To enlarge this image, please click HERE

Keystone State anglers have so many great fishing options that the biggest problem will figuring out how to steal away for that many hours! Here’s a roundup of some of the best-bet fishing destinations to help narrow that search.

JANUARY
Largemouth Bass – Shenango River Lake
Trap netting on this 3,560-acre impoundment last March yielded more quality-sized bucketmouths than ever before. Shanango River Lake falls under Big Bass Program regulations. From April 17 to June 11 no harvest is allowed. For the remainder of the year, the minimum length is 15 inches with an aggregate daily limit of four black bass. There are six access areas dotting the shores of the lake that anglers can make use of.

Rainbow Trout – Lyman Run Lake
This 45-acre Potter County lake is known for exceptional water quality and plentiful rainbow trout. The lake, situated inside Lyman Run State Park, is stocked throughout the season with rainbows and palomino trout. Lyman Run from Lyman Lake to West Branch Road is an Approved Trout Water stocked each spring. From the inflow to Lyman Lake upstream, about five miles of the Run and all of its tributaries offer excellent fishing for wild brook trout.

Northern Pike – Black Moshannon Lake
This shallow 250-acre lake in Centre County provides prime habit for pike. Hardwater anglers must steer clear of the ice-skating area, but otherwise are free to sink auger holes at will. Access is off State Highway 504.

FEBRUARY
Northern Pike – Lake Marburg
With the exception of the ice skating area, hardwater anglers have access to pike on ice everywhere on this 1,275-acre lake situated within Codorus State Park. Marburg is also home to muskies, tiger muskies, largemouth bass, yellow perch, bluegills and crappies. The lake is part of the Big Bass Program, so special regulations apply on that species.

Yellow Perch – Lake Jean
This 245-acre Luzerne County lake is in Ricketts Glen State Park. There are some good-sized yellow perch here, as well as bluegills, black crappies and an occasional holdover stocked trout. Park access is off State Route 487 south from Dushore.

Walleyes – High Point Lake
This 342-acre lake in Somerset County gets its name from its proximity to Mount Davis, the highest point in the state. In addition to walleyes, High Point is home to pike, smallmouth bass and plenty of panfish. Access is off State Route 2004.

MARCH
Brook Trout – Chapman Lake
This 68-acre Warren County water falls under Trout-Stocked Lake Program regulations, which is good news for anglers. While most Keystone State waters are closed to the taking of trout in March, this lake is stocked with an early allotment of trout and remains open until March 31.

Rainbow Trout – Laurel Hill Lake
This 63-acre impound inside the Laurel Hill State Park in Somerset County is part of the Early Season Trout-Stocked Waters Program. During March when most waters are closed to fishing, these waters are stocked with a portion of the spring allotment of trout and opened for fishing from March 1 to March 31, with a minimum length of 7 inches and an aggregate daily limit of three trout.

Muskellunge – Promised Land Lake
This 422-acre Pike County lake is located within Promised Land State Park. In addition to hard-hitting muskies, anglers can expect to catch black bass, pickerel and yellow perch. Access is off State Route 390 about 10 miles north of Canadensis.

APRIL
Brook Trout – Trout Run
This Lebanon County stream is the only stocked coldwater fishery within Swatara State Park, and usually gets an infusion of brook trout just prior to season opener. There are a few small streams within the park offering anglers a shot at native brookies, as well. Access is located off of State Route 443.

Lake Trout – East Branch Clarion River Lake
This 1,371-acre U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lake in northeast Elk County is one of the few Keystone State impoundments deep and cold enough to support lake trout. That species, along with walleye, tiger muskellunge and fingerling brook trout, are stocked here annually. Access is off State Route 1001.

Carp – Wissahickon Creek
This Montgomery County creek flows though Fort Washington State Park and offers anglers opportunities to haul in big carp. The creek is also home to catfish and panfish, and in the spring, stocked trout. Access to the park is off the Bethlehem Pike.

MAY
Black Crappies – Beechwood Lake
This 67-acre Tioga County lake is a panfishing paradise. Black crappies are abundant, as are bluegills and yellow perch. The lake is also home to walleye, pickerel and stocked trout. Beechwood is located a few miles north of Tioga State Forest.

Brook Trout – Cowley Run
Both the east and west branches of Cowley flow though Sizerville State Park. Anglers can target browns or brook trout in this mountain stream, and native brookies are not uncommon. Access is off State Route 155.

Striped Bass – Conowingo Reservoir
This York County reservoir is open year-round for striped bass, and striped bass/white bass hybrids. The lake is also home to smallmouth bass, walleyes and crappies.

JUNE
Muskellunge – Woodcock Creek Lake
This 325-acre U.S. Army Corps of Engineers impoundment in Crawford County boasts a dense population of muskellunge. Individuals up to 46 inches have been reported. Woodcock Creek Lake falls under special Brood Stock Lakes Program regulations. Access is off State Highway 198.

Brown Trout – White Clay Creek
This Chester County stream is stocked with trout several times throughout the season, and is considered one of the region’s best trout waters. Special delayed harvest and artificial lures only regulations apply to the Middle Branch White Clay Creek from Good Hope Road south to its confluence with the East Branch. Access is off State Highway 896.

Sauger – Monongahela River
The highest concentration of sauger along the Monongahela is found in the Braddock area, but numbers are good throughout much of the river. There are multiple access sites: Braddock Public Ramp, Elizabeth Access; Point Marion and East Fredericktown in Fayette County; Spears Landing, Monongahela Access in Mancini and New Eagle Access on Howard Street, in Washington County.