Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited
Conserving, protecting, and restoring Spring Creek’s coldwater fishery and watershed
SCCTU accomplishes our mission through advocacy, conservation projects, and community outreach programs.
Join us for the Chapter’s Annual Winery Event at the Beautiful Mt. Nittany Vineyard & Winery
🎉 Spring Creek Trout Unlimited – Season Kickoff Social!
📍 Mt. Nittany Vineyard & Winery on Thursday, September 3rd, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Join us for a lively evening as the Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited kicks off the season with good company, great food, and gorgeous views at Mt. Nittany Vineyard and Winery. 🍷🎶
🎟️ Your $30 ticket, which helps us to cover costs, includes:
Access to the event venue
One complimentary drink
Delicious dinner from Farmstead Fusion — a woman-owned local business serving up farm-fresh, seasonal eats
A chance to win fantastic door prizes
🥗 Dinner Menu - Choose your entrée:
All American Burger 🍔 1/4 pound beef patty (or two patties) with American Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion
Butternut Squash Salad 🥦 Mixed greens, roasted butternut squash, dried cranberries, walnuts, shaved parmesan, red onion with Apple Cider Vinaigrette (add chicken)
Roasted Broccoli Caesar Wrap 🥪 Oven-roasted broccoli tossed with fresh greens, red onion, tomato & caesar dressing in a wrap (add chicken)
Plus, pick your favorite side:
Antipasta Potato Salad 🥔
Chips
Finish up with Dessert
Come mingle and tell fish stories with fellow members, enjoy the scenery, and support our chapter's work — all while indulging in a tasty meal from a community-focused caterer. Please register by Friday, August 28, so we can give the caterer enough time to prepare.
Veterans Fishing Program Euro Nymphing Event
On July 14, 2026, several members of the Veterans Fishing Program gathered at the Big Riffle in Milesburg for some socializing and a Euro Nymphing Demo/Training presented by our very own Jamie SanFilippo and Monica Himes. An excellent discussion/question-and-answer session was followed by an in-stream demo. The ladies also helped several members gain some experience and technique. The weather was excellent, and the water was cool below the Big Spring.
The YMCA Fin & Feather Fiesta is on July 25th
The annual Duck Derby and Trout Release at the Fin & Feather Fiesta is on Saturday, July 25th at the Penns Valley YMCA. This is always a great event. For more details, see the flyer.
Use the button below to send an email to get more information or to volunteer to help collect ducks or assist with fishing.
Our Fishing Social at McCoy Dam
Despite Mother Nature's best efforts, our Fishing Social at McCoy Dam on June 25th was still a success!
About 10 of us gathered to enjoy some time together, sharing pizza, stories, and plenty of laughs before a strong thunderstorm rolled through. Once the rain arrived, the group split up; about half headed out for food and drinks, while the other half embraced the adventure and stayed to fish through the downpour.
Those who stuck it out on the water were rewarded with some great catches, lots of laughs, and memories. Sometimes the best fishing stories come from the worst weather!
Thanks to everyone who came out and made the most of the day, rain or shine. We look forward to seeing everyone at our next event—hopefully with a little more sunshine!
Veterans Fishing Program Relaunched on Armed Forces Day
On May 16, Armed Forces Day, the Veterans Fishing Program relaunched with a gathering at the Clair Property on Spring Creek. Over a dozen folks showed up. Bamboo rod builder Jim Downes was in attendance with his daughter Karen. Dave Thomas from the Altoona Chapter of Healing Waters stopped by and will be bringing his Veteran program members for a get-together on May 21. Helpers included Ray Faczan, Larry Ragan, Ford Stryker, and Dan Kerstetter, who led a discussion on knots, set up, etc. As always, much thanks to them for helping to make this happen.
Future Veterans Fishing Program events are being planned. If you are interested, sign up for the Veterans Mailing List.
STREAM Keepers Youth Program Day Camp
SCCTU is proud to host this year’s STREAM Keepers youth day camp featuring -Exploration of a Stream and Fly Fishing Recreation
Youth, ages 9-14, will observe a stream as scientists, anglers, and artists.
When: June 17, 8:30am - 5pm and June 18, 9am - 2pm
Where: Black Moshannon State Park- Education Building, opposite side of the lake from the beach area
Adults can bring the child, then leave; pick up at the end of each day. Lunch will be provided unless the child has allergies; in that case, they need to bring their own lunch.
A liability waiver will be sent electronically and can be sent back electronically or brought on the day of.
A camping area at the park is reserved for families who wish to camp overnight. If you’re interested in camping, contact Judi Sittler to reserve a spot.
New T-Shirt Fundraiser Featuring Penn State Football Player Blaise Sokach-Minnick!
The Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited is proud to say that we are partnering with Penn State Football player Blaise Sokach-Minnick for a t-shirt fundraiser to raise money towards ongoing conservation initiatives and steam restoration projects.
Blaise (@blaisesm15) had the following to say:
Growing up in Pennsylvania, our streams and rivers have always been special to me. That’s why I’m teaming up with the Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited (@springcreektroutunlimited) to give back to the waters that mean so much to our community.
We’ve created some custom merchandise, and a portion of every sale goes directly to their conservation efforts—protecting and restoring the trout streams we all love.
Whether you’re a fisherman, love the outdoors, or just want to support a great cause, grab some merchandise from the link below and help make a difference!
Get yours at this link now!
Women Angler Monica Himes Featured on WPSU Keystone Stories
Monica Himes was featured on a recent WPSU Keystone Stories video where she talked about the Women Anglers history and even caught a fish on camera! Skip ahead to 4:38 in the video to hear from Monica.
SCCTU Wins the 2025 Best Chapter Project Award
On Sept. 20, our chapter was honored with the 2025 Best Chapter Project Award by Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited for our Slab Cabin Run at Millbrook Marsh Stream Restoration & Habitat Improvement Project!
This project is a huge win for conservation, education, and our community — stabilizing 4,400+ ft of stream, reducing 422 tons of sediment/year, and supporting pollinators, woodcock, and native plant species across 6+ acres.
We're proud to have worked alongside 15 incredible partners to make this $520K+ project a success. Together, we're restoring habitat, protecting water quality, and inspiring the next generation of stewards.
Thank you to all who made this possible!
Joe Humphreys Feature Wins National Murrow Award
A short video celebrating the legacy of Penn State’s legendary fly-fishing instructor Joe Humphreys has earned a national Edward R. Murrow Award — a first for Penn State’s Centre County Report.
The three-minute piece, “Trout and Tradition: The Legacy of Joe Humphreys,” was created at Penn State University by reporter Haley Jacobs and aired on Oct. 11, 2024. The award not only honors outstanding student journalism but also shines a spotlight on Joe Humphreys’ lifelong influence on the fly-fishing community, where he has inspired countless anglers through his teaching, writing, and conservation efforts.
We Need Committee Members!
BANQUET COMMITTEE
The Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited is looking for more of our members to participate and help us in our yearly activities. We are currently seeking members to join our Event and Fundraising Committee.
The Committee is a dedicated team of volunteers responsible for organizing and executing a signature fundraising event that supports the mission of SCCTU. The primary role of committee members is to plan our largest annual fundraiser, the Annual Banquet.
If you’re interested in serving on this committee, please hit the “I’m Interested in Volunteering” button below to send us an email.
Key Responsibilities:
Event Planning: Help design the event theme, schedule, and flow to create an engaging evening experience.
Outreach & Promotion: Collaborate on guest outreach, marketing materials, and ticket sales to boost attendance and awareness.
Sponsorship & Donations: Solicit auction items, sponsorships, and donations from local businesses and community partners.
Vendor Coordination: Work with caterers, food trucks, venue staff, and entertainers to ensure smooth logistics and operations.
Volunteer Management: Organize and direct on-site volunteers during setup, registration, and breakdown.
Ideal Committee Members Are:
Team players who are excited about event planning
Creative thinkers with strong attention to detail
Good communicators and networkers
Passionate about conservation and community engagement