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Harveys Lake 8.1 mi
Photo: Jakec, CC BY-SA 4.0 
Lake Jean 21 mi
Photo: Nicholas, CC BY 2.0 
Lackawanna County 13 mi
Photo: Ajay Suresh, CC BY 2.0 
Lake Wallenpaupack 34 mi
Photo: Matt Saunders, CC BY-SA 3.0
Pennsylvania lakes and reservoirs
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Frances Slocum Lake Fishing
A 166-acre Pennsylvania lake in Luzerne County, year-round stocked trout water.
Pick for bluegillPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Harveys Lake: Jakec, CC BY-SA 4.0
Luzerne County
Frances Slocum Lake at a glance
Expect about 166 acres of lake at Frances Slocum Lake, a water of Luzerne County. Ownership falls to Frances Slocum State Park. The closest Census town is West Wyoming, about 2 miles away. Its outflow runs to Abrahams Creek. The Northeast Region of PFBC covers it.
Anglers target bluegill and pumpkinseed, chain pickerel, crappie, largemouth bass, muskellunge and tiger muskellunge and smallmouth bass, per PFBC listings. You can launch from 2 access areas with ramps. PFBC classes it as year-round stocked trout water. The Summary lists it under Big Bass Program. It is on the PFBC Best Fishing Waters list.
166acres
2ramp access areas
9species listed
4scheduled stockings
PFBC Lakes_Point layer (acres from NHD), Census places, retrieved October 23, 2026.
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The species roster at Frances Slocum Lake
This roster for Frances Slocum Lake comes from PFBC program listings, not a full survey.
Bluegill and pumpkinseed Chain pickerel Crappie Largemouth bass Muskellunge and tiger muskellunge Smallmouth bass Walleye Yellow perch Rainbow trout
PFBC WWCW species listing by water and PFBC stocking schedules, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Trout
Stocked trout and Frances Slocum Lake
yesstocked trout water
yesopen year-round
noearly season
Northeasttrout region
The stocked trout listing for Frances Slocum Lake sets the trout season and creel shown in the table below. The year-round tag means no preseason closure for trout.
Fishing for trout here needs a trout permit ($14.97) on top of the license ($27.97 resident, $60.97 nonresident).
PFBC Stocked Trout Waters layer and 2026 Pennsylvania Fishing Summary (PFBC), p. 10, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Access
Launching at Frances Slocum Lake
- Carverston Road-Francis Slocum State Parkpaved ramp, 37 trailer spaces, electric motors only; owner Bureau of State Parks
- Francis Slocum State Parkpaved ramp, 20 trailer spaces, fishing pier, electric motors only; owner Bureau of State Parks
Walk-in fishing at Frances Slocum Lake
- Day Use-Francis Slocum State Parkfishing pier, fishing pier, electric motors only
More ramps close to Frances Slocum Lake
- Apple Tree Road AccessNorth Branch Susquehanna River, 5 miles northeast
- Nesbit ParkNorth Branch Susquehanna River, 6 miles south
- Hanover Township AccessNorth Branch Susquehanna River, 7 miles south
- Harveys Lake AccessHarveys Lake, 9 miles west
- Moon Lake AccessMoon Lake, 10 miles southwest
- Hunlock Township AccessNorth Branch Susquehanna River, 12 miles southwest
PFBC access areas layer (ramps and fishing-only sites), retrieved October 23, 2026.
Limits
Seasons and limits for Frances Slocum Lake
| Species | Creel and size | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Trout (regular season) | 5 (combined species), streams, lakes and ponds; minimum 7 inches | Regular season: April 4 at 8 a.m. through Sept. 7 (statewide opening day) |
| Trout (extended season, stocked waters) | 3 (combined species); minimum 7 inches | Jan. 1 through Feb. 15 and Sept. 8 through Dec. 31 |
| 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 |
Inland rules from the Summary apply on Frances Slocum Lake; program and special listings override them.
Program rules for Frances Slocum Lake
| Program | Rule | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Big Bass Program | Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass: 4 (combined species), minimum 15 inches, harvest Jan. 1 through April 10 and June 13 through Dec. 31; April 11 through June 12, catch and immediate release only, no tournaments. | p. 11 |
Where the Summary singles out Frances Slocum Lake
- Big Bass Special Regulation (Summary page)
2026 Pennsylvania Fishing Summary (PFBC), pp. 10-17, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Stocking
When PFBC stocks Frances Slocum Lake
The 2026 PFBC calendar shows 4 stockings for Frances Slocum Lake, most of them rainbow.
| Date | Species | Program | Section | Meeting place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Walleye (fingerling) | warmwater/coolwater | ||
| February 17, 2026 | Rainbow trout, Golden rainbow trout | adult trout | . to | Frances Slocum State Park Office |
| April 6, 2026 | Rainbow trout, Golden rainbow trout | adult trout | . to | Frances Slocum State Park Office |
| April 25, 2026 | Rainbow trout | adult trout | . to | Frances Slocum State Park Office |
PFBC Adult Trout Stocking Schedule, Fingerling Trout Schedule and Warmwater/Coolwater stockings (2026), retrieved October 23, 2026. Pennsylvania stocking.
