First Posted: 4/20/2015

SOUTH ABINGTON TWP. — Vehicles lined Route 307 by Eston Wilson Lake at Hillside Park and Winola Road in South Abington Township mid-morning on April 18 as anglers took advantage of a sunny and mild opening day of trout season.

James Ware, of Newton Township, was fishing with his friend, Chris Carpenter, of Scranton. “I usually catch fish,” Ware said.

Carpenter explained he chose that location because, “I take my friend, Jimmy. He doesn’t drive and since it’s close, I take him here.”

Nearby, David Mrozek, of Scranton, caught one Rainbow Trout and said his bait of choice were lures and PowerBait. What does he love about fishing? “Everything,” he said. “I’ve been fishing since (I was) probably 5 or 6, never lost my love for it.”

Nicolette Bradshaw and her father, Michael Bradshaw, both of Duryea, caught two trout on opening day. They spent their day together fishing in Gardner Creek in Ransom Township. Around noon, they were spotted with fishing poles in hand along a portion of the waterway below a rocky ledge on Dark Region Road.

“I love the peacefulness and getting out in nature and the quality time with my dad,” said Nicolette.

Scranton angler, Audrey Yuhas, 10, reeled in her trout late afternoon at Lackawanna State Park, while at the Schultzville Deli in Clarks Summit, owner Lisa Zimmer was sold out of mealworms and wax worms and was also busy selling fishing licenses.

“We sold a lot of the mentored fishing licenses,” Zimmer said, as a steady stream of anglers walked through the doors of her business.