From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., men, women and children are invited to hear experts in the area of steelhead fishing offer pointers and information related to the sport.

Topics will include fly and spin fishing techniques, fly selection, the stocking program and history of Lake Erie steelhead, and centerpin fishing methods.

Mike Hines, an active member of the PSA, will be on hand to discuss the role of the PSA in operating and maintaining the most popular fishing holes.

Hines, who lives in Slippery Rock, has served as both vice President and President of the PSA in addition to spending three terms on the board of directors.

Since the majority of the streams are privately owned, maintaining good relationships with landowners through land easements is essential to ensure continued access to the streams.

In addition to their work with the landowners, the PSA has partnered with a group called Save Our Native Species (SONS) to operate a hatchery that raises approximately 50,000 steelhead a year that are used to stock the creeks.

Upon receipt of the eggs from the PFBC, they are hatched and cared for by the PSA and SONS. Approximately three weeks after they are hatched, they are handed over to the 3-C-U Trout Association, the largest PFBC cooperative nursery in the state, where they are kept in 2,200 feet of raceways until they are ready to be harvested for the creeks.

Currently, the PSA boasts over 300 members. The organization relies solely on membership fees and charitable donations for its efforts in conserving, sustaining, and rebuilding the steelhead stocks.

However, at times they have had to exact legislation to ensure the future of the sport. In January 2005, the Lake Erie Stamp went into effect as a result of efforts spearheaded by the PSA.

According to Hines, "that money is all dedicated to buying land easements and property along the streams so that your children and grandchildren will always have a place to fish."

While the aforementioned efforts are noble and necessary, the PSA has recently started to go in a new direction and focus its efforts on initiating public awareness and interest in steelhead fishing.

Says Hines, "I'm trying to get the club more involved in projects that will get kids interested in fishing and get more youth interested in the sport."

The upcoming seminar is a result of those efforts. Both AdventureMen Ministries and the PSA hope to spark new interest in the sport.

The PSA, founded in 1996, is headquartered in Erie. For more information or to become a member, visit www.pasteelhead.org.

The AdventureMen is a part of the Men's Ministry of South Hills Assembly Church. For more information, visit www.adventuremen.org.