Federation meeting 9/18/24

[AndyS]

Federation meeting 9/18/24: I didn't make the Council meeting earlier in the month, sounds like it was a good one. Information runs from the Council to the Federation to the Sportsmen and women. A quick few tidbits from the meeting: apparently there is a guide that charters for Snakeheads and he wanted the F&G Council to recognize C&R for these fish, they came back with a BIG NO !!! The F&G code changes will happen in 2026 so there is a lot in the works now like changing the lake trout regs on both MC and RV, talk of a slot fish limit. Opening day will be 2nd Saturday of April every year now instead of going by the calendar. More urban ponds will be stocked in the spring. Winter trout stocking of lakes and ponds will cease and be combined into the fall stocking. When electro-shocking native Brook Trout streams for Brown Trout the Brown Trout will now be relocated instead of euthanized. This is just a small amount of information from tonight's meeting where unfortunately only 12 people attended. I URGE everyone to make a meeting in your County weather it be a Federation, TU, RVTA or even an environmental group meeting. It pays to attend, I won the 50/50 , $15.00 !!!! (Opening Day - change start time from 8 am to sunrise)

[thmyorke1]

Thanks. Relocating the brown trout sounds good. It does sound more resourceful to basically stock them elsewhere. Free fish!

I assume these are brown trout they capture while electro-shocking brook-trout water? Previously they were all euthanized. I dont blame them because having to haul a live well of fish while in those brookie tribs seem taxing. And the brown trout are already aplenty!

Im curious what their relocation plan is and what results they see in the future.
Like maybe they just relocate directly downstream in Non-trout water. Let them find their way around and hope some holdover somewhere- but not return back to the tribs that the brookie-populations are recovering in.
It's a lot of fun catching some unexpected brown trout in downstream areas.

Or would they relocate into some of the reservoirs/holdover trout lakes. Im not sure if they will because of the risk of transmitting potential diseases? The safe bet is just stocking directly downstream? Cool stuff

[AndyS]

I'm guessing it's not a lot of Brown Trout being caught but I could be wrong. Spruce Run would be a good place to put these browns so they can go up in the coldwater tribs and spawn, that's a win win.
Opening day starting at sunrise instead of 8am makes a lot of sense, how I never thought of that one !!
I'm still pushing for a 2 fish creel limit during the fall and winter on the trout streams.

[Capt. Lou]

Couple pluses here the sunrise trout start on the opener and the standardization of opening trout date all a plus .
I assume the non stocking of ponds and lakes in the fall will add those trout to the streams , which is also a good decision.

[Drossi]

Originally Posted by Capt. Lou

Couple pluses here the sunrise trout start on the opener and the standardization of opening trout date all a plus .
I assume the non stocking of ponds and lakes in the fall will add those trout to the streams , which is also a good decision.

Opening day on the 2nd Saturday will coincide with PA, kind of a stick in their eye as I'm sure it will impact their non-resident license sales.

[AndyS]

Originally Posted by Capt. Lou

Couple pluses here the sunrise trout start on the opener and the standardization of opening trout date all a plus .
I assume the non stocking of ponds and lakes in the fall will add those trout to the streams , which is also a good decision.

Maybe I worded it wrong BUT: They want to get rid of WINTER stocking lakes and ponds and move it to the FALL, which makes a lot of sense to me.

Yes, the spring opening day would coincide with Pennsylvania's opening day.