HARRISBURG - Creating more opportunities across the board for anglers was the theme of this week's first quarterly meeting of the year by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission at its main headquarters.

Those opportunities include the addition of 10 stream sections to the list of Class A wild trout streams, and voted to continue stocking the stream sections, all of which receive high levels of angler use.Among them are a section of Pohopoco Creek in Carbon County, two sections of Little Lehigh Creek in Lehigh County, a section of Martins Creek and Monocacy Creek in Northampton County and a section of Monocacy Creek in Lehigh and Northampton counties.Also expanded is this year's Mentored Youth Fishing Day program to be held on all stocked trout waters. In the Southeast Region it will be held Saturday, March 28, and held statewide Saturday, April 11, a week prior to the regional and statewide opening days.A proposal to benefit anglers who enjoy fishing in Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only areas would add several additional weeks to keep their catch and allow the use of bait during the harvest period. In addition, youth 16 and younger would be allowed to use bait year-round in these areas.First launched in 1983, the DHALO program is designed to make more stocked trout available later in the season. Current regulations allow harvesting fish only between June 15 and Labor Day, has a minimum size limit of nine inches, a creel limit of three fish and are open to fishing year-round.Under the proposal, the harvest period would be moved to the Saturday before Memorial Day, the minimum size would be lowered to seven inches, anglers could use bait or artificial lures during the harvest period and the creel limit would remain at three fish.If passed, the regulation would take effect January 1, 2016."This is about creating more opportunities for anglers of all ages to fish and making it easier to fish by simplifying regulations," PFBC executive director John Arway said. "The DHALO program is one of our most popular because it extends the traditional trout season."This proposal should encourage more anglers, especially kids, to fish these areas and will make it easier for families to fish together. Anglers are most interested in fishing for stocked trout in late May and early June."By expanding the harvest period and allowing the use of bait, we can increase angler success while improving the use of the trout before they are lost to natural mortality in the warmer summer months.By allowing kids to use bait year-round in these areas, we would be making it easier for them to fish and would be increasing their chances of catching fish, which would create a positive experience which in turn would increase their enthusiasm and passion for the sport."In other action, commissioners approved the designation of a 2.8-mile section of Pine Creek in Lycoming County, from the confluence of Slate Run downstream to the confluence of Bonnell Run, as a Catch and Release All-Tackle Area, rather than its current designation as a Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only area, and the change will take effect upon publication in the "Pennsylvania Bulletin."Approved was the acquisition of two fishing access and conservation easements, which were provided to the PFBC at no charge, along Route 287 in Piatt Township, Lycoming County, which will provide about one-half mile of fishing access along both sides of Larry's Creek.The first easement is approximately 12.26 acres and will include an access trail, a public fishing easement along the stream corridor which will extend 35 feet back from the top of the bank, a conservation area which includes wetlands and the second easement of about 0.67 acres on adjacent property provides anglers uninterrupted access to both sides of the creek, which is a stocked trout water.An agreement with the state Department of Transportation was approved under which PennDOT will construct an access area on the west shore of the West Branch Susquehanna River in Union County as mitigation for a new highway spanning the river.Under the agreement, PennDOT will construct a boat launch and parking lot on the access area, which is on the uppermost section of Lake Augusta, a 3,060-acre impoundment that extends from Sunbury several miles up both the West Branch and North Branch Susquehanna River.A pass-through grant in the maximum amount of $274,000 to American Rivers, Inc., was approved for the removal of the Downing Ridge Dam on the East Branch Brandywine Creek, Chester County. Funds are being provided to the PFBC by PennDOT as mitigation for a highway improvement project on State Route 322.