Blue Marsh Lake

Berks County, Pennsylvania

A day-use Army Corps lake 7 miles northwest of Reading. It's a Big Bass lake with no horsepower limit and one of the most varied fisheries in the region, including striped and hybrid striped bass, walleye, and three kinds of catfish.

Air temp in Leesport, PA Loading current temperature…

Red pins match the numbered boat launches below. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Current air temperature at Blue Marsh Lake (National Weather Service) ↗

Surface area1,150 acres

Max depth—

Shoreline—

Boat motorsNo hp limit

Species

Fishery rating out of 5.

Hybrid Striped Bass●●●●○

Open water. Follow bait schools and birds.

Largemouth Bass●●●○○

Big Bass rules. Wood and weed edges in the arms.

Walleye●●●○○

Points and humps at night.

Crappie●●●○○

Black and white crappie in brush and timber.

Channel Catfish●●●○○

Flathead and white catfish too. Evenings on flats.

Tiger Muskellunge●●○○○

Weed edges in fall.

Boat launches

4 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.

1Dry Brooks Boat LaunchPublic
2-lane concrete ramp with docks, off Palisades DrDirections ↗
2State Hill Boat LaunchPublic
2-lane concrete ramp with docks, southwest cornerDirections ↗
Blue Marsh North Boat LaunchPublic
2-lane concrete ramp, parking for 60+Directions ↗
4Sheidy Boat LaunchPublic
Upper lake (listed in OpenStreetMap)Directions ↗

Size & creel limits

Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.

Species	Min size	Daily limit
Bass (Largemouth, Smallmouth, Spotted) - Big Bass Program Jan 1-Apr 11 and Jun 14-Dec 31; Apr 12-Jun 13 no harvest, catch and release	15 in	4 / day combined
Crappie Panfish Enhancement; panfish not to exceed 50 combined	9 in	20 / day

Other species in this lake: look up the limits at Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission ↗

Verified October 2026. Rules change, so confirm current limits with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission before you fish.

Bait & tackle nearby

Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.

Blue Marsh OutdoorsNearby
5097 Bernville Road, Bernville(610) 488-5540 Directions ↗
Cabela's11.1 mi
100 Cabela Drive, Hamburg · closest to Sheidy Boat Launch(610) 929-7000 Directions ↗
Dunham's Sports17.1 mi
829 East Walnut Street, Lebanon · closest to Sheidy Boat Launch(717) 228-1683 Directions ↗

Search more bait shops near Blue Marsh Lake ↗

Local tips

It's a day-use lake. Check the gate hours before an early or late trip.
The Visitor Center is at 1268 Palisades Dr, Leesport. (610) 376-6337.
The Tulpehocken Creek below the dam is a popular trout stream.

View on interactive map

Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches; blue pins are bait shops nearby.

More Pennsylvania lakes

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Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.