Fishing near Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster County, population 58,039.
- 12 milesto nearest lake
- 8ramps nearby
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Nicholas A. Tonelli, CC BY 2.0
What Lancaster puts within reach
58,039 people lived in Lancaster in 2020; it is a city of Lancaster County. Of the lake pages, Speedwell Forge Lake is closest at 12 miles to the north. The biggest lake on this list is Chester Octoraro Reservoir, 669 acres. Blue Rock Access, 10 miles off, is the nearest ramp on the PFBC list.
The nearest trout stream with a page is Swarr Run, 3 miles away. Rockford Road #2 fishing access, Lancaster City gives bank access about 1 mile away. Within 10 miles, 10 stocking meeting places appear on the 2026 schedule, including New Providence Baptist Church 1 mi N of Quarryville.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Lancaster; distances are straight lines.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 The lakes Lancaster anglers drive to
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Access areas | Trout | Species listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speedwell Forge Lake | 12 miles north | 106 | 3 | bluegill and pumpkinseed, channel catfish, crappie | |
| Muddy Run Recreation lake | 15 miles south | 98 | 0 | stocked, open year-round | bluegill and pumpkinseed, crappie, largemouth bass |
| Middle Creek Reservoir | 16 miles north | 361 | 1 | ||
| Chester Octoraro Reservoir | 21 miles southeast | 669 | 0 | bluegill and pumpkinseed, channel catfish, crappie | |
| Stovers Lake | 22 miles north | 26 | 1 | stocked trout lake | bluegill and pumpkinseed, crappie, largemouth bass |
| Lakeside Quarry | 23 miles north | 9 | 1 | stocked, open year-round |
Trout and river pages near Lancaster
- Swarr Run3 miles, stocked (1,000 adult trout in 2026)
- West Branch Little Conestoga Creek6 miles, stocked (1,200 adult trout in 2026)
- Cocalico Creek6 miles, wild trout reproduction
- Little Beaver Creek7 miles, stocked (2,400 adult trout in 2026)
- Muddy Run7 miles, stocked (700 adult trout in 2026)
- Big Beaver Creek7 miles, stocked (4,000 adult trout in 2026)
PFBC Lakes_Point, species listings, stocked trout waters and stream layers, retrieved October 2026.
The fishing map for Lancaster
- Blue Rock AccessSusquehanna River, Lake Clarke, 10 miles
- Columbia River ParkSusquehanna River, 11 miles
- Lake Clarke MarinaSusquehanna River, 11 miles
- Pequea AccessPequea Creek, 11 miles
- Susquehanna Yacht Club AccessSusquehanna River, 11 miles
- Speedwell Forge Lake Access near LititzSpeedwell Forge Lake, 11 miles
- Lock #2 Recreation Area on Susquehanna River near East Prospect (PFBC access 686)Susquehanna River, 11 miles
- Lake View Yacht Club AccessSusquehanna River, 11 miles
Shore sites within reach of Lancaster
- Rockford Road #2 fishing access, Lancaster CityConestoga River, 1 mile
- Conestoga Drive, Conestoga Greenway fishing access, Lancaster TownshipConestoga River, 1 mile
- Conestoga Drive North fishing access, Lancaster TownshipConestoga River, 1 mile
- Lampeter Road fishing access, West Lampeter TownshipConestoga River, 2 miles
- Rockford Road #1 fishing access, West Lampeter TownshipConestoga River, 2 miles
- Conestoga Pines ParkConestoga River, 2 miles
PFBC access areas layer, retrieved October 2026.
Trout stocking meeting places near Lancaster
| Date | Water | Species | Meeting place | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Beaver Creek | Brown trout, Rainbow trout | New Providence Baptist Church 1 mi N of Quarryville | 9 miles | |
| Big Beaver Creek | Brown trout, Rainbow trout | New Providence Baptist Church 1 mi N of Quarryville | 10 miles | |
| March 9, 2026 | Muddy Run | Rainbow trout | Bird In Hand Farmer's Market-RT340 East of Rt30 | 10 miles |
| March 13, 2026 | Little Beaver Creek | Brown trout, Rainbow trout, Golden rainbow trout | New Providence Baptist Church 1 mi N of Quarryville | 9 miles |
| March 13, 2026 | Big Beaver Creek | Rainbow trout, Golden rainbow trout | New Providence Baptist Church 1 mi N of Quarryville | 10 miles |
| March 16, 2026 | West Branch Little Conestoga Creek | Brown trout, Rainbow trout | Good's Store-333 W. Fourth St.-Quarryville | 7 miles |
| March 24, 2026 | Little Conestoga Creek | Brown trout, Rainbow trout, Golden rainbow trout | Ppl at Int. of Sr72 & Delp Road | 4 miles |
| March 24, 2026 | Swarr Run | Brown trout, Rainbow trout | Ppl at Int. of Sr72 & Delp Road | 6 miles |
| April 13, 2026 | West Branch Little Conestoga Creek | Brown trout, Rainbow trout | Legion Park-Quarryville-South of Sr472 | 7 miles |
| April 14, 2026 | Little Conestoga Creek | Brown trout, Rainbow trout, Golden rainbow trout | Conoy Twp. Park EAST-off SR441-Bainbridge | 4 miles |
PFBC 2026 adult trout stocking schedule (fbweb.pa.gov/TroutStocking); distance to the upper limit of the stocked section. Retrieved October 2026.
