2020 PFBC Stocking Schedule

[JeffK]

I also question that stocked brookies are easier to catch. Back in 2015? when I was an intern with NJ Fisheries we stocked a handful of streams and ponds 50% brookies/50% rainbows. The subsequent creel surveys showed a better catch of rainbows by a wide margin, especially on Opening day when the common wisdom is the brookies bite better in the cold. NJ every year stocks a few ponds with bonus broodstock for Opening Day to get interest in fishing. One year we stocked 300 standard brookies and 30 broodstock browns about 5 lbs each in Burham Park Pond. On Opening Day the creel survey showed 29 browns caught and 8 brookies. The large stocked browns are easier to catch in my surveys. Theory is they require a lot of calories and are inefficient feeders being raised in a hatchery, so they hit lures aggressively. Maybe it is the strains NJ stocks, but the stocked brookies didn't perform as well in NJ. NJ uses a strain of rainbows developed at the Hackettstown NJ Hatchery 100 years ago and used the Nassau NH Federal hatchery strain of brookies.

Today NJ only stocks rainbows, but in the past they only stocked rainbows in streams with wild brooks or browns as to not dilute the genetics of the wild fish. NJ will likely never stock brookies again to protect the gene pool of the native fish. They may stock browns again for some variety.

 

[troutbert]

JeffK wrote:
I also question that stocked brookies are easier to catch. Back in 2015? when I was an intern with NJ Fisheries we stocked a handful of streams and ponds 50% brookies/50% rainbows. The subsequent creel surveys showed a better catch of rainbows by a wide margin, especially on Opening day when the common wisdom is the brookies bite better in the cold. NJ every year stocks a few ponds with bonus broodstock for Opening Day to get interest in fishing. One year we stocked 300 standard brookies and 30 broodstock browns about 5 lbs each in Burham Park Pond. On Opening Day the creel survey showed 29 browns caught and 8 brookies. The large stocked browns are easier to catch in my surveys. Theory is they require a lot of calories and are inefficient feeders being raised in a hatchery, so they hit lures aggressively.

The reason for the low catch of brook trout and higher catch of brown trout may have been because the brook trout were DEAD, while the browns were still alive.

 

[Mike]

Yes, it is well-accepted in the scientific literature that the order of gullibility from most to least is ST, RT, and BT. That is also true in Pa creel surveys in lakes and streams. This is also one of the three reasons why RT have been stocked in a much higher proportion preseason than BT for decades ( since the intense statewide creel survey efforts on lakes and streams from 1988 through 1993). Side note: cutthroats are even more vulnerable to angling than ST.

In typical Opening Day and early part of the first week cold water conditions RT appeared in the catches in very high, disproportunate frequency in comparison to the browns with the browns then appearing in the catches as the water warmed. Additionally, it was apparent that inseason stockings of RT and BT produced slightly disproportionate catches of BT, which was unexpected.

The proclivity for BT to not hit nearly as well during that colder high pressure period (opening day and the first few days of opening week) is also at times utilized by fisheries managers to spread out the catch during the time between the Opening Day and the first inseason stocking. This reduces the boom and bust situation that may occur early in the season depending upon pressure and harvest. Of course, there are now additional reasons for stocking RT in disproportionately high preseason numbers....significantly better residency and generally larger size by the end of the winter. BT growth speeds up again in the hatcheries as the hatchery water temps warm in late winter/early spring and the BT start to catch up to the RT.

Comments above regarding hatchery fish growth prior to the preseason stocking period may exclude those fish that are produced in light houses, where gametes become available to fish culturists earlier than would naturally occur because of brood fish exposure to photoperiod manipulations.

 

[SMAlbert]

Are streams that are FF Only Catch and release only open now? PA website reads "open year around" or do they close March 1 until Opening day.

 

[HopBack]

Open year round

 

[Mike]

Just saw the 2019 annual report. The number of adult trout stocked by PFBC hatcheries was 3,179,812 or about 5.9 trout per stamp and combination stamp sold. Note that stamp sales were never designed or intended to pay for the entire program.

