HARRISBURG — Anglers looking forward to Pennsylvania’s popular spring trout season have another tool at their fingertips, as the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) made its 2024 adult trout stocking schedule available using the FishBoatPA mobile app and website (Fishandboat.com).

The trout stocking schedule is searchable by county, lists the waterways in alphabetical order, and indicates stocking dates, meeting locations for volunteers and the species of trout that are planned to be stocked at each location. In 2024, Pennsylvania’s statewide Opening Day of Trout Season will be held on Saturday, April 6. A single, statewide Mentored Youth Trout Day will take place on Saturday, March 30.

To prepare for the start of the season, stocking operations began the week of Feb. 19. Anglers should note that fishing is not permitted on lakes and streams designated as Stocked Trout Waters from Feb. 19 to 8 a.m. on the opening day of trout season, with the exception of the Mentored Youth Trout Fishing Day, unless waters are included in the Stocked Trout Waters Open to Year-Round Fishing program.

3.2 Million Trout

In 2024, the PFBC will stock approximately 3.2 million adult trout in 697 streams and 129 lakes open to public angling. These figures, which are consistent with the number of trout stocked over the past decade, include approximately 2.4 million Rainbow Trout; 702,000 Brown Trout; and 132,000 Brook Trout. As with past practice, the average size of the trout produced for stocking is 11 inches in length with an average weight of .58 pounds.

In 2024, anglers will have an excellent chance to catch large, trophy-sized trout. This year, the PFBC will stock approximately 70,000 brood fish, which are 2 ½ year-old and 3 ½ year-old hatchery-raised Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, and Brook Trout measuring 14-20 inches. Roughly 70% of these large fish will be stocked into streams and lakes during the preseason prior to opening day of trout season, and 30% will be stocked during in-season replenishment stockings.

In 2024, the PFBC will stock approximately 14,000 golden Rainbow Trout. In addition to being stocked during the preseason period before opening day, these highly prized fish featuring vibrant golden-orange pigmentation and weighing an average of 1.5 pounds will be stocked during in-season replenishment stockings. Approximately 75% of golden Rainbow Trout will be stocked during the preseason and approximately 25% will be stocked in-season.

In addition to trout raised at state fish hatcheries, PFBC cooperative nurseries operated by sportsmen’s clubs and other groups across the state will add another one million trout to waters open to public angling throughout the year.

Once again included in this year’s stocking lists are the Keystone Select Stocked Trout Waters, a program where sections of 24 streams across the state are stocked with large trout measuring 14-20 inches and managed under Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only or Miscellaneous Special regulations. Under the program, approximately 10,000 large trout will be distributed among the streams. The trout will be stocked at a rate of 175 to 225 per mile of stream, which is comparable to the numbers of similarly sized fish in Pennsylvania’s best wild trout waters.

Licenses and Permits

To participate in trout fishing and keep trout, anglers ages 16 and older are required to possess both a fishing license and a trout permit. Anglers and boaters can start preparing for opening day of trout season right now by purchasing their 2024 Pennsylvania fishing licenses, launch permits, and boat registration renewals on the PFBC website, the FishBoatPA mobile app, or by visiting one of approximately 700 retail license issuing agents. By purchasing licenses and permits online, customers can save time and avoid long lines in stores when waiting to purchase a license closer to the start of trout season. Anglers may store an image of their license digitally on their phones as proof of possession.

The PFBC thanks anglers for supporting aquatic resource conservation and recreation programs through the purchase of their fishing licenses. The PFBC is a user-funded agency that receives no Pennsylvania General Fund tax revenue. Funding generated through the sale of fishing licenses supports hatchery operations, fisheries management, law enforcement, and infrastructure improvements to provide high-quality and convenient public access to fishing and boating opportunities.

2024 Adult Trout Stocking Program Changes

Each year, the PFBC adjusts its adult trout stocking program based on several factors. A waterway may be added, extended, reinstated, or removed depending on existing or pending changes to angler access, changes to designations on streams managed for wild trout populations, water quality issues that may threaten the survival of stocked trout, and maintenance being performed to dams and other infrastructure that result in the drawdown of impoundments or decreased water flow.

Waters Added or Extended:

— Childrens Lake, Cumberland County: This 8.9-acre impoundment will be reinstated into the trout stocking program. Maintenance and repairs to the dam have been completed and the reservoir has been refilled to full pool. Trout will be stocked during the preseason and in-season stocking periods.

— Clear Creek, Cameron County: A 5.5-mile section extending from Mud Run downstream to the mouth will now receive an in-season stocking. Formerly, this water had been stocked on a preseason only basis.

— East Branch Cowley Run, Cameron and Potter counties: Based on the presence of a Class A mixed wild Brook and Brown Trout population, this stream was re-sectioned to terminate stocking in the headwaters while continuing to stock the 1.34-mile section extending from the Cowley Road bridge downstream to the mouth. Trout will be stocked during the preseason and in-season stocking periods.

— Hyner Run, Clinton County: Based on the presence of a Class A mixed wild Brook and Brown Trout population, this stream was re-sectioned to terminate stocking in the headwaters while continuing to stock the 3.0-mile section extending from the powerline crossing upstream of Hyner Run State Park downstream to the mouth. Trout will be stocked during the preseason and in-season stocking periods.

— Kettle Creek, Clinton County: A 0.7-mile extension of the stocking limits will lead to an increase in the number of trout allocated to this stream section. The revised stocking limits will extend for 2.4 miles from Alvin R. Bush Dam downstream to Slide Hollow. Trout will be stocked during the preseason and in-season stocking periods.

— Lake Wilma, Greene County: This 19.3-acre impoundment will be reinstated into the trout stocking program. Stocking was canceled in 2023 due to construction located on the quarry property that provides access to the impoundment. Trout will be stocked during the preseason and in-season stocking periods.

— Limestone Run, Union County: Located in the town of Lewisburg, a 2.4-mile section of stream extending from the second State Route 45 bridge upstream of mouth downstream to the mouth will be added into the trout stocking program. Trout will be stocked during the preseason and in-season stocking periods.

— Loyalsock Creek, Sullivan County: The stocking limits were extended 0.25 miles upstream Rock Run Road. The revised stocking limits will extend 8.63-miles from 0.25-miles upstream Rock Run Road downstream to Little Loyalsock Creek. Trout will be stocked during the preseason and in-season stocking periods.

— Sheppard-Meyers Reservoir, York County: This 46.9-acre impoundment will be reinstated into the trout stocking program. Maintenance and repairs to the dam have been completed and the reservoir will be refilled to full pool in spring 2024. Trout will be stocked on a preseason only basis.

— Slippery Rock Creek, Lawrence County: The 0.51-mile section of stream managed under Catch and Release Fly-Fishing Only regulations has been extended downstream 0.31 miles to the McConnells Mill State Park lower property boundary. Trout will continue to be stocked during the preseason and in-season stocking periods.

— Stony Run Pond, Clearfield County: This 3.2-acre impoundment will be added to the trout stocking program. Located on Department of Conservation and Natural Resources property at S.B. Elliot State Park, this impoundment provides excellent angler accessibility. Trout will be stocked during the preseason and in-season stocking periods.

— West Branch Cowley Run, Cameron and Potter counties: Based on the presence of a Class A wild Brown Trout population, this stream was re-sectioned to terminate stocking in the headwaters while continuing to stock the 0.9-mile section extending from Fee Run downstream to the mouth. Trout will be stocked during the preseason and in-season stocking periods.