| In my personal opinion, there is nothing more rewarding | | | | trout stocking program is designed for. The trout |
| than to teach a youngster how to fish. I do not have | | | | stocking program is designed to benefit kids and senior |
| any children but I was very lucky to have a much | | | | citizens through the first two weeks of regular trout |
| younger brother. When he was just a couple years old | | | | season. |
| he would look at me when I was all decked out in my | | | | Many local kids in Wesleyville and Lawrence Park do |
| fishing gear and ask "Can I come?" I would look back | | | | not have the opportunity to trout fish elsewhere. |
| at his big smiling face and say, "very soon, it is too cold | | | | Please leave the trout stocked in between Route 5 |
| for you today." I would bring home the fish to show | | | | and Buffalo Road to the kids to fish for and for senior |
| him and tried to teach him the difference between | | | | citizens to pursue. The Four Mile Creek Kids Program |
| species. Soon, he would not only look at the fish but | | | | works on the honor system so please give the kids |
| also would say, "brown trout" or "sunfish" or "perch." At | | | | the opportunity to have fun the first couple weeks of |
| a very young age my little brother not only knew what | | | | the season. The creek is going to be stocked the night |
| a fish was but he knew their common names. Shortly | | | | before opening day with roughly 1000 brown trout and |
| after this, he too became an avid fisherman and one | | | | a good amount of palominos (golden trout). I visited the |
| day when he was still a youngster he caught a fish | | | | hatchery and saw some fine fish. |
| that he could not identify and neither could I. It looked | | | | According to Rob Sanford, the Raceway Manager, |
| like some kind of tropical fish to me but it was caught | | | | the average fish is between 11 and 14 inches. The club |
| in the Army Corps of Engineer pond by the South Pier | | | | is going to restock Four Mile in season on the Friday |
| across from Presque Isle State Park in Erie, | | | | after the opener with the same number of fish again. |
| Pennsylvania. | | | | The Wesleyville Conservation Club is in the |
| Not exactly where you would expect to catch a | | | | Cooperative Nursery Program and part of the local |
| tropical fish. He pulled the fish out of the water and | | | | trout organization 3-CU. If you would like to donate to |
| said enthusiastically, "what'd I catch?" I did not have a | | | | this wonderful non-profit organization, you can |
| clue so we took the fish to the Pennsylvania Fish | | | | purchase skein to be used to raise more trout from |
| Commission for identification. I cannot recall what the | | | | East End Angler on East Lake Road in Harborcreek. |
| fish was, however, it was a tropical fish that somehow | | | | Children under the age of 16 do not need to buy a |
| got in the pond; either a Jack Dempsey or Oscar. | | | | fishing license to catch trout in Four Mile Creek but |
| Anyhow, I was proud that my little brother would not | | | | must follow the general regulations that are in the 2009 |
| keep any fish that he could not identify, he wanted me | | | | Pennsylvania Fish Commission's guide. |
| to check it out before tossing it in the bucket. It is | | | | If you are an out-of-towner and would like a great |
| important that we teach youngsters fish identification | | | | place to bring your kids fishing, consider bringing them |
| skills, as well as, teach them to fish. It is really great that | | | | on opening day to Four Mile Creek. It is very rewarding |
| around Pennsylvania we have areas where only | | | | teaching a kid to fish and with so many trout being |
| children can fish. Here they can be taught by adults | | | | stocked, they are sure to bring some home. If you |
| how to fish and even catch a few because they don't | | | | need a place to stay, Jackie at the Lighthouse Inn and |
| have to worry about the adults catching all of the fish. | | | | Restaurant will give you $5.00 off their regular low |
| Tom Loftus, a friend of mine, wanted me to write an | | | | hotel rate. Just mention this article to receive the |
| article about the Wesleyville Conservation Club and | | | | discount. They are located on East Lake Road directly |
| what they do to help kids learn how to fish for trout. | | | | to the east of Four Mile Creek. |
| The Wesleyville Conservation Club maintains a local | | | | If you are from out of town and need directions to |
| trout hatchery in North East PA and raises trout to be | | | | Four Mile Creek, please email me and I will get them |
| stocked in area waterways, including Four Mile Creek | | | | out to you. May your kid's lines be tight and their hooks |
| which is designated as an under 16 fishing program. | | | | be happy! |
| They would like fisherman to be aware of who this | | | | |