Hellbender's Heaven-page 14
September/October
The Keystone State's Official Fishing and Boating Magazine
P
x/~"
/
INSIDE: Catfishing at Night • Shoreline Bass Fishing • Autumn B/ues • and more! PENNSYLVANIA FISH & BOAT COMMISSION PROTECT • CONSERVE • ENHANCE ]IRESOURCE Waterways Conservation Officers FIRST and Law Enforcement
The Fish and Boat Commission is a small agency with a dedi rules. We expect a great deal of our conservation officers. We cated staff of about 432 full-time and 160 seasonal employees. ask them constantly to demonstrate the highest standards of tact, Our employees range from fish culturists to engineers, from fish decorum and professionalism in situations that are sometimes eries managers to aquatic resource educators. Each of these em stressful and difficult. And, as you can see from the survey re ployees plays an important role in our efforts to "protect, conserve sults, our officers deliver. For example, we recently received an and enhance" fishing and boating in Pennsylvania; each contrib electronic mail message about one ofour deputies who went the utes to accomplishment ofour mission of providing fishing and extra mile to help a family who had lost their keys in the water. boating opportunities through the protection and management This is not to say that we never receive complaints about our of our aquatic resources. conservation officers. Each year, we receive a relative hand About one-quarter ofthe Commission's full-time employees ful of complaints and inquiries. The Bureau of Law Enforce focus their efforts on protecting our resources. The "thin green ment investigates every complaint. Most of these complaints line" of waterways conservation officers are on the front lines arise because of misunderstandings or breakdowns of commu of working for clean water, safe boating, and compliance with nication in stressful circumstances. When corrective action fishing and boating laws and regulations. Law enforcement is is warranted, we take it. But, all in all, given the thousands of just one ofthe jobs ofour waterways conservation officers. They contacts between conservation officers and the public, the are also key players in our education, fish stocking, safety, public Commission takes justifiable pride in the fine work done by relations and other efforts. Our waterways conservation offic our officers, from Bureau of Law Enforcement Director Ed ers are joined by a dedicated cadre of more than 300 volunteer Manhart to the officer in the field. deputies who assist in enforcement of fishing and boating laws One ofour officers' most important jobs is to enforce and regulations. Pennsylvania's laws relating to boating under the influence of The Fish and Boat Commission is committed to building alcohol and controlled substances. Pennsylvania was one ofthe customer satisfaction among the anglers and boaters of Penn first states to enact an "implied consent" boating under the in sylvania. As part of these continuing efforts, we recently asked fluence law. This law, enacted in 1984, provides that anyone who Responsive Management to conduct a random survey of licensed operates a watercraft on Pennsylvania waters gives his or her anglers and registered boaters to gather their opinions about consent to a chemical test ofthe alcohol and controlled substance our conservation officers. Twenty-seven percent (27%) of those content of his or her blood, breath or urine. Boating under the surveyed indicated they had contact with a PFBC law enforcement influence is one ofthe most serious offenses under the Fish and officer within the last three years. The vast majority of these Boat Code; in addition to misdemeanor fines and penalties, contacts, fully 79%, were in connection with casual contacts conviction results in automatic suspension of boating privileges. along Pennsylvania waterways or at meetings and public pro Each year, our officers file charges against a few score boaters grams. Only 9% of these contacts were in connection with who operate under the influence. warnings or citations. Unfortunately, since its enactment in 1984, our boating un Ninety-three percent (93%) of those who had contact with our der the influence law has not kept pace with changes to the very officers agreed or strongly agreed that the typical waterways similar provisions ofthe Vehicle Code on driving under the in conservation officer or deputy is professional in carrying out his fluence. Last year, the General Assembly enacted a comprehensive or her duties. Ninety-two percent (92%) reported that our of update to the laws on driving under the influence; now it's time ficers were courteous in their contacts with them. Eighty-five for changes to the boating under the influence laws. Senate Bill percent (85%) observed that our officers were fair, and eighty- 55 is important legislation that will make major improvements two percent (82%) said our officers clearly communicated fish to the law on boating under the influence. It passed the Senate ing and boating laws and regulations. by a unanimous vote last spring, and the House Game and Fisheries These statistics, which are based on a statistically valid ran Committee approved it (again unanimously) in July. When the dom survey, are indicative ofthe fine work done by our conser General Assembly returns in September, we hope the state House vation officers. Our officers log hundreds of thousands of public will take prompt action to approve this much-needed update to contacts each year. The vast majority of these contacts occur not the law on boating under the influence. in the context of formal law enforcement actions (warnings/ci The new boating under the influence law, as well as other recent tations) but in the daily interplay between those who enjoy and proposed changes to laws and regulations, will enable our Pennsylvania's woods and waters and those who work hard to conservation officers to serve the anglers and boaters of Penn make sure the waters are used safely and in compliance with the sylvania even better.
Peter A. Colangelo Executive Director Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime September/October 1997 Pennsylvania nnsylvama Fish & Boat Commission Volume 66/Number 5 Donald N. Lacy President Reading Samuel M. Concilia Vice President North East Donald K. Anderson Meyersdale The Keystone State's Official Fishing and Boating Magazine Ross J. Huhn Saltsburg Ted R. Keir Mail 4 Athens Paul J. Mahon Great Trout Fishing Near Pittsburgh by Robert L. Petri 6 darks Green Success Story: Falling Spring and its Greenway byDiannaK. Heim 10 Enoch S. "Inky" Moore, Jr. Live Baits and Their Imitations for Catching Smallmouths Newville Howard E. Pflugfelder by Vic Attardo 14 New Cumberland Some Pennsylvania Streams Are a Hellbender's Heaven Leon Reed Honesdale by Karl Blankenship 18 William J. Sabatose Autumn Blues by Darl Black 20 Brockport SMART Angler's Notebook by Carl Richardson 23 Boating Advisory Board The Emergent Tup's Indispensable by Chauncy K. Lively 24 Thaddeus Piotrowski Chairman Six Ways to the Sea by Linda L. Steiner 26 Bloomsburg Writing Readers by Jim Croyle 31 Steven M. Ketterer 1998 Seasons, Sizes and Creel Limits center poster Harrisburg G. Edwin Matheny The 1998 Trout/Salmon Stamp and Print Competition 34 Greensburg Consultation and Grant Program for Fish Passage Gary Miles North East and Habitat Restoration 35 Vincent Riggi Casting Lines with Dape Wolf. 37 Clarks Summit Three Boating Knots with a Hitch by CliffJacobson 38 Ex Officio members: Cast & Caught 40 Peter A. Colangelo, Executive Director; John F. Simmons, Director, Bass Fishing from the Shoreline by Mike Bleech 42 Bureau of Boating and Education; Do's and Don'ts for Crowded Launch Ramps 45 Gary Smith, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources City Catfishing at Night by Seth Cassell 46 Currents 48 Magazine Staff Editor—An Michaels Fishin' from the Kitchen byPhilHanyok 48 Art Director-Ted Walke Anglers Notebook by Seth Cassell 49 Circulation—Eleanor Mutch Circulation—Patti Copp How to Repair Your Aluminum Boat by Bob Steams 50 Regular Contributors Notes from the Streams 52 Vic Attardo Charles R. Meek Where Have All the Anglers Gone? by Tom Ford 54 Darl Black Robert L. Petri Pennsylvania Caviar by Joe Carricato 58 Karl Blankenship Mike Sajna Mike Bleech Bob Stearns Collecting Natural Baits by Oliver Shapiro 60 Seth Cassell Linda Steiner Big Spring's "Big Blue" by Art Michaels 63 ClifFJacobson Dave Wolf Walt Young Life Jackets and Wading by Dan Martin back cover
Pennsylvania Anger C- Boater (ISSN1093-0574} is published bimonthly by die Pennsylvania Fish S: Boat Commission, 3532 Walnut Stteet, Harrisbuig, PA 17109. ©1997PAFisb&BoacCommission. Nothing in this magazine may be reprinted without the Written petmission of the PA Pish & Boat In the still of the night Commission. Subscription rates: oneyeac, $9; three years, S25;singlc copies areS3.00each. PeriodicalsposiageispaidatHarrisburg.PA. POSTMASTER: This issue's front cover shows Pennsylva Sendaddresschangesto: Pennsylvania AntftrirlloaterCireulititiri,Pennsylvania Pish & Boat Commission, P.O. Box 67000, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000. For nia angler Nick May searching the shores subscription and change of address, use above address. Please allow six weeks for processing. Send all other correspondence to: The Editor, Pennsylvania of the Susquehanna River at Harrisburg AntpWcj-awtcr,P.O.Box67000,Harrisburg,PA 17106-7000. Editorial queries and conm'bucions are welcome, bur must be accompanied by self-addressed, for a nighttime catfishing spot. For a stamped envelope's Material accepted for publication is subject to Pennsylvania Fish & BoatCommission standards and requirementsfoteditin g and revising. detailed look at night fishing for catfish in Submissions are handled carefully, but the publisher assumes no responsibility urban areas, please turn to page 46. After for the return or safety of submissions in his possession or in transit. The authors' views, ideas and advice expressed in this magazine do not necessarily you've caught and cleaned a few catfish, reflect theopinion or official position of the PcamsyhaniaFish&BcacCommission or its staff. The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission receives federal aid check out "Fishin'from the Kitchen" on in sport fish restoration. Under appropriate federal acts, the U. S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, colot, national page 48 for a delicious idea. The front origin, age, sex or handicap. If you believe that yoo have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility as described above, or if you cover was photographed by Art Michaels. desire more information, please write to: The Office of Equal Opportunity, Department of the Interior, Washington, DC 20240. *£&
Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater brought some friends who have never had suckers, I caught something new-little the pleasure of trout fishing. We had a catfish about six or seven inches long. I great time. The weather was mighty cold only caught two that day and I haven't and it snowed every day, but that didn't caught one since. I asked a friend about seem to slow the trout and our enjoyment them and he said that they were mudcats. down a bit. We caught a lot of trout in Is he right? Also, could you please give Potato Creek, Pine Creek and Lyman Lake me some tips on how to catch these and Creek. We did a little fishing in a "mudcats." Thunksl-Karl Hanson, couple of small streams and did quite well Chambersburg. there, too. I really enjoyed fishing the old washed out dam north of Austin and catch The little catfish, or "mudcats," that ing trout right at the dam. I want to thank you caught in a stream near Chambers you for the info you supplied before the burg are likely margined madtoms. They trip on the location of a couple of streams. are found in rocky or rubble-bottomed My friends and I want to tell you what streams and hide among and under a great job you are doing and thank you stones. I can't say that I know any an for the enjoyment. We are planning to glers who pursue these fish or any meth Wants old issue make the trip an annual event. Keep up ods for catching this species. They rarely I was wondering how I could purchase the good work and thank you. exceed eight inches in length and usu a past issue of PA Angler? About 23 years Can you drop me a line and let me know ally feed at night. They are a member ago I was fishing with my father. A friend how to subscribe to the PA Angler & Boater? of the flowing-water diversity of fishes of his, Bud Eric, wrote an article that Just remembered how much I enjoyed and many anglers are unaware of their contained my picture about that particular reading it.-James Fricke, Evansville, IN. existence. fishing trip. I was approximately 8 years Another possibility is that you caught old with a pile of perch on the ice at my Great idea a small bullhead. Bullheads are a mem feet. My daughters are now 8 and 5 years That was a great idea to put the In-Sea- ber of the catfish family and reach old and I would love to share that article son Stocking Schedule in the March/April lengths up to 17 inches. They inhabit with them because they are ice fishing issue. Please continue to do so! Your slower waters with mud bottoms. enthusists, too. If you can help locate this magazine is very helpful with our fishing The way to differentiate between these issue, I would greatly appreciate it. My trips, showing us new places to try and a two catfish is to observe the relationship maiden name is Audra Heiberger-Awiira new way to fish for trout. My sons and I between the adipose fin (the small, fleshy L. Sidelinger (via email). are giving fly-fishing a try.-Dave Bowers, projection on the back in front of the tail; Roaring Spring, PA. just like a trout) and the tail. The tail We've searched the issues of about 23 and adipose fin are fused together on the years ago and haven't found the picture. We're delighted you're pleased! This madtom. The adipose fin and the tail Nevertheless, perhaps an enterprising coming season we're going to print the are separate on the bullhead. reader might find that photo and let us In-Season Stocking Schedule in the Good fishing in your exploration of know! We'll let you know if we hear from magazine again, for the benefit of readers, waters in the Franklin County area!- someone. but we're also going to print it separately. Larry Jackson, Area 7 Fisheries Manager. We often receive inquiries about old Stay tuned for more details.