Sylvan Lake Fishing
A 82-acre Pennsylvania lake in Luzerne County, year-round stocked trout water.
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A short guide to Sylvan Lake
The Fish and Boat Commission lists Sylvan Lake at 82 acres; it sits in Luzerne County. Pikes Creek, about 4 miles out, makes the nearest town. Water leaves it for Unt To Unt To Hunlock Ck (rm 4.96). It falls in the PFBC Northeast Region.
PFBC names bluegill and pumpkinseed, crappie, largemouth bass, redear sunfish, walleye and yellow perch for it. Trailers go in at 1 access area with a ramp. For trout it counts as year-round stocked trout water.
PFBC Lakes_Point layer (acres from NHD), Census places, retrieved October 23, 2026.
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Each chip marks a fish PFBC connects with Sylvan Lake.
PFBC WWCW species listing by water and PFBC stocking schedules, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Trout at Sylvan Lake
For trout, Sylvan Lake uses stocked trout water rules; check the opener and extended season rows below. It is one of the waters PFBC keeps open to trout fishing all year.
Fishing for trout here needs a trout permit ($14.97) on top of the license ($27.97 resident, $60.97 nonresident).
PFBC Stocked Trout Waters layer and 2026 Pennsylvania Fishing Summary (PFBC), p. 10, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Ramps that put boats on Sylvan Lake
- Sylvan Lake Accesspaved ramp, 6 trailer spaces, unlimited horsepower; owner PFBC
Other access areas near Sylvan Lake
- Harris Pond AccessHarris Pond, 3 miles northeast
- Moon Lake AccessMoon Lake, 6 miles east
- Union Township AccessNorth Branch Susquehanna River, 6 miles southeast
- Hunlock Township AccessNorth Branch Susquehanna River, 7 miles southeast
- Shickshinny AccessNorth Branch Susquehanna River, 7 miles south
- Crary Park boat launchNorth Branch Susquehanna River, 7 miles south
PFBC access areas layer (ramps and fishing-only sites), retrieved October 23, 2026.
Creel counts and minimum sizes at Sylvan Lake
| Species | Creel and size | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Trout (regular season) | 5 (combined species), streams, lakes and ponds; minimum 7 inches | Regular season: April 4 at 8 a.m. through Sept. 7 (statewide opening day) |
| Trout (extended season, stocked waters) | 3 (combined species); minimum 7 inches | Jan. 1 through Feb. 15 and Sept. 8 through Dec. 31 |
| 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 |
Sylvan Lake follows the inland table of the Summary, plus any program rule listed here.
2026 Pennsylvania Fishing Summary (PFBC), pp. 10-17, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Trout stocking dates at Sylvan Lake
Count on 2 PFBC stockings at Sylvan Lake this year, chiefly walleye; counts per visit stay unpublished.
| Date | Species | Program | Section | Meeting place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Walleye (fingerling) | warmwater/coolwater | ||
| October 7, 2026 | Rainbow trout | adult trout | . to | Sylvan Lake access |
PFBC Adult Trout Stocking Schedule, Fingerling Trout Schedule and Warmwater/Coolwater stockings (2026), retrieved October 23, 2026. Pennsylvania stocking.
Management reports on Sylvan Lake
PFBC Biologist Report Listing layer, retrieved October 23, 2026; older reports are history, not a current survey.
Nearby lakes and Sylvan Lake, side by side
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Ramps | Species | Stocked trout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sylvan Lake | 82 | 1 | 7 | yes | |
| Harris Pond | 3 miles northeast | 30 | 1 | 4 | |
| Pikes Creek Reservoir | 5 miles east | 400 | 0 | 5 | |
| Moon Lake | 6 miles east | 47 | 1 | 1 | yes |
| Lily Lake | 9 miles southeast | 161 | 1 | 5 | yes |
| Lake Jean | 9 miles northwest | 244 | 2 | 4 |
PFBC Lakes_Point, access areas and species listings, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Around Sylvan Lake
Reservoirs and lakes close to Sylvan Lake
- Harris Pond3 miles northeast
- Pikes Creek Reservoir5 miles east
- Moon Lake6 miles east
- Lily Lake9 miles southeast
- Lake Jean9 miles northwest
Where Sylvan Lake anglers stock up
- Bait Buddiesbait and tackle shop, Hunlock Creek, under a mile
- Bass Unlimitedbait and tackle shop, Nanticoke, 9 miles
- Sunnyside Marinamarina, Benton, 9 miles
- Nimrod Haven Hunting & Fishingbait and tackle shop, Hanover Township, 11 miles
- Dallas Sporting Goodsbait and tackle shop, Shavertown, 12 miles
- Smith Outdoor Connection, 669 Knob Mountain Rdbait and tackle shop, Berwick, 12 miles
Hire a guide for Sylvan Lake
- Boyds Nepa Guding Servicecharter, Waverly, (570) 417-5841
- Susquehanna Fishing Magazinefishing guide, Susquehanna River, Bloomsburg, (570) 441-4606
Overnight bases around Sylvan Lake
- Nanticoke9 miles
- Harveys Lake9 miles
- Plymouth11 miles
Sylvan Lake by county
- Luzerne Countyseat: Wilkes-Barre
Piscifun reels to bring along to Sylvan Lake
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A photo guide to fish at Sylvan Lake
Photo: Meine Mutter (Erlaubnis liegt vor), CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: James Mann from Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Tim Van Vliet, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
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Before you go to Sylvan Lake: common questions
Where in Pennsylvania is Sylvan Lake?
You will find it in Luzerne County, PFBC Northeast Region, about 4 miles from Pikes Creek.
How large is Sylvan Lake by PFBC count?
Roughly 82 acres.
Which access area serves Sylvan Lake?
There are 1 ramp access area; Sylvan Lake Access is the largest.
Does Sylvan Lake hold bass and panfish?
PFBC lists bluegill and pumpkinseed, crappie, largemouth bass, redear sunfish, walleye, yellow perch and rainbow trout.
Does Sylvan Lake have special regulations?
Bass (June 13 to Sept. 30): 6 (combined species); minimum 12 inches; June 13 through Sept. 30.
Which Pennsylvania license and permit fit Sylvan Lake?
Fishing for trout here needs a trout permit ($14.97) on top of the license ($27.97 resident, $60.97 nonresident).
When does PFBC stock Sylvan Lake?
2 visits in 2026, from 2026.
Who sells minnows on the way to Sylvan Lake?
Drive under a mile to Bait Buddies.
Spend an evening casting Sylvan Lake
Check the Summary rows before a fish goes on the stringer.