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Great Fishing in Pennsylvania

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Guide to fishing in the Keystone State

By AA-Fishing Staff Writers

  • Allegheny Reservoir, PA
  • Beltzville Lake, PA
  • Blue Marsh Lake, PA
  • Cowanesque Lake, PA
  • Cross Creek Lake, PA
  • Duck Harbor Pond, PA
  • East Branch Clarion Lake, PA
  • Foster Joseph Sayers Lake, PA
  • Glendale Lake, PA
  • Hammond Lake, PA
  • High Point Reservoir, PA
  • Kahle Lake, PA
  • Keystone Lake, PA
  • Lackawanna Lake, PA
  • Lake Arthur, PA
  • Lake Erie, PA
  • Lake Galena, PA
  • Lake Marburg, PA
  • Lake Nockamixon, PA
  • Lake Ontelaunee, PA
  • Lake Wallenpaupack, PA
  • Lake Wilhelm, PA
  • Marsh Creek Lake, PA
  • Octoraro Lake, PA
  • Pinchot Lake, PA
  • Pymatuning Lake, PA
  • Raystown Lake, PA
  • Rose Valley Lake, PA
  • Shawnee Lake, PA
  • Shenango River Lake, PA
  • Yellow Creek Lake, PA
  • Youghiogheny River Lake, PA

The purpose of this page is to share basic information about the best fishing lakes in the state, plus the species found in each lake. The state of Pennsylvania offers a wide variety of fishing opportunities, including excellent ice fishing. Here, you can fish for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, black crappie, white crappie, walleye, steelhead, rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout, lake trout, bluegill, rock bass, white bass, white perch, yellow perch, coho salmon, chinook salmon, stripers, chain pickerel, muskie, northern pike and sauger in local lakes, rivers, ponds and/or streams.

Pennsylvania is a fishing paradise, offering a wide variety of fish species and fishing opportunities for anglers of all preferences. The state's warm water lakes, cold water lakes, ponds, rivers, and even ice-covered lakes during the winter months provide diverse habitats that support an abundance of fish.

Warm water lakes in Pennsylvania are known for their thriving populations of species such as largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, crappie, bluegill, and sunfish. Anglers can explore lakes like Lake Arthur, Beltzville Lake, Blue Marsh Lake, and many others to target these warm water favorites. Whether casting lures, using live bait, or fly fishing, the warm water lakes of Pennsylvania offer exciting opportunities to reel in impressive catches.

For those seeking cold water fishing experiences, Pennsylvania's cold water lakes and rivers are home to species like trout, salmon, and walleye. Lakes such as Lake Erie, Lake Wallenpaupack, and Lake Nockamixon provide excellent fishing grounds for trout species like lake trout, brown trout, and rainbow trout. Rivers like the Delaware River, Susquehanna River, and Lehigh River offer thrilling angling experiences for trout and smallmouth bass enthusiasts.

Pennsylvania is dotted with numerous ponds that are perfect for fishing excursions. These smaller bodies of water often harbor a variety of fish species, including bass, panfish, and stocked trout. Anglers can explore local ponds and enjoy a more intimate fishing experience surrounded by peaceful natural settings.

Rivers are another popular fishing destination in Pennsylvania. The Susquehanna River, Delaware River, Allegheny River, and many others boast diverse fish populations and offer opportunities for both warm water and cold water species. Anglers can target bass, catfish, walleye, muskellunge, and more while drifting along these scenic waterways.

During the winter months, ice fishing becomes a thrilling pastime in Pennsylvania. Anglers venture out onto frozen lakes and reservoirs, drilling holes in the ice to access fish species like perch, crappie, bluegill, pike, and walleye. Lakes such as Lake Erie, Pymatuning Lake, and Presque Isle Bay offer fantastic ice fishing experiences for enthusiasts.

