Author: Susquehanna Chapter of Trout Unlimited

Bob Weber, Fisheries Biologist for the PA Fish and Boat Commission will present a program on the Commission’s plans to assess additional area streams to determine whether they will support wild trout populations. The PF&BC is working on plans to evaluate at least 1500 streams across the state which have not yet been assessed and update data on many which have. The program goal is to provide the ability to conserve and protect the highest quality streams in the Commonwealth. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 8th at 7:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall of First Presbyterian Church, rear of 102 E. 3rd St. in Williamsport. The public is welcomed to attend.   

Unassessed Waters Fact Sheet

The March 2017 issue of the Susquehanna Ripples is out.  Click the link to get it!

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Here is a terrific opportunity for any youth that is interested in fly fishing and the great outdoors.  Please check out their website riverscamp.com for more information and for the application.  The Susquehanna Chapter of Trout Unlimited will sponsor a student from our area to go to the camp.  If you know of a youth that is interested in going, please submit your application as directed on the website and let us know that you have applied (susquehannatu@gmail.com).

Communication is vital to the success of our Chapter and that is why we ask for your email address. If you do not have one, or wish not to share it, that is fine as anything of importance is always posted on our website and face book page and shared at our Chapter meetings.

A number of email address’s on our mailing list are incorrect and the emails sent to them have not been able to be delivered.  Because of this, we are unable to send you our newsletter and occasional emails.  Your privacy will be maintained and only shared with the Chapter Leaders who need the address.

We are asking the following individuals to please contact us at susquehannatu@gmail.com and provide your current email address.  Thank you

A great video on the Susquehanna River by the PA Fish and Boat Commission!

The Susquehanna Chapter of Trout Unlimited will be holding its annual fly tying class from February 21, 2017 through April 4, 2017. The class will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 pm until 8:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall, 102 East 3rd Street, Williamsport. Parking is in the rear of the Church along Mulberry Street.

There is no charge for the class and all materials and tools will be provided. If you have your own vise and tools, you are more than welcome to bring them to use. We will once again be having instruction for beginners through advanced and ask that if you have any flies that you would like to tie, please let us know a head of time so that our instructors can prepare.

We are looking for instructors as well. If you would like to teach please let us know. This class has been successful the last few years and we are looking forward to another successful class.

 We are asking you to pre register for this class by sending an email to susquehannatu@gmail.com or by regular mail to the Susquehanna Chapter of Trout Unlimited, PO Box 1132, Williamsport, PA 17703-1132.

Thank you all for your interest in the past and for making this class a success!!

Eric C. Hussar, VP of the PA Fish and Boat Commission and local commission conservation officers Emmett Kyler and Chad Lauer, will be the guest speakers at the Susquehanna Chapter of Trout Unlimited’s next public meeting.  The commission officials will present an update of fishing and boating programs and developments for the coming year. The public is encouraged to share their thoughts, concerns and ideas concerning the commission and its regulations and policies with Commissioner Hussar and staff. The meeting will be at 7:00 p.m. February 8th at the First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, at the rear of 102 E. Third St. in Williamsport.

The January issue of the Susquehanna Ripples is now available.

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The Susquehanna Chapter Trout Unlimited is hosting its annual meeting of area watershed associations, public officials, and conservation organizations which help to preserve, protect, and enhance our area streams and watersheds. Each year, these groups have carried out projects including improving stream habitat, stabilizing stream banks, monitoring water quality, and educating land owners and the public about watershed issues and best practices. The public is invited to come and learn about the volunteer efforts and beneficial projects accomplished by our area’s watershed groups, conservation organizations, and agencies during 2016 and their upcoming plans for 2017. All are invited to hear about this important work and how to get involved. The meeting will be held at the First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall (rear of 102 East 3rd Street at Mulberry St. in Williamsport) on Wednesday, January 11th at 7:00 PM

At the January 23 – 24, 2017 meeting of the PA Fish and Boat Commissioners, they will be considering changes to its list of wild trout streams and the wild trout waters.  There are 136 streams statewide and we have 13 streams within our region being considered. Last year, the PFBC added 463 streams to the growing list of wild trout streams, and we want this number to grow.

Below are the links to  see the full list of streams that the PFBC proposes to add to the Class A and Wild Trout streams.

Class A Streams: http://pfbc.pa.gov/regcomments/index.htm?title_number=ClassA-Jan2017

Wild Trout Streams: http://pfbc.pa.gov/regcomments/index.htm?title_number=WildTroutJan2017

The deadline for submitting comments is December 19, 2016 and can be done by submitting them in writing to:

Executive Director
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
PO Box 67000
Harrisburg, PA 17106-6000

You can also submit you comments electronically by completing the form found at http://www.fishandboat.com/regcomments

Feel free to draft your own letter. But if you prefer, you can cut and paste the sample comment below. Bonus points for adding a sentence or two about the work that you do in your territory. Also, the more comments we submit, the better. It would be great if multiple members of the chapter file letters of support.

SAMPLE COMMENT

Commissioners:

I am a member of the Susquehanna Chapter of Trout Unlimited, and I’m writing in support of the proposed changes to the list of Class A Wild Trout Waters and Wild Trout Streams, under consideration at the January 2017 meeting of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. All of these streams support significant populations of naturally reproducing trout, which indicates that they are waters of exceptional quality and worthy of special protection.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank the Commission for its ongoing effort to survey and protect the wild trout streams of Pennsylvania.

Sincerely,