PENN TWP — Kevin Zang brought his family back to its original home in Butler County on Saturday for the first day of trout season.

“I've fished the first day of trout season since I was young, and I wanted them to do it,” Zang said.

Zang and his three children, 11-year-old Owen, 7-year-old Edy and 6-year-old Iris, could be found fishing in Thorn Creek off Renfrew Road. Owen had been out on the first day of the season before, but this was the first time for Edy and Iris.

“We're all together as a family,” Owen said.

The family is from Butler, but moved to Maine about five years ago. Kevin Zang comes back every year for the first day of the season.

Also at the stream, Stanley Ponce of Butler, his daughter, Kimberly Cramer and her son, Nolan Cramer, were making fishing a family affair. Ponce said he likes to fish because it helps clear his mind.

“It's probably one of the most relaxing sports you can do,” Ponce said.

His daughter agreed.

“It's peaceful,” Kimberly said.

This was the first year fishing for 6-year-old Nolan. Early in the morning, he had not caught anything, but was anticipating keeping what he would catch.

“It's fun,” he said.

Jared Heller, 16, of Evans City fishes on the first day of the season every year. He said the first day is a great time to catch trout easily.

“They (Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission) stock it really well,” Jared said.

Jack West of Butler was fishing with his grandson, 11-year-old Chord Snow.

“He likes fishing and he enjoys being with me,” West said.

They were having good luck at the spot.

“He got three (trout), and I got one,” West said.

Matthew Watterson of Lyndora is another person who makes the first day of the season an annual tradition.

“We usually take people out and have fun,” Watterson, who caught two fish early Saturday morning, said.

He brought his girlfriend, Kashmir Anthony of Lyndora. She had already caught one fish and this was only her first time.

“It's different. But I like it,” said Anthony, who indicated that she would like to do it again.

Laura Heller of Pittsburgh comes up to the county for the first day of the season every year to get a break from the faster life.

“It's just tradition,” Heller said.

She and her son, 11-year-old Conner, were moving to a different spot. They had not caught anything yet.

“That's why it's best to go first thing in the morning,” Heller said.

Since mid-February, the state commission has stocked waterways with a fresh supply of brook, brown and rainbow trout. It stocked about 3.2 million adult trout in lakes and creeks.

Anglers can keep a daily combined species creel of five trout, at least 7 inches long. A license is required for anyone 16 and older and a trout permit is required for trout fishing in all wild and stocked trout waters.

John Arway, commission executive director, said anglers who use smartphones can use the commission's new FishBoatPA app to better navigate the Keystone State's streams and lakes.

“The app helps anglers see which waters have been stocked with trout, how to get to those locations easily, and what other access areas are near their current fishing spot,” he said.