SNAPPING TURTLE NOVEMBER. 1942 TEN CENTS OFFICIAL STATE VOL Xl-No. 11 PUBLICATION 'ANGLER? NOVEMBER, 1942
db PUBLISHED MONTHLY ARTHUR H. JAMES by the jOviTiior
PENNSYLVANIA BOARD OF FISH COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA COMMISSIONERS BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS
Publication Office : J. Horace McFarlund Co., Crescent and Mulberry Streets, Harrisburg., Pa. Executive and Editorial Offices: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Board of Fish Com missioners, Harrisburg, Pa. CHARLES A. FRENCH 10 cents a copy — 50 cents a year Commissioner of Fisheries
MEMBERS OF BOARD ALEX P. SWEIGART, Editor CHARLES A. FRENCH. Chairman CHARLES K. FOX, Acting Editor Ell wood City South Office Bldg., Harrisburg, Pa. JOHN L. NEIGER Scranton JOSEPH M. CRITCHFIELD NOTE Confluence Subscriptions to the PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER CLIFFORD J. WELSH should be addressed to the Editor. Submit fee either Erie by check or money order payable to the Common wealth of Pennsylvania. Stamps not acceptable* J. FRED McKEAN Individuals sending cash do so at their own risk. New Kensington MILTON L. PEEK Radnor CHARLES A. MENSCH PENNSYLVANIA ANCLER welcomes contribu Bellefonte tions and photos of catches from its readers. Proper credit will be given to contributors. EDGAR W. NICHOLSON Philadelphia H. R. STACKIIOUSE Secretary to Board All contributions returned if accompanied by first class postage. Entered as Second Class matter at the Post Office C. R. BULLER of Harrisburg, Pa., under act of March 3, 1873. Chief Fish Culturist, Bellefonte
IMPORTANT—The Editor should be notified immediately of change in subscriber's address. Please give old and new addresses.
Permission to reprint will be granted provided proper credit notice is given. VOL. XI. No. 11 ^ANGLER/ NOVEMBER, 1942 ^ In This Issue: %ht "angler" for Christmas A. VISIT TO OUR NEIGHBORS Some of our friends and all the members of our families deserve more than a card JACK NEIGER for Christmas. The selection of a practical Christmas present, which will be enjoyed and appreciated, often presents a problem. The PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER is an ideal gift for a fisherman. This is particularly true of a fisherman in the United States ^HE FATHER OF THE FLY ROD Armed Forces and the property owners from whose land we angle. SPARSE GREY HACKLE An appropriate Christmas card advising the recipient of the gift will be mailed from this office shortly before Christmas for those desiring to give the ANGLER as a ESOX AND THE THING Christmas gift. The name and address of the donor will be placed on this card. THE OLD ANGLER Twelve times each year a friend can be reminded of your Christmas thought when an issue of the ANGLER arrives in the mail. ^HE LIEUTENANT PAYS DOC The magazine is written about Pennsylvania fishing, by Pennsylvanians, for Penn- FRED EVERETT sylvanians. The staff of contributors is composed of specialists in the respective branches of angling, all of whom qualify as authorities. Some are experts who enjoy a nation-wide reputation. Our goal is to make the magazine as instructive, interest THE FLY ROD FOR BASS ing, and entertaining as possible and to keep the fishermen well advised as to the BOD MCCAFFERTY activity of their Board. A week never passes that we do not receive enthusiastic letters from readers sing SUSQUEHANNA SALMON ing the praises of this publication. Many look upon it as the finest angling magazine CHARLIE FOX available even though it costs less than 5 cents a copy. PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER November, 1942 AMERICAN FLY TYPES ED LEONARD BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS HARRISBURG, PA. V | t ITE-TAILS AND AMBER-WINGS SUBSCRIPTION BLANK CARSTEN AHERNS Enclosed find Fifty cents ($.50) for one year's subscription to the 'Pennsylvania Angler," which is to be a Christmas present to *NSECTS THAT CATCH FISH N ame- N. R. CASILLO (Print Name) Street and Number- SYNTHETIC RUBBER KEN REID City
SUNNY JIM AND DOROTHY From: Name- A. B. CHAMPLAIN Street and Number-
NATURE IN THE RAW City RALPH STEWART
PICTURES FOR THE ANGLER
^ *re are many men and women who secure comes the contribution for publication of ac data concerning them. Upon request credit will iC outdoor snapshots taken along Penn- tion snapshots, scenic views, and pictures of be given the person who made the picture. **% streams and ponds. The ANGLER wel exceptional fish, accompanied by interesting PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER NOVEM Bf'ka A Visit to Our Neighbors in the North By JOHN L NEIGER
X/TONDAY, August 24th, I visited John L. purchasing program, outlined their plan as made for the stocking of food and game fis'1 -"-'-«- Ilalpin, Secretary New York Conservation follows: each stream. . Commission, at Albany. Mr. Halpin was most "In 1934 $100,000 was set aside by the Legis "Tn setting up the program only such stre&'j e cordial and extended to me all the cooperation lature for the purchase of public fishing waters. as would be eligible for stocking at the ra' ,ir anyone would desire. I was particularly interested On receiving the money and authority to spend 1,000 legal fish per mile were considered . in the Trout Stream Purchasing program as it the department made a thorough study of acquisition. The department also laid out t'1 put into effect in the past years in New York water and stream conditions in their state. This programs so that at least 15 miles would State. study covered—fish population, food, parasites, considered eligible for purchase on each v?»*3 Mr. A. S. Hopkins, Asst. Director, Division pollution and water temperatures. As a result of shed where they considered purchasing fis'''' of Lands and Forests, who supervised this stream these studies definite recommendations were (Continued on Page 18)
The New York fishermen own over 650 miles of excellent trout water, open of course, to public fishing. 1 IS' 8j PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER THE FATHER OF THE FLY ROD By SPARSE GREY HACKLE Reprinted from The ANGLER'S CLUB BULLETIN, Which Is Published By The Anger's Club of New York | SUNSHINE or storm, feasting or starving, 16 Was always good-hearted and willing to do re than his part. No man ever had a better *>Pmate." J'ouldn't any sportsman be proud to receive P a tribute? It was written, by an old friend, p» the inventor of the six-strip bamboo fly and you ought to know him better, for he was ,°nly a real genius but a most interesting in- 1(lual and a rare character. r> entlemen, meet Hiram Lewis Leonard. ne is known today only as the in- jS*°r> designer and first manufacturer of the tlern fly rod, he was also a genius in several 6r fields: a dead shot and an accomplished k r> a splendid woodsman, a talented musi- _*}• a student of the natural sciences, and a W®t and inspirer of men. And he had his full v e of that sharp individuality which gave the :.? °f the last century self-reliance, confidence, I 'nitiative, before mass education and regi- "tation existed. j/j*°nard iiad the soul of a poet, according to a i °ng acquaintance, although the active and :^P°seful nature of his life makes it clear that d ,as no dreamer. He was passionately fond of ,.| c. playing several instruments with talent, P this was apparently a family trait, for both jj daughter and his granddaughter were ac- ^Plished pianists. 1"fact, Leonard's musical nature is responsible ii m°st appealing and human glimpses of i Which remain on record. Manly Hardy, an k "WtDe associate of Leonard's during Ins years 1 Professional hunter, once said of him that •J the woods he always carried his flute, and Med it well. Many is the night when I heard [j. Wake the wilderness with Nellie Gray, The >RU Washerwoman, Old Kentucky Home, and J* times now seldom heard." sL°°> Leonard held the entertaining belief, w,1) expressed, that no man was capable of \] ln§ a g°°d fishing rod unless he loved music fL. could play at least one instrument. In the to .n ^S?e °f rodmaking, when lie was making |!.L ln Central Valley, New York, everybody in 1 slloP was musically inclined and they had |L an orchestra, which used to practice regu- |L* at the Leonard home with Leonard himself \'L . S on the violin and his daughter, Cora, j ^'ng the piano. ki Tiust have been the Golden Age of industrial i.,°ns, too, with the skilled workmen asso- |k 8 with their employer on terms of equality ;L °f them, Hiram Hawes, married Cora w^ard) and finding their diversion together in 1% theatricals, casting tournaments, and Hiram Lewis Leonard, the Father of the bamboo fly rod. K, amount of rifle shooting with the old- his food if it could be avoided. His old hunting member of Central Valley Lodge of the Independ 0 h{J? ned, heavy-barreled, Scheutzen rifles. One associates said that when he was camping, he ent Order of Odd Fellows, a Knight of Pythias, rn \\) > Ed Payne, was so famed for his song even cooked his beans without putting in any and a Red Man. It must be presumed that his ijj i dance about Old Black Joe that he was pork. evenings were actively occupied! 1 Earned Joe. Possibly it was the farm isolation of his boy He was a believer in spiritualism, a cult which hazard's health was somewhat frail in his hood, or his even more isolated existence as a in bygone years had a large number of followers 'ifi'V,'i s manhoodhabits. H, ean abhorred doubtlesd liquors influence, and "had somd noe market hunter and trapper that made Hiram in the United States. In fact, Miss Nellie tfji f°r anyone addicted to it. He did not like Leonard fond of social contacts—a fondness Brigham, "the eminent spiritualist lecturer of c it w °°. and disapproved of its use. Certainly which there is ample evidence that he possessed, New York" assisted the Reverend Charles R. \L 9S the consideration of health which made for in addition to the orchestra practice-sessions Ross, a local minister, in conducting Leonard's IL a lifelong vegetarian, for he always claimed and the amateur entertainments of Central funeral services in 1907. V ais long life and the good health of his later Valley, he was a member of a number of those But above everything, he had genius in his 8 'tifo were due to abstaining from the use of fraternal organizations which were an outstand fingertips. Whatever he did, he did extremely S\„ He seldom or never ate it, and would not ing feature of American life a generation or two well. "Very few men who ever entered the Maine Permit the use of fat in the preparation of back. He was a Mason for fifty years, a charter (Continued on Page 19) PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER NOVEM*** ESOX AND THE THING The Story of a Wise Old Pickerel Who Was Outsmarted by a Still Wiser Angler By THE OLD ANGLER
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HE late afternoon sun shone down in thin dipping down at each side and sweeping forward ever sunk his sharp teeth. At times it had P - «jj Tgolden shafts through the pads of the lily and upward through the water. so close to him that he could have reached » (,[ bed upon the long, graceful body of Esox, the There was a splash in the water just in front a mere turn of his head, but the wild terf pickerel. There was a tingling through his clean- of his hiding place, and scarcely had he focused that first experience never left his mind. jv, cut length, and deep within him an urging that his eyes upon it when some object flashed away Esox settled down under the lily pads
Illustrated by the Author
by the end of July with the season most over, Ssfi the Lieutenant was cocky and Doc desperate. :^f ^^. He had taken an unusually hard beating this sea son. From the very beginning it had been a hot, dry season and the floating fly had been supreme. When a fellow has had to stand more than he can bear, he eventually throws all caution to the winds and blindly strikes out, or else he has a stroke of genius. Or Fate takes pity on him and works a miracle, even if she has to have help— such as Doc gave in this case. Choose for your self which it was from the happenings on that day when Lieut had to pay Doc. There are times when even the best fisherman can't raise a trout. They just aren't there or they refuse to come out of hiding. Nothing one can do seems to make a particle of difference. S3*. \ This day was one of those useless, helpless ones. Doc and Lieut came in to lunch without a respectable trout having been caught. With no apparent reason, Doc suddenly j)gfc>_ turned on his subdued friend. "Listen, O high and mighty One, where is the power of your supreme floating skill today?" you ever hear the story of how Doc put As usual, Lieut countered with a question, he had lost over the season. If luck were with *, 't over on the Lieutenant? Of course you him he might even take over a lot of new terri 111, because Doc has never dared to tell "Oh, thou low and menial scratcher of the '»v bottom, and where are the seductive powers of tory. He was desperate enough to gamble the °ne the true facts. limit. After all, he had nothing to lose and u your sunken deceit?" li t he never fails to remind his old pal when everything to gain. ar guments get too hot for him. All he has Doc sat, elbows on table, chin in hand, gazing Lieut made believe he was ducking from a 'do is to put on that supercilious smile, strike solemnly at the cleancut features of the Lieuten blow. "My, my, how weak you are today. Is ,10 f> se and slowly intone, "Wanna bet, Wise ant. Scratcher of the bottom—that was a new that the best you can do? It's even worse than one and it struck a responsive cord. He played the fish you couldn't catch. What's that about b*W's right, Lieut had to pay Doc—once. with the thought, turning it over in his mind to the fox and the grapes?" Iq only did Lieut begrudge the price he had see from what angle he might recognize "that "Big Boy, you're ripe for picking. All season something" which it brought to his conscious 4*Pay—jt , was the awful shellacking he got that you've had things pretty well your own way. If? and the big dent in his ego which rankled. ness. For once he didn't answer, for a long- Catching those Nazi spies has gone to your head. j!6 knew the truth! forgotten truth was struggling toward the light. When it comes right down to the real thing, nt ear "Don't take it too hard, Old Man, you just you can't do it. Of course, when the trout are %tv,i°] f . he never will. Doc's nobody's or weren't cut out to be a fisherman. Only a select %, y ears he had smarted under Lieut's up begging for flies, you are hot stuff. But now, jl^fJOrity with the fly rod He had had to few ever have fish sense—it's born in them. when they are fussy about whom they will % to theories and pet ideas of his friend ever Why don't you rest up this afternoon while I associate with, you just don't rate. That's when j i,,.6* that day he patched Lieut up "over there" have some fun bringing up the big babies?" a real fisherman does his stuff." I i) 17, after the Huns shot him out of the clouds. "What big babies? You mean bigger than "O-oh—I see. And, I suppose, you're a real 8^ Couldn't argue his friend down, couldn't those fry you caught this morning?" fisherman!" i ''I n.t0 te" *"m a tnm&' f°r ne seemed to know "Don't be sore, Doc—you didn't even catch "On a day like this, I could catch more fish ' Ij^'here was to be known about fly fishing and one of those." than you even if I had one hand tied. Here's 1V -^e couWn't even call the Lieutenant a "Lieut, it's time you got a fall and I'm just where fish sense really counts." I 1^ j^ited ass, as he often wanted to, because he the one to do it. You and your pink tea dry "What a pity—raving like a man in his >tf ^ up his statements with proof on the flies are child's play and you know it. You dotage." L4ta- Honestly, that son-of-a-gun caught couldn't catch a decent fish today on a bet." "Dotage or no dotage, I don't see you being L*here they didn't exist. And on the sur- "Oh-oh- Doc—watch out. Don't let go of so brave about catching trout this afternoon." ; n„ That's what got under Doc's skin. Doc yourself like that—you might make a bet and "I suppose you will?" 'l tL Wet "^ fisherman and a darn good one. be sorry when you return to normal. Remember, "I know darn well I will—more and bigger ones V 1 sPrmg ne often beat Lieut. But that I was only holding back this morning to give you than you will, so what do you know about that?" \%' t any victory he could crow about, because a chance. I don't like to beat you all the time "You've really got me frightened, Doc. How l;|*U ' would prophesy just how many Doc would but I can't wait all day for you to do something. am I going to explain your relapse to your \T oy his "meat-hog" methods. I want a little fun to end the season." family?" tL Rurally the arguments about which was "Lieut, I often wonder why I lower myself so "That's right—hedge. You're licked today \ etter, wet or dry fly, waxed pretty hot at far as to go out with you. All I hear is how great and you know it." ||J* Lieut was an intolerant dry fly purist. and wonderful you are; how much you know "You sound as though you want to bet or ILjn waters were cold and high during the about catching trout. You and your high- something!" \. Part of the season, Doc had everything his falutin' purism are a laugh." "You said a mouthful—I'll bet anything you % *ay—as Lieut admitted he would. How- There was a gleam in Doc's eye that his pal say that I can trim you this afternoon—you as the streams became warmer and lower failed to see. That was his mistake. Out of with your fancy dry flies against my 'bottom "M "•he trout started feeding on the surface or the past had come an old friend in answer to scratchers!'" V?%h fly-consci°us." then the tables were Doc's prayer for a chance to put Lieut in his "What bottom scratchers do you mean?" L, tcl. The wet fly lost its magic and the dry place. That friend had advanced to be recog "Wet flies and nymphs—and I'll give you odds." g*? king. nized and was now held close to the Doctor's "Um-m—What would I do with odds? And \. .