Shenango River Lake Fishing
A 3,559-acre Pennsylvania reservoir in Mercer County.
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Getting to know Shenango River Lake
Shenango River Lake spans 3,559 acres according to PFBC, located in Mercer County. Its land and shoreline belong to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Clark lies roughly 2 miles from the PFBC point. Downstream, it drains into Shenango River. PFBC region: Northwest.
Fish on the PFBC roster: bluegill and pumpkinseed, channel catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, muskellunge and tiger muskellunge and northern pike. 9 access areas with ramps serve boats. PFBC program: Big Bass Program and Panfish Enhancement Lake. PFBC picks it as a Best Fishing Water.
PFBC Lakes_Point layer (acres from NHD), Census places, retrieved October 23, 2026.
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Linked chips open the Pennsylvania species page for each fish listed at Shenango River Lake.
PFBC WWCW species listing by water and PFBC stocking schedules, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Boat access around Shenango River Lake
- Shenango Recreation Areapaved ramp, 153 trailer spaces, dock, unlimited horsepower, fee; owner COE
- Mahaney Accesspaved ramp, 130 trailer spaces, dock, unlimited horsepower, fee; owner COE
- R.C. Marinapaved ramp, 50 trailer spaces, dock, unlimited horsepower, fee; owner COE
- Clark Recreation Areapaved ramp, 30 trailer spaces, dock, fishing pier, unlimited horsepower, fee; owner COE
- Hartford Accessboat ramp, 10 trailer spaces, unlimited horsepower; owner COE
- Parkers Landingpaved ramp, 10 trailer spaces, unlimited horsepower; owner COE
- Golden Run Accesspaved ramp, 6 trailer spaces, unlimited horsepower; owner COE
- West Middlesex Access on Shenango Riverpaved ramp, 6 trailer spaces, unlimited horsepower; owner PFBC
- Big Bend Accessboat ramp, parking 10 spaces or more, unlimited horsepower; owner COE
Where to fish from land at Shenango River Lake
- RT 18 Accessshore or carry-in access, unlimited horsepower
- Pymatuning State Park Launchshore or carry-in access
- RT 846 Accessshore or carry-in access, unlimited horsepower
- Greenvlle Riverside Parkshore or carry-in access
- Kidd's Mill Covered Bridge Parkshore or carry-in access
- New Hamburg fishing access, Delaware Twpshore or carry-in access
- Fishing Pierfishing pier, fishing pier
PFBC access areas layer (ramps and fishing-only sites), retrieved October 23, 2026.
Reservoir level at Shenango River Lake
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Shenango River Reservoir Near Sharpsville, Pa | 895.03 ft lake elevation | Oct 25 8:45 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 25, 2026 9:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
US Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District (CWMS) reading for Shenango River Lake, PA (NAVD88), recorded October 23, 2026; retrieved October 23, 2026. Values are provisional.
Keeping fish from Shenango River 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 |
The table repeats the statewide inland limits that govern Shenango River Lake.
Shenango River 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 |
| Panfish Enhancement Lake | Minimum lengths: sunfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, redear sunfish) 7 inches; crappies (black and white) 9 inches; yellow perch 9 inches. Daily limit 20 per species; where more than one species is regulated on the same water, 20 of each with no more than 50 panfish combined. Listed here: Crappie 9 inches. | p. 15 |
Extra rules posted for Shenango River Lake
- Big Bass Special Regulation (Summary page)
- Lake Panfish Enhancement Special Regulations (Summary page)
2026 Pennsylvania Fishing Summary (PFBC), pp. 10-17, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Stocking schedule for Shenango River Lake
PFBC schedules 4 stocking visits to Shenango River Lake in 2026, most often rainbow; the Commission prints dates and meeting places, not fish counts.
