WHY WAIT? Using the right tackle at the right places, anglers legally can catch trout now

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

It’s not the fish, it’s the fishing that gets anglers excited in the weeks leading up to the opening day of trout season.

Long before April 14 (the season opens March 31 in 18 counties in southeastern Pennsylvania), stream-side camps are being dewinterized in preparation for the big weekend. Fly tyers are loading new creations into fly boxes, spinning reels are being respooled and growing kids are comparing their shoes with the soles of last year’s hip waders. In some families the anticipation of that first cast of the season is as delicious as it is maddening.

But for some trout-fishing families, there’s no waiting. Despite openingday traditions, trout can be legally caught before the elbow-to-elbow angling pressure of opening day reaches the lakes and streams. Waters in some special regulations are or enrolled in special programs are fishable for anglers with the proper tackle.

Year-round fishing

Trout can be targeted and caught 365 days a year in some waters, as long as they’re immediately released. When most trout fishing is suspended March 1 through opening day, it’s legal under the state Fish and Boat Commission’s Stocked Trout Waters Open to YearRound Fishing program. No trout stamp is required during that time, but no trout can be kept or killed — it’s catch and release only.

“[The program] is popular for the fact that if we get a nice day — a really nice weekend, especially now — you can go out and fish,” said Dwight Yingling, owner of North Park Sports Shop (897 East Ingomar Rd., Allison Park, 412367-7959), located near North Park Lake, which is enrolled in the year-round trout program. “Last February I opened up early because we had two solid weeks of beautiful weather. I was selling bait left and right — people were happy to get out.”