Last Call for F3T Tickets and Next Chapter Meeting this Tuesday, February 16th at 7PM!

You've procrastinated long enough.  Two more weeks and the F3T movie night is here!  So if we may ask, what are you waiting for?

There are still tickets available for sale by visiting THIS PAGE for more information.

Also, at this months chapter meeting on Tuesday February 16th we'll have tickets available for sale.  Cost is $15 per ticket, and checks should be made out to "NWPATU".

Wouldn't it be cool to see YOUR fishing pictures on the big screen that night?  This is also another last call to send in those pictures for a slide show that will air on the big screen before the movie starts.  They can be emailed to the chapter at nwpatu@gmail.com or put on a disk and dropped off at Cronk Insurance, 1444 West 38th Street Erie PA.

See you Tuesday, and then see you on the 27th for a great night of fly fishing from around the world!

Fly Fishing Film Tour Tickets now for sale online!

That's right, we're back for year two of the Fly Fishing Film Tour at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center at Presque Isle.  Saturday, February 27th 2016 is the date and doors will open at 6:30 pm with the movies starting at 7:30.

Keep checking back with the F3T Website for newly added movie trailers leading up to the event.

There will be chinese auctions and other prize raffles that evening thanks to generous donations by FishUSA and Field and Stream.  There will also be door prize giveaways that evening as well.

Tickets are $15 each and can be purchased at Ticketfly.com's website.  Online ticket sales are encouraged.  After January 1st tickets can also be purchased at FishUSA, 6960 West Ridge Road Fairview PA or at Cronk Insurance, 1444 West 38th Street in Erie.

We'll do something new this year.   In keeping with the nights entertainment please send in any fishing related pictures you have to the chapter email address of nwpatu@gmail.com and we will create a slideshow to put on the big screen leading up to the start of the movies.

Any questions can be directed to the chapter email address of nwpatu@gmail.com.

Last year was a near sellout and this year we anticipate one.  Buy your tickets now to guarantee your seat when the show starts!

Save the Date: Fly Fishing Film Tour Returns!

IT'S BACK!!!!!!

Saturday evening, February 27th 7pm at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center at the entrance to Presque Isle State Park, Erie PA.

Another great night of some totally awesome movies showcasing flyfishing locations around the world on a cold winters night, along with some prizes and 175 of your closest flyfishing friends.   Where else would you rather be?

12/18/2015 UPDATE:  Tickets are now available for online sale by clicking this link!

And if you'd do us a favor, the chapter now has a Facebook page.  Please give it a like and feel free to share the F3T information that is on the page with any of your friends you think might be interested.  Your help in spreading the word will ensure the chapter has another sucessful event.

Thank you in advance for your help!

Meeting Next Tuesday November 17th

7pm at the Erie Elks Lodge.  Complete directions are in the right margin of this blog.

We will have a brief business meeting followed by a slide presentation by Bill Glecos on some interesting natural sites in the Great Falls, Montana area and fishing the Land of the Giants which is part of the Missouri River between the Hauser and Holter Dams north of Helena.

The weather outside might be turning colder, but that shouldn't stop you from joining your fellow members with some warm food and cold drinks and enjoying the presentation.

See you next week!

Chapter Meeting next Tuesday, September 15th 7pm Erie Elks Lodge

Please see the chapter calendar in the right margin for this years scheduled meeting dates and times.  Also note in the spring we'll be meeting in February and then again in April, with the second annual Fly Fishing Film Festival sandwiched in between on Saturday, February 27th 2016.

At next week's meeting we will recap our meeting with Fish Commissioner Mascharka earlier this year, also some information on a recent electroshocking of Caldwell Creek will be shared.  We'll also give an overview of how the first Fly Fishing Film Tour went and lay the groundwork for the next one.

Hope to see you there!

 

Some nice browns from the Big Hole River, Montana last month by Bryce and Erik Cronk.
Send us your photos to have featured in the next newsletter!

Trout In The Classroom Update: Waterford Elementary Releases their fish!

From Chapter Member Bob Bell:

Last week twenty-three second graders from Waterford Elementary released 74, 2-3 inch brook trout from the tank that NW chapter of PA TU donated to their classroom.

The fingerlings were part of the TIC program.  The class received the eggs in early November.  Shortly after the eggs hatched into alevins, just ask the kids they know the word.  Each day at recess teams of second graders from Mrs Bukoski's class would voluntarily skip recess to feed the fingerlings and do water changes of 3-5 gallons three times each week.

On June 2nd a school bus took the second graders to Lamson Run, a tributary to Elk creek (Note:  our chapter did stream stabilization work on this stretch, see pictures)  where each child got a Ziploc bag with 3-4 fingerling brook trout.  They were then walked to the stream where each kid got to open their bag and release the trout into the creek.  Most of the kids named "their" trout and one girl was heard saying that this "is the best day of school ever!"

Afterwards the kids performed a water test as they have all year in their class.  The water tested well, pH-8.0, nitrates-0, nitrites-0 and ammonia-0.  A good time was had by all and the kids were back in school by 11am.   

Presidents note:  A special thank you goes out to chapter member Bob Bell of Waterford.  Bob is a local veterinarian in Waterford with children who attend Waterford schools so he has a vested interest in the program.  Through Bob's efforts and oversight with Waterford Elementary teacher Stacey Bukoski this program has been a tremendous success through the years.

This is why we do what we do, the pictures prove it.  Thank you again Bob and Stacey and great job to all the kids who participated in this years program!!!!

Important Meeting April 21st: Commissioner Mascharka to speak and field questions

This will be a meeting you will not want to miss.  PA Fish and Boat Commissioner Edward P. Mascharka III (click name for full bio) will address our chapter regarding proposed changes to Delayed Harvest regulations as well as the new mentored trout fishing opportunities for youth, along with other relevant topics to our TU Chapter.  After he speaks, we will open the floor to questions from chapter members through a moderated approach by our chapter president.

I would ask all chapter members to email any questions they may have or topics they would like discussed that night to nwpatu@gmail.com  in advance of the meeting so that we may set up a preliminary agenda to follow.  I want to make sure we address everyone's concerns and stay on topic, as well as on schedule that night and feel this is the best approach to take.

Of Primary concern to TU chapters and State Council are the proposed changes to Delayed Harvest areas across the state.  Click this link for the 7 page proposal taken from the PAFBC website.  Your state council has drafted a response letter which you may view below.  Click on the actual letter to blow it up to a larger size for easier viewing.

What we need each chapter member to do:  Click on this link to send your comments to the PAFBC.  Your voice needs to be heard whichever side of this discussion you sit on!  Please note:  if an acknowledgement of electronic comments is not received by the sender within 2 working days, the comments should be re-transmitted to ensure receipt.

The commission has already received between 100-200 comments both for and against.  It is imperative that you send in your comments as soon as possible.  The Delayed Harvest concept has been THE most popular program in trout fishing the Commision has introduced in decades.  If you have ever used and enjoyed these areas then your opinion should be heard on the matter.

Notices of our upcoming chapter meeting will be sent to other TU Chapters that Commissioner Mascharka represents in his district.  We are hopeful for a large turnout at 7pm on Tuesday April 21st.

Remember to email your questions for the commisioner to nwpatu@gmail.com prior to the meeting date.

Hope to see you all there!