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May 1987/80C •a !«.'• Pennsylvania mm „ ANGLER The Keystone State's Official Fishing Magazine

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^«-:>>^v! It's tough to write this "Straight Talk" column because it will be my last one. It is natural to want to leave something behind that is noteworthy and worth remembering. Most of the time we have preached the need for a conservation ethic. That worthy goal gets a great deal of lip service, but relatively few people are consistent in their insistence for a pure ethic. Looking around us we can find the evidence of a throwaway society. There are those who get a great deal of satisfaction and powerful and exhilarating freedom in feeling that you can afford to throw things away and easily find something even better. The expansion of America was seeded in such an ethic, where ear­ ly farmers exhausted the land and moved westward. We even see evidence of that today, with people who resist the use of seat belts and continue to litter the countryside and, in spite of all the most drastic warnings im­ aginable, continue to smoke and use drugs. Perhaps with such invasion of the privacy of these personal weaknesses we over-generalize and consider that these people could never have a conservation ethic. I think that is wrong, and I think we can get such selfish people even to take a stand- especially when the results benefit all mankind. The unique power bestowed on each individual human being to do good and even change the course of history is quite often underestimated. Even with sophisticated organizations working in the cause of a conservation ethic, there is a tendency of most individuals to say, "What can I do?" The same kind of logic prevails in elections when they say, "What can my one vote do?" One person with enough tenacity can dig in his heels and say, "This much, and no more." Beware of the cause that you choose for this kind of stubbornness because you will surely prevail! There are great causes to be followed, and victory always starts with one person hanging on by his teeth and saying, "I will never give in." All the greed and shortsightedness of the exploiters and developers—and that includes people in state and federal governments—will not prevail if that one individual rises up and says, "Why should we put up with this?" I insist that if one is stubborn enough—immovable, unchangeable, inexorable—he can and will prevail over those misanthropes who were ob­ viously born out of wedlock. The trail will be long and full of frustrations. Life is a whole, and good and ill must be accepted together. We have to reconcile ourselves to the mysterious rhythm of our destinies. "Rest! cries the chief sawyer, and we pause for breath." Pittsburgh perfect balance 18 Helen B. Lange Sharpsville Spinfishing with Worms for Spring Trout by David R. Thompson Thaddeus Piotrowski To score consistently, baitfishing specialists fish this way with the all-American Bloomsburg trout bait 20 Edward J. Rogowski Holland Great Fishing near Philadelphia by Ed Jawowski Staff The City of Brotherly Love has a few fishing hotspot surprises 23 EDITOR/Art Michaels Fishing Stocked Trout Streams After They've Been GRAPHIC DESIGN/Ted Walke Skimmed by Fred Johnson PHOTOGRAPHER/Russ Gettig You could be a more successful angler if you apply these tactics to trout fishing CIRCULATION/Eleanor Mutch in May 26 STAFF ASSISTANT/Rose Ann Bartal STAFF ASSISTANT/Charlene Glisan Lake Trout Rehabilitation and Sea Lamprey Control Pennsylvania Angler (ISSN0031-434X) is published by Robert M. Lorantas monthly by the Pennsylvania Fish Commission, 3532 Walnut Street, Harrisburg, PA 17109.© The Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service joined forces last 1987. Subscription rates: one year, $6; three years, fall to enhance the survival of Lake Erie's lake trout and other introduced salmon »16; single copies are 80 cents each. Second class and trout 28 P°s«age is paid at Harrisburg, PA. Straight Talk 2 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Angler Circulation, Pennsylvania Fish Commission, P.O. Anglers Currents 30 Bo* 1673, Harrisburg, PA 17105-1673. For Anglers Notebook 30 subscription and change of address, use above ad­ dress. Send all other correspondence to: The Editor, The cover Pennsylvania Angler, P.O. Box 1673, Harrisburg, pA 17105-1673. Editorial contributions are Staff photographer Russ Gettig caught the angler on this month's front cover welcomed, but must be accompanied by a self- trying his luck on Clinton County's Big Fishing Creek. Trout fishermen in­ addressed, stamped envelope. Submissions are terested in successful jaunts won't want to pass up the features on pages 7, 20, handled with care, but the publisher assumes no and 26. For the remarkable story of Oil Creek's madness in the 1800s, turn responsibility for the return or safety of submissions jn his possession or in transit. The authors' views, to the article that begins on page 4. The shad run on the Delaware is now in ldeas, and advice expressed in this magazine do not full swing, so the information in the article on page 10 can help you make this necessarily reflect the opinion or official position season memorable. If you live in or near Philadelphia, you might want to scan ot the Pennsylvania Fish Commission or its staff. the article on page 23, and if you're a bass fisherman, check out page 18. ' 'This Oil Creek used to be one of the purest streams in the United States and now what is it like? Why, it is the most filthy stream on God's footstool, Oil Creek's Valley and you cannot find a fish in it from Oil City to Titusville.' '—The Venango Spectator, August 2, 1877.

ome 110 years have passed since a newspaper writer (an angler S perhaps?) lamented the fate of a favorite stream. But if he'd had the use of Mr. Wells' time machine and had journeyed ahead to 1987, he would have had a pleasant and unexpected surprise. Today, Oil Creek flows clear again, wind­ ing through the solitude of its green hills, with the dimple of a rising trout and the falling of an angler's line the most likely disturbances of its dreaming. This peaceful valley is haunted by memories of a wilder, rougher time, a day of oil rush and boomtown, when naked hills brisded derricks and the creek bus­ tled with the traffic of barge and barrel. The region literally swam in oil. Now Oil Creek Valley is a focus of fishing, canoe­ ing and other outdoor recreation. It is the home of a state park with many unique features, including a lot of history. The excitement began just before the Civil War, when Edwin Drake came upon the small town of Titusville. He had a commission from investors "back East" and the bogus title of "colonel" to im­ press the locals, and he began drilling for oil. Drake's luck and pluck paid off in the summer of 1859, when the well, situated almost on the banks of Oil Creek, brought up more crude than anyone had ever seen before. Drake and his associates may have been the first to drill successfully for it, but oil was nothing new at Oil Creek. Flowing out of Crawford County in the state's northwest, crossing at Titusville into Venango County and meeting the Allegheny at Oil City, Oil Creek has never had any other name. The earliest known records show it as "Oyl Creek." Seneca Indians and 17th burned for illumination, "rock oil" sud­ century French missionaries knew the oil denly had the potential for real value, if was mere. Natural springs were found it could be gotten in sufficient quantities. along the creek's banks and even bub­ In 1859, Titusville was practically on bled up in the stream itself. the frontier. It had several hundred peo­ Later settlers in the steep and isolated ple and the stage coach ran twice a week valley, who found petroleum seeping to Erie. Oil City was a tiny outpost for naturally on their land, used the substance lumbermen floating down the Allegheny as a liniment and cure-all medicine. Some and was known as Cornplanter. There was bottled and sold it, but it was not in brisk nothing between mem in the Oil Creek demand. When a technique was found for valley but some meager farms on the flats distilling the crude so that it could be and a few lumbering operations. 4 Pennsylvania Angler by Linda L. Steiner This 1865 photo shows the of Ghosts boom town of Pioneer. Note the oil barge on Oil Creek in the foreground. A dirt road winding down the valley provides access to the creek today. Pioneer had 2,000 inhabitants at its height, and grew up after the Sherman well was struck.

