Anglers get bites despite biting cold conditions
Two brothers caught their first trout of the season Sunday, within minutes of each other.
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission opened its annual trout season Saturday with many making a weekend of it, despite less-favorable conditions Sunday.
“It’s a little chilly,” said Tyler Smith, 14, a Knoch High School student. “This morning the rain was a little bad.”
Despite the chilly sub-40-degree temperatures, Tyler fished atop a stormwater drainage pipe spilling into Thorn Creek. Tyler hauled in a rainbow trout using an admittedly unusual setup.
“I’m using a little fly on a rod you shouldn’t be using a fly on,” said Tyler, holding a rod and reel more commonly used for lure fishing.
Tyler admired the trout for a moment before releasing it back into the water. He said this year his goal is to catch a 5-pound or greater largemouth bass.
Within minutes of Tyler’s catch, his brother Hunter, 11, a Knoch Intermediate School student, caught his first of the season. He double-checked with his brother, confirming he was using a jig.
“He’s the one that knows all the stuff about fishing,” Hunter said. “It’s just fun to catch fish, to be able to hold it and put it back in the water.”
The boys’ father, Sean Smith, said he didn’t cast out Sunday. He said he enjoyed watching his boys fish and appreciated the moment.
“It seems to be that’s the way it works with these two,” Smith said.
Down the creek a ways, Matthew Boyle, 19, of Fenelton, was out for the second day. He and his family had fished Saturday at Rabbit’s Hole in Chicora.
“It was bitter cold in the morning,” Boyle said. “It warmed up throughout the day.”
He said it seemed like everyone caught their limit in his group of about 10 people. Boyle said he had a lot of luck with power bait and fluorescent-colored faux worms.
“We had a really good day out there,” he said.
Boyle said he was close to catching his limit again Sunday, though the chilly temperatures force him to retire a bit after a morning stint. He said his hands were numb.
Boyle said he hooked onto a Palamino trout earlier Sunday at the Thorn Creek spot, which along with some landed fish, brought him back to the location. He said he was looking forward to the rest of the season.
“So far so good,” Boyle said. “I’m trying to get it (all in) before I have to go back to work tomorrow.”
While anglers hit the streams around the county this weekend, others visited ponds and lakes.
Nolan Warden, 11, of Natrona Heights, made the trip Sunday to Lake Arthur’s south shore fishing pier. Windy conditions made the water choppy. His grandmother sat nearby at a picnic table, alongside his tacklebox.
“I just got some new fishing stuff,” Nolan said.
Nolan said he wanted to catch a bluegill or bass. He has mostly gone fishing in the river near his home. He said it was his first time fishing at Moraine. He hadn’t caught anything just yet, but he was willing to brave the cold.
“I haven’t really ever caught a fish, but if I do, I’m going to put it back,” Nolan said.
