Streams and lakes will get a much needed helping of trout in October when the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission performs the bulk of its fall stockings, although southwestern regional law enforcement chief Emil Svetahor said there could be a postponement or two if recent rains didn't improve some streams.

Months of high temperatures and low precipitation had made many streams unfishable, causing trout that might otherwise have summered over to die. And while poor conditions kept anglers away, they made for easy pickings for other predators such as blue herons, ospreys and river otters.

"We've watched the blue heron clean up," said Bob Hoey of Neshannock Creek Fly Shop in Volant, Lawrence County.

"They're great little fishermen. Between them and conditions, I'd say we lost 50 percent of our trout."

Neshannock Creek is scheduled for an Oct. 11 stocking. Hoey said he would supplement the commission's stocking later in the month.

Anglers statewide may see fewer extra stockings this year by sportsmen and conservation clubs that rely on their own nurseries for trout, since columnaris bacteria outbreaks -- another consequence of warm, low flow -- took a toll on the cooperative nursery program.

Co-ops raise more than a million trout each year with stock provided by the Fish and Boat Commission. More than 50,000 trout earmarked for fall planting had succumbed to bacterial infections by late July. The state hatcheries were spared because they are located on higher quality water, including limestone streams.

A handful of waters received trout just before Labor Day. They included the Youghiogheny River in Fayette County, which has been fishable even though its tributaries haven't been.

"I can't remember a year when Meadow Run was this low," said fly angler Tom Schockey of Chalk Hill.

In all, the state will stock 125,100 rainbows, brook and brown trout on 60 lakes and 95 streams. That is a fraction of the number planted in the spring, but will be welcomed by anglers who enjoy fall fishing when competition from steelhead and archery season tend to make streams less crowded.

However, anglers should be prepared for warm, dry weather to continue until November, as predicted by AccuWeather senior meteorologist Henry Margusity.

For fall fishing, Mike Leskowski of Oil Creek Outfitters recommends Blue Wing Olives (22), Pheasant Tail nymphs (20) and/or Brassies, and wooly buggers or any streamer pattern, such as the Muddler Minnow, which are especially effective on brown trout as they prepare to spawn. Corona midges will work into December unless storms make streams high, which is unlikely.

STOCKING UP
The following is the fall trout stocking schedule for area counties. Dates of the stockings are subject to change due to weather, water conditions.

Allegheny -- Montour Run, Oct. 4; Bull Creek, Deer Creek, Lower Deer Lake, Pine Creek, Oct. 5; Middle and Upper Deer lakes, Oct. 14.

Armstrong -- Buffalo Creek, Oct. 4; Lower Hereford Manor Lake, Raccoon Lake, Oct. 14.

Butler -- Buffalo Creek, Oct. 4.

Cambria -- Chest Creek, Oct. 4; Duman Dam, Lake Rowena, Oct. 28.

Clarion -- Piney Creek, Oct. 4.

Clearfield -- Janesville Dam, Parker Lake, West Branch, Susquehanna River, Oct. 13.

Crawford -- Woodcock Creek, Oct. 5; Oil Creek, Oct. 12.

Elk -- East Branch and West Branch, Clarion River, Laurel Run Reservoir, Big Mill Creek, Oct. 14.

Fayette -- Dunbar Creek, Indian Creek, Meadow Run, Youghiogheny River, Oct. 5; Dunlap Creek Lake, Virgin Run Dam, Oct. 7.

Indiana -- Blue Spruce Lake, Little Mahoning Creek, Oct. 4.

Lawrence -- Cascade Quarry, Neshannock Creek, Slippery Rock Creek, Oct. 11.

McKean -- Kinzua Creek, Marvin Creek, West Branch of Tunungwant Creek, Oct. 4.

Mercer -- Cool Spring Creek, Shenango River, Oct. 6.

Potter -- Allegheny River, Kettle Creek, First Fork of Sinnemahoning Creek, Oct. 3.

Somerset -- Youghiogheny River, Oct. 5; Laurel Hill Creek, Oct. 6; Laurel Hill Lake, Oct. 21.

Venango -- Oil Creek, Little Sandy Creek, Oct. 12.

Warren -- Caldwell Creek, Oct. 5.

Washington -- Dutch Fork Creek, Millers Run, Oct. 4, Pine Run, Little Chartiers Creek, Pike Run, Oct. 5, Canonsburg Lake, Oct. 7.

Westmoreland -- Indian Creek, Loyalhanna Creek, Oct. 5; Donegal Lake, Indian Creek, Mammoth Dam, Northmoreland Lake, Oct. 21; Keystone Lake, Lower and Upper Twin lakes, Oct. 28.