2018 regional trout season kicks off Mar. 31

With some sun and warmer temperatures, the snow we had last week should hopefully melt enough to allow access to area stream banks and lake shores for Saturday’s, March 31 regional trout opener in 18 southeastern counties. 

The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission adds that their Keystone Select Stocked Trout Waters program stocks 21 streams across the state with 14-20-inch trout. The trout, they say, will be stocked at a rate of 175-225 per mile. Anglers are invited to visit the agency’s website to see the list of these selected waters. 

After this weekends regional opening, the statewide season kicks off April 14 which opens up more trout angling waters. 

As for local stockings, the inseason plantings are as follows for Lehigh and Northampton and Berks counties.

LEHIGH COUNTY
Cedar Creek: 4-17, 5-14; Coplay Creek: 4-10, 5-2; Jordan Creek: 4-2, 4-9, 4-10, 4-11, 4-25, 5-1; Lehigh Canal: 4-6; Little Lehigh Creek: 4-17, 4-23, 5-14, 10-16; Ontelaunee Creek: 4-16; Trout Creek: 4-17; Monocacy Creek, 5-2 (Lehigh County section); Swabia Creek: 4-9, 5-2; Switzer Creek, 4-25. 

NORTHAMPTON COUNTY
Bushkill Creek: 4-17, 4-26, 5-16; Hokendauqua Creek: 4-10, 4-24, 5-1; Indian Creek: 4-10; Jacoby Creek: 4-4; Lehigh Canal: 4-6, 4-19 (Northampton County section); Little Bushkill Creek: 4-26, 5-16; Martins Creek: week of 4-2, 4-4, Monocacy Creek: 4-18, 5-2; Saucon Creek: 4-18, 5-2.
The PF&BC has added Kaercher Creek Lake in upper Berks County to the stocking list this year. Rainbow trout were stocked in this 31.9-acre lake during the preseason stocking period. 
If you seek a bit less company on opening day, portions of the Lehigh River will be stocked with rainbow and brown trout on opening day (Mar. 30), compliments of the Lehigh River Stocking Association. It’s not a bad idea to join this organization which has been stocking the river over the past few years. 

BERKS COUNTY
Allegheny Creek: 4-16; Antietam Creek: 4-12, 5-4; Antietam Reservoir: 4-12, 5-4, 11-14; Furnace Creek: 4-30; Hay Creek: 4-16, 5-4; Kaercher Creek Dam (lake): 12-11; Little Swatara Creek: 4-30; Maiden Creek: week of 4-16; Maiden Creek: week of 4-16; Manatawny Creek: 4-9, 4-26; Mill Creek: 4-3, 4-17, 4-20; Northkill Creek: 4-26; Ontelaunee Creek: 4-16; Perkiomen Creek: 4-24; Pine Creek: week of 4-16; Sacony Creek: 4-20; Scotts Run Lake: 4-30, 10-16; Spring Creek: 4-30; Swabia Creek: 4-9, 5-2; Swamp Creek: 4-16; Tulpehocken Creek: 4-2, 4-17; 4-30, 5-16, 10-15; Willow Creek: 4-12.

If you’re new to the Lehigh Valley or are seeking new waters to fish, you can readily find them with Stream Map USA’s series of eight regional apps that cover every stream locally and the lower 48 U.S. states.  

Merely type in a name of the water and you immediately get turn-by-turn driving directions to it. Search for any water across the entire region or limit your search by state or even search an individual county. Once you locate your water, simply touch the map to add a waypoint. Then tap "Go" for turn-by-turn driving directions to the water. 

Stream Map USA is produced by Gogal Publishing in Warrington, PA, and is available at the App Store and Google Play. Each edition is priced at $9.99 and is compatible on multiple devices including phones and tablets. For more information check www.StreamMapUSA.com. 
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