Latest news with #BrookTrout
Hamilton Spectator
06-07-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Fish Friends teach Eskasoni students about nature's life cycle
ESKASONI - There's the birds and the bees and there's the fish and the kids. Real-life experience and a big fish tank in their classroom are teaching children at Eskasoni Elementary and Middle School about the cycle of life – from birth to death. For the past 10 years, the school has partnered with the Cape Breton Island Wildlife Association , to teach its small-fry about – well – small-fry. And late in the school year, a class of Grade 5-6 children saw the results of their tender care of Brook Trout fish eggs reach its culmination when they released the 'fry' of about three centimetres long into the brook that runs beside the school. With the help and support of the wildlife association, the class of 11-12-year-olds has been raising the fish since February from their egg stage. Members of the association helped deposit the eggs into a 40-gallon aquarium that sat in the classroom until the end of the school year when students released the tiny fish into a nearby brook that runs into the Bras d'Or Lakes system. BABY TROUT Principal Dawn Stevens says every year, students at all levels are welcome to come in and sit beside the tank and watch during the days and weeks as the eggs turn into baby trout. The eggs came from the Department of Inland Fishery Hatchery at Margaree. The department supplies eggs to several schools around Cape Breton Island if staff request them. Stevens says there's always a certain amount of mortality in nature. She says there's an important lesson for students to see birth, life and death happen naturally. This year, they only lost about five of the 300-400 eggs as they morphed into fry. 'And every time one died, the students held a little funeral over at the sink,' Stevens smiles. 'It was the way they show respect to them. I learned so much from them. 'They even taught me how to feed the fish.' Brent Baker, a Wildlife Association member from Louisbourg said he and others teach the students how to feed them and especially, how important clean water is for all life. FISH FRIENDS Baker says the program involving students is a provincial one called 'Fish Friends.' Classroom teacher, Sarah Jaarsma, says the fish tank is a popular attraction in her room. 'We have a lot of the little ones come down and check the fish out,' she says. 'There are a few who will come down and just sit and watch them and relax.' Jaarsma says the class watches for the yolk sac to appear on the egg and then they know it's time to start feeding them – which they do every day. She says it's exciting for the students to watch them grow. In late June, it was time to let the fish go. The class walked to the side of a fast-moving brook nearby. Baker stood in the stream and explained what the fish would do now, telling them that they would hide behind rocks to avoid the power of the water and stay away from predators such as other trout, birds and insects – especially dragonflies. One by one, the students came down to the stream and released several fish from little baggies into the cold water. Even in the classroom, the water had been regulated and filtered to stay clean and cold – the best environment for the fish. Baker pointed out the fish that quickly took shelter behind rocks as they got their bearings. Amazement was on every student's face as the enormity of what they had done for nature entered their minds and hearts. In September, it all starts again. Teachers will teach their stories of the miracle of nature and prepare the classes for the new eggs to come after Christmas. And a year from now, new life will be released into the wild – just as nature and Eskasoni Elementary and Middle School intend. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Catch a huge fish in West Virginia? You might qualify for recognition even if it's not a record
Video shows new state records for largemouth bass and blue catfish that were caught in May 2025. CLARKSBURG, (WBOY) — The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) offers Trophy Fish Citations to recognize anglers with especially impressive catches. Anglers who catch the longest or heaviest fish in state history in certain categories are recognized as state record holders, given a certificate and often honored with news coverage. If an angler misses the record but meets certain length criteria, they could also be recognized, if they fill out an application. The fish must 1. Meet the length requirement listed below, 2. Be caught legally by a licensed angler, 3. Be measured in front of a witness or photographed. Brook Trout – 15 inches Blue Catfish – 35 inches Brown Trout – 21 inches Bullhead Catfish – 16 inches Rainbow Trout – 21 inches Channel Catfish – 25 inches Golden Rainbow Trout – 21 inches Flathead Catfish – 35 inches Tiger Trout – 21 inches Crappie – 15 inches Largemouth Bass – 21 inches Sunfish – 10 inches Smallmouth Bass – 20 inches Chain Pickerel – 20 inches Spotted Bass – 14 inches Northern Pike – 32 inches Rock Bass – 10 inches Walleye – 28 inches Striped Bass – 30 inches Sauger – 17 inches Hybrid Striped Bass – 24 inches Yellow Perch – 13 inches White Bass – 15 inches Freshwater Drum – 22 inches Muskellunge – 45 inches Fallfish – 18 inches Tiger Musky – 40 inches Common Carp – 31 inches Fish for free without a license at West Virginia's Free Fishing Days The application for a Trophy Fish Citation is available online here. It must be filled out and mailed to the following address within 60 days of the catch: West Virginia Division of Natural Resources324 4th Avenue | Room 306South Charleston, WV 25303 The citations for trophy fish in West Virginia include colorful, original artwork by Joseph Tomelleri. An angler can receive one trophy citation for each species of fish per calendar year. Think you caught a fish that is a state record? A record catch must be certified by the WVDNR witness and this form must be filled out. You can see the current records online here, which includes multiple records that have already been broken in 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Trout season opens; PFBC stocking 3.2 million trout across Pennsylvania
Apr. 6—The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) reminds anglers that the statewide opening day of trout season opened Saturday , April 5, with anglers across the state heading to lakes and streams. Throughout the 2025 season, the PFBC will stock approximately 3.2 million adult trout in 691 streams and 130 lakes open to public angling. These figures, which are consistent with the number of trout stocked over the past decade, include approximately 2.4 million Rainbow Trout; 693,000 Brown Trout; and 125,000 Brook Trout. As with past practice, the average size of the trout produced for stocking is 11 inches in length with an average weight of .58 pounds. The PFBC will also stock approximately 72,000 trophy-sized trout measuring 14-20 inches. Approximately 14,000 golden Rainbow Trout, weighing an average of 1.5 pounds, will also be stocked during preseason and in-season stockings. PFBC partner cooperative nurseries sponsored by sportsmen's groups and other organizations will combine to raise an additional one million trout that will be stocked into public waterways throughout the trout season. During the regular trout season (Opening Day through Labor Day), anglers may keep up to five trout (combined species) per day measuring at least seven inches long. During an extended season from Sept. 2, 2025, through Feb. 16, 2026, the daily limit is three trout. Find stocked trout waters To locate waters that have been stocked with trout, anglers can review the 2025 Trout Stocking Schedule on the PFBC website at Trout fishing opportunities will continue to be abundant statewide with replenishment stockings occurring throughout the spring. Get your licenses and permits Permits and licenses are available using the HuntFishPA online portal and in-person at nearly 700 license issuing agents. All anglers, including youth, are required to have their own account within the licensing system, which can be created either online or at a retail license issuing location. Upon creation of an account, anglers are issued a permanent, individual Customer Identification Number (CID#) that can be used for an improved, user-friendly experience during future transactions. Fishing from a boat? Anglers who plan to fish from a boat on Opening Day of Trout Season are reminded that the PFBC's cold weather life jacket requirement is in effect from November 1 through April 30. Under this rule, anyone aboard a boat 16 feet or less, including all canoes and kayaks, is required to wear a life jacket. Children ages 12 and under are always required to wear a life jacket while boating in Pennsylvania. A surge in reservations As several federal campgrounds close due to staffing shortages, Pennsylvania's state parks and forests remain open and ready for visitors — and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is launching a new tourism campaign to encourage Pennsylvania residents and visitors to choose state parks and forests for their next outdoor adventure. DCNR is seeing a nearly 30% increase in campsite reservations, compared to the same time last year, signaling strong demand for outdoor recreation in Pennsylvania. To encourage more residents and visitors to explore the state's natural beauty, DCNR launched the "Still Open Still Awesome" campaign, reinforcing Pennsylvania's commitment to accessible and affordable outdoor experiences. "From breathtaking hiking trails to peaceful lakeside campsites, Pennsylvania's parks are the perfect escape for those looking to unplug, unwind and reconnect with nature," said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. "With warmer temperatures on the way, now is the time to plan your next outdoor getaway." Pennsylvania's 124 state parks and 2.2 million acres of state forests offer free, year-round recreation with no entrance fees. With more than 7,100 campsites — including tent sites, modern cabins, and yurts — there's an option for every level of camper. Many state parks also welcome pets, and locations like Promised Land State Park provide overnight accommodations for horseback riders. Spotted lanternfly quarantine expanded Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding this week announced that Bradford, Sullivan, Venango and Wyoming counties have been added to the Pennsylvania counties quarantined due to confirmed populations of the invasive pest spotted lanternfly. Redding encouraged Pennsylvanians to look for and destroy lanternfly eggs prior to the spring hatch to help slow the destructive pest's spread. "As you clean up your yard or just enjoy beautiful Pennsylvania spring days, you can help keep lanternflies from becoming a summer nuisance and harming our valuable grape and nursery industries," Redding said. "Every spotted lanternfly egg mass you scrape and squash is 30-50 damage-causing insects that won't hatch in May." The invasive spotted lanternfly was first discovered in the U.S. in Berks County in 2014. While aggressive, coordinated efforts among states and industry have slowed its spread, the insect, which spreads largely by hitching rides on and in cars and other vehicles, continues