Pennsylvania Fishing Charters

Pennsylvania doesn’t touch the ocean, but don’t let that fool you—this state’s loaded with freshwater fishing and just enough brackish water near Philly to mix things up. Lake Erie in the northwest corner offers the closest thing to big-water fishing, especially spring through fall when walleye, perch, and smallmouth are stacked up. You’ll see plenty of six-pack charters running drift trips and trolling lines out of Presque Isle Bay. Half and full-day runs are the norm, often launching from Walnut Creek or Erie Bluffs with crawler harnesses, spoons, or stickbaits.

Head inland and the Susquehanna River becomes a prime target. It’s shallow, rocky, and full of smallmouth—most guides run jet boats and work eddies, ledges, and deeper seams using tubes, flukes, or topwater early morning. Southeast toward the Pocono Mountains, you’ve got Beltzville Lake, Lake Wallenpaupack, and smaller highland reservoirs with solid hybrid striper and largemouth action, mostly accessed by trailered bass boats or pontoon rentals.

Then there’s the Delaware River along the eastern edge. The upper stretches near the New York border are trout and smallmouth country, often fished by drift boat. Downstream into the Philly area, things shift to catfish, striped bass (in season), and shad during their spring run. Bait varies by target—shiners, nightcrawlers, chunk baits, or live eels if you’re after flatheads.

Most guides run 4- to 8-hour trips depending on the fishery, and spring through fall is peak season across the board. Winter sees limited effort unless you’re ice fishing in the northeast lakes. Licenses are easy to get online, and you’ll need a separate Lake Erie permit or trout stamp depending on the area. Whether it’s river bronzebacks or dragging leadcore for Erie walleye, Pennsylvania has more than enough water to keep a rod bent year-round.