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Chris_morris

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Mar 4, 2013
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Hello everyone! So I've been fly fishing for a little over a year now I got into it after I came home from Afghanistan and was looking for a outlet. I moved in June to a area just north of Williamsport from Colorado. I have so many questions. I was told there is a fishing season here is this true? In Colorado you can fish all year. Are there any groups of guys that get together and fish all the time? I'd like to get out once a week but I'm a little intimidated venturing out by myself. Thanks guys I really look forward to being part of this community.
 
Welcome and thanks for your service!

Yes, you can fish year round in PA with the exception of "Approved Trout Waters" from March 1 thru opening day of trout which up in your area I believe is the second Saturday in April. Google PA Fish Commision and check out their site. Great info.

Events. You are in luck, if don't mind driving to Allentown, there is a PAFF Free Event for what we call "Newbies" on Saturday, March 16th but all are invited. Look in the events section for more info.

Good luck you live in a good area for trout fishing.
 
Chris_morris wrote:
Hello everyone! So I've been fly fishing for a little over a year now I got into it after I came home from Afghanistan and was looking for a outlet. I moved in June to a area just north of Williamsport from Colorado. I have so many questions. I was told there is a fishing season here is this true? In Colorado you can fish all year. Are there any groups of guys that get together and fish all the time? I'd like to get out once a week but I'm a little intimidated venturing out by myself. Thanks guys I really look forward to being part of this community.

Hello Chris and Welcome to the Jungle.

You've encountered and joined a great on-line community of anglers.

Yes, there are specific seasons for different species of fish in Pennsylvania. There are also subsets of regulations for each species, so I advise you to study the booklet that you receive when you purchase your Pennsylvania fishing license.

You may not need the instruction, but if you can make the drive to the Newbie Jam, http://www.paflyfish.com/forums/forum-announcements/fly-fishing-events-and-meet-ups/2013-paff-instructional-jamboree--aka-newbie-jam----march-16th/11,28687.html , you'll have an opportunity to meet and in the afternoon, fish with a great bunch of people from all over the state. (Grant you, there is a large contingent from southeast PA, but don't hold that against them ;-) )

I'm over in NEPA, but you have some great fishing close to you and a few forum members over your way.

Good Luck and welcome!

Dave
 
Thanks fox ill have to look in to the approved trout waters more I have a really nice creek about 2 mins walking from my house and I'd love to bring something to net in it!
 
I just sent you a PM
 
Thanks I just got it I'm pretty sure I replied back lol still trying to figure the site out lol
 
Thanks Dave I am going to try and make it to the jam as long as I can get off work
 
You will not regret it. It is a day of learning, meeting people and just plain fun. These guys are excellent fishermen but they are even better people!

Like I told you in the PM, I can't be there due to work travel but I sure hope to fish with you someday soon. Make sure to bring your gear on the 16th, there is an afternoon session on the water.
 
Welcome aboard,thanks for your service. GG
 
Welcome to the forum. The PA Fish and Boat web site can be a headache to navigate, so don't hesitate to ask questions on the forum.

Chris_morris wrote:
Thanks Dave I am going to try and make it to the jam as long as I can get off work

Last year there was a follow-up meeting after the newbie jam. There may be another one this year if you miss the one on the 16th.
 
RC, if you are referring to the Fish & Chips, then yes, we will be doing that again in July or August. No date has been set as of this time but everyone agreed it should be an annual event.
 
I should have found this forum sooner I missed a whole winter of fishing.
 
But's there's always next winter!!!!!!!!!! :cool: Of course before that you get a great spring, summer and fall.
 
I'm pretty excited to fish some free stone and limestone waters we didn't have any of that in colorado
 
Welcome!

Regarding the classifications, check out the PA fish and boat commission website. Takes a little practice to navigate. And when you have questions feel free to ask. But you can find lists and maps for about anything. I'm kinda focusing on trout in flowing waters with the following, but we have plenty of warmwater and stillwater fisheries as well.

