Recent Posts
Public meeting for Planned Linn Run Remediation Work Announced
The Forbes Trail Chapter of Trout Unlimited has received a $25,000 grant to address some of the problems identified in our Coldwater Conservation Plan (CCP) for Linn Run released in March 2023. The current grant to implement the CCP is funded by the Coldwater Heritage Partnership (CHP). The Partnership consists of Trout Unlimited, PA Department of Natural Resources, Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds and the PA Fish and Boat Commission. The project, titled “Native Brook Trout Restoration in the Linn Run Watershed” will focus on the headwaters section of the stream and must be completed within two years.
A public meeting to explain the project will be held at the Powdermill Nature Reserve, Tuesday, March 31st at 6:00 PM. Please RSVP via info@forbestrailtu.org by March 27 if you plan to attend. Space is limited; registration is required. Visit www.carnegiemnh.org/visit-powdermil for directions.
Linn Run is a high gradient, mountain stream nearly seven miles in length, draining a watershed of ten square miles and passing through the village of Rector before merging with Loyalhanna Creek. Much of the stream runs through Linn Run State Park and Forbes State Forest which draws tens of thousands of hikers, campers, anglers, and photographers annually. The stream is prone to flooding from heavy rains and snow melts.
There are nearly a dozen state and local agencies and nonprofit organizations involved in the restoration work, each bringing unique skills and resources to the table. A work plan is being developed for the first project which will be to restore an eroded stream bank along Fish Run Trail. Recent heavy rains have eroded the trail making it dangerous for hikers and nearly impossible for an emergency extraction. Other eroded sections of the stream will be addressed as grant funding permits.
In the initial CCP studies, it was determined that the wild trout spawning waters of Linn Run were being adversely impacted by natural releases of aluminum from the forest floor and bedrock.
Aluminum can be toxic to adult fish and could be fatal to young-of-year wild trout. TU began treating the headwaters with crushed limestone in 2025 in an effort to raise the pH and alkalinity, and in the process, precipitate out the dissolved aluminum, making it unavailable to the trout. Ongoing water quality sampling along with electrofishing and macroinvertebrate surveys will determine its effectiveness.
The watershed has been damaged by decades of acid rain and the hardwood forest by gypsy moths. Hemlock Woolley Adelgid now is threatening the canopy along with severe storms resulting from climate change. Despite the adverse historical impacts, Linn Run today is a healthy, albeit somewhat fragile, stream supporting both stocked and wild trout. As one of the “crown jewels” of the Laurel Highlands, TU and its partners believe it is worth the effort to preserve it.
We invite the public to come learn about the history of Linn Run, how it has survived numerous threats and what its future may look like.
Sign-Up For The 2026 Poker Run
We are now registering entrants for the 2026 Laurel Highlands Trout Trail Poker Run.
Here’s how it works:
- The cost is $20.00 for adults and $5.00 for youths aged 15 and under
- Fish as many of the top ten streams of the Laurel Highlands Trout Trail as you can and take a “selfie” at the Trout Trail sign for each stream you visit
- email your photos to us at info@forbestrailtu.org and include a description of your trip
- The more streams you visit, the more raffle tickets you earn
- You will receive one raffle ticket for entering, an additional ticket for fishing 3 streams (2 tickets total), another ticket for fishing 5 streams (3 total tickets), another for fishing 7 streams (4 total tickets), two more for fishing all 10 streams (total of 6 tickets)
- Participation dates are from April 4, 2026 to July 31, 2026
- Deadline for photo submission is August 4, 2026
- Prize drawings will be held after the August 4 deadline
- Three prizes will be awarded in each of the Adult category and Youth category
- Winners will have their choice of cash or a gift certificate to PA Fly Co, Cabelas, Bass Pro Shop or Werry’s Provision
- Open to all licensed PA anglers and youth (flies & artificial lures where required)
- A minimum of 20 adult entrants is required
- This is not a fund raiser, all registration fees go into the prize fund
- Fly fishing is not required
- Mail your check to: FTTU, PO Box 370, Youngstown, PA 15696. Include name(s) of entrants, address, phone number, email and note on your check “2026 FTTU Poker Run”
- Registrations will be accepted until July 31, 2026
- You can download an entry form by clicking here – Poker Run Entry Form
How to find the Top Ten Streams and their signs
You can find a complete list of the streams and their locations as well as the location of each sign by visiting the Laurel Highlands Trout Trail website at:
Scroll down on the Poker Run page and here you will find detailed directions to the streams and locations of the signs including GPS coordinates.
As seen in the photo, the signs are light green and mounted on a dark green post.
