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OUTDOORS

PFBC lifts fishing seasons, size and creel limits for anglers on three lakes. Here's where

Portrait of Brian Whipkey Brian Whipkey
Pennsylvania Outdoors Columnist
  • The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has lifted all fishing regulations on three lakes.
  • Anglers are encouraged to catch as many fish as possible before the lakes are drained.
  • The three lakes are High Point Lake, Harris Pond and Rose Valley Lake.

If you want to fill your freezer with warm water fish species like bass, crappie, perch and catfish, you have an open season to keep as many fish as you like from three lakes this year.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) reports all seasons, sizes and creel limits have been lifted on three PFBC lakes effective immediately in anticipation of upcoming dam rehabilitation projects. 

The impacted lakes include:

  • High Point Lake, Somerset County: A drawdown of this 338-acre impoundment is anticipated to begin in spring 2026. The agency reports the $5.5 million project will include rehabilitation of the dam embankment and spillway to meet Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) dam safety standards. Once construction begins, the project is expected to last approximately 1.5 years. The reservoir offers angling opportunities for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, bluegill, black crappie, chain pickerel, yellow perch and catfish.
  • Harris Pond, Luzerne County: A drawdown of this 30-acre impoundment is anticipated to begin in the fall. The PFBC reports a $1.9 million project will include rehabilitation of the dam embankment and spillway to meet PA DEP dam safety standards. Once construction begins, the project is expected to last approximately 1.5 years. The waterway offers angling opportunities for largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie, chain pickerel, yellow perch and catfish.
  • Rose Valley Lake, Lycoming County: A drawdown of this 389-acre impoundment is anticipated to begin in spring 2026. The agency reports a $5 million project will include rehabilitation of the dam embankment and spillway to meet DEP dam safety standards. Once construction begins, the project is expected to last approximately 1.5 years. The lake offers angling opportunities largemouth bass, walleye, bluegill, black crappie, chain pickerel, yellow perch and catfish.
High Point Lake is scheduled to receive improvements in coming years by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

"We have lifted fishing regulations to reduce the number of fish in these lakes in advance of these upcoming projects," David Nihart, chief of the PFBC Division of Fisheries Management, said in a news release. "We encourage anglers to fish these waters and make good use of as many fish as they can prior to the lakes being drained." 

The temporary regulations will be posted around each lake.

Brian Whipkey is the outdoors columnist for USA TODAY Network sites in Pennsylvania. Contact him atbwhipkey@gannett.com and sign up for our weekly Go Outdoors PA newsletter email on this website's homepage under your login name. Follow him on Facebook@whipkeyoutdoors.