Hello, Trout Season—and the Annual Breakfast at Big Sewickley Creek Fire Department

Today marks the traditional opening day of trout. And, fishing license sales are up by more than 20 percent, according to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC).

But the first day of trout fishing season also brings another annual tradition: the pancake and sausage breakfast at the , 1850 Big Sewickley Creek Road, .

The breakfast runs from 6 a.m. to noon today, April 14, the first day of trout season. In addition to pancakes and sausage, the breakfast includes coffee and orange juice with proceeds benefitting the fire department.  

Price is $6 for adults, $5 for children 6 to 16 and free for kids ages 5 and undeer.

Registration for a free fishing contest ends at 9 a.m. for children 15 and under. There will be a trophy and prizes for the best catches. The awards presentation begins at 11 a.m.

The annual event in Bell Acres is one great way to get children and families involved.

John Arway, executive director of the PFBC, said opening day is a special time that families and kids look forward to every year.

“Opening day is a time-honored tradition for so many families, including grandparents, parents and their children,” Arway said. “I remember lying awake the night before and then getting up early and fishing with my family on opening day. It’s a lot of fun that I now share with my grandkids.”

The PFBC expects opening day today be very busy—the warmer weather has caused a significant jump in license sales, 20 percent to be exact.

Locally,  in Big Sewickley Creek. Children 12 and under are also permitted to fish in Little Sewickley Creek, though most of the surrounding land is privately owned.  

The fish and boat commission estimates 53,000 more anglers have bought licenses .

“Last year, we had a cold and wet start to the fishing season,” Arway said. “This year we’ve had significantly warmer weather and anglers everywhere are excited to get out and start the season. And even though the early regional opener was colder than many people would have liked, reports from our field staff indicate that a lot of anglers and their friends and families were still out.”

The PFBC has teamed up with the Pittsburgh Pirates for a special promotion this season. During baseball season, 2012 fishing license holders are eligible to purchase discounted outfield box tickets and receive a free custom, limited-edition Pirates ball cap with each PNC Park game ticket.

The offer is good on any day of baseball, with the exception of Saturday games. Visit the Pirates website at pirates.com for a seating chart.

Fans can complete an order form on the PFBC website and mail it to the Pirates office or fax it to 412-325-4410. Phone orders cannot be accepted. The online form can be found here.

The PFBC’s "great white fleet" of stocking trucks has been busy since mid-February replenishing Pennsylvania's waterways with a fresh supply of brook, brown and rainbow trout.

Every year, the PFBC stocks about 3.2 million trout in waterways across the state.

More than 850,000 anglers buy a fishing license each year. A resident fishing license costs $22.70 and a trout-salmon permit is $9.70. A license is required for anyone 16 and older.

Licenses can be purchased at sporting goods stores and online at fishandboat.com. To see if your favorite trout stream is being stocked this year, visit the PFBC stocking schedule page.

Anglers and boaters can sign up to receive email updates on the activities of the PFBC here. Also, follow the PFBC on Twitter at twitter.com/fishandboat.

Where are your favorite spots to fish in the Sewickley Patch, or nearby? Tell us in the comments.

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