Position
filled
Rick
Bosworth has taken over the chapter’s membership chairman’s duties.
In order to locate PWWTU’s mailing address closer to his residence,
Rick has moved our address from to PWWTU,
PO Box 9,
Wildwood,
PA
15091-0009.
Thanks Rick and thanks, too, to Ed DiGangi, who served previously as
membership chairman and contributed to the chapter’s steady growth.
Position
vacant
You’ve heard it before: If something can go wrong it will. PWWTU
needs an audio/visual expert to be on hand all day at Cabin Fever
2006 to hopefully solve and correct any video, slide projector or
audio problems that might occur during the show’s seminar
presentations. In the past, some minor glitches have occasionally
developed and fortunately, we were able to stumble our way through
or around them. But it would be helpful to have someone there who
knows about audio/visual systems and equipment who can diagnose and
remedy any problem should one arise. If you’re that expert, the
chapter would be grateful for volunteering your time and expertise.
Contact Bill at wjhayes@comcast.net.
Cabin Fever
update
We now
have all but 7 of last years venders committed to Cabin Fever 2006
on Sun., March 5. We only have six booths left – looks like another
sell out, but we’re still taking suggestions for main speakers. If
you would like to suggest someone please let us hear from you. We
have some great bucket prizes already, so things are looking good.
Our friends from Family Tyes are once again going to help us with
their fly tying school. If you know of any young members who would
like to try their hand at tying please bring them along. With Family
Tyes and Trout Unlimited working together, Cabin Fever 2006 will
include a program that helps young people learn to cast a fly rod
and tie flies.
Make sure you mark your calendar Sun., March 5. That’s the day you
can learn the fine art of rod building from Jack Mickieviez, a
master rod builder.
Dave Rothrock will show you the latest in nymphing tactics and
patterns, then Ted Fauceglia will show you fly hatch photos that
took 15 years to get.
Here’s the schedule so far:
9:15 a.m.: Jack Mickieviez, Rod Building 101 Seminar
10:30 a.m.: Dave Rothrock, the Latest in effective nymphing tactics and
patterns
1:30 p.m.: Ted Fauceglia’s Natural Reflections, 15 Years of photos of
all the Hatches
2:30 p.m..: Jack Mickieviez, Rod Building 101 Seminar
Fly Sale
It’s a long time until our January Great Fly Sale, but it’s not too
early to remind chapter tiers that flies are needed for the event.
This annual sale has become a welcomed major revenue generator for
PWWTU thanks to the many generous fly donations by members. So when
you sit down at the vise in the coming months, please remember to
tie up a few extra half dozens for the sale. You choose the patterns
and sizes. The chapter will package the flies and attach a label
that gives the pattern, size and the tier’s name. For more
information, call Joe Kline at 412-761-9762.
Pine Creek
The September workday was a success. Under the direction of the
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, three new instream deflectors
were installed in Pine Creek at the
Bryant Road
section. The deflectors consist of 17-foot logs anchored in place
with rebar and augmented by tons of rock.
In addition to the stream improvements, 47,000 pounds of top soil
was spread in the area along the stream, and grass was planted to
improve the riparian buffer.
Trout Unlimited volunteers were augmented by boy scouts from Troop
17 in Hampton and neighborhood volunteers.
The Fish Commission representatives considered our efforts to be
very successful.
Treasurer’s
Report
For the
period 8/30/05 thru 9/26/05, the opening balance was $8,751.20.
Income was $100 and expenses were $1,160.44. Closing balance was
$7,690.76.
Ron Bennett 412-963-0288
BAMBOO
FLY RODS
Custom made
v Hand split v
Hand planed
Fishing News
by Deborah Weisberg
A
downsized Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission board voted to
reclassify parts of the Clarion and Little Juniata rivers to the
newly created All Tackle Catch and Release, in January. Those waters
are currently All Tackle Trophy Trout.
"In the case of the Little J, it was social preference," said
commission spokesman Dan Tredinnick, who indicated that the agency
received 300 letters in support of the change. "They were
overwhelmingly ‘for.’"
The board also approved the licensing of charter captains and
fishing guides, also effective next year. Pennsylvania-based guides
will have to pay $100 a year, while out-of-staters who work here
will be assessed $400 annually. All must be at least 16 years old,
skilled in CPR and first aid, and insured for at least $500,000
against liability. Licensing will help set standards within the
guide industry, said Tredinnick, and will give the commission a
sense of how big an industry it is.
