Since December 1997, the following has taken place:

      The annual winter stocking of trout took place on December 19, 1997. T.A.P. stocked 200 Brook and 5 Palomino Trout in Benscreek, Cambria County, in addition to 200 Rainbow and 5 Palomino trout in Noels Creek, Cambria County.

      Due to no ice on Lake Rowena in Ebensburg, PA the Youth Ice Fishing Day had to be canceled on February 19, 1998. T.A.P. sponsors this event with all the equipment and bait provided free. Hope we have enough ice for next year's event.

      The annual raffle and prize give-away was held for the forest Hills Trout Co-Op and was a huge success. T.A.P. is an active member of this organization.

      Cambria County Water Conservation officer McDevitt attended our March meeting and reported about the various new and proposed regulations that are being imposed by the fish commission.

      T.A.P.'s "Equal Access Resolution" was voted down by the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen. This resolution was put together to help alleviate the on-going loss of fishable waters to live bait fisherman that are being proposed by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat commission and endorsed by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commissioners.

      Officers of the Traditional Anglers of Pennsylvania for 1998-1999:

President: Dan Pfeilstucker
Vice President: Art Noel
Acting Vice President: Lance Pinos
Secretary: Brad Stager
Treasurer: Pat Pfeilstucker
Fund Raiser: Dennis Long
Member at Large: Art Flynn
Trustee: Carl Rosenberger
Trustee: Mike Pfeilstucker

      T.A.P.'s annual Kid's Free Fishing Derby held in May was a huge success. In addition to the 700 brown, brook, rainbow, and palomino trout, two trophy "Tiger Trout" were stocked for the kids to catch. Many prizes and awards for the largest trout and palomino trout were handed out. Over two hundred kids turned out for the derby. The chicken barbecue was a sell-out. T.A.P. would like to thank all the local merchants for the money and prizes they donated.

      The Traditional Anglers of Pennsylvania stocked over 1200 trout in area streams last year. We would like to thank everyone who helped these fish in.

      T.A.P. hosted a casting demonstration to teach casting techniques to youth ages 16 and younger at the annual Portage Summerfest. Rods and reels were given as prizes for the skilled casting experts who hit the target's bulls eye. We had a lot of fun teaching the kids to cast. Well done, volunteers.

      The Youth Field Day that was sponsored by the Portage Coalition of Sportsmen was a huge success. Over ninety kids learned how to shoot shotguns, .22 rifles, and bows. Turkey calling and a live snake demonstration was a big hit. After all of those events, the kids took to the lake to try to catch more than three hundred trout that were stocked. T.A.P. is an active member in the coalition.

      T.A.P. sent written letters of opposition to both the "Yough River Trophy Trout" area and the reduction of the daily creel limit from eight to five trout. On-going opposition to the loss of fishing waters to live bait fishing is taking place by this organization.

      T.A.P. has an ongoing affiliation with the following organizations:

PA Clean Ways
Stoneycreek Conemaugh River Improvement Project (S.C.R.I.P.)
West Branch Susquehanna Rescue
Cambria County Federation of Sportsmen
Conemaugh Valley Conservancy
Pennsylvania League of Angling Youth (P.L.A.Y.), and,
Portage Coalition of Sportsmen

   T.A.P. has branched out to a new chapter. To contact the new chapter write to:

Traditional Anglers of Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania Chapter
President Al Chislo
515 E 9^th Ave
Taretum, PA 15084

T.A.P. has a great site on the web. To contact us:
Web Site: http://www.ceeme.com/taphome.htm