Podcast

Finsylvania

Nature, Science

Finsylvania is a podcast dedicated to covering the state of fisheries management, conservation, and related topics. There are action alerts in many episodes to drive stakeholder engagement with elected officials, members of the media, and fish managers. The goal is to educate the public on important fisheries management issues and get them engaged to make change that benefits wild native fish! Tune in, take action, and lets improve fisheries management!

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Fishing Locations:
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Susquehanna River fishing, Lake Arthur fishing, Oil Creek fishing, Presque Isle Bay fishing
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best flies for small creeks
Real-time Information:
Pennsylvania fishing reports
stream reports PA
water levels

#pafishing #stockingreform #conservation #pennsylvaniaflyfishing #stopstockingoverwildfish #blueliner #nativefish #pafishandboat #fisheriesmanagement #brooktrout #hellbenders #nativebrooktrout #flyfishing #fishing

Episodes
25
Releases
Every two weeks
Typical length
1 hr 10 min
On air since
2025
Latest episode
1 month ago

Episodes

25 episodes, newest first

  1. Bad News for PA Stream Acces: Mike Evanko Interview

    Show notes

    Pennsylvania Stream Access Update with Mike Evanko: A sad year in review.

    Last Fall Mike Evanko and I were getting anecdotal reports from anglers all over the state of stream access being loat to posting. Cherished and historic streams rich in the fishing history of our state and this country are having large sections poated where it is no llnger legal to fish. As always Mike and I disclose we are NOT blaming landowners for posting their private land. Instead we take a critical look at the factors behind why Fish and Boat has ignored public stream access easements for so long. We have Data this year folks, and it doesn’t paint a good picture for the future of this sport. The amount of miles of stream access we lose every year in PA vastly exceeds the tiny amounts added every few years(mostly in Erie). We are in a full on access crisis. Fishing opportunity shrinks, private pay for play trout clubs swoop in like vultures to capitalize off scarcity of access, and all the state can do is waste money on hatchery fish many don’t want instead of spent on access. Folks, we are watching the slow death of our sport. If you think thats hyperbolic or sensationalist then consider the following. You can’t sustain huge net loses of stream access every year in perpetuity. There is no arguing that is happening state wide. Tune in, learn what’s happening, and use the below resources to fight for stream access by advocating to policymakers and the media for more coverage.

    We also list off some of the noteable postings across the state as well as speculate about politicians motives for not intervening for years despite getting hundreds of E-mails.

    ROADLESS RULE! CALL, E-MAIL, AND GET YOUR FRIENDS TO DO SO!!!

    Do both if these we need it!

    Call the Capital Switch Board and say your zip code to talk to YOUR elected official about protecting the roadles rule! (202) 224-3121

    TU comment portal-

    https://www.tu.org/roadless-areas-defending-americas-sporting-lands/#take-action

    AMENDMENT 2 to reduce menheden harvest, protect striped bass, and protect native brook trout from menheden fed stocked trout!! Comment here!

    Comments@Asmfc.org

    Copy and paste this address list and write your e-mail advocating for public stream access over stocking on wild trout!!

    Senator Rothman-grothman@pasen.gov

    Josh Shapiro- governor@pa.gov

    Kulik-Astorino- RepKulik@pahouse.net

    Penn Live- tbonner@pennlive.com

    Philly Inquirer-jnark@inquirer.com

    Pittsburgh Post Gazette- swischnowski@post-gazette.com

    NPR- news@witf.org asia_tabb@witf.org

    Dark Skies Fly Fishing Magazine- Less than a cup of coffee per issue!! Check out my Column “Fly Fishing After Dark” for all things night fishing!! Also check out Mike Evanko’s Writings on a number of fishing topics!

    https://darkskiesflyfishing.com/product/1-year-digital-subscription/?srsltid=AU7gw4WbXY7p-pVdhM3V0qlleivk5db4XfW8ru3J3oQRDQvwaenrsecA

    Statements and views on The Finsylvania Podcast are the personal views and best understandings of myself abd guests. These statements and views do not represent any employers, they are the very ownnof the private citizens on the podcast. We are speaking to our best recollection and understanding. Thus statements are not meant to be used as legal fact and should not be interpreted as such

    PA fishing licenses

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    Raystown Lake fishing

    Pymatuning Reservoir fishing

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    Susquehanna River smallmouth fishing

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    kayak fishing PA rivers

    1 hr 11 min
  2. PA Fish & Broke: Trout Hatcheries in “Financial Crisis”

    Show notes

    PA Fish & Broke: WMI report suggests hunters pay for bailiut of trout hatcheries

    In this episode fellow PA Wild Trout Coalition board member Philip Light and I talk about multiple media outlets like Penn Live and Go Erie breaking the story that PA Fish and Boat is in “Financial Crisis.” This was prompted by a report from the WMI(Wild Life Management Institute) projecting Pennsylvania Fish and Boat commission be insolvent before 2034. The report also (falsely)claims the game commission is in trouble financially and will be tapping into its reserves. However, we discuss why thats not really true and what critical revenue sources were omitted from the WMI’s representation of the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s fiscal health. There were several concerning aspects of the WMI report. Despite hatcheries being 48% of every dollar spent at The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat commission the WMI report did not address runaway hatchery costs being largely responsible for the agency’s poor fiscal health once. And finally possibly the most concerning portion of the report is that WMI recommended that the funding between Fish & Boat and Game Commission be combined for “cost sharing.” This is a round about way of saying they recommend PGC/hunters prevent fish and boat from becoming insolvent and bailing out their reckless hatchery spending that broke the bank to begin with. This will be at the expense of hunting programs or funds since PA Fish and Boat is already operating in a deficit due to hatcheries. We talk about the hurdles of and what kind of legislative steps will be taken to attenptt to take hunters funds. Ultimately we have to ask ourselves should hunter programs, state game land purchases, and deer management take cuts to pay for Tim Schaeffer’s hatchery trout spending addiction? We talk about “leaders” who have ignored hundreds of e-mails about this issue for years and even enable waste, fraud, and abuse at fish & boat. Josh Shapiro, Greg Rothman, and Anita Kulik-Astorino have watched this reckless spending happen and done nothing despite being asked to reign it in for years. We discuss how menheden harvest regulations could make feeding hatchery trout much more expensive and bankrupt PFBC sooner. We talk about why politicians always seem to want to avoid public land purchases and instead favor polluting our streams with enormously expensive hatchery non-native trout. Finally, Phil and I talk about how you can visit PAWTC.org and take action by engaging your elected officials. Don’t forget to comment against repealing the roadless rule! Also sign your name supporting proposed menheden protections(for stripers and making trout stocking more expensive and harder to not cut). Also don’t forget to support StopPAX-1.com as the legal fight for the conodoguinet & Letort’s future begins as local residents try to prevent their community from being invaded by the Data center senator Greg Rothman profited from a land deal with.

