Raystown Lake Fishing
A 8,297-acre Pennsylvania reservoir in Huntingdon County.
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Raystown Lake, size and setting
In Huntingdon County, Raystown Lake is a reservoir of 8,297 acres by PFBC count. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers owns the water, per PFBC. Roughly 4 miles separates the lake point from Marklesburg. Overflow heads into Raystown Branch Juniata River. PFBC handles it from its Southcentral Region office.
Listed fish include bluegill and pumpkinseed, channel catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, muskellunge and tiger muskellunge and rock bass. There are 7 access areas with ramps on its shore. PFBC flags it as a Best Fishing Water.
PFBC Lakes_Point layer (acres from NHD), Census places, retrieved October 23, 2026.
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PFBC sources behind Raystown Lake: its species listing for the water, state records and planned stockings.
PFBC WWCW species listing by water and PFBC stocking schedules, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Ramps and access areas on Raystown Lake
- James Creek Accesspaved ramp, 150 trailer spaces, dock, unlimited horsepower, fee; owner COE
- Snyder's Run Accesspaved ramp, 125 trailer spaces, dock, unlimited horsepower, fee; owner COE
- Shy Beaver Accesspaved ramp, 100 trailer spaces, dock, fishing pier, unlimited horsepower, fee; owner COE
- Aitch Accesspaved ramp, 75 trailer spaces, dock, fishing pier, unlimited horsepower, fee; owner COE
- Seven Points Accesspaved ramp, 75 trailer spaces, dock, unlimited horsepower, fee; owner COE
- Tatman Run Accesspaved ramp, 50 trailer spaces, dock, unlimited horsepower, fee; owner COE
- Weaver's Falls Accesspaved ramp, 50 trailer spaces, dock, unlimited horsepower, fee; owner COE
Boat launches within a tow of Raystown Lake
- Corbin's Island AccessJuniata River, Raystown Branch, 7 miles northeast
- Mapleton Riverside Park AccessJuniata River, 9 miles east
- Point AccessJuniata River, Raystown Branch, 9 miles northeast
- Smithfield Riverside ParkJuniata River, 9 miles northeast
- Heritage Cove Resort AccessJuniata River, Raystown Branch, 11 miles southwest
PFBC access areas layer (ramps and fishing-only sites), retrieved October 23, 2026.
How full Raystown Lake is
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Raystown Lake Near Huntingdon, Pa | 785.22 ft lake elevation | Oct 25 11:00 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 25, 2026 11:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
US Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District (CWMS) reading for Raystown Lake (local gauge datum), recorded October 23, 2026; retrieved October 23, 2026. Values are provisional.
The keeper rules anglers follow at Raystown 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 Raystown Lake unless a program or special regulation below says otherwise.
Listed exceptions at Raystown Lake
- Cast or Throw Net Miscellaneous Special Regulation (Summary page)
- Huntingdon County listingTrout (all species) no closed season. Creel limit 5 per day during regular season; 3 per day from the day after Labor Day to 8 a.m. on the opening day of the next regular season, minimum size – 7 inches.; Raystown Lake and Tributaries – Smelt may be taken with a dip net from the shore or by wading only. Dip net may not
2026 Pennsylvania Fishing Summary (PFBC), pp. 10-17, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Fish stocked in Raystown Lake this year
Stocking at Raystown Lake in 2026: 1 entries, mainly walleye, without fish numbers.
| Date | Species | Program | Section | Meeting place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Walleye (fingerling) | warmwater/coolwater |
PFBC Adult Trout Stocking Schedule, Fingerling Trout Schedule and Warmwater/Coolwater stockings (2026), retrieved October 23, 2026. Pennsylvania stocking.
PFBC record entries for Raystown Lake
| Species | Weight | Angler | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bass, Striped – Inland | 53 lb. 12 oz. | Robert Price | 1994 |
| Salmon, Atlantic | 17 lb. 2 oz. | Brian Keller | 2001 |
PFBC State Record Fish page, retrieved October 23, 2026. All Pennsylvania records.
