Trout season gets off to a chilly start

For several of the folks casting lines the first day of trout season Saturday on the chilly shores of the lake at Northmoreland Park, the efficient work of a passing osprey accounted for much of the early morning excitement.

“I think that osprey was the only one to catch a fish so far,” said John Bolen of Natrona Heights, Harrison, who arrived at the Westmoreland County park, which straddles Allegheny and Washington townships, around 8 a.m. Saturday morning with his kids Lily, Henry and Elijah.

This is the first year Bolen has brought his children trout fishing.

“Lily said she’s enjoying ‘catching’ the minnows in our bait bucket more than anything,” he said. “We normally go out and camp every year at Keystone State Park, but this time of year it’s pretty cold and tough for the kids. This way we can come and fish, and leave whenever we want.”

Northmoreland Park was just one of several local waterways that regularly prove popular when trout season starts. From Twin Lakes in Hempfield and Loyalhanna Creek in Ligonier, anglers across Westmoreland County and across the region were looking to reel in the five-fish daily limit on trout that are 7 inches or longer.

On the opposite shore bank, veteran fishermen Sam McAllister and Rick Cavlovic also arrived at 8 a.m. They had a secluded spot marked by a narrow trail leading down to the lake.

“I don’t seem to do too good fishing trout in a lake for some reason,” said McAllister, 63, of Monroeville. Cavlovic, 65, of Etna, said they typically go to their camp in Venango County.

“We hit a lot of the trout streams up that way,” he said. “It just feels good to be out and about.”

Long before McAllister, Cavlovic and the Bolen family baited their first hook, Hunter Foy of Vandergrift and his father were at the lake, arriving shortly before 5 a.m. in hopes of finding a good spot.

It was easier than they anticipated.

“Usually it’s packed, but this morning there was hardly anyone here,” said Foy, 24. Foy, who has been fishing since childhood, said he and his father like Northmoreland because it’s close to home.

“We’ve gotten a couple bites so far,” he said.

This year’s opening day is a single, statewide event, providing anglers with two additional weeks to enjoy trout fishing across Pennsylvania.

McAllister’s perspective on the early opening was colored by the weather — hovering in the mid-30s around 9:30 a.m.

“This year we get to be a little bit colder, since it opens two weeks early,” he said with a laugh.

The change also provides more opportunities to minimize overcrowding on some of the more popular waterways to allow anglers to comply with covid-19 guidelines.

Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission Executive Director Tim Schaeffer said he hopes families take advantage of the chance to enjoy the outdoors.

“After a long winter and a very challenging year, we’re all looking for fun, safe, and affordable ways to get outside, relax, and spend time with our families,” Schaeffer said. “Trout fishing is right at the top of the list for people of all ages.”

This year commission staff have stocked more than 3 million adult trout in 701 streams and 128 lakes open for public fishing.

A full stocking schedule is available at FishAndBoat.com by clicking on the “Trout Stocking Schedules” link.

Cavlovic wasn’t bothered at all by the lack of trout on his line.

“We can fish for trout all summer,” he said as he leaned back in his camp chair.