PA 2015 Adult Trout Stocking Schedules Now Available

HARRISBURG, Pa. (EYT) – The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) announced yesterday that the 2015 adult trout stocking schedules are now available online at www.fishandboat.com.

Anglers can easily search the trout stocking schedules for locations and dates of interest. To view the list, simply go to www.fishandboat.com, click on the link for Trout Stocking Schedules, select a county and enter start and end dates from the calendars at the top of the page. Then press “Go.”

The search results will provide each body of water within a county that is scheduled for stocking, the section of water, the date, the species of trout, the meeting place and time, the hatchery stocking the section, the regulations that apply, and the latitude/longitude number.

“The PFBC annually stocks approximately 3.2 million adult trout in more than 700 streams and 120 lakes open to public angling,” said Brian Wisner, Director of the PFBC Bureau of Hatcheries. “These figures include approximately 2.01 million rainbow trout; 641,000 brown trout; and 525,000 brook trout. As with past practice, the average size of the trout produced for stocking is 11 inches in length.”

In addition to these fish, the PFBC plans to stock about 8,500 trophy golden rainbow trout that weigh an average of 1.5 pounds and measure at least 14 inches long. Also, PFBC cooperative nurseries run by sportsmen’s clubs across the state will add another 1 million trout to waters close to them.

About 53% of the trout are stocked prior to opening day; 43% are stocked between opening day and the end of May; and the remaining 4% are stocked from October through December.

The 2015 season will open March 28 for the Mentored Youth Trout Day program in 18 southeastern counties, including: Adams, Berks, Bucks, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Franklin, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, Perry, Philadelphia, Schuylkill, and York.

This year the mentored youth program has been expanded to include all PFBC-stocked approved trout waters. The PFBC expects to stock a majority of the trout waters in advance of the mentored youth days. But some of the waters may not be stocked in time due to weather, water conditions and scheduling logistics. Also, special regulation areas, like Catch and Release Fly-Fishing Only or Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only, are not included in the mentored youth program.

“It’s important for anglers to visit the PFBC stocking page for an updated list so they know exactly what waters are being stocked,” added Wisner. “We don’t want mentors and kids inadvertently showing up at waters which have not been stocked. Waters that receive a stocking before the mentored youth days will be clearly highlighted on this list to assist anglers with their fishing plans.”

The following weekend – April 4 – kicks off the Regional Opening Day of Trout Season in the same 18 southeastern counties.

A second Mentored Youth Day will be held on April 11, the Saturday before the April 18 regular opening day of trout season.

“We’re excited that so many mentors and kids have chosen to participate in the program,” said PFBC Executive Director John Arway. “It is designed to encourage adults to take kids fishing, to show them that fishing is fun, and to promote active, outdoor recreation. Without a doubt, the program has been a success.”

“By expanding the program this year to all stocked waters, and taking into account the $1 decrease in the price of an adult fishing license, I’m certain we will see an even greater level of participation,” he added.

The PFBC announced last fall that it was reducing the price of resident, non-resident and senior resident annual licenses by $1 for the entire 2015 season. The discount is part of a marketing campaign to highlight the sport’s affordability to families and younger audiences and to persuade lapsed anglers to return. It’s being promoted under the slogan “Catch the Value!” (Twitter – #CatchTheValue).

Click here for more information about the youth program.

Changes for the 2015 season include new waters, waters restored to the stocking program, and the removal of waters from the stocking program.


Copyright © 2024 EYT Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Any copying, redistribution or retransmission of the contents of this service without the express written consent of EYT Media Group, Inc. is expressly prohibited.

Comments are temporarily closed. A new and improved comments section will be added soon.