Spring surprise: Pennsylvania kicks off trout season early

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HARRISBURG, Pa. - Trout season in Pennsylvania opened Monday in an abrupt announcement by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission that was designed to preempt big gatherings of anglers and travel that typically occurs on the traditional April opening day.

Monday was two weeks ahead of the previously scheduled opening day.

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Anglers and boaters must abide by social distancing guidelines provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Gov. Tom Wolf, the Fish and Boat Commission said.

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“The trout we have been stocking have had time to spread out, and so should you,” Tim Schaeffer, the agency’s executive director, said in a statement.

The Fish and Boat Commission nonetheless urged anglers and boaters to limit travel by fishing close to home, cover their faces with a mask or some other cloth covering, keep a distance of at least six feet from others, only go fishing with family members living in the same household and never share fishing gear with others.

Not all waters have been stocked, and the Fish and Boat Commission said it will not provide a stocking schedule or a list of stocked waters to further discourage group gatherings.