Survey reports for Raystown Lake
- Striped Bass Evaluation – Spring 20162017
- Sampling Technique – Night Electrofishing April 6, 20052005
- March 29, 20042004
PFBC Biologist Report Listing layer, retrieved October 23, 2026; older reports are history, not a current survey.
Competitive fishing at Raystown Lake
Coming Raystown Lake dates and earlier winners have a page apart.
How Raystown Lake stacks up nearby
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Ramps | Species | Stocked trout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raystown Lake | 8,297 | 7 | 13 | ||
| Canoe Creek Lake | 12 miles northwest | 155 | 2 | 8 | yes |
| Lake Perez | 23 miles northeast | 72 | 2 | 2 | yes |
| Whipple Lake | 25 miles northeast | 22 | 1 | 0 | yes |
| Greenwood Lake | 27 miles northeast | 6 | 0 | 0 | yes |
| Cowans Gap Lake | 27 miles south | 42 | 1 | 4 | yes |
PFBC Lakes_Point, access areas and species listings, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Neighbors of Raystown Lake
Pennsylvania lakes near Raystown Lake
- Canoe Creek Lake12 miles northwest
- Lake Perez23 miles northeast
- Whipple Lake25 miles northeast
- Greenwood Lake27 miles northeast
- Cowans Gap Lake27 miles south
Minnows, worms and line near Raystown Lake
- Seven Points Marinamarina, Hesston, 4 miles
- Full Performance Marinemarina, James Creek, 5 miles
- James Creek Boatsmarina, James Creek, 5 miles
- Raystown Guns & Outdoorsbait and tackle shop, Huntingdon, 8 miles
- ComptonFly Fly Shopfly shop, Alexandria, 12 miles
- Canoe Mountain Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Hollidaysburg, 13 miles
Permitted guides near Raystown Lake
- Raystown Lk Striper Guide Servicecharter, Raystown Lake, Hesston, (814) 658-2088
- Raystown Leisure Boating, Llcfishing guide, Raystown Lake, York, (717) 215-6313
Keystone towns within reach of Raystown Lake
- Williamsburg9 miles
- Huntingdon11 miles
- Mount Union12 miles
The counties Raystown Lake touches
- Huntingdon Countyseat: Huntingdon
Spinning and casting reels from Piscifun for Raystown Lake
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Photographs of lakes and creeks by Raystown Lake
Photo: Clyde Charles Brown, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: VitaleBaby, Public domain
Photo: JohnDziak, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: David Brossard, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Raystown Lake: what Keystone anglers want to know
Which Pennsylvania county holds Raystown Lake?
Look in Huntingdon County, PFBC Southcentral Region, about 4 miles from Marklesburg.
How large is Raystown Lake on PFBC maps?
8,297 acres of water.
Where can I launch a boat at Raystown Lake?
7 ramp access areas, led by James Creek Access.
Which gamefish live in Raystown Lake?
Listings show bluegill and pumpkinseed, channel catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, muskellunge and tiger muskellunge, rock bass and smallmouth bass.
Which Summary rules govern Raystown Lake?
Bass (June 13 to Sept. 30): 6 (combined species); minimum 12 inches; June 13 through Sept. 30.
What does an out-of-state angler pay at Raystown 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 Raystown Lake?
PFBC lists 1 stockings in 2026; the earliest is 2026.
Where can I pick up nightcrawlers near Raystown Lake?
Seven Points Marina is about 4 miles from the water.
How full is Raystown Lake today?
Check the level band: USGS and the Corps of Engineers.
Which state record belongs to Raystown Lake?
Bass, Striped – Inland, 53 lb. 12 oz., by Robert Price in 1994.
Hitch the trailer for Raystown Lake
The license page lists every Pennsylvania fee and season.