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Activities/Crafts --
PLAY (Pennsylvania League of Angling Youth) Newsletters --
Coloring Pages --
Videos/Links --
Additional Resources
Education Packages
Fly Fishing Education Package
Fly Tying Education Package
Activities/Crafts
Angler’s Calendar
Checklist and a coupon to ask someone to go fishing.
Bass Tournament Game
Try out this fun “board game” to see who in your family will win the “Bass Tournament.”
Come and Get Em
Fish and lure matching game.
Fly Fishing Word Search
Find the fly fishing-related words in this word search.
Gather Your Gear
Three activities to reinforce your fishing skills knowledge.
Great Year of Fishing
Have fun doing this word search that accompanies the Winter 2017 issue of PLAY: Fishing- An Adventure for Everyone!
High-Tech Fishing Word Search
Have fun finding the high-tech fishing words in this low-tech word search.
Knotes on Knots
How to tie fishing knots such as blood knot, improved clinch knot and more.
Knot Sense
Learn how to tie 3 knots – Clinch knot; surgeon’s knot; surgeon’s end loop.
Life of a Trout
Activity - Cut out, paste and learn about PA’s trout, their habitat and their lifecycle.
R3 Activities
Four activities to reinforce your knowledge of recruitment, retention, and reactivation.
Wading Staff Project
Learn how to make your own wading staff for wading safety.
Coloring Pages
Read Along Cover
PLAY Newsletters
You can find additional activities and crafts on the last page of every PLAY (Pennsylvania League of Angling Youth) newsletter!
Read Along with PFBC playlist
Listen and/or read along with PFBC staff as they share Pennsylvania League of Angling Youth newsletters in a video format.
“Fishing is Reel Fun” booklet
This 18-page activity booklet is full of fishing and boating information to help anglers and boaters of all ability levels enjoy safe, fun, and year-round outdoor adventures in Pennsylvania. Enjoy!
"My Adventures" write-your-own story booklet
With this 12-page activity booklet you can write-your-own adventure about a trip on or near a PA waterway (e.g. stream, river, pond, lake). You can also share something you learn, share how you would teach someone else about what you learned, and share a memory that you will keep with you as you grow. Begin your story today!
PLAY: An Adventure for Anyone!
PLAY issue containing the following articles –
Fishing-An Adventures for Anyone; A Day of Fishing – Make it an adventure/Fishing Trip tips; Where to fish; Summer is for Discoveries; New Beginnings; Prepare for a great year of fishing (word search).
PLAY: AngleR3 Education
PLAY issue containing the following articles –
The 3R’s of Being a SMART Angler, From 3R’s to R3-What’s New, Let’s talk Recruitment, Retention, Reactivation, Practice Your R3’s (activity page).
PLAY: Anglers Calendar
PLAY issue containing the following articles –
Angler’s Calendar; Why do we have fishing regulations?; ‘Tis the season- All Year Long; Laws and Regulations; Your Fishing Calendar (check list and take me fishing coupon).
PLAY: Anytime is a Great Time to Take Your Family Fishing
Play issue containing the following articles-
Think SMART, Pick Your Spot, More on Life Jackets, A Little about Licenses, Gather Your Gear (activity page).
PLAY: Are You a SMART Angler
PLAY issue containing the following articles –
Are you a SMART Angler?; Safety First!; Manners Are Important; Appreciate Clean Water; Release Some of Your Catch; Off the Hook!; Teach Others to Be SMART Anglers.
PLAY: Competitive Fishing
PLAY issue containing the following articles-
Competitive Fishing; Bass Tournaments; Bass Techniques and Equipment; Handling and Caring of Fish; Fly Fishing Competition; and a Bass Tournament board game activity.
PLAY: Fishing & History
PLAY issue containing the following articles –
Fishing & History; Fishing the North American Way; Enough Fish for Everyone; Fishing Rod History; Fishing High Tech; The Future of Fishing.
PLAY: Fishing in the High-Tech World
PLAY issue containing the following articles –
PFBC website; PFBC social media; "Reel in the Memories"; There's an App for That; and Hi-Tech Angler Word Search.
PLAY: Tackle-Crafting
PLAY issue containing the following articles –
Tackle-crafting, Beginning Fly Tying, Knot Sense, Making Jigs, Recipe for a Rod Tube, Fixing Old Lures, It's the Law.
PLAY: Take A Friend Fishing
PLAY issue containing the following articles –
Take a Friend Fishing; Be a SMART Angler; Getting Started with Sunfish; Know Those Knots; Casting with a Friend; Catch a Panfish with a Friend; Panfish (Word Search).
