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Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay, Peninsular Waters,
and Lake Erie Tributaries
The following seasons, sizes and daily limits apply to Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters, all Lake Erie tributaries in their entirety which include Cascade Creek, Conneaut Creek, Crooked Creek, East Branch Conneaut Creek, Eightmile Creek, Elk Creek, Fourmile Creek, Middle Branch Conneaut Creek, Marsh Run, Mill Creek, Mud Run, Raccoon Creek, Sevenmile Creek, Sixmile Creek, Sixteenmile Creek, Stone Run, Temple Run, Turkey Creek, Twelvemile Creek, Twentymile Creek, Walnut Creek, West Branch Conneaut Creek and all waters that flow into these tributaries.
| WHILE FISHING, your license must be on your person, but no longer must be displayed. In addition, anglers must be prepared to furnish positive proof of identification |
| Species |
Season |
Minimum Size |
Daily Limit |
Muskellunge and Tiger
Muskellunge hybrids |
Open year-round |
40" |
1 |
| Northern Pike |
Open year-round |
24" |
2 |
| Walleye |
Jan. 1 through March 14 and
May 4 through Dec. 31 |
15" |
6
|
Bass (Largemouth and
(Smallmouth) |
Jan. 1 through April 12 and June 8 through Dec. 31 |
15" |
4 (combined
species) |
Bass (Largemouth and
Smallmouth) |
|
April 13 through June 7
|
20" |
1 |
| Yellow Perch |
Dec. 1 through April 30 |
7" |
30 |
| May 1 through Nov. 30 |
None |
Sunfish, Crappies, Catfish,
Rock Bass, Suckers, Eels,
Carp, White Bass |
Open year-round |
No minimum |
50 (combined
species) |
Burbot (when taken by scuba
divers by use of non-mechanical
spears or gigs at a depth of at
least 60 feet) |
June 1 through Sept. 30 |
No minimum |
5 |
Burbot (when taken by hook
and line) |
Open year-round |
No minimum |
5 |
Smelt (when taken by hook
and line) |
Open year-round |
No minimum |
None |
| Trout - Brook and Brown |
8 a.m. April 6, 2024 until midnight September 4, 2024. |
9" |
5 (Combined Species) |
| 12:01 a.m. on September 5, 2024, until 12:01 a.m. on the Friday before the opening day of the regular trout season. |
15" |
3 (Combined Species) |
| Rainbow Trout and Salmon |
8 a.m. April 6, 2024, until 12:01 a.m. the Friday before the opening day of the regular season for trout the following year. |
15" |
3 (Combined Species) |
| Trout - Lake |
8 a.m. on April 6, 2024, until 12:01 a.m. the Friday before the opening day of the
regular season for trout the following year. |
15" |
2 |
| Baitfish / Fishbait*** |
Open year-round |
No minimum |
50 (combined species) |
| American Eel |
Open year-round |
9 inches |
25 |
| Mussels / Clams |
CLOSED YEAR ROUND |
Sturgeon, Spotted Gar and
other threatened and
endangered species |
CLOSED YEAR ROUND |
| Regulations will be updated as daily limits are announced. |
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* 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.
** 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 2 until 8 a.m. on April 3 (32 hours total).
***For all crayfish species, the head must be immediately removed behind the eyes upon capture unless used as bait in the water from which taken.
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| Special Regulations—Lake Erie Tributary Streams |
- 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 4 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 Manchester Bridge Road and Elk Creek north of Route 5.
- 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.
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| Lake Erie Permit |
All anglers fishing Pennsylvania waters of Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and their tributaries, including waters that flow into those tributaries are required to possess a valid Lake Erie permit or Combination Trout/Salmon/Lake Erie permit.
The main tributaries where a permit is required are: Cascade Creek, Conneaut Creek, Crooked Creek, Eightmile Creek, Elk Creek, Fourmile Creek, Mill Creek, Raccoon Creek, Sevenmile Creek, Sixmile Creek, Sixteenmile Creek, Turkey Creek, Twelvemile Creek, Twentymile Creek and Walnut Creek. A permit is also required for all of those waters that flow into these main tributaries.
Anglers fishing the East and West Basin ponds (Waterworks Ponds, Presque Isle State Park) are not required to possess a Lake Erie Permit.
Anglers fishing inland ponds, lakes and reservoirs in Erie County are notrequired to possess a Lake Erie Permit.
