Winter 2015 An ler's Calendar There are fishing opportunities in all four seasons. The four seasons of the year are a result of the Earth's position to the sun. While the calendar shows four seasons, the angler's calendar has much more. Often, anglers talk about the season as the time when a particular fish can be kept or harvested. The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC) establishes and regulates these fishing seasons. The opening day of trout season is in the spring and is one of the most anticipated days of the year for anglers. The opening day for bass is during the summer, and the opening day for Walleyes, Saugers and saugeyes is between the trout and bass opening days. Fall provides the opportunity for anglers to try Lake Erie steelhead fishing. Fall is also a great time to fish for crappies and other species of panfish. Some anglers look forward to winter fishing. This issue is about the angler's calendar and includes information on seasons and regulations. VOCABULARY (Watch for the first time these words appear!) * Closed season - period of time when fish * minimum size - specified length of fish may not be in possession and must be required in order to possess and harvest released unharmed * open season - period of time when fish * Creel limit - the number of fish that an may be in possession and harvested angler may keep in one day during the * Population - all fish of a certain species open season within a water * extended season - sections of approved * regional opening day - only waters water with a longer fishing period listed in the Regional Opening Day of * harvest - to possess or keep fish, the Trout Season Program opposite of catch and release * regulation - fishing rule passed by the * inland Waters - bodies of water that are Commission not connected directly to the ocean * rulemaking - the process to create * Juvenile - young fish that have not yet a regulation matured into adults * spawning - reproduction of mature PFBC website: www.fishandboat.com Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * January/February 2015 fish 45