As part of a clean-water trend that's occurring in small creeks across the state, native brook trout have returned to a once-dead section of a Clinton County stream.

A recent fish survey of Middle Branch, a tributary to Twomile Run, found an abundance of "young-of-year" trout less than 10 cm in length, suggesting the fish are reproducing following 10 years of mine reclamation work conducted by Trout Unlimited and the Kettle Creek Watershed Association.

"Improving water quality so that brook trout, Pennsylvania's state fish, can once again thrive is a major milestone," said Amy Wolfe, director of TU's Eastern Abandoned Mine Program, in a written statement. "The 13 years of our hard work is paying off, thanks to thousands of hours spent by the dedicated volunteers of the Kettle Creek Watershed Association who have helped make this happen."

An increase in stonefly and caddisfly activity also portends well for Middle Branch. TU and the Kettle Creek group are also working on restoration of sections of Twomile Run, which is designated Class A above the polluted section.

About half of Pennsylvania's 22 Wildlife Management Units have sold out of antlerless deer tags. As of Friday, licenses remained for sale in the following WMUs (allotment / available): 1A 41,705 / 2,253. 2A 54,879 / 31,738. 2B 68,000 / 60,005. 3A 25,247 / 724. 3B 33,761 / 2,153. 3D 31,622 / 3,068. 4E 26,899 / 1,482. 5B 50,812 / 10,086. 5C 121,960 / 87,668. 5D 22,000 / 18,418. Find daily antlerless license updates at www.pgc.state.pa.us.

Kevin Hawk, of Ramona, Calif. and Buford, Ga., turned in a five-bass limit weighing 14 pounds, 13 ounces Aug. 8 to win the 2010 Forrest Wood Cup on Lake Lanier. near Atlanta. Hawk's four-day total of 20 bass beat the competition by a 2-pound, 6-ounce margin.

Erie County's Dave Lefebre, the Team Chevy pro who ranked seventh in last year's Forrest Wood Cup in Pittsburgh, finished in 32nd place.

Two United States Youth Fly Fishing Teams finished fourth and 11th in the FIPS-Mouche World Youth Fly Fishing Championships, held Aug. 2-10 in the Slovak Republic. First-team member Justin Lyons of Uniontown ranked 23rd among 61 competitors with 29,680 points. Lyons 16, attends Geibel Catholic High School in Connellsville.

Top scorer Jindrich Kalivoda logged 72,400 points for the first-place Czech team.

The annual Penn Woods West Trout Unlimited work day at Pine Creek in Hampton has been scheduled for 8 a.m.-noon Sept. 11. Volunteers get coffee, donuts and a chance to win a handcrafted 8-foot, 5-weight fly rod while working on stream enhancements. For details contact Tom Walsh at 412-486-5356.

A North Park Lake dredging project that has muddied Pine Creek is expected to be completed in 2011.

Surplus trout leftover from a state hatchery after routine stockings have been planted in sections of the Youghiogheny and Allegheny rivers. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission reported the recent release of 6-9 inch rainbows in the Allegheny from the Kinzua Dam downstream to Conewango Creek in Warren County. Browns and rainbows of the same size were stocked in Fayette County from the mouth of Casselman River downstream to Rte, 381.

In Clarion County, Mill Creek Access has been temporarily closed while construction crews repair and extend the launching ramp. It's expected to reopen this week, weather permitting. Until then boaters are asked to use the Toby Boat Launch in Clarion borough.

Local organizers of Casting for Recovery, a program supporting breast cancer recovery through fly fishing, hope to reel in enough votes to land a $250,000 grant from the Pepsi Request Project. Find details on how to help at www.castingforrecovery.org.

To cut costs, the Pennsylvania Game Commission will no longer send successful bear hunters details about their bear's age. That information is available, however, on a database at the agency's website (www.pgc.state.pa.us).

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