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| 2024 FISHING LICENSES |
| WHILE FISHING, your license must be on your person, but the display requirement has been removed. In addition, anglers must be prepared to furnish positive proof of identification |
| Code |
Type of Fishing License or Permit |
Age |
Cost* |
| 101 |
Resident (Annual) |
16-64 |
$27.97 |
| 104 |
Senior Resident (Annual) |
65 & up |
$14.47 |
| 105 |
Senior Resident (Lifetime) |
65 & up |
$86.97 |
| 108 |
1-day Resident (not valid March 15-April 30) |
16 & up |
$14.47 |
| 102 |
Non-resident (Annual) |
16 & up |
$60.97 |
| 106 |
1-day Tourist** (not valid March 15-April 30) |
16 & up |
$31.97 |
| 103 |
3-day Tourist |
16 & up |
$31.97 |
| 107 |
7-day Tourist |
16 & up |
$39.47 |
| 150 |
Trout/Salmon Permit |
16 & up |
$14.97 |
| 140 |
1-year Trout/Salmon Permit*** |
16 & up |
$14.97 |
| 143 |
3-year Senior Lifetime Trout/Salmon Permit |
65 & up |
$40.97 |
| 144 |
5-year Senior Lifetime Trout/Salmon Permit |
65 & up |
$66.97 |
| 145 |
10-year Senior Lifetime Trout/Salmon Permit |
65 & up |
$131.97 |
| 151 |
Lake Erie Permit |
16 & up |
$9.97 |
| 152 |
Combo Trout-Salmon/Lake Erie Permit |
16 & up |
$20.97 |
| 136 |
Alternate Display Annual Fishing License Button**** |
Any age |
$10.07 |
| 109 |
Mentored Youth Permit |
Under 16 |
$0.00 |
| 110 |
Voluntary Youth Fishing License (Annual) |
Under 16 |
$2.97 |
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* Includes issuing agent fee of $1.00 and $0.90 electronic processing fee. Excludes the 109 Mentored Youth Permit.
** Includes Trout-Salmon and Lake Erie permits, not valid March 15-April 30.
*** Applies to Senior Lifetime purchased on or after 1/1/2015 or may also be purchased as a trout program donation.
**** This is an optional purchase that requires an initial purchase of an annual fishing license in order to purchase. Valid Voluntary Youth Fishing License, Multi-Year fishing License and Senior Lifetime License holders are also eligible to purchase an annual button. Buttons can only be ordered through the Commission’s Outdoor Shop and from select PFBC locations and require a three-week processing from when order is submitted. |
| 2024 MULTI-YEAR FISHING LICENSES |
| WHILE FISHING, your license must be on your persons, but the display requirement has been removed. In addition, anglers must be prepared to furnish positive proof of identification |
| Code |
Type of Fishing License or Permit |
Age |
Cost* |
| 140 |
1-Year Trout/Salmon Permit** |
16 & up |
$ 14.97 |
| 141 |
1-Year Lake Erie Permit |
16 & up |
$9.97 |
| 142 |
1-Year Combo Trout-Salmon/Lake Erie Permit |
16 & up |
$20.97 |
| 030 |
3-Year Resident |
16-64 |
$79.97 |
| 031 |
3-Year Non-Resident |
16 & up |
$178.97 |
| 032 |
3-Year Senior Resident |
65 & up |
$39.47 |
| 033 |
3-Year Trout/Salmon Permit |
16 & up |
$40.97 |
| 034 |
3-Year Lake Erie Permit |
16 & up |
$25.97 |
| 035 |
3-Year Combo Trout-Salmon/Lake Erie Permit |
16 & up |
$58.97 |
| 050 |
5-Year Resident |
16-64 |
$131.97 |
| 051 |
5-Year Non-Resident |
16 & up |
$296.97 |
| 052 |
5-Year Senior Resident |
65 & up |
$64.47 |
| 053 |
5-Year Trout/Salmon Permit |
16 & up |
$96.97 |
| 054 |
5-Year Lake Erie Permit |
16 & up |
$41.97 |
| 055 |
5-Year Combo Trout-Salmon/Lake Erie Permit |
16 & up |
$96.97 |
| 060 |
10-Year Resident |
16 & up |
$261.97 |
| 061 |
10-Year Non-Resident |
16 & up |
$591.97 |
| 063 |
10-Year Trout/Salmon Permit |
16 & up |
$131.97 |
| 064 |
10-Year Lake Erie Permit |
16 & up |
$81.97 |
| 065 |
10-Year Combo Trout-Salmon/Lake Erie Permit |
16 & up |
$191.97 |
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