During cold winters, Minersville Reservoir can cap with safe ice (up to twelve inches) and provide fair to good ice fishing for rainbow trout. Marabou jigs and jigging spoons often work best since bait and scented soft plastics are not allowed. During mild winters, however, the ice can be unsafe and large patches of open water can be present. Open water fishing from shore or tubes can be effective for trout with various flies, lures and jigs. Smallmouth bass and wipers are less active during the winter. Water conditions and regulations update: There have been no changes to the regulations at Minersville Reservoir. While the water level will be low at Minersville Reservoir in late 2025, there are no plans for emergency regulation changes because there is a conservation pool that should support the fisher through this low water period