Keystone Lake is scheduled for a Feb. 12 stocking from the Tellico facility. For park information, contact the Keystone State Park office, 1150 Keystone Park Road, Derry, PA 15627-3679; or call (724) 668-2939.

Even the smallest steelhead are bigger than most of the trout that get stocked for ice-fishing, and some will weigh more than 10 pounds.

MAMMOTH DAM
Mammoth Dam is in the south-central part of Westmoreland County in Mammoth County Park. Approaching by way of U.S. Route 30, turn at the traffic light onto state Route 981 south. At the four-way stop, turn right toward the airport. Continue straight and turn left onto state Route 130.

Go east 1.2 miles to the next stop sign and turn right. Continue straight for 2.2 miles and turn right onto Blacksmith Road.

The park entrance is one-half mile down the road on the left.

Stocking at this 24-acre lake is scheduled for Feb. 12.

NORTHMORELAND LAKE
Northmoreland Lake is another rainbow trout fishery with a Feb. 12 stocking date. This lake is tiny, at 17 acres, so finding trout should be no problem. But the flip side, of course, is that the trout can be cleaned out rather quickly.

Northmoreland Lake is in Northmoreland Park, a county park. Take U.S. Route 22 from the Pittsburgh area towards Delmont and turn north onto state Route 66. Go to the intersection of state Route 356 and turn left. Northmoreland Park is three miles north.

LAUREL HILL LAKE
Look for more February ice-fishing at Laurel Hill Lake, which is scheduled for a Feb. 5 stocking. This is a medium-size stocked trout lake with a surface area of 63 acres.

The previous stocking during October was from the Tellico facility. However, this February stocking will be from the Reynoldsville Fish Cultural Station.

Though situated along the southern tier of counties where ice conditions may be questionable, this lake is at a higher elevation that should lend itself to colder temperatures.

Laurel Hill Lake is in Laurel Hill State Park on the eastern edge of Somerset County along Laurel Ridge. From the west along Interstate Route 76, take the exit at Somerset and go west on state Route 31 from Somerset for eight miles, turn left onto Trent Road and follow the directional signs to Laurel Hill State Park.

Get information about the park by contacting the Park office, 1454 Laurel Hill Park Road, Somerset, PA 15501-5629; or call (814) 445-7725.

Two western Pennsylvania rivers are stocked with trout during December, providing good opportunities for fishermen who prefer open water to ice-fishing.

SHENANGO DAM
TAILWATER
The Shenango Dam tailwater is scheduled for a Feb. 6 stocking, one of few waterways in the Commonwealth with a year-round stocking program. This is perhaps more of a put-and-take fishery than other year-round programs, because the fish are confined to the dam’s tailwater area.

There is a similar program at the Youghiogheny Dam tailwaters.

Unlike other February trout stockings in the Northwest Region, this is an open-water fishing opportunity. It’s still winter, nonetheless, so fishing tactics should be modified.

Slower and lower is the key, with trout being a bit sluggish and tending to hug the bottom.

Try black marabou jigs if you prefer to stick with artificial lures.

Bait is probably more effective. A strung minnow is a likely way to tie into some action -- probably better than a livelier, lip-hooked minnow because you can set the hook immediately on the strike.

YOUGHIOGHENY DAM
TAILWATER
The Youghiogheny Dam tailwater is the beginning of a long trout fishery, one of the premier trout waters in Pennsylvania. While the Youghiogheny River below the dam is stocked typically, the tailwater area is one of a select few of our waterways that are stocked year ‘round. This year, a Feb. 5 stocking is slated.

To reach the tailwaters, follow U.S. Route 40 east from Uniontown to state Route 523, and then go north to Confluence.

For more travel information, contact the Pennsylvania Office of Tourism, Room 404, Forum Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120. You can also call 1-800-VISIT-PA (847-4872), or log on to www.visitPA.com

For more information about ice-fishing in Pennsylvania including the newest regulations, contact the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, 1601 Elmerton Avenue, P.O. Box 67000, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000. Phone (717) 705-7800, or log on to www.fish.state.pa.us and check for the trout-stocking schedule.