The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) Board of Commissioners will consider a proposal Monday to take action to assess how stocking rainbow trout over wild brown trout in Freeman Run in Potter County will affect the wild trout population.

In addition, they will vote on a change to the Pennsylvania Code that will make it easier to create exceptions to stock over Class A wild trout populations. Their reason for these changes is purportedly to “increase angler opportunities.”

In 2020 the PFBC discontinued stocking hatchery trout in Freeman Run. That decision was backed up by scientific fish survey data collected by PFBC that documented that Freeman Run met the criteria of a Class A wild trout stream population level. Subsequent survey data has determined the wild trout population has nearly doubled. This clearly proves that a recreational fishery is sustainable using just the wild population that exists in Freeman Run. This enables stocked trout to be reallocated to other waters to expand and increase angling opportunities for all anglers.

PA Council of Trout Unlimited (PATU) believes that there should be no stocking of any species of hatchery trout in a Class A stream section. As it stands, PFBC lists 12 Class A wild brown trout stream sections which continue to be stocked. Reams of data collected by actual biologists (see studies by A. Halverson, 2010; E.R. Vincent, 1987; J. Baer and A. Brinker, 2010; and R. Carline et al., 1991) demonstrate that most, if not all, Class A wild brown trout populations increase significantly and often dramatically after stocking ceases. It is important to note that a wild trout population in a mountain freestone stream such as Freeman Run is considered a fragile population.

Despite all the data, the commissioners propose to conduct this study on a section of Freeman Run; a study that has already determined that stocking rainbow trout over wild brown species is detrimental. For years, PATU and trout anglers in Pennsylvania have fought for the preservation of wild trout fisheries and protection of Class A streams. Due to pressure by special interests on the PFBC, these protections are in jeopardy.

Wild trout streams are their own sustainable hatchery and provide the opportunity for yearlong angling. There is no downside to allowing wild trout to flourish in their unique habitat; PFBC can reallocate limited hatchery trout to new waters and expand fishing, while maintaining year-round opportunities in our wild trout streams. The PFBC needs to hear from all anglers — whether you prefer stocked or wild trout — as this decision will directly affect you. If the PFBC stocks Freeman Run again through an exception, then other Class A wild trout streams will follow suit in the future. As hatchery fish are reallocated to Class A streams for stocking, they will be taken away from areas that are currently being stocked.

PATU is seeking as many people as possible to attend the PFBC meeting in person Monday and provide comments. Their quarterly meeting starts at 10 a.m. and will be held at PFBC headquarters located at 1601 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110. You can also provide written comments by sending an email to Patty Heinbaugh at pheinbaugh@pa.gov. In the subject line, please specify “Freeman Run-Send to all commissioners.”

Anyone willing to comment at the meeting Monday is asked to email Dave Rothrock at daver2@comcast.net to coordinate.

“This is the time for the trout anglers of Pennsylvania to speak up and make their voices heard. Our license dollars should not benefit special interests but should expand our angling opportunities with new stream miles of wild trout and hatchery trout,” Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited representatives said.