Trout stamp

wbranch

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Joined
May 26, 2009
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York
Is it required to buy an annual PA trout stamp if you only fish for wild trout? Please explain why if it is required.
 
Yes a Trout Stamp or permit is required...

Why, I would venture to guess because it simplifies the law enforcement issues.

From page 5 of the 2025 Summary:

2025 Summary 5.jpg
 
Technically, under that definition of “fishing for trout” one could fish natural repro streams that aren’t class a and unlisted wild trout streams, and then claim they were targeting creek chubs. Good luck getting the warden to buy that story though.

I find it weird that you have to have one to fish for trout at all. It would make more sense to require one to keep a trout.
 
Technically, under that definition of “fishing for trout” one could fish natural repro streams that aren’t class a and unlisted wild trout streams, and then claim they were targeting creek chubs. Good luck getting the warden to buy that story though.

I find it weird that you have to have one to fish for trout at all. It would make more sense to require one to keep a trout.

The operative word is "possesses."

Catch a trout regardless if it is the targeted species or you decide to lie and you are in violation...

Which only goes to shows why the regulation is in effect...

We'll likely never know the true answer to that question. 😉

You could contact the PFBC and ask...
 
The operative word is "possesses."

Catch a trout regardless if it is the targeted species or you decide to lie and you are in violation...

Which only goes to shows why the regulation is in effect...



You could contact the PFBC and ask...
My comment was only half serious. I just find the rules surrounding trout stamps a little strange. I have a trout stamp even though most years I never keep any
 
I never keep any fish of any kind but I look at it the same way I look at the other PFBC donations I make...

It doesn't have to be about me or what is most important to me, it just has to be about putting a smile on the face of someone who fishes and plays by the rules...
 
You could contact the PFBC and ask...
What, and set myself up to be lied to? I personally couldn't care less what they do with those funds. They require me to have a Trout Stamp to fish for trout, and I abide by that requirement. I don't fish for stocked trout, so whatever they do with that money has little to no influence on my fishing whatsoever.
 
I never keep any fish of any kind but I look at it the same way I look at the other PFBC donations I make...

It doesn't have to be about me or what is most important to me, it just has to be about putting a smile on the face of someone who fishes and plays by the rules...
I wasn’t trying to imply that I have a problem with getting a trout stamp for catch and release fishing. Even though I don’t understand why a trout stamp should be required to fish on public land for wild fish that aren’t stocked by the entity I pay the trout stamp too, I get the trout stamp anyway and will continue to do so.

I just thought there was an issue in how they defined “fishing for trout” which created a loophole.
 
wish there were still true trout stamps, the artwork on them was nice.
 
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The trout stamp was originally set up to subsidize the costs of the trout stocking program. I assume it’s still the same.
Yes. Also, my understanding is the trout stamp revenue alone does not cover the cost of the stocking program and revenue for the general license sales is also used for stocked trout.
 
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