Montco Lake Will Host 'Mentored Trout Fishing'

Montgomery County will play host to one of 12 unique sites that will test drive a charter program with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC).

"Young anglers and their adult mentors can get an early start to trout season by fishing one of 12 waters on March 23, the weekend before the regional opening day," said Carl Richardson, media contact for the PFBC.

The 12 waters, including Montgomery County's Green Lane Park's Deep Creek Dam, were identified by the PFBC as part of the Mentored Youth Trout Day program, a new pilot project being launched within the 18-county southeast area that makes up the regional opening day, according to a release from PFBC.

“The Commission is piloting the Mentored Youth Trout Day as part of its goal to keep young anglers and their families fishing,” said PFBC Executive Director John Arway.  “The pilot program gives us the opportunity to gauge interest and to determine the feasibility of expanding the program across the state.”

During the mentor program, children under the age of 16 must register with the PFBC before joining a mentor angler, who must have a current fishing license and trout permit.

According to the Commission, 2,800 children fishing children and 2,200 mentors have already enrolled for the program, slated to take place this weekend.

"They will then be able to fish on the Saturday before the southeast opener on the select waters from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.," said Richardson. Green Lane Park's dam will be one of the approved spots for the program.

“The waters will be stocked to ensure a plentiful supply of fish to catch for the youth day and the regular season to follow,” said Laurel Anders, PFBC director of Boating and Outreach.

Online registration is currently available here on the PFBC website. Paper registration forms are available at many of the Mentored Youth Trout Day locations.

“Registration is free and youth will have the opportunity to receive a free one-year subscription to the Pennsylvania League of Angling Youth (PLAY) newsletter,” said Anders. “The PLAY newsletter is written for young anglers and includes articles and activities on fish, fishing, and PA’s aquatic resources published four times each year.”

For more information, visit the Commission's website here.