-JSa!. issues. No doubt you've seen the articles Trout stocking variables we've been running about our theme, Darters and mussels Thank you for your prompt response "Fishing and Boating Memories Last a The new Pennsylvania Angler and Boater to my question on why the Mar/Apr 1997 Lifetime," with old file photos. When is great! I especially enjoyed Andrew Shiels' PA&B was late. I think the decision to ever we publish old photos, someone article about darters("Pennsylvania's delay was very good. Also, as an avid trout always identifies a relative or friend and Dynamic Darters," page 33, January/Feb fisherman, I thought the article on the asks for a copy. The most recent occur ruary 1997 PA&B) and Karl Blankenship's variables of trout stocking was excellent rence was a few months ago when some article on mussels ("Mussels," page 46, ("Getting Opening Day Trout to You," one recognized his father, uncle and January/February 1997 PA&B). Hopefully, by Linda Steiner, page 16, March/April himself in a 40-year-old photo we pub future issues will bring articles on reptiles 1997 PA&B). As usual, the Angler was lished in the magazine about Fisher and amphibians, which were neglected outstanding. For your information, it man's Paradise ("Paradise Found," by lately in the Angler.-Stan Kotala, Altoona, PA. is the only fishing publication I subscribe Dan Tredinnick, page 54, March/April to. Please keep up the fine work that you 1997 issue).-Ed. Margined madtom? all do at the Angler.-Kirk Waggoner, via e- I was just checking out some local mail. Potter County memories streams when I found this one stream that Just a note to say thank you. I recently looked like a good place to fish. I put a Still the favorite had the pleasure of making a trip to Potter worm on my hook and about five minutes Your magazine is still my favorite, and County from the state of Indiana to re later I landed a 28 1/2-inch carp. After always will be despite the griping I've seen kindle memories of trout fishing. I also catching and releasing about 12 carp and in the "MAIL" column lately. Some people
4 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime ifcMORjfg^
. • • Memories To Last A Lifetime are never happy. You people have always didn't catch anything. When I went around these will hopefully one produced a top-quality product, whether the next bend I got my answer. There was day allow anglers to fur- it be the magazine or the fantastic fishing another fisherman with his creel over his ther invest in local you have helped our state produce. Keep shoulder. I asked him how he was doing economies while seeking up the great work. By the way, I still think and he said he caught one (it was in his a trophy instead of al the price of a fishing license is the best creel). I told him I fished a stretch of an ways traveling to other states and Canada bargain around. I think it is worth five times other stream in the morning and didn't for chances like these. the amount it currently is.-Dan D'Amico, catch anything. He said he fished this I among many thousands of other Canonsburg, PA. stretch the week before and caught his limit. fishermen also endorse the accompa I cannot believe that anyone who can nying plans to raise the muskellunge Water pollution brochure catch their limit in July would not have minimum length limit to 40 inches and I was very impressed with the article on his freezer full by then. It's hard to believe reduce the daily bag limit to one for water pollution that appeared in the Oc that these people don't realize that there Presque Isle muskies. This makes not tober 1996 issue ("Water Pollution," by John are only so many trout stocked in a stream, only good common sense with regard A. Arway). I would be interested in obtain and when you take them all out that's it to perpetuating the species and increas ing reprints of that article for distribution until the next year. ing the availability of larger, reproducing to my fellow members of the Donegal I have been writing to the Fish and Boat fish, but also supports the position of Chapter of Trout Unlimited, here in Commission for years to try to get the limit a majority of dedicated anglers that a Lancaster County. of trout set at four per day. That's plenty musky does not achieve true "trophy Would you kindly give me information of trout for anyone. That will leave some status" until it is at least 40 inches long. on how I might go about obtaining them? trout in the streams for the people who can't These proposed accompanying regula I am hoping that since we are a non-profit follow the stocking trucks, but who can only tions would go a long way toward en conservation organization and intend to fish on weekends. suring a true trophy fishery. use them for education and raising aware I would like to see you publish some We thank you and the Commission for ness, we might be able to get them at no articles on the benefits of catch and release.- your efforts and consideration. Please charge.-Gdry Roulston, via email. Hobart Acker, Harrisburg, PA. allow me to conclude finally by stating that this type of program would do well Single copies of pamphlets are free, but Supports musky program not only at Presque Isle, but throughout please include a self-addressed, stamped As a Pennsylvania resident and consis Pennsylvania's potentially highly viable envelope. We're happy to receive requests tently licensed Pennsylvania fisherman, trophy waters. Although great in-roads for more than one copy of a pamphlet or I am writing to express my sincere and en have been made by the Commission in free publication. We consider each request thusiastic support for the recent Commis musky management, and in particular in individually. Whether or not we ask for sion proposal for a program to restore a bass, walleye, and trout programs, a true payment depends on how the piece will wild Great Lakes strain muskellunge popu trophy musky fishery remains the one be used and the number of copies sought. lation to the Presque Isle Bay region of area today where angling interest is grow In most cases, we send the materials at no Lake Erie. . ing the fastest, and where most new in charge. Rarely do we request payment, Although I live in central Pennsylvania, formation and management plans are and in those cases, we often ask only for I and many other informed anglers ap needed. Those of us close to the resource shipping charges on large orders. Our plaud any and all progressive Fish & Boat see the potential for enhancing trophy publications list with complete ordering Commission "investment" efforts such as opportunities here in Pennsylvania. If information appears as a separate insert this, which provides a truly balanced and such regulations that support the re in this issue between pages 48 and 49.-Ed. representative trophy fishery. If this pro source were expanded to other already posed program is indeed implemented, viable waters, there would be much to Catch and release it will undoubtedly restore (or create) a gain. If waters that have the potential to I just finished reading the article, "33 much needed, highly-sought, precious re support and sustain an improved musky Summertime Places to Catch Trout," by source for Pennsylvanians and other an fishery, such as the many hundreds Mark Nale (July/August 1997). I liked the glers to enjoy. of miles of the fertile and diverse article, but every time I read an article like In the eyes of many thousands of edu Susquehanna River drainage (much like that I cringe. I don't think the writers of cated fishermen both here and through the upper Mississippi, which supports these articles realize that 95 percent of out the country, word of proactive wild muskies) were further studied, people who fish for trout can't fish with management plans such as this renews our stocked, managed, and anglers' educated out keeping everything they catch. It doesn't passion for the sport, and faith in the agen (in terms of misconceptions regarding matter if they eat trout or not. I think it's cies responsible for creating such oppor sportfish predation and the importance an ego thing to show people they caught tunities. It is indeed a great pleasure to see of catch and release), we may soon have their limit. Pennsylvania considering a sound leader a more highly sought, even greater state I used to fish a stream in Perry County ship role in the country's booming ranks "trophy" resource desired by a wealth of in July and August. I usually caught 10 to of those eagerly pursuing musky fishing, anglers. Muskies, Inc., members like 12 trout. Last year I went over in July and and this community's growing interest in me would be glad to assistl-Duane started fishing. I fished several holes and a legitimate trophy fishery. It is certainly Drozdowski, Harrisburg, and member, Three pockets where I always caught trout, but a wise use of resources when programs like Rivers Chapter of Muskies, Inc.
Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater •.-:z: •.::..•-., • • ...14, GREAT Trout Fishing Near Pittsburgh *«w^r*j by Robert L. Petri at Within a little more than an hour's Deer Creek is a medium-size water drive of downtown Pittsburgh lies some way that skirts the eastern edge of the of the most varied trout fishing to be found metropolitan Pittsburgh area as it flows anywhere in the Commonwealth. From southward to meet the Allegheny River the suburban settings of Deer Creek in Al near the village of Harmarville. legheny County to the streams of the high, About eight miles of the stream from isolated country along the Laurel Ridge above State Route 910 near Indianola in Somerset County, there is much to be downstream are stocked with brown and said for the early autumn trout fishing here rainbow trout both before and during in the shadow of the "Renaissance City." the season. Deer Creek also benefits from an early autumn stocking in the Laurel Hill Creek Deer, Pine, Bull creeks DHALO section. Even though the scenery is no doubt The best early fall fishing on Deer better in the outlying regions to the south Creek can be found in the 2.1-mile and east of the city, there is good early DHALO project that begins at Route 910 autumn trout angling within a dozen miles and continues downstream along the of the lights of downtown Pittsburgh. The edge of the Rose Ridge golf course. backbone of these opportunities is pro vided by three Delayed-Harvest, Artificial- Lures-Only (DHALO) projects on Deer BUFFALO CREEK Creek, Pine Creek and Bull Creek. Here, special regulations and special attention from local angling clubs help ensure that good numbers of trout survive
the high angling traffic of CROOKED CREEK the early season to provide BULL CREBK good fishing through sum mer and into autumn. FREEPORT
DEER CREEK tures a DHALO project in its middle reaches. This 1.4-mile project extends from the abandoned railroad bridge near Along the city's northern Duncan Avenue downstream a short dis edge, Pine Creek offers a tance below the State Route 4019 bridge nearby getaway for area an on the stream. The further improvement glers. Some seven miles of this of the Pine Creek fishery is ensured be stream from the outflow of North cause it has been adopted by the Pitts Park Lake downstream to the vicinity burgh-based Penns Woods West Chapter of Glenshaw are stocked with brown of Trout Unlimited under the Fish & Boat and rainbow trout. Pine Creek also re Commission's highly successful "Adopt- PITTSBURGH ceives an autumn stocking to boost the a-Stream" program. Chapter stream im fishery in the DHALO area and a stretch provement project work began on Pine above with statewide regulations. Creek this summer. Like Deer Creek, Pine Creek also fea- For 1997, a new Allegheny County De-
Pennsyhania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime r c/i! /•'' ''*-/mf. ~,.-*
•/.
layed-Harvest area has been added on the tionists, the New Kensington-based Tri- County is managed under DHALO regu waters of Bull Creek, about 12 miles north County Trout Club, will be working in the lations allowing anglers to work over good east of the city and due north of the Al Bull Creek watershed, helping to improve numbers of stocked rainbow and brown legheny River community of Brackenridge. angling opportunities for all. trout. The section extends from the first Thanks to the cooperation of private land stream bridge on 1-70 a few miles west of owners along the stream, a 1.0-mile sec Dutch Fork Creek, Pike Run Claysville downstream to the backwaters tion of Bull Creek from Millerstown A little farther away from the lights of of Dutch Fork Lake. A portion of the upstream almost to the Butler County line Pittsburgh, in the rolling hill country of project section flows through Pennsylvania is now managed under special regulations. Washington County to the southwest of Fish & Boat Commission property. De- These regulations along with a generous the city, a pair of new DHALO projects layed-Harvest regulations and a scheduled early autumn stocking of brown and rain are bringing exciting new angling oppor autumn stocking here will keep good bow trout ensure good numbers offish tunities to a portion of Pennsylvania not numbers offish on the project area. throughout the summer and into fall. known for its trout fisheries. Beginning Beginning this season, a 1.1-mile sec Another of the Pittsburgh area's out this year, a 1.8-mile section of Dutch Fork tion of Pike Run, also in Washington standing groups of sportsmen/conserva Creek in extreme western Washington County, provides a Delayed-Harvest an-
nng & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 7 gling experience in a small-stream setting. rushes through boulder-studded glides and Forbes Trail TU President George The project section begins at the power line long, slow pools anchored by a good canopy Mellinger calls this section of the downstream of the State Route 2036 bridge, of streamside trees. All this habitat pro Loyalhanna "The greatest spot in the area." a few miles due west of the town of Cali vides good cover for the abundant brown He cites the easy access afforded by the fornia. The project extends upstream to and rainbow trout stocked in the stream. stream's nearness to Route 30 and the the junction with an unnamed tributary Along the way, Loyalhanna Creek is closely numerous sportmen's clubs and local above the State Route 2079 bridge. Like paralled by US Route 30, and access for the residents who treasure the stream as a Dutch Fork Creek, an autumn stocking will most part is very good. major recreational resource of the region. help keep good numbers of brown trout Even though high summer water tem If Loyalhanna Creek is the best loved and rainbow trout in Pike Run from Oc peratures can put a damper on the Loyal of the trout waters of the high country to tober through the winter months. hanna fishery, the cooler nights of the east of Pittsburgh, it has a very close September let the stream and the trout competitor in Laurel Hill Creek. This Loyalhanna, Laurel Hill creeks return to a higher activity level, and early major Somerset County waterway has a Of course, Pittsburgh area trout enthu autumn fishing can be quite good. little something for every angling taste. siasts have traditionally looked to the east The only place receiving fall trout is the Flowing through the beautiful lands along and the more rural and mountainous set DHALO area, and no section of the the eastern edge of the Laurel Ridge, this tings of Westmoreland, Fayette and Loyalhanna offers better fishing in early is another of the major streams of south Somerset counties for their fishing desti fall than the 1.5-mile DHALO project that west Pennsylvania. nations, and these areas still provide some begins at the Route 711 bridge at Ligonier The stocking of brown and rainbow of the best fishing within a reasonable drive and extends downstream to the bridge on trout on Laurel