Family Fun at Sweet Arrow Lake
As I drove south to Pine Grove, the simple need to wear sunglasses filled me with optimism.
I pulled the sunglasses – dusty from lack of use during the region’s endless winter - from the vehicle’s center console.
And when I arrived at Sweet Arrow Lake, I pushed the sunglasses up on my head. The scene was gorgeous, like a postcard. Boats of all types traveled the lake, from aluminum boats to kayaks. The lake’s shores were lined with anglers, all hoping to not only catch a trout, but bag a tagged trout that came with a prize.
The Sweet Arrow “Family Fun Fishing Event” was held April 22. The first 150 youth (aged 3-12) to register received a gift worth at least $10. New this year, organizers stocked 200 “lunkers” which averaged 20 inches long, and also 2,000 12-inch average size trout. Many of those fish were float-stocked throughout the lake.
Also new this year, there were 46 non-tag specific trout worth $100 each. There were also four “big dollar” tagged trout, with prize values of $1,000, $750, $500 and $250. The event was publicized not only in Schuylkill County, but in surrounding counties.
“Our objective for the park (Sweet Arrow Lake county park) was always to bring people to the park, show people everything the park has to offer,” said Craig Morgan. “The event costs about $18,000 to conduct – that’s a lot of registrations, and this year we will break even.”
“About 20 percent of our registrations were from out of the area,” he added. “We’re already looking forward to 2019, when we want to, of course, again hold the Family Fun Fishing Event and also a special Youth Mentored Day.”
Morgan was manager of the Schuylkill Environmental District for 25 years before retiring in 2010. Since then, he was inducted into the district’s Hall of Fame in 2017.
As manager of the district, and since retiring, the restoration of Sweet Arrow Lake as a gem of county park’s has been one of his main focuses.
Jared and Tammy Bohn, Lebanon, said they registered for the fishing event after reading an article about it in a newspaper. That article led them to the website for the park (www.sweetarrowlakepark.com), and they were pleased to note the number of events there.
They brought their three children, Skyelar, Lilliana and Jacek to the event. By midday, each of the children had caught a fish.
“We are planning to come back next year,” Jared Bohn said. “We also may come to other events at the park – there are a lot of things for families.”
Morgan thanked the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, S & A Trout Hatchery and A & A Bait Shop for their support. He also noted that two men, who wish to remain anonymous, donated $300 each to ensure that the event broken even.
“If you haven’t visited Sweet Arrow Lake park, it’s well-worth a drive,” Morgan said. “There are plenty of things to see at the park, with well-marked trails, and also many upcoming events.”