°° s mistake was that he knew this but bosom. Having been thus reenforced, he now what would I do with any more of your money? H S've m' That's why Lieut got so much proceeded to the attack. If he deployed his I've won too much this year, already." °ut of proving his point on every trip. So, remarks wisely, he would regain all the ground (Continued on Page 23) i PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER NOVEIV H; THE FLY ROD FOR BASS By R. W. McAFFERTY Equipment and Experiences ' I *HE gain in the popularity of the fly rod for nate the small coils which would otherwise form -*• bass fishing is attributable to two things. in your line. These coils are a detriment to the First—its effectiveness. This is due to its vast "shooting" of a line. The larger arbor also selection of lures and the holding qualities of furnishes the advantage of taking in line faster. the long, flexible rod. Second—is the sport Having assembled the three foregoing articles, derived from playing a bass on tackle of this our thoughts turn to lures and leaders. The kind. In sport fishing the battling of the fish leader selection in bass fishing is generally taken is the chief factor and anything tending to too lackadaisically. An acquaintance uses a increase this enjoyment is readily acceptable. system which I think can be copied by many To consistently take fish one should strive to anglers to good advantage. His experience has master both the bait and fly rod methods. The proved that fine leaders are no less valuable in purpose of this article is to assist you with the bass fishing than they are in angling for trout. fly rod. At the end of the trout season he uses the trout It probably would not be amiss to briefly men leaders for bass, if they are 9 feet long or less. tion the outfit. I have been using a nine foot rod He has used leaders as fine as 3X and though it of dry fly action for several years. The weight is not to be recommended for general practice of the rod is 5% ounces and incidentally, the because of the difficulty of handling heavy lures original cost was only $12.50. To me this proves on light leaders, it has definitely been proved to the fallacy of the statements that bass fly and him that these fine leaders accounted for more bug rods should be heavy cumbersome rods of strikes. » 9J4 to 11 feet in length and weighing upwards of Fortunately, this light terminal tackle is not 7 ounces. A rod of fair power, 8J^ or 9 feet long o" ! always required but it is wise to be prepared for surface type, namely: plugs and eombm between 5)4 and 6 ounces IF coupled with the such situations. Many strikes from bass are 1 correct line, will perform the assigned tasks spinners and bucktails or just plain strea^ ,, prompted by the voraciousness of this fish but The third is surface lures. Just as in trout W rJJ| quite well and the angler, at the end of the day, often, this fish cannot be teased into striking will not be suffering from fatigue. The big IF this latter lure is usually the most excitiwL^ and it is then necessary to resort to tempting it is often necessary to resort to the others- -J is the pitfall of all outfits regarding the relation them with some natural appearing lure. Con are very particular in the respect that they J of line to rod. My outfit worked well either with ditions, therefore, determine what length and the lures presented perfectly. Find the ,. a level or a "torpedo head" fine. Under normal thickness of leader you will use. If the bass are at which they are feeding and half the job Js ., conditions the level was satisfactory. However, wary and hard to get, a fight leader may be the the "torpedo head" has proved superior to the The undersurface lures should be lifted ^ answer. Of course, a light leader is not in itself 1 level in my case and consequently I prefer that going to solve this condition. Your actions may the water very carefully. Before making .jfi type of line. We will dwell upon its merits later. spell success or defeat. The bass are not as bold pick-up, bring the lure toward the top and (, The reel, according to personal preference will and unafraid as many would have you believe. the lure breaks the surface lift for the back .^ be either a single action or automatic. Whatever The use of a fly rod necessitates getting relatively la retrieving these lures, vary the speed, dtfv t the choice, it should be large enough to accommo close to your fish and this must be done carefully. of casts and most important, the depth. " ^ date the fly line and some backing or filler. To Frankly, failure to do this, I believe, is the cause bottom feeding bass will not rise at all to p get the most satisfaction out of a line, I prefer to of failure in many instances. passing overhead but that same lure * ,,. have the reel arbor built up with a cuttyhunk or taken readily if presented on or near the bo .^ Your selection of lures will be divided into silk casting filler line. By doing this, you elimi- s»< three groups. Two of these are of the under- The seemingly small difference between a and a jerky retrieve when using both l,rr\iP plugs and bucktails results in many strikes- also applies at times to surface bugs. f- ure 1 The matter of casting these heavy ' ,eat ', sents a problem. The most frequently ,J complaint is the effort one must extend- s _^gt- the lures are heavy and others very win d< l, f i° ant. Here is where the bug taper or torP""{j9\'' head lines enter the picture. These lto0^ J(i' oI the weight out toward the lure and are ferns'.,.•- cient weight to drive the lures through the r When you couple that feature with the t fi)- ment casters' "left hand pull" you have a 0,i' bination which banishes fatigue and pll's pleasure in fly rod bass fishing.
The Left Hand Pull , As intimated this is one from the t0.lirn'glp ,(1 boys' bag of tricks. Besides being a big L^ft) raC the stream fisher, once learned it is P jisl,i'i" j indispensable to the light boat and can°e ^p$ men. From experience I know there is .ugp'' more exasperating on a hot, inactive day C0\Y fishing partner in a sensitive boat *" >jiif' 5 stantlv uses a full arm movement in ,cau"i f"( With every cast he makes you feel desti the drink. All this is gone when »1K r< bl^,,fl . h pull is used. Not only that but the P r„a3tiV '' longer casts is solved. Here is the ex'p1lai> of it in its most simple form. S The pick-up is made and the lino n Willard D. Peck caught these bass 5 miles below Pittston on the Susquehanna on Labor Day. They were taken on stone-cats. The 21-inch one weighed 4V4 lbs. {Continued on Page 26) hz PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER // SUSQUEHANNA SALMON " Trolling for Wail-Eyes By CHARLES K. FOX
Courtesy of Harrisburg Evening News, 1 28i/2 inch, six pound "Susquehanna Salmon" (wall-eye pike) was caught within the City limits of Harrisburg. The Capital City angler, George Keller, fooled the big fellow with a helgramite. bI D you ever hear of a copper Delhenny? pike, "salmon" to many of us. His ancestors trolled for "salmon" with spoons and special rave you seen a sturdy 7 or 8 foot bamboo never moved to Pennsylvania. He was here rigs when the conditions were right. As soon as c Did you know that there are bait casting before the Indians. the first frost came they fished mostly for 1 fe? 36 to 50 lb. in test? Did you ever hear of a And a very worthy fellow he is too. He grows "salmon." %,.'. sPecial water mark? Do you know the large and long. He possesses the tenacity of a The most famous of the lures was a copper C °ance of the first frost? If you know all bull dog, and when he strikes, he strikes for Delhenny spoon ahead of a lamprey eel. The ' i(|. ^ these you either troll for wall-eyes or you keeps. As a food fish he is unsurpassed. popular size spoon was from an inch to an inch a k\- , niong your acquaintances someone who Our fathers and uncles along the rivers and a half in length. It was kept in a state of 'L in this sport and has told you much thought more of "salmon" than they did of brightness by frequent polishings. When the bass. They fished for bass with live bait when gentleman who made these spoons, passed to 6 of our old native game fish is the wall-eye the "salmon" fishing was no good, and they (Continued on Page 24) PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER NOVE
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tf>* %i& °r>RES3/A/G THEDQVELY-* 1942 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER
American Fly Types and Their Construction PART l-"D ressinq the Dry Fly" By EDSON LEONARD
pHE quest for the near perfection in fly large as five hundred dozen per order, I can state the finished fly. Moistening and drying these * design has brought about remarkable and in all sincerity that a well made wet fly requires softer portions (the process required to use the specialized skills in the present mode of fly con more actual pains than does a dry fly. I know elixirs) will cause the wings to flare in an un- struction. The Old World methods, formerly very well that this will stir contempt and dis desired arc much in the way that a too heavily the criterion by which any and all American pute, but the statement stands. starched shirt collar will, with the result that attempts were judged, are no longer considered The dry fly is essentially just what the name this will produce a whirling of the fly and na SUch; in fact they are disputed. Our typical implies; a dry or floating surface fly which imi turally the leader tippet as well. The point is American ability to tackle a task with the pur- tates as near as is possible, an insect in one of obvious. Wings should yield to the air resistance Pose of surpassing the standards established two flying forms. Its floating or "true" qualities rather than be activated by it. "as done much to further the near perfection at are dependent upon three primary, important Hackle is the making or breaking of a dry tainable in natural fly simulation. Likewise, but natural factors. Slight hook weight, buoyant fly. But, as are many similarly important pieces tackle houses—both domestic and foreign— materials and the manner in which it is produced. of equipment used in any specialized craft, this have become aware of this more acute discrimina Taken in sequence, the first is of concern to is much overdone. Hackle is man's way of tion on the part of the angler, and have pro the aspiring fly maker. Hook shape is generally forming an insect's legs, but in addition, these duced, of necessity, a much superior fly. of the Sproat or Limerick make. My preference whisks serve to float the imitation as well. It Fly tying is an art all its own; one which has lies with the Limerick purely because of the should be annexed with this thought in mind— •Uore branches and sub-divisions than you can factor of balancing. However, this is a personal not to be bunched from stem to stern until it shake the proverbial stick at; however, these preference and should not cause any disregard appears as a million spined cactus bush. a dd to the pleasure of the pursuit, make the art for the excellence of the Sproat. Straight bends Strangely, and in a contradictory way, the a quality to achieve. Many well-known artists are desired in either event. Such are more apt application of too much hackle, stiff or otherwise, ^e gifted with the ability to express their con- to float properly, whereas the turned bend will will make the fly sink more quickly than will a options of natural flies via the feather tactic, often throw the fly into an unnatural angle, sparse dressing. The reason for this is easily 'till, this is within the reach of most any angler although sometimes this type is an aid in hooking determined. Hackle whisks of the best grade And his own near perfection depends entirely trout taken from hard fished waters. are elastic and resilient. Their ability to support ^Pon the extent to which he puts himself. Tapered shanks and eyes are assuredly a a weight (the fly and hook) reverts to their Just what constitutes a good fly maker may requisite. In addition to reducing weight in a bending under this weight without penetrating °e too lengthy to enumerate in detail. Naturally, most critical area (beyond the head of the fly) the water surface. When the hackles have however, if even on a competitive basis alone, the taper further facilitates a strong, clean cut pierced the water, their continued descent is *Oy manufacturer's work should be correct in leader knot which will hold infinitely better rapid. (Imaging the old trick of floating a dry Retail and coloration and reasonably well made. because of restricted and more compact turns needle on the surface of the water in a drinking Refinements of these appurtenances are the about the shank tip immediately behind the eye. glass.) This surface tension is exemplified each faker's pleasure. Be that as it may, any artifi- Conversely, a finer tippet can be used without time you drop a fly on the water after having C|al fly should be constructed to serve a specific undue concern for its failure. dried it with a false cast or two. In keeping with Purpose. Be particular about the eye in any dry fly this, then, fewer hackles well placed will float It is a fact that many flies are designed to be hook—or about any for that matter. Sharp your makepiece better than will a greater "lusionary to the fish, but even these are dressed edges imperfectly formed, gaps and rough finish number. Likewise there is a definite method of s° that their purpose is individual. I refer ing are all common enemies of the heavy creel. placing these whisks. particularly to bivisibles and the popular The taper should graduate evenly into the full In illustration, figure 2, note that the two impressionistic nymphs and dry fly types, diameter of the hook shank, the union or most hackle feathers stripped entirely free of all these types are the result of prudent study and noticeable place of blending occurring imme fluff and soft web, are placed back to back or Application. But with even this intelligent diately under the wing—or about one quarter are "palmed" opposite. Regardless of how much Analysis of fish habitude and insect lore, the the shank distance from the eye. hackle must be removed to obtain only those % tyer is far from thoroughly equipped. Some dry fly dressers of my acquaintance necessary, lustrous and stiff whisks be sure to Certain basic rules must be known to properly differ on some points, but in one consideration strip it from the feather. Sometimes because of Accomplish the imitation in a fairly true aspect. they agree. The wings must of necessity be tied this method of eliminating the fluff, it is required 5* in the case of the impressionistic viewpoint, in first. Through the trial and error method this that as many as three or even four hackles be °ther established rules must be adhered to. will be found very true. used to produce sufficient support. Color "appearance" is something the angler- Principally, the wing is the very anchor of By placing the feathers opposite one another, %-tyer should investigate thoroughly if he has the dry fly. This may seem a paradox at first. a very excellent effect is obtained, that of, aot already done so, since this is one of those in But upon second thought, note in the illustration, "bracing" the fly on the water. In figure U tangibles which is most difficult to confine to figure 2, how the wing butts of a double fibre see how the areas H-l and H-2 are countered Wording. In illustration, I might state it this quill type form the foundation for the body. and will have opposite supporting action both ^ay; an insect has a general color "cast" about Further, these tougher parts of the quill act as a forward and backward in addition to the vertical. 't> and the variation of even one of its smaller built-in float and provide unbelievable buoyancy. Also, the dull and bright sides of the hackle Parts will tend to alter, to a most noticeable The same is applicable in the case of the rolled feather will be blended into a more natural "kgree, that general color value. This is one wing, that type which is used in forming the appearance. 'eason why a standardization of fly shades should e Cahill and Hendrickson, whose wings are com It might be well at this point to make a note established. (I have been working on this posed of the breast feathers of the woodduck. of something worth considering. The legs of Problem for several years.) Likewise, the patterns To obtain a definite wing size, one complete most aquatic dry flies are banded, or are spotted should be simplified to at least an intelligent and full in appearance, many novice fly-makers at the joints. I have found that pale grizzly ^eans of identification in lieu of the quite im remove too much quill from the wing section to or barred rock hackle dyed the required shade possible identities bestowed upon them by well fasten to the hook, and are disappointed to learn will simulate this very satisfactorily. Un Waning fanciers. these fibres will twist, overlap and compress usually good patterns can be originated with . Let us consider the dry fly. Its very make-up under pressure of the working silk. Tie the wings this hackle, as my records show the Ginger J'ded in the secrets of true professionalism, the longer and narrower. They will remain intact Quill, Blue Quill and Cahill Quill dressed in **y fly has been presented as a thing of un and will otherwise perform in a superior manner. this manner are far superior to the standard or attainable beauty so far as the average angler- Besides, too much wing applied to the newer "flat" colored hackle. ;ltlkerer is concerned. Phooey.. . ! The dry fly skeleton weight hooks will entirely spoil the The fastening of the hackle is the second ? the easiest of all the types to dress. From upright, light-riding quality for which we all operation. By placing the butts between the Personal experience of being a commercial fly aspire. heavier ends of the wing base, a dual purpose is And rod manufacturer for several years, during The use of elixirs or dope to cement the fibres achieved; bracing the wings and concealing the time I handled among others, accounts as detracts from the efficiency and lifelikeness of {Continued on Page 24) 1(1 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER NOVEMBER WHITE-TAILS AND AMBER- WINGS *IJK By CARSTEN AHRENS Photos by Byron Chaplin HEN I began studying dragonflies, I * ^ Wconstantly impressed by the fact tD when dealing with the sexes, Nature had " been partial. Male and female possessed bwP compound eyes, long, many-jointed, tape", f abdomens, and large, many-celled wings wh» are alike in size, color, and pattern. . , One notices among the birds and big" animals that the male of the species is ah11 , always favored. He is larger, stronger, a usually more decorative than is his ©a While this is true when considering most ma mals (man excepted ?), it is an unavoidable ° servation with birds: the peacock and hen, scarlet tanager and mate, etc. i„ But this idea of the superiority of the to will not hold in the insect world where female is frequently the more imposing of twain. Sometimes the male is much smaller W his alert yet cumbersome wife. Among the J sects as the praying mantis, and often •». spiders, the life of the male ends abruptly wl the termination of his pro-creative duties • • He is eaten by his larger and more voraci0 The White-Tails (Plathemis lydia) mate! These dragonflies are so-called because as they grow older a white bloom forms on the abdomen, obscuring be- the row of yellow spots on either side. The wings of the male have one broad band; the female's wings So, having observed so many inequalities have no band, but three large, irregular spots. This is a common species found almost anywhere in the tween sexes, I was surprised at the consistepc: y United States. They are fond of marshes and swamplands where, in the standing water, an amazing of Nature in her scheme for dragonflies. number of eggs are dropped by the female. The pair above was captured in Fayette County, near cidently, dragonflies are not related to the lvous Farmington, Pennsylvania. Upper—from Pymatuning Dam, Pennsylvania Lower—Royal Palm Park, Everglades, Florida flies, those pests that require you to screen 1° (Left, male; right, female) (Left, female; right, male) windows. A better name, common in the Sou • is "mosquito hawk" for as adults, they live insects and are very beneficial. This is an ancif • sub-order containing 250 species that skim * rivers, lakes and reservoirs of the United State^ Now good old Nature, inconsistent as she ^ frequently is, becomes amazingly consist* here ... but still not 100%. Every nat«r '_ lover knows that dragonflies are instantly c° spicuous because of their many-veined WW? ' These are often transparent, but in some speCI are banded, spotted, or lined with black, bro« • green, or red. In all of the 250 species of *' sub-order . . . with the exception of tfl species, the White-Tails and Amber-WmP which are illustrated in this article . • • j coloration or lack of it in the wing-pattern the male is the same as the design found in ., wings of the female. This unlikeness, in jus , out of 250 species, is called dimorphism and di» closes another of Nature's interesting puzz,e '
