The Spencers just got back from their summer vacation. We decided to play it safe this year because of COVID. Teach, Jensen, and I normally meet up with my rents somewhere exotic. Grandpa Jim usually picks up the tab. The original plan was to spend a week in the Black Hills of South Dakota. My folks currently reside in Southern California. They are doing just fine but are on lockdown. We actually made a sound decision and pulled the plug. Our motives weren’t political. It was the right thing to do. Besides. With everything that is going on. We heard rumors that Mount Rushmore was coming down soon.

Teach has several good friends in her industry. One invited us up to Pine Creek to use her cabin for a long weekend. I was on the fence at first. Why in the world would we travel 25 miles for our annual getaway? Let’s stay home. Allow me to fish on Lycoming. I will come home for breakfast. Nope. But then it got even better. My lovely bride invited her parents without my knowledge. Look. I have nothing but love and respect for my great in-laws. We are extremely blessed to have them in the same neighborhood. Mike and Diane Coledo are tremendous. They live directly across the road and make it to every single function. I see them on a daily basis, but do we really need to vacation with them? Jensen and I have little say. We each get one vote, but the tiebreaker always goes to Mom. She won.

The Norwegian and Polish Griswalds of the 17728 packed THREE cars and headed out on Route 973 West. That caused even more drama as my wife was thinking I would just ditch them and just keep traveling. Come on? Our friend’s cabin was a few klicks south of Waterville, PA. It was a decent spot with an unbelievable location. They had a great view and immediate access to the water. I briefly helped unpack and jumped in my kayak. Perhaps I should have asked for permission first. I wanted to get a good idea of my new surroundings. I planned on floating downstream a few miles. I brought both rods and my cell phone to take photos and to call for a ride. NO CELL SERVICE. Interesting. After a few hours, I decided I should head back. Thankfully the water was low, and the current wasn’t that bad. I paddled and paddled upstream to get back to camp. I started working on my rebuttals in between strokes. No one really missed me when I got home. Jensen and Big Mike were fishing in the pool below. It was beautiful.

Long story short. We had an absolute blast. Grandpa Mike hasn’t fished in 35 years and landed a beautiful bass on his second cast. Hopefully, there is room for a picture. He is seen here with Jensen. Please pay no attention to my son’s hair. It was during COVID. The boys had some fun. Playing from our kayaks and fishing throughout. The weather was ideal, and I slept all three nights in my tent. Some of my personal highlights were a 6-mile float with Teach and landing a 25″ walleye just in front. The girls enjoyed themselves too. They took this opportunity to rest and do what families do. Chelle and Diane read books and watched their boys from the deck. They played SKIP-BO and told stories from the fire. It was an awesome getaway, and we are already making plans. There is no need to travel when everything you need is only a half-hour drive.

No. I didn’t fish for trout as the water was rather warm. The purists actually ask us anglers to refrain. Bugs were everywhere, but whenever temperatures get to 80 degrees, there is an alarming concern. I get it. Most folks don’t. Please lend a hand and target other species during this time. My old friend Tom from Slate Run Tackle says hello. We caught up one evening, and he gave me lots of info.

“We’re asking anglers to voluntarily refrain from targeting trout, especially at the mouths of the cold-water tributaries. We’re also advising against fishing the runs as water temperatures in both Slate and Cedar have reached lethal levels there as well. Anglers can enjoy some top-quality smallmouth bass fishing in The Stretch and almost anywhere on Pine Creek. Clouser patterns, woolly buggers, and top-water terrestrials are all good choices that we have in the Shop. Give us a call 570.753.8551.”

The Spencers did lots of kayaking, and the water was just right. There are several access points along Pine. Do some research before you head up. Take a good look at the weather and view those gauges. The upper stretch from ANSONIA to BLACKWELL is better in the spring. But the lower portions like WATERVILLE to BONNELL FLATS are ideal.

We didn’t do any biking, but I can’t tell you how impressed I am with the PINE CREEK RAIL. This 62-mile gravel roadway that travels the entire Pine Creek Gorge is amazing. It is gently graded and is totally perfect for all generations. From 1883 to 1988, this was the same route we used to transport coal and timber. Now this trail leads you on a mountainous adventure from outside of WELLSBORO to JERSEY SHORE.

I often take things for granted. I am OK with eating crow. I would also like to apologize to my lovely bride and her parents. Our Pine Creek vacation was exactly what I needed. Some of you might question the reasoning. I only slept in my tent as I wanted to get the full experience. Stay safe, kids. Happy Trails. Don’t forget about Pine Creek. Cheers.