Merry Christmas to all!

I'd like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. Although I did not get a chance to get out this weekend due to Friday's heavy rains, I wanted to inform everyone of some upcoming news. In 2013, our family will be expecting our 3rd child... a little girl. She is due February 20th. Because of this, I will be taking a little bit of a break from the norm. There will be a limited amount of trips available and most will be fairly local. I also wanted everyone to be aware of some good news for the Lehigh River. There is also a little bit of bad news as well. Unfortunately, the Lehigh River Stocking Association did not do a fall stocking and it's due to the lack of funds. This is directly related to the lack of membership dues. I will be upping my contribution to the association this year and hope to gain more members. One thing you can do is opt out of getting the LRSA merchandise that way moreof the funds go stocking. Here's the really good news... the LRSA had asked the PFBC to donate one truck of fish this past year. The PFBC does not stock the Lehigh River but suggested that the LRSA start a coop hatchery. There is a small family owned hatchery on Samwill Creek. The Sawmill is a feeder creek that dumps into the Pohopoco. The "Po" is an awesome tailwater fishery that is fed cold water from the bottom of Beltzville Lake and dumps into the Lehigh River in Parryville. The "Po" has all 3 species of trout and all 3 have been found to reproduce naturally, although the majority of the rainbows are stocked. The creek that the hacthery is on does have some wild browns in it which will make it difficult to run a hatchery. The fact that browns are not native and the wilds are likely from the hatchery at one point will help the PFBC make a positive decision. If the PFBC agrees to the coop, they will donate the fry. The LRSA will be responsible for rearing and releasing the fish. This will mean that instead of purchasing say... 1000 trout, they can raise 6000 trout for same amount of money.