290 Lakes · 1,163 Rivers · 67 Counties · 777 TownsPennsylvania state record fish
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Pennsylvania rivers

Ohio River Fishing

Beaver County and Allegheny County.

Get driving directionsAll Beaver County spots
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Photo: Cbaile19, CC0 1.0

Pennsylvania rivers

The Ohio River at a glance

PFBC follows the Ohio River, a river, over the ground of Beaver County and Allegheny County. Summed PFBC sections come to about 40.5 miles. Under a mile separates the mapped point from Glasgow.

Live readings come from 6 active gauges. Access on file: 11 ramp access areas.

40.5miles in PA
6USGS gauges
11ramps

PFBC Fisheries_AllSections and trout layers, Census places, retrieved October 23, 2026.

Directions to the Ohio River
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Species

The species roster of the Ohio River

Channel catfish Crappie Muskellunge and tiger muskellunge Rock bass Sauger Smallmouth bass Spotted bass Walleye White bass Striped bass hybrid

Every chip for the Ohio River has a PFBC record behind it.

PFBC trout layers, species listing, stocking schedules and state records, retrieved October 23, 2026.

Flow

The Ohio River at its gauges

USGS gaugeLatest readingTime (ET)
Ohio River At Emsworth Dam Upper Pool @ Emsworth17.39 ft gage heightNov 12 4:45 am
Ohio River At Emsworth Dam Lower Pool @ Emsworth13.79 ft gage heightNov 12 5:15 am
Ohio River At Sewickley, Pa11,000 cfs, 14.05 ft gage heightNov 12 5:15 am
Ohio River (lower Pool) At Sewickley, Pa13.37 ft gage heightNov 12 5:15 am
Ohio R Ab Montgomery Dam & Locks At Ohioview, Pa12.81 ft gage heightNov 12 5:15 am
Ohio River At Montgomery Lock & Dam, Lower Pool12.90 ft gage heightNov 12 4:45 am

US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 12, 2026 5:33 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.

USGS instantaneous values, provisional; Ohio River at Emsworth Dam Upper Pool @ Emsworth, Ohio River at Emsworth Dam Lower Pool @ Emsworth, Ohio River at Sewickley, PA and Ohio River (lower Pool) at Sewickley, PA.

Access

Put-ins and ramps serving the Ohio River

  • Rochester Accesspaved ramp, parking 10 spaces or more, dock, unlimited horsepower, Beaver County
  • Bridgewater Crossing Accessboat ramp, dock, Beaver County
  • Monaca Accessboat ramp, parking 10 spaces or more, dock, unlimited horsepower, Beaver County
  • Leetsdale Accesspaved ramp, 50 trailer spaces, dock, unlimited horsepower, Allegheny County
  • Chestnut Street Boat Ramp on Ohio Riverboat ramp, Allegheny County
  • Chestnut Street Accesspaved ramp, parking 10 spaces or more, unlimited horsepower, Allegheny County
  • B & L. Marinapaved ramp, 30 trailer spaces, dock, unlimited horsepower, Allegheny County
  • Kilbuck Accesspaved ramp, 40 trailer spaces, dock, unlimited horsepower, Allegheny County
  • Westhall Street Accessboat ramp, parking 10 spaces or more, Allegheny County
  • Heinz Quay Accessboat ramp, Allegheny County
  • Heinz Field Accessboat ramp, Allegheny County
  • Peggy's Harbor fishing access, Pittsburghshore or carry-in access, unlimited horsepower
  • Sewickley fishing access, Sewickleyshore or carry-in access
  • Sewickley Point fishing access, Sewickleyshore or carry-in access

PFBC access areas and USGS gauges, retrieved October 23, 2026.

Limits

The limits anglers follow on the Ohio River

SpeciesCreel and sizeSeason
Bass (June 13 to Sept. 30)6 (combined species); minimum 12 inchesJune 13 through Sept. 30
Bass (Jan. 1 to April 10, Oct. 1 to Dec. 31)4 (combined species); minimum 15 inchesJan. 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 muskellunge1 (combined species); minimum 40 inchesOpen year-round
Northern pike2; minimum 24 inchesOpen year-round
Chain pickerel4; minimum 18 inchesOpen year-round
Walleye and saugeye6; minimum 15 inchesJan. 1 through March 14 and May 2 through Dec. 31
Sunfish, crappie and other panfish50 (combined species)Open year-round
Catfish50 (combined species)Open year-round
Striped bass and hybrids2 (combined species); minimum 20 inchesOpen year-round
American shad3Open year-round

Statewide inland rules hold on the Ohio River, with section programs on top.