The Ten-Spot (Libellula pulchella) The Ten-Spot is one of the 250 species of dragonflies in the United States in which the sexes are alike in size, color, and wing pattern. The Ten-Spot can be found almost anywhere in the forty-eight states, and in habitats that differ greatly from each other, although it seems to prefer bodies of still water or sluggish streams. The two above were netted at a lily pond near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. (Female, left) (Male, right) REFORMED P. G. Wodehouse dedicated a book to his wife "Freddy hasn't been out at night or played and daughter like this: "Without whose unfailing poker for three weeks." help and advice this book could have been "Turned over a new leaf?" written in half the time." "No, turned over a new car." (Right) KEEPS HIM BUSY Joe Critchfield, a popular figure among Penn "I always sees your Jimmie in the back yard sylvania hunters and fishermen, and a Member of the Board of the Fish Commission, caught a 5 nowadays, Mrs. Thompson, burning papers." pound big- mouth bass while plugging in Lake "Yes. He's got a job distributing circulars." Gordon early in the season. 1942 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER II
lieve. Furthermore, I'm not alluding to rare and exotic specimens found only in some distant clime. They are found right here in this state; indeed, they are far too common throughout the whole of temperate North America. These insects spend all of their time in or about water except when migrating or during the mating period. During certain stages in their development (usually the larval), some kinds are wholly aquatic, while the adult forms of others possess special adaptive structures so as to enable them to remain submerged for long periods of time. They conceal themselves be neath stones, sticks or among aquatic plants, from where they dart out and seize their victims with their jaws or claws. Then after dragging them to a place where they will not be disturbed they proceed to make short work of them, either by sucking the body juices or by devouring them so rapidly as to remind one of a meat grinder. Last summer while live-bait fishing for crappie I had an unusual experience with a predacious water beetle or Dytiscus. A few moments after I had lowered my shiner into the water I could not detect movement on the business end of my line, so I decided that the hook had penetrated a vital spot and thereby killed the minnow. Ac cordingly, I lifted the hook for examination and found that half of the bait had been carried off. The Amber-Wings (Perithemis tenera) I thought nothing of this until I carefully ex * common dragonfly of Central and Eastern United States is this attractive though tiny insect. It is one amined the severed end and found it to be so H our smallest dragonflies for its wingspread is hardly an inch and a quarter. The wings of the male are 9 glowing amber splashed with a few dark brown dots; the female's wings are transparent except where smooth and clean as to suggest its being done by j^ottled with irregular areas of chocolate brown. The specimens taken in Southern Florida are considered an extremely sharp razor. I dismissed the idea °y some authorities to be a distinct species; other experts regard them as a variety. These dragonflies of crayfish and turtle as neither of them could 8 re found about pools or along slow-moving rivers. They skim so close to the surface of the stream that have done as neat a job, and besides, I would one usually scoops water along with amber-wings when making a capture. have undoubtedly felt their nibbling, no matter how subtle. Puzzled, I rebaited the hook with a fresh, lively shiner and went about my fishing. INSECTS THAT CATCH FISH Presently, my line began to move in such a way as to indicate that the shiner was making frantic By N. R. CASILLO movements. I waited until my curiosity got the VVTE USUALLY think of the insects as a simulate a specific or an imaginative type of better of me, then I pulled it out for examination. » special group of creatures peculiarly insect. Sure enough, I had a catch, but, instead of a fish Adapted both in body structure and in their However, contrary to the usual order of things, it was a large, blackish-brown beetle tenaciously Powers of fecundity, as to provide fishes with a there are insects that catch and eat fish! And clinging to the partially eaten minnow. Appar JOothsome and abundant food supply. In fact, in opposition to the general opinions of those ently Dytiscus had pounced upon its already W is needless to mention that a majority of our who know that such creatures exist, they are helpless victim before it had descended to too 'toost effective flies and lures are designed to more abundant than one is usually led to be great a depth, for the insect usually frequents the shallows. Even when I laid the two on a seat of the boat to better observe them, the big beetle continued to voraciously consume its prey with amazing rapidity. I watched fascinated as that insectivorous meat chopper finished every bit of its meal, leaving not so much as a morsel. It had disposed of a repast that bulked nearly as large as itself in the unbelievable time of eight minutes. Upon placing another minnow near it, Dytiscus pounced on it with the savage eagerness of a starved creature! At home in a small aquarium it disposed of such prodigious quantities of hamburger (even leaping out of the water for it), that it was ap propriately named "Wimpy." Accidentally, I discovered that when his appetite had been whetted by hamburg he wasn't at all adverse to methodically begin chewing on a finger. Two- inch tadpoles, sunfish, shiners and catties were small provender for his appalling appetite. It never bothered to kill its victims, simply be ginning to chew upon whatever part of the creature's anatomy to which it happened to be clinging, and not at all handicapped by the fruitless struggles of the quarry. The larval form (the stage of development immediately following the egg), of this creature is even more ferocious and voracious than the adult, and as a consequence has received the entirely befitting name of Water Tiger. It is said that the Water Tiger secretes a digestive THREE ARCH VILLAINS (Natural sizes) juice that turns its victim's flesh to a kind of a Dragonfly Nymph Giant Water Bug Dytiscus {Continued on Page 22) 12 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER NOVEMBER Synthetic Rubber from Sulphite Paper Mill Wastes By KENNETH A. REID, Editor of "Outdoor America/' and former Member of the Board of The Pennsylvania Fish Commission
HE discharge of raw wastes from sulphite rubber have been cut off by our enemies. We waste liquors now being discharged raw in* Tpaper mills constitutes one of the worst are supposedly searching for large sources of Puget Sound, at an overall cost of the alcoho' sources of pollution to the public waters of the supplies from which synthetic rubber can be ready for shipment of 18c to 20c per gall011' United States. The paper mills, private and made and there is no time to lose in getting down This is approximately half of the present market governmental agencies have studied this waste to business on the matter. Alcohol is one of price of alcohol. disposal problem for many years and it is fair to these source materials. Mr. Underwood pointed out that in this pr°c' say that feasible methods of treatment or dis 8 HEARINGS HELD ess of making alcohol, critical material B* posal are known. At least one mill does a profit e able job in the recovery of by-products, one of petroleum would not be used, but that on tn In an effort to find out what was holding up contrary the alcohol would be made from t"e which is vanillin, from which vanilla extract is synthetic rubber production, the sub-committee made. Why, then, do not all sulphite paper mills waste products of the sulphite waste liquor no^ of the Committee on Agriculture and Forestry going to waste, and constituting through sucD treat their wastes and make additional profits of the United States Senate held hearings start D from marketing their by-products and thereby wastage a serious pollution problem of t ing in March and continuing through July of nation's waters. greatly reduce the pollution of America's waters? this year. On April 2, John J. Underwood, repre Simply because they look upon waste treatment In this connection he advised the Senator5 senting the Puget Sound Pulp and Timber vlt as a cold-blooded business proposition. The Company and the Seattle Chamber of Commerce, that his company was constantly harassed > one mill mentioned has its process patented. It gave some interesting testimony before the Com suits for polluting public waters; that his corn does not wish it to be generally used because it mittee. Mr. Underwood submitted a letter pany had just fought off a suit for $5,000,0001<» believes the present profitable market for the dated February 11, 1942, to the War Production polluting the waters of Puget Sound. There' by-products would be flooded, the prices would Board, covering a formal proposal of the Puget fore, the production of alcohol from sulpb1'6 go down and the operation of the treatment Sound Pulp and Timber Company to make for waste liquors would not only aid the Govern plant might show a loss rather than a profit. the Government as an aid to the Government's ment's synthetic rubber production prograD1, Now America is at war. Rubber is the No. 1 program of producing synthetic rubber, 2,500,000 but would also be of inestimable value to to critical material. The principal sources of raw gallons of alcohol from processingMts sulphite {Continued on Page 28)
Photo by John A. Kunkelman, Reading Eagle Staff Photograph0' Eleven-year-old angler, Dick Frankhouser of Leesport, proudly displays a 25 inch, five and one half pound carp he caught in Riesar's Dam near West Leesp0 1942 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 13
SUNNY JIM AND DOROTHY dropped into the pool. Dorothy, the smaller, N.A.A.C.C.ADOPTS RESOLUTION remained at the opposite end of the pool. She By A. B. CHAMPLAIN hung under some plant life along the lower edge The following is a text of a Resolution passed OST fishermen can symphathize with us of her domain, dashing out to take the insects at the 34th Annual Meeting of The National M week-end pioneers who have a camp along that floated down into her territory. Association of Angling and Casting Clubs: a stream or in the mountains somewhere. Our It is remarkable how well were our guesses "Whereas the United States of America is Particular camp is on Stony Mountain. A concerning these brook trout. Sunny Jim was at war and some of its citizens have claimed that tacing stream gurgles its way down past the the male, a trifle larger than Dorothy who be 8 all sporting events should be discontinued for hack, a tiny cold-spring stream that no doubt longed to the other sex. This was later confirmed the duration; originates in some deep well in the heart of the by courtship and marriage. r BE IT RESOLVED that the National Asso °cks. This thread of dancing silvery liquid During that summer, we and our guests Cr ciation of Angling and Casting Clubs at its 34th ops out in places; it splashes and cascades kept the shack grounds free from grasshoppers, v annual meeting duly assembled, is of the firm ° er moss-covered stones, then dives beneath bugs, bees and what not, supplying our gour opinion that no useful purpose would be served Jne boulders to again appear at some lower mands with food for our own amusement. It by curtailing angling or casting, either as a game Point. At the shack it forms a pool and it is was interesting to observe Sunny Jim tackling of sport or as a recreation and that angling and here that we get our water supply. This pool, the largest kind of a grasshopper. He would casting should be continued to the fullest degree |ot over four or five feet in circumference, varies back out from under the box, make a savage compatible with wartime conditions, as long ?J depth from a foot in early springtime to about dash and in an instant was gulping the prey, Sl as angling and casting provide entertainment X inches during slow water or dry time. Our making grotesque contortions the meanwhile, and recreation, sustain morale and off-set mental Stream has never been known to go dry. until the tail or last leg of the creature dis worry arising from war, without encouraging From the pool at the shack on down to the appeared into his unfillable maw. Earthworms loafing or complacency. { ^eek in the valley the distance is about one- were pie to our pets. Hard-shelled beetles were e ; 'ghth of a mile. In the lower portion of this taken under protest when nothing else was AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Wretch, where little natural pools have formed available. Dormant bumblebees taken in early f the National Association of Angling and Casting ^ where water is retarded by rocks and debris, morning from their sleep on the flowers were Clubs continue as heretofore to carry out the J have counted as many as forty brook trout fry. gobbled down with impunity. However, active objects and purposes of its association and con flowever, it was seldom that any little fish were bees, wasps or hornets were either struck and tinue its annual National tournaments and '°und as high up on the hillside as our shack quickly dropped or were recognized as unde meetings." P°ol. Being only amateur fishermen but en sirable and allowed to float past, a look of dis thusiastic week-end shackateers, the little fish gust or disdain seemingly on our fishes' faces in jfltrigued us. We preferred watching our frisky the latter event. HORSES TO REPLACE CARS FOR §We neighbors to angling in the creek below, One day during the late summertime, we ^e saw them scurrying beneath the spring box CALIFORNIA WARDENS noticed that our fish had become restless. They *hen drawing water. were meandering about the pool, Sunny Jim A California Fish and Game Division Bulletin At first they were more or less neglected. But ever about the fair Dorothy, whisking along her announces that, wherever feasible, its law en *ho could help notice the slick little fellows when side and probably calling her endearing names. forcement officers will hereafter use horses while ^S time appeared? They would haunt the edge Also, in the bottom of the pool a little plot of on patrol. Lack of tires prompts this move. The ?' the little pool alongside a rock or the milk sand and little stones began to appear. Strange Division announces that many predatory animal *Htle. They would dart from here to snatch a as it may seem, we were then treated to the mat trappers of the Bureau of Game Conservation i have already made the substitution, and that '"Jat or fly and return to the vantage point, ing and nesting of our two pets we had named faking a grimace comical to observe when the perfectly. it is working out well. .'u-bit was swallowed. Feeding the fish soon The climax came when the spring rains melted ^came a part of the outing. At first, flies and the snow on the side of Stony Mountain. The ther tiny creatures were dropped into the water stream became a torrent. It rushed along down °r our two pets. They became very tame and the hill to meet the creek. It filled the pools and ^Qerally tried to eat more than they could hold. moved the sand and stones. At this time Sunny f °w they did swell up and grow! Then we began Jim and Dorothy decided to move. Our fish ^ding them larger game. By and by, Sunny disappeared. Probably they are holing up along l,u, the larger, stayed under the spring box and the banks of the main creek, perhaps a real I e Otured forth only when some wriggler was prize for some angler in the future.
I double catch of trout by Ralph N. Stewart, Jr. of Pittsburgh and a fishing partner. These are brown The front quarter of a five pound bass has been |M rainbow trout ranging from 11 to 14 inches. The second trout from the left, appparently a brown, injected and painted with the preservative, D-Flo, *ad vivid red lateral stripes similar to those of mature rainbows. The question is, is this a cross be prior to mounting. Note how the fins and mouth tween a rainbow and a brown or is it just a peculiar color variation of a brown trout? are held in position by strings and paper clips.
