15 Pennsylvania Fishing Spots That Will Get You Hooked - visitPA
With more than 83,000 miles of streams and rivers, 4,000 or so lakes, reservoirs, and ponds, and Pennsylvania's 75-mile shoreline along Lake Erie, providing a wide range of habitats and fish species, it's easy to find a prime freshwater fishing spot in PA. Get ready to kick back and reel in some big catches!
It's important to note fishing licenses are required to fish in Pennsylvania waters, and many areas have special regulations and creel limits on fishing. Anglers are encouraged to study the current regulations for their favorite fishing holes that get updated on an annual basis.
1. PRESQUE ISLE BAY
Erie
A fishing trip to the Keystone State wouldn't be complete without casting a line into Lake Erie's Presque Isle Bay, the oldest harbor on the Great Lakes. With the bay's northern shore bordered by Presque Isle State Park and the bay's southern shore by the city of Erie, the area's piers, Perry Monument, lagoons, and boat landings are all popular fishing locations for local and visiting anglers. Lake Erie's shallow waters make it a premier destination for anglers hoping to reel in panfish, perch, bass, muskellunge, walleye, northern pike, crappies, smelt, and steelhead.
2. NESHANNOCK CREEK
Lawrence County
Neshannock Creek begins in Mercer County at the confluence of Cool Spring Creek and Otter Creek, which, incidentally, is how it got its name with Neshannock meaning "a place of two streams." The beautiful 20-mile freestone stream is stocked with trout in both spring and fall. Fly fishermen tend to prefer the waters near the upper part of the creek, but excellent angling can be enjoyed further downstream, as well.
3. SLIPPERY ROCK CREEK
Portersville
Not too far from Pittsburgh's city limits flows a stream known for its incredible trout and small mouth bass fishing. Heading south into Beaver River, Slippery Rock Creek has remote, gorgeous stretches that can be accessed by trails in McConnells Mill State Park. The creek is also the only Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission catch and release fly-fishing location that is open year-round.
4. CEDAR RUN
Cedar Run
Packed with deep pools and dense trout populations, Cedar Run starts in Tioga County and flows for more than eight miles into Pine Creek in Lycoming County. There's easy access from the road to a number of small fishing spots along Cedar Run, where anglers often find plenty of fish.
5. SUSQUEHANNA RIVER
Wilkes-Barre
The Susquehanna River is arguably one of the top fishing locations in the entire state of Pennsylvania, flowing from upstate New York state to the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland and connecting to many well-known bodies of water. At approximately 444 miles long, it is the longest river on the U.S. east coast and the 16th longest in the United States. The river's broad, shallow waters provide perfect habitat for smallmouth bass along with walleye, catfish, and smaller panfish.
6. LAKE ARTHUR
Prospect
The 3,225-acre Lake Arthur is a warm-water fishery located in Moraine State Park. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission stock muskellunge, walleye, channel catfish, and hybrid striped bass and common wild species include northern pike, largemouth bass, channel catfish, black crappie, and bluegill.
7. OIL CREEK
Oil City
The site of the world's first commercial oil well, Oil Creek, along with several of its tributaries, is one of Pennsylvania's top trout and bass streams with the creek carving a valley of deep hollows, steep hillsides, and wetlands. The best access to the water for fishing is in Oil Creek State Park, between Titusville and Oil City. The water here offers beautiful pools, riffles, and runs. While in the area, be sure to stop in the visitor's center at Oil Creek State Park, which tells the story of the early petroleum industry by interpreting oil boomtowns, oil wells, and early transportation.
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