 

[mute]

Have all the revisions already been made to the schedule? I see a bunch of reschedule dates but i still see tons of dates out in the end of April still. I thought I read all stockings were consolidated into the next two weeks. Yet again, I see end of april stocking dates still on that schedule. Wondering if there's still more revising to do or what

 

[Dave_W]

mute wrote:
Wondering if there's still more revising to do or what

I'd assume there's more revising and nothing is set in stone at this point.

 

[afishinado]

Dave_W wrote:

mute wrote:
Wondering if there's still more revising to do or what

I'd assume there's more revising and nothing is set in stone at this point.

As DaveW said above, "nothing is set in stone", but here is an article explaining the intent of the PFBC stocking changes.

Commission officials fear that further spread of the coronovirus might eventually lead to travel restrictions, something that would prohibit the movement of fish around the state.

So, while it can, it’s going full bore to stock all 3.2 million trout as quickly as possible. It’s reassigning staff from all departments and releasing fish seven days a week from here on out until all those fish are in the water.

Those crews are putting trout in lakes and streams in counties “predicted to be effected most severely” first.

Some waters – there and across the state – usually get stocked both preseason and in-season. Instead, they will get all their fish at once, to boost efficiency.

All waters scheduled to get fish will receive them, and they’ll get just as many as they would have otherwise, officials said. There’s no reduction in overall trout numbers.

But the timing of their stocking is different, and that simply because of extraordinary circumstances.

Link to source > https://adventures.everybodyshops.com/trout-stocking-trout-season/?fbclid=IwAR00PQlvV4Mnwmj5YiehWfvJrGCHK9l9i-iBCDz0dBAQKIkzV4RfYMH7cEk

 

[TYoung]

Here is a quote from the press release.

"Moving forward this season, trout stockings will be announced upon their completion, rather than in advance on the FishBoatPA mobile app and PFBC website."

 

[mute]

Clear as mud! Thanks all.

 

[tomgamber]

here is a link to the PAFBC site press release that makes more sense than the second hand translation Afish posted.

https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/fish-and-Boat-Commission-Details.aspx?newsid=312

Heres the text...

03/16/2020

PFBC ANNOUNCES CONSOLIDATED STATEWIDE SCHEDULE FOR TROUT SEASON, BEGINS ACCELERATED STOCKING OPERATIONS, ADDS MORE CONVENIENT ONLINE LICENSE PURCHASE AND DISPLAY OPTIONS

HARRISBURG, Pa (March 16) – Amid concerns regarding the spread of COVID-19, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) today announced several changes to the 2020 trout season intended to protect the safety of the public and staff, while preserving the opportunity to enjoy the fun and recreational health benefits of fishing.

These changes, effective immediately, include consolidating the 2020 trout season schedule into a single, statewide schedule for all Pennsylvania counties; accelerating trout stocking operations and limiting volunteer participation; and adding more convenient ways to purchase fishing licenses online and display proof of a fishing license and boating documents on a digital device.

"Thank you to the anglers and boaters of Pennsylvania for their understanding as we all experience these changes together," said Tim Schaeffer, PFBC Executive Director. "While our calendars may start to look a little different, one thing we can count on is that there will be a trout season and there will still be plenty of fish out there to enjoy. Working under unprecedented circumstances, our staff is committed to providing the quality fishing experience that we all expect."



Statewide Mentored Youth Program and Opening Day

The PFBC will operate under a consolidated statewide schedule for all counties during the 2020 trout season. Under this revised plan, a single Mentored Youth Trout Day will occur on Saturday, April 11, and a Statewide Opening Day of trout season will take place on Saturday, April 18.

As a result of these changes, separate, earlier regional mentored youth and opening days will no longer occur in the 18 southeastern counties, including: Adams, Berks, Bucks, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Franklin, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, Perry, Philadelphia, Schuylkill and York. Anglers in these areas should revise their plans as necessary to adjust to the statewide schedule.

These changes, made by the PFBC under direction provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Pennsylvania Department of Health, are intended to reduce large gatherings of people and the number of anglers traveling into the regional area (18 southeastern counties), which is already heavily affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.



Accelerated Trout Stocking Operations and Volunteer Participation

2020 trout stocking will be conducted on an accelerated schedule, and volunteers will not be permitted to assist with stocking activities.

