​Anglers looking ahead to spring fishing opportunities statewide have an incredible resource available beginning today, as the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is pleased to make its 2025 adult trout stocking schedule available online at FishandBoat.com.

“Anticipation is already beginning to build for the many spring fishing opportunities just around the corner here in Pennsylvania, and every angler can benefit from knowing when their favorite stream or lake will be stocked with trout, starting in just a few weeks,” said Brian Niewinski, Director of the PFBC’s Bureau of Hatcheries.  “Whether you’re looking to volunteer to help stock trout, or you just want to plan ahead for statewide Mentored Youth Trout Day, Opening Day, or some early trout fishing along a special regulation water, reviewing the stocking schedule in advance will help set you up for a successful trip.”

The trout stocking schedule is searchable by county, lists the waterways in alphabetical order, and indicates stocking dates, meeting locations for volunteers, and the species of trout that are planned to be stocked at each location.  In 2025, Pennsylvania’s statewide Opening Day of Trout Season will be held on Saturday, April 5.  A single, statewide Mentored Youth Trout Day will take place on Saturday, March 29.

To prepare for the start of the season, stocking operations are set to begin during the week of February 17.  Anglers should note that fishing is not permitted on lakes and streams designated as Stocked Trout Waters from February 17 to 8 a.m. on the opening day of trout season (April 5), with the exception of the Mentored Youth Trout Fishing Day (March 29), unless waters are included in the Stocked Trout Waters Open to Year-Round Fishing program.

3.2 Million Trout

In 2025, the PFBC will stock approximately 3.2 million adult trout in 691 streams and 130 lakes open to public angling.  These figures, which are consistent with the number of trout stocked over the past decade, include approximately 2.4 million Rainbow Trout; 693,000 Brown Trout; and 125,000 Brook Trout.  As with past practice, the average size of the trout produced for stocking is 11 inches in length with an average weight of .58 pounds.

Once again, this year, anglers will have an excellent chance to catch large, trophy-sized trout.  During 2025, the PFBC will stock approximately 72,000 trophy-sized brood fish, which are 2 ½ year-old and 3 ½ year-old hatchery-raised Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, and Brook Trout measuring 14-20 inches.  Roughly 70% of these large fish will be stocked into streams and lakes during the preseason prior to opening day of trout season, and 30% will be stocked during in-season replenishment stockings.

In 2025, the PFBC will stock approximately 14,000 golden Rainbow Trout.  In addition to being stocked during the preseason period before opening day, these highly prized fish featuring vibrant golden-orange pigmentation and weighing an average of 1.5 pounds will be stocked during in-season replenishment stockings.  Approximately 75% of golden Rainbow Trout will be stocked during the preseason, and approximately 25% will be stocked in-season.

In addition to trout raised at state fish hatcheries, PFBC cooperative nurseries operated by sportsmen’s clubs and other groups across the state will add another 1.2 million trout to waters open to public angling throughout the year.

Anglers looking for stocked trout fishing opportunities ahead of the opening day should explore Keystone Select Stocked Trout Waters, a program where sections of 24 streams across the state are stocked with large trout measuring 14-20 inches and managed under Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only or Miscellaneous Special regulations.  Under the program, approximately 10,000 large trout will be distributed among the streams.  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.

Volunteers

The PFBC will be welcoming volunteers to help distribute approximately 3.2 million hatchery-raised adult trout to hundreds of waterways statewide throughout the 2025 season.  The PFBC is proud to partner with conservation groups, schools, and walk-up volunteers to help spread out the trout in local waterways.  Volunteers are asked to keep the safety of PFBC staff and other volunteers in mind and obey traffic laws while following stocking vehicles.  Individuals or small groups of volunteers (1-4 people) do not need to register to help stock trout, but larger groups should coordinate stocking plans in advance by contacting their regional PFBC law enforcement office to ensure they can be accommodated.

Licenses and Permits

To participate in trout fishing and keep trout, anglers ages 16 and older are required to possess both a fishing license and a trout permit.  Anglers and boaters can start preparing for opening day of trout season right now by purchasing their 2025 Pennsylvania fishing licenses, launch permits, and boat registration renewals using the HuntFishPA online portal or by visiting one of approximately 700 retail license issuing agents.  By purchasing licenses and permits online, customers can save time and avoid long lines in stores when waiting to purchase a license closer to the start of trout season.  Anglers may store an image of their license digitally on their phones as proof of possession.

