Come Saturday morning May 2, there will be yelps, clucks and gobbles emanating from Pennsylvania woodlands. That’s because it’s the start of the spring turkey hunting season that was preceded by a one-day mentored youth turkey hunt on April 25. 

The spring turkey season runs until May 16 when hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour before sunrise to noon, and May 18-30, when hunting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. 

Hunters are allowed one gobbler with their general license and a second one may be taken (but not on the same day) with an additional spring gobbler tag. And there is no Sunday hunting for spring gobblers this year, but that will change in 2027.

According to Reina Tyl, PGC turkey biologist, this season should be a good one. And for a little history, back in 1968, the state’s first spring gobbler season, the total harvest was 1,636 birds. In comparison, last year hunters took an estimated 42,543 birds. That was not far off the all-time record of 44,639, set in 2009.

Spring gobbler popularity has also increased. In 2025 Pennsylvania has an estimated 170,265 spring turkey hunters of which 10,701 were junior hunters.

As far as hunt able birds, Tyl says that according to summer sighting surveys, there was a poult-to-hen ratio that increased from 2.0 to an average of 3.22. “Those males that hatched in 2024 will be 2-year-old gobblers this spring turkey season.” Tyl continued by reporting that nearly one in four hunters (23 percent) harvested at least one gobbler last year.

If you’re new to the state, and during spring turkey season, hunters may use manually operated or semi-auto shotguns limited to a three-shell capacity in the chamber and magazine combined. Muzzleloader shotguns, crossbows and long, recurve and compound bows are permitted. Hunters should refrain from knowingly harvest a bearded hen because they do nest and raise broods.

For those using blinds while turkey hunting, they must be manufactured with manmade materials of sufficient  density to block movement within the blind from an observer outside the blind. Blinds must completely enclose the hunter on all four sides and from above. It’s unlawful to hunt turkeys from blinds made of natural materials such as logs, tree branches and piled rocks. Blinds that are advertised representing the fanned tail of a gobbler do not hide all hunter movement and are unsafe, and therefore are unlawful to use in Pennsylvania. 

Another safety reminder is that hunters may only pursue birds by calling. It’s unlawful to stalk turkeys or turkey sounds. 

You’re also asked you report turkeys harvested or found with leg bands or radio transmitters. Leg bands can be reported by calling the toll-free number on the tag or on the PGC website or email address. 

If you’re new to spring gobble hunting, the PGC offers this advice. As gobblers want to be seen and heard by hens, they’ll often choose roost sites that maximize how far their gobbling will travel. They’ll often display near field edges and forest openings like logging roads that increase their odds of being seen. 
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Upon harvesting a turkey, hunters must immediately tag their bird before moving it from the harvest site and must report the harvest to the PGC within 10 days. Hunters can report turkeys three ways: by visiting https://HuntFish.PA.gov and clicking the blue “Report a Harvest” button near the top of the page; by calling 800-838-4431 or by filling out and mailing the harvest report card in the hunting digest that comes when buying a hunting license. 

This past Saturday, Rangers Rod & Gun Club in Coplay hosted 35 children and two adults with chronic and terminal illnesses for a Dream Come True program fishing contest at their lake. 

According to Brenda Keyser, Ranger event coordinator, this is the 42nd year Ranger has hosted the Dream Come True fishing contest that was dubbed LEGO FISHING, which means “Let’s Go Fishing,” and is a spinoff from the Lego building block theme.  

The club stocks over $27,000 worth of brook, rainbow, brown and palomino trout in their lake for the contest, and before the lake opens to their members for fishing following the contest. All this is paid for by club membership dues and generous donations from local companies and individuals. And this includes fishing rods, reels, t-shirt, tackle bags, name tags and other gifts.  
Several Ranger members also furnish their own tackle for the Dreamers to use. And at the completion of the contest, club volunteers filet the Dreamers’ catches so they can take them home. The club also provides food and drinks for all. 

And if you’re at all familiar with or have heard about the quality of fish Rangers stocks, they’re all keepers and some real lunkers. 

Dream Come True was founded in 1984 by local businessman Kostos Kalogeropoulos for terminally ill children ages 4-17. Kostos had a dream back then of giving every sick child a chance to forget their struggles and smile.

If my memory serves me correctly, Kalogeropoulos also established a Ronald McDonalds House for children. 

FISH w/a COP FISHING DERBY

Salisbury and Emmaus Police Departments are teaming up to host a Come Fish w/a Cop event on Saturday, April 25, from 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. at Furnace Dam, 451 S. 10th Street, Emmaus. Fishing pole sets will be given to the first 40 youths under 18. For more information call Emmaus Police at 610-4347-5252 or Salisbury Police Department at 610-797-1447. 

TROUT STOCKINGS

There has been a change in the trout stocking date for the Lower Jordan Creek as listed in the fish commissions stocking schedule. The stocking has been delayed until April 28 due to low water conditions at which time two stocking trucks from the state hatchery will provide the trout. 
LEHIGH RIVER 2026 TROUT TOURNAMENT

The non-profit Lehigh River Stocking Association is hosting their Lehigh River Trout Tournament that is set for May 2 through June 6, 2026. 

