Changes by Tom Greene Fisheries Biologist Bureau of Fisheries
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2016 Adult Trout Stocking Program Changes by Tom Greene Fisheries Biologist Bureau of Fisheries In 2016, the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC) will stock approximately 3.2 million adult trout in the waters of the Commonwealth open to public angling. This figure is based on trout produced at PFBC hatcheries. As with past practice, the average size of the trout produced for stocking will be 11 inches long. Changes for the 2016 season include stocking extensions on waters as a result of classification upgrades, waters restored to the stocking program and the removal of waters from the stocking program. photos-Spring Gearhart Stocking extensions and waters on five stream sections managed under Catch and Release Fly-Fishing Only regulations. Fingerling trout restored to the stocking program were stocked during the fall on an annual basis in these Roaring Brook, Lackawanna County stream sections from 2012 through 2014. The survival of Adult trout stocking will be reinstated on the 2.0-mile fingerling trout was monitored annually through the 2015 section of stream extending from Elmhurst Reservoir field season to determine if a fishery could be supported downstream to 550 meters downstream of the confluence by stocking fingerling trout in these sections of stream. with Rock Bottom Creek. Stocking was cancelled in this Results from these evaluations revealed that fingerling section of stream in 2015 due to bridge replacement on trout survival was consistently poor on each of the stream the road that leads to this section of stream. sections. Therefore, fingerling trout stocking has been discontinued and the following stream sections will be Wolf Creek, Mercer County stocked with adult trout beginning in the spring of 2016. A classification change stemming from an increase in human population density and a 0.5-mile extension of Caldwell Creek, Warren County the stocking limits will lead to an increase in the number 1.5 miles, from the Selkirk Bridge (SR 3004) downstream of trout allocated to this stream. The revised stocking to Stony Hollow Run located 0.5 miles upstream of limits will extend for a distance 3.01 miles from East Pine Dotyville Bridge Street in Grove City downstream to 300 feet downstream of the Airport Road Bridge. Brown Trout and Rainbow Donegal Creek, Lancaster County Trout will be stocked during the preseason and inseason 2.2 miles, from 0.2 miles downstream from the SR 0772 stocking periods. Bridge downstream to the T-334 Bridge Changes in stocking practices Green Spring Creek, Cumberland County Beginning in the fall of 2012, adult trout stocking 1.2 miles, from 0.4 miles upstream from the Bullshead Road was discontinued in favor of fingerling trout stocking Bridge (T-398) downstream to the mouth 6 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March/April 2016 PFBC Facebook: PaFishandBoat the mouth. Formerly, this water had been stocked on a preseason only basis. French Creek, Chester County Landowner posting has resulted in a substantial loss of angler access to an 8.4-mile section of stream extending from Hollow Road (SR 1033) downstream to SR 0023. Therefore, stocking limits will be revised in 2016 to the sections of stream that remain open to angling. The revised sections will extend for a distance of 1.46 miles from SR 1033 (Hollow Road) downstream to the T-481 Bridge (Hoffecker Road) and for 3.1 miles, from the unnamed tributary upstream of West Seven Stars Road (T-522) downstream to SR 0023. George B. Stevenson Reservoir, Cameron County This 142-acre impoundment will be removed from the adult trout stocking program in 2016 due to a drawdown to allow for maintenance repairs to the dam. The Little Sandy Creek, Venango County impoundment is owned by the Pennsylvania Department 1.3 miles, from the old Bridge at Polk Center Pump House of Conservation and Natural Resources. downstream to the Savannah Road Bridge (SR 3024) Slate Lick Run, Cambria County White Deer Creek, Union County Access limitations stemming from an increase in 3.2 miles, from the Centre/Union County line landowner posting and documented low angler use has led downstream to the Cooper Mill Road Bridge to the removal of the 1.90-mile section of stream extending from Marra Road downstream to the confluence with Early Warning Waters Burgoon Run. Bly mire Hol low Run, York C ounty Based on the presence of a Class A wild Brown Trout population, adult trout stocking will be terminated on a 1.4-mile section of stream extending from the Mont Road (T-580) Bridge downstream to the mouth. Formerly, this water had been stocked on a preseason only basis. Chapman Dam Reservoir, Warren County This 68-acre impoundment will be removed from the adult trout stocking program in 2016 due to a dewatering of the dam to allow for maintenance repairs to the dam. The impoundment is owned by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Cold Stream Dam, Centre County This 9.9-acre Philipsburg Borough impoundment will be removed from the adult trout stocking program in 2016 due to a drawdown to allow for maintenance repairs to the dam. Double Run, Sullivan County Based on the presence of a Class A wild Brook Trout population, adult trout stocking will be terminated on the 2.0-mile section of stream extending from the Shrewsbury and Forks township line downstream to PFBC website: www.fishandboat.com Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March/April 2016 7 Water County Stocking Limits Canawacta Creek Susquehanna Confluence of East and South Branches Canawacta Creek downstream to the mouth Decker Brook Pike Second SR 0006 Bridge to State Game Lands 183 downstream border Try a New Trout East Branch Fishing Creek Potter Jeep trail 0.2 miles upstream of SR 4005 and T-333 junction downstream to the mouth Stream in 2016 East Branch Spring Creek Warren SR 3001 downstream to the mouth Based on early season angler East Branch Tionesta Creek Warren From confluence with Pigeon Run downstream to the mouth use counts conducted by PFBC staff between 2006 and 2015, Green Spring Creek Cumberland 800 meters upstream of SR 0641 to 600 meters upstream of Bullshead Road Bridge (T-398) very low numbers of anglers Hollister Creek Wayne Stone House Road Bridge (T-670) to Boyce Road Bridge (T-561) were recorded on the following Lake Creek Monroe SR 3017 Bridge downstream to the mouth list of waters. The list is Lakeside Quarry Lebanon In the lake organized by water and includes Laurel Fork Fulton Cove Road Bridge (T-433) downstream to the mouth information pertaining to the County, stocking limits and the Little Schuylkill River Schuylkill 1.1 miles upstream from the mouth downstream to the mouth current stocking period. These McLaughlin Creek Crawford T-890 Bridge downstream to the mouth waters provide good options Mead Run Elk Unnamed tributary at Shawmut downstream to the mouth for anglers who are looking to Meadow Creek Mifflin Alfarata Road Bridge (T-737) downstream to the mouth avoid the larger crowds that Meadow Run Fayette 200 meters upstream of SR 2015 Bridge to 240 meters downstream of SR 0381 Bridge typically occur on stocked trout waters during the opening day Miller Run Somerset Headwaters downstream to the mouth of trout season or following an Raystown Branch Juniata River Huntingdon Dam at Raystown Lake downstream to downstream extent of Corbins Island inseason stocking. Riggles Gap Run Blair Asbury Lane Bridge (T-488) downstream to the mouth Riley Creek Susquehanna/ Singer Road (T-309) downstream to the mouth Wyoming Rocky Run Elk Unnamed tributary 1,500 meters downstream of county line downstream to the mouth Rose Pond Branch Wayne State Game Lands 159 access road crossing downstream to the mouth Shannon Run Westmoreland Upper Bridge on Wildcat Road (T-992) downstream to the mouth Silver Creek Susquehanna Downstream boundary of Salt Spring State Park downstream to the mouth South Branch Canawacta Creek Susquehanna Second Bridge on SR 1017 downstream to the mouth Wright Creek Luzerne Penn Lake downstream to Ice Pond at Bear Creek Junction.