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Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguin Carter Rowney sticking to what works

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Annie’s Mailbox: Between two mooching kids

<p>While trout spilled from a pipe into Lily Lake, a crowd of onlookers scrutinized this year&#8217;s fish.</p><p>They pointed out the golden rainbows as they glowed beneath the surface of the lake, offered analysis of the overall appearance of the trout and expressed their eagerness for the April 16 opening day.</p><p>But nearby, seated in a wheelchair parked at the corner of the boat launch, watched someone who, when it comes to expert opinions, had more experience than anyone at the lake.</p><p>Perhaps more than any of us.</p><p>Steve Repotski made the trip from his Mocanaqua home to Lily Lake to take in Wednesday&#8217;s preseason trout stocking. He drove himself, unloaded his wheelchair and maneuvered it through the grass to the edge of the boat launch.</p><p>Repotski is 96.</p><p>I knew he had a story to tell.</p><p>Repotski began fishing when he was 8 years old - 88 years ago, longer than most of us have been alive, and Lily Lake was always one of his favorite spots. Repotski talked about how the bass fishing always seemed to be better in the shallower waters on the backside of the lake, the panfish could always be found in the depths at the base of Penobscot Mountain and the trout being stocked on this day - as is the case every year, will disperse throughout the entire waterway before opening day.</p><p>Repotski figured he has been fishing Lily Lake for 70 or 80 years. &#8220;Since the beginning,&#8221; he joked.</p><p>Repotski purchased a senior resident lifetime license in 1985 - 31 years ago, at a cost of $10.50. Since then, it cost Repotski a little over 3 cents annually to fish.</p><p>But now, Repotski is limited to maneuvering his wheelchair to the water&#8217;s edge and enjoying the lake without casting a line.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s too much. I really don&#8217;t fish anymore,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I stopped two years ago and I miss it. But sometimes, I&#8217;ll still come up here and watch others fish. Watch the lake.&#8221;</p><p>Repotski remembers helping with the trout stockings on Lily Lake for decades. Years ago, he said, anglers would take buckets of trout and walked up and down the lake, pouring them in and spreading them out.</p><p>Repotski also spent a lot of years fishing both the Big and Little Wapwallopen Creek. When it came to trout, he preferred streams over lakes.</p><p>&#8220;I enjoyed fishing with the current. That was a fun way to fish for trout,&#8221; Repotski said.</p><p>I admired Repotski for his longevity in the sport and the contributions he made to our country. He wore a ballcap with &#8220;World War II Veteran&#8221; proudly emblazoned across the front. Repotski said he joined the Army in 1942, deployed to France in 1944 and fought in the Battle of the Bulge.</p><p>Repotski spoke humbly, yet with pride, about his service. But on this day Repotski was just happy to be at Lily Lake, watching trout, greeting anglers and enjoying a place he&#8217;s loved for most of his 96 years.</p><p>People like Repotski are to be admired, first and foremost for their service and their longevity.</p><p>But let&#8217;s not forget Repotski&#8217;s passion for fishing, a love we all share. But in Repotski&#8217;s case, it&#8217;s a love that still burns strong enough to compel him to come out to Lily Lake and just watch, even if he can&#8217;t fish. It speaks volumes to the desire to just be a part of it, even if he can&#8217;t cast a line anymore.</p><p>As we talked, a giant golden rainbow trout swooshed it&#8217;s tail across the surface of the lake.</p><p>Repotski&#8217;s eyes perked up at the sound.</p><p>&#8220;That&#8217;s a sure sign of spring,&#8221; he said. &#8220;The trout look good this year.&#8221;</p><p>Validation from a true expert.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Venesky </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_Venesky-1-2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Venesky </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Tom Venesky</p><p>tvenesky@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Tom Venesky at 570-991-6395 or on Twitter @TLTomVenesky</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Outdoors with Tom Venesky: A true love of fishing