Pennsylvania fishing charters
Lake Erie walleye and smallmouth out of Erie, and Allegheny River bass in Oil City.
Book Pennsylvania fishing charters with licensed local captains. On Lake Erie out of Erie, PA, you can troll for walleye or fish rocky reefs for smallmouth bass. On the Allegheny River in Oil City, guides target river smallmouth. Trips start at $350, with rods, reels and lures included; anglers 16 and older need a Pennsylvania fishing license.
Pennsylvania fishing charters: trips and prices
Each trip has its own captains and online booking.
Lake Erie walleye (Erie)From $400 · 2, 5 or 7 hTrolling open water off Presque Isle
Lake Erie smallmouth (Erie)From $350 · 4, 6 or 8 hRocky reefs and drop-offs
Allegheny River (Oil City)From $400 · 4, 6 or 8 hRiver smallmouth · up to 4 guests
Erie PA fishing chartersAll Lake Erie tripsWalleye, smallmouth and perch| Trip | Lengths | From | Water |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erie walleye | 2, 5 or 7 h | $400 | Lake Erie |
| Erie smallmouth | 4, 6 or 8 h | $350 | Lake Erie |
| Oil City river trip | 4, 6 or 8 h | $400 | Allegheny River |
Free cancellation up to 72 hours before. Full refund or free reschedule if the guide cancels for weather. Questions? Call or text (407) 392-4593, 9 am – 6 pm.
Where can I book a fishing charter in Pennsylvania?
iOutdoors books Pennsylvania fishing charters on Lake Erie out of Erie, PA (walleye from $400, smallmouth and multi-species trips from $350) and on the Allegheny River in Oil City (smallmouth bass from $400). Captains provide the boat, fuel, rods, reels and lures. Anglers 16 and older need a Pennsylvania fishing license, sold online by HuntFish PA.
What’s included and what to bring
- Licensed local captain
- Boat and fuel
- Rods, reels (left and right handed) and tackle
- Artificial lures
- Fishing instruction for beginners
- Cooler, ice and bottled water
- Pennsylvania fishing license (required for anglers 16 and older)
- Live bait, if you want it
- Captain tip (10–20% is customary)
- Food and drinks (bring your own; cans preferred)
What to bring
Reviews from Pennsylvania trips
5.0699 reviews
It was our 1st trip to Lake Erie fishing.We had a great day fishing with Capt Mark. It was windy with 3 and 4ft waves but his Ranger cut through the waves. We caught a few fish but we understood how fishing could be with the weather conditions. Mark is a seasoned fisherman and guide and we would…
Paul Hanner · October 2026 · Google
Got us in short notice. Put us on fish during a nice front
Luke Vankeuren · September 2026 · Google
Capt. Mark is top notch! Beautiful clean boat, knew how to get us on the fish fast! Absolutely will be booking with him again!
Marlay Shollenberger · September 2026 · Google
I had an amazing experience on Lake Erie for the first time and caught some nice smallmouth! Jonathan is that dude to make you have a great day, have fun and catch nice fish! Summertime smallie fishing was so badas$ and also a nice challenge but we got a lot of bites for a hot summer and hooked…
Pete Chilimindris · August 2026 · Google
Excellent trip, beautiful weather and lots of fish
John McWhirter · August 2026 · Google
We went out with mark rose bass fishing and he put us on the fish!!
Matt Moore · August 2026 · Google
Had a quick trip got put on the fish extremely fast.
Otis Davis · August 2026 · Google
June 21 2026 Great, amazing and so much fun fishing with Captain John. He immediately put me on the fish. Friendly and very knowledgeable. From the beginning until the end of the trip, he done it all. Including filleting all of the fish. Thank you for a wonderful Father’s Day. Definitely recommend…
Edwin Rosado · August 2026 · Google
Great guide and mate. They provided great assistance and good conversation. Highly recommend and we get to eat some fish for dinner.
Annette Wilson · August 2026 · Google
My husband fished with Captain Mark, he had a wonderful time. Captain Mark was very knowledgeable about the lake and was able to locate Walleye and Small Mouth Bass quickly.
Angela Backley · July 2026 · Google
Captain Jonathon was amazing! This was the first time my husband and I ever did a charter fishing trip. And the whole experience exceeded our expectations. We had some laughs, learned so much about boating, fishing and the area. He went above and beyond to make our experience memorable. We will…
Christina Wood · July 2026 · Google
What an awesome experience! Captain Jonathon was so friendly and experienced. My wife and I had such a wonderful time on the water, catching walleye with him. We had some laughs, learned so much on lots of different subjects, from the winds, local landmarks, different types of boats, and the fish…
James Wood · July 2026 · Google
Best fishing seasons in Pennsylvania
Winter Dec–Feb
- Most charters are off the water
- Book next season early
Spring Mar–May
- Lake Erie walleye after the spring closure
- Smallmouth move shallow (check PA bass rules)
Summer Jun–Aug
- Peak Lake Erie walleye trolling
- River smallmouth all summer
Fall Sep–Nov
- Big walleye and smallmouth feed up
- Some of the best river fishing of the year
Fish you can catch in Pennsylvania
Walleye and smallmouth bass are the main targets.
Walleye
Lake Erie’s signature fish; trolled in open water from late spring through fall.
Smallmouth bass
BronzebackOn Lake Erie reefs and in the Allegheny River current.
Panfish
Perch and crappieSchooling fish on bottom rigs in the bays; great for kids.
Seasons, size and creel limits apply: see the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. Need a license? See fishing licenses in PA or buy one at HuntFish PA.
Where you’ll fish
Erie sits on the shore of Lake Erie with Presque Isle protecting its bay; trips fish the open lake and nearshore reefs. Oil City is about 70 miles south on the Allegheny River. See Erie PA fishing charters and Oil City fishing.
Planning a trip? See Visit PA and things to do in Pennsylvania. Visiting Philadelphia? The Delaware River waterfront is worth a walk (we don’t run charters there yet).
Pennsylvania fishing guide
New to Lake Erie? A 2-hour walleye trip or a 4-hour Lake Erie trip is the easiest start. Groups and celebrations like a fishing bachelor party usually book the longer trips. Tackle tip: learn your target fish and how to use a rigging needle for bait rigs.
Also fishing with iOutdoors: Florida fishing charters (including Fort Lauderdale) and Mississippi fishing charters in Biloxi. See every destination on our fishing charters page.
Pennsylvania fishing questions
Where can I go on a fishing charter in Pennsylvania?
iOutdoors books Lake Erie charters out of Erie, PA and Allegheny River trips in Oil City.
How much does a Pennsylvania fishing charter cost?
Lake Erie trips start at $350 (4 hours), walleye trips at $400 (2 hours), and Oil City river trips at $400 (4 hours).
Do I need a Pennsylvania fishing license?
Yes, if you are 16 or older. Licenses are sold online by HuntFish PA; buy yours before the trip.
What fish can I catch in Pennsylvania?
Walleye and smallmouth bass are the main targets, with yellow perch and other panfish on Lake Erie.
When is the best time to fish Lake Erie?
Summer is peak walleye season and fall brings big fish. Pennsylvania has spring rules for walleye and bass; check the PA Fish & Boat Commission.
What is the cancellation policy?
Free cancellation up to 72 hours before. Full refund or free reschedule if the captain cancels for weather.
Other iOutdoors destinations
Saltwater trips in Florida and Mississippi.
