Gifford Pinchot State Park fishing conditions · Pennsylvania

Now until Monday 4 amWalleye

The bite peaks at 80.

Right now: 80 for walleye, worth the trip · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Walleye, 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.

804 pm
76
76
767 pm
76
76
8010 pm
80
80Sun
761 am
76
76
764 am
76
80
767 am
76
76
7610 am
80
80
761 pm
76
76
804 pm
76
76
767 pm
76
76
7610 pm
80
80Mon
761 am
76
76

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

Water: No reading
Wind: 15 mph
Light: Daylight
Sky: Partly Sunny
Air: 54°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.

Walleye

Sander vitreus

80Worth the tripNow until Monday 4 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Walleye bite in 50–72° water, best near 62°.

Why

Walleye feeds aggressively in low light. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

15" minimum · 6 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 15" minimum, 6 a day. Closed from Mar 15 until the first Saturday in May (May 1 in 2027).

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · Pennsylvania

Last checked 17 days ago. Rules may have changed.

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

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

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Big Bass Program: 15" minimum, 4/day combined bass species. Catch and immediate release only Apr 11–Jun 12.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · Big Bass Program lake

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

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.

68MarginalNow until Monday 4 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Crappie bite in 50–80° water, best near 65°.

Why

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

Keep

50 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. No minimum, 50/day combined with sunfish, perch, catfish and other panfish. Panfish Enhancement lakes are 9" and 20/day.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · Pennsylvania

Last checked 17 days ago. Rules may have changed.

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

Muskellunge

Esox masquinongy

33Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Muskellunge bite in 55–78° water, best near 68°.

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Muskellunge is here May–Oct. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

40" minimum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 40" minimum, 1/day combined with tiger muskellunge. Open year-round.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · Pennsylvania

Last checked 17 days ago. Rules may have changed.

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

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

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

33Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Common carp bite in 52–86° water, best near 72°.

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Common carp is here May–Oct. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

50 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Pennsylvania inland waters: no minimum, open year-round, 50 a day combined with sunfish, yellow perch, crappie, catfish, rock bass, suckers and white bass.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Pennsylvania

Last checked 20 days ago. Rules may have changed.

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

The water

Water temperatureNo reading
Barometer29.90 inHg, steady

Sun, moon & solunar

Sunset today4:58 pm
Sunrise tomorrow6:44 am
MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
Minor solunarToday 3:30 pm–4:30 pm
Major solunarTonight 10:00 pm–12:00 am
Minor solunarTomorrow 5:50 am–6:50 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 340-acre Pinchot Lake in York County, a Big Bass Program lake. Largemouth bass, hybrid striped bass, muskellunge, catfish, carp, walleye and crappie, with ADA-accessible fishing pads near Boat Launch #2 and a pier in the Quaker Race Day Use Area.

WaterLake
AccessPier, shore and ramp
RulesPennsylvania
WhereYork County · 40.0791, -76.8890

Nearby

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

Pine Grove Furnace State Park22 mi · PennsylvaniaBest now until Monday 4 am

68Marginal

Prettyboy Reservoir30 mi · MarylandBest tonight 6 pm–8 pm

84Worth the trip

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Gifford Pinchot State Park?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Gifford Pinchot 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 Gifford Pinchot State Park?

Gifford Pinchot State Park is listed on this site for 6 commonly-targeted species: Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Muskellunge, Crappie, and 2 more. 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 Gifford Pinchot 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 Gifford Pinchot 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 Gifford Pinchot State Park have?

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

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Gifford Pinchot State Park?

state agency regulations apply at Gifford Pinchot 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 Gifford Pinchot State Park tidal water?

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