(WTAJ) — The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) announced trout stocking for 2026, which is set to include some new waters this year.
The PFBC touts that they’ll stock approximately 3.2 million adult trout in 2026. This includes 684 streams and 130 lakes that are open to public angling. The numbers reflect: 2.3 million rainbow trout, 698,000 brown trout, and 128,000 brook trout. The average size of a trout being stocked is 11 inches in length and .58 pounds.
Golden rainbow trout (18,000) will be stocked, with 75% of them before opening day and 25% during the season.
DiagramAI-generated content may be incorrect.
“With spring fishing opportunities right around the corner, every angler can benefit from knowing when their favorite stream or lake will be stocked with trout, starting in just a few weeks,” Brian Niewinski, Director of the PFBC’s Bureau of Hatcheries, said. “Reviewing the stocking schedule now can help you plan a day of volunteering to help stock trout or simply plan ahead for a successful Mentored Youth Trout Day, Opening Day, or some early trout fishing along a special regulation water.”
The online trout schedule, found by clicking here, is searchable by county with options to search by start and end dates.
Pennsylvania’s statewide opening day of trout season will be held Saturday, April 4. Mentored Youth Trout Day will take place the week before, on March 28.
In preparation for the season, stocking is set to begin the week of Feb. 16.
Anglers should know that fishing is not permitted on lakes and streams designated as stocked trout waters from Feb. 16 through 8 a.m. on opening day, April 4, except for Mentored Youth Trout Fishing Day.
Reminder, to fish and keep trout, you’ll need both a fishing license and a trout permit. Both are on sale now.
The PFBC is adding the following waters to their 2026 trout stocking plans:
Brush Creek, Beaver County: Located near the town of Hazen, a 2.2-mile section of stream extending from State Route 588 downstream to the lower end of Brush Creek Park has been added into the trout stocking program. Trout will be stocked during the preseason and in-season stocking periods.
Freeman Run, Potter County: A 2.9-mile section of this stream has been reinstated into the trout stocking program. The stocking limits will extend from West Branch Freeman Run downstream to the mouth. Trout will be stocked during the preseason and in-season stocking periods.
Kettle Creek, Clinton County: Located near the town of Westport, a 5.6-mile section of stream extending from Slide Hollow downstream to the mouth has been added to the trout stocking program. Trout will be stocked during the preseason and in-season stocking periods.
Lions Lake, Lebanon County: This 7.0-acre impoundment has been reinstated into the trout stocking program. Stocking was cancelled in 2025 due to maintenance and repairs to the dam. Trout will be stocked during the preseason and in-season stocking periods.
Seven Mountains Boy Scout Pond, Centre County: This 2.5-acre impoundment has been reinstated into the trout stocking program. Stocking was cancelled from 2023 through 2025 due to maintenance and repairs to the dam. Trout will be stocked on a preseason-only basis.
Waters Revised:
Brokenstraw Creek, Warren County: Due to an increase in landowner posting, the stocking limits have been revised. The revised stocking limits will extend 4.64 miles from the Davey Hill Road bridge downstream to the confluence of Matthews Run. Trout will be stocked during the preseason and in-season stocking periods.
Bull Creek, Allegheny County: The stocking limits were revised to provide additional angling opportunities for warm-water and cool-water species in the downstream section of Bull Creek. The revised stocking limits will extend 6.23 miles from the Thompson Road bridge in Millerstown downstream to the West 4th Avenue bridge in Tarentum. Trout will be stocked during the preseason and in-season stocking periods.
East Branch Clarion River, Elk County: Located near the town of Glen Hazel, a 1.2-mile section of stream extending from 100 meters downstream of East Branch Lake downstream to the State Game Lands boundary 1.15 miles downstream of East Branch Lake will now receive a fall season stocking.
Little Fishing Creek, Columbia County: The stocking limits were extended 0.71 miles downstream. The revised stocking limits will extend 13.21 miles from Talmar Road downstream to the State Route 42 bridge. Trout will be stocked during the preseason and in-season stocking periods.
Mahoning Creek, Montour County: The stocking limits were extended 0.40 miles upstream. The revised stocking limits will extend 3.53 miles from the intersection of State Route 642 and Bogart Road downstream to the mouth. Trout will be stocked during the preseason and in-season stocking periods.
Manada Creek, Dauphin County: Due to an increase in landowner posting, the stocking limits have been revised. The revised stocking limits will extend 1.73 miles from the Unnamed Tributary to Manada Creek (river mile [RM] 11.50) downstream to Furnace Road. Trout will be stocked during the preseason and in-season stocking periods.
Meshoppen Creek, Wyoming County: Due to an increase in landowner posting, the stocking limits have been revised. The revised stocking limits will extend 2.63 miles from the Jennings Road bridge downstream to Route 29. Trout will be stocked during the preseason and in-season stocking periods.
North Deer Creek, Mercer County: The stocking limits were revised and will now extend 6.06 miles from the Bortz/Lower Road bridge downstream to the mouth. Trout will be stocked during the preseason and in-season stocking periods.
Waters Removed:
Big Run, Jefferson County: An increase in the amount of landowner posting has led to the removal of trout stocking from a 2.6-mile section extending from the T-506 bridge downstream to the T-519 bridge. Formerly, this water had been stocked on a preseason-only basis.
Blue Hole Creek, Somerset County: Due to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection listing Blue Hole Creek as impaired by high levels of lead, a 1.40-mile section extending from the confluence of Garys Run downstream to the mouth has been removed from the trout stocking program. Formerly, this water had been stocked on an in-season-only basis.
Byrnes Run, Elk County: Access limitations have led to the removal of the 4.0-mile section of stream from the Unnamed Tributary one-thousand meters upstream of Auman Hollow downstream to the mouth, from the trout stocking program. Formerly, this water had been stocked during the preseason and in-season stocking periods.
Clear Run, Jefferson County: An increase in the amount of landowner posting has led to the removal of trout stocking from a 3.0-mile section extending from the T-486 bridge downstream to the mouth. Formerly, this water had been stocked on an in-season-only basis.
Cornplanter Run, Armstrong County: An increase in the amount of landowner posting has led to the removal of trout stocking from a 1.76-mile section extending from the Moorehead Road bridge downstream to the mouth. Formerly, this water had been stocked on a preseason-only basis.
Lake Frances, Luzerne County: This 10.9-acre impoundment has been removed from the trout stocking program due to a drawdown of the lake to allow for maintenance and repairs to the dam. Maintenance and repairs are scheduled to be completed in 2026, and the lake will be reinstated to the trout stocking program once conditions allow following refill.
Left Branch Young Womans Creek, Clinton County: Access limitations have led to the removal of the 8.4-mile section of stream from the Forest Road bridge downstream to the mouth from the trout stocking program. Formerly, this water had been stocked during the preseason and in-season stocking periods.
Rattlesnake Run, Jefferson County: An increase in the amount of landowner posting has led to the removal of trout stocking from a 2.9-mile section extending from the Beechtree Road bridge downstream to the mouth. Formerly, this water had been stocked on a preseason-only basis.
Walburn Run, Jefferson County: An increase in the amount of landowner posting has led to the removal of trout stocking from a 2.2-mile section extending from the confluence of the East Branch and West Branch Walburn Run downstream to the mouth. Formerly, this water had been stocked on a preseason-only basis.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ – www.wtaj.com.