Changes improve trout fishing for everyone
At the January meeting of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, a motion was passed to announce all future in-season trout stockings. Beginning with the current round of Early Season Trout Stockings, all stockings will be made public.
Fayette County Waterways Conservation Officer Scott Opfer said, “The reason they decided to announce all the stockings is so that a lot of people can plan to take a day of work and go fishing on a day trout are being stocked.”
Exact plans of the announced stockings have not been revealed, but Opfer said, “The day of the stocking and the name of the stream or impoundment will be announced.”
He said the decision hasn’t been made as to whether the time and number and species of trout to be released will be announced.
Opfer did announce the date and time of this week’s Early Season stockings. Virgin Run Dam and Dunlap Creek Lake will be stocked Tuesday (Feb. 15). The stocking truck is scheduled to arrive at Virgin Run at 10:30 a.m. and proceed from there to Dunlap.
Opfer said that he hopes the trucks are on time, as they are bringing the trout from North Carolina hatcheries.
While the Commission deferred action on raising larger trout at this time, Opfer said that plans are for the Commission to do so in the near future.
The Commission has started to take creel surveys and question trout fishermen on their fishing preferences.
Opfer noted that previous surveys indicate that nine out of 10 anglers want bigger trout to look at in the spring.
He urges anglers to make their feelings know on the subject.
With the goal of raising fewer but larger trout, the Commission would stock as much tonnage, but actual trout numbers would be lower. Where 10-inch trout were the goal in the past, the size would increase to 11 inches, which would add substantially to the girth of the trout, adding approximately 20 percent more body weight than a 10-inch trout.
Some would say whey can’t they raise as many trout but just let them grow larger? The reason is that the amount of trout the Fish Commission can raise on a Department of Environmental Protection permit is based on tonnage, not on numbers, so the tonnage tradeoff will result in bigger but less fish.
Opfer said all indications are that the changes will come on line for the 2007 season after changes are made at the Commission’s hatcheries.
In order to raise a larger trout and have it ready to stock on the current time schedule, hatchery operators will have to feed the trout differently so they grow faster, but they will also have spawn the trout earlier, so they can get them out of the hatchery sooner, and the trout have more time to grow in the rearing ponds.
It is definitely good news and something for up to look for in the future.
Anglers should note that changes have already been made for Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures area of Meadow Run.
In the past, there was some confusion as to where the special regulation area began, but this year all of Meadow Run from the mouth at the Youghiogheny River to the bridge that crosses the stream at Ohiopyle State Park is under the same special regulations.
Changes have also been made to the All Tackle Trophy Trout Areas, which include the nine-mile section of the Youghiogheny River from the confluence with Ramcat Run downstream to the Route 381 bridge at Ohiopyle.
The new regulations change from two 14-inch trout per day to one 16-inch trout per day in the creel.
Changes to the regulations have eliminated the confusion as to just what types of lures were legal on delayed harvest areas.
Under the new regulations lures that resemble a minnow such as Rapalas and plastic worms and insects are now legal.
However, no live bait and nothing that can actually be consumed by fish is permitted.
Other delayed harvest areas include two on Laurel Hill Creek in Somerset County, including the one that runs through the State Park at the Boy Scout camp.
In Washington County, Dutch Fork Creek and Pike Run each have delayed harvest sections as do Indian and Loyalhanna creeks in Westmoreland County.
In past few years, a youth-only fishing area has been very popular at Dunlap Creek Lake.
The area is stocked with trout and panfish and is reserved for youngsters under 16 years of age for 30 days after the opening of trout season.
The good news is that northern Fayette County youngsters will have a similar area this year, as the concrete basin at the bottom of the spillway at Virgin Run Dam is going to be set aside for the youngsters with local sportsmen providing the fish.
I will have more on the project in a future column once I contact those in charge.
Recent very cold and very warm weather has had fishermen out in varying degrees.
Opfer said, “A couple of days Virgin Run had 15 to 20 guys out ice fishing, then it warmed up again. Now there is lots of open water.
I, too, have noticed fishermen out on warm days. In fact, a couple weeks ago, I expected to see shore fishermen, but I was kind of surprised to see a couple of boats on the water.
Opfer suggests that anglers who venture on the ice wear a PFD or a flotation jacket.
As most anglers know, the Fish and Boat Commission did receive a desperately needed license fee increase for this year.
This should allow for much-needed infrastructure improvements that have been put on the back burner due to lack of funds.
Don’t forget. The annual Allegheny Sport Travel and Outdoor Show gets under way Thursday at the ExpoMart in Monroeville.
Good fishing!
Rod Schoener is the Herald-Standard outdoors writer.