HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) announced today that the 2016 adult trout stocking schedules are now available online at fishandboat.com and on the PFBC’s “FishBoatPA” mobile app.
Anglers can easily search the trout stocking schedules for locations and dates of interest. To view the list, simply go to 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.”
For anglers with smartphones, an even easier way to view the schedules is through the FishBoatPA app, which is available for free from the Apple App and Google Play stores.
Included in this year’s stocking lists are the Keystone Select Stocked Trout Waters, a new program where one water in each of the eight commissioner districts will be stocked with large 14”-20” trout. Select here for more information about this exciting new program.
The 2016 season will open March 26 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 we are refining the program again based on participant feedback and will allow only kids to keep trout,” said PFBC Executive Director John Arway. “This is a very popular program designed to encourage adults to take kids fishing, to show them that fishing is fun, and to promote active, outdoor recreation. Adult mentors are encouraged to fish with the children and provide encouragement and tips, but we’re asking them to return their catch to the water.”
A majority of the trout waters will be stocked 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,” said Brian Wisner, Director of the PFBC Bureau of Hatcheries. “We don’t want mentors and kids inadvertently showing up at waters which have not been stocked.”
The following weekend – April 2 – 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 9, the Saturday before the April 16 regular opening day of trout season.
“Without a doubt, the mentored youth program has been a huge success,” added Arway. “More than 9,200 voluntary youth fishing licenses were sold last year, and another 18,858 mentored youth permits were issued. We expect even more mentors and kids to come out this year and participate.”
To participate, adult anglers (16 years or older) must have a valid fishing license and trout/salmon permit and be accompanied by a youth. Youth anglers must obtain a free PFBC-issued permit, or a voluntary youth fishing license (only $2.70 including all fees). Both are available atwww.GoneFishingPA.com or at any of the more than 900 licensing agents across the state.
For every voluntary youth license sold, the PFBC will receive approximately $5 in federal revenue from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Sport Fish Restoration Act program, which provides funds to states based on a formula that includes the number of licenses a state sells. All revenues earned from a voluntary youth fishing license will be dedicated to youth fishing programs.
The PFBC annually stocks approximately 3.2 million adult trout in more than 700 streams and 120 lakes open to public angling. These figures include approximately 2 million rainbow trout; 642,000 brown trout; and 522,000 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.
Changes for the 2016 season include new waters, waters restored to the stocking program, and the removal of waters from the stocking program.
Stocking extensions, and waters restored to the stocking program
Roaring Brook, Lackawanna County
Adult trout stocking will be reinstated on the 2.0 mile section of stream extending from Elmhurst Reservoir downstream to 550 meters downstream of the confluence with Rock Bottom Creek. Stocking was cancelled in this section of stream in 2015 due to bridge replacement on the road that leads to this section of stream.
Wolf Creek, Mercer County
A classification change stemming from an increase in human population density and a 0.5 mile extension of the stocking limits will lead to an increase in the number of trout allocated to this stream. The revised stocking limits will extend for a distance 3.01 miles from East Pine Street in Grove City downstream to 300 feet downstream of the Airport Road Bridge. Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout will be stocked during the preseason and inseason stocking periods.
Changes in stocking practices
Beginning in the fall of 2012 adult trout stocking was discontinued in favor of fingerling trout stocking on five stream sections managed under Catch-and-Release Fly-Fishing Only regulations. Fingerling trout were stocked during the fall on an annual basis in these stream sections from 2012 through 2014. The survival of fingerling trout was monitored annually through the 2015 field season to determine if a fishery could be supported by stocking fingerling trout in these sections of stream. Results from these evaluations revealed that fingerling trout survival was consistently poor on each of the stream sections. Therefore, fingerling trout stocked has been discontinued and the following stream sections will be stocked with adult trout beginning in the spring of 2016.
Caldwell Creek, Warren County – 1.5 miles, from the Selkirk Bridge (SR 3004) downstream to Stony Hollow Run located 0.5 miles upstream of Dotyville Bridge.
Donegal Creek, Lancaster County – 2.2 miles, from 0.2 miles downstream from the SR 0772 Bridge downstream to the T-334 Bridge.
Green Spring Creek, Cumberland County – 1.2 miles, from 0.4 miles upstream from the Bullshead Road Bridge (T-398) downstream to the mouth.
Little Sandy Creek, Venango County – 1.3 miles, from the old Bridge at Polk Center Pump House downstream to the Savannah Road Bridge (SR 3024).
White Deer Creek, Union County – 3.2 miles, from the Centre/Union County line downstream to the Cooper Mill Road Bridge.
Early Warning Waters
Blymire Hollow Run, York County
Based on the presence of a Class A wild Brown Trout population, adult trout stocking will be terminated on a 1.4 mile section of stream extending from the Mont Road (T-580) Bridge downstream to the mouth. Formerly, this water had been stocked on a preseason only basis.
Chapman Dam Reservoir, Warren County
This 68-acre impoundment will be removed from the adult trout-stocking program in 2016 due to a dewatering of the dam to allow for maintenance repairs to the dam. The impoundment is owned by the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Cold Stream Dam, Centre County
This 9.9-acre Philipsburg Borough impoundment will be removed from the adult trout-stocking program in 2016 due to a drawdown to allow for maintenance repairs to the dam.
Double Run, Sullivan County
Based on the presence of a Class A wild Brook Trout population, adult trout stocking will be terminated on the 2.0 mile section of stream extending from the Shrewsbury and Forks township line downstream to the mouth. Formerly, this water had been stocked on a preseason-only basis.
French Creek, Chester County
Landowner posting has resulted in a substantial loss of angler access to an 8.4 mile section of stream extending from Hollow Road (SR 1033) downstream to SR 0023. Therefore, stocking limits will be revised in 2016 to the sections of stream that remain open to angling. The revised sections will extend for a distance of 1.46 miles from SR 1033 (Hollow Road) downstream to the T-481 Bridge (Hoffecker Road) and for 3.1 miles, from the unnamed tributary upstream of West Seven Stars Road (T-522) downstream to SR 0023.
George B. Stevenson Reservoir, Cameron County
This 142-acre impoundment will be removed from the adult trout-stocking program in 2016 due to a drawdown to allow for maintenance repairs to the dam. The impoundment is owned by the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Slate Lick Run, Cambria County
Access limitations stemming from an increase in landowner posting and documented low angler use has led to the removal of the 1.90 mile section of stream extending from Marra Road downstream to the confluence with Burgoon Run.
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