CLEARFIELD – Spring is well under way in Clearfield County and with spring comes the start of trout season.
Many anglers are lining the banks of streams hoping for that big catch, and anyone fishing between Curwensville and Clearfield can thank the efforts of local citizens, spearheaded by Pat Domico, to make a 13-mile section of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River an approved trout water by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission.
“It’s the people who have made it possible,” Domico says to anyone who asks him.
It began 45 years ago when the owner and publisher of The Progress, W.K. Ulrich, was talking to Domico about the river and said it could be a great asset to the community if someone took the initiative. He then gave Domico $100 to get started on a trout stocking program, which has only grown.
Domico says he and the others he works with have never used grant money to purchase fish to stock the river, and it has all been done by fundraising and donations. He says he worked with local coal companies and took the fish from their drainage ponds and utilized the tanks at Old Town Sportsmen’s Club to keep the fish.
In 1983 they partnered with McDonald’s and sold coupons for a dollar each. The coupons could be used as cash at McDonald’s and they would get 50 cents back for each sold. Domico noted that Ray Walker purchased $300 worth of tickets at that time and gave them to his employees.
All totaled, they raised $10,000 that year to purchase 4,500 small-mouthed bass and stocked the river from Irvin Park to where Elliott’s park is now.
Not long after, Domico says, he started working with Laurel Hill Trout Farm in Osterberg. “They’re good people,” he said. But because of the cost of trout, he knew he had to work harder to promote the river and trout stocking. Domico does presentations for various groups and organizations and also holds fundraising events.
All these efforts paid off in 1995 when the PFBC named the river an approved trout water from the Hyde bridge downstream through Clearfield.
Domico has also been on the Governor’s Sportsmen’s Advisory Council on Hunting, Fishing and Conservation for 21 years, helping with policy decisions to support outdoor sports and preserving Pennsylvania’s environment.
And 10 years ago, he supported House Bill 1690, which proposed the Mentored Youth Hunting Program. Domico suggested adding “Families Hooked on Fishing” to the bill as well to support families passing on the love of both sports to younger generations.
In recent years, Domico has been working on a fundraising project that has proved extremely popular and also encourages recycling.
Squirrel Tails for Trout Recycling for the Future allows people to harvest squirrels, use the animal for food and send the tails to Domico, who then sends the tails to Mepps Spinners where the group can get anywhere from 22-32 cents per tail.
The first year, he was able to send 150 tails and now it is upwards of 700-800 tails per year, with the money going to purchase trout to stock the river.
In 2013 PFBC named an additional section of the West Branch of the Susquehanna an approved trout water, making 13 miles from Curwensville to below Clearfield as an area where PFBC stocks trout.
“The river is fast becoming a premier trout water,” Domico stated. He said this builds tourism for the area, and the stream is well known across the street and attracts anglers of all ages.
“This is for the people and by the people,” Domico added, noting that people will do things to benefit their community and so that they will get their fair share, “They deserve it.”
And seeing the advantages of a clean, well-stocked river, residents, businesses, banks, organizations and so on continue to donate to the cause.
This year Domico says he has already stocked the river once and so has the state. He plans to hold eight more stocking events this year, and none of the trout stocked is under 15 inches in size.
For the Clearfield Riverwalk Celebration on April 23, 500 trout between 15 and 26 inches in size were stocked, with the biggest tagged so that whoever catches it will receive $300 in gift cards.
Domico says he cannot name everyone who has stepped in to help, though he tries. He noted the exceptional efforts of Terry Malloy, who had a print made to give to the winner of the 41st annual Kid’s Fishing Derby at Parker Dam April 24.
Also, Bee Kind Winery donated funds for a beautiful collectible patch that has been quite popular.
“People know the treasure they have here,” Domico said. “My dreams would be nothing without the people.”
Anyone interested in more information on trout stocking or to make a donation can call Domico at 814-577-1869 or 814-236-3621. He noted that checks should be written out to Laurel Hill Trout Farm.