^ANGLER*

K^..v / OFFICIAL STATE JUNE, 1937 PUBLICATION ^ANGLER? Vol. 6—No. 6

&n— =*••>

PUBLISHED MONTHLY COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA by the BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS PENNSYLVANIA BOARD OF FISH ^j. COMMISSIONERS H3

CHARLES A. FRENCH Ten cents a copy — 50 cents a year Commissioner of Fisheries MEMBERS OF BOARD

111 CHARLES A. FRENCH, Chairman Ellwood City ALEX P. SWEIGART, Editor MILTON L. PEEK South Office Bldg., Harrisburg, Pa. HARRY E. WEBER Philipsburg SAMUEL J. TRUSCOTT 111 Dalton DAN R. SCHNABEL Johnstown NOTE Subscriptions to the PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER EDGAR W. NICHOLSON should be addressed to the Editor. Submit fee either Philadelphia by check or money order payable to the Common­ KENNETH A. REID wealth of Pennsylvania. Stamps not acceptable. Connellsville Individuals sending cash do so at their own risk. FRED McKEAN New Kensington H. R. STACKHOUSE Secretary to Board PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER welcomes contribu­ tions and photos of catches from its readers. Proper credit will be given to contributors. All contributions returned if accompanied by first C. R. BULLER class postage. Chief Fish Culturist, Bellefonte

IMPORTANT—The Editor should be notified immediately of change in subscriber's address Please give both old and new addresses Permission to reprint will be granted provided proper credit notice is given ANNUAL BASS NUMBER

Vol. 6 No. 6 ^^ J&I& ^f/ JUNE. 1937 ^ANGLER*

THE ANGLER AND BETTER BASS FISHING

NCREASED distribution of warm water species of fish life, such as the black bass, from the hatch­ eries, should insure better all-round fishing for Pennsylvania anglers in the future. To make this program most effective, however, the Board must have to the greatest extent possible, the coop­ eration of the individual fisherman.

Popularity of fishing, particularly fishing for those splendid fighting fishes of our inland waters, the small-mouthed bass and large-mouthed bass, has increased by leaps and bounds during the past ten years. The automobile and good roads have made accessible, to an even greater degree than in the instance of trout streams, rivers and lakes affording good bass fishing. This has brought about increasingly intensive fishing on such waters and resulted in heavier catches of both species of bass. With the number of anglers growing rapidly, we have every reason to believe that more fishermen will flock to our bass fishing grounds this year than ever before.

Your board has stressed during recent years the need for exerting every care in releasing under- size bass that may be hooked. Cutting the snell of the hook close to the mouth of the fish and handling the catch gently during this operation should mean in many instances the saving of that bass for future sport. There are other ways, too, in which the individual fisherman may assist in bringing about better bass fishing.

Each year, literally thousands of minnows, stone catfish and other forms of live bait are destroyed by fishermen through careless handling. While the Fish Laws permit that a fisherman may have in possession on any one day 50 bait fish or 50 fish bait, the chances are 50 to I that on his fishing trip, he will not use half that number. To crowd 50 shiners or run chubs into the average minnow pail, and drive for a distance of say 30 or 35 miles to fishing waters is a fairly good way to insure the loss of the whole lot. As a matter of fact, a dozen lively bait fish, cared for properly and fished carefully will yield a great deal more in sport during a day astream than will three times that num­ ber weakened through crowding in a bait bucket.

It is high time that we stress the vital importance of a good supply of live forage to the welfare of the bass population in stream or lake. To rake wantonly over food-producing riffles in securing helgramites for fishing or to seine out vast quantities of stone catfish from your favorite bass stream is simply to cripple your own sport. This system of "robbing Peter to pay Paul" must eventually work to the detriment of bass fishing as a whole.

On a day when either the small-mouthed bass or his large-mouthed cousin are hitting well on minnows, it is not unusual for a fisherman having that bait to take his daily creel limit of 10 bass, each over 9 inches in length, and be within the law in doing so. It is needless for me to say that one-half that number of bass would provide a fine meal for the average family. One of the most en­ couraging factors in the present day fishing situation has been the tendency of many of our sports­ man-anglers to set their own individual daily creel limits, well below the number permitted by law.

Few outdoor sports exceed in thrills the angler's sport of bass fishing, and fortunately, here in Pennsylvania, our fishermen are realizing more and more the vital role which they must play if this sport is to be improved.

Increased stocking with bass from the hatcheries in conjunction with the practice of sound con­ servation methods by the fishe'rman must eventually mean betterment in this splendid form of ang­ ling. Let's pull together. C. A. FRENCH Commissioner of Fisheries. A CAST IN THE DARK By FRED EVERETT Sketches by the author

FATALIST is a nut gone wrong. Any­ the matter—he's to blame and will have to model and struck a day when they weren't A one who believes in pre-ordination—in pay the fiddler. biting for anybody. I came home with twin a Goddess of Luck and all that tommyrot You see, it was like this. Ray had the beauties — three pounds each — caught on —is merely lacking in the essence of pres­ nerve to write a fishing book, called "Just flies when flies were not dreamed of so early ent day education—he is a barbarian. A Fishing" and then, so's he wouldn't have to in the season. year ago I could prove it to your utmost suffer all alone—you know—misery likes a Then there was the big mouthed bass—- satisfaction. But now—sh-h come over here bed fellow or sumpthin' like that—he had right here at home on Congers Lake- in the corner a moment and listen—I want the nerve to ask the publishers to have me caught at high noon on a blistering hot to whisper something—on your honor now, illustrate the book. Now I ask you—is that day when no self-respecting bass were to be don't you dare breathe a word to a soul— a friend? Well, not to be overdone (or is it caught. I fished deep down where good bass I'm a fatalist myself! outdone?) I ups and says that not only will go at such a time—and drew a blank. So 1 Maybe I'm a little cracked—or sumpthin' I illustrate said book but I'll make all my changed over to a surface plug—only a —but if I am, the Goddess of Luck made me paintings from live fish. Not that I wanted fool would do that—and on the first cast that way. You see, last year she chose me to show off but if Ray could use a whole I got a strike—a miss—I let the plug lie a for her favorite son and now—well—what? book in which to tell the world that he was second, twitched it—another strike—another —is there such a thing as luck?—Is there— a fisherman I'd show them that there were miss in those thick weeds. I drew the plug say, man, I'm telling you—for I know! Oh, others that could catch fish too. You know another inch and the whole weed-bed rose yeah—all right, I'm crazy, but let me tell how it is—at least two pebbles on the same up and swallowed that plug! I dragged in you something—I've got facts and you can't beach. the whole bed and netted it—that is, all deny facts. Well—that started things (although I that I could haul into the boat—and found I'm not one to blow my own horn—not hate the expression worse than losing a the plug snuggled in one section of it and much—in spite of that old time-worn prov­ five-pound rainbow) and how! The moment a monster bass, unhooked, tucked neatly in erb—"He who tooteth not his own horn, the I started to fulfill my contract, the Goddess another section. When I had returned the horn of the same shall not be tooted!" I'm of Luck swooped down and gathered me to carload of weeds to their natural haunts 1 not the hottest guy that ever snatched a her bosom. There I remained through the found that I had a perfect, unharmed big' mouthed bass of well over five pounds. Not three-inch lady-fingerling from a trout whole fishing season. Where I had been weighing fish by ounces, I now weighed bad for water so near the big city, where stream—at least a few others are about as they are "all fished out"! hot. Take, for instance, old Izaak Walton— them by pounds. Where I used to measure he may have been. Or Ben Robinson or Ken in inches, I now used feet—or almost, any­ Just across the road from this lake is an­ Reid. Probably they would stack up pretty way. It's a fact—you can ask Ray if you other connecting one—Swarthout's Pond. I favorably alongside me on my average days. don't believe me—he'll lie for a friend—I wanted a pickerel. I had never fished this I'm modest—I'll even admit that they might caught not only more, but larger fish of lake but in no time at all I had one of the beat me some days. Far be it from me to every variety than I had ever caught be­ best shaped and colored specimens that 1 fore. And every time that this happened brag! have ever caught—just one—the one I need­ was when I went after models for my paint­ ed, as was true of the bass and other fish Or take that guy Ray Bergman—he's a ings. Just as sure as I'm sittin' here it's —always just what I needed—no more—not good fisherman too, even if he is a friend the truth—you know that I wouldn't lie to if I fished a week. of mine. I'm not jealous—I'm always will­ you, old friend. So it went all season until fall when ing to give the devil his due. (Not that I'm Some incidents naturally stand out a lit­ suddenly I realized that one fish had es­ calling Ray the devil—I was speaking fig­ tle more clearly than others. Take, for in­ caped me—the small-mouthed bass. I had uratively, as they say.) Ray's the one that stance, up on Moosehead Lake, Me., where planned on using one from the Delaware started all this and if the world ever finds I had gone for landlocked salmon, lake River where Bergman and I had caught so out that I'm a fatalist and laughs me to trout and the native — the bespeckled many. They were beautifully colored from death because of my sudden about-face in brookie. Dad and I went to get a native those waters. It was not to be—every trip PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 3

I made to the river, it was at flood tide— blance of a logging road, across some small a canvas boat and put it on your shoulders four to six feet above normal. We caught logs laid crosswise of the road. Fred called —then push and pull, turn and twist— bass—many of them but kept only a few— it a bridge—and so into the woods for a tramp down young saplings and through too small for models. It would never do to mile and a half over rocks, through mud tough brush, duck under trees and around Put into a book a fish under a pound when holes—up this rise—down that—the over­ and between them for a quarter to half a all the others were such big models. hanging branches reaching hungrily for mile and "a ways" means something in I began to wonder if, after all, Lady the boat—into low gear—back to second— your young life. Just when I was about Luck was only kidding me. Then, when I to low and the brakes and the end of the ready to drop my end of the boat and give had reached the desperate stage—she smiled road. forcible expression to my feelings, and then her prettiest smile and I had an experience "Guess we better park here," says Fred. let the law take its course—there lay the which Bergman claims to be the fish story Either that or drive up a few trees—so we lake! °f the year. That's the way I feel about it, parked. I looked around. With the first look all my suspicions, all too—or I wouldn't bother you with it. Un­ "Where's the Lake?" I was suspicious— my hard thoughts, all the aches in my back derstand, I'm not claiming the credit—it there was no sign of water and well—we and muscles vanished. A full realization of Was Pate—not myself—who did all this. had played jokes on each other before. that expression "a perfect gem" was mine. (Y ou can't beat an alibi like that for get­ "We're comin' tu that." Fred was grin­ There was nothing left to be desired—for ting a fish tale off your chest). ning and I braced myself for the worst. It that lake was in all truth a sparkling pre­ Prom dire necessity I had made up my came. cious jewel, enhanced by its black setting of mind that I would have to take a trip up "Gotta tote in a ways." mountains. into Canada or to Maine, where fish are Yeah—"a ways"—it was all right. Load Bathed in the warm colors of the setting Hsh and the average small- sun, reflecting its swiftly chang­ mouth was about five pounds. I ing moods, unspoiled by the ma­ was telling this to a mountain­ rauding hordes from the city— eer friend of mine when he of all the lakes in these moun­ looked at me with a sort of tains it alone has escaped—to Paying squint, took his fragrant lie serene and undisturbed in Corncob from his mouth and the quiet embrace of the rolling di'awled— mountain peaks. Practically un­ "What ye wanta go off thar known, this lake has but one fer?" : sBBiiiF cabin on its banks—• labeled "I wuz tellin' ya—wuzunt I— "Game Warden's Cabin." There °ass without too much mouth." are two boats—both locked fast. 'Turribul ignernt cuss—ain't What a rare privilege—what' ^a, fer un as thinks he knows an unexpected thrill to find such Somuch erbout fishun?" a spot so near home—just twen­ |What cha mean, ignorant?" ty miles away. A sense of an * immediately felt a tingling all pervading peace settled down sensation along the vertebrae as, over my soul and I gave myself though hair was trying to bris­ up completely to its magic spell. tle up. When anyone suggests At least I had found one section ; don't know much about fish- of Paradise. lne ... ! I cannot describe my feelings p D'ja ever hear o' Island as we lowered the boat onto an ^ond?" The pipe was back in enormous, flat rock that jutted ts native habitat, exuding its out into the water. All that I Sual cloud of poison gas. could do was stand and drink ''Nope—where is it?" in the beauty of the place. Not , _ Cum eround Saturday eve— another soul, not a boat-—-the ring yer canvas boat 'n yer whole lake was ours! All around tackle 'n stuff fer all nite— us was a low shore line that ^ayhaps yu'll lam sumthin'!" reached into bushy marshes Then the sun-uv-a-gun left me from the water's edge. Great beds of lily pads blended the flat—just like that! Not another v'ord of explanation. Being a lake into the marshes. Pickerel ^sting sort of a cove—I was heaven! ?t his shack in plenty of time— Part way down the lake the °at on top of my car and shore suddenly changed—it be­ flough tackle and clothes inside came a rock-bound coast. Rocky t0 outfit the whole party, includ­ ledges — small - mouthed bass! ing myself, Fred 'Jones (the They are synonymous. Out in fently garrulous mountaineer the middle rose one mass of p-all of two or three words an rock—it gave the lake its name l0ur), his son, also Fred (good —Island Pond. I could visualize ^me at that) called "Sonny" the hidden rocky caverns in un­ Purposes of distinction, and der the water and the bronzy the rest of the family and their moss-backed dynamite that lived elatives thrown in. No — only there. Ye gods—what a place! fte three of us were going, but A terrible throbbing of the like to have plenty of every- pulse in my temples woke me from my dream. I looked around nmg—you know j10W jt js— ots of room in the car and oh, to find Fred watching me in­ e'j—you know. Besides—it gets tently, a strange smile on his °m up in those mountains when lips, between which was that he harvest moon peeks over the fatally odorous pipe. ll'ee tops. "Wa-al?" The smile broke into „ We had gone only three or a grin. tour miles from the mountain- I couldn't answer. I took an­ jei' s home over good roads when other look instead. Surely this * was directed to halt, turn was too good to be true—there snarply to the right onto a sem- iito&aimm (Continued on page 18) 4 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER RIGHT WHERE YOU WANT IT A Practical Discussion on Fly Fishing for Bass By MYRON E. SHOEMAKER

There are, however, some things over which and it must be carefully cast to avoid splash no fly caster has full control. One is adverse or commotion on the water which will scare wind conditions wThile another is obstruc­ the fish away or fail to make it rise to the tions along the streams. When such condi­ fly. The delicate trout fly will of course drop tions confront the fly caster he must neces­ more gently to the water than will the sarily know how to overcome the difficulties heavier bass lures but the bass are not so so far as he possibly can. Fly fishing, how­ easily scared as the trout. However, the ever, when it comes to accurate or distance bass lures should be carefully cast to avoid casting in actual fishing or otherwise can too much commotion on the water. In any best be accomplished when there is no wind. event the point of objective in fly casting And don't let anyone tell you that you can should be reached by casting at an imag­ cast successfully in any kind of wind unless inary target about ten feet above the water it is just a gentle breeze. surface to insure the lure dropping gently When there are obstructions along the on the water to avoid splash. Of course, if stream it is quite necessary to be able to there are obstructions to contend with then put the fly "right where you want it" and the cast must be made accordingly, that is, the obstructions will be there whether there you may have to aim lower. Before attempting to cast a fly with any accuracy you must have your equipment in proper condition and know where you de­ sire the fly to go. You can not shoot a pistol or rifle with any accuracy and kno\V what you are accomplishing without a prop­ er target to shoot at. Immediately you say, all that is necessary to hit a target is to aim and shoot. Just try it without the gun in proper condition. The bullet will go just where it is aimed according to the align­ ment of the sights and the target will be missed but when you get the gun in propel' condition and follow the fundamental rules of target shooting you will have some suc-

Fig. I. Thumb parallel.

OT long ago a letter from a reader of N the Angler reached me which read: "I am very interested in your article "Fly Fishing For Bass" appearing in the Penn­ sylvania Angler. It looks easy enough but to put the fly right where you want it is another matter, at least, I have found it that way. Your illustrations are very clear and perhaps by studying them I will have better luck." This same thought regarding accurate casting has no doubt been in the minds of many fishermen who have recently taken up fly fishing, and to some, if immediate re­ sults are not obtained there seems little use of continuing. There are some fishermen who seem to feel, or are led to believe, that Fig. 2. Index finger parallel. there is some trick or magic which has been unrevealed to them and unless the informa­ is any wind or not. The desired results can tion is given them there is little use of be accomplished by following the rules of making further attempts. Let me venture fly fishing with plenty of confidence and to state that the fisherman who wrote that practice. Of course, if the obstructions are letter has kept on trying and by now can too severe then even an expert will have put the fly "right where he wants it." You, difficulties. too, can become an accurate caster if you In view of the fact that the subject is keep on trying. It is true that there are accuracy the question of distance will be some who mil master the fundamental prin­ avoided so there will be less confusion. And ciples of fly casting a little quicker than rest assured that when it comes to actual others but in any event the ultimate success fishing with a fly you will raise more fish of the fly fisherman is the desire to succeed and catch more fish by careful, accurate along with plenty of confidence and practice. casting than by distance casting. The dis­ Naturally there are some things that will tance will take care of itself later. Haphaz­ interfere with any fly casting whether it is ard casting when fish are rising will have for accuracy or distance but there are no few or no results. The fly must be carefully tricks that have been concealed by anyone. placed so it will float over the rising fish Fig. 3. Pause position. PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 5

type of rod is usually a cheap affair and cess. The fly will go where it is aimed if When it comes to actual fly casting there is not desirable for any kind of fishing or fly you follow the fundamental rules of fly hardly a break in the entire procedure be­ casting. The cheap rod that is inclined to casting and follow them out thoroughly with tween the back cast and the forward cast have a set in it will cause trouble in making- proper equipment. except when the rod is at the pause posi­ accurate casts. Your failure to make accurate casts con­ tion, as indicated by photo No. 3, while the The selection of the line is extremely im­ sistently is not based entirely on what you line is on its backward flight before starting perative as the line is what you actually do right but on what you are doing wrong. the forward cast. Casting is really just one cast with the leader and lure simply fol- Faults must be corrected and then, com­ complete, smooth acceleration of the rod in bined with what you are doing right, there its small arc of travel, with proper rhythm will be quicker success. But remember there and timing, with the line, leader and lure is no short cut to accurate casting. Some of following through naturally by the power the contributing factors that will interfere imparted by the fisherman and the natural with any fly caster in making accurate casts power of the rod. are as follows: The first cast that should be mastered is the straight overhead cast. The others \ . 1. Improper equipment, that is, unbalanced \ should be discarded for the time being. The \ rod and line. back hand cast and the side arm cast will \ 2. Improper grip of the rod. easily be accomplished after mastering the 3. Too much use of the entire arm. overhead cast and both are done by the 4. Lifting the rod too high before applying same method and proper timing. the power stroke on the back cast. You no doubt have already agreed that . 5. Improper position of the rod on both the in order to have any success in target shoot­ w • back and forward cast. ing you must adjust the sights of the gun 6. Improper timing which must be mas­ if the target is being missed. The fly fisher­ £&]:• fT*"**^ tered and adhered to. man's equipment, then, should be properly wB^^K--. . j53»'r •*<£"'% 7. Too long a power stroke on the forward cast. Bfejj&g 8. On the forward cast, allowing the line . HH to shoot through the guides before the power stroke is completed. 9. Attempting to cast too far. 10. Improper concentration on point of ob­ jective. H. Too little patience, confidence and prac­ tice. While the eleven foregoing factors will be taken up separately, do not be confused. They are separate and distinct steps that ftujst be taken up one at a time in actual Ay casting. They are taken up in this man­ ner individually to help correct the common faults that are so prevalent among begin­ ners as well as some older fly fishermen.

lowing through as a passenger. The line must balance with the rod or the rod must balance with the line you have. A light rod should not be fitted with a heavy line any more than should a heavy rod be fitted with a light line. To make this clearer. A rod weighing from 3 to 4% ounces should not be fitted with a level line of size C or a tapered line of HCH. A heavy rod of 6 to 7 ounces should never be fitted with a level line of F or tapered line of HFH. A whippy rod will not handle a heavy line of size C or HCH any more than a stiff rod will han­ dle a line of F or HFH, and do it with any mm,„ success. Fig. 5. Position of elbow. The reel probably is the most unimpor­ tant part of the fly caster's equipment so adjusted and balanced in order to make ac­ far as actual casting is concerned. It is curate casting a success with as little exer­ simply a storage place for the line but it tion as possible. Remember that you are should be just a little heavier than the bare handling less than one pound of weight and rod. This will help to get away from that there is no necessity of over-exertion. You top heavy feeling of the rod and will make should be free from all strain or tension. it feel lighter in your hand. It may be auto­ You should have confidence in yourself and matic or single action all depending on the concentrate on your objective with a definite individual's selection. view of hitting the target. Leaders should be selected with some care The selection or conditioning of your as to length and size to compare with the equipment is an important matter and must type of line being used. By all means keep receive serious consideration. The selection away from extremely long leaders until you of the rod should be carefully made accord­ are able to handle them. A light line will ing to the type of fishing you expect to do. not call for a heavy leader any more than A heavy, stiff rod usually employed for a heavy line will call for a light weight tournament casting is not very desirable leader. A tapered leader is more desirable Fig. 4. Line in left hand. for general fishing with fly. The whippy for accurate casting and it should not be 6 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER too heavy at the end where the line is at­ the palm facing toward the body except tached. that the fingers have a free, firm grip of Your rod may be equipped with the prop­ the rod with all four fingers and free from er line to make the best balanced outfit all strain and tension. The thumb is prac­ possible. Your reel may be just the proper tically in a natural position. There is no weight to make the rod feel as light as a chance for any play of the rod in your hand feather in your hand. Your leader may be to cause any sway of the rod and it will perfectly adjusted to the line you are using be properly held to travel in its natural and just the right length and yet if the rod arc of action and under full control of the is defective in any way your success in mak- caster. With the rod under control there will be less difficulty in controlling the line. accurate casts will not be realized until the defect in the rod is corrected. The de­ With about 15 feet of line extending from fect may have been caused by your careless the tip of the rod and with a small amount use or care of the rod or it may be a rod of line stripped from the reel and held in of cheap material that will not meet the the left hand, as indicated by photo No. 4, requirements necessary to bring out the you should be ready to start casting. The proper action needed for accuracy. In order coil of line held in the left hand can be to cast accurately your rod should be in lengthened as you progress and will be good condition from butt to tip. It should quite necessary for longer casts after you be free from that soft action sometimes have learned to make the shorter casts. found in the middle section which has been By all means do not attempt to use the caused by carelessness of the owner in al­ entire arm as if throwing an apple off a lowing the rod to be put away while wet stick. All that is necessary is the action or damp; or allowing the rod to remain too of the wrist and forearm with the rod sup­ long in a damp place. The latter would plying its share of the power. The motion affect the entire rod and cause it to become that is used in fly fishing is practically the whippy. The middle section of a rod with same as that employed in using a hammer. a soft action does not compare with the rest The elbow should be kept fairly close to the of the rod in action and the result will be body with the upper arm practically paral­ vibration which will affect the entire action lel with the body. Note photo No. 5. Re­ of the rod. It will cause waste motion and member that the line you are casting is interfere with the proper control of the only being forced through thin air with no line. If the entire rod is affected by care­ apparent resistance unless there is wind to less usage and becomes whippy you will contend with. Let the rod do its share of have difficulty in accurate casting. The the work just as it is intended to do in natural power and action of the rod has place of you trying to do it all with your been ruined, the line no longer balances arm. Just concentrate on guiding the fly to with the rod, too much use of the arm will possible to get a proper grip of the rod. the point of objective without supplying too be required and accuracy will not be real­ The only grip possible will be with the tips much power with either the rod or arm. ized. Possibly the tip has been so used that of the last three fingers with the last two You are not casting for distance. Too much there is a severe set in it and it is inclined actually taking most of the burden. The power on both the back and forward cast to sway to either one side or the other de­ thumb is only pressing down on the side of will take the rod and line out of your con­ pending which way the set has taken place. the tip of the middle finger which is trol. Why? Because the power you give the This will cause trouble in accurate casting. wrapped as far as possible around the rod rod with the arm plus the natural power of Possibly a tip has been broken and repaired leaving entirely too much play of the rod the rod will force it too far back or too which will shorten the tip. If so the natural in the hand by being loosely held. This will far forward. Excessive power by the arm action of the rod has been interfered with only cause too much sway of the rod in either way will force the rod just that much and you will experience difficulty in accu­ every way and will interfere with making more out of its natural and proper arc and rate casting. The rod should be in good con­ accurate casts. When necessary to use a will cause loss of control of the line as well dition throughout and straight from butt firmer grip of the rod to avoid any sway as the rod. Too much power will cause the to tip and then with the proper line fitted there will be added tension to the wrist, line, leader and lure to be forced through to the rod you will be ready for accurate hand and forearm. There should be no strain too rapidly in place of flowing through casting. to contend with at any time regardless of easily and if on the backcast the line will what you are trying to accomplish in fly be forced downward behind you and no The next important step is the proper casting. With the thumb parallel with the doubt will result in a tangled mess or the grip of the rod with the hand. The thumb rod the hand is in a natural position with forward cast will be too high ahead of you. should be placed parallel with the rod as If on the forward cast, after a proper and shown by photo No. 1, and not the index well timed backcast, the line will be forced finger, as shown by photo No. 2, as many through too rapidly and will force the line are led to believe and which some fishermen downward or it may reach its forward limit actually put into use. You cannot properly of flight with so much speed that the lure control a rod and line with the index finger will be forced back toward you and will parallel with the rod as well as you can fall with a splash and far short of the with the thumb parallel with the rod. In objective. the first place the thumb is stronger and Lifting the rod too high before applying more rigid than the index finger and is of the power stroke for the backcast (note assistance in helping to check the moving photo No. 6) will cause the rod to go be­ rod at the proper pause position, as shown yond the proper pause position, just the by photo No. 3. It will not tire as quickly same as explained in the preceding para­ as the index finger. Why? Because nature graph, and will force the line down behind made the connection between the thumb and you with the same results as if using too forearm mueh stronger than that of the much power. Keep that line up on the back- index finger. With the index finger parallel cast by a brisk snap of the rod just strong with the rod the hand is in an unnatural enough to propel the line up behind you position. It is turned up at right angles to with the power stroke ceasing when the rod the wrist and forearm. Note photo No. 2. is perpendicular with the body. The rod will This immediately puts unnecessai-y strain naturally go just a little farther back but on the wrist and forearm and will not only it is intended to because of the natural become tiresome but will keep a tension on spring of the rod. You will find that the the muscles of the forearm. It will be im- Fig. 8. Improper position of rod. thumb parallel with the rod will assist you PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 7 in checking the movement of the rod, after 30 feet of line because in reality you are pick out a bubble or some foam which may the power stroke, at the proper pause posi­ not casting that much line. If you are using be floating by where it is not swift. Keep tion. It will also be of use when making the a9% foot rod and a 6 foot leader you will casting at them until you can come within cast a little longer by using the thumb to actually be casting but 16 feet of line. If a reasonable distance from them. After you press forward while the little finger pulls the cast is but 25 feet then you will use but have consistently cast at one definite point, toward you. This alone will give added 11 feet of line. Don't think of the distance then pick out another bubble just a little Power without overexertion and without any you are casting. Concentrate on the point farther away or off to one side and try for apparent assistance from the wrist. of objective and carry out the foregoing it. You will get so interested while doing The sixth point is one of the most im­ portant to insure successful casting whether for accuracy or distance. If there is proper timing the rest should become much easier. Timing is involved in the backcast; the length of time for the pause, according to the amount of line being used while the line is reaching the proper limit on its backward flight, and the proper time of starting the forward cast. Proper timing will allow the line to unroll behind in such a condition that it will be propelled for­ ward easily without being tangled and will allow it to flow forward and unroll to the Point of objective in a graceful manner. If too much power is put into the backcast and the forward cast started too soon there will be the same reaction that is secured in cracking a whip. The line has not been allowed enough time to unroll behind you. The forward cast is started too soon with the result that the fly probably will be snapped off with the line forced into a tan­ Fig. 9. End of forward cast. gled mess or a ruined cast. If too much time is allowed on the backcast, with just the principles. Have patience. Practice and have this that accuracy will be realized before Proper amount of power applied, the line confidence in your ability and you will soon you know it and while doing so lightning will start to fall behind you just the same be casting accurately. may strike the lure. After you have learned as if too much power had been used. The It will not be long before you will be able to put the fly "right where you want it" result will again be a tangled line behind to judge the distance you are striving to then practice to lay the fly more carefully you or a slap in the back with the line, reach and the amount of line necessary to on the water. leader and lure; or the cast may be high reach the point desired. And this must be By all means, first master the straight in front of you and far short of the ob­ mastered before you actually go after rising overhead cast. Keep the rod in its proper jective. fish. You will have little chance to drop a position at all times which will help to keep There must not be too long a power stroke fly on the water to judge the distance when the line in its proper position also. Have °n the forward cast. All that is necessary is fish are rising. Let me suggest that you your equipment in properly adjusted con­ a brisk, even snap with the power stroke place some objects on your lawn at different dition and keep casting with a definite view stopping just after the rod passes a parallel distances then practice from first one then of winning. Use the proper grip on the rod. line with the body as indicated by photo the other until you are able to reach each Concentrate on what you are doing to in­ No. 7. To continue the power stroke too far one without any difficulty. When you are sure being free from all tension and strain. will only result in a tangled line because fishing and having no rises let me suggest Let the rod supply its share of the power. you have forced the line through too fast that you pick out some object, say a stone Keep away from distance casting for the in place of allowing it to flow through nat­ in the bed of the stream where it is shallow. time being. Master proper timing, have con­ urally. The line is forced downward and if See how many times you can consistently fidence, patience and plenty of practice and it gets by your head you will be lucky. Just drop the fly on the water directly over the you will soon be able to put the fly "right apply the power stroke and then let the stone. If on a stream the water is deep where you want it." r°d follow through to a fishing position as shown by photo No. 8. The ninth point concerns what is known and James Osman tying for second place. as shooting the line through the guides and TIOGA SPORTSMEN The business meeting was called at 4:30 is used in making longer casts and princi­ TO FIGHT POLLUTION o'clock, with President James A. Brown pally in tournament casting. It, of course, presiding and Dr. Thomas R. Bailey acting is used in actual fishing etc., and will be­ Temporary closing of the headwaters of as secretary. Speakers included Game Pro­ come natural after you have learned to the county's trout streams, a shoyter season tector Leslie Wood, Fish Warden Leland handle the line properly. Don't ruin the nat­ for hunting ringneck pheasants, and a cam­ Cloos and John C. Youngman, Williamsport ural punch given the line, with the power paign to decrease stream pollution were attorney, who urged an anti-pollution cam­ stroke of the rod on the forward cast, by matters discussed favorably at the first paign. President Brown appointed a commit­ allowing the line held in the left hand to quarterly meeting of Tioga County Sports­ tee to deal with this matter in co-operation be released too quickly. This will reduce the men's Association in Morris. with the Morris Club which has already Natural speed of the line and will make the Each of the subjects discussed will be commenced action on the Babbs Creek sit­ lure fall short of the goal. In any event taken up with the member clubs and final uation. The Committee includes one member the coil of line should not be released until action taken at a subsequent meeting when from each member club, as follows: Ellwyn the power stroke is completed and the rod a composite of opinion can be had. Lewis, Clifford Warren, Joseph Borden, Wil­ begins to drop to the natural fishing posi­ Three hundred members attended the liam Howell, Lloyd Short, Frank Revie and tion. For the average casting for accuracy affair. The Wellsboro Shooting Club was Cecil Garrison. there is not enough line used to warrant winner of a 50-foot, two-position match Following dinner, motion pictures of shooting the line through the guides. over the Cowanesque Rifle Club by the close margin of eleven points. The trapshooting sports subjects were shown and dancing Don't attempt to cast too far in the be­ was enjoyed. Officials of seven member ginning and your success will be much scores were taken for the day by Leslie Quicker. By all means keep away from too Wood, Game Protector and Hugh Baker, clubs attended the session, and interest in long a leader until you are confident you Refuge Keeper, tying for first place and membership and in the next meeting to be ean handle it. When you think of making C. F. Lambertson, Joseph Borden, Harold held in July at Little Marsh was expressed, a 30 foot cast don't think of it as casting Campbell, R. H. Mornigitas, James Bowers it was stated. PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER WINGS AND HACKLES By CLAYTON L. PETERS

