Stocking up for the season
State, volunteers filling lakes, streams with trout
OUTDOORS
Get your fishing gear ready.
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is continuing its preseason trout stocking of lakes and streams, including sections of Mill Creek in Berks
County.
Volunteers helped stock brown, rainbow and golden rainbow trout in the creek near the Kutztown Rod and Gun Club in Greenwich Township, the commission said in a release.
The commission said it will stock about 3.2 million trout statewide in preparation for Mentored Youth Trout Day on March 30 and the opening day of trout season on April 6.
Volunteers are welcome to help the commission stock the waterways.
“Basically, we make the stocking schedule,” Derek Norman, waterways conservation officer, said in the release. “People can check online at the Fish and Boat Commission’s website for the most up-to-date stocking lists.
“They come out. We, as officers, direct traffic and ensure that everyone stays safe while we’re out here doing these trout stockings. The public comes out, and it’s great public outreach for them.”
Mike Lesher of Topton helped stock Mill Creek on Thursday.
“It’s like tradition,” said
Lesher, a member of the Kutztown Rod and Gun Club. “Every year we go along and help stock. You know, that’s our thing. We’ve been doing this for years. We used to take off from work, we used to do all kinds of things so we could go stocking.”
Norman noted the importance of stocking waterways.
“A stream like you see behind me here, Mill Creek, with little or no natural trout reproduction, and without the stocking, it wouldn’t support the angler pressure that it would take after opening day,” Norman said. “So, being able to stock these trout in a creek like this provides a much better opportunity for anglers across the commonwealth.” To participate in Mentored Youth Angler Day, youths need a mentored youth permit or a voluntary youth fishing license and be accompanied by a licensed adult angler. With their license or permit, they can take a total of two trout (combined species) with a minimum length of 7 inches. Adult anglers are prohibited from possessing trout.
“It’s a great opportunity for anybody with little ones, with kids, they can get out before everybody gets out and the streams get all crazy,” Norman said.
For information on Mentored Youth Angler Day, stocking schedules and regulations, go to Fishandboat. com.