Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2022 - 46

GOVERNOR'S
YOUTH COUNCIL
for Hunting, Fishing,
and Conservation
by John Bruner
My name is John Bruner. I am a new member of the
Governor's Youth Council for Hunting, Fishing, and
Conservation. The purpose of this council is to encourage
youth to get involved in conservation issues and to
increase teen involvement in outdoor activities. I enjoy
shooting competition archery, hunting (archery and rifle),
fishing, trapping, and hiking throughout Pennsylvania.
But, before participating in these outdoor activities, I know
the importance of knowing the rules.
Thousands of Pennsylvania anglers, me included,
will take to the streams on Saturday, April 2, thanks
to a new law announced by the Pennsylvania Fish and
Boat Commission (PFBC). Prior to 2022, opening day
of trout season for most of the state was usually the first
Saturday after April 11th. Additionally, since 2007, 18
counties in southeast Pennsylvania got a one-week jump
on trout season. Because trout are coldwater fish, and
waters east of the Blue Mountains warm up quicker, the
season started sooner in these counties. However, as with
most things in our world, COVID-19 changed the way
outdoor enthusiasts took part in trout fishing. Early in the
pandemic, to help prevent anglers from traveling across
Pennsylvania to fish, and to attempt to control crowds
along stream banks, one statewide opening day was
announced in the spring of 2020, repeated in 2021, and,
last October, the change was adopted into the PFBC code.
The change in the law to having a statewide opener
occur on the first Saturday of April, beginning in 2022,
came about based on responses from a survey of anglers
on opening day options. " Anglers liked the one-day trout
opener, " said the PFBC Executive Director, Tim Schaeffer.
Governor's Youth Council for Hunting, Fishing, and
Conservation member Brenden Leahy agrees, " I think
that the single opening day for this year's trout season
is a beneficial change that will provide anglers across
Pennsylvania an earlier opportunity to go out and fish
their favorite streams. "
One result from an earlier opener, though, included
the need for hatchery staff to get fish ready for stocking
in streams sooner, which allows for an earlier start on
growing the next generation of fish. Trout cannot be
46
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * March/April 2022
John Bruner enjoys fishing throughout Pennsylvania.
fishandboat.com
John Bruner
stocked until fish are large enough to survive in the
streams. " We are now seeing better quality and a larger size
of fish leaving the hatcheries, " said Schaeffer.
The change to the opening day also impacted the date of
Mentored Youth Trout Day. The single statewide Mentored
Youth Trout Day is now the Saturday before the opening of
the regular trout season; this year, March 26.
With this change to the rules, anglers, like myself,
can enjoy an extra week of fishing in some of the most
beautiful streams Pennsylvania has to offer. If you or
someone you know would be interested in serving on
the Governor's Youth Council for Hunting, Fishing, and
Conservation, we welcome new members throughout the
year. Stay safe, and see you on the water.
photos-courtesy of John Bruner
http://www.fishandboat.com
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2022

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