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An old-school look at new fly-fishing gear

As close as I can recall, I began fly-fishing in 1964, so this year marks my sixtieth year involved with the sport. I would like to think I have learned a few things about it during that time. I am also fascinated that there is always something new to learn, which has helped to continue my interest for six decades and counting. Another fascinating aspect of fly-fishing over the past 60 years, especially for a gearhead like me, is the transformation of fly tackle and some related accessories during that period. For me, the greatest development in fly tackle was graphite replacing ...

Birding app called Merlin helps identify birdcalls

As long as I can remember, I have held a deep fascination for the outdoors. Although hunting and fishing have always been my main attractions, so many other aspects and diversions related to the natural world have often consumed my attention as well. And each new facet of the natural world seems to unlock its own special niche in the grand scheme of things. When I developed an interest in fly-fishing as an eager 12-year-old, for instance, that pursuit soon progressed into the desire to tie my own flies. The need to understand what the bugs that I was trying to imitate actually ...

High water hurts early trout season

Anyone in our area who has ventured out for trout so far this season doesn’t need to be reminded that we have had streams running bank high and dirty a great many days. The opening weekend was a complete bust after heavy rains swelled the streams to flood stage. Just as that troublesome deluge began to subside, another batch of rain pushed most creeks to bank full again. Long ago, I learned not to make broad predictions about upcoming weather patterns as they are almost certain to be wrong, but I would like to be hopeful water conditions are soon going to get back to more normal ...

New doe license process unveiled

At their regular quarterly meeting last weekend, the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners approved the antlerless deer license allocations for 2024-25. Last year, of course, was the first time hunters could purchase their antlerless deer licenses directly, either in person or online, through the electronic licensing system rather than the cumbersome mail-in process to a county treasurer’s office, which had been prescribed by state law for generations. To alleviate some of the problems that occurred early on with the new system last year, the Pennsylvania Game Commission has ...

Fishermen find trout streams very manageable

By John Hartsock jhartsock@altoonamirror.com HOLLIDAYSBURG — After steady and sometimes heavy rain pelted this area daily last week, stream conditions for Saturday’s opening day of trout season were expected to be abysmal. As it turned out, however, even though the water levels on ...

2024 trout season starts next weekend

The first Saturday in April, of course, is now the first day of trout season throughout Pennsylvania. Thousands of anglers will converge on their favorite waterways to make their first cast of the season at the official start time of 8 a.m. next Saturday. More than 3 million trout were stocked in the weeks leading up to the opening day. To fish for trout, all anglers 16 or older must have a valid Pennsylvania fishing license and a trout/salmon permit. Last fall, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission gave final approval to an interesting new special regulation that will affect ...