The dense woods were soon replaced by a stick forest of thousands of derricks. Wells extended from the bed of the creek itself, up the hillsides and even into the ravines of the once-clean tributary streams. By the end of 1860, over 200,000 barrels of oil had been produced, and that was just the beginning. The first wells in Oil Creek valley were not gushers, but required pumping. In 1861, not long after the fall of Fort Sumter was news, the great flowing wells were struck. The Empire well was one of the most astounding, gushing forth 3,000 bar­ rels of oil a day. So fiercely did it spew petroleum that its owners did not have the barrels and the well quickly overran a small dam that was built around it. Oil flowed unchecked into Oil Creek. In 30 days, the Empire poured out 100,000 bar­ rels of crude. Beyond the wildest dreams of their owners, other wells spouted thousands of barrels of oil a day. The most famous in­ cluded the Phillips Number 2, the Woodrod, the Maple Shade, which net­ ted investors $1.5 million, and the Sher­ man well, which made for its nearly broke owners almost $2 million. The Noble and Delamater well, at the confluence of Bull Run and Oil Creek, gushed oil, water and gas a hundred feet in the air when the drill hit. For days petroleum ran into Oil Creek before the flow was controlled. Even afterward, huge amounts were permitted to run on­ to the ground and into the stream once available containers had been filled. The well produced 1.5 million barrels of oil Drake's find flooded the once placid ecause it was believed that oil was in 18 months and made the owners $5 river valley not only with oil but with peo- B in underground basins or rivers that million at 1863 currency rates. Pje. Almost overnight thousands of followed the course of the surface water­ oilmen poured in. This was the heyday of way, nearly valueless land the length of ith such fortunes to be had up the capitalist, the speculator, the rough- Oil Creek was quickly leased or purchas­ W and down Oil Creek valley in the and-ready fortune seeker. Following the ed by shrewd first arrivals. These either 1860s, the boomtowns sprang up. First California gold rush by a decade, the put down wells themselves or sublet at a one, then another emerged as the center Pennsylvania oil rush drew the same type profit. Drilling next to the established of the drilling excitement. In five years, as well as many of the very same men, wells, relying on guesswork, dreams, Titusville grew to a city of 10,000; Oil with its get-rich-quick dream and its reali­ divining rods, even smell to find the best City to 8,000. The valley between filled ty of easy ruin. locations, the oilmen transformed the accordingly. From Rouseville (just south valley at a furious pace. of the present state park boundary) go- May 1987 5 ing north were Rynd Farm, Blood Farm, When the water was low, oil was haul­ flies, which make it a favorite with Tarr Farm (pop. 1,000), and Columbia ed up and down the streambed by teams fly fishermen, as well as bait and Farm, which had houses, a machine shop, of horses towing barrel-laden boats or lure anglers. library and its own cornet band. wagons. But on high water, it could be In 1967, 7,007 acres of the creek en­ Though the only crop was oil, the pro­ floated. Because there were already a virons were incorporated into Oil Creek perties were still called, as they number of sawmills on Oil Creek and its State Park. Besides fishing and canoeing, originally were, "farms." tributaries, artificial floods were produc­ the park is popular for its macadam bicy­ Halfway up Oil Creek was Petroleum ed, "pond freshets," which bore the load­ cle trail, which follows the original 1860s Centre. It materialized in a few weeks ed barges to Oil City on a manmade tide. railroad grade for much of its length. A from a village of 50 to a rollicking boom- A toll was collected on each of the tens visitor's center and walking tour at town of over 3,000, in infamy equal to of thousands of barrels shipped, the dams Petroleum Centre focus on history, as anything in the Wild West. At its height were cut on cue, and the boats loosed. does Drake Well Museum. There is a there were theaters, hotels, homes, stores, Several hundred crafts rushed downriver, 30-mile hiking trail, a cross-country ski as well as gambling dens, saloons and surging, pitching, colliding, crashing. area, picnic facilities and a tourist train houses of prostitution. All were hastily As much as one third of the oil was which makes a run of the scenic valley. built, because all could be given 30 days spilled. Where it floated into eddies, dip­ Access can be gained from a paved road notice of being torn down to make way pers skimmed it off and sold it. Later, that parallels the creek from Rt. 3 at Rynd for more wells. Only one building was when railroads extended into the valley Farm (north of Oil City) to Petroleum and constructed of brick: the bank. By con­ and pipelines were installed, the creek Miller Farm, as well as at Drake Well, temporary accounts, "for pure una­ ceased to be a major transport. off Rt. 8 at Titusville. Nearly 15 miles of dulterated wickedness, it eclipsed any The madness in Oil Creek valley Oil Creek are included in the park. The (other) town." couldn't last, and it didn't. Other western Fish Commission uses the bicycle path to Between Petroleum Centre and Pennsylvania oil fields were discovered, stock the less accessible sections, so Titusville were crammed in Funkville, there were ruinous price/demand fluctua­ pedaling and hiking are recommended Boyd City, Pioneer, Shaffer Farm, which tions and many producing wells failed. ways to find unfished hotspots. Some grew in 60 days to a town of 3,000, Miller Even the great Empire well lasted just anglers have customized bicycles to carry Farm, a refining center, and Boughton. eight months. Speculators followed the rods, boots and minnow buckets. Eyewitness Rev. S.J.M. Eaton noted in his trail of fast and easy money when it led Oil Creek is not a fast-falling stream. book Petroleum in 1866 that "it is almost away from the valley at the end of It has long gravel and rock-bottomed flats impossible to tell where one (town) ends the 1860s. between riffles, but there are deep runs, and the other commences, so thickly Though there was some secondary like those below the Miller Farm and strewn is this entire valley with a dense, recovery of oil through new techniques, Petroleum Centre bridges, and big holes, active population." in the late 1800s and early 1900s (a few like at Nitecap and Plum Dungeon, that Colorful characters and stories arose, wells are still pumped within the park to­ hold fish. Other good spots are around unique to the area. There was the gambler day), "Greasedom's" reign was over. The islands, boulders, creek bends and bridge "wicked" Ben Hogan and his partner valley's populations dwindled and the abutments. Near Boughton, anglers can "French Kate," the daring robbery of wells, towns and refineries fell in ruins fish below remnants of the old Brewer & wealthy John Benninghof, who didn't and eventually disappeared. What had not Watson dam, which was used in produc­ believe in banks, and the rags-to-riches- been torn down or destroyed in the ing pond freshets. The bridge on the bicy­ to-rags story of "Coal Oil Johnny" Steele, numerous fires simply deteriorated, as cle trail sits atop original railroad sup­ who inherited a petroleum fortune and nature smoothed the scars of human in­ ports, while rock pillars seen just lost it in fast and extravagant living. trusion through the intervening years. downstream were built to protect wells in John D. Rockefeller and John Wilkes Almost unnoticed, the forest regrew the creekbed. A few scattered oil- Booth were investors in wells, and and the creek recovered; fish and blackened wood barrels, rusted pipes, Andrew Carnegie used dividends from game returned. stonework and foundation holes, nearly Columbia Farm to build his steel mills. hidden in the forest growth, are the only Valley oil was credited with having an in­ lthough portions of Oil Creek to other visual reminders of the valley's fluence in bringing an end, in favor of the A the north had been stocked earlier, riotous past. The rest of Oil Creek's North, to the Civil War, for which the the first planting of catchable trout by the ghosts live only in memory... and region merited a visit from President Fish Commission, in the stretch from imagination. Grant. Rynd Farm to Drake Well, was in [PA] 1959—2,600 brown trout. Last year, 1986, ishing today in the uninhabited the stream received over 17,000 brook, Source materials and historical photos F verdant valley, the past seems im­ brown, rainbow and palomino trout. Ron for this article were provided by Oil possible. But during the 1860s, Oil Creek Lee, area fisheries manager, reports that Creek State Park and Drake Well became one long "greasy furrow." Oil Oil Creek has "good quality water" and Museum. The author offers special was in the air, on the men, the horses, the that the stream has trout, some holding thanks to Marsha Gordon of the staff buildings and mixed with mud, it turned through the summer months, a fine for research assistance. Also helpful the roads into impassable quagmires. The smallmouth bass population, grass were Paul H. Giddens' books The creek itself was a little better, for it played pickerel, rock bass, suckers, shiners, Birth of the Oil Industry (MacMillan a large part in getting the black stuff of minnows and other baitfish. There are Co., NY, 1938) and Early Days of Oil fortunes to the outside world. hatches of mayflies, caddises and stone (Princeton University Press, 1948). 6 Pennsylvania Angler Pennsylvania's Best Trout Flies by Harry W. Murray No, I'm not kidding—it is possible to select 10 flies that cover the majority of trout fishing needs in Pennsylvania. The trick is to select the correct ones. The trout are going to be the final judges of just how well you have made the choice, so look at the factors that in­ fluence their decisions. First, examine the various food forms on which trout feed. These include all aquatic insects, terrestrial insects and minnows. You would be defeating yourself if, after evaluating these natural foods, you selected a separate fly pattern to im­ itate every insect that flies and every min­ now that swims. Rather, choose imitations carefully so that they pass for more than one type of food on which the trout feed. A second factor is the various water types throughout the state and how these affect the trout's acceptance or rejection of the offerings. We have excellent trout popula­ tions in many waters, from small moun­ tain brooks to large freestone streams to flat limestone spring creeks to deep lakes. The fly selection should be made to pro­ vide you with patterns that can be variety of mayflies, caddises and land- Skillful trout fishing tactics and choosing manipulated in an appealing manner in borne insects, which are present all one of the flies mentioned in this article all these waters. season long. can help you outsmart more trout. Consider also the seasonal affects on In sizes 12, 14, and 16 it is one of the the trout and how they influence your finest dry flies for Pennsylvania mountain presentation and their acceptance of it. In­ streams. It matches many early season in­ One outstanding attribute of this fly is sect activity as well as the high, cold sects quite well and the contrasting col­ how well it planes when casting. Its com­ streams of spring and low, warm streams ors of its wings makes it easy to see on pact, streamline style lets you punch it of late summer all place different the stream surface. smoothly through the air on finer tippets demands on the trout. They know how to On the other end of the spectrum, the than you could with conventionally tied adapt to these conditions and you must tough trout in flat limestone spring creeks hackle-collar dries. Basically, this means learn their tricks if you expect to select also find it desirable. I remember one day a smooth, accurate presentation, a natural the right flies and outsmart them. on one of these streams with a fishing drift, and more strikes. By evaluating all these factors and buddy who knows that stream like you i, »s The cricket dry fly, developed by Ed reflecting on 25 years of trial-and-error know your bathtub. He took three • Shenk of Carlisle many years ago, trout fishing, I came up with these 10 beautiful trout in quick succession on a is my personal number one favorite dry flies. size 20 Adams on a size 6x tippet. fly. This fly has given me outstanding sur­ Adams dry flies have probably pro­ rm Al Troth's Elk Hair Caddis dry is face fishing under more diverse condi­ 1 duced more trout on our waters than 0m one fly I would personally hate to tions than any fly I've ever used. any other dry fly. There is excellent be without. In the appropriate sizes It's an excellent duplication of the justification for this broad success. True, (roughly size 12 to size 20) it matches natural cricket, and it passes for it is used a lot, but it goes beyond that. most of our caddis flies and many of our stone flies, caddis flies, beetles and other The Adams, with its gray body and griz­ stone flies. It also passes well as a lesser-known land-borne insects. This ac­ zly hackle tip wings, passes for a broad grasshopper for summer use. counts for its broad appeal throughout the photos by the author Mav 1987 7 •

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season on so many water types. presentation of a number 22 black ant fell felt they would have done the job. An attribute, not readily apparent to 4 feet short of the target. Much to his Technically this could be called an at- some, which enhances its acceptance amazement, that big rainbow swam over tractor dry fly, but there are many under a variety of water conditions, is its and sucked in his ant. theories on why the trout take it so well. bold black composition. In discolored Black ants have always been effective These range from its tight mid-body area water it is the most highly visible fly I've on spring creeks, but they are some of the looking like an ant to its white wings con­ ever found, both to the trout and to the finest dries to use for tough fish in veying the impression of a flying insect. fisherman. I have taken many large trout freestone streams. If you find a good trout Many experienced anglers prefer this on the surface with a size 10 cricket when that is willing to come up and investigate dry fly for choppy water on freestone most other anglers had gone to big your conventional dries but refuses them streams. Its good flotation and high angler streamers or nymphs fished right on the at the last instant, there is a good chance visibility make it hard to beat under these bottom. Still, in a size 16 it will take tough you can take him on a size 18 or 20 dry conditions. For these streams sizes 12, 14, trout in crystal clear water anywhere. black ant. Don't worry about losing sight and 16 are best. A real sleeper, which few The black fur ant is another ex­ of that small ant on the rough water. In anglers are aware of, is their effectiveness 4 cellent dry fly for tough trout in this case you know exactly where the trout in size 18 on the tough spring creeks. clear water. I'm not sure of the reason, is so the odds are in your favor. The Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear nymph but the trout go for it in a big way. The Royal Wulff dry fly, which is 6 is one of the finest flies I've ever Recently, a friend and I located a rain­ 5 Dan Bailey's adaptation of the old used. I have had outstanding fishing with bow just over 4 pounds in a small creek. English Royal Coachman fly, is an this fly in a big size 8 fished right on the We tried to catch that fish off and on all outstanding all-around dry. The story bottom in heavy, boulder-filled runs like day with the flies that were hatching and goes that on a trip to New Zealand, the special regulation water on Penns those on which he was feeding with no several years before his death, Dan took Creek. Those big browns are accustomed success. Finally, several hours later, my 6 dozen flies—3 dozen Royal Wulffs size to feeding on large stone fly nymphs friend said he had to go back and try him 14 and 3 dozen Royal Wulffs size 12. Dan around those boulders and I'm sure that's once more before we went home. His said this wasn't exactly right but that he what they take the Hare's Ear nymph for. 8 Pennsylvania Angler that reach their full size and become very them early in the year. In the average- active in late April and early May. It is sized stocked streams sizes 8 and 10 are important to keep in mind that as the the best all-around sizes. If you are go­ hatching time for the March Brown ing big fish hunting or insist on fishing mayflies draws close, the natural nymphs in very discolored water you should in­ move out to the sides of the streams. clude some as large as size 6. Last spring several streams I fished The woolly bugger is usually fished must have had an all-time high March downstream and across-stream in the con­ Brown population. The shallows were ventional streamer fishing manner. A loaded with nice trout working on these slow, short stripping action is normally nymphs. These fish are there to feed but effective. If this tactic fails to produce, try they are easily scared in the shallow fishing right on the bottom with no more water. You will probably get your best action than is needed to keep a tight line; results by staying back and spotting the not many trout can pass up this black trout before making your presentation. It wiggly creature crawling across the is fairly easy to locate these trout by their bottom. movements and tail-waving as they feed Often I fish the wooly bugger almost on the nymphs. Dropping a size 10 im­ straight upstream with what I call a itation about 2 feet above them usually bounce retrieve. I convey sort of a jigging- does the job. type action to the fly by lifting the rod tip The pheasant tail nymph is needed every several feet of the drift. Both in the selection for the super-tough retrieves are well worth trying on all trout. There are several styles of tying this waters. nymph, but I prefer Frank Sawyer's pat­ The muddler minnow is a must tern. This tendency probably goes back in everyone's fly box. Dan to the times over 20 years ago when I had Gapen originally tied this fly to represent Mr. Sawyer tie and send me these in sizes the sculpin minnows in the Nipigon River 18 and 20 from England. At that time the in Canada. The big brook trout in the fly wasn't well-known in this country and 8-pound to 10-pound class were known the only sizes the Sawyers were sending to feed heavily on these minnows and the over for this market were much larger. So fly was an instant success in that area. each year I had them work up 6 or 8 The muddler is probably the best dozen in smaller sizes. known, most fished, most imitated and The pheasant tail nymph, when sparse­ most adaptable fly. From putting silicon ly tied in small sizes, passes for a number on its head to fish it dry, to putting lead of insects in our spring creeks; it is an in its tummy and rabbit fur strips on its excellent sulfur imitation. When tied back to fish it on the stream bottom, the Not far west of Penns Creek is Spring in sizes 16 to 12 it passes for many of muddler seems to cooperate and produce Creek. Those browns also love this the nymphs and larvae in our larger trout. A friend who is a superb angler in­ nymph but often require a slightly dif­ trout streams. sists that sparsely tied on a light hook the ferent technique and a much smaller fly. I once located a huge brown that spent muddler is one of the best grasshopper Dropping down to a size 18 nymph and most of his time down deep under a big patterns. Another angler I fish with likes fishing it just under the surface on a 6x brush pile. I showed that brown every big to tie his muddlers with greatly oversized tippet often does the trick on those heavily streamer and nymph in my box with no deer hair heads and rip these across worked-over fish. success. In frustration I drifted a number the stream surface just as darkness is fall­ In addition to having a selection from 20 pheasant tail nymph to him and he took ing on the stream. Yet, another friend has size 8 to size 18 in the Hare's Ear nymph it instantly. his muddlers tied on a short 1/0 hook with I like to have several weights of each size The black woolly bugger should lots of lead in the body to let him seek to cover all situations. This is easily definitely be on the list. Many out the largest trout in the deepest holes. achieved by adding a few more wraps anglers think this is taken as a sculpin For day in, day out trout fishing sizes of lead to the underbody when tying minnow by the trout; others believe it is 12 to 6 cover all the bases. the flies. mistaken as a leech and some even say The techniques for fishing muddlers are A March Brown nymph is my it represents a crawfish. I think it is so easy. There is no wrong way to fish a T favorite mayfly nymph imitation. widely accepted by trout because it looks muddler. The conventional down-and- Not only is it an excellent duplication of like a big mouthful of "something good across presentation is by far the most the March Brown (Stenonema vicarium) to eat." popular tactic but only one's imagination mayfly nymph in size 10, but when tied I have taken trout on this fly in all types limits the applications of the muddler. in sizes 12, 14, and 16 it passes very well of water, at all times of the year, and This selection of flies in a variety of for the Gray Fox, Light Cahill and Sulfur under all water conditions throughout sizes takes trout all season long in all nymphs. Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania waters. Try them and reap Many mountain streams have concen­ I tie some as small as size 16 for small the many pleasures you'll find in proving trations of natural March Brown nymphs headwater streams and the brookies love me right. \TA] May 1987 9

