Called the Keystone State because it was the link binding the original 13 northern and southern states, Pennsylvania is also a “keystone state” for sportfishing, serving as a link between northern and southern fisheries, and between the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes. Although Pennsylvania has no saltwater fishing to speak of—other than for tidal-river species—fishing opportunities are diverse and surprisingly good here; Pennsylvania annually ranks among the leading states in fishing license sales, and this is reflected in angler enthusiasm.
Except for narrow strips along the southeastern and northwestern corners of the state, the terrain is hilly to mountainous. Trout streams, larger creeks, or rivers flow through most valleys. Several small lakes and ponds dot the glaciated northeast and northwest corners. There are four substantial man-made reservoirs—Pymatuning, Allegheny, Raystown, and Wallenpaupack—and numerous smaller reservoirs and lakes. Important watersheds are the Ohio/Allegheny Rivers, the Susquehanna River, and the Delaware River.
The favorite gamefish in Pennsylvania are brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, walleye, muskellunge, northern pike, chain pickerel, and channel catfish. American shad and striped bass migrate into the Delaware River, and steelhead are plentiful in Lake Erie and several tributaries.
The most popular or widespread panfish are white crappie, black crappie, yellow perch, bluegills, pumpkinseeds, rock bass, and brown, yellow, and black bullhead. Additionally, white bass, white catfish, white perch, warmouth, green sunfish, and redbreast sunfish are common in some waters.
Carp are prevalent throughout the state, as are several sucker species. Freshwater drum are abundant in Lake Erie. Through stocking, lake trout are common at Lake Erie and a few inland lakes. Flathead catfish are especially common in the Allegheny River. Sauger and spotted bass are available in the lower Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers and in the Ohio River. Some chinook salmon are still stocked in Lake Erie, which also has a small population of pink salmon.
