Fishing near Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie County, population 94,831.
- 4 milesto nearest lake
- 8ramps nearby
Pick for walleyePiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo: Cards84664, CC BY-SA 4.0
The water within a drive of Erie
Erie, a Erie County city, numbered 94,831 people in 2020. The closest lake with a page is West Basin Pond, roughly 4 miles to the northwest. With 246 acres, Howard Eaton Reservoir is the biggest nearby lake page. Boats can go in at Chestnut Street Boat Ramp on Presque Isle Bay, 2 miles from the center of town. The Lake Erie shore lies roughly 2 miles off.
2 lakes around town list walleye, starting with Leboeuf Lake. For trout, Cascade Creek lies about 2 miles from town. Anglers on foot can head 2 miles to Sassafras Pier Parking. PFBC trout stockings in 2026 met at 10 places within 10 miles, the first being Niagara Boat Launch Parking Lot.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Erie; distances are straight lines.
For the walleye herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 Lake pages closest to Erie
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Access areas | Trout | Species listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Basin Pond | 4 miles northwest | 3 | 0 | stocked trout lake | bluegill and pumpkinseed, crappie, largemouth bass |
| East Basin Pond | 4 miles northwest | 3 | 0 | stocked trout lake | bluegill and pumpkinseed, crappie, largemouth bass |
| Lake Pleasant | 12 miles southeast | 60 | 1 | stocked trout lake | bluegill and pumpkinseed, crappie, largemouth bass |
| Upper Gravel Pit | 12 miles southwest | 9 | 1 | stocked trout lake | bluegill and pumpkinseed, largemouth bass |
| Leboeuf Lake | 13 miles south | 70 | 1 | bluegill and pumpkinseed, crappie, largemouth bass | |
| Howard Eaton Reservoir | 15 miles east | 246 | 0 | bluegill and pumpkinseed, crappie, largemouth bass |
Stream pages near Erie
- Mill Creek, Erie County2 miles, Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay, and Tributary Regulations
- Cascade Creek2 miles, stocked (1,100 adult trout in 2026); Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay, and Tributary Regulations
- West Branch Cascade Creek2 miles, Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay, and Tributary Regulations
- Fourmile Creek4 miles, Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay, and Tributary Regulations
- Sixmile Creek6 miles, Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay, and Tributary Regulations
- Sevenmile Creek7 miles, Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay, and Tributary Regulations
PFBC Lakes_Point, species listings, stocked trout waters and stream layers, retrieved October 2026.
Where to fish near Erie, plotted
- Chestnut Street Boat Ramp on Presque Isle BayPresque Isle Bay, 2 miles
- Bay Harbor Public RampPresque Isle Bay, 2 miles
- East Avenue Boat Ramp on Lake ErieLake Erie, 2 miles
- Lampe MarinaLake Erie, 2 miles
- Old Lagoon AccessPresque Isle Bay, 3 miles
- Lawrence Park Boat Ramp – PWC OnlyLake Erie, 3 miles
- New Lagoon AccessPresque Isle Bay, 3 miles
- West Pier Launch on Presque Isle BayPresque Isle Bay, 3 miles
Bank and pier spots around Erie
- Sassafras Pier ParkingLake Erie, 2 miles
- Erie Port Authority-Fishing PierLake Erie, 2 miles
- Lawrence Park Golf Club AccessFourmile Creek, 4 miles
- Shades Beach Boat Ramp fishing access, HarborcreekLake Erie, 8 miles
- Walnut 0.562 rt, fishing access, FairviewWalnut Creek, 9 miles
- Dutch Road Access, Walnut CreekWalnut Creek, 9 miles
PFBC access areas layer, retrieved October 2026.
Stocking days close to Erie
| Date | Water | Species | Meeting place | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 12, 2026 | West Basin Pond | Brown trout | Niagara Boat Launch Parking Lot | 4 miles |
| March 12, 2026 | East Basin Pond | Brown trout | Niagara Boat Launch Parking Lot | 4 miles |
| April 3, 2026 | Cascade Creek | Brown trout | St. Francis-Xavier church parking lot-RT99 McKean | 2 miles |
| April 3, 2026 | Elk Creek | Brown trout | St. Francis-Xavier church parking lot-RT99 McKean | 9 miles |
| April 7, 2026 | Cascade Creek | Brown trout | Niagara Boat Launch Parking Lot | 2 miles |
| April 7, 2026 | West Basin Pond | Brown trout | Niagara Boat Launch Parking Lot | 4 miles |
| April 7, 2026 | East Basin Pond | Brown trout | Niagara Boat Launch Parking Lot | 4 miles |
| April 13, 2026 | Elk Creek | Brown trout | St. Francis-Xavier church parking lot-RT99 McKean | 9 miles |
| Dec. 14, 2026 | West Basin Pond | Brown trout | Niagara Boat Launch Parking Lot | 4 miles |
| Dec. 14, 2026 | East Basin Pond | Brown trout | Niagara Boat Launch Parking Lot | 4 miles |
PFBC 2026 adult trout stocking schedule (fbweb.pa.gov/TroutStocking); distance to the upper limit of the stocked section. Retrieved October 2026.
