Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2021 - 59

CURRENTS
the Commission's list of wild trout streams and revised
the section limits of three waters currently listed.
These additions and revisions will go into effect upon
the publication of a second notice in the Pennsylvania
Bulletin. A list of waters proposed for wild trout stream
and Class A Wild Trout Stream designation can be found
on the PFBC website.
The Board approved the publication of proposed
rulemaking pertaining to authorized devices for ice
fishing. The proposed amendments to 58 Pa. Code § 63.10
(Ice Fishing) and § 63.6 (Authorized Devices for Game
Fish, Baitfish, and Fishbait) would allow for legal use of
devices such as the JawJacker, Automatic Fisherman, Easy
Set Hooksetter, Sure Shot Hooksetter, and Brocraft Ice
Fishing Tip-up while ice fishing.
Over the past several ice fishing seasons, anglers have
repeatedly asked the PFBC whether these devices are legal.
These devices consist of a rod holder, which allows anglers
to put a bend in the fishing rod and pre-load it with the aid
of a triggering device. When a fish takes the lure or bait,
tension on the fishing line causes the trigger mechanism to
release the rod, which automatically sets the hook without
additional assistance by the angler. The angler is then free
to fight the fish with a normal fishing rod and reel.
Under the proposed changes, anglers must still be
active participants in fishing, be near their equipment,
and land the fish as quickly as possible.
If approved on final rulemaking at a future meeting, the
new regulations will go into effect upon publication of a
second notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Pertaining to real estate matters, Commissioners
authorized the acquisition of an easement along 1,675

linear feet of Crooked Creek in Springfield Township,
Erie County. Pending due diligence, the PFBC will pay
$30,000 for the easement on the property along Holiday
Road in Springboro, PA, which will be used for public
fishing, boating, and riparian and fishery management.
The easement will provide significant steelhead fishing
opportunities in the area.
The Board authorized the sale of property located
in Woodbury Township, Blair County. PennDOT,
which will pay fair market value for the property,
will require approximately 0.09 acres of permanent
slope right-of-way and approximately 0.15 acres of
temporary construction easement to perform a bridge
replacement on State Route 2020-02B over Piney
Creek. The project will not have a long-term adverse
impact on the site and will improve public safety. This
conveyance will be subject to PFBC staff performing
the necessary due diligence.
In Allegheny County, Commissioners approved the
sale of approximately 3.2 acres of property known as the
President Access located along the Allegheny River in
President Township, Venango County. The PFBC will
sell the property to an adjoining property owner for
$5,000 and an easement located on the property owner's
property for Commission staff to use an existing
boat ramp and for parking. A non-profit group has
secured funding for a restoration project to remove any
unwanted manmade structure on the property and has
committed to allow work on his adjoining property. The
described disposition will not have an adverse impact
on public fishing and boating and will allow for better
use of an asset.

Take Part in the
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission

PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST

Winning entries will appear in a feature article in a
future issue of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater and on the
Commission's Facebook page. The contest will run from
November 1, 2020 through August 31, 2021.
Entries must be e-mailed to sgearhart@pa.gov. The
following information must be included in the e-mail.
*	 Entrant's Name
*	 Entrant's Address
*	 Entrant's Phone Number
*	 Entrant's E-mail
*	 Photo Description (location, county, species, etc.)
*	 Date of Photo
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2021

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