Collins Lake

Collins Lake is a reservoir in Allegheny County, but a dependable surface-area figure was not found. Dependable maximum-depth and storage-volume figures were not found for Collins Lake, so neither should be estimated from a similarly named lake.

What to Expect at Collins Lake

Without trustworthy acreage or depth figures for Collins Lake, the safest approach is to read the water in front of you instead of assuming it fishes like another lake with the same name.

Fish and Useful Baits at Collins Lake

Fish reported from Collins Lake include black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth bass, and yellow perch.

Bass

A spinnerbait, square-bill and Texas rig cover the most useful largemouth situations on Collins Lake.

Crappie, Perch and Sunfish

For Collins Lake crappie, hold a 1/16-ounce jig or minnow beside wood instead of dragging it through snags. Bluegill in Collins Lake are practical targets with a worm or small jig suspended beside shallow cover. Yellow perch in Collins Lake are commonly caught with a small jig tipped with a minnow or worm near bottom.

Catfish, Bullheads and Carp

After dark, try a nightcrawler or cut bait near a channel turn when fishing Collins Lake for channel catfish.

A Simple Fishing Plan for Collins Lake

Make the first pass with a moving lure, then return to the most promising cover with a jig or soft plastic on Collins Lake. Then check the original creek route, the dam end and any point on Collins Lake that reaches toward deeper water.

When to Fish Collins Lake

A sunny spring afternoon can pull Collins Lake fish toward dark bottom, wood and new vegetation. Summer fish in Collins Lake may feed shallow at dawn before settling beside cover or deeper structure. Cooling water can bring Collins Lake fish back to points and banks where bait gathers.