ANNUAL TROUT NUMBER
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WV BBS f^ OFFICIAL STATE VOL. 10—No. 3 PUBLICATION ^ANGLER/ MARCH, 1941
ARTHUR H. JAMES PUBLISHED MONTHLY GOVERNOR by the COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA PENNSYLVANIA BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS
Publication Office: Telegraph Press, Cameron & Kelker Streets, Harrisburg, Pa. Executive and Editorial Offices: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Board of Fish Commis sioners, Harrisburg, Pa. CHARLES A. FRENCH Commissioner of Fisheries Ten cents a copy—50 cents a year MEMBERS OF BOARD CHARLES A. FRENCH, Chairman ALEX P. SWEIGART, Editor Ellwood City MILTON L. PEEK South Office Bldg., Harrisburg, Pa. Radnor HARRY E. WEBER Philipsburg NOTE Subscriptions to the PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER EDGAR W. NICHOLSON should be addressed to the Editor. Submit fee either Philadelphia by check or money order payable to the Common J. FRED McKEAN wealth of Pennsylvania. Stamps not acceptable. New Kensington Individuals sending cash do so at their own risk. JOHN L. NEIGER Scranton
PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER welcomes contribu JOSEPH M. CRITCHFIELD tions and photos of catches from its readers. Proper Confluence credit will be given to contributors. CLIFFORD J. WELSH All contributions returned if accompanied by first Erie class postage. H. R. STACKHOUSE Secretary to Board Entered as Second Class matter at the Post Office C. R. DULLER of Harrisburg, Pa. under act of March 3, 1873. 11 Chief Fish Culturist. Bellefonte
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• • {ANNUAL TROUT NUMBER}
Vol. 10. No. 3 "ANGLER/ MARCH, 1941
EDITORIAL
Among the many diversions of recreation pursued and enjoyed by Penn- sylvanians, none perhaps, holds the same charm of enthusiasm and anxiety as that of the fisherman awaiting the opening of the Spring season. The hours spent in getting ready, in cleaning and replacing tackle, preparing for the dawn of the "open season," holds a thrill second only to the "smash" of a fighting bundle of spreckled dynamite.
To the angler, the skill and art of fishing becomes an integral part of his very life and of course, the conservation of fish becomes a serious business. The sport and recreation; the fun and enjoyment derived in our great out doors; along picturesque streams and lakes, provides the definite feeling of contentment, ease and restful engagement, nowhere else to be found. The keen interest of the fishermen in conserving and restoring our aquatic resources is excellently reflected in well organized sportsmen's groups and gatherings throughout the State and the countless inquiries received by the Board in reference to its work.
Hand in hand with the sportsmen in this business end of the game is the wide and far-flung activities of your Board of Fish Commissioners. Ever on the alert, increasing and expanding the facilities of fish supply and resource, we are indeed highly elated with the fine type of cooperation and assistance constantly demonstrated by the fishermen of Pennsylvania. We have ob served with much interest the many mid-winter meetings and annual dinners of sportsmen throughout the State. I have visited with many of them and cannot, for the life of me, think of a finer example of confidence and the desire to cooperate, than the spirit of just such gatherings. Hundreds of people gather to discuss and devise ways and means designed to advance and protect our mutual interest in field and stream.
I am quite confident that I express the unanimous feeling of the entire Board of Fish Commissioners, when we say to you that your interest, coopera tion and assistance is genuinely appreciated. So together, hand in hand we plan during the hours of preparation, together we wait in the same spirit of enthusiasm the thrills and enjoyment during the season ahead.
Commissioner of Fisheries PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER MAR*" lS Natural Insects and Their Imitations By CHAS. M. WETZEL Copyright 1840 bj Ohu. IT. Wctad PART II long ago, this peculiarity may have been the legs, yellowish brown with black bands f "ALDER FLY" origin of wet fly fishing. femur and at tibia joint; tails, brown tra Order—Megaloptera Imitation: Hook, No. 14; wings, coot; body, dark joinings. Family—Sialidae green crewel wool-ribbed with gold wire; Remarks: This fly comes from a nynJP' Genus—Sialis hackle, ginger-dyed a pale green. that is found under stones in the swift wat^ Species—infumata On cold rainy days, the March Brown rl^ Description: Length to tip of wings, 3/8" "MARCH BROWN" be noticed clinging to bushes bordering ji to 1/2". Wings, pale brownish black; ab Order—Ephemeroptera stream, but its life in this stage is very sh"^ domen, brownish black; legs, blackish brown; Family—Heptagenidae Late in the day it casts the sub imago si1" antennae, black. Genus—Stenonema then it reappears over the water as $ Remarks: This fly has a wide distribution, Species—vicarium $ sub imago "Great Red Spinner". and is commonly observed on bridges where Description: General color, brown, length Imitation: Hook No. 10; wings, dark m*"'1 the females congregate to lay their eggs. of wings, W to %". Wings, smoky brown; darin duck, rolled; body, dubbing of *3 They usually select such spots so that the veins, black and heavy, giving a mottled from an English hare's ear with yellow tyfl eggs when hatched, fall directly into the appearance; abdomen, yellowish, ringed with silk; hackle, ginger; tails, brown manda^ water. Although it is seldom on the sur dark brown; sternites, light yellowish brown; fibres. face except possibly when blown there on windy days, yet it will always remain a favorite with fly fisherman. Imitation: Hook, No. 12; wings, crow, body, peacock herl; hackle, black. __. "YELLOW SPIDER" Order—Diptera Family—Tipulidae J\ \\ Genus—Antocha Species—saxicola Alder Fly fellow Spider Description: Length of wings, 3/16" to 1/4"; wings, glassy, sometimes faintly touched with pale yellow; body, yellow—some species yellowish brown; legs, yellowish. Remarks: This fly favors the slower moving streams and is especially noticeable on cold rainy days. It emerges as early as May 20th, and continues in season until the middle of June. Observations, made over a period of years, lead me to believe that this fly ap trreen ^aaaxs pears in greater numbers than any of the other crane flies; and autopsies made ;n many trout reveal an unusually great num ber of these small Tipulidae. At times trout feed on them to the exclusion of all others, and on such occasions, as well as through the season, the imitation described below has proved most successful. Imitation: Hook, No. 14 short shank; wings, whitish yellow; hackle tips; body, ! yellow crewel wool; hackle, ginger—with iiaren bro\ R & d 3 p 1 nn e r <5 extra long fibres. •< 1 '•\///.-> %t "GREEN CADDIS" ye] Order—Trichoptera 1 Family—Rhyacophilidae ^P^ Genus—Rhyacophila jt&- «ea Species—lobifera Se Description: Length to tip of wings, 7/16" •>'£, ft <.|t \ c •"t, ' ' • 1 8v to 9/16". Wings, varying from a pale brown Alder Fl\ t Yellow Spider be to a light black; abdomen, bright green; legs, s greenish yellow; antennae, light brown. se], Remarks: This fly may be noticed in great numbers congregated on rocks which pro B"' ,1 trude above swift moving water. Here and Green-Caddiis *ti oo( there they may be seen venturing and hesi M, tating near the edge, then as if finally mak ing up their minds, they descend beneath the surface to lay their eggs, after which m J they are seen no more. It is significant that near such rocks, trout are usually found, since an ample supply of food is here easily obtained. Due to this habit of swimming underneath the water, its imitation should be fished wet—in fact, who knows but what March Brown Great Red Spinner 1941 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER
"GREAT RED SPINNER" """«•'- - Order—Ephemeroptera Family—Heptagenidae Genus—Stenonema Species—vicarium $ imago description: Length of wings, 1/2" to '° ; Wings, glassy, with the fore border ale brown near tip; abdomen, light brown, *ged with deep reddish brown; legs, brown, Pale Evening Dun d 71th deep reddish band on the femur and r**tt of tibia; tails, olive brown, with join- Ss of a deeper hue. Remarks: This fly is the spinner or imago the March Brown. It lives about three . ys in this stage, and may be seen at dusk I^S and falling over the swift water riffles. Light Stonefly imitation is a most successful fly and Sood sport may be had with it throughout til, season. , "nitation: Hook, No. 10; wings, mallard; gj.^yj hare's ear dubbing with yellow tying /*; hackle, dark ginger; tails, brown man- **»» fibres. "BLACK QUILL DUN" Black Dra: Green Drake B Order—Ephemeroptera (ImagoJ Family—Baetidae (Sub Imago) Genus—Blasturus Species—cupidus Sub imago S
7/l>R"Cription: Length of w™^- 3/8" to U ~ ! general color, black; wings, dark con Srey; abdomen, deep black brown, tai *c*ousry ringed; legs, brownish black; jwj fine, greyish black and ringed with brown Black Julll Dun Pale Evening Dun ftemarfc.. This fly also known as the Blue itip niay °e noticed over the slower mov- S streams from the latter part of April, Cr V11^! the middle of June. On Penns W *> it is very common, and is generally day**1 as the Black Quill. n exlsts for two sly *n this stage, then it sheds the sub imago Light Stonefly o . and ventures forth as the "Early Brown P'tiner", Imitation: Hook, No. 14; wings, dark coot; ea hacLJ P cock quill, dyed a bluish black; d^-i 6' dark blackish brown; tails, mandarin
"PALE EVENING DUN" Order—Ephemeroptera Family—Baetidae Genus—Ephemerella Green Drake .^.' j Species—dorothea 6 sub imago greenish yellow with conspicuous black veins; SCription: reddish brown; abdomen, pale yellowish ^in! Length of wings, 1/4" to 3/8"; abdomen, yellow and flushed with pink on white; front legs, dark blackish brown; mid VeH ' Srey; abdomen, yellowish orange; legs, the sternites; legs, brown; tails, brown. dle and hind legs, yellowish white; tails, ^em* grey' teils' grey' Remarks: The nymph of this fly emerges th ^^"ks: This fly usually appears when brown, conspicuously ringed. e from the water around the first of May, and Sea$o * QuiU is on the water. It is in Remarks: This fly is the spinner or imago the cast off nymphal skins are a common of the $ Green Drake. Its wings have now SeCo * froni the middle of May, up into the sight on bridge abutments and on rocks pro < Week OI lost their green color and appear mainly black % fi 7. June—a period when dry truding above the water. The fly is in season Wn ish—whence its name. The older this fly be ^ § is at its peak. The artificial will only about a week and favors those stretches m becomes, the blacker grow its wings, and ate ^^ °st successful when these flies in the stream where the water flows swiftly Se'(lon?ler§mg fr°m the water, since they the whiter its body. It is in season only a over a rocky bottom. * „ aga8aimn reappearea r until after the sub about three days, but good sport may be had "W Sk,m sh P Imitation: Hook No. 12; wings, mandarin with its imitation a little longer. V ta ed. duck, tied in flat; body, dubbing, of a blend 1t atl bofy °n: Hook, No. 14; wings, starling; of yellow and H»»V wwl' hackle, brown; Imitation: Hook, No. 10; wings, dark teal; y. ell body, white raffia grass, with fine silver wire Mre.-' •L^ °W floss silk, ribbed with fine gold tail, short brown hackle fibres. • cackle, dun; tail, dun hackle fibres. ribbing; hackle, light badger; tails, mandarin "BLACK DRAKE" duck fibres. "THE LIGHT STONE FLY" Order—Ephemeroptera Order—Plecoptera Family—Ephemeridae "THE GREEN DRAKE" Family—Perlidae Genus—Ephemera Order—Ephemeroptera Genus—Isoperla Species—guttualat imago $ Family—Ephemeridae ^ Species—signata Description: Length of wings, 1/2" to Genus—Ephemera '° 56/8"-Pti°n: LenSth to tiP of wing. ^2" 5/8"; wings, pale yellowish, but so blotched Species—guttualat £ sub imago ' general color, dark brown; wings, with dark brown, as to appear black; thorax, (Continued on Poge 19) l 4 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER MARCH » Worms and Worm Fishing By WILLIAM R. WALTON 5 HOSE humble, slimy, blind and deaf crea Charles Darwin discovered, nearly a cen young worms are hatched but also contain tures known popularly as angleworms or tury ago, that earthworms which he studied food enough to sustain them until they al* T e fishworms, scientifically termed the Oli- intensively, would consume animal matter such strong enough to crawl out and begin lu on their own. The cocoons of our large nigh gochaeta or short bristled chaetopods, occur as raw meat, crumbled egg yolk and bits of 1 practically everywhere throughout the world suet. They have also been known to uproot crawler contain from 4 to 20 eggs all of whid wherever there is moist soil sufficient to sup young onions and it may be observed that may hatch but in some of the other commo" port them. they will devour their weaker fellows when species only 1 or 2 eggs may hatch. Although they are indeed blind so far as kept in an over-crowded container without Among all of the creatures used as bait W the perception of objects about them is con sufficient other food. freshwater anglers, the succulent an" cerned, they do perceive strong light in some There is little danger of race suicide amonj; ubiquitous earthworm undoubtedly is top* manner which science as yet has not ex these worms as each individual is both male when considered from a point of gener^ plained. Furthermore their deafness is and female or hemaphroditic. They are, how utility. In most of the humid region east i largely compensated by an exquisite percep ever, unable to inseminate or fertilize them the Rocky Mountains a score or more kin* or species of angleworms may be found & tion of terrestrial vibration which warns them selves and to accomplish this, reciprocal action most localities but only a half dozen or 1 of the approach of their enemies. between two worms is necessary. This of these ordinarily are used for fishing pu1' Earthworms literally eat their way through usually occurs at night when the worms come poses. Those in most frequent use inhabi' the soil, subsisting largely upon the organic to the surface, and two individuals join the such places as barnyards, chicken run5, matter contained in the earth thus swallowed. forward parts of their bodies. After this kitchen gardens or old lawns, where th# Some of the more familiar species of the conjugation, they produce eggs which are laid are easy of access to the angler's shovel ° worms, however, supplement this food im into a band of gelatinous matter which forms fork. Most of these desired kinds are imn>' portantly by dragging fallen leaves and other in a ring around the body. From 3 to 20 vegetation into the mouths of their burrows grants from Europe whence they were orig eggs may be placed in this ring and they inally brought probably in potted plants, ship where parts of it are eaten at leisure. The become fertilized then or subsequently. This worm first smears these things with saliva ballast or soil imported for commercial | ring is then slipped over the front end or 5 which digests the leaves sufficiently to permit sentimental reasons, during the past 400 yeaf "head" of the worm when by its own elastic their being pulled apart by its mouth, in pieces Several of these species have become wide" ity it shrinks and forms a tough, horny cap small enough to be swallowed. distributed through the United States main" sule termed the cocoon, but which performs c The leaf stem from certain trees may often through the avenues of commerce but som an entirely different function from the cocoon times intentionally by anglers as in the c& be seen protruding from their burrows where of the insects. It serves as shelter until the they have been pulled at night by the worms. of the nightcrawler or dew worm. For &'
6. 8. 194! PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER
tar »ee, it is a matter of record that this worm directions. As this boy seemed to know his subsurface moisture form its favorite abode *8a brought from Pittsburgh by the late animals well, I have no doubt that this big here. e °rge Shiras, Sr., and planted in several lo- earthworm, in chorus, was the source of the Around my residence in eastern Maryland °alit'e s in the Lake Superior region, during deafening noise I heard." in such soil, a dense colony of this earthworm th,e period 1850 to 1870. Doubtless this and That prehistoric man began the use of has persisted for 25 years to my knowledge, '"er common species have been similarly earthworms for bait far back in the dim and despite the occurrence, in 1930-31, of the worst ar ried about and, by intent or otherwise, distant ages, seems inescapable. His stirring and most protracted drought in historic times. * anted by anglers who emptied their bait However, efforts of angling friends to estab b of the soil for any purpose must surely have xes after finishing the day on the stream. brought them to his notice and their very lish this worm permanently on somewhat "tost of the species of worms that are seldom abundance and availability would have sug higher ground, but a few miles away have ed for fishing, live in wooded lands, in leaf gested their utility as bait so soon as this thus far failed. It would seem therefore that . °ld, around old logs, or in wet lands border- method of fishing had been discovered. They the nightcrawler is somewhat critical of its 8 streams and ponds, whence they may be may perhaps have been in use even before surroundings because of factors that are not °Ccasionally dug by needy anglers. The kinds the hook, or even its predecessor the gorge, understood. By far the easiest method of ln securing this worm, where it is found, is by . g near the water frequently are washed had come into use. This would have been the use of a flashlight at night, because of its to streams during freshets and in such possible by binding worms in clusters, to habit of coming to the surface both to feed ^earns worm bait is likely to be particularly a tip of a vine or pole and using it just as e and mate. Too bright a light alarms the *" ctive. On the other hand, in rocky we bob for eels or bullheads in modern times. worms but a red light apparently is not per °Untain brooks where angleworms seldom In proposing this theory I am fully aware 6 ceived by them. Hence, a piece of red tissue Ver appear naturally, the fish may not that it is dissonant with the generally accepted paper or glass placed over the flashlight lens a . dily recognize earthworms as food. This one which places the order of development allows one to work with excellent effect. Particularly true of the large night crawler of fishing as, first the gorge, then the spear, Sprinkling the ground well, just before night m such streams, the addition of a small and lastly the hook which, it is supposed, de fall, will usually bring these worms up ex b.Pettie: r placed ahead of the worm usually rived from the barbed spear. I do not accept cept in very hot weather, or on very windy nngs results fatal to the fish. this derivation of the hook because we know nights. They dislike high winds "probably j ^though we regard our nightcrawler as a well from modern experience, that it is per because it serves to dry their natural skin- §e angleworm, it is a mere pygmy corn- fectly practicable to fish successfully with a moisture too rapidly. On rainy nights, espe fed with a giant Australian species known barbless hook, and therefore it seems fal cially in spring and autumn, they often emerge by thousands and crawl in all directions. This w, , egascolides australis, large specimens of lacious to assume that the spear necessarily lc movement, I am convinced, is voluntary and h are sometimes 11 feet long. Its egg-like antedated the use of the hook. But anyway, not, as some have believed, because of being i °ons are as large as those of the domestic had the use of worms as bait, without either "drowned out", for it has been determined « and are commonly ploughed up on some gorge or hook, prevailed before either was Us invented, all trace of such use would have that such worms can live for days sub tralian farms. merged in rainwater. IVai vanished, while the spear and hook, being y s gargantuan worm would of course be e constructed of imperishable material, have ' ss to trout fishermen but think how con v escaped the tooth of time and remain to tell sent it would be to slice off half a worm, A species of earthworm familiar to country the story of their use. thick as a hunk of liverwurst, to serve for bred boys is that appropriately called the j uaY s catfishing! Similar big worms are That the gorge (Fig. 1) came into use for stinking earthworm or manure worm, (Fig. tli *n South America and it is said that bait fishing purposes long before the hook B), Helodriius foetidus. Although this ap y are eaten by the natives—hot dog! was invented seems well established, judging pears to have been four hundreds of years, a favorite trout bait in Britain, but few 'though earthworms are usually regarded from the antiquity of the geological forma as s tions in which this implement has been found. American anglers are addicted to its use so 0< 'lent creatures they are not wholly so as T That the mechanical principle of this is still far as I know. That even British anglers are fti l,- night crawler has been detected in found useful is exemplified by its use in re not unanimous in its praise is attested by ln CL g faint snapping sounds. However, the that most famous of Scottish anglers, Thomas lat mote rural British communities in the shape ' *pion noise maker amoung earthworms of a stout needle, (Fig. 2) in a form of the Tod Stoddart, author of "The Angler's Com panion to the Rivers and Lochs of Scotland" ihL to be a big worm, Perichaeta musica, sport known as sniggling for eels. This needle, abiti and to whom I shall presently refer again In, ng the island of Java in the East baited with a worm, (Fig. 3), is attached to more fully. Speaking of the qualities of the 'tit which is known to produce very loud a short stout line and thrust at the end of a fru manure worm or brandling, Stoddart says, bb Pted sounds apparently by rubbing a pole into holes or recesses in banks and dams ston °^ s^ bristles borne on its tail, against "A worm held in great esteem by anglers of known to be the hideouts of these voracious s^ ,6s °r other hard surfaces. A story of the old school. It is* however, no favorite fish. When the fish is struck the needle pene ijj a Worm inhabiting Mindinao in the Phil of mine, possessing, as it does, all the faults trates the gullet and turns to a wide angle ter , es Was sent me some years ago by Mr. of the marsh-worm and none of its virtues. with the line, and willy-nilly, the eel is drawn s , • Davies, formerly employed as a deep Equally soft and frangible, it wants entirely 6a by main strength from its hole. The gorge of 'Ver in many parts of the world, the gist the fresh sweetness of the other, and is S nS follows In 1905 I was in of course operated in exactly the same man filled instead with a yellowish matter, which, ^ind -lna ' - " > ner but was much too clumsy for use with a oozing on the slightest touch from various fj-0 °> engaged in raising four gunboats at . e bottom of Lake Lanao. Many times worm except the big species such as those of parts of its body, is, as regards odour and 1 appearance, particularly offensive." And ioU ftigh-J whilst there, I heard loud shrill Australia and other distant lands. with Stoddart I must agree most heartily even Th whose source seemed mysterious. Of the species of worms used commonly though the "marsh-worm" is a species un se by freshwater anglers in the Eastern United t-aj noises were at times, especially on determinable to Americans, unless it be Helo- y ni States, none is more in demand than the large Ojj ghts, so loud as to be actually painful. drilus subrubicundus which somewhat answ t
Fishing is essentially a poor man's pastime; ^e can not afford swanky yachts, country club g0", exclusive mountain retreats, and for the r°st part, many inconsiderate acts are affect- ^S the more humble class, the wage earner J-*ch as you and and I, and who in the ulti- ?We suffer most. As just hinted Sunday |^"ing is no boon to the wealthy individual, ^e professional practitioneer, the industrial !:au\ Sunday fishing mostly hinders the more •fluent because he is beset with added com- JTUtion; he might take the trout Wednesday j^ernoon that we catch three days before; ^ewise he seldom braves the congestion of .Sabbath. Still just such as he have united ?J Protest to insure such as we, the humbler, ^r chance at the sport—we could not have tt c ained the privilege in the face of his con- j^ted opposition. And do not overlook, even Jtould local water become absolutely barren / wholly posted, the aristocrat need not fear * his sport—it will still be abundant at the P^Vate club, the Adirondacks, the Great ^okies, the Pacific watershed, Maine, Michi- n t^ > Newfoundland, Mexico, Canada and a , °Usand other well known but expensive Cities. sw* tne farmer Is our patron—without his ^erance there would be little or no fishing. ^y the heck don't we wake up and take •J* of where we stand. kolve this riddle for me. It strikes at the fish'ver«y heart of crowded waterways, too small Son and complaints of poor fishing as the sea- wanes and ebbs—the despair of the true ervationist, an imposition on no land- ^]/rtler, wholly legal—but ill considered for e s- example it may set to the more impres- ftable and less emotionally stable. I refer to L 6 within the brotherhood and with whom I e otherwise the outlook might be melancholy is usually the same lad who yells his head off ( little patience—the angler with a flair and blue. If extraordinary as regards physical about there being no fish to catch after the {^,.ary °r more than a brace of nice ones at poor sportsmanship or misguided wit? Is it glorious time—on the faces of a hundred e possible a man grown to at least physical others there loomed only apprehension and S0 ^ time. I like my fishing too much. Htn ^ behooves me to advise, nay rather maturity does not realize such an act means startled concern. ^o^s . ** your catch is within the personal the loss of another fish, one less in the stream Now farmers and villagers are mostly S'3ortleilCe' worthy an<* measuring up to a to grow to adulthood, possibly breed, one temperate folk—with a deeply rooted convic all ij,01311'5 creel, have it photographed by perhaps that he himself might take when tion for the most part that public imbibing a grown to goodly proportions a year or so is unnecessary and out of order, and I'm not Mea ® ns—it will offer a lot of comfort and c re dui- later? And did you ever notice the fellow so sure that this fisherman is not whole lincj, ing the off season, furnish the er on an indulging in such an outrage is always the °ftti,v, y arguments as to size, and heartedly in accord, and perhaps even more a 68 De guy absent when some constructive improve so. My personal creed is live and let live— 1 ^if,!]^eli, the means of putting oneself in °wer and more complacent mood while ment is being planned or executed? Also this (Continued on Page 22) 1 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER MARC* TROUT FISHING BEGINNER Here are some outfit assembling suggestions By R. W. McCAFFERTY
