Coming out of its January commissioners’ meeting, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission issued a press release on changes to the upcoming trout season and stocking schedule. And while you or I may not agree with the changes, I thought the press release was well put together and easily understood.
Apparently not.
“There is a lot of confusion. A lot of emails and phone calls from anglers who have questions,” said Waterways Conservation Officer Jeremy Allen of Beaver County.
And of course, many folks have problems with the late notice.
“The ones coming in aren’t too happy with the season opening early,” said Wayne Mateer at DJ’s Quik Stop in the Clinton area outside of Raccoon Creek State Park. “It kind of messed up their vacation plans going to the mountains for the first weekend.”
“I’m not sure why they moved everything up two weeks. Not sure it is going to help,” Brian Krawchyk of Beaver said. “All the creeks up north that I fish are frozen over and the backroads are hard to travel for stocking because of snow and ice. I hope it works out.”
Aside from the late change moving the opener up two weeks to Easter weekend, many stocked waters are closing earlier to fishing. To add to the confusion, this change was made after the 2021 Fishing/Boating Summary Handbook was sent out. Not only does the book have the wrong dates, but it lists two mentored youth days, when that has been changed to only one statewide date, March 27.
Many times, because of the lead time needed to print the regulation booklet, information in the regulation book is wrong or outdated when the new license year rolls around. Anglers are wise to pay attention to the commission’s website and other media outlets.
The earlier closing date on stocked trout waters includes the Beaver County waters of Big Sewickley Creek, Mill Creek, North Fork Big Sewickley Creek, North Fork Little Beaver Creek, South Branch Brady Run and Traverse Creek.
It does not include special regulations areas such as Delayed Harvest Artificial Only or Catch and Release Fly Fishing Only. It also does not include Stocked Trout Waters Open To Year-Round Fishing like Raccoon Creek Lake and Bradys Run Lake.
“Bradys Run and Raccoon Creek lakes are open to catch and release fishing from Feb. 15 to the opening day of trout fishing,” Allen said. “And this year Brush Creek Park Pond now falls under the same program.”
The commission said the move to an earlier statewide schedule for trout season provides anglers with two more weeks to enjoy trout fishing statewide, reduces travel associated with multiple opening days, and minimizes overcrowding on many popular waterways to allow anglers to comply with social distancing guidelines.
Also this year, the commission will begin stocking two weeks earlier than usual, beginning the week of Feb. 15. These accelerated operations will ensure that most waters will be stocked in advance of the Mentored Youth Trout Fishing Day on March 27 and the Opening Day of Trout Season on April 3.
While the stocking schedule is a useful tool for planning a fishing trip, the commission will not be permitting “walk-up” volunteers to assist with stocking trout. Instead, volunteers will be recruited from an existing pool of individuals who have traditionally assisted with float stocking and bucket. All volunteers selected will be required to wear personal protective gear, including masks and gloves, practice social distancing and provide contact information while participating in stocking operations.
“We always just showed up at the meeting place and followed the truck around to help carry buckets. They were very appreciative but they don’t have our phone numbers,” Krawchyk said. “I have no idea how they can inform “certain “volunteers to come help and if we just show up they will turn us away. I feel bad for the stockers.”
Mike Barcaskey can be reached at mikebarcaskey@outlook.com.
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