Cowanesque Lake Fishing
A 1,090-acre Pennsylvania reservoir in Tioga County.
Pick for crappiePiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Pine Creek: Nicholas A. Tonelli, CC BY 2.0
Getting to know Cowanesque Lake
Cowanesque Lake spans 1,090 acres according to PFBC, located in Tioga County. Its land and shoreline belong to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Lawrenceville lies roughly 2 miles from the PFBC point. Downstream, it drains into Cowanesque River. PFBC region: Northcentral.
Fish on the PFBC roster: crappie, largemouth bass, muskellunge and tiger muskellunge, smallmouth bass and walleye. 2 access areas with ramps serve boats. PFBC picks it as a Best Fishing Water.
PFBC Lakes_Point layer (acres from NHD), Census places, retrieved October 23, 2026.
For the crappie herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Gamefish of Cowanesque Lake
Linked chips open the Pennsylvania species page for each fish listed at Cowanesque Lake.
PFBC WWCW species listing by water and PFBC stocking schedules, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Boat access around Cowanesque Lake
- South Shore Access on Cowanesque Lakepaved ramp, parking 10 spaces or more, dock, unlimited horsepower, fee; owner COE
- Tompkins Campground Accesspaved ramp, parking 10 spaces or more, dock, unlimited horsepower, fee; owner COE
Launch points around Cowanesque Lake
- Campers LaunchHammond Lake, 6 miles south
- Ives Run AccessHammond Lake, 7 miles south
- Lambs Creek AccessTioga Reservoir, 9 miles south
- Hills Creek Lake Access near Mansfield (PFBC access 523)Hills Creek Lake, 12 miles south
PFBC access areas layer (ramps and fishing-only sites), retrieved October 23, 2026.
Reservoir level at Cowanesque Lake
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Cowanesque Lake At Lawrenceville, Pa | 1,080.34 ft lake elevation | Oct 26 12:00 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 26, 2026 12:33 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
US Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District (CWMS) reading for Cowanesque Lake (local gauge datum), recorded October 23, 2026; retrieved October 23, 2026. Values are provisional.
Keeping fish from Cowanesque Lake
| Species | Creel and size | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Bass (June 13 to Sept. 30) | 6 (combined species); minimum 12 inches | June 13 through Sept. 30 |
| Bass (Jan. 1 to April 10, Oct. 1 to Dec. 31) | 4 (combined species); minimum 15 inches | Jan. 1 through April 10 and Oct. 1 through Dec. 31 |
| Bass (April 11 to June 12) | NO HARVEST – catch and immediate release only (no tournaments permitted) | April 11 through June 12 (no harvest begins 12:01 a.m.) |
| Muskellunge and tiger muskellunge | 1 (combined species); minimum 40 inches | Open year-round |
| Northern pike | 2; minimum 24 inches | Open year-round |
| Chain pickerel | 4; minimum 18 inches | Open year-round |
| Walleye and saugeye | 6; minimum 15 inches | Jan. 1 through March 14 and May 2 through Dec. 31 |
| Sunfish, crappie and other panfish | 50 (combined species) | Open year-round |
| Catfish | 50 (combined species) | Open year-round |
| Striped bass and hybrids | 2 (combined species); minimum 20 inches | Open year-round |
| American shad | 3 | Open year-round |
The table repeats the statewide inland limits that govern Cowanesque Lake.
2026 Pennsylvania Fishing Summary (PFBC), pp. 10-17, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Stocking schedule for Cowanesque Lake
PFBC schedules 1 stocking visits to Cowanesque Lake in 2026, most often walleye; the Commission prints dates and meeting places, not fish counts.
| Date | Species | Program | Section | Meeting place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Walleye (fingerling) | warmwater/coolwater |
PFBC Adult Trout Stocking Schedule, Fingerling Trout Schedule and Warmwater/Coolwater stockings (2026), retrieved October 23, 2026. Pennsylvania stocking.
PFBC biologist reports on Cowanesque Lake
- 2021 Walleye Survey2021
- 2021 Striped Bass Gill Net and Black Bass Night Boat Electrofishing Survey’s2021
- 2017 Crappie Survey2017
- 2016 Bass Population Survey2016
- Cowanesque Lake – June 20102010
PFBC Biologist Report Listing layer, retrieved October 23, 2026; older reports are history, not a current survey.
Lakes near Cowanesque Lake compared
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Ramps | Species | Stocked trout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowanesque Lake | 1,090 | 2 | 5 | ||
| Hammond Lake | 6 miles south | 640 | 2 | 6 | |
| Tioga Reservoir | 7 miles south | 470 | 1 | 5 | |
| Hills Creek Lake | 12 miles south | 136 | 2 | 5 | |
| Hamilton Lake | 18 miles south | 42 | 1 | 4 | yes |
| Lake Nessmuk | 18 miles south | 60 | 1 | 5 |
PFBC Lakes_Point, access areas and species listings, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Within reach of Cowanesque Lake
Still water worth the drive from Cowanesque Lake
- Hammond Lake6 miles south
- Tioga Reservoir7 miles south
- Hills Creek Lake12 miles south
- Hamilton Lake18 miles south
- Lake Nessmuk18 miles south
Tackle counters within reach of Cowanesque Lake
- Tackle Shackbait and tackle shop, Wellsboro, 15 miles
- Ram Archery Incbait and tackle shop, Westfield, 19 miles
Charter and guide options at Cowanesque Lake
- Northern Tier Angling Companyfishing guide, Wellsboro, (607) 738-1755
- Tackle Shackfishing guide, Wellsboro, (570) 724-5138
Lodging bases for Cowanesque Lake
- Elkland7 miles
- Mansfield13 miles
- Wellsboro18 miles
County guides along Cowanesque Lake
- Tioga Countyseat: Wellsboro
Reels and a scale grip for a Cowanesque Lake outing
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Species of Cowanesque Lake in photographs
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: James Mann from Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, CC BY 2.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: PlanespotterA320, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
Planning a Cowanesque Lake trip: the questions
How do I find Cowanesque Lake on a Pennsylvania map?
PFBC places it in Tioga County, PFBC Northcentral Region, about 2 miles from Lawrenceville.
How much surface does Cowanesque Lake cover on the PFBC list?
1,090 acres, by the PFBC lake layer.
Where is the boat launch at Cowanesque Lake?
2 ramp access areas, including South Shore Access on Cowanesque Lake.
Which fish has PFBC listed at Cowanesque Lake?
On the PFBC roster: crappie, largemouth bass, muskellunge and tiger muskellunge, smallmouth bass and walleye.
What may I keep from Cowanesque Lake?
Bass (June 13 to Sept. 30): 6 (combined species); minimum 12 inches; June 13 through Sept. 30.
Is a Pennsylvania license required at Cowanesque Lake?
Anyone 16 or older needs a Pennsylvania fishing license: $27.97 for residents, $60.97 for nonresidents and $14.47 for resident seniors, fees included.
Which hatchery fish does PFBC send to Cowanesque Lake?
Yes, 1 times in 2026 (first: 2026).
Where do Cowanesque Lake anglers buy worms?
Tackle Shack, about 15 miles away.
What is the pool level at Cowanesque Lake?
See USGS and the Corps of Engineers in the level band.
Mark Cowanesque Lake on the calendar
License fees, permits and every Summary table sit on the license page.