2026 Pennsylvania Fishing Summary (PFBC), pp. 10-14, retrieved October 23, 2026. All Pennsylvania limits.

Stocking

Hatchery trucks on the Ohio River

Expect 5 PFBC stockings on the Ohio River this year, the earliest 2026.

DateSpeciesProgramSectionMeeting place
2026Striped Bass hybrid (fingerling)warmwater/coolwaterDashields Lock And Dam At Edgeworth to Montgomery Lock And Dam At Ohioview
2026Striped Bass hybrid (fingerling)warmwater/coolwaterMontgomery Lock And Dam At Ohioview to Pa-oh State Line At Glasgow
2026Striped Bass hybrid (fingerling)warmwater/coolwaterThe Point At Pittsburgh to Emsworth Lock And Dam At Emsworth
2026Striped Bass hybrid (fingerling)warmwater/coolwaterEmsworth Lock And Dam At Emsworth to Dashields Lock And Dam At Edgeworth
2026Striped Bass hybrid (fingerling)warmwater/coolwaterDashields Lock And Dam At Edgeworth to Montgomery Lock And Dam At Ohioview

PFBC trout and warmwater/coolwater stocking schedules (2026), retrieved October 23, 2026.

Nearby

Around the Ohio River

Reservoirs and lakes close to the Ohio River

  • Raccoon Creek State Park Upper Pond **Permanent Drawdown**10 miles
  • Bradys Run Lake11 miles
  • Main Lake11 miles
  • Hopewell Township Park Pond14 miles

Where the Ohio River anglers stock up

  • Fishing Onlinebait and tackle shop, New Brighton, 12 miles
  • Reddi Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Beaver, 13 miles
  • Bridgewater Landings Marinamarina, Beaver, 13 miles
  • D J's Quick Stopbait and tackle shop, Clinton, 13 miles
  • Fc's Skate Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, New Brighton, 13 miles

Hire a guide for the Ohio River

  • 84 Lakescharter, Eighty Four, (724) 228-8527
  • Famous Fishermansfishing guide, Pittsburgh, (412) 521-8032
  • International Anglerfishing guide, Pittsburgh, (412) 788-8088

Overnight bases around the Ohio River

  • Midland3 miles
  • Ohioville4 miles
  • Industry6 miles
  • Beaver12 miles

Pennsylvania streams near the Ohio River

  • Mill Creek, Beaver Countyunder a mile
  • Raccoon Creek, Beaver County9 miles
  • North Fork Little Beaver Creek10 miles
  • South Branch Brady Run12 miles

the Ohio River by county

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Fish ID

Species of Ohio River in photographs

Sauger, Pennsylvania
Sauger
Photo: Nick Tobler (Cowturtle), CC BY 4.0
White Bass, Pennsylvania
White Bass
Photo: Virginia State Parks staff, CC BY 2.0
Striped Bass, Pennsylvania
Striped Bass
Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
Chain Pickerel, Pennsylvania
Chain Pickerel
Photo: James Mann from Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, CC BY 2.0
Answers

The Ohio River: questions Keystone anglers raise

Where does the Ohio River run in Pennsylvania?

Mapped, it runs across Beaver County and Allegheny County.

Is the Ohio River stocked or wild trout water?

PFBC lists no trout program on it.

Does a stream gauge report for the Ohio River?

Readings from 6 USGS gauges are above.

How many ramps line the Ohio River?

11 ramp access areas are mapped, Rochester Access among them.

Does the Ohio River have fly-fishing-only water?

Statewide inland limits cover it; no section program is listed.

Which Pennsylvania license and permit fit the Ohio River?

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.

Where can I pick up nightcrawlers near the Ohio River?

Fishing Online sits about 12 miles away.

Which species does PFBC tie to the Ohio River?

PFBC lists channel catfish, crappie, muskellunge and tiger muskellunge, rock bass, sauger and smallmouth bass.

Which town makes a good base for the Ohio River?

By air, Glasgow is under a mile away.

Does the 2026 PFBC schedule list the Ohio River?

The 2026 schedule has 5 entries from 2026.

Wade a few riffles of the Ohio River

PFBC limits and live flow sit on this page.

Pennsylvania riversLicense and limits