Jul 14, 2002 3 min read

Proposed changes to special fishing regulations and election of officers highlight the agenda for the July 2002 meeting of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. The quarterly meeting will be held July 26-27 at the agency’s headquarters, 1601 Elmerton Avenue (off State Farm Road) in Harrisburg. Commission committees will meet on Friday, July 26, beginning at 11 a.m. and on Saturday, July 27, beginning at 10:15 a.m. The formal agenda session will begin later that day at about 1:15 p.m. (It is possible that Commission action on some agenda items may be undertaken during other portions of the advertised public meeting.) The formal meeting of the full Commission and all committee meetings are open to the public, and interested anglers and boaters are encouraged to attend.

Among the agenda items is a vote on final rulemaking to reduce the minimum size limit of yellow perch on Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay from 8 inches to 7 inches. The daily creel limit of 20 and the no closed season rules will remain in effect.

Also under consideration will be a proposed consolidation and simplification of regulations dealing with fishing in Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and tributary streams. As part of the consolidation of these provisions, staff are proposing that during the period from the opening day of the statewide trout season until Labor Day, a creel limit of five trout/salmon (only two of which may be lake trout) should apply to the Lake, the Bay and the tributaries.

This proposed change would bring the trout/salmon creel limit on these waters into line with the statewide limits, and it would eliminate a sometime confusing current limitation on the taking trout in excess of 15 inches in length.

The only other major change to come from the consolidation would be a clarification of a fishing prohibition during the 32-hour period before opening day of trout season.

Also on the agenda are proposals to add Deer Lakes, Allegheny County, and Duman Dam, Cambria County to the Big Bass Program; remove “no harvest” regulations for black bass in Dunkard Creek, Greene County; add a “slot limit” for bass at Lake Winola, Wyoming County; extend the Delayed Harvest Fly Fishing Only section on the West Branch of Octoraro Creek, Lancaster County; change the section limits of the Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only (DHALO) section of Fishing Creek, Columbia County; and add 1.2 miles of Middle Creek, Snyder County and 1 mile of Bermudian Creek, Adams County to the DHALO program.

The Commission will also consider proposed regulations on official recognition of fishing guide operations and implementation of fees for new fishing license issuing agents.

A full schedule for the quarterly meeting and a copy of the agenda with detailed background on each action item is posted on the Commission’s web site at www.fish.state.pa.us.