PA Regional Opening Day of Trout Season is April 4

HARRISBURG, Pa., March 27, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With spring officially here and warmer weather on the way, anglers are excited to "Catch the Value" of a reduced-price license and get outside for the April 4 regional opening day of trout, which marks the unofficial start of the 2015 fishing season.

The PFBC announced last fall that it was lowering the price of resident, non-resident and senior resident annual licenses by $1 for the entire 2015 season. The discount is part of a marketing campaign to highlight the sport's affordability to families and younger audiences and to persuade lapsed anglers to return. It's being promoted under the slogan "Catch the Value!" (Twitter - #CatchTheValue)

"We believe the price cut will catch the attention of many people who haven't fished in a few years, or who have wanted to try fishing, but mistakenly have thought that prices have increased like they have for other products and activities," said PFBC Executive Director John Arway. "The fact is, the price of a fishing license hasn't increased in nearly a decade, since 2005."

"Fishing has always been an affordable and fun family activity that can be enjoyed for a lifetime," he added. "If we can capture the attention of potential new and returning anglers, we know they'll be surprised at how inexpensive it is to fish and how easy it is to enjoy the sport."

The 18 counties open April 4 include: Adams, Berks, Bucks, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Franklin, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, Perry, Philadelphia, Schuylkill, and York.

The PFBC's "great white fleet" of hatchery trucks has been busy since late February stocking Pennsylvania's waterways with a fresh supply of brook, brown and rainbow trout. Every year the PFBC stocks about 3.2 million trout in waters across the state.

More than 850,000 anglers buy a fishing license each year. A license is required for anyone 16 and older.

With this year's discount, the price of a resident annual license is just $20; non-resident annual $50; 3-year resident $60; 3-year non-resident $150; 5-year resident $100; and 5-year non-resident $250. (An additional $1.70 processing fee is added to each license.) Anglers also can purchase an optional $5 metal button for an alternate way to display their license.

Permits are not included in the price reduction. A trout/salmon permit or a Lake Erie permit is $9.70 with the processing fee. A combination trout/salmon Lake Erie permit is $15.70.

The PFBC also offers a voluntary youth fishing license for $2.70. For every youth license sold, the PFBC receives approximately $5 in federal funding, which is reinvested into youth fishing programs.

"While opening day of trout season is one of the most exciting fishing days of the year, it's also one of the biggest social events," Arway added. "Research shows that when it comes to fishing, anglers like being together with friends and family just as much as they enjoy catching fish."

Anglers can share their support for the regional opening day by visiting the PFBC's Facebook event at: https://www.facebook.com/events/349011221949286/?ref=5

April 11 is the second, statewide Mentored Youth Trout Day and April 18 is the traditional opening day of trout season for the rest of the state.

Licenses and buttons can be purchased at more than 900 licensing agents and online at www.GoneFishingPa.com.  

Media Contact – Eric Levis, Press Secretary
717.705.7806
[email protected]

SOURCE Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission