Recent Posts
Raffle Update
First off, a huge THANK YOU to all of you members who have already sent your tickets in. Most of you bought/sold all 10 tickets.
We’re off to a good start with 233 tickets sold in the first week. Our goal is to break the record of 804 tickets sold in 2024.
Members: if you haven’t already sent your tickets in, the deadline is November 15th which will be here before you know it.
Tickets are also available at PA Fly Co., 166 Three-Mile Hill Acme, PA and at Werry’s Provision, 360 West Overton Road, Scottdale, PA
FTTU Honors Long-Time Leaders
Forbes Trail Chapter of Trout Unlimited presented Lifetime Achievement Awards to two of its most esteemed and long serving members at its recent monthly meeting at the Nimick Family Education Center in Ligonier. Trout Unlimited is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to conserve, protect and restore coldwater fisheries and their watersheds.
Forbes Trail is one of forty-nine chapters in Pennsylvania and its four hundred plus members represent Westmoreland County. Each fall the Chapter presents various awards to volunteer members and local businesses who have demonstrated exemplary performance and commitment supporting TU’s mission. Activities include conducting education and outreach services to local schools and community groups, providing leadership and direction on Chapter programs and events, as well as managing trout stream research and remediation projects.
Forbes Trail created a new award this year to recognize members who have devoted years, if not decades, to serving in leadership roles, developing policy and direction for the Chapter, and managing projects and activities pursuant to its mission. The new award is titled the “Monty Murty Lifetime Achievement Award”, and was presented to both Monty Murty and Ralph Koscianski.
Monty is a Life Member of TU who served as president of the chapter for many years as well as financial reviewer. He continues to serve in various capacities at both the State Council and National level including currently assisting in developing direction and policy to address climate change and mitigate its adverse impact on trout streams. His expertise and devotion to education have led to new in-classroom and on-stream lesson plans and ecology studies. Monty is adept at working with elected officials, environmental regulatory agencies and advocacy groups to find viable solutions to technical and politically challenging environmental problems.
Ralph’s monumental contribution to serving the chapter and its mission began a couple decades ago to address the disastrous impact of acid rain on trout streams in the Laurel Highlands. While Penn State and other research groups focused on the national and regional impacts, Ralph lasered his attention on Linn Run and its tributaries. Ralph worked with academia and consultants to formulate a treatment process to remediate the water quality in Rock Run, a major tributary to Linn Run, that would allow macroinvertebrates and wild brook trout to survive. Because of low pH and alkalinity caused by decades of acid rain, trout were nonexistent in Rock Run, as well as the bugs they normally eat. By selecting crushed limestone with the appropriate chemical and physical composition, he and other volunteers began treating the stream in 2005. Today, Rock Run’s water quality has improved to the point that it supports natural reproduction of wild brook trout.
Forbes Trail applauds the award winners for their dedication to TU’s mission and for their generous donation of time and talent to make all of TU’s programs and activities successful!
Military Veterans and First Responders Relax with Day of Trout Fishing
Over 40 military veterans, first responders and guests spent Saturday, October 4th enjoying the mountain air and sunshine as they fished and reacquainted with old friends. This was the seventh, annual fishing event sponsored by Forbes Trail Chapter of Trout Unlimited (TU) and hosted by their partner, Kingston Veterans Sportsmen Club.
Saturday’s weather was picture perfect for the anglers…but maybe too sunny for the trout. Still, anglers landed several trout, a few catfish and plenty of bluegills. “That’s my biggest fish of the day for me!” yelled veteran Taz Bey who has participated in several of the events. Actually, the catfish she caught was one of the largest fish for anyone on Saturday. “I’ll be back again next year. It’s just nice to be out here with my family and friends.”
National TU introduced the program of fly fishing to veterans many years ago to bring the therapeutic healing of fly fishing to our nation’s heroes. First responders were added a few years back and the program is now called the TU Service Partnership honoring those who have served their country and communities. TU is very grateful that Kingston Sportsmen agreed to partner with them again this year. Their manicured club grounds provide ADA access to their lake, pavilion and restroom facilities. Benjamin Gess from Troop 305 finished his Eagle Scout project at 9 PM the evening before. It’s an ADA access floating, fishing dock. “It’s been almost three years since I first came up with the design.” noted Benjamin. “I wanted it ready for the veterans and first responders today”.
The morning air was cool, which was perfect for fishing. With the leaves just starting to show some fall color, and the smell of a campfire in the background, everyone was in the mood to welcome in the new season. But within a couple hours the sun was high, the air and water were warming up, and the trout quit biting.
This event takes place annually, usually the first Saturday in October, at Kingston Veterans Sportsmen Club east of Latrobe. Registered veterans and first responders spread out around the lake and started catching fish immediately. Kingston had stocked trout just days before. The lake holds trout, catfish, bass and panfish which provided action for the anglers until early afternoon.
The other partners in this annual event were Scout Troops 465 and 305. They start the event posting colors then invite veterans to participate in retiring worn American flags. The U. S. flag code requires that when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, it should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning. The Scouts and veterans join in a solemn and dignified ceremony complete with patriotic music in the background. Everyone we spoke to expressed their appreciation for the event and how they enjoy seeing the Scouts in uniform learning at an early age about serving community and country. The Scouts prepared a grilled lunch for over 100 participants.
We thank our event sponsors…Westmoreland Case Management, Fish USA, Home Depot, Giant Eagle Supermarkets, Bent Rod Bait & Tackle, JTK Outdoors and TU members.
Officer and Director Elections Coming in October
We will elect Officers and Directors for 2025 – 2027 at our Annual Meeting on Wednesday, October 1st.