Vary Your Strateqies, Catch More Shad by Art Michaels

hen you catch shad from a boat using one method and one color W combination of shad dart, you tend to stick with that offering. That's fine, and in feet it's the way to go. But the most successful shad anglers frequently fool fish using a variety of lures and techniques because what works one day may not be the winning ticket on another outing. If you use several successful methods and offer the fish an array of lure com­ binations, you can have the best chance of catching shad every time you go. These varied tactics help some shad fishermen consistently fill their creels. Here are some of those winning strategies. Dart color First, consider dart color. During the last few years, many anglers caught a lot of shad on darts that had some green in them, and on other darts with yellow or orange. The first group of these darts in­ cludes color combinations such as green body and black head, yellowish-green body and green head, and green body and yellow head. The other darts that scored best are ones with color combos like yellow head and orange body, yellow body and black head, and darts mat are green and yellow, and orange and green. To find out what dart colors are doing the best job, ask in tackle shops and at ac­ cesses. Tying on the current winning col­ or combo can help you catch shad fest. Dennis Scholl (above left), lifelong shad Angler subscriber Dr. Peter Friedman caught this shad using a 1/16-ounce dart angler and president of the Delaware with a black head and green body. He crimped two 1/8-ounce splitshot 18 inches River Shad Fishermen's Association, nets above the dart. The action took place in about 8 feet of water at the head of a a nice one near Easton. At left, anglers long, deep pool about 7 or 8 miles north of Stroudsburg. battle a brace of bucks.

May 1987 11 Some guys who consistently boat a lot spots as they come to know the river of shad always toss out a good old red and better each season. How to Fight white dart with whatever other color com­ From year to year nature eliminates old and bos they're using. Their strategy is to fish hotspots and creates new ones, and obser­ two rods and experiment with dart color, vant shad anglers notice the changes in the Land Big Shad offering the shad a color selection. river that affect water depths. These When one color combo fools more fish variations are frequently brought about reak-offs are part of the game, than another, these fishermen offer the by storms. B especially with the big ones, but the shad the dart colors that the fish prefer on Finding a good spot is crucial to suc­ most skillful shad anglers put the odds that day. Otherwise, these anglers change cess, and the best shad fishermen also greatly in their favor when they hook the darts often to find a winning combo. know that it can play an even more im­ heftiest shad. Here are some of their suc­ From one day to the next and from river portant part than dart color. For instance, cess secrets. spot to river spot, different color combina­ last year on one trip in mid-May, I and • Begin the season with fresh line, and tions may be the best approach, so it pays several other anglers took our boats to a if you fish often, respool with new line to experiment right off the bat on every good pool north of Stroudsburg. There occasionally. shad fishing trip. Change darts after every were five boats in our party, and most of • Get your reel drag system in top work­ half-hour or 45 minutes or so of no action. the day we were spread out on the river, ing condition. each boat in a good spot. But in this one • Set the drag very light initially. Grab Locating shad pool, we all anchored our boats parallel the line with no slack as it comes off the American shad frequendy seek the to one anotfier across a 40-yard section of reel, and pull firmly. The drag is set cor­ deeper portions of the Delaware for their the river. rectly for the beginning of the battle when upriver swim, so finding the river's deeper I and my fishing partner were in a you can take line reluctantly off the reel channels is a good start to filling the creel. slower, shallower spot, as was another boat with a slight tug. Unless you already know the locations near the other shoreline. The three boats • Keep a tight line on a large hooked shad of the deeper holes, a depth sounder is between us were anchored in the deepest during every second of the battle. Read­ helpful. So is studying the river carefully part of the pool, and they had all the ac­ just the drag according to the fish you've to discover where in a good section the tion. No one in my boat or in the one on hooked. Let the fish take line, but keep shad can be intercepted. the other side caught anything. the drag loose enough so that the shad's The most successful anglers know their Still, all the anglers in the three boats sudden powerful runs and turns don't favorite spots and fish them year after year, in the middle of that deep section caught yank the line with a drag setting that's but they search the river to find new like­ fish on darts of different color combina­ too tight. ly looking places. They try their favorite tions. The place was the important part of • Anticipate the bulldogging runs of a big places first, but they often find new their shad fishing success, not dart color. shad, especially during a long fight. When you get the fish close to the boat the fish might freight-train again downstream. Loosen the drag a little and let the shad run. • When you think a large shad is tiring, pump it into the range of the net near the boat. Slowly raise the rod tip high, and as you lower it, reel in line, thus bring­ ing the fish close to the boat. Tighten the drag a little. If you're using ultralight gear, pumping is just about the only way to get a big shad up in the water and near the boat. • To net a shad after a fight, place the net in the water behind (downstream) and a little beneath the fish, and in a quick, smooth motion scoop up the shad into the net. • After you've creeled or released the fish, check about 8 feet of the line begin­ ning at the dart for cuts and frays. You may want to snip off about 8 feet of your line's business end, re-tie the dart on the line, and put on the splitshot again. If the Consider these two good shad fishing strategies. On the left, to fish the dart at a shad you just boated cut or frayed the line, selected depth, vary its size. From top to bottom are darts of 1/4-ounce, you could lose the next one.—AW 1/8-ounce, 1/16-ounce, and 1/32-ounce. On the right, to get the 1/16-ounce dart deep, add as much crimp-on splitshot as necessary. In high, swift water as much as six or seven shot may be necessary to place the dart near the bottom. 12 Pennsylvania Angler Getting darts deep fishermen who caught their quarries us­ A 6 hp engine for a 12-footer and a 9.9 When you find a good spot, getting the ing 6-pound-test line than any other for a 14-footer are common among the top- dart deep to fool migrating fish is a prob­ pound-test line. scoring boating shad anglers. They also lem that the best shad fishermen have The most important characteristic of a carry an ample supply of shear pins for solved in several ways. First, there's the good shad rod is that it has backbone to their motors, along with the proper tools method of using 1/8-ounce to 3/8-ounce fight those hefty bulldogging roe shad and for changing them. darts when the water is swift and high, and winch them up from the bottom. In addi­ In some places, you can use larger boats 1/8-ounce to 1/32-ounce darts when the tion, many successful shad anglers like a with bigger engines. Before you go to a flow is much less. medium-action rod, which bends through new spot, call local bait and tackle shops Another idea is to use only 1/16-ounce the top half. It absorbs the sudden jolts to and ask if your boat and motor are okay darts with as many crimp-on splitshot as the line that a big shad makes during the on that section of the river. Check out the necessary to place the dart at the proper battle better than a fast-action rod, thus April 1987 Angler for the complete depth. Anglers who fish this way frequent­ decreasing the chances of a break-off. lowdown on where to find the good spots ly start the season in high, swift water with Shad fishing regulars often use fast- and where to put your boat in. a 1/16-ouncer about 18 to 24 inches in front retrieve reels, with gear ratios of 5:1 or Lastly, successful shad anglers just of as many as five to seven large splitshot. greater. But for fishing from a boat, about always use long-handled wide- Later in the season, or when flows slow moderate-retrieve models are better for mouthed nets. Common round trout and depths decrease, these fishermen maximum lifting power at boatside. These fishing nets and "teardrop" nets don't do team the 1/16-ouncer with one to three reels have gear ratios of less than 5:1. the job, and even with a long-handled net, splitshot, and sometimes with no shot The most important quality of a reel for you still wish the net handle were about at all. shad fishing is its drag. This mechanism 5 feet longer than it is after a half-hour To catch shad with this strategy, you has to work properly, usually set light. battle with an 8-pound roe that you've have to select the right number of split- Shad anglers who boat a lot of fish and wresded boatside. Still, a 4-foot handle on shot, so if you're not catching fish and break few off use their reel drags most a widemouthed net is a good choice. your dart isn't collecting debris or snag­ skillfully, never horsing fish in. They let No matter what your shad fishing suc­ ging, put on another splitshot. If you're the large ones take all the line they want, cess may be, you could improve your score snagging bottom or collecting much and then they slowly work these big shad by considering how and where other suc­ debris, take off one shot. to the boat. cessful anglers catch shad, and by trying Another plan, if you're snagging bottom Check out the sidebar on page 12 for a their fishing methods along with the or collecting debris, is to keep the same more specific explanation of how best to strategies you already use. P**] number of shot on but shorten the length use your reel's drag and how to bring in of line out from the boat. On the other a hefty shad. hand, if you think the dart is riding too Awards Information high in the water, instead of adding split- Boats for shot, lengthen the amount of line you have Consider boats, too. Shad fishing vets out the boat stern. Try reeling in or let­ frequently use 12-foot to 14-foot semivees. ting out a few yards of line at a time. Semivees, sometimes called utility boats, 1986 When you change the line length, in ad­ are more stable craft than John boats, and dition to moving the dart higher or lower when the river is high, some riffles could Shad Catches in the water, you also change how the dart swamp a small flat-bottomed boat that has total of 62 Anglers Awards were swings or bobs in the current. too little freeboard (the distance from the A processed by the Commission for Both strategies work—adding or remov­ water line to the top of the gunwale). American shad—18 junior awards, 44 ing shot, and increasing or decreasing the Because John boats have little freeboard, senior awards. In March 1986, one award- hne length. The idea with both tactics is they are the easiest craft to swamp. For winning shad was caught; in April, 46 to place the dart higher or lower in the these reasons, shad angling regulars steer were caught; in May, 15 were brought in. water closer to the fish, or change the way clear of John boats for shad fishing, but Seven anglers used 4-pound-test line, 30 the dart moves in the current so that it at­ if you must use a John boat, beware of its anglers used 6-pound line, eight used tracts shad better. You have to experiment limitations. 8-pound test, four used 10-pound test, and to find what works best with your par­ Using inflatables for Delaware River 13 award winners didn't include this in­ ticular rod, reel, and line and just shad fishing is practical. Inflatables don't formation on their applications. where you're fishing on the Delaware, have to be trailered, so they can be launched The minimum weight for American just as the best shad anglers experiment just about anywhere, and they are shad is seven pounds for senior awards until they score. surprisingly stable craft. If you investigate and four pounds for junior awards (per­ inflatables, look for models with coated sons under 16 years of age). Tackle rubber, which toughens the skin and For complete details on the Commis­ Take a close look at your rods, reels, and makes it nearly puncture-proof. sion Angler Awards program, send a self- line, too. Experienced shad anglers for the Engines of about 6 hp to about 25 hp addressed, stamped business-sized most part prefer light spinning rods of 6 are right for the Delaware. Under- envelope with requests to: Publications feet to 7-1/2 feet with reels that they spool powering your boat won't let you get Section, Pennsylvania Fish Commission, with 4-pound to 6-pound mono. In recent through some of the fast water on an P.O. Box 1673, Harrisburg, PA 17105-1673. years, more Fish Commission Senior upriver trip, and too big an engine will Angler Awards were given to shad likely clobber the bottom in a few spots.

