Best walleye lakes in Pennsylvania
18 Pennsylvania waters hold walleye, 4 mapped with real state-agency depth surveys. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. Low-light predator with reflective eyes. Feeds on structure edges at dawn, dusk and night.
- Lake Erie — Eastern Basin — 205 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 7 public access sites
- Lake Erie — Central Basin East — 92 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Channel CatfishWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
- Pymatuning Reservoir — 33 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites
- Allegheny Reservoir — 180 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Rainbow TroutWhy #4: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
- Raystown Lake — 185 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #5: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- Lake Wallenpaupack — 60 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #6: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- Shenango River Lake — 35 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Channel CatfishWhy #7: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- Allegheny River — 15 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Rainbow TroutWhy #8: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 5 public access sites
- Susquehanna River — 12 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Channel Catfish, MuskellungeWhy #9: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 13 public access sites
- Youghiogheny River Lake — 110 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Rainbow TroutWhy #10: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- Lake Nockamixon — 90 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Channel CatfishWhy #11: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- Lake Erie — Presque Isle Bay — 28 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 17 public access sites
- Lake Arthur — 35 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Channel CatfishWhy #13: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- Beltzville Lake — 90 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #14: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- Lake Marburg — 45 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Channel CatfishWhy #15: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- Conneaut Lake — 65 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #16: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- Rose Valley Lake — 17 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #17: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- Harveys Lake — 95 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Yellow PerchWhy #18: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
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How to use this ranking
The order is a map-planning ranking, not a claim about today's fish population. It favors larger mapped waters and gives survey-backed contours a three-times data-quality boost. Agency population surveys, current regulations, access and recent conditions should make the final decision.
Compare maximum depth across 37,233 lake records · See Pennsylvania waters with public access data
When to fish walleye in Pennsylvania
- Spring 4–15 ft — Spawning runs to gravel shoals, rocky shorelines and inflows.
- Summer 15–35 ft — Deep humps and breaklines by day; edges and flats in low light.
- Fall 12–40 ft — Fish steep structure near deep basins; big fish move shallow at night.
- Winter 20–40 ft — Deep basin flats and humps; short dawn/dusk feeding windows.
Also in Pennsylvania: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best channel catfish lakes · best rainbow trout lakes · best muskellunge lakes · best yellow perch lakes · best brown trout lakes · best rock bass lakes
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