You can also download a Laurel Highlands Trout Trail brochure with a map.
Most streams have two signs. The exceptions are Clear Shade Creek and the Stoneycreek River. See the instructions for these streams on the Poker Run Page of the Trout Trail website.
Good luck on your adventure in the Laurel Highlands!
Questions? email us at info@forbestrailtu.org
What a Fantastic Day at Our Fly-Tying Workshop!
Joe Barauskas
We were saddened to hear of the passing of our friend, FTTU member and fellow conservationist Joe Barauskas.
“Joe B” was an avid angler and fly tier and was always generous with his time and eager to share his skills and knowledge with others.
He was a regular volunteer/mentor at our Veterans fishing outings and enjoyed socializing with the vets.
Joe served FTTU as chair of the Advocacy Committee and as a liaison to the Mountain Watershed Association.
We will miss his companionship, good humor and upbeat personality. For guys like Joe, there’s just no replacement.
Click HERE for the obituary
FTTU Volunteers Help With Trout in the Classroom Preparations
Thank you to all of the amazing volunteers who packed eggs on January 12 for the Trout in the Classroom program! Now in its 18th year, TIC made 444 shipments of trout eggs to 430 schools, where students will learn about raising alevins from the eggs with the goal of releasing the sterile trout into local streams. The Penns Creek, Spring Creek, Forbes Trail, and Columbia County chapters of PATU participated in this year’s efforts.
FTTU also helped with fish food packing and shipping.
PAF&BC Offers Virtual Fly Tying Classes
This four-part virtual program will cover common aquatic macroinvertebrates and the flies that imitate them; basic fly tying equipment and materials; and will feature live tying demonstrations. No equipment is needed to participate.
Participants utilize their personal computers to virtually attend the program. Details on how to access this online program will be emailed to all registered participants prior to the course.
Starts February 24.
Click the Link to register.
Rock Run Water Tests - January 2026
“Niether rain nor snow…” the saying goes. Snow covered roads and 20 degree temperatures did not deter the FTTU Citizen Scientists from their duties at the mouth of Rock Run.
The results:
Air Temperature: 21° F
Water Temperature: 33° F
pH: 6.8
Alkalinity: 5.1
Linn Run Gauge: 1.94′
Linn Run Discharge: 13.8 ft³/sec
Rivers Camp Sign-Ups
The 2026 Rivers Conservation Youth Camp will run from June 14 to the 19th at Messiah College in Grantham, PA. The camp is open to boys and girls ages 14 to 17 and the deadline for applications is February 28th.
FTTU will consider sponsoring at least one Westmoreland County youth to attend the camp. Contact us at info@forbestrailtu.org if you know of an interested student.
For more information on the camp, download the brochure using the link below, or visit the camp website – riverscamp.com
Beginner Fly Tying Classes Start January 8
Beginner fly tying classes held at the PA Fly Co classroom.
166 Three Mile Hill, Mt. Pleasant, PA 15666-1346
Registration is open now (space is limited)
Includes hooks and materials for flies being tied.
$250.00 for classes (cash only)
Needs to be paid in full by December 31, 2025.
Classes starting January 8, 2026.
Scheduled every other Thursday at 6 pm.
Classes include fly tying, knot tying and fly casting.
(tools and equipment available to use at no charge during class).
Along with special guest speakers and fly tying instructors.
Last class in April will be fly casting lessons at a private lake stocked with large trout.
This is FREE to all who participate in the class.
For more information call (724) 322-0037
Thank You Larry Myers!
FTTU would like to offer our sincere thanks to outgoing President Larry Myers. Larry has gone above and beyond by serving as President for seven years!
During that time FTTU has been a very busy chapter expanding our education outreach, celebrated our 50th anniversary with a very successful banquet, continued to improve our veterans fishing outing which Larry spearheaded, and conducted a thorough cold water conservation plan for the Linn Run Watershed.
Under Larry’s leadership we have acquired several grants including a PA Fish and Boat Commission R3 Grant to equip our education efforts and a Coldwater Heritage grant to do work on Linn Run in 2026.
We presented Larry with a gift of a bamboo fly rod hand-built by Ligonier’s Gig D’Orio and an Hardy reel.
“As I’ve said many times, it has been a pleasure serving all of you and very rewarding. I congratulate our newly elected president Rick, our new Vice President Lee, our newly elected Director Rick and our re-elected Director Brian. With all of you who continue to serve on EXCOM, we have a well-structured and highly skilled governance. Our Chapter is positioned to be a strong leader for TU! I wish all of you well!”
-Larry Myers
