It’s a fishing day

Cowans Gap State Park fishing conditions · Pennsylvania

Now until 7 amRainbow trout

The bite peaks at 68.

Log a trip here
Right now: 68 for rainbow trout, marginal · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Rainbow trout, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 683 am
  2. 68
  3. 68
  4. 686 am
  5. 58
  6. 58
  7. 589 am
  8. 58
  9. 58
  10. 5812 pm
  11. 58
  12. 58
  13. 583 pm
  14. 60
  15. 58
  16. 586 pm
  17. 60
  18. 68
  19. 689 pm
  20. 68
  21. 68
  22. 60Tue
  23. 60
  24. 60
  25. 603 am
  26. 60
  27. 60
  28. 606 am
  29. 60
  30. 60
  31. 609 am
  32. 58
  33. 58
  34. 5812 pm
  35. 58
  36. 58
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
No reading

Rainbow trout range 45–68°

Wind
2 mph

From the southwest

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:33 am

Sky
Mostly Clear

No rain expected

Air
40°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
100% lit

Full

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Pennsylvania regulations for these waters.

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

68MarginalNow until 7 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Rainbow trout bite in 45–68° water, best near 55°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

7" minimum · 3 a day (Jan 1–Feb 15, Sep 7–Dec 31); 7" minimum · 5 a day (Apr 3–Sep 6)

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Stocked trout lakes: 7" minimum, 5 trout a day (combined species) from 8 a.m. on the first Saturday in April through Labor Day, 3 a day in the extended season (Jan 1–Feb 15 and from the day after Labor Day). Closed to all fishing Feb 16 until the opener.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · Pennsylvania

Season here: Mar–May, Oct–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on rainbow trout

Largemouth Bass

Largemouth bass

Micropterus salmoides

68MarginalNow until 7 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Largemouth bass bite in 55–85° water, best near 72°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

15" minimum · 4 a day (Jan 1–Apr 9, Oct 1–Dec 31); 12" minimum · 6 a day (Jun 12–Sep 30)

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Combined with smallmouth and spotted bass: 15" minimum, 4 a day through the Friday before the second Saturday in April and again Oct 1–Dec 31; catch and immediate release only from the second Saturday in April to the Friday before the second Saturday in June (Apr 10–Jun 11 in 2027); 12" minimum, 6 a day from then through Sep 30. Big Bass Program lakes are 15", 4 a day whenever harvest is open.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · Pennsylvania

Season here: Apr–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on largemouth bass

Yellow Perch

Yellow perch

Perca flavescens

68MarginalNow until 7 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Yellow perch bite in 45–70° water, best near 58°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

50 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Pennsylvania inland: no minimum size; 50/day in the combined panfish group. Some Panfish-Enhancement waters set a minimum length.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Pennsylvania

Season here: Oct–May, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on yellow perch

Channel Catfish

Channel catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

68MarginalNow until 7 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Channel catfish bite in 60–85° water, best near 75°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

50 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Pennsylvania inland: no minimum size; 50/day in the combined panfish/other-gamefish group (shared with perch, crappie, suckers, etc.). Panfish-Enhancement waters may differ.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Pennsylvania

Season here: Apr–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on channel catfish

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • Barometer30.40 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:33 am
  • Sunset today6:17 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 7:40 am–8:40 am
  • Major solunarToday 12:10 pm–2:10 pm
  • Minor solunarToday 5:50 pm–6:50 pm

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. PA Fish & Boat Commission has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

The 42-acre Cowans Gap Lake in Fulton County, best known for trout, with bass, perch, catfish and panfish. There is an ADA-accessible fishing pier, and the South Branch of Little Aughwick Creek holds trout.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Raystown Lake — Seven Points Beach27 mi · PennsylvaniaBest today 1 pm–7 pm
72Worth the trip
Conococheague Creek — Williamsport28 mi · MarylandBest now until 7 am
86Go
Potomac River — Williamsport28 mi · MarylandBest now until 7 am
86Go
Pine Grove Furnace State Park33 mi · PennsylvaniaBest now until tomorrow 3 pm
60Marginal
Big Hunting Creek — Catoctin35 mi · MarylandBest now until 4 am
78Worth the trip
Greenbrier State Park36 mi · MarylandBest today 12 pm–5 pm
68Marginal

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Cowans Gap State Park?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Cowans Gap State Park you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Cowans Gap State Park?

Cowans Gap State Park is listed on this site for 4 commonly-targeted species: Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Channel Catfish. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Cowans Gap State Park?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Cowans Gap State Park against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Cowans Gap State Park have?

Cowans Gap State Park has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Cowans Gap State Park?

state agency regulations apply at Cowans Gap State Park. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Cowans Gap State Park tidal water?

No. Cowans Gap State Park is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.