Jun 9, 2002 3 min read

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission announced that it plans to raise nearly 4.1 million adult trout for stocking across the Commonwealth during 2003. The production plan includes 4 million trout averaging 10 inches in length and weighing just under 1/2 pound; 40,000 “premium” trout that average 13 inches long; 20,000 brood trout with a 16-inch average length and 10,000 golden rainbow trout also averaging 16 inches. These goals are set on a plus or minus five percent basis.

Pennsylvania’s state hatchery system production in 2002 was capped at about 1.9 million pounds (biomass) of trout in response water quantity and water quality. Using the goal of producing an average adult trout that weighs about one-half pound and measures 10 inches in length, the 2002 production goal was set at just over 3.8 million adult trout. That figure represented a cut of some 27% from the 5.2 million adult trout the Commission had been stocking in recent years.

While the biomass cap remains at 1.9 million for the coming year, the Commission determined it could raise slightly more adult trout with relatively minor modifications to the average length and weight of the fish.

“Raising our production goal for 2003 in this manner reflects our commitment to continue to produce and stock the quality trout that Pennsylvania anglers have come to expect, while also ensuring the our hatcheries remain in compliance with their individual operating permits,” said Peter A. Colangelo, PFBC Executive Director.

In addition, to the increase the number of adult trout it will produce for 2003, Colangelo also noted the Commission staff is in the process of re-evaluating its stocking allocation system. The allocation system underwent a major overhaul for the 2002 stocking season in response to the production cap. “I’m very proud of the work our fisheries management staff did in establishing the 2002 stockings. They were faced with making some tough decisions and they did a great job in establishing the stocking schedule. As part of the reallocation process, a number of small streams were cut from the stocking program, however. We did not relish removing those streams and we are working toward restoring a number of those waters – which we know are of great importance to local anglers – to the stocking list for 2003,” he said.

The Commission will host a Trout Summit this fall to explore items such as stocked trout production and allocations, wild trout abundance and management for naturally reproducing trout populations. The summit will involve invited experts from other states as well as representatives of the state’s major fishing organizations