Fishers not deterred by wet day to catch first trout of the season
MIDDLESEX TWP — Water rose up to the grass surrounding Glade Run Lake on Saturday morning, April 5, but the pools of water and mud that formed around the feet of the Bartley family was still not enough to deter them from waiting for trout to bite.
H. Lee Bartley, of Saxonburg, said he and his two sons normally go to their camp in Tionesta to fish on the first day of trout season, but the morning storm had them stick to local waterways to keep the family tradition going.
Even though the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission stocks state waterways with about 3.2 million trout for the season, the first thing Bartley’s older son caught Saturday morning was a catfish.
“We fish here all the time,” he said. “Usually we do pretty good, but it’s not been too good today.”
During trout season, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission stocks approximately 3.2 million adult trout in 691 streams and 130 lakes in the state open to public angling. This includes approximately 2.4 million Rainbow Trout; 693,000 Brown Trout; and 125,000 Brook Trout, with an average size of the trout being 11 inches long and .58 pounds, according to a news release from the fish and boat commission.
During the regular trout season, anglers may keep up to five trout per day measuring at least seven inches long. During an extended season from Sept. 2 through Feb. 16, the daily limit is three trout.
Bob Ruediger, of Butler, said he is a frequent fisher at Glade Run Lake, and also makes it appoint to fish there on opening day of trout season each year. He ended up getting there a little later than he hoped — a little after 8:30 a.m. when the fishing started at 8 — but managed to catch one trout before 10 a.m. An experienced angler, Ruediger said he normally catches as many fish as he is able when he makes trips to Glade Run Lake.
“I caught that as soon as I walked in here and I haven’t got a bite since,” Ruediger said. “I usually get my limit, they put a lot of trout in here.”
Despite the rain, Glade Run Lake was still pretty popular Saturday morning, with fishers lined up around the shore with their lines in the water waiting for a bite. Bartley said the lake is usually more crowded on opening day, with people fishing shoulder to shoulder around its perimeter. Still, the opening day of the season was only that — opening day — and Bartley said he and his family will be fishing around throughout the rest of the season.
“We fish here, we fish Erie, we fish all over,” Bartley said. “I’ve been doing this since I could walk.”
