Fish

• According to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, 21 different species of fish are popular targets of fishermen in the state. Among these are trout, bass, salmon, bluegill, carp, catfish, steelhead, muskellunge, walleye, northern pike, yellow and white perch, and pickerel. State hatcheries support trout, muskellunge, walleye and panfish spawning, and various water bodies are stocked with these fish throughout the year to sustain healthy populations.
  
  

Bait and Tackle

• Because fish caught in Pennsylvania range in size from 2-pound yellow perch to 40-pound muskellunge, a versatile rod is recommended. A 7 1/2- to 9-foot spin rod with medium action will be effective in fishing most species. Two- to 8-pound test line and size 6 to 12 hooks are appropriate when targeting smaller fish such as yellow perch, bluegill, sunfish, crappies and suckers. Six- to 14-pound test line and one to four size hooks will help you catch larger fish such as catfish, pike, muskellunge and largemouth bass. Baits will vary with the types of fish targeted, but it is common to cast worms, minnows, salmon eggs, corn and crayfish in Pennsylvania. A variety of crankbaits, jigs, spoons and spinners can be used to catch fish at different depths and in different speeds of water.
  
  

Locations

• The Fish and Boat Commission's interactive map identifies hundreds of fishing "hot spots" across the state, including 50 lakes owned and managed by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. You can fish in many small ponds and streams in and around major cities, including Philadelphia and Pittsburgh; however, most of the larger bodies of water are located in state parks in north and northwestern Pennsylvania, in the "Wilds" and "Great Lakes" regions. Prime fishing spots in the Wilds region include Bald Eagle State Park, Kettle Creek State Park, Hills Creek State Park, Black Moshannon State Park and Chapman State Park. Remote fishing spots in the Great Lakes region include Oil Creek and Pymaturing State Park.
  
  

Regulations

• A fishing license is required to fish in Pennsylvania if you are 16 or older. Bag limits and size restrictions are specific to particular types of fish on particular bodies of water; fishermen are advised to check the latest regulations before they fish. An angler is permitted to use up to two fishing rods at a time, but no more than three hooks are permitted per line. A gaff or a net 4 feet in diameter or smaller is permitted to help land fish that are hooked with a legal device.
  
  

License and Fees

• Pennsylvania fishing licenses for the 2010 season are $22.70 for state residents and $52.70 for nonresidents. A license for a senior resident 65 years or older is $11.70 for the 2010 season. A seven-day tourist license is $34.70. Licenses can be purchased online through the Outdoor Shop on the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission website, at a regional Commission office or from one of 900 license-issuing agents.