HOUSANDS of decisions are reached Tyearly to take up the pleasant hobby of fly fishing for trout. Once the decision has been reached the normal procedure is to look for some one who, as rumor has it, has been known to catch some trout occasionally on WET Fir artificials. After such an individual is found, the open qwk tfrmPH ing question is usually like this, "I'm going DM hy that some other method is not only called for, to choose the articles of greater cost first I to begin fly fishing for trout, what do I 1 need?" Imagine answering that completely but demanded, if you are to catch the nicer we will not deviate from common pract '' in a couple hours, yes, even years. Possibly fish, and where is the man who is content to here. Naturally, then, the fly line is ne^ catch the small ones when the bigger fish are There are three major types from which | the most simple answer would be, balanced J tackle, common sense, and probably most known to be there? Why then, spend all choose, level, double taper and torpedo he important, love for the outdoors. Sounds your money for a vast selection of one type or triple taper. If price is the determini"-' simple but these last two items are not to be of fly when a smaller sum will procure a factor, the level line is the first choice. I?j imparted to another person by so much talk variety of flies which, when properly used, a few expert anglers, mostly old timers, «s or printer's ink. One must assume that a are superior in all respects to taking fish under level lines, and quite proficiently, too. Ab° 1 practically all conditions. I said, practically. the only drawback, of any consequence, S man has these two qualities, and if this be 1 true, the tackle end should be relatively That being settled, let's start where all of the level line, is its lack of shooting abH ' easy. us are wont to do, with the rod. This may which is much more pronounced in a triPi taper than in either the level or double tap| Fishing, to the true angler, is not just a run from five dollars to fifty dollars. The line. Unquestionably, the level line *i process of casting a fly upon the water and amount depends on you, but of more im readily fill the bill for any beginner. In faC pulling out fish. Sometimes excellent angling portance is the action. Putting this requisite it is good policy to have a level line as *\ may be had in unpleasant surroundings but on paper is a difficult task, but we shall try. extra if you should choose one of the othej those times do not reappear in one's pipe Before the advent of promiscuous use of two types. It is generally considered Vm dreams as frequently as those of the fair floating flies, a soft or buggy-whip action was the double taper is the most suited for ge fishing this same fellow has enjoyed on his the vogue. This implement went through a eral all round fishing. It causes the BWJI favorite pool on a crystal clear, cool, and mum of strain on the rod, and furnishes «1 refreshing stream winding through soft green required delicacy in fishing over wary tUS hemlocks and pines, quaking aspen vibrating The tapered end furnishes a feather-11*. in the warm breezes of spring, the forest floor drop to the water causing less disturbafl springing back to life with dew covered ferns than in the heavier lines. If the price and possibly the fresh fragrance of arbutus tt" greeting the nostrils or dainty Lady Slippers secondary, the double taper is certainly universal choice. With it, a very necessa J pushing through last fall's covering of once acc0 beautiful maple and oak leaves. The fish and useful type of casting can best be \,- plished, namely, roll casting. The last W may have been few but the birds were sing STONE. FLY NwpH aC ing between short flights after some luckless of line, the triple taper, definitely has a pl ( but though its popularity grew rapidly up May flies which were just beginning to enjoy lot of maneuvers, many of which, though their all too short life as a winged insect. its introduction, it has |not replaced ", intended to affect the action of the wet flies double taper as it was at first thought . A shy thrush was flitting among the bushes in the water, never actually reached them. on the far bank, but enough of this, my pipe would. It has excellent shooting and *• ( Don't misunderstand me, a rod with an action bucking , qualities but generally speak>^ has me going into a delightful trance. I on the soft side, is, in the opinion of most 1 think you get the idea. If these things hold lacks the daintiness and roll casting qua' ! successful wet fly fishermen, the most de possessed by the double taper. Doubtle ^ nothing beautiful and cherished to you, the sirable tool for that method. However, one next quality will not suffice either. its biggest selling points are its ability . f^, does not carry rods like golf clubs, so it cast far, handle heavy flies and lures, beha, j Common sense plays a big part in angling. devolves upon us to get an all around action. 0 well in windy weather, and do all ^\, le. Would that we all had more of it; I can This, in the opinion of many, is what is things easily. It has, also, been greatly be1^ slj give it only short notice here. I have no known as dry fly action. It is an action which ficial in teaching beginners to cast beca1*', foj reason to think I have any right to dwell on seems stiff but in reality is flexible with the of its distinctive feel in casting. No do11,. it. I will try, however, to help in what I quality of bending relatively easy but still you have gathered that the double tapef choose to call "balanced tackle". having sufficient life to return to its original "tops". Last year, when I hesitated to go into this straightness without giving you a strong f beginner's outfit writing, I learned that many kick-back in so doing. 5 The reel, next in order, is perhap i people, young and old, were willing to listen Summing it up, look for a rod of dry fly "touchy" subject where two or more ang* to suggestions on a tyro's outfit. First, a action. It can be had in the foregoing price gather. Light, heavy, single action, or aw1 l definition of my pet term, "balanced tackle". range and will do a great job on all the ma tic reels—the discussion is never end jll Perhaps it is a bit misleading. I'm not re methods which follow in these articles. I Some of them have gone so far as to carry ., ferring to the right line or a rod, though that feel safe in recommending this action be reel on their trouser belt. After all, j is important, but to the necessity of having reel's first purpose in fly fishing is to ^.j, cause of the many anglers I know who fish 1 different types of flies and lines. Certainly using all or practically all methods, though the excess line. To keep down expe* j, there are scores of men who are purists, they possess numerous rods of varied action, tures, it may be wise to buy a light siw. fellows who use one type of fly or lure and they invariably use their dry fly action rods. action reel at a reasonable price. Later i do enjoy it immensely, but personally, I am It is against my better judgment to men can start drawing conclusions. deeply convinced that all would be happier tion the necessities of fly fishing in this order, Customarily, the next item in order if they used all methods. It all makes for my contention being that the most important flies but here I shall revolt. Flies are ! a % greater enjoyment. Why fish with only sur part is the terminal tackle, viz., leaders and portant, but like a chain, the fishing ° « face flies when your better judgment dictates flies and lines. However, it is human nature is only as strong as its weakest link an& 1941 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER
fishi; ng, this link is the leader. It is really dispressint g to see a man appear on a stream Mth Well chosen rod, line, reel and flies, , <• then see him uncoil a cheap, level, short ader of definitely inferior quality. It may one of the cheaper, synthetic, gut and Setable compounds which is bought in • lls for about ten cents. Or, not much j lter, it may be a poor quality Spanish gut one w sV ' ^ numerous flat spots which (DM) me and glimmer in the sunlight like tin- a.' Why do they waste money on these *"§s? It is the most foolish "false econo- It won't make an expert out of a rank tyro choose but the colors mentioned above would ftly» , in which a man can indulge in the but it certainly will enhance his efforts, no serve as a basis for making our selections. ling game. Yes, worse than cheap dry end. The all around size is on a number 8 hook. s- The leader is used for a tool of de- I have mentioned only natural Spanish Nymphs of „ n- Its job is to present an appearance silkworm leaders. The well known Ameri j nothingness" between the line and fly. can made substitute leader material has It would be confusing to mention these by name. The colors and sizes should de . °-o this successfully, it must be round, found its place among anglers. After a termine your selection. Buff and grey head su ^r e.Vent refraction of light rays. In bright thorough trial, this material is being used u the list followed by dull orange or carrot '"nine, the dark brown or blackish tinted by many acquaintances, whom I consider and all black with green falling last. These seems superior to the regular or mist accomplished anglers. Some use it exclu are wool or dubbing bodied with hackle or °red kind. Dark objects tend to absorb sively, others for just some types of angling. a guinea feelers and legs in sizes 10, 12, and j, a hold light, consequently in bright light, Try it and judge for yourself, according to Se 14. Several small quill bodied ones in sizes k ',Se dark leaders minimize leader shine or your success but don't skimp on quality. 14 to 18 complete the list. eht ]reflection s and refractions. In cloudy One good 7% foot leader, tapered to 2X with j, auier the mist colored ones seem to hold several tippets of 3X and 4X to tie to it are "le m" Dry Flies 6 ee worth several leaders of questionable quality. dge. But coloring isn't all. The leader Thousands of anglers will not agree with St Carrv You can start a season with two leaders. tra through to the fly, the energy this list which I choose for color balance and One 7% feet long and one 9 feet in length. „ Isrnitted from the rod to the line and proven killing qualities. Bi-visibles in brown, Ce Use 2X, 3X, and 4X tippets. Start the sea le ^ out to the fly. A properly tapered black, and grey, in sizes 12 and 14. butt *s *^e answer to this. The leader son with the shorter one, using the finer tippets as the season progresses. When the Two spiders, one blue-grey and one ginger s. should be approximately one-half the on 14 hooks. j> °f the line at the point of junction, water is low and clear, change to the 9 foot r Pattern flies as follows in sizes from 12 ttii u ^at Point it should taper down to the using 3X and 4X tippets which lengthens to 16: fly 6ss ca^ed for according to the type the leader to 11 or 12 feet. This is ideal for Cahill Dark and Light ^°u are using and the existing water Co Hendrickson Light and Dark si? *°ns. It is also contingent upon the Quill Gordon fj^i . °t fish prevalent in the water you are Ginger Quill 'Is k ^e length for any type of fly fish- Pale Evening Dun ^« should be not less than 7V feet. Roughly, 2 Blue Dun j Maximum thickness of the business end 0 Royal Coachman 1. j> leader can be classed as follows: r Uc Adams 2> ° ktails and streamers IX, preferably or r This list could be varied greatly according ej-aki ^ d y flies and nymphs, 2X, pref- y to location. Many streams have a particular W 3X. These are based on early fish- c n pattern which is outstanding. This can be dj>0 ° ditions or roily water. The slightest ln best ascertained by asking about them when CM] g of water levels or clearing of water or in the locality of the stream. leaj finer tipped and definitely longer rs JDuLKTML The lists as mentioned are by no means casx - It doesn't require great skill to intended to cover every and all conditions 9 f 0t 3X r 4X leader and the divi dry flies and nymphs. The shorter one, now ^nds ° ° " and localities but will certainly afford at ^hi v, are terrific. Let's look at an example about 8 or 9 feet long and tapered to 2X or least moderate success. vei^. occurred several seasons ago on a 3X can be kept for bucktails and streamers. good limestone stream. There is true economy, the kind that pays a big dividends. h6jn nglers, one with a reputation as Ashp an exPert, the other, just an ardent The flies are next. I assume that you will AWARD FISHING CONTEST Ttla of S/ n, who thought luck was a big factor try all kinds of flies. The generally accepted, PRIZES Ces lea(j s were using identical flies but the early season fly is the bucktail and streamer. fs Over 100 members and friends of the Peters 'jgk were slightly different. It seemed Spinners, too, if you wish, are widely used. burg Game, Fish and Forestry Association at k•e et ,' ^yway. The expert's leader was 12 The nymphs, and dry flies usually follow ng tended the third annual banquet of the as >n6 Q? and tapered to 4X, the other's was several weeks after opening day, although sociation on January 31. eet and there have been occasions when these flies 'all J- ^ tapered to 3X. Seemingly Prominent sportsmen and members of the diff took fish on opening day. ^as •• erence, isn't it? Well, the expert game and fish commission were present. Hilg^kfag them out," one after another, Boiled down, here are some suggestions e The banquet was opened by the singing of °niy other fellow succeeded in moving for flies. Try as I may, a personal prefer s f America, and the invocation by Rev. Charles ttjjt ew fish but failed to induce any to ence will find its way into this list but Stong. fly ' Was it the difference in handling the many seasons of fly fishing experiences of as Rev. Diehl presented a fine Shakespeare fly °bt j ^ it luck? The answer was easily a numerous friends will determine as far as rod to each of the following for catching the ^Styp '*'ne exPert wanted to know the humanly possible, the list which follows. largest fish. B. G. Medling, Petersburg, brown fiie,^ atld wasn't afraid to prove to his s that trout 21 VA, inches; D. A. Price, Huntingdon 6eni , he wasn't endowed with any Bucktails and Streamers R. D., brook trout 12% inches; H. F. Man- OUtJjZ Powers. He suggested that they trade beck, Petersburg, black bass 17% inches. c Yellow or brown with a distinctive yellow isjv» ' The results were prompt and de- ish cast ranks A-l for average conditions, Tlle duffer as he The winners of the vermin contest were Sk» " >" called himself, followed by yellow and brown mixture, te each presented with a fine Ike Walton hunt Mj j^ king fish while the expert failed in white and grey in that order. For murky en ing knife. The winners of this contest were fl»0(,s deavors. This is only one case in or discolored water, black is supreme. There B. G. Medling, Petersburg; Oliver Chestney, a "ds. The answer is there, gentlemen. are many fancy patterns from which to Petersburg and Paul Lightner, Charter Oak. 10 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER MAB<# h TROUTING TRENDS By ALEX P. SWEIGART ROM the angle of colorful appeal, few it has proved exceedingly popular with the Fforms of angling can equal trout fishing. rank and file of our fishermen. Trout waters generally are located in pic Rainbow stocking had been discontinued for turesque sections of the state; for example, in a number of years by the Fish Commission, the rugged grandeur of the North Tier, Potter chiefly because this fish was believed to have and Tioga Counties, in the pine and hardwood definite migratory tendencies that made the ridges of Centre and Clinton Counties and in benefit of such stocking problematical. This the quiet pastoral settings of rich limestone failure to stay put is still a major considera farming districts. Linked with the appeal of tion in its planting. Rainbow trout have been fishing fast water and dark inviting poals is taken in considerable numbers in larger warm Ihese raanDvw trout, largest 19 incnes, •• - . caught on plug during last bass season on §1 the grace and vivid coloration of the fish it water streams such as the Upper Allegheny Upper Allegheny River by Fred Frederick, cw self, whether it be brook trout, brown trout River and the Upper Delaware. Because rain treasurer at New Kensington. Fish Commission^ Fred McKean of New Kensington submitted *9 or rainbow trout. Even the season of the bows are such free rising fish, however, it is photo. year, spring and early summer, lends itself thought that a fair percentage of stocked fish e to the enjoyment to be derived from this sport. of this species are taken by the fishermen. back in the '80's and of our modern cold wat Increased popularity of trouting with the Another phase of the rainbow stocking prob fighters, the brook trout stands well in tn angling public, not only in Pennsylvania but lem is infertility of, in some instances, fairly fore. Though not given to surface breaks in other densely populated eastern states, has high percentages of eggs stripped from these whei> brought about drastic changes in the trout fish at the hatcheries. A spring spawner in its hooked, the brookie's surging, hard fightl"* fishing picture. Good roads and the automo native habitat on the Pacific Slope, the in underwater tactics make it the equal if not f bile have made accessible wilderness waters troduced rainbow now may become ripe for superior, in our opinion, of either the that formerly were fished lightly by a few spawning at Pennsylvania hatcheries any time trout or the rainbow trout. anglers who didn't mind hiking fifteen or from September to February. Apparently, Not all Pennsylvania trout streams are ^ twenty miles for this hard to-reach fishing. very rapid streams having a good fall and be classed as unsuitable for this little gaH>j 1 A steadily-mounting increase in number of flowing into deep reservoirs are excellent ster; not by a long shot. In the meadowlafl' ' 1 trout fishermen has been observed in Penn prospects for stocking rainbows as reservoirs of limestone agricultural districts are flow* * sylvania during the past ten years. This has of the type mentioned serve as good wintering streams today that in many respects are 1 meant intensive concentrations of anglers on quarters for this black spotted trout. Evitts be reckoned ideal environment for the natJ* virtually every well known stream of the Creek in Bedford County, typical of waters of charr. Fed by deep seated limestone sprint« Id v state during the early part of the season. As this type, has in recent years yielded some rich in crustaceans and other suitable tr° , a result, many streams, no matter how heavily of the record fish of this species taken in the forage and carrying temperatures through? stocked in preparation for the season opening, state. It is a major source of water supply for the summer months well within the tolerate 0 are literally hammered to death and sadly de deep Lake Koon and some of the outstanding limits of the brook trout, these smaller mead pleted of their stocked fish by the second week rainbows reported were taken from the lake streams offer real hope for the continual" of the season. In addition to these factors, itself. Plug fishing has accounted for a num of good brookie fishing. land posting has cut into available mileage ber of big rainbow trout on the Upper Alle To our thickheaded way of thinking, •• c of fishable waters, and drought and flood have gheny River during past bass seasons. small watercress lined feeders of such bro m seriously curtailed the carrying capacity of offer a real opportunity for stocking V% 1 many streams through curtailment of the Brooks and Browns brook trout fingerlings, produced in hatcher ^ amount of available trout forage. Save in those having a supply of limestone water. In &£ From the angle of desirability, our native the matter was put to practical test with *j top-notch, heavy water streams that have charr or Eastern brook trout is ideal. It is withstood to a notable extent the ravages of fingerlings (purchased from a commerC' regrettable today that more of our outstanding hatchery) with gratifying results several yef, drought, trout fishing in most waters today trout streams do not favor this fish as seem seems to be a matter of meeting the demands ago. Planned fingerling stocking in such % ingly they do the introduced brown trout. stances might work. These little feeder brO°^ of the fishermen through heavy stocking of Cutting of the timber on trout stream water ( trout raised in the hatcheries. carry tremendous concentrations of scud sheds, drought and prevailing high summer e freshwater shrimp in their watercress b ,f water temperatures have apparently all had 1 Migratory Rainbows From the angle of producing rapid grow" their effect on favorable environmental con stocked fingerlings, as well as brilliant In recent years, the rainbow trout has en ditions for the brookie. Few freshwater tion, these tiny crustaceans seem to be olJ tered the trouting limelight to a notable ex American game fishes can equal the native standing. Systematic checks on the devel'*, tent. High hopes were held for the future of brook trout in beauty of form and vividness ment of fingerlings placed in the limest^j this acclimatized trout from the Pacific Slope. of coloration. The now extinct Michigan gray feeder brook in question revealed spiel** Perhaps the best fly fish of any of our trout, ling alone was considered its peer in beauty growth. When stocked, these fingerlings aVe„ aged about 2 inches in length. That was . early May and by September several "*J n measured that ranged from 5 to 5% * t< in length. Heavy girth and brilliant col"', tion the equal of any wild trout we have ^\i taken was noted with these fish. Fins and % were fringed with red. In connection with *v, trial stocking, and certainly it was an a*^ teurish attempt in every sense of the *°,; the range in water temperature of the j| limestone spring emerging at the base °\, ridge in a central county varied only one *, gree under constant readings during ®l summer. It registered consistently fror» ; to 53 degrees Fahrenheit. The stream bed •* channel were literally gorged with water^ and a root strand of this plant was foun* be virtually alive with wriggling Two Pennsylvania cold water fighting aces, a hefty rainbow trout in the foreground, and graceful Classification of the shrimp in question 4 brook trout in the background. later made as Gommorus minus. 1941 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 11
*> feeder streams to smaller brooks in lime stone territory, it is possible that fingerling ^f°ok trout produced under similar water con ations in the hatcheries would thrive and ^°ve an important asset in providing better "fcttt fishing in the larger brook. This, of JP^se, is based on the assumption that, as ^eV achieve larger size in the feeder, the j^hiral tendency of these brookies would be /nove down into heavier water. . ^he brown trout of Europe Salmo fario has, j? the fifty odd years since its introduction to MUisylvania trout waters, won a host of ad- r^ws in the trouting fraternity. Definitely, ?* fish ranks as the cagiest of our cold water ghters, moody in its feeding splurges and ^Veji, as it attains greater size, to increased ^§ht feeding. It is prone to feed, in later j^ges of its growth, on other fishes, particu- *% cold water minnows such as the black ed dace. A potent argument in its favor, and gn* of exceptional bearing on our intensively j; ^ed trout waters, is its apparent ability to hoi A promising stretch of brook trout water on a North Tier stream. "its own in streams pounded heavily by e fishermen. For many years, the Commis- forage required for its existence. Big brown he inhabits. Occasionally one of these big a0*1 did not stock brown trout in waters of trout, and for that matter, all of our popular browns will make its way into a smaller stream t? Keystone State, yet it continued to main- game fishes, are confirmed cannibals. Even serving as nursery water for fingerlings, and, M^ its number in waters where formerly if they do find sufficient food of other types in under such circumstances, the toll it takes lilted. It would appear that under heavy waters where they lurk, they are not averse from young trout is almost certain to be heavy. q , nS. brook trout are thinned out most to taking a smaller member of their own c cj kly in the average stream, followed species as a tidbit. We frequently hear the Environment wl61^ in this respect by the rainbow trout, kingfisher, the blue heron, the osprey, the ^ j* the browns most nearly capable of hold- mink and raccoon condemned as fish preda With our vast army of trout fishermen, a sir own. Heavy water trout streams tors, and yet we shall venture to say that one major consideration in Pennsylvania trout such as C6~" Penns Creek and Spring Creek in giant brown trout in a year is superior as a fishing today is the bringing of available trout ntre County have carried over for years a destroyer of other trout to any of them. The water mileage to the highest productive and t>ou er of these craftv ol
] SPRING SONG ] BY N.R.Casillo.
