Finsylvania

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

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/

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.

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/

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/

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: [email protected]

Cell-609-405-1415

Socials

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

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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

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!

[email protected]

https://www.instagram.com/jimsinsta_gram?igsh=MXB4djIyMHh1dzc3Mg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

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

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)

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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.

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!!

[email protected]

https://www.instagram.com/jimsinsta_gram?igsh=MXB4djIyMHh1dzc3Mg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr 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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