HARRISBURG, Pa. (January 31) – Excitement for the spring trout fishing season begins today as the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is pleased to make its 2020 adult trout stocking schedules available online and on the PFBC's "FishBoatPA" mobile app.
"Winter may be with us for a little while longer, but this is a great reminder that spring is right around the corner," said Tim Schaeffer, PFBC Executive Director. "Now is the time to take a good look at the trout stocking schedules, get your gear ready, buy your fishing license, and start planning your opening day fishing adventure."
View the Schedule Now
Trout stocking schedules can be accessed quickly and easily through the increasingly popular, free FishBoatPA mobile app for smartphones, or at www.fishandboat.com. The schedule is searchable by county, lists the waterways in alphabetical order, and indicates stocking dates and the species of trout that will be stocked. 2020 Pennsylvania fishing licenses are available for purchase online through The Outdoor Shop (www.pa.wildlifelicense.com), or by visiting any of the more than 700 retail license issuing agents across the state. To participate in trout fishing and keep trout, anglers ages 16 and older require both a fishing license and a trout/salmon permit.
"If trout fever is already starting to set in and you're looking to get outside, we welcome everyone to join us for a stocking event and help put the fish in the water," added Schaeffer. "Not only is it a fun, educational, and rewarding experience, but it's also a very big job to pull off every season. We couldn't do it without our volunteers."
The PFBC will continue to stock approximately 3.2 million adult trout in 707 streams and 130 lakes open to public angling. These figures, which are consistent with the number of trout stocked over the past decade, include approximately 2.2 million Rainbow Trout; 660,000 Brown Trout; and 360,000 Brook Trout. As with past practice, the average size of the trout produced for stocking is 11 inches in length.
In 2020, anglers will have a better chance than ever before to catch large, trophy-sized trout. This year, the PFBC will stock approximately 60,000 brood fish, which are 2 ½ year-old and 3 ½ year-old hatchery-raised Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, and Brook Trout measuring 14"-20". The allocation of these large trout will be more than double the allocation in 2019. Roughly 70% of these large fish will be stocked into streams and lakes during the preseason prior to opening days of trout season, and 30% will be stocked during in-season replenishment stockings.
The PFBC will also increase the number of golden Rainbow Trout that will be stocked in 2020. In addition to being stocked during the preseason period before opening day, these highly prized fish featuring vibrant golden-orange pigmentation and weighing an average of 1.5 pounds, will be stocked during in-season replenishment stockings. The allocation of approximately 13,000 golden Rainbow Trout in 2020 exceeds the 2019 allocation (9,500) by roughly 40%. Approximately 80% of golden Rainbow Trout will be stocked during the preseason, and approximately 20% will be stocked in-season.
"The addition of more trophy-sized trout is something every angler can get excited for," said Brian Wisner, Director of the PFBC Bureau of Hatcheries. "We've been able to produce more of these beautiful, large trout at our hatcheries thanks to our talented staff, equipment upgrades, innovations and increased efficiencies in the process. Because we'll be stocking these fish in many places ahead of the mentored youth days and regular opening days, and then adding more in the weeks after the season opens, everybody has a great chance to catch one of these special trout."
In addition to trout raised at state fish hatcheries, PFBC cooperative nurseries operated by sportsmen's clubs across the state will add another 1 million trout to waters open to public angling.
Once again included in this year's stocking lists are the Keystone Select Stocked Trout Waters, a program where sections of 23 streams across the state are stocked with large 14" - 20" trout and managed under Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only catch-and-release regulations. Under the program, approximately 9,600 large trout will be distributed among the streams. The trout will be stocked at a rate of 175 to 225 per mile of stream, which is comparable to the numbers of similarly sized fish in Pennsylvania's best wild trout waters. Locate Keystone Select waters here.
"What makes the Keystone Select streams and other special regulation waters unique is that you don't have to wait until the regular opening day to start fishing," said Eric Hussar, PFBC Board President. "These are catch-and-release areas that are open year-round, so it's not unusual for many volunteers to spend the morning stocking with us in March before spending the afternoon throwing some lures or fly fishing. It's a great opportunity."
Important 2020 Trout Season Dates
The 2020 trout season will officially open Saturday, March 28 with the Regional Mentored Youth Trout Fishing 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.
The following weekend – Saturday, April 4 – kicks off the Regional Opening Day of Trout Season in the same 18 southeastern counties.
A second Mentored Youth Trout Fishing Day will be held on April 11, the Saturday before the April 18 regular statewide opening day of trout season.
To participate in the mentored youth program, adult anglers (16 years or older) must have a valid fishing license and trout permit and be accompanied by a youth. Youth anglers must obtain a free PFBC-issued permit, or a voluntary youth fishing license (only $2.90 including all fees). Both are available online or through issuing agents.
For every voluntary youth license sold, the PFBC receives 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 are dedicated to youth fishing programs.
2020 Adult Trout Stocking Program Changes
Each year, the PFBC adjusts its adult trout stocking program based on several factors. A waterway may be added, extended, reinstated or removed depending on existing or pending changes to angler access, changes to designations on streams managed for wild trout populations, water quality issues that may threaten the survival of stocked trout, and maintenance being performed to dams and other infrastructure that result in the drawdown of impoundments or decreased water flow.
