Trout season 2000 kicked off April 15, a beautiful warm, sunny day that is a fisherman's dream.
For the fifth consecutive year, Sewickley Creek Watershed enabled local trout fishermen to cast their lines close to home by maintaining land owner consent to fish the Sewickley Creek from their respective properties. And more importantly, SCWA worked with the Pennsylvania Fish Commission to again thoroughly stock the three miles of stream.
Stocking took place on March 3, with fish released in an area from the Brinkerton-Hecla bridge, to the bridge near Hoffer's Funeral Home in Norvelt, the Mammoth bridge site to the bridge behind the Westmoreland County Fair Grounds. This stocking consisted of 150 brown trout and 400 rainbow trout. All fish are legal size with some in the jumbo 5 lb. class.
Two reports have been received to date (April 30). SCWA board member Wayne Brinker chatted with a fisherman on opening day who had caught four trout. Board member Bob Hepler reported that another fisherman, Warren Ballew, "said he had one good sized; his brother had three or four going 11 to 13 inches." When Hepler stopped by the stream the next day, he found six fishermen, all having caught 11- to 12-inch-long trout.
"The cover and brush in the stream will provide good sport all summer," said Hepler.
"Our association can certainly take pride in providing for and maintaining this recreation," he added.
As such the Association shall use its resources to educate the citizens of the watershed as to sound environmental practices. In addition, the Association will seek out and cooperate with government agencies, interested organizations, businesses and individuals to implement programs to improve water quality and encourage proper land use.