Fishing Pinchot Lake

AKA: Pinchot Reservoir

Popular Fish Species
Pinchot Lake Fishing Video
Available Fish Species
Amenities
Today's Weather & Forecast
Boat Launch Ramps
Local Fishing Guides
Fishing License
Campgrounds & RV Parks
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Pinchot Lake, PA

Popular Fish Species Pinchot Lake, PA

Pinchot Lake Popular Fish - Largemouth Bass

Largemouth Bass Fishing

Pinchot Lake has a nice population of quality bass which can give anglers an opportunity to catch good numbers and occasionally a lunker. Recently the fishing for bass has been as good as advertised. This fertile lake also offers sufficient cover for both baitfish and bass. Thorough fisheries management by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission has maintained a quality bass fishery for some time now. When the bite is good, bass typically move shallow and are quite aggressive. If you find them shallow and they are not tempted to bite, slow down and use smaller, lighter baits. Fishing for largemouth bass is good virtually any time they are shallow - in spring, mornings in summer, and during warm Fall afternoons. Use shallow crankbaits around rip rap. Around grass use worms, jigs, topwater and spinnerbaits. In deeper water, big worms, jigs and spoons are three good weapons. In winter, spend your time fishing Pinchot Lake on deeper structure where the bass spend much of their time.

Pinchot Lake Popular Fish - Black Crappie

Black Crappie Fishing

Crappie fishing at Pinchot Lake has been quite good. Black crappie reside in good numbers here, and they are averaging a very good size this year. The best time to catch crappie tends to be at dawn and dusk. Live bait and small jigs are the most common method for crappie here. Crappie always like cover and structure, so locate brush and vegetation. Using a fish finder can help locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover. In spring and fall focus on the 8 to 12 foot range. As the crappie move deep in summer and winter, follow points out deep, as well as find ledges near channels in deeper water.

Pinchot Lake Popular Fish - Hybrid Striped Bass

Hybrid Striped Bass Fishing

Hybrid striped bass, also known as wipers, are stocked by Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, and are a favorite of many locals and fishing guides at Pinchot Lake. As a hybrid of striped bass and white bass, they have great potential for spawning massive numbers and growing to large sizes. Fishing for hybrid stripers is a matter of locating schools of bait, and schools of hybrid striped bass are likely to be in the area. Mornings, during Fall, hybrids can be caught on topwater or shallow running lures, as they are feeding on baitfish at the surface. When they move deeper, fish finders improve your odds of locating both bait and schools of wipers. Live bait, spoons and jigs are very very effective here, and these hungry fish can be caught year round.

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, channel catfish, black crappie, walleye, bluegill, yellow perch, hybrid striped bass and muskie at Pinchot Lake in Pennsylvania.

Pinchot Lake Fishing Video

Situated half way between York and Harrisburg, Pinchot Lake is a 340-acre fishing lake with a mixed bag of fish species. Anglers who frequent the lake tend to favor targeting bass and stripers. However, crappie, muskie, perch, sunfish, walleye and catfish also roam these waters. The lake is open to sail boats and pleasure boats, as well as all types of fishing boats - including bass boats, canoes, kayaks, pontoons and others.

Primary fish species residing in Pinchot Lake

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Pinchot Lake Amenities

Marina: NO
Boat Rental: YES
Boat Launch Ramp: THREE
Campgrounds: YES
RV Hookups: YES
Lodging: NEARBY
Convenience Store: NO
Bait & Tackle: YES
Restaurant: NEARBY

Today's Weather & Forecast

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Boat Mooring No. 1
Located just west of the Rosstown Road bridge, in the southwest corner of the lake, this is a single-lane, gravel ramp with docks and limited parking.

Boat Ramp
Located in the Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground, in the southeast corner of the lake, this is a single-lane, gravel ramp with a dock and limited, gravel parking.

Gifford Pinchot Boat Mooring No. 3
Located on the northeast sector of the lake, this is a single-lane, gravel ramp with docks and limited parking.

Public Boat Launch
Located in the northwest corner of the lake, this is a four-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and gravel parking.