F YOU are an outdoorsman, and a fish garden hackle and a freshly reamed pipe en row may so forget himself as to release a t" I erman in particular, you have doubtless deavoring to catch some of the new-run of premature melody or even a comple felt the quickening of spring; those vague suckers. sonata if his simple song can be dignified *" intangible stirrings that restlessly manifest There may be no significance to a January the latter. £| themselves and cause you to scan the skies thaw, except, perhaps, that winter has tempor Signs such as these and many others | and study the thermometer with mounting arily loosed his icy grasp to enable us to things to me be it in January or March or affl hopes. catch our breath before he clamps down again other time. One of the most enjoyable e*. c Do not confuse these urgings with the signs more relentlessly than ever. cursions I have ever taken was during su of spring. To the ordinary senses they are Nevertheless, those mid-winter thaws have a spell of weather. a stimulating effect on those whom they en In the middle of January this year, heI* scarcely if at all perceptible. To be specific e they may be prompted by the smell of fresh compass. This is especially true if all the in western Pennsylvania we had a day wh snow, although snow is not supposed to other manifestations that usually accompany the atmosphere and sky were comparable* possess an odor. But those of you who have them are present. Perhaps some crows may any that I have ever seen in any June. * experienced it know to what I am alluding. be noted winging their way from one spring considerable snow that had previously fall? hole to another or disappearing among the disappeared from most places as if by x&Q The mysterious smell (and we'll call it birch sprouts on the hillside. The song spar It was a day to conjure with. smell for want of a better word), frequently has a magical effect on the individual. It may transport him in spirit to scenes that have long been dormant in his being After the turn of the new year whenever I smell snow, in fancy I am carried to a dis tant woodland where melting snow banks pour forth their flood into the brimming brook. The raw smell of snow water mingles with the balm of conifers. You inhale deeply of its healing fragrance. A stream may be purring contentedly under its snug covers of ice and snow, yet when the time is propitious a change in its cadence or song discloses to the understanding one that it too knows that the zero hour is nigh. There is a section of Neshannock Creek in Lawrence county that flanks the road to the Falls. At the Junction where the parent stream merges with the Little Neshannock there is a wide bend where the water is ex posed most of the winter, freezing only in the severest weather. Old timers who frequent the spot can read the signs of the living stream even as a physician interprets the pulse of a patient. Old Bill Jones can casually glance at the open water and tell what is taking place back up in the hills. " 'Twon't be long tell she'll be breakin' up," he will observe, although the ordinary individual will notice nothing out of the ordinary. And when it does break up he will be at his favorite spot with fresh When you see the catkins of the black alder, dust oft the trout outfit. 1941 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER IS
** so happened that on the morning of that av I drove in from Harrisburg. The effects the storm that had recently gripped the "tire Atlantic seaboard were obvious as far estward as Somerset. From there on how- . er> the snow rapidly vanished. Upon reach- g the environs of Donegal stop on the Turn- PUte I }jacj £0 pause t0 vjew a rushing stream w its rhododendron covered banks. The "tell of the water, the agreeable chill, the ucous bluejay that noisily winged away at p approach all worked their alchemy. ar'y that afternoon upon reaching home I gathered up my bait outfit and announced to k astonished wife that I was going fishing. t°re she had a chance to remonstrate I *as gone. r"e spot on Neshannock Creek that t • ected for my outing was bordered on one Q e by more or less of an open woodland. y the other there was a sun drenched field. ter rigging up and setting the rod on a t ched stick I leaned back against a fallen ~* trunk and permitted the sun to work its ^ery on my back. ®t course I didn't catch a solitary fish, but A good heavy trout is a treasure anytime—but never more so than when it is the first speckled 't of it. The inquisitive nuthatches, the beauty of the season. staC(c ato call of the downy woodpecker, the is this true at the opening of the season when of the bank. Naturally I thought of a dozen Hi*C6r tL tain drone of a slightly chilled bee more spring is just getting well underway. dire things until I observed my friend waving s.*H compensated for the dearth of fishes. Be- Some years ago I was flattered by having me into cautiousness. Well, it turned out that fa,6S' t'le accomPl'snments of the sun and the the conceded topnotch trout fisherman in the hide bound trouter was watching the lnt effluvium of the leaf mold from the adja- these parts ask me to go fishing with him. antics of a spring-struck groundhog. t wood were incalculable. To me it was I was duly warned by a more intimate friend That day was noteworthy not only for the armistice in the long seige of winter. that so-and-so would fish me to death. fish we caught but also for the large bed of • hen a luxury because of its abundance "What do you mean?" I asked, frankly trailing arbutus we chanced upon. Then, or j. . *ies a commodity, then, it also becomes puzzled. there was the fact that we found each other. 6 k Sated to the commonplace. That's what "Oh, he's all for fishing and I know how Many are the excursions we have taken since ns wnen sip spring is actually upon us. The you like to loaf along looking at this and that eventful day. s and portents become so numerous and that," he explained. How do you fish a stream on the opening So upon us with such rapidity that they "I'll fix that," I said. "I'll simply send him day or any other time for that matter? Do you f0 blunt our appetites. At first we watch on ahead." confine all your thoughts to fishing or do you ar them, actually with bated breath they On the appointed day I persuaded my trout really relish those thousand-and-one things that evanescent. That's when we become fishing friend to take the lead. In half an that I like to refer to as side dishes? i^/^ated with the wonder of the reason and hour I leisurely took up his trail. Let me test your observational powers. ibe deeply of its spirit. An hour later I was passing through a What flower do we most commonly encounter 1S nee tr dless for me to state that the expert thicket of alders bordering a high bank. Upon growing adjacent to the trout stream during ijj t fisher knows that there is more to fish- reaching the densest part of it I was shocked the earliest days of the season? t«an the mere catching of fish. Espacially at seeing the expert lying prone at the edge You're right. Yes, the skunk cabbage gets the nod. Indeed, I have seen the pointed hoods of this odoriferous flower breaking through the ooze as early as late November. Their appearance at that time might betoken the coming of spring in this topsy-turvey world. Why not? Doesn't the witch hazel bush bloom in late fall and is considered by many to be the first flower of the new season? However, because of its indeterminate bloom ing season and perhaps too, because of its un savory reputation the skunk cabbage is not ordinarily associated with the warm beauty of a speckled trout when taken from its icy environment. When the dogtooth violet or trout lily (as I prefer to call it), makes its appearance in the spring woods, the nymph and bait fisher men come into their own. This flower whose leaf markings resemble the vermiculated flanks of the brookie, usually indicates that the trout season is well started. Mingled with the early violets and spring beauties, it carpets the woodland floor long before any sign of leaves on the trees. In fact, the only indications of tree activities are the long, gray catkins of the black alder and the silvery ones of the aspen. Possibly, even a few ven turesome pussy willows may have made their spring debut. Last spring I had the chance to test the 8 «eht sunlight slanting through leafless trees enhances the appeal of the early trout run. (Continued on Page 18) 14 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER MARC** TROUT FISHING LORE Notes From An Angler's Diary By HARLEY C. NOLL
At 11:00 A.M. we decided to go to the worker told me that there had been 2000 Yellow Breeches Creek above Williams trout stocked in this vicinity. I must look Grove. Mel caught a 7 inch brownie in the gullible for everywhere I go, people go out fast water. I fished the hole and had one of their way to tell me about the thousands tug. The trout then started rising and I upon thousands of trout that were stocked. changed to the Pop-eye without success. I tried the Royal Coachman, Cowdung, Star May 21 ling, Ginger Quill, and the gold ribbed brown Chas. Bowen, John O'Donnell and Tom fly without success. Before I could try any went early this morning to fish the Big other flies, the trout stopped rising. I would Spring. Chas. Bowen caught a 7 inch like to try this hole in the evening and think brookie and John caught one about three that I would have some fun. The half-float inches long. Tom did not catch any, not ing fly seemed to be the method today. even a smaller one although he tried every May 12 thing in the book. The trout would not take anything that was offered to them. Tom Tom, and John O'Donnell went to Big tried the dry flies without success. Tom met Spring for the evening fishing and had good a fisherman who had a worm on one hook, results. The wind was so strong that they a minnow on another hook, and sweet corn could hardly cast; but when there was a lull, on the third hook. He told Tom, real con they were able to cast and also catch trout. fidentially, that trout liked sweet corn. Some John caught a 10 inch brookie on the Royal trout fisherman, eh? I wonder if you should Coachman and Tom caught six legal trout have a gun with you sometimes? on the same fly. They did not start for Big Spring until 4:45 P. M. and fished until dark. May 24
May 18 After planning for two weeks the day "Cap" Boyles with a beauty. I had intended to go to the Yellow finally arrived for us to go to Fisherman's Breeches today to a new place but as it was Paradise. Chas. Bowen, Mel Hocker, John oil raining I decided to go to Big Spring. John O'Donnell, Tom, and I made up our party. is the thrill of the fish striking and being O'Donnell and I left home at 8:30 A. M. We It had rained hard the day and night before the line no matter if he is a small one. wet our leaders at the foot-bridge above the and was raining when we left, but we ex June 3 wagon bridge and I started to cast at the pected these rains to be only local, and were first wing-dam below this spot. I caught an in hopes that the stream would be in good Friday is my day off from work this we^ 8 inch brookie on almost the first cast. He condition. We found the stream yellow with and have decided to go fishing. It rained °f took the Royal Coachman. Boy, I thought muddy water. There were about 75 other Thursday night and the papers called t°! this was going to be good. I immediately fishermen, both men and women, who had cloudy weather and possible showers M placed water-cress in my creel, expecting a evidently travelled many miles to fish this Friday. I saw John O'Donnell and we big day. I told John to take this spot and stream. We checked in and received our de that I would go down the stream a short buttons just as the siren sounded, which is cided to try Big Spring again, hoping that J way. John could not catch any trout today, the signal to start fishing. We saw two large would rain and thus give us more chafl^ although he had several rises. I rose trout brownies caught at the bridge. They meas to catch a few trout. We left this morniw on almost every cast but could not hook ured 17 and 19 inches. They were the only at 6:00 A. M. and it looked as if it would | them. I caught two brookies on the Ginger fish that were caught as far as we know. cloudy but the sun finally peeked throUF Quill which I had on the dropper loop. I These fish took a large black fly that re and it became quite clear. As we were 8 then changed this fly to the end and caught sembled the black ant. We tried every Big Spring by that time, we started to 6& about seven brookies after this change. I black fly that we had and also others with and decided that if there was nothing Ao$ creeled one of them which was 9% inches out getting a rise. We left this stream about with the trout, to go to the Yellow Breech6* long. He gave me a nice fight. 1:30 P. M. and drove to Bonnybrook for the Creek. We started fishing above the wago"' evening fishing. We found this stream When it was raining the trout rose to the bridge and could not raise a trout, aft^ cloudy, but all right to fish the fly. Mel fly, but when it would stop, there was noth changing from wet flies to dry flies, and W& caught an 8 inch brownie on the Pop-eye. ing doing. I tried out the new hitch-knot to Strawman's Nymph. I called to John aP No fish for the others. 8 fasten the leader to the line and caught told him that we would go up to Awl's D ^ about seven trout with this knot, but when We had a splendid time even if we did not at the spillway and try it. I hoped to fi" I had hold of another trout, the knot slipped catch any fish. Mel had us laughing with a few rainbows in the fast water. I had jl and I lost my leader and two flies. This his droll comedy all day. Paradise is a beau the Strawman and a gold spinner. I ma<^ knot will work fine if it is inspected occa tiful stream flowing between the hills which two casts in the spillway and hooked orf sionally. These trout took the sunken fly are covered with pines, but I do not think trout just below the gates. I had to "hottf with plenty of action to it we will ever go back again. From inform him in because I had taken off the barb wh6*1 ation received from another fisherman who I used this lure at the "Fisherman's P^r, May 20 had been there four times this year, only dise." This trout was a 9 inch brookie m This morning when I came home from large trout are stocked there and only a few he gave me a nice scrap. I could not rai5 working the 11 t* 7 trick, I decided to give are caught each day. He had only caught any more trout, so I changed back to ^e Agnes a lesson in driving the car and also 9 trout on his four trips. We thought that flies. John lost an 8 inch brookie after h^', do a little fishing on the side. We went to you could catch almost any number of small ing him almost in the net. This trout h* this new place on the Yellow Breeches and trout and a few large ones. After receiving taken the yellow bodied Brown Hackle m it turned out to be at Spangler's Mill. I this information, we decided that this might I then changed my flies. I tied on a Ne^ caught an 8 inch brownie on the Ginger be Paradise to anyone who had not fished ville Midge and the yellow bodied, bro** Quill. This fish was a scrapper. As soon at Big Spring, but to us just another stream. winged nameless fly. We went up the stre^ as he felt the hook, he jumped about 8 inches If conditions had been different, possibly our to the Big Willow. I caught a small brooP out of the water and shook himself. He views would be more favorable to this on the nameless fly and rose about f°,[ jumped two more times before he was netted. stream. If you can catch plenty of trout, others on this same fly. John caught a sn*s When I cleaned this fish I found that he had either large or small that is our idea of a brookie on the Starling fly. It was tbe been feeding on underwater nymphs. A WPA Paradise. For after all, what we really want about 12:00 noon and getting pretty W8J^ We went down stream again towards *" 1941 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 15
. and stopped at the spillway again. Noth- where the Big Spring empties into the Con- the body black. Brown the wings with j 8 doing there, so I fished down the race. odoguinet Creek, in search of those rainbows iodine. This fly seems good. Bob McCaf- le ,]Se aDOUt f°ur trout and tangled up my which have migrated to the larger creek. ferty tied me half a dozen Brown Stone cut • S° badly' m castin& that I had to We were unable to catch any, although I Nymphs to be used on the Yellow Breeches. JS, * to release the tangle. I tied the leader saw one in the creek. He looked like a These are good for I have found Nymphs With a simple knot. About 20 minutes after miniature submarine. He surely was over similar to these in trout when I cleaned Dufi hooked to a nice trout and the leader 24 inches in length. We went up the Spring, them. j ,ed apart, and I lost him and the two flies. and then to the Yellow Breeches at Gran May 6 ty^ hereafter use the knot that Chas. Fo~ tham; but had no success, not even a small otttmends to mend leaders. I am almost one. Tom and I went to Bonnybrook early this j^e that this fish had taken the Newville July 7 morning much against Tom's wishes as he does not like to fish this stream, but he said 0, ~§e. This mill race is always productive Not having anyone to go with me I went . trout and 1 do not see why I do not fish alone to the Yellow Breeches Creek above he would go along to keep me quiet. I know l^°re often. Williams Grove. I fished the wet flies and there are some nice brownies in this stream *"e then started homeward and stopped in hooked onto a nice brownie at Fat's Hole. I and that some time I will get one to take fish "room *n Newville for some beer. A played this fish for about two minutes and the fly. c , f^nan in there told us that he had been once had him almost into the net but I had Well, that time arrived today. I hooked be] S *or carp m tbe Conodoguinet Creek to let him run again. The hook must have a 14% inch brownie and I had a 3 to ,S?W town. He had "salted" the stream had a very insecure hold on him for he 5 minute battle with him before he was " sweet corn and was using it for bait finally tore loose. This fish was better than finally netted. He took the No. 14 Black Ant *Uld v» 12 inches in length. He had taken the No. and as I had a 2 pound test leader tied to inr "e caught a 14 inch rainbow on it. 6 1 be c eane 16 Royal Coachman. Boy, what a thrill that the Nymph, he had to be handled very care harf * l d this trout he found that it was just to hold him for that short time. My fully. I kept a taut line on him and let « , Deen feeding on this corn that he had practice of coiling my leader with the flies him drown himself. Three times he was ^ted» }n tne stream ue gig,, told that f attached to it and placing it in my leader brought in before he could be netted. The foi Sherman from town had caught bow between damp pads, will have to be ^r* rainbows in this same stream below last time I brought him in, I pulled his head discontinued, for these flies become weak Uvvf6 the Big Spring empties into the creek. out of the water and reeled him in inch by ened where the snell joins the shank of the „ Gently these rainbows had migrated to inch. When he slipped into the "net he was hook. Two of these flies were torn from and t^61, stream in search of better food completely out, and I heaved a sigh of relief the snells by trout today, at a spot just jjjj faster water. This statement about trout and an exclamation of satisfaction. above Fat's Hole. T*S corn seems hardly credible. Maybe To a bait fisherman this would not be con Sn sidered a large trout; but to a fly fisherman Clft °uld take up carp-fishing. When I July 14 L j^d this 9 inch brookie, I found that it this size or a little larger is about all he can Tom and I went to Grantham for brownies. handle. o two rows of spawn as long as my third I tried the nymphs which I had purchased at m it- s trout I caught one brownie on the No. 14 Cow- the* ^ ^0 not spawn until Fort Hunter without success. Tom fished the taH of the year, this is truly remarkable. dung and one brownie and one rainbow on wet flies. He called to me and said that the No. 14 Black Ant Nymph. These trout Jane 9 there were trout chasing minnows below the were around 8 inches in length. This was a "°m and I fished at Grantham today, a bridge, and that I should try the streamer «Pot on red letter day. the Yellow Breeches that we have fly. I tried the Yellow Maribou and two lev ,6 r f0 fished. This looks like a good place, trout did rise to it, but I could not hook May 6 fe-j, saw a goodly number of brownies them. Tom tried the Mustad Optic without Bonnybrook—6:00 A. M.—rather chilly- j^ung there. Tom started fishing with the success. We then went to Fat's Hole above threading our lines—tell Tom to start at the Mv, ^ Optic and I used the Strawman Williams Grove. I fished Fat's Hole and I wooden bridge — up stream to the stone tjjg Ph. Tom called to me and told me that placed Tom up the stream further where I bridge— cast below the bridge—a small one he v, were rising below him, and that had those trout tear off the old flies. He rises to the fly—above the bridge—cast under 1 tr^ ^ changed to wet flies and had a nice caught two brownies about 8 inches long. the bridge—one takes it—creel a brownie 8 pj rise to them. I changed to wewi t flies, I fished the Yellow Maribou and caught a inches long—took a No. 14 Cowdung—down v a a stream—cast at junction of the two streams— vUilll ed* ^°y l Coachman on the end, a New- 12 inch pickerel which gave me a nice battle. 6e ge on e 15 meet Tom—decide to fish the No. 14 Black CChh •; . ^ *h fi* * dropper and a Pitt's I was glad to take this voracious killer from Ant in place of the Royal Coachman on the gji .1Ce on the second dropper. 1 am now a trout stream. 2d fly — wonderful morning — below the "Qy\f with three flies instead of two, as We headed for home, had a couple of beers, quarry—beautiful water here—hook fly on w5. Boyles told Mel Hocker that we and a good time was had by all. far bank—wade across stream to disengage tfjjj~ bave better results if we would fish 1940 Fishing Notes tackle—see Tom on his knees casting care *s rr, tlu'ee flies- He states that he catches Opening day was very cold. Caught the fully— Tom laughs—thought a large trout Ute JL°^ trout on the third fly as he does on limit of 10 trout but I had to work hard to was feeding—only a muskrat swimming up the tom one- The third fly skips along t do this. These trout were four rainbows, 5 stream—Tom takes good stretch of water 4; "^P of the water and attracts some trout brookies and one brownie. This is the first p Would not take the sunken fly. This here—below Tom—catch 5 inch .rainbow on r time I have caught a brown trout at the Big b rlCe of "Cap's" may be the difference the Black Ant —change Ant to end fly — et Spring for about 15 years. The largest one e een his success and ours; because he clouds are gathering overhead—Tom changes 6ft was a rainbow 12 inches long. The boys ainly tch fish and more fish than to dry fly and fishes upstream—catch a can ca paid me a quarter apiece for this one. We 0^ .?an- I caught a nice 10% inch brownie small brownie on the Black Ant—above rail met "Cap" Boyles and took pictures. The next Win N°" 16 R°yal Coachman with clipped road bridge—good water here—fish carefully evening Tom and I went to the Yellow Want ' "^is trout did not jump, he just —a trout strikes—rushes—fights—creel an 8 Breeches. The stream was high and wild. b „v d to go to the bottom, and he charged inch brownie—he took the Black Ant—trout a I caught a 10 inch brownie on the Brown t}j and forth like a bass. This trout, from rises under the bridge—a strike—out he e Stone nymph and hooked onto one with this nwC°tltents of his stomach, was feeding on comes from the water—shakes himself—creel lure who took the lure, flies, and leader. half ^ne °^ these nymphs was about a 9 inch rainbow—took the Black Ant—get tyjj, an inch long, a reddish brown color and April 30 ting dark—maybe rain—casting—floating— a not fiat rounded body. The water was Tom and I went to the Big Spring early in action after floating—below the bridge—small We ? 2ether clear, due to the heavy rains the morning. I had a good day. Caught 4 one takes the Cowdung—brookie—carefully With e ^een having. Daybreak fishing, brookies from 8 to 10 inches. These trout return him to the water—dam and water thi« c*ear water, should be very good at were fat and seemed to be native ones. The wheel below me—reel in—downstream be Place. 10 incher took the Diller fly. The others low dam—current on the far side—beaten July 1 took the No. 16 Ginger Quill. This Diller path along the shore— bushes and deep mud fishi^tho uUg h this is the opening day of bass is a new fly which we make by stripping the on this side—shall I go up to the bridge and ^Wv8' '"hnny ODomiell and 1 went to white wrapping from a No. 16 or No. 18 cross to fish from the other side?—no—every wViHe for trout. We went to the spot Newville Midge's Quill body which leaves one fishes from that side—less chance to be 16 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER MARCH
