The Fish and Boat Commission is stocking adult trout in a variety of lakes and streams that are open to public angling throughout Pennsylvania in 2008 and has posted “where” and “when” those fish will be released online.

Anglers are also invited to celebrate the upcoming trout season by attending educational trout expos at Gander Mountain stores throughout the state.

The stocking schedule webpage can be searched by county and by date. Stockings began on March 1 and will continue throughout the spring, fall and winter months.

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. The average length will be 11 inches – with more than a few trophy-sized fish mixed in as well.

The 2008 trout season will open at 8 a.m. March 29 in waters located in Adams, Berks, Bucks, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Franklin, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, Perry, Philadelphia, Schuylkill and York counties.

The regular trout season starts at 8 a.m. on April 12 in the rest of the state.

The rationale for providing two opening days of trout season is based on the differences that exist in climate across Pennsylvania and the timeframe for providing optimum conditions for trout angling during the spring arrives earlier in portions of southern Pennsylvania.

Warmer temperatures there offer 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.

Trout Fishing Education Expos

Fish and Boat Commission educational trout expos will be held at Gander Mountain stores throughout the state, running March 14 through March 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. (Participation varies by store.)

The Fish and Boat Commission will be on hand to answer questions, provide visitors with helpful maps and how-to information, and offer insights on the best places to trout fish in Pennsylvania. Plus, Gander Mountain stores are offering an added bonus for visitors. Anyone who comes to Gander Mountain stores on the event dates can also enter to win $200 in fishing gear!

3/7/2008