Lake Somerset is a 253 acre body of water located in Somerset County, 1/2 mile north of Somerset off Rt. 219 and 25 miles north of Johnstown in Cambria County. It is nestled on 457 acres of property owned by the PFBC. 

This lake serves as the headquarters for the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission's SOUTHWEST REGIONAL OFFICE, 236 Lake Road, Somerset, PA 15501-1644 Phone: (814) 445-8974 Fax:(814) 445-3497 which covers these counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Somerset, Washington and Westmoreland counties.
 
Fishing:
Lake Somerset is managed under the Commission's Big Bass program. The Commission stocks the lake with juvenile channel catfish, muskellunge, redear sunfish and walleye.

Boating:
Boating is limited to boats powered by electric motors and un-powered boats. There are 2 access points and associated parking facilities, 1 has a surfaced launch ramp. More access information is available on the Somerset County map. 

Un-powered boats may be moored at the lake in accordance with Commission property regulations. To be used at the lake, boats must be registered or have a valid launch permit (permits are issued by the Commission or PA Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources).
 
Fish Species:
Lake Somerset holds a wide variety of fish that keeps angling interest peaked all year round. Game fish include: Largemouth bass, purebred and tiger muskellunge, walleye and bowfin. Panfish varies from crappie, bluegill, sunfish, channel cat, bullheads, and rock bass.

BigDamFish  All Outdoors Forum

 
There are two handicapped accessible areas.
An asphalt and stone and concrete pier that is handicapped accessible and extends out into the lake. There is also one on Lake Tamarack in Crawford County. And this wooden pier, which is also handicapped accessible. Near this area also is a handicap accessible bathroom facility.
 
 

The PFBC is responsible for and does all their own maintenance on all projects small enough for them to handle, including ramps and access areas. They will even repair the concrete on the dams if the damage  is not too excessive.
Lake Somerset was built by the Pennsylvania Fish Commission in 1956 in co-operation with a Federal Aid Project for public recreation. The species of fish are all warm water species such as: Crappies, Bass, Muskies, Northern Pike, Walleye and Bowfin remain the most prominent species caught along with panfish.. It is a shallow lake with the deepest area being only 16 feet deep. Yet holds quite a reputation for many lunker catches of these various warm water species. Thomas Sanderbeck of Greensburg, Pa, caught a record carp at Somerset Lake using whole Corn. It weighed in at 26 lb. and 36 long. Another record lunker for Pa. taken was a bowfin. 

 

The PFBC along with various sportsman clubs in the area, maintain habitat management by sinking cribs and trees in different area's. This enables the fish to find cover in open water allowing anglers more opportunities. 

Cribs are also made by just attaching 4X4's and 2X4's together. Trees, such as old Christmas tree's, are also sunken to add more cover and habitat.

Shawnee Lake in Bedford County and Lake Somerset in Somerset County also had aquatic vegetation problems that were affecting their fish communities. The approach taken at these two lakes involved lowering the lake level during the winter. By lowering the lake level, aquatic vegetation was exposed to winter freezing and drying. This action has not only decreased the abundance of aquatic vegetation, but it has also increased the abundance of large panfish. The lakes are drawn down in cycles that include a time frame of every other year.

 

This area is especially good for teaching children to fish as it maintains a large number of panfish such as bluegill, sunfish and crappies. It is easily accessible with alot of vegetation and many people have had good catches of panfish using bobbers.
 

<< This is the boat ramp with ample parking on Gilmour Road.
Lake Somerset has quite a reputation for its musky. Many a fisherman has latched onto a musky while fishing for panfish in shallow water when they least expected it. Just recently, an older local angler reported loosing a nice musky behind the PFBC office. He was fishing for crappie with a small trout minnow and 2-pound test line when the musky hit his lure. Another fisherman was in the shallow weedy water off Gilmour Road when he had the best fight of his angling life with a musky while fishing for bluegill and bass.

For more information n the Somerset area and what it has to offer the outdoor enthusiasts please visit the Somerset County Chamber of Commerce. 

This walleye was taken from Lake Somerset and weighed 10 lbs. That is Steve Mort and his son Steve holding the fish. Good work guys!
Joe Ryan is holding a really nice bass he caught while fishing Lake Somerset.
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