The ultimate guide to ice fishing in Pennsylvania

When the cold weather strikes, you can venture out onto Pennsylvania’s frozen lakes, drill a fishing hole, and try your hand at ice fishing.

Winter in Pennsylvania shifts the state’s landscape from lush and green to snowy, icy, and dark. It also shifts the types of outdoor activities we can pursue—hiking becomes winter hiking or snowshoeing, biking shifts toward fat tire biking, and fishing turns into ice fishing. This January and February, make a plan to head out onto the ice to catch the cold-water and warm-water fish lurking beneath the ice.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images/Unsplash.

What equipment do I need for ice fishing?

Ice fishing is rather different from other types of fishing you may enjoy in the commonwealth, not least because you need to venture onto ice and use special gear to drill a hole into it. That gear includes an ice auger for drilling your fishing hole and testing ice thickness, your ice fishing rod (shorter and more sensitive than a typical fishing rod), a sled to haul your stuff, and jigs (small lures). A shelter is nice to keep you shielded from the wind, as is a comfortable seat, though you can also sit on a bucket. You might also bring an ice scoop to keep your fishing hole clear of ice and sludge. Safety-wise, you’ll want an ice pick to wear around your neck—if you fall into the water, the pick will help you haul yourself out and onto the ice. 

Do I need a fishing license?

Ice fishing is similar to other types of fishing in that you need to purchase a license to do so in Pennsylvania. And if you’re fishing for trout, you’ll need to add a trout permit. You can learn about the single-year and multi-year licenses you can buy, as well as any permits you need, via the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

Where can I go ice fishing?

Many Pa. lakes, when frozen over, are great destinations for ice fishing, whether they’re at state parks or county parks, state forests, reservoirs, or recreation areas. 

Our recommendations focus on state parks, where the lakes are beautiful and the rangers may offer advice for your outdoor adventure. Most Pennsylvania state parks with lake fishing are open for ice fishing when winter conditions are ideal—i.e. when the ice is thick enough. If you’re just one person, the ice should be at least four inches thick; a small group requires at least seven inches of ice thickness. However, we definitely recommend bringing a friend along—it’ll be more fun with another person, not to mention safer. 

Some Pa. state parks monitor ice thickness and will broadcast when it is safe to head out and drill your fishing hole. Other state parks don’t, and you’ll need to measure the thickness of the ice yourself. Check the State Parks Winter Report for a weekly update of ice conditions (though be sure to confirm the day’s ice thickness).

In addition, if you’re just getting into ice fishing, you might want to head to a state park that loans ice fishing gear for free!

Some state parks we recommend for ice fishing this winter include:

Black Moshannon State Park – Philipsburg

Located in central Pennsylvania, Black Moshannon State Park is an excellent park for ice fishing, especially if you’re newer to the sport. That’s because the Centre County park has a winter gear loan program through which you can borrow ice fishing equipment (augur, rod, bucket seat, etc.) for free! All you need is a valid Pa. fishing license. The state park also will only loan out the fishing tackle when ice conditions are thick enough—meaning that’s your tell whether conditions are ideal! The entirety of the 250-acre Black Moshannon Lake is open for ice fishing, and you may catch bluegill, crappie, largemouth bass, crappie, and yellow perch. 

Hills Creek State Park – Wellsboro

Near the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, Hills Creek State Park is home to some of the best ice fishing conditions in the commonwealth. Hills Creek Lake is just 137 acres, but you’re bound to catch yellow perch and bluegill; you may also sometimes see walleye at the lake. The park’s lake is usually one of the first lakes to freeze in the northern region.

Presque Isle State Park – Erie

Pennsylvania’s only “seashore” can be found at Presque Isle State Park in Erie. The state park also provides some of the earliest ice fishing in the state, as the waters of Presque Isle Bay sometimes freezes as early as December. You may catch crappie, northern pike, steelhead, yellow perch, bluegill, and other panfish. Misery Bay and the Presque Isle Marina, both within Presque Isle Bay, are popular areas for ice fishers.

Moraine State Park – Portersville

Located less than an hour from Pittsburgh in Butler County, Moraine State Park—with its 3,225-acre Lake Arthur—is quite popular for ice fishing. There are a variety of areas of the lake where you may catch northern pike, walleye, bass, and panfish. If conditions allow, you can even ice fish in the lake’s game propagation area between Jan. 1 and March 15—the area is otherwise closed to fishers.

French Creek State Park – Elverson

French Creek State Park offers some of the best ice fishing in Southeastern Pa. You have access to two lakes, Scotts Run Lake and Hopewell Lake. Scotts Run Lake is stocked with cold-water fish, including trout (meaning you’ll need a trout permit). Hopewell Lake is primarily fished for bass and panfish.

Prince Gallitzin State Park – Patton

Cambria County’s Prince Gallitzin State Park is home to Glendale Lake, which is 1,635 acres. The massive lake is a popular ice fishing destination, and fishers may catch bluegill, crappie, perch, northern pike, and walleye. In February, you can learn more about ice fishing at Prince Gallitzin by attending the park’s Winter Blast festival, where you can try ice fishing as well as other outdoor activities like ice skating, sledding, and cross-country skiing.

Photo courtesy of Robert Hale/CC BY 2.0.

Where can I learn more about ice fishing?

The Pa. Fish and Boat Commission is sponsoring a series of virtual introductions to ice fishing throughout December and January! Sessions include general trainings as well as trainings focused on women fishers. Those who attend a virtual session will receive an invitation to attend a January or February on-ice training at Lake Nessmuk in Tioga County, where you’ll learn the basics of ice fishing with all equipment provided.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.