Lake Erie Fishing
Pennsylvania ramps, piers, steelhead streams, limits and charters on Lake Erie.
Pick for walleyePiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo: George Neat, CC BY-SA 4.0
Lake Erie from the Pennsylvania shore
Lake Erie is the shallowest of the Great Lakes, touching Pennsylvania only along the Erie County shore between the Ohio and New York lines. Pennsylvania boats work it for walleye, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, steelhead and lake trout.
For the whole lake, across every state and Ontario, the EPA lists 9,910 square miles of water, an average depth of 62 feet, a maximum of 210 feet and 871 miles of shoreline. This page counts 9 ramps, 6 piers, 14 coastal access areas, 17 steelhead tributaries and 40 Erie County charter and guide listings.
EPA Physical Features of the Great Lakes (whole lake, all jurisdictions); USGS GNIS, PFBC access and Erie steelhead layers, retrieved October 23, 2026.
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Ramps opening onto Lake Erie
- East Avenue Boat Ramp on Lake Eriepaved ramp, 40 trailer spaces, dock, fishing pier, unlimited horsepower; owner Erie Port Authority
- Elk Creek Accesspaved ramp, 20 trailer spaces, dock, unlimited horsepower; owner DCNR
- Lampe Marinapaved ramp, 93 trailer spaces, dock, fishing pier, unlimited horsepower; owner Erie Port Authority
- Lawrence Park Boat Ramp – PWC Onlypaved ramp, 15 trailer spaces, unlimited horsepower; owner Lawrence Park Township
- Northeast Accesspaved ramp, parking roadside parking (no lot), dock, fishing pier, unlimited horsepower; owner PFBC
- Raccoon Parkboat ramp, 20 trailer spaces, dock, unlimited horsepower; owner Springfied Township
- Shades Beach Accesspaved ramp, 30 trailer spaces, dock, unlimited horsepower; owner Harborcreek Township
- Virginia's Beach Accesspaved ramp, 40 trailer spaces, dock, fishing pier, unlimited horsepower, fee; owner Virginia's Beach Campground
- Walnut Creek Accesspaved ramp, 200 trailer spaces, dock, fishing pier, unlimited horsepower; owner PFBC
Piers on the Lake Erie shore
- Virginia's BeachSpringfied Township, fee, parking 10 spaces or more, Private
- Walnut CreekFairview Township, no fee, parking 10 spaces or more, PFBC
- East Avenue Boat RampCity of Erie, no fee, parking 10 spaces or more, Local Gov't
- Lampe MarinaCity of Erie, no fee, parking 10 spaces or more, Local Gov't
- NortheastNortheast Township, no fee, parking roadside parking (no lot), PFBC
- Erie Port Authority-Fishing PierErie, no fee, Local Gov't – BIG
Other coastal access areas on Lake Erie
- Raccoon ParkSpringfied Township, ramp, shore fishing, Unlimited Horsepower
- Lawrence Park Boat Ramp – PWC OnlyLawrence Park Township, ramp, shore fishing, Unlimited Horsepower
- Charley's Boat LiveryNorth East Township, shore fishing, Unpowered Boats Only
- Shades BeachHarborcreek Township, ramp, shore fishing, Unlimited Horsepower
- Elk CreekGirard Township, ramp, shore fishing, Unlimited Horsepower
- Elk Creek AccessGirard Township, shore fishing, No Boating Permitted
- Shades Beach Boat RampHarborcreek
- Sassafras Pier ParkingErie
- Charley's Boat Livery fishing access, North East Townshipshore or carry-in access, unpowered boats only
- Elk Creek Accessfishing only, no boating permitted
- Shades Beach Boat Ramp fishing access, Harborcreekshore or carry-in access
- Sassafras Pier Parkingshore or carry-in access
- Erie Port Authority-Fishing Pierfishing only, fishing pier
Named harbor channels and basins of Lake Erie at Erie
- Erie Harbor Entrance Channelharbor channel or basin (GNIS)
- Harbor Turning Basinharbor channel or basin (GNIS)
- Approach Turning Basinharbor channel or basin (GNIS)
- Harbor Basinharbor channel or basin (GNIS)
- Erie Turning Basinharbor channel or basin (GNIS)
- Lampe MarinaPFBC access listed as marina or harbor
- NortheastPFBC access listed as marina or harbor
PFBC access areas layer and USGS GNIS names, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Streams that enter Lake Erie
PFBC maps 18 steelhead tributaries on the Pennsylvania shore, 87 angler access and parking areas along them and 93 public fishing easements bought or leased from landowners.