USGS readings around Lancaster
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Conestoga River At Lancaster, Pa | 254 cfs, 3.62 ft gage height | Oct 24 7:00 pm |
| Little Conestoga Cr, Columbia Ave At Wheatland Pa | 266.23 ft gage height | Oct 11 3:57 pm Not updated since Oct 11, 2026. |
| Big Spring Run Near Mylin Corners, Pa | 1 cfs, 3.69 ft gage height | Oct 24 7:00 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 24, 2026 7:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Shops and permitted guides near Lancaster
Minnows, worms and line near Lancaster
- Fish Tackle Susqbait and tackle shop, Lancaster, 2 miles
- Thumper Bluewater Expeditionsmarina, Millersville, 5 miles
- Open Air Sportsbait and tackle shop, Strasburg, 6 miles
- Baxbwanis Marinamarina, Lititz, 8 miles
- Susquehanna Fishing Tacklebait and tackle shop, Columbia, 9 miles
- Lake Clarke Marinamarina, Wrightsville, 11 miles
- Outboard & Engine Service & Repairmarina, New Holland, 14 miles
- The Sportsman's Shopbait and tackle shop, East Earl, 15 miles
Permitted guides near Lancaster
- All Out Tours Llcfishing guide, Lancaster, (717) 344-4229
- Big Bass Energy Llcfishing guide, Lancaster, (717) 278-2716
- Castandblastoutfitterspafishing guide, Lancaster, (717) 342-3254
- Night Ventures Bowfishingfishing guide, Lancaster, (717) 824-2444
Yellow Pages listings and the PFBC guide permit list, retrieved October 2026.
Seasons for Lancaster anglers
Anglers 16 and up carry a license, priced at $27.97 for residents, $60.97 for nonresidents and $14.47 for resident seniors. Trout anglers stack a $14.97 trout permit on the license.
| 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.
Neighbors of Lancaster
Keystone towns within reach of Lancaster
- Millersville4 miles
- Willow Street4 miles
- East Petersburg5 miles
- Leola7 miles
- Mountville7 miles
The counties Lancaster touches
- Lancaster Countyseat: Lancaster
Spinning and casting reels from Piscifun for Lancaster
_(9390595666).jpg){kind=link}
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Photographs of lakes and creeks by Lancaster
Photo: Fachwerkhaus54, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Idawriter, CC BY-SA 3.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: Augustin Liviu, CC BY-SA 3.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Lancaster as a fishing base: questions
Which PFBC lake page sits nearest to Lancaster?
Speedwell Forge Lake, 12 miles north.
Which PFBC ramp is closest to Lancaster?
Blue Rock Access, roughly 10 miles.
Which shore access is closest to Lancaster?
Try Rockford Road #2 fishing access, Lancaster City, 1 mile out.
Where do Lancaster anglers pick up line and lures?
Fish Tackle Susq is closest at 2 miles.
Do the lakes near Lancaster hold walleye?
None of the nearby lake pages lists walleye.
Which county guide matches Lancaster?
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
Does Lancaster sit close to a PFBC trout section?
Swarr Run, about 3 miles, stocked (1,000 adult trout in 2026).
What is opening day for trout around Lancaster?
April 4, 2026, 8 a.m., unless a water has its own rule; April 3, 2027 in 2027.
How much is a nonresident Pennsylvania license for a Lancaster stay?
Expect $60.97 for a nonresident year, or pick a 3-day or 7-day tourist license.
Where are trout stocked near Lancaster?
Little Beaver Creek on , meeting at New Providence Baptist Church 1 mi N of Quarryville (9 miles away); 10 stops within 10 miles are listed above.
Choose a PFBC lake close to Lancaster
Check the lake page before keeping fish.