26-03-2025
PA's Mentored Youth Trout Day returns, giving young anglers a chance to cast early
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WTAJ) — Young anglers across Pennsylvania will have a chance to cast their lines early as the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) hosts Mentored Youth Trout Day on Saturday, March 29.
The annual event, running from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., allows anglers 15 and under to fish for trout alongside a licensed adult mentor at designated waters statewide.
Created in 2013, Mentored Youth Trout Day gives young fishers a chance to learn key skills before the statewide trout season opener on April 5. Participants must have either a Voluntary Youth Fishing License ($2.97) or a free Mentored Youth Permit. They may keep up to two trout measuring at least seven inches. While adult mentors can assist, they are not permitted to keep trout.
'On this special day, the focus of every adult mentor should be on helping kids to fish, including teaching them how to bait a hook, cast a line, and hopefully, help them to safely reel in a few trout,' Richard Kauffman, PFBC District 8 Commissioner, said.
Not all waters will be stocked ahead of the event. Anglers can check the PFBC's 2025 Trout Stocking Schedule on to locate stocked waters.
Fishing licenses and permits are available through the HuntFishPA online portal and at nearly 700 in-person license agents. A voluntary youth license purchase helps fund fishing programs, with each sale generating about $5 in federal reimbursement for youth outreach efforts.
For those fishing from a boat, Pennsylvania's cold-weather life jacket requirement remains in effect through April 30. Anglers in boats under 16 feet, including kayaks and canoes, must wear life jackets at all times.
For more details on Mentored Youth Trout Day and fishing regulations, visit
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