Pittsburgh, PA, is also known as the city of three rivers: the Ohio, Monongahela, and Allegheny. The surrounding lakes and creeks add to this place’s natural richness, with the bridges, walled banks, dams, and tributaries of these rivers making an excellent environment for those enthusiastic about fishing in Pittsburgh.
Pennsylvania has become one of the best places for a fishing trip to catch various fish species, ranging from native brook trout in small streams, giant catfish in big rivers, or hooking a bass in one of the famous best fishing holes like Lake Erie. The fishing opportunities in Pennsylvania are endless.
The increased number of fish since the improved Pittsburgh water quality has attracted many people to come fishing in Pittsburgh and get the full taste of fishing in the clear waters of this lovely place.
Many major tournaments are organized here because Pittsburgh is a top location for the most popular game fish.
In addition, this is one of the top destinations for fishing charters, which conveniently provides people of all skill levels the opportunity to catch the most popular fish species and learn the best local fishing holes.
Best Fishing Spots Near Pittsburgh, PA
Pennsylvania offers fishers endless opportunities for every style and skill level. The most sought-after fish species in the Pittsburgh, PA, river systems are hybrid striped bass, trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, walleye, and more. This destination is among the best in the world, with Lake Erie and the Susquehanna River being known for their incredible smallmouth fishing. However, Pittsburgh is close to numerous other hot spots for popular game fish.
The Allegheny River
The Allegheny River flows along the northern section of Pittsburgh to Point State Park downtown. The water in this river is clearer and calmer than any other waterway in the city because of the river’s dams and tributaries. You will find walleye, catfish, sauger, and bass in these local waters. The Highland Park Dam is full of walleye when water levels are low. The USA Today and Game & Fish Magazine voted this spot as a top PA fishing spot, making it one of the most nationally recognized spots for anglers within city limits.
Verona Public Docks
Located on the Allegheny River’s east riverbank, Verona Public Docks is an excellent place for fishing. Its calm and clear waters will provide anglers with sauger, bass, catfish, and walleye. Other access points to different fishing spots, such as the Milvale boat ramp, the Highland Park Dam, and the 40th Street Bridge, are among the most popular ones in the region.
Nine Mile Run
Frick Park’s Nine Mile Run was formerly a sewer that has been rehabilitated and is now full of game fish. This fishery offers one of the most authentic, off-the-map experiences. To get to this spot, you have to cross smaller pools of water and comb through vegetation.
Ohio River
The mouth of the Ohio River forms at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela. The OH River waters are deeper and broader as they flow out of Pittsburgh. The best place for casual fishing is Pittsburgh’s Point State Park, where anglers using the docks can fish from the shallow waters.
If you continue downriver to other fishing spots, you will find the Emsworth Lock and Dam and Neville Island. In this river, you can catch smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, flathead catfish, blue catfish, white crappie, black crappie, northern pike, trout, paddlefish, and more.
Raccoon Lake
Located in Beaver County, Raccoon Lake is an ideal place for family outings, offering the feeling of escaping Pittsburgh’s city life while remaining close to it. There is a fishing pier to catching the abundant sunfish and bluegill.
Cross Creek Lake
With 258 acres at your disposal, Cross Creek Lake, located in Washington County, is a 50-minute drive away from Pittsburgh. The lake’s sizable surroundings make it a great fishing spot and offer the best bass fishing in the area. Keep in mind that this lake has public docks and a paved boat ramp, making fishing more ideal.
Best Local Spot For Panfish
Lake Arthur
Lake Arthur sits north of Pittsburgh and is known for producing some of the largest bluegills and crappies in the region. Several of the state’s top record crappies were caught in Lake Arthur. The bluegills consistently push the 9-inch range in this lake. When fishing in the Pittsburgh area, the most effective method is to use panfish lures such as small jigs tipped with natural-looking soft plastics.
Best Local Spot for Giant Catfish
Monongahela River
This river flows from West Virginia, joining the Allegheny River, and produces some giant catfish. Although murky, these waters have the qualities required to be home to many different species. The remaining structures from the industrial era are convenient enough for angling along the river. People can catch the lurking fish around the old docks and riverfront walls. Fishers will have a wide variety to see, including bullhead catfish, rock bass, walleye, muskie, brown trout, brook trout, and rainbow trout.
Clean Water Act
This city’s waters used to be polluted in the industrial era; however, authorities took an initiative to cleanse the area’s contaminated waters. Today, the rivers are exceptionally clean and are again home to species that died out in the past. The Clean Water Act of 1972 turned back the tide of pollution in the local waters. The Act had a remarkable effect on the water quality and created various regulatory and non-regulatory tools that dramatically reduced discharges into the waterways, managed polluted runoff, and financed municipal wastewater treatment facilities. Programs were put in place to support public recreation on and in the water. Today, Pittsburgh possesses the second-highest number of pleasure boats in the United States.
Local Charter Captains
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Area Things To Do
Pittsburgh, PA, is known for its Gilded Age sites that speak to its history as an early 20th-century industrial capital, including the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, the Carnegie Museum of Art, and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.
The city offers family-friendly museums, performing arts, tours, shopping, authentic food, and sightseeing. Some of the most popular attractions include Duquesne Incline, Point State Park, North Park, and the Strip District.
Pay Lakes In Pittsburgh
A typical pay lake is a catfish-stocked small pond. Lake bait houses charge people who want to fish for a pre-determined set amount of time. Pay lakes also have big fish because several places have restrictions on keeping them. However, finding accessible fishing spots can be difficult, but pay lakes will always provide you with a place to fish.
The fish here get pressured to smarten up pretty fast. For this reason, many of these places organize weekend tournaments and offer cash prizes to the angler who catches the largest or the most fish.
Places that do not put restrictions on keeping big fish usually stock big channel catfish, blue catfish, and flathead catfish. This gives the fishers a chance to catch blue catfish, a rare species in Pittsburgh.
The best local pay lakes are:
- Laurel Hill Trout Farm – in Donegal, approximately an hour’s drive from Pittsburgh; here they raise brook, brown, palomino, and rainbow trout. This is a perfect place for kids and convenient for newbies.
- Carnegie Lake, located in the city of Pittsburgh, is stocked with largemouth bass, channel catfish, bluegill, and so on.
- Panther Hollow Lake, in Schenley Park, Pittsburgh, is an artificial pay lake. It is an ideal fishing place, mainly stocked with black crappie, spotted gar, and channel catfish.
Nearby Lake Destinations
We also have great deals available on the following lakes outside of Pittsburgh, PA, that match your search criteria.
