Perhaps it’s because we’ve had a mild winter so far, but trout anglers are getting the itch to fish. And if the weather holds, preseason trout stockings will get underway March 3 in Lehigh and Northampton counties.

As for the latter, Minsi Lake in Northampton County, is also on the schedule to be stocked since it was closed and drained for dam repairs in 2017. The dam work is completed and the lake is scheduled to be stocked with trout on March 24 ahead of the Regional Mentored Youth Day, according to the PF&BC.

Said Paul Urbanik, Director of the PFBC’s Bureau of Engineering, “The lake is being filled 2-3 feet per week until the lake reaches its full capacity in approximately six weeks. Minsi has to be refilled slowly, he explains, to allow the earthen portion of the dams to adequately saturate and allow engineers to monitor the new concrete dam structures that gets put under extreme pressure for the first time water is introduced. The dam will be inspected weekly to insure safety and monitor performance.”

Urbanik goes on to say that Rainbow Trout and golden Rainbow Trout will be stocked throughout spring and fall.

Minsi is almost identical to Leaser Lake in Lehigh County that was drained, refilled and stocked. Today, it’s catch-and-release only with the exception of trout. And it will be stocked April 3, 2020.

Last year, Leaser’s full trout allocation was reduced because of low angler catches. A portion of Leaser’s trout were stocked instead in Kaercher Creek Dam in upper Berks County.

If you crave some trout action now, Lehigh County Fish & Game Association members traveled to Cabela’s in Hamburg this past Friday to get 30 or so golden trout that were stocked in the Little Lehigh Creek in Lehigh Parkway. According to Herb Gottschall, President of LCF&G Association, Cabela’s is donating these trout as they clean out their in-store creek and aquariums.

Gottschall added that their annual fishing derby in Lehigh Parkway, that was canceled last year, will definitely be held this year with a date forthcoming.

TROUT FILM & TURKEY CALLING EVENTS SCHEDULED

ArtsQuest Center at Bethlehem’s Steelstacks, will host a Fly-Fishing Film Tour March 3-4 beginning at 7:30 p.m. The film will show exotic trout fly fishing destinations on Earth. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Proceeds benefit Monocacy Chapter of Trout Unlimited. For more information check www.steestacks.org or call 610-332-3378.

For turkey hunters, World Turkey Calling Champion Matt Morrett will also be at ArtsQuest with his presentation of “The Art of Turkey Calling” on March 18, beginning at 6 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. For more information, hunters can check the above website and phone number.

While at the seminar, hunters will be able to bid on a silent sale and live auction for an African Safari for two with Somerby Safari’s, Steelhead Angling on the Salmon River in NY, and a Turkey Hunt for Two at Camp Freedom in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Proceeds will benefit the Jerry Zimmerman Memorial Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation.