Trout fishing season will open statewide on April 3, a change from having two different opening days across Pennsylvania. During its quarterly meeting last week, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission announced several changes to the 2021 trout season, including opening dates and stocking operations.

These changes include consolidating the 2021 season into a single, statewide schedule for all Pennsylvania counties, beginning trout stocking operations earlier than usual; reinstating limited volunteer opportunities for trout stocking operations; and releasing a schedule of trout stocking dates and locations.

The PFBC said the change to a single opening day is aimed at curbing anglers’ travel across the state during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In the past, some sections of the state opened earlier than others, and some anglers would travel to take part in the earlier opening day. The PFBC hopes that if there is one opening day, travel will be limited. 

For the 2021 trout season, a single statewide Mentored Youth Trout Day will occur on Saturday, March 27, and a single statewide opening day will occur on Saturday, April 3. That is an earlier date for many of the northern and western counties, which had previously opened in mid-April. As a result of this consolidation, separate regional mentored youth and opening days will not occur.

Anglers are also reminded that because the mentored youth days were canceled in 2020, all Voluntary Youth Fishing Licenses purchased last season remain valid and will be honored during the 2021 season.

“Thank you to the anglers and boaters of Pennsylvania for their understanding as we continue to experience these changes together and get back on the water in 2021,” said Tim Schaeffer, PFBC executive director said. “The move to an earlier statewide schedule for trout season ensures that we can preserve our cherished fishing traditions while reducing the amount of travel across multiple opening days.

“We wanted to give anglers as much time and information as possible to plan ahead, and we think they will especially like having the stocking dates and locations available at their fingertips again this year on our FishBoatPA mobile app and website (www.fishandboat.com). Starting two weeks earlier gives trout anglers statewide two more weeks to enjoy everything that comes with this special time of year.”

To prepare for the consolidated statewide trout season schedule, the PFBC will begin pre-season trout stocking operations on Feb. 15, about two weeks earlier than in previous seasons. This change will allow hatchery staff to deliver trout to many waters ahead of the Statewide Mentored Youth Trout Day and, weather permitting, all waters before the Statewide Opening Day. Due to this change, all designated streams as Stocked Trout Waters will be closed to angling when stocking begins on Feb. 15.

To provide for additional angling opportunities during this time, trout that are stocked in lakes, reservoirs, and ponds during the pre-season will be open to catch-and-release angling but may not be harvested until Statewide Mentored Youth Day and Statewide Opening Day.

In addition, fishing will be closed on the Lake Erie tributaries and Presque Isle Bay from 12:01 a.m. on April 2 until 8 a.m. on April 3. This temporary modification to the trout season, size, and creel limits will mirror regulation changes that occur annually in the Lake Erie region prior to the regular Statewide Opening Day and are designed to protect against the overharvest of steelhead.

To achieve the highest quality stocking operations, the PFBC will be reintroducing limited volunteer opportunities in 2021. However, to protect the safety of PFBC staff and the public, volunteer opportunities will not be available to the general public. Instead, volunteers will be recruited from an existing pool of individuals who have traditionally assisted with float stocking and bucket carrying organized through local conservation organizations, schools, and other groups. All volunteers selected will be required to wear personal protective gear, including masks and gloves, and practice social distancing while participating in stocking operations.

“We appreciate the feedback we received from many anglers who were disappointed last season because we suspended volunteer stocking help due to pandemic. While we welcome the day when we can all return to normal, we think that offering these limited volunteer opportunities this season is a big step in the right direction,” said Richard Lewis, president of the PFBC Board of Commissioners. “With the help of these experienced volunteers, we will be able to most effectively spread the trout out throughout the streams to provide the best opening day experience for all anglers as well as sustained fishing throughout the spring.”

To inform anglers of trout stocking dates and locations, a stocking schedule will be provided on the PFBC website and FishBoatPA mobile app beginning on Feb. 1. While anglers are encouraged to reference the schedule to prepare for their fishing adventures throughout the trout season, any unsolicited “walk-on” stocking volunteers will not be permitted to assist with stocking. Anglers are reminded that all stocking dates are subject to change due to weather conditions and other factors, and they should check the stocking schedule throughout the season.

Hang in there, folks. Tight lines. Cheers