Fishing near Scranton, Pennsylvania
Lackawanna County, population 76,328.
- 4 milesto nearest lake
- 6ramps nearby
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Ajay Suresh, CC BY 2.0
Angling options out of Scranton
Scranton is a city of Lackawanna County with 76,328 residents at the 2020 Census. Dunmore Reservoir 1 sits 4 miles east of the town center, nearer than any other lake page. Elmhurst Reservoir is the largest lake in the table below, at 180 acres. A tow of 8 miles reaches Fords Lake Access, the closest PFBC ramp.
A drive of under a mile leads to Roaring Brook and its trout sections. Dunmore Reservoir #1 fishing access, Dunmore Boro, about 4 miles away, is the closest fishing-only access. The 2026 stocking schedule lists 10 meeting places within 10 miles, such as Pfbc access area at Lake Winola.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Scranton; distances are straight lines.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Still water nearest Scranton
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Access areas | Trout | Species listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dunmore Reservoir 1 | 4 miles east | 23 | 0 | ||
| Eston Wilson Lake | 7 miles northwest | 0 | stocked trout lake | ||
| Maple Lake | 7 miles southeast | 100 | 0 | bluegill and pumpkinseed, crappie, largemouth bass | |
| Griffin Reservoir | 7 miles north | 110 | 0 | ||
| Elmhurst Reservoir | 7 miles east | 180 | 0 | bluegill and pumpkinseed, chain pickerel, crappie | |
| Fords Lake | 8 miles northwest | 73 | 1 | bluegill and pumpkinseed, crappie, largemouth bass |
Creeks and rivers closest to Scranton
- Roaring Brookunder a mile, Class A 7.8 mi; stocked (3,900 adult trout in 2026); Catch and Release, Artificial Lures Only
- Green Run5 miles, Class A 4.9 mi
- Rattlesnake Creek, Lackawanna County6 miles, Class A 4.4 mi
- Lackawanna River8 miles, Class A 17.7 mi; stocked (4,400 adult trout in 2026); Trophy Trout, Artificial Lures Only
- Gardner Creek8 miles, stocked (1,500 adult trout in 2026)
- Rush Brook11 miles, Class A 5.3 mi
PFBC Lakes_Point, species listings, stocked trout waters and stream layers, retrieved October 2026.
Scranton and nearby access areas on the map
- Fords Lake AccessFords Lake, 8 miles
- Apple Tree Road AccessNorth Branch Susquehanna River, 8 miles
- South Shore Access on Lackawanna LakeLackawanna Lake, 11 miles
- Warming Hut AccessLackawanna Lake, 11 miles
- Lake Winola AccessLake Winola, 12 miles
- Swoyers Campground AccessLake Henry, 12 miles
Fishing-only access areas near Scranton
- Dunmore Reservoir #1 fishing access, Dunmore BoroDunmore Reservoir #1, 4 miles
- Bernard Seminski Memorial Park ParkingLackawanna River, 4 miles
- Griffin Reservoir fishing access, South Abington TownshipGriffin Reservoir, 6 miles
- Maple lake fishing access, Springbrook TownshipMaple Lake, 7 miles
- Elmhurst Reservoir fishing access, Roaring Brook TownshipElmhurst Reservoir, 7 miles
- Curtis Reservoir fishing access, Madison TownshipCurtis Reservoir, 8 miles
PFBC access areas layer, retrieved October 2026.
Hatchery truck stops near Scranton
| Date | Water | Species | Meeting place | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 7, 2026 | Gardner Creek | Brown trout, Rainbow trout | Pfbc access area at Lake Winola | 6 miles |
| March 10, 2026 | Roaring Brook | Rainbow trout, Golden rainbow trout | Elmhurst-junction of Sr435 & Sr590 | 3 miles |
| March 10, 2026 | Desandis Pond | Rainbow trout, Golden rainbow trout | Elmhurst-junction of Sr435 & Sr590 | 9 miles |
| March 18, 2026 | Eston Wilson Lake | Rainbow trout, Golden rainbow trout | new Exit 201 of I-81 | 7 miles |
| April 8, 2026 | Roaring Brook | Brown trout, Rainbow trout, Golden rainbow trout | Merli Sarnoski Lake | 3 miles |
| April 8, 2026 | Desandis Pond | Rainbow trout, Golden rainbow trout | Merli Sarnoski Lake | 9 miles |
| April 11, 2026 | Gardner Creek | Brown trout, Rainbow trout | Pfbc access area at Lake Winola | 6 miles |
| April 20, 2026 | Eston Wilson Lake | Rainbow trout, Golden rainbow trout | new Exit 201 of I-81 | 7 miles |
| May 11, 2026 | Roaring Brook | Brown trout, Rainbow trout, Golden rainbow trout | Elmhurst-junction of Sr435 & Sr590 | 3 miles |
| Oct. 5, 2026 | Roaring Brook | Rainbow trout | Merli Sarnoski Lake | 3 miles |
PFBC 2026 adult trout stocking schedule (fbweb.pa.gov/TroutStocking); distance to the upper limit of the stocked section. Retrieved October 2026.
