Top Spots To Go Fishing In Philadelphia

Amidst the noise and chaos of the Philadelphia urban habitat, it is somewhat counter-intuitive to recognize that avid fisherman can enjoy nature and angle for the big one in their own backyard. The Delaware River is home to striped bass, shad, walleye, catfish, muskellunge, northern pike, pan fish other species. Favorite spots for anglers include Little Tinicum Island near the Commodore Bay Bridge, and also at the Frankport Access to the Delaware River. To the east lies the Atlantic Ocean, to the west, north and south are creeks stocked with trout and lakes that are home to a number of favorite sport fish varieties. At all of the locations listed below, anglers must have a valid PA fishing license.

John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge
8601 Lindbergh Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19153
(215) 365-3118
www.heinz.fws.gov

Located at Tinicum, the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, which is near the Philadelphia International Airport, was created by Congress to preserve the last 200 acres of fresh-water tidal marsh in the state. Surrounded by 1,200 acres of woodlands, meadows and marsh, the park is home to more than 300 species of birds, along with deer, fox, muskrat, turtles, frog and fish. Open daily from sunrise to sunset, there is no admission to the park.

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Pennypack Park
8500 Pine Road
Philadelphia, PA 19111
(215) 685-0470
www.facebook.com/Pennypack-Park

Located on the banks of the Pennypack Creek, Pennypack Park contains more than 1,300 acres, including nine miles of creek access. There are hiking trails, bike trails, horseback riding trails, historic buildings and a working farm on the site. Permits are required to use some trails. The creek is well known for its rock bass population. It is also home to catfish and other varieties of fish, amphibians and reptiles. The park also features an environmental center. In its early history, John James Audubon and Alexander Wilson both studied the bird population of the area.

Schuykill River National and State Heritage Area
140 College Drive
Pottstown, PA 19464
(484) 945-0200
www.schuykillriver.org

Known for its natural beauty and historical significance, the 128-mile-long Schuylkill River offers many spots for sport fishing. The Schuylkill River National and State Heritage Area was created to preserve the watershed's natural, cultural and historic resources. The river is home to channel catfish, brown bullhead, flathead and other varieties of catfish. Additionally, you can find yellow and white perch; American, hickory and gizzard shad; largemouth, rock, smallmouth and striped bass; and many varieties of sunfish, trout, pickerel, walleye, muskellunge and more.

Blue Marsh Lake
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
1268 Palisades Drive
Leesport, PA 19533
(610) 376-6337
www.corpslakes.usace.army.mil

Located along the Tulpehocken Creek near Leesport, this 1,150-acre lake is located in a 6,100-acre nature preserve, built and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It features trails, a beach, picnic areas, three boat launches, a visitor center and many other recreational opportunities. Built as part of a flood control system, the maximum depth of the lake is 145 feet. It is home to largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, walleye, catfish, spotted bass, white bass, striped bass, lake trout and other native fish species.

Evansburg State Park
851 Mayhall Road
Collegeville, PA 19426
(610) 409-1150
www.dcnr.state.pa.us

Located in Montgomery County, Evansburg State Park features the Skippack Creek. The creek divides the area into ridges and valleys. Settled by Mennonites, the farmers used the creek as a natural resource and to operate grain mills. The creek is known for its spring trout fishing and warm-water fishing during the summer. Brown and rainbow trout, along with smallmouth bass, catfish, sunfish, panfish and eels, make their home in the creek. There is a fishing dock and picnic area on Lewis Road. With more than 1,000 acres, the park also features a variety of animal and bird species.

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Jeffrey B. Roth, has won numerous state and national news and feature-writing awards during his career. A well-known crime writer, investigative reporter and a feature writer, Roth writes for a number of magazines and newspapers. Listed in the Locus Index of SciFi and Fantasy authors, Roth is the author of a number of published short stories and poetry. His work can be found on Examiner.com.