While most students will be hitting snooze this summer, others will be seizing the day. Walking knee deep in fast-flowing streams and casting off from muddy embankments, all in hope of scoring a perfect catch.

For a growing number of students at Norwin High School, fishing has become a valued pastime and a fun sport for people to come together and enjoy.

According to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, PA has over 16,000 miles of wild trout streams throughout the state, nearly 5,000 miles of stocked trout streams, and 125 stocked lakes, ensuring that any angler has a fighting chance of landing a trophy fish this summer.

As the year passes into late spring and early summer, it is quickly moving more and more towards prime fishing season in Pennsylvania, for all types of anglers, and with how much the fishing community here at Norwin is growing, advice and fishing tales are in no short supply.

With trout season starting early in April and ending on Labor Day, and most other fishing seasons running year-round in Pennsylvania, there is no shortage of opportunities for those willing to put in the time.

Many students here at Norwin have been fishing for years, and offer some advice to fishermen, both experienced and new.

“Use social media to figure out what gear and equipment is best and to see what kind of fishing is for you,” senior Matthew Smethwick advised. “Personally, I target catfish and trout. Catfish and trout are probably about as opposite as you can get when it comes to fishing gear and technique used for the two.”

Trout fishermen usually gear up with shiny lures and natural-looking flies, while fishermen who target catfish usually gear up with stinky baits, heavy hooks, and usually prepare for long waits.

For many students at Norwin High School, fishing has been a lifelong hobby. Many student anglers have been fishing all their lives,  but only recently have been able to find the time to balance both their student lives and fishing hobbies.