Pennsylvania Trout Season Opens April 4 With 3.2 Million Fish Stocked

R.B. Winter State Park in Mifflinburg will be among the first Union County waters crowded with rods at 8 a.m. Saturday, when Pennsylvania's statewide Opening Day of Trout Season arrives for the first time since the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission finished stocking 3.2 million adult trout across 684 streams and 130 lakes.

The PFBC will stock approximately 3.2 million adult trout in 684 streams and 130 lakes open to public angling for the 2026 season. That total breaks down to about 2.3 million Rainbow Trout, 698,000 Brown Trout, and 128,000 Brook Trout, with most fish averaging about 11 inches and weighing approximately 0.58 pounds. Mixed into those numbers are roughly 72,000 larger trophy-sized trout measuring between 14 and 20 inches, along with about 18,000 golden Rainbow Trout averaging 1.5 pounds. Partner sportsmen's groups and cooperative nurseries will contribute another 1.1 million trout on top of the commission's own haul.

R.B. Winter State Park, outside Mifflinburg on the western edge of Union County, has served as a flagship early-season stocking site. Stocking operations began the week of February 16, with Pennsylvania's Opening Day set for Saturday, April 4, and a Mentored Youth Trout Day already held on March 28. Between the February start of stocking and Opening Day tomorrow, fishing has not been allowed on stocked trout waters.

Before reaching the water, every angler needs a valid Pennsylvania fishing license. Permits and licenses are available through the Huntfish.pa.gov online portal or in person at nearly 700 license issuing agents statewide, and a digital image of a fishing license stored on a phone can serve as proof of possession. The standard creel limit for the regular season, which runs through Labor Day, allows anglers to keep up to five trout per day of any species, provided each fish measures at least seven inches.

Cold-water enforcement will be active at the access points likely to see the heaviest foot traffic near Lewisburg, Mifflinburg and New Berlin. Anglers who plan to fish from a boat on Opening Day are reminded that the PFBC's cold weather life jacket requirement is in effect from November 1 through April 30, requiring anyone aboard a boat less than 16 feet, including all canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards, to wear a life jacket. April stream conditions in central Pennsylvania mean fast-moving, cold runoff, and wet rocks that can turn a misstep into a dangerous wading situation.

Trout fishing opportunities will continue to be abundant statewide, with replenishment stockings occurring throughout the spring. Anglers can search stocking dates and waterway-specific species by county at FishandBoat.com before heading out Saturday morning.

Formatted output:

R.B. Winter State Park in Mifflinburg will be among the first Union County waters crowded with rods at 8 a.m. Saturday, when Pennsylvania's statewide Opening Day of Trout Season arrives on the back of the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission's largest annual stocking effort.

The PFBC will stock approximately 3.2 million adult trout in 684 streams and 130 lakes open to public angling for the 2026 season. That total breaks down to about 2.3 million Rainbow Trout, 698,000 Brown Trout, and 128,000 Brook Trout, with most stocked fish averaging about 11 inches and weighing approximately 0.58 pounds. Woven into the count are roughly 72,000 larger trophy-sized trout measuring between 14 and 20 inches, along with about 18,000 golden Rainbow Trout averaging 1.5 pounds. Partner sportsmen's groups and cooperative nurseries will add another 1.1 million trout on top of the commission's own total.

R.B. Winter State Park, situated outside Mifflinburg on the western edge of Union County, has served as a flagship early-season stocking site, drawing state officials and anglers alike each February. Stocking operations began the week of February 16, with Opening Day set for Saturday, April 4. From that February start date through Friday, fishing has not been allowed on stocked trout waters, meaning the fish waiting in local streams and at R.B. Winter have had weeks to acclimate before the season opener.

Before reaching the bank, every angler needs a valid Pennsylvania fishing license in hand or on their phone. Licenses and permits are available through the Huntfish.pa.gov online portal or in person at nearly 700 license issuing agents statewide, and a digital image of a fishing license stored on a phone counts as proof of possession. The standard creel limit for the regular season, which runs through Labor Day, allows anglers to keep up to five trout per day of any species, with a minimum size of seven inches.

Cold-water enforcement will be active at the access points expected to draw the heaviest crowds near Lewisburg, Mifflinburg and New Berlin. The PFBC's cold weather life jacket requirement runs from November 1 through April 30, requiring anyone aboard a boat less than 16 feet, including canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards, to wear a life jacket. Beyond the boat rule, early April stream conditions in central Pennsylvania bring fast-moving runoff and ice-cold current; wet rocks at popular wading spots can make a quick misstep into a serious hazard.

Replenishment stockings will continue throughout the spring for anglers who miss Opening Day or want to return to familiar water later in the season. The full stocking schedule, searchable by county and waterway, is available at FishandBoat.com.