May 1987 13 by Steve Ulsh

HATCH In your fishing adventures you often see insects fly­ ing close to the surface of the water. Many of these are eaten by fish when they land on the water or rise to its top after hatching below. Many trout fishermen tie artificial flies to copy insects that exist in nature. See if you can "match the hatch" by identifying the flies shown on this page.

Stone fly Mayfly. Dragonfly Damselfly Caddis fly Dobsonfly

a A|juosqoQ d A|juo6eja V A|J SJPPBO 0 *I*ABW 3 A|}|9swea s Aljeuojs SJ8MSUW ultralight action fiberglass rods with light lines. The rod tips bob up and down to indicate a fish on. "Flat-lining with light line is my most Erie's Deepwater Walleye productive technique. But the real secret is in the boat control. You can't run a by Darl Black straight line trolling pass and expect to "There's walleye out there," the Lake Erie However, the fish may be deeper or take very many walleye. The fish spook anglers were told by a few pioneering shallower at certain times; he has taken to the left and right when the boat passes fishermen several years ago. "Out there" 'eye on the bottom in 80 feet of water as over. Troll a large "S" pattern so your meant deep water, offshore, the middle of well as within a few feet of the surface. crankbait is not directly behind the boat." the lake, or however you wished to In the eastern basin walleye have been describe it. It was a place far different reported suspended over depths of 100 Diving planers from where walleye sport anglers were feet plus. A flat line will take care of walleye accustomed to fishing. "The very first thing one has to do is down to 25 or 30 feet of water. But when Initial skepticism among anglers ran locate baitfish before you can expect to the 'eye are deeper, a diving planer may high, but it did not take long for news of find walleye," Bucsek emphasizes. "The be used. Diving planers are in-line fantastic catches to circulate. Suddenly most important piece of equipment devices, four to five inches in diameter, hundreds of long-time Erie walleye for this chore is a chart recorder. used to take a bait deeper than it would fishermen were joined by thousands of Flashers just don't hold a candle to a normally run. One such unit is the Dip- new faces as everyone tried to cash in on good graph unit." sy Diver, which retails for under $10. the bonanza. The graph doesn't always mark the "For diving planers, 12-pound test is Traditional fishing methods for Erie's walleye because the fish may move away the minimum line required due to the yellow pike, as the natives call the from the sound of a motorboat, but it is force of the planer pulling on the mono. walleye, were limited to trolling plugs or needed to establish the depth of large A 10- to 12-foot leader is tied between the drifting with worm harnesses in near- quantities of bait. Once a forage-holding diving planer and the lure. The lure could shore areas. Anglers rarely ventured area is located, one of the following deep- be a crankbait, spoon, or worm harness. beyond the 30-foot or 40-foot depths. But water techniques may be applied. "With a long leader behind the Dipsy inquisitive anglers of the 1980s found Diver, you have to go with long downrig- walleye in sizes and numbers in waters Flat-lining ging rods in the 9- to 12-foot lengths to whose depths up until then had been "Flat-lining is simply trolling a lure on aid in landing fish at boatside because the probed by only summer salmon a monofilament line straight off the back diving planer does not release the line," downriggers. of the boat," says Bucsek. "We run the adds Bucsek. The Pennsylvania deepwater walleye lines without weight and let the crankbait Each diving planer includes a chart to explosion reached an unbelievable peak control the depth. tell how much line to feed out to reach in 1985. It seemed as if no one could help "For walleye in the open water of the a specific depth. Based on his experience, but catch walleye. lake I am a firm believer in using 4- and Yet there were anglers who did not 6-pound-test line. Some people call my catch walleye. Either they failed to fishing buddies and me crazy for using understand the necessary techniques or such light lines, but they work. The fine- they were not properly equipped to han­ diameter line gets those crankbaits to their dle the deep water. true maximum depths. Because bottom Let's run down the most effective snags will not be encountered, there is no techniques for deepwater walleye with one problem of hanging and losing a plug. of the lake's experts. Chuck Bucsek of And walleye don't hit hard, so there is lit­ Edinboro has been pounding Lake Erie tle chance of breaking a line from the for 12 years in pursuit of smallmouth, shock of a strike." perch, salmon, trout, and of course, With 100 to 120 feet of light line out, walleye. He isn't afraid to experiment. In Bucsek says a Norman Deep Little N can seeking deepwater walleye, Chuck uses a be trolled at 25 feet and a Bagley Double number of techniques. His advice and tips Deep Kil'r B II at 28 to 30 feet. "Extra are valuable to anyone desiring to try for sharp hooks are absolutely necessary for Erie's yellow pike. a positive hook set. The drag should be First, Bucsek points out, it is necessary set very light for the initial strike, then to understand that Erie's walleyed pike are tightened up as you fight the fish," in roving schools. These big-water says Bucsek. walleye do not relate to structure, but "When running light line, stiff graphite rather to water temperature and location rods will not be beneficial. Besides, a of forage. The fish of deep water are walleye may take a bait and let itself be generally suspended. Bucsek finds most towed right along with the boat. On a stiff of his summer fish in 25 to 35 feet of rod it is very difficult to detect the rod Two beauties taken from the Trench water over 60-foot to 80-foot depths. tip bobbing. That's why I use light and area off Walnut Creek. photos by the author May 1987 15 Bucsek thinks the charts are reliable to may run $200. Bucsek says an innovative within 5 feet of the actual depth. angler can build his own boards and pole Bucsek says he has only limited success for a quarter of the cost. with diving planers for walleye fishing. "Unlike salmon, it is very difficult to Downrigging detect a strike of a light-biting walleye Most anglers have an idea what with these devices because of the terrific downriggers are and how they work. A drag from the planer. Their main use is large spool of wire cable supports a heavy for the angler who does not have lead ball that is raised and lowered on the downriggers or wire line rods to reach cable by a motor or by hand cranking. the deep fish." The monofilament fishing line is placed in a line release attached to the ball. Side planers Strictly for salmon fishing, right? Not Side planers are used to place lures on any longer. either side of the boat while trolling. The "Downrigging provides you with con­ surface-running planers run parallel to the trolled depth of any lure you wish to use," boat because the boards are constructed says Bucsek. "Shallow and deep-diving at an angle. There are side planers on the crankbaits, spoons, spinners, worm market ranging from short boards of harnesses or whatever—you can put it at around 12 inches to large double boards an exact depth, as deep as you wish, with exceeding 30 inches. a downrigger." From Bucsek's viewpoint, the large A couple of problems had to be over­ double boards are far superior because come before anglers could enjoy the they track better, handle rougher water, benefits of downrigging for walleye. First, and can put lures farther off the port or rigger releases were designed for hard­ starboard sides. hitting salmon. Walleye rarely pull the "Side planers are extremely effective line free from the standard salmon release when fish are up. When the walleye are clip. Special light-touch walleye releases within 20 feet of the surface, boat noise are now available, and are very popular parts a school like Moses parting the with anglers on Erie. Red Sea. However, Bucsek does not like to use "Both deep and shallow diving crank- the walleye releases because hard-pulling baits are used on planers, with the actual crankbaits frequently trigger false releases bait depending on the depth of the fish. with the light-touch releases. Sometimes the fish are just under the sur­ "I modified offshore releases, not to face, so a plug diving only four or five create an easy-to-trip release, but to pro­ feet is all that is needed." vide a better indicator of a walleye on the Large side planers require an upright rigger. The standard release attached to 5 or 10 feet when salmon fishing. mast or pole mounted in the boat to sup­ the cannonball is about 6 inches long. I Downrigger fishing requires a con­ port the tow line above the water line be­ replaced the short wire with a 30-inch siderable outlay of funds. With a couple tween boat and planer. length. When you tighten your rods to the of moderately priced downriggers, bases, The rigging process is simple. Run the rigger, the release is pulled upwards. With balls, releases and rods, the investment planer board out on the tow line. Play the a short release, a hooked walleye has very could approach $400—perhaps more than crankbait out about 25 or 30 feet, slip the little arch to tug at. However, with a the occasional Erie angler cares to spend. ring eye of the release onto the tow line, 30-inch wire on the release, the arch is and then clip the fishing line into the much greater, so a walleye's resistance Wire line release. The release slides down the tow gives a noticeable bounce in the rod tip. Within the last three years, wire line line toward the planer with the fishing line If you know a walleye has taken your bait, fishing for yellows has swept Lake Erie. attached. When the walleye strikes the you can snap the line free from the release Although Bucsek has tried wire line, he lure, it pulls the line free of the clip. and bring in the fish." does not use it on a regular basis. "Side planers are the best way to han­ The second necessary adjustment was "What I don't like about wire is the lack dle spooky walleye, but there are some increasing the amount of line between the of fighting done by walleye taken on wire. problems," continues Bucsek. "The big­ cannonball and the lure. In salmon fishing There is no playing the fish; you just gest disadvantage is getting a hook set. anglers had discovered that the cannon- crank it in slowly. I would rather not use When a walleye hits and hopefully snaps ball acted as an attractor for those fish, wire as long as I can reach the fish with the line out of the release, there is a lot so a short lead was general practice. But monofilament and enjoy the fight." of slack line in that sharp angle between 'eye anglers soon realized that the ball was On the other hand, many anglers find the rod, planer and fish which must be a turn-off for their target species. Just as wire line to be an inexpensive, highly pro­ taken up before the hook can be set. Just motor noise disturbed the walleye, the ductive technique for deepwater 'eye. Ten- reel like crazy." cannonball also spooked the fish. Bucsek pound stainless steel wire is approximate­ A commercially made outfit with runs 30 to 50 feet of line between the ball ly the same diameter as 10-pound planer boards, mast and retrieval system and lure when walleye fishing instead of monofilament, and may be spooled on a 16 Pennsylvania Angler standard free-spool casting reel matched may be used for a change of pace. cast before the lure drifts too far behind with a fiberglass rod of 6 or 7 feet. Your "Jigging heavyweight spoons right the boat. On a relatively calm day a good entire investment may only run $70. under the boat can be fun as well as very angler can catch walleye as deep as 70 feet Wire can put a diving crankbait as deep effective on the walleye at times. First you using this