“This will be a great weekend for fathers and grandfathers to get outside and fish with their sons, daughters and grandkids,” said Doug Austen, executive director of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC). “They can share childhood fishing stories, help kids with their casting skills and ideally enjoy pan-fried bass for dinner that evening.”

This year, the PFBC is partnering with the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) during bass season to implement a two-part direct mail campaign targeting anglers who bought their fishing license last year, but who have yet to purchase their license this year. Anglers on this list received an oversized postcard at the end of May encouraging them to buy a license to fish for bass with dad.

A follow-up letter in July will be sent to anglers who didn’t purchase a license after the first mailing. It will emphasize the rewards of spending time outdoors fishing with family and friends. As an incentive, customers who purchase a fishing license as part of the second component will receive a partial-year subscription to PA Angler & Boater magazine.

“We’re excited about our programs to regain lost customers,” said Adrian Martin, PFBC marketing specialist. “These are customers who fished at one point, so we know they have an interest. But for various reasons, they have not pursued fishing this year. We hope to change that, beginning with a simple action of sending a reminder to renew their license.”

The direct mail campaign is part of a multi-media campaign with RBFF to reconnect with lapsed anglers. The campaign includes print, radio, direct mail, billboards, public relations and media relations.

Various regulations govern the size of bass that can be harvested and the timeframe in which they can be taken. This information is available in the PFBC’s Summary Book of fishing regulations and laws, which is available online at www.fishandboat.com/bookfish.htm.

• In most of the Commonwealth’s inland rivers and streams, bass caught between June 14 and September 30 must be a minimum of 12 inches.
• Most inland lakes also have a 12-inch minimum, but may be fished through October.
• About 70 lakes, reservoirs, dams and parts of large rivers like the Juniata and Susquehanna are encompassed by the PFBC’s Big Bass Program, which imposes a minimum size of 15 inches. The bass season for these rivers and streams runs through September 30 and for lakes through December 31.
• The Delaware River and Lake Erie have their own regulations. Largemouth and smallmouth bass may be harvested on the Delaware from June 14 through December 31, with a minimum size of 12 inches.
• Largemouth and smallmouth bass may be harvested on Lake Erie from June 14 through December 31, but must be 15 inches or larger. Rock bass and white bass may be fished year-round.

The mission of the Fish and Boat Commission is to protect, conserve, and enhance the Commonwealth’s aquatic resources and provide fishing and boating opportunities. Please explore our website for more information about fishing and boating in Pennsylvania.

• Bass
• Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF)
• PA Angler & Boater magazine
• Summary book of fishing regulations and laws
• Big Bass Program
• Press release index