Hill Creek commences a of the city. Streams like Laurel Hill Creek State Route 2045. This section of the few miles downstream from the Pennsyl and Loyalhanna Creek among others have Loyalhanna is the project water of the ac vania Turnpike about 8 miles west of the long tradirions of angling excellence. tive and dedicated volunteers of the Forbes town of Somerset. Stocking continues Loyalhanna Creek is one of the best-loved Trail Chapter of Trout Unlimited. The downstream for almost 29 miles to a point and most heavily fished trout streams in Chapter has a long-term stream improve near the stream's junction with the southwest Pennsylvania. This is relatively ment project in place on this portion of Casselman River near Confluence. This big water by Pennsylvania trout stream the Loyalhanna, and also stocks the section is roughly bisected by Laurel Hill standards, averaging about 45 feet wide at project water Lake in Laurel Hill State Park, which is the top of the stocked section, near Ligonier several times also stocked with trout. along US Route 30 in Westmoreland annually. Throughout its upper reaches, Laurel County, and almost twice that size at the Hill Creek is sheltered by a good point where stocking canopy of trees to keep water tem HT ceases near Latrobe, peratures from rising too high for Beaver^, River I about 14 miles down trout comfort. Laurel Hill Creek 0 Keystc
Pike Run • K\ = Monongahela
Virgin Run /l\ = Speers Dam /Mv = East Fredicktown /Dunbar \ 'Creek /f\ = Rices Landing Ouhi» 3 Grays Landing Lake* (Laurel Hill AA • Point Marion ) Creek /fK = McKeesport Youghiogheny Lake : Boston ]A.
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishinv & Boatmg Memories Last A Lifetime "The Yough" nars on river corridor planning and other McKeesport No discussion of the trout related issues. With their continued dedi WESTMORELAND fishing opportunities within a cation, the future of this amazing fish relatively easy drive of Pitts ery is bright. NTY burgh would be complete with out talking about a fishery that Strategies is rapidly becoming one of the With the first few cool nights of early best in Pennsylvania: The September, the trout begin to emerge from Youghiogheny River, also their summer doldrums and their inter known as "The Yough." The nal clocks tell them it's time to start fat best trout fishing is in the 28- tening up for the winter to come. And mile section between the out as the autumn deepens, this urge becomes flow of the Youghiogheny even stronger. Reservoir near Confluence and At the same time, September and Oc the town of South Connellsville tober stream levels are usually at their in Fayette County, south of lowest points of the year. You will likely Pittsburgh. This fishery is made be looking at a lot of low, clear water and possible by the cold bottom in some cases, some pretty spooky trout. release from the Youghiogheny Making a slow, careful approach to the Reservoir that keeps the river stream when these conditions prevail is in a temperature range agree as important as making the right choice able to trout throughout this of lure, bait or fly. Wear clothes that match long section of river. the natural colors of the stream setting, The Youghiogheny fishery is and leave the pink hats at home. maintained for the most part Key your selection of lure or fly to the with fingerling plants of ap prevailing food sources that the trout are proximately 165,000 brown and using. For the fly angler, this means ter rainbow trout each year. The restrial dry flies like deer hair ants, beetles size of the river and the abun and grasshopper imitations. While not dant habitat it offers allow these always necessary, on the more heavily fished fish to reach a good size. Trout waters like Loyalhanna and Laurel Hill trout in the DHALO section above Lau in the 15-inch size class are not at all creeks, long leaders of 9 to 12 feet tapered rel Hill Lake, so it is a good bet for early uncommon and a healthy number of to at least 5X will fool more fish. Many autumn action. 20-inch plus fish have been taken in re of these waters also have decent autumn The popularity of the stream has led to cent years. Maintenance of this quality hatches of Isonychia mayflies that can be the establishment of two separate DHALO trout fishery depends greatly on suitable imitated with a Slate Drake in sizes 12 and projects on Laurel Hill Creek. The upper water quality from the Casselman River 14 and Isonychia nymphs in size 12. most is completely within the boundaries watershed. The spin fisher can cash in on the trout's of Laurel Hill State Park, beginning at the Much of this section of the "Yough" desire for more substantial meals this time first bridge upstream from the backwa flows through Ohiopyle State Park, and of year by working small spinners and ter of Laurel Hill Lake and extending up a bicycle path offers access to many of the spoons past log jams and through the stream for 2.2 miles. The lower area is in remote sections of the river. The river can pocket water. A struggling minnow is the lower reaches of Laurel Hill Creek, the be fished either by wading or by canoe. always a welcome sight to a feeding trout, better part of 18 miles downstream from However, the section near Ohiopyle is one and these lures do a good job of imitat the upper project. This 1.2-mile section of the most popular Whitewater rafting ing them. In low, clear water, give some begins at a footbridge on State Game destinations in the East, so use appropriate thought to using spinners in muted shades Lands 111 near Humbert and extends caution if you choose to float the river. of brass or even black. In higher flows, gold downstream to the Paddytown Hollow Fishing for numbers of trout is actually and silver will be your standbys. Just as Road. This lower water also benefits from better in the section above the famous the fly fisher must consider lighter lead an annual autumn planting of brown and whitewater section above Ohiopyle, ac ers in the low flows of early autumn, the rainbow trout. cording to Youghiogheny veterans. spinning angler is better served by lighter Laurel Hill Creek also has many small, This is a major Pennsylvania waterway, lines in the 4-pound-test range. stocked tributaries that hold a mix of wild and its closeness to metropolitan Pitts The bait angler can do well on these and stocked brookies and browns. All of burgh helps provide angling and recre streams in the open-water sections where these waters are managed as open water, ational opportunities for hundreds of bait angling is permitted. Take a page providing a small-stream angling oppor thousands of folks each year. The trout from the fly fishers book and use terres tunity for the bait fisherman. Among the fishery in the Yough is still developing and trial insects like grasshoppers and beetles best of these are Fall Creek near Barronvale, is likely to keep getting better as the years on light-wire hooks with little or no and Jones Mill Run, a small mountain go by. The Uniontown-based Chestnut weight. Drift these offerings as close to stream that surrenders its flow to Laurel Ridge Chapter of Trout Unlimited has likely holding water as possible, and watch Hill Lake in the State Park. taken a particular interest in the future for the takes. j—L of the river, sponsoring area-wide semi
