1. (a) The Executive Director, with the approval of the Commission, may designate waters as stocked trout waters open to year-round fishing. The designation of waters as stocked trout waters open to year-round fishing shall be effective upon publication of a notice of designation in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

2. (b) It is unlawful to fish in waters designated as stocked trout waters open to year-round fishing except in compliance with the following seasons and size and creel limits. It is not a violation of this section if a trout is immediately returned unharmed to the waters from which it is taken.

   SPECIES	SEASONS	MINIMUM SIZE	DAILY LIMIT
   ALL SPECIES OF TROUT AND SALMON (except landlocked Atlantic salmon)	Regular Season: 8 a.m. of the opening day of the regular season for trout to midnight Labor Day	7 inches	5 (combined species)
   Extended Season: 12:01 a.m. day after Labor Day to midnight the third Monday in February of the following year	7 inches	3 (combined species)
   12:01 a.m. the third Monday in February to 8 a.m. the opening day of the regular season for trout	NO HARVEST—Catch and immediate release only

3. (c) It is unlawful to fish in rivers and streams designated as stocked trout waters open to year-round fishing without a current trout permit. A trout permit is not required to fish in lakes and ponds that have been designated as stocked trout waters open to year-round fishing unless the person takes, kills or possesses, while in the act of fishing, a trout or salmon on or in these waters.

Authority

The provisions of this § 65.19 issued and amended under the Fish and Boat Code, 30 Pa.C.S. § 2102.

Source

The provisions of this § 65.19 adopted October 31, 2008, effective January 1, 2009, 38 Pa.B. 5962; amended September 25, 2015, effective January 1, 2016, 45 Pa.B. 5788; amended December 10, 2021, effective January 1, 2022, 51 Pa.B. 7691. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (378414) to (378416).