Here is a summary of the meeting:
HARRISBURG, Pa. (April 28) – The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) began its quarterly business meeting by thanking anglers, agency staff, and volunteers for a safe and successful start to the 2025 trout season and promoting the plentiful fishing and boating opportunities that are just beginning as warmer spring temperatures arrive.
"Spring and summer are full of adventure and these first few weeks of trout season have only been the beginning,” said Dan Pastore, PFBC President and District 1 Commissioner. "We’re grateful to the crowds of volunteers who have turned out to assist our hatchery staff and Waterways Conservation Officers with stocking operations on hundreds of lakes and streams across the Commonwealth, and who will continue to help us stock trout through Memorial Day. As always, if you'relooking for a completely different experience and challenge beyond stocked trout, our plentiful wild trout streams are a wonderful resource to explore."
Pastore also encouraged anglers to visit new waters and seek out different types of fishing experiences beyond trout.
"I personally welcome anglers to visit northwest Pennsylvania to experience the world-class Walleye fishery on Lake Erie beginning in May and the bass fishery in Presque Isle Bay happening now,” added Pastore. “At the same time, as water temperatures begin to warm up all across the state, the bass, panfish, and catfish action really begin to heat up on our rivers and lakes. As always, if you plan to fish from a boat, please remember to wear your life jacket."
Anglers and boaters are reminded that the PFBC's cold weather life jacket requirement remains in effect from November 1 through April 30. During this time, anyone aboard a boat less than 16 feet in length, including all canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards, is required to wear a life jacket. In addition, the PFBC and many other organizations throughout the Commonwealth will partner with the National Safe Boating Council to celebrate
National Safe Boating Week from May 17-23, 2025.
Boating Facility Grants Awarded
The PFBC awarded several grants through the
Boating Facility Grant Program. Funds for this program are derived primarily from boat registration fees, state motorboat fuels tax, and restricted revenue accounts, if applicable. In certain instances, federal aid is also used, if appropriate. The 16 impactful projects awarded through the 2024 grant round are listed below, by watershed:
Delaware River Watershed
- County of Chester; Improvements to Chambers Lake Access Area at Hibernia Park, Chester County
- East Coventry Township; Construction of Motorized/Non-Motorized Boat Launch, Schuylkill River, Chester County
- *Muhlenberg Township; Construction of a Canoe/Kayak Access at Pioneer Grove Park, Schuylkill River, Berks County
- *Riverfront North Partnership; Dock Improvements at the Frankford Boat Launch, Delaware River, Philadelphia County
- Schuylkill River Greenways; Construction of Motorized/Non-Motorized Boat Launch at Ganshahawny Park, Schuylkill River, Berks County
- *Spring City Borough; Improvement to Amenities at the Spring City Boat Launch Park, Schuylkill River, Chester County
- *Thornhurst Township; Development of Boat Access at Riverfront Park, Lehigh River, Lackawanna County
Lake Erie Watershed
- Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority; Replacement of Courtesy Boat Dock at Lampe Marina, Lake Erie, Erie County
Susquehanna River Watershed
- Borough of Susquehanna Depot; Development of Non-Motorized Boat Launch at Ira Reynolds Park, Susquehanna River, Susquehanna County
- *East Lampeter Township; Design and Construction of Canoe/Kayak Access, Mill Creek, Lancaster County
- *Hanover Borough; Installation of Non-Motorized Access Area, Long Arm Reservoir, York County
- *Lewistown Borough; Rehabilitation of Boat Launch at Victory Park, Juniata River, Mifflin County
- *Montgomery Borough; Rehabilitation of Boat Launch at Montgomery Borough Park, West Branch Susquehanna River, Lycoming County
- Wysox Township; Rehabilitation of Wysox Community Park Boat Launch, Susquehanna River, Bradford County
Ohio River Watershed
- *North Franklin Township; Construction of Fishing Dock and Canoe/Kayak Launch on Reservoir Two, Washington County
- Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry, and Tourism; Construction of Non-Motorized Boat Launch at President Township Park, Allegheny River, Venango County
* Denotes projects announced during the first round of Boating Facility Grants in February 2025, for which the PFBC has awarded $100,000 or less, and did not require Board approval.
