CLEARFIELD – Snow flurries, cold temperatures and high water didn’t keep two-dozen volunteers from stocking trout in the West Branch of the Susquehanna River in Clearfield on Sunday.
Even with the high water levels a jet boat provided by Stacy Bressler of P. J. Bressler’s Bait and More of Curwensville had no problem completing the stocking. The small 5-inch trout were loaded from the stock trucks into holding tanks on the jet boat by volunteers. The on-board volunteers then stocked trout all along the riverbank from the Raftsman’s Dam downriver to near the entrance of the Clearfield County Career and Technology Center.
The Old Town Sportsman’s Club fingerling stocking program would like to acknowledge the Curwensville Anglers Restocking Program for providing the bulk of the volunteers for both of this year’s fingerling stockings.
For over 30 years, the Old Town Sportsman’s Club has been stocking trout into the river as well as sponsoring an annual kids fishing derby. Starting in 2005 with local support, they have committed to a three-year plan of implementing a “Brown Trout Fishery” in the West Branch of the Susquehanna. This is the second year of the program in cooperation with their corporate sponsor “Reliant Energy” (owners / operators of the Shawville Power Plant). By stocking larger amounts of smaller fingerling trout, the fish cannot be harvested until they become more acclimated with the river and possible threats.
Donations and fundraisers make the stocking programs possible for both Old Town and CARP organizations. Their efforts help the local anglers by not having to drive out of the area to find quality fishing, as well as helping tourism with a fishing destination location. The river from Curwensville to Clearfield is becoming a “go to” location for all types fisherman, according to those involved. Community support and local pride for this local asset has made this river the new “jewel of the area.”
Organizers hope that anglers will respect the clubs efforts by following the “Catch and Release” method. The fish you catch and release today, can share the experience for another angler later.
The Curwensville to Clearfield West Branch of the Susquehanna over the past month has received stockings of:
— 6,500 brown trout fingerlings in Curwensville from the Old Town Sportsman’s Club on Oct. 1
— 700 legal size rainbow trout in Clearfield from the PA Fish and Boat Commission on Oct. 10
— 3,000 Walleye above the Curwensville Lake from the Curwensville Anglers Restocking Program on Oct. 22
— 6,500 brown trout fingerlings in Clearfield from the Old Town Sportsman’s Club
