What is the deepest lake in Pennsylvania?

Of the lakes with a published depth, Raystown Lake is the deepest at about 200 ft.

Deepest lakes in Pennsylvania: 8 lakes ranked by depth

The deepest lakes in Pennsylvania with a published depth, deepest first. Deep lakes stay cold below the surface all summer, which is what trout and big predators want.

Deepest first

#	Lake	Deepest	Size
1	Raystown Lake	about 200 ft	8,300 acres
2	Allegheny Reservoir (Kinzua Lake)	about 130 ft	12,100 acres
3	Youghiogheny River Lake	about 120 ft	2,840 acres
4	Lake Marburg	about 110 ft	1,280 acres
5	Lake Nockamixon	about 90 ft	1,420 acres
6	Conneaut Lake	about 80 ft	920 acres
7	Lake Wallenpaupack	about 60 ft	5,760 acres
8	Pymatuning Reservoir	about 35 ft	17,000 acres

1. Raystown Lake

Raystown Lake spreads over some 8,300 acres. The fish here are striped bass, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and walleye. At about 200 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and a wind-blown bank to work.

Raystown Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Allegheny Reservoir (Kinzua Lake)

Allegheny Reservoir (Kinzua Lake) is a reservoir of 12,100 acres. It lies near Randolph. Expect walleye, muskie, catfish and trout. It goes down to about 130 ft. Allegheny Reservoir is impounded by Kinzua Dam, one of the largest dams east of the Mississippi River, and is surrounded by the Allegheny National Forest.

Allegheny Reservoir (Kinzua Lake) today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Youghiogheny River Lake

At some 2,840 acres, Youghiogheny River Lake is small enough to learn in a few trips. It lies near Hopwood. Youghiogheny Dam holds it on the Youghiogheny River. Expect walleye, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and northern pike. At about 120 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Youghiogheny River Lake is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir that straddles the Pennsylvania-Maryland border near Confluence.

Youghiogheny River Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Lake Marburg

Lake Marburg is a reservoir of 1,280 acres. It lies near Parkville. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, catfish and crappie are the draw. The deepest water is around 110 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Lake Marburg is the centerpiece of Codorus State Park in York County, formed by damming Codorus Creek.

Lake Marburg today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Lake Nockamixon

Lake Nockamixon is a reservoir of 1,420 acres. The lake is within an easy drive of Bethlehem (about 13 miles). The fish here are striped bass, walleye, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. The deepest water is around 90 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Lake Nockamixon is formed by a dam on Tohickon Creek and is the centerpiece of Nockamixon State Park in Bucks County.

Lake Nockamixon today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Conneaut Lake

Conneaut Lake covers 920 acres. The lake is next to Conneaut Lakeshore. Like most lakes its size in Pennsylvania, it should hold largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish. It goes down to about 80 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove to work.

Conneaut Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Lake Wallenpaupack

Lake Wallenpaupack covers 5,760 acres. The fish here are largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye and yellow perch. It goes down to about 60 ft.

Lake Wallenpaupack today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Pymatuning Reservoir

Pymatuning Reservoir spreads over 17,000 acres of water. It lies about 29 miles south of Youngstown. The fish here are walleye, muskie, largemouth bass and catfish. It goes down to about 35 ft. Pymatuning is Pennsylvania's largest lake and straddles the Pennsylvania-Ohio state line.

Pymatuning Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Fishing deep water

Deep lakes reward slow, vertical fishing: drop a jig or a spoon to the depth where fish show on the sonar and work it right there. In spring and fall the fish come shallow and any method works.