The scene could be the subject for Thomas Kincade's painting titled "It Doesn't Get Much Better."

Along a 5-mile stretch of the Lehigh River, fishermen cast their lines into pools of water that hold trout that range from 14 to 24 inches in length.This venture is the result of a concerted effort of local anglers who came together in 2009 to form the Five Mile High Club with the intent to improve the Lehigh River fishery.Six years later, a 5-mile section of the river from the confluence at Bear Creek downstream to the 903 bridge in Jim Thorpe is stocked by the club.This effort, along with that of the Lehigh River Stocking Association which stocks trout from Jim Thorpe all the way to Trechlers, makes the Lehigh one of the finest trout fisheries in Eastern Pennsylvania.Bill Dunstan of Jim Thorpe says that this 5-mile stretch of water is also one of the most picturesque areas of the river."Access to this stretch runs along the old railroad track which now serves as a bike and walking path," he says. Dunstan, a trustee of the club, regularly bikes the path for about 40 minutes to get to a favorite spot to fish. "It's just a beautiful section of the river.The Five Mile High Stocking Club puts all of its monetary resources into the fish.The organization forgoes newsletters, membership cards, and any other expenses that would jeopardize the cost of stocking of trout that are mostly purchased from the Sand Springs Hatchery in Glen Onoko. All of their monies come from membership fees and fundraising, although the Jim Thorpe Sportsman's Club has also donated trout to the program. In five years, the Five Mile High Club has raised over $18,000 to purchase trout to stock the Lehigh."On May 3rd, our club will set up a daisy chain of some 20 to 30 of our 120 members to pass tubs filled with brown, rainbow, and tiger trout to stock the river," says Dunstan. "We will start at 9 a.m. and in about three hours we will have put seven to eight hundred trout in the water."Anyone can fish the stretch and there are no restrictions about bait or tackle.The quest to catch these large trout begins with the challenge of gaining access to the five mile long stretch of the river because it's not as easy as driving a car right up to a casting shoreline. Access is best achieved from the Carbon County parking lot in downtown Jim Thorpe and from the Glen Onoko entrance point from the Lehigh Gorge State Park. Fishing areas can be reached by foot or by bicycle.For the more adventurous, anglers can float the river on rafts, pontoons or kayaks.Many areas of this stretch of the Lehigh are suitable for wading. It is advised that anglers scope out these spots to become acquainted with the terrain and natural obstacles. A wading staff is necessary because there are many deep drop offs and the bottom of the river can be very slippery. Some of the drop-offs can be 10 to 25 feet deep so caution should be exercised.The river changes from year to depending upon weather and water levels. Besides the more popular spin fishing, many areas of this stretch are excellent for fly fishing."The Lehigh River is a great resource for trout fishing," says Dunistan. "Our club is proud of our efforts and we invite anyone to join our membership to become part of this gratifying experience."To become a member, send a $20 check to The Five Mile High Club, P.O. Box 4000, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229. Meetings are held at 6 p.m. on the last Tuesday of each month at the Mauch Chunk Rod and Gun Club.