Courtesy of PFBC
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) announced on Thursday that the 2026 adult trout stocking schedule is now available.
PFBC says the trout stocking schedule is searchable by county, lists the waterways in alphabetical order, and indicates stocking dates, meeting locations for volunteers, and the species of trout that are planned to be stocked at each location.
Pennsylvania’s statewide Opening Day of Trout Season will be held on Saturday, April 4. A single, statewide Mentored Youth Trout Day will take place on Saturday, March 28, according to officials.
The release says to prepare for the start of the season, stocking operations are set to begin during the week of February 16. Anglers should note that fishing is not permitted on lakes and streams designated as Stocked Trout Waters from February 16 to 8 a.m. on the opening day of trout season (April 4), with the exception of the Mentored Youth Trout Fishing Day (March 28), unless waters are included in the Stocked Trout Waters Open to Year-Round Fishing program.
The PFBC says they will stock approximately 3.2 million adult trout in 684 streams, and 130 lakes open to public angling. These figures, which are consistent with the number of trout stocked over the past decade, include approximately 2.3 million Rainbow Trout; 698,000 Brown Trout; and 128,000 Brook Trout. As with past practice, the average size of the trout produced for stocking is 11 inches in length with an average weight of .58 pounds.
Courtesy of PFBC
The release says the PFBC will stock approximately 72,000 trophy-sized brood fish, which are 2 ½ year-old and 3 ½ year-old hatchery-raised Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, and Brook Trout measuring 14-20 inches. Roughly 75% of these large fish will be stocked into streams and lakes during the preseason prior to opening day of trout season, and 25% will be stocked during in-season replenishment stockings.
The PFBC says they will stock approximately 18,000 golden Rainbow Trout during 2026. In addition to being stocked during the preseason period before opening day, these highly prized fish featuring vibrant golden-orange pigmentation and weighing an average of 1.5 pounds will be stocked during in-season replenishment stockings. Approximately 75% of golden Rainbow Trout will be stocked during the preseason, and approximately 25% will be stocked in-season.
In addition to trout raised at state fish hatcheries, PFBC cooperative nurseries operated by sportsmen’s clubs and other groups across the state will add another 1.1 million trout to waters open to public angling throughout the year.
Anglers looking for stocked trout fishing opportunities ahead of the opening day should explore Keystone Select Stocked Trout Waters, a program where sections of 24 streams across the state are stocked with large trout measuring 14-20 inches and managed under Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only or Miscellaneous Special regulations.
Volunteers
The release says PFBC will be welcoming volunteers to help distribute approximately 3.2 million hatchery-raised adult trout to hundreds of waterways statewide throughout the 2026 season. Volunteers are asked to keep the safety of PFBC staff and other volunteers in mind and obey traffic laws while following stocking vehicles. Individuals or small groups of volunteers (1-4 people) do not need to register to help stock trout, but larger groups should coordinate stocking plans in advance by contacting their regional PFBC law enforcement office to ensure they can be accommodated.
Volunteer Carter Gundy Stocking Trout in Manada Creek Dauphin County
Courtesy of PFBC
Licenses and Permits
Officials say to participate in trout fishing and keep trout, anglers ages 16 and older are required to possess both a fishing license and a trout permit. Anglers and boaters can start preparing for opening day of trout season right now by purchasing their 2026 Pennsylvania fishing licenses, launch permits, and boat registration renewals using the HuntFish.pa.gov online portal or by visiting one of approximately 700 retail license issuing agents. Anglers may store an image of their license digitally on their phones as proof of possession.
2026 Adult Trout Stocking Program Changes
Each year, the PFBC adjusts its adult trout stocking program based on several factors. A waterway may be added, extended, reinstated, or removed depending on existing or pending changes to angler access, changes to designations on streams managed for wild trout populations, water quality issues that may threaten the survival of stocked trout, and maintenance being performed to dams and other infrastructure that result in the drawdown of impoundments or decreased water flow.
The following waters were added or revised according to the release.
Waters Added:
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 into 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.