Fishing & Boating Memories last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 9 Success Story: Falling Spring and its Greenway by Dianna K. Heim
uarr y Meadow PROJECT
Sp. yr fnc.7 \
-'tttJWffr1 "fft ii "^3.^
You can hear it in his voice. When downtown Chambersburg. Laid out in Mark Sturtevant talks about Falling 1764 by Benjamin Chambers, the town Spring in central Franklin County, you grew up around the place where Cham know it is a place that invites admiration, bers had built his log cabin and sawmill- even awe at times. Many of the flyfish- the meeting of the Falling Spring and ermen who visit his outfitting shop in Conococheague Creek. In the 1800s, the nearby Scodand share that wonder. "Some spring sped the wheels of 23 mills. of the people just come by to see it, and But often the progress a resource cre say, 'hey, next time I'm in the area I'll ates is the very thing that spells its doom. definitely be back to fish. I've got to try By 1977, the stream's quality was decay this one.'" ing and the once self-sustaining popula For years, its cold, pure waters have tion of trout was thinning. Several local drawn anglers from throughout the mid- sportsmen resuscitated portions of the Atlantic states. Even former President stream and even received some federal Jimmy Carter has stepped up to its banks conservation money. From 1977 to 1982, in the hopes of a brook, brown or rain bank restoration and the addition of de bow at the end of the line. It is one of flectors took place at Frey and Skelly Pennsylvania's last true wonders-a wild springs in the surrounding hillsides. meadows as well as at the land which would trout, limestone stream. That's how it earned its descriptive name. later be purchased from the Flohr family. Fewer in number than the state's free Of its roughly four miles, the catch-and- The project was given new life in 1988 stone streams, limestone streams provide release portion meanders for 2.4 miles when Washington, DC attorney Bill Horn the pristine, clear waters where bigger, between housing developments and farm and his friend Dennis La Bare, who had cannier trout thrive. They flow from deep land along Falling Spring Road. It can fished the stream for several years, sounded caverns and subterranean reservoirs and be fished year-round. Falling Spring also an alarm. through a bedrock of limestone. In this includes a Delayed-Harvest, Artificial- "Bill, I think, helped us realize what was portion of the Cumberland Valley's geo Lures-Only brown trout-stocked area of happening in our own backyard," says Sam logical floor, Falling Spring falls from 1.1 miles, which travels into the heart of Small, a local real estate agent and
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime flyfisherman. Soon area anglers, the Falling Spring chapter of Trout Unlim The Falling Spring Greenway, Inc., is a non ited, land owners and area businesses profit organization dedicated to reviving and formed the Falling Spring Greenway, Inc., a non-profit grass roots organization protecting the Falling Spring through land dedicated to reviving and protecting the Falling Spring. purchases and stream improvement projects. They didn't have an easy task. To truly preserve the stream, it had to be shielded Hanneby, admits he was doubtful about the state and then down to us. It wasn't from sprawling development and damag raising the funds. Although they preferred simple. These were funds that were pinned ing farming practices. to ask for easements, "we had to buy some for other possibilities," Small says. "Development was a concern, but more land, in this case, because some of the Initially, the Greenway was able to work so the farming procedures on the banks. parcels bordered very productive portions out a loan agreement with the Conserva The erosion was incredible. We had 200 of the stream that were slated for devel tion Fund of Arlington, VA to secure the years of use to repair," recalls Jerry opment. My own philosophy was, a lot property, according to Hanneby. This Armstrong, the Stream Improvement needs to be purchased, and I wasn't sure national organization operates revolving Coordinator for the Falling Spring TU how that could happen." funds to purchase and preserve our natural chapter and a Greenway board member. By the early 1990s, landowners Mark resources. The board had to create a buffer zone, and Frank Flohr had already subdivided After legislation was passed in 1992 to restore the banks and educate the land one of the last open meadows that bor set aside state fishing license money for owners and the public about stream dered the Spring. The nearly seven acres conservation projects, the Pennsylvania management. were parceled into five residential lots, Fish and Boat Commission was able to "We knew if something was going to tying up 1,100 feet along the Heritage trout purchase three of the Flohr lots from the happen, we had to concentrate on the portion. They agreed to sell it to the Conservation Fund. The Greenway community's interest in it as a greenway, Greenway for approximately $300,000. bought the other two and then turned as well as a fishermen's area," Small, who Greenway members rolled up their the property over to the Fish and Boat now serves as the Greenway's president, collective sleeves, wrote letters to state and Commission. remembers. "And we were going to need federal legislators and made phone calls. National Trout Unlimited received a money-lots of it." "The money was there, but we had to get $70,000 grant from the National Fish and Greenway's treasurer at the time, Chris it from the federal government, down to Wildlife Foundation in Washington, DC toward the land purchase and public education. An angler equipment company, Orvis, Fifth contributed $5,000 toward the Avenue, education part of the grant. They also helped design and Falling Spring construct information signs located at the Spring's access = DELA YED-HARVEST AREA areas. Money began to flow, in = CATCH-AND-RELEASE AREA smaller increments, from other sources as well. "The beauty of it was there was no taxpayer money involved. It was all privately funded," Hanneby says in retrospect. But the Greenway wasn't done with its fundraising yet. When a local company, Mercersburg Tan nery, was fined for industrial pollution by the state, the $45,000 fine was originally given to the Western Pennsyl vania Conservancy. A require ment of the state's fine was that it had to be used to protect the watershed of the Potomac River. Falling Spring is a part of that watershed, so the Greenway wrote more letters Henry and the Conservancy turned Lane over the money.