Erie Access Improvement Grants Awarded
The PFBC awarded one grant through the
Erie Access Improvement Program. This program is funded through proceeds from the sale of Lake Erie permits to be used towards programs that benefit public fishing, including enhanced access and habitat projects on or at Lake Erie and the watersheds of Lake Erie. The project awarded through the 2024 grant round is listed below:
·
McKean Township; McKean Conservation Area Master Plan Phase 2, Elk Creek, Erie County.
Law Enforcement
The Board approved the publication of a notice of proposed rulemaking pertaining to special regulations applicable to Lake Erie tributary streams. Under this proposal, the permitted hours for angler access and fishing on Walnut Creek from Route 5 downstream to the Manchester Road Bridge would be limited to one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Walnut Creek from Manchester Road Bridge downstream to Lake Erie and Elk Creek north of Route 5 would maintain no time restrictions for fishing. If adopted on final rulemaking at a future meeting, this amendment would go into effect upon publication of a second notice in the
Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Commissioners approved the publication of a notice of proposed rulemaking pertaining to insurance options for charter boat operators. Currently, charter boat operators and fishing guides in Pennsylvania are required to possess and maintain general liability insurance for all periods during which they are operating a charter boat or fishing guide operation on the waters of the Commonwealth. However, many insurance carriers will only issue protection and indemnity (P&I) insurance, and not general liability insurance, to businesses that provide services on the water. Under this proposal, the regulation (
58 Pa. Code § 51.125) would be amended to include P&I insurance to the acceptable forms of insurance. If adopted on final rulemaking at a future meeting, this amendment would go into effect upon publication of a second notice in the
Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Boating
The Board approved the publication of a notice of proposed rulemaking pertaining to use of electric boat motors on PFBC and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources owned or controlled waterways. Under this proposal, language within
58 Pa. Code § 107.2 would be amended to clarify that the use of electric motors must comply with horsepower limitations or equivalent kilowatt ratings set forth in
58 Pa. Code § 111 and clarify that boats are limited to only slow, no -wake speed if these waters are restricted to electric motors only. If adopted on final rulemaking at a future meeting, the amendments will go into effect upon publication in the
Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Fisheries
The Board voted to approve a change in fishing regulations at Harris Pond, a PFBC lake located in Ross Township, Luzerne County. Under this change, the 30-acre impoundment will be removed from the Big Bass program (
58 Pa. Code § 65.9). This action is necessary because Harris Pond is expected to be completely dewatered in 2025 or 2026 to complete dam and spillway repairs per the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s dam safety standards. The removal of Harris Pond from the Big Bass Program follows previous executive
action to remove all seasons, sizes, and creel limits at Harris Pond. This designation will go into effect upon publication of a second notice in the
Pennsylvania Bulletin.
The Board voted to approve a change in fishing regulations at Rose Valley Lake, a PFBC lake located in Gamble Township, Lycoming County. Under this change, the 389-acre impoundment will be removed from the Big Bass program (
58 Pa. Code § 65.9). This action is necessary because Rose Valley Lake is expected to be completely dewatered in 2026 to complete dam and spillway repairs per the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s dam safety standards. The removal of Rose Valley Lake from the Big Bass Program follows previous executive
action to remove all seasons, sizes, and creel limits at Rose Valley Lake. This designation will go into effect upon publication of a second notice in the
Pennsylvania Bulletin.
The Board voted to approve the addition of 25 new waters to the PFBC's list of Class A wild trout streams, 45 waters to the PFBC’s list of wild trout streams, and the revision of the section limits of five waters currently listed. A list of waters proposed waters for
Class A wild trout and
wild trout stream designation can be found in the
Pennsylvania Bulletin. All of these additions and revisions will go into effect upon publication of a second notice in the
Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Commissioners voted to table
Agenda Item A (Amendment to
58 Pa. Code § 57.8a, Class A Wild Trout Streams) pending further discussion.
