Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 61

CURRENTS
Commissioners Propose Slot Limit on Section 03 of Penns Creek
Anglers visiting the popular Section 03 of Penns Creek
in Centre County can expect to have continued high quality
angling and could see larger trout in coming years if a
proposed regulation change approved by the Pennsylvania
Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC) Board of Commissioners
becomes final next year.
Commissioners approved a notice of proposed
rulemaking to establish a harvest slot limit on Section 03 of
Penns Creek, which stretches from the confluence with Elk
Creek downstream seven miles to 650 yards downstream of
Swift Run. The harvest slot limit would replace the current
All-Tackle Trophy Trout regulations.
The change is designed to improve the size structure of
the wild trout population in this section. Under the proposed
special regulation, anglers could harvest two trout per day
provided the trout are at least 7 inches but less than 12 inches
in length. The regulation would apply from opening day of
trout season through Labor Day, with catch and release for
the remainder of the year. All tackle would be permitted.
“Penns Creek provides a unique opportunity to evaluate
a new special regulation on a productive limestone stream,”
said Dave Miko, chief of PFBC Division of Fisheries
Management. “The new regulation would direct limited
harvest to intermediate-sized fish while protecting larger
fish in the population. The other components of the new
regulation are the same as the current regulation.”
“The productive nature of Penns Creek provides ideal
conditions to allow for a favorable response of the wild
brown trout population to trend toward larger sizes than may
be occurring under the current regulations,” said Miko.
The proposed special regulation will be open for public
comment for 30 days after it is officially published in the
Pennsylvania Bulletin. If approved at a subsequent board
meeting, the special regulation would take effect January 1,
2014, for a seven-year period ending December 31, 2020.

During this time, the trout population would be monitored
to determine the effectiveness of the regulation at meeting
biological and social objectives for the Penns Creek fishery.
In other action, Commissioners:
• Added 17 waters in Armstrong, Cambria, Clarion, Elk,
Fayette, Schuylkill, Somerset and Wyoming counties to
the list of wild trout streams. The list can be found on
the Commission’s website.
• Added four stream sections in Cambria, Fayette,
Somerset and Wyoming counties to the list of Class
A wild trout streams. The list can be found on the
Commission’s website.
• Authorized staff to purchase property rights along
Caldwell Creek in Southwest Township, Warren County.
The PFBC has been offered a public fishing access and
conservation easement over approximately 1,940 linear
feet along one side of Caldwell Creek as it flows through
the property for $12,500. The easement area is located
near Dotyville Road in Southwest Township. The
easement will be for public fishing, boating, and riparian
and fishery management and will include the stream
corridor and extend 35 feet back from the top of the
bank. The Middle Allegheny Tionesta Watershed ranks
10th in the Pennsylvania Fishing & Boating Access
Strategy. The strategy identifies portions of Caldwell
Creek needing additional public access. Caldwell Creek
receives trout stockings in this area, and the acquisition
of the subject rights will ensure public access to these
fishing opportunities.
Visit www.fishandboat.com for more information.
For video, go to www.fishandboat.com/images/video/
commission-meetings/1-24-13meeting-video/1-2413video.htm.

Registration is Now Open for the 2013 Great American Cleanup of PA
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful announced that registration
is open for the 2013 Great American Cleanup of PA. This
event is held in conjunction with the Great American
Cleanup of Keep America Beautiful and in partnership
with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
and Pennsylvania Waste Industries Association. Additional
partners include the American Chemistry Council,
Greenstar Recycling, Pennsylvania Beverage Association,
Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association, Republic
Services, Steel Recycling Institute and Weis Markets.
The 2013 Great American Cleanup of PA will begin on
March 1 and end on May 31. During this period, registered
events can get free trash bags, gloves and safety vests from
the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s district
offices. Events consist of litter cleanups, illegal dump
PFBC website: www.fishandboat.com

cleanups, beautification projects, special collections and
educational events. Events must be registered through the
Great American Cleanup of PA website to get these free
cleanup supplies.
As part of this event, the Pennsylvania Department
of Environmental Protection and Pennsylvania Waste
Industries Association are sponsoring Let’s Pick It Up PA—
Everyday. During the Pick It Up PA Days, registered event
coordinators will be able to take the trash collected during
their cleanup to participating landfills for free disposal. The
Let’s Pick It Up PA—Everyday event will begin on April 20
and end on May 6. The focus day will be April 20.
To register your event, find an event near you or obtain
additional resources on the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful
Great American Cleanup of PA, visit www.gacofpa.org.

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March/April 2013

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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013

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