The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has made changes to its stocking plans because of environmental changes or upgrading waters to wild trout management status.
Some significant changes are planned for Potter County streams.
Based on the presence of a Class A wild brown trout population in the Middle Branch Genesee River, trout stocking will be discontinued in favor of wild trout management on the 5.7-mile section of stream extending from the Gazdag Road bridge downstream to the mouth.
The water was stocked in both the preseason and in-season stocking periods, and those fish will now be stocked in Oswayo Creek.
Also in Potter County, on the West Branch Genesee River, the presence of a Class A wild brown trout population means trout stocking will be discontinued in favor of wild trout management on the 4.9-mile section of stream extending from the confluence of Rose Lake Run downstream to the mouth.
“When a water is designated as a Class A wild trout stream, it is among the ‘best of the best’ of the wild trout streams in Pennsylvania,” the PFBC said in a release. “These streams support a population of natural reproducing trout of sufficient size and abundance that support a long-term and rewarding fishery, and do not require stocking to sustain the fishery.”
The commission said removing a Class A stream from the Stocked Trout Waters Program also allows stocking efforts to be moved to other waters.
Located near Shinglehouse in Potter County, an 8.1-mile section of Oswayo Creek, extending from Post Hollow Road bridge downstream to Horse Run Road bridge, will be added to the adult trout stocking program. Brown trout and rainbow trout will be stocked during the preseason and in-season stocking periods.