Loyalhanna Lake Fishing
A 479-acre Pennsylvania reservoir in Westmoreland County.
Pick for bluegillPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Allegheny River: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
Loyalhanna Lake at a glance
Expect about 479 acres of reservoir at Loyalhanna Lake, a water of Westmoreland County. Ownership falls to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The closest Census town is Saltsburg, about 3 miles away. Its outflow runs to Loyalhanna Creek. The Southwest Region of PFBC covers it.
Anglers target bluegill and pumpkinseed, channel catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, muskellunge and tiger muskellunge and sauger, per PFBC listings. It is on the PFBC Best Fishing Waters list.
PFBC Lakes_Point layer (acres from NHD), Census places, retrieved October 23, 2026.
For the bluegill herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 The species roster at Loyalhanna Lake
This roster for Loyalhanna Lake comes from PFBC program listings, not a full survey.
PFBC WWCW species listing by water and PFBC stocking schedules, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Launching at Loyalhanna Lake
Without a mapped ramp on Loyalhanna Lake, the list below gives the nearest.
Walk-in fishing at Loyalhanna Lake
- Bush Recreational Areashore or carry-in access, unlimited horsepower
More ramps close to Loyalhanna Lake
- Tailwater AccessLoyalhanna Creek, 1 mile north
- Christopher's Road AccessLoyalhanna Creek, 2 miles south
- Alexandria LaunchLoyalhanna Creek, 3 miles south
- Salem AccessLoyalhanna Creek, 4 miles south
- Bow Ridge (ADA Use only) AccessConemaugh River, 5 miles northeast
- Keystone State Park LakeKeystone Lake, 6 miles southeast
PFBC access areas layer (ramps and fishing-only sites), retrieved October 23, 2026.
Loyalhanna Lake water elevation
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Loyalhanna Creek Lake, Pa | 923.89 ft lake elevation | Oct 27 12:15 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 27, 2026 12:32 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
US Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District (CWMS) reading for Loyalhanna Lake, PA (NAVD88), recorded October 23, 2026; retrieved October 23, 2026. Values are provisional.
Seasons and limits for Loyalhanna 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 |
Inland rules from the Summary apply on Loyalhanna Lake; program and special listings override them.
2026 Pennsylvania Fishing Summary (PFBC), pp. 10-17, retrieved October 23, 2026.
When PFBC stocks Loyalhanna Lake
The 2026 PFBC calendar shows 1 stockings for Loyalhanna Lake, most of them channel catfish.
| Date | Species | Program | Section | Meeting place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Channel Catfish (yearling) | warmwater/coolwater |
PFBC Adult Trout Stocking Schedule, Fingerling Trout Schedule and Warmwater/Coolwater stockings (2026), retrieved October 23, 2026. Pennsylvania stocking.
Field reports from Loyalhanna Lake
- April 2018 Trap Net Survey2018
- May 2014 Trap Net, September 2014 and 2015 Hoop Net, May 2015 Night Electrofishing Survey2016
- April 4-7, 2005 Sampling Gear: 12 Trap Net Sets2005
PFBC Biologist Report Listing layer, retrieved October 23, 2026; older reports are history, not a current survey.
Loyalhanna Lake against its neighbors
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Ramps | Species | Stocked trout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loyalhanna Lake | 479 | 0 | 7 | ||
| Conemaugh River Lake | 5 miles east | 640 | 1 | 6 | |
| Keystone Lake, Westmoreland County | 6 miles southeast | 78 | 1 | 5 | yes |
| Beaver Run Reservoir | 7 miles northwest | 1,125 | 0 | 0 | |
| Twin Lakes Number One Reservoir | 8 miles south | 30 | 0 | 4 | yes |
| Twin Lakes Number Two Reservoir -upper twin lake | 9 miles south | 20 | 0 | 4 | yes |
PFBC Lakes_Point, access areas and species listings, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Close to Loyalhanna Lake
More still water around Loyalhanna Lake
- Conemaugh River Lake5 miles east
- Keystone Lake, Westmoreland County6 miles southeast
- Beaver Run Reservoir7 miles northwest
- Twin Lakes Number One Reservoir8 miles south
- Twin Lakes Number Two Reservoir -upper twin lake9 miles south
Bait sellers a drive from Loyalhanna Lake
- Moff Frank Fbait and tackle shop, Latrobe, 9 miles
- Gander Mountain, 435 Grove Stbait and tackle shop, Greensburg, 11 miles
- River Road Bait and Tackle Shopbait and tackle shop, Apollo, 12 miles
- Muddy Creek Tacklebait and tackle shop, Irwin, 13 miles
- R Nmarina, Murrysville, 14 miles
- Gander Mountain, 4680 Old William Penn Hwybait and tackle shop, Monroeville, 16 miles
Guide services listing Loyalhanna Lake
- Famous Fishermansfishing guide, Pittsburgh, (412) 521-8032
- International Anglerfishing guide, Pittsburgh, (412) 788-8088
- Smallies On The Yough Llcfishing guide, Mckeesport, (412) 215-6254
- Fly Fishing Showfly fishing guide, Somerset, (814) 443-3638
Boroughs offering beds near Loyalhanna Lake
- Delmont7 miles
- Latrobe10 miles
- Blairsville10 miles
Counties holding Loyalhanna Lake
- Westmoreland Countyseat: Greensburg
A Piscifun kit sized for Loyalhanna Lake
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Ridges, rivers and lakes around Loyalhanna Lake, pictured
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Nyttend, Public domain
Photo: Dough4872, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Roy Luck, CC BY 2.0
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Questions on Loyalhanna Lake, answered briefly
In what corner of the Commonwealth does Loyalhanna Lake sit?
Its shore lies in Westmoreland County, PFBC Southwest Region, about 3 miles from Saltsburg.
What surface area does PFBC give Loyalhanna Lake?
The PFBC layer shows 479 acres.
How many ramps reach Loyalhanna Lake?
No ramp is mapped on it; nearby ramps are listed above.
What is the fish list for Loyalhanna Lake?
bluegill and pumpkinseed, channel catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, muskellunge and tiger muskellunge, sauger and yellow perch, per PFBC.
What are the bass limits at Loyalhanna Lake?
Bass (June 13 to Sept. 30): 6 (combined species); minimum 12 inches; June 13 through Sept. 30.
What do license fees run for a trip to Loyalhanna 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.
Will Loyalhanna Lake see stocked fish in 2026?
The 2026 schedule has 1 entries, beginning 2026.
Which tackle store is handiest to Loyalhanna Lake?
Moff Frank F is nearest, 9 miles away.
Does Loyalhanna Lake have a level reading?
The water level band above shows USGS and the Corps of Engineers.
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