Pennsylvania’s official trout opener on April 2 may still be a long six weeks away, but for catch and release trout fishermen eager to wet a line on designated streams, the action starts this week.
So I checked in with Chester County Waterways Conservation Officer Bob Bonney for his local perspective. “It’s been a bitter cold winter, not much in the way of snow, but the extreme cold temps more than made up for it,” said Bonney. “Thankfully, the 2022 Trout season is finally upon us. Everyone I know is chomping at the bit for warmer temps.”
“Northern Chester County’s 2022 trout stocking season begins on Tuesday February 22,” Bonney added. “Folks have been asking if they are permitted to assist with the stockings. The short answer is yes and masks are not required, unless you’d prefer to wear one. The areas to be stocked include French Creek Fly-Fishing Catch & Release area (FFOC&R) and the Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures areas (DHAL’s), designated stretches of East Brandywine, Pickering, and West Valley Creeks.”
“The FFOC&R and DHAL’s may be fished immediately. However, since these are special regulation areas, there are some rules you must abide by if you’re interested in staying out of trouble,” cautioned Bonney. “First in the DHAL’s you must fish with artificial lures and or fly-fishing tackle only and immediately release all trout unharmed back into the water. Additionally, you may not use or have in your possession bait of any kind including worms, meal worms, minnows, corn, paste bait, etc. Simply having it in your possession is a violation.”
“The FFOC&R has its rules as well,” Bonney noted. “All tackle must be fly-fishing rods, reels, fly line and flies. Spinning gear, bait and lures (metal, plastic & rubber) are prohibited in the Fly-Fishing Only Areas. All of the special reg areas are posted with the rules and are also listed in the 2022 Summary Book, which the PA Fish & Boat Commission provides and contains all of the Rules & Regulations which you need to know prior to venturing out to the lakes, streams and rivers to try your luck. The Summary Book can be found at any sporting goods retailer who sells fishing licenses. And the best part, they’re free!”
As most Pennsylvania fishermen likely already know, the Keystone State returns to a single, statewide opening day of trout season this year. The 2022 opener is now set for the first Saturday in April, which in 2022 means Saturday, April 2. A single, statewide Mentored Youth Trout Day will take place on Saturday, March 26. Under this change, which will result in a longer regular season for trout statewide, the practice of holding a separate regional opening day and mentored youth day for Pennsylvania’s 18 southeastern counties will no longer occur.
So, in order to accommodate the earlier statewide trout season, preseason trout stocking operations are set to begin this week. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) will stock approximately 3.2 million adult trout in 696 streams and 128 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; 686,000 Brown Trout; and 293,000 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 release of our trout stocking schedule is always a welcome reminder that spring is just around the corner,” said Brian Wisner, Director of the PFBC Bureau of Hatcheries. “This schedule is our roadmap for stocking millions of trout into hundreds of waterways across the state before and during the trout season, which is no small task. Anglers can review the schedule to learn which local waters will be ready for some great fishing in just a few weeks. So, buy your fishing license, get your gear ready, and start planning your opening day adventure and fishing trips throughout the season.”
Specifics about the adult trout stocking schedule have been made available by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission through the FishBoatPA mobile app and website (www.fishandboat.com).
In 2022, anglers will have an excellent chance to catch large, trophy-sized trout. This year, the PFBC will stock approximately 70,000 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″. Roughly 70% of these large fish will be stocked into streams and lakes during the preseason prior to opening day of trout season, and 30% will be stocked during in-season replenishment stockings.
In 2022, the PFBC will stock approximately 13,000 golden Rainbow Trout. 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. Approximately 80% of golden Rainbow Trout will be stocked during the preseason, and approximately 20% will be stocked in-season.
Anglers should note that fishing is not permitted on lakes and streams designated as Stocked Trout Waters from February 21 to the Mentored Youth Trout Fishing Day and the opening day of the regular trout season in April, unless waters are included in the Stocked Trout Waters Open to Year-Round Fishing program.
The trout stocking schedule is searchable by county, lists the waterways in alphabetical order, and indicates stocking dates, meeting locations for volunteers, and the species of trout that will be stocked.
Now for those who aren’t already aware, except for those waters designated FFOC&R or DHAL, Stocked Trout Waters are closed to all fishing from February 21st to 8am on opening day, April 2.
Tom Tatum is the outdoors columnist for the MediaNews Group. You can reach him at tatumt2@yahoo.com
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