Fishing Pymatuning Reservoir

AKA: Pymatuning Lake

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Pymatuning Reservoir Fishing Video
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Pymatuning Lake, PA

Popular Fish Species Pymatuning Reservoir, PA

Crappie Fishing

Pymatuning Lake is considered one of the top 25 crappie lakes in the in the United States by many fishing organizations. Both black and white crappie reside in the lake, with black crappie typically running larger than white crappie. They do school together so when you find them you may catch both species. Crappie fishing is on the rise and they can be found in sizeable schools. 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. Live bait and small jigs are the most common method for crappie here. 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. When the lake freezes over, ice fishing is often a great way to catch a quick limit of crappie.

Walleye Fishing

Thanks to good fisheries management by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, a healthy population of walleye is thriving in the waters of Pymatuning Lake this year. May and June tend to be the best time for weekend anglers to catch them. During this time they tend to move shallower and closer to shore. Other times of the year they are more likely to roam around in deeper water. As always, staying close by schools of baitfish. They are eager to feed throughout the lake, but tend to concentrate around structure on points, flats and ledges off the river channels. A proven method for catching walleye here is trolling with spinners tipped with live bait, or trolling with long-billed, deep diving crankbaits. However casting live bait, jigs, worms and spoons also works well at times. When the lake freezes over in winter, ice fishing for walleye can be very productive. Use GPS to locate spots you normally fish during other times of the year.

Yellow Perch Fishing

Pymatuning Reservoir continues to have a healthy population of yellow perch, which have been a mainstay in the fishery for decades. Yellow perch are great table fare, and are a food source for many predator fish in the lake as well. Fishing for yellow perch is simple, their primary diet consists of minnows and other small fish, insects and worms. Yellow perch tend to gather in small groups and hang out on relatively deep structure, near cover and/or drop-offs. Use a small hook and sinker. Bait a small hook with minnows, worms or small jigs using 6 to 10 pound line. They make for an excellent fish fry, are a food source for many of the larger predator fish in the lake, and they are fun to catch in winter when ice fishing.

Pymatuning Reservoir Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, black crappie, white crappie, walleye, bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish, white bass, yellow perch and muskie at Pymatuning Lake in Pennsylvania.

Straddling the Ohio-Pennsylvania border in northwest PA, Pymatuning Lake provides a wide variety of angling opportunities. This 14,600-acre reservoir is the largest impoundment in PA, and boasts healthy populations of bass, crappie, walleye, muskie, perch, catfish and sunfish. There is a 20-hp limit for watercraft, so the boat traffic i quite placid. In winter, come experience the fun of ice fishing for black crappie, white crappie, walleye and yellow perch.

Fishing Report

Primary fish species residing in Pymatuning Reservoir

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Pymatuning Reservoir Amenities

Marina: YES
Boat Rental: YES
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: YES
RV Hookups: YES
Lodging: YES
Convenience Store: YES
Bait & Tackle: YES
Restaurant: YES

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