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PiscaMapsUnited States Pennsylvania Lycoming County West Branch Susquehanna River

Fishing at West Branch Susquehanna River

Pennsylvania · Lycoming County, Northumberland County, Union County and Clinton County · 70 river miles in Pennsylvania
State
Pennsylvania
Country
USA
Licence
State-issued
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Pennsylvania River 70 river miles in Pennsylvania Public river — navigable water 🌙 Night fishing

About Fishing at West Branch Susquehanna River

West Branch Susquehanna River is a public river in Lycoming County, Northumberland County, Union County and Clinton County, Pennsylvania, managed by Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. You can fish it on a Pennsylvania fishing licence (plus a Trout Permit for trout, a Lake Erie Permit for Erie waters). Pennsylvania has no general right of stream access — bank and wading access is at PFBC easements, state forest, park and game-land frontage and public bridges; away from those, the streambed may be private, so check current signage or ask permission. Public access confirmed via marquee water.

The Susquehanna River — one of the great smallmouth bass rivers of the East, plus walleye, muskellunge, channel and flathead catfish and rock bass across its huge, shallow, ledge-strewn flats.

It runs roughly 70 miles through the North Central PA (PA Wilds) region. Anglers here mostly fish for black crappie, bluegill, chain pickerel, channel catfish; common carp, muskellunge, pumpkinseed, redbreast sunfish are also on record. Live flow and gauge height come from the West Branch Susquehanna River at Allenwood, PA USGS station shown below. The nearest other mapped waters on PiscaMaps are South Mountain Lake and Mosquito Valley Reservoir.

County
Lycoming, Northumberland, Union, Clinton
Region
North Central PA (PA Wilds)
Length
70 river miles in Pennsylvania
Public access
Public river — navigable water
Managed by
Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission
Night fishing
Permitted
Boats
Varies by water

Fish Species at West Branch Susquehanna River

Species from PiscaMaps water-type profiles, the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission trout-stocking records and hand research.

Access & Rules at West Branch Susquehanna River

Night fishing: No statewide night-fishing closure in Pennsylvania on most waters; stocked trout waters have specific in-season closures around opening day and stocking, and some special-regulation areas post their own hours — check the current PA Fishing Summary.

Boats: The big reservoirs (Raystown, Pymatuning, Kinzua, Wallenpaupack, Arthur) take trailered boats via a state ramp, many with a horsepower or slow-no-wake limit; PFBC lakes are often electric-motor-only, and trout streams are wade/bank access.

Bank & bivvy camping: Camp at Pennsylvania state parks and forests along many of these waters (the PA Wilds streams, Raystown, Pymatuning, Ohiopyle on the Yough); PFBC access areas and State Game Lands frontage are day-use only.

Tackle: A Pennsylvania Trout Permit is required in addition to your fishing licence to fish for or keep trout here; a large number of PA streams carry Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only, Catch-and-Release Fly-Fishing Only, Keystone Select Stocked Trout or Class A Wild Trout special regulations — check the current PA Fishing Summary.

Facilities Near West Branch Susquehanna River

Boat ramps: 11 mapped — Boat ramp, Boat ramp, Boat ramp, Boat ramp, Boat ramp, Boat ramp and others nearby.

Camping: 2 sites mapped nearby — Steel Steeds Motorcycle Campground, Hidden Creek Campground.

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors.

River Conditions

Loading live flow & gauge height…

Live from USGS gauge 01553025 — West Branch Susquehanna River at Allenwood, PA. Full gauge data →

Fishing Licence for West Branch Susquehanna River

Anyone 16 or older needs a Pennsylvania fishing licence — the resident annual is about $28, the non-resident annual about $61. A Trout Permit (about $15) is required in addition to fish for or keep trout, and a Lake Erie Permit (about $11) — or a combo — for Lake Erie and its tributaries. Pennsylvania residents 65 and older can buy a discounted senior lifetime licence; under-16 fish free. Buy from the PFBC at HuntFish.pa.gov. A Pennsylvania fishing licence plus a Trout Permit covers this water — it's on the PFBC stocked-trout list.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission Resident annual: ~$28 Non-resident annual: ~$61 Non-resident 1-day (~$14) and 3-day (~$45) licences are sold · residents 70+ need no licence · anyone under 16 fishes free Buy: huntfish.pa.gov

Public access

Lakes, reservoirs and tidal water here are confirmed public via a the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission-listed fishing access site; nontidal rivers are public under Pennsylvania's public-trust doctrine for navigable water Pennsylvania trout waters require a Trout Permit in addition to your fishing licence, and a large number carry Delayed Harvest, Catch-and-Release Fly-Fishing Only, Keystone Select or Class A Wild Trout special regulations; always check the current PA Fishing Summary for this water

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Frequently Asked Questions

More Fishing in Lycoming County

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