Jim Bowes

Flemington

Recent decisions by the PA Fish and Boat Commission are excluding a large group of fishermen. These decisions are affecting youth fishing and family traditions. I am 85 years old. The days of trout fishing in front of me are far fewer than the days of trout fishing behind me.

I was raised trout fishing with my family in Renovo years ago. One of my favorite pastimes now is fishing with my sons and grandchildren. We enjoy catching stocked trout, but it is about much more than catching fish.

I have seen many changes in fishing over the years. Did you know at one point we were allowed to keep eight trout per day? Of the many changes I have seen over the years, this recent change from our area fisheries manager hurt badly. His decision to not stock a beautiful Clinton County stream, Baker Run, is enough to make me consider hanging up the rod and reel.

I would like to tell you a story of what the PA Fish and Boat Commission has done to fishermen in Clinton County in the past 75 years.

I am going to start with the right-hand branch of Young Woman’s Creek. This was a favorite of my dad, myself and a friend of his, Jim Wolf, a meat cutter at the Weis store on Erie Ave. We would go night fishing on the right-hand branch for stocked brown trout. We fished above the bridge where the big rocks are.

Starting in the 50s, the Fish and Boat Commission made regulation changes on this stream. First they started as fly fishing only and the fish had to be nine inches long. Later, it became catch and release using only artificial lures. Just think, this beautiful stream has these regulations for approximately six miles. Is that fair to all fishermen? This is one of the best trout streams in the state of Pennsylvania and it’s under the catch and release, artificial only program. This section still receives stocked trout.

Another stream, Hammersley Fork, was also a favorite. The memories of fishing there are still fresh. What does it hurt to stock this easily accessible stream?

Shingle Branch on the left-hand branch of Young Women’s Creek is another lost stream. It is totally on state forest ground and easy to get to that stream. Beautiful area. It was great for stocked trout fishing.

Long Run: This one baffles me! A road the whole way, making it easy to access. Only a select few fisherman fish this stream now. I remember the times “back when” you couldn’t find a place to park. Great water.

The Narrows: A long section of great water is no longer available to all fishermen. There is a change in Hyner Run this year. There is no stocking above the park which is state forest ground. They are now stocking from the park to the mouth which has large sections of private ground. Are the homeowners going to allow fishermen to tramp through their property? Is there parking for fishermen?

There is now a restriction on Fishing Creek that you cannot keep any brown trout from Cedar Run to the mouth of Fishing Creek.

Finally, the latest blow, Baker Run. My father fished this stream over 80 years ago. My father and I caught stocked trout in this beautiful stream over 70 years ago. My family has fished Baker Run for over 50 years. My grandchildren have fished it for over 20 years and my great-grandchildren have fished this stream. This stream is accessible by a road that we have been driving for over 70 years. There were very few four-wheel drives back in the day! Baker Run is accessible from the mouth to Shoemaker if the gate is open. It does not require hiking. Catching stocked trout in Baker Run has not been detrimental to this stream at all as evidenced in both the 2020 and 2023 PA Fish and Boat Baker Run Stream Survey.

The survey states that electroshocking was done 0.41 miles upstream from the mouth of Baker Run. The report shows that native trout increased from 2020 to 2023 while still stocking this stream. How can stocking trout be hurting this stream?

The report alludes to the rough road presenting challenges to stocking. I have been along stocking for 50 years and cannot recall any troubles with Fish Commission equipment. The trout in Baker Run will be relocated to Kettle Creek below the park. This sounds like a great idea; however, it will be much harder for a young fisherman to be successful in this much larger stream. If more fish were allocated to Baker Run, more trout fishermen will fish it. Is there parking accessible to the fishermen on Kettle Creek?

Working through Representative Borowicz, a group of stock trout fishermen requested a meeting with the area fisheries manager to explain the reasons for the changes and to share our views of trout fishing in Clinton County. As of the writing of this letter, no meeting has been acknowledged.

My view is our fishing license sales help pay for fish commission employees’ salaries, so they should at least listen to our side.

They are taking trout fishing traditions away from us.

The only way we are going to stop the current trend of not stocking select streams in Clinton County is to join together and let our voices be heard.

Please contact Representative Stephanie Borowicz at 570-748-5480 or www.repstephanie.com and share your views on stock trout fishing in Clinton County.

We are planning on a meeting in the future with local interested fishermen. Decisions are being made to our Clinton County trout streams and we have no input.

It just doesn’t seem right!