“Hopefully the rain holds off for a bit and the streams won’t get blown out” mused our last patron upon walking out of our shop door last night.

The weather of late has been a mix of hope and misery and Mother Nature has clearly been off her meds going into Spring. Mid week our weather was bright and beautiful raising the hopes of the trout anglers that perhaps opening day 2023 might just be worth a go.

Alas, our hopes are dashed as a new storm system raging with rain and in some parts, tornados washed through our sleepy valley and in keeping with April Fool’s Day, kicked our angler’s in the cojo’s.

Some angler’s will still fare well as they will be fishing lakes while others will be fishing higher elevation free stone streams that rise with the rains but rarely stain. But for those who chose to stay local are going to be hard pressed to find descent water. The weather may be a blessing to some hardcore angler’s as it will definitely cull the opening day herd a bit of the fair weather fishers and those who stick it out will eventually be successful.

For now, the shop sits quiet, our open sign silently welcoming the last minute stragglers in from the weather for a bit with a free cup of cowboy coffee and fresh pasties from our neighborhood bake shop. Southwestern Pennsylvania’s 2023 Trout Season Opener has certainly been a bad April Fool’s joke for our anglers, but there is always tomorrow.

Tight lines to those who are braving the weather and giving this year’s season opener a go, god speed and keep warm and dry; may the angling gods be with you!