Call it the "magic" button.
Last year Schuylkill County Trout Unlimited came up with a unique idea as a fund raiser to begin a trout-stocking program in the county. Rather than sell chances or do any of the other same-old, same-old projects, it began the "Button Program," which was headed by Randy Emerich of BigDady Custom Rods of Pottsville.
For $10, anglers bought a collectable button to display on their fishing vest and fund the chapter's continuing effort to increase trout fishing opportunities in certain Schuylkill County waters. Trout between 13-24 inches in length were stocked only in waters that do not have a sustainable population of wild trout, and advance notice of the stockings was given to those supporting the program.
Again this year Schuylkill TU is conducting its "Button Program" and also raised funds for the stocking program earlier this month with a sale of donated outdoors equipment at Renninger's Market in Orwigsburg. In addition to individual memberships, company and business sponsorships are also accepted and will be advertised.
"For the first year of attempting this program, based on the feedback we received from the people on the streams, we feel that it went well," Emerich said. "We have purchased more than 1,739 trout at a cost of $6,820.00 for stocking in the streams and lakes of Schuylkill County, including 500 for our fall stocking program.
"With the feedback from anglers, we have heard that some of the fish from last year are still being caught. What's made this possible is the generosity and donations to our worthy cause, because without the donations, this would have never been accomplished.
"We had a good number of people who purchased the buttons also donate extra money. Then, we had people who donated hundreds of dollars just to help push our stocking, businesses donate fishing equipment, a merchant associations assist us with mailings and selling our buttons and many individuals go out of their way to sell our buttons."
Emerich said this year's program has had a few tweaks and has been improved, but the overall format remains the same. Only fish 13 inches or longer will be stocked, and those purchasing a button will be notified in advance of stockings.
Information on the program, including where buttons may be purchased, is available by contacting Emerich at (570) 622-1252 or bigdadyrods@comcast.net.
(Dietz is outdoors editor)