Trout fishing contests past and upcoming are on tap

This past Saturday, Rangers Rod & Gun Club in Coplay hosted 35 children and two adults with chronic and terminal illnesses for a Dream Come True program fishing contest at their lake. 

According to Brenda Keyser, Ranger event coordinator, this is the 42nd year Ranger has hosted the Dream Come True fishing contest that was dubbed LEGO FISHING, which means “Let’s Go Fishing,” and is a spinoff from the Lego building block theme.  

The club stocks over $27,000 worth of brook, rainbow, brown and palomino trout in their lake for the contest, and before the lake opens to their members for fishing following the contest. All this is paid for by club membership dues and generous donations from local companies and individuals. And this includes fishing rods, reels, t-shirt, tackle bags, name tags and other gifts.  
Several Ranger members also furnish their own tackle for the Dreamers to use. And at the completion of the contest, club volunteers filet the Dreamers’ catches so they can take them home. The club also provides food and drinks for all. 

And if you’re at all familiar with or have heard about the quality of fish Rangers stocks, they’re all keepers and some real lunkers. 

Dream Come True was founded in 1984 by local businessman Kostos Kalogeropoulos for terminally ill children ages 4-17. Kostos had a dream back then of giving every sick child a chance to forget their struggles and smile.

If my memory serves me correctly, Kalogeropoulos also established a Ronald McDonalds House for children. 

FISH w/a COP FISHING DERBY

Salisbury and Emmaus Police Departments are teaming up to host a Come Fish w/a Cop event on Saturday, April 25, from 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. at Furnace Dam, 451 S. 10th Street, Emmaus. Fishing pole sets will be given to the first 40 youths under 18. For more information call Emmaus Police at 610-4347-5252 or Salisbury Police Department at 610-797-1447. 

TROUT STOCKINGS

There has been a change in the trout stocking date for the Lower Jordan Creek as listed in the fish commissions stocking schedule. The stocking has been delayed until April 28 due to low water conditions at which time two stocking trucks from the state hatchery will provide the trout. 
LEHIGH RIVER 2026 TROUT TOURNAMENT

The non-profit Lehigh River Stocking Association is hosting their Lehigh River Trout Tournament that is set for May 2 through June 6, 2026. 

The Lehigh River will be stocked from Northampton to Jim Thorpe for the event, with tagged fish in every section that was stocked. Prizes for tagged fish include fishing trips even to the Salmon River, fishing equipment and merchandise gift cards. Catch and release is encouraged and if catching a tagged fish, merely pull or snip off the tag which can be found near the dorsal fin. 
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There’s an entry fee of $20 and anglers can sign up online at www.lrsa.org. 

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