    Check out PA Wild Trout Coalition

    https://pawtc.org/

    SPEAK UP FOR THE ROADLESS RULE NOW!!

    https://www.backcountryhunters.org/get-involved/take-action

    Support StopPAX-1.com

    https://stoppax1.com/

    Leave a comment supporting Atlantic Menhaden Draft Addendum II to reduce bay menheden harvest, protect ocean fish, and head water brook trout from hatchery fish!

    comments@asmfc.org

    Fly Fisherman Podcast-Loop to Loop interview with John Arway of PA Wild Trout Coalition on stocking reform

    https://www.flyfisherman.com/PodcastPlayModal.aspx?type=video&vid=559005&episode=38&astid=533595&title=John%20Arway%20and%20his%20science-based%20mission%20to%20%20%E2%80%9CLet%20Nature%20Raise%20the%20Fish%E2%80%9D&podcastKey=api/podcast/listing/82299/533595/2026

    #Deer crops

    #deerhunting

    #pahunting

    #troutstocking

    #pennsylvania

    1 hr 6 min
  3. All About The Brown Trout

    Show notes

    In this two part podcast we dive in to everything Brown Trout. In part on we discuss the various brown trout species, their relatives, and thier distribution across Eurasia with James Suleski of the Finsylvania Podcast. In part two we dive into the history of the brown trout as well as their genetic lineages across time and their native range with geneticist Steve Weiss.

    Check out the Finsylvania Podcast here.

    https://www.youtube.com/@UCMz_PXVNMtunyqt32gVdi-g

    Check out the Steve Weiss' latest music here.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7tvZPainq4&list=RDn7tvZPainq4&start_radio=1

    Check out our Book: Journey For The World's Trout, where we find, catch, and document many of these species discussed in this podcast around the world.

    https://www.georgiawildtrout.com/product-page/journey-for-the-world-s-trout

    Learn more about the Salmo family in this book.

    https://amzn.to/4qHe8Py

    2 hr 39 min
  4. Adirondack Pond Brook Trout Conservation: Scott Daskiewich

    Show notes

    Ever wanted to explore remote wilderness native brook trout ponds in the Adirondaks? Well this is the podcast for you! In this episode I interview Scott Daskiewich the chair of the New York Chapter of Native Fish Coalition on native brook trout conservation and threats in the Adirondak region. We talk about the harms from non-native northern pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, yellow perch, golden shiner, Atlantic Salmon, Brown trout, and rainbow trout. We also talk about climate projections for adirondak ponds as well as the phenomenon known as “browning” that threatens many brook trout ponds. scott details some of his own adventures and how dragging a boat or tube miles into a remote stillwater bative brook trout fishery off grid is different than what we have in Pennsylvania. We talk about New York DEC’s new native brook trout pond management plan. All in all this epsiode will take you on a journey to one of the most special and pristine environments on the east coast where a unique native brook trout fishing experience exists. We also talk about opportunities for more native lake trout management in the Adirondaks.

    #adirondacks #brooktrout #conservation

    Find Scott and NY NFC here!

    https://nativefishcoalition.org/new-york

    FIGHT FOR THE ROADLESS RULE! CLICK HERE TO COMMENT

    https://www.sierraclub.org/save-roadless-rule-protect-our-forests

    CALL THE WASHINGTON SWITCHBOARD AND GIVE YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS A PEICE OF YOUR MIND ABOUT THE ROADLESS RULE REPEAL!!!(directs you to your local politician by area code)

    (202) 224-3121

    1 hr 13 min
  5. Why we should end King Salmon Stocking in Lake Ontario & Salmon River with Dr. Kathryn Peiman

    Show notes

    Lake Ontario & Salmon River: Why Ending King Salmon Stocking could benefit everyone with Dr. Kathryn Peiman

    In this episode of the Finsylvania Podcast Road Trip Series we sit down with fisheries scientist Dr. Kathryn Peiman to discuss why stocking non-native King Salmon in Lake Ontario and its tributaries is likely just wasting miney at this point wince the fishery is dominated by natural reproduction. We talk about the harms to the ecosystem that the artificial and unnatural human balancing act between non-native salmon and non-native alweives cause. One of the original motivations of introducing non-native king salmon being controlling alweives. We discuss the bizarre practice of manipulating salmon stocking to protect the alweives population that currently takes place. We discuss alweives causing lake wide thiamine deficiency in native salmonids like Atlantic salmon and lake trout. We discuss the cold hard truth that managing for alweives and pacifics is “incompatible” with successful Landlocked Atlantic Salmon Restoration. We talk about how fisheries managers around Lake Ontario are engaged in double speak by simultaneously claiming to make efforts to restore native fish populations while knowingly continuing to prop up invasive fish populations that make such native fish recovery efforts near impossible. We talk about how anglers make up an extreme minority of Lake Ontario stakeholders and users yet stocking programs not based in science that pander to this minority are forced on every stakeholder group. Maybe most surprisingly, hatchery salmon hurting the overall king salmon fishery by delaying thiamine deficiency adaptation and eating wild king salmon fry. We discuss the most likely scenario if salmon stocking stopped tomorrow, no change in the amount of king salmon. Yes thats right you read that correctly, we are spending millions and millions of dollars in environmentally destructive aquaculture to do what nature could likely do for free. Why are we wasting this money? The answer is simply because anglers that have not been adequately informed on the science share a false belief their non-native salmon fishing experience or Bussiness would go away without stocking. We discuss why these fears are unfounded in reality yet so very pervasive. We call for more honest science communication to ALL great lakes stakeholders, recreationalists, anglers and the public that pays taxes going into the great lakes. Openly espousing managers are seriously invested in native fish recovery while stocking the one of the largest barriers to recovery is dishonest and must stop. Its time for a watershed gut check moment in Lake Ontario, Pulaski, Oswego, and on the Canadian side about the quality of our current expensive hatchery based fisheries management model. From New York to Canada we can do better. Finsylvania listeners will see many parallels between hatchery based fisheries management issues at Pennsylvania Fish and Boat as well as many other states where trout stocking exists purely for tradition and not fiscal or environmental pragmatism. We also talk about how all this money wasted on stocking non-native salmonids could be going to access easements instead that have conservation plantings and best management practices on them instead. This would further enhance natural reproduction, watershed protection, and fishing access. Making hatchery cuts to fund stream access/conservation easements is a better way forward for the sport of fishing, conservation, water quality, and great lakes restoration.

