With such significant relief from the months of unrelenting sub-freezing days this winter has served up, it felt so joyful to dare to think about dusting off some tackle and doing a little early-season trout fishing. And many fellow anglers I talked to last week were also thinking the same way.

Of course, all stocked trout waters throughout the state are currently closed to all fishing until the opening day of trout season at 8 a.m. on April 4. But there are some notable exceptions for anglers desiring to do a little preseason trout fishing this month.

We are fortunate to have a variety of special-regulation areas for trout here in our region where fishing is permitted year-round. Depending on the specific area, anglers can fish with flies, lures or bait. Fishing in these designated areas is limited to catch and release, however, so those seeking a few fish to take home will have to wait until opening day.

Canoe Creek Lake in Blair County, Lake Perez in Huntingdon County and Koon Lake in Bedford County are designated as “Stocked Trout Waters Open to Year-Round Fishing.”

Fishing in these waters is permitted year-round with any type of tackle using artificial flies and lures and live bait, but no trout may be kept or killed until the opening day of trout season on April 4.

A couple of stream sections in our area managed under “Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only” regulations include 1.3 miles of Black Moshannon Creek in Centre County and over a mile and a half of Chest Creek near Patton in Cambria County. On these projects, all fishing must be done with artificial flies or lures, and the use or possession of live bait is prohibited.

The Delayed Harvest section of Chest Creek is also included in the Keystone Select Trout Waters program and will receive a special allotment of larger trout, measuring from 14 to 20 inches, during the preseason stockings there. Because most DHALO areas are located on stocked trout streams that are closed to all fishing until the opening day of trout season, so be sure to stay within the boundaries of the special regulation area when fishing during the preseason.

Fly anglers in our area have two additional options for early-season fishing. The famous Fisherman’s Paradise section of Spring Creek located between State College and Bellefonte and about a mile of Yellow Creek in Bedford County downstream of the village of Loysburg are currently managed for “Catch and Release Fly-fishing Only.” Fishing on these popular sections is restricted to fly tackle and artificial flies only.

While most special regulation areas for trout are placed on stocked waters, there are two prominent wild trout streams in our area that are governed by special regulations.

The Little Juniata River in Blair and Huntingdon counties and Spring Creek in Centre County are managed under “Catch and Release All Tackle” regulations.

Both streams have remarkable populations of wild brown trout and are often rated among the best trout streams in the eastern United States.

Although no trout can be kept or killed at any time on these streams, fishing is permitted year-round with any type of tackle using artificial flies and lures and live bait.

A complete statewide listing of all special regulation areas with the boundaries and the specific rules for each one can be found in the 2026 Pennsylvania Fishing Summary that comes with the purchase of your fishing license. This information can also be viewed online at the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission website, fishandboat.com.

Another worthwhile way to get an early start to trout season is to take a young person fishing on the Mentored Youth Trout Day, which is Saturday, March 28 this year. This event is a great opportunity to introduce kids to trout fishing without the crowded atmosphere that often occurs on some waters on a typical opening day.

Both the young angler and his or her mentor are permitted to fish on the youth day, but only the young angler is permitted to keep two trout seven inches or longer.

All Stocked Trout Waters in Pennsylvania are included in the Mentored Youth Trout Day, and fishing hours will be from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. To participate, anglers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an angler 16 years of age or older who possesses a valid Pennsylvania fishing license and a trout/salmon permit.

The youth angler must have either a Mentored Youth Fishing Permit or Voluntary Youth Fishing License. Additional information about the Mentored Youth Trout Days program is available in the 2026 Pennsylvania Fishing Summary or on the PFBC website.

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Walt Young’s outdoors column appears regularly in the Altoona Mirror.