Current streamflow near Erie
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Walnut Creek Upstream Pool, Near Erie, Pa | 9 cfs, 3.21 ft gage height | Oct 25 11:30 pm |
| West Branch French Creek Near Lowville, Pa | 77 cfs, 3.71 ft gage height | Sep 30 11:00 pm Not updated since Sep 30, 1993. |
| Brandy Run Near Girard, Pa | 1 cfs, 1.47 ft gage height | Oct 25 11:30 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 26, 2026 12:33 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Tackle and guide help near Erie
Tackle counters within reach of Erie
- Erie Western PA Port Authoritymarina, Erie, under a mile
- Presque Isle Angler Bait & Tackle Docksidebait and tackle shop, Erie, 2 miles
- Wolverine Park Marinamarina, Erie, 2 miles
- Anchor Marine Ltdmarina, Erie, 2 miles
- Port of Eriemarina, Erie, 2 miles
- Bay Harbor Marina Servicemarina, Erie, 2 miles
- Perry's Landing Marinamarina, Erie, 2 miles
- Sierra, 5800 Peach St Unit 203bait and tackle shop, Erie, 3 miles
Charter and guide options at Erie
- 12 Mile Charterscharter, Erie, (814) 806-5555
- Angleharder – The Fishing Chartercharter, Erie, (814) 882-4968
- Bayle Out Sportfishingcharter, Erie, (814) 840-1145
- Big Fat Bass Guide Servicefishing guide, Erie, (724) 790-4232
- Bomber Charterscharter, Erie, (724) 683-1053
- Ciao Charterscharter, Erie, (814) 882-7428
- Ditch Chicken Charterscharter, Erie, (814) 460-0726
- Dogs Life Sport Fishingfishing guide, Erie, (605) 840-4363
- Erie Doghouse Charterscharter, Erie
- Goose’S Steelhead Fishing Guide Servicefishing guide, Erie, (724) 977-1755
Yellow Pages listings and the PFBC guide permit list, retrieved October 2026.
Fishing events around Erie
| Date | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 12, 2027 | PA B.A.S.S. Nation 2027 State Circuit, Lake Erie (Presque Isle) | Lake Erie | PA B.A.S.S. Nation |
| June 13, 2027 | PA B.A.S.S. Nation 2027 Team Trail, Lake Erie (Presque Isle) | Lake Erie | PA B.A.S.S. Nation |
| July 11, 2026 | PA B.A.S.S. Nation State Tournament, Lake Erie (2026) | Lake Erie | PA B.A.S.S. Nation |
| May 9, 2026 | PA B.A.S.S. Nation Kayak Series Event #3, Presque Isle Bay & Lake Erie (2026) | Presque Isle Bay | PA B.A.S.S. Nation |
Organizer schedule and results pages for Erie County events, checked October 2026.
Inland limits for water near Erie
A year of fishing runs $27.97 resident, $60.97 nonresident or $14.47 senior resident, for anyone 16 or older. Add the $14.97 trout permit to fish for trout.
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Trout (regular season) | 5 (combined species), streams, lakes and ponds; minimum 7 inches | Regular season: April 4 at 8 a.m. through Sept. 7 (statewide opening day) |
| Trout (extended season, stocked waters) | 3 (combined species); minimum 7 inches | Jan. 1 through Feb. 15 and Sept. 8 through Dec. 31 |
| Bass (June 13 to Sept. 30) | 6 (combined species); minimum 12 inches | June 13 through Sept. 30 |
| Bass (Jan. 1 to April 10, Oct. 1 to Dec. 31) | 4 (combined species); minimum 15 inches | Jan. 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 muskellunge | 1 (combined species); minimum 40 inches | Open year-round |
| Northern pike | 2; minimum 24 inches | Open year-round |
| Chain pickerel | 4; minimum 18 inches | Open year-round |
| Walleye and saugeye | 6; minimum 15 inches | Jan. 1 through March 14 and May 2 through Dec. 31 |
| Sunfish, crappie and other panfish | 50 (combined species) | Open year-round |
| Catfish | 50 (combined species) | Open year-round |
| Striped bass and hybrids | 2 (combined species); minimum 20 inches | Open year-round |
| American shad | 3 | Open year-round |
2026 Pennsylvania Fishing Summary (PFBC), Commonwealth inland waters table. Lake pages show program rules and exceptions.
Within reach of Erie
Lodging bases for Erie
- Wesleyville3 miles
- Lawrence Park3 miles
- Northwest Harborcreek5 miles
- Fairview11 miles
- Waterford13 miles
County guides along Erie
- Erie Countyseat: Erie
Reels and a scale grip for a Erie outing
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Species of Erie in photographs
Photo: Eric Engbretson for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: Robert Pos, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Photo: Jeangagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Planning a fishing day out of Erie
How far is Erie from a lake page?
West Basin Pond, 4 miles northwest.
How far is the first ramp from Erie?
Chestnut Street Boat Ramp on Presque Isle Bay, 2 miles away.
What is the nearest walk-in PFBC site to Erie?
Sassafras Pier Parking, about 2 miles off.
Which tackle counter is the shortest drive from Erie?
Nearest on the list: Erie Western PA Port Authority (under a mile).
Can Erie anglers reach a walleye lake easily?
The PFBC lists walleye at Leboeuf Lake, 13 miles off.
Which county page covers Erie?
It lies in Erie County.
How many miles separate Erie from trout water?
Cascade Creek, roughly 2 miles, stocked (1,100 adult trout in 2026); Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay, and Tributary Regulations.
Does Erie follow the statewide trout opener?
April 4, 2026 at 8 a.m.; April 3, 2027 for 2027.
How much does a few days of fishing near Erie cost?
Visitors pay $60.97 for the nonresident annual license, or buy a 3-day or 7-day tourist license.
Where do stocking crews meet near Erie?
West Basin Pond on March 12, 2026, meeting at Niagara Boat Launch Parking Lot (4 miles away); 10 stops within 10 miles are listed above.
Start a fishing weekend in Erie
Each lake and stream above has its own page.