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First Posted: 4/8/2012

Happy Easter, everyone! Let’s start it all off with the traditions of today. Many things have changed over the years. My Easter basket as a kid (45 years ago) always included a few molded chocolates from Gertrude Hawk’s. We sold them as fundraisers for years. They usually included a plane, a Volkswagen, an astronaut and, of course, a crucifix. We are now buying less candy for the Easter baskets and more goodies like computer games and clothing.

One of my buddies at work decided against a basket and bought his son a new bike. I guess you could say that the meaning behind the tradition of Easter is simply God and family. It could come in the form of a ring of kielbasi or a spiral cut ham and, then again, a day spent without the stress of daily life would be fine as well.

I choose to be with the people I love, eating the comfort food from memories past and just sitting around the kitchen table playing games. Eventually, the ham and kielbasi will be put back on the table and the eating will start all over. While some things have changed over the years, I choose to keep a little of my Easter tradition alive. May your day be filled with whatever makes you happy and may God bless you and your family.

Trout fishing

Let’s talk trout fishing. The trout season and tradition go hand in hand. The opening day of the trout season for our area is next Saturday, April 14. More than 850,000 anglers have bought a license this year and many of them will grab family and friends to head to a local stream or lake.

Every year, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission stocks more than 3.2 million trout for anglers to cast. Many of those trout will be stocked in time for the 8 a.m. first cast next Saturday with the remainder being stocked throughout the season.

I always enjoyed the opening day when it took place the week after Easter. My lunch included Easter eggs, ham sandwiches and, of course, molded chocolates.

Fishing tips

This could be the part of the article where I try to give you fishing tips to help you catch the big ones. Well, guess again. I want you to go back to the basics. Grab a pitch fork and head to the garden. Be sure to take a coffee can along to hold the worms. Red worms are perhaps the best and cheapest bait you can use next weekend. I like fishing with them on a number 10 hook with a split shot and a swivel.

Picking bait before the fishing trip was as traditional as the trip itself. My brother and I were responsible for the worm bucket. We made sure it was always filled with worms of all sizes. Once that was done, we grabbed a $1 bag of salted shiners and bottle of salmon eggs and were ready to hit the stream.

Fishing holes

Be sure to check out your favorite first day fishing hole before the opening day.

Last year’s flood certainly played havoc with many of the streams. I helped the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission stock the Mehoopany Creek in Wyoming County this week.

It is hard to grasp the power of the water until you see the devastation first hand. The ball field at Forkston Corners doesn’t exist anymore. Many of the beautiful trout holes are now filled in and the farm fields have been claimed by rocks and other debris from the flood.

I’m not too sure how the trout will react when most of the natural structures are gone. But nonetheless, the trout are in there waiting for an angler’s juicy worm or shiny spinner.

Trout stocking

While most of the streams and lakes are already stocked with trout, a few will be stocked this week in anticipation of opening day. There is still time to follow one of the big white fleet as it makes its way to a stream for stocking.

Check the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission web page at www.fish.state.pa.us. Just click on the word trout and look for the preseason stocking schedule. Carrying a bucket to the stream for stocking is a great way to get children interested in trout fishing. I hope you consider taking a youngster fishing next week. I grew up excited about the opening day and other weekend trout fishing.

Good luck if you’re going out next Saturday.

Turkeys are talking

Part of my spring ritual includes spending time with my turkey hunting buddy, Dale Butler, scouting turkeys.

We spent last Sunday morning in Sullivan County, calling to turkeys and hiking a few of our favorite turkey hunting trails.

We started our adventure at 5:30 a.m. and pulled into our listening spot in Sullivan County at 6:15 a.m.

The morning started out misty, cold and breezy. We weren’t too sure that we would hear gobblers but the idea of our first scouting mission together was good enough for us. We waited until about 6:30 a.m. before making an owl call. Turkeys gobble to sound of an owl.

I gladly jumped on the opportunity to make the first call of the season. I said a little hoot-hoot and another hooty-hoo and, lo and behold, the turkeys started gobbling.

We left that spot after a few more gobbles and proceeded to the next listening post. Once again, a turkey responded to our calls. We managed to hear12 different gobblers that day, called in two hens and saw more than 20 deer on our travels. We are now convinced the turkeys are where we want them for the upcoming hunting season.

That, folks, is a mission accomplished with a smile. There is still plenty of time to get out and scout turkeys.

Be sure to watch Pennsylvania Outdoor Life tonight at 6:30 p.m. on WNEP-TV. We take you along on the trout stocking adventure on Mehoopany Creek. You won’t believe it until you see. Once again, Happy Easter and may God bless you and your family.