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Prompton Dam 19 mi
Photo: Clint, CC BY-SA 2.0 
Lake Wallenpaupack 26 mi
Photo: Matt Saunders, CC BY-SA 3.0 
Harveys Lake 22 mi
Photo: Jakec, CC BY-SA 4.0 
Lake Jean 34 mi
Photo: Nicholas, CC BY 2.0
Pennsylvania lakes and reservoirs
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Lackawanna Lake Fishing
A 198-acre Pennsylvania lake in Lackawanna County, year-round stocked trout water.
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Lackawanna County
Lackawanna Lake at a glance
Expect about 198 acres of lake at Lackawanna Lake, a water of Lackawanna County. Ownership falls to Lackawanna State Park. The closest Census town is Dalton, about 3 miles away. Its outflow runs to South Branch Tunkhannock Creek. The Northeast Region of PFBC covers it.
Anglers target bluegill and pumpkinseed, channel catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, muskellunge and tiger muskellunge and brook trout, per PFBC listings. You can launch from 3 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.
198acres
3ramp access areas
7species listed
4scheduled stockings
PFBC Lakes_Point layer (acres from NHD), Census places, retrieved October 23, 2026.
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The species roster at Lackawanna Lake
This roster for Lackawanna Lake comes from PFBC program listings, not a full survey.
Bluegill and pumpkinseed Channel catfish Crappie Largemouth bass Muskellunge and tiger muskellunge Brook trout Rainbow trout
PFBC WWCW species listing by water and PFBC stocking schedules, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Trout
Stocked trout and Lackawanna Lake
yesstocked trout water
yesopen year-round
noearly season
Northeasttrout region
The stocked trout listing for Lackawanna 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 Lackawanna Lake
- Bullhead Bay Accessboat ramp, parking fewer than 10 spaces, electric motors only, fee; owner Bureau of State Parks
- South Shore Access on Lackawanna Lakepaved ramp, parking roadside parking (no lot), electric motors only, fee; owner Bureau of State Parks
- Warming Hut Accesspaved ramp, parking roadside parking (no lot), dock, fishing pier, electric motors only, fee; owner Bureau of State Parks
More ramps close to Lackawanna Lake
- Fords Lake AccessFords Lake, 6 miles southwest
- Lake Winola AccessLake Winola, 8 miles southwest
- Merli-Sarnoski AccessMerli-Sarnoski Lake, 9 miles east
PFBC access areas layer (ramps and fishing-only sites), retrieved October 23, 2026.
Limits
Seasons and limits for Lackawanna 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 Lackawanna Lake; program and special listings override them.
Program rules for Lackawanna 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 Lackawanna Lake
- Big Bass Special Regulation (Summary page)
2026 Pennsylvania Fishing Summary (PFBC), pp. 10-17, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Stocking
When PFBC stocks Lackawanna Lake
The 2026 PFBC calendar shows 4 stockings for Lackawanna Lake, most of them rainbow.
| Date | Species | Program | Section | Meeting place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Channel Catfish (yearling) | warmwater/coolwater | ||
| February 24, 2026 | Brook trout, Rainbow trout, Golden rainbow trout | adult trout | . to | Lackawanna Lake-main boat launch area |
| April 18, 2026 | Rainbow trout, Golden rainbow trout | adult trout | . to | Lackawanna Lake-main boat launch area |
| October 5, 2026 | Rainbow trout | adult trout | . to | Lackawanna Lake-main boat launch area |
PFBC Adult Trout Stocking Schedule, Fingerling Trout Schedule and Warmwater/Coolwater stockings (2026), retrieved October 23, 2026. Pennsylvania stocking.
Surveys
Field reports from Lackawanna Lake
- 2023 Spring Trap Net Survey2023
- 2022 Black Bass Survey2022
- 2017 Largemouth Bass Survey2017
- May 2015 Crappie Evaluation2015
- May 17-18, 2010 Largemouth Bass2010
- Lackawanna Lake Panfish Survey Week of April 21, 20082008
- Spring 2007 Lackawanna Lake Panfish2007
- May 2006 Lackawanna Lake Panfish2006
- June 12, 2003 Sampling Gear: Electrofishing2003
- May 20, 20022002
PFBC Biologist Report Listing layer, retrieved October 23, 2026; older reports are history, not a current survey.
Compare
Lackawanna Lake against its neighbors
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Ramps | Species | Stocked trout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lackawanna Lake | 198 | 3 | 7 | yes | |
| Griffin Reservoir | 5 miles southeast | 110 | 0 | 0 | |
| Eston Wilson Lake | 6 miles south | 0 | 0 | yes | |
| Fords Lake | 6 miles southwest | 73 | 1 | 5 | |
| Lake Winola | 8 miles southwest | 198 | 1 | 5 | yes |
| Merli-Sarnoski Park Lake | 9 miles east | 30 | 0 | 5 | yes |
PFBC Lakes_Point, access areas and species listings, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Nearby
Close to Lackawanna Lake
More still water around Lackawanna Lake
- Griffin Reservoir5 miles southeast
- Eston Wilson Lake6 miles south
- Fords Lake6 miles southwest
- Lake Winola8 miles southwest
- Merli-Sarnoski Park Lake9 miles east
Bait sellers a drive from Lackawanna Lake
- Dave's Outdoors Shop L.L.Cbait and tackle shop, scott township, 3 miles
- S K Marinemarina, Scott Township, 4 miles
- Ron's Fliesbait and tackle shop, Nicholson, 6 miles
- Northeast Marinebait and tackle shop, Blakely, 8 miles
- Sierra, 610 Commerce Blvdbait and tackle shop, Dickson City, 8 miles
- Fazio's Archery Bait & Tackle Martbait and tackle shop, Eynon, 8 miles
Guide services listing Lackawanna Lake
- Boyds Nepa Guding Servicecharter, Waverly, (570) 417-5841
- Lakeside Cottagescharter, Tafton, (570) 226-8907
Boroughs offering beds near Lackawanna Lake
- Dalton3 miles
- Factoryville4 miles
- Clarks Green5 miles
Counties holding Lackawanna Lake
- Lackawanna Countyseat: Scranton
Piscifun
A Piscifun kit sized for Lackawanna Lake
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Photographs
Ridges, rivers and lakes around Lackawanna Lake, pictured
Photo: Clint, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Matt Saunders, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Jakec, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Nicholas, CC BY 2.0
Answers
Questions on Lackawanna Lake, answered briefly
In what corner of the Commonwealth does Lackawanna Lake sit?
Its shore lies in Lackawanna County, PFBC Northeast Region, about 3 miles from Dalton.
What surface area does PFBC give Lackawanna Lake?
The PFBC layer shows 198 acres.
How many ramps reach Lackawanna Lake?
3 ramp access areas; Bullhead Bay Access has the most trailer room.
What is the fish list for Lackawanna Lake?
bluegill and pumpkinseed, channel catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, muskellunge and tiger muskellunge, brook trout and rainbow trout, per PFBC.
What are the bass limits at Lackawanna 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 Lackawanna Lake?
Fishing for trout here needs a trout permit ($14.97) on top of the license ($27.97 resident, $60.97 nonresident).
Will Lackawanna Lake see stocked fish in 2026?
The 2026 schedule has 4 entries, beginning 2026.
Which tackle store is handiest to Lackawanna Lake?
Dave's Outdoors Shop L.L.C is nearest, 3 miles away.
Choose a Saturday for Lackawanna Lake
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