Gifford Pinchot State Park fishing conditions · Pennsylvania

Today, 1 pm–5 pmMuskellunge

The bite peaks at 80.

Right now: 66 for muskellunge, marginalTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Muskellunge, 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.

663 am
66
66
666 am
66
70
669 am
66
66
7212 pm
80
80
763 pm
76
68
726 pm
66
68
689 pm
68
68
68Tue
70
70
663 am
66
68
686 am
66
68
729 am
76
76
7612 pm
80
72

Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Water: No reading
Wind: 0 mph
Light: Dark
Sky: Patchy Fog
Air: 41°F
Barometer: Steady
Moon: 100% lit

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.

Muskellunge

Esox masquinongy

80Worth the tripToday, 1 pm–5 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Muskellunge bite in 55–78° water, best near 68°.

Why

Muskellunge feeds aggressively under full moon. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

40" minimum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 40" minimum, 1/day combined with tiger muskellunge. Open year-round.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · Pennsylvania

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

Largemouth bass

Micropterus salmoides

68MarginalToday, 1 pm–5 pm

Water

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

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. 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

Walleye

Sander vitreus

68MarginalToday, 1 pm–5 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Walleye bite in 50–72° water, best near 62°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

15" minimum · 6 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 15" minimum, 6 a day. Closed from Mar 15 until the first Saturday in May (May 1 in 2027).

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · Pennsylvania

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

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.

68MarginalToday, 1 pm–5 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Crappie bite in 50–80° water, best near 65°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

50 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. No minimum, 50/day combined with sunfish, perch, catfish and other panfish. Panfish Enhancement lakes are 9" and 20/day.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · Pennsylvania

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

Channel catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

68MarginalToday, 1 pm–5 pm

Water

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

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. 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

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

68MarginalToday, 1 pm–5 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Common carp bite in 52–86° water, best near 72°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

50 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Pennsylvania inland waters: no minimum, open year-round, 50 a day combined with sunfish, yellow perch, crappie, catfish, rock bass, suckers and white bass.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Pennsylvania

Last checked 8 days ago. Rules may have changed.

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

The water

Water temperatureNo reading
Barometer30.40 inHg, steady

Sun, moon & solunar

Sunrise today7:29 am
Sunset today6:13 pm
MoonFull, 100% lit
Minor solunarToday 7:40 am–8:40 am
Major solunarToday 12:00 pm–2:00 pm
Minor solunarToday 5:40 pm–6:40 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 340-acre Pinchot Lake in York County, a Big Bass Program lake. Largemouth bass, hybrid striped bass, muskellunge, catfish, carp, walleye and crappie, with ADA-accessible fishing pads near Boat Launch #2 and a pier in the Quaker Race Day Use Area.

WaterLake
AccessPier, shore and ramp
RulesPennsylvania
WhereYork County · 40.0791, -76.8890

Nearby

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

Pine Grove Furnace State Park22 mi · PennsylvaniaBest now until tomorrow 3 pm

60Marginal

Prettyboy Reservoir30 mi · MarylandNo window clears the barFrost Advisory

49Sit it out

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Gifford Pinchot State Park?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Gifford Pinchot 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 Gifford Pinchot State Park?

Gifford Pinchot State Park is listed on this site for 6 commonly-targeted species: Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Muskellunge, Crappie, and 2 more. 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 Gifford Pinchot 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 Gifford Pinchot 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 Gifford Pinchot State Park have?

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

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Gifford Pinchot State Park?

state agency regulations apply at Gifford Pinchot 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 Gifford Pinchot State Park tidal water?

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