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Crappie
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain 
Brook Trout
Photo: Eric Engbretson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain 
Rainbow Trout
Photo: Thesupermat, CC BY-SA 4.0 
Chain Pickerel
Photo: James Mann from Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, CC BY 2.0
Pennsylvania lakes and reservoirs
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Little Buffalo Lake Fishing
A 88-acre Pennsylvania lake in Perry County, year-round stocked trout water.
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Perry County
Getting to know Little Buffalo Lake
Little Buffalo Lake spans 88 acres according to PFBC, located in Perry County. Its land and shoreline belong to Little Buffalo State Park. Bloomfield lies roughly 2 miles from the PFBC point. Downstream, it drains into Little Buffalo Creek. PFBC region: Southcentral.
Fish on the PFBC roster: bluegill and pumpkinseed, crappie, largemouth bass, muskellunge and tiger muskellunge, rock bass and smallmouth bass. 2 access areas with ramps serve boats. It is listed as year-round stocked trout water. PFBC program: Big Bass Program.
88acres
2ramp access areas
10species listed
4scheduled stockings
PFBC Lakes_Point layer (acres from NHD), Census places, retrieved October 23, 2026.
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Gamefish of Little Buffalo Lake
Linked chips open the Pennsylvania species page for each fish listed at Little Buffalo Lake.
Bluegill and pumpkinseed Crappie Largemouth bass Muskellunge and tiger muskellunge Rock bass Smallmouth bass Yellow perch Muskellunge Brook trout Rainbow trout
PFBC WWCW species listing by water and PFBC stocking schedules, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Trout
Little Buffalo Lake on the stocked trout list
yesstocked trout water
yesopen year-round
yesearly season
Southcentraltrout region
Trout in Little Buffalo Lake fall under the stocked trout water rules: 5 a day in the regular season from the April 4 opener, 3 a day in the extended season, 7-inch minimum. No trout closure applies here, thanks to its year-round listing.
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
Boat access around Little Buffalo Lake
- Access #1 on Little Buffalo Lakepaved ramp, parking 10 spaces or more, dock, electric motors only; owner Bureau of State Parks
- Access #2 on Little Buffalo Lakepaved ramp, parking 10 spaces or more, dock, electric motors only; owner Bureau of State Parks
Launch points around Little Buffalo Lake
- Howe Twp ParkJuniata River, 5 miles northeast
- Greenwood Access AreaJuniata River, 6 miles north
- Thompsontown AccessJuniata River, 8 miles northwest
- Muskrat Springs AccessJuniata River, 8 miles northwest
- Amity Hall AccessJuniata River, 9 miles east
- Walker AccessJuniata River, 11 miles northwest
PFBC access areas layer (ramps and fishing-only sites), retrieved October 23, 2026.
Limits
Keeping fish from Little Buffalo 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 |
The table repeats the statewide inland limits that govern Little Buffalo Lake.
Little Buffalo Lake and PFBC programs
| 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 |
Extra rules posted for Little Buffalo Lake
- Big Bass Special Regulation (Summary page)
2026 Pennsylvania Fishing Summary (PFBC), pp. 10-17, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Stocking
Stocking schedule for Little Buffalo Lake
PFBC schedules 4 stocking visits to Little Buffalo Lake in 2026, most often rainbow; the Commission prints dates and meeting places, not fish counts.
| Date | Species | Program | Section | Meeting place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Muskellunge (yearling) | warmwater/coolwater | ||
| March 10, 2026 | Brook trout, Rainbow trout, Golden rainbow trout | adult trout | . to | Little Buffalo State Park, Blue Bldg at Corner, 679-699 Gill Hill Rd, Newport, PA 17074 |
| April 20, 2026 | Rainbow trout | adult trout | . to | Little Buffalo State Park, Blue Bldg at Corner, 679-699 Gill Hill Rd, Newport, PA 17074 |
| October 15, 2026 | Rainbow trout | adult trout | . to | Little Buffalo State Park, Blue Bldg at Corner, 679-699 Gill Hill Rd, Newport, PA 17074 |
PFBC Adult Trout Stocking Schedule, Fingerling Trout Schedule and Warmwater/Coolwater stockings (2026), retrieved October 23, 2026. Pennsylvania stocking.