method. as necessary for Erie 'eye. It is possible have to find a good concentration of fish, Select the deep-water techniques that to run big-lipped crankbaits at 70 feet or and then the weather has to cooperate. fit your style of fishing and your pocket- more on wire line. There is no stretch Unfortunately, the chop on the lake usual­ book. If you don't have downriggers for to wire, so hooks are set automatically. ly precludes vertical jigging. the extremely deep fish, try diving Actually, if an angler reacts by setting the "If you would like to try jigging to catch planers or wire line. If you think your hook, chances are that the plug will be some deepwater walleye, here is what you motor is scattering shallower walleye but ripped out of the fish's mouth. And will need—a 6- to 7-foot medium/heavy you don't have side planers to get your because of no stretch, even the smallest graphite rod with a casting reel spooled lures away from the boat, give casting fish taking the bait is easily detected with 12- to 14-pound-test monofilament, spoons a try while drifting. Be prepared regardless of how much wire is out. and several jigging spoons in the 3/4- to to switch methods; don't expect one ap­ IVi-ounce range. The heavier the spoon, proach to work all the time. Vertical jigging the easier it is to keep contact with it in Finally, safety must always be stressed All the methods discussed so far have choppy conditions." with planning to fish Lake Erie. Be sure been trolling approaches. In the big-water Bucsek recommends casting the spoon you have navigational aides and know how situation, trolling helps to eliminate un­ ahead of the drifting boat, working it with to use them. Never attempt to run out in productive water quickly. But even when small snaps as it sinks. If nothing nails marginal weather or when a storm is a concentration of walleye is found, the spoon by the time it is directly under threatening. The walleye will still be there casting has little application on Erie— the boat, push the free spool to let the another day. G*3 the fish are generally deeper than you can flashy bait flutter toward the bottom. possibly crank your deepest-diving bait. Engage the line, pump the rod a few But Bucsek says there is one method that times, and wind in the spoon for another May 1987 17 argemouth bass have a critically important role as the dominant LARGEMOUTH BASS Land sometimes only piscivorous predator in many Pennsylvania lakes and ponds. Piscivorous means feeding on fish, and fish can be a major part of the IN THE,A,BALANCE largemouth bass diet. The overall balance and health of a fish community can de­ by R. L. Hoopes pend, in many instances, on predation by largemouth bass. In its role as dominant predator in a fish community, the largemouth bass feeds on small fishes, especially sunfishes, thus keeping them from becoming overabundant. If sunfish populations are not held in check by effective predation, their numbers can increase until individual fish cannot find enough food to grow well. When fish can find only enough food to maintain life but not enough to increase in size with a normal growth rate, they are said to be stunted. Fish communities with extraordinary numbers of small sunfish and few or no intermediate-size and large bass are often typical of small lakes and ponds where even a few anglers fishing for bass each year are enough to catch all the bass large enough to have been feeding on fish. As fishing pressure has increased over the past two decades on state-owned and other public lakes, excessive largemouth bass harvest has become evident. When fishing pressure is high enough to catch many of the desirable-size fish, it can have a destabilizing effect and lead to an unbalanced fish community. When in­ tense fish pressure is directed at largemouth bass and bluegill sunfish, an unbalanced fish community may result composed of small sunfish and very few legal-sized bass. An abundance of small sunfish eat bass eggs and compete with young bass for food, so the sunfish are able to limit the numbers of piscivorous predatory large­ mouth bass and perpetuate the unbal­ anced condition. Detecting and correcting unbalanced fish communities is a major task in managing fisheries. Balance There are three aspects of the fish com­ munity which are important to the con­ cept of balance. First is the variety of fish species that make up the community. In a lake, the most simple fish community might be composed of largemouth bass and bluegill sunfish. The fish community becomes more complex when additional fish species occur. Typical members of 18 Pennsylvania Angler more complex communities might in­ small catches at one time of the year activity of anglers. Commonwealth inland clude chain pickerel and other piscivorous within limited areas of the lake. regulations for bass in lakes affect the predators, as well as pumpkinseed sun- When about four to six largemouth bass seasons, size and number of bass that an fish and yellow perch. are over 12 inches out of every 10 bass angler can keep. The current closed The idea of community balance is rele­ taken over eight inches, the bass popula­ season for bass in lakes coincides with vant regardless of the complexity of the tion can be considered in balance. When their spawning time. This has con­ community. For a typical fish communi­ about two to four bluegills are caught over siderable emotional appeal, but the real ty to be in balance, there must be small six inches out of every 10 bluegills taken reason is that for 17 percent of the year, prey or forage fishes and large fish that over three inches, the bluegill population bass cannot be harvested from lakes. eat other fish. In a simple fish communi­ can be considered in balance. Because bass feed very actively at this ty, bluegills and small bass are the More complex fish communities may time of year while attending their nests prey and large bass are the fish- include more than one piscivorous and young and fishing pressure is at its eating predators. predator fish and several panfish or forage peak, the closed season probably Size of fish is the second aspect of fish species and can have the state of reduces the potential bass harvest by balance. Small bass do not prey on other balance analyzed using similar measures 40-50 percent. Even more restrictive fish. Bass do not eat many fish until they of abundance of various size fish. If there seasons of perhaps a few weeks would reach a length of 8-9 inches and are about are too many or too few small fish or too have the potential to reduce die harvest three years old. At this size they begin many or too few large fish, the commu­ greatly and would be very effective in combating the effects of overharvest on eating small fish, but it does not take nity can be considered out of balance. me balance of die bass population. many fish to satisfy them and they con­ tinue to eat insect larvae and crayfish. Causes of unbalance The current statewide minimum size is Fish in the diet of largemouth bass are There can be many causes for 12 inches for bass from lakes. This important for continued rapid growth and unbalanced fish communities. Before cor­ minimum size limit was designed to pro­ good health, which allows sexual maturity rective action is taken to bring a fish com­ tect bass from anglers dirough four years and reproduction. Bass over 12 inches are munity into balance, the cause of the un­ of their life. This protection should allow effective predators on smaller fish, in­ balanced condition should be identified. about half die female bass to spawn at cluding their own young. A diet of fish Man is also a piscivorous predator. least once before they are large enough allows the largemouth bass to put on lots Anglers, through the harvest of fish, can for anglers to harvest. An equally impor­ of weight, especially when they are over have a profound effect on the balance of tant reason to protect bass in lakes until 12 inches long. At these sizes bass in­ a fish community. Largemouth bass are they are 12 inches is that it allows them crease more in weight than they do in the most sought-after fish in Pennsylvania to be an effective fish-eating predator length, thus becoming more robust. Bass and the nation, for mat matter. Sunfish for a year until diey are large enough less than 12 inches eat fewer and smaller are a popular fish for the pan. Most to be harvested. forage fish than do larger bass. The ability anglers are delighted when they find a The current creel limit of six bass per of these smaller bass to control forage fish lake in which all of the bass or sunfish day does little to protect bass in lakes. populations is limited to small-size prey they catch are legal or desirable size. The Only on few fishing trips do anglers ever and limited by the number of bass angler's pleasure may be short-lived catch six bass, so me creel limit has no available to eat the small fish. because when there are no small fish to effect in protecting bass until an in­ The abundance or numbers of in­ replace the large ones that are removed, dividual angler has reached die limit and dividual fish of various species in the the good fishing will not last long. When must return to die water tiiose legal-size community is the third aspect of balance. a fish community is unbalanced because bass mat could have been kept if the creel For a fish community to be in balance, only large fish are present, reproduction limit were higher. Reducing die creel each fish species must have small fish (in­ may have stopped or excessive deaths are limit, even to one or two bass, also does dicating continued successful reproduc­ occurring during the fishes' early life. little to reduce overall harvest, but it may tion), intermediate-size fish (indicating Such a fish community will change rapid­ serve to redistribute die harvested bass to survival and growth), and large fish that ly with heavy fishing pressure. Either the more anglers. The redistribution of die bass harvest to more anglers is desirable are sexually mature, effective predators fish will become scarce, or more likely, in promoting angler satisfaction. and desirable to anglers. another fish species will become abun­ The abundance or numbers of various dant. Anglers frequently complain when Fishing pressure is expected to continue sizes of fish in each species is how fish most of the fish they catch are small and to increase. Angler interest in catching biologists measure balance. Anglers can large sunfish and legal bass are only rare­ bass will undoubtedly grow, perhaps at also get a sense of a fish community's ly taken. Such situations are typical when an even faster rate. As fishery managers balance by the numbers and sizes of fish fishing pressure is heavy and die fish are identify problems witii fish communities they catch. Fish biologists try to catch reproducing satisfactorily. When an un­ and bass populations tiiat can reasonably large samples (more than 200) of a fish balanced fishery can be attributed to be attributed to excessive fishing pressure, species to judge the state of balance of the fishing pressure and excessive angler tiien more conservative regulations are fish community. They also try to collect harvest of fish, regulations can be an ef­ appropriate. these samples from many parts of the lake fective tool to help restore and maintain El and throughout the year to ensure that the balance in the fish community. sample is a fair representation of the fish R. L. Hoopes is Warmwater Unit leader that live there. Anglers need to be Regulations in the Commission Division of Fisheries cautious about drawing conclusions from Fishing regulations affect the fishing Management. May 1987 19 Spinfishing with Worms for Spring Trout by David R. Thompson

This hole in Little Juniata Creek received plenty of fishing pressure after it was stocked with trout. Still, a worm fished slow­ ly along the bottom let a young angler catch this trout, with help from an enthusiastic netter.