Fishing & Boating Memories List A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 11 Live Baits and Their Imitations for Catchine Smallmouths byVicAttardo Conditions dictate presentation-that's the rule I live by in fishing. You can cite any number of situations where this axiom holds true: Cold water equals slower presentations; clear wa ter demands smaller baits, and so on and so on and so on. When it comes to smallmouth bass in our Pennsylvania wa terways, reading conditions is of prime importance. Last Au gust I had a fishing date on the Juniata River with Al Kantz and John Peters, both of Richfield. We had met on the river the year before as these two veteran anglers were netting margined Stoneface madtoms in the shallows near Port Royal. Madtoms are a spe cies of small catfish and a devastating bait for big river bass. I nailed my first smallmouth in the next riffle. After that, it was was eager to learn Al and John's secrets. pretty much a fish-by-fish swap between us. As anyone who fishes the Susquehanna watershed knows, last In the evening, Al and I motored above the Thompsontown year was almost a total washout. In the shank of the season, bridge into some shallow water less than three feet deep. By then high, muddy water was the norm. I usually make 10 to 12 vis the river had cleared slightly and in this thinner water I was able its to the area each year, but I managed only two in '96. But a to use my fly rod with some success. Surprisingly, Al's live cat date is a date, so when our agreed meeting rolled around, out fish didn't work as well because the rocks caused the weighted to the water we went. For the trip I brought my fly rods and bait bait to hang up frequently. My fly just glided over the snags. outfits. Al 0ohn couldn't make it) brought his bait stuff. It was To continue the story, I made it back to the big J about two a beautiful Saturday morning when we arrived on the river near weeks later. On this trip, the water was clear though still a foot Thompsontown, but, not unexpectedly, the water was high and above its summer average. Fishing with Joe Bobiak of Quakertown dirty. We launched anyway. we slew the smallmouth for a day-and-a-half with an assortment Floating from the boat ramp we first came upon an overgrown of impressionistic flies. Live bait was totally unnecessary. Af shoal that slotted the river into a narrow chute. The shoal, creating ter that the J was unfishable for weeks. a wide, circling current, looked like a perfect smallmouth spot. While this is just one example, I have faced similiar scenarios I cast my streamer on the fly rod and Al laid out his madtom. I throughout the state. With the water high and obtrusively off- knew I was in trouble when I couldn't see my fly through 18 inches color, fly or hardware fishing was a worthless endeavor, so I used of water. live bait. But when the water cleared, impressionistic imitations In a few minutes Al had his first fish, a nice two-pounder. In were as good as bait, so why bother with the live stuff? about 30 minutes Al had released three decent bass and I hadn't Over the years I've used and developed a number of patterns had a strike. I put down the fly rod and grabbed the bait gear. that mimic the best live baits for smallmouth. I use the real stuff After adding a wiggling three-inch catfish to the hook, I finally when conditions dictate and the flies whenever I can. I'm not a fanatic to any one style of fishing. My aim is to catch fish, not satisfy someone else's standards of what fish ing should be. Madtoms Since I mentioned madtoms, let's start with these. I was first introduced to the tiny catfish in Virginia where old-timers regularly use them to catch big smallmouths in their rivers and streams. Here in Pennsylvania it is relatively unknown, particularly on the east side of the state. Commission Area 7 Fisheries Manager Larry Jackson tells me there are at least two tiny catfish critters, the margined madtom and the western stonecat. The former lives in the Susquehanna and Delaware water sheds, and the latter thrives in the Al legheny. Another critter, the tadpole madtom, lives in the state's western
14 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime /^wcfcs,
V*xnp*oato¥mf pr
drainage. Even Larry says he can't tell them apart without looking hook. Add a barrel swivel 12 to 18 inches above the hook to prevent up the details in a book. line twist. Carefully hold the cat by pressing the fins back against The average madtom is only two to four inches long, though the body or pinch the head between your thumb and index fin I have seen some larger. In color they run from dark-olive to ger. Insert the hook through the lips and toss the rig into the black with tiny black eyes and pale fins. They may look innocuous, smallmouth holding water. Few things are guaranteed in fish but these small cats carry a nasty toxin at the base of their pec ing, but this might be one. toral fins. Though the fish has no injector system, when "stung" Stonecats are not sold in bait shops. To catch your own, hunt by a madtom the tip of your finger feels numb. Once when I in waters with a moderate current and flat rocks. Pick up the was pricked, I tried to suck the bloodied wound with my mouth rocks and let the cats drift into a net, held behind you by a partner. and a strange Novocaine-like sensation impregnated my gums. John Peters told me he had a numbing pain in one arm for sev HOT TIP 1 • Bob Lorantas says a good way to catch eral days when the tip of the fin became embedded in his fin madtoms is to paint a tin can black, attach it to a dow stick ger. Since even the best stonecat fisherman gets pricked once and place the can in the water beside a flat rock. Lift the in a while, be prepared for this unpleasant sensation. rock and any cat will swim into the can, thinking it's a Commission Warmwater Unit Leader Bob Lorantas researched safe retreat. some madtom literature and learned that the critters have a skin When conditions permit, I switch from live cats to Tar's pore near the base of the spine and that the toxin can be extruded Stoneface or Stoneface Junior flies. There is simply no piece of from this pore. Lorantas said it is likely that the toxin is rubbed hardware that adequately mimics the shape and motion of the from the skin surface to the point on the fin where it then comes genuine catfish, but this fly does. Its wool head is trimmed to in contact with the angler. Bob and I had a fine time speculat the size and shape of the natural, and its rabbit fur wing undu ing why this evolutionary adaptation came to be, since it's doubtful lates like the real thing. Mother Nature had 20th century fishermen in mind when she The Stoneface is rapidly becoming my favorite big bass fly, gave the catfish this capability. You'd think, that like many consistently garnering the largest bass of the day. But being a creatures carrying a poison to ward off predators, smallmouths heavy fly, requiring a 7-weight or 8-weight rod to toss, I use the would avoid the cats. Instead, smallies relish them. Stoneface only during the first and last hour of the day, when But what little annoyance the cat causes the angler, it more the natural creatures are most active. For all-day fishing with than makes up for in landed smallmouth bass. I've seen hellgram- a 5- or 6-weight rod, I substitute Tar's Stoneface Junior, which mites and sculpins, both excellent smallmouth baits, go unmo replaces the water-heavy rabbit fur with a collar of deer body hair. lested in off-color water, while nearly every cat tossed into the The wiggling action is not as good on the Stoneface Junior, but riffles drew a strike. it still fools its share of big bass. Kantz says madtoms are better than sculpins in dirty water because the cats wiggle violently on the hook. Sculpins, he notes, Crayfish are a lot less active. I think smallmouths feel the same way about crayfish as I do The simplest rig for stonecat fishing is a size 1 leadered bait about Hershey bars. We can't get enough of them.
