Below Pottsville, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has concentrated on stocking brown trout and rainbow trout fingerlings. To date, the Schuylkill it is still not a trophy fishery, but the trout are respectable. Rainbow trout grow to about 16 inches, and the browns top out at nearly 20 inches.

Access is very good, even though this river flows through mostly private land. At present, there is little posting.

Though the Schuylkill runs along a narrow band of trees along the river, the scenery can be a pleasant surprise, forming a greenbelt through a mix of rural and suburban lands.

The sounds of the river block out much of the racket of civilization that surrounds it. And considering that it is close to the most densely populated part of Pennsylvania, fishing pressure is not at all heavy.

"No, it's not, and that's the interesting thing," Kaufmann said. "Anglers could have had the whole place to themselves. But if they wait much longer to fish it, they're going to be complaining it gets fished so much!"

Information useful for visitors to the area may be obtained from the Schuylkill County Visitors Bureau, 200 East Arch Street, Pottsville, PA 17901. Call 1-800-765-7282, or log on to www.schuylkill.org.

For more information about trout- fishing opportunities in the Keystone State, contact the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, 1601 Elmerton Avenue, P.O. Box 67000, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000. Log on to www.fish.state.pa.us, or call (717) 705-7800.

For more information about traveling in Pennsylvania, contact the Pennsylvania Office of Tourism, Room 404, Forum Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120. Telephone 1-800-VISIT-PA (800-847-4872); or log on to www.visitPA.com, the agency's Web site.

Find more about Pennsylvania fishing and hunting at PAgameandfish.com