There isn’t much that John Negich of Export recalls more fondly than standing on the banks of a stream in southeastern Wyoming, fishing and watching the local wildlife with longtime friend Tom Washburn.

“Tom was my brother’s best friend,” said Negich. “And I’m Tom’s brother’s best friend. The four of us and a group of friends have fished together for the past 20 years.”

The annual trip to Wyoming came about when Negich was diagnosed with cancer in the early 2000s.

“I said to my brother, ‘We have to go somewhere every year because you never know,’ ” he said.

When Washburn unexpectedly died in September 2022, his friends joined together with his family to create a calendar made from the thousands of wildlife photos Washburn took on his many fishing trips. Proceeds from that calendar will fund an Aug. 5 youth fishing tournament in partnership with the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission.

“We could have done it at a private pond, but the commission offered to assist us with training, they supply the rods, reels and the bait,” Negich said.

Negich, along with Washburn’s daughter Amanda List of Delmont, recently returned from a trip to the Wyoming ranch, where they held a memorial for Washburn and scattered his ashes in late June.

“He was a guidance counselor and really passionate about mental health and education,” List said. “So we wanted to focus on something with kids. The fish and boat commission has been great, and they’re providing lessons ahead of time and education about catch-and-release and fishing safety.”

In addition, Sun Dawg Cafe in Greensburg will provide a free lunch to participants.

Negich said he hopes the event can help instill their passion for sport fishing and conservation in others. He recalled a family reunion where he ended up teaching fly fishing to his young nephew.

“We spent a couple hours, and he caught a couple fish,” Negich said. “And to this day, his dad tells me he’d rather fish than do anything else. Tom would really be smiling if we could do that for a couple kids who attend the tournament.”

The Thomas O. Washburn Memorial Youth and Family Fishing Day will be from 9 a.m to 1 p.m. Aug. 5 at Twin Lakes Park, 219 Twin Lakes Road east of Greensburg. It is for children ages 5 and older. A fishing license is not necessary to participate.

Registration is required by going to FishAndBoat.com. Click on the “view calendar” link under “upcoming events” to find the event listing and registration page.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)