Cowans Gap State Park fishing conditions · Pennsylvania

Now until Monday 4 amRainbow trout

The bite peaks at 68.

Right now: 68 for rainbow trout, marginal · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Rainbow trout, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

684 pm
68
68
687 pm
68
68
6810 pm
68
68Sun
681 am
68
68
684 am
68
68
687 am
68
68
6810 am
68
68
681 pm
68
68
684 pm
68
68
687 pm
68
68
6810 pm
68
68Mon
681 am
68
68

Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Water: No reading
Wind: 12 mph
Light: Daylight
Sky: Partly Sunny
Air: 50°F
Barometer: Steady
Moon: 5% lit

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Pennsylvania regulations for these waters.

Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

68MarginalNow until Monday 4 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Rainbow trout bite in 45–68° water, best near 55°.

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

7" minimum · 3 a day (Jan 1–Feb 15, Sep 7–Dec 31); 7" minimum · 5 a day (Apr 3–Sep 6)

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Stocked trout lakes: 7" minimum, 5 trout a day (combined species) from 8 a.m. on the first Saturday in April through Labor Day, 3 a day in the extended season (Jan 1–Feb 15 and from the day after Labor Day). Closed to all fishing Feb 16 until the opener.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · Pennsylvania

Last checked 17 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–May, Oct–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on rainbow trout

Largemouth bass

Micropterus salmoides

68MarginalNow until Monday 4 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Largemouth bass bite in 55–85° water, best near 72°.

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

15" minimum · 4 a day (Jan 1–Apr 9, Oct 1–Dec 31); 12" minimum · 6 a day (Jun 12–Sep 30)

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Combined with smallmouth and spotted bass: 15" minimum, 4 a day through the Friday before the second Saturday in April and again Oct 1–Dec 31; catch and immediate release only from the second Saturday in April to the Friday before the second Saturday in June (Apr 10–Jun 11 in 2027); 12" minimum, 6 a day from then through Sep 30. Big Bass Program lakes are 15", 4 a day whenever harvest is open.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · Pennsylvania

Last checked 17 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on largemouth bass

Yellow perch

Perca flavescens

68MarginalNow until Monday 4 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Yellow perch bite in 45–70° water, best near 58°.

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

50 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Pennsylvania inland: no minimum size; 50/day in the combined panfish group. Some Panfish-Enhancement waters set a minimum length.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Pennsylvania

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Oct–May, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on yellow perch

Channel catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

33Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Channel catfish bite in 60–85° water, best near 75°.

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Channel catfish is here Apr–Oct. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

50 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Pennsylvania inland: no minimum size; 50/day in the combined panfish/other-gamefish group (shared with perch, crappie, suckers, etc.). Panfish-Enhancement waters may differ.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Pennsylvania

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on channel catfish

The water

Water temperatureNo reading
Barometer29.95 inHg, steady

Sun, moon & solunar

Sunset today5:03 pm
Sunrise tomorrow6:48 am
MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
Minor solunarToday 3:30 pm–4:30 pm
Major solunarTonight 10:00 pm–12:00 am
Minor solunarTomorrow 6:00 am–7:00 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. PA Fish & Boat Commission has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

The 42-acre Cowans Gap Lake in Fulton County, best known for trout, with bass, perch, catfish and panfish. There is an ADA-accessible fishing pier, and the South Branch of Little Aughwick Creek holds trout.

WaterLake
AccessPier, shore and ramp
RulesPennsylvania
WhereFulton County · 39.9986, -77.9227

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Raystown Lake — Seven Points Beach27 mi · PennsylvaniaBest now until Monday 4 am

80Worth the trip

Conococheague Creek — Williamsport28 mi · MarylandBest today 5 pm to Monday 4 am

74Worth the trip

Potomac River — Williamsport28 mi · MarylandBest today 5 pm to Monday 4 am

86Go

Pine Grove Furnace State Park33 mi · PennsylvaniaBest now until Monday 4 am

68Marginal

Big Hunting Creek — Catoctin35 mi · MarylandBest tomorrow 11 am to Monday 3 am

68Marginal

Greenbrier State Park36 mi · MarylandBest tonight 9 pm to Monday 4 am

68Marginal

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Cowans Gap State Park?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Cowans Gap State Park you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Cowans Gap State Park?

Cowans Gap State Park is listed on this site for 4 commonly-targeted species: Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Channel Catfish. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Cowans Gap State Park?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Cowans Gap State Park against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Cowans Gap State Park have?

Cowans Gap State Park has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Cowans Gap State Park?

state agency regulations apply at Cowans Gap State Park. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Cowans Gap State Park tidal water?

No. Cowans Gap State Park is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.