The teens were yelling out with excitement as the water burst with a tremendous splash and what looked to be an 18- or 20-inch Largemouth Bass crashed back into the water.

The young man had a fight on his hands as he tried to control a large fish that didn’t want any of this action. He did quite well on a light rod meant for panfish with 4-pound test line that could have used refreshing … that is until it got into the shallows and with another burst of power snapped the line and headed for deeper water.

Welcome to bass fishing.

That’s exactly why so many anglers pursue the bass species in lakes, rivers and ponds. It’s the action, line stretching, head shaking, long runs and leaps that test your skills and your equipment!

The good news is that the season for Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass opens across the Commonwealth Saturday. This weekend starts the action on all of our local waterways with some special attention to rules on different waters that we fish.

Both Glade Run and Lake Arthur fall into these categories; Glade Run is a Catch & Release Lake with no harvest of bass. The lake is trying to build up its fish populations after the significant efforts made to restock and build back all of the fish species when the dam breastwork and lake was rebuilt in the past few years.

PFBC stocks trout for anglers and they are the only species that may be harvested at this time.

On the other – Lake Arthur is enrolled in the Big Bass Program which has a minimum size of 15 inches for both Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass. There is a daily limit of four fish, which is less than other waterways that allow up to six combined bass species.

Generally, when fishing for bass, I advocate a catch and release policy in order to keep the fish population levels up. Many bass fishing tournaments are held on lakes like Lake Arthur and the rules call for live weigh-ins and releasing fish unharmed back into the water.

If you head north to Pymatuning Reservoir, you will find that it is a boundary water lake with Ohio. Both states collaborate on its management and the bass limit is five fish and a 12-inch size limit. I always found that a 12-inch bass is more head and jaws than body, so they are not kept, either.

There are also special regulations on Crappies in this lake with a 20-fish limit and at least nine inches long. Other species to note are Muskellunge and Tiger Muskellunge that have a 40-inch minimum size limit, Northern Pike with a 24-inch minimum and walleye that must be 15 inches or longer.

An angler asked me about snapping turtles the other day and I reminded him that there is a whole set of rules that apply to anglers that seek snapping turtles and frogs.

First of all, a current fishing license is required for anyone 16 years of age or older. The season opens on July 1 and a daily limit has been set at 15 frogs or snapping turtles. There are frog and turtle species that are off limits and it is your responsibility to know them … so get some literature and start studying! You are never to old or young to learn something new.

I am very happy to report that the Butler County Youth Field Days Event is back on for Aug. 21. There will be a limit of 200 youth enrolled with the registration sign up day set for June 21.

The event fills up quickly, usually within a day or two, so do not hesitate in getting your kids on the list. A great outdoor program is offered covering all of the outdoor venues and safety programs.

The program accepts donations and help from the community, my point of contact is Game Warden Randy Pilarski with the PGC Northwest Division in Franklin, Pa.

New hunting licenses go on sale next week as the PGC hunting licenses are in effect from July 1 each year. The annual (doe) antlerless licenses can be submitted on July 12 to your County Treasurer’s Office as in the past seasons.

Any youth who completes the Hunter Safety Course at age 11 and up can apply as well. The 11-year-olds cannot legally hunt until they turn 12 if their birthday falls in the current deer hunting season dates … you can purchase them, but have to wait to use them!

Until we meet again, get your kid registered for a safety class, a field day or a day on the lake! Remember, if a kid is fishing or hunting with you … you won’t be hunting for them later!

Jay Hewitt is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle