With trout fishing in high gear and inseason trout stockings ongoing, anglers who want to know what streams were stocked have customarily taken a print-out of the schedule from their computers, or, referred to the Trout Stocking Schedules given out at tackle shops that are available from the offices of Pennsylvania state representatives.

But now, with the population having Smartphone's, the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission has just introduced their new FishBoatPA phone app.

The app shows real-time stockings of particular waters, how to get to those locations and what other access areas are near their current fishing spot.

According to PFBC Executive Director John Arway, the free app is available on both Google's Play Store and Apple's App Store. Said Arway, "We want to make it as easy as possible to access our stocking information and to purchase a fishing license."

When opening the PFBC's website and the FishBoatPA app opens, the first item anglers see is an "Upcoming Trout Stocking" link, which updates in real time. That in itself is very unique for an app such as this.

Upon visiting the site, users can sort stocking schedules by county. The app is tied directly to the PFBC's online stocking schedule so angler can see past and upcoming stockings, and the type of trout placed in a water.

GIS coordinates allow users to use mapping apps installed on their phones to also get directions to their favorite stocking sites, says the PFBC.

The "Near Me" feature uses a phone's GIS coordinates to locate and display trout waters within 5, 15, 25 and 50 miles of the user.

The app features a page in the link that says "Get a license today" so users can find an issuing license agent near them and see pricing options for licenses. Anglers can also check links that provide useful information like tying various knots and learning how to properly handle fish, plus rules and regulations.

Another option, says the PFBC, is the "My Trophies" section is where anglers can post pictures to share with others using the app. Users can add a title, fish weight and length, and the date they caught it, the type lure used and any comments they have. They can then share their catch by emailing, texting or through other social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter.

FIRST WEEK

FISHING REPORT

Parts of Jordan Creek in Lehigh County were stocked April 7, 9, with others scheduled for April 13 and 14, with more to come.

According to Bob Danenhower, of Bob's Taxidermy in Orefield, anglers fishing the upper Jordan not only have newly stocked trout to catch, but leftovers as well.

Danenhower said anglers who are coming into his bait shop say Jordan Creek trout seem to be hitting best on fathead minnows. In fact he's had some very sizable trout brought in from there for mounting. [My next column will explain the proper handing of trout to be mounted]

Not far from his shop, trout were stocked at the dam and upstream on the Jordan off Kernsville Road, and again, further downstream where Hassen Creek enters the Jordan.

Unfortunately, the famed Little Lehigh doesn't get stocked again until April 22 so most of the action will be at the Jordan.

If you want some big river action, the Lehigh River will be stocked Sunday April 12 starting at the Pavilion section off Canal Street in Northampton, and continue upriver to Walnutport. This stocking comes courtesy of the Lehigh River Stocking Association, because the PFBC doesn't, and will not, stock it. It's uncrowded waters and more challenging because of its width and strong flow.

Willie Marx, at Willie's Bait & Tackle at riverside in Cementon, says most anglers predominately use fatheads minnows, nightcrawlers and #2 Blue Fox spinners on the Lehigh. For those fishing directly above the dam, be advised that when the river was frozen this winter, some kids pushed a grocery shopping cart into the river about 50 yards upriver from the dam on the Cementon side. So fishermen should be aware it'll be a lure catcher. There's also a downed tree below the dam but Willie said a couple river regulars have their chain saws ready to cut it and drag it out, as it is a hindrance to casting.