More stocking planned after opening day of Pa. trout season

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, with some help from the Tri-County Trout Club, has stocked Deer Creek in Emmerling Park, Indiana Township.

It was the first time since the beginning of the covid pandemic that volunteers from the trout club could assist in transferring thousands of trout from commission trucks to the water. Earlier in the week, the fish were brought from the commission’s Pleasant Gap State Fish Hatchery in Bellefonte, Centre County.

“Everybody was raring to go,” said Mike Walsh, assistant regional supervisor for the commission’s Southwest Region. “It was fantastic having everybody back. The volunteers were in good spirits.”

Statewide, the trout season was changed and moved up by two to three weeks.

Traditional trout streams are closed to trout fishing from March 1 until the opening day of trout season on April 2.

Last year, the commission agreed it would make changes resulting in a longer regular season for trout for most anglers. The practice of holding a separate regional opening day for Pennsylvania’s 18 southeastern counties will no longer occur, according to a statement by the commission.

A single, statewide Mentored Youth Trout Day will be set for one week before the regular statewide opening day. This year, it falls on March 26.

In-season trout stocking will begin in the region starting the Monday after trout season opens, Walsh said.

For a schedule of in-season stocking, visit the commission’s website.