Harveys Lake Fishing
A 658-acre Pennsylvania lake in Luzerne County, year-round stocked trout water.
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A short guide to Harveys Lake
The Fish and Boat Commission lists Harveys Lake at 658 acres; it sits in Luzerne County. Harveys Lake, under a mile out, makes the nearest town. Water leaves it for Harveys Creek. It falls in the PFBC Northeast Region.
PFBC names bluegill and pumpkinseed, chain pickerel, largemouth bass, rock bass, smallmouth bass and walleye for it. Trailers go in at 1 access area with a ramp. For trout it counts as year-round stocked trout water.
PFBC Lakes_Point layer (acres from NHD), Census places, retrieved October 23, 2026.
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Each chip marks a fish PFBC connects with Harveys Lake.
PFBC WWCW species listing by water and PFBC stocking schedules, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Trout at Harveys Lake
For trout, Harveys Lake uses stocked trout water rules; check the opener and extended season rows below. It is one of the waters PFBC keeps open to trout fishing all year.
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.
Ramps that put boats on Harveys Lake
- Harveys Lake Accesspaved ramp, 28 trailer spaces, dock, unlimited horsepower; owner PFBC
Other access areas near Harveys Lake
- Harris Pond AccessHarris Pond, 7 miles southwest
- Moon Lake AccessMoon Lake, 8 miles south
- Francis Slocum State ParkFrances Slocum Lake, 8 miles east
- Carverston Road-Francis Slocum State ParkFrances Slocum Lake, 8 miles east
- Sylvan Lake AccessSylvan Lake, 10 miles southwest
- Hanover Township AccessNorth Branch Susquehanna River, 10 miles southeast
PFBC access areas layer (ramps and fishing-only sites), retrieved October 23, 2026.
Creel counts and minimum sizes at Harveys 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 |
Harveys Lake follows the inland table of the Summary, plus any program rule listed here.
Rules unique to Harveys Lake
- Miscellaneous Special Regulations (Summary page)
- Luzerne County listingOpen year-round to fishing. The daily limit is 3 trout (combined species) during the period from 8 a.m. on the opening day of trout season to midnight the third Monday in February the following year. Only 1 of the 3 trout daily limit may exceed 18 inches in length. No trout may be killed or had in possession from Febru
2026 Pennsylvania Fishing Summary (PFBC), pp. 10-17, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Trout stocking dates at Harveys Lake
Count on 3 PFBC stockings at Harveys Lake this year, chiefly brown; counts per visit stay unpublished.
| Date | Species | Program | Section | Meeting place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Walleye (fingerling) | warmwater/coolwater | ||
| March 30, 2026 | Brown trout | adult trout | . to | Harveys Lake |
| October 6, 2026 | Brown trout | adult trout | . to | Harveys Lake |
PFBC Adult Trout Stocking Schedule, Fingerling Trout Schedule and Warmwater/Coolwater stockings (2026), retrieved October 23, 2026. Pennsylvania stocking.
Management reports on Harveys Lake
- 2024 Gill Net Survey2024
- 2022 Gill Net Survey2022
- Fall 20092009
- Week of November 7, 20052005
- 2002 Angler Interviews2001
PFBC Biologist Report Listing layer, retrieved October 23, 2026; older reports are history, not a current survey.
Nearby lakes and Harveys Lake, side by side
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Ramps | Species | Stocked trout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harveys Lake | 658 | 1 | 7 | yes | |
| Pikes Creek Reservoir | 6 miles south | 400 | 0 | 5 | |
| Harris Pond | 7 miles southwest | 30 | 1 | 4 | |
| Moon Lake | 8 miles south | 47 | 1 | 1 | yes |
| Frances Slocum Lake | 8 miles east | 166 | 2 | 8 | yes |
| Sylvan Lake | 9 miles southwest | 82 | 1 | 6 | yes |
PFBC Lakes_Point, access areas and species listings, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Around Harveys Lake
Reservoirs and lakes close to Harveys Lake
- Pikes Creek Reservoir6 miles south
- Harris Pond7 miles southwest
- Moon Lake8 miles south
- Frances Slocum Lake8 miles east
- Sylvan Lake9 miles southwest
Where Harveys Lake anglers stock up
- Dallas Sporting Goodsbait and tackle shop, Shavertown, 6 miles
- Bait Buddiesbait and tackle shop, Hunlock Creek, 9 miles
- Sap's Baitbait and tackle shop, Tunkhannock, 9 miles
- West Side Baitbait and tackle shop, Wyoming, 11 miles
- Bass Unlimitedbait and tackle shop, Nanticoke, 11 miles
- Nimrod Haven Hunting & Fishingbait and tackle shop, Hanover Township, 11 miles
Hire a guide for Harveys Lake
- Boyds Nepa Guding Servicecharter, Waverly, (570) 417-5841
- Susquehanna Fishing Magazinefishing guide, Susquehanna River, Bloomsburg, (570) 441-4606
Overnight bases around Harveys Lake
- Harveys Lakeunder a mile
- Dallas4 miles
- Larksville9 miles
Harveys Lake by county
- Luzerne Countyseat: Wilkes-Barre
Piscifun reels to bring along to Harveys Lake
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A photo guide to fish at Harveys Lake
Photo: Hellion102792, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
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Before you go to Harveys Lake: common questions
Where in Pennsylvania is Harveys Lake?
You will find it in Luzerne County, PFBC Northeast Region, under a mile from Harveys Lake.
How large is Harveys Lake by PFBC count?
Roughly 658 acres.
Which access area serves Harveys Lake?
There are 1 ramp access area; Harveys Lake Access is the largest.
Does Harveys Lake hold bass and panfish?
PFBC lists bluegill and pumpkinseed, chain pickerel, largemouth bass, rock bass, smallmouth bass, walleye and brown trout.
Does Harveys Lake have special regulations?
Bass (June 13 to Sept. 30): 6 (combined species); minimum 12 inches; June 13 through Sept. 30.
Which Pennsylvania license and permit fit Harveys Lake?
Fishing for trout here needs a trout permit ($14.97) on top of the license ($27.97 resident, $60.97 nonresident).
When does PFBC stock Harveys Lake?
3 visits in 2026, from 2026.
Who sells minnows on the way to Harveys Lake?
Drive about 6 miles to Dallas Sporting Goods.
Spend an evening casting Harveys Lake
Check the Summary rows before a fish goes on the stringer.