The program is collaboration between the PFBC and private, non-profit organizations. The PFBC provides individual cooperative nurseries (co-ops) with adolescent fish. The co-ops then voluntarily raise the fish at their own cost prior to stocking them for public angling. In 2005, 171 nurseries stocked 1,056,706 trout statewide, along with a million yellow perch, one million walleye and 126,300 steelhead into Lake Erie and its tributaries.

In addition to supplying fish for the program, the Commission also provides guidance and support. In 1996, the PFBC created the co-op grant program to aid nurseries with new construction, equipment to improve water quality, structures to enhance facilities, etc. Co-op sponsors may apply for up to $3,000 annually. This year, 31 applicants were selected for funding.

Grants were approved for the following organizations:

• The Coventryville Trout Club, Chester County: $1,520. Grant monies will be used to expand their nursery & improve the ventilation system. The Coventryville Trout Club has participated in the program since 2004 and rears 4,800 trout annually.
• Community Rod & Gun Club, Susquehanna County: $339. Grant monies will replace the aerator for their rearing pond. The Community Rod & Gun Club has been in the program since 1975 and rears 3,000 trout annually.
• Yough Area Fisherman’s Association, Inc., Fayette County: $2,064.81. Grant monies will purchase a compressor, nets, tubing and air stones, and a trash pump. The Yough Area Fisherman’s Association has participated in the program since 1987 and rears 7,500 trout annually.
• Wycoff Run Fish Nursery, Inc., Cameron County: $3,000. Grant monies will be used to rebuild a nursery damaged during Hurricane Ivan. Wycoff Run Fish Nursery has participated in the program since 1987 and rears 5,500 trout annually.
• Lititz Sportsman’s Association, Lancaster County: $3,000. Grant monies will used to replace an old storage building for feed and equipment. The Lititz Sportsman’s Association has been in the program since 1956 and rears 10,000 trout annually.
• Shippensburg Fly Fishing Club, Cumberland County: $1,222. Grant monies will provide lumber and stainless steel screen for construction of a partition to separate trout species in rearing ponds. Shippensburg Fly Fishing Club has participated in the program since 1968 and rears 9,000 trout annually.
• Neshannock Chapter Trout Unlimited, Mercer County: $245. Grant monies will purchase a backup regenerative blower for aeration. The Neshannock Chapter of Trout Unlimited has participated in the program since 1996 and rears 2,000 trout annually.
• West Chester Fish, Game, & Wildlife Association, Chester County: $800. Grant monies will be used to purchase a regenerative air blower and to rebuild the motor on an older air blower for backup aeration. West Chester Fish, Game, and Wildlife Association has participated in the program since 1964 and rears 3,000 trout annually.
• Juniata Trout Club, Juniata County: $1,416.87. Grant monies will replace an entire cover screen system over the raceway. The Juniata Trout Club has participated in the program since 1976 and rears 6,800 trout annually.
• Morann Gun & Rod Club, Clearfield County: $2,850. Grant monies will purchase a storage building for feed and equipment for their auxiliary nursery. Morann Gun & Rod Club has taken part in the program since 2002 and rears 10,000 trout annually.
• Jenner Community Sportsman Association, Somerset County: $2,484.50. Grant monies will buy a regenerative air blower for aeration, nets, diffuser manifold, and belt feeders. Jenner Community Sportsman Association has participated in the program since 1957 and rears 3,000 trout annually.
• Delco Anglers & Conservationists, Delaware County: $1,400. Grant monies will purchase a submersible well pump for a well to supplement water at their new nursery. Delco Anglers & Conservationists has participated in the program since 1965 and rears 4,500 trout annually.
• Orbisonia-Rockhill Sportsmen’s Association, Huntingdon County: $3,000. Grant monies will purchase materials to renovate the nursery. Orbisonia-Rockhill Sportsmen’s Association has participated in the program since 1980 and rears 10,000 trout annually.
• Laurel School District (for the Laurel Conservation Club), Lawrence County: $1,724.36. Grant monies will be used to purchase fish transport aerators, and pump and belt feeders. Laurel School District has been in the program since 1987 and rears 6,500 trout annually.
