Fishing During Covid

Fishing season 2021 was a lot different than any other year in the past. There were new rules and regulations that fishermen had to follow. Some of the rules were to maintain a safe distance from the person next to you, so if you can turn your rod to every side of you and not hit anyone then you are a safe distance away. For most people, these rules were easy to follow, but for the hardcore fisherman some don’t care and really want that one spot and they’ll get as close as they need to. Fishing season opened April 3, a Saturday, for everyone and it was a state wide opening day at 8:00 in the morning.

The easiest and safest way to purchase your fishing license this year was to do it online which is very easy and only takes a couple steps. You can then print it out and have it right there without leaving your house. The license costs $30.00 for the trout fishing permit but you can buy additional add ons that would make it usable for other species in different streams and lakes. In the East Perkiomen Creek, which is the creek that runs through Perkasie, Steven Hockel said “ I catch sunnies, trout, bass and a suckerfish here and there” Which are all allowed on the license that you can buy. 

Stocking the creek happens three times a year, one time about two months before the season starts, one time 10 days after the season starts, and then one final time on April 29 which is around three weeks after opening day. In one stocking trip, depending on the size of the creek, the hatchery will supply around 3,700 trout to be stocked. Joe Tusing, from the Huntsdale hatchery, said “Multiple spots within the stream, the standard procedure, is four times within a mile” This is how they stock so that the fish are as evenly distributed throughout the creek and not just all in one spot. The most stocked type of trout is the rainbow trout then followed by the brown trout which is very similar to the rainbow trout, it just doesn’t have the rainbow strip.

This is how the current fishing season is going and will be going until the end of Covid-19. It is not much different, but it has changed enough that people noticed. As long as the rules are followed you will be fine because you are also outside, and it is harder to contract Covid outside.