A baitfishing specialist remarked Yet, seasoned anglers who supposedly At right, Bridger Thompson caught this f\ to me after he'd caught another know the score where worm fishing is trout on 2-pound-test line. His ultralight -/ A. fish that "Just because everybody concerned seldom think highly enough of spinning gear and worms are winning does it doesn't mean everyone does it the lowly worm to explore its full poten­ combos for spring trout. well." He was referring to fishing for ear­ tial and continually improve as bait ly season trout with worms, a bait that he fishermen. Consequently, fishing worms used with finesse. He applied a gentle well remains a challenge for many of us Locating an aggressive trout in early touch to worm fishing that elevated it to and requires a fresh outlook. spring is rewarding because its efforts to an art form. And as good art evokes a Now in early sping is when to focus on steal your worm will capture your un­ positive response from people, his ap­ worm fishing. The earth is dampened by divided attention as surely as the last proach to worm fishing received a showers. Earthworms are accessible just pages in a mystery novel. And like the favorable response from trout. below the ground surface, especially in thriller whose outcome isn't known, the Angling for trout with worms may ap­ gardens. Some of them are washed by rain outcome of the suspense created by an pear to be kids' stuff. The common earth­ into trout streams, becoming easy prey for aggressive trout tugging a worm remains worm certainly is no new, exotic bait that hungry stocked trout. Even trout that a mystery until the fisherman himself requires an introduction. Even youngsters never have seen a worm recognize it as causes a satisfying ending. The question who are still wet behind the ears as food. Even so, for the angler to be suc­ is, is he enough of a craftsman to choose anglers manage to enjoy at least modest cessful, a bait must be presented so that die proper tools for his fishing and use success at what superior fishermen might trout don't become defensive (worm shy) them properly? Assuming that he refer to as "worm dunking." and instead are aggressive feeders. is properly equipped and trained, 20 Pennsylvania Angler the trout fishing story will have a tools of the trade can vary; however, face reel matches the rod so that the out­ happy conclusion. ultralight spinning tackle is an excellent fit is balanced and a joy to use. The choice. My favorite rod weighs only a few average trout of 9 to 10 inches is fun to Ultralight tackle ounces and is five feet long. (Sometimes catch and yet die rod is suitable for play­ To catch early season trout with worms, I wish the rod were smaller.) The open- ing larger fish of 12 or more inches that May 1987 21 are prone to take worms and night- downstream edge of the pool where the crawlers at this time of year. water was more shallow and immediate­ An ultralight spinning outfit is ideal for ly a trout socked the bait. He caught the fishing creeks and most lakes. It isn't fish that apparently had been scared out necessary or recommended that long of the main pool and for the time being casts be made. Concentrate instead on was holding in a less obvious place that cautiously approaching water that you in­ the other anglers failed to fish. tend to fish and make short casts that In fishing for early season trout with place the worm without commotion above worms, it is worthwhile to probe the deep the hole, eddy, rock or submerged log. water thoroughly with your bait. Often Then let the bait wash naturally in the trout are there even though such water is current into the target water. Next, brace fished hard. Trout become wary in these yourself for a trout's solid tug. places and refuse to bite until fishing Hatchery trout become opportunists pressure has relaxed. That is when to like other creatures that must hustle and tempt trout with an earthworm that is live­ use energy to survive. In spring, they ly, properly hooked and fished slowly aren't finicky feeders and will eat dif­ along the bottom. ferent varieties of worms, including Finding trout and enticing them to bite garden worms, leaf worms, manure is only half the challenge. Anglers next worms, and red wigglers, to name some. must be able to hook them—something Trout, particularly the larger ones, also that many fishermen wish they did more take nightcrawlers. often. My friend who catches trout in Although any earthworm or night- spring uses techniques that others can use crawler is suitable bait, the worm-fishing to advantage. specialist is selective. He avoids skimpy "When the worm is drifting in the cur­ worms, preferring ones that are about 2 Vi rent and suddenly stops, I'm alert to the to 3 inches. Garden worms of that size possibility that a trout has it," he said. "I are fine as are those known as blackheads. reel in line very slowly, keeping the rod Nightcrawlers of similar size or slightly tip pointed toward the bait until there is longer also are good. These baits are large no slack. If a trout has the worm, I usual­ enough for trout to find easily even if the ly can detect movement or feel the trout stream is high and murky. tug. Once I conclude that a trout has the thoroughly and if a spot looks particularly bait, I wait until the fish makes the next Hooks, line good don't give up on it too soon. Trout move. If it tugs sharply or if I feel the line A size 6 hook is a good choice for waters that are fished hard in spring often tightening, I set the hook. The important worm fishing. An earthworm that is about require patience and sometimes an in­ thing is not to react instantly when a trout 3 inches should be hooked just once novative approach. bites a worm. Give it time." through its collar so that the head and tail In hooking a trout, he lifts the rod up ends dangle, giving the bait a natural ap­ Excellent strategy and back so that his forearm comes pearance. A healthy earthworm hooked One morning last spring, for instance, straight back toward his shoulder. in this manner will wiggle and that move­ I was fishing a mountain run that recent­ "This is pretty much a natural reflex; ment entices trout. ly had received an in-season trout stock­ however, a lot of fishermen pull so If the bait is longer than 3 inches, it can ing. Several anglers had fished ahead of forcefully that the line snaps or the bait be hooked through the collar and again me and each stopped to try his luck at a comes back and smacks them on the midway below so that the tail is not so pool created by a tree that had fallen into head. If you remove slack line as the trout long that a trout will break it before the water. None of them caught a trout. bites, it isn't necessary to pull hard. A mouthing the entire bait. When my friend who specializes in worm firm, upward sweep of tlie forearm is ade­ Using 4-pound-test line, these baits fishing reached the same pool, I stopped quate," he said. bring best results when fished on or close fishing to watch him. A worm fisherman wants to catch trout to the stream bottom. In early spring The first thing he did was select a fresh to take home to eat. He seeks stocked fish when waters often are high, crimp a split- angleworm that he hooked carefully that are intended for the frying pan and shot to the line about eight inches above through the collar. Like the other to that end the common worm fished on the hook to take the worm to the bottom. fishermen, he cast upstream and let the light spinning tackle is an effective Then the important thing is to fish the bait bait flow into the pool under the tree. He combination. Success, however, slowly, allowing it to drift or tumble along kept the line tight, thereby eliminating depends not only on mastering simple the bottom and into each pocket of water slack from interfering with his detecting techniques but having the right attitude deep enough to shelter a trout. a bite. After the worm was on the bot­ toward worms. If the water happens to be clear and low tom in the pool for several minutes, he The worm is the all-American trout and you don't see trout, don't bet that cast upstream again and repeated the pro­ bait, which means it's a pretty classy crit­ none is there. Trout are well-camouflaged cedure. He did this four times without ter. And that's why a worm fishing and the slightest ripple hides them. getting a strike. specialist is in a class all by himself. . . Therefore, fish all possible hides Finally, he cast the worm to the with the trout to prove it. I p*] 22 Pennsylvania Angler As a kid growing up in one of the nation's anglers from spring through. Jigs topped Lake (Chester) and Springton Reservoir largest cities, I used to fantasize about liv­ with plastic tails or pork frogs, spin- (Delaware). Two good fishing patterns'for ing in one of the remote areas I read about nerbaits and various crankbaits all work the summer are plastic worms and crank­ in the glossy pages of slick national hunt­ well. Prime areas to work include the baits around windy points, or jigs around ing and fishing publications. Imagine Betzwood/Valley Forge stretch, around large rock structure. living in the woods of Though the water Minnesota or Wis­ may be deep in some consin with that great Great Fishing near of these lakes, don't musky or bass fishing spend too much time close to home! Or testing the depths in what about trout summer. Tests have fishing in the shown the oxygen Rockies? Pike or Philadelphia levels are often insuffi­ walleye in Canada? by Ed Jaworowski •*" cient for bass below the Reflecting on all this half a lifetime the mouths of the Perkiomen and Valley 8-foot to 12-foot range during the warmer later, and after visiting these "exotic" creeks, above and below the Norristown months. Also, note that special regula­ spots and a lot more, I've come to a dif­ dam and around Conshohocken. The tions apply on some of these waters, so ferent point of view. I still live in rocks from Flat Rock Dam and down to consult the Summary of Fishing Regula­ Philadelphia but my perspective has the mouth of the Wissahickon Creek are tions and Laws in advance. For example, changed. I've fished for smallmouth in worth a try, too. This last stretch is ac­ Springton and Churchville offer shore three Canadian provinces and four states tually within the city limits! fishing only and limited access. Green but the biggest I've ever taken fell to a jig- Perkiomen Creek, the Schuylkill's Lane is county-owned and imposes a fee and-pig combination in the Schuylkill largest tributary in this area, teems with for non-residents. Still, these and other River, about 20 minutes from my home. smaller bass and panfish. Wade it restrictions are some of the reasons these Twenty years ago, a trip to Ontario for anywhere from Green Lane to the junc­ waters produce quality angling in a walleye was a bust. My first of that tion. There are some posted areas, but ac­ crowded environment. You won't com­ species came from the Delaware River in cess is generally easy around Schwenks- plain after your first six-pounder. Bucks County. I've fished for pike in ville, Collegeville and Oaks. You'll have Alaska, Ontario and Quebec but never top-notch action with tiny twister tail jigs Panfish saw a larger fish than the one on the wall or small streamer flies. If you live in the All the waters mentioned thus far offer of Harry Neff s Sport Fishin' Outlet in northeast part of the city or its suburbs, good panfishing—bluegills, other sunfish, Center Square, Montgomery County. The try the Neshaminy or the Delaware into crappies, and perch. A casual weekend owner took the 21-pounder from nearby which it flows. The Delaware has a long excursion with kids can be a resounding Green Lane Reservoir. reputation as smallmouth water. Strike success, whetfier you flick small wet flies The tale of my first trout, first musky out for the Trenton/Yardley area or and poppers on a fly rod, fish tiny spin­ and first fly-caught striped bass are all Washington's Crossing State Park. ners and jigs on spin tackle, or just sit and similar. I think the lesson is simply that The Delaware is also good largemouth watch a bobber while drowning worms. we spend most of our time—hence do water down around Croydon and Bristol. For crappies you can't do much better most of our fishing—close to home, in my There are launching facilities and marinas than Green Lane or Springton in April case the densely populated greater at Croydon and down to Linden Avenue and May. The fish school heavily then Philadelphia area. I am impressed with in northeast Philadelphia. You may also especially around bridge pilings or other the diversity of sport my neighborhood want to try the Commission access at structure. Small jigs with bright plastic has to offer. A rough circle on a map Milnor and Princeton avenues (Tacony tails (chartreuse is tops in my book), with around the city to a distance of 25 or 30 Access) and the Frankford Arsenal Ac­ or without a safety pin style spinner at­ miles—say an hour's drive or less— cess. You'll do well to invest most of your tached, are hard to beat. Use light line, encompasses, within its perimeter, dozens time exploring coves, harbors and creek 2-pound to 4-pound test, so your offer­ of good fishing sites and a rich variety of mouths off the main river. Places like ing sinks more easily and gets more ac­ gamefish opportunities for the Dredge Harbor on the Jersey side and tion as you jig it slowly. Two anglers can metropolitan-based angler. Tullytown cove on the Pennsylvania side easily expect enough crappies for a few To survey the smorgasbord, pick your are worth investigating. Again, spinner- meals from one outing, but remember favorite type of fishing or species and get baits, jigs and crankbaits should all be that one of the keys to keeping our sport out some maps of the Philadelphia area. given a trial. This is tidal water, is imposing limits on ourselves, both in Here are some suggestions on where, remember, so you can better locate fish- terms of size and number. when and how you can enjoy some real holding structure during low water stages. The Delaware in Bucks County has a fishing fun, even if, like me, you're a Come back at higher tides to try these good population of crappies, too, and is city slicker. spots. Local papers give daily tide underfished. These fish can be a little information. harder to locate, however. Bass Other recommended productive large- Smallmouth bass are plentiful in many mouth waters include the reservoir at Trout local waters. In the Schuylkill River, from Churchville, Lake Nockamixon, Lake If you lean to trout fishing, just con­ above Valley Forge clear into the city they Towhee (Bucks County), Green Lane sider your options: in Philadelphia Coun­ can be caught by shore-based or boat Reservoir (Montgomery), Marsh Creek ty, Wissahickon and Pennypack creeks; May 1987 23 French Creek near Valley Forge Park in Montgomery, Wissahickon, Skippack, These are not natural cold-water is a popular—and productive—early Unami, Mill and Valley creeks, Green fisheries, but due to the efforts of the Fish season trout fishing spot. Lane Reservoir, Lock Alsh Reservoir and Commission and a few sportsmen's clubs, Upper Perkiomen Valley Park; in Chester generous stockings of hatchery-reared County, French and Pickering creeks; in fish afford accessible sport for thousands Delaware County, Ridley and Darby of local anglers. creeks; in Bucks County, Levittown Lake Bait, fly and spin fishermen living in and Lake Luxembourg. There are other any corner of the city have easy access smaller waters as well. to one or more of the lakes and streams I've mentioned. These planted fish tend photos by the author not to be too sophisticated. Salmon eggs,

