2024 License

[purplelab]

Just bought my 2024 fishing license today $27.97 without trout stamp!! Seems like they go up every year!!

[cajuntony]

Without  saying  that  doesn't  surprise  me but mother nature  needs to step up and give us lots of ice to fish on

[RuttNutt]

Just bought my 2024 fishing license today $27.97 without trout stamp!! Seems like they go up every year!!

Best money I spend all year! 

[PaCarpboy]

$12.50  Even better for me!

[primepin65]

The PA resident license fee is in the middle of the road compared to all of the states I just looked at(about 15 states). Cheapest was $8 and most expensive was $44 per year. I think PA has a ton of opportunity for that price.

What other activity can you enjoy every single month of the year for $2.33 per month?

[NEZ]

Buy the multi-year license.  Don't have to worry about it going up for 5 years   Nez

[bigfoot86]

For the money they bring in, it would be nice to see a more dedicated walleye program.

[fishon814]

For the money they bring in, it would be nice to see a more dedicated walleye program.

X2

[PaCarpboy]

It would be a major accomplishment if the PFBC would create a fishable walleye population.  Look at the number of fingerling walleye they stock in Duck Harbor.   That lake gets hit hard in through the ice.  Never heard of anyone catching a walleye.  However, they continue the stocking program based on their net surveys telling them the population is sustaining itself.  They have also tried several other ponds like White Oak, White Deer, Lower Woods, Fairview, all to no avail.  I asked them about trying Merli Sarnoski and was told there are not enough forage fish to sustain a walleye population.  Interesting that pickerel and bass seem to have enough forage fish to thrive.  My layman's opinion is that the stocking of "fingerling" walleye are forage fish for other predators.  A fingerling is by definition a fish as long as your finger, which is about the size of the bait we put on our traps if you think about it.  Tossing thousands of 2 to 3" unacclimated fish into a pond teaming with bass and pickerel is a buffet for those voracious eaters.  Yearling fish would have a much better chance of survival but I know it costs a lot more to raise a fish to that size, although they do so by the millions with trout.  Anyway, my two cents.
Duck Harbor stocking over the years:
2000   Walleye   Fingerling   3,600
2001   Walleye   Fingerling   6,000
2002   Walleye   Fingerling   4,800
2003   Walleye   Fingerling   4,800
2004   Walleye   Fingerling   4,800
2005   Walleye   Fingerling   9,078
2006   Walleye   Fingerling   17,100
2007   Walleye   Fingerling   9,100
2008   Walleye   Fingerling   9,100
2009   Walleye   Fingerling   9,100
2010   Walleye   Fingerling   9,100
2011   Walleye   Fingerling   9,100
2012   Walleye   Fingerling   8,613
2013   Walleye   Fingerling   11,400
2014   Walleye   Fingerling   9,100
2015   Walleye   Fingerling   3,340
2018   Walleye   Fingerling   4,600
2019   Walleye   Fingerling   13,700
2020   Walleye   Fingerling   5,750
2021   Walleye   Fingerling   18,400
2022   Walleye   Fingerling   11,400
2023   Walleye   Fingerling   5,700

[RuttNutt]

I agree 100% George! How come other states like NY have many more walleye lakes? They (PAF&BC)should try stocking bigger fish instead of thousands of little ones!

But like others have said, the license is still a great value for how many hours of “entertainment” I get every year! 

[deer george]

 I AM 74 YEARS OLD PAID $ 100 FOR MY LAST LICENSE, I AM THANKFUL FOR THE SENIOR LIFETIME LICENSE .

[dkfry]

New Yuk has better quality lakes for the most part than the mud holes we have in PA. The fisheries just are not managed properly in PA, limits too. If you want to make lakes full of dinks then give the pfbc a call.

[Scranton Joe]

New Yuk has better quality lakes for the most part than the mud holes we have in PA. The fisheries just are not managed properly in PA, limits too. If you want to make lakes full of dinks then give the pfbc a call.

It's a law enforcement  agency.   Habitat  conservation and enhancements aren't a priority.   They're pension plan is far more important.   

