Lake Trout in Pennsylvania
PFBC limits, the record and waters for lake trout.
- 2; minimum 15 incheslimit
- 31 lb 13 ozrecord
Pick for lake troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of the species, not a Pennsylvania water: Knepp Timothy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Pennsylvania lake trout at a glance
Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) sits on the PFBC fish list as game fish, with Summary rows in 3 water classes. The lake erie, presque isle bay and peninsular waters and tributaries row reads 2; minimum 15 inches, with the season 8 a.m. opening day of the regular trout season until 12:01 a.m. the friday before opening day the following year.
A 31 lb 13 oz fish from Lake Erie, landed by Keith Miller in 2019, is the PFBC record.
For the lake trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Pennsylvania seasons and limits for lake trout
| Water class | Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Erie | 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 year |
| Commonwealth inland waters | Commonwealth inland waters (all waters not under Lake Erie, Pymatuning, Conowingo or Delaware River and Estuary rules or | 5 (combined species), streams, lakes and ponds; minimum 7 inches | Regular season: April 4 at 8 a.m. through Sept. 7 (statewide opening day) |
| Commonwealth inland waters | Stocked trout waters (extended season) | 3 (combined species); minimum 7 inches | Jan. 1 through Feb. 15 and Sept. 8 through Dec. 31 |
| Commonwealth inland waters | Waters not managed as stocked trout waters (extended season) | NO HARVEST – catch and immediate release only | Jan. 1 through Feb. 15 and Sept. 8 through Dec. 31 |
| Conowingo Reservoir (Susquehanna River boundary) | Conowingo Reservoir up to Holtwood Dam | 2 (combined species) | 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.
lake trout entries on the PFBC record page
| Entry | Weight | Angler | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trout, Lake | 31 lb 13 oz | Keith Miller | Lake Erie | Erie | 2019 |
PFBC State Record Fish page, retrieved October 23, 2026; records are kept by weight only.
Guided trips for lake trout
- Spookintrout, Llcfishing guide, Gettysburg, (717) 752-0600
- Trout Yeah Llcfishing guide, Gibsonia, (412) 805-5970
- Trout Yeahfishing guide, Pittsburgh, (412) 620-3443
- Trout Boomerfishing guide, Altoona, (814) 569-8843
- Juniata Troutfittersfishing guide, Juniata River, Tyrone, (814) 574-9152
- Troutbitten, Llcfishing guide, Lemont, (814) 574-1773
- Trout Hippie Guide Servicefishing guide, Camp Hill, (717) 421-3411
- Brown Trout Addictionfishing guide, Kersey, (814) 512-7891
More Pennsylvania fish near lake trout on the list
- 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
A photo look at the water by Lake Trout
Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
_on_the_border_of_Ewing_Township,_Mercer_County,_New_Jersey_and_Lower_Makefield_Township,_Bucks_County,_Pennsylvania.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: Cards84664, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Matt Saunders, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Cbaile19, CC0 1.0
lake trout across the Commonwealth: questions
How many lake trout does a Pennsylvania angler take home?
2; minimum 15 inches on lake erie, presque isle bay and peninsular waters and tributaries, season 8 a.m. opening day of the regular trout season until 12:01 a.m. the friday before opening day the following year; other water classes have their own rows.
Is there a PFBC record for lake trout?
31 lb 13 oz from Lake Erie in Erie County, caught by Keith Miller in 2019.
Which Pennsylvania lakes hold lake trout?
Water pages on this site leave it out for now.
Are lake trout stocked in Pennsylvania?
The PFBC lists no 2026 stocking for it.
How does the PFBC class lake trout?
Salvelinus namaycush; listed as game fish.
In which months may lake trout be kept?
8 a.m. opening day of the regular trout season until 12:01 a.m. the Friday before opening day the following year on lake erie, presque isle bay and peninsular waters and tributaries.
Must visitors buy a license for lake trout?
Fishing for trout here needs a trout permit ($14.97) on top of the license ($27.97 resident, $60.97 nonresident).
Do outfitters list lake trout?
8 listings mention it, among them Spookintrout, Llc.
Head out for Keystone lake trout
Choose a lake or stream above and check its limits.