HARRISBURG - Long a favored hotspot for trout anglers in a three-state area, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has created more opportunities on the Lehigh River by designating as Approved Trout Waters Section 6 of the river and the Francis E. Walter Reservoir.

This designation takes effect with the January 1, 2015, opening of the new license year and provides additional fishing opportunities by allowing anglers to fish the reservoir and the 9.7-mile section from March 1 to the opening day of trout season. Anglers can target trout on a catch-and-release basis or fish for other game species.This action was taken at the recently quarterly business meeting of the PFBC held at agency headquarters, with the board of commissioners electing commissioner Norm Gavlick as the new president and commissioner Ed Mascharka as vice-president. In other business, approved was a request to change the designation on a section of Pine Creek in Lycoming County, authorized the acquisition of an access area in Luzerne County, approved a new annual requirement for senior resident lifetime license holders to fish for trout and adopted a new strategic plan."I appreciate this opportunity to serve as board president and to work with our dedicated staff and continue the good work we're doing," said Gavlick, who resides in Kingston and represents the PFBC Seventh District, comprised of Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties. "Over the next year, I look forward to exploring additional innovative ways to increase license sales and generate interest in fishing and boating among families and kids."Mascharka resides in Erie, Erie County, and represents the PFBC First District, comprised of Butler, Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, Warren counties.Commissioners approved a request to change the regulations on a section of Pine Creek that will extend the current 1.2-mile delayed harvest, artificial lures only section downstream of Slate Run an additional 1.6 miles to Bonnell Run. Commissioners also directed staff to explore other regulatory options on the stream section and to present a recommendation at the PFBC fall meeting, September 29 and 30.Commissioners approved a request to change the regulations on a section of Pine Creek that will extend the current 1.2-mile delayed harvest, artificial lures only section downstream of Slate Run an additional 1.6 miles to Bonnell Run. Commissioners also directed staff to explore other regulatory options on the stream section and to present a recommendation at the PFBC fall meeting, September 29 and 30."We recognize that this is a complicated issue and believe that today's decision is a necessary first step, and the immediate result is that this water will remain a popular destination location for anglers, who contribute to the area's local economy," PFBC executive director John Arway said. "At the next commission meeting, the board will evaluate other options for the long-term management of this section of Pine Creek."Under DHALO regulations, fishing is permitted year-round, but no trout can be harvested prior to June 15 or after Labor Day and from June 15 to Labor Day, anglers can keep three trout per day and the fish must be at least nine inches. Tackle is limited to artificial lures and flies, and the new designation will take effect January 1.In Luzerne County, the PFBC has been offered a donation by George Venesky of two parcels of land totaling 10.77 acres and providing approximately 2,515 linear feet of frontage along Big Wapwallopen Creek in Wright Township and are located along Nuangola Road approximately three miles southwest of Mountain Top. Big Wapwallopen Creek provides significant wild and stocked trout fishing opportunities.Beginning in 2015 those who purchase a senior resident lifetime license holders who want to fish for trout will be required to purchase a trout/salmon permit each year. Seniors who purchase a trout/salmon permit in conjunction with a resident lifetime license before January 1, 2015, will be grandfathered."About 70 percent of seniors purchase a trout/salmon permit, which mirrors the rate for other anglers, and the commission's trout program accounts for 36 percent of the Fish Fund annual expenditures, and the cost of trout production continues to rise," Arway said. "We simply can no longer afford to allow anglers to fish for trout without paying for the annual permit."