Fishing near Reading, Pennsylvania
Berks County, population 95,112.
- 3 milesto nearest lake
- 8ramps nearby
Pick for walleyePiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Blue Marsh Lake: Augustin Liviu, CC BY-SA 3.0
How Reading anglers spend a fishing day
In Berks County, the city of Reading recorded 95,112 residents in 2020. No lake page is nearer than Carsonia Lake, 3 miles away to the east. At 1,150 acres, Blue Marsh Reservoir is larger than every other lake listed here. The nearest PFBC ramp is Reading Riverfront Park, under a mile out.
PFBC species lists put walleye in 1 nearby lakes; Blue Marsh Reservoir is closest. Wyomissing Creek, under a mile off, is the closest trout stream page. The nearest shore access area is Jackson’s Landing, 1 mile out. The 2026 schedule puts 10 stocking stops within 10 miles, starting with Greenwich Township Bldg-775 Old Rt22 Lenhartsville (Exit 12 Krumsville I78).
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Reading; distances are straight lines.
For the walleye herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 Lakes ranked by distance from Reading
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Access areas | Trout | Species listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carsonia Lake | 3 miles east | 7 | 0 | bluegill and pumpkinseed, crappie, largemouth bass | |
| Antietam Reservoir | 3 miles northeast | 14 | 0 | stocked trout lake | |
| Blue Marsh Reservoir | 8 miles northwest | 1,150 | 3 | bluegill and pumpkinseed, channel catfish, crappie | |
| Ontelaunee Lake | 9 miles north | 1,082 | 0 | bluegill and pumpkinseed, chain pickerel, channel catfish | |
| Scotts Run Lake | 11 miles southeast | 22 | 1 | stocked trout lake | bluegill and pumpkinseed, chain pickerel, largemouth bass |
| Trout Run Reservoir | 12 miles east | 42 | 0 | bluegill and pumpkinseed, channel catfish, crappie |
River and creek pages around Reading
- Wyomissing Creekunder a mile, Class A 5.8 mi; stocked (1,200 adult trout in 2026)
- Tulpehocken Creek1 mile, stocked (17,000 adult trout in 2026); Keystone Select; Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only
- Antietam Creek6 miles, stocked (2,900 adult trout in 2026)
- Maiden Creek6 miles, stocked (3,500 adult trout in 2026)
- Willow Creek, Berks County6 miles, Class A 1 mi; stocked (1,000 adult trout in 2026)
- Hay Creek8 miles, Class A 6.1 mi; stocked (5,400 adult trout in 2026)
PFBC Lakes_Point, species listings, stocked trout waters and stream layers, retrieved October 2026.
A pin map of the water near Reading
- Reading Riverfront ParkSchuylkill River, under a mile
- Reeser's Landing Boat LaunchSchuylkill River, 5 miles
- Epler's LandingSchuylkill River, 5 miles
- Jim Dietrich Park Water Trail LandingSchuylkill River, 5 miles
- Dry Brooks Boat LaunchBlue Marsh Lake, 6 miles
- State Hill Boat Launch on Blue Marsh LakeBlue Marsh Lake, 7 miles
- Leesport AccessSchuylkill River, 8 miles
- Sheidy Road AccessBlue Marsh Lake, 10 miles
Shore access near Reading
- Jackson's LandingSchuylkill River, 1 mile
- Felix Dam ParkSchuylkill River, 4 miles
- Gibraltar Unimproved LandingSchuylkill River, 4 miles
- Stoudt's Ferry Bridge LandingSchuylkill River, 6 miles
- Union Township LandingSchuylkill River, 9 miles
- Maiden Creek fishing access, Perry TownshipMaiden Creek, 11 miles
PFBC access areas layer, retrieved October 2026.
