HARRISBURG, Pa. (January 27) – The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) began its quarterly business meeting with attention to recent frigid temperatures impacting anglers, boaters, and PFBC staff.
"The bitter cold temperatures across the state in recent weeks have provided both opportunities and challenges,” said Daniel Pastore, Board President and District 1 Commissioner. “While many anglers are enjoying their first significant opportunities for ice fishing in several seasons, we’ve also had to increase our attention to safety for both the public and our field staff who work outdoors. Bottom line, we encourage everyone to have fun and try something new, and please keep safety your top priority.”
Pastore reminded anglers that Waterways Conservation Officers would be on patrol throughout the winter, and to consider not only your own safety, but also the safety of WCOs and other first responders before taking unnecessary risks while enjoying outdoor recreation.
“If you are out ice fishing for panfish and walleye on Presque Isle Bay or any of our inland lakes, always be mindful of changing weather conditions, check for adequate ice thickness, use appropriate safety gear, and never venture out onto ice over moving water,” added Pastore. “If you have the opportunity to go boating on the open water this winter, always wear your life jacket."
Since 2012, the PFBC has required anyone aboard a boat less than 16 feet, including all kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards, to wear a life jacket from November 1 through April 30. Over the first decade of this regulation, the number of boating accidents in Pennsylvania during the cold weather months has remained about the same, but fatalities have been reduced by approximately 50%.
Executive Director’s Report
During his report to the Board, Executive Director Tim Schaeffer noted that the PFBC is already preparing for pre-season trout stocking operations in anticipation of the statewide Mentored Youth Trout Fishing Day on Saturday, March 29, 2025, and the statewide Opening Day of Trout Season on Saturday, April 5, 2025.
Schaeffer noted that the 2025 Adult Trout Stocking Schedule will be published on the PFBC website on or before February 1 and reminded anglers to revisit the stocking schedule frequently to remain aware of changes that may occur due to inclement weather and hatchery logistics. The PFBC will stock approximately 3.2 million adult trout throughout the 2025 season, which is consistent with the number of fish stocked over the past decade. In addition to trout raised at state fish hatcheries, PFBC cooperative nurseries operated by sportsmen's clubs and other groups across the state will add another 1.2 million trout to waters open to public angling throughout the year.
Fishing licenses and permits may be purchased through the HuntFishPA online portal on the PFBC website (Fishandboat.com), or by visiting nearly 700 retail license issuing agents.
Schaeffer also highlighted that now through February 3, 2025, the PFBC is accepting applications for the 27th class of Waterways Conservation Officer (WCO) Trainees.
The class of trainees will undergo a comprehensive training program at various training sites in the Commonwealth, including Mansfield Commonwealth University and the PFBC's H.R. Stackhouse School of Fishery Conservation and Watercraft Safety in Bellefonte, Centre County. Schaeffer suggested that anyone interested in learning more about a career as a WCO should act quickly to visit the Law Enforcement Careers page on the PFBC website and apply before the deadline.
Fisheries
Commissioners voted to approve the publication of a notice of proposed rulemaking pertaining to Class A wild trout streams (58 Pa. Code § 57.8a). There are very few Class A wild trout streams where supplemental trout stocking has been considered or warranted; however, there are rare circumstances where stocking a Class A stream could be considered. As such, criteria (Page 110) have been developed within the PFBC’s Operational Guidelines for the Management of Trout Fisheries in Pennsylvania Waters that provide direction and guide decisions regarding stocking trout in Class A wild trout streams. Under current processes, when an entity, such as a sportsmen’s club, requests permission to stock trout in a Class A wild trout stream and that stream meets the criteria for stocking, the Executive Director is required to obtain Board approval before granting an exemption to allow the stocking. Under these proposed changes, the Executive Director would have the authority to approve stocking exemptions on Class A stream that meet the criteria without Board approval. Approval from the Board would only be required when an entity requests stocking on a Class A stream that does not meet the criteria. If given final approval at a future meeting, this amendment would go into effect upon a second notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Commissioners voted to give final approval to changes pertaining to fishing regulations in Lake Erie and boundary lakes (58 Pa. Code Chapter 69). Under the changes, which would apply to commercial fishing and use of commercial trap nets, regulations would be updated to address changing conditions and current best practices, streamline regulatory compliance, and continue to provide resource protection to the Lake Erie fishery. Amendments to the regulations will include a requirement for licensed commercial fishing operators to file a monthly report with the PFBC describing the licensee’s daily catch and latitude and longitude coordinates for each grid fished during the period. Additionally, licensees using commercial trap nets who encounter any Pennsylvania species defined as Endangered species (58 Pa. Code Chapter § 75.1) and Threatened species (58 Pa. Code Chapter § 75.2) shall release the species unharmed. The changes also include amended requirements for buoys and tags used to mark trap nets, allowable time periods for using trap nets, prohibited acts (58 Pa. Code Chapter § 69.37) related to commercial fishing, clearing of nets (58 Pa. Code Chapter § 69.38), and landing of catch (58 Pa. Code Chapter § 69.39). These amendments will go into effect upon publication of a second notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
The Board voted to approve a change in fishing regulations at Lower Woods Pond, a PFBC lake located in Lebanon Township, Wayne County. Under this changes, the 91-acre impoundment will be removed from the Big Bass program (58 Pa. Code § 65.9) to allow for management under the Catch and Release Lakes program (58 Pa. Code § 65.17) which was approved by the Board during the PFBC’s July 2024 quarterly business meeting. Lower Woods Pond was partially dewatered in 2012 to complete dam and spillway repairs and modifications per Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection dam safety standards. Following completion of these repairs and modifications, the lake was refilled in 2024. The PFBC began stocking the lake in late summer 2024 with fingerling plants of select fish species to establish a high-quality, warm-water and cool-water fishery. Staff recommend managing the lake under the Catch and Release Lakes program to facilitate the most rapid development of a balanced warmwater and cool-water fish community, while offering acceptable levels of recreational angling. Once fish populations can sustain limited harvest, the lake will be recommended for removal from the Catch and Release Lakes program and moved to one or more of the Commission’s existing regulation programs. This designation will go into effect upon publication of a second notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Through executive action, the PFBC announced an extension of temporary changes to fishing regulations at Tobyhanna Lake, Monroe County. In March 2024, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced that the lake would be completely drained in anticipation of a dam rehabilitation project that remains underway. At that time, the PFBC enacted temporary regulations to lift all seasons, sizes, and daily limits for all species, except trout. Because the original temporary regulations expired on January 1, 2025, but are still necessary during the ongoing construction period, this extension was necessary and appropriate for the management of fish at the lake.