• Union County Sportsman Club, Union County: $3,000. Grant monies will be used for a new intake box, pipe, and repairs to the nursery. The Union County Sportsman Club has taken part in the program since 2004 and rears 3,200 trout annually.
• St. Mary’s Area School District (for St. Mary’s Middle School Outdoor Club), Elk County: $3,000. Grant monies will be used to purchase a backup propane generator and a regenerative air blower motor. St. Mary’s Area School District has participated in the program since 2004 and rears 900 trout annually.
• Salisbury-Elklick Hunting Club, Somerset County: $900. Grant monies will be used to purchase belt feeders, diffuser stones, a transport tank, nets, and repair kits for motors on feeders. The Salisbury-Elklick Hunting Club has participated in the program since 1973 and rears 16,000 trout in three nurseries.
• PA Department of Public Welfare (for the Youth Forestry Camp #3), Huntingdon County: $2,603.31. Grant monies will be used to purchase a regenerative air blower aeration system (piping, valves, tubing, stones, motor). The PA Department of Public Welfare has participated in the program since 2005 and rears 200 trout annually.
• McSherrystown Fish & Game, Adams County: $2,546.50. Grant monies will be used to buy a backup generator to continue aeration during power outages. McSherrystown Fish & Game has participated in the program since 1975 and rears 3,300 trout annually.
• Blackleggs Trout Coop, Indiana County: $1,564.74. Grant monies will be used to install a new aeration system at the nursery. Blackleggs Trout Coop has participated in the program since 1986 and rears 12,000 trout annually.
• Mill Creek Rod & Gun Club, Lebanon County: $3,000. Grant monies will be used for a transport tank trailer, installation of electricity to the nursery, and pumps and hoses. Mill Creek Rod & Gun Club has participated in the program since 1951 and rears 14,500 trout annually.
• Chambersburg Rod & Gun Club, Franklin County: $3,000. Grant monies will be used to construct a walkway and railing around the nursery. Chambersburg Rod & Gun Club has participated in the program since 1965 and rears 20,500 trout annually.
• Germantown Grove Club, Carbon County: $1,800. Grant monies will be used to purchase a transport tank trailer. Germantown Grove Club has been a participant of the program since 2001 and rears 3,600 trout annually.
• Chester Valley Sportsmen Association, Chester County: $3,000. Grant monies will be used to renovate a raceway and upgrade equipment. Chester Valley Sportsmen Association has participated in the program since 1975 and rears 7,000 trout annually.
• 3 C’s Trout Nursery, Cambria County: $1,860. Grant monies will be used for a pH meter, spider diffuser, and an aerator. 3 C’s Trout Nursery has participated in the program since 2001 and rears 7,500 trout annually.
• Morris Rod & Gun Club, Tioga County: $2,315. Grant monies will replace the intake and pipeline to the nursery. Morris Rod & Gun Club has participated in the program since 1966 and rears 20,000 trout annually.
• Lavelle Fish & Game Association, Schuylkill County: $750. Grant monies will be used to purchase stone to refurbish the nursery access road. Lavelle Fish & Game Association has participated in the program since 1975 and rears 8,000 fish in two nurseries.
• Albion Sportsmen’s Club, Erie County: $2,999.07. Grant monies will be used to purchase materials to cover the raceways: lumber, roofing and fencing. Albion Sportsmen’s Club has been a participant of the program since 1969 and rears 20,000 trout annually.
• Bucktail Council, BSA (for PA Wildlife Habitat Unlimited), Clearfield County: $2,410. Grant monies will be used to purchase a regenerative blower motor, diffuser stones, hoses, PVC pipe and fittings, and a storage building for feed and equipment. Bucktail Council has participated in the program since 2004 and rears 3,000 trout annually.
• Glendale Sportsman Assoc., Clearfield County: $220.03. Grant monies will replace all cover screen frames and wire mesh. Glendale Sportsman Association has been a participant in the program since 1980 and rears 8,500 trout annually.
• Blain Sportsman Association, Perry County: $500. Grant monies will buy new belt feeders and repair the intake dam. Blain Sportsman Association has participated in the program since 1968 and rears 10,000 trout annually.