seen from this side—harder fishing though— step off the bank—up to my knees in mud, leaves, and muck—wade carefully—almost lose my balance—out about three yards from the shore—water rushes under water wheel —brush— limbs and quiet deep water on this side—good place for a trout to feed—strip out Cut line — look back over shoulder — trees and Cu.-t bushes near—short underhand cast at the r water wheel—flies hit the fast water—not so good—cast for this side of the wheel—hit the spot—flies sink—raise the rod—a little action ®x —a strike—a golden belly rolls to the surface —a sunfish—no—couldn't be—fish rushes Was here that the suggestion of bringing Pennsylvania to participate in such a pro affect the plans of the Committee on Con s f, t°ry of conservation before the teachers gram. The plan was discussed at great length servation Education?" The Committee feels 0Ueges an(j country teachers institutes was and was finally adopted by the committee Pro that it can gain much from the program of Posed. and later in the day by the Board of Direc the National Wildlife Federation and there , °n July 19th Hon. Seth E. Gordon and mem- tors of this Federation. During the next few ers fore recommends that you endorse this pro of the committee were invited to attend weeks, numerous conferences were held at gram which is now underway in the entire T meeting of the Presidents of the State Harrisburg to prepare for a meeting of con nation. j^achers Colleges held in the office of Dr. servation minded people representing many aas It may interest you to know that Mr. t, - Here Mr. Gordon very ably presented of the civic, educational and service organ Francis R. Cope, Jr., well known in educa e necessity of Conservation education. We izations of the state. This meeting was held tional and conservation circles has accepted ave every reason to believe that it was well August 21st at the Penn-Harris Hotel under Cc the Chairmanship for Pennsylvania for the ° epted by this group. Our conservation de- the auspicies of the National Wildlife Fed r ments National Wildlife Federation program, in the st j have been invited to lecture to the eration with Mr. George E. Lundy, Director following telegram. I quote: ^Udent body of many of the Teachers Col- of Organization, presenting the program. Out "Because I regard it a duty and oppor Ses. By these lectures, some of which are of eighty-six invitations sent out throughout e tunity have accepted temporary State Chair ady given, it is the sincere hope of this the state there were sixty-six persons who manship Pennsylvania Wildlife Federation ti ^Uttee and the conservation departments at accepted and were present at a luncheon for promotion Conservation Education. Long ^ enough interest will be aroused to en- where the program was presented and later interested in public education, nature study in fa^e ^e establishment of courses of study very generally discussed and adopted. and forestry. I believe every school boy and conservation. The National Wildlife Federation is de girl should understand importance conserv ^ ollowmg the meeting of May 15th when it veloping materials for use in the schools. ing water, soil and all forms of plant and ^ as suggested that the teachers institutes can ontacte We feel sure that the materials will be of animal life. In this time world crisis Con te f ^ with speakers to bring the real value. They are written by well known servation natural resources absolutely es chers a message on conservation, each Uiltv conservationists and criticized from an edu sential to National Defense. Counting on hi superintendent was given an oppor- cational standpoint by outstanding educa fullest cooperation." „ y to have such a speaker present on the ne tors, including one from the Pennsylvania In conclusion the Committee desires to ^ ral program. The interest was far greater Department of Public Instruction. This pro antici ated and fe earl fa mor present the following resolution. hal? P y y U. e than gram will be brought to your attention in t the counties found room on their pro- BE IT RESOLVED: That a representative 3 8 f r these April and May by the National Wildlife be assigned from each of the following de fg ? ° speakers. Other counties al- Federation. o ^y had their programs complete and stated partments and commissions; The Board of at they would like to have a speaker next On January 2d we were called to Harris Fish Commissioners, Pennsylvania Game r burg to discuss the possibilities of including Commission, Department of Forests and ar ' The results of these messages thus far some conservation courses in the Vocational Waters, Department of Agriculture and De ke Ue in *i* °n the way to Michigan we stopped Won °°d County' 0hio> to see the concentra- alju °f ringneck pheasants. They were so fefu nt ^&t WC tnougnt we were on a °Perfei, ^e soon learned that we were on '•on unting grounds with some reserva- Av}j; I The answer to the concentration area is tyat never stocked was plenty of food, r sef, and cover. It is an example in con- cation. T glv %n e you some idea that this conserva- *hat 6ducation program is expanding and of . ye are a part of it, may I relate to you tyj« &lng called to Harrisburg in early July, Hie other members of the committee, to a life * representative of the National Wild- ed a fi eration who was preparing to launch eny 0gram on conservation education in the re stat nation? Pennsylvania was the first Man Contacted hy this man who outlined the Easy does it on a slippery stream, bed in early spring while stocking trout. Genial Clyde Fox, and was extending an invitation to ardent Harrisburg conservationist, carrying a can of brown trout for release in Manada Creek. 18 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER MARCfl SPRING SONG (Continued from Page 13) efficacy of the saying that "when the trout lily blooms the trout are on the prod." The fact was that I could never hope to match my catch with the abundance of those early flowers even comparatively. However, what they symbolized augured well for me because I did creel a satisfactory number of fish. Signs and more signs. They are the bane and joy of the fisherman. Signs of the sun and stars and moon. When the shadbush blows and the trout lily blooms. And who waits until the red oak leaves are as big as squirrel ears? Signs of spring. How capricious. Here, a few days ago I was praising the mildness of the weather. Now, as I write this, the heav iest snow-fall of the year thus far has descended upon us. But, what's the differ ence? There's solace in the fact that it is darkest just before the dawn or to express it in Shelley's classic words: "If winter comes can spring be far behind?" So you see, the fact that winter has but begun is an indica Nymphs are always good for early spring trout. tion that spring is already on the way. If signs are so all important to the angler, from the club's game bird rearing unit. Aside up by a nominating committee headed W then, let him make a few himself. Even now from an investment of $138.76 in the unit, it Ralph Jackson, the members were given «| grab up the old rod and try for the big suckers cost the association $159.89 to produce these opportunity to make additional nomination* that are beginning to make their appearance birds for the benefit of local hunters. from the floor, but none were made. in many instances in many of the streams. A record stocking program in county As the setup now stands, two of the io& That in itself is an indisputable sign of spring. streams was reported by the fish committee officers who served in 1940 are back m So, here's how. showing the distribution of 26,900 legal trout, harness—Dr. Koehler as president and Pa** 5,250 fingerling trout, 9,836 bass, 5,200 catfish, Howard, former secretary, as treasurer. TV" 2,650 sun fish, 1,465 yellow perch and 7,000 vice-presidents and the office of recording HEAR STOCKING REPORTS AT suckers. secretary were added to the setup this yea1"' HUNTINGDON MEET J. C. Hadley, treasurer of the organization e Harold Corbin was elected president of the JAKE PHILLIPS HEADS for the past five years and one of tb Huntingdon County Game, Fish and Forestry League's hardest workers and staunches* TRI-COUNTY supporters, had been nominated for the saD*e Association at the annual meeting at the club The annual election of officers of the Tri- room in the Municipal building. office, but he, too, asked that his name &l County Fish and Game Association has re withdrawn. Other officers elected at the meeting were sulted as follows: President, J. M. Phillips, J. Walter Snyder, vice-president; C. H. (Herb) Hadley addressed the meeting last nig»* of Pillow; vice-president, W. C. Rhinehart, r Jackson, re-elected secretary and Howard pledged his continued cooperation with f ' Sunbury; secretary, C. R. Vogel, Williams- 1 Shilling re-elected treasurer. Koehler and the other officers and urged tf town; financial secretary, Robert Billman, Four directors were elected for a two-year entire membership to work as a unit & Herndon and honorary vice-president, the success of the organization. term and these along with the following four Charles Uhler, Lykens. hold-over members make up the organiza Hon. Clifford J. Welsh, Erie, member 4 tion's board: Fred Mark, James Kyper, Har the Fish Commission, was introduced at tb old Fisher, F. M. Simpson, M. L. Banker, Clyde ERIE WATCHWORDS UNITY meeting by President Koehler. He pledge^ Davis, Roy Morton and E. C. Miller, Jr. AND PROGRESS his support of a fishing program sponsor^ The Erie County Sportsmen's League by the sportsmen and told the assembla^ William Shilling was re-elected delegate to 15 the county federation and F. M. Simpson was started its 1941 program with unity and that "the fish money is not the Comm ' re-elected alternate delegate. progress the twin keynotes of the platform. sion's money; it belongs to you who pay ' The meeting was called to order with Presi At a meeting at Pulakos-on-the-Lake, into the state coffers in license fees. I assti^ dent Harold Fisher presiding. Minutes of the League members swept into office by an al you that I shall always keep that fact *% previous meeting were read by Herbert Jack most unanimous vote a slate of officers and mind when voting upon matters pertaini1"* son and Treasurer Howard Shilling gave the directors submitted to them with the ap to fishing conditions in the state." annual financial report. proval of Dr. J. J. Koehler, the man they An expenditure of $274.50 in the production "drafted" and put into office by acclamation. and distribution of food producing trees, vines, Officers elected were: CHAMBERSBURG CLUB NAMES and shrubs for the benefit of county wild life First vice-president—S. J. Mergenhagen. COMMITTEE , was reported by the forestry committee. Since Second vice-president—O. A. Skivington. New committees of the Chambersburg P 1937 the association has invested $1,011.02 in Third vice-president—Arthur E. Boldt. and Gun Club were named at a meeting its forestry committee program. Secretary—Charles (Bud) Kraus. the organization at Hotel Washington. ( The committee's program has embreced an Recording secretary—Ace Andrews. John Garlinger was named chairman of **| original idea to re-establish the chestnut tree Treasurer—Paul Howard. fish committee, and will be assisted by . in Pennsylvania as well as the production of Twenty directors, all residents of Erie, Stewart Klenzing and Harry Mellinger. O"1^ other trees and shrubs that will give a more were elected. They are: W. W. Pattison, committees appointed were: Small game, I* .< abundant supply of natural game food. Since O. C. Brock, H. Brown, B. Grosser, F. Geisler, Kremer, chairman, Ray Myers, Harry K^,' 1937 the forestry committee has distributed W. Liebel, Harry Smith, W. Wheeler, W. S. C. Houston, Dr. Edward Black, J. T. Bre<* to association members more than 38,000 seed Strohmeyer, G. Zwilling, M. Scholl, A. Scully, biel, D. R. Gunnells; memberships, Dr. G- ling and transplant forest species with a com W. McCain, Jr., R. Jackson, T. Stutzman, Fleming, chairman, S. C. Houston, Ray MyfJT mercial value of $5,681.00. Charles Kusney, N. Kinsinger, E. Seroka, Charles Carbaugh, Gunnells, Earl J. M<*j The game committee reported that they W. Graham and Guy Minadeo. haney, Klenzing, Leonard Miller, Char* had released 185 mature ringneck pheasants With the presentation of the slate, drawn Doyle, John D. Minehart, John Garlinger- 1941 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 19 NATURAL INSECTS AND by British writers as the "gilt-tail." This It follows that to improve any of these char is of no importance to the angler but is of acteristics is to better a stream's possibilities THEIR IMITATIONS especial interest to the entomologist because for carrying trout. of the fact that it forms the host, or food, of (Continued from Page 3) the maggots of the cluster fly Pollenia rudis description: Length of wings, 7/8" to frequently seen on house window panes in PINE CREEK CLUB ELECTS °ne and 1/16"; wings, pale green with con winter or early spring. REXFORD spicuous blackish brown patches; thorax, (To be Continued) Claire Rexford was elected president of br °Wn; abdomen, tergites, brown with a the Pine Creek Sportsmen's Club at the an Con spicuous yellow median stripe—sternites TROUTING TRENDS nual election session at Gaines. yellowish; front legs, femur brown, tibia Other officers named were: first vice- ^llowish; middle and hind legs, yellowish; (Continued from Page 11) president, S. E. Robinson; second vice-presi tails, olive brown. ideal trout food, as the lime from the water dent, Ed. Haines; secretary, Harry P. Dew Remarks: This fly comes from a whitish aids in formation of the covering of such tiny ey and treasurer, Leonard Irwin. H. D. ^^sparent nymph which burrows in the creatures as the scud or freshwater shrimp. Austin is the retiring president, while Dew stream bed. It emerges from the water as It would appear, when we consider lime ey and Irwin are continued in their respec **ly as May 20th, depending on the tempera- tive offices. e stone and freestone trout waters, that the JJ"' i and continues for about four days in Moving pictures of out-door life were e latter would be most adaptable to improve ," sub imago stage. In Pennsylvania it is ment through increasing vegetation and shown and refreshments were served at the h*°*n throughout the state as the "Shad cover. Trout forage production is influenced close of the session. The Pine Creek Club ly" and appears in almost unbelievable by many factors, flow, quality of water, bot has one of the largest memberships in the timbers. On Spring Creek, known far and tom characteristics and temperature included. North Tier section. *i'dd e as the famed "Fishermen's Paradise", thils % grows to an unusual size, the wings *easurmg slightly over an inch in length. a dark cloudy days, these flies may be Noticed hanging on the underside of blades grass which protrude above the water, but as soon as the weather grows warm, I . "j^y *_itak^ e win. g an_„dj _risJ e Li_.highe1 r andI higheri,:„v,„»., j^til they are finally lost in the tree tops, ^tiling more is seen of them until they re- ^PPear over the water a few days later, in hich state they are known as Grey Drakes. Citation: Hook, No. 8; wings, teal, stained ?een; body, brown raffia grass, ribbed with 5116 gold wire; hackle, ginger; tail, dark ^andlari n fibres. (To be continued) WORMS AND WORM FISHING (Continued from Page 5) jjjjj worm, is distinctly the best-probably ^^g to its peculiar pungent smell and red lo e Ur." As this worm is usually hardy and J!sily bred in captivity, the species is often ^yertised in this country by worm dealers J^der the disguise of "red worm." Literature J^cliased from some of these enterprising er ln chants claims that this delightful creature a 0 y be produced for commercial purposes in es Qj cellar when provided with a mixture L, Manure and garbage placed in wooden ^bs or even in tin cans. Although these ,J*chants offer to sell such receptacles at {L**t should be extremely profitable prices, le^y *a^ to Ikt the gas-masks which doubt- = ,s Would be necessary to protect the human ^labi 'Hants of such houses. There was also y. Guarantee against any punitive action £^ch might result on the part of local ?r(ls of Health or other sanitary officials, tyv , Very abundant species of angleworm W doubtless is often used by anglers, i^}. Who may not distinguish it from small U0 'duals of the nightcrawler, is one having the ^Pular name but which travels under Ca,. pttnidable scientific handle of Helodrilus f°UM,l0sus traPezoides (Fis- c)- This is e*?r almost everywhere that earthworms %m e "5U* ^as no rea^ily observable dis- So^^hing characteristics. Another worm Courtesy Allentown Call gj,e etimes seen in the anglers can is the Ray Schmoyer of Allentown with the 21M: Inch rainbow trout he caught at the annual live trout y^1? earthworm, (Fig. D) H. chloroticus contest staged last year by the Lehigh County Fish and Game Protective Association at Dorney c^ quite possibly is the one referred to Park near Allentown. 20 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER MARCfl bottom well sprinkled with big rocks afl" a narrow, swift riffle at the head. Two other fishermen were there before U5' both of them huddled beside a small fire an" watching rods propped in forked sticks o!> the edge of the shore. Obviously they we1* using worms. "Go right ahead and fish, buddy," jne °* them invited. ''We haven't had a nibble since we came here an hour ago." Worms, obviously, had already proved fruit' less, so we rigged up a cast of wet flies, ^ Alder and Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear. Care fully the riffle and swifter water below it were ROUT are funny critters. They make a crll it; but the fact remains that in the early worked, without a strike. We decided to f>° T habit of doing the unexpected, and the weeks of the season the trout will hunt the deeper. A Mickey Finn bucktail was a*' angler who goes out in quest of them without bait, rather than the bait having to be de tached to the point of the leader, and the being prepared to put into use all the tricks livered directly to them, as is the case later Hare's Ear kept as the dropper. Just abou' of trout angling at his command is quite likely on. six inches above the streamer we attache" to return with an empty creel and sagging Personally we do not have any time for the two split shot to the leader. shoulders. theory that the more water covered the more The flies were cast into the riffle, and wi$ e Moreover, trout angling at the opening of fish caught, in the season's opening rounds plenty of slack line we permitted them to b e the season is at its most difficult stage, be That may be true, of course, on a little carried down into the very depths of tb cause of weather and water conditions. mountain brook, but we are thinking now of deepest part of the hole. Then with slo^ And then, as if that were not enough, the the larger streams which most fishermen pre twitches of the rod we began the retrieve. crowded conditions of the streams the first fer because of the larger and huskier fish Before ten feet of line were in, an 1 couple of weeks is a fact that must be faced. they harbor. 