COVINGTON TOWNSHIP -- Trout season in most of Pennsylvania starts next week, and for the first time a pond in Lackawanna County will be part of the first day action.
Desandis Pond is at Lackawanna County's new Covington Park and Newswatch 16 was there as a bunch of very interested volunteers stocked it with trout.
Desandis Pond is splashing into a new era. Bucket after bucket filled with trout are transforming this spot near Daleville into a new fishing destination.
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This is the first time it's being stocked with trout and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission was surprised to find so many anglers excited to help do the job.
"It's not that great of a day. There were literally 30 to 40 people, all excited about opening day, excited about a new approved trout waters here at Covington park," said Fish and Boat Commission official Walter Buckman.
"It's fun. She's having a good time, I hope," said Matt Zeiler.
He brought his 3-year-old daughter Paige to help stock, and looks forward to bringing her to fish now, too.
"It's close to home. She'll have a good time."
The locals have fished here for years, but that wasn't for trout. Now they're to help change that.
"I've fished it for warm water species over the years, the panfish, bass, bluegills, perch," said Joe Paulowski.
Stocking trout to the waters of the pond is just the latest addition to this new county park. It opened in 2013 and now it's offering more and more.
"Just wanted to see where this place was. I never knew it existed. It's beautiful back here," said Jack Lozetski.
And it's even better, he says, with trout in the water.
Opening day of trout season is just over a week from now and this will likely be a busy spot.
"We'll see. It's like first day here. You probably can't get next to the shoreline here."
Some of those watching all the fish go in the water say they'll wait until after the crowds, counting on some of those Rainbows to survive the start of the season.
"I won't be here for opening day, maybe after a couple weeks go by," Paulowski added.
Trout season in most of the state starts Saturday, April 18. This Saturday is a special youth mentoring day for kids to fish at Covington Park and elsewhere across the state.