What the Frack? - Marcellus Shale Tax

Legislation has been passed in PA for impact fees regarding the Marcellus Shale. In case you've been under a rock (made of shale, perhaps...?) Marcellus Shale is a giant natural gas reserve underneath the Appalachian Mountains, covered by PA and NY, as well as WV and MD. Coincidentally, it's also covered by some of these states most pristine trout fisheries.

As you can imagine, when trout streams go up against gas drilling, they lose. Unforutnately, that's not changing.

Congrats to Jason Pepin!

Mr. Pepin is winner of the Jig It Ice Fishing Extravaganza at Escanaba Yacht Harbor in the Upper Peninsula in Michigan, bringing home a pot of $3,000 at this charity event. 


So what did the winning haul look like? A 4.5 oz perch. 


That's right. Out of 400 odd contestants, Jason landed the only fish of the day.

So kudos to him. I hope he gets a fiberglass replica made. One can always use a new key-chain. 

Getting the itch.

Between things popping up in my personal life almost non-stop for longer than I care to think about, I haven't been hitting the water much. Since October, to be technical. In fact all things fly fishing (including this blog) have unfortunately been put on the back burner if not placed back in the fridge.

Well, that bug has hit. The past few days have been exceptionally nice here in PA (today we topped at 62) and my skin is a starting to itch. It's been way to long. Past time to clip on that license, blow the dust off of those rod tubes and fill the crisp, Spring-like mornings with curses as I work the rust out.

No Pants Subway Ride

Just another reason to be thankful I have a car. Check out this Flickr blog of people, riding the subway, with no pants.

Also, the Flyfishinado Parent of the Year goes to the mother who drug her baby girl out on the subway. Thank God some therapist doesn't have to worry about unemployment in about 20 years. Runner up is the obvious mother-with-toddler.

I have only ever been on a subway once. It was St. Patrick's Day (which should tell you about my mental state more eloquently than any words of mine could) and I still remember the remarkable stench of urine that I got to experience. I don't think I would ride one without a Haz-Mat suit on, let alone without pants.

A quick ramble.

I just read an entertaining yet insightful post from one Owl Jones. It's about some tips for new bloggers, and people interested in starting a blog. To paraphrase (and simplify) him, post things and eventually someone will become angry, spiteful,, mocking and downright mean.

I'm going to add to this. If you blog or do anything that the general public will see, you will piss some people off. And they will let you know. Many times at great length; to the point you wonder what they did with their time before find you.

Boredom Begets Innovation

It's the middle of Whitetail season in PA. I didn't go out this year, but my father did, just as he does every year. This year he ended up with a buck and two doe, kind of like he does every year.

And just like every year, we kick around an idea, kind of smile and laugh when it's brought up, then go about the butchering as we have done time immortal. What's the question?

Good-buy, Mr. Scott

One of my favorite online retails, Scott's Fly Shop, has decided to hang up the sign for the last time.

I know, I know, you're supposed to support your local shops, and all that jazz. But I'm a poor young(ish) fisherman and some of those prices are a little too steep. So I use the wonders of the interweb to keep me in fish and the bill collectors at bay.

iPad Apps - A non-exclusive rundown.

Given a laundry list of unfortunate events (hurricanes, colds that don't seem to go away and wonderful bouts of pink eye) it's been a few weeks since I was able to get any water-time. So in the interim I've been messing with some fly fishing apps for my iPad. Here's the good, bad, and ugly.....

Well.....

I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. Nor did I experience a delayed rapture from this spring.

I would like to say that I was busy doing exciting stuff, an extended fishing expedition, or even that I broke both my arms wrestling a Bigfoot and couldn't type. I could say that, but none of it would be true.

Life was suddenly turned upside down and a lot of things had to be put on the back burner for a little while. Unfortunately this was one.

To put things in a nutshell, my contract expired at the college I worked and and due to budget constraints and such it couldn't be renewed. Then, after 5 years the girlfriend and I decided that we needed some time apart to sort some things out and she and the girls moved out.  Thank God I didn't have a dog; he would have been a goner.....

On the plus side I finished my last two classes for college. I'm not collegically graduamatated and am waiting for my fancy paper to prove such.

And then, after all this, we found ourselves in the middle of a heat wave where fishing was not going to happen. So instead of blogging about how much I hate the heat and wish that I could fish, I waited until the temps became more agreeable. They've been so for that past few weeks and I even got to get out a time or two (caught my fist smallie on the fly none-the-less), so I thought it would be time for my triumphant return.

And there it is.

Things are still kind of hectic, but not so that I can't get on here a time or two a week. Who knows, I might even get to fish once or twice before the year is out......

Tight lines!!

Happy 4th!!

Happy 4th of July. I hope everyone has a great holiday and stays safe. Let's not forget that this is the Greatest Nation on Earth, but if you need a reminder, here's one:

Take that Terror Bear!!!