Afield: Trout season is almost here. See where stocking happens in Centre County
Pennsylvania’s trout season begins on Saturday, April 4, with a Mentored Youth Trout Day on Saturday, March 28. In preparation for the big day, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has been busy stocking streams and dams since Feb. 16.
In total, 3.2 million trout will be stocked by the Commission before and during the season. Most of the trout — 2.3 million — will be rainbows, as well as 698,000 brown trout, 128,000 brook trout and 18,000 golden rainbows. In addition, they will stock 72,000 trophy-sized trout ranging from 14 to 20+ inches in length.
Cooperative Trout Nurseries, such as the Bald Eagle Sportsmen and the Three Point Sportsmen and other clubs, will stock about 1.1 million trout. The Fish and Boat Commission provides trout fingerlings to the nurseries and the clubs feed, care for and stock the trout.
It is a monumental effort to stock 684 streams and 130 lakes and ponds across the state. Twelve streams, two lakes and two ponds are stocked in Centre County.
During the past week, three county streams have been stocked — Sections 2, 3 & 4 of Bald Eagle Creek, Wallace Run (ballfield to Gum Stump), and the lower section of Black Moshannon Creek (I-80 downstream). Section 4 of Bald Eagle Creek is a Keystone Select Stocked Trout Water that is open to angling year-round. This stream area can be accessed from the Soaring Eagle Wetland north of Port Matilda.
On Monday, Big Poe Creek, Poe Lake and the Seven Mountains Boy Scout Dam will be stocked. The scout dam was returned to the stocking list after maintenance and repairs to the 2.5-acre dam. It is the only spot in Centre County to receive stocked brook trout.
Tuesday, March 24 will see Cold Stream Dam in Philipsburg and the South Fork of Beech Creek stocked. Bald Eagle Creek (Milesburg downstream) will receive rainbow and golden rainbow trout on March 30. Pine Creek and White Deer Creek will be stocked on March 31. The last stream to be stocked before the opener is Sixmile Run on April 2.
Volunteers are welcome and encouraged to help stock streams. Check the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission website (fbweb.pa.gov/TroutStocking) for meeting times and locations. Helping to stock is a great way to learn about new streams that could be fished on the opening day or later in the season.
What to know about Mentored Youth Trout Day
Youth must obtain a mentored youth permit or a voluntary youth fishing license and be accompanied by a licensed adult (age 16 or older). Mentor anglers can fish, but only youth with voluntary youth fishing license or mentored youth permit may keep trout. Adult anglers are prohibited from keeping trout. Mentor anglers must be within six feet of the actively fishing mentored youth. Mentored youth licenses and/or mentored youth permits can be obtained at license issuing agents.
Where can you fish now?
Can’t wait for the opening day? Centre County has dozens of wild trout streams that are open to trout fishing year-round. These include Spring Creek, the Logan Branch, part of Wallace Run and Cold Stream. At this time of year, fishing in those waters is strictly catch and release.
Also open for fishing is the Keystone Select Stocked Trout Water — a half-mile of Bald Eagle Creek north of Port Matilda. This area is open year-round angling. From the day after Labor Day until June 14, no trout may be killed or possessed. June 15 through Labor Day, the creel limit is three trout per day of at least 9 inches in length. Canoe Lake in neighboring Blair County is stocked and also open to year-round trout fishing.
Don’t forget about your license and permit
Anglers over 16 fishing for trout, wild or stocked, need a 2026 Pennsylvania fishing license and a 2026 trout permit. These are available online or from any license issuing agent.
Mark Nale, who lives in the Bald Eagle Valley, is a member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association and can be reached at MarkAngler@aol.com.