From staff reports
Youths with an interest in fishing can get a jump on the state’s trout fishing season by participating in Mentored Youth Trout Fishing Day on Saturday.
The statewide event, which is open to young anglers and their mentors in all of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties, will begin at 8 a.m. It is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
“Mentored Youth Trout Fishing Day is a really special, fun opportunity that is all about building the future of fishing and conservation,” said Tim Schaeffer, executive director of the Fish and Boat Commission. “We gladly open up trout season a week early for kids on this day so that they can have the chance to fish among lighter crowds and learn fishing skills from their adult mentors,” he said.
People can find the trout stocking schedule online at the Fish and Boat Commission website, www.fishandboat.com, or with its FishBoatPA mobile app.
To participate in any Mentored Youth Trout Fishing Day, anglers 15 and under must obtain either a voluntary youth fishing license ($2.97) or a free mentored youth permit from the Fish and Boat Commission and be accompanied by a licensed adult angler with a trout permit.
Permits and licenses are available online and in-person at nearly 700 license issuing agents.
Adult mentors (anglers 16 or older) participating in Saturday’s activities must possess a valid Pennsylvania fishing license and trout permit and be accompanied by a properly permitted or licensed youth (less than 16 years of age).
“The spirit of this day is to teach and learn, and adult mentors should be solely focused on helping kids be successful,” said Schaeffer. “We really recommend that only one adult accompany each youth angler for the most effective mentoring experience.”
Catch-and-release techniques
The Fish and Boat Commission is reminding anglers of proper catch-and-release fishing techniques when harvest is not permitted or when anglers choose to practice catch-and-release fishing during Mentored Youth Day.
The techniques listed below will ensure that released fish have the best chance to survive and contribute to future angling enjoyment:
- Land your fish as quickly as possible and don’t play the fish to exhaustion. Excessive stress and exhaustion increases post-release mortality.
- Use a landing net (rubber or rubberized mesh is best) to better control your catch and reduce trauma associated with handling.
- Keep the fish in the water as much as possible. The chance of a fish being injured increases the longer it is held out of the water.
- Wet your hands, your net, and other materials that touch the fish. Don’t handle fish with a towel or rag. This helps to keep a fish’s protective mucus or slime layer in place.
- Hold the fish upside down while removing the hook. This can calm the fish for quicker unhooking and release.
- Use hemostats or long nose pliers to aid in removing a hook quickly and safely. Use barbless hooks or pinch down barbs on existing hooks with small pliers to make removing hooks easier.
- When not possible to remove the hook without harming the fish, cut the line, or harvest to eat (subject to season, length, and creel limits).
- Avoid contact with the gills and do not handle by placing your fingers under the operculum (gill cover).
Hold the fish upright underwater after unhooking until it can swim away on its own. If necessary, gently hold the fish out of strong current until it revives.
