Meeting Summary:
HARRISBURG, Pa. (January 30) – The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) began its quarterly business meeting with attention to ongoing winter fishing opportunities, and upcoming spring activities for anglers and boaters.
"While many anglers are anxiously awaiting warmer spring weather, others are taking full advantage of current wintry conditions,” said John Mahn, Jr., Board President and District 2 Commissioner. “Once again this year, we’ve experienced ideal ice fishing conditions on many lakes statewide. While those opportunities have kept many anglers busy, the frigid weather and ice also present challenges. I’d like to thank our Waterways Conservation Officers for their added attention to safety and remind anyone who ventures out onto the ice to have fun, but to protect themselves. Whether you’re ice fishing or you have the opportunity to go boating on open water this winter, always wear a life jacket.”
Since 2012, the PFBC has required anyone aboard a boat less than 16 feet, including all kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards, to wear a life jacket from November 1 through April 30. Over the first decade of this regulation, the number of boating accidents in Pennsylvania during the cold weather months has remained about the same, but fatalities have been reduced by approximately 50%.
Executive Director’s Report
During his report to the Board, Executive Director Tim Schaeffer noted that the PFBC is already preparing for pre-season trout stocking operations in anticipation of the statewide Mentored Youth Trout Fishing Day on Saturday, March 28, 2026, and the statewide Opening Day of Trout Season on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
Schaeffer noted that the 2026 Adult Trout Stocking Schedule was published on the PFBC website (Fishandboat.com) on January 29 and reminded anglers to revisit the stocking schedule frequently to remain aware of changes that may occur due to inclement weather and hatchery logistics. The PFBC will stock approximately 3.2 million adult trout throughout the 2026 season, which is consistent with the number of fish stocked over the past decade. In addition to trout raised at state fish hatcheries, PFBC cooperative nurseries operated by sportsmen's clubs and other groups across the state will add another 1.1 million trout to waters open to public angling throughout the year.
Fishing licenses and permits may be purchased through the
HuntFish.pa.gov online portal on the PFBC website (Fishandboat.com), or by visiting nearly 700 retail license issuing agents.
Executive and Administrative
The Board voted to approve the publication of proposed rulemaking pertaining to Administrative Provisions (
58 Pa. Code Chapter 51). In 2025, the Pennsylvania Fiscal Code was amended to permit the PFBC to use Fish Fund moneys for expenditures related to boats and boating that also benefit fish and fishing, and Boat Fund moneys for expenditures related to fish and fishing that also benefit boats and boating. Previously, no crossover of funds was permitted, leading to inefficiency and higher costs for anglers and boaters. Under this proposal, 58 Pa. Code Chapter 51 would be amended to memorialize the fund flexibility created by the amendment to the Fiscal Code. If adopted on final rulemaking, this amendment will go into effect upon publication of a second notice in the
Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Fisheries
Commissioners voted to remove Blue Hole Creek, Section 02, Somerset County, from the Stocked Trout Waters (STW) Open to Year-round Fishing program (
58 Pa. Code § 65.19). In 2025, the PFBC was notified by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) of results from its physicochemical and macroinvertebrate community survey that documented high concentrations of cadmium and lead in a portion of Blue Hole Creek. While these results do not necessitate the DEP to issue a consumption advisory because it does not have a standard for such advisories, trout stocking will be discontinued on Section 02 due to potential health safety concerns. Under this change, Section 02 will revert to Commonwealth Inland Waters angling regulations (
58 Pa. Code § 61.1) upon publication of a second notice in the
Pennsylvania Bulletin.
The Board voted to approve the addition of three new waters to the PFBC's list of Class A wild trout streams, two waters to the PFBC’s list of wild trout streams, and the revision of the section limits of one water currently listed. A list of waters proposed waters for
Class A wild trout and
wild trout stream designation can be found in the
Pennsylvania Bulletin. All of these additions and revisions will go into effect upon publication of a second notice in the
Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Real Estate and Property Services
Commissioners voted to give final approval to regulations pertaining to Accesses and Marinas. Under this change, the section of
58 Pa. Code § 53.12a, which references a hunting restriction for North East Marina, Erie County, will be removed. This change is necessary because the PFBC no longer owns the marina property, and the language is irrelevant. This amendment will go into effect upon publication of a second notice in the
Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Temporary Changes to Fishing Regulations
Through executive action, temporary changes to fishing regulations were recently enacted or extended on several lakes in anticipation of upcoming dam rehabilitation projects. The removal of seasons, sizes, and creel limits applies to Fords Lake, Lackawanna County; Harris Pond, Luzerne County; Rose Valley Lake, Lycoming County; and Tobyhanna Lake, Monroe County. These temporary modifications were announced in the
Pennsylvania Bulletinand will remain in effect until January 1, 2027, unless the PFBC shall by then, by appropriate action, have approved the designation or redesignation of waters or shall have approved the revision of the regulation in question.
Notice of Exemptions for Stocking of Class A Wild Trout Streams
Through executive action, under the authority of
58 Pa. Code § 57.8a (relating to Class A wild trout streams), exemptions were recently granted to allow for the stocking of trout on Class A wild trout streams that meet the stocking criteria set forth in the current edition of the
Operational Guidelines for the Management of Trout Fisheries in Pennsylvania Waters. Through this action, there are a total of 13 stocking exemptions being granted on 12 Class A wild trout stream sections: eight renewals and five new exemptions. All are valid for five years. The exemptions include:
Renewal Exemptions:
Yellow Creek, Section 02, Bedford County: 2021 exemption criterion: pre-existing fishing derbies and exclusive use fishing areas.
Unnamed tributary to Tulpehocken Creek (Womelsdorf), Section 02, Berks County: 2021 exemption criterion: pre-existing fishing derbies and exclusive use fishing areas.
Wyomissing Creek, Section 03, Berks County: 2021 exemption criterion: preexisting fishing derbies and exclusive use fishing areas.
Beaver Run, Section 01, Clearfield County: 2021 exemption criterion: pre-existing fishing derbies and exclusive use fishing areas.
Letort Spring Run, Section 03, Cumberland County: 2021 exemption criterion: preexisting fishing derbies and exclusive use fishing areas.
Warriors Mark Run, Section 01, Huntingdon County: 2021 exemption criteria: preexisting private stockings on private property closed to public angling; stream section previously received a stocking exemption.
Marvin Creek, Section 01, McKean County: 2021 exemption criterion: pre-existing fishing derbies and exclusive use fishing areas.
New Exemptions:
Clover Creek, Section 03, Blair County: Criterion: pre-existing private stockings on private property closed to public angling.
Penns Creek, Section 01, Centre County: Criterion: pre-existing private stockings on private property closed to public angling.
Dotters Creek, Section 02, Monroe County: Criterion: pre-existing private stockings on private property closed to public angling (private club).
Dotters Creek, Section 02, Monroe County: Criterion: pre-existing private stockings on private property closed to public angling (private landowner).
Monocacy Creek, Section 02, Northampton County: Criterion: previously received a Special Activities Permit.
Special Announcements
The PFBC's remaining quarterly business meetings in 2026 are scheduled for the following dates:
· April 27, 2026
· July 27, 2026
· October 26, 2026
The April and July 2026 meetings will be held at the PFBC headquarters located at 1601 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110. The location of the October 2026 meeting will be announced at a later date.
