Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 1, has been designated as the second Mentored Youth Fishing Day of the year by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission on select Panfish Enhancement lakes. To encourage participation on this day, the PFBC has reduced the price of a 1-day adult resident and 1-day adult non-resident license to just $1 to be used only on Labor Day, with issuing agent and transaction fees making the total price for the 1-day adult license $2.70.

"Anglers enjoyed the first mentored youth fishing day and told us that they particularly liked the idea of having a dedicated day to fish with their families and friends," PFBC executive director John Arway said. "With everyone's busy schedules, we decided to pick a day so people can put it on their calendars. Labor Day makes sense since many families already plan to be out on the water that day."We chose the panfish enhancement lakes because these waters have been managed to produce a large number of fish, so kids should catch a lot of sunfish, crappies and perch, which makes the day fun. As an added incentive, we're also removing the minimum size limits, which are either seven or nine inches, depending on the species, for participants in the mentored youth fishing day."Legislators have given us the ability to be creative with our pricing and marketing strategies, so we're using the reduced cost license to attract people to this particular day. These are both substantial discounts, so customers should like it."A 1-day adult resident license regularly costs $11.70 and a 1-day adult tourist license is $26.70, and the Labor Day 1-day adult licenses is available through the PFBC's Outdoor Shop on its website at

www.GoneFishingPA.com or at any of the more than 900 licensing agents across the state no later than August 24, and the license may be used on all Pennsylvania waters open to fishing. Arway added that the 17 lakes will be open to all anglers on Labor Day and noted that individuals fishing the lake without mentors are likely to experience larger crowds while having to adhere to existing size limits."This is also an opportunity to reach some of our customers who have not fished yet this year and give them a chance to get out without having to pay for a full license," Arway said. "While we typically sell 98 percent of our licenses by Labor Day, anglers often need to be reminded that fishing season does not end with trout in the spring and bass in the summer, and panfish are a great example of a resource that can be enjoyed all year long."To participate in the mentored youth program, anglers 16 years of age and older must have a valid fishing license and be accompanied by a youth. Youth anglers must obtain a free PFBC-issued permit or a voluntary youth fishing license, and both are available on the PFBC website.For every voluntary youth license sold, the PFBC will receive approximately $5 in federal revenue from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Sport Fish Restoration Act program, which provides funds to states based on a formula that includes the number of licenses a state sells. All revenues earned from a voluntary youth fishing license will be dedicated to youth fishing programs.Anglers may keep 20 fish of each species or a combined creel of 50. Here is the list of regional lakes that will be open all day for mentored youth day participants by county.Berks: Blue Marsh Reservoir, Montour: Lake Chillisquaque, Monroe: Brady's Lake and Gouldsboro Lake, Pike: Lower and Upper Promised Land Lakes.**********Sunday's edition of "Experience The Outdoors," winner of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association's best outdoors radio program award hosted by award-winning POWA member Doyle Dietz, at 7 a.m. on 1410-AM WLSH, at 9:30 a.m. on Magic 105.5-FM and on the Web at

www.wmgh.com by clicking the link to the program, features Lehigh Valley Hunting and Fishing Extravaganza promoter Rick Weaknecht.**********A 30-target, 3-D hunting course is open daily from dawn to dusk, except Sundays from 1-4 p.m. for trap, at Bear's Head Archery, located off Exit 134, I-81, Delano. For information call the club at 570-467-0331.**********Western Pocono Chapter of Trout Unlimited meets Tuesday, Aug. 19, 7 p.m., at the Carbon County Environmental Education Center on Mauch Chunk Lake between Jim Thorpe and Summit Hill. For information call 570-454-4862 or 570-233-0099.**********A Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission "Family Fishing Event" is being held Thursday, Aug. 21, from 6-9 p.m., at Locust Lake State Park, Barnesville. All tackle and bait will be provided at the handicap fishing pier, and no license is required, but participants must preregister by calling Andrew Desko at 215-968-3631 or emailing

adesko@pa.gov.