A visitor's guide to
BLUE MARSH LAKE
Recreational Opportunities

Hunting is very popular at Blue Marsh Lake, which borders the 2,800 acres of State Game Lands 280. Ring-necked pheasant, cottontail rabbit, groundhog, mourning doves, squirrel, waterfowl and white-tailed deer are the most plentiful game in the area.

Hunting and trapping in compliance with applicable laws are permitted except where restrictions are posted.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission enforces hunting regulations, establishes hunting seasons, and makes sure the area is stocked with wild game. They also have an active wildlife management program that includes habitat enhancement and a sharecropping program with local farmers.

Blue Marsh Lake offers an excellent opportunity to observe wildlife in its natural habitat. But remember that the wildlife is just that - wild! Please be careful and keep a safe distance at all times.

The best times for birdwatching are in the early morning or evening, when hiking the various trails, walking along the lake shore, or venturing out on the lake by canoe or motorboat.

From late winter to early spring the lake is teeming with all types of waterfowl, as the ducks and gulls use Blue Marsh as a resting area during their migration north.

The fall migration season is another great time to see birds, especially hawks and osprey.

Picnic facilities are located in these areas:

• Dry Brooks Day Use Area
• Dry Brooks Boat Ramp
• State Hill Boat Ramp
• Stilling Basin
• Church Road Access

A limited number of grills located throughout the picnic areas are available on a "first come - first get" basis. If you bring your own grill, avoid placing it on the picnic table so as not to leave scorch or burn marks. Or if placing it on the ground, avoid areas with lots of foot traffic. Finally, empty your grill ashes into the nearest ash pit when you are done.

There are three picnic pavilions (Lakeview, Vista, and Hillside) in the Dry Brooks Day Use Area. You can reserve them for a daily fee by calling the Blue Marsh office at (610) 376-6337 Monday to Friday.

You may also picnic in other areas of the park, but no open flames are permitted.

The swimming area, which is "Swim At Your Own Risk," is located in the Dry Brooks Day Use Area.

The shallow area is marked off by orange ball buoys and is about 5 feet deep. The area between the orange buoys and the white "Swim Area" and "Boats Keep Out" buoys is a lot deeper, and should only be entered by experienced swimmers. And just a reminder that the water depth can fluctuate due to flood control operations.

Here are some safety guidelines for anyone swimming at Blue Marsh:

• Never swim alone - use the buddy system!
• Young children should be supervised by an adult.
• Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices (life jackets) are the only flotation devices allowed on Blue Marsh Lake. Water wings, air mattresses, inner tubes, and other types of toys are not permitted. Inflatable boats must be at least 7 feet in length, made from durable fabric and have at least two separate air chambers.
• Alcoholic beverages are not permitted.
• Diving into the water is specifically prohibited at the swim beach. Also prohibited are diving from trees, bridges, or other structures which cross project waters.
• Do not swim where boating traffic is heavy.

Boating is one of the most popular activities at Blue Marsh Lake, but there are a few important safety rules all good skippers should know!

• Always wear your Coast Guard approved personal flotation device!
• Only one skier (water skier, tuber, etc.) can be towed behind the boat at all times, and please shut the engine off before allowing anyone to board the boat from the back. Doing this will prevent any injuries from occurring because the propeller will not be in motion.
• You should have your registration card on board the boat at all times, and your current registration decal and numbers must be appropriately displayed on the watercraft.
• Keep a sharp lookout for downed water skiers, swimmers, and other boaters.
• Watercraft shall be operated at "No Wake" speed when within 100 feet of shoreline, docks and launch ramps, downed skiers, swimmers, anchored, moored or drifting boats; or in areas marked with "Slow No Wake" buoys.
• There is no limit to the horsepower permitted on the lake, however you should always have your vessel under control and travel at a safe speed for the conditions.
• Everyone must wear a Coast Guard approved life jacket when water skiing, board sailing or using personal watercraft.  In addition, any child 12 years of age and younger must wear a life jacket when underway on any boat 20 feet or less in length and on all canoes and kayaks.
• All non-motorized watercraft are required to display a lighted lantern or white light in sufficient time to prevent collision.

Both the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission patrol and enforce regulations on the lake. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary also performs lake safety patrols.

The Corps and the Fish and Boat Commission also co-sponsor boating and water safety courses throughout the year. These include Basic Boating Courses, Fishing Skills Workshops and Boating & Water Safety Awareness Courses. For more information call Blue Marsh Lake, (610) 376-6337.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is responsible for managing fisheries and for stocking the lake with game fish. Fishing is open to all ages, but everyone 16 years or older must have a current fishing license. This restriction also applies to taking fishbait, baitfish, and all species of amphibians and reptiles from the waters. Species of fish that are found in the lake and its tributaries include the following:
Largemouth bass Smallmouth bass Striped Bass Hybrids Tiger muskellunge Walleye Channel Catfish White Catfish Yellow Perch Black Crappie	Carp American Eel Brown Trout Rainbow Trout Brook Trout Alewives Bluegill Pumpkinseed Sunfish
For those who would like to try their skills at fly fishing, the Tulpehocken Creek downstream of the dam is rated as an excellent trout fishing creek. An artificial lure-only area has been established on the creek. It begins at the first earthen deflector that extends into the creek, and continues down to the Covered Bridge area, in the Berks County Park System. Fishing is permitted in accordance with applicable Federal, state, and local laws, except where otherwise posted. Restricted areas would include the boat docks, the dam breast, the swim area, and the boat beaches.

If it is solitude you are seeking, winter is a great time to visit Blue Marsh Lake.

Cross-Country Skiing

There is plenty of wide-open area for the cross-country skier, from beginner to expert. There are miles of suitable trails, and skiing is permitted in all our developed areas as well. Just remember that you should not ski alone. Also avoid skiing on the lake, as the ice thickness varies.

Sledding or Tobogganing

You do not have to look far and wide to find a hill that is good for sledding.

Ice Fishing

If you want to try your skill at ice fishing, be sure to first check the ice conditions before venturing onto the frozen lake.

Ice Skating

We recommend that you check the ice conditions first, never skate alone, and stay close to shore. Remember, ice thickness fluctuates .

Ice Boating

You can often see ice boaters skimming across the frozen lake on a cold winters day. As with other ice sports, always make sure the ice is thick enough to support your equipment. Also, there should be little or no snow on the ice.