S the days begin to lengthen and each Mr. E. R. Hewitt of New York state will net you as much pleasure as I have A day marks the rising of a warmer, found the use of winged flies more or less had during the past two years of fishing more friendly sun it behooves the indulgent impracticable for fast moving streams years them. of light rod and feathers to begin inven­ ago, and being the inventor of the Bivisible The first a Bi-visible pattern, I have tory, so that with the coming of the trout- fly has given us not only a new fly but also named the Hybrid because it is truly a ing season he may have every single item plenty of food for thought. mixture, being tied with three different col­ in readiness. Practically every type of fly used on or hackles. After having tied several thousand flies, American waters can be imitated closely Tie a few fibers from a brown hackle to bugs, bucktails and what-nots during the enough to have taking qualities, without the the shank of the hook and after fastening past winter, I casually took a peek into my use of fiber wings. the silk select three hackles, one black, one own fly assortment (the residue from the It has been pointed out that the use of brown, and one gray of like size and suit­ past season) and to my surprise I noticed fiber from a starling wing is so transparent able for the size hook being used (sizes 12 it contained only two patterns of the winged that the print of a newspaper is plainly or 14). Strip back the fibers on each to variety. discernible through it. make them stand erect and placing them For the past several seasons I have been If the transparent qualities are so ad­ one on top of the other fasten by the hackle trying to convince myself as well as my vantageous why do manufacturers place tips directly back of the point where the fishing partners that the use of wings of one layer of fiber over the other in making tail fibers are attached. Wrap each hackle the conventional type in dry fly work is not double divided wing flies, thereby making spirally around the hook until it reaches only unnecessary but is more of a hindrance them opaque? the point where it is fastened at the eye than an asset. Where Wings are desirable on a fly, they of the hook. A few turns of white hackle at can be imitated by the use of hackle tips to the head and several half hitches complete I will admit however that a nicely tied such a marked degree of perfection that the the fly. I have found this fly superior to Royal Coachman with its conventional white use of fibrous material seems unnecessary. the single color fly and use it during the adornment is pleasing to the human eye, as The spent wing fly is being imitated in entire season. also many other patterns. its prone position with wings flat upon the The second pattern has a gold body and Comparing American conditions in gen­ water by the use of hackle tips, and it is the hackles are tied only at the head in­ eral with those in England where the just as logical to use flies in the dun and stead of Palmer fashion as in the Hybrid. Winged type of fly has made history we spinner stage with wings of the same ma­ Use the same color hackles and tie them find great differences. The slow moving terial. on in the order mentioned above with the Chalk streams of England are more adapt­ To the average angler the most important black next to the gold body, then adding able to the use of this type of fly, but we quality of wingless flies and those tied with the brown and finally the gray. This fly can have something quite different with which hackle wings is the fact that they will out­ be tied in small sizes and with long sparse to contend. wear a half dozen flies of the fiber wing hackle makes a splendid Spider pattern fol­ Fishing our turbulent mountain streams, variety, which in a single season is quite low water fishing. it is quite a feat to keep a sparsely hackled a saving. I have never seen either of these patterns fly from being constantly submerged, and For those gentle readers who have gotten anywhere for sale and am sending one of after several such drenchings the wings BUGS ENOUGH to try tying their own each to the Editor of the Angler with the take on the aspect of having undergone sev­ flies I submit the following two patterns, of hope that he makes history with them dur­ eral moults. my own invention which I sincerely hope ing the coming season.

KNOW PENNSYLVANIA hundred years ago four-fifths of the work­ and town officials, legislators, judges, con­ ing people of Pennsylvania were engaged gressmen and State employes. ENNSYLVANIANS should know more in agriculture, today only 6.7% are so en­ There are books on almost every con­ Pabout their native State, more about gaged. This is one of the significant facts ceivable subject—geologic surveys, mineral its natural resources, its industries, min­ brought out in the Eighth Industrial Di­ resources, groundwater maps, insect pests, erals, its government. While the State de­ rectory of Pennsylvania. This comprehen­ food standards, poisonous plants, common partments and bureaus have made it pos­ sive publication shows Pennsylvania's fishes, game refuges, vital statistics, tour­ sible for citizens to obtain the desired in­ growth in industry, enumerates the number ist maps, caves in Pennsylvania, earnings formation with scarcely any trouble or of people engaged in every field, gives of men and women in industry, children expense, it is realized that most people are names of industrial firms, with numbers of in industry, appropriation acts, mining not aware of the fact, and that is why the employes, in every town, city and county. laws, bulletins on every phase of educa­ demand is so limited for the more than The Pennsylvania Manual is another tion, child nutrition, and scores of other five hundred books, pamphlets and reports book that should be in every library in informative publications. A list of these on the shelves at the Bureau of Publica­ the State; probably no other book tells so State publications may be obtained by tions building in Harrisburg. much about the history of the Common­ simply sending a postcard to the Bureau How many people know that whereas a wealth, with names of State, county, city of Publications in Harrisburg. PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER

Q. Recently, a friend and myself were inch in diameter, be used. Rods, hooks and discussing the regulations governing taking lines must be under the immediate control °f panfish such as the rock bass, calico bass, of the person using the same. Not more etc. Could you clarify for us just what con­ than 50 bait fish, and not more than 50 fish stitutes a daily limit for these species? bait may be in the possession of a fisherman -4.. The Fish Laws designate that a fish­ at any one time. Along the same line, not erman can take in one day 15 rock bass, more than 50 fish bait or 50 bait fish may white bass, crappies, Strawberry or Calico be caught by a fisherman for fishing pur­ bass, and grass bass. The size limit spec­ poses in any one day. ified for any of these species is 6 inches Q. Do eels have scales? HAT with thet there high water we Minimum. Fifteen in one day, whether of A. The common eel has tiny scales, deep­ Wwas havin' last month, they was some one of these species or of the combined ly embedded in the skin. right smart ketches o' catfish. Our big crick species is the maximum number permitted Q. What was the biggest smallmouth was jest a-rarin' one day, so I goes out back by law. In other words, if an angler catches bass taken in Pennsylvania waters? o' the barn an' digs me some good red 15 legal rock bass, he cannot legally take A. The largest smallmouthed bass of worms, them kind with a sorter red vein in °ne more fish of a different species, such as, which the ANGLER has record measured 'em. Wa'n't no trouble agittin' all a feller say, a Calico bass. 22% inches in length and tipped the scales could use, so I was soon aheadin' fer the Q. Can you inform me just what con­ at 6 pounds, 3% ounces. The girth was not crick with my cane poles. stitutes "bait fish" and "fish bait"? How given. It was caught on a light casting Now then, I alus reckon thet the best niany of each can a fisherman lawfully have lure in the Susquehanna River near Har- time ter ketch catties is when the crick's ln possession at one time? risburg, during the 1935 season, by Elmer araisin' an' yaller muddylike. Once they git A. Bait fish as defined in the Fish Laws Lower of New Cumberland. fed up, an' thet's most powerful quick when !ncludes all forms of minnows except fall- Q. What are ten good standard flies for thar's a good raise, 'tain't much use afigger- fish, and all forms of killifishes and stone use in Pennsylvania trout streams? in' on doin' much. I musta hit her jest rite, eatfish. The term "fish bait" means craw- A. We may be letting ourselves in for fer I no more'n got my first line in when nsh, also known as crayfish and crabs, the something in publishing ten outstanding- the bobber goes under an' I hosses out a Waterworm", larva of the crane fly, mus- patterns of dry flies for Pennsylvania wa­ cattie thet 'ud go two pounds. Ketched three Sels and helgramites, larva of the Dobson ters. Fly fishermen being highly individual­ more in about 20 minits an' thet made plen­ fly. The helgramite is also termed in some istic, the following list is offered with res­ ty fer a good feed at home. When it comes localities "clipper" and "Dobson". In the ervations. We'll string along with our good ter eatin', I reckon they ain't any fish thet taking of bait fish and fish bait, the law friend Charlie Wetzel, however, in the fol­ swims kin beat a cattie' from good clean specifies that two rods and two lines with lowing patterns: Royal Coachman (Fan- water. n°t more than three hooks attached to each wing,) Pale Evening Dun, the Governor, I been watchin' a old he-bass on his nest "ne, a dip net, or minnow seine not over the pale watery dun, the pale watery spin­ in the flat down below whar the run comes f°ur feet square or four feet in diameter, ner, the ginger quill, the midge, the blue inter the crick. The crick's been good fer °r a minnow trap with not more than one winged olive dun, the brown bi-visible, and spawnin' an' dang ef t'other day thet nest opening, said opening not to exceed one the cowdung. wa'n't jest fuller leetle bass thet made a feller think o' these leetle black tadpoles. Nobody bothered the ol' feller none an' I "UNCLE DAN" AT (or your neighbor) : let them catch them reckon we'll be havin' plenty o' bass in the themselves. crick in the next five years. Lots o' crabs READING, SCRANTON "Don't tear out hook from small fish; cut an' clippers an' minnies fer 'em ter feed Dan R. Schnabel, Board Member, has the line close to hook and return the fish on, too. oeen very much on the go during the past back to the water. Jest a couple weeks now an' I'll be atry- several months, carrying a message of good "Don't use set line to catch fish. in' fer some o' them thar bass. It shore is **U and sportsmanship to groups in vari­ "Don't have in your possession more than good sport. es sections of the state. 50 minnows or 50 bait fish of combined Included in the list of meetings which he species at one time. attended was a moose dinner of the Izaak "Don't catch fish with your hands. It is GAME NEWS EDITOR "?alton League in Reading, one of the out- against the law. ending sportsmen's events of the year in "Don't rob your local streams of min­ STUDIES BIRD LIFE Berks County. While in Scranton, "Uncle nows. "Don't sell any fish you catch. You are We recently had a most interesting card Dan" spoke over Radio Station WQAN and from our old friend Leo Luttringer, Jr., 'ater was a guest speaker at the banquet of liable to prosecution. c editor of the Pennsylvania Game News. Leo amp 63 of the United Sportsmen of Penn­ "Don't use more than two rods, two lines is intensely interested in the study of bird sylvania, held in the auditorium of the and one hand line to catch fish. life and when it comes to ornithology he Chamber of Commerce Building in Scran­ "Don't abuse the privileges you now ton. knows his p's and q's and we don't mean have." perhaps. He and his friend Doc Sutton have "Don't catch sucker, perch, sunfish, cat­ been studying bird life in the Ozarks and LIST OF FISHING DON'TS fish or other game fish in minnow net. their findings should add intensely interest­ "Don't take fish by 'snatching' (trying to ing chapters to this fascinating science. "Don't take fish out of season. hook them by placing a treble hook or other "Don't lend your license to anyone. Sort of tough on a fishin' editor, however, device beneath their bodies and give a swift "Don't catch more than you can use. The for Leo to tell him of all those grand trout °ne you don't catch will be there another pull). streams in the bird country. We're looking °-ay. "Don't take undersize fish. forward at this writing to talking things "Don't catch fish for some other fellow By Anthony J. Lech, Fish Warden. over in greater detail on his return. m PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER

Siii:il!iii

HE meteoric rise in popularity of the our streams and lakes. While, from the of fish extermination. Time and again, as smallmouthed bass and its cousin the start, it had numerous champions in the the nets were being drawn in, bass within Tlargemouthed bass, during recent years, is angling fraternity, there were those who the narrowing half-circle leaped over the readily understandable. Introduced to most deplored the "introduction of this voracious surface floats and eluded capture. In con­ Pennsylvania waters in the '60's and early fish to our waters," contending that its sequence, the market fisherman became one '70's, the smallmouthed bass immediately presence would deplete their favorite fish­ of the most bitter critics of this newcomer captured the esteem of many fishermen of ing streams "of other less greedy species." to our waters. that era. While not a great deal was known And, for a time, some ground seemed to We have attempted in this rather sketchy concerning most effective methods for an­ exist for this charge. We have already dis­ review to give some of the facts relative gling for his bronze highness at that time, cussed in former issues the bass cycles to the introduction of one of our most his smashing strike at live bait and mag­ which were known to occur on streams popular game fishes. Under modern condi­ nificent fighting tactics when hooked awak­ such as the Upper Delaware, the bass pop­ tions, the bass, smallmouthed and large­ ened a profound angling interest that has ulation increasing rapidly for a period of mouthed, have shown an encouraging in­ constantly increased during the years. Mod­ from 7 to 9 years and then, having sorely crease in most suitable waters of Pennsyl­ ern fishermen, equipped with quadruple taxed the supply of forage available in vania. Certain problems pertaining to both multiplying casting reels, light casting rods, these waters, decreasing sharply in num­ species have cropped up from time to time, and light lures; with fly rods having plenty ber for periods varying from 4 to 7 years. and of these we may list, offhand, the fol­ of backbone, heavy fly casting lines, float­ That this was attributed in large part to lowing: (1) Protection during spawning ing lures or fly and spinner, and with the presence on bass streams of compara­ (2) Increasing the available supply of live proper tackle for fishing live bait such as tively few fishermen at the time is possible. forage (3) limiting stocking to waters pro­ the shiner, stone catfish, crayfish and hel- Another reaction that to many of our viding wide range and an abundant food gramite, have a far better understanding present day fishermen should bring a supply and (4) Reducing the present day of angling requirements insofar as the bass hearty laugh was that of the market fish­ creel limit. is concerned. As a result, increasingly erman of the era. Visualizing a slaughter heavy catches have been made in recent of bass in his nets and fish baskets com­ Protection During Spawning years. parable to the inroads which he had made Unfortunately, not only in Pennsylvania It is interesting to note, in glancing on other game species such as the wall­ but in other states providing good bass fish­ through early records of the Pish Commis­ eyed pike, this gentleman was sorely vexed ing, a small minority of unscrupulous fish­ sion, the varied reactions which attended when he found that the bass did not lend ermen annually play havoc with the bass introduction of the smallmouthed bass to itself readily to his time-honored methods during its spawning period. In Pennsyl- PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 11

vania, this usually comes in late May or time in Pennsylvania. The water has been rapidly in number, the bass soon reduced early June, the time being dependent to a fairly low and clear, good temperatures for native fish populations drastically, and then, major extent upon rise in water tempera­ the hatching of the eggs have prevailed and failing to find sufficient food of this type, ture of bass streams. After the male has, the resultant crop of young fish has been turned upon their own kind. The inevitable through tail and fin motion, swept clean a heavy. Thus natural reproduction of both result was poor fishing in these waters. saucer-like pebble or gravel bed, usually small-mouthed and largemouthed bass in In its present day bass stocking policy, about 24 inches to 30 inches in diameter, wild waters has been highly essential to the the Board first determines the range avail­ he moves away to find a female smallmouth future of fishing for both species. able for these fish, and the available supply ready to spawn. With completion of the of natural food and cover before approving spawning act, the male hovers over the Increasing Available Supply of Live Forage a water for stocking with either the small- eggs; these, adhesive by nature, cling to The black bass, by nature one of the most mouthed or large-mouthed bass. Vast new the clean gravel of the nest. Constantly on voracious fishes of the inland waters, re­ water areas such as the Pymatuning Reser­ guard during a period of from 7 to 9 days quires an immense quantity of natural voir in northwestern Pennsylvania offer a while the eggs are hatching, and in the forage in waters it inhabits. Crustaceans fertile field for introduction of the bass (the subsequent period when the helpless young such as the crayfish, larva of certain in­ largemouthed in this instance) and such are under his care, the male smallmouth is sects, particularly the helgramite, larva of waters are stocked to best advantage. The a devoted parent. By instinct, seemingly, he the Dobson fly, shiners, chubs and other Commission distributed from its hatcheries carries from the nest any object that may species of minnows, the stone catfish or last year, 167,265 bass, ranging in size "stone roller," as it is termed in some sec­ from 1 to 16 inches. tions, and the young of other species of Introduction of species of fish life foreign fishes inhabiting the same water such as to our waters has, in the past, wrought tre­ the sucker and yellow perch—all of these mendous damage to fishing as a whole, but forms of live forage provide food for the with the policy now in effect such indiscrim­ bass. After absorbing the yolk sac, the baby inate planting, not only of the bass but of fish usually find an abundance of tiny or­ other species, no longer constitutes a seri­ ganisms such as the Daphnia or water flea ous threat to good fishing. and Cyclops upon which to feed until they achieve a size sufficient to take larger food, Reducing the Creel Limit the young of the shiner, for example. It is generally agreed among bass fish­ One of the most necessary tasks of the ermen with the welfare of their sport at Board of Fish Commissioners in improving heart that the present creel limit of 10 bass fishing during recent years has been bass in one day, 9 inches in length or over, the stocking of millions of minnows in bass is too high under modern fishing conditions. waters. Heavy planting of yellow perch There are those conservation-minded sports­ may also be considered advantageous to men who contend that to cut this daily creel the bass, for the young of this species pro­ limit in half and raise the minimum legal vide vast quantities of natural food. size limit to 10 inches would be of immense Counteracting an undue increase in num­ benefit to the sport. ber of bass have been the extremely heavy Bass of both species are extremely tem­ catches of these fish in recent years by the peramental fish when it comes to feeding. fisherman. The majority of fish taken range On a morning when a stream is clearing and the fish are scattered over a flat of good Egg of the Smallmouthed bass. from legal 9-inch size to 14 inches, and this annual reduction in number tends to reduce water, actively on the lookout for food, a to considerable extent the inroads of the clever fisherman using helgramites for bait tall upon it, and drives away other fish bass on available forage. Increased interest may find little difficulty in taking his limit. *hich may approach. of many of our best bass fishermen in use Fortunately, the very moodiness of this fish Aware of this tendency, fishermen with- of artificial lures instead of live bait, re­ in its feeding, striking viciously at minnows °Ut a trace of sportsmanship in their make­ moved from bass waters to the detriment one day, helgramites, crayfish or stone cat­ up sometimes invade the bass areas. It is a of game fishes in such streams, may also be fish on another, has been a saving factor comparatively simple matter at this time regarded as an important way in which for our bass in Pennsylvania waters in re­ r° induce the adult fish to strike. A bare available live forage may be increased. cent years. hook is instinctively picked up in the mouth There is a growing tendency for fisher­ and carried away by the parent fish; a Limiting Stocking to Suitable Waters men to set their individual creel and size Moving lure, plug or fly and spinner, is When the bass was first introduced to limits, not only for bass but for other spe­ certain to induce a vicious strike, while cies of game fishes. Certainly five bass over lv Pennsylvania waters, indiscriminate stock­ * e bait such as a minnow or stone catfish ing was general. As a result, many smaller 10 or 12 inches in length should satisfy the dropped near the guardian of the nest is average sport-fisherman. e waters which formerly had furnished ex­ qually deadly. cellent fishing for sunfish, yellow perch, cat­ Commissioner of Fisheries Charles A. After the male has been taken, the eggs fish and other native species of fish life were French made a fine contribution to the bass °r helpless young fall an easy prey to nat­ virtually ruined as fishing areas. Increasing (Continued on Page 14) ural enemies— a school of minnows, sun- hsh, eels, catfish or other species inhabit- lng bass waters. To protect the bass during its spawning Period in inland waters, the Fish Laws ^esignate that the opening of the season T^r this species come on July 1. Usually, 'he spawning act has been completed by that ~|me, and the males have left the nests, ^his is one of the most vital regulations in conservation of the black bass, and during "•une, officers of the Fish Commission main­ tain a rigid inspection of bass waters to enforce it. The taking of five or six male hsh from the nests in spawning time may ^ean the destruction of from 15,000 to 20,- 000 young bass, a severe blow to future °ass fishing in any body of water. During the past six years, ideal water conditions have existed at bass spawning Day-old Smallmouthed bass. 12 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER

