Great Fishing in Pennsylvania
Guide to fishing in the Keystone State
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.
Major Pennsylvania Lakes & Species
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
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
World record: 22 lbs 4 oz
State Record: 11 lbs 3 oz
Smallmouth bass
World record: 11 lbs 15 oz
State Record: 8 lbs 8 oz
Catfish
Channel catfish
World record: 58 lbs 0 oz
State Record: 35 lbs 3 oz
Flathead catfish
World record: 123 lbs 9 oz
State Record: 56 lbs 3 oz
Crappie
Black crappie
World record: 6 lbs 0 oz
State Record: Unknown
White crappie
World record: 5 lbs 3 oz
State Record: 4 lbs 3 oz
Walleye
Walleye
World record: 25 lbs 0 oz
State Record: 17 lbs 9 oz
Sauger
World record: 17 lbs 7 oz
State Record: 4 lbs 0 oz
Steelhead
Steelhead
World record: 42 lbs 0 oz
State Record: 20 lbs 3 oz
Trout
Rainbow trout
World record: 42 lbs 2 oz
State Record: 15 lbs 6 oz
Brook trout
World record: 14 lbs 8 oz
State Record: 7 lbs 0 oz
Brown trout
World record: 40 lbs 4 oz
State Record: 20 lbs 9 oz
Lake trout
World record: 72 lbs 0 oz
State Record: 31 lbs 13 oz
Panfish
Bluegill
World record: 4 lbs 12 oz
State Record: 2 lbs 9 oz
Rock bass
World record: 3.0 lbs
State Record: 3 lbs 2 oz
White Bass
World record: 6.8 lbs
State Record: 4 lbs 0 oz
White perch
World record: 4.6 lbs
State Record: 1 lbs 12 oz
Yellow perch
World record: 4 lbs 3 oz
State Record: 2 lbs 14 oz
Salmon
Atlantic salmon
World record: 79 lbs 2 oz
Landlocked Lake
State Record: 17 lbs 2 oz
Chinook salmon
World record: 97 lbs 4 oz
State Record: 28 lbs 15 oz
Coho salmon
World record: 33 lbs 7 oz
State Record: 15 lbs 5 oz
Pink salmon
World record: 14 lbs 8 oz
State Record: 4 lbs 8 oz
Striped bass
Striper
World record: 81 lbs 14 oz
State Record: 53 lbs 12 oz
Other species
Chain pickerel
World record: 9 lbs 6 oz
State Record: 8 lbs 15 oz
Muskie (Muskellunge)
World record: 69 lbs 9 oz
State Record: 54 lbs 3 oz
Northern pike
World record: 55 lbs 1 oz
State Record: 35 lbs 0 oz
Click the images and links above for species details.
Fishing Boats In PA
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.
Fish for big bass
Excellent largemouth bass and smallmouth bass fishing opportunities are readily available to anglers.
Fishing in all states
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