Philadelphia, PA - Pennsylvania offers some of the world's premier trout fishing opportunities. Find a spot near you where you can cast your line! Whether it's spin or flies fishing that appeals to you, Pennsylvania has it all this year!
Pennsylvania anglers, get ready! The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is well underway with its extensive 2025 trout stocking program, ensuring that streams and lakes across the Commonwealth are primed for the upcoming fishing season. This massive annual effort aims to enhance recreational fishing opportunities, providing anglers with millions of trout to pursue.
Stocking by the Numbers: A Bounty for Anglers:
The scale of the PFBC's 2025 stocking effort is impressive:
- Total PFBC Stocking: Approximately 3.2 million adult trout are being released into 691 streams and 130 lakes open to public angling. These numbers are consistent with stocking efforts over the past decade.
- Species Breakdown: The stocked fish include roughly:
- 2.4 million Rainbow Trout
- 693,000 Brown Trout
- 125,000 Brook Trout
- Size: The average trout stocked by the PFBC measures 11 inches and weighs just over half a pound (.58 lbs).
- Trophy Trout: Anglers also have an excellent chance to land larger fish. The PFBC plans to stock approximately 72,000 trophy-sized brood fish (Rainbow, Brown, and Brook Trout measuring 14-20 inches). About 70% of these larger fish are stocked before opening day.
- Golden Rainbows: Around 14,000 highly prized golden Rainbow Trout, averaging 1.5 pounds, will also be stocked throughout the preseason and in-season periods.
Cooperative Nurseries Add Millions More:
In addition to the fish raised at state hatcheries, a significant boost comes from partner organizations. PFBC cooperative nurseries, operated by dedicated sportsmen's clubs and other groups across Pennsylvania, will raise and stock an additional 1.2 million trout into public waterways throughout the year. This collaborative effort brings the potential total number of stocked trout closer to 4.4 million.
Key Dates for the 2025 Season:
Anglers should keep these important dates in mind:
- Stocking Underway: Stocking operations began the week of February 17.
- Preseason Closure: Waters designated as Stocked Trout Waters are closed to fishing from February 17 until 8:00 AM on Opening Day, except for Mentored Youth Day.
- Statewide Mentored Youth Trout Day: Saturday, March 29, 2025.
- Statewide Opening Day of Trout Season: Saturday, April 5, 2025, starting at 8:00 AM.
Finding Stocked Waters:
To plan your fishing trips, the PFBC provides convenient resources:
- Online Schedule: The official 2025 trout stocking schedule is available online at FishandBoat.com.
- FishBoatPA Mobile App: The schedule is accessible via the PFBC's FishBoatPA mobile app.
- Searchable Information: Both resources allow anglers to search the schedule by county, view waterways alphabetically, and see stocking dates, volunteer meeting locations (stocking help is often needed!), and the specific trout species planned for each location.
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's 2025 trout stocking program represents a massive effort to support and enhance one of the state's most popular outdoor recreational activities. Pennsylvania anglers have an exciting season ahead with millions of rainbow, brown, and brook trout, including trophy-sized fish and golden rainbows, released into hundreds of streams and lakes. Remember to get your fishing license and trout permit, check the stocking schedules and regulations, and enjoy the world-class trout fishing opportunities the Keystone State offers starting April 5!
