. The lake also has good 15-pound carp are also not unusual. this impoundment was the fi rst of its populations of white perch, northern The panfi sh seem to draw the most kind in the state—it was designed to pike, largemouth bass, catfi sh, mus- attention. Anglers catch crappies and (article continued on page 34) www.fi sh.state.pa.us Angler & Boater • September-October 2006 31 d To Hanover To Hanover, 3 Mi. To PA 216 To Porters Sideling

Roa N 650 To PA 116 & Codo CODORUS STATE PARK 0 Spring Grove Porter 0 600 55 60 600 rus Map courtesy of the Pennsylvania 650 750 700 Department of Conservation and Natural Resources 700 s 216 Road 500 750 700

700 Station 750 550 Cree

Road Road Cross-country Skiing, k

650 Snowmobile & Mt. Bike Area 650 Marburg 700 Hoff Road Smith 750 Gate 700

700 To Jefferson Mt. Bike C Bankert Trailhead Gate h Park The Rocks a Gate p Office 700 e Mooring l Hidden 650 C Cove 700 550 o Cove Smith's v Cre 650 e ek Black Point 650 Wildasin Meeting Parking 600 House & Cemetery Area Codorus 650 LAKE MARBURG Furnace Creek Pumping Station Road Black Rock Launch First Long Island Sand Bridge Fishing Area Luckenbaugh e Cove Wonder Cove Cove Round Cove 650 Blooming Island P.H. Glatfelter 650 650 Paper Co. Dam Mary Ann Furnace Lang's Cov

Dubs Cove Classroom Bldg. Property Monument Trail Gate Band 700 Grove A 700 650 Shell Historic Cove Mary Ann Road Black Rock Flats Dubs Marker 700 R.R. Furnace Trail 2 d 650 a B o Church C 600 1 R Road 600 750 700 D 650 ol o Ranger Trail Head g P E Main Sinsheim Gate Parking in Drive m F Launch Road Rock im Disc Road G Sinsheim Park w H VeteranS 650 700 Gate Golf I Memorial Disc Golf Parking 700 T Pavilion Marina Bridle Trail Jefferso Creek 700 Trail 800 Gate ad Parking 700 650 o 650 750 Road SINSHEIM er R rdn Gate 700 Baumga Second 650 Ranger Church Bridge 600 Oakwood Dubs Trail Head Road 650 Parking and Trail Cattail 700 Road Pine Codorus Cove Tree Road

650 55

Maryl

750 0 750 600 700 LaHo Trail Road Flats 700 800 700 Wildasin 700 Town Road r 700 Branch Old Wildasin 650 650 Burial Grounds Third 650 LaHo Frog

650 Bridge Kitzmille 600 Church

West Smoketown 650 Fuhrman 800 Gate 700 Park Office Camping Mill Road 700 k Road 750 Contact Station Sanitary Dump Station Road Cree Trail 800 700 850 Road Dubs Blue Symbols Ice Skating 700 750 15 Mean Accessible 74 Gifford Pinchot 850 Sledding Area Western CUMBERLAND 750 Wellsville 83 Public Phone

Dover Marina 30 Road York Springs Restrooms 74 and 194 Landis Sail Boat Dry Dock 94 Ranger York 800 Env. Interpretive Center 800 East Berlin 850 Boat Launch Pentl Hampton Red Lakeview Codorus YORK 74 Lion Road Amphitheater 15 116 800 Boat Rental Abbottstown New Oxford Spring Grove Hill Gate Food Concession 650 600 850 700 600 30 Flats Hiking Trail 650 ADAMS 516 1/4 0 1/4 1/2 3/4 1 KILOMETER Picnic Area 650 Bonneauville Road Hanover CODORUS 900 Lee Bridle Trail 116 750 Picnic Shelter 97 Glen Morning Parking Branch 216 Rock 700 194 94 Brodbecks 850 800 Littlestown 1/4 0 1/4 1/2 MILE Blue Marburg Wayside 516 Unpaved Road Star Overlook