A. 14 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER NOVEMBER NATURE IN THE RAW- By RALPH N. STEWART, Jr.
"Is Seldom Mild," or so the saying goes. have sent anyone, other than Superman, end dry fuel, and proposed to spend the night there- This "Law of Nature" is familiar enough to all over end. What to do now? We had to cross He had the key to the car and tried to get J* lovers of the great Out-of-Doors. We have all, Limestone to get back to the car. As we groped across to us by tying a rock to one end of bj5 at some time or another, been face to face with around for some solution the answer suddenly fly line, throw this over, and if successful, t,e circumstances that illustrated this point. Very dawned upon me. While exploring the head the key to the other end. We saw him coil tbc few of "Nature's Children" are exempt from this waters of Dunbar the season before, another line at his feet, give a heave, and then sonie- "Survival of the Fittest." Take the Trout, for companion and myself had come across a thing must have gone wrong as line and reel diS' an example; better still, I'll take him. (And "right-of-way" that had apparently been cut appeared in the water. This was a costly bio* have spent many a day trying, with meager through by the Game Commission, as there was as his automatic reel and tapered line were success, to do just that.) This worthy opponent a Game Reserve in this district. Thinking this worth about fifteen dollars. At this point our of the Rod and Reel spends many an hour, in would lead us to some sort of road we had elected two friends returned with the news that H* turn, (with better success than I) taking the to follow it out rather than retrace our steps water was too deep to drive through, but seemed various forms of stream life that make up his down-stream. We found the road and it was to be receding some. We figured that in an hour diet. When we discuss the enemies of the Trout this road that interested us now, as it had or so we could probably get their car through t° we think of Snakes, Turtles, etc. as being his crossed the upper Limestone on its way to the Dunbar, where we could find someone fainiliar chief "Nemeses" (Next to Man). Just recently main road. This road is not very well known with the lay of the land. I thought there of* two companions and myself shared an adventure because Limestone and all other tributaries of be a possibility of getting in from the next ri
"uilt the fire, and was in the process of drying out house about five that morning, pretty well get there by eight o'clock, starting time for work. *hen he heard Dick and I shout. The water had fagged out. There we met Mrs. Carroll and were As we rolled along toward home we relived raised around his "Fort" until it was just level certainly made to feel "right at home." Mrs. our experiences and realized that we were indeed *ith the doorsill, then it stopped. He said that Carroll insisted that she prepare breakfast for fortunate to have made out as well as we did. ^s he sat there thinking things over it suddenly us, which she did, and we soon learned how Thinking of that old saw "It's an ill wind that Recurred to him that he might have "company" hospitable these folks really are. After break blows no good," we could see that this applied 111 the form of a Rattler, trying to get out of the fast Mr. Carroll drove us up to rescue Frank's to our having met the two fine fellows who had jfet, even as he. Aside from this thought he was car. The water was down considerably by this so unselfishly given of their services, losing an teasonably comfortable and ready to stick it time and what a mess it made of the road, in , entire night's sleep to help a couple "City Jakes" °ut until morning. Then he was pleasantly sur places. Reports had come through of a "Cloud in distress. It is a real relief to know that the prised to see our lights approaching. burst" up in the headwaters, which takes in a State has in its employ fellows like these, doing Having rested we started out and made much lot of territory, and explained how the stream their share, and then some. better time as this end of the trail was still in had swollen so rapidly. The trip out was un ject and took us well up on the ridge before we eventful and we took leave of the Carrolls It is vain to be always looking toward the future "it the "burn-over." We arrived at Mr. Carroll's and headed for Pittsburgh. We just had time to and never acting toward it.
Courtesy of Harrisburg Evening News. °seph Starr of Harrisburg landed this fine small-mouth bass on a stone-cat near Speeceville in the Susquehanna late in August. When it was entered in the big fish contest sponsored by the Harrisburg Hunters' and Anglers' Association it measured 19V4 inches and weighed 4 lbs. 3 ozs. 1(. PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER NOVEMBER
FISHING MEMORIES LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear Sir: He was gazing in the window Just to see him, set me thinking, Of a country hardware store, How I'd fished in days of yore, Received your card advising that my sub" Just a bare-foot little fellow When my only boughten tackle scription to the ANGLER has expired. I atf Just as I, in days of yore. Were some hooks bought at the store. writing to you to let you know that I expect to go into the armed forces soon. When I get 1°' I knew his face was freckled, How each bite set me to shaking, And his nose, the sun had burned, How I'd jerk with all my might, cated in camp I will send you money for another And a stick held his suspenders; Send him back into the willows, subscription. Although his back was turned. Then I'd jump and grab him tight. Have been reading the ANGLER for four years now, and enjoy it very much. I subscribe to In his hand a rod of willow With a forked stick for a stringer With his fishing line wound 'round, Proudly at my side I bore, six other outdoor magazines but as far as fishing And a can that held night crawlers How I'd jag my shaking fingers is concerned the ANGLER is the best of them all- By his side upon the ground. As I tried to bait once more. Had better luck this year than ever before On the opening day of the trout season I caug" He was looking at the tackle, Just a bare-foot little fellow, seven nice rainbows and a brown. Fishing v*^ Flies and reels and rod and line, Yet he helped me live again; he He was wishing he could buy them Happy days when I went fishing, good at Hings Creek, Washington County, t All that tackle new and fine. With a birch pole, in the rain. opening day. Most of the anglers had trout- Saw three caught over 14 inches. A fellow h0& Burgettstown caught a 19 inch, three poun0 brown. Had some good luck on bass fly fishing a Harmonsburg Marsh near Conneaut Lake. "e greatly appreciate all the fish stocked this year in our district. Sincerely yours, EDWARD NAUGHTON 412 Fairywood St. Pittsburgh, Pa.
Dear Sir: Congratulations upon obtaining such a master' piece of expression as OLD FRIEND, leading the September book. "Sparse Grey Hackle's" terse and witW contributions have featured Don Stillmal18 column on the New York Herald Tribune f°r years and are the kind you cut out for your 1°» book of the game. It is mighty good to see that the PENNS^ VANIA ANGLER continues to attract such talen1 and maintain its prominent position as tbe country's best fishing magazine. Hoping we shall again see more of Spa1*6 Grey Hackle's stuff, and with best regards, Sincerely yours, MALCOLM E. RTJNYON, Newark, N. J.
TALK ABOUT BASS "There are bigger fish in the sea than 8& that have ever been caught." A dead sffl;ail -, mouth bass measuring 26^2 inches was pioke, up in the Susquehanna River below the n1011*^,^ the Juniata by fisherman, Jim Chester. | fish was floating down the west side of the Ov er so it probably came from the Juniata. Becausu*e,| it was partly decomposed the cause of its dea , or nature of an injury could not be determine, The fish was not weighed but a 26 J^ inch srof1 mouth bass in good condition should w-e,<> well over 7 lbs. In the summer of '37 a small-mouth ^^f^A ing 24 inches and weighing 6% lbs. was P*?;, js up in the Susquehanna opposite Steelton. ^Tn fish was also dead and floating. Its down*^ had been caused by its own greed. It ." s strangled on a 10 inch catfish, one of the spl0 * of the catfish had pierced the eye of the b8?* It was impossible for the captor to expel ' victim and both succumbed.
The turtle lives twixt plates of decks Which practically conceal its sex; I think it clever of the turtle In such a fix to be so fertile.
Mother: "That child doesn't get his temP6 from me." The Real Thing. Father: "No, none of.yours is missing.' Photo by Marty Myers. 18 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER NOVEMBER
camping or picnicking. Experience showed that if these privileges were requested, the fishing rights were more difficult to obtain. "Where desirable and necessary to provide parking, camping and picnicking locations the Commission bought convenient land areas for the purpose and plainly marked this land with posters so the public would be advised of these privileges. "Twelve watersheds were approved and projects started. Additional purchases were made and more money appropriated so that at the present time the state owns over 650 miles of trout stream outright and leases at $1.00 per year per plot over 200 miles of streams owned by power companies and other corporations. "This total of over 650 miles has been acquired at a cost of about $285,000 for fishing rights. "The cost per mile averages about $500, includ ing stream improvement work, making a total cost of about $350,000. "The streamj improvement work by C.C.C and W.P.A. labor has been beneficial in holding the streams in their banks in flood times. This work also prevents erosion and has reclaimed much adjoining land for the farmers who have sold fishing rights to the Commission. "Many farmers after seeing the work done on other pieces of land acquired by the state were anxious to sell their stream so they could get the benefits of this work on the streams running through their lands. This stream purchase and improvement program has been approved by the Grange in New York State and the farmers and sportsmen are very enthusiastic over the results. "On the Salmon River in Northern New York in 1930 there was practically no open fishing- Now there are 60 miles of open fishing available to the public. This work has opened one of NeW York's finest trout streams to public fishing. "The stream improvement included the wall ing in of springs and spring runs so they could be protected and help the cold water to arrive at the streams quickly, so low stream temperatures would be maintained. Bank cribbings and de flectors make up the greatest amount of work done to date. "As these programs are laid out in New \ovt- State now by far the majority of the population are within fifty miles of one of these projects except in the New York City area of the State. Looking toward the future I am informed that the New York Conservation Department intends to extend this present program to other areas and where possible also keep on increasing the size of the areas owned at present. This forward looking program certainly is a guide that the Pennsylvania Fish Commission may well endeavor to follow. Mr. Halpin provided transportation so >• could personally inspect the areas owned on the Kinderhook Creek about 20 miles from Albany- I spent several hours driving along this creek and stopping and investigating various forms °j improvement. I saw cribbing that had weathered Photo by Ralph N. Stewart, jr_ Scene on Dunbar Creek in Fayette County. This beautiful trout stream is 13l/£ miles in length. the hurricane floods of several years ago and found that these floods caused very slight damage "The Commission began acquiring 66 feet on to the improvements in place at that time. Tlus A VISIT TO OUR NEIGHBORS e {Continued from Page 2) each side of the streams decided upon. These stream was big brown trout water where >" fishing rights were purchased in any part of the first started to follow it and near the Massachu rights. After serious consideration and review ca it was concluded thai there were available about territory desired and in any size obtainable. setts line and the headwaters it was a typi J ] ,000 miles of stream that could be purchased. "The purchase agreements contain a clause native trout stream running through farm and "Twelve different watersheds in different stating that land and water so obtained was for meadow land and kept in place by improvements sections of the state were finally approved and fishing purposes only by legal methods. About in spite of freshets, floods, winter ice and erosion- after serious consideration of results in other each half mile of stream was made accessible The upkeep on these improvements has been states and the restrictions in the use of W.P.A. by a well posted and marked route so the'fisher very small and they should last for many years labor it was decided not to lease but to obtain men could gain entrance to the stream without to come without costing any money for upkeep outright the fishing rights to these streams in spoiling crops or any of the farmers' property. or maintenance. Mr. S. M. Cowden, Supt. °* question. These fishing rights did not include hunting. Fish Culture, Dr. J. R. Greeley, and other ern- 1942 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 1<>
Ployers of the Commission rode with me and explained the various points of interest. We also discussed creel limits on the Delaware ttiver between New York and Pennsylvania and after learning that our Delaware River limits *ere twice those of New York State for Bass and Trout we concluded that Pennsylvania would do *ell if our Pennsylvania Commission would en deavor to change our limits in the river to con IF. form to those of our neighbors. '><%*' We tentatively arranged to study outlining, sPearing and eel weirs in the Delaware as per mitted by New York State so that steps could be taken in the future to improve the situation and conserve additional fish. I cannot fully describe the fine cooperation that *as extended to us through Mr. Lighgon Os borne, Commissioner and Mr. John L. Halpin, Secretary of the Department, as well as all the °ther employees we met. Nothing was left un done that would make our trip a success and all these people deserve the appreciation of Penn- sylvania's Fishermen for the line information and cooperation that was extended to the Pennsyl vania Board of Fish Commissioners through your v'isiting Commissioner.
THE FATHER OF THE FLY ROD (Continued from Page 3) ^oods were as good still-hunters, canoemen and Woodsmen as Hiram Leonard," an old associate 8aid of him, and added that men were scarce who could carry a heavy load so long a distance as Qe could; it is recorded that in 1856 he carried a Quarter of moose meat weighing 135 pounds from Uttle Spencer Pond to Lobster Lake, a distance °f seven miles—and he a vegetarian! He was a taxidermist "and did excellent work," a gunsmith *ho could make every part of a rifle "and few aien could do as fine work." And the first fishing ?°d be ever made so impressed a Boston sporting Soods firm that they commissioned him to make rods for them and thus started him on the road t° fame. The Leonards are an old American family, three brothers having come from England during *he early days of the Bay Colony. Lewis Leonard, "iram's father, was born in Boxbury, Massa chusetts, but when he grew up he went to Maine, then a new country, to raise sheep. Subsequently he turned to the manufacture of oars and even tually came to specialize in the production of 'acing sweeps, at which he was so proficient that his fame spread, first through this country and then to England. Considering the remoteness of America from the British Isles in those days, and The great American, Hiram Leonard, the rod maker, was also an accomplished musician, and expert the then-prevalent English contempt for any gunsmith, a civii engineer and an ardent hunter. thing American, this was a very substantial achievement and it indicates that Lewis Leonard Bangor, Maine. I think we may assume that he restoring and copying many early Leonard rods, Possessed a high degree of craftsmanship. It also fished the waters which we now love. he has minutely investigated them, even to 'idicates that Hiram Leonard got from his But before he was twenty-two years old (one steaming some of them apart to note their in 'ather some knowledge of the properties of wood chronicler, indeed, states it was at the age of ternal characteristics. a id of the design of a "catenary lever." sixteen) he was in charge of the "machinery Not once, but many times, Garry remarked, Hiram Lewis Leonard was born January 23, department"—probably mechanical superin "I cannot understand how Leonard could hit '831, at Sebec, Piscataquis County, Maine, but tendent or master mechanic—of the Pennsyl on the true design of a rod without being an ^hen he was three or four years old his family vania Coal Company. If this refers to the present engineer. I suppose he used the method of trial Jfoved to Ellenville, New York, and some years company of that name it probably was an im and error, but even so, he must have had a 'ater to Honesdale, Pennsylvania. I have been portant concern even in those days, and con tremendous amount of luck. It doesn't seem Unable to discover any reference to fishing as sequently there is an implication that he was possible. applied to his boyhood years, although it scarcely skilled in mechanical matters, even as a youngster. "His early rods are out of date now, but re seerns possible that a man who was an accom Very little information is now available con member that they were designed for a different plished woodsman in early manhood, according cerning this period of Hiram Leonard's life, but kind of fishing—short casts on small brooks, t° reliable reports, could have been raised in the my inquiries disclosed a single fact which sup fishing the wet fly in constant motion against the heart of the Catskills, among the classic trout plies the key to unlock what otherwise would current. There was no need to shoot line, and streams of America—the Esopus, the Neversink, continue to be a mystery. indeed, the old ring-and-keeper guides made it P«e Basherkill, the Bondout, the Schoharie— My interest in Leonard and the early history impossible. Furthermore, it was the fad in those Without having learned to love the thrill of taking of the fly rod was originally formed through my days to use a very thin line, which was thought the native speckled trout of those waters. He friendship with Everett Garrison of Yonkers, to be invisible to the fish. For that kind of fish rBs described as an expert fisherman by one of N. Y., a deep student of rod design and a top ing, with that line, Leonard's design was abso hjs old friends, yet he said himself that he made flight custom rod maker. In the course of his lutely right and couldn't be improved upon today. ''is first fishing rod, for his own use, in 1871 in studies, and also through his work in repairing, (Continued on next page) 20 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER NOVEMBER 1