Luzerne—N o r t h Branch Susquehanna River, Harvey Lake. Lycoming—Muncy Creek, Loyalsock Creek, Lycoming Creek, Pine Creek. McKean—Allegheny River. Mercer—Cool Spring Creek, Neshannock Creek, Sandy Creek, Shenango River, Lit­ tle Shenango River, Wolf Creek, West Branch Wolf Creek. Mifflin—Jacks Creek, Juniata River. Monroe—Delaware River. Montgomery—Manatawney Creek, North­ east Branch Perkiomen Creek, Pennypack Creek, Perkiomen Creek, Northwest Branch Perkiomen Creek, Ridge Valley Creek, Skippack Creek. Montour — Chillisquaque Creek, North Branch Susquehanna River. Northampton—Delaware River. Northumberland—Chillisquaque Creek. Perry—Buffalo Creek, Juniata River, Shermans Creek, Susquehanna River. Pike—Delaware River, Lake Wallenpau- pack. Potter—Oswayo Creek. Snyder—M ahantango Creek, North Branch Mahantango Creek, Middle Creek, North Branch Middle Creek, Penns Creek. Somerset—Youghiogheny River. Susquehanna—North Branch Susque­ Harry Flanagan, Shohola Falls, Pike County, fishing Shohola Brook. At his heels are his two fine hanna River. bird dogs "all set to retrieve Harry's trout," writes Warden Frank Brink. Union—Buffalo Creek, Penns Creek, White Deer Hole Creek. Venango—Allegheny River, French Creek, Sandy Creek. Warren—Brokenstraw Creek, Allegheny MAJOR BASS WATERS OF PENNSYLVANIA River, Conewango Creek. The following waters of Pennsylvania of­ Crawford—Conneaut Creek, Conneaut Washington—Little Chartiers Creek, Buf­ fer good fishing for smallmouthed or large- Lake, French Creek, Oil Creek. falo Creek, Ten Mile Creek, Cross Creek. mouthed bass, and, in some instances, yield Cumberland—Conodoguinet Creek, Sus­ Wayne—Delaware River, West Branch both species. They are stocked each year by quehanna River, Yellow Breeches Creek. Delaware River. the Board of Fish Commissioners. Dauphin—Conewago Creek, S w a t a r a Wyoming—North Branch Susquehanna Armstrong—Allegheny River, Buffalo Creek, Susquehanna River. River, Tunkhannock Creek. Creek. Delaware—Chester Creek, Darby Creek. York—Bermudian Creek, West Branch Beaver—Little Beaver River, North Fork Elk—Spring Creek. Codorus Creek, Manges Mill Dam, Spring of Little Beaver River. Erie—West Branch French Creek, Con­ Grove Dam, Graybill Dam, Bairs Dam, neaut Creek, French Creek, South Branch Conewago Creek, Little Conewago Creek, Bedford—Dunning Creek, Raystown Katz Dam, Shetter Dam, Elsesser Dam, An­ Branch Juniata River, Wills Creek, Bobs French Creek, Lake Erie. Forest—Allegheny River. derson Dam, Old Mill Dam, Bieseckers Creek, Brush Creek, Lake Gordon, Thos. W. Dam, Susquehanna River. Koon Lake, Woodbury Dam. Franklin—Conodoguinet Creek, Conoco- Uerfcs—Maiden Creek, Manatowney Creek, cheague Creek, Licking Creek. Monocacy Creek, Ontelaunce Lake, Tulpe- Fulton—Licking Creek. hocken Creek. Greene—Dunkard Fork Creek, North OPPOSES SUCKER FISHING Blair—Frankstown Branch Juniata River, Fork Dunkard Fork Creek, South Fork Dunkard Fork Creek, Penna. Fork of Fish IN CERTAIN TROUT STREAMS Williamsburg Dam. From Dr. Edgar S. Krug, veteran Ful­ Bradford—Chemung River, Sugar Creek, Creek, South Fork Ten Mile Creek, Wheel­ ing Creek, Whiteley Creek. ton County angler, comes the following let­ North Branch Susquehanna River. ter relative to fishing for suckers and other Bucks—Delaware River, Neshaminy Huntingdon-—Frankstown Branch Juni­ ata River, Aughwick Creek, Juniata River, fish in trout waters. Creek, Little Neshaminy Creek, Northeast "Although I thoroughly enjoy angling for Branch Perkiomen Creek, Queen Anns Penn Central Dam, Raystown Branch Juni­ ata River, Sideling Hill Creek, Standing- any sort of fish, any time, any place, I wish Creek, East Swamp Creek, Tinicum Creek, to go on record as heartily opposing fishing Tohickon Creek. Stone Creek. Indiana—Little Mahoning Creek, Yellow on any recognized trout water except dur­ Butler—Breakneck Creek, Buffalo Creek, ing trout season, with the exception that Creek. Wolf Creek, Yellow Creek. such fishing be permitted at the mouths of Jefferson—Red Bank Creek, Little Sandy Carbon—Mahoning Creek. trout streams flowing into larger streams Creek. classed as warm water. I am also opposed Centre—Bald Eagle Creek, Moshannon Juniata—Tuscarora Creek, Juniata River. Lake. to fishing between the hours of 10 p. m- ! Lackawanna—North Branch Susquehan­ Chester—West Branch Brandywine and 4 a. m. This would still give plenty of na River. opportunity to remove at night those grand­ Creek, French Creek, East Branch Octoraro Lancaster—Big Chickies Creek, Cocalico Creek. dad's which are chiefly night feeders and a Creek, Conestoga Creek, Conowingo Creek, menace to all fish life in their immediate Clarion—Allegheny River, Clarion River, Conowingo Dam, Holtwood Dam, Middle neighborhood." Red Bank Creek. Creek, Muddy Creek, Octoraro Creek, Safe And here's news of another big wall-eye Clearfield—Little Clearfield Creek, Sandy Harbor Dam, Susquehanna River, Little taken last summer. Lick Creek. Swatara Creek, Wenger's Mill Dam. "Was my 28%"-7 lb. 9 oz., pike perch Clinton—Kettle Creek, Bald Eagle Creek, Lawrence—Neshannock Creek, North from Aughick Creek, caught October, 1936, Pine Creek. Fork Little Beaver River, Shenango River. taken on red and white plugs, reported? Columbia—Fishing Creek, Huntingdon Lebanon—Little Swatara Creek, Swatara Weighed in local store 2 hours after Creek, North Branch Susquehanna River. Creek. caught." PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER MORE WATER OPEN TO TROUT FISHERMEN A more extended fishing area along the various creeks in Northampton, Carbon, Monroe and Lehigh Counties is now avail­ able for fishermen. Large portions of land along the creeks that just a year ago were closed to the pub­ lic have, through the splendid cooperation of the land owners and sportsmen's asso­ ciation with the Recorders or Searchers from the Stream Improvement Survey Proj­ ect been opened to fishing. The results that have been achieved in the past 3 months in this stream improve­ ment survey have been most gratifying. To Bob Fry and Dutch Witmyer of Manheim with date the Recorders and Searchers of the catch of brown trout from Shohola Brook, Pike four counties have reported splendid re­ County. sults. In the combined counties—Carbon, to the Fish Commission as a probable Monroe, Lehigh and Northampton, there stream for improvement by the Panther has been 255 releases signed by land own­ Gun Club. This creek is an excellent stream ers along the various streams allowing fish­ for fishing and will be open to the public. ermen to fish along these waters and enter­ ing upon their land without the fear of In Monroe County, the Recorders and trespass. Searchers report quite a lot of land released to the fisherman on the Broadheads Creek, The land owners through their releases Cherry Creek and Marshall's Creek. This have extended to the fisherman over 121 e county has leased to the fisherman a lot of nry Zdanowslti of Vandergrift with 23'/2-pound miles of excellent fishing territory, and territory that previously was not open to Carp from the Allegheny River. these streams are being annually stocked by the public for fishing. the Board of Fish Commissioners. The Rec­ Lehigh County's Recorders and Survey­ BIG BROOKIE orders and Searchers have through diplo­ ors have secured over 90% of the Little Le­ macy and persuasive arguments, changed , Wash" Evans, one of Kulpmont's ablest high Creek to the fisherman for future fish­ the minds of many a confirmed enemy of got a 19-inch brook trout while ing. They have surveyed and sketched over the fisherman, to one who is now willing to Ashing in Roaring Creek, Columbia county, 70% of this stream. They are now working 11 go hand in hand with the fisherman and the has been reported. on the Jordan Creek, another of the excel­ Board of Fish Commissioners for this sport. The trout was one of the largest ever lent creeks of Lehigh County. Caught in this region. Brook trout seldom In Northampton County, the Recorders It will be the pleasure of the Stream Im­ measure more than 16 or 17 inches. and Searchers have worked on securing re­ provement Survey Program through the With Evans when he got the whopper was leases on the Bushkill Creek, Martins Creek, PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER to bring to Richard Penman, also of Kulpmont. Little Martins Creek, Saucon Creek, and the you from month to month more land that The trout, after being measured, was also Monocacy Creek. The Bushkill Creek has is being released by the Board on the vari­ Photographed. been released for over 90% of the Creek. ous creeks in Carbon, Monroe, Lehigh and This gives the fisherman in the vicinity of Northampton Counties. the Creek over 20 miles of excellent trout HAROLD E. HUEBNER COMMISSIONER WEBER fishing. This creek has been stocked annual­ Project Head ly by the Fish Commission. The Martins Works Progress Administration. LANDS RECORD TROUT Creek flowing from Tott's Gap in the Poco- It will take a mammoth rainbow nos has been released for over 90% of its trout to beat this one during the pres­ length; this is approximately 18 miles of ' ,, ent season. a very good trout fishing stream. The Lit­ When Harry Weber, of Philipsburg, tle Martins Creek, a smaller stream than / a member of the Fish Commission, the Martins Creek, is released to its en­ expresses an opinion on the subject of tirety by the Recorders and Searchers. The fishing, anglers can rest assured that Saucon Creek is released for over 5 miles. they are not hearing the musings of This is the stream that flows through the an armchair and pipe sportsman, for town of Bethlehem and is fished regularly Harry proved himself a real angler at by the fishermen of that vicinity. This the opening of the' Fishermen's Para­ stream already has some improvements that dise on May 11. were placed there by the Fish Commission. The Monocacy Creek has at present been The Commissioner, who spent the started, but the Recorders and Searchers greater part of the day at the Para­ have reported good progress. The Recorders dise, finally succumbed to the lure of and Searchers have also surveyed and the rippling water; got out his rod a sketched over 15 miles of stream in the nd line, and expertly drew a bucktail county of Northampton. hire through a deep pool. Suddenly the Commissioner's rod In Carbon County the Recorders and hent almost double, and in the ensuing Searchers have been working on the Hayes minutes a large crowd of spectators Creek, Big Creek or Pohopoco, Drakes drew around for the final act — the Creek and tributaries. To date the Record­ landing of the trout. When this had ers and Searchers have obtained 51 releases been accomplished and the proud from land owners and this means that there angler had taken his catch to the gate are available to the Carbon County fisher­ to be recorded, it was found that the man over 30 miles of good fishing streams. trout measured 25 inches in length, All" these streams are excellent trout and tipped the scales at S'/i pounds— streams. The Recorders and Searchers have the largest trout caught at the Para­ completed the Hayes Creek, Pohopoco dise during the day. Creek and Drakes Creek in history and sur­ Special Warden Clarence Miles of West Chester vey. The Drakes Creek is being suggested caught this fine largemouthed bass last season. 14 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER SPEAKING OF BASS AN UNUSUAL PHOTO OF A DEAN (Continued from Page 11) OF FLY CASTERS fishing sport when he advanced a slogan that today is being widely followed by the bass fishing fraternity—"Lose A Hook—- And Spare A Bass." Subsequent findings relative to this policy indicate that at least 90% of undersize bass, released with hooks embedded internally, continue to live. By merely cutting the snell of the hook or line close to the mouth of the fish, and perform­ ing- this operation with care, thousands of husky young bass from 6 to just short of 9 inches in length have been and can be saved by our fishermen for their future sport. Stomach juices of the fish eventually tend to dissolve the hook, it has been found. It has been demonstrated in bass fishing, just as in fishing for trout, that the indi­ vidual fisherman may play a vital role i"! the drive for better future fishing.

FREELAND SPORTSMEN STAGE BIG BANQUET Speaking before 200 members of the Lu­ zerne County Game and Fish Conservation Association of Freeland on the evening of May 5, Samuel J. Truscott, Board member of Dalton, discussed, in a forceful addresSi the "Fishermen's Omnibus Bill", which gives the Fish Commission discretionary powers. He outlined the bill in detail, ex­ plaining its various phases. He also discussed the distribution of more than 300 million fish in 1936 by the com­ mission ; stressed the fact that he wants the fish wardens to avoid arrests for technical , violations; discussed bass production which he said is increasing rapidly, and outlined the work of the commission in general. The program follows: , Toastmaster's remarks—Attorney G. J' ( Bruger, of Freeland. , Kemarks—J. Ross Fox, of White Haven> . president of the Lower Luzerne County ] Federation of Sportsmen. Vocal solo—Edward Phillips, accom­ panied by Miss Margaret Williams, both of Freeland. Remarks—Harry Meiss, of Wilkes-Barrft Luzei-ne county game protector. Remarks — Russell Wommelsdorf, of Kingston, Luzerne county fish warden. Remarks—J. E. Gilford, of Forty Fork Northeast District supervising game pro' tector. Remarks—Had Smith, of Wilkes-Barre. chairman of the Northeast District, Penfi' sylvania Federation of Sportsmen. Remarks—Ralph Flough, of White Haveni game protector. Address—S. J. Truscott, of Dalton, Pa. During the course of the program, Rus­ The tremendous power in a fly rod han­ in fly casting may be seen in the way Mr. Haas is holding his cigarette. He is well sell Wommelsdorf, Harry Meiss, Ralph dled by an expert is known to only a few Flough and Keith Harter entertained W who would cast the dry or wet fly. known for his artistry with a 'fly rod in the western end of the state and attains singing "Merrily We Roll Along." Mr. Har' This photograph of John C. (Jack) Haas casts of around 80 feet under actual fishing ter is Lackawanna county fish warden. of Butler, illustrates the point nicely. conditions with ease. Haas may very prop­ Music for the evening was furnished W Mr. Haas has just given the forward im­ erly be classed a "Dean of Flycasters." the Paradise Hawaiian Trio, of Freeland- pulse to the handle of his rod and the rod Mr. Haas claims that the dry fly caster is vibrating in taking up the drag of the has it on the wet fly caster because, to "I heard that you made $50,000 in Chi'j back cast and shooting it forward in com­ quote him, "you can fish a dry fly wet, but cago in a week. Is it true?" pletion of the cast. Amazing as it may you cannot fish a wet fly dry." All a dry "Sure it's true, but it's wrong in foil* seem, all of this took place in 1/100 of a fly caster needs to do when they are taking places. It wasn't Chicago, it was Toledo. « second and was recorded by a focal plane them wet is to expectorate in the palm of wasn't a week, it was a year. It wasii'11 ^ shutter of a camera. his hand and "anoint" the dry fly. He im­ $50,000, it was $5,000, and I didn't make $ The "tip-off" as to the proper relaxation mediately has a very effective wet fly. I lost it." PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 15 TROUT STOCKED HEAVILY FOR SEASON OPENING In preparation for the opening of the Creek; rainbow trout, Thomas W. Koon 1937 trout season, trout streams through­ Lake. out the state were stocked heavily with Berks—brook trout, Scott Run, N. W. Br. ti'out of legal size, while nice consignments Pine Creek, Indian Creek, Cold Run, Back °f ftngerling trout were released in suitable Creek or Bramley Run or Johnsons Run, tributary waters. During January, Febru- Mill Creek, Mill Creek or Fishers Creek; aiT, and March, the Board distributed 367,- brown trout, Hay Creek, N. W. Br. Perkio- 998 brook trout, brown trout and rainbow men Creek; rainbow trout, N. W. Br. Per- trout of 6-inch legal size and over, and also kiomen Creek or Branch Creek; yellow stocked 210,000 fingerling brook trout and perch, Boyertown Water Company Dam, bi'own trout. In the first quarter of the Manatawney Creek. year 8,500 minnows were stocked to provide Blair — brook trout, Bobs Creek, Canoe additional forage for game fishes. Creek, Pine Run, Frankstown Br. Juniata April stocking was exceptionally heavy, River, Bells Gap Run, Sinking Creek, Van a total of 9,326,755 fish of various species, Scoyoc Creek, Big Fill Run or Woomers *ry to adult, being stocked. Included in the Run; brown trout, Piney Creek, Clover ^Pril planting were 76,540 brook trout, Creek, Bald Eagle Creek; rainbow trout, Mr. French of Matamoras with a 40-pound averaging 8 inches in length, 47,150 brown Pine Creek. snapping turtle. trout, from 8 to 10 inches in length, 25,665 Bradford—brook trout, Schroder or Rainbow trout from 8 to 18 inches in length, Schrader Creek, Millstone Creek, South Creek, Lt. Moshannon Creek, Cold Stream, 39 4,900 fingerling brook trout, 195,000 fin­ Creek. Penns Creek, Logan Br., Elk Creek; rain­ gerling brown trout, 8,580,000 yellow perch bow trout, Spring Creek, Bald Eagle Creek, r Bucks—brook trout, Cooks Creek or Dur- , y, 400 adult bullhead catfish averaging 10 hams Creek; brown trout, Mill Creek, Pine Lt. Moshannon or Black Moshannon Creek, inches in length, and 7,100 adult minnows, Creek; rainbow trout, Mill Creek, Pine Penns Creek, Stoney Creek, Hosier Dam on to 6 inches in length. Creek; yellow perch, Tohickon Creek, E. Half Moon Run, Logan Br., Green Valley Following are the waters stocked in the Swamp Creek or Swamp Creek or Unami Dam on Lt. Fishing Creek, Elk Creek; min­ 'liferent counties with the various species: Creek. nows, Toe Hill Ore Hole. Adorns—brook trout, Conococheague Butler—brook trout, Lt. Connoquenessing Chester — brook trout, Lyndell Creek, Vteek, Lt. Marsh Creek, Toms Run; Creek, Thorn Creek; brown trout, Bear Birch Run, Birch Run, Doe Run, Valley h,O w trout, Chambersburg Water Company Creek, Thorn Creek, Silver Creek; rainbow Creek, White Clay Creek; brown trout, ^am. trout, Bear Creek, Thorn Creek, Silver White Clay Creek, Middle Br. White Clay ft Armstrong—brook trout, Mill Run or Creek; fingerling brook trout, Gardner Run, Creek, Officers Run, French Creek; rainbow ^enker Run, N. Fork Pine Creek, Patterson Emery Br. Creek, Br. Creek, Boyle Run, trout, E. Br. Octoraro Creek, Officers Run; «Un or Lt. Buffalo Creek, Hauing Run. Cedwicks Run, Pine Run, Duffy Run, Glade yellow perch, W. Br. Brandywine Creek, Beaver — brown trout, Big Traverse Run, Robinson Run, Patterson Run, Three Shaw Lake or Highman Pond, E. Br. Bran­ ^1'eek; rainbow trout, Brady Run. Mile Run, Garmick Run, Straight Run, dywine Creek, Beaver Creek. Bedford—brook trout, Potter Creek, Maple Brants Run, Bull Creek, Carraway Run, Clarion—brook trout, Canoe Creek, Lt. S"1. Cove Creek, Shermans. Valley Run, Blooms Run. Piney Creek, Toms Run, Lt. Toby Creek; •twee Springs Creek, Beaver Creek, Deaner Cambria—brook trout, Cedar Run, Spring brown trout, Mill Creek; rainbow trout, ta p Run or Kinzey Gap Run, Ernest Run Creek, N. Br. Blacklick Creek or Vetera Toms Run, Mill Creek or Big Mill Creek, °r Yountz Run; brown trout, Dunnings Br., Bobs Creek, S. Fork Lt. Conemaugh Thomas W. Koon Lake. Yeek, Imlertown Run, Raystown Br. Juni­ River, Big Laurel Run or Dysart Run, Bea- Clearfield — brook trout, Mountain Run, ata River, Deeters Run, Cumberland Valley verdam Run or Killback Run; brown trout, Bennetts Br., Gifford Run, Mosquito Creek, iiun or Shovers Creek, Yellow Creek, Wills Clearfield Creek, Slatelick, Slate or Crooked Laurel Run or Beaver Run, Curry Run, Run, Chest Creek; rainbow trout, Mudlick Hazlett Run, Whiskey Run, Bell Run, Up­ Creek, Sandy Run, Edinsburg Water Com­ per Three Run, Trout Run, Sandy Creek, pany Dam. Lt. Laurel Run or Beech Run, E. Br. Ma­ Cameron—brook trout, Brooks Run, Lick honing Creek, E. Br. Muddy Creek, S. Wit- Island Run, Hicks Run, E. Br. Hicks Run, mer or S. Wilmer Run, Hackenberry Run, Wykoff Run, Sterling Run, Hunts Run. Montgomery Creek, Bilger Run or Hughey Run; brown trout, Lt. Clearfield Creek, Carbon—brook trout, Lesley Run, Hays Laurel Run, Mosquito Creek, Lick Run, Creek, Big Bear Creek, Aquashicola Creek, Sugar Camp Run or Labord Run. Mauch Chunk Creek, Stony Creek, Drake Creek, Pine Run, Hunters Creek, Buckwa Clinton—brook trout, Hammersley Fork Creek, James Run, Quakake Creek; brown Creek, Trout Forks, Big Fishing Creek, trout, Pohopoco or Big Creek, Wild Creek; Rattlesnake Run, Kettle Creek, Cedar Run, rainbow trout, Big Bear Creek, Quakake Antes Creek or Rauch Creek, Cooks Run, Creek; fingerling brook trout, Leslie Run, Middle Br. Big Run, Swamp Br. Big Run, Quakake Creek, Still Run, Georges Run, Big Run, Chatham Run; brown trout, Tan- Deep Creek, Water Trough Run, Spring gascootack or Scootack Creek, N. Br. Tan- Run, Saw Mill Run, Smith Run, Blut Moun­ gascootack or N. Br. Scootack Creek, Paddy tain Run, Boyers Run, Bollingers Run, Run, Youngs Woman's Creek, Licking Run; Mehrkams Run, Steep Run, Dam Run, rainbow trout, Big Fishing Creek, Baker Walks Run, Mine Hole Run; fingerling Run or Backer Run. brown trout, Sands Spring, Lehigh Brook, Columbia—brook trout, Coles Creek, Lt. Choke Creek, Pond Brook, Blackeslee Brook. Fishing Creek, West Creek, Roaring Creek; brown trout, Roaring Creek, Fishing Creek. Centre—brook trout, Penns Creek, Laurel Run, Black Bear Run, Glabraiths Gap Run, Crawford—brook trout, McLaughlin Run. Benner Run, Wallace Run, Pleasant Gap Cumberland — brook trout, Big Springs, Run, Spring Creek, Pine Creek, Lick Run, Trindle Spring or Silver Spring, Cockley Rapid Run, White Deer Creek, S. Fork Run, Furnace Run or Furnace Hollow Run, Beech Creek, Sinking Creek, Lt. Fishing Mountain Creek, Bird Run or Whiskey Run; Creek, Spruce Creek, Roaring Run or Dry brown trout, Yellow Breeches Creek, Moun­ *° 4-pound brown trout caught in take Wal- Run, Wolf Run, W. Br. Big Run or Walker tain Creek, Letort Springs Run; rainbow lenpaupaclc by Bob Lee of Matamoras. Br.; brown trout, Spring Creek, Bald Eagle (Continued on page 17) 16 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 586 ANGLERS ON HAND AS "PARADISEII" OPENS

