Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 4

Holiday Tips
and Gift Ideas
by Timothy D. Schaeffer

Executive Director
Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission
Ask any kid what he or she wants for Christmas these days,
and chances are good that the answer will be, "a new phone."
Ask adults, and they may say, "a kayak."
If you plan to buy someone (or yourself) the latest
smartphone or a new boat as a gift this holiday season, check
out John Allen's article entitled "Smartphone Fishing" on
page 24 of this issue of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater. In the
article, he explains some of the features that have made the
free FishBoatPA app so popular among Pennsylvanians and
visitors to the Commonwealth and why it can be "the most
powerful tool in your tackle box."
Since we launched the app in 2015, more and more people
have taken advantage of this incredible platform to learn
about and connect with fishing and boating opportunities
across Pennsylvania.
In the inevitable rush to download apps onto a phone,
the FishBoatPA app should be the first one for any angler or
boater to add to his or her device. After that special person
on your list opens the new phone or takes a seat in the new
kayak, download FishBoatPA to get started on planning an
outdoor adventure. Whether it is a trip to a cold weather
hotspot or a search for a place to visit when the temperature

warms, the app has all sorts of information to easily plan time
together on the water.
Among the things you can find on the app are directions to
boating access facilities near you or wherever your travels take
you in Pennsylvania. To make sure the new kayak can take
advantage of as many sites as possible, purchase a $12 launch
permit (or $22 for two years) that will enable the boater to use
the hundreds of access areas maintained and operated by the
Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission and the Pennsylvania
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources at rivers,
lakes and state parks throughout the Commonwealth.
If you are looking for another great gift for someone under
16, consider adding a Voluntary Youth Fishing License to the
holiday cheer. In 2019, we surpassed a record-breaking 9,000
Voluntary Youth Fishing Licenses and issued over 25,000
Mentored Youth Permits. This was more than a 20 percent
jump from the previous year, allowing more children than
ever to participate in the popular Mentored Youth Trout Days
held a week before the regional and statewide trout openers.
For those on your list who are 16 or older, an annual,
three-, five-, or ten-year fishing license or gift voucher will
equip anglers with the limitless possibilities of fun on the
water and give you the gift of companionship on your favorite
creek, river, pond or lake.
Equipped with the app and a license to fish, you can either
hit the water (or safe ice) immediately or spend the rest of the
holiday season planning your next outdoor adventure.
And, please, make sure all of the boaters you know
understand the importance of having a proper-fitting life
jacket. Remind them that wearing a life jacket is mandatory
from November 1 until April 30.
With FishBoatPA at your fingertips, the person who was
lucky enough to be on the receiving end of your generosity
will head into the new year ready to make the most of all that
Pennsylvania's waters have to offer.

Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission

Reel in the
Memories!
Download the FREE
FishBoatPA app

www.fishandboat.com/mobile.htm
4

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * November/December 2019	

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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019

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