Pennsylvania Lake Erie Fishing Rules
Pennsylvania Lake Erie limits for walleye, perch, bass and trout on the lake, Presque Isle Bay and the steelhead tributaries, with the Lake Erie permit and VHS rules.
For weighing a catchPiscifun Lip gripper with digital scale27% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Presque Isle State Park: Cards84664, CC BY-SA 4.0
Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay limits in Pennsylvania
| Species | Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muskellunge and tiger muskellunge | Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters and tributaries | 1; minimum 40 inches | Open year-round |
| Northern pike | Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters and tributaries | 2; minimum 24 inches | Open year-round |
| Walleye | Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters and tributaries | 6; minimum 15 inches | Jan. 1 through March 14 and May 2 through Dec. 31 |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters and tributaries | 4 (combined species); minimum 15 inches | Jan. 1 through April 10 and June 13 through Dec. 31 |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters and tributaries | 1; minimum 20 inches | April 11 through June 12 |
| Yellow perch | Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters and tributaries | 30; minimum 7 inches (Dec. 1 – April 30); none May 1 – Nov. 30 | Dec. 1 through April 30 (7-inch minimum); May 1 through Nov. 30 (no minimum) |
| Sunfish, crappies, catfish, rock bass, suckers, eels, carp, white bass, bowfin and other g | Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters and tributaries | 50 (combined species) | Open year-round |
| Burbot (scuba divers, nonmechanical spears or gigs at 60 feet or deeper) | Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters | 5 | June 1 through Sept. 30 |
| Burbot (hook and line) | Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters and tributaries | 5 | Open year-round |
| Smelt (hook and line) | Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters and tributaries | No daily limit | Open year-round |
| Brook and brown trout | Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters and tributaries | 5 (combined trout and salmon); minimum 9 inches | 8 a.m. opening day of the regular trout season until midnight Labor Day |
| Brook and brown trout | Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters and tributaries | 3 (combined trout and salmon); minimum 15 inches | 12:01 a.m. the day after Labor Day until 12:01 a.m. the Friday before the opening day of the regular trout sea |
| Rainbow trout (steelhead) and salmon | Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters and tributaries | 3 (combined species); minimum 15 inches | 8 a.m. opening day of the regular trout season until 12:01 a.m. the Friday before opening day the following ye |
| Lake trout | Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters and tributaries | 2; minimum 15 inches | 8 a.m. opening day of the regular trout season until 12:01 a.m. the Friday before opening day the following ye |
| Baitfish/fishbait | Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters and tributaries | 50 (combined species) | Open year-round |
| American eel | Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters and tributaries | 25; minimum 9 inches | Open year-round |
| Mussels/clams; sturgeon, spotted gar and other threatened and endangered species | Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters and tributaries | 0 | CLOSED YEAR-ROUND |
2026 Pennsylvania Fishing Summary (PA Fish and Boat Commission; in effect or proposed as of October 1, 2025, PDF revised February 27, 2026), page 14. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
Pennsylvania Lake Erie tributary limits
| Species | Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trout (all species) | All Lake Erie tributary streams | No daily limit | Closed to fishing or possessing trout from 12:01 a.m. April 3 until 8 a.m. April 4 (32 hours) |
| All species | All Lake Erie tributary streams (except Walnut Creek below Manchester Road Bridge and Elk Creek north of Route 5) | No daily limit | Sept. 8 until opening day of trout season: closed 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. |
| All species | Nursery waters: Trout Run and tributaries, Godfrey Run, Orchard Beach Run, Crooked Creek (where posted) | No daily limit | Closed to fishing, wading or possessing fishing equipment |
Nursery waters such as Godfrey Run are closed to fishing; the streams page lists each tributary and its access areas.
The Lake Erie permit and the VHS transport rule
All anglers fishing Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and their tributaries (including waters flowing into them) need a Lake Erie permit or combination trout/Lake Erie permit; not required on the East and West Basin ponds (Waterworks Ponds, Presque Isle State Park) or inland ponds, lakes and reservoirs in Erie County.
It is unlawful to transport VHS-susceptible fish out of the Lake Erie Watershed into other watersheds except when certain conditions are met; dead recreationally caught fish may be transported for human consumption.
Required on Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and tributaries including waters flowing into them; combination trout/Lake Erie permit available.
2026 Pennsylvania Fishing Summary (PA Fish and Boat Commission; in effect or proposed as of October 1, 2025, PDF revised February 27, 2026), page 5, 14. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
Keystone lakes and creeks seen from Pennsylvania Lake Erie Fishing Rules
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: diego_cue, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: George Neat, CC BY-SA 4.0
Questions on Pennsylvania’s Lake Erie Fishing rules
Do I need a Lake Erie permit in Pennsylvania?
Yes, on Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and their tributaries: $9.97 a year, or $20.97 for the combination trout and Lake Erie permit.
How many walleye may I keep on Lake Erie?
6; minimum 15 inches; season jan. 1 through march 14 and may 2 through dec. 31.
What is the yellow perch limit on Lake Erie?
30; minimum 7 inches (Dec. 1 – April 30); none May 1 – Nov. 30; season dec. 1 through april 30 (7-inch minimum); may 1 through nov. 30 (no minimum).
How many steelhead may I keep from a tributary?
No daily limit (trout (all species)); season closed to fishing or possessing trout from 12:01 a.m. april 3 until 8 a.m. april 4 (32 hours).
Do Lake Erie rules cover Presque Isle Bay?
Yes; the bay falls under the Lake Erie table of the Summary.
Can I take Erie baitfish to an inland lake?
No; VHS-susceptible fish may not leave the Lake Erie watershed for other watersheds.
Is Godfrey Run open to fishing?
No; it is a nursery water closed by regulation, though the mouth on the lake is fished.
Does a Fish-for-Free Day waive the Lake Erie permit?
Yes; on those two days no license or permit is needed, but every limit holds.
Where Pennsylvania Lake Erie Fishing Rules points next
- Pennsylvania Delaware River Fishing Rulesthe Delaware River and estuary table, circle hooks and border licenses
- Pennsylvania Special Regulation WatersBig Bass, panfish, brood stock and catch and release lakes, county waters
- Pennsylvania Trout Regulation Programsstocked, delayed harvest, trophy and fly waters by region
- Pennsylvania license and regulationsfees, openers and inland limits