What a great day it was as a family tradition was continued on a fine April morning along the stream banks of one of the finest limestone trout streams in the Eastern United States. The ritual has continued for generations in many Pennsylvania families including the Rogers' family.
Coursing through a tranquil Amish valley just east of Penn State University is the famous Penns Creek. Known for its green drake hatch next month, many eager trout anglers line the banks of Penns Creek for the opening day of trout season in Central Pennsylvania as a serious ritual similar to an annual birthday event. I'm not sure about the number of fisherman that crawl out of bed in the middle of the night to stake out their treasured piece of real estate along a PA trout stream but I would guess that there are more folks along trout streams in the state on opening day than there are folks in baseball stadiums for the traditional opening day of the baseball season.
With the complicated life that I live, I had to change our plans this year because of Top Gun Tim's Coaches Corner radio show. Always eager to exploit a good thing, I decided that since one of my property listings is a house and 3.5 acres with 210 feet of stream bank frontage along Penns Creek, I would combine the radio show with opening day of trout season and throw in an Open House for the prime piece of Central PA real estate.
Never to be outdone, my 12 year old son decided it would provide him with the perfect opportunity to raise a little money to pay for his upcoming summer Boy Scout Camp in the Finger Lakes of New York. How could I say no to an enterprising 12 year old? I didn't say no and in fact encouraged him to have fun and make a few bucks.
So the alarm clock chased us out of bed at 5:00 a.m. this morning and off we went to the property along Penns Creek. First things first so we staked out a prime fishing hole by placing a couple of fishing rods and chairs in strategic locations. On a normal opening morning we would head off to the Spring Mills Fish & Game for an early morning fisherman's breakfast of eggs, sausage, bacon, pancakes and hot coffee. Since this was a non-traditional opening morning, I placed the open house signs in key locations in the area and my son set up his food booth. On the Boy Scout fundraising menu this morning was hot coffee, doughnuts, candy bars, and later hot dogs, sauerkraut, and a variety of sodas for all the hungry fisherman.
As he diligently set up the money making operation, I set up to do the Coaches Corner radio show remote "live" from the banks of Penns Creek.
What a morning it was. I had a great live remote broadcast amid the crowds of anglers. I got to interview several anglers right along the stream bank. The Boy Scout fundraiser was a success and I had a tremendous flow of visitors through the open house throughout the morning.
I don't know what next week will hold for Top Gun Tim of Coaches Corner radio and Keller Williams Realty but I'm sure that this morning's twist on a family tradition will be hard to top.
And the best part about the morning, the young Boy Scout caught and released a wily native brown trout that was hatched and raised right in the stream. He learned just how much more fun it is to catch a native brown trout compared to the hatchery raised stocked trout courtesy of the PA Fish Commission. The photo doesn't represent the brilliant colors of the native brownie but trust us when we tell you that it was one of the most beautiful fish we have ever caught and released. There is nothing like a native brown in its natural habitat.
Tomorrow morning we will sneak out early to try our luck again but without the distraction of the radio show, open house, or the money making Boy Scout operation.
How grateful I am to live in such an outdoor Mecca that provides me with the opportunity to spend memorable time with by beloved 12 year old son. By the way, I think next Saturday morning will find us in camo behind the youngsters 20 ga. shotgun with turkey shot as we chase the elusive eastern wild turkey during Spring gobbler season.
