A sign of spring.

Trout stocking schedules in Pennsylvania are now available.

Stocking will start later this month in advance of Opening Day which is set for April 6.

​“Even though the calendar says it’s still winter, spring will be here before we know it,” Brian Niewinski, director of the PFBC’s Bureau of Hatcheries, said. “For many people, fishing on the Opening Day of Trout Season in Pennsylvania and the weeks that follow is a tradition that they look forward to all year long.

“Now that the anxiously awaited trout stocking schedule has been posted, anglers can start preparing by purchasing their fishing licenses, getting their gear ready, and planning their fishing trips.”

Stocking operations are set to begin the week of February 19.

That means that fishing is not permitted on lakes and streams designated as Stocked Trout Waters until opening day, with the exception of the Mentored Youth Trout Fishing Day on March 30 and those waters open to year-round trout fishing, like the reservoir at Chapman State Park.

A total of 3.2 million trout will be stocked in 697 streams and 129 lakes across the state, numbers consistent with what has been stocked for the last decade. The vast majority of those fish – about 2.4 million – are rainbow trout. The average size is 11 inches and .58 pounds.

70,000 fish in the 14-20 inch range will be stocked across the state, as well.

An additional 10,000 large trout will be stocked in Keystone Select Stocked Trout Waters under delayed harvest regulations. The two closest to Warren County are McKean County’s Kinzua Creek and Oil Creek near Titusville.

“The trout will be stocked at a rate of 175 to 225 per mile of stream, which is comparable to the numbers of similarly sized fish in Pennsylvania’s best wild trout waters,” the Commission said.

The PFBC’s cooperative nurseries operated by sportsmen’s clubs will add another million trout to Pennsylvania waterways this year.

Volunteers are welcome to help Fish and Boat personnel stock at many sites this season.

“The PFBC is proud to partner with conservation groups, schools, and walk-up volunteers to help spread out the trout in local waterways,” the Commission says. “Volunteers are asked to keep the safety of PFBC staff and other volunteers in mind and obey traffic laws while following stocking vehicles.”

Here are the stockings scheduled for Warren County including waterway, date, time and meeting place for those looking to volunteer:

Blue Eye Run, March 27, 9:15 a.m., Eldred Hill Rd. bridge; April 30, 9 a.m., Spring Cree VFD parking lot. Brokenstraw Creek, March 15, 9 a.m., Spring Creek VFD parking lot; April 18, 9 a.m., Spring Creek VFD parking lot;

Brown Run, March 19, 10 a.m., Rt. 59 bridge; May 1, 10 a.m., Sr. 59 bridge;

Caldwell Creek, March 20, 9:30 a.m., Rt. 27 in Grand Valley; April 24, 9:30 a.m., Sr. 27 in Grand Valley;

Chapman Dam Reservoir, March 20, 10:30 a.m., park office; May 7, 10:30 a.m., park office; Dec. 16, 10:30 a.m., park office;

East Branch Spring Creek, Feb. 27, 9:15 a.m., Spring Creek VFD parking lot;

East Branch Tionesta Creek, April 2, 11 a.m., Kane Save-A-Lot parking lot; April 4, 10 a.m., Ranger Station on US 6 in Sheffield; April 22, 10 a.m., Ranger Station on US 6 in Sheffield; April 29, 11 a.m., Kane Save-A-Lot parking lot;

East Hickory Creek, April 2, 11:30 a.m., West Hickory access area on Rt. 62; April 24, 11:40 a.m., West Hickory access area on Rt. 62;

Farnsworth Branch, March 28, 11:30 a.m., Clarendon Post Office; April 15, 11:30 a.m., Clarendon Post Office; May 7, 11:30 a.m., Clarendon Post Office;

Fourmile Run, March 19, 10 a.m., Rt. 59 bridge; May 1, 10 a.m., Sr. 59 bridge;

Hemlock Run, March 1, 9:30 a.m., Russell Post Office;

Jackson Run, March 1, 9:30 a.m., Russell Post Office; May 2, 9:45 a.m., Lowe’s parking lot;

Little Brokenstraw Creek, Feb. 28, 9 a.m., Lottsville feed mill; April 23, 9 a.m., Lottsfille feed mill;

Perry Magee Run, March 25, 9:45 a.m., Tidioute Post Office; May 8, 9:45 a.m., Tidioute Post Office;

Pine Creek, Feb. 29, 9:30 a.m., Rt. 27 in Grand Valley; April 29, 9:30 a.m., Sr. 27 in Grand Valley;

Queen Creek, April 2, 11:30 a.m., West Hickory access are on Rt. 62;

Six Mile Run, March 10, 10 a.m., Rt. 59 bridge;

South Branch Tionesta Creek, March 21, 11:30 a.m., US 6 Ranger Station in Sheffield; April 15, 11:30 a.m., Clarendon Post Office;

Spring Creek, Feb. 27, 9:15 a.m., Spring Creek VFD parking lot; April 30, 9 a.m., Spring Creek VFD parking lot;

Tidioute Creek, March 25, 9:45 a.m., Tidioute Post Office; May 8, 9:45 a.m., Tidioute Post Office;

Thompson Run, March 25, 9:45 a.m., Tidioute Post Office;

Two Mile Run, week of May 6, 11 a.m., Kane Save-A-Lot Parking Lot;

Tionesta Creek, March 12, 10:30 a.m., intersection of Rt. 666 and Rt. 948; March 13, 11:30 a.m., Mayburg Bridge; April 16, 11:15 a.m., Marienville Unit-Mart; April 17, 10:45 a.m., intersection of Rt. 666 and Rt. 948;

West Branch Caldwell Creek, March 20, 9:30 a.m., Sr. 27 in Grand Valley; April 24, 9:30 a.m., Sr. 27 in Grand Valley;

West Branch Tionesta Creek, March 11, 11:30 a.m., Clarendon Post Office; March 25, 11:30 a.m., Clarendon Post Office; March 28, 11:30 a.m., Clarendon Post Office; April 20, 11:30 a.m., Clarendon Post Office; May 7, 11:30 a.m., Clarendon Post Office;

West Hickory Creek, April 2, 11:30 a.m., West Hickory access area on Rt. 62; April 24, 11:30 a.m., West Hickory access area on Rt. 62.

The schedules are available on the FishBoatPA mobile app or at fishandboat.com.

In 2024, Pennsylvania’s statewide Opening Day of Trout Season will be held on Sat., April 6. A single, statewide Mentored Youth Trout Day will take place on Sat., March 30.