We will begin tap Wednesday, February 14. We have neighbors that have tapped over a month ago but we usually wait till mid February. Have had two bad years in a row but this year weather looks much better and trees seem to be healthier and more frost in the ground. We run 5-16" tube but take it down every year so we are able to clean it better and have found that the tubing last much longer. We have a new custom 3 x 14 Leader EvaporAtor 2 pan set up and are anxious to see how it runs.