Stocking Schedule Question -- Upper Limit & Lower Limit??

[RyanAdamsFan]

Hello,

Can someone help me with understanding the upper limit and lower limit sections outlined in the stocking schedule on the PA Fish/Boat site? Is that outline the sections where they stock the creeks/streams etc? They give you the hotlinks for google maps which take you to points on the stream etc.

Any insight on those identifiers would be of great help!

Many thanks!

-PD

 

[Maurice]

The upper and lower limits indicated as the Approved Trout Water (ATW) are used by the PF&BC to identify the boundaries where they may stock fish and whereby fishing is prohibited from March 1 through Opening Day. Fishing is also prohibited in the downstream areas of ATWs during the closed season.

However, access may be fragmented within these limits and as well stocking may only occur in sections within the limits.

Look for B&W "Fishing Permitted" or other PF&BC Signs to give you the general vacinity of where the stockings occur.

Hope this helps

 

[RyanAdamsFan]

This is was very helpful! Thanks Maurice!

 

[bowhunter0131]

just rember that includes any tribs that run in bettween the atw and down stream.

 

[Maurice]

bowhunter0131 wrote:
just rember that includes any tribs that run in bettween the atw and down stream.

What is the that you refer to? Streams closed to fishing? If so I don't agree.....wild trout streams or rather non-ATWs are NOT closed to fishing during the March 1-opeing day closure even if they run into an ATW.

Here is ATW page from the regulation booklet.


Trout Fishing Regulations
APPROVED TROUT WATERS

Many streams, lakes, ponds and reservoirs are officially classified as “approved trout waters” (GIS data at PASDA). This means that these waters contain significant portions that are open to public fishing and are stocked with trout. These waters are open to trout harvest during the “extended season” (see Commonwealth Inland Waters). Unlisted tributary streams (those not included in this list of “approved trout waters”) are not open to harvest of trout during the “extended season.” Only approved trout waters and all waters downstream of approved trout waters are open during this period. Spearing fish is not permitted in any of these waters at any time of the year.
These waters are closed to all fishing (including taking of minnows) from March 1 to 8 a.m. on the opening day of the trout season. Some of these waters have been included in the Early Season Trout-Stocked Waters Program and are open from March 1 through March 31. A person shall be deemed to be fishing if he or she has in possession any fishing line, rod or other device that can be used for fishing while on or in any water or on the banks within 25 feet of any water where fishing is prohibited.

Check with the nearest Fish & Boat Commission office if there is any question about whether or not a water area is “approved.”


Then you can look here for Q&A on fishing the closed season.

http://www.fishandboat.com/images/pages/qa/trout/year_round.htm

 

[Fishidiot]

RAFan,
You are correct that the upper and lower limits refer to the "upper" (meaning upstream) and lower (downstream) limit between which trout are stocked. These areas are closed to any fishing from March 1st until opening day of trout season. This is referred to as the "closed season." To make things more confusing, some stocked streams do not have a published upper or lower limit. If this is the case, I would avoid that entire stream during the closed season.

 

[JackM]

Do not confuse limits given for where stocking occurs with the lower and upper boundaries of the ATW. If the entire stream is ATW, it doesn't matter if they only stock up to the bridge (for instance), it is still closed from March 1 until opening day.

As an example, below is what appears in the stocking lists for Indian Creek, Westmoreland County. As you can see, they stock in two sections. One section is the DHALO, the other is a section immediately downstream of the DHALO. Above the DHALO and below Champion Creek, the stream is still an ATW from County line to its mouth with the Youghiogheny River, even though stocking does not occur in those areas not listed:

 

[albatross]

Jack makes a good point. Indian Creek is a wild trout stream in the headwaters, but the regulations preclude fishing it from March 1 to opening day. However you may fish to your hearts content on its tributaries (catch and release) during this time since the tribs are not approved trout waters (exceptions: Back Creek and Mill Run which are stocked ATWs).