HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission began its quarterly business meeting recently by encouraging anglers and boaters to continue to enjoy summer fishing and boating adventures across the Commonwealth while staying safe and being aware of weather conditions.

“There is still plenty of summer left to enjoy the water for fishing, boating, or to just have fun and cool off from the heat,” said PFBC president Daniel Pastore. “Because many rivers and streams have been running high due to rainy conditions during the early summer, even more people will be flocking to our waterways every chance they get as more favorable conditions present themselves.  Remember, there is more than enough room for everyone on the water, so please continue to be courteous to others, be mindful of our aquatic resources, and if you’re boating, always wear your life jacket.”

In his report to the board, executive director Tim Schaeffer noted that throughout the Fourth of July weekend, 70 Waterways Conservation Officers and 26 deputy WCOs participated in Operation Dry Water.

The special operation conducted from July 4-6, was held in partnership with the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, U.S. Coast Guard and other conservation law enforcement agencies across the country to prevent boating incidents and fatalities through education and enhanced Boating Under the Influence enforcement.

This special operation resulted in nine BUI arrests across the Commonwealth, including the arrest of one boat operator who had a blood alcohol concentration of .198, which is nearly two-and-a-half times the legal limit for impairment. In addition to BUI violations, 284 general boating citations and 931 warnings were issued.

Schaeffer also congratulated 19 members of the 26th Class of WCOs, who graduated on July 18 during a ceremony at the State Capitol in Harrisburg.  The new WCOs have since reported for full-time duty in their new districts across the Commonwealth.

FISHERIES

After tabling the issue at the April 2025 meeting pending further discussion, Commissioners voted to give final approval to changes in regulations pertaining to Class A wild trout streams. There are very few Class A wild trout streams where supplemental trout stocking has been considered or warranted; however, there are rare circumstances where stocking a Class A stream could be considered. As such, criteria have been developed within the PFBC’s Operational Guidelines for the Management of Trout Fisheries in Pennsylvania Waters that provide direction and guide decisions regarding stocking trout in Class A wild trout streams.

Under current processes, when an entity, such as a sportsmen’s club, requests permission to stock trout in a Class A wild trout stream and that stream meets the criteria for stocking, the Executive Director is required to obtain board approval before granting an exemption to allow the stocking. Under these changes, the Executive Director will have the authority to approve stocking exemptions on Class A streams that meet the criteria without board approval.

Approval from the board will only be required when an entity requests stocking on a Class A stream that does not meet the criteria. When the executive director grants an exemption to stock a Class A wild trout stream section, the executive director or designee will notify Commissioners of the action at the next regular meeting of the board. This amendment will go into effect upon a second notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

The board voted to approve the publication of a notice of proposed rulemaking pertaining to fishing regulations of Freeman Run, Section 04, Potter County. Under this proposal, Section 04 would be managed under a Miscellaneous Special Regulation that would manage Brown Trout and Brook Trout with catch-and-release regulations and maintain Commonwealth Inland Waters regulations for all other species with all tackle types permitted.  Should this Miscellaneous Special Regulation be adopted on final rulemaking, staff will recommend at a future meeting that the Board consider an exemption to allow the stocking of Rainbow Trout.

Under the changes outlined in this proposal, Freeman Run, Section 04, provides a unique opportunity for PFBC staff to evaluate a stream section that was stocked previously, designated as a Class A wild trout stream section and removed from the stocking program, and then added back to the program and managed with special regulations.

If adopted on final rulemaking at a future meeting, this amendment will go into effect on January 1, 2026.

Commissioners voted to approve the publication of a notice of proposed rulemaking pertaining to Donegal Lake, a PFBC lake located in Donegal Township, Westmoreland County. Under this change, the 92-acre impoundment will be removed from management under a Miscellaneous Special Regulation which allowed for the harvest of trout under Commonwealth Inland Waters regulations but no harvest of other species. Donegal Lake was completely dewatered in spring 2016 to upgrade the dam and spillway structures per Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection dam safety standards.

Following the completion of these repairs and modifications, refill occurred in 2020, and the PFBC stocked the lake from 2020 through 2025 with select fish species to establish a high-quality, warm-water and cool-water fishery. The black bass and panfish populations were evaluated during 2025 to monitor progress towards the development of the warm-water and cool-water fishery.

Sportfish abundance and population size structure have improved to levels where populations can now sustain harvest. As such, it is recommended that Donegal Lake be removed from Miscellaneous Special Regulations, allowing staff to consider this reservoir for management with big bass and panfish enhancement (special regulations.

If adopted on final rulemaking at a future meeting, this designation will go into effect on January 1, 2026.

The board voted to approve a change in fishing regulations at Leaser Lake, a PFBC lake located in Lynn Township, Lehigh County. Under this change, the 117-acre impoundment will be added to the panfish enhancement program for sunfish. Leaser Lake was completely dewatered in 2009 to complete dam and spillway repairs and modifications per Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection dam safety standards. Following repairs, refill occurred in 2013, and the PFBC began a multi-year restocking program with select fish species to establish a high-quality, warm-water and cool-water fishery.

In 2022, the lake was added to the big bass and panfish enhancement programs for crappies and yellow perch. Further panfish evaluations conducted in 2024 documented a robust bluegill population, with the majority of the fish captured being greater than seven inches in total length.

Given the shift in bluegill size structure and the propensity of anglers to harvest bluegills, a more restrictive regulation is needed to conserve and enhance the fishery. This designation will go into effect on January 1, 2026.

Commissioners voted to approve a change in fishing regulations at Carsonia Lake (also known as Crystal Lake), an impoundment owned by the Mount Penn Borough Municipal Authority in Lower Alsace Township, Berks County. Under this change, the seven-acre impoundment will be removed from the big bass program to allow for management under Commonwealth Inland Regulations.

Carsonia Lake was completely dewatered in spring 2025 to allow the MPBMA to complete dredging operations. The MPBMA, in consultation with the PFBC, requested the lake be managed under Commonwealth Inland Waters regulations.

This designation will go into effect on January 1, 2026.

The board voted to approve the addition of 28 new waters to the PFBC’s list of Class A wild trout streams, 72 waters to the PFBC’s list of wild trout streams, and the revision of the section limits of eight currently listed waters.  A list of proposed waters for Class A wild trout and wild trout stream designation can be found in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

These additions and revisions will go into effect upon publication of a second notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.