to threaten valuable food and ornamental crops. In 2024, the department expanded the quarantine area by one county to 52 counties, although more than half of those counties have relatively small, isolated populations of lanternflies. The quarantine expansion comes after extensive surveys by Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture in concert with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in every Pennsylvania county, with a major emphasis on Erie County, where much of the state's $1.77 billion wine and grape industry is concentrated. In his 2025-26 budget, Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed continued funding to combat lanternflies and other invasive pests and pathogens and to support producers whose livelihoods they threaten. The lanternfly quarantine prohibits moving lanternflies at any stage of life, as well as infested items like firewood, brush and other debris. Among other measures, it requires those who operate businesses or travel for business in and out of quarantined counties to get a permit. More than 33,300 businesses across the U.S. and Canada have gotten permits for more than 1.42 million employees, demonstrating that they know how to recognize lanternflies and avoid transporting them. Adult insects die off over the winter after laying tiny rows of eggs, covering them with a putty-colored protective coating. The egg masses, which can be on any outdoor surface, from trees and rocks to equipment and law furniture, each contain 30-50 eggs approximately the size of a pinhead and have survived winters in sustained sub-zero temperatures. Scraping and smashing them is easy and requires no special tools.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Approximately 3.2 million trout will have been stocked statewide by PFBC
By the time Pennsylvania's statewide trout season opens Saturday, April 5, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will have stocked approximately 3.2 million adult trout in 691 streams and 130 lakes open to public angling. These figures, which are consistent with the number of trout stocked over the past decade, include approximately 2.4 million Rainbow Trout; 693,000 Brown Trout; and 125,000 Brook Trout. As with past practice, the average size of the trout produced forstocking is 11 inches in length with an average weight of .58 pounds. Once again, this year, anglers will have an excellent chance to catch large, trophy-sized trout. During 2025, the PFBC will stock approximately 72,000 trophy-sized brood fish, which are 2 ½ year-old and 3 ½ year-old hatchery-raised Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, and Brook Trout measuring 14-20 inches. Roughly 70% of these large fish will be stocked into streams and lakes during the preseason prior to opening day of trout season, and 30% will be stocked during in-season replenishment stockings. In 2025, the PFBC will stock approximately 14,000 goldenRainbow Trout. In addition to being stocked during the preseason period before opening day, these highly prized fish featuring vibrant golden orange pigmentation and weighing an average of 1.5 pounds will be stocked during in-season replenishment stockings. Approximately 75% of golden Rainbow Trout will be stocked during the preseason, and approximately 25% will be stocked in-season. In addition to trout raised at state fish hatcheries, PFBC cooperative nurseries operated by sportsmen's clubs and other groups across the state will add another 1.2 million trout to waters open to public angling throughout the year. Anglers looking for stocked trout fishing opportunities ahead of the opening day should explore Keystone Select Stocked Trout Waters , a program where sections of 24 streams across the state are stocked with large trout measuring 14-20 inches and managed under Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only or Miscellaneous Special regulations. Under the program, approximately 10,000 large trout will be distributed among the streams. The trout will be stocked at a rate of 175 to 225 per mile of stream, which is comparable to the numbers of similarly sized fish in Pennsylvania's best wild troutwaters. 2025 TROUT SEASON FAST FACTSMentored Youth Trout Day: Saturday, March 29, 8 a.m. Statewide Opening Day: Saturday, April 5, 8 a.m. Fishing Hours: After 8 a.m. opener, 24 hours a day. Minimum Size: Seven (7) inches. Creel Limits: Regular season opening day through Labor Day, 5 combined species; Extended season day after Labor Day-December 31 and January 1-February 20, 3 combined species. Creel limits apply to the majority of trout fishing waters. Other rules apply for Special Regulation Areas . Anglers should consult the Summary of PA Fishing Laws and Regulations for more details. Fishing Licenses: Trout anglers 16 and older must posses a fishing license, a Trout Permit or a Combination Trout/Lake Erie Permit. A Lake Erie Permit or Combination Trout/Lake Erie Permit is also needed to fish for trout, salmon andsteelhead in Lake Erie and its tributaries. Licenses shall be kept about the person while fishing and shown upon the request of any waterways or other officer designated by the Commission. In addition to showing the license to the officer, the holder thereof shall, upon demand, establish further identification to the satisfaction of the officer by producing some other positive means of identification. Valid dates for 2025 licenses and permits are valid through December 31 — except 1-3-and 7-day licenses and are available at issuing agents statewide and online through Multi-year licenses are also available. Schuylkill County Regulated Trout Waters: Bear Creek (500 meters downstream T- 895/Bear Creek Road