| Date | Species | Program | Section | Meeting place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Walleye (fingerling) | warmwater/coolwater | ||
| March 23, 2026 | Brown trout, Rainbow trout, Golden rainbow trout | adult trout | Hamburg Road Bridge (sr 4012) At New Hamburg. to Pipeline Crossing Upstream Of The Big Bend Access Area | Buhl Lake Parking Area |
| April 7, 2026 | Brown trout, Rainbow trout, Golden rainbow trout | adult trout | Hamburg Road Bridge (sr 4012) At New Hamburg. to Pipeline Crossing Upstream Of The Big Bend Access Area | Buhl Lake Parking Area |
| October 2, 2026 | Rainbow trout | adult trout | Hamburg Road Bridge (sr 4012) At New Hamburg. to Pipeline Crossing Upstream Of The Big Bend Access Area | Lamont Corners Int of SR18 & SR518 |
PFBC Adult Trout Stocking Schedule, Fingerling Trout Schedule and Warmwater/Coolwater stockings (2026), retrieved October 23, 2026. Pennsylvania stocking.
PFBC biologist reports on Shenango River Lake
- 2023 Lake Survey2023
- 2017 Lake Survey2017
- March 20102010
PFBC Biologist Report Listing layer, retrieved October 23, 2026; older reports are history, not a current survey.
Lakes near Shenango River Lake compared
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Ramps | Species | Stocked trout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shenango River Lake | 3,559 | 9 | 13 | ||
| Buhl Lake | 4 miles southwest | 0 | 0 | yes | |
| Lake Latonka | 13 miles east | 260 | 1 | 0 | |
| Lake Wilhelm | 18 miles northeast | 1,739 | 9 | 7 | |
| Mud Lake | 18 miles north | 16 | 0 | 2 | |
| Pymatuning Reservoir | 21 miles north | 13,920 | 16 | 10 |
PFBC Lakes_Point, access areas and species listings, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Within reach of Shenango River Lake
Still water worth the drive from Shenango River Lake
- Buhl Lake4 miles southwest
- Lake Latonka13 miles east
- Lake Wilhelm18 miles northeast
- Mud Lake18 miles north
- Pymatuning Reservoir21 miles north
Tackle counters within reach of Shenango River Lake
- Bill's Field & Stream & Archerybait and tackle shop, Transfer, 1 mile
- Jamestown Boat Rental Incmarina, Greenville, 6 miles
- R & L Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Greenville, 6 miles
- Hot Spot Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Jamestown, 13 miles
- Neshannock Creek Fly Shop Incfly shop, Volant, 16 miles
- Lake Wilhelm Marina & Snack Shopmarina, Sandy Lake, 17 miles
Charter and guide options at Shenango River Lake
- Urban Fly Companyfly fishing guide, Hermitage, (724) 977-2477
- Hooked On Fishin'fishing guide, Mercer, (724) 944-8766
- Netfish And Chillfishing guide, Stoneboro, (724) 841-7975
Lodging bases for Shenango River Lake
- Sharpsville4 miles
- Hermitage5 miles
- Sharon6 miles
County guides along Shenango River Lake
- Mercer Countyseat: Mercer
Reels and a scale grip for a Shenango River Lake outing
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Species of Shenango River Lake in photographs
Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Nick Loveland, CC0
Photo: Zitsman Carl, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: James Mann from Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, CC BY 2.0
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Planning a Shenango River Lake trip: the questions
How do I find Shenango River Lake on a Pennsylvania map?
PFBC places it in Mercer County, PFBC Northwest Region, about 2 miles from Clark.
How much surface does Shenango River Lake cover on the PFBC list?
3,559 acres, by the PFBC lake layer.
Where is the boat launch at Shenango River Lake?
9 ramp access areas, including Shenango Recreation Area.
Which fish has PFBC listed at Shenango River Lake?
On the PFBC roster: bluegill and pumpkinseed, channel catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, muskellunge and tiger muskellunge, northern pike and smallmouth bass.
What may I keep from Shenango River 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 and Panfish Enhancement Lake.
Is a Pennsylvania license required at Shenango River 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.
Which hatchery fish does PFBC send to Shenango River Lake?
Yes, 4 times in 2026 (first: 2026).
Where do Shenango River Lake anglers buy worms?
Bill's Field & Stream & Archery, about 1 mile away.
What is the pool level at Shenango River Lake?
See USGS and the Corps of Engineers in the level band.
Mark Shenango River Lake on the calendar
License fees, permits and every Summary table sit on the license page.