could be excelled by Neidner, Adolph, Howe, or Leonard was a deadly shot and renowned for any of our other topnotch gunmakers. It was a his hunting ability even among men who were all h work of genius. good shots and hunters; he was a splendid woods- ^ He worked as a gunsmith with Charles V. man, and reputed the best of them all at hitting ^ Bamsdell in Bangor for several years, but ap the trail. Many tales were told of his prowess. b. parently business was slow, for he then decided In these years he encountered Thoreau; in "The y to become a professional hunter. At that time Maine Woods" the writer describes, without 1 Maine was largely an uninhabited wilderness, naming, a "slender and delicate-looking" young s there were no game laws, deer were thicker than man who assisted in the rescue of some people B flees on a dog, and hunting venison for the Boston who had broken through the ice in a horse-draw0 f market was a perfectly legitimate occupation. vehicle. y The manner of his entry into this calling is In the summer of 1858 Hiram Leonard went I interesting. At the time of Leonard's death in on an exploring trip up the Tobique Biver i° ^ 1907, an old-timer in Bangor recalled entering New Brunswick and returned immediately to n the woods in the '50's with a party of eight men arrange a hunting trip into that territory with '] and a wagon load of supplies, to spend the winter Manly Hardy. Leaving Bangor early in Septein- li hunting for the market. As they were preparing ber, they went by canoe to the headwaters of i for their first night on the trail a tall, pale, the Tobique and the Nepisguit "and spent some quiet-spoken man with a heavy pack on his back months exploring what is now called 'the newly c came up to their fire and said that lie would like discovered hunting grounds of New Brunswick', s to become a member of the party. This was Hardy related in 1907. "It was on this trip t Hiram Leonard, and the way in which he induced that he did the first fishing that he ever did in 0 these strangers to take him into their party is the Province." And one wonders if that included evidence that even then he could handle men. any of the now-famous salmon waters. He made . "We stayed there all winter and shot 131 deer, at least one salmon rod (a tremendous two-pie^ j sent them to Adams & Chapman, Boston, receiv eighteen footer, in splices) very early in his rod- ing a good price for them," the narrator declared. making career; it is still in the hands of his ', Part of the contents of Leonard's heavy pack, grandson. according to this associate, were a kit of tools The following year, on September 25, 1859t and pieces of steel. Along the first of the winter, Hiram Leonard married Miss Elizabeth Smith when the snow froze and became too noisy for Head of Bangor. In 1860, he contracted hunting, he took a smooth-bored Hemenway gun measles, a serious illness in an adult, and the , Photo and catch by F. W. Fisher of Paradise. barrel, rifled it and made a "double-shot" rifle disease, with ensuing complications, left him i° Two 14 inch brown trout and an 11 inch brook trout right there in camp. This type was undoubtedly caught in Fishing Creek, Columbia County, on wet delicate health. His physician prescribed an flies July 11. that in which two loads were put into one gun- outdoor life for him. barrel, with separate caps and nipples arranged Accordingly, Leonard arranged a fur-hunting THE FATHER OF THE FLY ROD to fire them. The bullet of the bottom load served and -trading expedition into New Brunswick ' as the breech for the top load. In some con and "the wilds of Canada" on an ambitious (Continuedfrom Page 19) temporary sources he is credited with the inven scale. He and at least one other member of the "I wonder if there wasn't an engineer in the tion of the "two shot from one barrel" principle, party, Samuel Whitcomb, were accompanied picture somewhere that we don't know about." but I cannot find elsewhere any corroboration of by their wives and the party went in with oxen As Garry is himself a civil engineer, and a good it, although he was certainly capable of doing and numerous supplies. They settled on ft one, these remarks stuck in my mind. Imagine such a thing. branch of the Kedgwick River and remained my exultation, then, when I found among some The subject of Leonard's two-shot-from-one- there "for several years." papers in the possession of the Leonard family a barrel guns invites a digression. Apparently this brief statement that "he studied civil engineer The exact date of this expedition is in doubt, was a favorite style with him for Manly Hardy one member of the party placing it "in the later ing." This is corroborated by the statement of a relates that when he hunted with Leonard in friend in Bangor that "by profession he was a years of the Civil War," while Leonard's daughter 1857, the latter carried "a three-barreled revolv puts it in the earlier years of the conflict. The civil engineer." Here was clear evidence that ing two-shotter" of which he had himself made period of "several years" may have been coo- ( the Leonard rod designs were indeed not hit-or- every part. miss, trial-and-error affairs, but were calculated siderably longer because when he returned V* ^ by a mind schooled in the natural sciences. A two-barreled over-and-under rifle of the Bangor he commenced taxidermal work in * two-shot type which he made is still in the pos room "above Pol's store" and soon afterward When Hiram Leonard was twenty-two years session of the Leonard family. When a catch is made the fishing rod which started him on the old, that is to say, in 1850 or 1851, he removed released the barrels may be rotated by hand on way to glory. to Bangor, Maine, and worked as a taxidermist a pivot so that each can be fired in turn. Each 3 and gunsmith. In the meager data on his life Matching up the various stories of Leonard ( barrel has two nipples for percussion caps, one there is no actual statement that poverty dogged contemporaries regarding this rod, the facts at the breech and the other a short distance up the family, but there is a sort of implication to seem to be that he became interested in a de- the barrel. The lock is arranged so that it auto that effect—a likely one when we recall that the scription written by W. H. H. Murray of the matically fires the upper and then the lower United States was then a poor country, subject fishing rods made by Conroy of New York, de load, in turn. 3 to frequent and drastic panics and depressions. clared that he could make one as good, and in ' j Too, there is reason to believe that he was Leonard made a shotgun of the same type as a mediately set to work. According to Leonard delicate in health. matched, companion piece to the rifle. It fell himself, this was in 1871. The rod, of ash and So behind the brief statement of his removal I into other hands and at some undetermined time lancewood, was intended for his own use, bu seem to see an impecunious young man, maybe later, a man in the South wrote to a Bangor a friend of the sporting goods firm of Bradford out of employment because his shops had shut newspaper, enclosing a photograph of the shot & Anthony, in Boston, advised him to send it to down, restless to visit new scenes and perhaps gun, stated it was marked "H. L. Leonard, them for inspection. They were immediately wistful for the climate and surroundings of Bangor, Me." and inquired if any reader could interested, and when their salesman came to Maine, which his father may have described with throw light on it. Bangor he looked up Leonard. longing and regret. What more natural than that He stated that the shotgun had been lent to a They had been having trouble in getting wel'' he should resolve to convert a hobby into a busi man to go turkey shooting; he failed to return, made split bamboo rods, of the four-strip type' ness, capitalize on his manual skill, and at the and was not found until the snow melted off the and wanted to know if he could make then1- same time make a living in healthful surround next spring. He had been shot, and from the After inspecting samples which the salesm8° ings? circumstances it was deduced that he had lired showed him, he replied in no uncertain term No specimens of Leonard's taxidermy are in at a turkey and, while continuing to stalk, the that he could, and he was in the rod business' existence that I know of, but the old-timers second load in the barrel had been discharged He began that same day, with his only tools 0 declared that his mounted animals were so life through its wadding having taken fire from the small vise, a hatchet for splitting the bambo > like as to deceive the beholder. As to gunsmith- first discharge and smouldered until it reached and a rasp and "a crooked knife" to work on ing, I personally believe that he was an even the powder. This is quite probable; arms col the strips. (If this was the Ojibway crooke better gunsmith than a rodmaker, for I have lectors declare that guns of the two-shot type knife, it was a sort of one-hand, miniatur handled and closely inspected a weapon which which were quite popular for a few years went drawknife or spokeshave, in the use of which he made, and do not believe that its workmanship out of use because of this defect. great deal of skill may be employed.) 1942 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 21
His business grew and he began to employ "I made my first rod in Bangor, Me. Material ESOX AND THE THING help. He ceased to sell his rods to Bradford & used was ash and lancewood. I made it for my Anthony, and for a time marketed them through own use, not intending to make a business of (Continued from Page U) Abbey & Imbrie of New York; characteristically, rod manufacturing. I, however, sent it to Brad and grasped the glittering Thing. Leaves and he broke off with the latter firm because they ford & Anthony of Boston who kept a sporting moss exploded all around the spot, and the water Wanted him to mark his rods "Abbey & Imbrie." goods house, being advised to do so by a friend churned. Then upward and out of sight, the Then the rodmaker demonstrated that the de of theirs. Thing in its jaw, the fish disappeared. scription of him as "a genius but not a business "Their salesman said, 'The man who made that Esox was not greatly disturbed. There would Ulan" was correct by entering, in 1877, into a rod understood the business and ought to be be one less pickerel to compete with him for the Partnership with a Boston man named Kidder, able to make split bamboo rods.' food in this bit of the pond. Perhaps now, satis Without stopping to realize that the name of H. "I had never seen one, he showed me two; I fied with the kill, the strange creature on the L. Leonard Bod Co. which he had broken with examined them; he asked me if I could make surface would go away and leave Esox to his Abbey & Imbrie to retain, thereby became as them. Answered, 'Yes, and better than those!' feeding. ttuich the property of his partner as of himself. I commenced making them from that date— But again there came a splash on the surface, The partners continually disagreed and a year opened my shop in two rooms on Main Street in bigger and noiser than any before, and drifting Jater, in 1878, Kidder sold out his partnership Bangor—worked alone at first, was there about down toward Esox came the smaller pickerel. interest to William Mills & Son of New York. a year, then moved into Strickland's block on Its lower jaw had a gash in one side. There were They supplied the business ability and trade the bridge, hired one man at first. As business bruises on its sides. Its fins quivered, and its tail contacts which Leonard lacked and in the en increased, 6 or 7. turned weakly. Its eyes were set and glazed, and suing thirty years up to his death they spread "Stayed there three years then moved to its gills opened to their full extent in great gasps the name and fame of him and his rods through- Dow's block on Hammond Street. Employed of distress. Out the civilized world. II men, 1 woman. In 1877 went in company Down, down, down the small fish sank, into the with Mr. Kidder of Boston, remained with him very moss on the bottom, which opened with the The growth of Leonard's rod business under until 1878. Then he sold out to William Mills & pressure of its body and then gently closed Mills' handling made his location in far-off Son, New York. over it. oangor a matter of great inconvenience and they suggested that he move his plant closer to New "In 1881. removed from Bangor to Central Esox knew the smaller fish was hurt. He had York. Leonard asked them to suggest a location Valley, N. Y., built factory which was moved in seen others suffer this fate. But he knew, too, and Thomas Mills replied that he had a sister 1899 to present site. Am with Mills, yet. that strength would flow back into the body of the living in Central Valley, New York, and it was "The rods I first saw were in four strips but fish, that its jaw would heal, and that forever a likely community for his purpose. Leonard in splitting up the bamboo I found where it was after, like him, it weuld avoid the Thing that came down on a trip of inspection, agreed, and burnt there were weak places, so made the rods came glittering down from above. forthwith, in 1881, moved his plant and a number in six strips, the first ever made, and from the The sun had sunk lower during this by-play, of his employees to that location. very commencement the demand has been so and the urgings that ran through the body of great for the Leonard rod that I have not been Esox like an electric current had become sharper Central Valley and its mile-off neighbor, able to fully supply it. and more compelling. Highland Mills, constitute a sort of shrine of He must eat before the water became black "My rods took the first prize at Vienna, rod-making. The Leonard plant is still in Central with night. London, and at the world's fair, Philadelphia, Galley; Jim Payne, the son of that Ed Payne Rage and disappointment mingled with his Who was one of Hiram Leonard's skilled rod- and in all contests for fly, or bait casting, they lead the world." hunger, for while he had watched near tragedy Uiakers, has his shop in Highland Mills. All of the befall one of his breed the school of minnows on old rod-makers except Fred Thomas are buried in which he might have feasted had disappeared the Cemetery of the Highlands, in Highland Mills into the vegetation. "—Leonard; Payne; Will Edwards, the stormy He moved quickly to another space of open Petrel who was "always shifting about," making water not far distant, but this, too, was barren. fods at different times for Spaulding, Aber- The arrival of the creature on the surface and the Crombie & Fitch, Winchester and Bristol, and struggle of the youthful pickerel had scattered starting photograph galleries between-times; all the forage in this part of the pond. Hiram Hawes, who came from Honesdale Pa., to work for Leonard and married his daughter Esox knew the minnows would return, when Cora; his brother, Loman Hawes; and Frank they had gotten over their fright. He had chosen Oram, (he joined up with Ed Payne after Hiram this particular lily bed for his home because he Leonard's death) who died with Leonard's had discovered long ago that it was a favorite Sluing secret locked in his breast, according to a **S5g schooling place for the minnows. He settled legend which has absolutely no basis in fact. down into the weeds to wait. The sun no longer shone down. Through the Hiram Leonard died at his home in Oak lily pads and weeds he could see the light of the Clove, Central Valley, on the morning of January sky, tinged now with the golden color that he P, 1907, at the age of seventy-six years and had learned to associate with the approach of Seven days. His only daughter, Cora Leonard darkness. Hawes, still survives and also one grandchild, Soon the minnows would come timidly back Merritt Edmond Hawes. They have resided for to this cover, for they feared to roam the open niany years in Canterbury, Connecticut. spaces when night brought marauders. Probably no man deserves better the thankful Suddenly the instinct that had saved his life Memory of sportsmen than the Yankee genius many times nerved him to attention. There ^ho invented, perfected and provided for them was a slight commotion at the far edge of the the rod which revolutionized the art of fly fishing lily bed, and then some strange object that he ?nd made possible the kind of fly casting that could not see distinctly slithered across the pads "s the basis of our sport. It must always be a and leaves over his head and disappeared out of Matter of regret that he did not survive long his sight. enough to apply his magnificent talents to the No danger this, Esox decided after a moment. Problems of two developments of later years The swallows were flocking on the pond again, Which would have delighted his soul—the use and one less adept than the rest at the art of W Tonkin cane instead of the Calcutta bamboo skimming just over the surface of the water had ^hich he knew, and the rise of dry fly angling. dragged its light body over the pads. To leave the reader with the full flavor of Esox never had eaten anything from the world Hiram Leonard's individuality, I have saved above the water. But this creature had more life, Ml the last a curious, undated and unsigned was bigger than the minnows on which he dined. f agment of autobiography which his wife ap The head of the largest trout ever caught in the It would be sporting—it might relieve this ten parently wrote at his dictation, for the document Yellow Breeches Creek which flows through Cum sion which gripped him—if he could give it a § in her handwriting. Through the courtesy of berland and York Counties. The trout weighed chase. 8I/2 pounds and was caught by Harry Squibb of Pis. Hiram W. Hawes, I am privileged to re- Leidigh's Station while fishing from the lawn of his Quietly, so that he could not be observed from Produce it, as follows: own back yard. (Continued on next page) 22 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER NOVEMBER
ESOX AND THE THING In a flash he realized he had been outsmarted. INSECTS THAT CATCH FISH The Thing had caught him again. (Continued from Page 21) At the side of the floating object with long, (Continued from Page 11) above, he turned his body in the direction whence slender arms sticking down into the water Esox broth. Countless numbers of fish and smal' the disturbance had come. began a last desperate struggle for freedom, but aquatic creatures are their unhappy prey. There! That small commotion again! In the a mesh closed around his body, slender like the The Giant Electric Light Bug or Benacus i» distance as he looked upward through the water stems of his beloved water weeds but not to be the largest six-legged insect found in a temporal he could see the leaves bobbing down on their so easily brushed to one side. clime. I have collected dozens of specimens * long stems and the edges of the lily pads turn Esox was lifted out into the air, and while he full two and one-half inches in length. They be' under. raked his gills wide open in the first frenzy of long to that group of insects that can truly an* This bird was not flying so swiftly. Perhaps, drowning in the air he felt a strong pressure correctly be called "bugs," a class which als" he reasoned, it was feasting on the insects atop around his body. It held against all his writhing. includes the bedbugs and stinkbugs. This b>£ the pad. Then suddenly the hard restraint was removed insect is as voracious as Dytiscus, disposing °' Esox tensed his muscles, made ready for the from his jaw. He felt himself lowered to the its victims quite as efficiently albeit by a different attack. water, felt its coolness closing around him as method. Instead of having biting or chewing Now! It was just over his head. He could the grip on his sides relaxed. mouthparts, it is provided with a sharp and Ion? see its long, rather slender form through the Too exhausted to move for a brief moment, sucking beak with which it stabs its prey an'1 partly transparent leaves. It was low, seeming he sank slowly into the depths. sucks out the body fluids. While engaged in i*5 to touch the pads as it skimmed along. Esox could not hear the words that were ghastly method of feeding it hangs on to i*5 With all his strength Esox struck. The leaves spoken above him as he disappeared from view. victim with a pair of front legs that remind one parted as his gaping jaws, gleaming with curved Had he, and could he have understood, he would of ice tongs. They will readily attack fish, sal*' teeth, met the shadow head on and closed down have heard: manders and small reptiles. with a powerful snap of his head muscles. "You can't catch the big fellows, Jim, with I once showed a specimen of this insect to ' Then a shock of terror ran through Esox. a spoon cast into open water where they have a brother angler who was little interested in insect His teeth did not rip into this creature as into chance to look it over. exclusive of using them for bait, and he at once the body of a minnow. He could not dart down "But pickerel are killers, driven by hunger became almost excited when telling of what l'6 into the water with his prey in his jaws. and curiosity. Fish the spoon among the lily had observed farther up stream. He had actual" Instead, he was gripped by the object which pads and weeds where they can't make out its seen this insect seize and kill a small water snake' he had seized. Something small and hard had exact form but where the disturbance will at the reptile biting the bug repeatedly, but to ° run through his jaw. It held against the crazy tract their attention, and they'll usually make a avail before its own life blood had been sucke* contortions into which he threw his body. pass at it. out. It might be safely concluded that Benacu* Esox put every ounce of power he possessed "It's lucky some guy who kills every fish he destroys as many if not more fish than the wate' into his struggle, but he could not stem the force catches didn't try the trick on that fellow. He snake, and being an insect it goes unnoticed that was dragging him out of the lily bed. fell for it like a ton of bricks." (Continued on Page 28) 1942 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 23
