PINE GROVE - Plenty of fish will be biting at Sweet Arrow Lake for the start of trout season today.
The Swatara Cooperative Trout Nursery stocked Sweet Arrow Lake County Park with 1,000 trout Friday in anticipation of a nice opening day.
"The weather is going to be fairly decent and we are expecting a lot of people to turn out," Bob Evanchalk, Schuylkill County parks and recreation supervisor and nursery manager, said Friday.
While people can fish at the lake throughout the year, they must release their catches if it is not the proper season, Evanchalk said. Fishing in local creeks and streams is also not permitted until the start of the season.
Evanchalk said the fish weren't fed for a few days, so they will be hungry today.
The state Fish and Boat Commission will also be stocking trout Monday and May 1.
Sweet Arrow Lake is kicking off the first day of trout season with its annual breakfast at the clubhouse from 6 to 10 a.m. Adults are $5 and children are $3.50. Evanchalk said last year, there were about 80 or 90 people fishing at the lake on opening day.
A few members of the 4-H youth organization and local sportsman groups were also helping stock fish Friday as well as local fisherman and family members.
Katie Holden, Evanchalk's daughter, brought her three children, Eli, 7, and twins Zeke and Zane, 5, to the lake to help unload the fish into the water.
"They love helping feed the fish," Holden said. "They are always helping out over at the nursery."
Roger Brown also brought his children, Macie, 9, and Bradley, 11. Still living in Pine Grove, Brown said he grew up in one of the homes along the lake.
"They love being outside," Brown said about his children. "They both love to fish so why not bring them out to see them stocking the lake."
Brown said his son has helped stock the fish the last couple years, while it was the first time his daughter was doing it. Brown said they will be out fishing today at a local creek but will definitely be out on the lake in their boat this season.
Craig Morgan, chairman of the Schuylkill County Sportsmen's Advisory Board, also said he was expecting a good turnout for opening day.
"(Today) should be pretty decent so we expect a lot of people to turn out," Morgan said.
Sweet Arrow Lake also has various fishing events scheduled for the season, starting with Angling for Miracles benefiting the Children's Miracle Network at Geisinger on April 13, and the first Family Fun Fishing Event on May 5.
"We want to introduce more people to the county park and more families to fishing," Morgan said. "There's a lot to do. It's a great place."
Morgan said the park is also a safe place for children away from the busy streets.
"Seeing the smiles on the kids' faces - that's what it is all about," he said.
In addition to the state Fish and Boat Commission stocking the lake with 1,100 trout May 1, Morgan said another 2,500 will be added before the Family Fun Fishing Event thanks to the Friends of Schuylkill Parks and Recreation and the Pine Grove Fish and Game and Swatara Co-op trout nurseries.
"There is going to be more trout in the lake at one time than ever before," Morgan said.
For more information about Sweet Arrow Lake County Park and events, visit www.sweetarrowlakepark.com.