The summer is half over but there is a lot of time left to enjoy our favorite outdoor events.  Many members have gone on great fishing vacations out west while others continue to enjoy fishing in North Central Pennsylvania.  Many opportunities remain and because of the rain we have had, many of the streams are higher than normal creating pockets of cool water for the trout.

Others are enjoying fishing for bluegills, panfish, and bass among other species.  No matter what kind of fishing you do and enjoy, keep doing it.  We are fortunate to have great year round fishing in our area and the fish always present a challenge to us.  It is also a great time to be outdoors and enjoying the beautiful weather (although it has been hot).

Please plan on attending the September meeting as we are planning a family picnic and fishing.  We are still working out details but we have been offered an area to use that has picnic facilities and a great pond.  This event is for the entire family and we hope that you will be able to come out and enjoy this great activity.  We will have people on hand to help out with fishing skills and casting instruction if needed and this would be a great place to try out those newly tied flies from the fly tying class’s if you haven’t already tried them. We will be giving more information on this in the very near future.

Project Healing Waters continues with great success.  Everyone involved is having a great time and tying many neat, and interesting flies.  Some of the participants are adding their own unique touches to the flies and trying new things.  There has been no set schedule of flies to tie and has been at the request of the participant or group consensus.  Everything from the green weenie, adams, bead head hairs nymph, many woolly buggers, and foam poppers have been tied so far..  This program has exceeded our expectations and we want to thank everyone who has, or is, taking the class and all of the instructors. Everyone involved has come away friends and with a new appreciation of this craft as well as hearing, and sharing, in great fishing stories.

Work continues on sorting the newly donated items from Ken Beane (E. Hille).  Words can not describe the amount and variety of material that Ken donated.   We are very appreciative of Ken and all of the individuals who have donated items to the Chapter.    We have been having discussions on how to market these items that would benefit the Chapter best and are hopeful there will be an Outdoor Expo in 2016.  There remains to be a great deal of work to do in sorting and inventorying everything that we have and if you can help, please call Dave Craig at 570-971-4744. We would all welcome and appreciate any help or ideas that you have.

Finally, now that fishing has been underway for a few months now, you may have found some broken items (rods, reels, lures, etc).  Please keep the Chapter in mind if you do have broken items..  We do not want you to throw these items away and would like them donated to the Chapter.  We hope to build an inventory of used parts, etc to be able to fix anything that we may find broken or offer these items to others to fix their broken gear. As an example, rods can be stripped and the guides kept as spares or the rods can be repurposed into ice fishing rods and jigging sticks.  There are many creative ways to use broken or damaged items; rod sections can be matched with others to make a complete rod.  You can contact Bob Baker at 570-337-1279 for more information.

In closing, thanks to everyone who has helped our Chapter.  Every little bit of help we get, no matter if a few minutes, to a few hours, or on a regular basis, helps.  This is your Chapter and we want it to be the best Chapter and the Chapter that gives you what you want.  We hope you continue to have a safe and enjoyable summer and please send us your pictures and stories to share.  You do have to submit your name but will keep your name anonymous when being published if you wish.

It is with great sadness that we have to report that a good friend and long time TU member, Gary McWilliams has passed away. Gary was on a fly fishing trip in New York when he was stricken.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Gary’s wife Clare, and to the rest of his family and to all his friends.  Gary’s obituary can be viewed under the In Memoriam tab of our website.

A fun Day for the kids and a great way to introduce a child to the great sport of fishing. After a look at the Lycoming Creek Anglers Club facebook page, they state that they have enough prizes for the derby.  Please visit their page and come out to the Sheshequin Campgrounds this coming Saturday and support them.  They are always in need of help and support for this derby and with their trout nursery.

      Today is the start of a 3 day weekend for many, the unofficial start of summer, a weekend of picnics, vacations, extended days off school, and the great Indianapolis 500.

Each year, on average, 700 people die in boating-related accidents nationwide. Nearly 80 percent of the victims were not wearing a life jacket. In Pennsylvania, 17 boaters died in 2014 as a result of recreational boating accidents and only three of them were wearing a life jacket at the time of the accident.

National Safe Boating Week is scheduled each year as the first full week before Memorial Day weekend, which is often thought of as the unofficial start of warm weather and the boating season in Pennsylvania. Boaters should note that:

• Boats must have a U.S. Coast Guard approved wearable (Type I, II, III, or V) life jacket on board for each person.
• Children 12 years of age and younger must wear their life jackets while underway on any boat 20 feet or less in length and on all canoes and kayaks.

Boaters can demonstrate their personal commitment to wearing a life jacket by visiting the PFBC website and submitting the online “Wear It Pennsylvania!” pledge form. The pledge form and a special video by PFBC Executive Director John Arway touting the importance of life jackets can be found at: http://www.fishandboat.com/wear-it-message.htm.

The above information was taken from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commissions website.