THE LIEUTENANT PAYS DOC hooks and then hunted for some very thin wire. the stones. A breathless moment passed as he There was none and he suddenly became let the leader hang slack. (Continuedfrom Page 5) frantic—he simply had to have pliable wire that Doc was trembling with anticipation. By "All right—money's out. If I don't catch was no heavier than silk thread. He turned on gone days crowded back into his memory. He •nore and bigger trout than you do this after the electric light in the closet for one last look— was young again—a bait fisherman after his noon, I'll get up at the next club meeting and and stood spellbound, gazing at the light. limit in days of plenty and many thrills. It apologize to you publicly and admit dry flies There it was! was a renewal of his past and he tingled with are better than wets. But, if I win, you'll have He grabbed the bulb, unscrewing it from the the old sensations of his youth. He had found a to do the same to me and say that wets have it socket and then smashed it in the wastebasket. long lost friend. Why had he lost him through *11 over dries. Tie that to your leader and cast The filament was just what he needed. With a the years? He knew it was one of the forces of it." pair of shears, he cut it into small lengths. Then evolution—of growing into a better way of life. "Okay—Doc—at last you're going to give in. he got a tube of liquid solder and set to work. Yet it was great to revert for a little while— and for such a cause! It's a bet. Put 'er there!" Ten minutes later, Doc had four of the hooks The two friends shook hands and rose from fixed to his liking. Each had a piece of the wire A sudden jerk on the line caught Doc unaware. the table. Doc headed for the easy chair while soldered in the middle, by a small drop, part He was deep in his thoughts but it did not matter. Lieut started out and then stopped. way down the shank. The trout had taken the nymph deep—it had "What's the idea—aren't you even going to been a perfectly natural, live one—just what Next he took a short length of 4X gut and the doctor ordered. fish?" tied it to the knot joining the 5X tippet to his In the meantime, the Lieutenant had worked "Run along, sucker, you'll need every minute long leader. On this inch long piece he squeezed hard over the best waters he knew. Not for a to be in the running. I'm going to snooze a while. a BB lead shot sinker. He tied one of the million dollars would he lose that bet. During There's no hurry—it won't take long to beat hooks to the tippet. He was now set to start the afternoon his efforts seemed wasted. Not K>u." With which remark Doc settled deep in fishing. the chair and closed his eyes. Lieut shook his a trout could be lured to the fly, to be caught, head doubtfully and went out. For once he Locating Lieut on the stream, Doc sneaked measured and released and a note made in the couldn't figure out his side-kick's actions. He around and below him to a favorite stretch of record book. It seemed a hopeless day until ^as either kidding or out of his head. That was water. He began turning over rocks until he evening came. Then the trout roused them Lieut's weakness. He had had things his own found a live nymph to his liking. Holding it selves from their lethargy. *ay for so long that he had come to under carefully, so that the back of the hook lay For an hour it was like heaven. The dry fly estimate his opposition. Battles are often lost against the underside of the immature fly, Doc had regained its magic. And for one brief that way. bent the two ends of the fine wire in opposite moment it outdid itself, as though to make up directions around the thick part (thorax) until The moment his friend was out of sight, Doc for lost time, when an 18 inch brown rolled up, they met below the hook. These were twisted °ame to life with a bang. He jumped out of his sucked it in and then fought a losing fight. together, fastening the nymph solidly to the °hair and rushed to his room and dove into a It was Lieut's prize for the year and he went hook, yet not hurting it in any way. It wiggled [&ess of old fishing tackle. For once he thanked back to the club house, secure in the belief that and pawed the air most invitingly as it seemed his lucky star that he had a habit of saving he had once more trimmed his old friend. to hang by a cobweb. This was the only way to every bit of tackle he had ever used. Now it As he reached the steps, he saw Doc coming bait a hook with such delicate insects and keep *as to be his friend in need—he hoped. up from the stream. What he saw made him them alive and whole. To put the hook into blink his eyes and look again. There was no Out of the junk box of old hooks he at last them not only killed, but made the juice run doubt about it, Doc was trudging along as ">und what he had thrown there some dozen out of them, leaving a useless skin which easily though all in—a hopeless, dejected droop to Vears ago. It was a small, rusty hook with a dropped off the hook. Piece of fine wire soldered to it. The wire was his shoulders. He appeared a beaten man, worn "ent and broken, the hook useless. But it con With a quick glance around, to make sure no out by fruitless toil. Lieut felt a tinge of pity tained the germ of an idea which now played one was looking, Doc made his way slowly and for his old friend, he took it so hard. strongly in Doc's mind. carefully to the head of a run where deep down Then Doc's creel swung into view from behind , Out of his desperation had come a brilliant some rocks broke the current. Only the leader his back. Lieut gasped. The creel hung heavy '•tea and the memory of old days when he caught hung from the rod, with the bait and sinker and a tremendous tail flopped over one side. *nd kept plenty of big fish. That was B. L. (be- swinging back and forth. It was a clever rig— Lieut had a sudden sinking feeling in the pit of '°re Lieut) had begun to dominate his method of one that was designed to make trouble for the his stomach. He knew disaster was walking ^hing. Funny what we will do for a friend. trout but to keep Doc out of it. If the round toward him. But now all that was over—this time Lieut sinker caught between rocks, a jerk on the In absolute silence, Doc came on. Not a sign ^as going to hit bottom with a thud. He'd had leader would make the short piece of gut slide on his face of the turbulance within him. This I coming for many years—with any kind of out of the split shot with no danger to the rest was his day—his hour—and it surged through ^ck he'd get it now. Nothing was going to of the tackle. Another shot could be squeezed him with a burning pleasure. Victory was his. on and everything would be ready again. *top j)oc—even if his scheme wasn't exactly on Wordless, he unslung the creel, opened it and ae up and up. Leaning over, Doc lowered the nymph into poured out onto the grass, four tremendous Time was precious, so our hero set to work with the stream above the rocks. As it sank, he guided trout—one 19 inches; two 19H inches and one Will. He selected some size 14 fine, dry fly the sinker until it pulled the insect down under (Continued on next page)
v5«^e H /«'?M"rfnff!ji \\ook
y% "Ti'ppef- 21 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER NOVEMBER THE LIEUTENANT PAYS DOC AMERICAN FLY TYPES AND SUSQUEHANNA SALMON (Continued from Page 23) THEIR CONSTRUCTION (Continued from Page 7) nearly 2 feet long! He fondled them with his (Continued from Page 9) his reward, the manufacturers turned them out toe as he opened his notebook and read—"Four under the name of Susquehanna spinners- teen in all—not counting those under 12 inches— hackle ends—both adding to fly durability and Today they are listed thus in catalogues. * these four making the limit by weight." particularly furthering the body taper without bump was then put on them and they wef* necessitating the use of a foreign substance to He picked up the fish and trudged into the called June-Bug spinners. The old "salmon form it. club house without looking at Lieut. He knew fishermen declared that this was an improve' the battle was not over. His pal was too wise In winding the hackle sections, first complete ment. the rear section, H-1, leaving the forward hackle, fl to accept defeat without one last struggle. A lamprey eel was usually attached behin H-2, plenty of room. It is not necessary to These fish had been caught honestly—on live the spinner but sometimes night crawlers* criss-cross the winding between the wings, and flies and nymphs fished wet. lizards, and minnows were employed. Every I am of the opinion that such tends to split out Lieut came in after him and planted himself "salmon" fisherman had his pet rig, usually *" the wings, themselves. While this may not be 1 squarely in front of Doc. In a toneless voice, exacting homemade affair with hooks in tandetf detected upon completion of the fly, the fallacy he asked "Did you catch those trout yourself, attached by cat gut. will certainly show up under actual casting. in our waters?" After the dams prevented the egress ot The second or forward hackle, H-2, is wound in "You bet I did—and how!" grinned Doc. "lampers" on some of our streams, and the? an opposite direction. It is to advantage to could no longer be dug in the sand, strips °| "Yes—and how? That's just it—our bet was slightly overlap the H-1 hackle already secured, rawhide were used as their imitation. Nig'1 for you to use only wet flies and nymphs—how since this will produce a remarkably well braced crawlers worked well but they were more peris!1' about it?" area of strong whisks. "On my honor, Lieut, that's exactly what I able than lampreys. (Note: Some very difficult to make imitations used, and nothing else. And I fished them wet— Early in the summer when the river is h° ' are more readily made by blending hackles of real bottom scratchers, you know." but still high, fishing was poor. But when tfl* two shades in this manner. For instance take Lieut sighed and held out his hand. Then he combination of low water and cold nights existed some of those smokey-brown legged insects. grinned. "You've had it coming for a long time, it was at its best. By blending a deep ginger and a blue dun Old Man. Congratulations." Practically every section had a water niaf"' hackle (overlapping) this peculiar cast can be Doc answered his grin. "Thanks" was all he When this spot was above the surface, the rive duplicated sufficiently well). could say. His conscience did bother him a was so low that the "salmon" were concentrate little. But was it his fault that Lieut didn't Making the tail is the third operation. Whether among the ledges in the deepest holes. Unt' ask if the flies and nymphs were alive? the fibres of the woodduck or the lustrous the water reached this low stage they *er (EDITOR'S NOTE: The hook described in this whisks of a long hackle be employed, be certain scattered about too much and the result >va^ slory was invented by the author some years ago that these are resilient enough to produce a they were too hard to locate. bouncing action. In either case, tie these so and first appeared in Ray Bergman's "Just The ideal trolling rod is not a bobtail Mj that they are curved slightly downward over the Fishing" as Everett's live-bait hook.) casting rod nor is it a long whippy fly rod; rear of the shank bend. The finished fly should is something in between the two. The famou8; be supported by the hackle legs and tail whisks old rod makers, among them George Boyd ° A CANNY SCOT only, the hook entirely clear of the table top. Harrisburg, rose to the occasion and W^. Sandy: "I ha' sold ma' barometer." The fly should land upright and without any sturdy seven and eight foot split bamboo rod- audible "tick" of the hook striking the table. Jock: "What for?" with the reel seats above the handles. They wet Sandy: "Got rheumatiz now an' I kin tell when The body of an artificial fly, with emphasis on perfect for trolling. 'tis going to rain without lookin' at a barometer." the dry fly type, is a problem at times. Dis The two main things in "salmon" fishing a* ' coloration through becoming wet, brittleness of knowledge of the holes and ledges and a ** the materials, swelling caused by absorption— deep running lure. Naturally a deep runnj11" % M all these make for disappointment to the maker lure causes plenty of trouble, frequently fouli00 who has spent hours getting just that right on the bottom. This necessitates a good sturd- shade of color. Therefore it is wise to give body line which will not deteriorate rapidly and tn* materials proper consideration. Try to limit the will not break readily when the lure is fouled; needs of body makeup, principally because one The old favorite was the greatest seller of *J material alone can be handled well in various time, the hard braid Invincible. A 36 lb. «n ways to satisfactorily produce the required ap would be good for several years of hard servic • pearance. This material is fur. Wall-eyes gang up in schools and lie in the Fur is superb. Seal, fox belly, marten and depths around ledges. Sometimes a fisheriB8' mole furs are of the finest for dry fly bodies. would locate a good wall-eye at a ledge by seel"" By using dyes, and mixtures of the four furs, the head of the fish sticking out from under dyed or natural, or in combination, segmented, rock. Sometimes he would see a school of P* plain, sleek or pulpy bodies can be constructed ones and work on them for weeks on end. " . which are unsurpassed. In the case of segmented servation helped plenty but the greatest ass bodies, the fur sometimes surpasses the more was knowledge of the bottom and the sp° definitely marked quill. In addition, they are frequented by these fish year after year. water repellent in a natural sort of way and re quire no "doctoring." One elderly man told me about his hot sp° Quill is a good body material, but second to There was a large flat rock in ten feet of ***L fur. Peacock tails, either where the eyed portion between two ledges. The rock was hollow under is found or where the darker butt quill running neath on all sides but this hollow space exten"^ the length of the stem is located, provide a only about a foot above the bottom. Every tny he could swing his spoon under an edge of f?! source of the best. The short fibres found on w the stiff, coarse side of a goose quill are excellent a strike was forthcoming. Sometimes he |j fish for hours around the "table rock" but wo1 for smaller flies, such as size sixteen and fourteen. l They take a dye color very well and handle only be successful in getting the swing of „ easily. lure just right on several occasions. The res was strikes. When the water was too c'oll.i) When wrapping quill it is sometimes an to see the bottom he used land marks on b? u assurance of prolonged fly life to turn fine gold sides of the mile wide river. He caught one * wire around the quill already forming the body, from under his flat rock which tipped the sca„( but in a counter direction. This is entirely a to nine pounds. He figured there were always matter of opinion, yes, but if used sparingly, the f least a dozen "salmon" located there no ma1 gold does enhance the fly in addition to strength how many were caught from the spot. ening the quill wrapping. The whip finish is no longer restricted to All old "salmon" fishermen will tell V j "Two-bit" bugs. Every fly made should be "if you don't catch bottom a lot, you're " Mrs. D. E. Miller, wife of Game Protector Miller of Titusville, Crawford County is after a big one in finished with this knot. If you are not familiar fishing right. Don't be afraid to put on m Little Sugar Creek near Cochranton. (Continued on Page 29) (Continued on next page) 1942 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 25 lead if you are not hooking up. You must get tion, yellow, and believe it or not, black. Float able comeback is a matter of conjecture, but down there to catch them." Up and down the ing River Runts, Jack Jrs., Flat Fish, and Babe- the fact remains they are coming back strong. Susquehanna, Juniata, and Delaware tons of Orenos are good trolling floaters. This is a condition which is most gratifying to lead, spoons, and hooks were lost when lines had One old water dog of our acquaintance is a many of us. to be broken, but that was all part of the game. one-lure-fisherman now. His pet is the floating Stories were frequent about big ones that were River Runt Spook in the black finish with the hooked but could not be lifted from the bottom. white stripes. It really shows up, and it is Nothing is obtained without a lot of trouble, It is amazing how these fish can hang down in particularly effective when the water is murky. except a hi of trouble. the depths even though they do not possess Plugs, like all fishing tackle, are fast becoming speed and do not cover much ground. Slow, scarce articles, but there are still some around. "Mike" Schieb of Kearsarge, took three "mus- deliberate power is their strong suit. It is more serious today to lose a lure than it kies" from Beef Creek in one week. The largest As soon as they are forced from their element: ever was before. Some are irreplaceable. To weighed seven pounds. the ledges, logs, and boulders—the angler ex further guard against such catastrophies some periences little trouble. But early in the fight as of the fellows are equiping their plugs with they move from rock to rock they just cannot be double hooks, hook points up. Such an arrange hoisted around. The real reason for this is the ment satisfactorily hooks and holds the fish. fact that they edge up against the stones and They will bump along considerably before catch even stick their heads under them. In order to ing the bottom, and usually they can be jiggled get some of those stubborn fish "off the bottom" free of a snag. it would be necessary for the angler to lift the Wall-eyes are a strange and mysterious fish. river bed. • The culturists cannot propagate them. After Between Steelton and Marsh Run on the the eggs hatch out in the hatcheries the little Susquehanna is a deep ledge stretch. On the fellows must be stocked immediately. They West bank of the river beside the railroad is an are very tiny and hard to see in the cans. One imposing bluff upon which ospreys perch. This time when a