HARRISBURG, Pa (July 28) – The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) began its quarterly business meeting today by encouraging anglers and boaters to continue to enjoy summer fishing and boating adventures across the Commonwealth while staying safe and being aware of weather conditions.
"There is still plenty of summer left to enjoy the water for fishing, boating, or to just have fun and cool off from the heat," said PFBC President Daniel Pastore. "Because many rivers and streams have been running high due to rainy conditions during the early summer, even more people will be flocking to our waterways every chance they get as more favorable conditions present themselves. Remember, there is more than enough room for everyone on the water, so please continue to be courteous to others, be mindful of our aquatic resources, and if you’re boating, always wear your life jacket.”
In his report to the Board, Executive Director Tim Schaeffer noted that throughout the recent Independence Day holiday weekend, 70 Waterways Conservation Officers (WCOs) and 26 deputy WCOs participated in Operation Dry Water. The special operation conducted from July 4-6, 2025, was held in partnership with the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, U.S. Coast Guard, and other conservation law enforcement agencies across the country to prevent boating incidents and fatalities through education and enhanced Boating Under the Influence (BUI) enforcement. This special operation resulted in 9 BUI arrests across the Commonwealth, including the arrest of one boat operator who had a Blood Alcohol Concentration of .198 percent, which is nearly two-and-a-half times the legal limit for impairment. In addition to BUI violations, 284 general boating citations and 931 warnings were issued.
To date, there have been six recreational boating fatalities in Pennsylvania in 2025. For more information on boating safety including life jacket wear, visit the PFBC website (Fishandboat.com).
Schaeffer also congratulated 19 members of the 26th Class of WCOs, who graduated on July 18 during a ceremony at the State Capitol in Harrisburg. The new WCOs have since reported for full-time duty in their new districts across the Commonwealth.
Fisheries
After tabling the issue at the April 2025 meeting pending further discussion, Commissioners voted to give final approval to changes in regulations 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 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 changes, the Executive Director will have the authority to approve stocking exemptions on Class A streams that meet the criteria without Board approval. Approval from the Board will only be required when an entity requests stocking on a Class A stream that does not meet the criteria. When the Executive Director grants an exemption to stock a Class A wild trout stream section, the Executive Director or designee will notify Commissioners of the action at the next regular meeting of the Board. This amendment will go into effect upon a second notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
The Board voted to approve the publication of a notice of proposed rulemaking pertaining to fishing regulations of Freeman Run, Section 04, Potter County. Under this proposal, Section 04 would be managed under a Miscellaneous Special Regulation that would manage Brown Trout and Brook Trout with catch-and-release regulations and maintain Commonwealth Inland Waters regulations for all other species with all tackle types permitted. Should this Miscellaneous Special Regulation be adopted on final rulemaking, staff will recommend at a future meeting that the Board consider an exemption to allow the stocking of Rainbow Trout. Under the changes outlined in this proposal, Freeman Run, Section 04, provides a unique opportunity for PFBC staff to evaluate a stream section that was stocked previously, designated as a Class A wild trout stream section and removed from the stocking program, and then added back to the program and managed with special regulations. If adopted on final rulemaking at a future meeting, this amendment will go into effect on January 1, 2026.
Commissioners voted to approve the publication of a notice of proposed rulemaking pertaining to Donegal Lake, a PFBC lake located in Donegal Township, Westmoreland County. Under this change, the 92-acre impoundment will be removed from management under a Miscellaneous Special Regulation which allowed for the harvest of trout under Commonwealth Inland Waters regulations but no harvest of other species. Donegal Lake was completely dewatered in spring 2016 to upgrade the dam and spillway structures per Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection dam safety standards. Following the completion of these repairs and modifications, refill occurred in 2020, and the PFBC stocked the lake from 2020 through 2025 with select fish species to establish a high-quality, warm-water and cool-water fishery. The black bass and panfish populations were evaluated during 2025 to monitor progress towards the development of the warm-water and cool-water fishery. Sportfish abundance and population size structure have improved to levels where populations can now sustain harvest. As such, it is recommended that Donegal Lake be removed from Miscellaneous Special Regulations, allowing staff to consider this reservoir for management with Big Bass (58 Pa. Code § 65.9) and Panfish Enhancement (58 Pa. Code § 65.11) special regulations. If adopted on final rulemaking at a future meeting, this designation will go into effect on January 1, 2026.
