Fresh air, serene water, the thrill of both the chase and a catch--what's not to enjoy about fishing? As the Susquehanna River region's temperatures optimistically rise with spring and summer, it's time to march with rod and reel to one of the region's countless spots to drop a line and see what fish you can find.
Rules & Regs
Gone are the days when you simply dropped a line in the water and hoped for a bite. You need a license from the state Fish and Boat Commission if you’re 16 years old or older, and that license needs to be visibly attached to your hat, vest, shirt, or any outerwear. A regular license costs $22.90, while seniors can purchase theirs for $11.90, and they can be bought at fishandboat.com, a regional Fish & Boat Commission office, county treasurer offices, or at license issuing agents like sporting goods stores. Licenses are good through Dec. 31, 2018. If you’re looking to chase trout and salmon, however, an additional permit is required.
Fortunately, the state has two fish-for-free days in 2018—May 27 and July 4—when you don’t need a fishing license.
Fishing is a year-round sport, although many fish fall under strict regulations, such as specific dates when you’re allowed to catch species like trout. Make sure you check the Fish & Boat Commission’s calendar, available online, for opening days. Other regulations like catch-and-release and daily fish limits can be found in the Fish & Boat Commission’s Summary Book at fishinpa.com.
Where to Cast
Just take a look around you. Aside from the largest water and fish resource we could ask for—the Susquehanna River—the region around Harrisburg, Lancaster, and York teems with streams and lakes, all within a short drive of every city, suburb, and rural township.
Dauphin/Cumberland Counties
Manada Creek Hershey, PA
Pine Grove Furnace State Park Gardners, PA
Yellow Breeches Creek Lower Allen Township, PA
Lancaster County
Little Chiques Creek Mount Joy, PA
Muddy Run Recreation Reservoir Martic Township, PA
West Branch Little Conestoga Creek Manor Township, PA
York County
Fishing Creek Red Lion, PA
Gifford Pinchot State Park Wellsville, PA
William H. Kaine County Park Jacobus, PA
Fish Finders
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Largemouth Bass
Ever seen this fish’s jaws? You’ll know why this member of the sunfish family deserves its nickname. Largemouth bass can grow up to two feet long and enjoy hanging out where the water’s warm, shallow, and slow, like ponds full of weeds.
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Bluegills
A lot of us grew up on the shores of ponds and lakes reeling in “sunnies,” those hand-sized fish with bluish gills and orange-tinted bellies. Sunnies love slow water where they can find a meal near submerged logs or rocks.
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Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth bass also belong to the sunfish family. While like their cousins smallmouth bass enjoy rivers and lakes, you’ll also find smallmouth swimming in rocky spots and where the current flows more freely. Smallmouth bass sport a brownish hue compared to the greenish scales of their largemouth cousin.
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Trout
Trout can be found throughout the region thanks to state and local efforts to keep waterways stocked with rainbow and brown varieties. Carlisle, thanks to an abundance of streams and creeks with the right limestone-rich deposits for wild trout, received a “Trout Town” designation from American Fly Fishing Magazine just last year.
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Walleye
This fish gets its name from how its eyes shine whenever they’re put to light, and walleyes love the cool waters and the rocky bottoms of lakes, large streams, and rivers. You’ll know a walleye by its two dorsal fins, one rigidly spiky and the other softer. Look for a distinguishing dark spot near the front dorsal fin.