11-incl a The best advice an expert can give on early And that's about as far as we are going brook trout had the Hare's Ear and, after season trout fishing is confusing, to say the to venture in advising our friends on early spirited scrap, was netted. The cast was re' least, and Dick Fortney is far from being an season trout fishing, with this parting word peated, and this time with even shorter pre' expert. But there are a few general sug of advice: Be prepared for anything to liminaries a 13-inch brown trout took a deaf 1, gestions and reminders that will not be amiss. happen. grip, speaking literally, on the Mickey Fir" 1 In the first place, much as we love to fish Again from the pages of our fishing diary: We went home pretty well satisfied wi** with flies, we honestly believe that it doesn't Opening day in 1939, what with our office ourselves. pay to be a purist when trout streams are desk during the day and a lodge meeting early Some Notes e cold and high and roily. Some trout streams in the evening, we got in just two hours ot Soap rubbed on the heels and toes of th may be found in normal condition to be fished trout fishing on Lycoming Creek 11 or 12 feet will help to prevent blisters in earl)' 5 with the various forms of wet flies—and we miles from Williamsport. season fishing when heavy shoes or boo' even know a chap who has made some nice It was cold, and cloudy, and windy, and are worn. opening day catches on dry flies. But in nine the creek was a foot or so higher than Consider the cheapness of the hook whe" streams out of ten the successful opening normal. Our choice was a deep pool with a bait becomes snagged on the bottom, and '{ weeks fisherman is the one who resorts to the is easy to decide to break the hook snel' natural food of the trout. Like it or not, we must admit that the lowly angleworm, small minnow, or a water bug of some kind will catch bigger early season trout than will arti ficial lures. Try artificials if you will—that is what we intend to do—but be armed with bait just in case the flies fail. Pardon an item from our own angling diary. One warm, sunny April 15 we fished a good mile of the famous Loyalsock Creek with wet and dry flies, End got nothing but chubs for our efforts. We paid special attention to a beautiful pool at the mouth of a small feeder brook, but still only chubs took the lure. Then we came to our senses. Out of the soft loam on the shore we dug a hard, pink angleworm. It was threaded on a small hook and dropped gently into the pool. A vicious smash almost took the rod out of our hands, and we netted a fat, 17-inch brown trout. Get the point? Another thing: Trout are anywhere you find them in April. You just can't figure in advance their feed ing stations, as you can later in the season when the weather and streams warm up. But generally speaking, the best fish are to be located in waters along the shores at medium depth and in deep pools at the foot of falls or deep riffles. Rarely do they forage in fast water. That's a clue for the wise angler to pick out a good pool—one that has plenty of under water cover for fish—and angle quietly at that same place most of the opening day. Glorified sucker fishing, some purist is sure to The red letter day. The first trout of the season—anyway, almost. 1941 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 21 ather than to make a disturbance in the water and rout the fish. Usually, too, gentle ^"'Ps of the rod will free a snagged hook , ore quickly than a strong-arm jerk on the line. Leaders are the weakest part of the fishing •ackle, therefore use a leader strong enough *? hold fish of the size you are likely to natch. ;M?Ply pressure gently, once a good fish is °°ked, and you will be amazed at the strain even the finest leader can stand without taking. Question: Am planning to take up fishing easy driving range of both Bellefonte and It is a good idea to use a leader six or seven with light plugs next bass season. Could you State College are Bald Eagle Creek, and eet long even in worm fishing. Don't get care- mention a list of these lures that might be Penns Creek. Elk Creek, another fine lime ess just because garden hackle is being used, secured for a starter?—J. F. D. stone fed trout stream producing excellent r P fish often approach worms just as cau- Answer: Manufacturers of fishing tackle fishing, flows through Millheim in Centre '°Usly as they do artificial lures. Fish warily in recent years have been putting some fine County. It is suggested insofar as accom and upstream, as the fly fisherman does, and modations are concerned, it might be well e light lures on the market. To mention a few = t casts as far ahead as possible to avoid to write to the Bellefonte Chamber of Com 6lr there are the Midget Plunker by Creek Chub, >g seen by the fish in riffles and pools. 3/8 ounce, the Midg-Oreno by South Bend, merce or the Chamber of Commerce at State 3/8 ounce, the Johnson Silver Minnow in College. Change worm bait as often as it looks worn- both silver and gold finishes, 1/4 ounce, the Question: Does the Fish Commission is ut and lifeless. Fish insist on having good, Midget River Runt by Heddon, 3/8 ounce, sue any literature on fishing waters and how lvely-looking bait instead of limp messes. It Dopey and Grumpey as well as the Shakes to reach them in Pennsylvania?—M. J. ™ys to take plenty of worms on a fishing peare Midget by Shakespeare, and the regu Answer: The booklet "Major Trout and riP and to keep covering the hook with lation half-ounce River Runt by Heddon. Bass Waters" covers this field nicely. It is J"esh bait, especially if the fish are biting Generally, on central Pennsylvania bass free on request. s 'o\vly. waters, the perch, shiner and yellow and red Question: What are some of the more finishes have seemed to work best for us. common minnows found in our trout streams? Don't put split shot on a snelled hook when Question: What is a good size level line How do they rank as bait for trout?—G. A. F. 01 "m fishing. The shot makes the hook heavy for use on a fly rod, eight and one-half feet Answer: The silver shiner, run chub and n°- interferes with free action. Instead, at- blacknosed dace are frequently found in our c long and exceptionally whippy? A friend " shot to the leader, about six inches tells me that this rod would be excellent for trout streams. Of this group, the blacknosed Part, until there is enough weight to get the dace ranks as perhaps the best minnow to aj wet fly fishing and I want a line chiefly for t well down into the water. With the this purpose.—R. H. J. be used for trout. It is a small, round bodied , eight thus on the leader instead of on the fish rarely exceeding two and one-half or Answer: Offhand, if the rod is exception °°k, the bait will be more free to move three inches in length and works mighty well a ally whippy, would suggest that a good oout with the current. behind a swivel. Because of its voracity in American made level fly line, size E, should be taking aquatic forms of insect life and other about the ticket. One way to avoid the slipping of knots and suitable trout forage, the run chub is to be ae Question: What are some of the better joth r objectionable features of synthetic regarded as highly undesirable in many of trout streams in Centre County for early a^ers is to purchase strands of natural gut our trout waters, and the silver shiner, when season fishing? What locations would be *jjj« tie one strand to the end of the artificial too plentiful is likewise to be regarded as best for ready accessibility to these waters? * leader. Bait hooks or lures can be tied a pest. t —M. V. ° tlle natural gut, and when one strand be- Question: What is the largest brown trout fries too short for further use another can Answer: Centre County boasts some of taken on hook and line reported to the Fish 'asily be attached. the outstanding trout streams in the state, Commission?—P. L. streams that withstood in many instances Answer: Bill Percival of Matamoras, Pike the ravages of the "39 drought to a notable County, caught a brown trout on fly in the extent. First on the list, we would suggest H/ Lackawaxen River a number of years ago that VRE PRESIDENT OF SOMERSET Spring Creek, readily accessible from either measured thirty inches in length and tipped CLUBS State College or Bellefonte. Also within the scales at nine pounds seven ounces. BV^1 a meetin£ of the Somerset County eou ation of sPortsmen's Clubs held at the Ut gj t house in Somerset, Karl Hare was l9dited President of the organization for ^*varl Hare, formerly of Meyersdale, is a cia? of the Somerset Sportsmen's Asso- Hj lon> and is the office deputy for Sheriff Em ^' Glessner. Mr. Hare succeeds of °rv L. Fulton of Stoystown as president the County Sportsmen's Federation. ^ ne committee appointed at the previous j^ et;ng to look into the matter of stocking ^o°ser Lake reported that in the future the Urel be Ridge Sportsmen's Association will ^responsible for this project instead of the stmoreiand County sportsmen. ne Le names of Minter Jones of Somerset, 6 mler 0I 5r J Meyersdale and Lee Musser of °thersvalley Township have been sub- ffofcf to the Board of Fish Commission, v,, , "which one will be selected as fish arden. An ideal pool for brookies on a North Tier trout stream. 22 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER MAROfl NO TRESPASSING spawning beds, aquatic vegetation, forage and baby fish? (Continued from Page 7) a and I do not like to condemn the pursuit of Why will another fellow, frequently only happiness as interpreted by another—unless chance acquaintance, blandly endeavor to bor such pursuit of happiness transgresses or row choice and cherished equipment? 1° threatens the rights of the majority. Fisher sporting parlance, it is exceedingly bad man men at best are mostly uninvited guests of ners and generally considered imposing upon landowners and as such should put their best good nature to ask the loan of a pet gun, rod, foot forward—if for no other reason, then line, flies, etc. It simply isn't done in polite surely self-preservation. Thus it behooves sporting circles; still some individuals like to the writer to urge if some fellows, and they be different. Is all this ignorance, bad man are a decided minority, must consume liquor ners or just the old gag of the cheap skate while actively fishing, it had best be done who wants everything for himself and the quietly and in seclusion—if only as a mark devil take the hindermost? Better say "No of good intent. In fact I personally could go emphatically to this fellow—if not for your so far as to recommend that the Commission own sake, then as a favor to anglers in gen make the practice as illegal as the gill net, This nice day's catch of trout was scored In eral. All this hardly applies, of course, to the dynamite or gigging—it is one of the chiefest Bowman's Creek, Luzerne County, by Arthur three or four intimate companions within the contributors to those ever growing first night Rowe of Wilkes-Barre. inner circle. and day dissatisfactions. And regardless of visit the same place. At that time two elderly Shall we review the case of another nuis what an indulger may say, the medical pro individuals, ostentiously not natives, armed ance? He ought to be hung. It's happened fession has proven that even one little drink with a netted contraption, were working it has a most definite reaction upon the mental to me; it's happened to you. With stream along the wooden flood gates where trout are space aplenty, why will a late arrival gallop and physical well-being of the individual. wont to hide. Inquiry brought the declaration An angler even slightly dipsy-doodle may up and wade into a small trout stream only they were seeking minnows. Anyway min- a dozen yards above—always above—a dry have one heck of a time personally, or at least nowing operations ceased abruptly and the may think he is having a glorious outing, fly man carefully, cautiously and patiently pair departed without further delay. To this working up. After smiling sheepishly or shall but he is a pain in the neck to his fellows, a day I regret the lack of foresight in not fol 5 decided hazard to collective safety, and not we say guiltily, the usurper calmly proceed lowing them down the pathway and securing ahead of the first fellow, threshes around fishing at the highest peak of skill—it just the license number of the car. 8 isn't in the books, liquor and top flight ang kicks up silt and otherwise behaves as i Why will the occasional fellow carelessly fellow of this type usually does. What & j ling do not mix any better than hard drink trample down growing crops or seeded fields, e and gasoline. Fortunately this condition is the newcomer's mental reaction when th and walk upon freshly tilled soil when travel first fellow climbs out and departs; does the not widespread nor does it happen often ing along the banks of a stream? Someone among good fishermen—perhaps it was the former appreciate the rebuke? Often I sus owns all tillable land; someone is dependent pect it is all a racket, deliberate, intentional, only time many of the villagers ever wit upon its productivity and is not far away. The nessed such an incident, but I'll wager that ill-mannered boorishness. Stream conditions outdoorsman, whether fisherman, picnicker or are crowded it is true, but seldom so much one occasion stands out in mind's eye and in hiker, is a guest, uninvited, just as surely as back yard comment many the year to come. so as to dictate those arm length dry fly In view of the stiff penalties and the in if visiting the front yard of the homestead. duets frequently imposed by late arrivals oi> consequential food value in the aggregate, Visiting a farmer's front yard, one would choice water in late evening. hardly walk over and trample the flower plots why will some individuals endeavor to take e fish in an illegal manner? Most confiscated —then why walk over or trample growing Why do some stream visitors commit th catches are undersize, and it takes from crops. Trampled fields spell trespass notices old city picknickers sin—let bait cans, bottles, twelve to thirteen six-inch trout to make up another year. An excellent example of this lunch wrapping and litter lay along the one pound—fresh fish at a couple hundred condition came to writer's attention during waterways or worse still throw this waste dollars the pound. Even an East Indian the 1938 season. Not far from Harrisburg, material into the current? Pollution is still Potentate would likely balk at that figure, between two easily accessible spots half a pollution nominally enough whether attri and still misguided individuals try to get mile apart, is a fine stretch of trout water. A butable to manufacturing wastes or debris away with it. Sufficient evidence is offered few fishermen, but mostly picnickers, women and rubbish. Nature intended fish to live '&• in PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER from time to time and children, walking along the bank as a uncontaminated water. And landowners d° through both the medium of photos and ac short cut from one place to another, tramped not like the practice; who may blame them' companying articles that the offender can out several rows of corn, not altogether but When day is done, why will some fisher not long escape detection. Some attempts are at places where the going became inconvenient men throw surplus live bait upon the bank downright foolhardy. The writer has one such on account of brush or weeds. This fisherman to die, often with a profane comment "K in mind and occurring several years ago on a pointed out the depradations to a companion they wouldn't take it on a hook, they can'* much frequented, hard fished limestone and predicted "This will be posted next have it now." That live bait if in good con stream near a goodly size town in a nearby spring". Sure enough, opening day the next dition might better be carefully deposited i° county. There is a cultivated watercress bed year found trespass notices in place. And the stream; it is fish forage. Only God may at the head of the little stream and at that since, decent fishermen far in the majority create; man destroys. It takes countless days time several fine trout called this natural suffer along with the offenders. Truthfully to grow forage which may be destroyed W refuge home. Happening that way one fine this is an offense seldom chargeable to the one thoughtless careless moment. Sunday afternoon and when a lot of fisher initiated veteran fisherman; seldom is he a And why do fishermen year after year men were over-running the lower stream, I field walker and mostly he respects the right naively complain about present fishing an" cautiously approached the cressbeds with the of the property owner—but upon his shoulder dubious hope of finding them free of human yearn for the golden days "when I was * and to his detriment generally accrue the pen boy," several decades gone, and then blandly ity; I wanted a solitary fling at those nice alty rightly traceable to the hanger-on, the e trout. Drawing nigh I detected the unmis- insist upon removing live forage from garn tyro, the infrequent angling amateur, the pic fish water. Do they stop to consider every taken sound of being a bit too late, loud com nicker. motion, wild splashing, the babel of excited minnow, helgramite, crab, etc., taken fron> male voices. Hurriedly approaching, I found There is another playboy, and too often he fishable water robs a game species of another four young men,, armed with big clubs, has been fishing a goodly number of years. meal. Everytime a bucket is filled with 35 trousers rolled high, in one of the pools Why will a fisherman insist upon digging fish bait or bait fish, just so many game risk furiously chasing a big brownie hither and worms upon the banks of streams; often right meals have gone aglimmering. How happy yon. Suffice to say, at my first shout, the along the water edge? Does he think no one would said fisherman be if someone were to offenders hurried right away from there, owns that land or that farmers might not care? decree that he should have 35 empty dinner pails; how fat would he wax; how long wouW commenting that they were looking for Or don't such fellows give a hoot whether 6 snakes. Apparently their power of resistance farmers object or not; also whether or not he survive? The magnitude of the practic had evaporated at sight of the big fish. Upon there may be any fishing on the property to has been discussed a thousand times; is >* another occasion, late twilight and in com morrow, next week or another year? And is possible there are still some unacquainted pany with the Better Half, we chanced to it possible the fellow never heard of erosion with the ultimate? Why do fishermen toler and silt, and what the combination does to ate live bait slavery anyway. Artificials are 1941 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 23 j^ore pleasant to use, more easily procurable, more preferable to hunt up the bars or gate; near Carlisle, Penna., and along the upper '^t longer, more sporting, catch more and you're not in a hurry anyway. Yellow Breeches from where it crosses the **ger fish, and are ready to use at a mo And why do so many fishermen remain Carlisle-Mount Holly road upstream through ment's notice, anytime, anywhere. And be completely in darkness as to the natural and the bottom lands toward Huntsdale, mostly sides the artificial man is acknowledged the so readily apparent shyness of trout? Trout in the hands of mid-teen age to near ma ^istocrat in anglerdom. are timid, but voracious. Considering the turity juveniles, never fishing, merely gun- , ^hy do such fishermen as insist upon kill- minute proportions of the usual diet, the toting While indirectly I was informed mg "barely legal" fish go on the stream with countless hundreds of partly digested organ arrests had been made and officers were watching the offenders, still I met up with out a rule? Who hasn't fished with this fel isms in the ordinary stomach, the spreckled low? He'll catch a fish and drag it around, beauty must be looking for something to eat guns on my last trip down that way during often on a stringer through the gills or in almost every minute of his life. But he loses mid-July. {^s hands, until he can contact another mem- appetite darn quick if there is running about It takes the chaff with the straw to make a "er of the party prudent enough to possess along the banks; if figures are silhouetted stack; the good mingling with the indifferent a measuring stick. Nine times out of ten against the skyline; if shadows are permitted to comprise human nature. In humans the "^ doubtful fish is shy of legal requirement to flit across the water! if vibrations traverse considerate outnumber the indifferent in atld then returned to the water—to avoid a the length and breadth of the stream. If you just about the same proportion as the straw Possible fine. Mostly the victim is sure to are one of the fellows mostly out for a bit might overshadow the chaff in the prover ie and morally this angler is just as guilty of fresh air and sunshine, have a heart. The bial stack. Many of the annoyances, indis as if he had destroyed the undersized speci- other fellow on the stream might actually cretions and even violations mentioned in this tner»; his thoughtlessness or selfishness means have a mind to fish a bit. article are the exception rather than the rule atlother babe sacrificed without a chance to or there would be little fishing for anyone. a And then what quip of the intellect en 'tain sporting size. courages an individual, usually of the teen Some of these happenings one may witness This age, to take a rifle on to the stream and only a few times in a life span; others a paragraph is dedicated to the run of couple dozen times or more frequently in one 16 shoot target out over the water. This is an j* lot bonfire builder, a most inconsiderate excellent manner in which to commit murder, season. Little incidents such as some of these ^mbre if there ever was one. Why do some especially during the trout season, and sub threaten our great American heritage of free *°ut fishermen, particularly first day early sequently spend a nice long term in some fishing, free hunting. Good sportsmanship °""ds, insist upon building fires in the wee does not end "with decorous self-behavior on 0a federal or state penitentiary. Such an act ? U hours of the morning? Ordinarily outrages the quality of common sense and the stream or afield; to a certain degree each ^e only thing in possession at the time is the of us is responsible for the conduct of our a good judgment to such an extent one wonders ^ tch, sometimes borrowed. Friend land- about what the parents of such kids may be fellows. Nor can we all be amateur police ^^er is expected to furnish the fireplace, officers; neither can regularly appointed e thinking. Firearms have no place on any ^ fence or tree to be singed, the ugly stream or any brushy terrain when possibly wardens be at all places at all times nor Ultl'ner long burned over scar on the land- correct all ill-advised conditions—perhaps in Ca populated by hidden fishermen except in the p Pe and always, quite definitely always, the hands of an expert, adult in age and intellect, many instances legally powerless of correc ^6 Wood, the latter being anything lying tive action either on account of lack of juris a and at a time suitable for the extermination ^>und and accessible with the least physical of vermin—otherwise the rifle belongs only in diction or the triviality of the indiscretion. ®"ort. Farmers don't like it. The rural the shooting gallery, the hunting field or a Stream courtesies and the future guarantee teller usually is just a bit suspicious of the properly conducted range. During the 1940 of our great fishing privilege lie in your Slander's judgment in handling open fires, season I encountered firearms all too fre hands as well as in mine; you and I are the ^d frequently rightly so; likely he also feels ft quently at the much fished Letort Springs, "they" who must consider cause and effect , yone who needs a fire to keep warm had and keep our fraternity within bounds, legally etter remain at home, and he is just about when judicial steps are necessary, by teach 0rrect again. Building fires generally means 0r ing and example on the more trivial matters. ^ e trespass notices. This matter was dis Let us ever be reminded that proper stream used a short time ago with a rather tolerant conduct in such behavior as reacts best to ™* generous minded landowner living along 1 common interests of the some four hundred JT easily accessible and well known hard thousands licensed fishermen. Let us be ever p*ed limestone stream in South Central e watchful that the "different" one-half of one nnsylvania. Fires, rip-snorting driving and per cent keep in step with the majority. Let's , 0lsy merry-making are nuisances to the a see trespass notices lessen in number rather frner desiring to sleep—utterly foreign to his than gain. ^ous mode of life—and just because he does °* come down with the old shotgun and the BOB HANSON HEADS atchdog is no signal that he is unaware of ^e mob discourtesy. Together with a lot LOYALHANNA CLUB other fishermen, I am beginning to feel or The Loyalhanna Sportsmen's Association, , e and more with each succeeding season consisting of members from Bradenville, J*at the time has about come to bar night Snydertown and Loyalhanna, was organized Jpiing for trout, at least between the hours 1 at a meeting held in Loyalhanna Hall, with a 10:00 P.M. and 5:00 A.M. membership of 33 to start with. Another sure way to acquire the open J*iity of the farmer is careless disregard The following officers were elected: R. W. fences. Fences are expendible and costly, Hanson, president; Edward Sistek, vice-presi J1 item of farm maintenance from which no dent; Joseph Wiatrak, secretary; Joseph Ro „ venue is derived. And don't kid yourself man, Jr., treasurer; Vincent Spillar, chair . at the farmer never knows just because he man of fish committee; William Sistek, chair fiot about when indiscretions are com- man of game committee; Mike Garon and j. 