Delayed Harvest
What is actually “delayed” is the period when it’s legal to kill trout — three of 9 inches or larger June 15 through Labor Day. But most anglers who fish in Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures waters don’t kill them at any time of year and are more focused on the “artificial lures” requirement. The culture on those waters is year-round voluntary catch and release, and only flies, spinners and other non-natural baits are legal. No live bait.
“There are always fish there because most fly fishermen put them back,” said Mark Sikora, manager of International Angler (5275 Steubenville Pike, Robinson, 412-7888088). “This time of year the Delayed Harvest streams are freshly stocked, the trout haven’t learned to eat insects yet and they’ll eat anything that looks like food. This early in the season you see a lot of guys with spinning rods because this where they’re allowed to fish.”
Fish and Boat takes further advantage of the DHALO catch-and-release culture by including a few of those streams in the Keystone Select Stocked Trout Waters program. In addition to regular stockings, those waters get high numbers of 2- to 3-year-old hatchery breeders averaging 14 to 20 inches.
“They put these 20-inch fish in — trophy trout — because they know they’ll be caught over and over again by catch-and-release fishermen to spread the enjoyment through most of the season,” said Sikora, whose best Keystone Select catch was a 22inch brown released at First Fork Sinnemahoning Creek last May.
Additional opportunities to legally fish for preseason trout are available in the region.
Kids younger than 16 years of age with a Mentored Youth Fishing Permit or a voluntary Youth Fishing License, and their mentors, can target trout on Mentored Youth Trout Day, April 17 (March 24 regional) if they bring an adult with an adult license and trout permit
Just a few Catch-andRelease Fly Fishing Only waters exist. Three are in the Southwest District — (Fayette) parts of Dunbar Creek; (Indiana) parts of Little Mahoning Creek; (Somerset) parts of Clear Shade Creek — and two are popular destinations for local anglers (Centre) Spring Creek at Fisherman’s Paradise; THIS WEEK: I have taken advantage of programs that permit preseason trout fishing. • Yes • No To vote open the Fish and Boat Commission story at post-gazette.com/outdoors. Poll closes March 23. • LAST WEEK: I will hold my legislators responsible at the polls if state politics interfere with the routine operation of the wildlife management commissions. (Venango) parts of Little Sandy Creek.
Catch-and-Release All Tackle: none local but (Centre) parts of Spring Creek; (Blair-Huntingdon) parts of Little Juniata River.
In Trophy Trout All Tackle Waters on parts of the Youghiogheny River in Somerset and Fayette counties, 24-hour fishing is permitted year-round with no harvest or possession Labor Day until the opening of trout season of the following year. During the same time period just upstream on the Yough there’s no closed season on trout with a creel limit of three in possession.