    Reach out to me on Instagram and Facebook with your thoughts!

    Dr. Peiman’s other podcast about environmental harm and waste related to salmon stocking in Lake Ontario. Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.comShould we keep stocking Chinook Salmon in Lake Ontario? A converstaion with Dr. ...

    Covering Waters: Salmon River, Lake Ontario, Pulaski NY, Altmar NY, Oswego County

    🎙️ Hosted by: Finsylvania Podcast

    Salmon River, Pulaski NY fishing, Lake Ontario king salmon, Chinook salmon stocking, Altmar NY, Salmon River hatchery, New York DEC fishing, Great Lakes fly fishing, Finsylvania podcast, steelhead vs king salmon, Oswego County fishing

    #SalmonRiver #PulaskiNY #AltmarNY #LakeOntario #ChinookSalmon #KingSalmon #NYFishing #NYSDEC #FlyFishingNY #GreatLakesFishing #FinsylvaniaPodcast #OswegoCounty #RiverFishing #TroutAndSalmon

    2. Salmon River fishing report

    3. Pulaski NY salmon fishing

    4. Douglaston Salmon Run

    5. Salmon River flow cfs

    6. Altmar NY fishing

    7. Salmon River water levels

    8. Salmon River hatchery

    9. Fishing the Salmon River New York

    10. Salmon River USGS gauge Pineville

    11. Pulaski fishing guides

    12. Salmon River fly fishing only section

    13. Port Ontario NY fishing

    14. Salmon River lodging Pulaski

    15. Best pools on Salmon River Pulaski

    16. Salmon River tackle shops

    17. DSR fishing report

    18. Route 11 bridge Pulaski fishing

    19. Lower fly fishing section Salmon River

    20. Upper fly fishing section Altmar NY

    1 hr 15 min
  6. Introducing PA Wild Trout Coalition: A unifying voice for stocking reform!

    Show notes

    LEAVE A MESSAGE IN COMMENT SECTION IF YOU WANT TO SEND AN E-MAIL FOR THE STOCKING REFORM CAMPAIGN!

    In today’s elisode we introduce The Pennsylvania Wild Trout Coalition, an organization dedicated to getting the white hatchery truck off wild trout streams. The organization’s founder James(Jim) Neely comes on the podcast to discuss the laser focus of the organization on stocking reform, small/ nimble leadership group, and lack of traditional entanglements that often slow down large traditional conservation non-profits. We are not a 501c3, we don’t stock trout, we don’t teach kids to stock trout in school, and we don’t have banquets or raffles. We are purely driven by the angling publics overwhelming desire for both excellent wild non-native brown trout fisheries and wild native brook trout management areas. We feel public angling opportunity/recreation would be better served by focusing on the big issue of loss of stream access rather than stocking over wild trout and wasting enormous sums of money. We talk about how the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has gotten so far off mission and over its budget. We talk about the proposed merger with the game commission to bailout hatcheries burning cash yet again. We also discuss the failures of Josh Shapiro, Greg Rothman, and Anita Kulik-Astorino to reign in the fish commissiony wreckless behavior. Jim Neely also discusses his Native Brook Trout initiative in the Allegheny National Forest. We discuss the importance of the Finsylvania E-mail Stocking Reform Campaign and the importance of becoming an official Bussiness or organizational partner with PA Wild Trout Coalition. So “Let Nature raise the fish” and please go check out the PAWTC website that has tools to contact your senator, a mission statement, details on our leadership team, a petition, and so much more! We don’t want your money we want your voice!

    PA Wild Trout Coalition Website

    https://pawtc.org/

    Finsylvania Stocking Reform E-mail Campaign Action Center(if you would rather copy and paste the e-mails into one address and send message me or leave a comment and I can send them to you!) Click below and demand stocking over wild trout be addressed by the media and politicians!

    https://www.unicornbrookies.com/campaign/

    #wildtrout #conservation #flyfishing #blueliner

    1 hr 6 min
  7. The Stocking Reform Campaign: Phil and I kick it off!

    Show notes

    Hey everyone,

    Thanks for participating in the Finsylvania Stocking Reform Campaign!

    Here is the link to the action center built by Philip Light from UnicornBrookies.com where you can send e-mails to hundreds of politicians and the journalists who cover them.

    👉 https://www.unicornbrookies.com/campaign/

    Please try to personalize your message if you can, and only use the AI email text generator as a starting point to add to or change to your desired wording.(suggested talking points at bottom of e-mail)

    AFTER YOU SEND YOUR E-MAIL CALL POLITICIANS & JOURNALISTS TOO!!!

    Here are phone numbers to call and advocate for stocking reform!

    Politicians

    Call Josh Shapiro

    717-787-2500

    Call Greg Rothman’s office(Chair of senate game and fish committee)

    7177871377

    Find your state senator/representative’s office via this link!

    👉 https://www.palegis.us/find-my-legislator

    Media

    CALL AND ASK WHY THEY ARE NOT REPORTING ON WASTE FRAUD AND ABUSE AT FISH AND BOAT!!