Stream gauges near Scranton
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Lackawanna R Bl Leggetts Creek At Scranton, Pa | 99 cfs, 1.28 ft gage height | Oct 24 7:15 pm |
| Lackawanna River At Old Forge, Pa | 157 cfs, 2.45 ft gage height | Oct 24 6:45 pm |
| Lackawanna River At Archbald, Pa | 80 cfs, 2.57 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.
Supplies and guides around Scranton
Bait and lures on the road to Scranton
- One Stop Sport Shopbait and tackle shop, Scranton, under a mile
- Sierra, 610 Commerce Blvdbait and tackle shop, Dickson City, 4 miles
- Lonesome Road Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Old Forge, 5 miles
- Skeeters Bate & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Olyphant, 6 miles
- Northeast Marinebait and tackle shop, Blakely, 6 miles
- Fazio's Archery Bait & Tackle Martbait and tackle shop, Eynon, 7 miles
- S K Marinemarina, Scott Township, 9 miles
- Dave's Firearms and Fishing Shop LLCbait and tackle shop, Dalton, 10 miles
Guides and captains for Scranton
- David P Kozlanskyfishing guide, Scranton, (570) 983-4094
- River Reaper Llcfishing guide, Scranton, (570) 575-2116
Yellow Pages listings and the PFBC guide permit list, retrieved October 2026.
Keeper rules for anglers based near Scranton
Licenses are needed from 16 on: $27.97 (resident), $60.97 (nonresident), $14.47 (resident senior), fees in. Keeping or targeting trout takes a $14.97 trout permit as well.
| 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.
Near the Scranton area
Boroughs and towns close to Scranton
- Taylor3 miles
- Dunmore3 miles
- Moosic4 miles
- Throop4 miles
- Old Forge5 miles
Which counties Scranton reaches
- Lackawanna Countyseat: Scranton
Piscifun tackle picked out for Scranton
.jpg){kind=link}
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
A photo look at the water by Scranton
Photo: Matt Saunders, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Clint, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Jakec, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Shuvaev, CC BY-SA 4.0
Brief answers for a trip out of Scranton
What still water is handiest for Scranton anglers?
Dunmore Reservoir 1, 4 miles east.
Which ramp lies nearest Scranton?
Fords Lake Access, about 8 miles off.
Which fishing-only access serves Scranton bank anglers?
Closest: Dunmore Reservoir #1 fishing access, Dunmore Boro, 4 miles.
What tackle shop is closest to Scranton?
One Stop Sport Shop, under a mile from town.
Which nearby lake lists walleye for Scranton anglers?
Walleye do not appear on the nearby PFBC lake rosters.
Which county courthouse serves Scranton?
Lackawanna County covers it.
What trout stream do Scranton fly anglers drive to first?
Roaring Brook, under a mile away (Class A 7.8 mi; stocked (3,900 adult trout in 2026); Catch and Release, Artificial Lures Only).
What time does trout season start near Scranton?
The statewide opener: April 4, 2026, 8 a.m. (April 3, 2027 next year).
What do out-of-state visitors to Scranton spend on a license?
The nonresident year costs $60.97; tourist licenses cover 3 or 7 days.
When was trout stocked close to Scranton?
Gardner Creek on March 7, 2026, meeting at Pfbc access area at Lake Winola (6 miles away); 10 stops within 10 miles are listed above.
Use Scranton as a Keystone fishing base
Lake pages list species, access areas and trout rules.