Class A streams are streams that support a population of wild (natural reproduction) trout of sufficient size and abundance to support a long-term and rewarding sport fishery. The Commission does not stock these streams. This GIS layer represents the sections of streams that are designated as such.

Stocked Trout WatersMany streams, lakes, ponds and reservoirs are officially classified as “stocked trout waters.” This means that these waters contain significant portions that are open to public fishing and are stocked with trout. The waters listed here are open to trout harvest during the “extended season” Unlisted tributary streams (those not included in this list of “stocked trout waters”) are not open to harvest of trout during the “extended season.” Only stocked trout waters and all waters downstream of stocked trout waters are open during this period. Spearing fish is not permitted in any of these waters at any time of the year.These waters are closed to all fishing (including taking of minnows) from March 1 to 8 a.m. on the opening day of the trout season. A person shall be deemed to be fishing if he or she has in possession any fishing line, rod or other device that can be used for fishing while on or in any water or on the banks within 25 feet of any water where fishing is prohibited.Stocked Trout Waters, Open to Year-round FishingWaters with this designation are considered “stocked trout waters.” From 8 a.m. opening day of trout through Labor Day, Commonwealth inland size and creel limits apply. From Jan. 1 through the end of February, and from the day after Labor Day through Dec. 31, “extended season” size and creel limits apply. These waters are open to fishing from March 1 to opening day of trout season; however, no trout may be taken or possessed on these waters during this period. It is unlawful to fish in rivers and streams designated as stocked trout waters open to year-round fishing without a current trout/salmon permit. A trout/salmon permit is not required to fish in lakes and ponds that have been designated as stocked trout waters open to year-round fishing unless the person takes, kills or possesses, while in the act of fishing, a trout or salmon on or in these waters.

© Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission This layer is a component of PAFishBoat.

Class A streams are streams that support a population of wild (natural reproduction) trout of sufficient size and abundance to support a long-term and rewarding sport fishery. The Commission does not stock these streams. This GIS layer represents the sections of streams that are designated as such.

This data is hosted at, and may be downloaded or accessed from PASDA, the Pennsylvania Spatial Data Access Geospatial Data Clearinghouse http://www.pasda.psu.edu/uci/DataSummary.aspx?dataset=986

This layer contains flowing water Sections from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Fisheries Resource Database with trout stocking in 2024. Water Sections are defined when a water has had some type of sampling conducted and data is being entered into the PFBCMainResource database and ResourceFirstPortal. This layer is directly linked to tables of stocking events for trout, as well as planned and past stockings for warmwater/coolwater species.

This ArcGIS Map Package contains information on brook trout occupancy in the southern portion of the brook trout range (PA and south). Fish sample data from a number of state and federal agencies/organizations were used to define patches for brook trout as groups of occupied contiguous catchment polygons from the National Hydrography Dataset Plus Version 1 (NHDPlusV1) catchment GIS layer. After defining patches, NHDPlusV1 catchments were assigned occupancy codes. Then state and federal agencies reviewed patches and codes to verify data accuracy. A similar effort is currently being conducted by the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture to develop occupancy data for the remainder of the brook trout range including states of New York, Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Ohio. This ArcGIS Map Package contains data for the entire southern portion of the brook trout range with preset symbology that displays brook trout occupancy. The Map Package also includes the same information clipped into seperate layers for each state. State information is provided for the convenience of users that are interested in data for only a particular state. Additional layers displaying state boundaries, quadrangle maps, and the brook trout range are also included as spatial references.

This layer contains flowing waters from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Fisheries Resource Database that support naturally reproducing populations of trout. A wild trout stream section is a biological designation that does not determine how it is managed, therefore, these streams may also be stocked with hatchery trout by the Commission.

This data is hosted at, and may be downloaded or accessed from PASDA, the Pennsylvania Spatial Data Access Geospatial Data Clearinghouse http://www.pasda.psu.edu/uci/DataSummary.aspx?dataset=980

Informed conservation of stream fishes requires detailed understanding of the effects of both natural processes and anthropogenic activities on genetic diversity. Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis, a salmonid native to eastern North America, typically resides in cold, high-quality stream ecosystems. The species has not only faced historical anthropogenic pressures, but also confronts current and future pressures. In a genetic analysis we used a reduced representation sequencing method (ddRADseq) to characterize 63 individuals from 23 streams where Brook Trout are native in the Appalachian region of Pennsylvania. A total of 2,590 loci passed filtering criteria, and 53% displayed significant association with a major stream drainage basin (Susquehanna or Allegheny; mean FST = 0.085). Mapping of the sequencing reads to the Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar genome revealed no clustering of high interdrainage FST values to specific genome regions. Evidence for genetic heterogeneity within each drainage basin was also detected. Stepwise regression of observed heterozygosity against geographic and environmental features revealed that drainage basin and effective area of watersheds were significant predictors of observed heterozygosity of Brook Trout within streams. Natural features such as waterfalls and major drainage basin, as well as the effects of dams and acid-mine drainage have fragmented habitat and shaped genetic diversity within Brook Trout populations in the Appalachian region of Pennsylvania, overall indicating the vulnerability of this species to increased industrialization.