The Fish and Boat Commission is stocking longer, heavier adult trout in 2007 and for those interested in “where” and “when” those fish will be released, a comprehensive stocking list is now available online.

The list is designed so anglers can quickly get details from easy-to-read tables detailing an entire year’s worth of stockings. To make the list simple to use, stocking information is broken down by county.

Within each county, stream sections and lakes to be stocked are listed alphabetically and the entire year’s worth of trout stocking dates is shown for each. Stockings will start March 1 and as in previous years, will be spread throughout the spring, fall and winter months.

“Trout stocking information has always been popular with Pennsylvania anglers. With bigger trout being stocked and an earlier opening day for 18 counties this year, we expect the interest will be higher than ever,” said PFBC Executive Director Doug Austen. “The Commission web site continues to be the go-to source for all anglers getting ready for bigger and better trout fishing in 2007. You can find stocking changes, print maps, locate a wild trout water, buy a license – everything you need except a larger landing net.”

The Commission will stock some 3.4 million adult trout in Pennsylvania waters open to public angling. This figure includes trout produced at state fish hatcheries, trout obtained from the United States Fish & Wildlife Service as part of a cooperative agreement, and trout obtained through a purchase contract with a commercial hatchery.

Overall, there will be a 30 percent increase in the weight of these fish, and the average length will increase to 11 inches – with more than a few trophy-sized fish mixed in as well. Since the Commission’s hatchery system production is capped at 1.9 million pounds of trout, statewide the number of individual trout produced was adjusted accordingly.

“By making the change to raising fewer but larger adult trout, the Commission is responding to the preference expressed by anglers through input at public meetings, correspondence, and on-the-water angler surveys” Dr. Austen noted.

In addition to the boost in fish size, the size of the trout season is growing as well for 18 counties in southcentral and southeastern Pennsylvania.

The 2007 trout season will open at 8 a.m. March 31 in waters in Adams, Berks, Bucks, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Franklin, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, Perry, Philadelphia, Schuylkill and York counties. (The season starts at 8 a.m. April 14 elsewhere.)

Differences exist in climate across Pennsylvania and the time frame for providing optimum conditions for trout angling during the spring arrives earlier in portions of southern Pennsylvania. Warmer temperatures there provide conditions better suited for trout angling at an earlier time in the spring.

However, these same warming conditions also can limit trout angling opportunities by mid-spring. The combination of a mid-April opening day and the potential for these waters to become too warm for trout angling by mid-May constricts the amount of time that trout angling can be provided.

“Starting the trout season earlier in parts of Pennsylvania expands fishing opportunities and improves our stocking and management efforts,” said Dr. Austen. “Opening Day has long been a time of great anticipation for anglers. This change promises to add more excitement in 2007 to an already popular pursuit.”

2/16/2007