Surveys
PFBC biologist reports on Little Buffalo Lake
- Spring 2015 Tiger Muskellunge Evaluation2015
- Spring 2011 Trapnetting and Nighttime Electrofishing Surveys2011
- March 29 – April 1, 20042004
- May 2003 Night Electrofishing2003
PFBC Biologist Report Listing layer, retrieved October 23, 2026; older reports are history, not a current survey.
Compare
Lakes near Little Buffalo Lake compared
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Ramps | Species | Stocked trout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Buffalo Lake | 88 | 2 | 10 | yes | |
| Opossum Lake | 16 miles south | 59 | 3 | 3 | yes |
| Doubling Gap Lake | 17 miles southwest | 4 | 0 | 0 | yes |
| Childrens Lake | 21 miles south | 9 | 1 | 0 | yes |
| Faylor Lake | 21 miles north | 130 | 2 | 6 | |
| Walker Lake | 24 miles north | 239 | 1 | 7 |
PFBC Lakes_Point, access areas and species listings, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Nearby
Within reach of Little Buffalo Lake
Still water worth the drive from Little Buffalo Lake
- Opossum Lake16 miles south
- Doubling Gap Lake17 miles southwest
- Childrens Lake21 miles south
- Faylor Lake21 miles north
- Walker Lake24 miles north
Tackle counters within reach of Little Buffalo Lake
- Riverfront Campgroundbait and tackle shop, Duncannon, 9 miles
- L.L.Bean, 6416 Carlisle Pikebait and tackle shop, Mechanicsburg, 17 miles
- Sportsmansliquidation.com, 252 Westminster Drbait and tackle shop, Carlisle, 18 miles
- Thorne Brothersbait and tackle shop, Harrisburg, 20 miles
- Holly Fliesbait and tackle shop, Carlisle, 20 miles
- Sportsman's Warehouse, 3500 Capital City Mall Drbait and tackle shop, Camp Hill, 21 miles
Charter and guide options at Little Buffalo Lake
- Fishin' Fools Guide Svccharter, Harrisburg, (717) 652-3033
- Hooked On Catfishingcharter, Highspire, (717) 304-9843
- Flathead Fever Guide Servicefishing guide, Enola, (717) 422-0614
Lodging bases for Little Buffalo Lake
- Bloomfield2 miles
- Newport3 miles
- Duncannon9 miles
County guides along Little Buffalo Lake
- Perry Countyseat: New Bloomfield
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Reels and a scale grip for a Little Buffalo Lake outing
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Fish ID
Species of Little Buffalo Lake in photographs
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
_(53084649608).jpg){kind=link}
Photo: Eric Engbretson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: Thesupermat, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: James Mann from Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, CC BY 2.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Answers
Planning a Little Buffalo Lake trip: the questions
How do I find Little Buffalo Lake on a Pennsylvania map?
PFBC places it in Perry County, PFBC Southcentral Region, about 2 miles from Bloomfield.
How much surface does Little Buffalo Lake cover on the PFBC list?
88 acres, by the PFBC lake layer.
Where is the boat launch at Little Buffalo Lake?
2 ramp access areas, including Access #1 on Little Buffalo Lake.
Which fish has PFBC listed at Little Buffalo Lake?
On the PFBC roster: bluegill and pumpkinseed, crappie, largemouth bass, muskellunge and tiger muskellunge, rock bass, smallmouth bass and yellow perch.
What may I keep from Little Buffalo Lake?
Bass (June 13 to Sept. 30): 6 (combined species); minimum 12 inches; June 13 through Sept. 30. It doubles as a Big Bass Program.
Is a Pennsylvania license required at Little Buffalo Lake?
Fishing for trout here needs a trout permit ($14.97) on top of the license ($27.97 resident, $60.97 nonresident).
Which hatchery fish does PFBC send to Little Buffalo Lake?
Yes, 4 times in 2026 (first: 2026).
Where do Little Buffalo Lake anglers buy worms?
Riverfront Campground, about 9 miles away.
Mark Little Buffalo Lake on the calendar
License fees, permits and every Summary table sit on the license page.