How to avoid spreading invasives this trout season

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Back Mountain Chamber launches Spring Food Drive

There&#8217;s only one thing that stopped the Ashley Trout Association kid&#8217;s derby since it started 34 years ago.Mother Nature.In 2008, devastating floods tore through Solomons Creek and washed out the bank along Chester&#8217;s Hole where the club holds the derby. The dangerous conditions forced the association to call off the derby for that year, but other than that, the event has been a staple of spring for beginning trout anglers.&#8220;We have people tell us that they fished it when they were kids, and now they&#8217;re bringing their own children here,&#8221; said John McGovern, the association&#8217;s treasurer. &#8220;Hearing that makes all the work we do worthwhile.&#8221;This year, the Ashley group will stock 2,000 trout for the kid&#8217;s derby, which will be held on the April 16 the trout season opening day. Donations from local businesses and the Ashley American Legion help cover the costs of the derby, and manpower provided by association members ensures everything is ready to go.&#8220;We&#8217;ll spend time cleaning up the creek and building small dams to contain the fish for the kids,&#8221; McGovern said. &#8220;The biggest work involved is actually getting the fish, but that&#8217;s not bad anymore since we have our own aerated tanks to haul them.&#8220;We&#8217;ve been doing this for so many years that it&#8217;s like a well-oiled machine now.&#8221;Last year, 175 kids, ages 15 and under, fished in the derby. Thirty of the 2,000 trout stocked are tagged, which can be redeemed for prizes.While there&#8217;s no limit to the number of kids that can fish, McGovern said the length of Solomon&#8217;s Creek where the trout are stocked usually accommodates everyone.&#8220;For a lot of these kids, they wouldn&#8217;t have the opportunity to go fishing and experience it if it wasn&#8217;t for this,&#8221; McGovern said.Kids will have several other opportunities later in the spring as other trout derbies are held throughout the area.May 14 will feature two trout derbies that give kids a chance to fish in either a stream or a lake. The Nanticoke Conservation Club will hold it&#8217;s second annual Youth Trout Day on Harveys Creek along route 29. The club used to stock trophy trout in the creek for all anglers to catch during the season, but decided to switch to an event that focuses on kids.&#8220;We wanted to do something to get youth involved and give them the experience of trout fishing in a stream,&#8221; club president Gary Gronkowski said. &#8220;Kids can see what it&#8217;s like to fish for trout in their natural setting.&#8221;The club will purchase 200 trout from the Zion Grove Trout Hatchery, including several tagged trophy rainbows, and stock them in a 50-foot section of Harveys Creek. Registration is limited to 50 kids.Also on May 14, the Back Mountain Police Association will mark the 10th year of its kids fishing derby at Frances Slocum State Park. One thousand trout will be stocked in a section of the lake near Pavilion 3, and members of the police association will be on hand to help kids catch fish.But fishing is only part of the fun involved at the event.&#8220;It&#8217;s not just a fishing day. There numerous fishing and educational activities that go along with it,&#8221; association vice-president Ross Piazza said. &#8220;It&#8217;s an all-day event.&#8221;Piazza said the event was created 10 years ago with the goal of introducing children to police officers in a welcoming environment. The event is also designed to promote fishing as an inexpensive family activity.&#8220;We want kids to see police officers as helpers and not someone to be afraid of,&#8221; Piazza said. &#8220;Some kids are fine right away and others are hesitant. But after a few minutes, when the officers help them set up their gear and bait the hooks, they&#8217;re good for the rest of the day.&#8221;In its first year, the event attracted 90 kids, but now there is a limit of 140. Last year the derby was limited to 120 children, but Piazza said the association will expand the contained area where the trout are stocked to allow more kids to fish.All equipment and bait is provided by the association and parents are asked not to bring their own.&#8220;We want to make this as easy as possible for parents to bring their kids out fishing and not have to worry about packing up gear and tackle,&#8221; Piazza said. &#8220;Our goal is to let the kids learn about fishing, learn about the police officers and have a good experience.&#8221;<style>
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<div class="neCaption">Children stand along the shore of Harveys Creek to watch the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission stock trout on Friday. Several area trout derbies will offer kids an exclusive opportunity to fish for trout in the coming weeks. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_troutstocking5.jpg</photo0><caption0>Children stand along the shore of Harveys Creek to watch the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission stock trout on Friday. Several area trout derbies will offer kids an exclusive opportunity to fish for trout in the coming weeks. </caption0><photoCredit0>Pete Wilcox/Times Leader </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By Tom Veneskytvenesky@www.timesleader.com</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta>Kid&#8217;s trout derby roundupApril 16 - Ashley Trout Stocking Association Kid&#8217;s Fishing Derby.Where: Chester&#8217;s Hole on Solomons Creek, from the top of Cooke Street to Davis Street in Ashley.Ages: 15 and underTime: 8 a.m.Details: 2,000 trout will be stocked in a contained area of the creek. Thirty trout will be tagged and prizes will be awarded. Food will be available.Registration: Not required.May 14 - Kid&#8217;s Trout Fishing Day hosted by the Nanticoke Conservation ClubWhere: Harveys Creek - 1.3 miles from the intersection of route 29 and route 11 in West Nanticoke.Ages: 4 to 15Time: 8 a.m. for 4 - 7 year olds; 8:30 a.m. for 8 - 11 year olds; 9 a.m. for 12 - 15 year oldsDetails: The club will purchase and stock 200 trout, including trophy rainbows, with finding assistance provided by the GOALS Foundation. There&#8217;s a three-fish limit per child and the event is limited to 50 children. Bait will be provided and food will be available. There will also be bathroom facilities on-site.Registration: Pre-registration is required. To register, visit nanticokeconservationclub.com or call Gary at 570-885-4408.May 14 - Back Mountain Police Association Kid&#8217;s Fishing Day.Where: Pavilion 3 at Frances Slocum State ParkAges: 5 - 10Time: 7:30 a.m.Details: One thousand trout will be stocked in a net-contained section of the lake. Loaner poles and all bait and equipment will be provided. In addition to fishing, other activities include a K-9 presentation, fire safety house, fishing instruction, arts/crafts, lunch and prizes. There will be a special drawing for two bicycles for all children that bring a grandparent.Registration: Pre-registration is required. Limited to 140 children. Visit backmtpolice.org to register. Registered children must check-in at pavilion 3 beginning at 7:30 a.m.May 21 - North Branch Trout Derby Association Annual Kid&#8217;s Fishing DerbyWhere: On the trout hatchery grounds located near the junction of route 187 and Gen Hope Road in LoveltonAges: 1-16 years oldTime: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for 1 - 12 year olds; 1:15 p.m. to 3 p.m. for 13 - 16 year oldsDetails: There is a two-trout per child limit. Food and prizes will be available. This is the seventh year for the derby and prizes will be awarded for the biggest fish by age group.Registration: Free. No registration required.</factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach Tom Venesky at 570-991-6395 or on Twitter @TLTomVenesky</shirttailMeta></div>

Trout present opportunities for kids