By Ralph Scherder 

Opening day of trout season in Pennsylvania is full of tradition.  The night before – and sometimes several nights before – fishermen flock to the streams to set up tents, horseshoe pits, carry in coolers, build campfires, and even go to such extremes as to set their fishing rod or chair by their favorite pool to reserve their spot.  Many people head to the same stream they’ve been “opening up” on for the past twenty years or more.

Since I was a teenager I’ve stood along the same stretch of East Branch of Sugar Creek (in Venango County) when that 8 o’clock starting time comes.  Although the fishing has been slow the past two years, mostly due to cold weather, it has not lacked entertainment, the source of which has been my two little cousins, Zack and Shane.