dkile

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC) are reminding anglers that a new federal law requires anglers who target or catch shad, striped bass, and river herring from the Delaware River below Trenton Falls or in the Delaware Estuary to register with the National Saltwater Angler Registry.

Anglers do not need to register if they meet one of the following exceptions:
• Are under the age of 16.
• Only fish on licensed charter, party, or guide boats.
• Hold a Highly Migratory Species Angling Permit.
• Fish commercially under a valid license.
• Possess a New York Marine Recreational License.
• Possess a Delaware Fisherman Information Network (F.I.N.) Number.

All anglers must still possess a valid state fishing license. Anglers may visit the Registry website at www.countmyfish.noaa.gov and click on the Angler Registry link or call the toll-free registration line at 1-888-MRIP-411 (1-888-674-7411). Anglers will be asked to provide their name, date of birth, address, and telephone number and will immediately receive a registration number. Anglers will receive a registration card by mail in approximately 30 days.

It is part of a national overhaul of the way NOAA collects and reports recreational fishing data. The goal of the initiative – known as the Marine Recreational Information Program, or MRIP – is to provide the most accurate information possible.

For more information, visit www.countmyfish.noaa.gov

A little thrown off with trying to figure out the whole fly-fishing thing?

No worries.

I enjoy getting emails about gear, stream locations, and host of questions. So I am committing to a series of posts that might help look at this whole getting started with fly-fishing thing. It took me a few years to understand a good part of the fly-fishing experience back in the day. Then like life you soon realize more of what you don’t know than what you really understand anyway.

I started fly-fishing while in college and tending bar in Indiana, Pa. I think they were one in the same or at least it felt like a double major. Greg, another numnuts like myself and someone I met at during my studies with my second major, took me up to First Fork in Potter County for a weekend in August. We decided to go fly-fishing for trout! Yippee won’t that be cool.

My first little bit of advice is don’t start fly-fishing for trout in August. I caught 24 fallfish that were no bigger than five inches. Greg said he saw a trout at the bottom of a deep pool in the stream. Personally I think was hallucinating from the August heat. It looked like a stick and was the closest we actually got to any trout that weekend. Naturally after this wonderful experience I was gripped with the sport. Who wouldn’t?

Early on I spent a lot of time devouring Pennsylvania Fly Fishing books from Landis, Meck and Sajna. I had plenty of time as I certainly wasn’t reading any of my college books as I was part of a special five year and four summer program that didn’t require much reading or English for that matter as you can tell by my posts. I tried to explain to my parents it was a new progressive Bachelor of Arts Program in Geography with an internship at a bar. My mother has two Masters, I am sure she wasn’t buying any of my nonsense and was probably just happy I wasn’t in jail.

Further reading had me digging into the...

Spirit River Flies have been posting a few “getting started” videos for beginning fly tiers over the past month. These brief eight minute YouTube videos can be found on the Spirit River Flies Channel. They cover how to tie each fly from beginner kits they sell. Seems like a great way to provide new tiers the know-how to get started with easy to learn methods for some popular flies.

The Spirit River Flies channel can be found here.

Yet another fun and wonderful year for all the anglers who participate here at PaFlyFish. I have assembled a slide show of pictures that have been posted on the site over the past year. With over 1,000 pictures to look over it was fun to throw this together.

With events like the Spring Jam, Fly Swaps, the Steelhead Jam, and fly-fishing clinics it has been a great year. A special thanks to Pad, Jack and Maurice who moderate the forum and provide much needed leadership on the site. We all really appreciate and enjoy those that contribute to the site and our fly fishing community.

Happy Holidays!

Dave

Paul nice job. Thanks for your pictures.

The power of photography is a wonderful way we capture and share our perspective for fly-fishing. Those images are moments in our life we see forever. This year has been an especially fun and exciting year for sharing those memories.

We’re proud to recognize the winners of the first Pennsylvania Fly Fishing Photography contest. We announced the contest in July. Many wonderful pictures were entered over the summer and into the fall.



Our first place award goes to Tom Frank for his photograph "Early Morning Rise in Paradise.” Tom lives in Bellefonte and spends a lot of time in his neighboring stream of Spring Creek. The photograph was taken as he found himself on one foggy summer morning in the Paradise Meadow. Tom explained that as the fog began to clear and sun started to peak the trout were rising every so often. The one soft riseform captures the essence while keeping the balance of the reflections in the water. Tom’s picture can be found here.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is encouraging local governments, community groups and sportsman’s clubs providing fishing, boating and water safety and aquatic resource education programs to apply for funding through the agency’s Education Grant Program.

Grantees can receive up to $5,000 from the PFBC. This funding can be applied to the purchase of equipment, materials and costs associated with field trips. Applications must be postmarked by January 30, 2010.

Please visit the PFBC website for more details.

Perkiomen Creek, the chapter's namesake is the main focus of the restoration efforts at the chapter, in an attempt to extend a growing wild trout population.

By working with landowners, state and local leaders, and other state organizations, Perkiomen Valley Trout Unlimited has had great of success in restoring key tributaries of the Perkiomen, through several miles of tree plantings, streambank restoration and structure, educating communities and landowners on best land management practices.

Now comprised of about 200 members the chapter is working hard to complete the major work of restoring stream banks and water quality. Water quality has already improved enough in the main branch that a noticeable difference has been recorded in the water quality of the Green Lane Reservoir.

The chapter has a fund raising raffle underway to support local Trout in the Class and stream restoration efforts. Details for the the raffle and prizes can be found on the Perkiomen Valley Trout Unlimited website.


Membership Meetings - Perkiomen Valley Trout Unlimited general Membership Meetings are held every 3rd Monday of the month between the months of September and May, starting at 7:30pm in the Upper Perkiomen Valley Free Library Community Room at the Upper Perkiomen Valley Library 350 Main Street Red Hill, PA 18076.

Photo by culmer

We have some fantastic anglers on this site and many who have shared some wonderful images from their fly fishing experiences. Whether photography is your passion, your hobby, or just an occasional pastime, we invite you to participate in the PaFlyFish.com photo contest, recognizing the beauty and character of Fly Fishing in Pennsylvania.

There are just a few days left to enter a photograph for the PaFlyFish Photo Contest. There have been many wonderful pictures entered already. Please have all pictures entered before October 31, at 12:00 PM EST.

There have been some people having problems entering pictures. If you do encounter any issues please email me you picture at info@paflyfish.com . I reminder that only one picture may be entered per person.

Full details can be found here: http://america-promo.store/modules/smartsection/item.php?itemid=82

Harrisburg, PA - Fish and Boat Commission Executive Director Doug Austen and Fisheries Management Chief Dave Miko will be the guests tonight on PCN’s live call-in program from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. The program allows PCN viewers to speak directly with government officials and newsmakers on current issues affecting the Commonwealth.

Please check your local TV listings for the PCN channel in your area. Viewers may ask questions by dialing PCN’s toll-free number at 1-877-726-5001.

Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is inviting anglers and others with an interest in the management and protection of smallmouth bass in the Susquehanna River to a free public meeting on Saturday, January 31, at the River Rescue Building in Harrisburg.

Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is seeking nominations for the 2008 Ralph W. Abele Conservation Heritage Award, the highest recognition conferred by the agency.

Nominations are currently being accepted until February 13, 2009.