The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) continued its pre-season trout stocking operations in hundreds of lakes and streams across the state this week.
Volunteers helped to stock Brown, Rainbow, and golden Rainbow Trout in several sections of Mill Creek in Berks County, including near the Kutztown Rod and Gun Club. This year, the PFBC will stock approximately 3.2 million trout statewide in preparation for Mentored Youth Trout Day on March 30th and Opening Day of Trout Season on April 6. To buy a fishing license, find trout stocking schedules, and review fishing regulations, visit Fishandboat.com.
“Mentored Youth Day, it’s a great opportunity for anybody with little ones, with kids, they can get out before everybody gets out and the streams get all crazy. On March 30th, they can come out, do that mentored youth day, get some trout. And then of course the regular opening day statewide is April 6th to everybody else” said Derek Norman, Waterways Conservation Officer.
“A stream like you see behind me here, Mill Creek, would little or no natural trout reproduction, and without the stocking, it wouldn’t support the angler pressure that it would take after opening day. So, being able to stock these trout in a creek like this provides much better opportunity for anglers across the Commonwealth.”
Mike Lesher of Topton, took time to volunteer as a member of the Kutztown Rod & Gun Club, “It’s like tradition. Every year we go along and help stock. You know, that’s our thing. You know what I mean? We’ve been doing this for years. We used to take off from work, we used to do all kinds of things so we could go stocking.”
“Well, it was a lot of big Rainbow Trout and a lot of big “palomino” (aka golden Rainbow Trout), more than we ever saw put in this creek, so. It’s really exciting, you know. And the kids will have their first shot at it, and I hope these little kids can catch some of these big fish. You know, that’s basically why I do it. Every child that you get into fishing is going to eventually buy a license, you know. It keeps the sport going” said Lesher.
