Refuge waters include Hanks Road (one-acre pond and stream access), Pool 9 (some bank fishing and non-powered-boat fishing), Meyers Small Ponds (15 acres), Pool K (10 acres with access for disabled anglers) and Reitz Pond (five acres). Fishing season is in accordance with state regulations. Available species include rainbow, brook and brown trout, largemouth bass, yellow perch, bluegill, sunfish, carp, crappie and bullhead.
Fishing is permitted in the following areas in the Sugar Lake Division:
- Woodcock Creek north and south
- Woodcock Overlook Pond
- Pool 4 outlet
- Pool 9 dike area
- Meyers Ponds
- Pool K (with access available for disabled)
- Reitz Pond dike and small ponds
Bank fishing is also permitted in all creeks and beaver ponds in the Seneca Unit except for the area closed from January 15 to August 15 north of Muddy Creek and west of Swamp Road.
Please consult the refuge fishing brochure for specifics as well as special conditions.
Hunting and Fishing Plan
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released a final hunting and fishing plan for Erie National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Pennsylvania. A draft plan was issued earlier this spring, and during the 97-day public comment period, 5 comment letters were received from the public. We are grateful to the people who provided meaningful comments on the draft, which helped in developing the final plan.
Some comments reflected an opposition to hunting and fishing in general and in particular on refuge lands. We understand and respect this viewpoint. The legislation which guides how national wildlife refuges across the country are managed not only requires us to consider allowing wildlife observation, hunting, fishing, photography, environmental education, and interpretation, but further directs us to promote these activities when compatible with refuge purposes. Not one of these recreational uses have a priority over another – they are simply different ways people choose to enjoy the refuges and to engage themselves, their families, and their friends in the outdoors.
A summary of all substantive comments, and our responses, can be found in Appendix E (Finding of No Significant Impact). No significant changes have been made between the draft and final versions of the Hunting and Fishing Plan. As part of next year’s proposed rule, Erie NWR will propose a non-lead requirement, which will take effect on September 1, 2026. The EA analyzes the impacts of lead ammunition and tackle; based on the breadth of comments received on the plan to require non-lead ammunition and tackle by 2026, the Service intends to complete additional analysis and provide another opportunity to comment during next year’s annual rulemaking.
We may begin to implement the Hunting and Fishing Plan for Erie NWR upon publication of the final 2022-2023 Station-Specific Hunting and Sport Fishing Regulations in the Federal Register. The final plan can be viewed here.