Link to PA Fish and Boat Commission Safe Boating Week:  http://fishandboat.com/safeboatingweek.htm

2015 LCWA Zeidler Memorial Cane Pole Fishing Derby

The LCWA is proud to announce the 2015 Zeidler Memorial Cane Pole Fishing Derby to be held on Monday May 25, 2015 at Rose Valley Lake. The Derby will begin at 8:00 AM and end at Noon with door prizes and awards presented at that time. While the derby is aimed at participants under the age of 16 years, everyone (including first-time “fishers”) is invited to attend. Contest prizes and awards will be limited to those 16 years …old and younger. Participants under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or someone acting on their behalf. The Derby requires that all contestants use an official LCWA “Cane Pole” fishing rod during the derby. The Derby Registration will take place at the Lake’s North Access off of Lake Road. All participants upon registering will receive a fishing pack containing a cane pole, line, hooks, bobber, and bait. Other fishing equipment can be used with the exception of mechanical reels and marine electronics (fish and depth finders, etc.).

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week.  The nationally recognized day pays homage to law enforcement officials and honors those who have been killed in the line of duty.

     Everyone at the Susquehanna Chapter of Trout Unlimited wants to recognize Waterways Conservation Officer’s Anothony Beers and Emmett Kyler, their Deputies, and all Law Enforcement Personnel.  We know that job that you do is difficult at times, high stress, and can be extremely dangerous.  At the same time, many of us may take for granted the jobs that you do to keep us safe and to ensure that our sport is safe and can be enjoyed by all.

     We thank you for everything that you do and want you to know that your work and dedication is appreciated by all. 

THANK YOU!!!!! 

This Saturday, May 2, marks the start of spring gobbler season in Pennsylvania.  It is also trout season and a great time to be out fishing.  Many of us trek through the woods to get to a favorite spot on a mountain stream, while others fish streams near the woods.  Whatever the case, we want you to be safe.  Far too often, hunters do not identify their target and shoot at movement or a sound so here are some safety reminders for you:

• Wear an orange hat or something orange that can be seen from all directions.
• Make noise while moving about. Keep up a conversation with a hunting buddy or sing a song or whistle.
• If you happen to come across a hunter, avoid them and move away from them in the opposite direction.
• Above all else, use common sense and enjoy yourself outdoors.

Inflection Energy will be having a Community Fishing Day on Saturday May 30 at Rose Valley Lake.  Please click the link below to see their flyer about the event.

They have contacted the Susquehanna Chapter of Trout Unlimited asking for help for this event.  The Volunteers would be helping teach the basics of fishing as well as guiding (helping them fish).  The Chapter is not involved with this event other than possibly supplying manpower.

If anyone does volunteer at this event, please contact Bob Baker at boblbaker@Comcast.net so that your hours can be documented for our year end report.

CFD Flyer

     This past weekend, a local Boy Scout Troop camped at Black Walnut Bottom on Pine Creek and fished Little Pine Lake on the first day of trout season.  Upon returning home, one of the Scouts found what he thought to be a tick on his thigh.  Upon further investigation by the Scoutmaster (who is a Doctor), he confirmed that it was indeed a tick. The tick was removed and a check of his gear and clothing did not reveal any other ticks.

     The Susquehanna Chapter of Trout Unlimited wants to provide you some information on ticks so that you can protect yourself and friends / family. If there is ever any doubt, please contact your Doctor right away.

* Tick bites are usually painless and people are unaware they have been bitten and are only found by accident or by doing tick checks

* Ticks can be active at temperatures of 40 degrees F and higher.  Tick checks should be done year round and precautions taken to prevent them.

* After returning home from a day fishing or outdoors where ticks may be found, do a tick check and change your clothes.  Throw your clothing in a dryer on high heat as this will kill the any ticks  Take a shower and wash your hair.  This is a good time to do a tick check.

What should you do if you find a tick?

Blacklegged tick is the correct common name
for the tick popularly known as the “deer” tick.
Size relative to a dime is shown above.

     If you find a tick, remove it as soon as possible.  This is done by using tweezers and grasping the tick as close to the skin as possible.  Once you have grasp it, pull it straight out.   Be sure to get a bath / shower afterwards and watch for signs of illness.

     Symptoms of lyme disease or illness associated with the tick bite may take days or weeks to occur, if they do.  Watch for a rash to develop around the bite area, flu like symptoms and any fevers that you may get.  If these occur, notify your Doctor immediately.  It is a good idea to notify your doctor that you were bitten by a tick to see if there is anything else you need to do.

Tips to reduce chances of tick bites

     Use a repellant that contains DEET.  These can be used for exposed skin.  When choosing a repellant, make sure that you read the label to make sure that it is good for ticks.  Many repellants on the market are only for mosquitos, etc and will not work against ticks.

     Find a repellant that contains permethrin (Duranon Tick Repellent, Repell Permanone, Cutter Outdoorsman Gear Guard, Permethrin Tick Repellant are a few examples).  These repellants can be sprayed on clothing and is not intended for the skin but make sure that you read the label and follow the manufactures instructions.