PFBC welcomes anglers to statewide Opening Day of trout season on Saturday

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) welcomed anglers to the statewide Opening Day of Trout Season on Saturday as anglers began fishing at 8 a.m.

While the opening day of the season is a cherished tradition for anglers, many who travel great distances and look forward to spending time with family and friends, it should be noted that stocked trout fishing opportunities will continue to be abundant statewide with replenishment stockings occurring throughout the spring.

Throughout the 2024 season, the PFBC will stock approximately 3.2 million adult trout in 697 streams and 129 lakes open to public angling.

These figures, which are consistent with the number of trout stocked over the past decade, include approximately 2.3 million Rainbow Trout; 707,000 Brown Trout; and 168,000 Brook Trout.

As with past practice, the average size of the trout produced for stocking is 11 inches in length with an average weight of .58 pounds.

The PFBC will also stock approximately 70,000 trophy-sized trout measuring 14-20 inches. Approximately 14,000 golden Rainbow Trout, weighing an average of 1.5 pounds, will also be stocked during preseason and in-season stockings.

PFBC partner cooperative nurseries sponsored by sportsmen’s groups and other organizations will combine to raise an additional one million trout that will be stocked into public waterways throughout the trout season.

During the regular trout season (Opening Day through Labor Day), anglers may keep up to five trout (combined species) per day measuring at least seven inches long. During an extended season from September 3, 2024, through February 18, 2025, the daily limit is three trout.

To purchase a fishing license and trout permit, review trout stocking schedules, and find trout fishing tips, visit fishandboat.com or use the FishBoatPA mobile app.

Anglers are no longer required to display a printed copy of their fishing license on the outside of their clothing and may simply store their license digitally on their phones.

Be aware of water conditions

Due to recent rain across Pennsylvania, many waterways may be higher than normal on opening day of trout season. Anglers should keep safety in mind and adjust their fishing plans, as necessary.

While most waters have already been stocked with trout, due to conditions, some stockings scheduled for this week have been postponed. In advance of their fishing adventure, anglers should reference the Trout Stocking Schedule on the PFBC website to make sure the water they plan to visit has been stocked with trout.

Wading and boating should be avoided if waters are running high and muddy and the stream-bed is not visible. If stream conditions are not favorable, consider fishing at a lake.

What happens to trout in high water?

Fish survive high water and flood conditions by seeking out refuge areas within streams.

During periods of high water, fish move towards the banks to find calmer water and lower velocities. Fish avoid the fast moving surface and hold behind rocks and submerged woody debris to find calmer current breaks and may rest on the stream bed. Fish may move into smaller tributaries during periods of high water and return to the larger waters when flows recede.

A high-water event may cause trout to move, but they don’t suddenly get washed downstream. Fish may move either downstream or upstream in search of a refuge area. High flows can help to distribute trout that have been recently stocked — however, studies show that most stocked trout will remain in place if they are close to adequate habitat or a large pool that provides depth and cover.

A long period of muddy water can irritate fish gills and make foraging more difficult. However, anglers should continue to fish on their favorite stream as flows recede and the water clears. Hatchery trout are not as adept at finding food as wild trout, and fishing can be very good when the fish begin actively feeding again.

Fishing from a boat?

Anglers who plan to fish from a boat on Opening Day of Trout Season, and for the next several weeks, are reminded that the PFBC’s cold weather life jacket requirement is in effect from Nov. 1 through April 30.

Under this rule, anyone aboard a boat 16 feet or less, including all canoes and kayaks, is required to wear a life jacket. Children ages 12 and under are always required to wear a life jacket while boating in Pennsylvania.

Catch-and-release fishing techniques

The PFBC reminds anglers of proper catch-and-release fishing techniques when harvest is not permitted or when anglers choose to practice catch-and-release fishing during trout season. The techniques listed below will ensure that released fish have the best chance to survive and contribute to future angling enjoyment.

• Land your fish as quickly as possible and don’t play the fish to exhaustion. Excessive stress and exhaustion increase post-release mortality.

• Use a landing net (rubber or rubberized mesh is best) to better control your catch and reduce trauma associated with handling.

• Keep the fish in the water as much as possible. The chance of a fish being injured increases the longer it is held out of the water.

• Wet your hands, your net, and other materials that touch the fish. Don’t handle fish with a towel or rag. This helps to keep a fish’s protective mucus or slime layer in place.

• Hold the fish upside down while removing the hook. This can calm the fish for quicker unhooking and release.

• Use hemostats or long nose pliers to aid in removing a hook quickly and safely. Use barbless hooks or pinch down barbs on existing hooks with small pliers to make removing hooks easier.