24 Pennsylvania Angler . fly-fishing-only waters that offer year- wonders. Bounce the lures close to the round angling. Lake Luxembourg and bottom on overcast days or toward even­ Levittown Lake are popular ice fishing ing or after dark on clearer days. locations for trout. Five-pound fish are not uncommon. Remember too that walleye fishermen in Muskies the Delaware regularly score on muskies, Many years ago the muskellunge was channel cats, smallmouth and crappies a fish relegated to the dreams of city while pursuing their sport. Lake Galena dwellers. We drooled as we envisioned is another good spot and generally has "living logs" or "freshwater barracuda" good fall fishing for walleye. in far-off waters. The local success story started when, a generation ago, a musky Carp turned up in a water system filter about Bottom fishermen will find carp in two miles from center city. The oddity most waters mentioned. They are prolific was explained as a refugee from Green in the lakes and very few anglers fish for Lane Reservoir, a carry-over from an ear­ them, partly because of the abundance of ly, experimental stocking. The fact that other fish. The Delaware has been noted the fish survived the Perkiomen and the for large carp around the Tacony-Palmyra Schuylkill proved that the cleanup of local Bridge and up around the mouth of the waters was showing positive results. Since Neshaminy for as long as I can then, extensive Commission musky plant­ remember. Across town, on the west side ings have created a highly successful of the city, carp fishermen favor the fishery. The toothy critters are no longer Schuylkill below Flat Rock Dam and oddities, as they swim in both major river down along the city's Kelly and West systems and a number of lakes in the River drives. Philadelphia region. If you still need something to whet your Try the slower stretches of the appetite, consider that striped bass are Perkiomen and Schuylkill in the areas common in the Delaware clear up to mentioned above for smallmouths. An in­ Yardley and small stripers have been taken creasing number of legal-sized muskies by fly and spin anglers near the city's art can also be found on the Schuylkill River museum and above Manayunk in the from below Flat Rock Dam downstream Schuylkill. Channel cats are numerous in to and below the Fairmount Dam. The both rivers, some smaller waters and most Commission stocks fingerling muskies in of the lakes. I've taken pickerel from a this section, too. The first two I ever river cove near Bristol and perch from the hooked were in the"Perk,"the first land­ Schuylkill near Norristown. The spring ed came from Lake Galena in Peace shad and herring runs on the Delaware Valley Park near Chalfont. Good numbers are legendary and deserve separate have been stocked in the Delaware from coverage to do them justice. the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge upstream. Thanks to the Fish Commission's ef­ They are populous enough for some sport forts and the ladder at the Fairmount Dam shops to run musky contests. in center city, the Schuylkill may enjoy Springton, Green Lane and Nockamix- similar sport in the future. on have been the most popular 'lunge If your job, family or the cultural and lakes. Large Rebel plugs and jumbo educational advantages of a large Mepps spinners are the kinds of baits metropolitan area have determined your most musky fishermen like. Minnows, residence in or adjacent to Philadelphia, dead or alive, seem most preferred by bait don't lament your fishing fate. We city anglers in these waters. dwellers never had it so good. Your only real problem is deciding which species of Walleye your plethora of gamefish to try for. The worms and minnows all work well and the Another popular midwestern and Cana­ foregoing doesn't pretend to exhaust the individual angler's skill at fishing one of dian fish that has found a home in the opportunities but hopefully will en­ these is far more critical than the bait Delaware Valley is the walleye. Though courage you to grab your rod and head selected. As for artificials, my first available year-round, winter and spring for the ole fishin' hole. A good spot is recommendations are C.P. Swing and are hard to beat. In summer you will have probably right down the block. Rooster Tail type spinners for spincasters, to go to deeper holes for them. Visit the and for flyrodders, hare's ear or muskrat Delaware up to the Lumberville/Point nymphs, woolly worms, marabou Pleasant area. A good start would be Special thanks goes to the Southeast Law streamers and bucktails. !4-ounce to Vi-ounce lead-headed jigs Enforcement Region and to Sally Corl, French and Ridley creeks, both in with twister tails in yellow, purple or Philadelphia County WCO, for their Philadelphia's western suburbs, have black. An added spinner often works assistance with this manuscript. May 1987 25 '. '&& After TMy've Been Stemmed

Lfr/ng special tactics can help you catch stocked trout, now that opening day fever has subsided.

26 Pennsylvania Angler before it took flight. Off went the dry; reason that these special regulation on went a wet version of the emerger, waters are limited to the much less lethal which was carefully dropped a foot or artificial lures. by Fred Johnson two above the rising fish, and given a Why was Steve so successful in catch­ he sun was already high in the slight twitch. A small wave moved ing trout from this typical stocked moun­ sky, slightly angled to the toward the fly and gently engulfed it. tain stream near the end of the stocking T southeast. It was hot when old The fish fought well and quivered as season? First, he realized that a Steve left the soothing security of his an­ he released the fly. As always, Steve ad­ significant percentage of stocked trout, cient but air conditioned "fish mobile" mired this first fish. The brown was just especially those stocked pre-season, are parked off the shoulder of the macadam. under 11 inches, her belly full from the not creeled, even by autumn. This is true But this brief discomfort ended quickly brook's spring cornucopia. She was a because these preseason trout move away as he entered the cool forest canopy to pretty fish, sporting attractive coloration, from the convenient stocking points (or snake his way through the rhododendron beginning to resemble a wild trout—a may even be spread by float stocking). that covered the forest floor and made the status, however, that her still-rounded Most anglers simply don't bother to quarter-mile hike to the stream seem far­ fins clearly belied. Well before dusk, move too far from the bridges and road, ther. Ten minutes of slicing through the Steve had landed and returned over a especially following in-season stocking thickets brought him to a steep incline, dozen stocked brown and rainbow trout events. Steve may have passed a number and the music of the stream directed his of similar size, and one fine wild (or car­ of parked cars near the convenient access route with quickened pace. ryover) 15-inch brown, which he killed points, but he chose to enter the stream Moments later, the slightly stooped with a quick rap of a rock—a fine dinner at a fairly inaccessible location, well angler reached the sparkling, bouncing for him and his forebearing wife. away from the popular stocking sites and brook, still swift from spring rains, but Steve represents the fairly small seg­ crowds. It was a fairly hot, late May day, clear and inviting. A fallen tree offered ment of expert trout fishermen, but we so he selected a location in a forest- its barkless surface as a welcome bench. can all learn something from his covered stream where the water He used it as an excuse to extend the experience. temperature was in the low 60 s— magic of the movement, to observe the The Fish Commission stocks about 5 optimum range. He knew the stream sup­ mystery of a moving brook and life million adult trout, just short of 10 inches ported some carryover and wild brown within and surrounding it. average length, each year during March, trout, which added a dimension that he A mayfly dun bounced off the water. April and May. Another million similar sought—the chance to tie into an occa­ Was it a March Brown? Another soon trout are stocked by our cooperative sional larger fish. He'd already caught struggled to the surface, moved a few in­ nurseries. It is doubtful that over 75 per­ and returned a number of them on an ches, and disappeared in the middle of cent of these fish (and carryovers from earlier outing. a circle of miniature waves. Steve the year before) will be creeled. Based He also realized that at least three- resisted the urgent voice that implored on our estimates of the number of wild fourths of angling pressure on this stream him to hasten, and carefully threaded the trout available, perhaps another two came from bait fishermen,, and that by tapered fly line through the guides of his million stream-bred fish will also be now the remaining fish must have old, bent Granger. The water level was creeled. This total of perhaps seven become rather wary of natural lures, ex­ still well above the "finicky-low" stage, million trout, at most, wouldn't seem to cept after a rain. Thus, his use of flies so he decided the 4X tippet at the end of go very far to satisfy the needs of an allowed him not only to return his catch his leader was fine enough and would estimated million licensed and unli­ unharmed to the stream, but considering yield fewer lures to the clutches of the censed anglers who fish for trout at some the stream level at the time, probably in­ thickets that bordered and sometimes time each year in our state. creased his catch as well. formed a low roof over the water. Fortunately, they do provide a con­ Finally, he was able to fish cooler He carefully eased his crouched form siderably greater fishery than would seem shaded water throughout the middle of to the shallow riffle below the small pool possible. This is true because an increas­ the day, when most anglers are off the where the fly had disappeared, and ing number of anglers, like Steve, have stream, conserving their efforts for the waited. Within a minute (which seemed learned that the ingredients of a suc­ more popular bewitching morning and far longer), another mayfly popped to the cessful day of recreational angling is in evening hours. This compounded his surface and clumsily took flight at the the total experience, including fishing recreational pleasure, because he loved angler's feet. A swoop of his hat proved over observed populations of catchable to have a stream to himself. If he decid­ it was not a March Brown but the smaller trout in pleasant surroundings, pure ed to fish into the evening, he would head Gray Fox. The odds for a successful water, alone or with congenial compan­ for the big pool in the nearby river, and outing rose! He tied on the feathered ions, and yes, catching a few fish. As was experience rising trout and angler replica and floated it over the near side the case with Steve, this does not always companionship. of the pool. Several casts later, each preclude the occasional killing of a trout Like Steve, most of us simply don't ratcheted toward the far bank, brought a or two to be prepared for a special have the time to fish nearly as often as short rise of a "fair" brown. The next culinary delight. The increasing use of we'd like. You might say old Steve had cast brought a less enthusiastic response. catch-and-release and trophy trout water it made, but remember, he paid his dues This fish knew what it wanted, and old proves that each year, thousands more of for 40 years, discovering what he now Steve's perfect imitation dry fly wasn't our anglers have discovered that it is in­ enjoys in an angling experience. If you it, as several more casts confirmed. deed true that a trout really is too valuable follow Steve's lead, you could shorten the Maybe these fish wanted the emerger to be caught only once. It is for this time it takes to reach that point. I p*j May 1987 27 Lake Trout Rehabilitation and by Robert M. Lorantas

