An Early Opener

Big news for Pennsylvania trout anglers is in the works for this spring. In 2007 we will have not one but two Opening Days! A large chunk of the state, comprised of a total of 18 counties in the southeastern and south-central regions, will have its opener on March 31, approximately two weeks earlier than the traditional mid-April date. For long-time observers of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, this departure from a seemingly sacrosanct tradition is quite remarkable. 

For those who fish mostly in special regulations areas, the biggest effect of this change will be two fewer weeks of pre-trout-season crowding. Anglers who want to fish during the first two weeks of April will be able to spread out, instead of being jammed into a few small special regs areas while miles and miles of nearby trout water sit empty. And while the ranks of hatchery trout stocked in those closed waters suffer significant attrition. Read on for more information about that.

Anyone who knows me is aware that I am a frequent and vocal critic of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Of course, like any other entity of this nature, they aren’t all bad. But over the years I have always found a lot more to dislike than to like about their philosophy, policies, and mode of operation. It’s apparent that the way they do business is driven far more by politics than by concern for the health of the natural resources that are in their care. I’ll forego getting any higher up on my soapbox at this time, for which you should be thankful.

In the past couple of years, however, I have found some cause for cautious optimism regarding our state fisheries agency. For one thing, there are indications that science is now finally starting to play a bigger role in decision making. The PAF&BC actually conducted a scientific study recently to determine what really happens to hatchery-reared, catchable-size trout between the time they are stocked in a stream and the time they are fished for. It turns out that, at least in the case of the stream in Northcentral Pennsylvania that was studied, most of them disappear pretty quickly. A percentage of the fish in the study were tagged with radio transmitters. Most of them left the study area within days of being stocked, some traveling substantial distances. One of these fish was located in the Susquehanna River within a few weeks of being stocked many, many miles upstream! 

The implications of the study are very obvious. If you are going to stock catchable-size trout, the sooner you allow the fishermen at them the better. Otherwise a significant percentage of these rather expensive little packets of protein and/or recreational opportunity are likely to be wasted by being washed away downstream out of the reasonable reach of those whose fishing license dollars paid for them. The ultimate logical conclusion to be drawn from the stocking study is that the closed season should be eliminated entirely. But I won’t hold my breath on that one. No Opening Day? Unthinkable! 

The earliest pre-season trout stockings each year have traditionally been done in the southeastern part of the state, immediately after the approved trout waters close on March 1. This is because the more northern and western areas of Pennsylvania are often still in the grip of snow and ice at that time, while more clement conditions typically prevail in the southeast. It made sense to start the annual six-week marathon round of pre-season stocking there. But needless to say, the study results call that strategy into question. Especially if it’s going to be nearly six weeks before fishing begins. 

This phenomenon of the missing trout is cited as one reason for the Commission’s decision to implement the split Opening Day of Trout Season. Also, the split opener is in recognition of changing weather patterns, possibly due to global warming. It acknowledges that the water in our streams gets too low and warm for good trout fishing much earlier each spring in the southeast than in other parts of the state. This is perfectly reasonable, and was true long before anyone was talking about global warming. Personally, I’d like to see trout season open in the southeast on March 1, not March 31. But baby steps are better than no progress at all, I guess.

You can find a list of the counties that open on March 31 by going to the PAF&BC website, www.fish.state.pa.us. Or refer to the Summary of Fishing Laws that you should have received when you bought your fishing license. If you didn’t get one, any license agent will be happy to give you a copy free of charge. 

--Mary S. Kuss--