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HARRISBURG, Pa. (Jan. 23) – The Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) announced at its quarterly business meeting today that it has scheduled a series of Sportsmen’s Forums across the state to solicit opinions from anglers and boaters on how the agency can best conserve aquatic resources while creating more opportunities for fishing and boating recreation.
The forums will feature an overview of the agency’s existing programs and a discussion of its current financial state of affairs. A question and answer period will follow.
“Declining fishing license sales and boat registration fees coupled with increasing costs make it necessary to take a fresh look at redesigning the agency’s strategic plan,” said Executive Director John Arway. “The information learned will be used to help form a new agency strategic plan to meet the expectations of anglers and boaters.”
The forums are titled “A Sportsmen’s Forum – How Resource First and Anglers and Boaters Can Help Shape the Future of Fishing and Boating in Pennsylvania” and will be held at the following locations.
· Feb. 3 (10 a.m.) - Great American Outdoor Show, Farm Show Complex, Harrisburg (Seminar Room 1)
· New Time - Feb. 17 (2:30 p.m.) - Allegheny Outdoor, Sport & Travel Show, Monroeville Convention Center, Monroeville (Stage 2)
· Feb. 24 (4 p.m.) - Fly-Fishing & Wing Shooting Expo, Split Rock Resort, Lake Harmony (Striped Bass Room)
· New Time - March 3 (1 p.m.) - Erie Sport & Travel Expo, Bayfront Convention Center, Erie (Room 140 ABC)
· March 10 (2 p.m.) - Greater Philadelphia Boat Show, Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, Oaks
· March 17 (10 a.m.) - Lycoming College, Williamsport (Heim Building, Room G-11)
In official business today, the Board of Commissioners agreed to purchase for $50,000 an easement of 3,960 linear feet along Conneaut Creek in Spring Township, Crawford County. The area is located off Fisher and South Creek roads, just north of Conneautville, which is about 25 miles southwest of Erie. The acquisition will add about three-quarters of a mile of public access along the creek.
“The steelhead fishery in Lake Erie and its tributaries is a very popular destination for anglers and generates tremendous economic benefits to the region,” said Director Arway. “While this part of Conneaut Creek is about 15 miles from the lake, anglers may be surprised to learn that steelhead will migrate this far to spawn. This section is also stocked with trout each year, so we’re very excited to be able to offer additional public access.”
The PFBC stocks Section 2 of Conneaut Creek with brown trout each year.
The section is about 10 miles long and runs from Pennside Road near State Game Lands Number 101 south of Conneautville to SR 4004/Dicksonburg Road. (See map.)
The section is about 10 miles long and runs from Pennside Road near State Game Lands Number 101 south of Conneautville to SR 4004/Dicksonburg Road. (See map.)
To date, the PFBC has acquired more than 22.5 miles of public fishing access in the Erie watershed through easements and land purchases under the Erie Access Improvement Program. The program uses proceeds from the special Lake Erie permits to improve access and habitat.
In other action today, the Board:
· Authorized the acquisition of flowage easements on approximately seven properties bordering Tamarack Lake in Crawford County. The proposed dam rehabilitation project will increase the lake’s maximum water elevation by approximately 0.8 feet. The easements allow for the properties to be flooded during storm events without any liability to the PFBC.
· Authorized the acquisition of flowage easements on approximately 15 properties bordering Minsi Lake in Northampton County. The proposed dam rehabilitation project will increase the lake’s maximum water elevation by approximately 2.3 feet. The easements allow for the properties to be flooded during storm events without any liability to the PFBC.
· Approved a notice of proposed rulemaking to increase the maximum horsepower for motorboats on Armstrong County’s Keystone Lake from 10 to 20 HP. If adopted on final rulemaking, the change will go into effect upon publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
· Approved a notice of proposed rulemaking that would limit all of Redbank Creek in Clarion County to a slow, no-wake speed, from the headwaters to the confluence with the Allegheny River. In recent years, the amount of boating traffic entering the creek from Pool 9 on the Allegheny River has substantially increased, creating a safety hazard. As a result, several landowners petitioned the PFBC for the slow, no-wake zone. If adopted on final rulemaking, the change will go into effect upon publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
· Approved removing Section 4 of the Shenango River in Mercer County from the Stocked Trout Waters Open to Year-Round Fishing Program. In August 2017, the state Department of Environmental Protection issued a do-not-eat consumption advisory for all fish residing in the Shenango River downriver from Shenango Dam. The PFBC subsequently halted all future fish stocking, including hatchery trout, until further notice. However, the naturally reproducing warm-water fisheries in this section continue to provide recreational angling opportunities. Removing the designation allows anglers to fish this section without having to possess a trout stamp. The change will go into effect upon publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
· Approved adding Section 3 of the Shenango River in Mercer County to the Stocked Trout Waters Open to Year-Round Fishing Program. This section was added to the adult stocking program in 2017 to mitigate lost angling opportunities on Section 4 of the river. The change allows anglers to fish for trout on a catch and release basis between March 1 and the opening day of trout season and to fish for warm-water species during the same period. A trout stamp will now be needed to fish in Section 3. The change will go into effect upon publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
· Approved eliminating the leader length requirement in catch-and-release fly-fishing only areas. Currently, anglers fishing in these areas cannot use a leader that exceeds 18 feet in length. The amendment adopted today allows anglers to use leaders of any length. The amendment will go into effect upon publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
· Added 99 waters to the list of wild trout streams and revised the section limits of two waters. The list can be found on the PFBC website.
· Added 34 stream sections to the list of Class A wild trout streams. The list can be found on the PFBC website.
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Media Contact: Eric Levis, Press Secretary
717.705.7806 or elevis@pa.gov