The Lehigh River will be stocked from Northampton to Jim Thorpe for the event, with tagged fish in every section that was stocked. Prizes for tagged fish include fishing trips even to the Salmon River, fishing equipment and merchandise gift cards. Catch and release is encouraged and if catching a tagged fish, merely pull or snip off the tag which can be found near the dorsal fin. 
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There’s an entry fee of $20 and anglers can sign up online at www.lrsa.org. 

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​By the time you read this, Pennsylvania’s in-season trout season got underway. The following are the streams that have recently been stocked or are about to be stocked in Lehigh and Northampton counties. Selected sections of a stream may by stocked on one date, while other adjoining sections will be stocked on another date. The best bet is to check the stocking schedule on the Fish and Boat Commission’s website (Fishandboat.com) to identify the section. 

For Lehigh County, the following streams are stocked or will be with the species listed:

4-10: Little Lehigh (Rainbow, Golden); Swabia Creek (Brown, Rainbow, Golden)
4-11: Jordan Creek3 (Brown, Rainbow, Golden)
4-13: Little Lehigh (Brown, Rainbow, Golden)
4-14: Coplay Creek2 (Rainbow)
4-15: Jordan Creek3 (Brown, Rainbow, Golden); Switzer Creek (Brown, Rainbow, Golden)
4-17: Jordan Creek6 (Brown, Rainbow, Golden)
4-21: Ontelaunee Creek2,4 (Brown, Rainbow)
4-22: Cedar Creek3 (Rainbow); Little Lehigh (Rainbow); Swabia Creek (Brown, Rainbow, Golden)
4-28: Jordan Creek6 (Brown, Rainbow, Golden)
4-29: Coplay Creek2 (Rainbow); Trout Creek2 (Rainbow)
4-30: Jordan Creek4 (Brown, Rainbow, Golden)

In Northampton County: 

4-9: Hokendauqua Creek2,4,5 (Brown, Rainbow, Golden
4-13: Martins Creek (Rainbow); Indian Creek (Rainbow, Golden); Monocacy Creek3 (Rainbow);   Saucon Creek (Rainbow)
4-15: Lehigh Canal (Rainbow, Golden)
4-16: Jacoby Creek2 (Brown, Rainbow, Golden); Martins Creek (Rainbow)
4-20: Bushkill Creek2,5,7 (Brown, Rainbow, Golden); Little Bushkill2 (Brown, Rainbow)
4-24: Hokendauqua Creek (Brown, Rainbow, Golden)
4-25: Minsi Lake (Rainbow, Golden)
4-27: Bushkill5 (Brown, Brook, Rainbow)
After these, some of the streams will be scheduled for fall stockings beginning in October.

WHITEHALL’S ANNUAL YOUTH FISHING DERBY
Whitehall Township is hosting their 40th annual Youth Trout Fishing Derby on the Coplay Creek May 30, 2026 at Hokendauqua Park on Lehigh Street. 

The event is a community program for children 15 years of age and under. Over the years, it often has more than 100 participants. Prizes will be awarded in four age groups for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place with an overall prize for the youth that catches the largest fish. 

For registration information, call Michele Dragovits at the Whitehall Township Municipal Building at 610-437-5524 ext. 1165. 

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There’s an old fishermen’s theory that when the yellow forsythia bloom, shad start their migration up the Delaware River. 

Well that must be true as reports from the Delaware River Shad Fishermen’s website is showing numerous catches of buck and roe shad begin caught from the Philadelphia stretch, through Easton on up to Sandt’s Eddy.
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The latest reports were that shad were being caught from above the Delaware Water Gap (approx.. river mile 210) down to Yardley (approx. river mile 138) or at least 72 miles of river so far. Shad were also caught at Yardley. One angler reported catching 18 in one day and kept two roe. Another angler caught 16 for 20 in five hours on Good Friday, but left the river in the afternoon because the debris floating down became heavier than it was in the morning. 

Also on Friday morning, Chuck Gainey managed to land 26 of 34 on pink/white Shadillac Fishing Lures both flutterspoons and Shad Raps. 

Angler Sam Malespina reported there are a few stripers coming up the river, which is a bit early in the season. 

Last Thursday, Shawn Richard reported plenty of shad in the river as he fished for 4-5 hours and went 45 for 54 with a couple of triples and some doubles with all under 3.5 pounds and there was no lull in the action. 

From these early reports, shad are preferring the traditional flutterspoons, Shad Raps and original shad darts in white or pink. And don’t forget about the Delaware River Shad Fishing Tournament scheduled for April 17 and 18 with an entry charge of $25 and $18 for anglers under 18. To register go to www.osoutdoorsnj.com or call 609-227-8142.

If the mention of stripers got your interest, On the Water Magazine offers the following New Jersey tackle shop reports:

Capt. Phil Sciortino at the Tackle Box in Hazlet, says stripers are starting to spread out along the Bayshore and hitting bloodworms and plugs. 

Mike Pinto at Giglio’s Bait and Tackle in Sea Bright, reports that he hasn’t received many striper catches, but to entice them, bunker have arrived in Raritan Bay - stripers favorite bait. 
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Mike Gleason at Tak Waterman in Long Branch, said the striper bite is still a bit of a pick in the Raritan River, but more anglers are going out for them so more catch reports should be forthcoming.