When it comes to the opening day of trout season, a question I sometimes get, especially from someone just getting into fishing, is, what’s the best way to catch trout? There are people who have written lengthy books on that topic, but in this brief format, here are some things to consider. The truth is
READ MOREApologies for skipping out last week. I would like to thank those who reached out. Many did. I’m not kidding. Mostly my bearded friends. That is a fantastic feeling. I’m good, folks. I simply missed my deadline. My bad, Steph. You are a great chief. I appreciate you filling in. I am home from a
READ MOREOK, I’ll admit it; I’m a year-round fisherman, and there’s probably never a month of the year that goes by that I don’t get some fishing in somewhere, either on the ice, in a boat, or wading a stream. Admittedly, the ice fishing season was again cut short, so it’s time to move on to
READ MOREIt’s hard to believe that another trout season is just around the corner, and the stocking of trout is already underway — as of February 19th. The Fish and Boat Commission will be stocking a total of 3.2 million trout. That includes 2.3 million rainbows, 702,000 browns, 132,000 brookies and 14,000 golden trout. With the
READ MOREHappy New Year to my family and friends. I would also like to give a shout to those who frequent this page. I look forward to many more tales. This part-time gig is grand, and we will cover many different topics in 2024. Let’s kick things off with one of my favorites. Dave Weigle of
READ MOREWe are moving into that time of year when we outdoor types start spending less time outdoors pursuing game and fish and more time indoors. We still have some small game hunting and muzzleloading hunting left, and hopefully, if we get enough ice, we diehard fishermen can start hitting some local lakes as well. These
READ MOREWith only a few more shopping days before Christmas morning arrives, hopefully, you have taken care of all of the major items on your gift list and can now turn your attention to the last-minute items and the ever-popular “stocking stuffers.” I reflect back fondly, to the early days when the three stockings, hand-knit by
READ MOREAs a hunter, fisherman, and outdoor enthusiast, I enjoy seeing all kinds of wildlife — and that includes the various bird species. As a wildlife artist, I have an even greater interest because I enjoy painting birds of all kinds, including songbirds. While this interest doesn’t make me a serious bird watcher like some people
READ MOREMoving into the early fall period can be a real dilemma for people like me who love hunting and fishing. Hunting seasons are underway, and some great fishing can still be available. Case in point: I was talking with an avid trout angler recently, and he told me a few weeks back he picked up
READ MOREI love this time of year as North Central PA is now shining. Fall brings us so many vibrant colors. Change is in the air. It is an absolute shame that it gets dark at 6:45 p.m. This totally dampens my outdoor activities. Fishing remains my passion. It serves as my zen. I am still
READ MOREIt’s no secret that I love fishing — fishing of all kinds — with a variety of equipment, and in a variety of situations. Certainly, our local rivers, streams, and lakes are high on my priority list, but I also enjoy an afternoon on a pond from time to time. There are a number of
READ MOREFor anyone about to spend an increasing amount of time in the out of doors in the upcoming months, it is only a matter of time until you come in contact with ticks. Whether you are fishing at your favorite mountain stream, preseason scouting for this coming fall, or working on food plots according to
READ MOREFor more than 70 years, I have had the privilege of hunting and fishing across the United States, and the adventures have taken me to virtually every state. This lifetime of enjoying the bounties of nature has frequently presented challenges of one manner or another, but none had rivaled the challenge of the single cast
READ MOREThe Deschutes River is located in central Oregon and is a major tributary of the Columbia River. The Deschutes provided an important route to and from the Columbia for Native Americans for thousands of years and then, in the 19th century, was used by pioneers on the Oregon Trail. The river flows mostly through rugged
READ MORELet’s be honest: trout fishing has gone by the wayside by this time of the summer. Take a look around. How many trout fishermen do you see crowding the banks of a local trout stream? Almost none. Most bait and lure fishermen have pretty much given up on trout by the end of June, but
READ MOREI used to be a fan of summer, but I don’t do well in the heat. I am a big guy who tends to sweat, and I no longer wear gray tees. Temperatures are now in the 90s. It’s miserable. The humidity is what kills me. I prefer to stay home. I am not a
READ MOREIan Andrews and I have been friends for a long time. He is a good dude, and we both love to fish. Ian grew up on Rose Valley Lake, and that is where he currently resides. We don’t see each other much, but we follow one another online. Thrilled my bud is back using the