'tted; those alert sign-reading country eyes Frank Gasdek, land committee; Steve Sagan, c°nstruct events with uncanny accuracy, membership committee. The chairmen of the ^j.6" sometimes down to the particular in- various committees are to name their own i ,Vldual, and the evidence is there to remind committee members and report with the list Jj*1 time and again, not once but as long at the next regular meeting. the fence lasts. One should never crawl The organizing committee of the Westmore er land County Sportsmen's Association was on s, a rotted section of worm fence; one , °Uld never climb a wire fence. If you must hand and several of the members spoke, ex plaining what the organized sportsmen are J^dle a Worm fence, be careful to pick a w°n& section near to a sturdy post. The doing to better their own sport. 6 Mrs. W. M. Anderson, Harrtsburg anglerette, with The speakers included O. G. Moyer and eJ* fence requires a bit different technique; a 20}£ inch brown trout weighing 4f£ pounds. a This well conditioned fish was taken on a V/z George S. Rugh of Greensburg; William Acht- jj *l under or between the strands if barbed; ounce fly rod in the Chambersburg impounding Netted always under. And always it is dam zehn of Madison, and J. Q. Reed, of Pitcaira. 24 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER MARCJ* dressed the Convention and spoke on forestry FEDERATION MEETING ADOPTS and asked for the support of a resolution the Forestry Association had presented. Mr. Colin Reed, Chairman of the Dog Coin' FINE PROGRAM mittee, spoke on the licensing of dogs and "' T one of its outstanding meetings in re servationists, and others interested in this his conference with Secretary of Agriculture cent years, the Pennsylvania Federation work in all its phases, and are trying to Mr. Light and Dr. Bishop, and spoke aboU' A 1 1 of Sportsmen's Clubs, meeting at the Forum work out a solution that will satisfy all par the different changes to amend the dog la * of the Education Building at the State Capitol ties concerned. His report was well received. on February 12, adopted a constructive pro Mr. Armstrong was appointed Chairman The Convention adjourned at 12 A.M., t° gram for betterment of fishing and hunting of the Coon Hunters' Committee with the meet promptly at 2:00 P.M. that is certain to have far-reaching bene authority to pick his own committee to study AFTERNOON SESSION ficial effects in the opinion of many of the a plan for coon hunting which will satisfy The afternoon session opened at 2:00 P.M. sportsmen present. The meeting was har both the coon hunters and trappers. The first order of business was the repoi' monious, and the following detailed account The Resolutions Committee finished their of Mr. Robert Steventon, Chairman of the contained in the minutes has kindly been work at 11:30 P.M. Educational Committee, who presented a very sent to the ANGLER by Dr. C. A. Mortimer, TENTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE fine report of this committee's activities duf Secretary-Treasurer for the Federation. rt "FORUM" ing the past year. Motion to adopt the repo DIRECTORS' MEETING The tenth annual conference of the Penn and the Resolution presented by Mr. Steven' ton carried unanimously. sitting: as the sylvania Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE was held in the Forum of the Education (Mr. Steventon's report—No. 4) The meeting was called to order by Presi Building in Harrisburg on February 12, 1941. Mr. Ross Leffler, President of the Pennsyl dent Youngman at 2 P.M. The meeting was called to order by President vania Game Commission, addressed the Cofl' The officers and directors present were: Youngman at 9:30 A.M., with all the officers vention, and his talk was based along the President, John Youngman and directors present. lines of safety. He attributed the reduce* Vice-President, M. C. Merritts The first order of business was the reading number of deaths from hunting accidents and of the report of the Rules Committee, com non-fatal accidents to the campaign that the Secretary-Treasurer, Dr. C. A. Mortimer r Northeast, John Neiger and B. J. Kane posed of William Burk, Chairman, Ben Pennsylvania Game Commission put on f° Southeast, Rowe and Nehf Kane, and Norman Farnham. the hunters to use every safety measure an" Southwest, Cooper and Stahura (General Order of Business—No. 2) precaution. 1 Northwest, Armstrong and Skinner At this time Mr. Youngman appointed the A telegram was read from Mr. Willian Southcentral, Banker nominating committee, composed of Hippen- Fluke, former Game Commissioner, stating that he was sorry he could not be there dtie Northcentral, Barkley and Hanes steel, Chairman, Nehf, Kaufman, Cooper to illness. Southern, Wiker and Sherlock Bell, Groy, Jacobs and Price. Mr. Charles French, Commissioner of Fish' Central, Bell and Foster Moved and seconded to dispense with the eries, also spoke on the cooperation received The first order of business was the ma reading of the minutes of last year. from the sportsmen during the past year in jority report of the Administrative Commit The next order of business was the reading tee, M. C. Merritts, Chairman, and the of the Secretary-Treasurer's annual report. Honorable Grover C. Ladner. The By-Laws Moved and seconded to be adopted as read. were gone over section by section changes and corrections made to be presented to the (Financial Statement—3) annual meeting the following day, Febru At this time the Credentials Committee, ary 12. Mr. Rowe, Chairman, and Mr. Sullenberger, reported that sixty-three Counties were The next order of business was an ad eligible to vote. Report accepted. dress by Mr. Elwyn A. Nellis of Susque At this time the report of the By-Laws hanna County speaking on the set-up for a Committee was made. The first discussion magazine to be the official publication of was on Section 20 of Article 1, to give the the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen's delegates power, if they so choose, to elect Clubs. His remarks were courteously re one or more, but not exceeding three, per ceived but no action was taken at this time. sons as directors at large and, if so elected, The Directors then went into the business shall be members of the Board. Mr. Reed of approving or rejecting the Resolutions made the motion to adopt this section, and sent in by the eight different Divisions. I in the discussion which followed, the fol may say that there were one hundred fifty lowing took part: Reed, Armstrong, Banker, resolutions turned in to the Secretary, and Rev. Kulp, Strohl, Jacobs, Rowe and Nehf. fifty of them were approved by the Resolu On a vote by delegates the Motion was lost tions Committee to be presented the fol 44-13. lowing day. Section 22 of Article 1 concerning dues, the The Directors adjourned at 6:00 P.M. to suggestion was made that counties belonging meet again at 7:30 P.M. in the Assembly to the Federation would be required to en Room, as the Governor was slated to appear roll 5% of the licensed hunters in the County before the sportsmen and make a brief ad to be eligible for membership in the Federa dress. tion. Speaking on the question were Reed, Evening- Session Nehf, Holtzinger, Goodman, Kaufman, Hen The meeting convened at 8:00 P.M., and derson, Manning, and Fehrer. On a vive voce after a talk by Governor James which was vote, the delegates opposed the suggestion, enjoyed very much by the sportsmen pres and the question of dues was left as written ent, in which he»lauded the efforts of con by the Administrative Committee. servationists to make the State a better place The By-Laws were adopted by the Con in which to live, the Resolutions Committee vention. then got down to routine business. At this time Mr. S. V. Sedlak, President of It was decided to send all resolutions per the Pennsylvania Trappers Association, ad A No. 12 Cahill Quill, fished on a 9 foot taperd taining to bounties on all species of animals dressed the Convention on fur bearing Nylon leader was the combination that product this 19 inch brown trout for G. S. Callendar £ and birds to Dean Watts of the Predator animals regarding bounties and protection. B Dalton. It weighed three pounds and was caug r Control Committee at State College. This Mr. Gleason Mattoon, Executive Secretary on Paradise Creek, Monroe County. An expe fly fisherman, Callendar ties one of the fineS committee is composed of sportsmen, con of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association, ad Nylon leaders we have ever seen. 194: PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 25 , rrying out their program, and asked for No. 13. RESOLVED: That the Fish Commis 5Jr support during the coming year, sion authorize fish wardens to issue ihe next order of business was the report field receipts for penalties. Approved. the Resolutions Committee. No. 14. RESOLVED: That we endorse the No- 1. RESOLVED, that the Department of passage of the pending legislation de Forests and Waters be thanked for signed to authorize fishing in reser their cooperation in providing better voirs. Approved. feed conditions for the game, and also No. 15. RESOLVED: That this Federation for stream improvement work; and recommend appropriate legislation that their continued and increased so as to constitute the Sanitary Water activities along these lines be re Board an independent administrative quested. Approved. agency with the power to select its No. WHEREAS, low water temperatures own chairman, engage its own em are highly desirable in trout streams, ployees, have its own appropriation, and and be given power to call upon the WHEREAS, in many instances where Fish, Game and Forestry Department new highway bridges are constructed employees for such assistance in the over small streams inhabited by trout, enforcement of the Pure Streams it is the practice to widen the stream Law as they are capable of giving. channel to take care of flood condi Approved. tions, thus raising the water tem No. 16. RESOLVED: That the exemption now perature of the stream to the detri contained in Section 310 of the Pure ment of trout, therefore Streams Act, which prevents the ap BE IT RESOLVED: that the Depart plication of that law to the discharge ment of Forests and Waters take this of coal silt or coal culm water into into consideration and require the the streams of Pennsylvania be Department of Highways, to provide eliminated. Approved. a normal channel for the stream No. 17. RESOLVED: That we so amend Sec crossed within the bridge span and tion 716 as to permit the sale of skins not change the natural flow of water. or any part thereof of "deer lawfully jj Approved. killed within sixty days after the Mrs. Maxwell Manbeck, Jr., of Mifflintown, an °- 3. RESOLVED: that the Department of ardent anglerette, preparing for the opening day close of the season, but prohibiting Forests and Waters be requested to cast last season on a Juniata County trout the sale of such hides from animals place warning signs against the mo stream. killed as a protection to crops. Ap lesting of privately owned boats on proved. State owned streams or dams where stream pollution. Approved. No. 18. RESOLVED: That the State Federa such boats are permitted to be kept. No. 7. RESOLVED: that no change be made tion of Sportsmen's Clubs recommend Approved. in ice fishing, except, that fishing to the Board of Game Commissioners Mo. 4. WHEREAS, many acres of State for through the ice be permitted on Sun that in the selecting of future candi est lands that were once cut over and days, and that the taking of perch dates foi the Officers Training School, burned over waste lands are now, due on tipups be made legal. A limit of first consideration be given to De to time and protection, clothed with ten perch in one day to be permitted. puty Wardens of experience and good timber, and RESOLVED: that the daily limit for character who have the recommenda WHEREAS, much of this timber is pickerel be six and the size limit be tion of the County Protector and the even aged and so dense that there is fourteen inches. Approved. Sportsmen's Associations in their little food for game, and No. 8. RESOLVED: that we favor legisla respective counties. Approved. Also, WHEREAS, selective cutting on this tion that will provide adequate com RESOLVED: That if, and when, an acreage will provide game food, in pensation for special fish wardens. other Training School is established crease the rate of growth of the re Approved. for Field Officers, the Deputy Game maining trees, and bring revenue to No. 9. RESOLVED: That the natural food Wardens be given preference to the the Commonwealth, now therefore for game fish is being depleted and others who apply. Approved. BE IT RESOLVED: that the Pennsyl therefore no fish bait taken from the No. 19. RESOLVED: That the entire month of vania Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs waters of this State be sold or offered November, Sundays excepted, for the assembled in Harrisburg this 12th of for sale. Approved. year 1941, be declared as the regular February, 1941, urge the Department No. 10. WHEREAS, under the Fish Laws there grouse season. Approved. of Forests and Waters to start im is nothing to prevent all members of No. 20. RESOLVED: That the Pennsylvania mediately a program of timber stand the Board being appointed from one Game Commission use its influence improvement which shall gain the section of the State, and to permit an open season on wood ends herein set forth as desired. Ap- WHEREAS, for the most efficient cock from October 15 to November 15, rove management of the Board it is neces K K P d- both dates inclusive. Approved. sary that each section of the State ' 5. RESOLVED: that the Pennsylvania No. 21. RESOLVED: That the shooting of Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs op be adequately represented, There for, varying hares be made legal, with a pose any proposal to limit the size of season to run from December 16 to BE IT RESOLVED: That the Fish fish of any species to be stocked by December 31, inclusive. Daily bag the Pennsylvania Fish Commission. Law be amended to provide that no limit two, six per season. Approved. jij Approved. two members may be from the same ' 6- RESOLVED: that the Fish Code and geographical district as set up in the No. 22. RESOLVED: That game feed be the Administrative Code be amended eight Federation Divisions. Ap made available in November and De so as to authorize the Fish Commis proved. cember for storage at outlying camps sion to contribute an amount annual Mr. Butler spoke against the Resolu in order that it be more easily dis ly not to exceed 10 percent of the tion. tributed in time of deep snow. Ap income of the Fish Commission for No. 11. RESOLVED: That the Pennsylvania proved. the purpose of applying the same to Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs re No. 23. WHEREAS: Resident hunters, through the cost and expenses of the Sanitary quest the Fish Commission to make organized sportsmen's clubs spend a Water Board or any other agency, a serious effort to follow out the reso great amount of time and club money State or Federal, concerned with the lutions passed by the Federation dur yearly in assisting the Game Com enforcement of laws relating to the ing the past three years. Approved. mission in re-stocking, and, abatement of stream pollution in No. 12 RESOLVED: That the Fishing License WHEREAS: An increase in license fee waters of this Commonwealth, or for carry the same outline of description will not keep out the desirable class the purpose of directly eliminating as the hunting license. Approved. of non-resident sportsmen, 26 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER MAROfl BE IT RESOLVED: That non-resident September 1 to October 15th in Penn phatically express to the Governor * Hunter's License fee for big game be sylvania. Approved. the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania $25.00 and small game $15.00; that the Motion was made to reject this Reso its sincere salutations and confident non-resident trapping fee be $25.00. lution, and on the question a discus in his appointments to the Fish CoD1' Approved. sion was entered into by Bell, Reed, mission and Game Commission. AP' No. 24. RESOLVED: That the licensee secur Angst, Ackerman, and Condo. On a proved. ing a hunting license be required to motion by Mr. Bell to amend this reso RESOLVED: That the Secretary <* sign his or her name in space pro lution to have the season come in the the Pennsylvania Federation & vided for that purpose at the time same as the woodcock season, the Sportsmen's Clubs address a letter the license is issued and in the pres resolution was adopted. to each Senator of the Senate &\ ence of the issuing agent. Approved. Resolution No. 32 was discussed by the Commonwealth of Pennsyl On Resolution No. 25, Resolved that Mr. Henderson, Mr. Rowe, Mr. Condo, vania expressing the confidence ° the present law, Section 825, A, B, Mr. Skinner, Dr. Boyer. Mr. Hender the Federation and soliciting the coJ1' and C be amended so that the ex son moved to table the resolution and firmation of the Governor's appoint' penses of a jail sentence and revoca the motion was lost. On a vive voce ments to the Fish Commission a" tion of hunting licenses be made dis vote on the resolution, it was re Game Commission. Approved. cretionary with the court where jected. No. 39. WHEREAS, It has been noted M mitigating circumstances appear. Mr. No. 33. RESOLVED: That we favor a limit of with the construction of new road* Banker spoke against the Resolution, six inches in height for all dead-falls. along and across streams, the Hig*1' and on a vive voce vote the resolution Approved. way Department has failed to ta* was lost. No. 34. RESOLVED: That the Game Com precautionary measures to preve" No. 26. RESOLVED: That the Pennsylvania mission report upon the amount of soil erosion; and Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs re acreage burned in experimentation in WHEREAS, soil erosion is genera© quest the Game Commission to fur controlled burning. Approved. detrimental to the stream and $ nish the services of a Technician in No. 35. RESOLVED: That the Pennsylvania aquatic life; therefore, be it the several offices of the Division Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs ex RESOLVED: that we request the Pe' Supervisors where at present such tend a vote of confidence to the partment of Highways to plant ^ skilled services are not furnished. Special Predator Fact Finding Com stream banks that they destroy, wi*1 Approved. mission. Approved. soil binding vines or shrubs, or rip' No. 27. RESOLVED: That the Game Com No. 36. RESOLVED: That the frog law be rap them with stone. Approved. mission be requested to regulate the amended so that the season will open No. 40. BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED: Th*' Open Dates of the Bear Season so as on July 1. Approved. the existing statutes governing $* to include a Saturday for hunting No. 37. RESOLVED: That the Pennsylvania possession and use of firearms "' Bear. Approved. Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs op private citizens, are adequate, , No. 28. RESOLVED: That no change be pose legislation authorizing or requir THEREFORE: That we are oppose" made in the present Game Law which ing the Game Commission to pay deer to compulsory registration of firf now permits minor children between damage to motor vehicles or crops. arms owned and used by private ci*** twelve and fourteen years of age to Approved. zens for sporting purposes, whetf1^ hunt when accompanied by a parent No. 38. RESOLVED: That the Pennsylvania by state or federal statute. Approve* or guardian and those between four Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs em- Mr. Banker gave quite a talk to ha^ teen and sixteen years of age to hunt the convention approve this ResoU1' when accompanied by an adult tion, which it did. I twenty-one years of age or older. Mr. Dreishbach moved at this time *° Approved. reaffirm Resolution No. 49 adopted * No. 29. RESOLVED: That as a further safety the February 12th meeting of 194°' measure the Game Commission re to increase the fishing license *>' quest the State Motor Police to send 50c to be earmarked in a sepa1" additional troopers into the Big Game ate fund for the acquisition of &, counties of the State, during the Open improvement and maintenance & Big Game Seasons to assist the local public fishing waters. Mr. Bell, J»* Motor Police to handle traffic conges Nehf and Mr. Shilling spoke on "*' tions and enforcing regulations on all question. Objections were raised *J State owned roads or highways. Ap to the reaffirming of this Resolution proved. that it was out of order, and Preside" Youngman held that this Resolution No. 30. WHEREAS, under ruling G-20-A and 8 G-22-A, the Secretary of Agriculture could be reaffirmed. An appeal W has been given the power to fix sea taken from the ruling of the cha"' sons on resident game within the and on a vote by delegates the ch**. States en Federal Land, and was upheld 34-27, which reaffirmed WHEREAS, The exercising of this Resolution 49 from last year. power in several States has brought No. 41. WHEREAS, when things go wro°* direct conflict with existing State and decisions are not satisfactory Regulations, the hunter or fisherman, and THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: WHEREAS, The Sportsman is %&\ That the Pennsylvania Federation of erally given the credit for the unsati5' Sportsmen's Clubs favor the immedi factory rules and laws, and « ate rescindment of Rulings G-20-A WHEREAS, when depredations & and G-22-A, and the Secretary be em violence occur on the landowner powered to make this known to the ground or along his stream, the sport5 proper authorities. Approved. man is responsible and lands a1* No. 31. WHEREAS, the doves native to and posted to hunting and fishing, there summering in Pennsylvania receive no fore. protection from our closed season, and BE IT RESOLVED: That the GS& WHEREAS, neighboring states in the and Fish Commissions include on fj line of Dove migration allow hunting reports, from the Field Officers, "^ this specie, Law Violations, the following que BE IT RESOLVED: That this Asso tions. Raymond White, East Waterford, Juniata County, 1. Are you a member of a spor*' ciation go on record as favoring an with a 14 inch brown trout he caught on Horse open hunting season on Doves from Valley Run. Proud? You bet. men's club? 1941 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLES 37 2. Name the Club. (If a member). At this time any resolutions which were Motion made to make election of Second This information (not the name of not included by the Resolutions Committee Vice-President unanimous. Carried. the violator) to be available so that could be called for from the floor. Mr. Banker President elect Merritts asked the new sportsmen may be given a different introduced the resolutions to reimburse officers and directors to meet at the Penn . classification. Approved. County Commissioners one-fourth of the Harris at 6:30 P.M., for a business session Wo- 42. RESOLVED: That the State Feder Game and Fish fines collected for that County and appointment of committees. ation use its influence to have the for the purpoSe of compensating that County Mr. John Youngman thanked the Federation State Department of Education in for the board of Game and Fish Law violators for the cooperation given him during his term clude in the Curriculum of the Second who are sent to jail. Resolution rejected. of office, and a vote of confidence was given ary Schools a course in Conservation Mr. Goodman asked to present the Resolu him. M Education. Approved. tion from the Cambria County Sportsmen's Motion to adjourn at 4:45 P.M. lv°. 43. BE IT RESOLVED: That the Penn Association recommending that the Game BOARD OF DIRECTORS' MEETING sylvania Federation of Sportsmen's Code be amended to compel all hunters dur Following Annual Meeting Clubs believes that unsightly bill ing the game season while hunting to wear February 12, 1941 boards and temporary roadside struc a reasonable amount of red color about the President Merritts appointed the following tures tend to destroy the public's en head and shoulders of the hunter with penal committees: joyment in our vast highway invest ties for violations. Mr. Banker also spoke in Administrative Committee—Mr. Hanes, Rev ment and to menace safe travel on favor of the resolution, but the resolution erend Kulp and John Youngman the highways. It therefore endorses was rejected. Legislative Committee—Charles Fox, Chair the Program of the Pennsylvania At this time motion made to amend By- man Roadside Council for the correction Laws to have the County Delegates attend all Game Committee—Dalton Bell, Jesse Humes of these evils and recommends that meetings of the Federation whether it be and Lawrence Lehr suitable zoning legislation be enacted Director or annual meeting was ruled out of Forestry Committee—Herb Watts, Chairman; to protect our rural highways. Ap order as the By-Laws had been passed in the Dale Skinner and George MacFarland proved. morning. Fish Committee—Kane, Chairman, Nehf, and N Mr. Manning of Delaware County spoke on Munsell; Guckert °- 44. BE IT RESOLVED: That the Penn Educational Committee—Same as the present sylvania Federation of Sportsmen's the resolution to open the season on black birds September 1. Resolution was rejected. one with Mr. Robert Steventon, Chairman Clubs recommend to all Reforestation Pure Streams Committee—Reverend Darling Projects a greater proportion of hard Mr. Watts asked for consent to present Reso ton Kulp, Chairman, M. M. Kaufman, wood trees and nut trees, as against lution which was given and he presented Max Greeley and A. J. Stahura evergreens, in order to create more Resolution No. 50. Program and Planning Committee—M. L. . wild-life food supply. Approved. At this time the report of the Nominations Banker, Chairman, Charles Rowe, and °- 45. RESOLVED: Any legislation which Committee was presented. President, M. C. Armstrong; also R. J. Miller will free both the Fish and Game Merritts; First Vice-President, Hanes and Auditing Committee—C. N. Sherlock, Chair Commissions from any and all poli- Reed; Second Vice-President, Rowe and man, C. Allen Wiker and Mr. Cooper tical yoke. Approved. Condo; Secretary-Treasurer, Mortimer and Credentials Committee—Dr. C. A. Mortimer, °- 46. RESOLVED: That the taxidermist fee Meyers. There were no further nominations Chairman for President; also no further nominations for for the five years succeeding the pass The Dog License Commitee was abolished First Vice-President. Mr. Condo withdrew as Wildlife Stamp Committee—Dr. Mortimer, ing of the examination shall be candidate for Second Vice-President. Rever - $10.00 a year. Approved. Chairman, Hippensteel and Farnham end Darlington Kulp and Joseph Shreve were The President and Secretary were instruc °- 47 RESOLVED: That we introduce a nominated for Second Vice-President along bill to amend the dog law as follows: ted to issue a certificate of merit to the Honor with Mr. Rowe. The nominations for Second able Grover C. Ladner. Amend Section 19 to secure better en Vice-President closed. Mr. Armstrong nom forcement by putting the responsi inated Mr. Seth Meyers for Secretary- President Merritts asked for the authority bility of killing unlicensed dogs run Treasurer. Nominations closed. It was to pay the expenses of printing the Kalbfus ning at large upon the Secretary of moved to vote by written ballot. Approved. Memorial booklet which will amount to about Agriculture and not on local police President Youngman appointed the following $125.00. officers as at present. teller: Steventon. Mr. Charles Fox was appointed delegate to Amend Section 26 to include the pay the National Federation Meeting at Memphis, The results of the election for First Vice- ment from the dog license fund for the Tennessee, without expense to the Federation. President were: Hanes, 33; Reed, 27; the vote Pasteur Treatment of any resident of Motion made to adjourn. for second Vice-President resulted in a tie Pennsylvania who has been bitten by S ecretary- Treasurer. between Rowe and Kulp, each receiving 29 a rabid dog or has been so exposed votes and Shreve one vote. Results for Sec so as to make medical treatment neces retary-Treasurer were Mortimer, 15; Meyers, sary; and to include the payment for OFFICERS ELECTED 11. the loss of any domestic animal bitten AT BOYERTOWN by a rabid dog, in addition to live While the tellers were preparing the ballots to vote on the second Vice-President, the Lamar Smith was chosen president of the stock and poultry as at present. Boyertown Rod and Gun Club, at its annual Amend Section 13 to allow dogs to be Honorable Grover Ladner addressed the Con vention, and stated that he was retiring from meeting, held in the parlors of the Friend brought into the State for a period ship Hook and Ladder Company. of thirty days for hunting purposes the Board of Directors, as the By-Laws read that the retiring President becomes the Past- Attending were more than 100 members as well as for show, trial or breeding while about 40 members of Troops 3 and 4, purposes without a license. Ap- President, which will be John Youngman, which automatically retires him. He spoke Boy Scouts, of Boyertown, under the lead jj proved. of the accomplishments of the Federation and ership of Scoutmasters Lester D. Gottshall, °- 48. RESOLVED: That the Federation re the principles it stood for, and begged the Eugene Schaeffer, and Assistant Scoutmaster quest the Game Commission to con sportsmen not to let any petty differences or Eli Eisenhart, were guests of the Club. tinue with the Wild Turkey Propa- the selfishness of one division wanting some Other officers elected for the year are: ^o A gatmS Program. Approved. thing to the detriment of the other seven Vice-president, Leslie Burkholder; secre • 49. BE IT RESOLVED: That the Fish interfere with the work of the sportsmen, tary, Arthur Heere; trap shooting secretary, Wardens be given their just incre and he was very loudly cheered. Albert D. Leidy; treasurer, Harry L. Yoder; ment in salary and be eligible for the Mr. Cooper made a motion to reaffirm the directors, Harry A. Trout and Edwin D. Pension Fund of State employees. principles of the Federation as expounded by Gresh. Approved. Judge Ladner. Movies of "Fishing North of 50" were °' 50. RESOLVED: That the Department of Motion made to make Secretary-Treasurer shown by W. Erie Homan, Reading news Forests and Waters appropriation and First Vice President elections unanimous. paperman. cease to be cut and instead be in On the vote for Second Vice-President be Fishing prizes were awarded by President creased to take care of the vast in tween Rowe and Kulp, Kulp received 35 votes, Smith, while Trout reported 81 rabbits were crease of duties. Approved. Rowe 22. stocked recently. 28 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER MABCfl MIDDLE ATLANTIC ASSOCIATION OF CASTING CLUBS- ./In association, of sportsmens clubs formed to promote tournament casting,encouracjearganiiati'onamoncjancjleria«ist in. Conservation;and support all moves toward true sportsmanship. Members of this Association are "putting their shoulders to the wheel" in preparation for the 1941 MIDDLE ATLANTIC ASSOCIA TION OF CASTING CLUBS TOURNAMENT. President Willard Bowman, of Bywood, Dela ware County, from the Dover Fishing Club of Philadelphia, is, at this writing, making arrangements to call a meeting to further "round out" the year's program. At the contemplated meeting it is planned, also, that copies of the Association's Consti What with this here ice thet's bin on our tution and By-Laws will be distributed to big crick, sucker fishin' haint bin much this all delegates. Congratulations for an "excel winter. Jest the same, us boys is lookin' lent job" are due the Constitution and By- fer a airly spring, an' we sure oughter be Laws Committee, composed of: Chairman, able ter git sum o' the fishin' fever outer Milton W. MacBain of Philadelphia, from the our bones afishin' fer suckers rite afore Holmesburg Fish and Game Protective Asso trout cums in. Speakin' o' baits fer suckers, ciation; William J. Ellis, of Philadelphia, from jest heered o' one thet's a new rinkel. Sum the Dover Fishing Club of Philadelphia; and o' our old time sucker fishers uster get Raymond Neirle, of Berlin, New Jersey, from mussels in the crick, cut 'em up an' use 'em the Pennsylvania State Fish and Game Pro fer suckers. Ketched a gude menny fish tective Association. thet way too. Now then, I heered tell thet From time to time during the past three ef a feller taiks a gude size clam, the kind years, while holding casting practice at their they maik soup outer, an' cuts it up it maiks respective clubs, various casters from mem gude sucker bait. Plenty tuff ter stay on ber clubs of this Association have expressed the hook and nice and white maikin' it eezy a desire to take part in an ANNUAL SERIES fer the sucker ter see. Gittin' gude bait of INTERCLUB CASTING MATCHES, to fer suckers when the ground's froze in supplement the annual M.A.A.C.C. Tourna winter is a rite smart job, by heck. ment. Willard Bowman plans at the next Jest ez soon ez the ground thaws gude, meeting to take up the matter of doing so. I'm goin' ter dig me sum red worms an' If your club would like someone to talk to these here leetle pink garden worms fer its members about the M.A.A.C.C. and if you airly trout fishin'. 'Tain't no use kiddin' will let us know when and where your club Walter P. Miesen of Narberth, chairman of **! ourselves, when the trout runs is ez high meets, Willard says he will be glad to try to Lower Merion Rod and Gun Club's Fresh Wat*' ez they usually is cum first day o' the arrange, if he possibly can, for someone to Activities Committee, as he practices distant seezun, erbout the best bait a feller kin git do so. and accuracy casting with a % ounce plug- 5 is the worm. I alius like ter dig the bait (Dues in this Association are Five Dollars "Owl's" of this club are of the "old reliable eround the first o' April an' put 'em in a per year per club.) on occasions when there is club work to W eP pail full o' moss. Thet gives 'em a gude Delaware County Field and Stream accomplished during daylight hours and wh chancet ter cleen themselves an' the way Association other members of the club are "off to e^ they tuffen up beats the band. Jest a leetle "Uncle Joe" Mellon and his "bagful of their daily bread" from morn 'til dusk. curdeled milk put on top o' the moss oncet jokes", President Bill Everman tells us, Dover Fishing Club of Philadelphia in a wile keeps 'em in gude shape an' lively. caused great hilarity at a recent meeting of Dr. C. Charles Hankinson ran away with in 4 In a cuppel weeks, them baits is ez tuff an' this Association. In fact, we understand that honors for the largest fish in the 1940 Pri lively ez a feller cude want. some of the boys still need "stitches" before Fish Contest with a 44 pound channel ba^' they'll be able to recover completely. George Jefferies took second place with Speakin' o' trout bait, atter worm fishin' In his more serious moments, Joe outlined similar fish that tipped the scales at 32 poun*" starts ter go back, givin' crickets an' these to those present at the meeting the excellent 7 ounces. George's wife, who is some angle here yeiler grasshoppers a try will rite often and constructive work accomplished by the ette herself, showed the men a thing or tv? s fetch trout inter the basket. Sum o' the Pennsylvania Fish Commission. His talk was about surf fishing by landing a 49 pound ba which took first prize in another local co^ nicest brownies I ever tuke wuz ketched on supplemented by new motion pictures sup plied by the Fish Commission. test. No, George didn't give her any hel"' grasshoppers eround the middle o' May an' On the occasion of the same meeting, Horace Watta Gal! , crickets is jest erbout ez near tops fer Pyle and Delaware County Game Protector Among the other winners in the 1940 conte' brookies cum early May ez ever I seed. Blair Davis also entertained the club mem were Louis Rebuck, Bill Rickert, John Wetze' Minnies too kin be counted on ter taik sum bers with interesting talks. Raymond Smith, Al Kennedy, Bob Morr1* big trout oncet they're spotted. The March meeting of this club was "Anni Richard Dressier, I. E. Kauffman, Albe^ versary Night", during which the showing of Freck, and David Nurke. The last naro^ a motion picture entitled "Beyond Bengal" turned in a walleyed pike that weighed ov was followed by additional entertainment and seven pounds p.nd was the largest entry in tn The West Chester Association's splendid refreshments. sweet water classification. News report that, while fishing near Peach Sunday, March 2d, was another "Owl's Arthur Hankinson, the new chairman of >R% Bottom on the Susquehanna, Frank Chambers, Night", when the club's night workers held club trip committee reports that he has it a Unionville, caught two bass, both over five their meeting at twelve o'clock noon in the arranged for the winter flounders to co& e pounds and a nice walleyed pike. Norwood Fire Company's Auditorium. The out of hibernation and start biting on th 19« PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 29 ^ of this month (February). The date alls on Saturday and he expects to see a !arge delegation of Dover anglers fishing the "ack bays and channels. In many places you ?an fish right off the sod banks but a small °at is always convenient—if it's not too cold. ~* light rod, small reel, light line, two ounce smker, No. 7 to 12 hook, baited with a small fiece of blood worm is the rig. While not arge, these fish will provide plenty of sport atld give the boys their first taste of saltwater Ashing for 1941. The amateur rod wrappers and fly tiers are Setting in some good work during the winter friths. Pete Lux was telling us about a new % be designed and has named "Zombie". Only tw° to a fish. .Por complete information regarding the "over Fishing Club or any of its activities address the Secretary, Mr. Robert Morris, '28 West Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia, a- Phone STEvnson-7679. Gloucester County Game and Fish Association ^he Gloucester County Game and Fish As- °ciation will hold its next regular meeting n ^ Tuesday, March 25th, at the Franklin Members of the Lower Merion Rod and Gun Club liberating pheasants provided by the Pennsyl °use, Glassboro, New Jersey. vania Game Commission and raised by the Montgomery County Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs. Reading from left to right: Ernest Jenkins of Narberth, Lloyd DuBois of Merion, Charles Young Solffiesburg Fish and Game Protective of Narberth, Victor Sweet of Ardmore and Walter Miesen of Narberth. Association -A thrilling moving picture entitled "Beyond feed out into the fields to distribute among occasion, Hon. Harold G. Knight, President was shown to the members of this "feeding stations"—those veritable "lunch Judge of the Montgomery County Courts and ub who attended a recent meeting. This counters" placed here and there for wild past President of this Association, presented jj^ture featured big game hunting on the life. On this occasion, to the surprise and tokens of appreciation to Hon. George C. Cor alay Peninsula and was judged an out- disappointment of the members of the Com son of Wyncote, 1940 President of the group ^>ding excellent one of its type. mittee, tracks in the snow told an amazing and Frank A. Stickler, of Norristown, one of the oldest members of the club and for many t y esident Milton MacBain, of Philadelphia, story. Instead of numerous pheasant tracks , Is Us that certain members of the Holmes- which they had expected to find as a result years Chairman of its Entertainment Commit , Urg Fish and Game Protective Association of extensive pheasant stocking last year, there tee. Ve been providing for each other some keen were very few pheasant tracks and, on the William Stoneback of West Point, President ^Petition in shooting on the Association's other hand, a great many fox tracks. of the MONTGOMERY COUNTY FEDERA bounds. A comparison of notes_with those of other TION OF SPORTSMEN'S CLUBS, spoke to member' clubs of the MONTGOMERY the group on the work of the Montgomery Lansdale Sportsmen's Club COUNTY FEDERATION OF SPORTSMEN'S Federation; while Charles J. Mason of Kennett Stoneback, formerly of Colmar, CLUBS indicated similar experiences in other Square, showed moving pictures on hunting. " ™ of West Point, was recently elected to (Note: during the evening it developed that e parts of the County. ]uiy a second term as President of the The Lower Merion Rod and Gun Club, Warren Ziegler of Norristown and Charles J. ^NTGOMERY COUNTY FEDERATION therefore, decided to sponsor a VERMIN CON Mason had been Army "buddies" 'way back ., SPORTSMEN'S CLUBS. He was also re el, TEST in conjunction with its 1941 LARGEST in 1917 and 1918; and this evening was the cted to serve for the sixth consecutive year first occasion on which they had seen each asp FISH CONTEST. Field Captain Victor Sweet, Resident of the Lansdale Sportsmen's Club. other since "those Army Days".) Ss of Ardmore, submitted a scale of points to be Yj ° Zander of Lansdale, with re-elected awarded for the various kinds of vermin The banquet hall on this occasion presented rji°?