Some of you may have seen my posts regarding a little writing job I got last winter. I am writing a monthly column, a
"Web Review", on websites that would be particularly useful to sportsmen and other lovers of the outdoors for the regional
magazine "Outdoor Adventurer".  I have obtained permission to re-publish these reviews on fishin247.com for anyone who may be interested in reading them. This one appeared in the April issue of "Outdoor Adventurer:". If any of you are interested in picking up your own copies of this magazine here is a link with the distribution points listed. http://www.outdooradven.com

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Trout season is well under way. The walleye opener has past and bass season is just around the corner. Those of us who own boats or other watercraft will soon be getting them in the water for some recreational enjoyment. What better time then, to take a look at the WebPages that belong to the bureaucracy in charge of all these activities? I am speaking of course about the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, the agency charged with maintaining Pennsylvania’s fisheries and policing her waterways.

 

The PFBC has a vast array of duties and responsibilities. It is truly a huge agency that affects millions of Outdoor Adventurers here and in the states surrounding Pennsylvania.  The PFBC’s website, http://sites.state.pa.us/PA_Exec/Fish_Boat, is probably the simplest way for someone to access the resources of this behemoth.

 

Once on the homepage you will find links to the various official functions of the Fish and Boat Commission. In the upper left hand corner there is a list of topics which when “moused over” expand and reveal links to focused subjects. “ Mouse over”, Fish,for example and a list pops out to the right featuring links to pages focused on topics for fishermen, move your cursor over, Boat, and there is a similar list of links to boating topics. Other broad subjects in this section include: Non-Game species, Learning Center, Partners and Links, Publications and Products, and Regulations and Laws to name a few.

 

Directly below this you will see three small PA maps with the titles: County Guide, Regional Reports and Biologists Reports. CountyGuide is an interactive map that lets you zero in on an area of special interest. From the State map I picked Wyoming County and then selected, Interactive County Map, This map features numbered and colored points of interest to anglers and boaters clicking on one of these will bring up a popup text box with information on the particular feature. Hot links on the map are: Approved Trout Waters, Boat Access/Launch Ramps, Class A Wild Trout Streams, PFBC Region Offices, PFBC Hatcheries and Special Regulation Areas.

 

The second of the small PA maps, Regional Reports, divides the state into six regions and consists of bits of info and tips for fishermen and boaters. This information is compiled by Aquatic Resources Program Specialists (ARPS), using information provided by Waterways Conservation Officers, Area Fisheries Managers and other PFBC staff. You will also see a link in each of the map’s six regions called Fishing Hot Spots. These are comprised of five or six recommendations organized by species. There are stocked trout picks, wild trout picks, family fun picks large and smallmouth bass picks and even ice fishing picks. One can’t help but want to grab their rod and reel and head off to wet a line after reading the hotspots list.

 

The third of the state map links accesses Biologist Reports; these can be very interesting and reveal some opportunities for anglers that might have gone overlooked. State biologists take surveys of fish populations in our lakes, rivers and streams every year. In Biologist Reports you can view photos of catches made in gill nets and by means of electro-fishing. The survey results, displayed as tables and graphs, are useful indications of what species is hot and what is not in a particular lake.

 

There is so much to see and do on this site that I can only scratch the surface. You can purchase your fishing license online here. You can renew your boating permit online here.  You can view the rules and regulations for boating and fishing, find out when your favorite lake or stream will be stocked with trout, or print out applications for permits to collect and possess reptiles and amphibians.

 

Speaking of the other cold blooded species that live in PA, the Non-Game Species links to be found are full of photos and illustrations that are especially geared towards children. There is a link to sign your child up for a free subscription to PLAY, the Pennsylvania League of Angling Youth.  In this publication your child can learn about fish, fishing, conservation, safety and the waters of Pennsylvania. If your children are already grown they can enjoy reading a selection of articles from the, Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Magazine. Select articles from each issue are archived and available to peruse online.