Fishing in the Poconnos mid July/ things to do there

[Hnthrdr]

My super lame brother is making me drag my family back east for his dumb wedding in NYC. Since I have little kids my wife suggested maybe we space out the pain of flying from Co to NY some and we decided to rent a house on lake Carobeth in PA, my research has led me to believe it will be smallies, largemouth, and pickerel, crappie type lake which is cool since I’ve never caught a pickerel and I prefer bass fishing lately to trout. Anyone with insight or in mid July fishing in that part of the state or patterns or lures I should try I am all ears?! We will have access to some kayaks/ canoes, should be fun regardless!

Also if there are any restaurants or things to do/ see in that area would be greatly appreciated, I have a 1&3 year old and a preggo wife so I’m guessing we will keep it pretty low key.

 

[Tod osier]

1 1/2 hour from your rental if you are out exploring:

Eel Man Ray Turner: End of an Era

Ray Turner became known for catching eels using a stone-and-wood weir and running a small smoke house

anglersjournal.com

Delaware Delicacies Smokehouse

At this small shop off a dirt road in the forest, the specialty is eel the owner caught and smoked himself.

www.atlasobscura.com

 

[Hnthrdr]

Awesome thank you for the recommendations!

 

[Team4LongGun]

Live minnows. Fat shiners. Early morning and late bite.

Trolling can be productive with rapalas at night.

There are some decent mini zoo/reptile farm type places to see animals of all kinds.

Old town of Honesdale could be a fun few hours to walk around, eat and explore.

If you like good authentic Italian, The ridge in Hawley.

While the Poconos is a beautiful place, enjoy, but keep your SA up, as shady characters can be afoot.

 

[Muddler]

If the weather sucks there's a couple of indoor water parks nearby. Ive only been to Great Wolf Lodge but I believe there are 2 others in the vicinity. Be prepared to pay out the nose, but the kids would have a blast. Besides the water park Great Wolf has an arcade, kiddo bowling and this Magic Quest thing that kids love.

 

[Subliminal1]

Sorry you gotta be in the city, I know the feeling...

Promise Land and Tobyhanna State Park are close to where you will be. I don't do a whole lot of fishing but familiar with the area... you might have more fun going to one of those state parks.

Delaware Water Gap isnt bad. The AT crosses into NJ right there. It has decent little hikes (or longer) and cool views. Take the last exit in PA before crossing into Jersey, there is a cute little town, as it leads into the AT there.

Some restaurants (trying to keep kids in mind haha)

Home | Pizzeria | Cresco, PA

Using the freshest ingredients, Capri Pizza in Cresco, PA serves pizza, delicious homemade Italian entrees, sandwiches, salads & sides, and party trays!

www.capricresco.com

Welcome - Basso Italiana

Basso’s family-run Italian kitchen in Cresco, Pennsylvania. Flavorful offerings, combined preparation techniques from several regions of Italy

www.bassoitaliana.com

Skytop Lodge | Poconos Resort | Skytop, PA

Come stay, relax and explore at Skytop Lodge in the lovely Poconos Mountains. We are the premier luxury poconos resort and hotel in PA!

www.skytop.com

Wood-Fired Dining | Olde Brook Inn | Lackawanna County, PA

The Olde Brook Inn offers distinctive New American fare. From steaks and chops to gourmet burgers and wood oven pizza, all served in an upscale casual atmosphere. With year-round outdoor dining, three bars, and an elegant main dining room, we can accommodate any occasion.

www.oldebrook.com

Promised Land Inn

Join us for great home-style cooking!

www.thepromisedlandinn.com

Grocery Stores - Shoprite in Daleville and Dutch's in Greentown - Beer and limited wine at the grocery stores.
Alcohol and more wine offerings - Fine Wine Good Spirits in Cresco

I tend not to venture into Mt. Pocono/Stroudsburg. Feel free to message me if you have more questions.

 

[Pochuck]

You'll be right in the next town over from me, welcome to the neighborhood! If you want a really fancy sit down restaurant / spa take a look at The French Manor. For take-out Roadside Bistro is really good. Wish I could help you with the fishing but I'm not the biggest fisherman myself. If you guys are into waterparks Kalahari and Great Wolf Lodge are nearby-never been but they're really popular. Plenty of horseback riding and hikes too with a quick search to see if any suit your family. Also live in NYC so if you have any questions about either give me a pm.