    Statewide & Investigative

    Spotlight PA (Statewide Capital/Investigative): (717) 418-9684

    Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN): (717) 730-6000

    Harrisburg & Central PA

    PennLive / Patriot-News (Harrisburg): (717) 255-8100

    WGAL Channel 8 (Lancaster/Harrisburg NBC): (717) 393-5300

    ABC27 WHTM (Harrisburg ABC): (717) 745-3413

    CBS21 WHP (Harrisburg CBS): (717) 238-2100

    Fox43 WPMT (York/Harrisburg Fox): (717) 843-0043

    LNP / LancasterOnline: (717) 291-8811

    Pittsburgh & Western PA

    Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: (412) 263-1601

    TribLIVE / Tribune-Review: (724) 834-1151

    KDKA Channel 2 (Pittsburgh CBS): (412) 575-2245

    WTAE Channel 4 (Pittsburgh ABC): (412) 244-4444

    WPXI Channel 11 (Pittsburgh NBC): (412) 237-1100

    Philadelphia & Eastern PA

    The Philadelphia Inquirer: (215) 854-4500

    6ABC WPVI (Philadelphia ABC): (215) 878-9700

    CBS News Philadelphia / KYW: (215) 977-5333 (Direct Tip Line)

    NBC10 WCAU (Philadelphia NBC): (610) 668-5555

    Fox 29 WTXF (Philadelphia Fox): (215) 982-5500

    The Morning Call (Allentown/Lehigh Valley): (610) 820-6500

    Northeast & Northwest PA

    WNEP Channel 16 (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre ABC): (570) 344-1616

    The Times-Tribune (Scranton): (570) 348-9100

    Erie Times-News: (814) 870-1600

    WJET Channel 24 (Erie ABC): (814) 864-2400

    FIND THESE POLITICIANS AND JOURNALISTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND ADVOCATE THERE TOO!!!

    These are the big points to include in any messages to politicians or the media:

    1. Financial waste and reckless spending: This includes $100 million in taxpayer infrastructure grant dollars used to bail out hatcheries. A 2027 PSU Business School analysis stated that hatchery cuts were unavoidable; instead of making these cuts, we are draining the taxpayers.

    2. Ecological damage: The current system causes ecological damage to native brook trout and hellbenders, while decreasing the quality of wild trout fishing.

    3. The stream access crisis: This is the direct opportunity cost of hatcheries stealing stream access easement money for decades.

    4. Waste, fraud, and abuse: Executive Director Tim Schaeffer and his crony commissioners must be REMOVED, and brave whistleblowers like Eric Hussar must be protected from retaliation. Abuses include self-dealing to private businesses using commission resources, sweetheart stocking exemptions for wealthy, for-profit trout clubs, and shadow governance by Tim Schaeffer, who stripped all public meeting recordings from YouTube.

    5. The danger of a Fish/Game commission merger: It would be a massive mistake to view a Fish & Boat / Game Commission merger as anything more than yet another hatchery bailout(license fee increases, $100 million tax payer grant dollars, senate bill 800, and now this). The money to bail out hatcheries would come from the Game Commission's oil and gas revenues—funds that are supposed to buy public land in the form of State Game Lands for hunting and fishing. We need to fix the PFBC, not find it a Game Commission "sugar daddy" to continue its reckless spending and reduce public land purchasing ability as a result.

    6. We need a stocking authorization immediately: The PFBC had to watch helplessly while numerous invasive species—including Australian Barramundi and algae eaters—were stocked in PA waters because the commission chose not to have the power to approve or deny private stockings.

    37 min
  8. PA Fish & Boat: Off Mission and Over Budget- Getting it back on the rails with Eric Hussar

    Show notes

    this special episode, I interview Fish Commissioner Eric Hussar of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission about the agency’s ballooning hatchery costs and its failure to make cuts recommended by the Penn State Smeal College of Business a decade ago—cuts that could have avoided these issues entirely. We discuss the agency’s transition from the 'Operation Future' era, to the stocking-cut pragmatism under John Arway, to its more recent abandonment of its stated 'resource first' mission in favor of doubling down on commercial-scale, invasive fish farming that is spending it into oblivion.

    Eric gets candid about the lack of leadership regarding the agency’s true mandated mission in the PA Code, and how much of the board has lost its way. We discuss the shameful—but completely legal in PA—stocking of Australian Barramundi in the Delaware River this year, which was uncovered via notice of stocking in PFBC Right-to-Know requests. We also talk about the urgent need for a stocking authorization before shared watersheds in New Jersey, Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio, and New York get permanently harmed by Pennsylvania's 'Wild West' approach to private stocking.

    Furthermore, we cover the long history of overspending on hatcheries and the many off-ramps we could have taken, using Freeman Run and other examples. We discuss Governor Josh Shapiro’s recent, unfortunate decision to bring back Commissioner William Brock, who has a history of conflicts of interest, failing the agency's mission, and arguing for sweetheart stocking exemptions that threaten high-conservation-value aquatic ecosystems. I also bring up DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn’s long history of looking the other way on stocking inside DCNR Wild and Natural Areas, which are legally supposed to 'protect native biodiversity.' She, Josh Shapiro, Greg Rothman, and Anita Kulik Astorino, among many others, have ignored hundreds of letters for years from people calling to protect taxpayer infrastructure grants and our state fish from seemingly limitless hatchery spending.

    How do we fix it? Tune in and find out.

    #pennsylvania #brooktrout #troutstocking #pafishing #pawilds

    Check out Unicornbrookies.com for the most evidence based and thought provoking written word out there on our state fish!!!

    Check out https://darkskiesflyfishing.com/ for some of the best flyfishing writing, articles, how-to, and content out there!!!

    1 hr 13 min
  9. (Video On YouTube)Coverage of Current Big Spring Stream Project Construction

    Show notes

    I dropped by the Big Spring in Cumberland County Pennsylvania to film the newly constructed engineered habitat structures for you guys. I walk you through alot of them and talk about some of the research, case studies, and anecdotal examples of the effects of engineered instream structures on native brook trout populations in streams highly invaded by non-native trout. We found some friendly PA fish and boat commission staff who explained the surveys before the habitat project and the funding/permiting for this work. One thing I was thankful for atleast was they were aware of some of this research and tried to limit depth to 2 feet since more depth seems to correlate with worse outcomes for brook trout in some case studies and anecdotal examples. A survey is planned in the future, we will be covering that as well.