"One complaint we hear frequently is that people profiting from
waterways should have to pay more," he said.
The board acted to remove a section of Bermudian Creek from the
Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only program at the request of a
landowner who plans to post his property, blaming litter and poor
angler behavior. Bermudian is Adams County’s only DHALO stream.
The board reviewed the commission budget for fiscal year 2006-07,
which commission executive director Doug Austen will present to the
governor this month. It is expected to show that the new Lake Erie
stamp and half of the Lake Erie/trout combo stamp has so far
generated more than $450,000 toward the purchase of easements and
other access on Erie streams. The spending plan will total about $40
million, said Tredinnick, and will reflect a projected license sale
decline of about 11 percent, which is consistent with the decrease
this year. Trout stamp sales were down this year by 14 percent. Even
so, fee increases this year generated $4 million more than last
year.
With commissioner Ted Keir’s term expiring this month, the
commission board, which is normally 10 members, is now down to six
members, the minimum required for a quorum. More retirements are
expected early next year, which means the board, at four members,
couldn’t meet.
Len Lichvar’s nomination for southcentral Pennsylvania is still
being stonewalled by state-Sen. Robert Jubelirer, and the seat he
would fill has remained vacant for nearly three years.
The Governor’s Advisory Council on Hunting, Fishing and Conservation
is seeking candidates. If you’re interested, contact the council in
care of Robb Miller, Rachel Carson State Office Building, 400 Market
St., 7th Floor, P O Box 8767, Harrisburg, Pa., 17106-8767.
Family Tyes’ Patterns
for Life
Griffith’s Gnat
By Luke Varner
Mechanicsburg Fly Fishing Club
The fly of the
month that I have selected is the
Griffith’s
Gnat. I typically use two variations of this dry fly – the original
Griffith’s Gnat and the Hi-Vis Griffith’s Gnat. The No. 1 reason I
enjoy using these simple patterns is that they have the potential to
fool a large number of trout throughout our state.
I also enjoy using these two variations of the Griffith’s Gnat
because this fly seems to imitate a variety of aquatic insects such
as small midges and tricos. Jason Minnich, Matt Winton, Nathan
Einsig, and I (Mechanicsburg Fly Fishing Club Advisors) were fishing
at the Yellow Breeches the morning of Sept. 17 and there were a
significant number of trico spinners landing on the stream. For
about 45 minutes, the fish were extremely active, and found both the
standard and Hi-Vis Griffith’s Gnat to be a suitable imitation of
the tricos that were on the water. I also found these patterns to be
effective from the last week of August through the second week of
September, as they helped me land a considerable number of trout at
both Clark’s Creek and Neshannock Creek.
Finally, I enjoy using these patterns when trout are rising but no
flies can be seen near the stream (very small insects hatching).
When this situation occurs, I will use a size 20 or 22
Griffith’s
Gnat. The Hi Vis Griffith’s Gnat can also be used as an indicator
when fishing very small emergers or light nymphs. Often, I will tie
a "dropper" nymph or midge two to three feet behind the Hi-Vis, and
fish will often be caught on the Hi-Vis Gnat that is being used as a
strike indicator.
1. Cover hook shank with thread, starting at the eye and
working back to the bend.
2. Tie in peacock herl in at the hook bend.
3. Tie in hackle at the hook bend.
4. If tying hi-vis pattern, tie in yarn parachute style ¾ of
the way up the hook shank.
5. Advance thread to hook eye.
6. Wrap peacock herl up to hook eye.
7. Palmer hackle up to hook eye.
8. Whip finish head and cement if necessary.
Thread:
Black #8/0
Hook:
Size 16 – 22 dry fly
Body:
3 – 4 strands of peacock herl
Hackle:
Dry fly grizzly-colored (sized appropriately); Hi-Vis orange, green
or pink yarn
Family Tyes
is a non-profit organization led by adults who pass their skills and
knowledge -- not just about fishing, but about life -- to the next
generation. The misison of Family Tyes is to organize programs that
influence youth to become positive, productive adults. Family Tyes
activities provide life-long positive alternatives to drugs, alcohol
and other challenges facing today’s youth and families. For more
information call 412-884-5866 or 724-348-9428
Additional web site patterns:
http://flyfisherman.com/ftb/ffmbeststeel/index3.html
http://flyfisherman.com/ftb/ffmbeststeel/index1.html
http://www.familytyes.com/artman/publish/article_46.shtml
Trout Unlimited News and Views
PENN'S WOODS WEST
CHAPTER OF TROUT UNLIMITED
Meetings / Greetings
Penn’s Woods West Trout Unlimited meets 2nd Monday of each month
(except July and August) at Brentwood VFW Post 1810 (412-881-9934),
3801 Clairton Blvd. (Rt. 51), 3.5 miles south of Liberty Tubes at
Marlea Street, near McGinnis Sisters Market.
