Welcome to The Muddy Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited's Call to Action Page. This page is dedicated to environmental issues that need to be addressed. Please look over the articles and make your opinions known to your state representatives.
Your voice can be a powerful tool!
PF&BC Regulation Changes
The Pennsylvania Fish & BoatCommission has proposed rulemaking changes up for public comment regarding the number of special regulation catagories currently in effect. As you may already know, the Selective Harvest ALO catagory has been dropped and these streams were lumped into the Trophy Trout ALO catagory. This change protects the Codorus Creek’s wild trout to 14” instead of the previous 11” size limit. This was good news for Codorus Creek wild trout anglers. As you can see below, the new proposals will protect the wild trout populations even more. The desire to consolidate regulations and reduce confusion came from the 2002 Trout Summit where anglers from around the state gathered to brainstorm with the F&BC to improve trout fishing opportunities.
One of the changes that affects Muddy Creek is the Delayed Harvest Fly Fishing Only and Heritage Trout Angling (affecting 33 waters) would be combined to Catch and Release FFO with no harvest period. Other proposed changes important to conservation minded anglers include the two trophy
trout regulations. The minimum size for harvest has been increased from two fish at 14” to one fi sh at 24”, while the harvest period would be year round.
This is one detail we are not pleased about because the largest fish can be targeted in the fall while spawning time is in full swing. Also, the vast majority of the streams that have Trophy Trout ALO and Trophy Trout All Tackle regulations are not capable of producing many, if any fish over 24”. (ie; Codorus Creek) This could bring undue pressure to these streams from anglers in search of that “wall mount” trophy fish that just isn’t there. Add to this the year round harvest, and (where legal) All Tackle regulations, and the incidental
mortality rates could negatively impact the wild trout population. The other option on the chart below is the
Catch & Release focus being presented as an alternative to the Trophy Trout focus. MCTU and PA Trout feel this is the more sensible and conservation minded choice
for protecting our wild trout resources. Streams like the Codorus Creek, Little Juniata, Penns Creek, Fishing Creek, etc., can only improve as wild trout fisheries with a catch and release focus.
Please write a simple letter stating your preference toward the C&R or Trophy Trout focus by June 15th to have an impact on the Commission meetings on July 18 and 19. Your email comments which must include your name and address should be sent to dausten@state.pa.us or by USPO mail to Dr. Douglas Austen, PFBC, P.O. Box 67000, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000.
Help to make a difference for Wild Trout!