    #brooktrout

    #flyfishing

    #bigspring

    10 min
  10. Coaster Brook Trout Genetics, Life History, and Management with Minnesota DNR’s Nick Peterson

    Show notes

    In this episode I talk to Minnesota DNR scientist Nicholas Peterson who specializes in managing Lake Superior Native Coaster Brook Trout. You will learn alot about the amazing life history of coaster brook trout, their resilience, genetics, and many many fisheries management lessons/initiatives we can apply here in Pennsylvania. We may not have Lake Superior in Pennsylvania but we have deep lakes connected to brook trout streams that have similar adfluvial life histories. We can learn a lot from Minnesota DNR’s focus on brook trout conservation genetics, thermal refuge mapping, stocking reform, university/non-profit brook trout research partnerships, and just generally their commitment to so much more than just stocking hatchery trout. We will also talk briefly about how brook trout often are found living in places they “shouldn’t be” such as streams in the upper 70’s and other places we don’t think they can survive yet have thermal micro habitat. We also talk about Nick’s experience holding 25 inch coaster brook trout at night electro surveying in the livht of the Aurora Borealis(northern lights). There is plenty of discussion about historical human impacts that harmed Minnesota coaster brook trout as well as the 2018 recovery of coasters that was helped along by forward thinking coaster brook trout harvest regs enacted in 2006. Minnesota’s north shore is a magical place with magical fish!

    Check out my Fly Fishing After Dark column in Dark Skies Fly Fishing Magazine!!!

    https://darkskiesflyfishing.com/magazine/?srsltid=AfmBOorkaTITiDCQvc53i3399mUrzVoaonT_DaAT7DTr2WaHm9ZwrRCb

    Check out Philip Light’s Unicornbrookies.com for the most science based blog on PA’s native brook trout and their management

    https://www.unicornbrookies.com/

    1 hr 14 min
  11. Dr. Joseph Love of Maryland DNR: Invasive Snakehead Truth

    Show notes

    In this episode I sit down with fisheries manager and snakehead invasion researcher Dr. Joseph Love of the Maryland DNR. We cover history of the invasion, snakehead biology, documented harms, snakehead misinformation peddled in angling circles, fishing bias towards ignoring harms, and the general lack of understanding out there about how biological invasions work. We talk about the ofd behavior

    of humans illegally introducing them to new environments and the selfis underlying sociology behind it. We talk about snakehead pushing into new environments in PA/ MD as new food items such as trout are found in their stomachs as they invade further upstream. Finally we close with the important point that just because we cannot erradicate invasive snakehead(currently) it doesn’t mean we cannot mitigate them with harvesting every snakehead we catch. We talk about the conservation heros bowfishing snakehead out of the upper Chesapeake. Also we talk about exciting genetic technologies on the horizon that offer hope for eradicating invasive snakeheads in the future. We also talk about invasion in the Delaware River system in Pennsylvania such as the Schuylkill River and the New Jersey tributaries of the Delaware.

    #snakehead

    #channaargus

    #invasivespecies

    #bowfishing

    #pafishing

    #pinebarrens

    #newjersey

    Check out my Fly Fishing After Dark Column in https://darkskiesflyfishing.com/magazine/?srsltid=AfmBOooW7zQVW2P_JhFP8q7BLjBq8LgwuxATSpecyyMoZSrmjrNRYBJd

    Check out UnicornBrookies.com for the most data driven and thought provoking conservation articles on brook trout out there.

    53 min
  12. The Ghosts of Cape May: Recovering Weakfish with Dr. Jessica Gorzo of NJDEP

    Show notes

    In This episode I interview Dr. Jessica Gorzo, NJDEP weakfish population stock assessment scientist. We talk about the historic cultural significance of these regal sportfish and how they shaped New Jersey shore towns. I talk about my own treasured experiences with weakfish chasing them as a child in capemay in the 1990s and then watching their populations crash and fall off a cliff. Its this crash which is the majority of our discussion as we explore the reasons behind what some scientists call the greatest mystery in Atlantic marine biology. We talk about possible factors for the reasons these fish gonout to open ocean and seem to just disappear. Stripers, bottle nosed dolphin, spinny dogfish, and bluefish have all been suspected but unproven. We will talk about bycatchint in trawler netting, changes to forage base, and havitat changes in costal estuaries as we try to get to the bottom of why these fish have declined from their former glory. We also talk about the micro increase in their populations, talk about anecdotal fishint reports and ask are there reasons for optimism in the future or not?

    #weakfish #saltwaterfishing #saltwaterflyfishing #seatrout #fortescue

    Check out my Fly Fishing After Dark Column in Dark Skies Fly Fishing Magazine!

    https://darkskiesflyfishing.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorsfzId4xoY6sTFNaqpnzjprpwhEVD11uUQKhY5WZJ8MjrYDtS2

    Check out UNICORNBROOKIES.com for the best coverage of brook tro it fisheries science out there

    https://www.unicornbrookies.com/

    1 hr 18 min
  13. Finsylvania Update: Big new Finsylvania Pod Project,Big Spring Fundraiser, & PGC/PFBC merger talk.

    Show notes

    Join me for this Finsylvania Podcast Update! We announce a new big Finsylvania project called “The Finsylvania Road Trip Series” where we hit the road and talk to subject matter experts in management of species outside of PA and take fisheries science & management lessons home back to PA. Meet a new species, a nee fishery, or just learn more about one you already know ir have interest in! I also announce THE BIG SPRING PRESENTATION ASSOCIATION’s May 7th fundraiser for Big Springs Legal Defense Fund against the warehouse that potentially threatens to distribute or alter its spring source. 5-8pm come raise kiney for this legendary stream and enjoy the conpany of the fly fishing community and refreshments all in the beautiful natural setting of the Kings Gap Mansion. Also on this Update episode we talk about warming stream temps and reducing brook trout thermal stress by bonking stockers in brook trout and wild trout streams on the head and removing the man made hatchery stream pollution. Finally we talk about Tim Schaeffer’s pet project, merging PFBC and PGC. Find out my personal opinion on the motivations for this move and why it could amount to just anither way to bail out hatcheries at hunters/public land SGL’s expense.

