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Pennsylvania :v ?$* /5P JZ2 ( s. •w ,~ • • / Qaik Progress with Warmwater Fishing Programs Since the introduction of the trout/salmon Let me review the progress made in the stream and angler-opinion surveys. New state permit in 1991, the Commission has often past three years with these important areas. wide bass regulations were implemented in been asked, "What are you doing for • Warmwater habitat enhancement, 1992, and special lake regulations have been warmwater fishing since you received ex protection. The Commission has expanded placed on many waters to enhance fishing tra funds for trout and salmon programs'?" its Adopt-a-Stream program to include many opportunities with excellent results. Greater The answer is simple. The Commission lake habitat improvement projects during emphasis has been placed on reducing an has made significant progress in all state the past three years. We have developed gler mortality, balancing predator/prey popu wide warmwater fishing programs. new kinds of attraction devices and a spe lations and habitat preservation. A major Just as many people mistakenly believe cially equipped work boat to install devices walleye stocking survival project has been good trout fishing is totally dependent on in lakes in many areas of the Commonwealth. implemented across the state to determine the "Great White Fleet," some warmwater Nearly 2,300 structures have been placed the best fish size and habitat conditions for fishermen mistakenly believe the Commis in warmwater impoundments. successful stocking. sion can increase their warmwater fishing American shad restoration efforts have Introduction of paddlefish and sauger to success with the wave of a magic wand. Wise been especially successful since 1991. Op the Ohio River system has been successful. and well-informed anglers know better. They eration of the Van Dyke shad production Many warmwater hatchery improvements also know that it is physically and finan facility and construction of the Conowingo have been completed at Linesville, Tionesta, cially impractical to rear and stock most adult- Dam fish lift, together with the June 1993 Corry, Union City, Huntsdale, Pleasant Mount, sized warmwater species. agreement to complete the fish passage fa and other warmwater production facilities. Warmwater fish are dependent on pres cilities at Holtwood, Safe Harbor and York Improvements include waste treatment fa ervation of healthy habitats, favorable Haven dams by the year 2000, are milestone cilities, new warmwater production tanks, weather, sound fishway management prac accomplishments. production pond liners, updated water treat tices and regulations, and anglers' lawful Two new fishways on the Lehigh River ment equipment and stocking vehicles. These and ethical behavior. Another important need are now complete, and major fish migra improvements, together with new pond fer for increased warm water fishing opportu tion into the Lehigh River should begin in tilization, fish spawning and rearing tech nities is increased public access to waters 1994. American shad, striped bass and other niques has led to record production and stock of the Commonwealth. species of gamefish and forage fish will soon ing of more than 330 million warmwater be benefiting from the Commission's fishway gamefish (fry and fingerling) in the past three development efforts. years. The Commission's active role on the Mid- Expenditures for operating the warmwater Atlantic Fishery Management Council, the production stations were increased by more Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, than $2.3 million during the past three years. and the Delaware Basin Fish and Wildlife •Improved access to warmwater fish Management Cooperative has resulted in ing opportunities. The Commission worked an "explosion" of striped bass in the Delaware with a private developer to install a $4 million River system, which is providing thousands harbor of refuge, marina and public access of hours of new, quality warmwater fish area on Lake Erie at North East in Erie County, ing opportunities. and acquired a 57-acre tract of land for fu Our Division of Environmental Services ture Lake Erie development at Elk Creek in has increased its review efforts to protect western Erie County. Both projects are our waterways from adverse development important for expansion of warmwater and activities, and has battled the Corps of coldwater fishing opportunities on Lake Erie. Engineers and the Federal Energy Regulatory New warmwater fishing opportunities will Commission on many hydropower and be provided in the future through purchases recreational lake management activities that of land along the Delaware River near are detrimental to warmwater fisheries. Riegelsville and Aquetong Lake near New In 1992 we