junction to a cable 800 yards above T-662), Deep Creek (Creek Road to mouth), Little Catawissa Creek (Reservoir Road to Trout Run Road), Little Mahanoy Creek (Malone's Road bridge to Gordon Mountain Road bridge), Little Schuylkill River (Locust Creek to Panther Creek and 1.1 miles upstream mouth to mouth), Lizard Creek (1 mile upstream Andreas Road bridge to 0.5 miles upstream Stone Mountain Road bridge), Locust Creek (Locust Lake Dam to mouth), Locust Lake Lower Little Swatara Creek (Blue Mountain Road to mouth), Mahantango Creek (Route 125 bridge to Kiwania Farm Road bridge), Mahoning Creek (Berry Road bridge to Lehigh River), Pine Creek (Dam at East Mahanoy junction to mouth), Pine Creek (Fountain Road to mouth), Pine Creek (Whitetail Lane to 340 meters downstream T-723 bridge), Rabbit Run Reservoir, Upper Little Swatara Creek (upstream boundary Frog HollowEnvironmental Center to Sweet Arrow Lake), Whippoorwill Dam. Schuylkill County Stocked Trout Waters Open to Year-Round Fishing: Sweet Arrow Lake, Tuscarora Lake. Schuylkill County Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only: Bear Creek – 1.74 miles; from a cable 800 yards above T-662 downstream to the downstream side of the bridge on T-676, Little Schuylkill River – 1.7 miles; from SR 895 in New Ringgold downstream to the T-848 bridge near Rausch's. Fishing Events Mentored Youth Trout Day: Saturday, March 29, 8 a.m., Gordon Game and Fish; Refreshments available. Dietz-Schneck Year-Long Memorial Tournament: Saturday, April 12, Sweet Arrow Lake, Pine Grove; opening day registration deadline 4 p.m., Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission access pavilion. Rabbit Run Kids Derby: Saturday, April 12, 8 a.m., includes hourly prize, trophies for largest trout for a boy and a girl and a trophy for first limit for a boy and girl. Rabbit Run Button Day: Sunday, April 13, 7 a.m., cash prizes of $300 for heaviest stringer of trout, $200 for second heaviest stringer and $100 for third heaviest stringer. Lone Pine Kids Fishing Rodeo: Saturday, April 19, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Walnut St.,Middleport. Paul Foster Memorial Youth Trout Rodeo: Saturday, April 26, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Williams Township Baseball Field, South Orange St.; ages 12 and younger. Free Children's Fishing Derby: Saturday and Sunday, April 26 and 27, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days, Kellner's Dam, Fishing Rodeo: May 3, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., South End Field & Stream, WhippoorwillDam, Frackville; call 570-205-5527 for information. Orwigsburg Children's Trout Rodeo: May 3 and 4, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., both days, Fishers Dam. Gordon Game and Fish Kids Fishing Derby: Saturday, May 10, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Gordon Community Park; Registration, 8-9 a.m.; for preregistration call 570-794-1512; free hot dog and soda for each kid. Trout Derby: May 17, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., all anglers, South End Field & Stream, Whippoorwill Dam, Frackville; call 570-205-5527 for information. Annual Fishing Rodeo: Saturday, May 17, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; sessions 9 a.m. to Noon, 1-4 p.m.; Port Clinton Playground; register at clubhouse; for information call Greg Boltz at 610-562-3220. Schuylkill Haven Children's Trout Rodeo: May 24, 8 a.m. to Noon, Stoyer's Dam, Bubeck Park; age groups 5-10, 11-15. Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce Tom Banditelli Sr. Memorial Trout Derby: Saturday, May 24, through Labor Day, Owl Creek Reservoir; register online at or pick up forms at chamber office or Tom's Auto and Marine, 250 South Greenwood St. or from 11 a.m. to Noon opening day at Owl Creek. (Dietz is a member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association) Contact the writer: outdoors@
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Brookhaven Elementary hosts annual ‘Evening of the Arts' celebration
MORGANTOWN, (WBOY) — Brookhaven Elementary School rolled out the red carpet on Wednesday for its third Evening of the Arts, an exciting community celebration that showcased the power of creativity and artistic expression. This free event invited families, students, and neighbors to come together for a night full of inspiring visual and performing arts. 'We're working on a giant Brook Trout sculpture/painting that is going to be about 16 feet long,' Brookhaven Elementary School Art Teacher Jason Jaros said. 'It will be something that these kids can look at and remember this experience for a long time.' Gov. Morrisey announces creation of 'Tourism Works' program Attendees had the chance to leave their mark on a collaborative community art project, which will serve as a lasting tribute to the event's spirit of creativity and connection. This unique piece of art will be proudly displayed in the Brookhaven Cafeteria later this spring, offering a visual reminder of the shared artistic journey. 'I think that the arts is—is crucial for a well-rounded education. These kids have a chance to come in here and, you know, look at problems and things that have more than one right answer. So, it gives them a chance to express themselves,' Jaros said. Students at Brookhaven Elementary have raised rainbow trout from eggs as part of the Trout in the Classroom project, a collaboration with WVU and Trout Unlimited. The trout eggs were supplied by the fish hatchery in Bowden. Guests were also treated to a diverse array of performances, interactive art exhibits, and hands-on workshops for all ages. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
