Autumn Bliss!

The weather and the water are perfect for paddling. The water is at 3.81 feet at the gauge in Vandergrift and the weather should be ideal for paddling this weekend. Anyone who hasn’t had a chance to see how beautiful the Kiski is should consider a trip. The leaves are just beginning to turn and I will keep you posted as they approach their peak. Hope to see you on the water!

Blue Heron

Sojourn Success!

Thanks to everyone who helped make the F.L.A.G. Fall Sojourn a rousing success. We started the day early in the morning in Apollo, PA. The water was on the low side, but we still made good time to Leechburg. The three hour trip was enough to build some hearty appetites! Josh and Laura at the Addison House had a wonderful pasta buffet ready for when we arrived. The food is always great and the service superb! A short presentation by Laura Hawkins rounded out our one hour break. A big thanks to Bill for watching our boats and we were back in the water. The trip to Schenley was met with questions from power boats on the lower Kiski wondering who we were and where we we were going. A quick rest stop at the Kiski Campsites and we headed out into the Allegheny River. The contrast between the two rivers is amazing! The Allegheny felt like going into the ocean after paddling the Kiski for most of the day. When we finally heard the music playing at the Riverfront Park in Freeport, I think we all felt a sense of relief. Of course when they made the announcement to the crowd that we were pulling in, I noticed we picked up the pace for the last couple hundred yards. What a great day on the rivers and what a showcase for the region!

Family Fun!

Last night I got to go out on the river from Avonmore to Roaring Run.  While the trip only lasted 3 hours it was most fun I’ve had in a long time.  Evelyn, myself, my nephew, his girlfriend, and my Dad (who is in his seventies) made the trip.  Along the way we found my favorite rope swing and stopped to try it out and swim.  The water was perfect!  We ate, drank and polished off a bunch of snacks.  After we pulled out, we spotted our second Great Blue Heron of the day.  We were able to quietly paddle to within 20 yards before it took flight.  The highlight of the trip was yet to come.  As we passed the point where Roaring Run enters the Kiski we spotted a Bald Eagle!  It was resting in a dead snag and took off directly over top of us.  What a way to end the trip!  Life is better on the river.

Signs of Spring

A sure sign of Spring is the return of the Robins. Another is the first shipment of BAIT! As the truck was pulling in to The River’s Edge the guys were waiting for their first order of Fatheads and Shiners! As soon as they got to the water they called to say the fish were biting! Tom and Chris caught a Striper and a Walleye. Dennis and Bill were at the Leechburg launch and started reeling in the Smallies. This is a good sign that this is going to be a very good year on the Kiski. Stop in to see what’s bitin’.