The Board voted to approve a change in fishing regulations at Leaser Lake, a PFBC lake located in Lynn Township, Lehigh County. Under this change, the 117-acre impoundment will be added to the Panfish Enhancement (58 Pa. Code § 65.11) program for sunfish. Leaser Lake was completely dewatered in 2009 to complete dam and spillway repairs and modifications per Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection dam safety standards. Following repairs, refill occurred in 2013, and the PFBC began a multi-year restocking program with select fish species to establish a high-quality, warm-water and cool-water fishery. In 2022, the lake was added to the Big Bass and Panfish Enhancement programs for crappies and Yellow Perch. Further panfish evaluations conducted in 2024 documented a robust Bluegill population, with the majority of the fish captured being greater than seven inches in total length. Given the shift in Bluegill size structure and the propensity of anglers to harvest Bluegills, a more restrictive regulation is needed to conserve and enhance the fishery. This designation will go into effect on January 1, 2026.
Commissioners voted to approve a change in fishing regulations at Carsonia Lake (also known as Crystal Lake), an impoundment owned by the Mount Penn Borough Municipal Authority (MPBMA) in Lower Alsace Township, Berks County. Under this change, the seven-acre impoundment will be removed from the Big Bass program (58 Pa. Code § 65.9) to allow for management under Commonwealth Inland Regulations (58 Pa. Code § 61.1). Carsonia Lake was completely dewatered in spring 2025 to allow the MPBMA to complete dredging operations. The MPBMA, in consultation with the PFBC, requested the lake be managed under Commonwealth Inland Waters regulations. This designation will go into effect on January 1, 2026.
The Board voted to approve the addition of 28 new waters to the PFBC's list of Class A wild trout streams, 72 waters to the PFBC’s list of wild trout streams, and the revision of the section limits of eight currently listed waters. A list of proposed waters for Class A wild trout and wild trout stream designation can be found in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. These additions and revisions will go into effect upon publication of a second notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Law Enforcement
The Board voted to give final approval to a change to special regulations applicable to Lake Erie tributary streams. Under this change, the permitted hours for angler access and fishing on Walnut Creek from Route 5 downstream to the Manchester Road Bridge will be limited to one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Walnut Creek from Manchester Road Bridge downstream to Lake Erie and Elk Creek north of Route 5 will maintain no time restrictions for fishing. This amendment will go into effect upon publication of a second notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Commissioners voted to give final approval to a regulation change related to insurance options for charter boat operators. Currently, charter boat operators and fishing guides in Pennsylvania are required to possess and maintain general liability insurance for all periods during which they are operating a charter boat or fishing guide operation on the waters of the Commonwealth. However, many insurance carriers will only issue protection and indemnity (P&I) insurance, and not general liability insurance, to businesses that provide services on the water. Under this change, the regulation (58 Pa. Code § 51.125) will be amended to include P&I insurance as an acceptable form of insurance. This amendment will go into effect upon publication of a second notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Public Access and Real Estate
Commissioners voted to authorize the sale of a parcel of land known as Middle Creek Lake in Washington, Penn, and Union Townships, Synder County, to the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC). The approximately 143-acre property previously contained Middle Creek Lake which provided boating access before the removal of Musser Dam in 1992. While Middle Creek continues to run through the property and provides fishing opportunities, the property no longer serves the needs of the PFBC. The PGC, which owns adjacent property, has indicated that it would be willing and able to manage game habitat on the property. Under this agreement, the PGC would purchase the property for fair market value of $275,000 and public fishing access along Middle Creek will be maintained.
The Board voted to authorize the granting of a conservation easement on PFBC-owned property along Spring Creek in Benner Township, Centre County, to the Spring Benner Walker Joint Authority (SBWJA). Under the proposed agreement, the SBWJA will obtain the easement on approximately .75 acres of property which is currently used as a riparian buffer, in exchange for the design and permitting of a pump station and accompanying effluent lines from the PFBC’s Bellefonte State Fish Hatchery administration building to the municipal sewage line. SBWJA is installing a sewage project at another location in Centre County, and per Department of Environmental Protection rules, is required to obtain a conservation easement in the nearby area as part of its permitting process. The proposed agreement will be beneficial to both parties and will continue the PFBC’s goals of protecting the riparian buffer in perpetuity and will not alter the Commission’s use of the property.
