As this past Saturday marked the statewide opening of Pennsylvania’s trout season, the turnout wasn’t quite as crowded as in past years.

As reported earlier, the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission changed from a regional to statewide opener. As such, some north anglers would drift down here for some early trout angling which added to the southeast angling population. But this year it appeared they fished their local waters. Then again, the temperature at 8 a.m. was a chilly 30 degrees so that affects anglers and water temperature because few fish were caught.

On opening day, I tried the Little Lehigh by the covered bridge in Lehigh Parkway where it’s traditionally packed with anglers. I noticed a particular situation where a couple anglers caught a trout then landed them by swinging them onto the bank where the trout was manhandled, unhooked, then thrown back, perhaps because of their small size or no desire to keep them. There’s a probable chance those trout didn’t survive when thrown back.

The fish commission reminds anglers that there is a proper way to release a live fish, and they are as follows:

*Land your fish as quickly as possible and don’t play it to exhaustion as excessive stress and exhaustion increases post-release mortality.

*Use a landing net (rubberized mesh is best) to reduce trauma associated with handling.

*Keep the fish in the water as much as possible as the chance of it being injured increases the longer it’s held out of water.

*Wet your hands, your net and other materials that touch the fish. Don’t handle it with a towel or rag. This helps keep a fish’s protective mucus or slime layer in place.

*Hold the fish upside down while removing the hook. This calms the fish for quicker unhooking and release.

*Use hemostats or long pliers to aid in removing a hook quickly and safely. And if you have no intention of keeping fish, use barbless hooks or pinch down the barbs with small pliers to make hook removable easier.

*When not possible to remove the hook (when it’s gut hooked) and without harming the fish, cut the line as close inside its mouth as possible.

*Avoid contact with the gills and do not handle by placing your fingers under the gill cover.

*Hold the fish upright underwater after unhooking until it can swim away on its own. If necessary, gently hold the fish out of strong current until it revives.

FREE FISHING

DERBY

For three hours on April 17, South Whitehall Township Parks and Recreation is hosting a Youth Fishing Derby beginning at 9 a.m. at Covered Bridge Park, 2465 Wehr Mill Road, Allentown. The derby is for youths ages 15 and under, with registration beginning at 8 a.m.

The event is for youths only as no adults are allowed to fish for some of the 1,000 trout to be stocked in that portion of Jordan Creek. Prizes will be awarded for each age group of under 4, 5-8, 9-12 and 13-15. Check South Whitehall Township’s website for further rules and regulations.