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Popular Mentored Youth Trout Fishing Days
Return on March 26, April 9
HARRISBURG,
Pa. (March 17) – The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s (PFBC)
popular Mentored Youth Trout Fishing Days return again this season, with
the first special day taking place on Saturday, March 26, in the
18-county southeast region.
Participants
can fish in any PFBC stocked trout water in that region from 8 a.m. to
7:30 p.m. But in a new change implemented this year, only kids will be
allowed to
keep trout.
“Without
a doubt, the mentored youth program has been a huge success, growing
each year as we listen to anglers and make changes to improve the
experience,” said PFBC Executive Director John Arway. “This year we are
refining it again by allowing only kids to keep two trout. Mentors can
fish but cannot keep any trout.”
“This
is a very popular program designed to encourage kids to take adults
fishing,” he added. “Mentors can show kids that fishing is fun, and at
the same time promote active, outdoor recreation. Adult mentors are
encouraged to fish with the children and provide encouragement and tips,
but we’re asking them to release their catch to the water unharmed.”
The
18 southeastern counties include: Adams, Berks, Bucks, Chester,
Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Franklin, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon,
Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, Perry, Philadelphia, Schuylkill and
York.
To
participate, adult anglers (16 years or older) must have a valid
fishing license and trout/salmon permit and be accompanied by a youth.
Youth anglers must obtain a free PFBC-issued permit, or a voluntary $1
youth fishing license.
Kids can keep two trout, which must measure at least seven inches. Mentors can fish, but must practice catch and release.
Participation
in the program has grown every year since it was first launched in 2013
and drew 5,110 kids. Last year, more than 28,000 kids signed up to
participate.
The mentored youth event precedes the April 2 Regional Opening Day of Trout Season in the same 18 southeastern counties.
A
second Mentored Youth Trout Fishing Day will be held on April 9 in the
remaining 49 counties. This is the Saturday before the April 16
Statewide Opening Day of Trout Season.
A
majority of the trout waters will be stocked in advance of the mentored
youth days. But some of the waters may not be stocked in time due to
weather, water conditions and scheduling logistics. Also, special
regulation areas, like Catch and Release Fly-Fishing Only or Delayed
Harvest Artificial Lures Only, are not included in the mentored youth
program.
“Trout
season is a great cure for cabin fever and an opportunity to get
outside and enjoy the Commonwealth’s abundant natural resources,” Arway
added. “It’s also a perfect time to share your excitement with others by
‘Paying it Forward,’ and doing a good deed.”
“Maybe
you help bait someone’s hook, offer to take a shore angler out on your
boat, or even buy someone a fishing license,” he said. “The idea is that
we all benefit when we do good deeds for others.”
The
PFBC annually stocks approximately 3.2 million adult trout in more than
700 streams and 120 lakes open to public angling. These figures include
approximately 2 million rainbow trout; 642,000 brown trout; and 522,000
brook trout. Anglers are encouraged to visit the PFBC stocking page for an updated list so they know exactly what waters are being stocked.
More than 9,200 voluntary youth fishing licenses were sold last year, and another 18,858 mentored youth permits were issued.
For
every voluntary youth license sold, the PFBC will receive approximately
$5 in federal revenue from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Sport
Fish Restoration Act program, which provides funds to states based on a
formula that includes the number of licenses a state sells. All revenues
earned from a voluntary youth fishing license will be dedicated to
youth fishing programs.
Both the free permit and voluntary youth license are available through www.GoneFishingPA.com or at any of the more than 900 licensing agents across the state.
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