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Crappie
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain 
Chain Pickerel
Photo: Hellion102792, CC BY-SA 4.0 
Striped Bass
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region, Public domain 
American Shad
Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
Pennsylvania lakes and reservoirs
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Sugar Lake Fishing
A 90-acre Pennsylvania lake in Crawford County.
Pick for bluegillPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Conneaut Lake: Tim Engleman from Saxonburg, PA, CC BY-SA 2.0
Crawford County
A short guide to Sugar Lake
The Fish and Boat Commission lists Sugar Lake at 90 acres; it sits in Crawford County. Cooperstown, about 6 miles out, makes the nearest town. Water leaves it for Lake Creek. It falls in the PFBC Northwest Region.
PFBC names bluegill and pumpkinseed, crappie, largemouth bass, muskellunge and tiger muskellunge, northern pike and yellow perch for it. Trailers go in at 1 access area with a ramp. It is enrolled in Big Bass Program. The Commission lists it among its Best Fishing Waters.
90acres
1ramp access areas
6species listed
1counties
PFBC Lakes_Point layer (acres from NHD), Census places, retrieved October 23, 2026.
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What anglers catch at Sugar Lake
Each chip marks a fish PFBC connects with Sugar Lake.
Bluegill and pumpkinseed Crappie Largemouth bass Muskellunge and tiger muskellunge Northern pike Yellow perch
PFBC WWCW species listing by water and PFBC stocking schedules, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Access
Ramps that put boats on Sugar Lake
- Sugar Lake Accessboat ramp, 8 trailer spaces, 10 hp; owner PFBC
Other access areas near Sugar Lake
- Game Land 69 Pond AccessGameland 69 Pond, 4 miles north
- Access #5Tamarack Lake, 7 miles west
- Access #3Tamarack Lake, 8 miles west
- Access #2 on Tamarack LakeTamarack Lake, 8 miles west
- Shaws LandingFrench Creek, 8 miles west
- Springs Road AccessTamarack Lake, 9 miles west
PFBC access areas layer (ramps and fishing-only sites), retrieved October 23, 2026.
Limits
Creel counts and minimum sizes at Sugar 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 |
Sugar Lake follows the inland table of the Summary, plus any program rule listed here.
Special rules at Sugar 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 |
Rules unique to Sugar Lake
- Big Bass Special Regulation (Summary page)
- Brood Stock Lakes Program: Musky, Pike and Pickerel (Summary page)
2026 Pennsylvania Fishing Summary (PFBC), pp. 10-17, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Surveys
Management reports on Sugar Lake
- Spring 2024 Trap Net and Night Boat Electrofishing Surveys2024
- Spring 2017 Trap Net and Night Bass Electrofishing Survey2017
- April 16 & May 22, 20072007
PFBC Biologist Report Listing layer, retrieved October 23, 2026; older reports are history, not a current survey.
Compare
Nearby lakes and Sugar Lake, side by side
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Ramps | Species | Stocked trout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sugar Lake | 90 | 1 | 6 | ||
| Erie Nwr Pool K | 2 miles northwest | 15 | 0 | 4 | |
| Erie Nwr Pool Number Nine | 2 miles northwest | 56 | 0 | 3 | |
| Tamarack Lake, Crawford County | 8 miles west | 562 | 5 | 6 | |
| Two Mile Run Reservoir | 11 miles southeast | 144 | 1 | 9 | yes |
| Woodcock Creek Lake | 12 miles northwest | 325 | 1 | 8 |
PFBC Lakes_Point, access areas and species listings, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Nearby
Around Sugar Lake
Reservoirs and lakes close to Sugar Lake
- Erie Nwr Pool K2 miles northwest
- Erie Nwr Pool Number Nine2 miles northwest
- Tamarack Lake, Crawford County8 miles west
- Two Mile Run Reservoir11 miles southeast
- Woodcock Creek Lake12 miles northwest
Where Sugar Lake anglers stock up
- Griffins Bait & Tackle Shopbait and tackle shop, Cooperstown, 6 miles
- Taylor's Bait & Tackle, 36981 State Highway 408bait and tackle shop, Centerville, 10 miles
- Baits Are Usbait and tackle shop, Utica, 10 miles
- Sue's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Cooperstown, 11 miles
- Jigger Wholesalebait and tackle shop, Franklin, 12 miles
- Black Knight Industriesbait and tackle shop, Franklin, 12 miles
Hire a guide for Sugar Lake
- Bayle Out Sportfishingcharter, Erie, (814) 840-1145
- Dutch Fork Fishing Charterscharter, Girard, (724) 230-6233
- PA State Championship Fishing Tournament Inccharter, Tidioute, (814) 484-3585
- Something Catchy Charterscharter, East Springfield, (814) 460-4600
Overnight bases around Sugar Lake
- Cochranton6 miles
- Sugarcreek11 miles
- Meadville12 miles
Sugar Lake by county
- Crawford Countyseat: Meadville
Piscifun
Piscifun reels to bring along to Sugar Lake
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Fish ID
A photo guide to fish at Sugar Lake
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
_(53084649608).jpg){kind=link}
Photo: Hellion102792, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region, Public domain
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Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
_(12599984823).jpg){kind=link}
Answers
Before you go to Sugar Lake: common questions
Where in Pennsylvania is Sugar Lake?
You will find it in Crawford County, PFBC Northwest Region, about 6 miles from Cooperstown.
How large is Sugar Lake by PFBC count?
Roughly 90 acres.
Which access area serves Sugar Lake?
There are 1 ramp access area; Sugar Lake Access is the largest.
Does Sugar Lake hold bass and panfish?
PFBC lists bluegill and pumpkinseed, crappie, largemouth bass, muskellunge and tiger muskellunge, northern pike and yellow perch.
Does Sugar Lake have special regulations?
Bass (June 13 to Sept. 30): 6 (combined species); minimum 12 inches; June 13 through Sept. 30. The Big Bass Program listing changes some limits.
Which Pennsylvania license and permit fit Sugar 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.
When does PFBC stock Sugar Lake?
Not on the 2026 schedule.
Who sells minnows on the way to Sugar Lake?
Drive about 6 miles to Griffins Bait & Tackle Shop.
Spend an evening casting Sugar Lake
Check the Summary rows before a fish goes on the stringer.