missioners; C. Ross Buller, deputy fish com-; missioner, Dewey Sorenson, superintendent, State Fish Hatchery, and T. F. O'Hara, superintendent of constructions, State Fish Hatchery, all of Bellefonte; Burgess Hard- man P. Harris; Dean R. L. Watts, Pennsyl­ vania State College; Morris Stern, chair­ man of Fish Committee of the Indiana County Fish and Game Association; S. M> Poorman, Bellefonte, President Bellefonte Sportsmen's Association; John C. Young- man, vice president of Pennsylvania Feder­ ation of Sportsmen's Clubs, Williamsport; J. U. McFadden, Ebensburg, president Cen­ tral Cambria County Sportsmen's Associa­ tion; W. H. Corson, chairman Fish Cow I mittee of Consolidated Sportsmen oi Lycoming County, Williamsport; S. C- Castner, Williamsport, member of State Game Commission; D. W. Bell, Williams­ port, President Lycoming County Sports­ men; F. F. Marshall, president, F. A- Shroat, vice president, and Hartman B- At Spring Creek opening. Left to right: James Stuber, Ohio, secretary of Outdoor Writers' As­ Herr, secretary, of the Clinton County Fish sociation; Commissioner of Fisheries C. A. French, and John G. Mock, outdoor editor for The and Game Association, all of Lock Haven', Pittsburgh Press. Ward Gramley and Claude E. Musser, Mill' heim; Captain C. J. McRae, of the Highwa)' A grand morning, with Spring Creek at the project on Tuesday, 540 were men Motor Patrol, Bellefonte; Richard S. Sirydefi slightly above normal flow and clearing, and 46 women. A total of 430 trout were Williamsport; Dr. H. T. Kahl, and Joseph greeted 586 fishermen on the morning of killed out of 560 caught during the day. R. English, Johnstown; E. L. Bowes, Alleh Tuesday, May 11, when the Fish Commis­ That the majority of the anglers were C. Witmer, Clyde T. Elder and C. N. Rep" sion's famous Spring Creek project near not in favor of opening the project on Sun­ vogel. Bellefonte, Centre county, was opened to day was revealed by the tabulation of a. The meeting was planned by the Public the public for fishing. And what a day it vote on that question, 414 voting against the Affairs Committee of the Club, Ralph m proved to be. project on Sunday, 139 voting for Sunday Blaney, chairman. Greetings of the con1': They arrived in such numbers that before fishing, with 33 not voting. Of the trout munity were presented by Burgess Hard' noon that day they had broken the attend­ killed 11 were brook trout, 116 rainbows and man P. Harris. ance record set three years ago when the 303 browns, a proportion running about the The main speaker of the evening waS; project was first opened to the public. same as previous years. Samuel J. Truscott, member of the BoaJ'(i By 7:30 o'clock that morning the fisher­ Officials and sportsmen from various of Fish Commissioners. He stated that fish men, from all sections of the state, had sections of Pennsylvania were guests of have made Bellefonte receive state-widc formed such a long line that it required the Bellefonte Kiwanis Club at a trout din­ notice and are serving the agency of making more than two hours to register all of them. ner at the Penn Belle Hotel Tuesday eve­ Bellefonte known far and wide as once tb* When they finally edged their way to a place ning in celebration of the opening of Fish­ successful football teams of the Bellefont6 along the mile and a half of protected and ermen's Paradise. Academy did. F:sh farming b a $400,000 i»*| 1 improved stream they were ready to land Among the guests present were Samuel dustry. There are ten hatcheries in Peni ' e anything and everything from a minnow J. Truscott, Dalton; Harry Weber, Philips­ sylvania, counting the operation about Bell ' f to a whale. burg; Dan R. Schnabel, Johnstown; all fonte as one. The stocking program, Re ' 1 Again all styles of fishing were demon­ members of the Board of Fish Commission­ Truscott explained, comes first. In 1935 foil ' strated by the wet and dry fly fishermen, hundred millions of fish were put into the ers; N. R. Buller, Harrisburg, and O. M. 5 the accomplished angler who placed his arti­ Deibler, Greensburg, both former fish com­ streams and in 1936 three hundred million ' ficial fly neatly on the water with littlp ef­ fort and the brush beaters and woodchop- pers who used every motion and did every­ thing but tie a rock on the line to get it into the stream. Fish Commissioner Charles A. French and his entire board were on deck to help usher in the open:ng day. In addition there were other state officials, sports writers and editors of city newspapers, and hundreds of interested onlookers. Harry Weber of Philipsburg, Centre county's representative on the Fish Com­ mission, was the envy of every fisherman on the stream that day when he hooked and landed a beautiful rainbow trout that meas­ ured 25 inches and weighed 5% pounds. Many other large trout were caught throughout the day. Bucktails of every de­ scription, but with red the dominating color, were the most popular lure among the first day anglers. Officials at the "Paradise" released the • following statistics on the opening day. Of the total of 586 fishermen who registered Trying their luck at the "Fishermen's Paradise" on Spring Creek project, Centre County, opening day- PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 17

