Motivation for this possible change is sluggish license and trout stamp sales. The whole objective of stocking adult trout is that they be caught by anglers, which would seem to make stocking in secrecy counterproductive. Waterways conservation officers have been reporting that not enough people are fishing while in-season stockings are taking place.

"The number of trout being stocked generally would not be announced for in-season stocking because the numbers often change," Hoopes said.

There is also a safety concern. Concentrations of anglers following stocking trucks and congregating at recently stocked streams could cause traffic problems along highways. It could also interfere with stocking.

"One person, as part of a master's degree program, is trying to get a handle on trout that are stocked but seem to move out of the immediate waters," Snyder said. "We're trying to revise our stocking protocol for that type of situation."

Here's a look at some changes and programs at the regional level.

Also in Northampton County, a 2.4-mile section of Waltz Creek was added to the Class A Wild Trout Stream list.

The public was invited last May to a meeting on a habitat restoration plan for a one-half mile section of Big Spring Creek in Cumberland County, which runs through Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission property. The objective of this $50,000 project is to enhance the wild brook trout population by improving in-stream habitats.

Shaffer Run in Perry County is now in the Wild Brook Trout Enhancement Program.

Streams surveyed were Repine Run in Indiana County, Elk Lick Creek, Bens Creek, Flaugherty Creek, Little Piney Creek, Kooser Run, Kimberly Run and Tub Mill Run in Somerset County and Pike Run, Mingo Creek and Little Chartiers Creek in Washington County.

In Lycoming County, a 2.2-mile section of Grays Run from the Grays Run Hunting Club property line downstream to the concrete bridge on Grays Run Road (T-842) was removed from the Selective Harvest program and designated as a catch-and-release area.

In Union County, a 2.7-mile section of Cherry Run from its mouth upstream for a distance of 2.7 miles was changed from the All-Tackle Selective Harvest Program to catch-and-release. The same action was taken for a 2.7-mile section of Cherry Run from the mouth upstream for a distance of 2.7 miles in Cameron County; a 1.2-mile section of Rauchtown Creek in Clinton County from the confluence of Rockey Run and Krape Run downstream to the state Route 0880 crossing upstream of the Ravensburg State Park Picnic Area; and a 2.9-mile section of the East Fork of Sinnemahoning Creek in Potter County from the confluence with Wild Boy Run downstream to the confluence of Camp Run.

Going into the Wild Brook Trout Enhancement Program this year is Lyman Run from the headwaters down to Splash Dam Hollow, and from Splash Dam Hollow downstream to Lyman Run Lake, which was previously in the Selective Harvest Program.

Biologists found good numbers of wild brook trout in a number of small streams in State Game Lands 187 in Luzerne County, and SGLs 12 and 36 in Bradford County during surveys last June and July. The majority were brook trout up to 8 inches in length. A few brown trout were also collected.

Lily Lake in Luzerne County was reinstated to the Late Winter Trout Stocking Program.

Jeans Run in Carbon County, Kistler Run and Wolf Swamp Run in Monroe County have been added to the Wild Brook Trout Enhancement Program.

To comment on proposed changes to the trout program, check the Fish and Boat Commission's Web site at www.fish.state.pa.us. In the left column, click on Laws and Regulations, and then look under the "notices" column.

For more information about the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's trout management programs, contact the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission at P.O. Box 67000, 1601 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000; call (717) 705-7800, or visit the agency's Web site.