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Lake Marburg 21 mi
Photo: Idawriter, CC BY-SA 3.0 
Juniata River 23 mi
Photo: Bonnachoven, CC0 1.0 
Lancaster County 30 mi
Photo: Nicholas A. Tonelli, CC BY 2.0 
Susquehanna River 42 mi
Photo: 420Traveler, CC BY-SA 4.0
Pennsylvania lakes and reservoirs
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Pinchot Lake Fishing
A 340-acre Pennsylvania lake in York County.
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York County
Pinchot Lake, size and setting
In York County, Pinchot Lake is a lake of 340 acres by PFBC count. Gifford Pinchot State Park owns the water, per PFBC. Roughly 3 miles separates the lake point from Lewisberry. Overflow heads into Beaver Creek. PFBC handles it from its Southcentral Region office.
Listed fish include bluegill and pumpkinseed, chain pickerel, channel catfish, crappie, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. There are 4 access areas with ramps on its shore. Program rules apply: Big Bass Program. PFBC flags it as a Best Fishing Water.
340acres
4ramp access areas
8species listed
1scheduled stockings
PFBC Lakes_Point layer (acres from NHD), Census places, retrieved October 23, 2026.
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Fish managed in Pinchot Lake
PFBC sources behind Pinchot Lake: its species listing for the water, state records and planned stockings.
Bluegill and pumpkinseed Chain pickerel Channel catfish Crappie Largemouth bass Smallmouth bass Striped bass hybrid Walleye
PFBC WWCW species listing by water and PFBC stocking schedules, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Access
Ramps and access areas on Pinchot Lake
- Pinchot State Park – Boat Mooring #2paved ramp, 15 trailer spaces, dock, electric motors only; owner Bureau of State Parks
- Pinchot State Park – Boat Mooring #1boat ramp, 8 trailer spaces, electric motors only; owner Bureau of State Parks
- Pinchot State Park Campgroundpaved ramp, 8 trailer spaces, electric motors only; owner Bureau of State Parks
- Pinchot State Park – Boat Mooring #3paved ramp, parking roadside parking (no lot), dock, electric motors only; owner Bureau of State Parks
Boat launches within a tow of Pinchot Lake
- Lower Allen Township Community Park on Yellow Breeches CreekYellow Breeches Creek, 6 miles north
- Goldsboro AccessSusquehanna River, 8 miles northeast
- Falmouth AccessSusquehanna River, 9 miles east
- Steelton Boat LaunchSusquehanna River, 9 miles northeast
- New Market AccessSusquehanna River, 9 miles north
- Kings Road Campground AccessSusquehanna River, 9 miles east
PFBC access areas layer (ramps and fishing-only sites), retrieved October 23, 2026.
Limits
The keeper rules anglers follow at Pinchot 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 |
These Commonwealth inland waters rows cover Pinchot Lake unless a program or special regulation below says otherwise.
Extra regulations at Pinchot 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 |
Listed exceptions at Pinchot Lake
- Big Bass Special Regulation (Summary page)
2026 Pennsylvania Fishing Summary (PFBC), pp. 10-17, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Stocking
Fish stocked in Pinchot Lake this year
Stocking at Pinchot Lake in 2026: 1 entries, mainly striped bass hybrid, without fish numbers.
| Date | Species | Program | Section | Meeting place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Striped Bass hybrid (fingerling) | warmwater/coolwater |
PFBC Adult Trout Stocking Schedule, Fingerling Trout Schedule and Warmwater/Coolwater stockings (2026), retrieved October 23, 2026. Pennsylvania stocking.
Compare
How Pinchot Lake stacks up nearby
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Ramps | Species | Stocked trout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pinchot Lake | 340 | 4 | 8 | ||
| Middletown Reservoir | 13 miles northeast | 11 | 0 | 0 | yes |
| Childrens Lake | 14 miles west | 9 | 1 | 0 | yes |
| Lake Williams | 16 miles southeast | 220 | 1 | 8 | |
| Lake Redman | 17 miles southeast | 290 | 1 | 12 | |
| Lake Marburg | 21 miles south | 1,274 | 7 | 9 |
PFBC Lakes_Point, access areas and species listings, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Nearby
Neighbors of Pinchot Lake
Pennsylvania lakes near Pinchot Lake
- Middletown Reservoir13 miles northeast
- Childrens Lake14 miles west
- Lake Williams16 miles southeast
- Lake Redman17 miles southeast
- Lake Marburg21 miles south
Minnows, worms and line near Pinchot Lake
- Hawghead Marine & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Wellsville, 1 mile
- Rick's Campground & Marinamarina, Etters, 8 miles
- Hook Line-N-Sinkerbait and tackle shop, York Haven, 8 miles
- D2 Luresbait and tackle shop, York, 10 miles
- GRT Jigsbait and tackle shop, York, 10 miles
- Sportsman's Warehouse, 3500 Capital City Mall Drbait and tackle shop, Camp Hill, 10 miles
Permitted guides near Pinchot Lake
- Fishin' Fools Guide Svccharter, Harrisburg, (717) 652-3033
- Hooked On Catfishingcharter, Highspire, (717) 304-9843
- North Muddy Fish & Game Associatescharter, Felton, (717) 927-6324
- Flathead Fever Guide Servicefishing guide, Enola, (717) 422-0614
Keystone towns within reach of Pinchot Lake
- Valley Green6 miles
- Dover6 miles
- Messiah College7 miles
The counties Pinchot Lake touches
- York Countyseat: York
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Spinning and casting reels from Piscifun for Pinchot Lake
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Photographs
Photographs of lakes and creeks by Pinchot Lake
Photo: Idawriter, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Photo: Bonnachoven, CC0 1.0
Photo: Nicholas A. Tonelli, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: 420Traveler, CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers
Pinchot Lake: what Keystone anglers want to know
Which Pennsylvania county holds Pinchot Lake?
Look in York County, PFBC Southcentral Region, about 3 miles from Lewisberry.
How large is Pinchot Lake on PFBC maps?
340 acres of water.
Where can I launch a boat at Pinchot Lake?
4 ramp access areas, led by Pinchot State Park – Boat Mooring #2.
Which gamefish live in Pinchot Lake?
Listings show bluegill and pumpkinseed, chain pickerel, channel catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and striped bass hybrid.
Which Summary rules govern Pinchot Lake?
Bass (June 13 to Sept. 30): 6 (combined species); minimum 12 inches; June 13 through Sept. 30. Add the Big Bass Program rules on top.
What does an out-of-state angler pay at Pinchot 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.
Do PFBC trout trucks visit Pinchot Lake?
PFBC lists 1 stockings in 2026; the earliest is 2026.
Where can I pick up nightcrawlers near Pinchot Lake?
Hawghead Marine & Tackle is about 1 mile from the water.
Hitch the trailer for Pinchot Lake
The license page lists every Pennsylvania fee and season.