The lake trout represents Lake Erie's only native salmonid. Current population levels are maintained solely by hatchery releases. These releases are concisely ex­ ecuted as part of a plan for the rehabilita­ tion of lake trout populations to self- sustaining levels in eastern Lake Erie. Biological management and monitor­ ing responsibilities associated with this effort extend beyond state and national boundaries. Indeed, the lake trout plan constitutes a functional part of a much more comprehensive plan: "A Joint Strategic Plan for Management of Great Lakes Fisheries," which provides a formal basis and common strategy for this rehabilitation initiative. This plan, through the forum of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, provides for unified approaches to conservation and management by fishery conservation Above, a TFM agencies in Pennsylvania, New York and application site the province of Ontario. The need for a at the Tower close working relationship among these Road Crossing agencies is apparent. on the West How do lake trout, sea lamprey con­ Branch, Con- trol, and strategic management plans fit neaut Creek. together? In basic terms, the provisions of the lake trout plan call for release of 160,000 yearlings annually into eastern Lake Erie. Additionally, the plan recom­ mends limiting mortality of these stocked trout where possible. Limiting mortality includes (1) limiting mortality caused by fishing through the imposition of conservative creel limits (the creel limit for lake trout in Lake Erie is two fish per day) and (2) limiting sea lamprey induced mortality. Sea lamprey inhibit the building of spawning stocks of lake trout by parasitizing them near the age parasitic sea lamprey. Voluntary collec­ Above, a chemical technician measures the at which they are first able to spawn. tions made by anglers fishing Lake Erie chemical parameters of stream water that It is important to recognize that lake produced 65 sea lamprey in 1986, of will receive TFM. trout are a slow-growing late-maturing which 29 were attached to coho salmon, salmonid. They reach spawning age in 9 to steelhead trout, 8 to lake trout, 4 to approximately 4.5 years. However, brown trout, and the remainder to a for sea lamprey control throughout Lake assessment surveys indicate that relative­ variety of otiier species. These statistics Erie were presented in the August 1986 ly few fish survive to reach this age. In­ point out that all salmonids released into Angler. This need for action extended to creasing the number of spawning-age fish Lake Erie are vulnerable to attack by sea three Pennsylvania tributaries that con­ represents a key element in restoration lamprey, and thus, their abundance tained spawning sea lamprey populations: objectives. depressed by the sea lamprey's destruc­ Raccoon, Crooked, and Conneaut Efforts to control sea lamprey have tive habits. Laboratory experiments have creeks. In October of 1986 the U.S. Fish added benefits in that survival of non- shown that a single sea lamprey could kill and Wildlife Service in cooperation with native salmon and trout released into 40 pounds of fish in its 12-month to the Pennsylvania Fish Commission in­ Lake Erie will be enhanced because these 20-month parasitic feeding stage. itiated sea lamprey control in these three species also serve as hosts for the Additional details that showed a need Lake Erie tributaries. Recall that juvenile 28 Pennsylvania Angler little or no effect on stream fishes. The procedure used to make this determina­ Sea Lamprey Control tion was called a "bioassay" and in­ volved examination of the effects of various concentrations of TFM on sea lamprey and stream fish, such as rain­ bow trout. After appropriate dosages were deter­ mined, metering devices were set up at application sites. Stream flows were subsequently checked and metering devices calibrated to deliver the ap­ propriate dose. A "dry run" was then conducted using a harmless dye. Concen­ trations of the dye were measured at downstream locations, which resulted in fine-tuning of the metering devices. This careful preparatory work ensured that minimum amounts of lampricide were used and that effects on non-target organisms were minimal or nonexistent. With all preparatory work complete actual applications of TFM were started. As a final check, concentrations of TFM were periodically measured at down­ stream locations using sophisticated techniques such as liquid gas chromatography. After an application time of 12 to 24 hours, juvenile sea lamprey succumbed to the effect of the lampricide and were picked up by collection crews. In Penn­ sylvania before application of TFM, quantities of sea lamprey were collected and marked by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service survey crews in Conneaut Creek. Subsequent collections yielded a ratio of marked to unmarked sea lamprey, which permitted estimation of the total number of sea lamprey in the stream system. An estimate of 400,000 to 500,000 sea lam­ prey inhabited this system in Pennsylvania. With treatment complete, sea lamprey populations have been reduced to five percent or less of their former abun­ Above, the treatment operation involves Activities associated with treatment dance. These reductions should be suffi­ picking up killed lamprey to determine their began approximately 2 years before the cient to enhance survival of lake trout numbers. introduction of TFM into streams. Initial­ as well as survival of introduced ly, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service survey salmon and trout. sea lamprey remain burrowed in stream crews documented the distribution of sea This account of lake trout rehabilita­ sediments for 3 to 7 years before becom­ lamprey within these stream systems us­ tion and sea lamprey control began with ing free-swimming and parasitic. As sea ing electrofishing sampling gear a description of initial planning efforts. lamprey undergo transformation to the specifically designed to collect lamprey The ultimate goals of that planning aim parasitic stage, they leave stream nursery larvae. Concise delineation of sea lam­ for a harvestable surplus of wild lake areas and migrate downstream to the prey distribution enabled TFM applica­ trout for enjoyment by future lake. The selective lampricide, TFM, tion crews to be directed to the upstream- generations. used to kill sea lamprey in Pennsylvania, most areas of infestation. was directed to juvenile sea lamprey in Once application sites were estab­ E stream sediments. TFM selectively kills lished, a team of chemists and biologists Robert M. Lorantas is a fisheries techni­ lamprey with minimal or no effect on fish determined the concentration of chemical cian in the Fish Commission Lake Erie or other stream organisms. that effectively killed sea lamprey yet had Research Unit. May 1987 29 ANGLERS CURRENTS quality, and more. The schools are held building working energy projects (such as at the Stone Valley Recreation Area of a full-scale usable solar shower or solar Penn State, in the middle of 7,000 acres oven), herpetology, dendrology, caving, Conservation Leadership of field, forest and streams in Huntingdon wild edibles, canoeing, fishing, and much Schools County. more. While living in comfortable 4-person The cost for two weeks is $160. Session If you are aged 15-17, the Pennsylvania wall tents with floors and bunks, students I is July 5 to July 18 and Session II is Ju­ Conservation Leadership Schools offer participate in 2-week sessions that involve ly 19 to August 1. For more details, con­ you the opportunity to spend two weeks activities such as forestry (timber tact: Penn State University, 109 Grange in the mountains of central Pennsylvania management), water quality assessment, Building, State College, PA 16802. The learning about forestry, wildlife, water wildlife studies, conservation projects, phone number is 814-865-3443.

Dedicated to the sound conservation of our aquatic resources, the protec­ tion and management of the state's diversified fisheries, and to the ideals ANGLERS of safe boating and optimum boating 4& opportunities. EXECUTIVE OFFICE Vaj^WmkM, Ralph W. Abele, NOTEBOOK Executive Director Howard T. Hardie, Administrative Assistant Dennis T. Guise, If you like the action of your favorite After the main run of shad has passed Chief Counsel O fishing pole but the cork handle doesn't fit your favorite fishing spot, good shad BUREAU OF ADMINISTRATIVE your hand, trim it down with a file and fishing usually still exists. Many spawners SERVICES inhabit the pools without traveling farther 717-657-4522 smooth it out with sand paper. You can Paul F. O'Brien, custom taper the handle and include a upstream. They can be caught in the early Director Allison J. Mayhew, thumb notch if you wish. morning and evening on larger darts in Personnel high water and smaller darts or spinners Glen Reed, Federal Aid Mary Stine, Licensing If you use a rod case that holds several in low water. BUREAU OF poles, rubber band the two sections of FISHERIES 814-359-5100 each rod together for less wear during When threading line on your fly rod, to Delano Graff, Director prevent missed guides or having to begin Vincent Mudrak, traveling, easy unloading, and to prevent Division of Research damage a butt section may cause to guides again because of dropping the smaller Jack Miller, Division of Fisheries Environmental on a fine tippet. leader, grasp the fly line just above the Services leader-line connection and thread both Richard A. Snyder, Division of Fisheries When stripping line off a fly reel, and through the guides at once. Management Ken Corl, Division of during the cast and retrieve, run the line Trout Production Fish in discolored water and after dark ShyTl Hood, Division of under the index finger of your rod hand to Warmwater/Coohvaler maintain constant control and quick hook are not leader shy, allowing the use of a Fish Production setting response. heavier leader or monofilament line. The BUREAU OF ENGINEERING stronger line gives you a better chance at 814-359-5100 landing the bigger night-feeding fish and Edward R. Miller, P.E., o A small roll of duct tape in the tackle Director box can be very useful for emergency allows you to horse them from weeds and James Young, Construction & guide wrap repairs, for taking the place of cover. Maintenance Division K. Ronald Weis, a broken reel locking ring, and for repair­ Architectural & Engineering Division ing a broken landing net. Tackle boxes that are noisy when you John Hoffman, Real are digging for equipment can scare the Estate Film in 35mm size comes packed in a fish you are after. Thin strips of cork or BUREAU OF LAW ENFORCEMENT small, watertight plastic container that can indoor-outdoor carpeting placed in each 717-657-4542 tray and a piece glued to the bottom of Edward W. Manhart, help you organize different-sized hooks, Director sinkers, and flies, and keep matches ready the box quiets the noise and increases BUREAU OF for emergency use. Camera stores usually your chances for success. BOATING 717-657-4540 give you the used empty containers free of John Simmons, Acting Director charge* Virgil Chambers, When working lures from a boat, don't Boating Safety Education lift the imitation immediately from the BUREAU OF EDUCATION AND water at the end of the retrieve. Working INFORMATION 717-657-4518 the lure in a figure eight alongside the Cheryl K. Riley, boat may prompt a following fish to Director Larry Shaffer, strike. Publications Stephen B. Ulsh, Education o Dave Wolf, illustration — Rose Boegh Adopt-a-Stream, Media Relations Art Michaels, Magazines 30 Pennsylvania Angler ANGLERS CURRENTS

/^Take A Blh a Kid *ll || Fishing Rational fishing wWeekly June 1-7 Vf

Retiring Commission Executive Director Ralph W. Abele (left) was honored by Correction members of the Susquehanna River Anadromous Fish Restoration Committee The front cover picture on the April (SRAFRC) at their annual meeting in Baltimore on March 10, 1987. 1987 Angler was incorrectly credited to SRAFRC Chairman Howard N. Larsen (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Commission staff photographer Russ Get- northeast director) presented Abele with a mounted American shad, a fitting tig. The photographer was Joe Reynolds. commemoration of his 15 years of dedication and persistence in efforts to Pictured was Jim Hare releasing a rain­ restore this species to the Susquehanna River. bow trout he fooled on a Greene County stream. We regret this error. Outdoor Speakers Listing Available The Outdoor Writers Association of America, Inc., (OWAA) has a speakers listing available on a wide variety of out­ door subjects. Many of the 200 speakers combine their talks with slide shows, films, videotapes, or demonstrations. They are available to schools, colleges, clubs, outdoor shows, and exhibits. The listing contains the following information: name, address, phone number, availabili­ ty, preferred audience, subjects, 1986 fee, and expenses. The listing is divided into five categories plus a miscellaneous sec­ tion that covers everything from edible plants to outhouses. The categories are: • Fishing/Boating/Tackle Awards for the 1986 Biggest Fish of the Year were presented last February 9 at • Hunting/Firearms/Dogs/Legislation the Eastern Sports Show, in Harrisburg. Award winners attending were (left to • Conservation/Environment/ right): Herbert Morgan for a 9-pound, 10-ounce largemouth bass; David Cuomo Nature/Wildlife for a 6-pound, 8-ounce smallmouth bass; Dennis L. Clouse for a 15-pound, • Photography/Writing/Journalism 6'A-ounce rainbow trout; Nicholas Maydak for a 35'A-pound carp; Bruce E. • Camping/Backpacking/Hiking/ Tyson for a 29-pound, 2-ounce flathead catfish; Dang Labelle for a 40-pound Travel musky; Leroy Hoggardfor a 2-pound bluegill; William Adams for a 3'A-pound To receive the 1986 OWAA Speakers sauger; Rodney E. Frye for a 22-pound, 11-ounce chinook salmon; and R. W. Listing, write to OWAA Headquarters, Hafer for an 11-pound, 10-ounce palomino trout. 2017 Cato Avenue, Suite 101, State Col- lege, PA 16801. May 1987 31 1987 June is for fishermen in Pennsylvania SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1

June 1*7 National Fishing Week

"Take a friend fishing in Pennsylvania