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.