PLAY: Take Your Family Fishing
PLAY issue containing the following articles –
Take Your Family Fishing; Fishing from a Rented Boat; The Ideal Fishing Spot; Checklist of Equipment, Bait and Other Gear; The Basics: Casting and Knots; Panfish Identification.
PLAY: Trout by Fly
PLAY issue containing the following articles-
Trout by Fly; Cracking the Code; Types of Flies; Where Trout Live; Casting Class; and Fly Fishing Word Search.
PLAY: The Lure of Being a Mentor
PLAY issue containing the following articles –
The Lure of Being a Mentor; Who can be a Mentor? YOU Can!; Mentors of ALL ages; Mentor Notes; Mentor Pathways – Where do you start?;Take action; Mentor Circle – First Steps Begin with You! (maze & take me fishing coupon).
PLAY: The Lure of PA’s Silver Shadows
PLAY issue containing the following articles –
Silver Shadows; Profiling Erie’s “Silver Bullet”; Stream Manners; Equipment used to target Steelhead; Catching Lake Erie Steelhead; Fighting and Releasing Steelhead; Steelhead Alley (word search).
PLAY: Trout Training
PLAY issue containing the following articles –
Trout Training; Finding Trout waters; Know Your Tr-“outfit”; Casting Practice; Trout Training-Rig It Right (cut and match game); Trout Tactics – On the Fly; Trout Tactics – Without a Spin.
PLAY: Why Do We Fish?
PLAY issue containing the following articles –
Why Do we fish?; Physical Benefits of Fishing; Fishing and Wellbeing; Fish is Good Food; Fishing is Big Business.
Videos
PLAYLISTS
The following link is a playlist that will take you through all of PFBC’s videos related to fly fishing OR you can go through them individually by clicking links below.
PFBC Virtual Family Fishing Program
If you have always wanted to attend a PFBC Family Fishing Program (FFP) but have not yet had the opportunity to do so, the agency's Education staff have developed a Virtual FFP (VFFP) just for you!
Whether new to fishing, returning to fishing, or introducing someone to the sport of fishing, these videos- and the (in-person) Family Fishing Program, itself- will get you started in the right direction. Our virtual FFP videos provide a variety of educational "stations" that introduce you to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, the FFP program, Casting, Knot-Tying, All About Fish, How to be a SMART Angler, How to Rig and Bait a Rod for Fishing, and the Rules and Regulations you need to know before you go fishing. Each virtual "station" is also broken into short video clips and provided to you in a series-format on our YouTube channel and our Facebook page, so that you can watch only the videos that you wish, and in the order that you wish.
PFBC’s in-person Family Fishing Programs are for families with little or no fishing experience. Participants learn basic fishing skills and practice those skills while fishing during the program. The program is open to all ages, including children ages 5 and older. The program is free, and all equipment and bait is provided. NOTE: the fishing license requirement is waived during the program for participants age 16 and older.
We look forward to helping you begin this exciting new journey and hope to see you on the water soon!
“All About Fish” Station - VFFP 2020
Welcome to “All About Fish”, brought to you by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. In this video we introduce you to SW Region Education Specialist, Mandy Smith, who provides the complete "All About Fish” station of PFBC’s Virtual Family Fishing Program. You will learn "What Makes a Fish a Fish", "Identifying Characteristics of a Fish", and about "Fish Habitats and Local Fishing Opportunities in PA". The more you learn about the fish that you are trying to catch, the better angler you’ll become! Shorter, individual clips are available on both platforms for those who do not have time to watch the full-length version.
Knots “Station”- VFFP 2020
Welcome to the Knots “Station”, brought to you by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission! In this video, Northeast Region Outreach and Education Coordinator, Walt Dietz, provides the knot-tying station of our Virtual Family Fishing Program. This video provides an introduction to knots, parts of a hook, and how to tie an improved clinch knot.
Basic Fly-Tying Equipment
In this video, PFBC Fishing Skills Instructor, George Daniel, introduces you to basic fly-tying equipment (e.g. fly tying vise, bobbin, scissors, hackle pliers, whip finisher etc.).
Basic Fly-Tying: The Olive France Fly
In this short video, one of PA Fish and Boat Commission’s many Fishing Skills Instructors, Tracey McAfoos, shares a favorite fly pattern she fishes with. The fly is the “Olive France Fly”. This fly is a great pattern because it imitates mayfly nymphs and works year-round!
Caddis are Hatching
Caddis flies are aquatic insects found in nearly all of PA’s waters. Some caddis species are at home in small mountain streams, while others prefer the depths of our large rivers and lakes.
First Steelhead on a Fly Excitement
Fourteen second video clip that captures the pure excitement of catching a Steelhead for the first time!