[IceholeHEN]

I always complain about the money but it’s one of the best investments. And as for the EYE topic, I get my fair share I’d say.

[Scranton Joe]

I always complain about the money but it’s one of the best investments. And as for the EYE topic, I get my fair share I’d say.

It's not an investment,  it's a tax. 

I've made some money in my investments,  never made a dime off of my fishing licenses.

What am I doing wrong?

Should I switch to walleyes where the big money is hiding?

[PaCarpboy]

It's an investment in your health and well being.  It's good for the soul. 

[RuttNutt]

It's an investment in your health and well being.  It's good for the soul.

AMEN! Well said! 👍😎

[beerduck]

It would be a major accomplishment if the PFBC would create a fishable walleye population.  Look at the number of fingerling walleye they stock in Duck Harbor.   That lake gets hit hard in through the ice.  Never heard of anyone catching a walleye.  However, they continue the stocking program based on their net surveys telling them the population is sustaining itself.  They have also tried several other ponds like White Oak, White Deer, Lower Woods, Fairview, all to no avail.  I asked them about trying Merli Sarnoski and was told there are not enough forage fish to sustain a walleye population.  Interesting that pickerel and bass seem to have enough forage fish to thrive.  My layman's opinion is that the stocking of "fingerling" walleye are forage fish for other predators.  A fingerling is by definition a fish as long as your finger, which is about the size of the bait we put on our traps if you think about it.  Tossing thousands of 2 to 3" unacclimated fish into a pond teaming with bass and pickerel is a buffet for those voracious eaters.  Yearling fish would have a much better chance of survival but I know it costs a lot more to raise a fish to that size, although they do so by the millions with trout.  Anyway, my two cents.
Duck Harbor stocking over the years:
2000   Walleye   Fingerling   3,600
2001   Walleye   Fingerling   6,000
2002   Walleye   Fingerling   4,800
2003   Walleye   Fingerling   4,800
2004   Walleye   Fingerling   4,800
2005   Walleye   Fingerling   9,078
2006   Walleye   Fingerling   17,100
2007   Walleye   Fingerling   9,100
2008   Walleye   Fingerling   9,100
2009   Walleye   Fingerling   9,100
2010   Walleye   Fingerling   9,100
2011   Walleye   Fingerling   9,100
2012   Walleye   Fingerling   8,613
2013   Walleye   Fingerling   11,400
2014   Walleye   Fingerling   9,100
2015   Walleye   Fingerling   3,340
2018   Walleye   Fingerling   4,600
2019   Walleye   Fingerling   13,700
2020   Walleye   Fingerling   5,750
2021   Walleye   Fingerling   18,400
2022   Walleye   Fingerling   11,400
2023   Walleye   Fingerling   5,700

i thought the same thing about stocking bigger size walleyes instead of pickerel feeder size and someone educated me on walleyes become canabalistic and will kill each other at a certain age   not sure but was interesting

[SuperX2Nut]

I for one would mind buying my license a little less if it were valid 12 months from
 The purchase date.

Id also feel a bit better about spending that money if I didn’t feel like all my license money did was subsidize the stocked trout program. Literally almost every lake around me is stocked with trout and I hate paying the extra just for the privilege of fishing those lakes early in the year, even though I don’t keep or target the pellet chubs.

[RuttNutt]

If you buy it on Dec. 1st you actually get 13 months................ ..

And when did buying a trout stamp become mandatory? 