850 700 State Park No Hunting MD 86 83 900 Melrose N Road Swimming Pool MD 194 Union Mills SCALE: 1" = APPROX. 0.3 MILE MD 30 800 Run 216 State Park Hunting Taneytown MD 97 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • September-October 2006 www.fi sh.state.pa.us 800 East 32 850 800 750 700 www.fi sh.state.pa.us Pennsylvania AnglerShowerhouse/ & Boater • September-October 2006 33 750 800 CONTOURS ARE ON 850 800 Restrooms 850 50 FT. INTERVALS 900 850 Long To Glen Rock, 12 Mi. 850 750 bluegills throughout the year. The favored locations are the backwater coves and the fi rst and second bridge piers. Anglers use a variety of meth- ods from live baits to plugs and spin- ners to land their quarries. Fishing from boats seems to be your best bet for the larger pike and muskies, but shore fi shing has prov- en to be up to standard and popular, especially for carp anglers. There is a handicapped-accessible fi shing pier near the fi rst bridge. Many success- ful days for anglers include a stringer Marburg’s panfi shing can be excellent. You can target crappies and bluegills of panfi sh with planning a backyard year-round. fi sh fry upon returning to the camp- The campground, which includes country skiing and snowmobiling site or homestead. more than 150 sites, opens in April after the end of deer season in late If using a boat to fi sh the lake, you and closes in October. The sites are December. If there is adequate ice, ice have seven boat launch ramps from appropriate for tents or recreational fi shing and iceboating are permitted. which to choose. The main launch- vehicles. Many picnic tables and Winter reports are available online ing area, off of Shinsheim Road, was several picnic pavilions are avail- at: www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/ the fi rst project in Pennsylvania com- able throughout the park for daily winter/wintera.aspx. pleted for public use under the Proj- guests. With the increase in visitors This lake offers some of the best ect 500 program, of the late 1960s to all state parks, it is recommended ice fi shing in this part of the state for and 1970s. This is a lighted launch, to reserve campsites and pavilions as largemouth bass, , white open 24 hours a day year-round. All early as possible. The large swimming and yellow perch, and crappies. launches are open to the public, but pool, located near the campground, is With over 1,200 acres of water to the campground launch is for regis- open from Memorial Day weekend to cruise and fi sh, ample parking and tered campers only. There is a 20 hp Labor Day, and has a seasonal snack picnic areas, boat launches and rent- limit for motorboats. In addition to bar with hot and cold food. als, hiking trails, a campground and the launches, there are over 400 avail- The park hosts many activities pool, it is easy to see why many peo- able mooring spaces for , sail- during the summer, including festi- ple regularly visit Lake Marburg at boats and motorboats. vals, special events and tournaments. Codorus State Park. Lake Marburg is also a favorite of Weekend and holiday traffi c on the Alice Stitt is the Fish & Boat Com- sailboat enthusiasts and paddlers. lake can sometimes present a chal- mission’s Southeast Region aquatic re- The good winds that blow from the lenge to anglers, paddlers and sail- sources program specialist. southwest provide plenty of “air” to ors, so when you plan a fi shing or billow the sails. And with the won- boating trip to Marburg, check this For More Information derful shoreline and many coves and DCNR web site for details if you want For park information, visit fl ats, paddlers take advantage of the to break away from the crowds: www. www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/ shallower water to escape and explore dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/calen- parks/codorus.aspx or contact the lake’s backwaters. dar/calendar.aspx. Codorus State Park, 2600 Smith Don’t have a boat? Not to worry— Throughout the early mornings Station Road, Hanover, PA 17331- the park offers boat rentals at the ma- and evenings, as well as during mid- 9545; phone 717-637-2816; email rina and pool area, including pontoon week, things tend to slow down with [email protected]. boats, rowboats, canoes, paddleboats still plenty of activities to see and do at For general state park informa- and motorboats. More information the park and surrounding area. You’re tion or reservations, call toll-free 1- is available at this web site: www.ap- only a short drive from Hanover and 888-PA-PARKS, Monday through palachianoutdoorschool.com/ma- York, and close enough for visits to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. rina.htm. Hershey, Lancaster, Gettysburg and For additional information on The Department of Conservation Harrisburg. fi shing, current boating regula- and Natural Resources (DCNR) and The cold and snow don’t stop the tions, maps and more, visit the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commis- visitors to Codorus State Park. Des- Fish & Boat Commission’s web site sion rules and regulations apply for all ignated trails around Chapel Cove www.fi sh.state.pa.us. fi shing and boating in the park. provide 165 acres for sledding, cross- 34 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • September-October 2006 www.fi sh.state.pa.us