Fishing Opportunities – PA Fish and Boat Commission
This video introduces viewers to the fishing opportunities available in PA.
Fly Fishing Equipment Basics – Fly Line
In this video, PFBC Fishing Skills Instructor, Jodie Minor, introduces you to the fly line. She covers fly lines, how to “decode” the code on fly line boxes, types of fly lines, and how to connect it to your reel.
Fly Fishing Equipment Basics – Fly Reel
In this video, Jodie Minor, PFBC Fishing Skills Instructor and member of Penns Woods West Trout Unlimited , introduces you to the fly reel. This video covers the parts of the reel, the drag system, the fly line, how the reel works and different types of reels.
Fly Fishing Equipment Basics – Fly Rod
In this video, PFBC Fishing Skills Instructor, Jodie Minor, introduces you to the fly rod. She covers the parts of the fly rod, what type of fly rod you have, how rods are categorized, how to get started in PA, and how to connect your rod and reel.
Fly Fishing Equipment Basics – Leaders & Tippets
In this video, PFBC Fishing Skills Instructor, Jodie Minor, introduces you to leaders and tippets. She covers leaders and tippet, how to decode a leader package, the difference between leader and tippet, and how to attach your leader to your fly line.
Fly Fishing Program Participant Learning How to Cast
A participant at one of PFBC’s Fly Fishing Programs is having a fun time learning how to cast. Does this look like something you’d like to try?
How to Tie a “Sexy Walt’s Worm”
Tracey McAfoos shares a favorite fly pattern she fishes with. The fly is the “Sexy Walt’s Worm”. This fly is a great pattern because it’s an easy tie. It doesn’t really “match the hatch”, but is flashy enough to equal success on the water year-round!
How to Tie a "Walt’s Worm"
Tracey McAfoos shares why and how she got involved in fly fishing, as well as one of her favorite fly patterns she fishes with. The fly is the “Walt’s Worm”. This fly is a great pattern because it imitates everything, but nothing specific at the same time, and works year-round!
Intro to Fly Tying- “First Fly”
In this video, George Daniel introduces viewers to a basic, but effective “First Fly” called the “Green Weenie.”
Joe Humphrey’s Surprise Visit to PFBC Program
On Sunday, April 10, 2016, legendary fly fisherman Joe Humphreys paid a surprise visit to the PFBC's Women's Intro to Fly Fishing program. For about 45 minutes, Mr. Humphreys gave the 28 participants and 9 instructor volunteers tips on casting. This video (turn up the volume) shows how to retrieve a fly line from a tree.
Mayfly “Social Distancing”
Mayflies are important food items for many fish, especially trout. There are more than 700 kinds of mayflies in North America.
PFBC Fly Fishing Participant Testimonial
This video introduces viewers to a testimonial provided by a participant at PFBC’s “Women’s Intro to Fly Fishing Program.”
Rain, Bugs, Rising Trout, & Laughter
Moments along the banks of Spring Creek, Centre County, that 14 ladies and their 6 instructors will never forget!
Regulations Station- VFFP 2020
In this video, SE Region Outreach & Education Coordinator, Andrew Desko, provides the “Regulations” portion of our Virtual Family Fishing Program. This video provides a brief explanation of the types of regulations around fishing, and how and where to find the fishing regulations.
Steelhead Program Testimonials
In this video, three participants share their thoughts on the PFBC's Women's Intro to Steelhead Fishing Program.
Women’s Intro to Fly Fishing Program
Enjoy this testimonial from Veronica Terrill, of Bellefonte, Pa, as she shares with us how she has become “hooked” on fly fishing!
Additional Resources
A Fly Angler’s Introduction to Picking A Fly Pattern
Introduction on how to pick out a fly pattern.
Are You a Smart Angler?
Fact sheet detailing SMART concept, what letters in SMART stand for.
Care of the Catch
Techniques for releasing or keeping fish.
Care of the Catch - Trout
Techniques for releasing or keeping trout.
Dry Fly Tips and Tricks
Article sharing information about dry flies and how to fish them.
Fly Fishing & Spin Fishing
The difference between Fly Fishing & Spin Fishing
Get in Some Extra Trout Fishing With Summertime Terrestrials
Fishing for trout using fly patterns that imitate terrestrial insects (e.g. ants, beetles, grasshoppers).
Intro to PA Steelhead Fishing- reference guide
Panfish On The Fly
Techniques for catching panfish (e.g. bluegill, pumpkinseeds and more) on a fly.
Popular Sport-fishes of Pennsylvania
How, where and when to catch them.
Put 'em Back Alive
Details tips for catching and releasing trout.