Purists run for your safe space--

jeffroey said:
🤣 My safe space now is a headwater somewhere in SGL 057 but growing up in NEPA (Pittston) during my formative trout fishing years, it was all about the stocking schedule, an ultra light spinning rod, and something with a treble hook.

I'm not sorry and I'm not ashamed to admit that.
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Fished it. 😉
 
wildtrout2 said:
What haven't you fished? 🤣
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List ballooned back up to 4. Didn’t get er’ done in 2025, and some recent info and something I overlooked before had me add 3 since the new year. It’s a moving target. I do wanna see if I can get it (temporarily) to zero.

Kids. I fish a lot less than 3 years ago. Got some old haunts to frequent once in a while too. Many the same as you I know.

Edit: Remember my list isn’t really scientific necessarily. It is in that in takes into account what I like in a stream, but not necessarily what everyone would. If I don’t wanna fish it, I don’t. Two 1.5ish sq mile Lehigh gorge tribs come to mind. If they were a little bigger, or a little easier to get to, I’d probably fish them. I’m certain they’re good. Dinky little limestoners also come to mind generally, but I may consider warming to it. I fear the urge to explore won’t stop when the list runs out. Still testing.
 
troutbert said:
Fishing for wild trout doesn't benefit wild trout.
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I 100% disagree. People who truly care about wild trout, who are mostly those who fish for them, are the people who advocate for their protection. We are the whistleblowers. We are the ones who cause a stink to help protect the resource. We are the ones in the know about what exists and what we have to lose, so when something is threatening Penns or the Little J, we speak up about it and we care. All of that passion and fire stems from fishing for wild trout.
 
jeffroey said:
🤣 My safe space now is a headwater somewhere in SGL 057 but growing up in NEPA (Pittston) during my formative trout fishing years, it was all about the stocking schedule, an ultra light spinning rod, and something with a treble hook.

I'm not sorry and I'm not ashamed to admit that.
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That's how I started. Worms, too. Whatever would work.
 
wildtrout2 said:
Absolutely! You described my introduction to trout fishing perfectly. Despite being a wild trout snob now, I still cherish those early years and the fond memories those times provide me with today. No regrets and no shame at all. It was all part of my evolution as a trout fisherman.
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Mepps Aglia #0 Copper color spinner is still viable
 
wildtrout2 said:
Back when I strictly spin fished, I did catch my share using spinners, but NOTHING outfished the tail half of a nightcrawler. I'd go as far as to say, in the long run, it's THE best way to catch a trout, stocked or wild, hands down.
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Has been since I was a kid. I always let my right thumb nail grow long just for that job. GG
 
wildtrout2 said:
Back when I strictly spin fished, I did catch my share using spinners, but NOTHING outfished the tail half of a nightcrawler. I'd go as far as to say, in the long run, it's THE best way to catch a trout, stocked or wild, hands down.
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100 pct agree meat !!!!!
 
If you want to, " 'limmitt ahtt " in time for a shore lunch, DT #5, 7-1/2' leader, 1 or 2 Dinsmores (or not), #16 bare hook tipped with wax/meal worm (or 'stick worm', if you know what that is). Saw many oldtimers fish this exact rig in PA with fly tackle, generally for freshly stocked trout.

The fly line has enough float to suspend the bait perfectly in the column. This will take any trout, in any stream, anytime; from Maine to California.

In the language of trapping, this is a 'kill set', folks. This is for those times you want to keep a few to eat; not recommended if you plan to release your fish unharmed. You have been advised.

Joe
 
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My first time fishing the trout opener on my own I was somewhere in the 8-10 range, I rode my bike to walmart and bought some salted minnows and went down and fished the bottom of Loyalsock Creek 🤣 I then learned about checking the stocking schedule and limits.

For most of my teen years we almost exlusively fished with wax worms, occasionally spinners and my friends Dad introduced us to hunting big browns with minnows after a thunderstorm.

As much as I would like to avoid the crowds of opening day, I would like to start making some fun memories with my kids. Even better if the day ends in a fish fry.

Building off Cinnamon Joe, one of the most effective methods for stocked trout I observed growing up and then copied was similar to his method, except the gentleman would stand in the middle of the stream and float his waxworm straight downstream, almost like centerpinning. He would occassionally use a small float and adjusted weight to keep the bait 6in off the bottom. This could also be done with a spinning rod wjth slight modification, but a long crappie or noodle rod was best. Deaddrifting bait with a flyrod like you are euro nymphing is incredibliy effective.
 
troutbert said:
Fishing for wild trout doesn't benefit wild trout.
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I agree.
And as for the people who always talk about "creating awareness" they generally are just all talk and no action. The only awareness spread is of sharing all the places the wild fish live and blowing them up on the internet which does more harm than good for the fish they all love so much. Anyone who thinks the internet has helped wild trout is kidding themselves. The increase in fishing pressure has not helped the fish.
 
I still enjoy fishing for stockers

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Oh god, better run for the hills. Batten down the hatches and be prepared for the posts of complaints about how stream (insert name) won’t be receiving its allotted about of pellet heads.

In all honesty, I must confess I won’t turn down a hefty stocker to salvage the day.
 
Back in the early to mid 70s (yes I'm almost as old as dirt) I had my best spin fishing on Cedar Run Near Leetonia. It was stocked back then and I fished a Wright McGill 7 ft. glass rod and mismatched Mitchell 304 reel. My only lures were Mepps #0 and #1 only in gold. I kept anything that looked over 7 inches and I could not tell the difference between a stocked rainbow or a native. I enjoyed eating the fish that I caught especially for breakfast with eggs and toast. I was young, happy and undereducated. I have not intentionally killed a trout, stocked or wild since the year my daughter was born and she will be 40 this March. I don't condemn those who do, but I wish that they didn't. Now I won't even keep a stocker. My moto is "You do you."
 
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