Waters Added or Extended:
Chapman Dam Reservoir, Warren County
Adult trout stocking will be reinstated at this 68-acre state park lake following the completion of maintenance and repairs to the dam and spillway. The lake will be stocked during the preseason, in-season, and winter stocking periods.
Cold Stream, Centre County
Due to an increase in accessibility, the stocked portion of the stream was extended by 0.3 mile upstream. The revised stocking limits will extend for 1.3-mile from the State Game Lands boundary downstream to the inflow of Cold Stream Dam.
Deer Creek, Allegheny County
Due to an increase in accessibility, the stocked portion of the stream was extended by 0.3 mile downstream. The revised stocking limits will extend for 6.8-mile from the lower Rose Ridge golf property boundary downstream to 0.56 mile below Rich Hill (T-662) road bridge.
Donegal Lake, Westmoreland County
Adult trout stocking will be reinstated at this 90-acre PFBC lake following the completion of maintenance and repairs to the dam. The lake will be stocked during the preseason, in-season, and fall stocking periods.
East Fork Sinnemahoning Creek, Potter County
An in-season stocking will be added to the 6.4-mile section of stream extending from Mud Lick Run downstream to the mouth. Formerly, this water was stocked on a preseason only basis.
Minsi Lake, Northampton County
Adult trout stocking will be reinstated at this 122-acre PFBC lake following the completion of maintenance and repairs to the dam. The lake will be stocked during the preseason, in-season, and fall stocking periods.
Swift Run, Snyder County
Due to an increase in accessibility, the stocked portion of the stream was extended 0.8-mile upstream. The revised stocking limits will extend for 2.0 miles from Sandhill Road downstream to the mouth of the stream. An in-season stocking will be added to this water. Formerly, this water was stocked on a preseason only basis.
Waters Replaced:
When survey data suggests that a waterway is no longer suitable for adult trout stocking based on a loss of angler access, environmental factors, or designation as a Class A wild trout stream, the PFBC makes every attempt to reallocate fish to a comparable location nearby. When inadequate angler access is the reason for a removal, locations are monitored for improvement, so these waters can be considered for reinstatement to the stocking program if access is improved.
Akeley Run, Warren County
An increase in landowner posting has led to the removal of trout stocking at a 2.3-mile section of stream extending from the confluence of Reynolds and Priest Hollow runs downstream to Widdlefield Run. Formerly, this water was stocked on a preseason only basis. Fish previously stocked in this stream will now be stocked in Jackson Run, Warren County.
Brooks Run, Cameron County
Based on the presence of a Class A wild Brook Trout population, trout stocking will be discontinued in favor of wild trout management on the section of stream extending from the state forest road bridge 1.8 miles upstream of the mouth downstream to the mouth. Formerly, this water was stocked in both the preseason and in-season stocking periods. Fish previously stocked in this stream will now be stocked in First Fork Sinnemahoning Creek, Cameron and Potter counties.
East Fork Sinnemahoning Creek, Potter County
Based on the presence of a Class A wild Brown Trout population, trout stocking will be discontinued in favor of wild trout management on the 3.3-mile section of stream extending from Dolliver Trail downstream to Wild Boy Run. Formerly, this water was stocked in both the preseason and in-season stocking periods. Fish previously stocked in this stream will now be stocked in the following Cameron and Potter county waters: East Fork Sinnemahoning Creek, Section 05, and First Fork Sinnemahoning Creek.
Based on the presence of a Class A wild Brown Trout population, trout stocking will be discontinued in favor of wild trout management on the 1.2-mile section of stream extending from Camp Run downstream to Mud Lick Run. Formerly, this water was stocked on a preseason only basis. Fish previously stocked in this stream will now be stocked in the following Cameron and Potter county waters: East Fork Sinnemahoning Creek, Section 05, and First Fork Sinnemahoning Creek.
Sheppard-Meyers Reservoir, York County
This 47-acre impoundment will be temporarily removed from the adult trout stocking program due to a complete drawdown of the reservoir to allow for maintenance and repairs to the dam and the spillway. Formerly, this water was stocked on a preseason only basis. Repairs are scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2022, and the reservoir will be reinstated to the adult trout stocking program once conditions allow following refill. Anglers are encouraged to take advantage of other nearby Stocked Trout Waters, including Codorus Creek, East Branch Codorus Creek, and South Branch Codorus Creek in York County.
Swift Run, Snyder County
Based on the presence of a Class A wild Brown Trout population, trout stocking will be discontinued in favor of wild trout management on the 3.8-mile section of stream extending from the unnamed tributary at river-mile 6.78 downstream to T-469 bridge. Formerly, this water was stocked in both the preseason and in-season stocking periods. Fish previously stocked in this stream will now be stocked Swift Run, Section 04, and Middle Creek, Snyder County.
Whipple Lake, Huntingdon County
This 22-acre impoundment will be temporarily removed from the adult trout stocking program due to a complete drawdown of the lake to allow for dredging and maintenance to the dam. Formerly, this water was stocked in both the preseason and in-season stocking periods. Maintenance is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2020, and the lake will be reinstated to the adult trout stocking program once conditions allow following refill. Anglers are encouraged to take advantage of other nearby Stocked Trout Waters, including Greenwood Lake, Lake Perez, Laurel Run, and Standing Stone Creek in Huntingdon County.
*** Video to accompany this news release can be downloaded here: YouTube Google Drive
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Media contact:
Mike Parker, Communications Director
717.705.7806
michparker@pa.gov