The 7 Best Fishing Lakes in Pennsylvania (And the Types of Fish to Expect!)

Getting ready to plan a fishing trip in the Keystone State? Before you head out, you should know which lakes are top-rated and the kinds of fish you can expect at each. Discover the seven best fishing lakes in Pennsylvania!

7 Best Fishing Lakes in Pennsylvania

1. Lake Erie

Location: Erie

Multiple fish species thrive in Lake Erie. This lake is recognized worldwide, as it’s made it to #13 as the largest natural lake throughout the globe. The fishing opportunities in the lake call anglers forth from beyond the state! The lake has a depth of 210 feet in the areas where it’s deepest and in its entirety, it spans 9,910 square miles. The types of fish you can expect to catch in the lake include salmon, walleye, bass, trout, steelhead, yellow perch, pike, bluegill, sunfish, and musky. There’s plenty to go around in the lake and the quality of each fish is superb. Check out fishing charters, or just head out with your buddies for an unforgettable trip.

2. Lake Arthur

Location: Prospect

Lake Arthur covers 3,225 acres and anglers know it well. Its claim to fame is being a trophy largemouth lake but that’s not all this lake has to offer. You can also find hybrid stripers, muskellunge, crappie, walleye, and catfish. At its deepest point, Lake Arthur is about 36 feet deep; however, most of the lake is quite shallow. Many anglers prefer to take their kayaks out on this lake. It’s situated inside Moraine State Park and whether you go out on the water on a kayak or you access the fish from shore, you can plan to make it home with some great catches in tow!

3. Allegheny Reservoir

Location: Warren County

Venture through the Allegheny National Forest to visit Kinzua Dam and the Allegheny Reservoir. This lake spans 12,000 acres right along the border between Pennsylvania and New York. It offers some of the best fishing opportunities you can find in the eastern region of the United States. It’s known for being a fantastic lake for walleye and muskie. Both the northern pike and walleye state records in Pennsylvania were caught in this specific lake. Additional fish in the lake include smallmouth bass, bullhead catfish, white bass, crappie, channel catfish, yellow perch, and brown trout.

4. Lake Raystown

Location: Entriken

Lake Raystown previously made it to the second spot for best fishing lakes found throughout Pennsylvania. This is a great location if you’re looking to catch a trophy fish. There are some serious giants in this lake! Plus, you can get tackle recommendations, enjoy tournaments, and learn more via guide services. Some of the fish you can expect in Lake Raystown include smallmouth and largemouth bass, striped bass, rock bass, carp, catfish, lake trout, white perch, and salmon.

5. Lake Wallenpaupack

Location: Lakeville

Travel over to the Pocono Mountains to visit Lake Wallenpaupack. In Pennsylvania, this is one of the largest reservoirs you can fish in. The lake has 52 miles of shoreline and is a total of 13 miles long. You can fish from land or take your boat out to enjoy fishing on the water. When you mention Lake Wallenpaupack, most people recognize it for how many smallmouth bass it has. However, depending on which part of the lake you fish in, you may come across a variety of other fish. Some of the fish you can expect in this lake include rock bass, striped bass, bluegill, pickerel, northern pike, yellow perch, crappie, walleye, brown trout, and rainbow trout, among others.

6. High Point Lake

Location: Somerset County

At High Point Lake, you can take your kayak or canoe out and enjoy the serene environment while you fish. You won’t find any amenities so make sure you arrive with what you need. There’s no camping in this area so this is more of a day trip. It’s a 350-acre lake and the type of fish you can expect to find include walleye, crappy, bass, northern pike, chain pickerel, and sunfish. There are two boat launch ramps located opposite one another and during the winter, you can enjoy ice fishing on the lake as well.

7. Pymatuning Reservoir

Location: Crawford County

This lake is man-made and sits on 17,088 acres. It’s the largest lake in the area and while you’re there, you can enjoy the state park as well. There’s a bait and grocery store on site, several maple grove cabins, and even a place to take a rest and enjoy some custard on a hot day. One great feature of this lake is that it is ADA-accessible. Whether you’re fishing from a boat or from the shore, you do need a fishing license. Some of the species you can expect to find in this lake include bluegill, carp, crappie, muskellunge, perch, and largemouth and smallmouth bass.

Summary of The 7 Best Fishing Lakes in Pennsylvania (And the Types of Fish to Expect!)

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Capturing Moments by Christina