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Editor's note: Frank Mehalko was hired as the new Blair County Waterways Conservation Officer last November after the position had become open. Mehalko recently participated in a question-and-answer session with Altoona Mirror sports writer John Hartsock and discussed his experiences in his first year of stocking fish and enforcing laws in the 2022 trout season, which began statewide this past April 2. With the state's bass fishing season opening today, Mehalko will begin to concentrate his efforts into enforcing the laws and ensuring safety for fishermen who are out on boats and kayaks on area lakes, including Lake Raystown in Huntingdon County and Canoe Creek State Park lake in Blair County.
Question: How did the preseason trout stocking go this year, with the initial stocking set for mid-February for the first time?
Mehalko: "It actually went very smooth for me, being new in the county as the Waterways Conservation Officer. In this part of the state, there's always a concern with the ice and winter weather during the preseason stocking. Luckily, I didn't run into any of that this year. I think that there was one stocking that we had to reschedule this year and that was because of freezing rain. But other than that, everything fell into place. The last stocking for the spring season for Blair County waters was the second week of May. There will also be a fall trout stocking at Canoe Creek Lake in October.''
Question: After COVID-19 restrictions prohibited volunteers from participating in any stockings in 2020, and drastically limited the involvement of volunteers in 2021, all public volunteers were again permitted to assist in the trout stocking this year. How big of a help was that for you?
Mehalko: "That makes it go a lot quicker, and it's a lot less strenuous and stressful for us as officers, because when we didn't have these volunteers, it was tough. You usually just have two officers stocking fish, and that's a lot of fish to get in all the waters here with just two people stocking them. This year, I had a lot of stocking help from people who have been working in this county as volunteers for several years, and we had quite a gathering of volunteers for some of our stockings. So it went like clockwork for me. It was pretty easy.''
Question: This year, for the first time in quite awhile, there was a statewide trout opener on Saturday, April 2. Are you a fan of the statewide opening date for trout fishing?
Mehalko: "Yes, I think that it makes it easier for us from a patrolling aspect, and it kind of sets the whole state on one schedule -- rather than trying to stagger things and get things accomplished on one side of the state and then picking things up on the other side of the state. I think that it's nice having a one-day opener.''
Question: The first day of trout season can be extremely hectic for a Waterways Conservation Officer. How did things go for you this year?
Mehalko: "It wasn't super busy, but it was steady. There were a good number of people out fishing. I don't think there were as many people out as in the previous two years, but I also think that's attributable to people being back to work, with a lot of the (COVID) restrictions having been lifted. On the first day of trout season, I checked probably nearly 80 people in an eight-hour day, and I probably didn't scratch the surface. The first day went pretty well. I didn't have many issues then, and I really haven't had many issues through the first several weeks of the trout season. Everybody is doing what they're supposed to do, and following the rules and regulations. That makes my life a lot easier.''
Question: Now that summer and bass season are here, how will your job change?
Mehalko: "We're getting into the boating season now, so I gear more towards the boating aspect of law enforcement in the summer months. For me, that's checking the rivers for kayaks and canoes, and making sure that they're safe and up-to-par. It's important to have everybody realize where we're coming from - especially in regard to the lifejacket rules. Those rules stipulate that there must be one lifejacket per person in any canoe or kayak, and that wearing a lifejacket is mandatory for kids ages 12-and-under. A lot of people kind of take the life jacket rules for granted, and then a situation occurs where a lifejacket would have changed the outcome.''
Question: What is the most fulfilling part of your job?
Mehalko: "Honestly, I think that it's seeing the kids out having a good time fishing, because for us, that's the future. If we can do things to let them see how much excitement and fun that they can have on the water, and how to do things properly and safely, then that's going to trickle down for future generations.''
Question: What is the most challenging part of your job?
Mehalko: "When we're assigned to a district, we are the only full-time officer for that district. I have no deputies in Blair County -- it's me, myself and I. And one of the biggest challenges is when you're patrolling (the) Bald Eagle (Creek) north of Tyrone and you get a complaint coming in from south of Claysburg. Most of the time, until you get down there, the people about who the complaint came in on are already gone. As officers, we're spread out, and covering every area that you can in a timely manner is the biggest challenge.''
Question: As a native of nearby Cambria County, how do you feel about working in Blair County?
Mehalko: "Growing up in Cambria County, most of my fishing as a kid and young adult has been (done) in Blair County, so getting to come back here and provide conservation law enforcement is really kind of special to me. I look forward to hopefully many more years in Blair County.''