Pennsylvania regulations
Crappie (Black & White) Regulations in Pennsylvania 2026
Pennsylvania crappie 2026 open seasons vary by 35 management regions. Pick your region in the rule table below. Sourced from Fish & Boat Commission.
Rules (61)
Blue Marsh Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 9"
When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same waterway, the creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined.
Bridgeport Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 9"
When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same waterway, the creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined.
Chambers Lake
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 9"
When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same waterway, the creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined.
Colyer Lake
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 9"
When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same waterway, the creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined.
Cross Creek Lake
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 9"
When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same waterway, the creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined.
Dutch Fork Lake — Commonwealth Inland Waters
- Daily bag
- 50 fish/day
(combined gamefish group)
Glade Run Lake
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 9"
When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same waterway, the creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined.
Gouldsboro Lake (State Park)
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 9"
When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same waterway, the creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined.
Hinckston Run Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 9"
When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same waterway, the creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined.
Indian Lake
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 9"
When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same waterway, the creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined.
Lake Nessmuk
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 9"
When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same waterway, the creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined.
Lake Perez
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 9"
When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same waterway, the creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined.
Leaser Lake
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 9"
When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same waterway, the creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined.
Lower Twin Lake
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 9"
When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same waterway, the creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined.
Northmoreland Lake
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 9"
When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same waterway, the creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined.
Opossum Lake
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 9"
When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same waterway, the creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined.
Panfish Enhancement Waters - Multiple Pa Lakes (See Panfish Enhancement List)
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
Peters Twp. Lake (Reservoir #2)
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 9"
When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same waterway, the creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined.
Pymatuning ReservoirOpen year-round
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 20
- Min size
- 9"
Pymatuning Reservoir (State Park)
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 9"
When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same waterway, the creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined.
Quemahoning Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 9"
When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same waterway, the creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined.
Rose Valley Lake (Commonwealth Inland Waters, Combined Species)
- Daily bag
- 50 fish/day
Shenango River Lake
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 9"
When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same waterway, the creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined.
Tamarack Lake
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 9"
When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same waterway, the creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined.
Tamarack Lake – Panfish Enhancement Program
- Daily bag
- 50 fish/day
- Daily bag
- 50 fish/day
Upper Twin Lake
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 9"
When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same waterway, the creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined.
Virgin Run Lake – Commonwealth Inland Waters
- Daily bag
- 50 fish/day
(combined panfish species)
Wilmore Dam
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 9"
When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same waterway, the creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined.
Other Pennsylvania fish regulations
Other regulated species in Pennsylvania with current rule pages — same Fish & Boat Commission source, same verification cadence.
- Trout (Brook, Brown, Rainbow)501 rules
- Largemouth Bass259 rules
- Smallmouth Bass259 rules
- Muskie (Muskellunge)59 rules
- Bluegill (Sunfish)48 rules
- Northern Pike38 rules
- Yellow Perch33 rules
- Walleye30 rules
- Channel Catfish12 rules
- Lake Trout3 rules
Also known as
Crappie is also called Crappie (Black & White), Black Crappie, White Crappie. Anglers in different regions use different names for the same fish, and the rules on this page apply to all of them in Pennsylvania.
Frequently asked questions
When is Crappie season in Pennsylvania?
Crappie season in Pennsylvania runs from Jan 1 to Dec 31 per Fish & Boat Commission.
What is the size limit for Crappie in Pennsylvania?
Minimum size for Crappie in Pennsylvania is 9 inches in Blue Marsh Reservoir, per Fish & Boat Commission. Slot limits or maximum sizes may apply in some zones.
What is the daily bag limit for Crappie in Pennsylvania?
Daily bag limit for Crappie in Pennsylvania is 20 fish/day in Blue Marsh Reservoir, per Fish & Boat Commission.
Official sources cited
- https://www.eregulations.com/assets/docs/guides/25PAFW_LR.pdf
- https://www.eregulations.com/pennsylvania/fishing/panfish-enhancement-special-regulations
- https://www.eregulations.com/assets/docs/resources/PA/25PAFW_LR.pdf
Reference only. Regulations change frequently, often mid-season. Always verify with Fish & Boat Commission before keeping a catch.