Best Places to Fish in Western Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania offers some of the best fishing in the country. Whether you are looking to hook native brook trout in mountain streams, enormous catfish in large rivers, or largemouth bass in distinctive lakes, Pennsylvania offers plenty of wonderful fishing opportunities.
Provided are the top 10 best places to fish in Western Pennsylvania:
1. Presque Isle Bay
Erie
No fishing trip in the keystone state would be complete without a visit to the oldest harbor on the Great Lakes is Presque Isle Bay. This historic bay has been formed from the Presque Isle peninsula naturally arching into Lake Erie. The bay is home to many marinas and a breathtakingly beautiful state park.
Presque Isle Bay draws in visitors from all over, especially anglers looking to catch a wide variety of fish, such as:
- Perch and other panfish
- Bass
- Muskellunge
- Walleye
- Northern Pike
- Crappies
- Smelt
- Steelhead
- Salmon
The most popular fishing locations that Presque Isle Bay offers are the piers, the Perry Monument, lagoons, and boat landings.
2. Neshannock Creek
Lawrence County
Neshannock Creek is a gorgeous 20-mile freestone stream that is situated in beautiful Amish country and is well known for its trout. The upper portion of the creek offers excellent fly fishing opportunities, but angling can also be enjoyed downstream.
The most commonly sought-after fish in Neshannock Creek are:
- Rainbow trout
- Smallmouth bass
- Channel catfish
A favorite spot of many fishermen on Neshannock Creek is located from the man-made waterfall upstream to the Main Street Bridge.
3. Slippery Rock Creek
Portersville
Some of the best trout and smallmouth bass fishing that the state has to offer can be found at Slippery Rock Creek. This beautiful creek offers remote, scenic stretches that can be found through trails in McConnells Mill State Park.
A variety of fish can be caught at Slippery Rock Creek, the most common are:
- Smallmouth bass
- Largemouth bass
- Brook trout
- Rainbow trout
- Yellow perch
- Channel catfish
Additionally, this creek is the only Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission catch and release fly-fishing location that is open year-round.
4. Cedar Run
Cedar Run
Cedar Run runs for more than eight miles before it flows into Pine Creek in Lycoming County. Along the way, deep pools with dense trout populations offer prime fishing opportunities.
Plenty of fish species can be caught here, including:
- Brown trout
- Brook trout
- Largemouth bass
- Blue catfish
Prime Cedar Run fishing spots can be easily accessed from the road, where anglers are sure to hook plenty of fish.
5. Lake Arthur
Prospect
Located in Moraine State Park, Lake Arthur is a 3,225-acre warm-water fishery. Anglers are guaranteed to enjoy their time fishing here.
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission regularly stock the lake with:
- Muskellunge
- Walleye
- Channel catfish
- Hybrid striped bass
Common wild species in Lake Arthur include:
- Northern pike
- Largemouth bass
- Channel catfish
- Black crappie
- Bluegill
6. Oil Creek
Oil City
The Oil Creek Valley is the site of the world’s very first commercial oil well. Oil Creek State Park shares the story of the early petroleum industry. This location is not just for history buffs, but anglers as well. Oil Creek has garnered a reputation for being one of Pennsylvania’s top trout and bass streams.
The creek has carved out a valley full of deep hollows, steep hillsides, and wetlands. Oil Creek State Park, between Titusville and Oil City, offers the best access for fishing that the creek has to offer.
The most common species of fish in Oil Creek include:
- Rainbow trout
- Largemouth bass
7. Spring Creek
Spring Creek
Spring Creek is any angler’s dream fishing spot. Located just outside State College, this wild trout fishery is packed with 16 to 20-inch beauties.
Fisherman’s Paradise is a favorite Spring Creek destination among anglers. This spot offers solitude and tons of trophy-sized brown trout.
The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission have conducted surveys that have consistently shown Spring Creek to be one of the most densely populated trout streams in the entire state.
8. Slate Run
Cedar Run
Slate run is another well known trout stream. This stream has a reputation for providing some of the best trout fishing in the entire eastern United States.
The upper portion of the stream is home to countless wild brook trout and some brown trout. The lower part of the stream is better known for its brown trout numbers.
9. Youghiogheny River
Confluence
This Youghiogheny River offers excellent trout and smallmouth bass fishing opportunities. This massive waterway features a nine-mile, all-tackle trophy trout section along with several fly fishing areas. Some of the best fishing spots are easily accessible at Ohiopyle State Park.
The Youghiogheny is filled with:
- Trout
- Smallmouth bass
- Largemouth bass
- Walleye
- Crappie
- Catfish
- Muskie
- Chain pickerel
- Northern pike
10. Allegheny River
Foxburg
With its headwaters in Pennsylvania, this river flows for 48 miles, winding into New York before snaking its way back into the keystone state. The Allegheny River may be best known for the giant musky that are known to swim in its waters, but this warm water fishery holds a plethora of creatures.
The Allegheny River contains numerous species of fish, such as:
- Muskellunge
- Walleye
- Various types of catfish
- Pike
- Smallmouth bass
- Trout