Photo Courtesy Williamsfort G Speakers' table at the banquet of the Consolidated Sportsmen of Lycoming County. Right to left seated are: Dr. James F. Bogardus, the Rev. J. Ray Houser, Dalton W. Bell, S. C. Castner, William G Flake, Samuel J. Truscott, R. A. Burr, and F. F. Marshall. Rear row: Charles W. Wessell, John Alden Knight, R. P. Tanner, James M. Morton, James A. Halloran, Jr.; F. F. Von Buseck, W. Curtis Lauer, Frank A. Shroat, A. Budd, C. A. Ault, and Ralph H. Van Keuren. TROUT STOCKED HEAVILY FOR SEASON OPENING (Continued from page 15) Lt. Aughwick Creek, Shavers Creek, Nine Ormrod Mine Hole, Rockdale Dam on Rock­ trout, Letort Spring, Trindle Spring or Sil- Mile Run or N. Br. Lt. Aughwick Creek, dale Creek, Ontelaunce Creek. Ver Spring, Means Run, Big Spring, Yellow Lt. Trough Creek, Saddler Creek, Licking Luzerne—brook trout, Lt. Shickshinny or Breeches Creek. Creek or W. Licking Creek; brown trout, Shickshinny Valley Creek, Pine Creek, Dauphin — brook trout, Miller Run, S. Spruce Creek, E. Br. Standing Stone Creek, Shades Creek, Arnolds or Luzerne Creek, Pork Powells Creek, Stony Creek; brown Black Log Creek; rainbow trout, Shavers Maple Creek, Harveys Creek, Wrights trout, Clarks Creek, Manada Creek; rain­ Creek, Whipple Dam on Laurel Run. Creek, Phillips Creek, Bowmans Creek, Nes- bow trout, Clarks Creek. Indiana—brook trout, Carney Run, Mar- copeck Creek, Wapwallopen Creek; brown Delaware—brook trout, Ridley Creek. dis Run, Lt. Mahoning Creek, S. Br. Two- trout, Wapwallopen Creek, Hunlock Creek, Elk — brook trout, Seven Mile Creek, lick Creek, Toms Run; brown trout, Yellow Lehigh River, Huntingdon Creek, Linesville Straight Creek, Crooked Creek, W. Br. Ker- Creek; rainbow trout, Laurel Run, Laurel Creek; flngerling brook trout, Mays Creek, Seyor Burns Run, Upper Jerry Run, Bear Run, Big Yellow Creek. Bull Run, Wrights Creek, Pine Run, Balliets Creek, Trout Run, Maxwell Run, Island Jefferson—brook trout, N. Fork Red Bank Run, Lt. Nescopeck Creek, Maple Creek, fjun, Belmuth Run, Spring Creek, Kersey Creek, Mill Creek, Laurel Run, Camp Run, Beishline Run, Blish Brook, Hacker Brook, Run, Wolf Lick Run; brown trout, Big Mill Cathers Run, Clear Run, Horajn Run, Rat­ Shingle Run, Panther Run, Long Run, Oley Creek, W. Clarion Creek; rainbow trout, E. tlesnake Run, S. Br. N. Fork Red Bank Brook. "r- Clarion River, W. Clarion Creek. Creek, Callens Run, Lt. Sandy Creek or Lt. Lycoming — brook trout, Hogland Run, Brie—brook trout, Taylor Run, Hall Run, Sandylick Creek; brown trout, Licking Trout Run, Roaring Br., Lt. Muncy Creek, Trout Run, Bear Run, Shaws or Black Run, Creek, Mill Creek, Clear Creek, Manners Trout Run, Black Hole Creek, Fourth Gap Slack Creek or Boyds Run, Vincent or Weed Run, N. Fork Red Bank Creek, Lt. Mill Creek, English Run, Plunketts Creek, West j^n, Hatch Hollow, Darrow or Fin Run; Creek, E. Br. Mahoning Creek, Big Run; Mill Creek, White Deer Hole Creek; brown bl'own trout, S. Br. French Creek, Lt. Con- rainbow trout, Lt. Mill Creek, Mill Creek, trout, Lycoming Creek, Lt. Pine Creek, Wal- ^eautee Creek, Beaverdam Run or Beaver E. Br. Mahoning Creek, Cather Run, Clear lis Creek, Larrys Creek, McMurrin Gap ^Ur<; rainbow trout, Orchard Beach Run, Creek. Run, Loyalsock Creek, Slate Run; rainbow Lake Pleasant, Conneautee Creek, Lt. Con- Juniata—brook trout, Liberty Valley Run, trout, Rock Run; minnows, Lycoming Creek. *J6autee Creek, Beaver Dam or Beaver Run, Willow Run, Big Run, Horse Valley Run, McKean—brook trout, Seven Mile Run, S- Br. French Creek. Spanhauer Run or Laurel Run; brown Kinzua Creek, Fife or Mead Run, Chappell ^ayette — brook trout, Mountain Creek, trout, Lost Creek, Licking Creek or E. Lick­ Fork, W. Clarion Creek; brown trout, W. "Jill Run or Big Mill Run or Quebec Run, ing Creek. Br. Tuneneguent Creek, E. Br. Tionesta *pU Run, Back Run, Laurel Run or Morgan Lackawanna—brook trout, Lehigh River, Creek, Portage Creek, S. Fork Kinzua Creek i/Un> Laurel Run, Beaver Run; brown trout, Gardner Creek, W. Br. Wallenpaupack or Watermill Creek, Potato Creek, E. Br. °Jg Meadow Run, Dunbar Creek; rainbow Creek; brown trout, Lehigh River, Gardners Tionesta Creek, Marvin Creek; rainbow trout, Dunbar Creek, Big Meadow Run. Creek; rainbow trout, Lehigh River. trout, Kushequa Pond, Portage Creek, Penn­ •Forest — brook trout, E. Br. Millstone Lancaster—brook trout, Climbers Run or sylvania Pond. Creek, Spring Creek, The Branch or N. Sal­ Steinmans Run, Tucquan Creek, Seglock Mercer—brook trout, E. Br. Wolf Creek, mon Creek, Lt. Salmon Creek, Coon or' Big Run, Middle Creek, Charles Run, Rock Run., W. Br. Wolf Creek, Lackawannock Creek, Coon Creek; brown trout, W. Br. Millstone or Sawmill Run, Lt. Conestoga Creek; brown Mill Creek, Lt. Sandy Creek; brown trout, Creek, Maple Creek; rainbow trout, E. Br. trout, Big Chickies Creek, Fishing Creek; Mill Creek or Pandoe Creek, Lt. Neshannock J^illstone Creek, Hemlock Creek, Salmon yellow perch, Safe Harbor Dam on Susq. Creek, W. Br. Lt. Neshannock Creek; rain­ Creek, Spring Creek. River, Conowingo Dam on Susq. River; cat­ bow trout, W. Br. Lt. Neshannock Creek, Franklin — brook trout, Broad Run or fish, Safe Harbor Dam on Susq. River; min­ Lt. Neshannock Creek; minnows, Shenango Bear Valley Run, Trout Run or Buck Run nows, Safe Harbor Dam on Susq. River. River. r ° Dickeys Run, Falling Springs Creek, Lawrence—brook trout, Hickory Run, big Mifflin — brook trout, Treaster Valley Conococheague Creek, Red Run, Muddy Run, Taylor Run. Creek, Kishacoquillas Creek or W. Br. f^n, E. Br. Lt. Antietam Creek; brown Lebanon—brook trout, Hammer Creek, W. Kishacoquillas, Tea Creek, Lingle Run or trout, W. Br. Conococheague Creek; rain- Br. Hammer Creek, Indiantown Run, Snitz Lingle Valley Run, Havice Creek, Laurel bow trout, W. Br. Lt. Antietam Creek, Creek, Millback or Mill or Newmantown St Run; brown trout, Penns Creek, Kishaco­ °ny Point Dam, E. Br. Lt. Antietam Creek; yellow perch, Stavers Dam, Lights quillas or W. Br. Kishacoquillas Creek, E. Creek, Falling Spring Creek. or Kewanis Dam, Stracks Dam, Water Br. Kishacoquillas or New Lancaster or Fulton—brook trout, Brush Creek, Wood­ Works Dam. Honey Creek, Long Meadow Run, Licking en Bridge Creek, Oregon Creek, S. Brush Lehigh — brook trout, Cedar Run, Big or E. Licking Creek, Strodes Run or Strodes Creek, Lt. Brush Creek or N. Brush Creek, Trout or Trout Run, Iron Run, Spring Mill Run; rainbow trout," Kishacoquillas ^t. Aughwick Creek. Creek, Lt. Lehigh River; brown trout, Jor­ Creek or W. Br. Kishacoquillas Creek; fin- Huntingdon — brook trout, Laurel Run, dan Creek, Lt. Lehigh River; yellow perch, (Continued on page 19) 18 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER A CAST IN THE DARK

(Continued from Page 8) down and away—and back again—then up just enough to draw the attention of any must be a joker in the woodpile somewhere. and away to the left—up the lake, a thrash­ bass lurking below—not enough to scare him. Were we on somebody's private lake? ing on the surface and all was still! "Now Sonny, if we're lucky we'll get a No—we weren't—it was true, after all— I reeled in and my line stopped with a bass." So saying, I yanked the plug loose, we had a perfect right to be there and it jerk—thank heaven he was still on. Or was reeled in and cast again, back to the exact was all our own—to have and to — fish. he—it was a dead weight now. spot without hitting the pad. Even as Mr. Just this knowledge alone made my hands "Fights like a big pickerel, so much on Barney Google settled in the water, the tremble as we set about preparing for the the surface shaking that plug." whole surface came up to engulf him and night. "Naw—that be a bass, the way he jumped —why don't ya bring 'im in?" carry him back up into the air with an enor­ I wish I could ramble on and tell you mous black object fastened to his dangling all that happened that night—that perfect "Can't—he's in the weeds—if he's there hooks. night. Of the large beaver house at the end at all." My heart was heavy for fear he of our rock, which was our dock, and the was gone. As I struck, the object hit the water with a resounding splosh! Then things happened beavers that came out with the darkness Fred pulled the boat over to the weeds —lots and plenty! to sport around us in our canvas boat and while I kept a tight line. He tried to use the the pistol-like crack of their tails as they net but couldn't. Finally he reached deep Down went the bass, plug and all, while slapped the water and dove under. down the lily stems—got a firm hold and I hollered to Sonny to pull for deep water- Out there we fought it to a finish. Down Of the beauty of the full harvest moon yanked. Up came the pads and with them deep, then up and out—around and about— as it slid so majestically over the mountain a fighting, rarin' tearin' old whale of a under the boat—back again, thrashing on top and sought us out in the spiritual night- bass. the surface and down to sulk and tug— hush of the lake. Of the hours we spent Remember, it was pitch dark—only the finally to grudgingly give line until I could rowing around, exploring the lily beds and dim, flickering rays of an old, besmoked slip the net in under and lift another pel" of the many pickerel which were fooled by lantern to help us—so you can imagine how feet model into the boat. Later he pushed the small pearl spinner that I was casting big that bass looked. In the boat he grew the scales around to four pounds. with my fly rod—and their grateful fare­ smaller—down to his natural size. We put well flip of the tail as they were released. him in the wire box which I had for the That, friend, was a night. Three casts purpose and headed for camp. and two beautiful models. Nothing unusual, Of the patient hours that I spent with you say—it is no trick to catch a fish in a my mountaineer friends while they fished Man, was I happy—I now had my model lake like that? for their favorite fish for the frying pan— and was satisfied—for a few moments at the bullhead. Even that was extra fine sport least. Later, that small-mouth weighed three Listen one second longer—do you think that night. And of our midnight meal cooked pounds. In the darkness and during the that I stopped right there? Not on your life over the open fire — white — sweet — juicy fight—he was fully a six pounder. I didn't—I plugged that lake until I was arm weary. I came back another day and bullheads browned to a turn; coffee — and I had the spot pretty well marked in my all the fixings, topped off by half of an brought the best bait-caster in this section mind and determined that with the sunrise of the country—a man who can catch bass enormous apple pie—baked as. only the I would be back for another try. Lady Luck mountain wives know how to bake them. out of a mud hole or any other place, even had indeed blessed me on this beautiful where they ain't. Of these and a thousand other joys I lake. A perfect stranger to it—I made one have not time to tell—for this is a story of and only one random cast into the blackness We plugged every inch—used every trick small-mouthed bass and a cast in the dark of the night—I knew not where—and there —I came again—and in all those days we j —a cast in a million. was my model all set and ready. That cast never even had so much as one strike! As night grew on, my thoughts turned to in the dark I shall always cherish as the I can't explain it any other way—that bass and the purpose for which the trip one perfect proof that I was favored by the cast in the dark—except that the Goddess had been made. So Fred and I shoved off, Goddess of Luck—let him who can disprove of Luck loved and directed me. leaving Sonny to fill the bullhead larder— it. Go ahead and laugh—from now on I'm a supper and breakfast were to be had. The beauty of the night, the glory of the a fatalist. We crossed the lake to where the rocks moon, the joy of the feast were still ahead gave promise of bass. It was pitch dark— of us. The night passed as all such gor­ the moon, being full, would not be up for a geous nights will—all too fast. Then came couple of hours. We reached the outlet of the dawn and with it Sonny and I pushed BBflUPj : the lake, hunting for an old boat which was off for another cast into those magic waters. once there. We found it, sunken and half We passed the rock island and came over gone. Then we started the return trip. water said to be more than a hundred feet I could restrain myself no longer. My deep. We could see down there in the dark casting rod was all ready—I had on a sur­ green spring-fed water, a ledge of rocks face lure called the Barney Google — the reaching all the way from the island to best surface lure for me that I had ever the shore—here and there almost touching tried. With the remark that I might just as the surface and in one or two spots, stick­ well start casting here as any other place, ing out in a jagged point, surrounded by since I knew nothing about the lake—I pads. This was the spot where I had made faced toward where I thought the shore to that perfect cast—no wonder one cast was be and let 'er go. enough! The real marvel lay in the fact "Splash!" that small-mouthed bass are forbidden to "I hit water, at least, Old Timer—I — —" strike a surface lure so late in the season Ker—BANG!! —it's against their law—so say the experts. I struck as quickly as I could through my And besides they don't grow so big ai'ound surprise and Whang—whee-ee-e—out went here. my line. * I eyed the nearest rocky projection and I set the old thumb brake and fought to the surrounding pads. Taking aim for a stop the charge. Out at the end of my line spot about three feet to the side and be­ a big fish cleared the water and fell back hind the rock—I drove the hooks into the with a loud slosh! pad on the edge—a lucky aim. In answer Again he jumped—and again—then he to my prayers, the hooks held fast to the Showing you the 19-inch rainbow trout caught rode the plug over the surface—stood up pad while I gave a jerk and then waited. in Halfway Dam, Union County, by Weber and shook like a mad bull-terrier — went Another jerk or two—a rest—and so on— Gearhart, Lewisburg. 1

PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 19 TROUT STOCKED HEAVILY FOR OPENING DAY