    Road trip series fisheries and species

    NJDEP-Weakfish population crash and recovery efforts

    Maryland DNR-Snakehead invasion, myths, and harms(PA streams discussed too)

    Minnesota DNR-Coaster Brook Trout Managment/Genetics

    Lake Ontario Non-native Salmon stocking with Dr. Peiman, a new way forward

    #brooktrout #blueliner #snakehead #seatrout #chinooksalmon

    Dark Skies Fly Fishing

    https://darkskiesflyfishing.com/product/1-year-digital-subscription/?srsltid=AfmBOoqErAMSpSJoH6v0vTMHyOfG1Jr9HrXm7jpIfVEW3PvY1MvGN8Z7

    Unicorn Brookies

    https://www.unicornbrookies.com/

    DONATE TO BIG SPRING LEGAL DEFENSE FUND!!

    https://protectbigspring.org/

    19 min
  14. Native Fish For Tomorrow: Why native “non-game” fish are critical & why PA anglers should care

    Show notes

    In this episode I sit down with Drew & Tyler from Native Fish For Tomorrow, a Minnesota based native fish conservation organization. I sit down with them to discuss the critical importance that native so called “non-game”(hate that term🥴) fish play in the health and quality of our aquatic ecosystems and fisheries. As fly fishermen we often onow everything about the emergence of the macroinvertebrates trout feed on and that part of the ecosystem yet we know so little about these vital non-trout native fish that entire aquatic environments depened on for ecosystem services. From native fall fish helping 9 other species of small antive fish spawn to white sucker runs transferint massive amounts of nutrients and protein to head water streams in their eggs during spawning runs, come learn about why the trout, bass, or musky angler should care about these amazing species. You will also learn along the way that these so called “non-game” fish are extremely worthy targets and truely excellent sport fish that have tradionally just suffered from lack of branding or false cultural stigmas. Critical to our ecosystems and fun to catch, whats not to love? I was very intentional about reaching out to Native Fish For tomorrow for an interview for this episode because their policy wins for better management of the these species(therfore healthier streams) in Minnesota is nothing short of impressive and provides a road map to healthier streams and better fishing here in PA if we chose to follow it.

    My contact-Jim Suleski

    E-mail: Salvelinus19@gmail.com

    Cell-609-405-1415

    Socials

    https://www.instagram.com/jimsinsta_gram

    https://www.facebook.com/share/1DtXWagt9c/?mibextid=wwXIfr

    Subscribe To Dark Skies Fly Fishing!!

    Check out my Column in each issue called “ Fly Fishing After Dark”

    https://darkskiesflyfishing.com/product/1-year-digital-subscription/?srsltid=AfmBOoqErAMSpSJoH6v0vTMHyOfG1Jr9HrXm7jpIfVEW3PvY1MvGN8Z7

    Check out Phillip Light’s Unicorn Brookies Blog for the VERY BEST information on Native Brook Trout conservation a issues

    Pennsylvania Trout Fishing

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    Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (.gov)

    +5

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    1 hr 4 min
  15. Hot Tub Brook Trout Time Machine: A timeline of historical harms of Pennsylvania’s Brook Trout

    Show notes

    In this episode I interview author Noah Donten. We briefly discuss his new book “Brook by Brook.” This text is a how to guide about chasing PA brook trout that also has some history/conservation information that I am

    Really enjoying reading right now. However, the main topic of discussion for this epsiode is a chronological history of all the various categories of environmental impairments and insults suffered by native brook trout in PA from arrival of european colonists to present day. I wanted to do an episode like this because Its my belief that to know where we are going in brook trout conservation we have to know where we have been. Seeing them survive the scale and intensity of the disturbances to both the landscape and their genetic fitnese/diversity shows us how resilient and worth our conservation efforts they truly are. We cover eras from early european colonization, mill dams, clear cutting, mining, loss of beavers, culverts/roads, and introduction of non-native competitors. Inhope you will joinnus for this discussion and consider how their extremely miraculous survival theough these eras bodes for their future survival!

    #nativebrooktrout #brooktrout #conservation #blueliner #pawilds #pafishing

    Check out Darkskies Fly Fishing Magazine and my New Fly Fishing after Dark Article!

    https://darkskiesflyfishing.com/magazine/?srsltid=AfmBOooD1QHS0QhO9ZYGA4HtfhbCWZgBRazvKXr2GCYZTD9mdBonii5P

    1 hr 14 min
  16. Lions, Tigers, and Barramundi, OH MY! Philip Light tells all on his notice of stocking RTK request

    Show notes

    Philip Light of Unicornbrookies.com comes on the podcast to tell all about his most recent article detailing the data dump received from filing a right to know request for Fish and Boats “notice of stocking” data. Private & club stocking in class A streams, mouths of class A streams, and a number of invasive exotics from around the world. We talk about the total

    lack of regulation of private citizens, clubs and bussinesses dumping buckets of harmful

    hatchery trout/invasive fish in Pennsylvania’s waterways. We talk about the threat possed to New Jersey, Maryland, New York, and Ohio’s waterways due to exposure to PA’s negligence when it comes to regulating private stocking. We talk about some of the more heinous examples of stocking over native brook trout(Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture’s areas identified as would be strongholds for the species). We also talk about the concerning examples of children being taught to release non-native aquarium fish in programs like trout in the classroom or when adults are shown conditioning children to stock hatchery trout in videos that are inescapable on social media this time of year. We need a stocking authorization in Pennsylvania, it’s mission critial.

    For anyone who has yet to participate in the Finsylvania E-mail campaign demanding reforming trout stocking over wild trout and shifting resources to stream access, please reach out and DM me to participate and advocate for better fisheries management!

