Trout season. (Credit: Hunter Brumels/Unsplash.com)
The most significant sign of spring is the stocking of trout by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, which began last month and will continue until the official trout season opening day on April 5.
For anglers eager to start fishing, the Mentored Youth Trout Day on March 29 provides an early opportunity to catch and keep trout, according to Tom Tatum of MediaNews Group.
However, catch-and-release fishing is already available on designated streams, where anglers can fish year-round under strict regulations. These streams are divided into categories, such as "Catch and Release Artificial Lures Only" and "Catch and Release Fly Fishing Only," with specific guidelines on the type of gear allowed, per the report.
Anglers using the wrong lures or equipment risk fines, emphasizing the importance of following the rules.
The PFBC's trout stocking operations are in full swing, with about 3.2 million adult trout being stocked in more than 690 streams and 130 lakes throughout Pennsylvania. This includes a mix of rainbow, brown, and brook trout, with about 72,000 trophy-sized fish being stocked, as well as about 14,000 golden rainbow trout.
Some streams, especially those in the Keystone Select Stocked Trout Waters program, will feature even larger fish, stocked at a rate comparable to the state's best wild trout waters, per the article.
To participate in trout fishing and keep fish, anglers aged 16 and older must have both a fishing license and a trout permit. The PFBC encourages early preparation for the season by purchasing licenses and permits through the HuntFishPA online portal or at retail outlets.
