Starting in 2007, the average trout stocked by the Commonwealth will weigh in at just under 2/3 of a pound, up from the present average of 0.44 pounds. In addition to 3.2 million 11-inch trout, the Commission’s new production plan also calls for 30,000 trout averaging a whopping 2 pounds and 16 inches in length along with 9,000 golden rainbow trout averaging 14 inches and 1.5 pounds. The Commission’s system-wide production goal will remain at the present 1.9 million pounds of adult trout annually.

The Commission action is in direct response to angler preference documented by participants in the 2002 Pennsylvania Trout Summit and a working group of trout fishing interests who advise the Commission on management issues. Given the cap of 1.9 million pounds of fish produced at State Fish Hatcheries, anglers indicated a strong preference for bigger, but slightly fewer trout as compared to more and smaller fish. The production shift approved today increases the average weight of adult trout to be stocked by 30%, while only requiring a 20% cut in the total number raised. Other shifts include increasing the percentage of rainbow trout in the stocking mix and some operational changes in feeding and breeding.

The proposed production shift would not apply to trout the Fish and Boat Commission receives from Allegheny National Fish Hatchery (100,000/year), those from the Tellico Adult Trout Contract (130,000/year), or those from the Cooperative Nursery Program (1 million/year).

In other action at the special meeting, the Commissioners opted to solicit public comment on potential changes in special trout fishing regulations for consolidation. The Commission is asking for anglers to provide input on a proposed consolidation and simplification of existing special regulations programs, as follows:

Establish a new program called Catch and Release Fly-Fishing Only.

• The Heritage Trout Angling Program and the Delayed Harvest Fly-Fishing Only Program will be eliminated, and all waters currently in them (7 waters in the Heritage Trout Angling Program and 26 waters in the Delayed Harvest Fly-Fishing Only Program) will be designated into the new Catch and Release Fly-Fishing Only Program. This program will provide year-round angling with no harvest, no hourly restrictions, no restriction on wading and no requirement for barbless hooks. During the substantial public commentary regarding the proposal to permit all-tackle on delayed harvest waters during the harvest season, a large segment of the fly-fishing community indicated a preference for no-harvest in the current Delayed Harvest Fly-Fishing Only Program. The main change for current delayed harvest fly-fishing only waters is the removal of the former summer harvest season.

Rename All-Tackle Trophy Trout to Trophy Trout All Tackle.

• This program will offer year-round angling with a 24-inch minimum length limit, a one trout daily creel limit and no wading restriction. The area of the Allegheny River, Warren County, will be moved from miscellaneous special regulations to the Trophy Trout All Tackle program.

Rename the existing Trophy Trout Program to Trophy Trout Artificial Lures Only Program.

• All existing waters in the program will remain, and all waters in the existing Catch and Release Program will be designated to the Trophy Trout Artificial Lures Only Program. Tackle for this program will remain artificial lures only as currently specified for both programs, except barbed hooks will be allowed. Fishing will be permitted year-round with no hourly restriction and no taking of baitfish or fish bait. A 24-inch minimum length limit and a one trout per day creel limit also will apply.

Create a new program called Catch and Release All Tackle.

• Two miscellaneous special regulation waters, Spring Creek, Centre County, and Valley Creek, Chester County, will be designated into this program.

Existing prohibitions on wading, barbed hooks and hours of fishing on waters in various special regulation programs are also being considered for elimination.

Interested persons are invited to submit written comments, objections or suggestions about the proposal to the Executive Director, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, P.O. Box 67000, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000, within 30 days after publication of a notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. Comments also may be submitted electronically by completing a form at http://www.state.pa.us/Fish/regcomments. Comments submitted by facsimile will not be accepted.