Laurel Hill State Park fishing conditions · Pennsylvania

Today, 1 pm–6 pmLargemouth bass

The bite peaks at 68.

Right now: 58 for largemouth bass, marginalTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Largemouth bass, 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.

583 am
58
58
586 am
58
58
589 am
58
58
6012 pm
68
68
683 pm
68
68
586 pm
58
58
589 pm
58
58
58Tue
58
58
583 am
58
58
586 am
58
58
589 am
58
58
5812 pm
58
58

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

Water: No reading
Wind: 0 mph
Light: Dark
Sky: Mostly Clear
Air: 39°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.

Largemouth bass

Micropterus salmoides

68MarginalToday, 1 pm–6 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

Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

68MarginalToday, 1 pm–6 pm

Water

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

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. 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

Channel catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

68MarginalToday, 1 pm–6 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: May–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on channel catfish

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.

68MarginalToday, 1 pm–6 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–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on crappie

Yellow perch

Perca flavescens

68MarginalToday, 1 pm–6 pm

Water

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

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 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

The water

Water temperatureNo reading
Barometer30.40 inHg, steady

Sun, moon & solunar

Sunrise today7:39 am
Sunset today6:22 pm
MoonFull, 100% lit
Minor solunarToday 7:50 am–8:50 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 63-acre Laurel Hill Lake in Somerset County, with warmwater and coldwater fish: bass, trout, catfish, perch and crappie. Laurel Hill Creek and Jones Mill Run are trout streams, and a fishing pier for people with disabilities is near the bridge over Laurel Hill Creek.

WaterLake
AccessPier, shore and ramp
RulesPennsylvania
WhereSomerset County · 39.9964, -79.2377

Nearby

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

Piney Reservoir23 mi · MarylandBest today 5 am–6 am

78Worth the trip

Youghiogheny River — Friendsville25 mi · MarylandBest now until tomorrow 3 pm

72Worth the trip

Shawnee State Park32 mi · PennsylvaniaBest now until 7 am

76Worth the trip

Wills Creek — Cumberland Narrows33 mi · MarylandBest now until 7 am

86Go

Savage River Reservoir33 mi · MarylandBest today 11 am–11 pm

80Worth the trip

Lake Gordon34 mi · PennsylvaniaBest now until 7 am

68Marginal

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Laurel Hill State Park?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Laurel Hill 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 Laurel Hill State Park?

Laurel Hill State Park is listed on this site for 5 commonly-targeted species: Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Channel Catfish, Crappie, and 1 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 Laurel Hill 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 Laurel Hill 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 Laurel Hill State Park have?

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

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Laurel Hill State Park?

state agency regulations apply at Laurel Hill 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 Laurel Hill State Park tidal water?

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