All the stockings that were hung with care are in the wash or put away for next year. The batteries are fading on the spasmatic chicken plucker video game and everyone's tired of cookies. Yes, we made it through another season of holiday joy (madness may fit better). I for one am looking forward to getting out of the deep freeze so as to pursue those finned creatures in the various flowages they call home.

It won't be long before the stoneflies begin to emerge to entice the trout from their winter lethargy. The steelhead will be heading for gravel to spawn, and the 23rd Neshannock TU spring banquet will be held. So there is a reason to be optimistic about the up coming months. This giant ice cube we have been living inside of for the past few weeks has to melt sometime. Let's cross our fingers.

I hope everyone got that new rod, reel, gun, waders, or whatever, that they wished for. If not, it probably won't matter. Remember younger years when you were feeling spunky about the latest technique gleaned from the "Trout are Us" magazine. Armed with the hot new pattern and latest information you enter the stream at the top of your favorite run and proceeded to pull two 10" trout from their shadowed hideout. Then, looking up stream a grizzled dude with a Johnson automatic reel coupled to a Shakespeare fiberglass rod proceeds to yank brown trout out like a Hoover coaxes crumbs from carpet. It's not so much the equipment as it is the subtle skill gained from seasons of trying. Trust me on this. I have had the above happen to me more times than I care to remember.

January 2001 Newsletter

2001 Spring Banquet Information

January Membership Meeting

Chapter Membership

Correction – Pete Anthony EMail

Munnell Run Trout Nursery

Coolspring Creek Delayed Harvest Area

Extended Trout Season