    Salvelinus19@gmail.com

    https://www.instagram.com/jimsinsta_gram

    https://www.facebook.com/share/1RKmthH1um/?mibextid=wwXIfr

    Here is Philip Light’s article on Unicorn Brookies detailing the stocking data.

    https://www.unicornbrookies.com/2026/03/05/pennsylvanias-trout-stocking-problem/

    Dark Skies Fly Fishing Magazine! $12 for one year 5 issues. Click the link and start reading! Check out my column fly fishing after dark for all things night fishing with a fly rod!

    https://darkskiesflyfishing.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoryfKM7Se9xOBtHOnGlw7YuUDyw75MzGR1qil81K5dbY7BP5Ffp

    #blueliner #pawilds #troutstocking #brooktrout #conservation #troutfishing

    @darkskiesflyfishing

    @Vox

    1 hr 10 min
  17. Kevin Wolfe/FlyboxLLC: Protecting brook trout at species level in PA, why not?

    Show notes

    In this episode I sit down with Kevin Wolfe from the flyboxllc.com and casts that care. We talk about his recent article on the 9 inch harvest minimum for ALL trout in the state of Pennsylvania that was just passed this winter by Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. We discuss the regulation’s effectiveness at its stated intention of “protecting brook trout.” As Kevin and I discuss, you will aee it s better than what we had but seems to fall quite short of effectively protecting native brook trout in ways you might not otherwise have considered without taking the deep dive with us. Again for the 3rd guest in a row we talk about the lack of angler education on brook trout from PA fish and boat and how that translates into serious management issues. We also discuss why some streams have those rare giant unicorn brook tro it and why others do not as well as what life history/migration factors make big brookies. We talk about our anecdotal experiences on whos harvesting brook trout and is it significant? We also discuss how better brook teout managlent in other states translates into better fishing and trophy sized brook trout. We talk about the sharp contrast between brook trout specific protections/regulations in states like Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. The main difference being we have zero of those species specific management areas or protections.

    Check out Kevin Wolfes Fly Box!!

    The fly box site:

    https://www.theflyboxllc.com/

    Casts That Care:

    News Feed: https://www.theflyboxllc.com/charitynews

    Subscribe: https://www.theflyboxllc.com/pricing-plans/list

    Behind The Vise

    Marketplace: https://www.theflyboxllc.com/behind-the-vise-marketplace

    Info: https://www.theflyboxllc.com/sell-your-flies

    Subscribe to Dark Skies Fly Fishing Magazine for awesome fly fishing,conservation, destination, and fly tying content!

    Check out my Fly Fishing After Dark Column!! Currently talking about mousing/creature fly techniques.

    https://darkskiesflyfishing.com/magazine/

    Check out Philip Light’s UnicornBrookies.com, the most detailed content on brook trout management and conservation out there with visually stunning photography, mapping, and graphs that will allow you to see/understand native brook trout like you never have before!!

    https://www.unicornbrookies.com

    Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC), Lake Erie, Susquehanna River, Allegheny River, Youghiogheny River, Spring Creek, Little Juniata River, Yellow Breeches Creek, Pine Creek, Kinzua Creek.

    Target Species: Trout (stocking, brown, rainbow), Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Steelhead, Muskellunge (Musky), Panfish, Catfish, Snakehead, Carp.

    Regulations/Licensing: PA fishing license, PA trout stocking schedule, PFBC, Fish-for-Free days, trout regulations, delayed harvest artificial lures only.

    Techniques/Lures: Fly fishing, topwater, Ned Rig, spinners, streamers, woolly bugger, trout magnet, nymphs, jigs.

    Seasonal/Current Events: PA fishing report, March fishing, trout stocking, steelhead run, river fishing, bait shops near me, boat ramps.

    Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (.gov)

    Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (.gov)

    +10

    Key Trends This Week (March 2026):

    Trout Stocking: "Trout stocking schedule" is highly searched as the preseason stocking begins.

    Lake Erie Steelhead: "Erie steelhead fishing" and "tributary fishing" are top, especially around Elk Creek and Walnut Creek.

    River Smallmouth: "Susquehanna River smallmouth" and "topwater bass" are popular for warmer days.

    Fly Fishing: Specific patterns like "Woolly Bugger," "Flashback Hares Ear," and "Tunghead Pheasant Tail" are trending.

    Specific Trout Streams: "Spring Creek," "Little Juniata," and "Yellow Breeches" are top searches for trout.

    Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (.gov)

    Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (.gov)

    +4

    For the most up-to-date, hyper-local information, anglers are searching for PA trout stocking schedules by county.

    48 min
  18. Ralph Scherder: The Wild Trout Economy

    Show notes

    In this episode of the Finsylvania podcast I interview Ralph Scherder, the owner and creator of Dark Skies Fly Fishing. We chat about the “wild trout economy” here in Pennsylvania. Specifically, we start with what known economic data exists about PA’s wild trout economy. The we discuss what can be safely inferred about the wild trout economy from Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission surveys about angler behavior. Later we dive into some of the information PA fish and boat has presented to the public and politicians claiming to highlight economic benefits of their hatcheries. We discuss some of the inaccurate claims, methodological flaws, and vague aspects of how Fish and Boat attributes this economic productivity to their hatcheries. Then we ask the valid question is a generational shift to more and more anglers preferring to catch wild fish in general making expensive hatcheries less relevant? Anecdotally it feels this way out there but things like PFBC’s wild trout stamp and recent angler surveys illustrating lack of public approval of stocking over wild trout also seem to suggest a more objective shift away from captivation with stocked trout. We talk about how our state could greatly enhance the wild trout economy by cutting stockings over wild trout, designating wild native brook trout conservation watersheds, and managing current wild non-native brown trout fisheries better. We also discuss how the threat of loss of stream access is a top threat to both the wild trout economy and future of fishing in PA. PA fish and boat is not replacing the numerous access points being lost at break neck speed to posted signs and this seems to be fueling crowding and stoking frustration from other anglers trying to avoid these crowds.

    TAKE ACTION NOW FOR STOCKING REFORM

    Please take part in the Finsylvania Podcast E-mail campaign demanding stocking reform and better wild trout management from politicians. DM or e-mail me for the e-mail address block you can copy and paste into the send bar after taping a short message to politicians and the media about this issue. We have some real momentum and have gotten 3 stories in the news covering this issue. Reach out to me using below links and Join the Fight!!

