Trout stockings on schedule
Preseason trout stockings back are on schedule after the first plantings were delayed due to the weather. Greene/Southern Washington County Waterways Conservation Officer Tom Crist said, “Things have been going pretty good. We had a little trouble at Enlow Fork due to bad conditions, as the roadway in the game lands got pretty muddy when we had the floods.
“The mud along with some blowdowns and other stuff forced some changes and we had to put the trout in a tank in a pickup truck to get the stocking done.”
Fishermen have been helping out to help with the stockings, apparently more on good weather days.
“We had quite a following on Whiteley,” Crist said. “It’s always good to have the help.
“If it’s cold, it kind of keeps them in.
“We have a regular stocking crew, but the more help we have the better off we are. Then our crew doesn’t get overly exhausted. We never turn down help.
“It’s especially nice when the kids get involved. They really seem to enjoy it.
“So far we’ve done OK. Templeton went well, and Enlow was a little rough, but we got them in there.”
“We put in some nice fish, averaging about 11 inches and some bigger brood stock in the 18-inch range. Yes, they were nice fish. I’m happy with them.”
Crist has seen a few anglers taking advantage of the warm weather to get in a little trout action where still permitted.
“I talked to guys on the delayed harvest area of Pikes Run. They were taking trout on hares ear, beaded-eye nymphs, and quite a few of them.
“They’ve also been catching trout at Ryerson near the iron bridge, which is considered part of the lake, and in the lake itself, getting limits on little white jigs and Power Bait.
“They were also catching them on a glow-in-the-dark hot new lure called a Trout Magnet.”
I looked this lure up on line, and this plastic-body lure with a jig-type head looks interesting. I will probably try some myself.
If you regularly fish Ryerson on opening day, be sure to arrive early this year, as Crist expects a big crowd with Dutch Fork Lake in Washington County being down this year due to a break in the dam.
“I just hope the lake and the park are ready for the influx,” Crist said.
He hasn’t had any incidents of early fishing with the exception of 17-year-old out with a 13-year-old who was fishing in a stocked stream.
They weren’t aware that the stream was closed, so he let them go with a warning after explaining the rules to the pair.
Much to his surprise there hasn’t been much fishing activity on the river as yet.
As far as reaction to the new announced inseason stocking procedure, he said, “I think people are happy with it. The comment’s I’ve heard have been positive. People are looking forward to it. I really expect it to go well.
“It will be nice to see more fishermen out there on stocking days. The more, the merrier.”
EARLY FISHING OPPORTUNITIES: In years past, writing about trout fishing the third week of March was just wishful thinking.
Not anymore.
With today’s progressive style of trout management, trout fishing at this time of year is not limited catch and release or simply waiting for the season to open so you can get back on your favorite stream or lake, which was usually closed to fishing until the start of the season in mid April.
There are still no-kill areas open, but for the angler who prefers to catch a trout or two for dinner there are still areas open under the Early Season Trout Stocked Waters program.
The weather has been cooperating lately,and anglers have been taking advantage of the mild afternoons to get in a little fishing.
Late last week there were quite a few fishermen out at Dunlap, trying to hook into some of the North Carolina-raised trout that were stocked recently.
According to the Fish and Boat Commission’s fishing report on the web, the scene is being repeated at all waters stocked under the program.
Besides Dunlap, Virgin Run Dam and the Youghiogheny River tailrace, which lies in Somerset and Fayette County, has also been drawing in the died in the wool anglers.
Duke Lake in Greene County, Laurel Hill Lake in Southmoreland County, Canonsburg Dam in Washington County and all of the Westmoreland County park lakes have been feeling similar pressure.
Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only Areas are open on a catch and release basis as are the Delayed Harvest Fly Fishing Only areas.
In Fayette County a 4.1-mile stretch of Dunbar Creek from the confluence of Glade Run downstream to the stone quarry on state route 1055 is a Fly Fishing Delayed Harvest area.
Locally, Meadow Run is a Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures only area from Dinner Bell Rd. adjacent to the Ohiopyle State Park office to the mouth at the Youghioghney River, a distance of 2.2 miles.
A 1.1-mile stretch of Pike Run in Washington County is also included in the program.
Sections of Loyalhanna and Indian Creek in Westmoreland County are also included in the program.
Pick up your fishing license and check out the opportunities.
Rod Schoener is the Herald-Standard outdoors editor.