Hundreds Show up for Youth Fishing Day

They came … they saw … they fished.

Boy, did they ever fish.

Hundreds of people – moms, dads, grandparents and kids – turned out on a bright but chilly morning Saturday to participate in Doylestown’s Youth Fishing Day.

The longtime community tradition is open to youngsters under the age of 16.

As the starting whistle blew at 8 a.m., fishing lines simultaneously plopped in the borough dam at Chapman Park.

Many came out early to get a good spot, as fishermen eventually encircled the dam, hoping to catch the Big One.

Earlier in the week, the more than 1,000 trout up to 24 inches in length were stocked to provide anglers with more than enough opportunities to come away with some fish – and maybe even a fish story to go with it.

Mike White of Doylestown secured his spot – midway along the dam by the State Street side – by 6:30 a.m. By 7:30, older brother Ryan McKinney of Horsham showed up with his kids Ava, 7, and Ryan, 4.

By 9, the group had a handful of trout, caught by the youngsters, nestled in a five-gallon bucket near their camping seats.

Both adult brothers had been fishing the dam for years.

“When I was a kid, I used to go to Lenape (Middle School) and walk here after school with my rod,” recalled McKinney.

Now, he’s hoping to pass on the tradition to his own kids.

It was a story that was repeated often that morning.

“We come every year; we love it,” said Darlene Beard of Morrisville, who was taking a break with a friend and her daughter at one of the picnic tables nearby.

“My oldest son is 21 and we’ve been coming here since he was a child.”

Her fishing-enthusiast husband was dam-side helping other young fishermen.

Neon-colored dots of synthetic fishing bait bobbed on the surface of the water, begging an answer to the debate of what lure was best to catch the biggest trout.

The old standby of wiggly worms were cast, as well as more unconventional items such as raw hot dogs and marshmallows.

For Chris Stanwick, 9, a student at Barclay Elementary School in Warrington, PowerBait allowed him to pull his catch-of-the-day from the pond.

He and mom Emkje were heading home where they were going to clean and cook the trout.

For Chris, though, he was clearly in it for the sport.

“I don’t like to eat fish,” he said, smiling shyly as he carried his catch back to the car.

Ten of the stocked fishes were tagged, and those catching them will be given prizes awarded by Dave’s Sports Center Inc. outside of Doylestown.

Free food – hot dogs, grilled hamburgers and water ice from (in theme flavors of red snapper and blue marlin) – were available for those who worked up a hunger during the event.

Mike Stachel, the Doylestown businessman who has orchestrated the annual event for the last 10 years, was thoroughly enjoying the family-oriented day.

“I love it,” he said enthusiastically, in between chats with friends who would stop by to greet him.

“I see the kids having a good time, and that’s what it’s all about,” he said.