Trout Fishing in Pennsylvania
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Pennsylvania Trout Fishing
Pennsylvania has diverse and abundant trout fishing opportunities for all kinds of anglers. You can fly fish for native trout in limestone streams or battle large browns in big rivers. Whatever your trout fishing passions are, you will be able to find them in Pennsylvania.
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Season and Creel LimitsApproved Trout Waters Closed
March 1, 2021 - Most waters closed for trout fishing. Exceptions are those open to year round trout fishing.
Mentored Youth Trout Opening Days
March 27, 2021 - Regional opening day
April 10, 2021 - Statewide opening day Opening Days of Trout
April 3, 2021 - Southeastern regional trout opener
April 17, 2021 - Statewide trout opener Creel Limit
5 combined species, minimum of 7 inches through Sept. 7, 2021 and 3 combined species from Sept. 8, 2020 to Feb. 28, 2022.
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Understanding Pennsylvania's Trout
Trout are one of the most popular game fish in Pennsylvania. The main species include the Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush), Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) and Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Among the trout species, only the Brook Trout (Pennsylvania's State Fish) and the Lake Trout are native to the state's waters. Trout inhabit cool and cold streams and lakes with native reproducing populations found in the high quality, cool waters with adequate spawning habitat. Rainbow Trout spawn in the spring, Steelheads spawn fall-spring, and Brown and Brook Trout spawn in the fall.
Trout feed mostly on aquatic insects, crayfish, freshwater crustaceans and smaller fish. Active feeding takes place when water temperatures are in the 50s and 60s. Most streams and some lakes in Pennsylvania are stocked one or more times a year with adult trout for recreational fishing. In addition, there are many trout streams that support wild trout and have special trout fishing regulations.
2021 Pennsylvania Trout Stocking Schedule
**Coming Soon**
Complete 2021 Pennsylvania trout stocking schedule by waterway, county and date of stocking. This stocking table is mobile friendly and easy to search and gives you all the details you need to plan your trout fishing trips. Due to weather, resources, and even COVID there is no guarantee that the listed date for stocking particular waterway will be accurate.
Trout stockings are compiled from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC). Dates and times are subject to change. Visit the PFBC trout stocking website for complete stocking information.
General Hatch Chart for Pennsylvania Streams
This is a general guide for hatches on streams in the state. All dates are approximate. Hatches are affected by weather and water conditions, which impact quality and consistency of a given hatch on a specific stream. Hatches are numerous and complex in many Pennsylvania trout streams. Local fly shops can provide detailed hatch information in near real-time as they are fishing those waters everyday.
Common Fly Name |
Approx. Date |
Sizes |
Time of Day |
Little BWO |
March 15 |
16-20 |
Late Morning - Early Evening |
Blue Quill |
April 16 |
16-18 |
Late Morning - Late Afternoon |
Quill Gordon |
April 19 |
12-16 |
Early Afternoon - Evening |
Hendrickson |
April 20 |
12-14 |
Afternoon - Evening |
Red Quill |
April 20 |
14 |
Afternoon - Evening |
Sulphurs |
May 10 |
14-16 |
Evening to Dark |
March Brown |
May 12 |
10-14 |
All Day |
Gray Fox |
May 12 |
10-12 |
Lunchtime |
Light Cahill |
May 20 |
14 |
Evening |
BWO |
May 20 |
16-18 |
Lunchtime - Early Afternoon |
Green Drake |
May 24 |
8 |
Evening |
Brown Drake |
May 26 |
10-12 |
Evening |
Slate Drake |
May 26 |
12-14 |
Early Evening |
Trico |
July 15 |
20-24 |
Morning |
White Fly |
August 5 |
10-14 |
Evening |
Trout Fishing Articles
Featured Trout Fishing Guides
Planning a trout fishing trip to Pennsylvania or just looking to improve your skills? Reach out to a featured trout fishing guide to book a trip. These guides will provide a complete learning day on the water for all skill levels of trout anglers. Their knowledge in trout fishing excels beyond most other trout fishing guides in Pennsylvania and will get you hooked up across the state on some great trout fishing opportunities.
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