group of our Club representatives section of the river is known as Hawk Rock, were stocking some, one man looked into the named after the prominent land mark. Below can and in bewilderment he asked, "what are we Hawk Rock is a bay called the Sardine Hole, doing, stocking water?" where they used to net shad before the dams stopped the migration. They spawn shortly after the ice goes out, and they are most prolific. The rate of growth This area produced some of the finest wall is rapid. It is said that at the end of the first eyes ever caught anywhere. Different fish year they may attain a length of over a foot. Weighing between 8 and 12 pounds rewarded persistent trollers back in the old days. The Just why these fish are staging such a remark granddaddy of them all though was a 17 J^ pounder which was preserved for posterity by mounting. This was probably the world record Wall-eye up until a few years ago. Little by little the salmon decreased in num bers. Some of the old fishermen crossed the Great Divide. The activity of others slowly de creased. The supply of fish was so limited that the anglers of the coming generation turned to other fields to conquer. Trolling for "salmon" Was on the wane. For some reason or other, probably some com bination of reasons, this native fish is staging a great comeback. The supply in the Susquehanna, Juniata, and Delaware watersheds is again great enough to merit the serious attention of anglers. Interest in trolling has been rejuvenated. Frequently late in the summer and throughout the fall anxious and alert fishermen can be seen slowly working their boats back and forth over the ledges of the deep stretches. As evening approaches they concentrate on the head of the deep water where the riffles level Out. Once again their efforts are being rewarded by attention and action from gelatin eyed bull dogs. But the "salmon" fishermen are breaking an old tradition. The tendency is to forsake the old faithful June-Bug spinner. An intruder is gradually gaining favor and taking its place, and strange to say, it is a floating plug. Naturally there is a practical reason for this. The plug is fished two or three feet behind the lead sinkers. Its buoyance makes it trail be hind and above the sinkers. The sinkers are deep enough to ride near the bottom, often scraping it. In this position the plug rarely snags, and the long rounded sinkers cannot fre quently foul. Some fishermen attach this weight to the troll ing line with a ten inch piece of line weaker in test than the trolling line. If the lead catches 'n a ledge or branch, the weaker line breaks and, as a result, the trolling line and the floating plug are still safe and sound. Photo courtesy of the Harrisburg Evening News. A stone- cat accounted for this fine wall- eye in the Susquehanna at Harrisburg. The lucky fisherman "Salmon" like the bright lures best and the was Roy Honser, Harrisburg. He and his grandson, Jimmy Forry, display the big fellow. Jimmy says, brightest of all are: the red and white combina "in another year or two I'm going along too." 26 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER NOVEMBER
THE FLY ROD FOR BASS, By Bob McCafferty (Continued from Page 6) straightened out on the back cast. The rod is Illustrating tfie Principles of the Left Hand Pull perpendicular or if you are like most of us it is past the perpendicular at what is commonly referred to as one o'clock. During this function, the left or line-carrying hand should be raised up and across the face to a point a few inches from the right temple. At this instant and preparatory to the start of the forward cast with the rod, pull the line sharply with the line hand causing the line to begin its forward motion. This action and that of the forward cast of the rod must be synchronized to avoid loss of the energy thus developed. In other words, the rod must be brought into action immediately before the hand pull is stopped. This combination of actions will give you sufficient power to drive the most stubborn of wind resisting lures through the air. When the fly is "picked up" or lifted from the water the left hand, pulls down on the line. What actually occurs is very evident in the illustrations. The pull starts the line on its for ward motion and keeps the fly rod bent to its maximum point. Just before the left hand tug is stopped, the usual forward cast with the rod is made. As the rod is bent to its maximum point, a tremendous amount of energy is imparted to a line which is already well started on its for ward motion. In tournament work, the introduction of this feature added many feet to the distance fly casting records. Modified slightly for use in actual fishing, it is easily learned. It is purely a case of syn chronization and if, after studying the draw ings the first few attempts are not successful, keep trying. I know of no other recent addition to casting technique which increases fishing pleasure so much. Enough now on equipment and casting. Let s fish. There are two outstanding things come to mind when my thoughts stray to fly rod fishing Before the back cast straightens the left hand holding the line is for bass. One is the number of fish that have brought up to the very butt of the rod. been attracted to a lure which splashed or fell carelessly to the surface of the water and the other extreme, those that were frightened by this same occurrence. Being primarily a trout fisherman it has always been my custom to present bass lures as daintily as possible. How ever, several experiences have taught me the value of an occassional careless presentation of a lure. Strangely enough, this has happened on low and sparkling clear bass streams. Another odd thing is that fish thus attracted nearly all have taken without hesitation and have been solidly hooked. Of course, many trout fishermen have experienced the thrill of dropping a dry fly immediately in back of a surface feeding fish and have that fish turn and take the fly quickly- Because of the weight of bass flies and lures, the presentation is usually not as dainty as that of a trout fly but in some rare instances, this is a valuable feature. During a period of low, clear water on Pine Creek I noticed a bass feeding near the shore. Following my customary method I cast my spinner and bucktail combination upstream from the fish and took advantage of the current to get the lure close to the fish before I began the retrieve. The only result was a frightened fish. As the forward cast starts, the left hand] is brought down sharply. Fishing hadn't been too successful thus far so This adds power to the cast. When the line straightens out on the v I watched this fish's actions for the next fe> forward cast high above the water the line is released by the left minutes. It wasn't long until he swam cautiously hand so that it can shoot through the guides. This is a trick of the back to the same section and cruised slowly tournament distance fly casters. In this article Bob McCafferty ex around near shore again. This time, instead °' plains how it can be used to good advantage while_ fishing. s casting ahead of him, I waited until he w# quartering away from me and then I dropped the lure within ten or twelve inches to the rear of him. He turned and struck so viciously that it was practically impossible to miss the strike. Since that, I have successfully used this trick oV 1942 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 27 other fish. But the careless cast works also with floating lures. A commotion seems to create a certain amount of interest to a bass, at times. A common error is the belief that it is necessary always, but take these experiences for example. A common method of fishing floating bugs for bass is to cast the lure and use a swimming or struggling motion for the retrieve. In some in stances it is better to pause before beginning the retrieve and the actions imparted should be few and very slight while at other times the opposite is more effective.
Bass bugs with small round faces can be easily lifted from the water for the back cast.
The dullest manner of using a floating bass bug, as far as I am concerned, was introduced to me on a pond in which we were fishing for large- mouths from a kayak. Two of us were fishing, taking turns, and after two hours of constant casting without a single rise I let the bug lie on the wrater motionless while resting my arm and watching other parts of the pond's surface for rising fish. A sudden commotion and splash in back of me caused me to turn in time to see that I missed a nice fish. We immediately went into action and fished our bugs as we had been, casting and retrieving with a swimming motion. The results were nil. Then I decided to try the motionless method again. Casting near the spot where the first rise occurred, I let the bug lie motionless for about 45 seconds, then the bass took it with all the viciousness that ever accompanies a rise to a moving lure. A very uninteresting method but it does take those occasional fish. As in dry fly fishing for trout, the floating bass bug is about the most interesting method of taking bass on the fly rod, but, just as in trout fishing, the surface lure is not always effective. The fact that a fish breaks water occasionally does not necessarily mean that it is surface feeding. This is true of both bass and trout. Therefore, an assortment of spinners and buck- tails, streamers and fly rod plugs are a necessity to the angler. When a fish does not readily take a surface bug, try the under-surface lures. Regardless of the type lures you are using, vary your retrieve from time to time. In lifting the fly rod plugs and spinners from the water bring them to the surface first and as they break the surface, lift upward firmly, not with a jerk. This will prevent sets or broken rods. In float ing lures, get both the popper and non-popper types. There are always days when a noisy popper lure will attract fish to the surface when a non-popper of the same construction, shape and color will not work, and vice versa. Bass do get moody. Sometimes they can be induced to strike by making them angry while at other periods one must appeal to their appetites.
Fly fishing with a fly and spinner in the Conodo- guinet near Willow Mill produced this wonderful 4% pound small-mouth bass for John Turner, Mechanicsburg, R. D. 1. Had the fish been taken in late October instead of early August it probably would have topped the five pound mark. Photo courtesy of the Harrisburg Evening News. 28 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER NOVEMBER
INSECTS THAT CATCH FISH (Continued from Page 22) So, here is another marauder that you can add to your list of fish destroyers. The dark-colored aquatic nymphs of the Dragonflies or "Snakefeeders" are also formidable enemies of small fish; their insatiable appetities requiring numerous newly hatched fish to satisfy. This however, does not indicate that they con fine their depredations only to newly hatched fish. Indeed, I have seen it dispose of minnows fully two inches in length; this being remarkable when you consider that the creature is only somewhat over an inch and a half long. While in the nymph stage they are entirely aquatic, propelling the slightly elongated body through the water by means of anal water jets, the water ejected under pressure furnishing the motive power. The mouth of this insect is armed with a pair of hooks which it can extend to seize upon any prey within reach. This it accomplishes by unfolding a masklike covering which hides its face except when in action. The shieldlike mask, reaching well down under the breast gives the creature an expression both mysterious and terrible. On its back it carries rigidly folded and encased wings that are obviously useless. Is there an angler who does not know the shimmer ing and dashing adult form, with its great jewel like eyes and iridescent wings and long, slender abdomen? Unlike the larva (nymph), the adult does not Every year Marty Myers of Williams Grove has great sport with the suckers in the Yellow Breeches prey upon fish but confines itself to a diet of Creek. Marty is one of the fortunate fellows whose fishing is not affected by the gas and rubber situation. mosquitoes, gnats and other obnoxious insects, Most of his fishing is done right at his doorstep. daily consuming hundreds of them. These it catches while on the wing, grasping them with SYNTHETIC RUBBER FROM SUL Board in the production of alcohol as a base for its legs and then winging off to some convenient synthetic rubber. We do contend, however, grass blade to eat them. PHITE PAPER MILL WASTES that if alcohol can be made from sulphite paper * * * mill wastes, now causing a serious loss to the (Continued from Page. 12) Other common native insects that catch fish nation in fish, oysters and aquatic life, and that include the Backswimmers and Water Boatman. public in greatly reducing the pollution from this alcohol can be produced at about one-half The former are unusually abundant and have sulphite paper mills. the present market price, that this matter de remarkable adaptations of body and legs f°r serves a most thorough and sympathetic con SWEDES SUCCESSFUL swimming upside down. Their backs are bluish- sideration from the War Production Board. It gray in color so as to make them practically Mr. LInderwood stated that while the capacity is a golden opportunity to kill two birds with one indistinguishable to any large fish that may be of the one plant proposed would be only 2,f>00,000 stone, and one of those birds will be of lasting located below them. The Boatmen are so named gallons of alcohol per annum, that the combined value to the nation long after the synthetic because of the long oar-like swimming legs. They potential capacity of the sulphite paper mills in rubber emergency is over. are very similar in form to the Giant Electric Washington and Oregon would be not less than Considering the nation's need for additional 25,000,000 gallons of alcohol per year. He further Light Bug, even to possessing the sucking beak. fish and oyster supplies during the war emer Both the Backswimmers and Boatman are cap advised the Senators that the alcohol production gency, and the tremendous destruction of these process proposed was not an experimental one, able of inflicting a severe stab when handled too aquatic resources by the discharge of untreated carelessly. Once, while carrying a number ol but on the contrary was a tried and proven proc paper mill wastes, it would certainly seem sound ess that had been used successfully in Sweden them in my closed hand to my collecting bucket, reasoning on the part of the War Production I suddenly felt a sharp pain like a pin prick and for several years and that in Sweden today Board to favor the production of alcohol from 12,000,000 gallons of alcohol per year were being you can rest assured that it didn't take me long sulphite paper mill wastes rather than from such to release them. produced from waste sulphite liquor, and that a critical material as petroleum. this alcohol was being used by the Swedes in From the record, production of synthetic While on your fishing jaunts look for these alcoholic beverages and in gasoline to increase curious aquatic denizens, and if you find them in the octane rating of the latter. rubber from sulphite paper mill wastes would ap pear to be the most economical process, and the numbers to warrant reduction don't hesitate to Another pertinent statement of Mr. Under nation would receive as a cost-free extra dividend destroy them. In the swift water of trout streams wood's was that in normal times the competition from such process the restoration of vast and they are of minor importance, occurring only in in the pulp business comes from these Scandina valuable aquatic areas, now rendered worthless the back waters and more quiet portions of the vian countries and that they have a very decided by paper mill pollution. We, as well as the stream. Along the margins of weed beds in ponds advantage over American pulp and paper mills Senators of the Committee, are unconvinced and lakes, I have seen them in such numbers as because of the recovering of alcohol, sulphur and that the action of the War Production Board to easily catch several of them with one scoop other by-products from their waste, sulphite liquor, was a wise one when all things are considered. of the landing net. It is in the latter places that from which they make a profit and thereby reduce —Courtesy of Outdoor America, Official Publica- they raise havoc with the small fish who seek their pulp and pd[>er costs. ion of the Izaak Walton League of America. those selfsame weeds for the minute food or ganisms found there, as well as for protection BOARD REFUSAL from larger fishes. The reply of the War Production Board was a That bottomless lake surrounded by near refusal on the ground that critical materials such sighted friends—Adversity. as steel, would be required for the construction WOULDN'T SERVE of such treatment plants, and the expectation Sweet Young Thing: "I want a pound of wax. that existing plants and those authorized for TRUTH WILL OUT please." the production of rubber from grain and petro Salesman: "You make only a small deposit, Clerk: "Sealing wax?" leum products, would meet all demands. and then you don't make another payment for S. Y. T., sharply: "Oh, no! That wouldn't do We do not pretend to know the intricacies of six months." at all. We're having a dance, and I want to wax the problem confronting the War Production Lady of the House: "Who told you about us?" the floor, not the ceiling." 1942 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 29
Slowly his arm stole around her waist. He Keep down the size when buying wire traces AMERICAN FLY TYPES was only a clerk, and she had seemed so young, and swivels for use with casting lures. The (Continued from Page 24) so pure, that her very goodness frightened him. smaller this terminal tackle is, the better ac It had taken about an hour before he had dared tion the lure will have. Heavy traces and swivels, with the procedure, I should be glad to send you to sit beside her. She was not a product of the besides, throw the lures out of proper balance a photostat copy of how this is done. artificial city, and about her was a wholesome because of the weight they add to its head. Experimenting is enjoyable and wholesome. daintiness that he feared to touch. One kiss from And when it comes to angling, why, gosh . . . her and he would have been in heaven. But no, the field is still untouched, what with the surely she would not, she was a good girl. Big bushy dry flies, brown or gray hackles PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER, libraries and our own for example, are good bass lures at evening, Finally he ventured, "Alice, for one kiss I'd natural abilities in full swing. There may come when the bronze-backs are surface feeding on buy you the world." a day when fly-tyers will belong to a society of large insects. Simply fish the fly dry, as in trout "Oh, hell!" she replied, "I used to do that research crack pots, at which time we may very angling. for apples on the farm." likely wear white surgeon smocks, talk in Latin terms, possess that far away look and Young Housewife: Are you sure this cleaner Weedy spots along the shore lines of creeks further seem to be heading for that something that you are selling will really take out the dirt? and rivers are good spots to fish, for bass and or other we've been trying to reach for so long Agent: Will it? Say, lady, yesterday I rubbed pickerel lie there in wait for insects that may a time. Anyhow, it's fun no end, and worth all some of it on a copy of Scandalous Stories and drop off the vegetation. In fact, weedy places the time you can give it. when I got through I had the Sunday School are the late afternoon and evening feeding Gazette! grounds of all game fishes. Generosity is more charitable than wealth.
