– GATEWAY OUTDOORS – MENTORED YOUTH DAY SET TO BEGIN
It’s all about the an cipa on of opening day. Glancing back to when my brother and I were kids, Dad would have been preparing for the opening day of trout season. Well ahead of the first day, rods and reels were checked, and new monofilament would be set in place. We would visit Burket’s Hardware Store, and this me of year the fishing sec on of the store was well stocked with split shot, hooks, lines, boobers, fishing poles, and an assortment of other fishing gear. And Dad was more than willing to meet our needs.
The prep me added to the excitement of opening day. A�er all, my brother and I were eager to spend me streamside and catch some fish.
Those where the days when trout streams were wall to wall with anglers for the season opener. In many cases the streamside crunch was less conducive for young anglers anxious to hone their angling skills. But that’s not the case today.
In 2014, the Execu ve Director of the PA Fish & Boat Commission John Arway announced the Youth Mentored Youth Fishing Day that was established in 2013 would be expanded.
Arway said, “The pilot program last year was such a huge hit with anglers and their friends and families that we decided to expand the program statewide in 2014. Adult anglers from across the state will now have a special day to fish with their children in advance of the tradi onal opening day of trout season.”
Arway went on to say, “The Mentored Youth Fishing Day pilot was launched in 2013 on the Saturday preceding the regional opening day of trout season and was immediately popular with adult anglers and the kids in their lives. More than 3,700 adult anglers registered along with 5,110 kids for the fishing opportunity.”
Arwary added, “We expect to see an even higher level of involvement and enthusiasm this year since anglers have been sharing their stories about the great me they had.”
The next year (2014) on the Saturday before the regional opening day of trout season was to take place in 18 southcentral and southeastern coun es, the second Youth Mentored Trout Season took place. Arwary’s predic on held true, with 11,004 young anglers par cipa ng.
Looking back, the decision was a good one and the program con nues to draw young anglers’ and along with their adult mentor’s streamside. Fact is that from the program’s kickoff un l last season, the par cipa on rate average among young anglers has been 9062 annually.
Early on the decision may have raised an eye brow or two. However, over me consider the increased number of young anglers that have been, and con nue to be, introduced to trout fishing in
Trout will be fi ed with a blue tag during the Youth Mentored Fishing Day and the Trout-a-thon and can be turned in at the Elk County Chamber of Commerce for a chance to be awarded a prize.
It’s fun to catch fish, but it’s equally rewarding to help stock them ahead of opening day.