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Pennsylvania · Fishing
Pennsylvania has more than 370 fishing spots catalogued on Roamze, and the variety is real: quiet Pocono-area lakes like Fairview Lake near Mount Pocono and Indian Mountain Lake sit alongside central-PA waters like Lake Altoona near Logan Township and Keystone Lake near Derry.
200 spots9 townsUpdated dailyFree to access
View on mapFishing · 200 spots
Pennsylvania has more than 370 fishing spots catalogued on Roamze, and the variety is real: quiet Pocono-area lakes like Fairview Lake near Mount Pocono and Indian Mountain Lake sit alongside central-PA waters like Lake Altoona near Logan Township and Keystone Lake near Derry. The state's lake fishing leans heavily toward warmwater species — bass, panfish, pickerel, and catfish show up across waters from Nuangola Lake in Luzerne County to Lake Luxembourg in Bucks County. Pike County alone holds several productive spots including Sawkill Pond and Case Ponds near Dingman Township. The Pocono region is particularly well-represented, with waters like Lake Kahagon, Upper Twin Lake near Penn Estates, and PWLPOA Van Auken Lake near Pocono Woodland Lakes offering accessible shoreline fishing without a lot of boat traffic. Pennsylvania requires a fishing license for anyone 16 and older, and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) manages stocking schedules that vary by water body and season — checking the PFBC site before you go is worth the five minutes. Most of these lakes are fishable from spring ice-out through late fall, with early morning and evening hours consistently producing the most action during summer when surface temperatures climb.
Yes. Anyone 16 or older needs a valid Pennsylvania fishing license, available through the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission website or at most sporting goods retailers. Some waters may also require a trout/salmon permit on top of the base license, so check the PFBC regulations for the specific lake you're targeting.
Warmwater species dominate most of the lakes in this list — largemouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch, bluegill, and catfish are common across waters like Lake Kahagon, Fairview Lake, and Indian Mountain Lake. Stocked trout are present in some waters during spring and fall, but stocking schedules vary by location and year, so confirm with the PFBC stocking report before planning a trout-specific trip.
Grisco Swamp
~39 min drive
A worthwhile stop near PA.
Loyalsock Creek - World's End State Park
~52 min drive
Moderate
Penns Creek - Coburn Access
~1h 14m drive
Hard
Crystal Lake
~41 min drive
A worthwhile stop near PA.
Mosquito Valley Reservoir
~41 min drive
A worthwhile stop near PA.
Beaver Pond
~44 min drive
A worthwhile stop near PA.
Reservoir Number Three
~45 min drive
A worthwhile stop near PA.
Lake Rose
~47 min drive
A worthwhile stop near PA.
Dutchman Swamp
~47 min drive
A worthwhile stop near PA.
Glass Creek Pond
~48 min drive
A worthwhile stop near PA.
Painter Den Pond
~49 min drive
A worthwhile stop near PA.
Mud Run Reservoir
~49 min drive
A worthwhile stop near PA.
creekWild TroutFly fishing
Penn Estates, PA
brown trout, rainbow trout
creekWild TroutFly fishing
Leidy Township, PA
brown trout, brook trout
Surf fishing
Middle Smithfield Township, PA
River fishing
Brokenstraw Township, PA
River fishing
PA
Lake fishing
Asylum Township, PA
Pier fishing
PA
Lake fishing
Saltlick Township, PA
Lake fishing
Brown Township, PA
Lake fishing
Warren, PA
Surf fishing
Mead Township, PA
riverRiver fishing
Tionesta, PA
smallmouth bass, muskellunge
Lake fishing
Stroud Township, PA
Lake fishing
Pocono Lake, PA
Lake fishing
Pocono Lake, PA
Lake fishing
Bear Creek Township, PA
Lake fishing
PA
Lake fishing
Milan, PA
Lake fishing
Blooming Grove Township, PA
Lake fishing
Bear Creek Township, PA
Lake fishing
Colley Township, PA
Lake fishing
Upper Mount Bethel Township, PA
Lake fishing
Lake Ariel, PA
Lake fishing
Lebanon Township, PA
Lake fishing
Tuscarora Township, PA
Lake fishing
Red Rock, PA
Lake fishing
Folcroft, PA
Lake fishing
Folcroft, PA
Lake fishing
Tinicum Township, PA
A medium-action spinning rod in the 6- to 7-foot range handles most situations well across these lakes. For bass and pickerel, soft plastics, spinnerbaits, and topwater lures work reliably; for panfish, a light rod with small jigs or live bait is hard to beat. If you're fishing from shore at smaller ponds like Sawkill Pond or Case Ponds near Dingman Township, a simple ultralight setup covers most of what you'll encounter.
Early morning from first light until about 9 a.m. and the two hours before sunset are consistently the most productive windows during summer. Midday fishing slows significantly as water temperatures rise and fish push deeper or into shaded structure. On overcast days, fish tend to stay active longer through the middle of the day.
Most of the lakes in this list have at least some shore access, and several — including waters near residential communities like Penn Estates and Pocono Woodland Lakes — are set up with shoreline fishing in mind. That said, access rules vary: some lakes are within private communities and may require proof of residency or a guest pass. Check access requirements for your specific destination before making the drive.