The Board voted to consent to the acquisition of a property easement in Girard Township, Erie County. Under the proposed agreement, the PFBC will pay $170,000 to MJS Improvements for approximately 7.52 acres, which includes 410 feet of stream footage along one side of Elk Creek, and 125 feet along the other side. The PFBC owns fishing easements along the creek in this area, although it does not have sufficient access for parking. The PFBC plans to remove all structures on the parcel and intends to develop additional parking on the site. Public access to Elk Creek will be significantly increased with the addition of this parcel, as anglers will be better able to access the easement corridor.
Boating
The Board voted to give final approval to changes pertaining to the use of electric boat motors on PFBC and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) owned or controlled waterways. Under this change, language within 58 Pa. Code § 107.2 will be amended to clarify that the use of electric motors must comply with horsepower limitations or equivalent kilowatt ratings set forth in 58 Pa. Code § 111 and clarify that boats are limited to slow, no-wake speed if these waters are restricted to electric motors only. These amendments will go into effect upon publication of a second notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Commissioners voted to approve the publication of a notice of proposed rulemaking pertaining to boating regulations at Lake Wilhelm, Mercer County. Under this proposal, PFBC regulations (58 Pa. Code § 111.43 Mercer County) would be amended to align with DCNR regulations on a 1,440-acre portion of the lake southeast of Interstate 79 within Maurice K. Goddard State Park. Currently on this section of the lake, DCNR allows the operation of boats powered by internal combustion motors and prohibits the use of motors in excess of 20 horsepower. This change would not apply to the 240-acre section of Lake Wilhelm northwest of Interstate 79, which is owned by the Pennsylvania Game Commission where all boats are limited to electric motors only and slow, no-wake speeds. If adopted on final rulemaking at a future meeting, the amendment would go into effect upon publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Executive and Administrative
The Board voted to approve a Threatened and Endangered Species Grant to the Crawford County Conservation District (CCCD). The PFBC was awarded $134,900 from the United States Department of Interior’s 2023 Inflation Reduction Act Recovery Implementation Grant program to fund a stream restoration project to benefit federally protected freshwater mussel species in French Creek, Crawford County. The grant, not to exceed $134,900, will be used by the CCCD to restore approximately 350 feet of eroding streambank which impacts instream habitat in a portion of French Creek known to support endangered, threatened, candidate, and rare freshwater mussel species. Stream restoration will include installation of instream habitat structures to stabilize the eroding streambank, removal of a gravel bar to reestablish a natural channel cross section, and native vegetation will be planted within the riparian buffer zone to promote streambank stability.
Board Elects New Officers
The Board elected John Mahn, Jr., of Charleroi, Washington County, as President. Mahn, who serves as District 2 Commissioner and is the outgoing Vice President, replaces Daniel Pastore of Fairview, Erie County, as President.
"I look forward to working with PFBC staff and my fellow Commissioners in the coming year,” said Mahn in accepting his appointment. “I am humbled by their faith in me and hope I measure up to the leadership Dan and the other past presidents have shown. In this new role, my goals include expanding fishing opportunities for urban anglers, reducing boating fatalities, and moving the agency’s mission forward to the best of my abilities over the next year.”
Donald K. Anderson was elected as Vice President. Anderson, who serves as District 4 Commissioner, replaces Mahn as Vice President. Both Mahn and Anderson will serve one-year terms through July 2026. Daniel Pastore will remain on the Board and continue to serve as District 1 Commissioner.
Special Announcements
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission would like to offer its condolences to the family and friends of Boating Advisory Board (BAB) Member William “Cary” Allen, who passed away unexpectedly on July 19, 2025. Allen, of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, was appointed to the BAB in February 2025 and was a valued member of the Board and stern advocate for boaters in southwestern Pennsylvania.
“I was shocked and saddened to hear of Cary’s passing,” said John Mahn, Jr., PFBC Board President and District 2 Commissioner. “Cary was an enthusiastic member of the Boating Advisory Board who had only just begun to contribute his knowledge and expertise, and we will miss him.”
The PFBC's remaining quarterly business meeting in 2025 is scheduled for the following date at the PFBC headquarters located at 1601 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110:
- October 27-28, 2025
The meeting time will be announced at a later date.
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