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Don’t Just Fly Fish… Catch Fish!

Wednesday, 26 March 2008 17:18 Joe Dziedzina (a.k.a. Dizzy)

About this time every year, I hear a lot of anglers talk about wanting to try fly-fishing for the first time… some are considering making a switch from spinning or bait-fishing, others may have gotten one of those all-in-one fly fishing combo kits for Christmas and are just getting tired of moving it every time they are looking for something in the basement. Whatever the reason, March is the month would-be fly anglers start to struggle with this decision. Unfortunately there is this weird mystique about fly fishing that it is too difficult to master or that it’s a sport reserved only for rich snobs. I never really understood that last part, but on the other hand I was always the only birdwatcher in the group that was also a former heavy metal guitarist… but that’s a whole other issue for another day.

Well fear not my fellow anglers, I am here to tell you that not only is catching trout on a fly rod not even remotely as difficult as legend would have you believe, but also, catching trout on dry flies may just be the most rewarding experience in all of freshwater fishing. I can tell you this; the first time you get everything right and that heavy brown you’ve been working over drifts up to, inspects, and eventually inhales your offering… it will stop your heart.

I once read that there are four (4) stages to fly fishing for trout; 1) to catch that FIRST trout on a fly, 2) to catch the MOST trout on a fly, 3) to catch the BIGGEST trout on a fly, and 4) to catch the MOST DIFFICULT trout on a fly. Over the seasons I have found this list to be extremely accurate. I was already somewhere between stages 1 and 2 the first time I read it and feel that I have hit stage 3 on occasion. I didn’t even understand what stage 4 meant until I got there, but I can tell that this is the stage that will ruin some trips and haunt you in your sleep… in a good way of course! I’m happiest drifting back and forth between stages 2 and 3 for the most part (leaning towards 2), and also see no reason at all why a new angler shouldn’t hit stage 1 that first time out of the box and be well on his way to stage 2 within those first dozen trips or so. In fact I’ll go so far as to GUARANTEE that if a new fly angler (you, maybe) follows what I’m going to lay out in these next few paragraphs, you will start scoring on trout right out of the gate or else you can come back on this website and publically berate me for all to see. Don’t be too harsh though… after all, you’re not actually paying for this information. But no worries, because that’s not going to happen (positive thinking… lesson one).

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 26 March 2008 17:33 ) Read more...

The Fish Counter

Saturday, 15 March 2008 00:47 administrator

Release Your Catch, While Keeping Track Of How Many Fish You Have Caught All Day

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Leaving You To Concentrate On Fishing!!!

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Follow this link to Skiball's E-Bay Auction to Purchase

Last Updated ( Saturday, 15 March 2008 22:28 ) Read more...

PA Fish And Boat Commission Gears Up For Trout Season!

Monday, 10 March 2008 19:49 administrator

As posted on the PFBC website 03/04/08

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is preparing for another action-packed trout season with two opening days and bigger stocked fish, plus an exciting preseason event at Gander Mountain stores statewide!
Join the Fish and Boat Commission to celebrate the upcoming trout season as they host educational trout expos at Gander Mountain stores throughout the state, running Friday, March 14, through Sunday, March 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. (Participation varies by store.)

The Fish and Boat Commission will be on hand to answer questions, provide visitors with helpful maps and how-to information, and offer insights on the best places to trout fish in Pennsylvania. Plus, Gander Mountain stores are offering an added bonus for visitors. Anyone who comes to Gander Mountain stores on the event dates can also enter to win $200 in fishing gear!

The Fish and Boat Commission invites you to visit Gander Mountain stores during the trout expo to get information on planning a fishing trip with your family and friends for one of the two trout openers: March 29 in 18 southeastern counties in Pennsylvania (Adams, Berks, Bucks, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Franklin, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, Perry, Philadelphia, Schuylkill and York) or April 12 in the rest of the state. Anglers 16 years and older must possess a valid fishing license to fish in Pennsylvania.

To purchase a fishing license, view maps and how-to information, and to review trout stocking times and locations near you, please visit www.fishandboat.com.

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PFBC Invites Public To Meeting On Mitigation Plans For Norfolk Southern Damage

Tuesday, 04 March 2008 18:19 administrator

As posted on the PFBC website 03/04/08

Harrisburg, PA -- The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission invites the public to participate in its first stakeholder meeting concerning the Norfolk Southern settlement on Wednesday, March 12, at the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Region 1 Office in Emporium starting at 11 a.m.
The meeting is in response to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s natural resources damage settlement with Norfolk Southern in November 2007 to resolve its liability for a June 2006 derailment in McKean County. The derailment caused three railcars of a train operated by Norfolk Southern to spill liquid sodium hydroxide into wetlands and to enter Big Fill Run, Sinnemahoning-Portage Creek, and the Driftwood Branch of Sinnemahoning Creek. The release of liquid sodium hydroxide contaminated soils, sediments, surface water, groundwater, and wetlands, and killed or injured fish and other aquatic life and terrestrial plant and animal life.

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Extra fee for new online Pa. fishing permit

Friday, 15 February 2008 13:27 administrator

As posted by the Philadelphia Inquirer 02/15/08

Gov. Rendell has signed House Bill 1109 into law, resulting in a small license-transaction fee for anglers effective immediately, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission said yesterday.

The Fish and Boat Commission and the Pennsylvania Game Commission are developing an electronic license-delivery system that will eliminate paper-based licenses for the 2008 fishing year, which began Dec. 1. The system is managed by a private firm, which charges the Fish and Boat Commission a 70-cent fee for each transaction.

The new law allows the commission to recover up to $1 in electronic-processing fees from the license buyer. This means each license will cost the buyer 70 cents in addition to the basic license fee, currently $22 for Pennsylvania residents.

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Executive Director Takes Action To Preserve Fishing On Walnut Creek

Thursday, 07 February 2008 20:27 administrator

As posted on the PFBC website 02/07/08

Erie County, PA, 2/6/08—Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Executive Director Dr. Douglas Austen, acting under the authority of the Commission, has ordered the immediate closure of fishing on Walnut Creek from Route 5 north to Manchester Road Bridge between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.

The Executive Director has found that this action is necessary and appropriate to conserve and preserve fishing opportunities in the area. The action reflects the concern of some property owners about the noise levels and unnecessary neighborhood disturbances caused by anglers fishing Walnut Creek during the time period of 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

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