PINE GROVE - A good argument can be made that Sweet Arrow Lake is the No. 1 trout destination in Schuylkill County.
Support for that argument is two of the area's most successful inaugural fund-raising fishing events will be back this year. "Angling for Miracles Event" to benefit the Janet Weis Children's Hospital of the Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, will be held the opening day of the statewide trout season Saturday, April 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Back in an expanded format is the "Family Fun Fishing Event" to benefit the Schuylkill County Sportsmen's Association and Friends of Schuylkill Parks and Recreation, beginning Sunday, May 4, at 6 a.m. Tagged fish can be redeemed for prizes until Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 1.
"Angling for Miracles" drew 75 participants last year and raised more than $6,500 for the Children's Miracle Network at Geisinger and throughout the Geisinger Health System, comprised of the Janet Weis Children's Hospital, Geisinger Wyoming Valley, Geisinger-Shamokin Area Community Hospital, Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton, Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital and more than 40 medical groups and pediatric specialty outreach clinics. Since 1984, more than $50 million has been raised for pediatric services, equipment and programs throughout Geisinger Health System.
Coordinated by the Schuylkill County Sportsmen's Advisory Board to the Schuylkill County Commissioners, the "Family Fun Event" had more than 1,500 anglers participate in last year's event, which raised $4,200 for FSPR and $2,460 for the SCSA. By extending the deadline to redeem tagged fish until Labor Day, event coordinator Craig Morgan expects an even larger turnout this year as canoes and kayaks will be available for rent and there will be crafters and other non-food vendors on hand.
"More than 2,000 trout will be stocked through the combined efforts of the Friends of Schuylkill Parks and Recreation, the Pine Grove Fish and Game and Swatara Co-Op Trout Nurseries, and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commissions in-season stocking will be April 30," Morgan said. "More than 100 'lunker' trout 18 inches and longer will also be stocked through funds raised by the lake's lunker committee.
"Our initial solicitation and purchases have accounted for more than $3,000 in prizes, which assures a minimum 35 trout and 15 crappies with tags worth a minimum of $25 each. We thought that tagging crappies will keep interest during the warmer summer weather, and once again we will have awards for the two heaviest carp the day of the event.
"Registration prior to April 19 is $10 for an individual and $20 per family, which will include a $5 individual and a $10 family food voucher for the breakfast being served at the clubhouse by the sportsmen's association. Registration fees will increase $5 and $10 respectively the day of the event, and the first 200 kids between the ages of 5-12 who are preregistered will receive a prize which can be claimed at clubhouse or boat access area the day of the event."
Information and registration for the "Angling for Miracles Event" is available by calling Geisinger Medical Center at (800) 322-5437 or (570) 271-6188 and by visiting www.geisinger.org. Registration and sponsorship for the "Family Fun Fishing Day Event" is available by contacting Craig Morgan at (570) 617-8223 or by email at cmorgan1@hughes.net.