Poor conditions won't deter trout anglers

Neither cold temperatures nor low water conditions will deter the hardy anglers who have been counting the days until Saturday's trout season opener.

Starting at 8:00 that morning, they'll toss everything from nightcrawlers and minnows to spinners and home-tied flies into area waters, hoping to hook onto a lunker while continuing a local tradition that dates back several generations.

Many camps and seasonal homes in the region began filling early in the week as part of a ritual that boosts the economy and heralds the arrival of spring. However, this year, the weather hasn't been very cooperative.

Cold nights mean lower-thanusual stream temperatures and relatively idle trout. Snowmelt also occurred earlier than usual, leaving many waterways below their normal flows.

If the traditional streams and rivers aren't meeting anglers' expectations, they may opt instead for the always-hungry native brook trout, or turn their attention to the lake at the George B. Stevenson Dam and other flat water. Some may also slip away to fee-fishing areas.

The Pa. Fish & Boat Commission this year reduced the number of trout deposited in area waters by about 20%, but those fish that have been stocked average about 30% more body weight and another inch in length; average stocked trout this year is 11 inches.

Trout must be at least seven inches to be kept; daily creel limit is five; anglers 16 or older must be licensed.