ClearWater Conservancy’s Third Annual Penn State Legends Fly-Fishing Clinic, held recently on Spruce Creek in Huntingdon County, raised $18,000 for an ambitious stream restoration project on a headwater tributary in the watershed.

Twenty-eight anglers came from as far away as North Carolina to Wayne Harpster’s Evergreen Farm March 16 to learn angling tactics from Joe Humphreys, Mark Belden, Vance McCullough and Greg Hoover, the four living instructors of the Penn State Fly Fishing course.

(Photo: Instructors for the day: Vance McCullough, Mark Belden, Joe Humphreys and Greg Hoover)

This year’s clinic was held for the first time at Evergreen Farms and the Carter Cottage, named after President Jimmy Carter, who regularly fishes there.The day started with a welcome by Joe Humphreys followed by a hearty breakfast.

From there, the anglers headed out into the snowy morning air to learn casting, wet fly and nymphing techniques, trout stream insects and their imitations and dry fly and streamer fishing.

They also enjoyed several hours of mentored fishing with the Legends. The day ended with a cocktail hour, including Otto’s beer and a bourbon tasting by Sam Komlenic, copy editor of Whisky Advocate magazine.

Proceeds from the day will go to a ClearWater Conservancy Riparian Conservation Program project to restore and stabilize 3,510 linear feet of a severely impaired section of Halfmoon Creek, a headwater of Spruce Creek.

Although the main stem of Spruce Creek supports a robust wild brown trout population, water quality in its main tributaries (Halfmoon Creek and Warriors Mark Run) is significantly impacted by current and past agricultural operations. Many private landowners are very interested in improving water quality but need assistance to install protective streambank fencing, forested riparian buffers, manure management practices and aquatic habitat improvements along these tributaries.

ClearWater’s goal  is to improve water quality within these tributaries so they also can support wild trout populations for future generations. Benefits of improved water quality will continue downstream throughout the Spruce Creek Watershed and onward to the Chesapeake Bay.

Angler Sponsors include: Merrill Lynch (Pittsburgh and State College offices) Nittany Distribution Services, Veronesi Building and Remodeling, Otto's Pub and Brewery, Fort Pitt Capital and Calgon Carbon Corporation.

Event Sponsors include:  Evergreen Farms, Wright Automotive Group, The Porterfield Group, Family Clothesline, Graphics & Design, Bill Gamber, Putnam Investments, WHM Group, Aurum Jewelers and Goldsmiths, Your Cigar Den, Pennoni Associates, Stocker Chevrolet, Spruce Creek Outfitters, Flyfisher's Paradise, Down To Earth Catering, Otto's Pub and Brewery, Wiscoy Pet Food Company, Brian Sullivan, Eric Porterfield, Jennifer Shuey and Orvis.

4/22/2013