Lake Habitat
Pennsylvania is blessed with 76 natural lakes and 2,300 manmade lakes, and many of them are great for fishing.
Spotting Good Lake Habitat for Fishing
Fish need the right amounts of water (obviously), food and shelter. Without the right balance of all three, some fish species will leave in search of better habitat.
Fish seek different habits depending on their needs and life cycle.
Know what to look on the lake.
Edges of Lakes
The edges of lakes near shore where plants grow provide habitat, cover and areas for fish to spawn. Look for rooted and floating plants.
Open Water
The open water area of a lake is home to small plants and animals, the food source for fish. Look for the water beyond the rooted and floating plants.
Helping Nature Thrive
When nature doesn’t provide, people step in to help fish thrive and create great spots for fishing.
Hundreds of manmade habitat structures, called porcupine cribs, post cluster structures, rock rubble humps, and concrete reef balls, and more, are placed in waterways throughout the state.
These structures make home and habitat for fish and the animals they feed on.
Concrete Reef Balls
Concrete reef balls were placed on the bottom of Woodcock Creek Lake to provide cover and habitat for larger game fish species - giving you better fishing opportunities.
Vertical Plank Structure
Vertical plank structures are built with wood planks and cement blocks to create small crevices for fish to live. Algae also grows on the wood over time and provides food for smaller critters like crayfish and mussels.
Follow habitat structure maps for the lake you want to fish to find spots where fish congregate.