As September fades like the evening sun and October becomes reality, many Pennsylvania sportsmen will be focused on hunting. Archery season opens statewide on Saturday. Pheasants, rabbits, and bears will be close behind. Not to mention a host of furbearers that will also join the schedule before Halloween arrives. But this doesn’t mean that fishing is over. Some of the best trout fishing of the year is still ahead, thanks to the fall and winter stockings.

Starting Oct. 1. The PA Fish & Boat Commission kicked off the fall and winter trout stocking program. Over 116,500 adult trout have been stocked in 118 waterways throughout the Commonwealth, replenishing some of your favorite streams and providing opportunities right through ice fishing time. Although not as large as traditional spring stockings, the fall and winter stockings still offer a valuable opportunity for anglers.

Thanks to almost 6 months of extra growth, most trout stocked during the fall are bigger than those encountered during the spring. Plus, since the water will only continue to cool, these trout will remain active and ready to provide a fight long after the pumpkins are composted.

Many of the waters stocked are managed under special regulations, including the Delayed Harvest and Keystone Select programs, so anglers are reminded to check stream-specific rules before fishing. Otherwise, Stocked Trout Waters are subject to a reduced creel limit of 3 trout with a minimum size limit of seven inches.

The fall is also a great time to get a few more days of boating in before it is time to pack the S.S. Minnow away for a long winter nap. Why not combine both hobbies and hit a local lake while filling your creel at the same time? Remember, if you are boating after Nov. 1, you will need to wear your life jacket on any boat under 16 feet in length, as well as on all canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards.

Due to changing conditions and dropping water temperatures, your lures of choice are different from those during the spring. Inline spinners or spoons are an excellent choice when searching large areas. Once a school of trout is located, I prefer to switch to small, slow-sinking minnows or soft plastics due to their realistic appearance.

When fishing a stream, I like to mix it up and add some hellgrammites, flies, or even small frogs as bait. As water temperatures decrease, I switch to smaller lures and a slower retrieve to accommodate a trout’s decreasing metabolism. The same holds if you are lucky enough to have a nearby lake that permits some hardwater fishing.

Hunting may be at the top of the fall outdoor list, but there is still time to wet a line. If everything goes right, you can spend some time in front of the fire enjoying a Keystone Surf & Turf – fresh trout fillets side by side with wild venison.