    Salvelinus19@gmail.com

    https://www.instagram.com/jimsinsta_gram on instagram

    https://www.facebook.com/share/1ApHVhB9eW/?mibextid=wwXIfr facebook

    Consider subscribing to Dark Skies Fly Fishing Magazine and reading my column in every issue called “Fly Fishing After Dark.” Its all about night fishing with a fly rod.

    https://darkskiesflyfishing.com/magazine/

    #blueliner #wildtrout #brooktrout

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    36. Striped bass Susquehanna

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    48. Yellow Breeches Creek

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    51. Oil Creek

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    53. Beltzville Lake

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    56. Keystone State Park

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    1 hr 24 min
  19. Breaking News Update

    Show notes

    In this episode I discuss some breaking news coming out of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat commission, the latest class A stocking exemptions (including Penns Creek), as well as an update about Finsylvania’s stocking reform e-mail campaign to politicians and journalists. People have been coming out of the woodwork asking if they can help get stocking reformed by sending their own personalized e-mail to politicians and journalists. I have compiled an enormous list of all the publicly searchable politicians and journalists I could find. If you mesage me on social media(james suleski) or e-mail me at salvelinus19@gmail.com I would be happy to share that list of addresses with you so you can join the fight for stocking reform by making your own personalized message to PFBC’s elected oversight demanding better oversight and serious reforms at the agency.

    Check out Darkskies Fly Fishing Magazine!!

    https://darkskiesflyfishing.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqOL3WLXsnvL8fmCEujH0SLvecRW9hHdfet3fdBKmsLZGi10K0E

    Contact me about sending an e-mail to fight for stocking reform!

    Salvelinus19@gmail.com

    #nativebrooktrout #stopstocking #blueliner

    16 min
  20. Bill Dell on Brook Trout

    Show notes

    In this episode Bill Dell from the troutbitten project and I discuss wild native brook trout and their management here in Pennsylvania. We cover topics like setting expectations for anglers who want to fish for them, their often underestimated resiliency, and how we could be managing them better here in PA. We discuss how states like Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia and others are managing native brook trout much more effectively that the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. We talk about the free to cost saving management actions that would likely allow the PA wilds to have larger and healthier populations similar to those southern state’s managers have created with evidence based management. We talk about how fly fishermen often leave PA to fish for native brook teout because of how bad the management is here. A central theme discussed is a big lack of angler education from PA Fish and Boat. Other states have much more angler education videos and material while PA fish and boat seems to just try tominflate the value of hatchery trout to fishermen with their social media. We discuss brook trout conservation genetics and how stocking ontop of brook trout and in large downstream waterways harms their genetics. We discuss how the combination of stocking and bad stream habitat restoration attendant that simulate raceways in the wild have harmed native brook trout. We discuss the contrast how the habitat blueliners find brook trout in naturally sharply contrasts with the trench or chute like monoculture habitat created by these single channel stream restoration projects with no islands or sode channels. Finally in the action alert listeners and viewers are encouraged to reach out if they are interested in writing an opinion editorial(op-ed) for a local media source to publish to help raise public awareness and pressure politicians responsible for PA fish and boat’s continued waste and failures to do better.

    #nativebrooktrout

    #blueliner

    #pawilds

    #pafishing

    #flyfishing

    #conservation

    #brooktrout

    #wildtrout

    Action Alert: Contact me at this e-mail if you would be interested in writing a short opinion editorial on the need for stocking reform and submiting to a local state media source.

    Salvelinus19@gmail.com

    Show notes and resources mentioned:

    If you love wild native brook trout check out the link to the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture below.

    https://easternbrooktrout.org/

    Dark Skies Fly Fishing Magazine

    @darkskiesflyfishing

    If you love fly fishing and want to read about overlooked fishing opportunities available to you in the northeast and mid Atlantic this is the publication for you. It features articles on fly fishing tactics, destinations, species, conservation, and fly tying. This is no amateur publication. Ralph Scherder who created this project is a full time very skilled fly fishing writer and guide. He puts his heart and soul into Darkskies and it shows. Subscribe now, its only $12 a year for 5 issues.

    https://darkskiesflyfishing.com/magazine/?srsltid=AfmBOor8-SLp8gTSPgK3EIs9FTA3XkB6qXzuCKcwTA9G576eFK7ZGU2R

    Unicorn Brookies by Philip Light

    This blog covers native brook trout in PA like you have never seen before. Phil’s articles take a deep dive into different brook trout populations in PA and surrounding states as he examines their management in a setailed science based manner that teaches readers things they can’t get any where else about these amazing fish. Fascinating Blog on brook trout.

    https://www.unicornbrookies.com/

    Trout (Stocked, Wild, Rainbow, Brook, Brown)

    Smallmouth Bass

    Largemouth Bass

    Walleye

    Muskellunge / Musky

    Yellow Perch

    Crappie (Black/White)

    Channel Catfish

    Flathead Catfish

    Northern Pike

    Chain Pickerel

    Bluegill / Pumpkinseed

    Carp

    Shad (American/Hickory)

    Steelhead (Lake Erie)

    Lake Erie Fishing

    Susquehanna River fishing

    Lake Nockamixon (Bucks County)

    Raystown Lake

    Lake Wallenpaupack

    Allegheny River / Reservoir

    Delaware River

    Yellow Breeches Creek (Fly fishing)

    Big Spring Creek

    Pymatuning Reservoir

    Lake Arthur (Moraine State Park)

    Pine Creek (Trout)

    Lehigh River

    Octoraro Lake

    Marsh Creek Lake

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    PA Fishing Regulations Summary

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    4. Gear, Tackle & Techniques

    Trout Unlimited

    Fly Fishing PA

    Best Trout Lures PA

    Senko Worm (Green Pumpkin)

    Waders / Simms Waders

    Fishing Charter Near Me

    Fishbrain App

    Garmin Livescope / Sonar

    Baitcasting Reel

    KastKing Fishing Tackle

    Trout Rod

    Fly Tying Materials

    Bass Fishing Boat

    5. Seasonal & Specific Searches

    Ice Fishing PA

    Spring Trout Season

    Fall Bass Fishing

    PA Fishing Report

    Fishing Map PA

    Boating Handbook PA

    Magnet Fishing PA

    Ten Species Challenge

    Boat Rental PA

    Best Fishing Near Me

    1 hr 15 min