2026 regulation year
Pennsylvania Northern pike 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
Esox lucius
Last updated
Northern pike in Pennsylvania concentrate in the glacial lakes of the northwest and northeast — Pymatuning Reservoir, Conneaut Lake, Presque Isle Bay on Lake Erie, and the Pocono-region reservoirs. A 24-inch statewide minimum and two-fish daily limit apply year-round.
Get change alerts
Watch Pennsylvania Northern pike and we'll email you when a season, bag limit, slot, or closure changes. Free while in beta.
Season
Open year-round Open year-round statewide; 24 in minimum; 2 per day.
Bag & possession
- Daily bag
- 2 / day
- Possession
- 2 in possession
Size, slot, trophy rules
- Size
- 24 in minimum statewide
Gear restrictions
- Hook-and-line; ice-fishing tip-ups with live bait are popular on the NW + NE glacial lakes
- Some waters carry special pike rules — verify the water
Named water-body overrides
Where statewide rules differ on specific Pennsylvania waters:
Pymatuning Reservoir (PA/OH)
Shared with Ohio; statewide 24 in / 2 per day pike rule
Presque Isle Bay (Lake Erie)
Lake Erie permit area; pike + panfish; statewide pike rule
Conneaut Lake
Natural glacial lake; pike + musky + panfish
Lake Wallenpaupack
Large Pocono reservoir; pike + walleye + stocked trout
Official source
Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission publishes the authoritative 2026 Pennsylvaniafishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.
The northern pike rules on this page are sourced from Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission's official northern pike regulation page.
Visit official Pennsylvania fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
Northern pike closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission's emergency-order feed — check it before any Pennsylvania trip during the active season.
Frequently asked questions
- When is northern pike season in Pennsylvania?
- Pennsylvania keeps northern pike open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.
- What is the Pennsylvania bag limit for northern pike?
- The Pennsylvania daily bag limit for northern pike is 2 / day. The possession limit is 2 in possession. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
- What size northern pike can you keep in Pennsylvania?
- The Pennsylvania size rule for northern pike is 24 in minimum statewide.
- Do you need a license to fish for northern pike in Pennsylvania?
- Yes. Pennsylvania requires a valid fishing license to fish for northern pike, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Pennsylvania license — compare resident and non-resident Pennsylvania fees on the state regulations page below.
- Are there gear restrictions for northern pike in Pennsylvania?
- Yes. In Pennsylvania, northern pike fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; ice-fishing tip-ups with live bait are popular on the NW + NE glacial lakes; Some waters carry special pike rules — verify the water.
- Do specific Pennsylvania waters have different northern pike rules?
- Yes. 4 named Pennsylvania waters carry rules that override the statewide northern pike regulation, including Pymatuning Reservoir (PA/OH), Presque Isle Bay (Lake Erie), Conneaut Lake, and 1 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.