Surveys
Field reports from Frances Slocum Lake
- 2024 Muskellunge Survey2024
- 2022 Muskellunge Survey2022
- 2021 Spring Trap Net and Black Bass Night Boat Electrofishing Survey’s2021
- 2018 Muskellunge Survey2018
- 2017 Muskellunge Survey2017
- 2016 Muskellunge Survey2016
- April 2015 Trap Net Survey – Muskellunge Study2015
- Spring 2013 Muskellunge Survey2013
- Spring 20112011
- June 1, 20062006
PFBC Biologist Report Listing layer, retrieved October 23, 2026; older reports are history, not a current survey.
Compare
Frances Slocum Lake against its neighbors
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Ramps | Species | Stocked trout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frances Slocum Lake | 166 | 2 | 9 | yes | |
| Harveys Lake | 8 miles west | 658 | 1 | 6 | yes |
| Pikes Creek Reservoir | 10 miles southwest | 400 | 0 | 5 | |
| Moon Lake | 10 miles southwest | 47 | 1 | 1 | yes |
| Lake Winola | 12 miles north | 198 | 1 | 5 | yes |
| Harris Pond | 13 miles west | 30 | 1 | 4 |
PFBC Lakes_Point, access areas and species listings, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Nearby
Close to Frances Slocum Lake
More still water around Frances Slocum Lake
- Harveys Lake8 miles west
- Pikes Creek Reservoir10 miles southwest
- Moon Lake10 miles southwest
- Lake Winola12 miles north
- Harris Pond13 miles west
Bait sellers a drive from Frances Slocum Lake
- West Side Baitbait and tackle shop, Wyoming, 3 miles
- Dallas Sporting Goodsbait and tackle shop, Shavertown, 3 miles
- Lonesome Road Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Old Forge, 8 miles
- Sap's Baitbait and tackle shop, Tunkhannock, 8 miles
- Bob's Bugsbait and tackle shop, Ashley, 9 miles
- Nimrod Haven Hunting & Fishingbait and tackle shop, Hanover Township, 9 miles
Guide services listing Frances Slocum Lake
- Boyds Nepa Guding Servicecharter, Waverly, (570) 417-5841
- Lakeside Cottagescharter, Tafton, (570) 226-8907
- Susquehanna Fishing Magazinefishing guide, Susquehanna River, Bloomsburg, (570) 441-4606
Boroughs offering beds near Frances Slocum Lake
- West Wyoming2 miles
- Swoyersville3 miles
- Wyoming3 miles
Counties holding Frances Slocum Lake
- Luzerne Countyseat: Wilkes-Barre
Piscifun
A Piscifun kit sized for Frances Slocum Lake
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Photographs
Ridges, rivers and lakes around Frances Slocum Lake, pictured
Photo: Jakec, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Nicholas, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Ajay Suresh, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Matt Saunders, CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers
Questions on Frances Slocum Lake, answered briefly
In what corner of the Commonwealth does Frances Slocum Lake sit?
Its shore lies in Luzerne County, PFBC Northeast Region, about 2 miles from West Wyoming.
What surface area does PFBC give Frances Slocum Lake?
The PFBC layer shows 166 acres.
How many ramps reach Frances Slocum Lake?
2 ramp access areas; Carverston Road-Francis Slocum State Park has the most trailer room.
What is the fish list for Frances Slocum Lake?
bluegill and pumpkinseed, chain pickerel, crappie, largemouth bass, muskellunge and tiger muskellunge, smallmouth bass and walleye, per PFBC.
What are the bass limits at Frances Slocum Lake?
Bass (June 13 to Sept. 30): 6 (combined species); minimum 12 inches; June 13 through Sept. 30. Note the Big Bass Program status.
What do license fees run for a trip to Frances Slocum Lake?
Fishing for trout here needs a trout permit ($14.97) on top of the license ($27.97 resident, $60.97 nonresident).
Will Frances Slocum Lake see stocked fish in 2026?
The 2026 schedule has 4 entries, beginning 2026.
Which tackle store is handiest to Frances Slocum Lake?
West Side Bait is nearest, 3 miles away.
Choose a Saturday for Frances Slocum Lake
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