The popular catch-and-release practice that marks the start of fall trout season took place on October 7 in Illinois’ stocking sites. This is even as Pennsylvania continues to stock its inland waters with hatched trout for its extended fall/winter season.
Stocking describes the placement of trout from private hatcheries into streams, lakes and rivers for public fishing.
Though the Pennsylvania season runs from September 8, 2023 to February 19, 2024, stocking delayed until week 1 of October. Reigning high temperatures led to the delay.
Trout easily fall prey to temperatures above 70 degrees Fahrenheit, a caution that made Illinois push its main season to October 21. The catch-and-release opener of October 7 was just for a day.
Catch-and-release is a recreational practice whereby an angler baits a fish, weighs it and then releases it.
Illinois to open trout season later than usual
After the October 7 stocking launch, Illinois has postponed the official opening of the trout season till October 21. By then the surface temperatures on lakes and rivers will have fallen below 70oF (21oC) to reduce live trout mortality.
After the season starts, anglers can only bag 5 fish daily with a licence of $6.50 for inland trout fishing. A resident permit for all fishing activities in Illinois costs $15.
Pennsylvania to Stock 117,500 trouts
As the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) continues to monitor temperatures, it plans to stock inland waters with 117,500 trout.
Most of the sites into which the trouts will take a dip will be ready for immediate fishing. PFBC cites that in October, there will be about 87,900 multi-breed trout in 93 water bodies, including rivers and lakes.
Anglers can try rainbow trout, brown trout or even brook trout, as all the breeds will undergo release simultaneously.
Anglers and fishermen can take a maximum of three trout of different species measuring at least seven inches long, each day.
The last trout season in Pennsylvania started in April, 2023. After the spring season ends, prices of trout in the state usually spike. In 2021, the average market price in Pennsylvania was $4.81 per pound ($10.58 a kilo), 12% more than the national average of $4.30 a pound.
During much of 2023, the U.S. trout price has averaged between $7.70 and $23.98 per kg.
In Pennsylvania, trout anglers aged 16 to 64 usually pay a fishing license of $12.47, per the eRegulations Pennsylvania Fishing.
Fishermen who are 16 or older can fish trout in Lake Erie at $9.97 per license.