Another trout season is underway, and I still enjoy getting out on a stream, even though I’ve been trout fishing for over sixty years now. Over all those years, I’ve had a chance to fish with an assortment of equipment, lures, and baits. Like a lot of kids, I started with worms and a bobber
READ MOREThe first day of trout season in Pennsylvania has been a long-time tradition. It’s a day shared by family and friends to celebrate something near and dear to their hearts. It is a day that many PA anglers dream about on cold winter nights. Chilly temperatures, rain, and even snow go hand in hand with
READ MOREAs I sat down to write this piece, the streams were running high and muddy from the past few days of rain. I suspect that by the opening day of trout season, there will still be some high, discolored water. Of course, those who were on the streams on opening day will be able to
READ MOREI recently had the opportunity to hook up with some old friends. We gathered at the Trout Run Volunteer Fire Hall for a wonderful evening. Fishing was the focus of our conversations. Yes. It was the annual meeting for the Lycoming Creek Anglers. I am so proud to be associated with this great organization. It
READ MORETis the season. March Madness is fun, but I am only thinking about fishing. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has already placed 3.3 million trout in our many state waterways. Last I heard- the Commonwealth has 697 stocked streams and 129 lakes. Impressive. The PFBC will also coordinate with many others to add an
READ MOREI suspect when we think about getting ready for the upcoming trout season, our thoughts turn first to rods, reels, line, and a selection of lures or flies. Those are things that should be addressed, but I think we sometimes overlook some other basic but vital equipment, such as boots or waders. Whether you use
READ MOREWhen 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 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 MOREI suspect most locals are aware of what the Montour Preserve has to offer in the way of outdoor recreation: – A lake for boating and angling – Picnic areas, – Hiking trails, – A great nature center loaded with wildlife mounts and exhibits. The 640-acre nature preserve, a part of the former PPL power
READ MOREAs I work on the weekly “World of Weird Words,” it’s always tough to sort through the 2300 terms on my oddball vocab list, figuring out which ones to offer this time. Last week marked our 30th installment, so I decided to factor that figure: two sets of 15, both restricted solely to five- and
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 MOREParty, party, party — it’s what most folks do on New Year’s Eve to say goodbye to the previous year. Hopefully, our heads have cleared up by now from the revelries of New Year’s Eve, and we can take time to focus on what lies ahead in the coming year. So, steep a pot of
READ MOREThis is easily my favorite issue of the year, it’s hard not to get a little choked up thinking about all the fantastic organizations that my co-workers and I get to support this week, from furbabies to farm babies to families and vets and the great outdoors! This week’s issue is just one of the
READ MOREBefore you ask, no, I do not have everything done for Christmas. Most of the shopping is done. I still have dinner stuff to buy, but I don’t even want to think about what’s ahead for wrapping. But it’s OK. It’s totally fine. I’ll get everything done — probably. I do have my priorities though,
READ MOREThe following are the Winners of the Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships Christmas Fun Coloring Contest! Congratulations to all of our winners and many thanks to all of our entrants! We had hundreds of entries this year! You kiddos wore our elves out with judging!! We’d also like to thank all of the people who offered
READ MOREAs the hunting seasons begin to wind down, some of us begin looking towards the upcoming fishing seasons. I know trout season is still a long way off, but we ice fishermen are hoping to get out on a lake in the not-too-distant future. With the fishing season not far off, it’s also time to
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 MOREWell y’all, it’s one of my favorite times of year! The Blaise Alexander Christmas Fun Coloring Contest is in full swing! Thanksgiving is officially behind us, so now it’s time to move fully into the Christmas season! My tree is going up this weekend and all the decorating will be done too! I even bought
READ MOREMerry almost Christmas! It’s one of my favorite times of the year! So, c’mon kids, let’s go! Grab your cocoa and meet me by the Christmas tree! We have important things to discuss! Bells jingling, ring tingle tingling too, and snow will soon (Maybe?) be glistening! But regardless of the weather, it is once again
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 MOREWhile the actual Thanksgiving Day has just passed, that single day to many signals not just a day but a season of being thankful, sharing time with family and friends and celebrating all of the good things in our lives. Thanksgiving Day marks the beginning of the holiday season that runs through to Christmas and
READ MOREMerry almost Christmas! It’s one of my favorite times of the year! So, c’mon kids, let’s go! Grab your cocoa and meet me by the Christmas tree! We have important things to discuss! Bells jingling, ring tingle tingling too, and snow will soon (Maybe?) be glistening! But regardless of the weather, it is once again
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 not unusual for the subject of fishing to come up when a bunch of us are sitting around sipping our morning coffee. A couple of weeks ago, Tim Herr informed the gang that he and recent Muncy Bank retiree Steve Naylor were planning a guided trip to the lower Susquehanna for some catfishing. Now,
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 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 MOREJimmy has headed down the shore for a little vacation, so I’m taking up the helm this week. No worries, he’ll be back next week! In his absence, it only seems fitting that we should talk about all things sports. I’m not usually a sportswriter, but I think I can handle it. Maybe. We’ll see.
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 MORESometimes it seems like the only thing that is constant is change. It sounds a bit contradictory but think about it. We graduate from school and leave home, get a job, then change jobs. We move to new areas and sometimes even move to a different state. Meanwhile, all around us, new businesses crop up,
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