Chain Pickerel in Pennsylvania
Where to find chain pickerel, what to keep and the record.
- 4; minimum 18 incheslimit
- 8 lb 15 ozrecord
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of the species, not a Pennsylvania water: James Mann from Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, CC BY 2.0
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chain pickerel across Pennsylvania: rules, record, waters
In the Keystone State Chain pickerel (Esox niger) is game fish, with rows printed for 3 water classes. On commonwealth inland waters (all waters not under lake erie, pymatuning, conowing, the Summary allows 4; minimum 18 inches; season open year-round.
Dave Wilson holds the record at 8 lb 15 oz, from Long Pond (2002). It shows up in the PFBC listing for 60 lakes covered here.
The PFBC rules that apply to chain pickerel
| Water class | Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commonwealth inland waters | Commonwealth inland waters (all waters not under Lake Erie, Pymatuning, Conowingo or Delaware River and Estuary rules or | 4; minimum 18 inches | Open year-round |
| Conowingo Reservoir (Susquehanna River boundary) | Conowingo Reservoir up to Holtwood Dam | 5; minimum 14 inches | Open year-round |
| Delaware River and estuary | Delaware River, West Branch Delaware River, Delaware River tributaries to the limit of tidal influence, and the Lehigh R | 5; minimum 12 inches | Open 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 10 to 14. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
The heaviest chain pickerel on the PFBC list
| Entry | Weight | Angler | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pickerel, Chain | 8 lb 15 oz | Dave Wilson | Long Pond | Wayne | 2002 |
PFBC State Record Fish page, retrieved October 23, 2026; records are kept by weight only.
Biggest Pennsylvania lakes listing chain pickerel
| Lake | County | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Youghiogheny River Lake | Fayette | 2,840 |
| Glendale Lake | Cambria | 1,600 |
| Nockamixon Lake | Bucks | 1,450 |
| Shohola Marsh Reservoir | Pike | 1,134 |
| Ontelaunee Lake | 1,082 | |
| Beltzville Lake | Carbon | 946 |
| Green Lane Reservoir | Montgomery | 814 |
| Harveys Lake | Luzerne | 658 |
| Curwensville Lake | Clearfield | 540 |
| Shawnee Lake | Bedford | 451 |
| Promised Land Lake | Pike | 422 |
| Rose Valley Lake | Lycoming | 389 |
| Pinchot Lake | York | 340 |
| Mauch Chunk Lake | Carbon | 330 |
| Black Moshannon Lake | Centre | 250 |
| Gouldsboro Lake | Monroe | 250 |
PFBC warmwater/coolwater species listing per lake (WWCW layer), retrieved October 23, 2026; largest lakes first.
Pennsylvania water that holds chain pickerel
Reservoirs with chain pickerel
- Youghiogheny River Lake2,840 acres
- Glendale Lake1,600 acres
- Nockamixon Lake1,450 acres
- Shohola Marsh Reservoir1,134 acres
- Ontelaunee Lake1,082 acres
- Beltzville Lake946 acres
- Green Lane Reservoir814 acres
- Harveys Lake658 acres
- Curwensville Lake540 acres
- Shawnee Lake451 acres
- Promised Land Lake422 acres
- Rose Valley Lake389 acres
- Pinchot Lake340 acres
- Mauch Chunk Lake330 acres
- Black Moshannon Lake250 acres
- Gouldsboro Lake250 acres
- Lake Jean244 acres
- Walker Lake239 acres
- Elmhurst Reservoir180 acres
- White Oak Pond175 acres
- Lower Lake173 acres
- Frances Slocum Lake166 acres
- Lily Lake161 acres
- Kettle Creek Lake160 acres
Creeks with chain pickerel
- West Branch Susquehanna RiverCambria County
- Schuylkill RiverSchuylkill County
- Pine Creek, Tioga CountyTioga County
- Bald Eagle Creek, Centre CountyCentre County
- Penns CreekUnion County
- Muncy CreekLycoming County
- Middle Creek, Snyder CountySnyder County
PFBC species listings, Class A and stocked trout layers, the 2026 stocking schedule and state records; largest waters first.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Species grouped with chain pickerel
- Largemouth Bassgame fish
- Smallmouth Bassgame fish
- Spotted Bassgame fish
- Rock Bassgame fish
- Striped Bassgame fish
- White Bassgame fish
- Bluegillgame fish
- Pumpkinseedgame fish
- Redbreast Sunfishgame fish
- Crappiegame fish
- Yellow Perchgame fish
- White Perchgame fish
Images of the water near Chain Pickerel
Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael A. Orlando, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Matt Saunders, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Cbaile19, CC0 1.0
Short answers about Keystone chain pickerel
Which PFBC rule sets the chain pickerel limit?
4; minimum 18 inches on commonwealth inland waters (all waters not under lake erie, pymatuning, conowing, season open year-round; other water classes have their own rows.
When was the chain pickerel record set in Pennsylvania?
8 lb 15 oz from Long Pond in Wayne County, caught by Dave Wilson in 2002.
What Pennsylvania water has chain pickerel?
67 water pages here list it, led by Youghiogheny River Lake, Glendale Lake and Nockamixon Lake.
Does the PFBC stock chain pickerel?
No 2026 stocking row names it.
Which Latin name goes with chain pickerel?
Esox niger; listed as game fish.
Is the Keystone chain pickerel season open today?
Open year-round on commonwealth inland waters (all waters not under lake erie, pymatuning, conowing.
Which Pennsylvania license should a chain pickerel angler buy?
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.
Do any PFBC-permitted guides list chain pickerel?
No listing names it; the guides page has every permit holder.
Chase chain pickerel this year
Each water listed above has ramps, species and limits on its own page.