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Coinciding with the opening day of trout season in Pennsylvania and Pike
County’s 200th anniversary, the first-ever Zane Grey Catch-and-Release
Fishing Derby begins April 12 and runs through July 6.
The tournament is open to all anglers with no pre-registration or entry fee required.
Prizes will be awarded in three categories of Youth Male and Youth
Female (up to 15 years of age), and Open Class (ages 16 and over) at the
10th Annual Zane Grey Festival to be held at the National Park Service
Upper Delaware and Scenic Recreational River’s Zane Grey Museum grounds
in Lackawaxen on Saturday, July 12.
Game fish targeted are smallmouth bass and trout (rainbow, brook and brown) caught with fly-fishing or conventional tackle
on the Delaware River, the Lackawaxen River, their tributaries, and all
the flowing waters of Pike County, and released back into those Zane
Grey waters between April 12 and July 6.
Only fish lawfully caught in accordance with all applicable fishing regulations will be considered for prizes.
Participants must obtain an official Zane Grey Catch-and-Release Fishing
Derby ruler on which they will take a photo of their eligible fish and
e-mail it with the angler’s name, age, and a certification that it was
released live to pikemuse@ptd.net.
The 24-inch-long coated paper rulers are available for free pick-up at
regional fishing & tackle shops, the Zane Grey Museum at 135 Scenic
Dr. in Lackawaxen, The Columns Museum at 608 Broad St. in Milford, and
the Upper Delaware Council office at 211 Bridge St. in Narrowsburg, NY.
Printing of the rulers - which include the derby instructions, historic
photos of Zane Grey, and a description of catch and release protocols –
was made possible by support from the Commissioners of Pike County, the
Pike County Historical Society, Zane Grey’s West Society, and Pike
County Outfitters located in Milford’s Apple Valley Village.
Johnson Outdoors Watercraft Inc. and Old Town Canoes & Kayaks is
also a derby sponsor, having donated a Saranac 146 canoe with two
paddles and two life vests as a prize package.
Additional planning assistance for the derby was provided by the Upper
Delaware Chapter of Trout Unlimited, the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and
Museum, and licensed fishing guides under permit with the National Park
Service.
The derby is among a year-long series of events to celebrate Pike County’s bicentennial.
Established March 26, 1814, the county has always been a sportsmen’s
paradise. Even the first Native American settlers knew the value of
living on the river and relied upon its bounty. Fast forward to modern
day, the rivers of Pike County are just as popular, providing anglers
with a multitude of fish to entice their jigs and rigs.
In recognition of that angling importance, The Columns Museum currently
features the special exhibit, “Hook, Line and Sinker: Fishing in Pike
County” available for viewing on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, or
by appointment.
“Father of the Western Novel” Zane Grey lived along the
banks of the Upper Delaware River in Pike County’s Lackawaxen from
1905-1918.
An avid fisherman throughout his life, he earned numerous world records
for angling and was an early proponent of the catch-and-release policy.
His “A Day on the Delaware” article published in Recreation magazine in
1902 extolls his appreciation for plying local waters.
Those participating in the derby are reminded to practice river safety,
such as wearing a properly-fitted Personal Flotation Device and
appropriate gear, checking on conditions in advance (an Upper Delaware
River Hotline is available at 845-252-7100), telling someone where you
are going and when you plan to return, and consulting River Safety - Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River (U.S. National Park Service) for additional tips.
For more information on the Zane Grey Catch-and-Release Fishing Derby,
call the Pike County Historical Society at (570) 296-8126, NPS Upper
Delaware Scenic and Recreational River at (570) 685-4871, or the Upper
Delaware Council at (845) 252-3022.
