Big Brown Fish & Pay Lakes - Where the fish are always biting! (2023)

How does it work?

At Big Brown, we have two trout ponds; one is smaller and better for beginners.

The second is larger, and often a bit more challenging. Anglers can expect to catch rainbow trout, golden rainbow trout, and occasionally brook trout and brown trout. Our bass pond is stocked with largemouth bass. There aren’t many other fee fishing lakes that offer stocked largemouth bass.

Everything you need

We can provide you with everything you need to get started. We rent poles, and sell bobbers, hooks, worms ($5.00/dozen in 2022), and lures, as well as a few snacks and beverages. We do not allow any minnows or stringers to be used in the ponds.

Catch memories at our family-friendly fishing oasis

No Limits

Because of our Regulated Fishing Lake permit from the PA Fish & Boat Commission, there’s no limit on the number of fish you can catch. You must, however, keep all fish that are caught. This helps keep our ponds full of only healthy fish, and allows us to charge less for entrance fees. It’s a bit difficult to say exactly how many an average angler will catch. An experienced angler may catch fish very quickly on most days. Beginners won’t catch fish as quickly, but it would be a rare occurrence for a first time fisherman to leave without at least one fish. How many fish anglers catch depends partly on skill, but also on how many fish they desire to buy. As a general rule; trout bite better when the water is cool, bass when it is warm.

We also offer a full cleaning station. It’s a pretty simple set-up; a stainless steel wash table, a filet board, filet knife, and one of our trained staff, but if you don’t want to clean your own fish it’s a great option.

No throwing fish back

Most fish thrown back won’t fare well, especially trout. The stress from the fight and reduction in their slime coat from handling is often enough to kill them.

All fish caught must be paid for.

Instead of charging for time fishing, we charge for each fish caught. It takes a lot of time, food, knowledge, and effort to raise healthy fish and that is how we determine how much we need to charge.

No pets allowed.

In order to maintain a family friendly environment and clean facility, we do not allow pets.

No BBQ.

Unfortunately we cannot allow cooking inside Big Brown.

Stringers are not permitted.

We provide buckets for keeping your fish cool and in water while you fish.

No entering the water.

Rocks on the edges of the ponds can be very slippery. We want everyone to stay safe.

No minnows.

In order to not introduce any disease or other fish species into our ponds, we do not allow outside fish or minnows.

Please wear shoes at all times.

We work hard to maintain the grounds, but with all the fishermen consistently here, theres a good chance of some fishing hooks being in the grass.

• Upon entry, grab a bucket (to store your fish).
• Head to any of the three ponds in our beautiful 10 acre facility.
• The pond directly in front of you and the pond to the left are stocked with trout.
• The pond to the right is stocked with largemouth bass.
• There are plenty of trees for shade and picnic tables for lounging around all three ponds.
• Pick your spot and start fishing!

For first time fishermen

Once you pick your spot, get your fishing pole and worms ready. Release the hook from the eye it is hooked on. Open your worm container, grab a worm (we suggest tearing or cutting the worm in half) and carefully push the hook through the worm in multiple spots. Pushing it through multiple places helps keep it from falling off the hook. Stand at the ponds edge, hold the pole back, depress the button, cast and release the button as you finish the casting motion. The bobber on the fishing line will float until a fish starts to bite.

Now sit back, relax, and watch for the bobber to sink below the surface of the water. Once you see the bobber sinking beneath the surface, reel it in! Once you reel the fish to the edge of the pond either drag it up onto the grass using the fishing pole, or scoop it out of the water if you’ve brought a net. Carefully remove the hook from the fish’s mouth and place it in your bucket (be sure to have put pond water in the bucket first). Continue until you’ve caught all that you want for the day.

As you catch fish, be sure to store them in your bucket to help keep them fresh. It’s important to keep your caught fish cool while you continue to catch more, so we advise occasionally switching the water out and/or adding ice. When you’re finished for the day, bring your fish up to the store and our staff will help you bag your fish, and bring them inside to our scale to be weighed. Once paid for, we can filet or gut them, and send you home with the freshest fish you can get.

About Our Ponds

We have 3 ponds in total. Our small trout pond is about ½ an acre and 12 feet deep, our big trout pond is about 2 acres and 12 feet deep, and our bass pond is about 3 acres and 18 feet deep.

Our small trout pond has a small waterfall that helps oxygenate the water, which helps the fish stay healthy and keep biting. The bass pond has a few sunken stumps and logs that help provide structure for the bass to hide around.

The fish bite best in the morning hours of the day. The second best time is typically in the evening hours.

The best pond for beginners/families with small children is the small trout pond. It has the coldest water inflow, so the trout generally bite more consistently there.

Amenities

• Bathrooms
• Disabled Access
• Parking
• Fish Gear Rental
• Snack/Drinks
• Picnic Tables/Benches
• Views
• Fish Cleaning
• Trees for Shade