News

Please be sure to also check the Calendar page to find out what’s happening with the Doc Fritchey Chapter and the activities we’re engaged in.

DFTU 5th. annual Home Waters event draws 16 vets and 25 volunteers

On June 8, our 5^th annual “Home Waters” fly fishing event attracted 16 disabled veterans from the Lebanon V.A. Hospital and Harrisburg Veterans Center to the O’Gormans’ property where 25 chapter members and volunteers spent the day instructing and guiding the vets on Clarks Creek. While many of the participants had some prior fishing experience, most were introduced to fly fishing for the very first time. After introductions and a fly casting demo by Scott Stoltz, it was off to their stream beats with their assigned guides. By the end of the day, everyone was catching and releasing trout, and many were heard to exclaim, “This is one of the best days we’ve experienced in a long time!”

Our thanks go out to the chapter members and other volunteers who devoted their day to making this a memorable event for those individuals who have made personal sacrifices in keeping our country safe and secure. Special thanks go to RoseAnn Viozzi who so capably chaired the event once again this year, Keystone Applebee’s Restaurants who partnered with Bass Pro Shops to donate fly fishing tackle and provided the meals for all who participated, and the O’Gormans for hosting the event on their spacious property. You can see a photo album of the day’s activities, courtesy of Matt Dotts, at http://mattdotts.zenfolio.com/2013homewaters.

Inaugural Dr. Francis J. Viozzi Memorial Scholarship awarded to ELCO student

On Thursday, May 23, the first Dr. Francis J. Viozzi Memorial Educational Scholarship for Environmental Studies was presented by RoseAnn Viozzi to Joshua Pfautz at the Eastern Lebanon County High School ELCO Students Award Program. The recipient, a graduating senior who plans to major in Fisheries and Wildlife Management at Paul Smith College, was an exemplary choice. He is not only a scholastic achiever, but has also served as a volunteer with various community conservation organizations. As a volunteer with the Nature Conservancy, he participated in field work, including invasive plant control and tracking bog turtles. At the Ned Smith Center, he assisted with the Saw Whet Owl banding project. He has also been an active member of the high school Envirothon Club for four years where he did studies of local streams and creeks. It was a privilege and delight to present the scholarship to this young man. See Viozzi Award pictures.

Doc Fritchey volunteers plant seedlings along Clarks Creek

On May 11, a dozen chapter volunteers were joined by 2 members of the Clarks Creek Watershed Protection Association in planting white pine seedlings along the Fly Fishing Only section of Clarks Creek. The program, begun last year by the PA Game Commission, is intended to introduce white pines to replace the native hemlocks dying as a result of woolly adelgid infestations in Clarks Creek Valley. See Tree Planting for pictures of this event.

Two schools release Trout in the Classroom brook trout fry in Wiconisco Creek

Brook trout fry raised in the Math/Science Academy and Cathedral School Trout in the Classroom programs sponsored by our chapter were released recently into Wiconisco Creek adjacent to the Ned Smith Center near Millersburg. The Math/Science Academy’s  event which took place on May 3 can be viewed at  http://videos.pennlive.com/patriot-news/2013/05/students_release_trout_in_the.html. Pictures of the Cathedral School activity on May 8 can be seen at TIC_2013.

Chapter trip to Big Moore’s Run rated a huge success by participants

Saturday, May 4, was a memorable day for 10 DFTU members who participated in a chapter trip to a private fishing preserve in Potter County. Big Moore’s Run offers 3 miles of freestone water which supports a healthy population of streambred Kamloops rainbow trout, along with lesser numbers of wild browns and brookies. There is also a lake which holds a large number of rainbows stocked from an on-site hatchery. The day produced loads of rainbows in the 3-4 pound class, the majority of which were taken on a variety of woolly bugger patterns. For pics of this event, see Big Moore’s.  

Fort Hunter Garden Faire event reels in some young anglers

A beautiful spring day on Sunday, May 5, attracted approximately 1,700 people to Fort Hunter’s annual Garden Faire, some of whom took the opportunity to learn the basics of fly casting and fly tying from the 10 DFTU volunteers organized for the event by Rick LaTournous. Prizes were were awarded to kids of all ages who cast and successfully hit their targets, and a great time was had by all who participated. See Fort Hunter for pics of the event.

DCCD to conduct assessment & develop plan for Manada Creek

The Dauphin County Conservation District (DCCD) is the recipient of a planning grant from the PATU Coldwater Heritage Partnership to conduct a water quality assessment and draft a Coldwater Conservation Plan for Manada Creek. Plans call for focusing on the upper, coldwater section of the watershed which begins on Ft. Indiantown Gap property in Lebanon County and extends downstream to Furnace Road in Dauphin County. The long-term goals of this study are the reduction of non-point pollution sources and improvement in habitat to benefit the stream’s wild trout population.