~President of the Lansdale Sportmen's tner eligible for the contest, including: foxes, an unusually fine artistic arrangement, for re i ^ Tomlinson, of North Wales, was weasels, harmful hawks, skunks, cats in the which congratulations were due Adolph and - -elected Secretary and Eli Hendricks, of field, crows, snapping turtles and water snakes. and Eugene Muller of Norristown. Llnsdale, Tree easurer. The three 1941 Vice-Presidents of this Club An additional item of recent news relative Jurin 9 the 1941 election meeting, the fol- (as elected at the February meeting instead to this Association—one of its members, Wil >in _n Q Eg committee chairmen were appointed: of at the January meeting when the other liam J. Ellis of Bridgeport, was re-elected < omrn "Ul -' ittee—William Reinert of Lans- officers were elected) are as follows: William Treasurer of the MONTGOMERY COUNTY Committee—Fred Eurich of Line C. Kaiser, of Bala-Cynwyd; Walter P. Miesen FEDERATION OF SPORTSMEN'S CLUBS. *Xirv of gton; Forestry Committee—Ross Zander of Narberth; and Joseph P. White of Narberth. (Note: George Sinclair and Charles Hughes fV^^sdsle; Legislative Committee—Arthur of Norristown, have tickets for the ANNUAL mas (Note: Joseph P. White of Narberth, has C0° of Hatfield; and Ways and Means tickets for the ANNUAL BANQUET of the BANQUET of the MONTGOMERY COUNTY ^i^ittee—John Ruth of Kulpsville. (Note: MONTGOMERY COUNTY FEDERATION FEDERATION OF SPORTSMEN'S CLUBS, for *iam Stoneback and John Ruth have tickets to be held at 6:30 P.M., Wednesday,, April the OF SPORTSMEN'S CLUBS, to be held at Q0l?e ANNUAL BANQUET of the MONT- 6:30 P.M. on Wednesday, April 23, 1941, in 23, 1941, in the Valley Forge Hotel, Norris •E sPOR Y COUNTY FEDERATION OF the Valley Forge Hotel in Norristown.) town—a tasty menu, an entertaining speaker, ^TSMEN'S CLUBS, to be held at 6:30 a floor show, moving pictures and dancing.) Van °n Wednesday, April 23, 1941, in the Montgomery County Fish, Game and Forestry Association ey Forge Hotel in Norristown.) Pennsylvania State Fish and Game Ernest Heebner of Center Point, newly- Protective Association Lower Merion Rod and Gun Club elected President of this Association, was The Pennsylvania State Fish and Game Pro e tective Association held its 59th Annual Din Qu "*ers of the Lower Merion Rod and toastmaster when 150 sportsmen attended the G^ "iub's Committee on Winter Feeding of Annual Banquet of the Association held on ner at the Penn A. C. in Philadelphia on Wed ^rtie6' headed by the President of the Club, February 1st in the Elks' Home in Norris nesday, February 13th, when 937 members tuHifSt Jen^ins 0I Narberth, had an oppor- town. The entertaining Dr. Steinmetz, of and guests were in attendance. Hon Edgar W. Nicholson of Ardmore, President of the diSfj jj *° Play the role of "bread and butter Trenton, held the attention of the diners in Association, was toastmaster and William D. the; °"ers" to small game in the vicinity of his inimicable manner as speaker. club. Following a snowfall, they took Upon behalf of the Association on this Burke of Philadelphia, was Chairman of the 30 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER MARO* crows, snapping turtles, foxes, weasels, harm ful hawks and stray housecats are included on the vermin list. An agreed-upon number of points is designated for each of the above- named kinds of vermin—ranging from five points for a watersnake to twenty-five points for a fox, weasel, snapping turtle or hawk. One twelve-gauge shotgun shell is awarded for each five points earned. Based on the success of this contest in 1940, the sum of $75.00 has been "earmarked" and set aside for the purchase of shells to be awarded in the 1941 Vermin Contest. Members of this Association who received shotgun shells in 1940 Vermin Contest were as follows: Raymond Landis—2,300 points; E. W. Kehs—2,030 points; Warren Fry—545 points; LeRoy Brooks—470 points; William Weirman—405 points; Leonard Kehs—315 points; Clarence Jones—315 points; and Joe Ludwig—50 points. The winners of this club's 1940 Largest Fish Contest were as follows: 1st prize, a bait casting rod—won by Harold Allebach; 2nd prize, a bait casting reel—won by Harold Bald win; 3rd prize, a bait casting line—won by William Weirman; 4th prize, a bait casting line—won by Ross Koons; and 5th prize, also a bait casting line—won by James Cassel. The following were elected 1941 officers of the Perkiomen Valley Sportsmen's Associa tion: President—Howard Shallcross of Grater- ford. Vice-President—Frank Clamer of College- Nicholas Young, of the Delaware County f}eK William Stoneback, formerly of Colmar, now of ville. and Stream Association, raising the America* West Point, President of the Montgomery County Flag on the Association grounds. Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs and the Lans- Secretary—John Markley of Schwenksville. dale Sportsmen's Club, with his son, Billy, on Treasurer—Abram Wenhold of Schwenks tion, was also re-elected to serve another te^ the occasion of a pheasant release in Montgomery as Vice-President of the MONTGOMERY County. ville. Assistant Secretary—Willard Townsend of COUNTY FEDERATION OF SPORTSMEN? Entertainment Committee. Perkiomenville. CLUBS. Major H. A. R. Gangon, Superintendent of At the election meeting, Raymond Landis, At the Annual Meeting of the Upper Pro**' the Northwest Royal Canadian Mounted of Yerkes, told of the Association's plans for dence Fish, Game and Forestry Associati*^ Police, told the large audience of the work PLANTING OF TREES; and Howard Shall the following were also elected officers of W of that body since its inauguration in 1873; cross, re-elected President of the Association, Association for 1941: while Frederick C. Walcott, President of the expressed the belief that all indications pointed Vice-President—David R. P. Beynon. American Wildlife Institute and former U. S. toward a successful year and a year of fur Secretary—Louis Contistabile. Senator from Connecticut, spoke on conserva ther accomplishments in this club. Treasurer—George H. Smith. tion and removal of pollution from the streams During the past year, members of tn of the New England States. (Note: Howard Shallcross of Graterford, has tickets for the ANNUAL BANQUET of club have done some real clay bird shooti^ Major Gangon and Ex-Senator Walcott were et the MONTGOMERY COUNTY FEDERATION and have afforded each other keen comp ^ made honorary members of the Pennsylvania OF SPORTSMEN'S CLUBS, to be held at tion in this sport. Top honors in the ChBWj State Fish and Game Protective Association e4 6:30 P.M., Wednesday, April 23, 1941, in the pionship Clay Bird Shoot for the past y " at this meeting, which was also attended by Valley Forge Hotel, Norristown.) were won by the following: many prominent persons, including the State Royersford Hunting and Fishing Association 1st—Sam Cooper. Commissioner of Fisheries, Hon. Charles A. 2nd—Andy Ringler. French, and Adolph Muller, former President To supplement this Club's VERMIN CON 3rd—Norman Croll. of the State Game Commission, as well as TEST, Charles Garber, a veteran fox hunter of The above-named, all residents of Eag»^ others. Royersford, plans to lead a "fox round-up" ville, received silver loving cups for the During the evening Joseph W. Lippincott similar to the one he lead last year in the outstandingly excellent marksmanship. of Philadelphia, was awarded the Codman vicinity of Royersford. Many farmers as well During the past year, too, this club has be&, prize for the best fishing story of the year as sportsmen, Irv Clemens tells us, have been active in Planting of Trees, Propagation | and Martin F. Strohm, of Philadelphia, the complaining of foxes in the vicinity. Fish and Game, Destruction of Vermin, &". award for the best outdoor picture of 1940. While searching for "Sir Reynard's hide cational Programs, relative to the Safe Hff*l Fishing rods, guns and other sporting equip outs", members of the Royersford Club plan ling of Firearms and in Discouraging Dump111 ment were distributed as additional prizes to to distribute FEED for small GAME. Last of Cans, Bottles, and other Rubbish along ° various members of the Association. year Royersford's "Fox-Round-Up-Army" Streams and Highways. * The oldest members in attendance at the consisted of fifty men. Wlssahickon Field and Stream Associati* Banquet was Mark F. Mills, age 84, President (Irv Clemens of Royersford, has been doing J. Russell Meyers, of Ambler, past Preside^ of the Mark P. Mills Rod and Gun Club of a real job on the programs for the ANNUAL of this Club and recently re-elected Vj^ Exton, Pa. BANQUET of the MONTGOMERY COUNTY President of the MONTGOMERY COUNT1 Perkiomen Valley Sportsmen's Association FEDERATION OF SPORTSMEN'S CLUBS, FEDERATION OF SPORTSMEN'S CLU**| "When we're out to get VERMIN, we're to be held at 6:30 P. M., Wednesday, April tells us that a number of Ambler sportsfl1 | out to GET VERMIN!" members of this As 23d, in the Valley Forge Hotel, Norristown. have had about two hundred "feeders" ° e sociation aver. Both Irv Clemens and Merrill Flemming, also for WINTER FEEDING OF GAME. Th*^ r Toward this end, the club awards prizes of Royersford, have tickets for this affair.) "feeders", he further tells us, were imp once a year to members who turn in vermin Upper Providence Fish, Game and Forestry vised from discarded one-gallon oil cans, . cI under the rules of the VERMIN CONTEST, Association which self-feeding devices made by | a which is sponsored in conjunction with the R. Howard McFarland, Jr., of Oaks, the members were added. It was found that "i club's LARGEST FISH CONTEST. Snakes, recently re-elected President of this Associa- proximately 21c was the total cost of mater 1841 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 31 ^Hiesh wire, etc., necessary to make one limits on the taking of raccoons by dogs be Such "feeder". set at two each day and ten per season. This With the small game feeding problem well limit is the same as that used in 1939. The Under control, members of this Association 1940 limit was one each day and 15 per sea *at down to their own "feed"—their Third son. "^nual Banquet—held February 13th at the Another of the resolutions suggested by ~asa Conti Hotel in Glenside. We've been in Greene County asks that the fish commis armed that there were "plenty of eats, drinks sion be requested to classify all chubs and and laughs" for all who attended. bait fish. This is to end the confusion of fisherman who have often unknowingly vio &OYER HEADS CAMBRIA CLUB lated the fishing regulations because they ,~r. Samuel P. Boyer, of Johnstown, was were not sure which fish could be legally ificted president of the Cambria County caught. Portmen's Association at a meeting held Counties represented at the meeting were :? Ebensburg. He succeeds John H. Mc- Greene, Armstrong, Washington, Somerset, Fa dden of Ebensburg. Indiana, Allegheny, Fayette, Westmoreland Six vice-presidents were also elected, and Beaver. j^ely John McFadden, Ebensburg; Paul ~ipka, Revloc; Charles Allen, Ferndale; TROPHY AWARDS FOR *^alph Longwell, Johnstown; Bill Goodman, SPORTSMEN'S SHOW ^°opersdale; Clayton Reffner, Spangler; and A list of 15 awards to be made to exhibi George Oswald, Conemaugh. tors at the Second Annual Sportsmen's Show, M. J, Farabaugh, of Carrolltown, was re to be held the evenings ©f March 27 and 28 acted secretary-treasurer for his 16th term. in Odd Fellows Temple in Williamsport, *U Goodman was named delegate to the was announced by Richard F. Williamson, "We federation, and Rheon Hassell, of Lo- a chairman of the promotional committee of m Sportsmen's Association, was selected as the Consolidated Sportsmen of Lycoming ^ alternate. County, sponsor of the event. „A resolution was adopted in opposition to 6 The awards will be distributed by a com j Proposed 50-cent increase in the price mittee of judges the first night of the show, fishing license. Another resolution ad and will be placed with the prize-winning opted that each of the 65 counties repre- exhibits for the second night. 61ted in the state federation have a place n This 22J4 inch brown trout, tipping the scales The show is open, without charge, to the board of directors instead of the at 3 pounds 11 ounces, was taken last year at amateur fly tiers and tackle makers in j*esent system which allots two places to the Spring Creek Project by S. P. Clossor of e Gallitrfn. Williamsport and this vicinity. Space reser Presentatives of each of eight districts. vations are available on request to Mr. Wil ST. VINCENT CLUB WOULD CLASSIFY CHUBS liamson, whose address is 960 Louisa Street. AS BAIT FISH Entries already listed for the show in BANQUET HELD clude the Field, Forest and Stream Club of More than 200 people attended the banquet Delegates from nine counties attended the the Williamsport High School, fly tying and J ^t- Vincent's Field and Stream Association quarterly meeting of the southwest division leader making; Harold Bostley, fly and rod * Girardville. of the Pennsylvania Federation of Sports J making; C. Robert Snyder, trout flies; °hn Spencer, district game protector, cited men's Clubs, held in the Waynesburg Sports Howard T. Weaver, trout flies; A. W. Bau- %?6 great work the club has accomplished men's Association clubhouse, near Waynes e singer, trout flies; Albert Moreheart, trout a it was organized and said it set an ex- burg. flies and an exhibit of tying materials; J. t j Pie for other clubs to follow. He also au There were approximately 75 at the Russell Hiney, trout flies, and Mr. William j ded William Burke, president of the club, chicken dinner served at noon, and about son, bass lures. *?" his excellent work in fulfilling the duties 25 others took part in the meeting held The prize awards will be as follows: deputy game protector. afterwards. Three loving cups, for the largest exhibit, . Joseph Matlavage gave an interesting talk r New officers elected for the year are the most unusual exhibit, and the most ar egard to his work as forest fire warden tistic exhibit; three large trophies, for the te ^e imP°rtant part it plays in the pro Robert S. Cooper, Connellsville, chairman; best dry flies, the best wet flies, and the ton of wildlife and our natural resources. A. J. Stahura, Indiana, vice chairman; j,. ish Warden Anthony Lech spoke on the Robert C. Yake, Youngwood, secretary, and best bucktails or streamers; three small 5J Commission's 1941 restocking program. Carl A. White, Avonmore, treasurer. trophies, for the second best flies, second e best wet flies, and second best bucktails or c lair Egge, secretary of the Schuylkill Principal speakers on hunting and fishing el 'k'lty Sportsmen Association, told how the subjects were Joseph Critchfield, Ursina, fish streamers; three medals, for the best bass ^°s affiliated with the county association commissioner; Rollin T. Heffelinger, Irwin, lures, second best bass lures, and the best fan-wing trout flies; and three watch charms, lefit by sending their delegate to the con- game protector, and Mr. Ryder, Irwin, game nti for the third best dry flies, third best wet a °n to file grievances regarding hunting technician. "J fishing. More than 20 resolutions were adopted flies, and third best bucktails or streamers. Last year there were 25 exhibits. Space Ce^ev. Michael Daumantas, rector of St. Vin- by the group. One of the most important, ts has been arranged for 50 or more exhibits aj, Church, gave the invocation and asked recommended by the Greene County dele s this year. So . P°rtsmen of the parish to join the as- gation, provides that the daily and season ^ation. j, ttiers who spoke were Chief Burgess Earl J ^cell, Peter Filkosky, traveling game pro- BO; URD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS g^tor; Roy Angst, editor of the Field and HARRISBURG, PA. eatI la i column, and C. T. Llewellyn, state dog SUBSCRIPTION BLANK ^investigator. Enclosed find fifty cents ($.50) for one year's subscription to the t)>. following sportsmen were introduced: jj ' William Skinkas, Hazleton; Anthony "Pennsylvania Angler rji er> Shenandoah, and Peter Aranavage, Please Check l^dville. (Print Name) t*iot^PUty Game Protector John Fignar showed {>\ 'on pictures about trout fishing, deep sea • New ^ lng> dogs, African wildlife and forest fires. $1) Corr*edy of cowboys and Indians was also • Renewal *° for the benefit of the children present. 32 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER MAR<# HERE X THERE 'N ANGLERDOM An ardent anglerette is Miss Marian B. land. This fish was only 20 inches long but Jones of State College, who writes: "I under had an exceptionally large girth. The next stand the PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER welcomes largest was a 5% pound largemouth caught contributions from its readers, consequently by S. A. Tobias of McKeesport, Pa. Heard I am attaching a snapshot of my catch of rumors of a 6% pound bass being caught in trout (on two consecutive days) at Fisher Thomas W. Koon Lake but could get nothing man's Paradise, Centre County, June 1940. definite on it. I lost the big one this past They are as follows: Rainbow trout, 22 season. He took my new Crazy Crawler that inches long, 3 pounds 10 ounces; rainbow the Heddon Company has sent me compli trout, 15 inches long, one pound 11 ounces, mentary for sending them a picture of my and brown trout 13 inches long, one pound largest bass the previous season. But it's and 12 ounces. All three trout were caught the uncertainty between the strike and the on a homemade fly tied from duck feathers." net that helps make fishing what it is. A short while after losing this monster bass he gave several tremendous splashes and I feel Writes W. C. Simpson of Cumberland, Md., mre that he easily got rid of the plug. The who, you may recall, caught the record large- largest bass that I landed was a 20 inch large mouth bass taken in Pennsylvania several mouth weighing 4 pounds 9 ounces. This fish years ago, a largemouth tipping the scales was caught in Lake Koon." Catching record at 7 pounds 4 ounces: "Sorry I let you down fish seems to be a well established habit on news from Lakes Gordon and Koon this with Simpson, who comments concerning the past season. The fish were very indifferent taking of a Maryland brown trout last season: in their feeding and only a few nice ones "While using one of my barbless bucktails were caught, to my knowledge. The largest in Deep Creek Lake on September 8, 1940, fish that I saw taken from Lake Gordon I caught a nice brown trout. (The trout (Bedford County) this past season was a season opens July 1 and goes out on October 5% pound largemouth. It was caught in late 31 in Deep Creek). This trout was 25 inches October by Amil Hasselberger of Cumber- long and weighed an even six pounds. Ac cording to the Maryland Conservationist it was the largest caught in the state of Mary land this past season. I had it mounted and it now hangs beside my record bigmouth. They look very nice and I am proud of them; but to the ANGLER I give much of the credit, for it was through this great conservation First trout of the season on dry fly. Bob WyK"„j magazine that I took to using artificial lures well known Clinton County ang.er, scored tf almost exclusively." catch on Cooks Run, Clinton County. angler: "Some articles on northeastern Per"1' Frederick Hipp, Jr., of Johnstown, R. D„ sylvania lake fishing would be a delight^ had fine sport with the brown trout in Bobs change in the ANGLER. There are lots of lake Creek, Bedford County, while fishing min and lots of fish to write about". So if y° now last season. He scored a dandy catch have any dope concerning this fishing, broth6 of brownies ranging in length from 10 to 12 fishermen, shoot it in. It will be more th* inches. "While they were not record fish, welcome. by any means, they sure did a lot of fighting before they were landed," he writes. One of the most uniform catches of gheny River smallmouth bass reported Plenty game and a good fly caster is Mrs. season was that scored by Mrs. Reeves D Betty Thomas of Dormont. While fishing of Knox on a 7% foot flyrod. The four b*| on Dunbar Creek one day last season, her taken were almost of a size, ranging in len£ husband, Carl Thomas, suddenly heard her from nV4 to 17% inches. call for aid. Only her head was visible in a deep pool into which she had slipped. In December we ran two cuts showing Two boots full of water and a good soak new dart casting game perfected by Clare11 ing failed to stop her, however, and she in Miles, ardent West Chester angler and c°\, sisted on fishing the rest of the day. Carl servationist. Concerning this novel game |e| remarks jokingly that this was the first time West Chester Fish and Game Associa^ he had ever caught "a mermaid while fish News commented: "The object of this ga . ing." is to cast a dart, attached to the end 0l j. tegular casting outfit, at a target, the wir"1.,) Three fine trout taken in Falling Spring, Frank being the one getting the most points. It ^.. lin County, on nymphs last season by George Attention Northeastern Pennsylvania fish be remembered Clarence first brought *"5 Harvey of Fayetteville. The largest brown trout ermen: game to our picnic a couple of years ago- measured 22J4 inches in length and the smallest 10l«! inches. Writes Jack Crlvert, veteran Plymouth you think it is easy, try it!" INTERLUDE There's a water honeysuckle growing in the sandstone crevice Prom the shadows of the bowlder moves another darker With its pale magenta blossoms showing fair; shadow So I rest beneath the white birch, lay aside my rod and And I watch it as the endless seconds go— basket, Then a flash black and crimson as the crystal waters parting To enjoy their fragrant perfume in the air. Shows a brook trout etched against the sun ray's glow. See once more the angry waters strike the ledge in all their fury But I leave him unmolested in his lair beneath the blossoms As the brilliant ray of sunshine disappears, At the pools' head where the hemlock plumes bend down; For the pleasure he has given me as he leaped out from taking foam flecks that float slowly where the pool is like a mirror the shadows "•nd a quartz streaked mossy bowlder lifts its crown. With the angry waters singing in my ears. Now a single ray of sunshine lights the water and the Many lonely winter evenings as I rest beside my fire blossoms; Where the birch logs paint strange pictures with their glare Turns to gold, the wings of insects dancing there; I shall see those rosy blossoms, lighted with the golden deeding on the hoarded sweetness, moving like a weaver's sunshine And the brook trout leap once more into the air. shuttle Careless of their nearness to the brook trouts lair. A. G. Shimmel IF YOU WOULD CATCH MORE TROUT- KILL LESS!