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Northeast region Lackawanna County
Fords Lake covers 73 acres in Lackawanna County, on PFBC-owned land. PFBC biologists last reported on it in September 2016. The 2026 advisory has no lake-specific row for it; the statewide one-meal-a-week advice applies.
Sep 2016 survey · 10 years ago
Gear: hoop nets, trap nets
PFBC's plan, in our words: PFBC will stop stocking Channel Catfish and use other predators to limit Gizzard Shad abundance. (p. 1)
PFBC Biologist Report: Fords Lake (2016), p. 1
Mar 2016 survey · 10 years ago
Gear: trap nets
PFBC's plan, in our words: PFBC will continue Tiger Muskellunge stocking for a couple more years while evaluating the developing program. (p. 1)
PFBC Biologist Report: Fords Lake 2016 Tiger Muskellunge Survey (2016), p. 1
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.
Fords Lake is not on PFBC's 2026 adult trout schedule (as published Oct 4, 2026).
No lake-specific advice for Fords Lake 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.”
DEP fish consumption advisories Before you go: check DEP's harmful algal bloom page
Quoted word for word from the advisory for the year shown; advisories may have been issued or lifted since. Not medical advice.
No lake-specific program in PFBC's special-regulation data (Mar 2026). Commonwealth inland waters rules apply (2026 Fishing Summary, p. 10).
Summarized. The current Pennsylvania Fishing Summary, 58 Pa. Code and posted signs govern.
On PFBC's ice-fishing destination list (retrieved Oct 4, 2026). Species PFBC lists for ice fishing here: Largemouth Bass, panfish, Muskellunge.
This site has no ice reports; conditions change daily; never assume ice is safe.
Sponsored · advertiser-supplied · not verified by this site; not affiliated with or endorsed by PFBC
The 2026 advisory has no lake-specific row for Fords Lake. The statewide advice — no more than one meal (1/2 pound) a week of sport fish — still applies. Not medical advice.
PFBC's September 2016 survey recorded: Channel Catfish, Tiger Muskellunge, Gizzard Shad, Black Crappie, White Crappie, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Perch, Brown Bullhead, Yellow Bullhead, Golden Shiner, Largemouth Bass. Surveys record what biologists caught with their gear on those days, not everything in the lake.
Sources for this page: PFBC Lakes_Point (Oct 4, 2026); PFBC biologist reports (area pages, Oct 4, 2026); PFBC adult trout schedule (as published Oct 4, 2026); DEP/PFBC fish consumption advisory (2026 list, updated Feb 27, 2026); PFBC special-regulation data (Mar 2026); 2026 Pennsylvania Fishing Summary. All sources
Last data import Oct 5, 2026