Chapter News Items

• Next Chapter Meeting: We will break for monthly meetings for the summer, but any informal meetings will be posted.
  
• Chapter Rod Update: The PPKTU chapter rod, awarded to a lucky chapter member for a year's use at the banquet each spring, is bringing a lot of smiles to its current owner, Bill Quigley. On a recent outing with family and friends in Pennsylvania, Bill used the chapter rod to land several nice trout, including the fat brook trout pictured below. Thanks Bill, and enjoy the remainder of your time with the chapter rod!

• A Trip With a Cause:
  Back at the PPKTU banquet in March, Mike Vernon bought a "guided" trip with me into the Blackwater Canyon. The money paid for the trip went to the chapter's numerous projects which includes assisting the WV DNR purchase limestone sand. It is the introduction of limestone sand years ago that has helped transform the Blackwater River into a very nice fishery. Well, back in April, Mike and I set the date of Monday, June 22 for the trip. This would coincide with his son Matt's semester break.

  Well, the flows Monday were not good. The Pendleton Point to North Fork section I had planned to fish was out due to flows in the upper 130s. Therefore, we planned to have lunch and then go into the canyon at the mouth of the North Fork, make our way upstream as far as the flows would allow, and then hike back out the same route. This would allow Mike and Matt to see the canyon, and hopefully catch a few fish. After seeing some sights and eating a lunch fit for kings, we drove down to the gate at the forest service road and dove into the canyon. Long story short: flows were still very high, the water was very turbulent and the fish were shutoff. We received the el-Skunko! However, we all had a great time soaking in the sights and sounds (more like roar!) of the canyon on a beautiful sunny day. Now that Mike and Matt have the general idea about the canyon, I hope they take the time for more exploration. And finally, thanks again Mike for your generous donation to the chapter! Here are a few pics from a great trip:

Trout Unlimited Mission Statement:

Trout Unlimited Vision Statement: