A variety of brook, brown and rainbow trout – with some monster palominos in the mix – were put into a large stretch of Muncy Creek recently as part of the state Fish and Boat Commission’s pre-season stocking.

Twenty locations in portions of the creek along Route 220 up to the delayed harvest section in Tivoli received the Tylersville hatchery trout before the season opener kicks off at 8 a.m. April 14.

The commission stocks heavily before opening day in pre-determined locations and continues during the in-season, said Waterways Conservation Officer Emmett Kyler. The commission continues to stock during the in-season period until May when stream levels and water temperatures become less ideal.

The spots are chosen in advance by Kyler based on public access and whether the landowner approves, he said.

The spots stay pretty consistently the same every season.

As with all other stocking years, the commission relies on fellow anglers to come lend a hand.

The stocking truck skirts the edge of the stream while commission fish culturalists and specialists fill buckets and hand them down to volunteers who then bring the trout to the stream. The truck also is fitted with a chute that’s able to feed the trout directly to the stream.

It’s been a few years since Brian Vansickle, of Mifflinburg, helped stock. But he and a few friends were planning to fish the delayed harvest section in Tivoli anyway, he said. “We thought we’d help out and end there by fishing,” Vansickle said. “I spent all winter ice-fishing. Now that the ice is melting this is the next best thing.”

On many of the trips, people use the stocking as a chance to pass something down to their children. Duane Laidacker, of the Hughesville area, brought his 4-year-old daughter, Ella, out Friday.

“I always try to come out every year,” Laidacker said. “I’m working most times and this just happened to be a day I was with her and had off.” But Ella was far from a reluctant guest. “She loves fishing,” Laidacker said. “when I asked her if she wanted to come she said ‘Oh God, yeah.’ ” Ella won in her age group at a competition on Beaver Lake by catching her own 14-inch perch, she said.

For many anglers, stocking isn’t only to know simply where the fish are, but it’s a way to give back to the sport and those who allow them to do it.

“I try to make it every year,” said angler T.G. Fasold, of Northumberland. “It definitely is (a way to give back.) It’s important.”

Along with Fasold, Gary Hockenberry, of Huntersville, said he’s thrilled to see the amount of younger anglers coming out to help.

The commission is always committed to translating the art and interest of angling to younger generations. Kyler said one way it does that is to promote its mentored youth program.

Beginning a week before the regular season starts, younger kids under the age of 16 can join an adult angler who already has a fishing license with a trout permit to fish stocked waters.

All they have to do is obtain a mentored youth fishing permit or a voluntary youth fishing license from the commission and be accompanied by an adult. They can harvest up to two trout with a minimum size of 7 inches.