Independent site — not affiliated with or endorsed by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) or the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Official sources are linked on every page.

Hills Creek Lake fishing almanac

Northcentral region Tioga County

At a glance

Size and owner: 136 acres · State park — PFBC data, retrieved Oct 4, 2026
Agency page: Hills Creek State Park Page (pa.gov)
Latest PFBC survey: June 2023 (3 years ago)
On the 2026 trout schedule: No (as published Oct 4, 2026)
Fish-consumption advisory: No lake-specific row in the 2026 list
Ice-fishing list: On PFBC's ice-fishing destination list (retrieved Oct 4, 2026)

Hills Creek Lake covers 136 acres in Tioga County, in a state park. PFBC biologists last reported on it in June 2023. The 2026 advisory has no lake-specific row for it; the statewide one-meal-a-week advice applies.

What PFBC biologists found

Jun 2023 survey · 3 years ago

Largemouth Bass

Gear: night electrofishing, boat electrofishing

Largemouth Bass measured 3 to 20 inches and were caught at 43.9 fish/hour. (p. 1)
Bass over 12 inches were captured at 23.7 fish per hour. (p. 1)
Bass over 15 inches were captured at 7.9 fish per hour. (p. 1)
A captured Walleye measured 27 inches. (p. 3)

PFBC Biologist Report: Hills Creek Lake (2023), p. 1

May 2015 survey · 11 years ago

PFBC biologist report

Historical survey — more than 10 years old; fish populations change.

Gear: trap nets, night electrofishing

Electrofishing captured 51 Largemouth Bass measuring 4 to 20.9 inches. (p. 1)
The heaviest Largemouth Bass was 4.6 pounds. (p. 1)
Bluegill were the most numerous species in trap nets, with 337 captured. (p. 1)
The 12 Walleye measured 17 to 27.9 inches. (p. 2)

PFBC's plan, in our words: PFBC stopped Walleye and Muskellunge stocking because survival did not meet criteria for continued stocking. (p. 1)

PFBC Biologist Report: Hills Creek Lake (2015), 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.

On PFBC's 2026 trout-stocking schedule

Hills Creek Lake is not on PFBC's 2026 adult trout schedule (as published Oct 4, 2026).

Fish consumption advice (2026 list)

No lake-specific advice for Hills Creek 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.

Special fishing regulations (2026 Fishing Summary)

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.

Habitat plan and ice-fishing list

PFBC habitat-improvement map (PDF) — PFBC's map of fish-habitat structures placed or proposed in this lake.

Check posted rules and current conditions before you go.

On PFBC's ice-fishing destination list (retrieved Oct 4, 2026). Species PFBC lists for ice fishing here: Largemouth Bass, panfish, Chain Pickerel.

This site has no ice reports; conditions change daily; never assume ice is safe.

Local bait & guides (sponsored)

Questions about Hills Creek Lake

Can you eat fish from Hills Creek Lake?

The 2026 advisory has no lake-specific row for Hills Creek Lake. 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 Hills Creek Lake?

PFBC's June 2023 survey recorded: Largemouth Bass, Walleye. Surveys record what biologists caught with their gear on those days, not everything in the lake.

Report a data error

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