The PFBC thanks anglers for supporting aquatic resource conservation and recreation programs through the purchase of their fishing licenses.  The PFBC is a user-funded agency that receives no Pennsylvania General Fund tax revenue.  Funding generated through the sale of fishing licenses supports hatchery operations, fisheries management, law enforcement, and infrastructure improvements to provide high-quality and convenient public access to fishing and boating opportunities.

2025 Adult Trout Stocking Program Changes

Each year, the PFBC adjusts its adult trout stocking program based on several factors.  A waterway may be added, extended, reinstated, or removed depending on existing or pending changes to angler access, changes to designations on streams managed for wild trout populations, water quality issues that may threaten the survival of stocked trout, and maintenance being performed to dams and other infrastructure that result in the drawdown of impoundments or decreased water flow.

Waters Added or Extended:

Caroline Lake, Bucks County

This 8-acre impoundment has been added into the trout stocking program.  The county park provides excellent angler accessibility.  Trout will be stocked during the preseason and in-season stocking periods.

Harvest Fields Ponds, Centre County

This 3.1-acre impoundment has been added into the trout stocking program.  Located in close proximity to State College, this impoundment provides excellent angler accessibility.  Trout will be stocked during the preseason and in-season stocking periods.

Mosquito Creek, Clearfield County

Located near the town of Karthaus, a 2.3-mile section of stream extending from the confluence of Grimes Run downstream to the mouth has been added into the trout stocking program.  Trout will be stocked during the preseason and in-season stocking periods.

Big Cove Creek, Fulton County

Due to an increase in accessibility, the stocking limits have been extended 0.2 miles upstream.  The revised stocking limits will extend 13.6 miles from 300 yards upstream State Route 1003 bridge downstream to Laurel Ridge Road bridge.  Trout will be stocked during the preseason and in-season stocking periods.

Toms Creek, Adams County

Due to an increase in accessibility, the stocking limits have been extended 1.8 miles downstream.  The revised stocking limits will extend 6.76 miles from Mount Hope Road downstream to State Route 16 bridge.  Trout will be stocked during the preseason and in-season stocking periods.

White Deer Creek, Union County

Due to an increase in accessibility, the stocking limits have been extended to .7 miles upstream of Dyer Road.  The revised stocking limits will extend 4.8 miles from .7 miles upstream of Dyer Road downstream to the mouth.  Trout will be stocked during the preseason and in-season stocking periods.

Waters Replaced:

When survey data suggests that a waterway is no longer suitable for adult trout stocking based on a loss of angler access, environmental factors, or designation as a Class A wild trout stream, the PFBC makes every attempt to reallocate fish to a comparable location nearby.  When inadequate angler access is the reason for a removal, locations are monitored for improvement so these waters can be considered for reinstatement to the stocking program if access is improved. 

Bald Eagle Creek, York County

An increase in the amount of landowner posting has led to the removal of trout stocking from a 2.3-mile section extending from Garvine Mill Road downstream to 250 meters downstream Gamble Road.  Formerly, this water had been stocked on a preseason only basis.

Lions Lake, Lebanon County

This 7-acre impoundment has been removed from the trout stocking program due to a drawdown of the lake to allow for maintenance and repairs to the dam by the property owner.  Maintenance and repairs are scheduled to be completed in 2025, and the lake will be reinstated to the trout stocking program once conditions allow following refill.

Lower Little Swatara Creek, Schuylkill County

Due to an increase in landowner posting the stocking limits have been revised.  The revised stocking limits will extend 6.91 miles from State Route 895 bridge near Dad Burnhams Road downstream to the mouth.  Trout will be stocked during the preseason and in-season stocking periods.

Riggles Gap Run, Blair County

A decrease in stream access has led to the removal of trout stocking from a 2.1-mile section extending from Asbury Lane bridge downstream to the mouth.  Formerly, this water had been stocked on a preseason only basis.