READ MORETeach and Jensen were at the beach. School is out for the summer, and they needed a break. I stayed behind to watch the dog. No worries, kids. I got to fish. No need to travel as we are super spoiled. I do 95% of my fishing right here in Lycoming County. Some of my
READ MOREHave you ever wondered why it seems that some fishermen are the lucky ones and always manage to catch their share of fish? I suppose, at times, luck may play a role, but to be consistently good at taking fish, a lot more than luck is required. Let’s try to simplify things a bit; to
READ MORELast week we focused our efforts on catching largemouth bass, but this week, we’re going to delve into catching smallmouth bass. There’s no question about it, a lot of the same lures and techniques will work for catching both species of bass, but there are also some different approaches that may work better for taking
READ MOREPennsylvania’s bass season is about to get into full swing; from April 8 to June 9, it is catch and immediate release only, but after that, you can keep four per day. I personally don’t keep any bass, but I sure do like catching them on lakes, ponds, and in rivers, and streams. Pennsylvania has
READ MOREOn Sunday, June 18, Father’s Day will be upon us, and it is the one unique day annually that we can show our Dad, our Pop, our Father how special we really think he is. Fortunately, with a little over a week to go, there is plenty of time for shopping and planning to make
READ MOREFor many years one of my favorite fishing forays was to head off to the Saint Lawrence River with some friends to fish for northern pike. We would fish from the break of day until sunset, and our goal was to see how many pike we could catch and release over three or four days
READ MOREWell, trout season is well underway, and hopefully, some of those crowded conditions that occur in those opening days are pretty well past. Certainly, those first few weeks in April can be very productive, but so can the weeks that follow, especially through the month of May. Now, I realize that there are many methods
READ MOREAs I write this, the 2023 Spring Gobbler season is less than a week old, and, as usual, a variety of reports have been coming in – everything from “I haven’t seen or heard a gobbler yet,” to hunters who have been working gobblers every morning they have been out. One hunter reported calling in
READ MOREWhen you spend as much time on the water as I do, you always catch a few. And while some days are certainly better than others. You occasionally have those fantastic experiences. These little episodes are extremely rare. I can count them with my fingers. This past Thursday, I was on Lycoming. I parked my
READ MORESpring is one of the most popular seasons of the year. After several months of chilly temperatures in many regions, spring provides a welcome reprieve from the cold. Moderate temperatures makes it much more comfortable and inviting to venture outdoors, particularly for families with children who might not adapt to the cold as well as
READ MOREWhether you trout fish or not, I’m sure you have noticed good numbers of fishermen this past weekend gathered along the banks of many different streams. Pennsylvania is fortunate to have a pretty good number of streams available for trout fishing. They come in a variety of sizes, and that, in fact, is the topic
READ MOREAs we approach the opening of another trout season, the two questions I find a lot of people asking are “Where should I fish”? and “What should I use”? There are several factors to consider when it comes to the question of where to go. Certainly, the weather is a consideration; high wind and bitter
READ MOREApril is an exhilarating month for the hunting and fishing crowd; we start the month with the opening of trout season, and at the end of the month, turkey hunting for gobblers is on the agenda. While I will enjoy the throbbing of a nice trout on my flyrod, you can bet I will also
READ MORE“Double your pleasure, double your fun – with Double Mint, Double Mint, Double Mint Gum!” This popular jingle was used in years past to advertise a brand of gum that remains popular to this day. But be careful because if you remember this jingle, you may be giving away your age! But “Double your pleasure,
READ MOREWhen my wife and I head off somewhere in a vehicle, I’m usually quick to grab the passenger seat, and for good reason — I like to gaze around, looking for whatever wildlife I can spot as we head down the road. I’m always looking for turkeys, deer and other wildlife, including winged critters flying
READ MOREI know most of the fishing crowd doesn’t think of a new fishing season being underway until trout season rolls around in April, but I’ve always considered the new season underway when I hit the ice for the first time. In recent years that first trip rarely took place before the start of the new
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