Fishing in Pennsylvania public spots, conditions & reports

The state report

Licenses and rules

• PA Fish & Boat Commission — fishing & regulations

Rules for what people fish for here

• Largemouth bass15" minimum · 4 a day (Jan 1–Apr 9, Oct 1–Dec 31); 12" minimum · 6 a day (Jun 12–Sep 30)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.Open · Pennsylvania · verified Oct 21, 2026 · source
• Yellow perch50 a dayPennsylvania inland: no minimum size; 50/day in the combined panfish group. Some Panfish-Enhancement waters set a minimum length.Open · Pennsylvania · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• Crappie50 a dayNo minimum, 50/day combined with sunfish, perch, catfish and other panfish. Panfish Enhancement lakes are 9" and 20/day.Open · Pennsylvania · verified Oct 21, 2026 · source
• Muskellunge40" minimum · 1 a day40" minimum, 1/day combined with tiger muskellunge. Open year-round.Open · Pennsylvania · verified Oct 21, 2026 · source
• Channel catfish50 a dayPennsylvania inland: no minimum size; 50/day in the combined panfish/other-gamefish group (shared with perch, crappie, suckers, etc.). Panfish-Enhancement waters may differ.Open · Pennsylvania · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• Common carp50 a dayPennsylvania inland waters: no minimum, open year-round, 50 a day combined with sunfish, yellow perch, crappie, catfish, rock bass, suckers and white bass.Open · Pennsylvania · verified Oct 18, 2026 · source
• Walleye15" minimum · 6 a day15" minimum, 6 a day. Closed from Mar 15 until the first Saturday in May (May 1 in 2027).Open · Pennsylvania · verified Oct 21, 2026 · source
• Rainbow trout7" minimum · 3 a day (Jan 1–Feb 15, Sep 7–Dec 31); 7" minimum · 5 a day (Apr 3–Sep 6)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.Open · Pennsylvania · verified Oct 21, 2026 · source
• Northern pike24" minimum · 2 a day24" minimum, 2/day. Open year-round.Open · Pennsylvania · verified Oct 21, 2026 · source
• Smallmouth bass15" minimum · 4 a day (Jan 1–Apr 9, Oct 1–Dec 31); 12" minimum · 6 a day (Jun 12–Sep 30)Combined with largemouth 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.Open · Pennsylvania · verified Oct 21, 2026 · source
• Chain pickerel18" minimum · 4 a dayPennsylvania inland: 18" minimum, 4/day, open year-round. Certain fish-culture lakes are catch-and-release Apr 1–May 31.Open · Pennsylvania · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• Brown trout7" minimum · 3 a day (Jan 1–Feb 15, Sep 7–Dec 31); 7" minimum · 5 a day (Apr 3–Sep 6)Pennsylvania streams: 7" minimum, 5 trout a day (combined species) from 8 a.m. on the first Saturday in April through Labor Day; extended season 3 a day on stocked waters (catch and release on waters not stocked). Stocked waters close Feb 16 until the opener.Catch and release · Pennsylvania · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• Striped bass20" minimum · 2 a dayInland waters: 20" minimum, 2/day combined with hybrid striped bass. Open year-round.Open · Pennsylvania · verified Oct 21, 2026 · source
• Steelhead15" minimum · 3 a day (Jan 1–Apr 2, Sep 7–Dec 31); 15" minimum · 5 a day (Apr 3–Sep 6)Rainbow trout (steelhead) and salmon: 15" minimum, 3 a day combined. Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and all tributaries. All trout and salmon combined: 5 a day from 8 a.m. on the trout opener (the first Saturday in April; Apr 3 in 2027) through Labor Day, 3 a day after. Tributary streams are closed to trout fishing from 12:01 a.m. on the Friday before the opener until 8 a.m. on opening day.Open · Pennsylvania · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• Lake trout7" minimum · 3 a day (Jan 1–Apr 2, Sep 7–Dec 31); 7" minimum · 5 a day (Apr 3–Sep 6)Raystown Lake: trout of all species, no closed season, 7" minimum, 5 a day from the first Saturday in April through Labor Day and 3 a day from the day after Labor Day to the next opener.Open · Pennsylvania · verified Oct 21, 2026 · source

Limits differ by water. Each spot page shows the limits for its own water.

About fishing in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's 14 public access points span lakes, rivers and streams, and the Great Lakes, across 11 counties. Across them, the species anglers most often target are Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Crappie, and Muskellunge. Each is scored live on water temperature, river flow, moon phase, barometric pressure, and weather. Always confirm current size, creel, and season limits with the Pennsylvania state fishery agency before keeping fish — we flag any species whose regulations we haven't yet verified.

14 public access points across 0 water bodies. Data from NOAA, NWS, USGS, and PA Fish & Boat Commission.

Coastal regions

• Lake ErieLake Erie shore access across Ohio and Pennsylvania.