(Continued frcm page 17) 3, Sweet Arrow Lake, Rabbit Run, Cum- gerling brook trout, Bear Gap Run, Havice bola or Tomies Dam, Mahoning Creek. Valley Stream or Havice Valley Run, Tre- Snyder—brook trout, Swift Run, N. Br. aster Valley Stream or Treaster Valley Mahantango Creek, Kuhn-Hoover Creek, Run, Lingle Valley Stream or Lingle Valley Mitchells Run, Aigler Run; brown trout, Run, Otter Gap Stream or Otter Gap Run, N. Br. Middle Creek; rainbow trout, N. Br. Laurel Run, Muthersbaugh Gap Stream. Mahantango Creek. Monroe—brook trout, Tobyhanna Creek, Somerset—brook trout, Iser Run or Mar- Rensyl or Lt. McMichaels Creek, Lake kleton Run, Shaffer Run or Lohr Run, Creek, Kettle Creek, Big Bushkill Creek, Drake Run or Draketown Run, Jones Run Aquashicola Creek, Pohopoco Creek, Mixsel or Jones Mill Run, Sandy Run, Brush Run, Middle Creek, Scott Run, Leavetts Br. Creek, Beaverdam Run or Beaver Run, McMichaels Creek, Laurel Run, Big Bush- Breastworks Run; brown trout, Raystown kill Creek, Buckwa Creek, Cherry Creek, Br., Piney Run, Flaugherty Creek, Whites forest Hill Creek, Dotter Creek or Lt. Creek, Laurel Hill Creek, Big Piney Run, Creek; brown trout, Tobyhanna Creek, Po- Clear Shade Creek, Stony Creek, Beaver c°no Creek, Brodheads Creek, Pohopoco Dam Creek; rainbow trout, Kooser Lake, Creek or Big Creek, Middle Br. Brodheads Laurel Hill Creek. Creek, Paradise or Analomink Creek; rain­ Sullivan—brook trout, Elklick Run, Lewis bow trout, Snow Hill Lake, Brodheads Creek, N. Br. Mehoopany Creek, Rock Run, Creek, Tobyhanna Creek. Double Run, Mill Creek, Lick Creek or Le­ Montgomery — brook trout, Mill Creek; high Creek, Sullivan Br. Creek, Pigeon brown trout, Deep Creek; yellow perch, Creek, W. Br. Fishing Creek, E. Br. Fish­ Pennypack Creek, Gulf Mill Creek or Mill ing Creek or Heverley Br. or Grassy Hol­ Creek. low Br.; brown trout, Lopez Creek, Muncy Northampton—brook trout, Bertsch Creek, Creek, Lt. Loyalsock Creek, Loyalsock Monocacy Creek, Martins Creek, Saucon Creek, Elk Creek, Hogland Br. Creek, Lt. Martins Creek, Greenwalts Creek °r Ackermanville Creek, Waltz Creek, In­ Susquehanna—brook trout, W. Br. Lack­ awanna Creek, E. Br. Lackawanna Creek, dian Creek; brown trout, Bushkill Creek, Photo by Centre Democrat Hokendauqua Creek; rainbow trout, Bush­ Mitchell Creek or Harmony Creek, Tunk- kill Creek, Saucon Creek. hannock Creek, Nine Partners Creek; Alonzo Estep, 10, of Bellefonte with 2-pound brown trout, Starrucca Creek. 7-ounce brown trout taken in Spring Creak Perry—brook trout, Browns Run or Fowl- opening day. ers Run, Liberty Valley Run, Laurel Run, Tioga—brook trout, W. Br. Mill Creek or Korse Valley Run. West Mill Creek, Seeley Creek, Kettle Creek, Phoenix Run, Asaph Run, Elk Run, berry Creek or Big Brook, S. Br. Calkins Philadelphia — brown trout, Wissahickon Tioga River; brown trout, Blacks Creek, Creek; rainbow trout, Monocacy Creek. Creek or Boyds Mill Creek; brown trout, Pine Creek, Tioga River, Cedar Run; rain­ Johnson Creek, Lt. Equinunk or Braman Ptfce—brook trout, Kellan Creek, Dwarf- bow trout, Pine Creek; fingerling brook kill Creek, Shohola Creek, Sanvantine Creek, Creek, W. Br. Lackawaxen River, Lacka­ Bi trout, Cabin Run, Painters Run, Carpenter waxen River, Wallenpaupack or S. Br. Wal­ g Bushkill Creek, Lt. Bushkill Creek, Mill- Run, Kohler Br., Copley Run, Lick Run, **ft Creek, Twin Lakes, Middle Br. Creek lenpaupack Creek, W. Br. Wallenpaupack Four Mile Run, Straight Run, Lambs Run, Creek, Dyberry Creek, Equinunk Creek; °r Taylor Creek, Dingman Creek, Indian Bullards Run Tioga River, Carey Run, Ladder Creek or Deeker Brook Creek, Ray- rainbow trout, W. Br. Lackawaxen Creek. Griffin Creek, Bailey Creek, Elk or Bunny Westmoreland—brook trout, Baldwin Run ^ondskill Creek, Middle Bushkill Creek or Run, W. Br. Bailey Creek. Saw Creek; brown trout, E. Br. Wallenpau­ or Laurel Run, Furnace Run or Mclnnes pack Creek, Lackawaxen Creek, Raymonds- Union—brook trout, Spruce Run, Rapid Run; brown trout, Jacobs Creek, Linn Run, kill Creek, Shohola Creek, Wallenpaupack Run, Pine Swamp Run or Half Day Run, Tub Mill Run, Loyalhanna Creek. Creek or S. Br. Wallenpaupack Creek; min­ Buffalo Creek, Beaver Run, Lt. Buffalo Wyoming—brook trout, Meshoppen Creek, nows, Twin Lakes. Creek, Bear Run, Sand Springs Run; brown N. Br. Mehoopany Creek, Bowmans Creek, trout, Lycoming Creek, Lt. Pine Creek, N. Beaver Run; brown trout, Mehoopany or Potter — brook trout, Lyman Run, Big Br. Buffalo Creek, White Deer Creek, Penns ^°ores Run, Left Hand Br. Dingmans S. Br. Mehoopany Creek; rainbow trout, Creek; rainbow trout, Halfway Dam or Mehoopany or S. Br. Mehoopany Creek, Creek, S. Br. Oswayo Creek, Nelson Run, Fourteen Mile Narrows Dam. J* Fork of First Fork, W. Br. Portage or Bowmans Creek, N. Br. Mehoopany Creek. Crawley Run, E. Br. Portage or Crowley Venango—brook trout, Hemlock Creek, York—brook trout, Otter Creek, Toms Run, Lt. Kettle Creek, Nine Mile Creek, Panther or Prather Creek, Mill Creek, Run, Fishing Creek, Leibs Creek; rainbow South Fork First Fork or Woods Run, Alle­ Porkey Creek; brown trout, Scrubgrass trout, Furnace Run or Bill Hollow Run, gheny River, Eleven Mile Run, Genesee Creek, Pithole Creek; rainbow trout, Upper ' Holdeman Pond. River, Genesee Fork, Dry Run, Cushing Two Mile Run, West Pithole Creek, Scrub- Creek, Fishing Creek, Trout Run, E. Br. grass Creek, Lt. Scrubgrass Creek. fishing Creek, W. Br. Fishing Creek; brown Warren—brook trout, Four Mile Creek, !?0ut, Cowanesque River, Oswayo Creek, Farnsworth Creek, Pine Creek, Hemlock GLEANINGS j^irst Fork Sinnemahoning Creek or Prouty Creek, Mead Run, Lower Sheriff Creek, Up­ Rr., Kettle Creek, Cross Forks Creek, W. per Sheriff Creek, Perry McGee Run, Lt. Do you fish in a lake or stream that is 8 r- Pine Creek or Corbett Br., Pine Creek; Brokenstraw Creek; brown trout, Cladwell devoid of vegetation and wonder why you ^inbow trout, Rose Lake, Middle Br. Gen- or Killwell Creek, Brokenstraw Creek, Pine don't catch anything? Perhaps, in fact very ^see River or Gold Br., Genesee River of Creek, W. Br. Caldwell Creek, Tionesta likely, the lake or stream is unable to sup­ Luddington Br., W. Br. Genesee River or Creek, W. Hickory Creek; rainbow trout, port (feed) a big fish family. Brokenstraw Creek, N. E. Br. Spring Fllisburg Br. However, this can be remedied. Place Schuylkill — brook trout, Rattling Run, Creek, Pine Creek, Minister Run, Tarns- worth Creek. brush, logs, etc., along the shores, plant wil­ ^eifert Creek, Pine Creek, Locust Creek, lows, wild rice, etc., in other words, do Rear Creek, Deep Creek or Deaf Creek, Wayne—hrook trout, Middle Creek, She- everything possible to create a food supply. Sugar Loaf Run; brown trout, Lt. Cata- hawken Creek, Lt. Equinunk Creek, Shad *issa Creek, Locust Creek; rainbow trout, Pond Creek, Equinunk Creek, W. Br. Dy- Soon insects will appear and with judicious Lt. Swatara or Bergers or Swatara Creek; berry Creek, Calkins Creek or Milanville propagation you will in a short time be able bellow perch, Patterson Dam No. 1, 2, and Brook, N. Br. Calkins Creek, Big Br. Dy- to enjoy good fishing. 20 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER

A HERE MD THERE

N ANGLERDOM

NCLUDED in the list of big rainbow 33 inches in length, having a girth of 26 Board in Halfway Dam, Union County, are I trout taken from Pennsylvania waters inches, and weighing 21% pounds. He and waxing fat and lusty is indicated by the this year, is the catch of George Varner, 15, his friend Joseph Johnen, with members of following report received from Hon. Francis of Johnstown. While fishing a nightcrawler their families also made a nice catch of Baker of Lewisburg. Weber Gearhart, in the South Fork of Benscreek, George suckers and a rainbow trout of good size, Lewisburg banker, while fishing in the dani hooked and landed a 22-inch rainbow that an unusual fish for this water, on May 8. on May 8th, landed a beautiful rainbow, tipped the scales at 4 pounds. * * * measuring 19 inches in length and weighing That the rainbow trout stocked by the 2 pounds, 7 ounces.

To D. J. Tobias of Lebanon goes the dis­ tinction of catching the finest creel of brook trout reported to the ANGLER so far this year. F. M. Luckenbill, special warden, writes that Tobias while fishing in Hammer Creek, Lebanon County, April 22, scored with five charr that should be the envy of his fellow anglers. One of the brookies meas­ ured 10 inches in length, three were 12 inches apiece, and the top fish of the catch measured 17% inches.

Erie County trout waters also provided a grand brook trout this season. While fishing in Alder Run, John Crowe of Erie, landed two brookies, the smaller measuring 12 inches in length and the other 16% inches, weighing 2 pounds, 1 ounce.

A 20-inch brown trout was taken in Roar­ ing Creek on May 12 by Joseph Sacavage of Mount Carmel. The catch, which was made on a worm, weighed 2 pounds, 8 ounces. * * * Myron Parsons, secretary of the Heller- town Sportsmen's Association, and members of the association, are eagerly watching re­ sults of their planting of a nice consignment of fingerling brook trout from the state hatcheries in two limestone fed tributaries of the famous Saucon Creek in Northamp­ ton County. * * * Bob Glover, in his interesting column in the Allentown Chronicle and News, "Let's Go Fishing," hits the nail right on the head in the following. We quote: "The greater percentage of fishermen you meet along the creek are there for recrea­ tion, relaxation, and the satisfaction, that, being a fisherman, he can only obtain along a stream. It is not the fish themselves that he is after; if that were the case he would not spend the money and time to get them in this manner. He would buy them outright and be lots of money in pocket."

Jules DuBois of McDonald caught one of the largest carp recently that has been re­ ported so far this year. While fishing in French Creek he landed a carp measuring Harry Flanagan of Shohola Falls with a 5-pound pickerel taken in Shohola Dam last year. COMMONWEALTH of PENNSYLVANIA BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS MAY 1,1937

BOARD OFFISH COMMISSIONERS M.L.PEEK- FRED MCKEAN » H.E.WEBER D.R.SCHNABEL • S.J TRUSCOTT SECRETARIAL E.W.NICHOLSON • K.A.REID OFFICES H.R.STACKHOUSE. COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES Administrative Secretary C.A.FRENCH R.P. DEITER CHIEF OF FISH CULTURE Comptroller C.R.BULLER 7 CLERKS In Secretarial Offices

PROTECTION PROPAGATION PUBLIC INFORMATION

BOAT PATROL CONSTRUCTION WARDEN SERVICE FIELD HATCHING SURVEY OF DISTRIBUTION PUBLICATION OF SERVICE SERVICE SERVICE SERVICE WATERS SERVICE PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER SR.FISH WARDENS LAKE ERIE EDITOR-A.SWEIGART FISH WARDENS I. CONSTRUCTION SUPERVISION OF 9 HATCHERIES IN SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF DELAWARE RIVER DISTRIBUTION MADE I CLERK ASST. FISH WARDENS LAKE WALLENPAUPACK OF AND COMPLETION HATCHERIES OPERATION STREAMS.LAKES.PONDS TALKS BEFORE CLUBS PATROL STREAMS WITH BOARDS OWN CONOWINGO DAM OF NEW HATCHERIES STREAM IMPROVEMENT 3 WARM WATER DETERMINING SPECIE BY COMMISSIONER MAKING SURVEYS SAFE HARBOR DAM EQUIPMENT AND BULLETINS ON FISH LAW ENFORCEMENT 2 ADDITIONS TO SCIENTIFIC WORK 4 TROUT OF FISH SUITABLE HOLTWOOD PERSONNEL EXHIBITS FISH AND MOTOR BOAT PRESENT HATCHERIES EXPERIMENTAL WORK 2 COMBINATION WARM CARRYING CAPACITY PYMATUNING RESERVOIR LIMITED TO ARTICLES-PRESS SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS 2 SMALL OPEN CONSULTATION WORK 3. MAINTENANCE WATER AND TROUT OF WATERS CONTACT WITH SCHOOLS STREAM IMPROVEMENT BOATS WITH MOTORS APPROVED WATERS EGG COLLECTION HATCHERIES AQUATIC LIFE.ETC. ETC.THROUGH FILMS.ETC.

NO.I NO. 2 NO. 3 NO. 4 NO. 5 NO. 6 WAYNE COUNTY NO. 7 NO N0.9 ERIE CORRY BELLEFONTE TORRESDALE UNION CITY COMBINATION WARM WATER REYNOLDSDALE TIONESTA HUNTSDALE AND FOREST COUNTY AND TROUT HATCHERY WARM WATER HATCHERY TROUT HATCHERY SPRING CREEK WARM WATER HATCHERY WARM WATER HATCHERY BEDFORDCOUNTY COMBINATION WARM WATER AND TROUT HATCHERY CUMB.CO. PROPAGATION OF WARM PROPAGATION OF LAKE PROPAGATION OF PROPAGATION OF WATER FISH ANDTROUT PROPAGATION OF WARM AND WARM WATER FISH LARGEST TROUT TROUT, BASS WARM WATER FISH WARM WATER FISH WATER FISH AND TROUT WHITE FISH PROPAGATING BLUE GILLS BLUE GILL PIKE PERCH PROPAGATION PROPAGATION TROUT, CATFISH HERRING (CISCO) PLANT IN STATE CATFISH CATFISH PROPAGATION YELLOW PERCH OF OF PIKE PERCH BLUE PIKE YELLOW PERCH YELLOW PERCH OF BLUE GILLS TROUT LATEST STREAM TROUT YELLOW PERCH YELLOW PERCH PIKE PERCH PIKE PERCH TROUT CATFISH.MINNOWS 5. IMPROVEMENT PIKE PERCH & BLUE GILLS & BASS SCHOOL FOR FISHERMEN MINNOWS MINNOWS FR06S BASS MINNOWS, FROGS BASS BASS PROPAGATION BASS. FROGS BASS, FROGS

F. K.RIEDEL RH.HARTMAN A.G.BULLER DEWEY SORENSON MERRILL LILLIE AG.BULLER T.R. SORENSON BERNARD GILL T J.DINGLE Supf Supt. Supt Supt. Supt Supt Acting Supt Supt, Supt. Sec. 562, P. L. & R. U. S. POSTAGE PAID Harrisburg, Pa. Permit No. 270

Keep Fishin'

By RAY CLARKE ROSE

Hi Somers was the durndest cuss Fer ketchin' fish—he sure was great! He never used to make no fuss About the kind of pole or bait, Er weather, neither; he'd just say, "I got to ketch a mess today." Towards the creek you'd see him slide, A-whistlin' soft an' walkin' wide. I says one day to Hi, says I, "How do you always ketch 'em, Hi?" He gave his bait another swish in An' chucklin', says, "I jest keep fishin'."

Hi took to reading law at night, An' pretty soon, the first we knowed, He had a lawsuit, won his fight, An' was a lawyer! I'll be blowed! He knowed more law than Squire McKnab! An' tho' he had no "gift of gab" To brag about, somehow he made A sober sort of talk that played The mischief with the other side, One day when someone asked if Hi'd Explain how he got in condition, He laughed an' said, "I jest keep fishin'."

Well, Hi is Gov'nor Somers now, A big man 'round the state, you bet! To me the same old Hi somehow, The same old champeen fisher yet. It wan't so much the bait er pole, It wa'nt so much the fishin' hole, That won for Hi his big success; 'Twas jest his fishin' on, I guess. A cheerful, stiddy, hopeful kind Of keepin' at it—don't you mind? An' that is why I can't help wishin' That more of us would just keep fishin'.

THE VAGABOND