expanded our permanent wa Hope. terways conservation officer (WCO) cadre New access areas have been constructed from 72 to 82 field officers, and have stepped on the Monongahela River in Elizabeth and up efforts to enlist additional deputy WCOs. East Frederickstown, Schuylkill River near All officers are receiving more advanced Pottstown, Susquehanna River in Marietta, Edward R. Miller, P.E. training and are increasing enforcement and Lake LeBoeuf in Erie County, and im Executive Director efforts to protect our warmwater resources. provements have been made on dozens of Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission • Warmwater fisheries management. access areas on warmwater lakes and streams Increased emphasis has been placed on across the Commonwealth. warmwater management activities as our By any measure, the warmwater fishing area fisheries managers now spend the ma program has moved ahead these past few jority of their efforts on lake and warmwater years, and even greater progress is planned in the near future. December 1993 Pennsylvania Angler December 1993 Vol. 62 No. 12 Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission James S. Biery, Jr. Pennsylvania President Swatara Paul J. Mahon ANGLER Vice President Clarks Green The Keystone State s Official Fishing Magazine ^^ Samuel M. Concilia North East 44 Ice Fishing Tips by Tom Fegely Ross J. Huhn Let these ideas help you raise your ice fishing score 4 Saltsburg Donald N. Lacy Reading Rx for Winter: Panfish on Ice by Darl Black T. T. Metzger, Jr. Fish location, presentation and baits are all part of this prescription 8 Johnstown Howard E. Pflugfelder New Cumberland The Black-Nose Dace by Chauncy K. Lively Leon Reed This pattern is a trout finder because it imitates minnows that trout seek 12 Honesdale William J. Sabatose Brockport The Kiski's Comeback by Sam Hossler J. Wayne Yorks The Kiski's success story shows how grossly polluted waters aren't Benton dead forever, and that we shouldn't give up on waterways that seem to be beyond reclamation 14 Boating Advisory Board Donald J. Little All I Want for Christmas is a 50-Inch Musky by Mike Bleech Chairman Philadelphia To grant this wish, Santa would probably consult Herb Wagner, Clayton Buchanan expert Pennsylvania angler and musky specialist 16 Pittsburgh Gary Miles North East Pennsylvania Angler Subject Index to Volume 62 Thaddeus Piotrowski compiled by Charlene Seifert Bloomsburg (January 1993 through December 1993) 20 Vincent Riggi Clarks Summit Wintertime fishing at Pennsylvania's Warmwater Discharges Magazine Staff by Jeff Knapp Editor—Art Michaels Tour some of Pennsylvania's best open-water wintertime hotspots 22 Editorial Assistant—Charlene Seifert Art Director—Ted Walke On the Water with Julie halo Circulation—Eleanor Mutch Fishing for memories 31 Circulation—Patti Copp Staff Assistant—Rose Ann Bartal The cover Staff Assistant—Nita Lynch Angler art director Ted Walke's front cover shows the prospects for enhancing Regular contributors family ties by giving a 1994 fishing license as a gift. A fishing license application Darl Black appears on page 29. This issue can help Mike Bleech you tie into some of Pennsylvania's best Tom Fegely ice fishing and open-water fishing. On page Jeff Knapp 8, Darl Black offers specifics on how to ^"insylvanu, Angle, (ISSN«01A34X) is published monchly by Ihe Pennsylvania tempt panfish, and on page 22, Jeff Knapp ish & Boat Commission. 3532 Walnut Street, Harrisburg. PA 17109. ©1993. l"g in this magazine may be reprinted without Ihe written permission of Ihe offers a guided tour of some of ennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. Subscription rates: one year, $9: three Pennsylvania's best open-water wintertime years. S25; single copies are S1.50 each. Second class postage is paid at Harrisburg, fishing spots. On page 16, Mike Bleech A. POSTMASTER: Send address changes 10: Pennsylvania Angler Circulation, Pennsylvania Fish & Boal Commission. P.O. Box 67000. Harrisburg, PA 17106- explains how one expert scores each winter °°0- For subscription and change of address, use above address. Please allow six on Allegheny River muskies, with ideas weeks for processing. Send all olher correspondence to: The Editor, Pennsylvania Angler, P.O. Box 67000. Harrisburg. PA 17106-7000. Editorial queries and conlribulions on other places in Pennsylvania to lure a are welcome, but must be accompanied by self-addressed, stamped envelopes. Materia! iunge. Check out page 4, where Tom accepted for publication is subject to Pennsylvania Fish St Boal Commission standards and requirements for editing and revising. Submissions are handled carefully, but Fegely offers 44 heads-up ice fishing ideas. •be publisher assumes no responsibility for the return or safety of submissions in For an uplifting story on a river's "come