For the second year, at Sweet Arrow Lake, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s Mentored Youth Fishing Day will be held March 28.
Craig Morgan, Sportsmen’s Advisory Board (SAB) Chairman, said that last year’s weather was ‘absolutely horrible’ for the mentored youth fishing day. Even though thousands of trout, including 50 lunkers (18 to 25-inch trout) were stocked for the kids, Mother Nature threw the kids a knuckle ball. A cold, windy day greeted the mentors and their kids and only a couple trout were caught.
‘This year we hope Mom nature will treat us better’, said Morgan. Along with the Sportsmen’s Advisory Board, the 501c3 Friends of Schuylkill Parks and Recreation, Sweet Arrow Lake Park Board, Swatara Co-op Trout Nursery and a grant from the Schuylkill Area Community Foundation will make sure there are loads of trout for the kids, including another 50 lunkers.
Any youth under age 16, along with a licensed adult with a trout permit may fish on March 28 from 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. However, the youth must have either a Voluntary Youth Fishing License or a Mentored Youth Fishing Permit. The cost for the license is $2.90. The Youth Voluntary License is free. ‘We encourage mentors to purchase the license as the Fish and Boat Commission, through the Wildlife and Sportfish Restoration Program, will receive about $5 for every license sold’, Gary Slutter, Vice Chairman, commented.
It is so much easier for kids to fish a lake than trying to navigate streams and slippery banks. Boats with electric motors only are also allowed on Sweet Arrow Lake. Kids may keep two trout and mentors may fish but must return all fish to the lake unharmed. Morgan’s advice to mentors is to leave the fishing to the kids.
In addition to the Mentored Youth Day, the groups mentioned above are sponsoring the Bruce ‘I Go Fishing’ Schneck year long trout fishing event at Sweet Arrow Lake. In addition to all the fish stocked for the mentored day, an additional
$10,000 worth of trout will be stocked with a $1,000, $500, $750 lifetime maintenance free reel from Innovative Reel Technologies and 30 other $100 cash prizes, winnable if a tagged trout is caught. Registration is $15 per person 16 and over by April 4th southeast region trout opener. See www.sweetarrowlakepark.com for more information.
‘This year we hope Mom nature will treat us better’, said Morgan. Along with the Sportsmen’s Advisory Board, the 501c3 Friends of Schuylkill Parks and Recreation, Sweet Arrow Lake Park Board, Swatara Co-op Trout Nursery and a grant from the Schuylkill Area Community Foundation will make sure there are loads of trout for the kids, including another 50 lunkers.
Any youth under age 16, along with a licensed adult with a trout permit may fish on March 28 from 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. However, the youth must have either a Voluntary Youth Fishing License or a Mentored Youth Fishing Permit. The cost for the license is $2.90. The Youth Voluntary License is free. ‘We encourage mentors to purchase the license as the Fish and Boat Commission, through the Wildlife and Sportfish Restoration Program, will receive about $5 for every license sold’, Gary Slutter, Vice Chairman, commented.
It is so much easier for kids to fish a lake than trying to navigate streams and slippery banks. Boats with electric motors only are also allowed on Sweet Arrow Lake. Kids may keep two trout and mentors may fish but must return all fish to the lake unharmed. Morgan’s advice to mentors is to leave the fishing to the kids.
In addition to the Mentored Youth Day, the groups mentioned above are sponsoring the Bruce ‘I Go Fishing’ Schneck year long trout fishing event at Sweet Arrow Lake. In addition to all the fish stocked for the mentored day, an additional
$10,000 worth of trout will be stocked with a $1,000, $500, $750 lifetime maintenance free reel from Innovative Reel Technologies and 30 other $100 cash prizes, winnable if a tagged trout is caught. Registration is $15 per person 16 and over by April 4th southeast region trout opener. See www.sweetarrowlakepark.com for more information.