Fishing in the Susquehanna River Valley

Susquehanna River Fishing...An Outdoor Treasure in PA

Insider's Guide to Fishing in the Susquehanna River Valley

Within this 444-mile-long majestic river, fishing opportunities abound for all levels of fishermen.  Known for amazing small mouth bass fishing, the Susquehanna River supports many other fish, like catfish, rainbow trout, largemouth bass, American shad, perch, rock bass, bullheads and many others.  Below you'll find insider secrets to fishing in the Susquehanna River Valley.

Check out our colorful Fishing Guide for all kinds of useful info.  Click here to download it or request that one be mailed to you.

1. Launch Your Excursion from One of PA's State Parks

The Milton State Park and Shikellamy State Park and Marina among many other state parks, provide boat launches in the West Branch of the Susquehanna River.  Use these locations to find great Susquehanna River Fishing spots.

2. State Parks Aren't the Only Location to Launch a Fishing Boat

Chillisquaque Access Area and Boat Ramp is located four miles north of Northumberland on Route 405.  Launch your boat, canoe or kayak and travel the river to one of the local fishing holes.

Another hidden boat launch is the Shady Nook Access Area. It's 4.7 acres of land that was donated by PPL Utilities for a public boat access in Hummels Wharf. Activities include unlimited horsepower boating, lightweight fishing boats, canoes and inflatables.

3. Sunbury's Adam T. Bower Memorial Dam Is an Ideal Fishing Location

The inflatable dam that creates Lake Augusta in the spring and summer months is one-of-a-kind.  This pristine area is an ideal Susquehanna River fishing spot during those months.

Another nearby lake, Halfway Lake at R.B. Winter State Park, is also an ideal fishing spot. The lake is fed by natural springs and is a favorite spot for local anglers.

4. Penns Creek

Penns Creek is a 66-mile-long tributary of the Susquehanna River and is another favorite fishing location. This limestone-influenced stream supports strong numbers of wild Brown Trout throughout much of its length. Penns Creek is one of the most popular wild trout streams in Pennsylvania and the eastern U.S.

5. Take Advantage of Local Knowledge for Better Fishing Days

Our local fishing guides and supply stores are happy to share their knowledge of the Susquehanna River and surrounding creeks to help you plan a great trip.

Blue Heron Sports, located at 5115 State Route 405, Milton, is a full-service bait and tackle store featuring supplies and bait for all your fishing needs, including a large variety of supplies from rods and reels to live bait, and an expansive selection of fly-fishing gear. 

6. HuntFishPA: New Mobile-Friendly, Outdoor Recreational Licensing Platform 

The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) have announced the launch of HuntFishPA, the new user-friendly licensing platform for hunters, anglers, and boaters.  Visitors to huntfish.pa.gov will discover convenient features like personalized dashboards, autorenewal for fishing licenses, and the ability to report game and furbearer harvests as required. Users who visit the agencies’ websites – www.pgc.pa.gov and www.fishandboat.com – for their licensing and other needs will be seamlessly directed to the new system. HuntFishPA replaces the previous Pennsylvania Automatic Licensing System (PALS) platform known as The Outdoor Shop

Fishing Fundamentals

Find out more about the PA Fish and Boat Commission's Mentored Youth Trout Day, Lunch & Learn for Little Ones, Fish for Free Days in PA plus the Fishing Tackle Loaner Program.