"We realize that many of our stocking volunteers look forward to helping us, but we must take these necessary precautions to ensure public safety during this vital period," said Schaeffer. "Just as we've counted on our volunteers for decades to help us stock trout, we're counting on them now to play it safe and stay home. We appreciate their service throughout the years, and we hope that we can invite them back to join us again very soon."

To complete trout stocking operations without the assistance of the public, the PFBC will modify stocking methods for this year. Many PFBC staff are being reassigned from their normal work duties to assist with stocking fish into lakes and streams. In some cases, pre-season and in-season allocations of trout will be combined into single stocking events to increase the efficiency of stocking trips. Initially, stockings will be prioritized to deliver trout to regions of the Commonwealth that are predicted to be affected most severely by COVID-19 that could result in restrictions on travel.

Moving forward this season, trout stockings will be announced upon their completion, rather than in advance on the FishBoatPA mobile app and PFBC website (www.fishandboat.com). The change in stocking procedures will not result in any reduction in the approximately 3.2 million trout scheduled to be stocked statewide in 2020, and stocking will occur seven days a week until further notice.

"This change in our stocking approach is necessary to fulfill a critical mission of our agency and our obligation to anglers," added Rick Kauffman, PFBC District 8 Commissioner. "We're trying to get as many fish in the water as possible as quickly as possible while we still have the best access to waterways and available staff. While our methods may be different this season, people will have the same opportunity to get outdoors and fish, which has proven benefits to our physical and mental health."



More Convenient Ways to Purchase and Display Your Fishing License, Launch Permits and Boat Registrations

To reduce unnecessary travel and social contact amid health concerns, anglers and boaters will be able to display their fishing license, launch permit, or boat registration renewal digitally on a phone or other mobile device as proof of possession.

This change will allow customers who may be unable to, or feel uncomfortable visiting a store to purchase a fishing license, launch permit, or boat registration renewal to make the purchase using the FishBoatPA app or computer through The Outdoor Shop (www.pa.wildlifelicense.comOpens In A New Window) and not have to possess a printed copy of the document. Upon purchase of a fishing license, a .pdf file containing an image of your license is provided via email. Similarly, with each boating related transaction, customers will receive a digital receipt that serves a temporary permit or registration valid for immediate use. Eventually, customers will receive validation decals and registration cards in the mail from the PFBC, which can take several weeks.

If approached by a Waterways Conservation Officer (WCO) in the field, the angler or boater would only have to produce the digital image of the license, permit or registration on their phone or mobile device. A digital copy of the .pdf, photo, or screenshot of your fishing license, launch permit or boat registration on your phone or mobile device will all be accepted as proof of possession.

##

Media Contact:


Mike Parker
Communications Director
(717)705-7806

(717)585-3076 mobile
michparker@pa.gov

 

[HopBack]

Dave Kile also posted on the homepage....

 

[tomgamber]

HopBack wrote:
Dave Kile also posted on the homepage....

Thanks,

Came right to the forum. Of course if Dave posted it, can you really trust it? ;-)

 

[mute]

All a moot point now as theyve totally disabled the schedule

 

[afishinado]

mute wrote:
All a moot point now as theyve totally disabled the schedule

Yes, moot point as to the schedule of when stocking occurs since all streams approved for stocking will be stocked with all the trout raised by the PFBC for the statewide trout opener on April 18th.

 

[Mike]

The schedule is “temporarily suspended,” which is the term being used on the site. It is my understanding that when the schedule appears again it will show which waters have been stocked as opposed to which ones are going to be stocked. That seems to me to be a better way to handle this fluid situation at all governmental levels.

 

[TimB]

Here's a simpler approach form the state of Maine:

To encourage Mainers to enjoy their outdoor resources and to support a happy, healthy Maine, Governor Mills and Commissioner Camuso are enacting the following changes effective immediately:
Any person (except those whose license has been suspended or revoked) may fish without a license through April 30, 2020. This change does not apply to activities which require a commercial freshwater fishing license or permit.

All inland waters that traditionally open to open water fishing on April 1 will now be open to open water fishing effective immediately. This change does not open any body of water to ice fishing that is currently closed to ice fishing

All other tackle, length and bag limits and special regulations still apply. Click here to review the current fishing laws.