Nov. 14
Speaker
Fly tyer Kieran FryeDetails
412-963-2824
A
$10 donation helps to publish H&R. Send $10 to PWWTU, H&R, PO Box
12823, Upper St. Clair, PA 15241. (Name, paid through.)
Paul Nolder
4/05; Dave Benson 5/05; Burt Brown 9/05; Thomas J. Schieb 12/05.
Glen’s Art Studio 1/06; Dale Gower Jr. 1/06; William deHaven 1/06;
George Tibbens 2/06; Vic Ball 3/06; Gary Franeschina 3/06; Bill
Hayes 3/06; John R. Hudak 3/06; Nicholas Kratofil II 3/06; Stephen
Quick 3/06; Mac Seaholm 3/06; Mike Boyle 4/06; Bill Kuehn 4/06; Mike
Blehar 5/06; Colin H. Kilgore 6/06; Bill Williams 9/06; John Brady
10/06. Terry Pfeffer 1/07; George H. Gray Jr., MD 3/07; Sylvester
Hess 3/07; Briget Shields 3/07; Daniel Priga 4/07; William R.
Shipley 4/07. Craig Iman 9/07; W. L. Ward 9/07. Edward McCarthy
3/12.
Sign up for
H&R e-mail:
jpugach@gmail.com
---------------
No,
you didn’t miss an issue
With
hopes of saving about $3,000 a year in the chapter budget, "Hatches
& Rises" will now be published bimonthly (we’ll still skip July and
August). You can continue to get H&R’s e-mail edition by requesting
it at jpugach@gmail.com, and find it online at
www.pwwtu.org.
Thanks and so long, Joe Pugach
By Joe Kline
One of the chapter’s major movers and shakers will move to Naples,
Fla., later this year, ending 18 years of distinguished service to
PWWTU.
Prior to joining the chapter 1987, Joe Pugach already had
established a remarkable record of leadership and achievement
beginning with the East Jersey (NJ) TU chapter in 1978.He was made a
chapter director later that year and additionally served for two
years as the secretary for the NJ TU State Council.While president
of the East Jersey chapter, it was awarded national TU’s most
prestigious honor, the Golden Trout, which annually recognizes the
most outstanding chapter in the country.
Joe moved to
Pittsburgh
in 1987 and joined PWWTU. To take advantage of his extensive chapter
experience, his overall knowledge and involvement in both local and
state TU activities, he was immediately elected a director. Among
his many contributions was responsibility for PWWTU’s participation
in the Allegheny Sport and Travel Show at the ExpoMart, which
eventually led to his invaluable assistance in founding Cabin Fever
and for helping to build it into the largest trout fishing show in
western PA.
During his tenure with PWWTU, he served as vice president and
president and also as the chairman and member of a variety of the
chapter’s planning and administrative committees. Our Pine Creek
Improvement Project work was started during his term as president.
When Montour Creek had a catastrophic fish kill due to anti-freeze
runoff from de-icing planes at the airport, he was instrumental in
having the de-icing procedure revised to protect the waterway. He
championed and coordinated state and local opposition efforts
against the Deer Creek Crossing development. In 2001, he was elected
as the Southwest Regional VP for TU’s State Council. As a measure of
their high regard for his long devotion to the sport of trout
fishing, the Pittsburgh Fly Fishers presented Joe with its Man of
the Year Award in 2002.
The chapter thanks Joe and wishes him well as he takes up his new
residence in Florida. He’s volunteer to continue sending out the
e-mail edition of "Hatches & Rises." Request it (and save the
chapter money!) at jpugach@gmail.com. We expect him to visit us from
time to time when he travels north to fish the clear, clean trout
streams that he worked so diligently and enthusiastically to
preserve. His leadership will be missed.
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