height="82" border="0" alt="Link to Northeast Region, USFWS; map of region">Rainy weather did

not deter several dozen area anglers from participating in this year's Pathways to Fishing program at the John

Heinz (Pa.) National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, June 5. While mainly targeting new anglers, the program attracts a wide array of the

fishing public, especially youngsters. Saturday was no exception as the kids, with adults in tow, hit the waters of Darby Creek and the adjacent 150

acre east impoundment, in hopes of landing ?the big one.?

Each participant got a bag full of fish identification cards, brochures and other material pertaining

to fishing in Pennsylvania. Pathways to Fishing coincided with Free Fishing Day in Pennsylvania. This program allows anyone to fish without a

license. Normally anyone over 16 years of age is required to have a fishing license to legally fish commonwealth waters. Free Fishing Day is held to

encourage the public to try their hand at this popular form of recreation.

Pathways coordinator and refuge staff member Bill Thomas said, ?Even with the bad weather we

had a nice little turnout and best of all just about everyone caught some fish.? He also noted that the event was the first fishing experience for

many of the youngsters and hopefully they learned how much fun it can be as well as the importance of being good stewards of the environment.

Many interpretive displays and exhibits were also set up in the Cusano Environmental Education

Center of the refuge especially for the event and prizes were given out to many holding lucky ticket numbers.

Pathways to Fishing was sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Friends of the Heinz

Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Taylor's Bait and Tackle of Southwest Philadelphia, Southeast Archery of

Folcroft, Montgomery County Bass Club, Wal-Mart, Waterworks, Fuji Film, and Berkley Power Bait.

NORTHEAST REGION, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE -- Conserving the Nature of the Northeast