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90 acres · Other owner — PFBC data, retrieved Oct 4, 2026
Special regulations
Big Bass Program — 2026 Fishing Summary, p. 11 Brood Stock Lakes Program — PFBC special-regulation data (Mar 2026)
PFBC Best Fishing Waters
Chain Pickerel — list of Nov 2024
Latest PFBC survey
May 2024 (2 years ago)
On the 2026 trout schedule
No (as published Oct 4, 2026)
Fish-consumption advisory
Yes — 2026 list
Ice-fishing list
On PFBC's ice-fishing destination list (retrieved Oct 4, 2026)
Sugar Lake covers 90 acres in Crawford County. PFBC biologists last reported on it in May 2024. The 2026 advisory lists Largemouth Bass, Chain Pickerel here at 2 meals/month.
What PFBC biologists found
May 2024 survey · 2 years ago
PFBC biologist report
Gear: trap nets, night electrofishing, boat electrofishing
The survey captured no Muskellunge. (p. 2)
Trap nets captured 1,438 Bluegill ranging from 5 to 8 inches. (p. 3)
Trap nets captured 931 Black Crappie ranging from 4 to 11 inches. (p. 3)
Electrofishing captured 93 Largemouth Bass measuring 3 to 20 inches at a rate of 69.8 fish per hour. (p. 4)
“No Muskellunge were captured during our 2024 survey.”— PFBC biologist report, p. 2
PFBC's plan, in our words: PFBC will reevaluate Muskellunge stocking at upcoming Muskellunge Work Group meetings as it updates the management plan. (p. 2)
The Muskellunge catch rate was 0.017 fish/hr, exceeding the statewide objective of 0.01 fish/hr. (p. 3)
Of the 1,011 Black Crappie captured, 74% were at least 9 inches long. (p. 4)
Electrofishing captured 172 Largemouth Bass measuring 3 to 21 inches at a rate of 87 fish/hr. (p. 7)
Among the Largemouth Bass captured, 74% exceeded 12 inches and 22% exceeded 15 inches. (p. 7)
PFBC's plan, in our words: PFBC will continue alternate-year Muskellunge plantings using summer yearlings and schedule future surveys after they grow large enough to be sampled with trap nets. (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
Sugar Lake is not on PFBC's 2026 adult trout schedule (as published Oct 4, 2026).
Fish consumption advice (2026 list)
2026 DEP/PFBC fish consumption advisory, updated Feb 27, 2026.
Species
Meal advice
Contaminant
Area
Largemouth Bass, Chain Pickerel
2 meals/month
Mercury
Entire lake
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.
PFBC's special-regulation data (Mar 2026) lists this lake under Brood Stock Lakes Program, but the 2026 Summary's Brood Stock Lakes Program list (p. 15) does not name it. Check the posted signs and PFBC.
PFBC special-regulation data (Mar 2026)
Summarized. The current Pennsylvania Fishing Summary, 58 Pa. Code and posted signs govern.
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, Muskellunge, Walleye, Northern Pike, Chain Pickerel.
This site has no ice reports; conditions change daily; never assume ice is safe.
Local bait & guides (sponsored)
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The 2026 DEP/PFBC advisory lists: Largemouth Bass, Chain Pickerel — 2 meals/month (Mercury). The statewide advice is one meal a week of sport fish. Not medical advice.
What fish are in Sugar Lake?
PFBC's May 2024 survey recorded: Bluegill, Black Crappie, Gizzard Shad, Brown Bullhead, Yellow Bullhead, Bowfin, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Perch, White Sucker, Golden Shiner, Chain Pickerel, Largemouth Bass, Golden Redhorse, Northern Pike. Surveys record what biologists caught with their gear on those days, not everything in the lake.
Is Sugar Lake 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.