Pennsylvania's fishing opportunities are vast and cater to anglers of all skill levels and preferences. With its variety of species, including bass, trout, catfish, panfish, and more, and its array of fishing environments, from warm water lakes to cold water rivers and ice-covered lakes, Pennsylvania truly has something for every angler. Whether it's casting from a boat, wading in a river, or drilling holes through ice, fishing in Pennsylvania offers excitement, adventure, and the chance to connect with nature.

Fishing Boats For Rent In Pennsylvania

Major Pennsylvania Lakes & Species

Pennsylvania major lakes and fish chart

Lake & Fish Chart

This chart shows the major angling destinations, cross referencing these waters with the major species to be found in each of the lakes or impoundments.

For a detailed list of primary fish species in PA, plus state fish records, see the list below.

Pennsylvania Fishing Lake Sizes & Locations

Big Pennsylvania Bass

Allegheny Reservoir is a 12,000-acre lake on the northern border of the state, at Warren.

Beltzville Lake is a 950-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, 4 miles northeast of Lehighton.

Blue Marsh Lake is an 1,150-acre lake in the east-central part of the state, at Mt Pleasant.

Cowanesque Lake is a 1,085-acre lake on the north-central border of the state, at Lawrenceville.

Cross Creek Lake is a 250-acre lake in the southwest corner of the state, 5 miles west of Hickory.

Duck Harbor Pond is a 280-acre lake in the northeast corner of Pennsylvania, 30 miles northeast of Scranton.

East Branch Clarion River Lake is a 640-acre reservoir at Elk State Park in the north-central part of PA, 5 miles northeast of Johnsonburg.

Foster Joseph Sayers Reservoir is a 1,700-acre reservoir located in the central part of the state, near Howard.

Glendale Lake is a 1,600-acre lake in the central part of the state, at Fallentimber.

Green Lick Reservoir is a 100-acre lake in the southwest part of the state, 10 miles south of New Stanton.

Hammond Lake is a 640-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, at Tioga.

High Point Reservoir is a 350-acre lake in the southwest part of the state, at Savage.

Kahle Lake is a 250-acre lake in the northwest part of the state, 3 miles northeast of Emlenton.

Keystone Lake is a 80-acre lake in the southwest part of the state, 2 miles southeast of New Alexandria.

Lackawanna Lake is a 200-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, 2 miles east of La Plume.

Lake Arthur is a 3,200-acre lake in the west-central part of the state, at Muddy Creek.

Lake Erie is a 9,910 sq-mile lake on the border of the state along the northwest corner of PA.

Lake Galena (Peace Valley Reservoir) is a 365-acre reservoir in the southeast part of the state, 3 miles west of Doylestown.

Lake Marburg is a 1,275-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, at Hanover.

Lake Nockamixon is a 1,450-acre impoundment in the southeast part of PA, 15 miles southeast of Allentown.

Lake Ontelaunee is a 1,100-acre reservoir in the southeast corner part of the state, 5 miles north of Reading.

Lake Wallenpaupack is a 5,600-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, at Paupack.

Lake Wilhelm is a 1,740 acre reservoir in the northwest corner of Pennsylvania, 10 miles south of Geneva.

Marsh Creek Lake is a 530-acre lake in the southeast corner of the state, in Marsh Creek State Park.

Octoraro Lake is a 620-acre lake near the southern border of the state, 4 miles northwest of Oxford.

Pinchot Lake is a 340-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, 5 miles east of Dillsburg.

Pymatuning Lake is a 14,600-acre lake on the western border of the state, at Linesville.

Raystown Lake is an 8,000-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, at Marklesburg.

Rose Valley Lake is a 389-acre impoundment in the north-central part of PA, 20 miles north of Williamsport.

Shawnee Lake is a 450-acre lake in southern PA, at Schellsburg.

Shenango River Lake is an 11,000-acre lake in the northwest part of the state, at Clark.

Tamarack Lake is a 560-acre lake in the northwest part of the state, at Meadville.