 

[kravguy]

If you feel like driving a little bit. Knoebels Amusement park is roughly 1.5 hrs away. I believe it ranks fairly well in the top amusement parks every year or at least has some top rides. The Phoenix is usually voted in the top 5 for all wooden coasters in the US. Anyway, its very family friendly. One of the few places you can go where you don't need to shell out a $20 to park. Entry is free, pay for tickets to do rides. They might even offer wrist bands yet on certain days. I know the kids are small, but they do have quite a few rides for smaller kids. You can ride the train as a fam. If nothing else, its a nice, shaded park that doesn't get too packed w people.

Indoor water parks at Great Wolf lodge and Kalahari. Outdoor water parks at some of the ski resorts like Camel Beach.

 

[taxidermybycam]

If youre into fishing ,it's rough in July. July is really the doldrums of fishing unless youre night fishing or early early morning . It's just way too hot and waters too warm.
I can't speak much for the poconos . I've been there very few times. It didn't appeal to me . It's sort of gentrified and more expensive than it should be ,for being in Pennsylvania. You got some trout streams and stuff.
If you're gonna visit Pennsylvania visit the state parks. Many many state parks , have a swimming beach, walking trails,food shacks,boating opportunities,fishing opportunities,scenic lookouts among a short list. You'll wanna check out the pa dcnr website for the close by parks where you wanna be . They even have cabins or campgrounds you can rent. And it's free to visit the park. You'll get as much visiting a state park here as you would a "resort " place.
But if youre not from the area and visiting I wouldn't recommend the poconos,you wanna see real Pennsylvania . The culture and what the state really is.
If I recommended anything to out of staters I'd highly recommend taking the kids to Lancaster county. Amish country . Lots of great great food , restaurants,farmers markets like roots,green dragon,shopping is good ,they've got depending on the age of your kids,dutch wonderland,Hersheypark ,turkey hill experience,the snack capital of the world many many food factories and experiences like that.
You got up towards my direction we've got a state park every 30 miles it feels like .
Erie and presque isle is a beautiful place to visit the Great lakes, Gettysburg battlefield is truly a must do before you die. That's an hour and half from Lancaster. History,Philly is not far from Lancaster. Liberty bell,the building where they signed the declaration of Independence and more ,Eastern state penitentiary. You're kids will enjoy those places. There's so much to see and do around PA you really need 10 days to check it all out .

 

[Greenringer]

Ricketts Glenn State Park is about 1.5 hours west of where you’re staying. It has 22 waterfalls and a nice trail system that you can hike to see them. It’s a bit more scenic than the Poconos.

 

[Sunshine40]

I went to college in the Poconos and grew up on the other side of the river in NJ. There's tons of cool hikes to swimming holes in the water gap.

Floating the deleware river with fly rods is a blast too when it good. My two buddies floated it two weeks ago and slayed the trout.

For the Kiddos camel beach is fun. If you want to kick it up a notch got to Vernon NJ to Mountain Creek aka the infamous Action Park aka Class-action Park.

For places to eat/ entertainment main street in East Stroudsburg has a few nice bars and resturants on it. Thers also a cool oldish outdoors shop called Dunklebuegers that a few of my buddies I played football with in college used to work at. Its got the mom and pop outdoors feel.

 

[D_wit22]

Camel Beach Waterpark. Our kids love it!

 

[Jethro]

@Hnthrdr
No advice on the bass fishing.

Jubilee Restaurant is close and has great breakfast and good wing nights.

Knoebels and Camel Beach are fun, maybe not with a 1 year old.

Low key, I’d choose Hickory Run State Park over the others. Light hiking, picnic lunch, small lake and beach, see the Boulder Field. HRSP was center of my stomping grounds for 30+ years.

 

[Hnthrdr]

@Hnthrdr
No advice on the bass fishing.

Jubilee Restaurant is close and has great breakfast and good wing nights.

