Photo by Rod Cochran.

Though Pennsylvania's mid-April "official" trout opener is still a couple of months away, plenty of trout-fishing options exist for hardy anglers willing to pursue them in winter. All across the state there are lakes, streams and reservoir tailraces where good numbers of trout may be found.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission offers a number of management programs that benefit the state's winter trout fishery. An important one is the winter trout-stocking program, wherein select lakes and ponds are stocked at intervals throughout the cold-weather season. Stocking takes place during both early winter and late winter.

The frequency with which lakes are stocked varies. The commission's popular Delayed Harvest Program also adds to the list of possible waters, since many of these streams receive stockings of trout in fall once the water temperatures drop.

Also, certain tailrace areas tend to hold trout throughout the winter months.

"The commission's winter trout management program is designed to provide recreational trout angling opportunities at this time of year," said Tom Greene, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's Cold Water Unit leader.

He explained that early-winter stockings run from November through December, with late-winter stockings occurring in January and February. Greene noted that two tailwaters areas are also stocked, including at the Shenango and Youghiogheny dams. Many lakes are also stocked during fall, a change made several years ago.

The total number of fish stocked in a particular waterway may not change, but staggered stockings -- from late fall through late winter --spreads out the recreation potential over a longer time period.

"There's a good following of anglers who utilize stocked waters in winter," noted Greene. "Certainly it's not as heavy as during spring, when traditional trout angling takes place in Pennsylvania, but there are folks out there at this time of year. They enjoy the sport that's available. Stocking these lakes and tailwaters sections provides trout fishing opportunities that otherwise would not be there."

Wintertime options on Pennsylvania's lakes and ponds consist of open water and ice-fishing action. Naturally, weather is a factor.

During mild winters, such as the one experienced last year (especially during the early portion of the winter,) hardwater opportunities will be limited. In general, ice-fishing opportunities are more likely in the northern portions of the state, as well as in areas of higher elevations such as those found in the Laurel Highlands of southwestern Pennsylvania.