The opening day of Pennsylvania’s trout season is this weekend. Yes, you read correctly — fishing for stocked trout begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday. Pre-season trout stocking is complete in Centre County, with the last area streams — Pine Creek and White Deer Creek — stocked by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission on Wednesday.
There are 17 streams stocked by the Commission in Centre County. A complete list can be found at www.fishandboat.com. About another half-dozen are stocked by cooperative trout nurseries, such as the Bald Eagle Sportsmen and the Three Point Sportsmen.
Traditionally, Pennsylvania had one opening day for trout season — the Saturday closest to April 15. In 2007, they started to have split opening days — one mid-April date for most counties, including Centre, and an earlier one for 18 southeastern counties. Due to COVID-19, the opening days followed no set pattern the past two Aprils.
Last fall, in response to angler surveys, the commissioners voted to abolish the two-opening-day system and move to make one statewide opening day — to always be held on the first Saturday in April. This year, that falls on April 2. The mentored youth day is held the Saturday before — this year, it was held on March 26.
GET READY
It is time to survey your tackle to make sure that everything is in good working order and that you have all of the essentials — hooks, lures, bait and weight. If you haven’t changed the line on your spinning reel, now would be a good time. Monofilament deteriorates if exposed to heat and sunlight. Having the line wound tightly on a small-diameter reel spool also gives the line “memory” and makes casting difficult.
Check the hooks on any lures that you expect to use and replace or sharpen them as needed. This might seem silly, but if your rod was stored in a dusty place, take a few minutes to wipe it down and check the guides. Dirt and spider webs hinder casting, while a light coat of wax will make casting easier.
STOCKING CHANGES
Note — Two county streams that had been stocked in previous years will not be stocked this year. Cold Stream was removed from the stocking list because it supports a Class A population of wild trout. Eddy Lick Run, in the Sproul State Forest, was removed due to a change in stream access. According to the Commission, most of the trout that had been stocked in these streams will now be stocked in Black Moshannon Creek, and a smaller number will be added to the stocking of Cold Stream Dam.
FISHING TIPS
The old adage that 5% of the anglers catch 95% of the fish is basically true. Here is some advice if you want to move into or at least towards the successful 5%.
If you are able to move, consider fishing a section of stream, rather than staying at one spot.
While it is true that there are probably more trout near the bridge where they were stocked, there are also more anglers. Move up and downstream to get away from the crowds.
Whether you are a bait, lure or fly angler, have a variety of offerings to tempt the trout. That doesn’t mean not to rely on your “old favorite,” but have some variety just in case.
For example, a fisherman could make a few casts with an earthworm, try salmon eggs and then try a lure before moving to the next spot. The switch is quick and easy if you use a small snap swivel and several snelled hooks.
Go light — there is no place in Centre County trout fishing for any line heavier than 8-lb. test. A typical 18-inch trout weighs about three pounds; a 20-incher might be four pounds. Lighter line makes casting easier and it is less likely to be seen or felt by the trout. You will catch more trout with lighter line. Four-pound-test is excellent for most situations.
Consider some of the smaller, lesser-known streams. Although they might be smaller in size and receive fewer stocked trout, they also have less fishing pressure.
LICENSE INFORMATION
Trout season officially opens at 8 a.m. this Saturday. If you are a state resident and 16 or older, you need both a fishing license ($22.97) and a trout permit ($9.97) in order to legally participate. Multi-year versions are available, offering some savings.
Non-resident, voluntary youth and senior licenses are also available. Licenses can be obtained online at www.fishandboat.com, or through many of the local businesses that sell fishing tackle.
This story appears in the March 31-April 6 edition of the Centre County Gazette.
