The opening day of trout season is Saturday, April 1.

A week ahead of that, on Saturday, March 25, young anglers will be able to ply the waters of Warren County.

Mentored Youth Trout Day is intended to provide a chance for youngsters to receive “the attention they need to become successful, ethical anglers, and contribute to the future of conservation,” according to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC).

Youth anglers ages 15 and under who have either a Voluntary Youth Fishing License or a free Mentored Youth Permit from the PFBC may fish with adults who have valid fishing licenses with trout permits.

“On this special day, kids get to enjoy the water a week before the busy statewide opening day of trout season,” PFBC President and District 6 Commissioner Robert Small said. “Mentored youth day is a fantastic opportunity to introduce youngsters to Pennsylvania’s proud trout fishing traditions while teaching them skills they can carry with them for a lifetime.”

“Adult mentors should be focused entirely on helping kids to fish, with such things as baiting a hook, helping to cast, and hopefully, helping to safely remove a few trout from the line, when needed,” Small said. “Remember, this day is for the young anglers. The most effective mentoring experience happens when just one adult accompanies each youth angler. Fishing with young children or an inexperienced youth angler can be extremely rewarding. Most importantly, mentors and youths should have fun and make some great memories that will keep the kids wanting to return to the water year after year.”

“While mentors are permitted to fish for trout while in the act of assisting a youth angler, they are not permitted to harvest trout and must release them immediately, unharmed,” according to PFBC.

There are nine streams in Warren County that will be stocked with trout between Mentored Youth Trout Day and Opening Day. The list of streams can be found by visiting fbweb.pa.gov/stocking.