Afield: New trout management proposal could affect anglers on two Centre County streams

Bald Eagle Creek from Milesburg to the tailwaters of Sayers Dam (section 6), as well as section 2 of Penns Creek, could be affected by a new trout management strategy. The plan was introduced at the April 5 Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Fisheries and Hatcheries Committee meeting.

According to Chief of the Division of Fisheries Management David Nihart, the new program, if approved, would benefit anglers wanting to target and keep stocked trout. In addition, it would encourage growth of the wild brown trout population in those same streams.

Twelve sections of nine Class A wild trout streams are currently being stocked and fall under normal inland water trout regulations. These stream sections have a large naturally reproducing trout population, but are stocked because of high angler use, particularly during April and May.

The alternate management strategy presented by Nihart would place no-kill regulations on the wild brown trout, while allowing harvest of stocked rainbows. Previously, both rainbows and browns could be harvested. Much of the angler research supporting this proposal was done here on Centre County’s Bald Eagle Creek.

The streams involved in this proposal are found in seven eastern and central Pennsylvania counties. In addition to the two Centre County streams, they include sections of Fishing, Kishacoquillas, Little Lehigh, Martins, Monocacy, Pohopoco and Yellow creeks.

According to Nihart, the new management strategy for these 12 stream sections seemed well received by the commissioners at the April 5 committee meeting.

“This proposal wasn’t one person’s idea, it was part of our 2020-2024 management plan to reevaluate the wild trout biomass and determine angler use and opinions,” Nihart said. “(This change) should bolster the wild trout population, while continuing to meet the preferences of the stocked trout anglers.”

All 12 stream sections were electro-fished in 2021 to reassess wild trout biomass. In eight of the stream sections the wild trout biomass was similar to what was previously found in 2013 or 2015. The wild trout biomass had decreased in four Lehigh Valley (Northampton and Lehigh county) streams. In Monocacy Creek and in the Little Lehigh, wild trout biomass had drastically decreased. It went up on the sections of both Bald Eagle and Penns creeks.

In 2021, extensive angler surveys were conducted on all of these stream sections. Angler use, catch, harvest and opinions were gathered. The most intensive of the surveys occurred on Section 6 of Centre County’s Bald Eagle Creek — downstream from Milesburg. That survey began on April 3, 2021 and continued through Labor Day of that year. In total, 866 angler interviews were conducted during the surveys on these 12 stream sections.

A total of 1,442 anglers were counted fishing these stream sections on the opening day in 2021. Angler use varied from 10 anglers per mile on Martin’s Creek, to 91 anglers per mile on the Little Lehigh. Opening day angler use on the majority of stream sections was greater than 40 per mile. Both Centre County streams had fewer than 40 anglers per mile on the opening day. Penns Creek section 2 had 24 anglers per mile, while section 6 of Bald Eagle Creek had 32.

Anglers were asked how often they harvest trout when fishing these stream sections. Seventy-five percent of those interviewed answered “never” or “rarely.” Half of the anglers that harvested trout indicated that they would harvest both wild brown trout and stocked rainbow — with 4% saying it was usually wild brown trout and 47% indicating that it was usually stocked rainbows that they creeled.

During the five-month survey period, there were 13,757 estimated angler hours on section 6 of Bald Eagle Creek. Over 9,000 of those hours occurred in April and May.

The Bald Eagle Creek angler survey revealed another interesting statistic. Even early season anglers released most of their stocked rainbow trout. An estimated 12,306 rainbow trout were caught in section 6 of Bald Eagle Creek during the angler survey. That was 2.75 times the actual number stocked. Therefore, anglers caught each stocked rainbow an average of two to three times.

However, many were also creeled during the course of the season. The survey revealed that 2,579 rainbow trout were harvested by anglers, indicating that approximately 57% of the stocked rainbows were harvested.

During the 2021 survey, anglers caught an estimated 8,640 wild brown trout on section 6 of Bald Eagle Creek, and 1,210 were harvested. A large portion of the wild brown trout harvested measured 14 inches or longer.

When asked if they favored the cession of stocking in these 12 stream sections (which would bring them in line with other Class A streams), 57% responded “no.” However, 66% favored a rule change that would allow the harvest of rainbows, but require only catch and release of browns.

The proposed management change would still allow all types of terminal tackle and follow most standard statewide regulations for stocked trout waters. Stocking rate and the timing of stocking would remain the same. The only change would be the implementation of catch-and-release regulations for wild brown trout.

After the go-ahead from the commissioners in April, the regulation change will be formally presented as “proposed rulemaking” to the entire Commission at their July 24 meeting in Harrisburg. If passed, there will be a public comment period. After reviewing comments, commissioners could decide to pass, reject, table or modify the proposed regulations at their October meeting.

“If approved, this program would be a win for both types of anglers — those that like to catch and keep stocked trout, as well as those who prefer to fish over a good population of wild trout,” Nihart said.

Mark Nale, who lives in the Bald Eagle Valley, is a member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association and can be reached at MarkAngler@aol.com .