Steelhead in Pennsylvania
Where to find steelhead, what to keep and the record.
- 3 (combined species)limit
- 20 lb 3 ozrecord
Pick for steelheadPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of the species, not a Pennsylvania water: Jonathunder, CC BY-SA 3.0
steelhead across Pennsylvania: rules, record, waters
In the Keystone State Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is game fish, with rows printed for 1 water class. On lake erie, presque isle bay and peninsular waters and tributaries, the Summary allows 3 (combined species); minimum 15 inches; season 8 a.m. opening day of the regular trout season until 12:01 a.m. the friday before opening day the following year.
Corey T. Brown holds the record at 20 lb 3 oz, from Walnut Creek (2001). It appears 14 times on the 2026 PFBC stocking lists, covering 14 waters.
For the steelhead herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 The PFBC rules that apply to steelhead
| Water class | Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Erie | 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 year |
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 steelhead on the PFBC list
| Entry | Weight | Angler | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trout, Steelhead | 20 lb 3 oz | Corey T. Brown | Walnut Creek | Erie | 2001 |
PFBC State Record Fish page, retrieved October 23, 2026; records are kept by weight only.
Where PFBC stocks steelhead in 2026
PFBC adult and fingerling trout stocking schedules and warmwater/coolwater current year stockings, retrieved October 23, 2026; PFBC prints dates but no per-event numbers.
Pennsylvania water that holds steelhead
Creeks with steelhead
- Conneaut CreekErie County
- Elk Creek, Erie CountyErie County
- Walnut CreekErie County
- Sixmile CreekErie County
- Crooked Creek, Erie CountyErie County
- Sixteenmile CreekErie County
- Fourmile CreekErie County
- Twelvemile CreekErie County
- Trout Run near Avonia, Erie CountyErie County
- Sevenmile CreekErie County
- Eightmile CreekErie County
- Raccoon Creek, Erie CountyErie County
- Turkey CreekErie County
- Twentymile CreekErie County
- Orchard Beach CreekErie County
- Cascade CreekErie County
- Godfrey RunErie County
PFBC species listings, Class A and stocked trout layers, the 2026 stocking schedule and state records; largest waters first.
Pennsylvania guides who mention steelhead
- Steelhead Jones Guide Servicefishing guide, Titusville, (814) 460-4840
- Goose’S Steelhead Fishing Guide Servicefishing guide, Erie, (724) 977-1755
- Steelhead Junkies Guide Servicefishing guide, Fairview, (814) 392-2922
- Solitude Steelhead Guide Servicefishing guide, Portersville, (724) 972-8813
Species grouped with steelhead
- Chinook Salmongame fish
- Coho Salmongame fish
- Pink Salmongame fish
- Atlantic Salmongame fish
- Largemouth Bassgame fish
- Smallmouth Bassgame fish
- Spotted Bassgame fish
- Rock Bassgame fish
- Striped Bassgame fish
- White Bassgame fish
- Bluegillgame fish
- Pumpkinseedgame fish
Images of the water near Steelhead
Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael A. Orlando, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
Short answers about Keystone steelhead
Which PFBC rule sets the steelhead limit?
3 (combined species); 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.
When was the steelhead record set in Pennsylvania?
20 lb 3 oz from Walnut Creek in Erie County, caught by Corey T. Brown in 2001.
What Pennsylvania water has steelhead?
17 water pages here list it, led by Conneaut Creek, Elk Creek, Erie County and Walnut Creek.
Does the PFBC stock steelhead?
Yes; the 2026 lists carry 14 rows on 14 waters, most on Cascade Creek.
Which Latin name goes with steelhead?
Oncorhynchus mykiss; listed as game fish.
Is the Keystone steelhead season open today?
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.
Which Pennsylvania license should a steelhead angler buy?
Fishing for trout here needs a trout permit ($14.97) on top of the license ($27.97 resident, $60.97 nonresident).
Do any PFBC-permitted guides list steelhead?
4 listings mention it, among them Steelhead Jones Guide Service.
Chase steelhead this year
Each water listed above has ramps, species and limits on its own page.