Are the Owl Creek Reservoirs stocked with trout?

No. The two reservoirs are a warmwater fishery — largemouth and smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, bullhead, and panfish — under a year-round catch-and-release rule for all species (a borough rule for the low-fertility water). They are not a stocked-trout water; boats are electric-motor-only.

Fishing · Hiking

Owl Creek Reservoirs

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Type: Borough reservoir recreation area (two reservoirs)
Where: Owl Creek Road, Tamaqua, PA
Township(s): Walker & Schuylkill Townships
Managed by: Borough of Tamaqua (recreation via the Owl Creek Reservoir Commission)
Coordinates: 40.79839, -75.91436 (approximate) · Open in Maps
Recreation-area entrance vicinity; secondary listings disagree by ~0.4 mi, so field-verify before pin-level use.
Last verified: 2026-06-18

The Upper and Lower Owl Creek Reservoirs are two former drinking-water reservoirs at Tamaqua, rehabilitated and reopened by the borough as a recreation area. Open to public fishing since 2002, they are managed under a year-round catch-and-release rule for all species and are electric-motor-only.

Fishing

This is a warmwater fishery — not a stocked-trout water: largemouth and smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, brown bullhead, pumpkinseed, bluegill, and black crappie. The PFBC has restocked bass and bluegill/shiners following the dam rehabilitations. A small boat ramp serves each reservoir.

Trails

Loop trails encircle the reservoirs and adjacent woods, popular for walking and mountain biking, with a playground, basketball court, picnicking, and a pavilion. The reservoirs are also a stop on the Schuylkill County Birding Trail. As a borough water source, posted restrictions apply.

Getting there

The recreation area is on Owl Creek Road about two miles southeast of Tamaqua center; reported coordinates vary by a few tenths of a mile, so use the upper-dam lot as your landmark.

Access & parking

Getting there: On Owl Creek Road about two miles southeast of Tamaqua center; an upper-dam lot serves the recreation area.
Accessibility: Largely natural/gravel; not designated accessible.

Sources

Tamaqua Borough — Owl Creek Reservoir brochure
Source type: government
PFBC — Owl Creek Reservoir survey
Source type: government

Frequently asked

Are the Owl Creek Reservoirs stocked with trout?: No. The two reservoirs are a warmwater fishery — largemouth and smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, bullhead, and panfish — under a year-round catch-and-release rule for all species (a borough rule for the low-fertility water). They are not a stocked-trout water; boats are electric-motor-only.

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