Avid anglers will find ample opportunity to ply their favorite sport in the Philadelphia region. The area's beautiful creeks, rivers and lakes are kept well-stocked, and beauty abounds.
Primary Fishing Spots:
Delaware Canal and River - Trout, striped bass, small mouth bass and shad can be found in the Delaware Canal, the Delaware River and surrounding lakes and streams. Fairmount Park has 34 miles of waterways with ample fishing opportunities in any of the streams or creeks of the Schuylkill River.
Evansburg State Park's Skippack Creek - Evansburg State Park's Skippack Creek is stocked with brown and rainbow trout from preseason to Memorial Day for spring trout fishing, or you can warm-water fish throughout the year for smallmouth bass, catfish, sucker, carp, panfish and eel. An accessible fishing dock is in the picnic area on Lewis Road.
Wissahickon Creek - Wissahickon Creek passes through Fort Washington State Park and offers springtime trout fishing. Warm-water fish in the summer for carp, catfish, panfish and suckers.
Bushkill Creek - Bushkill Creek in the Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center provides excellent trout fishing and is regularly stocked by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
Marsh Creek State Park - Chester County's Marsh Creek State Park is home to Marsh Creek Lake, known as a great spot for fishing warm-water species. Anglers have landed 40-inch long tiger muskies (hybrid cross between northern pike and native muskellunge). Other species include largemouth bass, channel catfish, black crappie, walleye and a variety of panfish. The lake is designated a big bass lake and specific regulations apply.
Neshaminy State Park - Neshaminy State Park along the Delaware River has a variety of warm-water fish species. A Pennsylvania fishing license is required to fish from the shore.
Nockamixon State Park - Nockamixon State Park in Bucks County is close enough to Philadelphia for a day trip, and includes 1,450-acre Lake Nockamixon, a warm-water fishery. Common species are walleye, muskellunge, pickerel, smallmouth and largemouth bass, striped bass hybrids, channel catfish, carp and various types of panfish. A fishing pier is at the midpoint of the lake. Fishing is prohibited in the marina and boat rental areas.
Tohickon Creek - Warm-water fish in Ralph Stover State Park's Tohickon Creek for smallmouth bass, sunfish, carp and catfish. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission stocks the creek with trout, a cold-water fish.
Tyler State Park - Neshaminy Creek in Tyler State Park in Bucks County offers good bank or canoe fishing. Warm-water species include sunfish, black crappie, carp, smallmouth bass and other panfish. Neshaminy Creek is also the home of large snapping turtles, eels, frogs, water snakes and muskrats.
White Clay Creek - White Clay Creek is stocked several times a season and is considered one of the best trout streams in the area. The only regulations at the Middle Branch of White Clay Creek are special delayed harvest and artificial lures. The Middle Branch spans from Good Hope Road south to the East Branch, where any bait may be used.