Where PFBC stocking crews met near Reading
| Date | Water | Species | Meeting place | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 26, 2026 | Willow Creek | Rainbow trout | Greenwich Township Bldg-775 Old Rt22 Lenhartsville (Exit 12 Krumsville I78) | 8 miles |
| March 10, 2026 | Manatawny Creek | Brown trout, Rainbow trout, Golden rainbow trout | 590 Oley Road, Oley PA 19547-District Judge Office | 10 miles |
| March 11, 2026 | Wyomissing Creek | Rainbow trout | Walgreens/Auto Zone Parking Lot-2203 Lancaster Pike-Reading | 5 miles |
| March 11, 2026 | Spring Creek | Rainbow trout, Golden rainbow trout | Walgreens/Auto Zone Parking Lot-2203 Lancaster Pike-Reading | 8 miles |
| March 16, 2026 | Hay Creek | Brown trout, Rainbow trout, Golden rainbow trout | Robeson Township Municipal Building-RT724 East 2 1/2 Mi. past I-176 Int. | 9 miles |
| March 19, 2026 | Little Muddy Creek | Brown trout, Rainbow trout, Golden rainbow trout | Middle Creek Visitors Center | 9 miles |
| March 20, 2026 | Tulpehocken Creek | Rainbow trout | Blue Marsh Lake Park Office | 5 miles |
| March 26, 2026 | Antietam Reservoir | Brown trout, Rainbow trout, Golden rainbow trout | Antietam Reservoir | 3 miles |
| March 26, 2026 | Antietam Creek | Brown trout, Rainbow trout | Antietam Reservoir | 3 miles |
| April 6, 2026 | Tulpehocken Creek | Brown trout, Rainbow trout, Golden rainbow trout | Blue Marsh Lake Park Office | 3 miles |
PFBC 2026 adult trout stocking schedule (fbweb.pa.gov/TroutStocking); distance to the upper limit of the stocked section. Retrieved October 2026.
River gauges a drive from Reading
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Schuylkill River At Reading, Pa | 751 cfs, 3.45 ft gage height | Oct 24 7:15 pm |
| Tulpehocken Creek Near Reading, Pa | 295 cfs, 1.71 ft gage height | Oct 24 7:15 pm |
| Tulpehocken Cr At Blue Marsh Damsite Near Reading | 266 cfs, 3.70 ft gage height | Oct 24 7:15 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 24, 2026 7:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Where Reading anglers buy tackle and hire guides
Bait sellers a drive from Reading
- Rick's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Reading, 1 mile
- Terenchin's Live Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Reading, 3 miles
- Underdog Tacklebait and tackle shop, Reading, 3 miles
- Tulpehocken Creek Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Reading, 4 miles
- Haggerty Luresbait and tackle shop, Reading, 4 miles
- Wyomissing Creek Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Reading, 5 miles
- Indian River Marinebait and tackle shop, Bernville, 7 miles
- Rod Doctorbait and tackle shop, Denver, 13 miles
Guide services listing Reading
- Haggerty Luresfishing guide, Reading, (610) 373-1368
Yellow Pages listings and the PFBC guide permit list, retrieved October 2026.
State records from lakes near Reading
| Species | Weight | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bass, Smallmouth | 8 lb. 8 oz. | Scotts Run Lake | 1997 |
PFBC state record fish list, retrieved October 2026.
Commonwealth limits around Reading
Residents pay $27.97 a year to fish, nonresidents $60.97, resident seniors $14.47; the requirement starts at 16. Trout also call for the $14.97 trout permit.
| 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.
Close to Reading
Boroughs offering beds near Reading
- West Reading1 mile
- Mount Penn2 miles
- Wyomissing2 miles
- Kenhorst2 miles
- Hyde Park3 miles
Counties holding Reading
- Berks Countyseat: Reading
A Piscifun kit sized for Reading
.jpg){kind=link}
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Ridges, rivers and lakes around Reading, pictured
Photo: Ii2nmd, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Shakeel Alibhai, CC BY-SA 4.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: gailf548, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Dough4872, CC BY-SA 4.0
Keystone anglers lodging in Reading ask
Which reservoir or lake is the quickest run from Reading?
Carsonia Lake, 3 miles east.
Which public ramp do Reading anglers use?
Reading Riverfront Park, under a mile away.
Which fishing-only access suits Reading?
Jackson's Landing, 1 mile away.
Does Reading have a tackle shop nearby?
Try Rick's Bait & Tackle, about 1 mile.
Which lake by Reading lists walleye on its PFBC roster?
Blue Marsh Reservoir, about 8 miles, lists walleye.
In what county does Reading lie?
Berks County; its page lists every ramp there.
How quickly can Reading anglers reach stocked or wild trout?
under a mile to Wyomissing Creek (Class A 5.8 mi; stocked (1,200 adult trout in 2026)).
What is the 2027 trout opener near Reading?
Trout open April 4, 2026 at 8 a.m., with April 3, 2027 printed for 2027.
Which license fits a short stay in Reading?
A nonresident annual license is $60.97; 3-day and 7-day tourist licenses are also sold.
Does PFBC stock trout near Reading?
Willow Creek on Feb. 26, 2026, meeting at Greenwich Township Bldg-775 Old Rt22 Lenhartsville (Exit 12 Krumsville I78) (8 miles away); 10 stops within 10 miles are listed above.
Try the streams around Reading
Stream pages show each trout section.