Afield: It’s almost trout season in PA. Here’s everything you need to know in Centre County

Trout anglers are getting ready for what for many is the most anticipated day of the year — the opening day of the stocked trout season. For some it is a day of family fun, for others it is an opportunity for friends to fish together over good populations of stocked trout. Although the creel limit is five trout per day, anglers practicing catch and release have a chance to land many trout in one day.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has been busy stocking the majority of 3.2 million trout across the commonwealth in preparation for the opening day of trout season, April 5. Stocking began in mid-February and will continue into late April. All of these trout originate from eight fish hatcheries, three of which are located in Centre County — Bellefonte, Benner Spring and Pleasant Gap.

In addition to the trout stocked by the state, 160 cooperative trout nurseries, such as the Bald Eagle Sportsmen Club, add an additional 1.2 million trout. This often includes streams or stream sections not stocked by the state. Cooperative trout nurseries get their trout as fingerlings from the Commission and then raise them to stocking size.

Statewide, 691 streams and 130 lakes are stocked with trout by the PFBC. With 15 streams and three impoundments stocked by the state, Centre County receives a nice share of the trout stocked. The largest stocked streams in the county are Penns and Bald Eagle creeks. They receive the most fish. Spring Creek is the largest wild trout stream.

Statewide stocking totals break down to approximately 2.4 million rainbow trout, 693,000 brown trout, 125,000 brook trout, 14,000 golden rainbows and 72,000 trophy-sized brood fish. According to the Commission, this year’s trout will average 11 inches long and weigh a little more than a half-pound each.

Scouting out your fishing spot

Deer hunters know that it is wise to scout before you hunt, but the same holds true for trout fishing. If you plan to fish locally, it would be wise to spend an hour or so checking out the area that you plan to fish on Saturday morning.

Streams change and unfortunately some once-open properties might now be posted no trespassing. I visited a favorite stream recently only to find two previously beautiful pools practically non-fishable. One had been filled in with sediment and the second one got bypassed by the stream during winter high water events. Also check online to see if the water is still being stocked.

Looking for a new fishing spot? You might want to check out the local stocking additions for 2025.

Stocking changes a plus for local anglers

Each year the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission adds and subtracts some water from the trout stocking list. This year, the changes are all positive for local anglers.

Harvest Fields Ponds, a 3.1-acre impoundment has been added to the stocking list. These two ponds are located just east of Boalsburg beside the Calvary Harvest Fields Church at 150 Harvest Fields Drive, Boalsburg. These ponds were stocked with rainbow and golden rainbow trout on March 12, and will be stocked again on April 17. According to the Commission, these ponds provide excellent angler accessibility. Please respect these privately owned, but open to the public ponds.

In Clearfield County, but just across the county line near Karthaus, is a large stocking addition to Mosquito Creek. A 2.3-mile section of stream extending from the confluence of Grimes Run, downstream to the mouth is being stocked this year. Grimes Run enters Mosquito Creek just above where Route 879 crosses the creek.

White Deer Creek begins in Centre County and flows east into Union County. Due to an increase in accessibility, the length of stream stocked has been increased for 2025. White Deer Creek is just south of I-80 and can be accessed from the Mile Run exit (exit 199). White Deer Creek is stocked with rainbow and golden rainbow trout. Some of the stream is regulated as Fly-Fishing-Only.

Fishing before opening day

Can’t wait for the opening day? Many anglers are already taking advantage of Centre County’s Keystone Select Stocked Trout water — a half-mile section of Bald Eagle Creek a few miles north of Port Matilda along Alternate Route 220. This section of stream was stocked with trout on March 18, and is open to catch-and-release fishing now. Stocking of Keystone Select waters includes a large number of trout measuring 14-20 inches long. This section receives about 100 trophy-sized trout.

If you are unfamiliar with the area, just plug 6543 South Eagle Valley Road, Julian, PA into your GPS. There is a large gravel parking lot across the railroad on property owned by the Wildlife for Everyone Foundation.

All non-stocked wild trout streams are also open to fishing on a catch-and-release basis. Centre County is blessed with many of these waters, such as Spring Creek, the Logan Branch, and parts of Wallace Run.

The PFBC reminds anglers that in addition to rods, reels, line, bait and lures, anyone 16 or older needs a fishing license and a trout stamp to be legal. There are many issuing agents in Centre County.