The Board voted to approve the addition of six stream sections to the list of Class A wild trout streams and the addition of six new waters to the PFBC's list of wild trout streams. A list of waters proposed for wild trout stream and Class A wild trout stream designations can be found on the PFBC website. All of these additions will go into effect upon publication of a second notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Law Enforcement
Commissioners voted to give final approval to changes in regulations pertaining to fish cleaning stations (58 Pa. Code § 63.15a). Following comments from the public regarding the current requirement to leave a 2-inch by 2-inch piece of skin on processed fillets at noncommercial officially recognized fish cleaning stations, PFBC staff conducted a review that included internal discussions, a meeting in Erie in September 2024 with interested stakeholders to hear and discuss their feedback, and consideration at two Law Enforcement Committee meetings during 2024. As a result of this process, staff determined that resource conservation goals could be achieved by eliminating the 2-inch by 2-inch piece of skin requirement in favor of requiring that fillets remain fully intact. The amendments will go into effect upon publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Hatcheries
Commissioners voted to authorize a Cooperative Nursery Grant in the amount of $45,330 to the Morris Rod and Gun Club, Tioga County. The cooperative nursery raises approximately 20,000 trout annually that are stocked into public waterways in Lycoming and Tioga counties. Through this grant funding, the club plans to make major renovations to its facilities including the construction of a protective roofed structure to cover the raceway, water pumps, aerators, and other equipment used for raising and caring for the trout at the nursery.
Public Access and Real Estate
The Board voted to authorize the acquisition of a property easement along North Blacklick Creek in Barr Township, Cambria County. Utilizing funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP), and pending due diligence, the PFBC will pay $35,000 to the property owner to obtain public fishing access and riparian and fishery management rights on approximately 2,440 linear feet along both sides of North Blacklick Creek. From 2019-2023, the PFBC completed a number of stream habitat improvements throughout this section and the owner has kept it open to the public. This section of North Blacklick Creek provides exceptional fishing opportunities for stocked trout, and because of the unique level grounds at the parking and stream access sites, this easement will allow for additional fishing access for people with a range of physical abilities.
Commissioners voted to authorize the acquisition of a property easement along Pine Creek in Pike Township, Potter County. Utilizing funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP), and pending due diligence, the PFBC will pay $55,000 to the property owner to obtain public fishing and boating access and riparian and fishery management rights on approximately 3,980 linear feet on both sides of Pine Creek. Pine Creek supports Class A wild trout populations in its upper reaches, and then as the stream gets larger as it approaches the town of Galeton, it transitions from a coldwater to coolwater fishery and is stocked with trout by the PFBC. The proposed easement is located a short distance upstream of Galeton in Section 03, which is managed as a stocked trout water.
The Board voted to authorize the conveyance of a permanent property easement to Shrewsbury Township, Sullivan County. The Township is undertaking a construction project at a bridge located on State Route 42 within the PFBC’s Hunter’s Lake property, and, as a result, will require two permanent rights of way, one on each side of Rines Road, for a combined area of approximately .013 acres on the eastern side of State Road 42. The PFBC has been a partner in planning this project, and in return for this right of way, the bridge project will create better fish passage, match streambed slope, and will not destabilize the streambed at the structure outlet, resulting in an overall improvement in habitat. Any trees removed during construction will be replaced by the Township.
Commissioners voted to authorize the removal of timber from a section of the PFBC’s Oswayo State Fish Hatchery property in Oswayo Township, Potter County. A weather event in 2021 resulted in a blowdown of trees that remain on approximately 16 acres of the property. A consulting forester has identified and marked the timber for removal during 2025 and proceeds from the sale of the timber is expected to be approximately $53,000.
The Board authorized the acquisition of a flowage easement on a property located near Miller Pond, a PFBC lake located in Mount Pleasant Township, Wayne County. The lake was drained in 2015 for safety reasons and a dam rehabilitation project is expected to begin in 2025. Under the new design of the dam, additional flowage rights will not be required, but recent research and surveys revealed that a small area (.166 acres) was previously missed during the original acquisition of the Miller Pond property in 1917 and is not covered by the existing flowage rights. The current owner has agreed to donate the easement to the PFBC.
Special Announcements
The PFBC's remaining quarterly business meetings in 2025 are scheduled for the following dates:
- April 28-29, 2025
- July 28-29, 2025
- October 27-28, 2025
The April and July 2025 meetings will be held at the PFBC headquarters located at 1601 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110. The location of the October 2025 meeting will be announced at a later date.