For 84 years, the volunteers at the Heath Sportsmen’s Club fish hatchery have brought smiles to youngsters. That almost came to an end last winter when the facility was damaged during a windstorm.
Debris caused damage to the wooden storehouse where the pumping equipment is located. Fencing that keeps out predators also was damaged.
After the storm, 300 adult fish were lost.
The Jefferson County hatchery, which leases the land off Route 949 from National Fuel Gas, is part of the Cook Forest community.
Rush said the club has about 200 members from throughout western Pennsylvania, including members from Clarion, Forest and Venango counties.
The nonprofit is managed entirely by volunteers, whose primary responsibility is to raise trout. The trout are used for local fishing derbies and stocked into local streams and rivers, including the Clarion River. In addition to its own fishing derby, the club provides fish for a derby in Brookville.
Rush said there are about 2,000 trout in the hatchery, including rainbow, palomino, brook and brown. The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission donated the fingerling fish.
“We use a lot of food. It’s expensive,” Rush said. “When it is cooler they eat less, but when it warms up they will eat a lot more.”
The club has several fundraisers annually and accepts donations.
Maintaining the hatchery takes a lot of work, but for Rush it’s worth it.
“When you go down to the derby and see kids catching fish, it just melts your heart,” he said.