EVANS CITY — Residents have a chance in the future to get a fishing line wet in the former borough reservoir.

Borough council members on March 2 discussed the possibility of holding recreational activities at the reservoir on Lindsay Road.

The borough occasionally sells water to shale gas drillers for hydrofracturing. The reservoir formerly served as the town’s water source before borough officials decided in 2012 to get water from the Pennsylvania-American Water Co.

Norm Nelson, director of public works, said that about a decade ago, he held annual family fishing tournaments at the reservoir for four or five consecutive years.

The daylong tourney had young and old anglers fishing from the banks or from rowboats, Nelson said.

He said a pair of tagged fish paid $50 each to the angler who caught them, and prizes were awarded for the biggest fish caught by an adult and juvenile.

Nelson said the serene surface of the reservoir, which was built in the 1940s or 1950s and expanded in 1990, belies many fish beneath.

“More than you can imagine,” Nelson said.

The event would likely be on the annual free fishing day offered by the state Fish and Boat Commission. Entrants would be charged a nominal fee.

The proceeds would be donated to a charity. In past tourneys, Nelson donated the proceeds to the borough’s food bank.

Nelson said to hold the event, he would need a permit from the fish and boat commission.

Nelson said the first fishing day he coordinated drew about 150 people. But dwindling numbers and the lack of volunteer help each year caused him to stop holding the event.

He could not say when a tournament would be scheduled because he still is in talks with the borough council members about it.

Council President Lee Dyer said the project is in the early stages, and will not be scheduled until sufficient help is found both to work at the event and to clean up after it.

“We’ve had a preliminary conversation, so we’ll see what comes out of it,” Dyer said.

He said the event’s main purpose would be to provide family fun for borough residents and to benefit a charity in the borough.

Dyer says the event might be a good one.

“I’m told there are some pretty good-sized fish in there,” Dyer said.