[trophysteve58]

I THINK THE BIG PROBLEM WITH WALLEYES IN PA IS A LOT OF PEOPLE KEEP THEM AND THE LIMIT IS HIGH, I FISH THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER A LOT AND ONE YEAR WHILE FISHING FOR BASS IN FEBRUARY AS A BY CATCH WE HAD SOME NICE EYES TO 6LBS AND LOADED WITH EGGS SO I LET THOSE BIG GIRLS GO AND KEPT TWO SMALL MALES, ANY WAY THERE WAS A FEW GUYS ON SHORE SAID THEY WHERE CATCHING THEM ALL WEEK AND KEEPING THERE LIMIT EVERY DAY ALONG WITH THOSE BIG GIRLS WITH EGGS, THAT WAS 3 YEARS AGO AND NOW I HAVE NOT CAUGHT A WALLEYE IN THAT AREA SINCE THEN. LOTS OF BASS THOUGH CAUSE YOUR NOT ABLE TO KEEP THEM THANK GOD. ALSO IT REALLY TAKES A GOOD WATER TO HAD WALLEYE WHICH IN ARE AREA WE DONT HAVE DELAWARE RIVER IS DECENT BECAUSE NJ STOCKINGS MOSTLY STILL SOME EYES IN THE SUSQUEHANNA MOSTLY NORTH BRANCH BUT THERE ANGLERS ARE GREEDY CANT BE HAPPY WITH A FEW FISH AND THROW BACK SPAWNERS GOT TO  FILL THE FREEZER THATS GOODS EATS YEAH GOT TO FEEDD THE FAMILY CAUSE THERES NO SUCH THING AS A SUPER MARKET OH WELL IM GOING OVER BOARD HERE JUST MY TWO CENTS.       

[butcher]

It would be a major accomplishment if the PFBC would create a fishable walleye population.  Look at the number of fingerling walleye they stock in Duck Harbor.   That lake gets hit hard in through the ice.  Never heard of anyone catching a walleye.  However, they continue the stocking program based on their net surveys telling them the population is sustaining itself.  They have also tried several other ponds like White Oak, White Deer, Lower Woods, Fairview, all to no avail.  I asked them about trying Merli Sarnoski and was told there are not enough forage fish to sustain a walleye population.  Interesting that pickerel and bass seem to have enough forage fish to thrive.  My layman's opinion is that the stocking of "fingerling" walleye are forage fish for other predators.  A fingerling is by definition a fish as long as your finger, which is about the size of the bait we put on our traps if you think about it.  Tossing thousands of 2 to 3" unacclimated fish into a pond teaming with bass and pickerel is a buffet for those voracious eaters.  Yearling fish would have a much better chance of survival but I know it costs a lot more to raise a fish to that size, although they do so by the millions with trout.  Anyway, my two cents.
Duck Harbor stocking over the years:
2000   Walleye   Fingerling   3,600
2001   Walleye   Fingerling   6,000
2002   Walleye   Fingerling   4,800
2003   Walleye   Fingerling   4,800
2004   Walleye   Fingerling   4,800
2005   Walleye   Fingerling   9,078
2006   Walleye   Fingerling   17,100
2007   Walleye   Fingerling   9,100
2008   Walleye   Fingerling   9,100
2009   Walleye   Fingerling   9,100
2010   Walleye   Fingerling   9,100
2011   Walleye   Fingerling   9,100
2012   Walleye   Fingerling   8,613
2013   Walleye   Fingerling   11,400
2014   Walleye   Fingerling   9,100
2015   Walleye   Fingerling   3,340
2018   Walleye   Fingerling   4,600
2019   Walleye   Fingerling   13,700
2020   Walleye   Fingerling   5,750
2021   Walleye   Fingerling   18,400
2022   Walleye   Fingerling   11,400
2023   Walleye   Fingerling   5,700

I've read the mortality rate of fingerling anythings is over 95% in the first year. Walleye, bass, muskies, perch - doesn't matter what they are, less than 5% will still be alive after a year.

I'd assume the mortality rate drops exponentially each year thereafter, but probably remains relatively high until a fish reaches 8 inches or so. Walleyes generally grow about 1/2 inch per month for the first year and then growth slows down exponentially in future years.

If we assume a fingerling fish is about 3" long and do some simple math:


2022:
Starting Population: 11,400
Age: 1 Year
Average length: 3"

2023:
Survival Rate: 5%
Remaining Population: 570
Age: 2 Years
Average length: 9"


2024:
Survival Rate: 75%
Remaining Population: 428
Age: 3 Years
Average length: 14"

2026:
Survival Rate: 85%
Remaining Population: 364
Age: 4 Years
Average length: 18"

2027:
Survival Rate: 90%
Remaining Population: 328
Age: 5 Years
Average length: 20"

2028:
Survival Rate: 90%
Remaining Population: 295
Age: 6 Years
Average length: 21"



So...