OFFICIAL WORLD'S FISHING RECORDS • Fresh-Water Fish (Caught with Rod and Reel) SPECIES WEIGHT LENGTH WHERE CAUGHT DATE BY Black Bass (Large Mouth) 22}4 lbs. 33H" Lake McBae, Ga. June 2, 1932 George Perry
Black Bass (Small-Mouth) 14 lbs. 28" Oakland, Fla. Feb. 9, 1932 Walter Harden
Carp 42 lbs. 42" Rappahannock River, Fla. May, 1930 Robt. W. Harris
62 lbs., Muskellunge 8 oz. 59" Lake St. Clair, Mich. June 28, 1940 Percy Haver
3 lbs. Perch 15 oz. 16" Lk. Sebastic'k, Newport, Maine Aug. 7, 1920 Edward Thode
4 lbs. Perch (Yellow) %Yz oz., est. 16" Borden town, N. .1. May, 1865 Dr. C. C. Abbot
10 lbs. Pickerel 10 oz. 36" MacGregor Lake, Quebec Sept. 2, 1935 G. Scattergood
45 lbs. Pike (Northern) 12 oz. Basswood Lake, Minn. May, 1929 John V. Schanken
Pike (Walleyed) 18 lbs 35" High Lake, Wis. Sept. 26, 1933 A. M. Brothers
Salmon (Atlantic) 79.2 lbs. Tanaely, Norway 1928 Henrik Henrikson
Salmon (Chinook) 83 lbs. Umpqua Biver, Oregon 1910 R. R. Steel
Salmon (Landlocked) 22J4 lbs. 36" Sebago Lake, Me. Aug. I, 1907 Edward Blakeley
Trout (Brook) 14}^ lbs. Nipigon River, Ont., Can. July, 1936 Dr. W. J. Cook
Trout (Brown) 39 Yi lbs. Loch Awe, Scotland 1866 W. Muir
Trout (Cut-throat) 41 lbs. 39" Pyramid Lake, Nixon, Nev. Dec. 1925 John Skimmerhorn
Trout (Lake) 48 lbs. 46 Va" Pytonga Lake, Quebec Sept. 24, 1933 Capt. E. W. Bennett
Trout (Rainbow) 26^ lbs. 42" Skycomish River, Wash. July, 1914 A. A. Cass
Trout (Steelhead) 22 lbs. 39" E. Lake, Bend, Ore. June, 1920 Homer Marsh 30 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER NOVEMBER MANY ATTEND FIELD DAY Fish Entered in The Harrisburg Hunter's and Angler's The annual Silver Lake Rod & Gun Club field day was attended by about five hundred persons. Association Big Fish Contest It was held on the club's grounds near Laurel Lake. John H. Price, of Scranton, won the In Care of THE HARRISBURG HARDWARE CO. championship cup in the trap shoot for the second year. BROOK TROUT Inches Competition in the dog bench show was keen, W. R. Hanbenschild. Paxtang 12H and 13% in the neighborhood of a hundred dogs being entered, some coming from New York state. RAINBOW TROUT H. D. Foster New Cumberland 19% W. S. Miller III Paxtang 21% FISH AWARDS MADE BY PERRY BROWN TROUT SPORTSMEN H. D. Foster New Cumberland 16 and 16J4 l The New Bloomfield Sportsmen's Association H. B. Kirk Harrisburg 22 A has made awards for prize trout caught by Charles E. Grimes Harrisburg 21% members this season in Perry County streams. George Huss Harrisburg 24% Prizes for brook trout were awarded as fol H. Raymond Trout Harrisburg 22 lows: First prize, Burt C. Welcomer, 11-inch SUCKERS trout; second prize, William S. Briner, 1034-inch trout; third prize, John M. Gantt, 10%-inch James E. Flowers Harrisburg 18 and 18 trout. John M. Minnick Harrisburg 19 The first prize for brown trout was awarded CATFISH to Frank Dell, whose catch measured 15% inches. Joseph J. Nesaric Steelton 20% Joseph L. Hertzler Harrisburg 18 Peter Korszniak, of Collegeville, recently caught a 57-pound snapping turtle in the Per- ROCK BASS kiomen Creek at Collegeville. He was fishing in Donald Hoas Harrisburg 9% the creek, accompanied by Michael Rotay, of PICKEREL Swedesburg, and his two sons, when he made W. Donald Martin Fort Hunter 20 the unusual catch. WALL-EYED PIKE—"SALMON" Lbs. N. F. Willard Marysville 24% NEW FISH STORY RELATED HERE Wm. B. Shoron Harrisburg 26 5J4 A new version of an old story comes from George Keller Harrisburg 2834 6 Pymatuning Lake following the visit of three Ray Hause Harrisburg 27 6J4 county Isaac Waltons. Donn Wermuth and Albert Horn New Cumberland 29% 7 5 ozs. Lloyd Byers, Ambridge, and Fred Reynolds, president of the Beaver County Central Union, LARGE-MOUTH BASS returned from the fishing trip sans fish. M. L. Brown Harrisburg 18% 2 7 ozs. Ed. A. Nisley Penbrook 21 This is the fish story they are telling to the 5 6 ozs. friends to whom they promised a lake trout: SMALL-MOUTH BASS Just before they were ready to leave, one of M. L. Brown Harrisburg 19 334 the trio caught a "beauty." It was handed to A. R. Fluke Overview 20 4 Byers and he started to add it to the string of M. L. Brown Harrisburg ZlVz 334 40 nice sized fish which was anchored nearby and Wm. F. Brown Harrisburg \1V-> and 2% the string broke and the "trophies" of the trip 18J4 returned to their native haunts. Byers became Harold Fickes New Cumberland 22 5 1 oz. so excited that he allowed the only fish left, the John W. Turner Mechanicsburg 21 4% one in his hand, to escape also. John E. Gingrich Harrisburg 20 34 3 14 ozs. "I've heard everything now," Wermuth ex J. W. Starr Harrisburg 19J4 4 3 ozs. claimed when Byers sheepishly recounted the Richard Steigleman Camp Hill 20 incident, "But who's going to believe us when Ed Cumkle Harrisburg 2034 4 3 ozs- we tell this one?" Leroy E. Berry Harrisburg 1834 3 —Ambridge Citizen. A. M. Heikes York 20 3 11 ozs.
A.W.A. SPORTSMEN NAME A GOOD STARTER PRACTICAL FIGURING PRESIDENT Stock Clerk, to his love: "I would go through Visiting Relative: "And when was the baby anything with you, dear." born?" E. W. Carnahan was elected by members of She, brightly: "Oh, Tom, let's begin with your Modern Father: "Between the second payment the A.W.A. Sportsmen's club as the organiza bank account." on the radio and the tenth on the car." tion's president for the next year. Other officers will be: Fred Grau, vice-presi dent; Bobert Guiney, secretary; Vincent Miller, BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS treasurer; Albert Guiney, range officer; John Anchors, archery committee; Mrs. Ray Chiodo, HARRISBURG, PA. social committee. In addition, Fred McKean, SUBSCRIPTION BLANK member of the Fish Commission, is associated with the club, and John Lloyd is head of the Enclosed find fifty cents ($.50) for one year's subscription to the game committee. Pennsylvania Angler." Do not send stamps. The club, now has more than 300 members. Name All shooters wishing to try out for the club's (Print Name) rifle team are asked to see Ab Guiney at the Please Check range. Practice is held each Friday night. Street and Number- In addition to range work with pistol and rifle, • New the club has a crack archery brigade. It has been extremely active in various sportsmen's activities • Renewal City in the district in the past three years. 1942 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 31
SOFT-SHELL CRABS BAKED FISH I have heard from different sources that you Sometime publish in the ANGLER a recipe can take a hard-shelled crab, that is the common for baking a fish.—E. S., Erie. river crab, and convert it into a soft-shell. Either fat or lean fish may be used for baking. Understand that this is done by the use of corn The former are preferred by many homemakers meal and some chemical. as they require less care. Lean fish should be No one seems to remember off hand just how slashed through the skin in several places, this is done. Would appreciate whatever in since there is less shrinkage of the flesh. Re formation you can give on this subject.—A.D.B., move back bone. Sauces may be served with Johnstown. the fish as desired. Here is a satisfactory method of making hard- A 4-pound fish, cleaned and trimmed but not shelled crayfish soft-shelled. By feeding them and split developing growth the crayfish will shed their Four strips of bacon old shell frequently. When a bait dealer propa Cooking oil gates his own crayfish for bait, he may sort out Salt the soft-shelled crayfish from his pond every 2 to Prepare stuffing from the following: 1 quart bread cubes 3 days, and have soft-shelled individuals on Three tablespoons finely chopped onion hand continually d uring the summer. If they Two teaspoons finely crushed sage leaves are kept cold, metabolism will slow up, and % teaspoon salt growth will be retarded, with the result that % teaspoon black pepper % cups cooked celery, finely chopped the shell will not harden very fast. Soft-shelled Four tablespoons hot celery liquid crayfish can be kept in a dormant stage in a Six tablespoons hot melted butter refrigerator for two weeks and they will re Mix the salt and pepper into the liquids and then stir in the celery. Old waders can be reinforced with Lo- So and main soft and in good condition. When they thereby their life extended for the duration. are removed from this cold storage to warmer Pour this mixture slowly over the bread quarters, it is best to do so gradually. They with which the sage and onion have been mixed, must be used soon after they are removed from Don't tinker with a casting reel just for the stirring so as to moisten it thoroughly. Cover cold storage, for the shell often hardens very sake of exploring its innards. Keep it oiled for a few minutes. rapidly. There are several species that may be and clean, and if major trouble develops it Dip the fish into a solution made in the propor used. Langlois recommends Camba rusruslicus. Will pay you to take it to an experienced man tion of two tablespoons salt to one cup cold Embody recommends Cambarus affinis Spini- for repairs or adjustments. water. Allow it to stand five minutes. Drain rostris for the reason that it is prolific and be fish, slit the skin in several places and brush the cause the shell is never very hard. skin with cooking oil. Lay two strips of bacon In regard to the cornmeal method, John L. in the greased baking pan. Stuff the fish, tie Pastrick, ardent Tarentum fisherman, gives with strings to hold in stuffing, and place it on the following information: the strips of bacon. Lay two strips of bacon on The night before you plan to go fishing take the fish. Place it in the center of the oven and an ordinary "chip basket" and go forth and bake for 10 minutes at 500 degrees F. Then secure several dozen hard-shelled crabs. Tote lower the temperature to 400 degrees F. and the crabs back home and place them side by bake 8 to 10 minutes longer. iaftiptf side in a crock or wooden bottom tub. Cover well with cornmeal and place another layer of crabs if desired. Permit the crabs to stay in i this position for 24 to 30 hours and you will have the finest mess of "soft-shelled" crabs you ever hoped to place upon your hook. Soft- shelled crabs rate tops when it comes to natural baits.
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Brownie Sherman of Williamsburg and a catch of bass he made in the Juniata River, Huntingdon County, on plugs.
Lloyd King, ardent and expert Harrisburg angler, Here's the bounding little flea, Catches many fish but kills few. When he does You can hardly tell the he from she; desire to furnish food for his table he concentrates Dick Beers, great booster of the Buffalo Valley on wall- eyes. He caught this five pounder in the Sportsmen's Association caught this 20]/2 inch There's no apparent sex you see Juniata River. brown trout in Buffalo Creek, Armstrong Co. But he can tell and so can she. 32 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER NOVEMBER
&r J) HERE \ THERE N ANGLERDOM
WARDEN C. W. SHEARER OF Just fishing from the bridge over the Cono- ARMSTRONG CO. WRITES: doguinet Creek along the Doubling Gap road, Vaughn Beid of Newville caught an eel that On the evening of August 13th I attended a measured 37 inches in length and that weighed meeting of the Buffalo Valley Sportsmen's 5 pounds. Association at Worthington, Pa. At this meeting winners of the association's Adriel Halstead and James Cox journeyed to annual trout fishing contest were named. This Waterford early one day and returned with a contest is open to all club members who pay an muskie which tipped the scales at exactly 38 entrance fee of 25c, this money to be divided as pounds. prizes to the winners. Fish taken from any The fish was hooked by Halstead with an waters of the Commonwealth excluding "Fisher artificial bait and it required over an hour to men's Paradise," Spring Creek, may be entered tire the big fellow so he could be taken into the in the contest. boat. The fish measured 51% inches. The largest fish entered was taken by Mike This was one of the old "grand-dads" and few Skver in the Juniata River. It was a rainbow, are taken that come up to this size. The big fellow 23 inches in length and weighing 5 lbs. 7 ozs. was somewhat streamlined and appeared to be Second was a 22 inch rainbow also caught in underfed. Fishermen claim that during August the Juniata River by Mike Conrad. this species offish go on a diet; that they eat very Third was a brown trout, 20J-4 inches, weigh little on account of losing their teeth at this ing 2 lbs. 15 ozs., taken by Dick Beers in Buffalo season. The old teeth are shed during the summer Creek, Armstrong County. Mr. Beers is the and new ones, sharp as needles, grow in to take association's secretary. the place of the used set. If caught in late fall Fourth was a brown trout 20$4 inches, 3 lbs. the muskie no doubt would have weighed nearer Yi oz. taken by John Rearick in Buffalo Creek. 50 pounds. There were also a large amount of other trout, Lake LeBoeuf has produced many big fish both brown and rainbow, entered that measured in past years. R. C. Exley, Fairview, landed a from 14 to 18 inches. 31-pounder three years ago and it is reported The association is formed of real live wires, that one weighing 43 pounds was taken last year. always willing to work for their sport. Last Many a big fellow has been hooked in LeBoeuf, year their paid membership was well over 800 but not brought to gaff. Patience and skill are members. required to land a specimen of this size. They are always on hand to help stock fish and game, feed game, plant food plots of the Trout fishing was good in Buffalo Creek during the past season. Here is John Pearick of Craigs- Warden Lincoln Lender passes the informa Game Commission's "Pennsylvania Mixture," ville with a 20 '/2 inch, 3 pound brown. tion along about the following catches made in they have also done improvement work on the his territory: streams by building retards, dams, and deflectors. Burton Wygant, Meadville fisherman, was Brownie Sherman and Ted Appleman of The fish contest was organized and carried on so excited and surprised that he quit fishing and Williamsburg have turned to plugs this year and by the Chairman of the Fish Committee, Mr. heralded his catch after he'd snagged a 5-pound, are enjoying good fishing. Each has caught a Hoyt Noggle, and the boys are very proud of 9-ounce bass while fishing from Wolf Isle in Con- number of bass over 18 inches in length from the fact that the 3d and 4th largest fish were neaut Lake, Sunday morning, friends reported. the Juniata River in Huntingdon County. taken from Buffalo Creek at their back doors. County Fish Warden Carlyle Sheldon was a Huntingdon plug fishermen have been going witness to the capture of the huge large-mouth great guns in the Raystown Branch of the Edward Walker of Steelton has caught some bass—believed the biggest reported in the county Juniata. James Kyper and Chirp Richardson fine small-mouth bass plugging in the Susque this season. each landed 18 inch bass. Gib Updike caught a hanna opposite Steelton and Highspire. On 4 pounder measuring 19% inches. Bud Harris one occasion he took four from 153--2 inches to B. E. Angst in his interesting column "Field took two 19>2 inch small-mouths and Lon 21 inches on a Shakespeare pumpkinseed. Green connected with a 19 inch one. S. F. Strickler of Harrisburg has taken a & Stream," published in the Record American Mahonoy City and the Lansford Record tells of This sport of light lure plugging is spreading number of silver carp from Wildwood Lake on like wildfire over Pennsylvania. There is no dough balls since the season opened. two great fish. Oliver Mengle, of near Allentown toe* a 27% more effective method for the big ones. inch pickerel at Peck's Pond and Nelson Bruder, What is believed to be the biggest bass thrown A SMOKY STORY same address, caught a record large-mouth bass back this season was the 20-incher caught last "Why did that salesman yell 'Fire' when you at Costello's Lake. Bruder's bass was 8 pounds, night by Bill Eckenroth in the West Lebanon passed by?" 5 ounces, and just about the heaviest one so far quarry. Bill caught the bass, measured it, then "Because I'm an old flame of his." threw him bacS after he saw it measured 20 reported in the state. inches. Gentlemen, there is sportsmanship. PBECAUTION A carp fisherman caught a 6-pound bass at "Are these animals carnivorous, keeper? "Behold the Fisherman—he ariselh early in the Stoever's Dam. The fish bit on a doughball. "Sometimes when they first arrive, Mum; but morning and dislurbelh his neighbors. He makelh we always 'as 'em disinfected." Caution is the eldest child of wisdom. much preparation. He goelh forth in joyful an ticipation,' alas findeth that he has forgotten his "But your mother is too old-fashioned, my PARTLY RIGHT tobacco. This causeth much vexation. In anger dear. I'm afraid she'd be awfully shocked at our Visitor: "And what brought you here?" doth he utter profane words. He takelh deep draught party." Convict: "Love of books, sir." from the bottle, then when the day is well spent, he "She expects to be, that's why she's dying W "Love of books brought you to prison?" returnelh home; he smelleth of strong drink and come." "Yes, sir, pocket-books!" truth—nay, the truth is not in him." —Life.
IF THE PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER CANNOT BE FOR WARDED TO A SOLDIER FROM AN ARMY CAMP WHERE HE WAS LOCATED IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE MAGAZINE BE PLACED IN LIBRARY OF THE U.S.O.
PLEDGES OF THE BOARD OF THE FISH COMMISSION Production must be maintained or increased in the hatcheries. The Board will do their utmost for you and the boys away doing their bit.
FOR VICTORY BUY UNITED STATES DEFENSE BONDS AND STAMPS