PA Stream Access and PFBC Budget Woes

[Letort]

Interesting You Tuber based in PA discusses the loss of 25 miles of approved stocked trout water this year. Also discusses that 48% of PFBC budget is geared towards stocking.

Imagine if some of those dollars are diverted to creating permanent access to waters, that would be amazing. Other states have gone down this route (Wisconsin).

PA is so enmeshed in its put and take fishery that it will be very difficult to pivot.

 

[The Rodfather]

 

[tomgamber]

Sounds like if they didn't stock those waters, it would eliminate the need for access. That would save money. Taking stocking money and spending it on access doesn't save any money. It's just spending the same money you dont have on something else.

 

[Nymph-wristed]

Aww, I miss his YouTube channel blowing up Class A's all over the state 😉

 

[Mike]

Adult trout stocking program changes for 2026.

Trout Stocking Program Changes

Trout Stocking Program Changes

www.pa.gov

 

[tomgamber]

Adult trout stocking program changes for 2026.

Trout Stocking Program Changes

Trout Stocking Program Changes

www.pa.gov

Saw no removals

 

[CRB]

Pressed ignore....

 

[poopdeck]

I got 1:19 into before I was bored to death. I’m sure it’s a great video with a great message but man the delivery is awful

 

[tjsingle]

I'd like to see PFBC acquire more PFR's, no arguments there.

We've talked stocking reform to death on this forum, but generally speaking the most trash and poor angler behavior I've seen happens in April near opening day on stocked streams. I'd venture to say that posting of land has a lot to do with that. My frame of reference is what I see in SEPA, where stocked trout are the norm and a lot of people fishing for said trout will only do so in the spring. To be honest, I am not going to go out of my way to fish a stocked trout stream past June, there's not really a reason to do so when I can go fish for warmwater species in better habitat.

It's a little bit difficult for PFBC to just stop raising trout all of the sudden when a stream gets posted, it takes a year at minimum to get a legal sized trout from a hatchery. Those fish that may have been stocked in a now posted stretch will just get reallocated to another section or stream all together.

It would be nice to see some of the financial resources be reallocated to other projects, but any change will not be instant.

 

[troutbert]

The video is too long. Tighten things up.

You should be able to present these ideas in less than 10 minutes

 

[Roofin' Trouter]

Saw no removals

I noticed that,Tom. I remember there were removals and find it interesting that removals are not listed. I remember hearing on a local radio station that one in Elk and three or four in Jefferson County were removed due to posting. My memory is not perfect so maybe I'm wrong but Byrnes Run and Rattlesnake Run were two of them I do remember and can can see them on arcgis map marked as stocked but if you click on stocking info for 2026 no info appears. So I don't think I'm spreading a falsehood in saying that there were removals mostly due to posting.

 

[jifigz]

I didn't watch the video, but I know who runs the Finsylvania YouTube channel. I've read enough about that argument that will be made in that video on this website throughout the years.

Yes, PA should stock less, or maybe even not at all, and purchase land, access, easements, etc.

The real question is this: should I feel guilty for partaking in the pheasant stocking program? It's essentially the same thing. 🤷🏾‍♂️