This year, the offices of President and Vice President are open along with two Director positions.
What follows are short biographies of the candidates.
Nominee for President – Richard Yacksic
Rick has been married for 24 years and is a proud father of two children, two stepchildren, and grandfather to six grandchildren. He is retired from Westmoreland Casemanagement and Supports, where he led an Adult Behavioral Health Program. Rick continues to serve as a board member at Westmoreland Casemanagement and has been a dedicated member of The Ray of Hope Suicide Task Force for the past 18 years.
An active member of Harrold Zion Church, Rick’s faith and service to others are central to his life. A lifelong fisherman, he joined Forbes Trail in 2000, which also marked the beginning of his fly-fishing journey. Since then, he has enjoyed tying flies, traveling, and sharing his love of conservation and fly fishing with others. He has attended the Kettle Creek fishing outing for the past two years and continues to mentor others in both the art of fly fishing and the importance of protecting natural resources.
In addition to his passion for the outdoors, Rick is an avid reader who values lifelong learning. Whether through his professional work, volunteer service, or love of fishing, Rick has devoted his life to supporting others, building community, and stewarding the environment for future generations. Rick has served as the chapter VP since 2023 and is one of the writers for our monthly “About Trout” articles for local newspapers.
Nominee for Vice President – Lee Demosky
Lee is 55 years old, was born and raised in Latrobe and has resided in Greensburg for 25 years. He is a graduate of Latrobe High School, St. Vincent College and Widener University Commonwealth Law School in Harrisburg.
Lee has been employed as an Attorney at Law for 32 years. He is currently an owner and managing partner at Meyer Darragh Bucker Bebenek & Eck, PLLC and his office is located in the Westmoreland County Courthouse complex in Greensburg. Lee has previous experience as a District Attorney and Public Defender.
He has been a member of Trout Unlimited since 1985 and was introduced to fly fishing by Russ Mowry who used to take him to Slate Run. Lee’s son L. William Demosky is also a member of this Chapter. Lee went on the Kettle Creek trip this past year with the Chapter, attends the monthly meetings and assists the Chapter by providing legal advice.
Lee is a member of the Yellow Creek Trout Club and fly fishes year round. He routinely travels to Erie for Steelhead. And he takes an annual trip in October to the Salmon River in New York for the King Salmon Run. He also does an annual trip in December to the Lake Ontario tributaries for the Big Brown Trout Run.
Lee has been married to his wife, Lou Anne for 23 years and has 4 children.
Nominee for Director – Rick Lynch
In his own words, Rick is just a retired guy from the gas company. He had almost 45 years of service starting in an entry level position and working his way up.
Rick is Lifetime Member of TU, and has been very active with Forbes Trail for many years. He has been fishing a long time, but like many of us, more recently started fly fishing.
Rick has fished Alaska, Canada, Erie/Conneaut, Venice LA, and all over Central PA. He notes that he carried fishing poles instead of golf clubs in his company car while “working” across the Commonwealth.
Rick has been a mainstay at the Kettle Creek annual outing providing local lure and geography lessons to fellow campers. He also ties with the Gray Hackle Gang during the winter.
Rick has been married to his wife Denise for almost 20 years and they live in Jeannette. Best part…she lets him go fishing!
Rick enjoys the camaraderie of this chapter and hopes he can add to it.
Nominee for Director – Brian Zimmerman
Brian Zimmerman has served as Director this past year filling a vacancy for a one-year seat and is interested in being nominated again, this time for a three-year seat. Brian has been a TU member since 2016 and after retiring 11 years ago, became very active in our chapter.
Brian takes his fly fishing and fly tying very seriously! Brian assumed the organizational roll of our Gray Hackle Gang in 2021 and is one of the primary organizers for our annual Kettle Creek Trout Camp trip. Brian also is serving on our Education Task Force to develop a new policy, guidelines and training.
He and Jen live in Derry Township and have three grown children and four grandchildren. In addition to fly fishing, Brian enjoys hunting, gardening, beekeeping and training his 3 bird dogs.
Fall Trails Newsletter
The latest Trails newsletter is available for download. See the sidebar at right.
Action Alert - Stocking over Class A Wild Trout
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is considering a pilot program of stocking rainbow trout in a north central PA Class A wild trout stream. See the “Wild Trout” Page for more.
Rock Run Water Tests - Summer 2025
With 8 years of data collected, we have decided to do water sampling quarterly instead of monthly. We may eventually include Linn Run in our sampling as well.
Results for summer 2025 collected on June 29th are as follows:
Air Temperature – 70° F
Water Temperature – 65°
Linn Run Gauge – 1.92′
Linn Run Discharge – 14.2 ft³/sec
pH – 7.2
Alkalinity – 7.7
Registration Now Open for Veterans and First Responders Fishing Outing
The 2025 event is on for Saturday, October 4th. To register fill out and submit the form available on the Veterans Page.
Summer Picnic
The 2025 FTTU Summer Family Picnic was held Saturday, June 28th. There were 82 in attendance. We had a gourmet lunch prepared by Chef Dan Ferguson, a FTTU member and Director and there was a nice selection of raffle prizes.
I addition, we honored Angie Schultheis for her outstanding volunteer work in taking over the Education Committee, the busiest part of the chapter’s work this year.
County Commissioner and FTTU member Doug Chew offered a few words to the guests, praising our chapter’s work in the county.
Commissioner Chew said that after attending our 50th anniversary banquet in 2023, he was so impressed with our chapter that he immediately signed up as a new member after the banquet!
Thank you to all who attended and to our prize donors for making this a memorable event.
