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Regulations for Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and the Lake Erie Tributary Streams

2008

The following is believed to be accurate, but no guarantee is made. For official regulations, consult the Pennsylvania Code and/or Pennsylvania Bulletin. For further information, see the Complete Summary of Regulations provided online by the PFBC.

Starting in 2005 and continuing through 2008, anglers need a Lake Erie Stamp to fish for any species in the Lake Erie watershed (including Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and the Lake Erie Tributaries). Remember that to fish for steelhead, salmon or trout in Lake Erie or the Lake Erie tributaries you will need either a combination Trout/Lake Erie Stamp, or both a a Trout Stamp and a Lake Erie Stamp. Holders of a one day tourist license do not need either stamp.

There are also new regulations concerning VHS or Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus, an infectious fish disease which has caused fish mortalities in the Great Lakes.

Season and Limits	License Fees
Lake Erie & Tributaries	Additional Regulations

Regulations for Lake Erie, Lake Erie Tributaries, Presque Isle Bay
and Peninsular Waters

Species	Seasons	Minimum Size	Daily Limit
Muskellunge and Muskellunge Hybrids	Open year-round	40 inches	1
Pike - Northern	Open year-round	24 inches	2
Walleye (Yellow Pike)	Jan. 1 through March 14 and May 3 through Dec. 31	15 inches	6
Bass - Largemouth and Smallmouth	Jan. 1 through Apr. 11 and June 14 through Dec. 31	15 inches	4 (combined species)
Bass - Largemouth and Smallmouth	April 14 through June 15	20 inches (Trophy bass season)	1
Trout and Salmon	Jan. 1 through April 10	15 inches	3 (combined species), only two (2) of which can be Lake Trout.
Trout and Salmon	Apr. 12 (8:00 A.M.) through Sept. 1	9 inches	5 (combined species), only two (2) of which can be Lake Trout.
Trout and Salmon	Sept. 2 through April 16, 2009	15 inches	3 (combined species), only two (2) of which can be Lake Trout.
Yellow Perch	Dec. 1 (2007) through March 31 (2008)	7 inches	30
Yellow Perch	April 1 - Nov. 30	None	30
Sunfish, Crappies, Catfish, Rock Bass, Suckers, Eels, Carp, White Bass	Open year-round	None	50 (combined species)
Burbot (when taken by hook and line)	Open year-round	None	5
Burbot (when taken by scuba divers by use of non-mechanical spears or gigs at a depth of at least 60 feet)	June 1 - Sept. 30	None	5
Baitfish Fishbait	Open year-round	No minimum	50 (combined species)
Smelt (taken by hook and line)	Open year-round	No minimum	None
Sturgeon	No open season	Endangered species	Endangered species
Spotted Gar	No open season	Endangered species	Endangered species
All other species	Inland regulations apply	Inland regulations apply	Inland regulations apply

Lake Erie Tributary Stream Regulations

All anglers fishing Pennsylvania waters of Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay, and their tributaries are required to possess a valid Lake Erie or Combo permit.
Designated as Nursery Waters are Trout Run and its tributaries, Godfrey Run, Orchard Beach Run and Crooked Creek (where posted). It is unlawful to fish, wade or possess fishing equipment while in or along Lake Erie tributary streams designated as Nursery Waters.
Archery fishing or spear fishing is prohibited in or along Lake Erie tributary streams.
From September 2 until the opening day of trout season in April, all Lake Erie tributary streams are closed to fishing from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. on the following day except for Walnut Creek north of the Manchester Road Bridge and Elk Creek north of the Route 5 Bridge.
It is unlawful to fish from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. on the following day within 50 yards of the mouth of both Trout Run and Godfrey Run while fishing the Lake Erie shoreline.
It is unlawful to fish or possess trout or salmon in or along any Lake Erie tributary stream from 12:01 a.m. on April 11 until 8 a.m. on April 12 (32 hours total).
Anglers fishing Conneaut Creek, or the East or West Basin ponds (a/k/a "Waterworks Ponds") on Presque Isle State Park are not required to possess a Lake Erie Permit.

Fishing License Fees

License is valid from December 1, 2007
through December 31, 2008

Type of License	Age	Cost	Issuing Fee	Total Cost
Resident	16-64	$21.00	$1.00	$22.00
Senior Resident	65-up	$10.00	$1.00	$11.00
Senior Resident - Lifetime	65-up	$50.00	$1.00	$51.00
National Guard & Armed Forces Reserve (Resident)	16-up	$1.00	$1.00	$2.00
One-Day Resident (Not valid April 1-30, 2008)	16-up	$10.00	$1.00	$11.00
Non-Resident (annual)	16-up	$51.00	$1.00	$52.00
One-Day Tourist	16-up	$25.00	$1.00	$26.00
Three-Day Tourist	16-up	$25.00	$1.00	$26.00
Seven-Day Tourist	16-up	$33.00	$1.00	$34.00
Trout/Salmon Permit	16-up	$8.00	$1.00	$9.00
Lake Erie Stamp	16-up	$8.00	$1.00	$9.00
Combo Trout/Lake Erie Stamp	16-up	$14.00	$1.00	$15.00

Additional Regulations

Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus (VHS) - An infectious fish disease, caused by a variant of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus (VHS), has caused fish mortalities in the Great Lakes. The initial list of fish species that are susceptible to VHS includes black crappie, bluegill, bluntnose minnow, brown bullhead, brown trout, burbot, channel catfish, chinook salmon, coho salmon, emerald shiner, freshwater drum, gizzard shad, herring, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, pink salmon, pumpkinseed, rainbow trout, redhorse sucker, rock bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, white bass, white perch, whitefish and yellow perch.

It is unlawful to transport or cause the transportation of VHS-susceptible species of fish out of the portion of the Lake Erie Watershed in this Commonwealth into other watersheds of this Commonwealth except when certain conditions are met. It is illegal to use VHS-susceptible fish species, fish parts and eggs taken from the Lake Erie Watershed as fishbait in Commonwealth waters outside the Lake Erie Watershed except when the fish are certified as VHS-negative. It is legal to transport dead recreationally caught fish out of the Lake Erie Watershed solely for the purpose of human consumption.

Because of diseases and invasive species, the Commission recommends as a good conservation practice that anglers not transport any live fish out of the Lake Erie Watershed and introduce those fish into other watersheds. For more information on invasive species, please see �Stop Aquatic Nuisance Species.� For more information on VHS, please contact the Commission�s Northwest Regional Office.

Bass Tournaments - It is unlawful to conduct or participate in a fishing tournament for bass on Lake Erie or Presque Isle Bay during the period from opening day of the trout season in April until midnight the first Saturday after June 11.

Walnut Creek Access, Channel and Basin - Boats have the right of way over shore fishermen. Fishing from boats is prohibited in channel and basin. Shore fishing is allowed in the basin ONLY at places and times designated.

Fish Eggs - It is unlawful for a person to sell, offer for sale, purchase or barter any fish parts or fish eggs obtained from fish taken from Lake Erie and its tributaries (or any other Commonwealth waters including boundary waters). This prohibition does not apply to fish parts or fish eggs (1) lawfully taken and sold or offered for sale by holders of a Lake Erie commercial fishing license if the particular species of fish is authorized for taking by commercial licensees, or (2) those obtained from fish taken lawfully from waters outside of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.