Yellow Creek Lake is a 720-acre lake in the west-central part of the state, in Yellow Creek State Park.

Youghiogheny River Lake is a 2,800-acre lake in the southwest part of the state, at Markleysburg.

Many of these lakes offer fishing boats for rent.

Visit Popular Marinas On Pennsylvania Fishing Lakes

Fish Species & State Records in Pennsylvania

Bass

Largemouth Bass

Largemouth bass

World record: 22 lbs 4 oz

State Record: 11 lbs 3 oz

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass

World record: 11 lbs 15 oz

State Record: 8 lbs 8 oz

Catfish

Channel Catfish

Channel catfish

World record: 58 lbs 0 oz

State Record: 35 lbs 3 oz

Flathead Catfish

Flathead catfish

World record: 123 lbs 9 oz

State Record: 56 lbs 3 oz

Crappie

Black Crappie

Black crappie

World record: 6 lbs 0 oz

State Record: Unknown

White Crappie

White crappie

World record: 5 lbs 3 oz

State Record: 4 lbs 3 oz

Walleye

Walleye

Walleye

World record: 25 lbs 0 oz

State Record: 17 lbs 9 oz

Sauger

Sauger

World record: 17 lbs 7 oz

State Record: 4 lbs 0 oz

Steelhead

Steelhead Fishing

Steelhead

World record: 42 lbs 0 oz

State Record: 20 lbs 3 oz

Trout

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout

World record: 42 lbs 2 oz

State Record: 15 lbs 6 oz

Brook Trout

Brook trout

World record: 14 lbs 8 oz

State Record: 7 lbs 0 oz

Brown Trout

Brown trout

World record: 40 lbs 4 oz

State Record: 20 lbs 9 oz

Lake Trout

Lake trout

World record: 72 lbs 0 oz

State Record: 31 lbs 13 oz

Panfish

Bluegill

Bluegill

World record: 4 lbs 12 oz

State Record: 2 lbs 9 oz

Rock Bass

Rock bass

World record: 3.0 lbs

State Record: 3 lbs 2 oz

White Bass

White Bass

World record: 6.8 lbs

State Record: 4 lbs 0 oz

White Perch

White perch

World record: 4.6 lbs

State Record: 1 lbs 12 oz

Yellow Perch

Yellow perch

World record: 4 lbs 3 oz

State Record: 2 lbs 14 oz

Salmon

Atlantic Salmon

Atlantic salmon

World record: 79 lbs 2 oz
Landlocked Lake
State Record: 17 lbs 2 oz

Chinook Salmon

Chinook salmon

World record: 97 lbs 4 oz

State Record: 28 lbs 15 oz

Coho Salmon

Coho salmon

World record: 33 lbs 7 oz

State Record: 15 lbs 5 oz

Pink Salmon

Pink salmon

World record: 14 lbs 8 oz

State Record: 4 lbs 8 oz

Striped bass

Striped Bass

Striper

World record: 81 lbs 14 oz

State Record: 53 lbs 12 oz

Other species

Chain Pickerel

Chain pickerel

World record: 9 lbs 6 oz

State Record: 8 lbs 15 oz

Muskie

Muskie (Muskellunge)

World record: 69 lbs 9 oz

State Record: 54 lbs 3 oz

Northern Pike

Northern pike

World record: 55 lbs 1 oz

State Record: 35 lbs 0 oz

Click the images and links above for species details.

Fly fishing for big trout in a PA stream.

Fishing Boats In PA

Visit AA-Boats-Boating.com to find information about fishing boats in Pennsylvania and other boating information.

State of PA Fishing Information

A great deal of Pennsylvania fishing information is available at the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission website. Click here for a Pennsylvania fishing license. Take the family out and enjoy the great outdoors in PA.

Bass fishing book

Fish for big bass

Excellent largemouth bass and smallmouth bass fishing opportunities are readily available to anglers.

 

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