Editor’s note: If uncertain about an event being held because of COVID-19, call the contact numbers.
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Youth Trout Day set at Sweet Arrow Lake
Sweet Arrow Lake County Park again will host the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s Mentored Youth Trout Day on Saturday, March 27. MYTD began a few years ago by the PFBC, but not at Sweet Arrow Lake. The day is designed to give kids a chance to enjoy the outdoors with an adult.
Last year the event was canceled due to COVID-19.
Friends of Schuylkill Parks and Recreation event coordinator Craig Morgan said that two years ago the weather was “absolutely horrible” for the MYTD. Even though thousands of trout, including 50 18- to 25-inch lunkers were stocked for the kids, Mother Nature threw the kids a knuckleball.
The 501c3, non-profit, Friends of Schuylkill Parks and Recreation and partners Sweet Arrow Lake Park Board, Sportsmen’s Advisory Board and Swatara Co-Op Trout Nursery began with a $1,000 fundraising goal to stock 50 lunker trout. Mainly via social media posts, more than $7,000 was contributed and 250 lunkers will be stocked this year for MYTD.
Youth younger than age 16 accompanied by a licensed adult with a trout permit may fish March 27 beginning at 8 a.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 plus costs; the permit is free.
In addition to the Mentored Youth Trout Day, the groups mentioned above and the title sponsor Pioneer Pole Buildings are sponsoring the second annual “Betty Dietz and Bruce Schneck Memorial Year-Long Trout Fishing Event” at Sweet Arrow Lake, beginning Saturday, April 10. In addition to all the fish stocked for the mentored day, an additional $8,000 worth of trout will be stocked with a $1,000, a $500, a $250 and 30 other $100 cash prizes if a tagged trout is caught.
Registration is $18 per person ages 16 and older, due by the kick-off date. Go to www.sweetarrowlakepark.com or the Facebook page “Sweet Arrow Lake annual fishing event” for more information. Registration information is also available at Werner’s Lumber Ace Hardware, Pine Grove, and Stony Gun and Archery, Williamstown.
Waterways officer to be radio show guest
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission waterways conservation officer Mark Pisko is today’s guest of Republican Herald outdoors editor Doyle Dietz on “Experience The Outdoors,” 7-7:30 a.m. on WLSH 1410-AM, and 9-9:30 a.m. on Magic 105.5-FM.; and downloaded on wmgh.com.
Education
Pennsylvania Game Commission Hunter-Trapper Education Courses for all first-time hunters, ages 12 and older, are under way online. For future schedules and registration, go to www.pgc.pa.gov.
Fishing
Saturday, March 27: Statewide Mentored Youth Trout Day, 8 a.m.; Youth Lunker Trout Day, Sweet Arrow Lake, Pine Grove; Saturday, April 3: Statewide Trout Opening Day, 8 a.m.; Saturday, April 10: Opening of year-long “Dietz-Schneck Memorial Fishing Event,” Sweet Arrow Lake, Pine Grove; $18 entry fee for those 16 and older; make checks payable to Friends of Schuylkill Parks and Recreation and mailed to Craig Morgan 1537 Panther Valley Road, Pine Grove PA 17963; registration deadline is day of the event; Sunday, May 30: Fish For Free Day; Sunday, July 4: Fish For Free Day.
Today’s events
3D, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Swatara Archers, 1 Archery Lane, Pine Grove. Sporting clays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Roedersville Game and Fish, 1357 Mountain Road, Pine Grove. Sporting clays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friedensburg Fish and Game, 169 Stone Mountain Road, Pine Grove; call 570-617-0492 for information.
This week’s events
• Thursday: Trap, 5-6 p.m., youth; 6-9 p.m., adult, Orwigsburg Gun Club, Gun Club Road, off Route 443 East, Orwigsburg; email [email protected] for information. Schuylkill County Sportsmen’s Association meets, 7 p.m., Auburn Fish and Game; visit the SCSA Facebook page for information.
• Friday: Trap practice, 6:30 p.m., Keystone Fish and Game, Irish Valley Road, Shamokin; call 570-274-5834 or 570-648-0084 for information.
• Sunday, March 28: Pistol, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Roedersville Game and Fish, 1357 Mountain Road, Pine Grove. Sporting clays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Roedersville Game and Fish, 1357 Mountain Road, Pine Grove.
— Compiled by Doyle Dietz
