Don't Miss

Hooked on opening day: 150 attend annual sportsmen’s event

By digital editor on April 5, 2017

: Lititz Sportsmen’s Association volunteers who helped organize Saturday’s Kids Fishing Day include (left to right) Jake Roul, Ken Hess, Phil McCloud, Bob Castlemen, Ken Hieser, Clare Kimmel, Gary Clark Jr., Gordy Lind, Dick Fridinger, Jay Cambell, and Dale Nye.

: It was a memorable father and son morning at the riparian park for (left to right) Clark Martin and his son Wyatt, and Lon Martin with his son Blaice.

: Avery Harrison of Lititz

: Zach Clare of Conestoga won the prize for catching the largest fish, a 17½ inch rainbow trout.

: Luke Turner of Manheim

: Dylan Byers of Lancaster demonstrates the opening day wave.

: Camryn and Mason McCormick get a little help from dad.

: Olivia Ziegler of Lititz

: Aubrie Martin and her dad found a great spot along Lititz Run.

The Lititz Sportsmen’s Association continued its mission of “promoting and protecting our outdoor heritage” during Saturday’s Kids Fishing Day, an annual tradition on the opening day of trout season.

Volunteers stocked Lititz Run at the Warwick Township Riparian Park, located at Clay and Rothsville roads, with 800 trout, and local children under age 16 enjoyed a morning of fishing with family and friends.

“We enjoy doing this every year,” said Dick Fridinger, event chairman.

Fridinger said 150 kids attended, and even though the cold damp weather contributed to a slow start, the park was pretty busy by 9 a.m.

Zach Clare, 14, of Conestoga, won the top prize for catching the largest fish of the day, a 17½-inch rainbow trout. Meanwhile, Caleb Morrison won the prize for being the first kid to catch his five-trout limit.

The sportsmen also served up 200 hot dogs, 200 drinks, and 10 dozen donuts — all for free.

For those who missed it, the fishing fun didn’t begin and end on April 1. The sportsmen have a couple more events on the calendar:

Family Fun Day, which coincides with Pennsylvania’s Free Fish Day, will be held May 28, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Riparian Park. Anyone can fish; no license needed.
June 3 is the annual Handicap Fishing Derby, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., again at the Riparian Park.

For more information on these and other events, visit lititzsportsmen.com.

Photos by Melissa Mortimer

featured