• When not possible to remove the hook without harming the fish, cut the line or harvest to eat (subject to season, length, and creel limits).

• Avoid contact with the gills and do not handle by placing your fingers under the operculum (gill cover).

• Hold the fish upright underwater after unhooking until it can swim away on its own. If necessary, gently hold the fish out of strong current until it revives.

Pa. opens state park campgrounds,

overnight lodging for trout season

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn this week encouraged anglers to use state park campsites and other lodging for overnight fishing trips during trout season.

“State parks are great places for fishing and camping throughout the year, which makes them perfect places to do both for the start of trout season,” Dunn said. “We are proud to offer overnight accommodations to trout anglers and look forward to seeing a great turnout this year people get back outdoors this spring. I encourage all Pennsylvanians to visit out our beautiful state parks to experience Pennsylvania’s natural beauty, whether you are camping, fishing, or needing to get some fresh air.”

There are 86,000 miles of rivers and streams, and thousands of lakes and ponds in Pennsylvania. Much of this abundant freshwater wealth is found in more than 100 state parks and 20 state forests that permit fishing with the proper fishing license.

“Pennsylvania is fortunate to have incredible public access to the water for fishing and boating, and state parks are at the top of the list when it comes to convenience on Opening Day and throughout the trout season,” said Tim Schaeffer, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC). “More than 70 state parks are being stocked with trout this season and many offer camping opportunities to make your fishing adventures even more memorable.”

Campsites and other lodging at state parks can be reserved online on a first-come, first-served basis or by calling 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757), Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. until 5 p.m., except on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. A list of state parks that accommodate trout fishing with campsite or lodging availability can be found on DCNR’s website.

Visit DCNR’s website for more information about Pennsylvania’s 124 state parks, and check out DCNR’s Calendar of Events for events on public lands.

Pennsylvania Game Commission wraps

up ‘Operation Gobbler’ for fifth year

The Pennsylvania Game Commission drills down on wild turkey management across the Keystone State’s 22 management units, providing a deeper insight into how to best manage and conserve wild turkeys.

Just before the sun cracked over the horizon in Pennsylvania’s Wildlife Management Unit 5A, NWTF District Biologist Mitch Blake shined the red light from his headlamp onto a small controller, testing the battery and ensuring the rocket net would fire when he pushed the button.

“We’re good to go,” he said.

Not long after, a symphony of gobbles and yelps helped guide the sun over the horizon. The birds could be heard flying down one by one.

Doug Little, NWTF director of conservation operation for the East, joined Blake in his effort.

The two were assisting the Pennsylvania Game Commission with the agency’s annual operational gobbler banding project, informally called Operation Gobbler. Every year, PGC seeks to band over 440 male wild turkeys in the state’s 22 different WMUs, aiming for about 10-15 jakes and 10-15 toms from each WMU.

Time lapsed as the two glassed the birds and wondered if they would head to the bait pile of corn.

“It’s been a tough winter,” Blake explained. “There has been a lot of food in the woods; last year was an excellent year for mast crops, especially oaks, and there’s not been a lot of snow, so it’s great for turkeys foraging but not great when you’re trying to lure them over to bait.”

Almost suddenly, a bachelor group of turkeys appeared from below the hill at about 150 yards. Four, five, six, and finally seven—despite the buffet on the forest floor, the birds headed towards Blake’s bait pile for breakfast.

Mary Jo Casalena, PGC wild turkey biologist and NWTF National Wild Turkey Technical Committee representative, and PGC Game Warden Trevor Shauf sat watching from their trucks about 300 yards away.

As soon as all seven birds were in range, Blake fired off the rocket net.

Boom!

Wasting no time fidgeting with the pop-up blind’s latches and door, the two NWTF biologists tossed the blind over their heads and ran toward the turkeys captured by the net. Casalena and Shauf barreled over to help.

Bird by bird, the team attached a PGC leg band on each turkey, measured spurs and beards and assessed the birds’ overall condition. The turkeys had socks placed over their heads to help calm them down and were placed into NWTF holding boxes until it was time to release them in groups.

Banding birds allows PGC to estimate spring gobbler harvest and annual survival rates by age class and WMU. This work enables the agency to drill down and locally manage hunting seasons by WMU, an attentive approach to wild turkey management.

PGC’s population model, developed in partnership with Pennsylvania State University, incorporates the spring harvest and annual survival rates attained from the banding project (after hunters harvest a banded bird and notify the Commission). The model also includes annual recruitment ratios, commonly known as poults-per-hen, and other important data.

Turkey hunters or anyone who finds a banded turkey are asked to call or email PGC using the information on the band and report the band number, date and general area it was found. The reporter receives a certificate with information on when and approximately where it was banded and gets to keep the band.