- Cascade Creek1.4 mi in PA, Cascade Creek @ Public Parking Lot Niagara Pier
- Conneaut Creek43.2 mi in PA, Conneaut Creek @ Griffy Road
- Crooked Creek, Erie County11.9 mi in PA, Crooked Creek @ Abels Road Bridge
- Eightmile Creek7 mi in PA, Eightmile Creek @ Shades Beach Park
- Elk Creek, Erie County31.2 mi in PA, Elk Creek Access
- Fourmile Creek9.5 mi in PA, Fourmile Creek @ Lawrence Park Golf Course
- Godfrey Run1.1 mi in PA, Godfrey Run Mouth @ Fairplain Road
- Orchard Beach Creek3.2 mi in PA, Orchard Beach Creek Mouth
- Raccoon Creek, Erie County5.3 mi in PA, Raccoon Creek @ Raccoon Park
- Sevenmile Creek7.1 mi in PA, Sevenmile Creek @ Route 5
- Sixmile Creek14 mi in PA, Sixmile Creek @ Route 5
- Sixteenmile Creek10.7 mi in PA, Sixteenmile Creek @ Halli Reid Park
- Trout Run near Avonia, Erie County7.4 mi in PA, Trout Run Mouth
- Turkey Creek5.2 mi in PA, Turkey Creek @ Childs Road
- Twelvemile Creek8.4 mi in PA, Twelvemile Creek @ Route 5
- Twentymile Creek4.1 mi in PA, Twentymile Creek @ Angler Parking Area
- Walnut Creek21.9 mi in PA, Walnut Creek Access
PFBC Erie Steelhead tributary, parking and easement layers, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Current height of Lake Erie
NOAA CO-OPS Great Lakes water levels reading for Erie, Lake Erie (IGLD85), recorded October 23, 2026; retrieved October 23, 2026. Values are provisional.
The NOAA station at Erie sits on the harbor and reports for the whole Pennsylvania shore of Lake Erie.
The limits anglers follow on Lake Erie
| Species | Where | Creel and size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muskellunge and tiger muskellunge | Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters and tributaries | 1; minimum 40 inches | Open year-round |
| Northern pike | Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters and tributaries | 2; minimum 24 inches | Open year-round |
| Walleye | Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters and tributaries | 6; minimum 15 inches | Jan. 1 through March 14 and May 2 through Dec. 31 |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters and tributaries | 4 (combined species); minimum 15 inches | Jan. 1 through April 10 and June 13 through Dec. 31 |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters and tributaries | 1; minimum 20 inches | April 11 through June 12 |
| Yellow perch | Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters and tributaries | 30; minimum 7 inches (Dec. 1 – April 30); none May 1 – Nov. 30 | Dec. 1 through April 30 (7-inch minimum); May 1 through Nov. 30 (no minimum) |
| Sunfish, crappies, catfish, rock bass, suckers, eels, carp, white bass | Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters and tributaries | 50 (combined species) | Open year-round |
| Burbot (scuba divers, nonmechanical spears or gigs at 60 feet or deepe | Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters | 5 | June 1 through Sept. 30 |
| Burbot (hook and line) | Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters and tributaries | 5 | Open year-round |
| Smelt (hook and line) | Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters and tributaries | No daily limit | Open year-round |
| Brook and brown trout | Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters and tributaries | 5 (combined trout and salmon); minimum 9 inches | 8 a.m. opening day of the regular trout season until midnight Labor Day |
| Brook and brown trout | Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters and tributaries | 3 (combined trout and salmon); minimum 15 inches | 12:01 a.m. the day after Labor Day until 12:01 a.m. the Friday before the opening day of the regular trout season |
| Rainbow trout (steelhead) and salmon | Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters and tributaries | 3 (combined species); minimum 15 inches | 8 a.m. opening day of the regular trout season until 12:01 a.m. the Friday before opening day the following year |
| Lake trout | Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters and tributaries | 2; minimum 15 inches | 8 a.m. opening day of the regular trout season until 12:01 a.m. the Friday before opening day the following year |
| Baitfish/fishbait | Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters and tributaries | 50 (combined species) | Open year-round |
| American eel | Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters and tributaries | 25; minimum 9 inches | Open year-round |
| Mussels/clams; sturgeon, spotted gar and other threatened and endanger | Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters and tributaries | 0 | CLOSED YEAR-ROUND |
The Summary groups Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay in one table; tributary limits are separate and stricter for trout in the fall run.
Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and their tributaries take a Pennsylvania fishing license plus a Lake Erie permit ($9.97), or a combination trout and Lake Erie permit ($20.97); the resident license is $27.97.
All anglers fishing Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and their tributaries (including waters flowing into them) need a Lake Erie permit or combination trout/Lake Erie permit; not required on the East and West Basin ponds (Waterworks Ponds, Presque Isle State Park) or inland ponds, lakes and reservoirs in Erie County.
It is unlawful to transport VHS-susceptible fish out of the Lake Erie Watershed into other watersheds except when certain conditions are met; dead recreationally caught fish may be transported for human consumption.
2026 Pennsylvania Fishing Summary (PFBC), p. 14, retrieved October 23, 2026. All Pennsylvania limits.
Pennsylvania records from Lake Erie
| Species | Weight | Angler | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perch, Yellow | 3 lb. 0 oz. | Kirk Rudzinski | 2021 |
| Salmon, Chinook | 28 lb. 15 oz. | Gregory Lasko | 1990 |
| Salmon, Coho | 15 lb. 5 oz. | Jack Scheirer | 1985 |
| Trout, Brown | 20 lb. 9 oz. | Robert J. Ferraro | 2020 |
| Trout, Lake | 31 lb. 13 oz. | Keith Miller | 2019 |
PFBC State Record Fish page, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Booking a guided trip on Lake Erie
- Small Program Charterscharter, Aliquippa, (724) 601-1919
- Xtr Fishing Charters Llccharter, Butler, (724) 679-4510
- Gypsylyn Fishing Charterscharter, Cabot, (724) 316-2529
- Comn'In Hot Sport Fishingfishing guide, Centerville, (814) 671-5131
- Captain Kurt Charterscharter, Conneaut, (717) 496-1290
- Something Catchy Charterscharter, East Springfield, (814) 460-4600
- Captain Fritz Curtze, Llcfishing guide, Edinboro, (814) 450-4319
- Chasing Dreams Sportfishingfishing guide, Edinboro, (814) 449-0245
- 12 Mile Charterscharter, Erie, (814) 806-5555
- Angleharder – The Fishing Chartercharter, Erie, (814) 882-4968
- Bayle Out Sportfishingcharter, Erie, (814) 840-1145
- Big Fat Bass Guide Servicefishing guide, Erie, (724) 790-4232
- Bomber Charterscharter, Erie, (724) 683-1053
- Ciao Charterscharter, Erie, (814) 882-7428
- Ditch Chicken Charterscharter, Erie, (814) 460-0726
- Dogs Life Sport Fishingfishing guide, Erie, (605) 840-4363
- Erie Doghouse Charterscharter, Erie
- Goose’S Steelhead Fishing Guide Servicefishing guide, Erie, (724) 977-1755
- Heartbeat Sport Fishingfishing guide, Erie, (814) 881-1790
- Jpolanco Fishing Guide Servicefishing guide, Erie, (814) 746-8188
- Knot Right Fishingfishing guide, Erie, (814) 240-9396
- Malalad Sportfishing Llcfishing guide, Erie, (814) 572-4751
- Marks Musky Adventuresfishing guide, Erie, (814) 602-5651
- Nemesis Sport Fishingfishing guide, Erie, (814) 392-3999
- Nemesis Sport Fishingcharter, Erie, (814) 580-8381
- New Revolution Fishing Charterscharter, Erie, (814) 602-7136
- Off The Isle Charterscharter, Erie, (814) 397-3374
- Old Timer Fishing Charterscharter, Erie, (814) 490-6955
- Red Dot Chartercharter, Erie, (814) 812-9565