Streams with wild trout reproduction:
List: http://fishandboat.com/trout_repro.htm

Class A streams (a subset of the former, which have above a certain biomass of wild trout):
List: http://fishandboat.com/classa.pdf

Approved Trout Waters (stocked with trout, stocking schedules are also available):
http://fishandboat.com/fishpub/summary/troutwaters.html

Special regulation waters (can be stocked or wild fish, but have different harvest restrictions, seasons, and/or tackle requirements compared to the general regulations). The following is a map split up by the type of special reg, and they are clickable to see the regulation:

http://fishandboat.com/specreg.htm

And here's another map, where you can select by special reg (in general), Approved trout waters, or class A streams.

http://fishandboat.com/county.htm

One more map. IMO, this is the most useful. Under layers/wildlife, you can put the natural reproduction list, or the class A list on here.

http://maps.psiee.psu.edu/paatlas/

Here are the general regulations. For trout, these apply to Approved Trout Waters (stocked):

http://fishandboat.com/fishpub/summary/inland.html

Approved trout waters - regional opening day through Sept. 2 - creel limit of 5. Sept 3 through Feb. 28 - limit 3. March - closed.

Wild trout streams not listed as ATW's: Regional Opening day through Sept. 2 - creel limit of 5. Sept. 2 for the rest of the year - no harvest allowed. but no closed season.

Special regs - follow special reg. Most are open year round but tackle restrictions, creel limits, size limits, etc. may vary.

Also, the lake Erie drainage, with a lake run steelhead fishery, has different seasons.
 
Overall, compared to Colorado, you will find that MOST of our wild trout streams tend to be very small. Bigger rivers get a little on the warm side and get stocked in the spring, and are generally smallmouth bass in the summer.

We do, however, have a ridiculous amount of those smaller waters. Even if it's mostly small streams, the miles of water available in PA is astounding.

And there are exceptions to those rules. Limestoners and tailwaters, in particular, can be larger and still have wild trout.
 
pcray1231 wrote:
Welcome!

Regarding the classifications, check out the PA fish and boat commission website. Takes a little practice to navigate. And when you have questions feel free to ask. But you can find lists and maps for about anything. I'm kinda focusing on trout in flowing waters with the following, but we have plenty of warmwater and stillwater fisheries as well.

Streams with wild trout reproduction:
List: http://fishandboat.com/trout_repro.htm

Class A streams (a subset of the former, which have above a certain biomass of wild trout):
List: http://fishandboat.com/classa.pdf

Approved Trout Waters (stocked with trout, stocking schedules are also available):
http://fishandboat.com/fishpub/summary/troutwaters.html

Special regulation waters (can be stocked or wild fish, but have different harvest restrictions, seasons, and/or tackle requirements compared to the general regulations). The following is a map split up by the type of special reg, and they are clickable to see the regulation:

http://fishandboat.com/specreg.htm

And here's another map, where you can select by special reg (in general), Approved trout waters, or class A streams.

http://fishandboat.com/county.htm

One more map. IMO, this is the most useful. Under layers/wildlife, you can put the natural reproduction list, or the class A list on here.

http://maps.psiee.psu.edu/paatlas/

Here are the general regulations. For trout, these apply to Approved Trout Waters (stocked):

http://fishandboat.com/fishpub/summary/inland.html

Approved trout waters - regional opening day through Sept. 2 - creel limit of 5. Sept 3 through Feb. 28 - limit 3. March - closed.

Wild trout streams not listed as ATW's: Regional Opening day through Sept. 2 - creel limit of 5. Sept. 2 for the rest of the year - no harvest allowed. but no closed season.

Special regs - follow special reg. Most are open year round but tackle restrictions, creel limits, size limits, etc. may vary.

Also, the lake Erie drainage, with a lake run steelhead fishery, has different seasons.

pcray will be a presenter at the "newbie" event in March, so imagine what you can get picking his brain in person if you get this online!

By the way, you have been pcray'd on your first day!
 
I'm overwhelmed by all the responses. Thank you all for making me feel so welcome into this community.
 
Chris,

Great to have you on board. Thank you for your service to our country. Great bunch of folks on this site with a lot of experience and a wealth of information. Have fun with it!

dc
 
fox wrote:

RC, if you are referring to the Fish & Chips, then yes, we will be doing that again in July or August. No date has been set as of this time but everyone agreed it should be an annual event.

Fox .. you guys thinking of doing that 'Newbie Brush up' meetup? If I recall it went down last April or May abt 5 weeks after the Instructional Jam
 
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