FROM OUTDOOR NEWS

Weeeeeelp so much for privacy using the PALs system.... eh?

But at least we now know where the money saved, by reducing the numbers of stocked trout (etc), will be spent.

Good idea. Waste money to learn where money is wasted..... priceless!

Now I'm wondering, should I break my promise to never buy a trout stamp or just go someplace where trout stamps are not required.

I'll get back to yinz on that!

Take all the phones,pads,etc. from the youngsters and then they may look around for something to do in the outdoors.

Stock more fish for sure.   My grand sons lost interest when they did not catch any fish.  Now they stay inside and play on their x-boxes.   What to do!!

All the mentor programs are great ideas but they are all short lived ,but it's a start in the right direction.
I hear you Panfish ......That's part of the problem we have local with the cutting down of stocked Trout or elimination all together......lots of water but thin on fish to catch. Seems the future looks even worse locally for younger fishermen.
 

Ball less whiner
 

The budget will not get any better for the foreseeable future. Pensions are killing PFBC and PGC. Fishing license sales aren't going to be skyrocketing anytime soon. Even if they get a license increase, the amount of people who don't buy a license will offset any new revenue. Both agencies will fight tooth and nail to continue to circle the drain, and avoid being flushed. Best thing that could happen is consolidation.

Panfisher
 
The youngest one is 13 and the oldest is 18.  I tried to get the younger one to go last year.  I will try again this year to get him to go.  His dad fishes but not a lot.

 
Hope ya get him to go!  
 
It's tough to get kids interested with all the other options they have now.  Not just phones and x boxes, but sports and other activities.  I've tried to make it a priority for my boys since they were old enough to walk and hold a fishing rod.  They both love their fishing!  
 

Erie_flyfishing
I’m a 17 year old that fishes every chance I get. I started fishing through stocked trout, think it is tragic what is going on. I’m one of the only ones at my school that fishes. Most of my friends tell me they have never been fishing a day. Most of my best memories with my dad entail fishing. For all reading, take a kid fishing. My dad took me fishing and now I beg him to take me every chance I get

Your 17 get a drivers license n go

^^^^
The pheasant permit is just that, a permit, and not a license, so it fell outside of needing legislative approval. Call it a loophole.

fishfashfush

Erie_flyfishing
I’m a 17 year old that fishes every chance I get. I started fishing through stocked trout, think it is tragic what is going on. I’m one of the only ones at my school that fishes. Most of my friends tell me they have never been fishing a day. Most of my best memories with my dad entail fishing. For all reading, take a kid fishing. My dad took me fishing and now I beg him to take me every chance I get

Your 17 get a drivers license n go

I think the point he was making was he likes fishing with his dad.

bigfoot

psu_fish
The budget will not get any better for the foreseeable future. Pensions are killing PFBC and PGC. Fishing license sales aren't going to be skyrocketing anytime soon. Even if they get a license increase, the amount of people who don't buy a license will offset any new revenue. Both agencies will fight tooth and nail to continue to circle the drain, and avoid being flushed. Best thing that could happen is consolidation.

I agree. The pension issue is also having a huge negative impact on local and state government. Some of these public-sector unions have some really sweet deals in place. Don't get me wrong, I'm a previous union member myself, 42 years United steel worker and yes, we had some sweet deals also.

Without context of actually speaking, and typing in a forum, please don't take this as an argumentative response.  Just curious of how this could actually be fixed?
 
I don't think anyone is denying there is an issue with state pensions.  How do you propose to fix it though, without completely skewering people?  Do you tell those that are retired, too bad, go find a job at 80 to make up the difference?  Do you tell those that paid into it for 30 years, too bad, nothing for you in a few years?  Where is the line to tell people too bad?  With Harrisburg dipping into those funds, they messed up what was actually working.  Now, those in public sector unions, are the evil ones to many.  If you were to make all new hires, non-union or no pension, who pays for the existing pensions?  I don't think most would care if pensions were eliminated from the public sector for new employees.  But if no money coming in from those new employees, how do you fund those that paid their dues?
 
Personally, why not find out exactly how much was dipped into these funds, add interest, and put back into those funds.  Make it publicly known, what politicians approved the pillaging of those accounts, and where those funds were used.  Take that money from cuts to the programs that they ended up funding.  If taxes need to go up to fund those programs elsewhere, then that is a decision that those that stole those funds, forced upon everyone.  If the pension plans aren't working, without restoring those funds, then a plan B at that point.  If it is found out that there weren't any funds stolen, or they were minimal, then plan B.  If it this was due to certain politicians making sweetheart deals with the public sector union heads, then make their names publicly known, and show how they were behind it.  
 
I find it strange that so many vilify these middle class earning workers (not saying that anyone quoted is, but seems to be the vibe of reading things, possibly out of context), that make up the vast majority of public sector union employees.  When it is the politicians and the heads of these departments, which are not public sector union members, that seem to be behind the mess.  Don't get me wrong, many of the union heads aren't doing what is best for their members and the tax payers as a whole either.

CAPTAIN HOOK
I'm no Trump fan,but I'm all for those import tariffs! Foreign metal imports destroyed many industries across Pa.,WV, and Ohio and most in DC didn't even try to help back then!
 

I think this is about 35 years too late.  Most modern steel mills are automated, and not bringing back nearly the jobs lost in the 80s.  I just hope that this doesn't start a trade war with allies.  
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/...80%93Hawley_Tariff_Act

First off, let me say that I'm against public sector unions. If you want to serve in government, then serve, but you should be preparing your own retirement while doing so. That being said, the public sector unions are most likely here to stay, but the worst thing about them is: when the union negotiates a contract, they're not sitting across the table from the people who pay them. They're sitting across the table with the folks they voted for. And the politicians play the "kick the can down the road" game, and then we find all the unfunded liabilities.
 
Let the PFBC and the PGC combine. Streamline the organization and move on.

I like that combo idea too, has got to save money in the long run and maybe some programs we need to keep running. Too bad we don't get to vote direct on issues both local and state ,and not vote for the person making our decisions ! To many deals made or favorites played behind the scenes.  

DubVGotM
Double the price of a trout stamp and cut the total number of streams stocked by 1/3. Focus stocking efforts on lakes and streams/rivers that get too warm in summer to sustain life. Any waterway that could potentially harbor a solid population of wild trout should be protected and left alone. That is how you create a long term sustainable economically sound system. People will buy a license for quality fish. Making the fishing experience dependent upon hatchery reared fish is a bad recipe, imo. 

Welcome. Hope ya stick around. Don't know if your idea would pan out or not, but at least you came up with something.