- Reel Hooked Up Sportfishing, Llcfishing guide, Erie, (814) 392-7169
- Reel Obsession Fishing Charterscharter, Erie, (412) 612-7506
- Tell No Tales Charters Llccharter, Erie, (814) 746-5809
- Waterbok Llcfishing guide, Erie, (814) 434-2460
- Dirty 30 Lake Erie Charterscharter, Lake Erie, Erie Pa, (724) 882-4741
- Robert H. Wilsonfishing guide, Erie, Pa, (814) 657-4025
- Bite Force Sportfishingfishing guide, Export, (724) 787-4111
- A&A Fishingfishing guide, Fairview, (814) 528-7943
- All Day Musky Charterscharter, Fairview, (412) 580-2180
- Bassonlinefishing guide, Fairview, (724) 333-3898
- Berger Man Charterscharter, Fairview, (814) 323-3031
PFBC charter boat and fishing guide permit list (county of business) and Yellow Pages listings, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Tournaments on Lake Erie
Lake Erie and its bay
- Presque Isle Baybay
- Lake Erie steelhead streamstributaries
- Cascade Creeksteelhead tributary
- Conneaut Creeksteelhead tributary
- Crooked Creek, Erie Countysteelhead tributary
- Eightmile Creeksteelhead tributary
Piscifun reels that suit Lake Erie
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Photographs of lakes and creeks by Lake Erie
Photo: Michael A. Orlando, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Cards84664, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, CC BY 2.0
Lake Erie fishing, question by question
Which license and permit cover Lake Erie?
Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and their tributaries take a Pennsylvania fishing license plus a Lake Erie permit ($9.97), or a combination trout and Lake Erie permit ($20.97); the resident license is $27.97.
How many public ramps open onto Lake Erie from Pennsylvania?
9 ramps are listed on this page, among them Raccoon Park, Virginia's Beach Access and Walnut Creek Access.
What do Pennsylvania anglers catch in Lake Erie?
Walleye, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, steelhead and lake trout.
Which steelhead streams flow into Lake Erie in Pennsylvania?
17 steelhead tributaries have pages here, among them Cascade Creek, Conneaut Creek and Crooked Creek.
Which captains run charters onto Lake Erie?
40 Erie County charter and guide listings are on this page, from the PFBC permit list, for example Small Program Charters.
What walleye creel does the Summary set for Lake Erie?
6; minimum 15 inches; Jan. 1 through March 14 and May 2 through Dec. 31.
What is the yellow perch limit on Lake Erie?
30; minimum 7 inches (Dec. 1 – April 30); none May 1 – Nov. 30; Dec. 1 through April 30 (7-inch minimum); May 1 through Nov. 30 (no minimum).
Which station reports the level of Lake Erie?
The NOAA Erie station reading is printed in the water level band, with its time and datum.
Where can I fish Lake Erie from shore?
6 piers and 14 coastal access areas are listed, such as Virginia's Beach and Walnut Creek.
How big is Lake Erie?
9,910 square miles of water and 871 miles of shoreline for the whole lake, per the EPA; Pennsylvania holds only the Erie County shore.
Line up a Keystone trip to Lake Erie
Pick a ramp above and buy the Lake Erie permit first.