Rock Bass in Pennsylvania
rock bass under the 2026 Summary.
- 50 (combined specieslimit
- 3 lb 2 ozrecord
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of the species, not a Pennsylvania water: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
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A Pennsylvania profile of rock bass
Under PFBC rules Rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris) is game fish, covered by 3 water classes. Inland, on commonwealth inland waters (all waters not under lake erie, pymatuning, conowing, the rule is 50 (combined species); season open year-round.
The state record weighed 3 lb 2 oz, caught by David L. Weber at Elk Creek in 1971. 42 lake pages on this site carry it in their PFBC species list.
Rigging for rock bass in Pennsylvania
- Rocky areas of ponds and lakes. Riffles and pockets behind rock in rivers and streamsFound in
- Minnows, crayfish, grubs, nightcrawlers, hellgrammites, on a light wire hook-drifted along bottom. Weight with a few split shotOn the hook
- Small spinners & twistersLures
- Black, brown and greenLure colors
- 4-8 lb. testLine
- 4-8Hook size
- 1/16 to 1/8 oz.Lure size
- Mid-daySpring
- Early/late daySummer
- Early/late dayFall
From the PFBC Catch PA Fish page for this species, retrieved October 23, 2026.
Creel and season table for Pennsylvania rock bass
| 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 | 50 (combined species) | Open year-round |
| Conowingo Reservoir (Susquehanna River boundary) | Conowingo Reservoir up to Holtwood Dam | 15 (combined species) | Open year-round |
| Lake Erie | Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters and tributaries | 50 (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.
Pennsylvania record rock bass
| Entry | Weight | Angler | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bass, Rock | 3 lb 2 oz | David L. Weber | Elk Creek, Erie County | Erie | 1971 |
PFBC State Record Fish page, retrieved October 23, 2026; records are kept by weight only.
Lakes on the rock bass list
| Lake | County | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Pymatuning Reservoir | Crawford | 13,920 |
| Allegheny Reservoir | Warren | 12,081 |
| Raystown Lake | Huntingdon | 8,297 |
| Lake Wallenpaupack | 5,698 | |
| Youghiogheny River Lake | Fayette | 2,840 |
| East Branch Clarion River Lake | Elk | 1,161 |
| Keystone Lake, Armstrong County | Armstrong | 950 |
| Beltzville Lake | Carbon | 946 |
| Conneaut Lake | Crawford | 929 |
| Quemahoning Reservoir | Somerset | 899 |
| Yellow Creek Lake | Indiana | 720 |
| Piney Reservoir | Clarion | 690 |
| Harveys Lake | Luzerne | 658 |
| Tionesta Lake | Forest | 570 |
| Tioga Reservoir | Tioga | 470 |
| Promised Land Lake | Pike | 422 |
PFBC warmwater/coolwater species listing per lake (WWCW layer), retrieved October 23, 2026; largest lakes first.
Keystone lakes and creeks holding rock bass
Lake pages naming rock bass
- Pymatuning Reservoir13,920 acres
- Allegheny Reservoir12,081 acres
- Raystown Lake8,297 acres
- Lake Wallenpaupack5,698 acres
- Youghiogheny River Lake2,840 acres
- East Branch Clarion River Lake1,161 acres
- Keystone Lake, Armstrong County950 acres
- Beltzville Lake946 acres
- Conneaut Lake929 acres
- Quemahoning Reservoir899 acres
- Yellow Creek Lake720 acres
- Piney Reservoir690 acres
- Harveys Lake658 acres
- Tionesta Lake570 acres
- Tioga Reservoir470 acres
- Promised Land Lake422 acres
- Beaverdam Run Reservoir360 acres
- Crooked Creek Lake350 acres
- High Point Lake338 acres
- Mahoning Creek Lake279 acres
- Lake Carey262 acres
- Koon Lake233 acres
- Lake Winola198 acres
- Elmhurst Reservoir180 acres
Stream pages naming rock bass
- Susquehanna RiverDauphin County
- Delaware RiverNorthampton County
- Allegheny RiverPotter County
- Monongahela RiverAllegheny County
- North Branch Susquehanna RiverBradford County
- West Branch Susquehanna RiverCambria County
- Juniata RiverHuntingdon County
- Schuylkill RiverSchuylkill County
- Ohio RiverBeaver County
- Youghiogheny RiverSomerset County
- Clarion RiverJefferson County
- Loyalhanna CreekWestmoreland County
- French Creek, Crawford CountyCrawford County
- Conodoguinet CreekFranklin County
- Pine Creek, Tioga CountyTioga County
- Swatara CreekDauphin County
- Kiskiminetas RiverArmstrong County
- Conemaugh RiverWestmoreland 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 Booking a Keystone guide for rock bass
- Bass Fishing Charters With Capt. George Mrocharter, Sarver, (724) 816-4035
- Big Fat Bass Guide Servicefishing guide, Erie, (724) 790-4232
- Bassonlinefishing guide, Fairview, (724) 333-3898
- Big Bass Energy Llcfishing guide, Lancaster, (717) 278-2716
- The Bass Tutor Guide Servicefishing guide, Dalton, (570) 904-4978
Fish that share rules with rock bass
- White Bassgame fish
- Bluegillgame fish
- Pumpkinseedgame fish
- Redbreast Sunfishgame fish
- Crappiegame fish
- Yellow Perchgame fish
- White Perchgame fish
- Channel Catfishgame fish
- Flathead Catfishgame fish
- Bullhead Catfishgame fish
- Common Carpgame fish
- Freshwater Drumgame fish
Ridges, rivers and lakes around Rock Bass, pictured
Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: George Neat, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Dough4872, CC BY-SA 4.0
Questions on catching rock bass in Pennsylvania
What size limit covers rock bass in Pennsylvania?
50 (combined species) on commonwealth inland waters (all waters not under lake erie, pymatuning, conowing, season open year-round; other water classes have their own rows.
Who holds the Pennsylvania rock bass record?
3 lb 2 oz from Elk Creek in Erie County, caught by David L. Weber in 1971.
Which pages name rock bass?
133 water pages here list it, led by Pymatuning Reservoir, Allegheny Reservoir and Raystown Lake.
Is rock bass on the 2026 stocking lists?
The 2026 lists include no stockings of it.
Which Latin binomial does the PFBC print for rock bass?
Ambloplites rupestris; listed as game fish.
Can I fish for rock bass all year in Pennsylvania?
Open year-round on commonwealth inland waters (all waters not under lake erie, pymatuning, conowing.
How much does a license for rock bass cost?
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.
Is there a guide for rock bass here?
5 listings mention it, among them Bass Fishing Charters With Capt. George Mro.