Pennsylvania is home to multiple scenic lakes, rivers, and creeks, making it a great place for fishing in Pennsylvania. You can catch different species of fish during different seasons, so it’s possible to fish there year-round. Be sure to get a fishing license and check state regulations before heading out. Besides fishing, you can tour the state and visit Hersheypark, the artistic Fallingwater architecture in Mill Run, the botanical gardens at Pittsburgh’s Phipps Conservatory, or learn about history at Eastern State Penitentiary.
Fishing Spots in Pennsylvania
Here are some of the best fishing spots in Pennsylvania. You’ll find plenty of trout fishing in the state, along with a variety of other fish to catch.
Lake Wallenpaupack
Lake Wallenpaupack, near Tafton in Pike County, is one of the largest freshwater lakes in Pennsylvania, offering a family-friendly destination with six accessible recreation areas. You can drive 40 minutes from Scranton to the lake, where you can watch wildlife, walk on trails, or try water sports like wakeboarding, jet skiing, and water skiing. There are boat rentals at the lake if you want to get out on the water to fish. Look for perch and calico in the lake’s central section, walleye, striped bass, and smallmouth bass at the north end, and largemouth bass and bluegill around the south end.
The Wilsonville Recreation and Camping Area has electric hookups, laundry, showers, boat ramps, and more. Ironwood Point Recreation Area has water and electric hookups and a dump station. You’ll also find showers, laundry, a camp store, and more.
Raystown Lake
Raystown Lake has multiple amenities, so you can enjoy fishing and camping in Pennsylvania. You can catch bass, perch, trout, and crappie at this spot. The venue also has different trails for hiking and mountain biking activities, so you can get some fresh air and see breathtaking natural scenery.
You can camp at Seven Points Recreation Area, where you’ll find sites with electric hookups. Campgrounds also have laundry and showers and are within a mile of groceries, bait, tackle, and gas. Lake Raystown Resort has water and electric hookups, a dump station, a playground, a water park, a marina and cafe, and much more.
Lake Erie
You can visit one of the best smallmouth bass fishing venues globally by going to Lake Erie in Erie. In addition, you can go steelhead fly-fishing in the lake’s northwestern corner, generally occurring from late September to November. Notably, water clarity and flow on streams around the lake heavily depend on the intensity and amount of recent snowmelt or rain. You can also tour the nearby Presque Isle State Park for walks along the beautiful coastline, and biking, and hiking. There are several campgrounds in Erie where you can stay.
Allegheny River
Another popular fishing site is the Allegheny River in Roulette, stocking brown trout in Browns Run and Hemlock Run tributaries below Kinzua Dam. This river is ideal for fly-fishing, and it stocks rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, muskie, and pike. Notably, it has fluctuating water levels that make wading challenging when they rise too high. The site also features playgrounds, a mini-golf course, a volleyball court, and horseshoes to ensure you can partake in family-friendly matches with your loved ones.
Promised Land State Park
Promised Land State Park on the Pocono Plateau sits in Greentown along PA Route 390. You can explore the area using the designated trails and enjoy the magnificent vistas of the surrounding Delaware State Forest. It also has two lakes, Lower Lake and Promised Land Lake, that support fishing in Pennsylvania during every season. You can catch various fish types at this state park, including sunfish, yellow perch, pickerel, catfish, muskellunge, and smallmouth and largemouth bass. In addition, you can also practice ice fishing on the site’s two lakes, where you might catch panfish, pickerel, and bass.
Where to Fish in Pennsylvania
When looking for where to fish in Pennsylvania, you can enjoy big catches in different regions like Portersville, Conneaut Lake, State College, Wellsboro, and Hawley. Aside from these, you can also visit the Delaware, Youghiogheny, and Allegheny river systems for quality fly-fishing.
Camping and Fishing in Pennsylvania
Pack your fishing license and a copy of the state fishing regulations for your trip. That way, you can make sure you stay within the state’s provided limits, including bag, legal slot, and other special applied conditions. Be sure to include a tackle box in your backpack containing various tools like lures, sinkers, differently sized hooks, scissors, and a de-hooker.
Additionally, you’ll want a first-aid kit with bandages, aspirin, tweezers, non-latex gloves, and gauze pads. It’s also a good idea to bring seasickness pills if you plan to be on a boat. Take one dose the night before your trip and the second pill in the morning before you depart. Fishing spots can get chilly in the morning and evening, so you’ll want layers. If you’re traveling to remote fishing and camping areas, carry a GPS device so you can safely navigate back to your campsite. Pack your fishing reels and rods, fishing line, cooking utensils, freezer storage for your catch, and a life jacket for each person going on the fishing journey.
Pennsylvania’s climate and geography support many fishing areas, including creeks, rivers, and lakes, with multiple opportunities for experienced and first-time anglers. Whether you seek a new challenge or quality family time outdoors, you can enjoy an exciting and productive fishing trip in Pennsylvania. Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about fishing.
With an RV rental, your fishing trip will be a little more comfortable! After you’ve spent a long day fishing, grill up your catch right at your campsite. Then, retire inside to enjoy all the comforts of home on board your RV. Plan your perfect fishing getaway with an RV rental from RVshare.
