Greetings! It has been an amazing winter. We do look forward to spring, and hope that March this year again brings the start of the great March Brown hatches! Who doesn't like catching German Browns in the 20-inch class on the surface. But, we have to say we've been having fun along the way! Surprising numbers of trout have come to net and it was great watching different flies escape the water all winter. Catch something or not, it has all been done on Pine, Slate, and Cedar - the backdrop doesn't get much better than that! There are still a few weeks until the March activities heat up (although we have already seen a few Quill Gordons), and the Delayed Harvest stretch has the trout to raise the temperature of anyone's blood. We hope you enjoy this newsletter and its videos. Please, keep the feedback coming. And, if you get time, give us a call about conditions - maybe you'll want to visit Schoolhouse a little earlier this year!
 | Tom explains Slate Run Tackle Shop's
20% off March Trade-In & Camp Victory. |
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Pine Tree pool - Slate Run (trout takes a fly behind the dam).
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What's working...
Well, to start with, have a Quill Gordon nymph, emerger, and dry in your arsenal. Also include a BWO in all stages, midges in 16 to 22 for the surface as well as below. Add to the above these underwater imitations: yellow stone; green caddis pupa; Sili Skin Pupa; micro hot-wire golden stone; bead head emerging sparkle caddis pupa; CDC Hares Ear Caddis; bead head yellow sally nymph; green weenie; rycophilia; a pheasant tail nymph; and a Micro-wire Prince. A few green or black buggers are also a good idea. It is a pleasure fishing the nymphs or pupa dropped off the bend of the hook of a Slate Drake dry used as a strike indicator. Most of these flies have been used with success all winter but favorites would be the yellow stone, mico hot-wire golden stone, rycophilia, micro-wire prince, and the green caddis pupa. It is great watching the dry Slate Drake floating in the current, even if it is only as a strike indicator!
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Marge & Dave nymphing three Slate Run areas.
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Tom Finkbiner talks about the possibilities
of another fantastic fly fishing March!
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Bob McCullough, in the 80's, taking a break while fishing Pine. He was a great friend of Pine Creek, Slate and Cedar Runs, Babb Creek, and so many more Pennsylvania waters. In many ways we can thank Bob for his diligence in helping to recover and enhance the great cold-water resources we enjoy today.
Just a few more casts.
I remember taking the above picture of Bob. A beautiful spring day, great fishing, great conversation, great friends, and Pine Creek. What Pine Creek angler hasn't had those times on the big creek - just looking, relaxing, thinking, and enjoying. Just when you thought Bob would come up with some life-changing conclusion about thought he was having, he'd get that grin, a special look in his eyes, and he'd start with...Did I tell you about the time... There were so many times he could tell you about, and, it was a pleasure to hear them all. One I remember well was about the biggest fish Bob ever caught at night - on the Pere Marquis. He was working one of his huge wets under the surface when the fish hit (attacked). The single action reel screeched, his rod bent, and he was in for the battle of a lifetime. Bob just couldn't believe the fighting power of the fish and its ability to bulldog its way in the current and not give up line. I don't think Bob embellished the story as you could tell by the passion he still had for the fight and respect for the fish. This great angler and conservationist was not afraid at the conclusion of the tale to mention that the fish was a carp... It didn't matter to Bob, he was proud of the carp and its fighting ability... He returned the fish as he would have a great brown and told the story over and over again. Bob loved fishing, he loved the fish, and he loved life itself; he also loved where he did the fishing, and his favorite waters were those in Pine Creek Valley.
About the time the picture of Bob was taken, I was working on a story for The Pennsylvania Angler Magazine and wasn't completely sure of writing about one of my favorite places - Slate Run. After sharing my reservations with Bob about writing the story, including a nightmare about going to my favorite stretch and seeing anglers lining the shore, Bob quickly said Slate needs friends, as many as we can get. He went on to say people need to see and experience the beauty of the stream and the trout, they need to understand what an incredible resource we have right here. When they do, they'll know the trout are too valuable to keep and the resource is too rare not to protect. He wanted people to feel like each owned a piece of Slate and would be willing, if need be, to fight for its protection.
Tom Finkbiner responded to the same question in the same way, and, the story was published in the September issue of 1983. I work with Tom daily now, and talking with him reminds me of so many great conversations I had with Bob - philosophically, and always coming back to the point of what's best for Pine, Slate, and Cedar. Bob is gone now, the Pine Creek access at Blackwell is named for him. Babb Creek is now a trout stream with natural reproduction... he knew all along it would be. His vision and tenacity gave us so much that time won't erase. Right here, he helped ensure a much healthier Pine, and fly hatches we could only dream of years ago. Come to Pine, see what Bob and so many others have seen, and join in to protect our wonderful resources for the eons to come.
 | | Oak Tree Pool - Slate Run |
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Thanks for being with us again; we'll have a new newsletter in a few weeks as February turns toward March. There will be more pictures and videos as Pine and the runs change with the season. Please call us or drop us an email to let us know what is on your mind - or call to find up-to-the-minute details on stream conditions and what is happening on the water. Please, stay in touch with Pine, Slate, and Cedar by going to our website slaterun.com - we'll update as often as possible.
Thanks again for being with us!
Sincerely,
The Tackle Shop Team
Tom & Deb Finkbiner - Proprietors, etc.
Jed Grove - Sales Manager, etc.
Dave Wonderlich - Website, Newsletter, etc.
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NEW SALE
Shop rod closeouts, certain closeout waders, boots, packs, and cases now available on...
The Tackle Shop price is the "buy it now" price on Ebay... Also, many of the items can be purchased for less on Ebay auction.
Follow these steps...
1/ Go to Ebay,
2/ To the right of the search button
click on advanced search,
3/ On the left of the page
click on the blue
words "by seller,"
4/ Enter seller's
user ID -
slateruntackleshop.
All of The Shop's "buy it now" and auction products will be displayed...
To be able to return to the listing later, simply "save search."
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Shop closeout sale
continues until products are gone...
Some of the waders with closeout pricing include:Silver Label 3 Convertible Stockingfoot Wader reg. $295, now $169; Pro Guide Stockingfoot Wader reg. $395, now $225; Silver Label Bootfoot Wader with Eco Trax soles reg. $475, now $299; Sonic Weld Pack & Travel Wader Pant (x-large), now $198. Wading boots with closeout deals include: River Guard Ultralight Boot with Eco Trax soles reg. $198, now $148; River Guard Easy-On Brogue Boot with Eco Trax soles $198, now $148. Also on sale are Orvis Trout Bum Shirts in burnt red, light blue, and olive reg. $65, now $43; very limited numbers of the Under Wader Fleece Suit reg. $129, now $99.
Fly line closeout Wonder Line fly Line & Orvis Silver Label - floating, sinking, sink-tip, various tapers and weights reg. $69, now $9.95.
Helios2
Helios2 Rods coming to The Shop for spring!
Come and give the latest advance in rod design by Orvis a cast - it may be hard to leave without one!
lighter...
more powerful!
Bring your fly reel into the shop and we will inspect the line, and clean and lube the reel free of charge.
Take advantage keep your reel in top shape
The New Silver Sonic Convertible Top Waders are in!
Convert to waist high without removing suspenders - fully waterproof double-airlock interior pocket - new gravel guard makes on/off even easier - anatomically shaped feet - flexible - comfortable - breatheable - a pleasure to wear!
Come in and try a pair on...
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