Sorta… Every. Dang. Year. Every year I swear I am going to start early and get everything done and just enjoy the season. Consider this year yet another fail. I am once again so far behind the 8-ball, it’s sitting in a different room — #ChristmasFail. On the upside, this happens every year, and every
READ MORESo last week I put a call out on Facebook to help find Jimmy a buck picture to include in his article. Turns out, we ended up with a couple of extras that I didn’t have room for on Jimmy’s page. Since I feel kinda bad Jimmy was only able to include one in his
READ MORECocoa GlitterCakes, Merry FizzyCheer, and Happy JingleDoodle have arrived at Webb Weekly, and the Blaise Alexander Christmas Fun Coloring Contest is in full swing! The elves arrived just in time to watch the downtown Christmas parade last week! They also like to use their downtime to explore the city. Of course, Candy Cane Lane is
READ MOREThanksgiving weekend is recognized as the most heavily traveled weekend of the year. Over the next several days, thousands of people across our state and across the nation will fly or drive to meet up with friends and relatives to share some quality time together. There will be football, lots of food, and plenty of
READ MOREHappy, happy, joy, joy! It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Attention to the 10 and under set! Grab your cocoa and meet me by the Christmas tree! We have important things to discuss! Sleigh bells are ringing, and snow is glistening! It is once again time for the Blaise Alexander Family Dealership Christmas
READ MOREKicking off on Saturday, Nov. 19, the regular firearms bear season will be here before you know it, and hunters in and around Lycoming County need to be aware a check station location has changed. The check station at Trout Run Fire Hall, north of Williamsport along state Route 14, will operate as planned on
READ MOREI know a lot of us are caught up in the fall hunting scene, but every year I have to remind myself that there is still some good trout fishing available after the leaves cover the ground. I managed to squeeze in a couple of hours of trout angling last week along with a couple
READ MOREI love this time of year as North Central PA is on fire. Change is in the air. Everything is shining. Autumn brings us so many vibrant colors. The Visitors Bureau needs to give me a buzz. Our new addition has got me stressed. I wish there were more hours in the day. Sadly, there
READ MOREI know it’s fall, and that means hunting seasons are in full swing, but a lot of us diehard fishermen aren’t quite ready to give up our fishing endeavors just yet. There’s a good reason we’re not ready to hang up our fishing rods since there are still some great fishing opportunities available through the
READ MOREThis week we are bringing you everything outdoors. We have lots of great stuff about hunting, fishing, safety, and generally enjoying all that Pennsylvania offers outside. I…don’t have a lot to contribute to the conversation because I’m not exactly outdoorsy. Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy a nice hike every now and again, but
READ MOREJohn Denver sang that West Virginia was almost heaven, but a better candidate would be a valley located about fifteen miles north of Williamsport. This amazing piece of God’s country is surrounded by some of the most beautiful hills anywhere. Because of the topography, there is virtually no ambient light, making the stars brighter at
READ MOREWhen it comes to fishing here in Pennsylvania, you probably won’t find many fishermen who are strongly dedicated to pursuing muskies. There are probably some good reasons for that lack of pursuit; for one, they are not exactly abundant, at least not like trout and bass. They can also be difficult to catch; you can
READ MOREIn just over a week, September 22, 2022, to be exact, Fall of 2022 will officially begin. Where the heck did the summer go anyway? For some unknown reason it simply seemed shorter than usual this year and, somehow, just slipped away. I suppose part of that is that when you keep busy, time has
READ MORENo, this is not an essay on how to fix a flat tire, but it may help put a bend in your favorite bass fishing rod. These days when it comes to selecting lures to stuff in your tackle box, there is so much to choose from that it makes your head spin. I remember
READ MOREI feel extremely fortunate to have spent my formative years growing up in Lycoming County, PA. My parents and grandparents were great mentors and extremely supportive of my interests in the outdoors. From hunting and fishing to just wiling away the hours observing and learning about the wonders of nature, they were always there to
READ MOREIf you like to fish, now might be a good time to concentrate your efforts on a lake and a good target would be panfish. The title “panfish” is often used to describe several different fish species. I think the name may have come from the fact that several will fit nicely into a frying
READ MOREWow. You look great. Have you lost weight? No. Diet Pepsi. No booze. Just a lot of wading. But jeez, you are so tan. Did you go to the beach? You must be playing some golf? No. No trips. Very little golf. Only fishing. Thanks for being so nice. Several years back, I came up
READ MOREOver the past couple of years, it seems like more people have hit me with the question, ” I want to get into fishing, so what equipment should I buy?” Well, it would take me a year of columns to answer that question, and I’m not sure that would still be enough. What I can
READ MOREIf you enjoy the roar and belching of engines and like antique farm machinery on display and in action, then the Loyalsock Valley Antique Machinery Association’s (LVAMA) new show grounds at 899 Lower Bodines Road, Trout Run will be the place for you from Thursday, August 4 to Sunday, August 7. Each LVAMA show has
READ MORELet’s kick off the start of the Fourth of July with some good news! It’s time to announce the winner of our Great American Cookout Giveaway! Congratulations to Carl Betts of Trout Run! Carl is getting all set up with a new grill courtesy of Elery Nau Hardware; he’ll also have everything he needs for
READ MOREYes, Father’s Day and Father’s Day Weekend have passed, but I am anxious to share with you just how my Day and Weekend unfolded — hoping that it might inspire you to do something similar in the future. For several years, as I have written about ideas for Father’s Day gifts, I have always stressed
READ MOREFlood waters continue to recede along the West Branch of the Susquehanna River today, but leave in their wake a toll of destruction in Williamsport and Lycoming County, unmatched since the monstrous flood of 1936. Since cresting at an official National Weather Service level of 31.36 feet at the Market Street Bridge at 3 PM
READ MOREThat I like to fly fish for trout is an understatement; I try to fit in as much time as I can, even if it’s only for a couple of hours on any given day. Of course, when we hear some reference to trout fishing, we usually think April and May — after all, that’s
READ MOREI was never exposed to fly fishing growing up. Sure, I tried it several times, but the purist ideology never stuck. It can be extremely frustrating, and I have zero confidence. I quit fifteen times and went back to my spinning rods. But COVID changed everything. I started with YouTube and made a few calls.
READ MOREWith just over a week left until Dad’s Big Day rolls around, here are some suggestions that might bring a smile to his face on “His Day.” For most outdoor enthusiasts, there are so many gadgets and so much gear available, no matter what the specific sport or activity they enjoy. For a father or
READ MOREYou can go to your local outdoor store and come up with numerous gift ideas for Dad on His Day. You can go online and find hundreds of great gift ideas to make His Day a little brighter. And, you can browse through the many catalogs you or he receives in the mail to come
READ MOREI’ve had a few crappy fishing days over the years, but that’s seldom the case when I’m fishing for crappies. The truth is crappies can be taken year-round; we catch them through the ice in good numbers, and spring, summer, and fall can also be productive. The key is to know where to look for
READ MOREThe idea behind this “Leaders in Our Neighborhood” (LION) column is to highlight people in our community who do extraordinary things but fly below many folks’ radar. I have wanted to feature Anne Reiner for several years, ever since we sat down in Backhouse Cafe on 4th Street in Williamsport (another place that needs to
READ MOREI am always looking for an outdoor adventure. This past Wednesday, I headed north for something new and exciting. It was a gorgeous morning outside of Bodines, PA. My gear was in the car, but there were no plans of fishing. I met up with a few friends along Slack’s Run Road. I wanted to
READ MOREOver the past few years, I’ve run into more and more people who want to learn to fly fish, and I’ve had the opportunity to teach a number of newcomers the art of fly fishing. I hesitate, however, to use the word “art” to describe fly fishing simply because it’s no more of an art
READ MOREWith the early start this year, trout season is well underway, but with the erratic weather conditions we have seen the past few weeks getting on the water may have been a bit of a challenge. Rain, snow, high, murky water, and strong winds have all added up to some difficult fishing conditions. Of course,
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