Of those 11,400 walleye stocked in 2022, less than 400 will survive beyond 5 years and reach 20" in length...

[dkfry]

I for one would mind buying my license a little less if it were valid 12 months from
 The purchase date.

Id also feel a bit better about spending that money if I didn’t feel like all my license money did was subsidize the stocked trout program. Literally almost every lake around me is stocked with trout and I hate paying the extra just for the privilege of fishing those lakes early in the year, even though I don’t keep or target the pellet chubs.

Having to constantly watch the changing regs on the stocked trout waters is annoying.

Now that the trout fee is up to $15 I don't know if I will continue to buy it. Maybe I'll keep a trout or two a year for my grandparents but its to the point its not worth it. Going fishing already costs plenty.


Joe is right. The license fee is a tax.

[Scranton Joe]

It's an investment in your health and well being.  It's good for the soul.

My soul is already invested (without the fish commission outrageous fishing tax)
.

[SuperX2Nut]

If you buy it on Dec. 1st you actually get 13 months................ ..

And when did buying a trout stamp become mandatory? 

Correct, it is good for 13 months, but many years I won’t actually ice fish PA ( I live close enough to NY and then I don’t have to fish small, crowded lakes here in PA) and won’t need a license until pre spawn crappie fishing. Often I might only fish PA between April and September. It would be nice if those years I did choose to ice fish here, that my license year reflected that. I’ll end up buying one anyway, but I’d much rather something I pay for be good for 365 days and it just 7-8 months left in the year.

And unfortunately if I chose to fish for crappies in any of the lakes local to me here in PA before May 31st, I am required to buy a trout stamp. Even if I don’t target or keep any trout, because they are approved trout waters. That’s always seemed like a money making scheme to me.

[SuperX2Nut]

Having to constantly watch the changing regs on the stocked trout waters is annoying.

Now that the trout fee is up to $15 I don't know if I will continue to buy it. Maybe I'll keep a trout or two a year for my grandparents but its to the point its not worth it. Going fishing already costs plenty.


Joe is right. The license fee is a tax.

You’re a better man than I am if you can eat one of those things, they are a filthy diseased fish and don’t think I could choke one down.

[4seasonfishrman]

Correct, it is good for 13 months, but many years I won’t actually ice fish PA ( I live close enough to NY and then I don’t have to fish small, crowded lakes here in PA) and won’t need a license until pre spawn crappie fishing. Often I might only fish PA between April and September. It would be nice if those years I did choose to ice fish here, that my license year reflected that. I’ll end up buying one anyway, but I’d much rather something I pay for be good for 365 days and it just 7-8 months left in the year.

And unfortunately if I chose to fish for crappies in any of the lakes local to me here in PA before May 31st, I am required to buy a trout stamp. Even if I don’t target or keep any trout, because they are approved trout waters. That’s always seemed like a money making scheme to me.

They changed that law a few years ago.  You only need a trout stamp if you are fishing special regulation streams.

[SuperX2Nut]

They changed that law a few years ago.  You only need a trout stamp if you are fishing special regulation streams.

You’re right, I took a gander at the book and the language has changed to exclude lakes from the trout stamp requirement.

Shame on me for not reading it better, I guess they got a couple years of trout stamps out of me. Won’t ever buy another one though.

[IceSpartan]

Best deal on earth.  If I didn’t catch a single fish all year the license fee would still be well worth it.  Fishing is magical.

[jarhead]

Fishing sure beats wasting your money on a sports team,paying to park,paying for the ticket paying for 10 dollar beers and hot dogs.A fishing license is the best value out there.Walking around with a 300 dollar shirt that your favorite no longer even has on team seems kinda dumb to me. But this is all just my opinion and everyone has one