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Big Bass Program — 2026 Fishing Summary, p. 11 Panfish Enhancement Special Regulations — 2026 Fishing Summary, p. 15
PFBC Best Fishing Waters
Channel Catfish, Striped Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass, Walleye — list of Nov 2024
Latest PFBC survey
April 2021 (5 years ago)
On the 2026 trout schedule
No (as published Oct 4, 2026)
Fish-consumption advisory
No lake-specific row in the 2026 list
Blue Marsh Reservoir covers 1,150 acres in Berks County. PFBC biologists last reported on it in April 2021. The 2026 advisory has no lake-specific row for it; the statewide one-meal-a-week advice applies.
What PFBC biologists found
Apr 2021 survey · 5 years ago
Trap Net Survey
Gear: trap nets
The survey captured 6 Tiger Muskellunge measuring 30 to 41 inches at a rate of 0.013 fish/hr. (p. 3)
The survey captured 354 Channel Catfish measuring 8 to 30 inches at a rate of 0.75 fish/hr. (p. 4)
The catch included 25 Walleye measuring 16 to 28 inches. (p. 6)
The survey captured 72 Black Crappie measuring 4 to 14 inches. (p. 2)
The catch included 3 Flathead Catfish measuring 24 to 41 inches. (p. 2)
PFBC's plan, in our words: PFBC plans further trap net surveys to evaluate the yearling tiger muskellunge stocking program. (p. 3)
Findings are our short summaries of one survey at one time. Every number was checked against the cited page of PFBC's report. We don't rate lakes.
On PFBC's 2026 trout-stocking schedule
Blue Marsh Reservoir is not on PFBC's 2026 adult trout schedule (as published Oct 4, 2026).
Fish consumption advice (2026 list)
No lake-specific advice for Blue Marsh Reservoir in the 2026 list.
Statewide advice:“Pennsylvania has issued a general, statewide health advisory for recreationally caught sport fish: eat no more than one meal (1/2 pound) per week of sport fish caught in the state’s waterways.”
“People who regularly eat sport fish, women of childbearing age and children are particularly susceptible to contaminants that build up over time.”
DEP: “The advisory listing was current at the time this summary went to press. Fish consumption advisories may have been issued or lifted since that time.”
Largemouth, Smallmouth and Spotted Bass: 15-inch minimum and 4 a day (combined) from Jan. 1 through April 10 and from June 13 through Dec. 31; catch and immediate release only from April 11 through June 12, with no tournaments. Other species follow inland rules.
The 2026 advisory has no lake-specific row for Blue Marsh Reservoir. The statewide advice — no more than one meal (1/2 pound) a week of sport fish — still applies. Not medical advice.
What fish are in Blue Marsh Reservoir?
PFBC's April 2021 survey recorded: Alewife, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Flathead Catfish, Golden Shiner, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Striped Bass, Hybrid Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Muskellunge, Pumpkinseed, Rainbow Trout (Hatchery), Tiger Muskellunge, Tiger Trout (Hatchery), Walleye, White Catfish, White Crappie, White Sucker, Wild Brown Trout, Yellow Perch. Surveys record what biologists caught with their gear on those days, not everything in the lake.
Is Blue Marsh Reservoir a Big Bass lake?
Yes. PFBC's special-regulation data and the 2026 Fishing Summary (p. 11) list it in the Big Bass Program: Largemouth, Smallmouth and Spotted Bass: 15-inch minimum and 4 a day (combined) from Jan. 1 through April 10 and from June 13 through Dec. 31; catch and immediate release only from April 11 through June 12, with no tournaments. Other species follow inland rules.