Knoebels and Camel Beach are fun, maybe not with a 1 year old.

Low key, I’d choose Hickory Run State Park over the others. Light hiking, picnic lunch, small lake and beach, see the Boulder Field. HRSP was center of my stomping grounds for 30+ years.

Awesome thank you for the recommendations!

 

[pacoalcracker]

The small town of Jim Thorpe is worth the stroll through. Visit the jail where the Molly Maguires were held. Lots of history surrounding the MM gang. They have a neat candy store, small shops and small coffee shops with a few nice inexpensive tavern style places to eat.....and you can ride the train through, as well as walk or bike the trails next to the Lehigh River thru the Lehigh Gorge. Well worth the trip.

Tons of state parks and lakes in the region. Some of the best trout streams in the country too.

Yeah, Gettysburg is a must see if your schedule allows. Spend the money to hire a guide for the day to get the full understanding of what took place there. Independance Hall in Philly is worthwhile too. A drive through Lancaster area to see how the Amish live is worth the time as well.

Knoebels Grove is a very nice, inexpensive park.

Tour the Hershey factory. Tour the Pioneer Tunnel deep coal mine.

Be sure to come back when the kids are older.....lots of history in Pa. and surrounding areas.

 

[vermeire]

Since a couple people mentioned Lancaster; if you go that way be sure to stop at Shady Maple Smorgasbord. One of the largest buffets in the country. There's a Cabela's and Bass Pro about an hour from the restaurant too. (Opposite directions unfortunately.)

On the New Jersey side of Delaware Water Gap there is a wolf sanctuary.

I've never been there but Ringing Rocks State Park has always seemed interesting.

Bushkill Falls is mostly a boardwalk "hike". Very neat flora and fauna.

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[Sunshine40]

Since a couple people mentioned Lancaster; if you go that way be sure to stop at Shady Maple Smorgasbord. One of the largest buffets in the country. There's a Cabela's and Bass Pro about an hour from the restaurant too. (Opposite directions unfortunately.)

On the New Jersey side of Delaware Water Gap there is a wolf sanctuary.

I've never been there but Ringing Rocks State Park has always seemed interesting.

Bushkill Falls is mostly a boardwalk "hike". Very neat flora and fauna.

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2nd the Lakota Wolf Sanctuary. I went there alot as a kid and it's pretty cool. My mom just brought my nephew who's 4 a few months ago and he absolutely loved it.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Thanks for the tips fellas!

 

[Yoder]

I've lived in Pike County for the last 20 years. Your wife might like the outlet stores in Tannersville. The Pocono Cheesecake Factory is also close to there and it's awesome. Another place near Tannersville for sweets is Duck Donuts. They are a franchise from the Outer Banks in NC. They have some of the best donuts I've ever had. They make them all fresh while you wait.

For bass fishing on a lake, I usually use a wacky rigged Senko or a whopper plopper early in the morning or at dusk. For trout, McMichaels, Brodhead and Pocono creeks are all pretty good. Brodhead has a ton of trout. I think all three have wild browns and stocked fish. I've caught a couple over 20 inches over the years. Lehigh river and the Delaware both do tubing and rafting trips that would be fun and the rapids aren't crazy. There are also a ton of places that do paintball, obstacle courses, go carts.

 

[Hnthrdr]

I've lived in Pike County for the last 20 years. Your wife might like the outlet stores in Tannersville. The Pocono Cheesecake Factory is also close to there and it's awesome. Another place near Tannersville for sweets is Duck Donuts. They are a franchise from the Outer Banks in NC. They have some of the best donuts I've ever had. They make them all fresh while you wait.

For bass fishing on a lake, I usually use a wacky rigged Senko or a whopper plopper early in the morning or at dusk. For trout, McMichaels, Brodhead and Pocono creeks are all pretty good. Brodhead has a ton of trout. I think all three have wild browns and stocked fish. I've caught a couple over 20 inches over the years. Lehigh river and the Delaware both do tubing and rafting trips that would be fun and the rapids aren't crazy. There are also a ton of places that do paintball, obstacle courses, go carts.

Awesome thank you! I love a good top water bite and have a bunch of whopper ploppers so I’ll bring a few