Bshmg &• Boating Memories Last A lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater A couple of seasons ago I kept a half-dozen crayfish in an Extend the base of the hair out over the eye of the hook in a fan aquarium where a few managed to live about two years. At one shape, like the crayfish's tail. The rattling Brown Crayfish gets point, I even had scads of crayfish babies crawling on the wet cloudy water smallmouth onto the dance floor. glass. During the adults' captured lives I witnessed them molt and I noted the color of their newly set soft shells. It was a mottled Darters, sculpins dark-gray and green. The underside was a pale gray with a blu I'm sorry, I just can't fish with live darters or sculpins. I know ish-olive tint. The Cray's claws were a transparent gray and the it's silly, but with their pouty little lips and big eyes they look tips a pale orange. so soft and vulnerable. Call me crazy, but that's how it is. Yet, Ever since seeing the soft shell stage I've tied many of my crayfish while I have compunctions about using members of the imitations with a gray shell and a light underside. While green- Etheostomas and Cottidae families as bait, I know smallmouth backed imitations are good, the grays, in clear water, are hot bass relish them. ter than Hershey bars. Darters and sculpins are easy targets for smallies-they may In my aquarium I watched a female carry her eggs under a tightly move quickly, but they don't move far. I've trapped both fish curled telson. She looked so vulnerable I made a green-backed in open water with an aquarium net, something downright fly with a ball of orange dubbing beneath the tail. It's a real winner. impossible with regular minnows. I fish live crawfish hooked in the tail. A hook with a weed guard, A lot of fishermen see the brown and tan tessalated darter in such as the Eagle Claw 249W or 449W, is a real plus. I spice my their home waters and think it's a sculpin. On the limestone line with a few splitshot and crawl the craw slowly across the bottom. streams I fish, tessalated darters are more common than their Bob Clouser has a Furry Foam Crayfish, which I love to build flatter cousins. Is this mis-identification a problem? It can be and use. It's a beautiful imitation, but I also make crayfish with when choosing the size of your fly. All of my darters are made deer hair bodies ala Will Ryan and chenille bodies ala me. on size 6, 2X hooks, while I build sculpins up to size 2. To imitate both species I rely on three patterns, Tar's Drab HOT TIP 2. The simplest crayfish imitations you Darter, Tar's Tessellated Darter and the Pennsylvania Sculpin. can fashion are crayfish-colored Woolly Buggers. I use All three are part of the Big Head Minnow series made with dubbed two colors of chenille, applying a short strip of the sec or chunked lamb's wool. ond color over the top of the hook to mimic the shell. My favorite color combinations are orange/black, orange/ HOT TIP 3. Big heads on streamer patterns dis olive, and cream/gray. For the tail, use either black, ol place more water and look more realistic than narrow ive or burnt-orange marabou for the appropriate patterns feather-wing streamers. Lamb's wool fuzzes as the fly is and palmer the body with grizzly or dun hackle. used and the material also traps air bubbles, making the In water that's slightly dingy, I use my Brown Crayfish. This heads even more lifelike. fly incorporates a glass rattle and lead eyes tied on the top of To make darter flies I've worked out a winging technique the hook. The body is a green/gold mylar tubing. After tying different from some of the more common methods. It's my answer the tubing down at the rear of the hook, insert the rattle into to the problem of holding down the wing while tying Matuka- the cavity. Then tie down the other end of the tubing. Coat the style streamers. To begin the fly, select either a mottled grouse body with Flexament. feather for the tessellated version or an olive pheasant feather Over the body I flair a hank of orange and brown bucktail. for the drab version. The pheasant feather comes from the wing near the shoulder joint; the English partridge feather is taken from the base of the wing. I've seen both of these round-edge feathers referred to as "fan feathers." The first step in making the fly is weighting the hook shank with lead wraps or a non-toxic substitute. For the tail, tie in a matched pair of fan feathers, placing each stem along the hook shank. The length of the tail is about one-quarter the length of the hook shank. Now trim the butt of the feathers, but don't throw them away. Next, tie in a three-inch length of fine gold wire and secure at the tail point. Dub the shank with olive/brown | antron dubbing, creating a tapered minnow body-thin in the t back, heavier in the front. Stop at least two eye lengths behind 1 the eye of the hook.
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Next, take one of the cut fan feathers and lay it concave-side Chubs, minnows, etc. up over the dubbed body with the stem resting flat on the dub I use shiners, chubs and all kinds of minnows for smallmouths. bing. The end of the feather's fibers mark the spot where they In small streams, size 6 Aberdeen hooks help the bait swim freely. should meet the tail. Now, bind down the fibers and the stem In larger waters, especially if a trophy is a possibility, I use a bronzed with the gold wire and tie off near the head. Use a dubbing needle wide-gap size 1 hook. (or a dentist's pick) to gently pull the fibers out from underneath All of these baits can be imitated with the Heavy Metal Min the wire. You'll see they sweep back beautifully just like a fish's now, which I've described a number of times, Ed Shenk's White fin. This, I believe, makes a more realistic wing than a wide saddle Minnow and Tar's Goat Hair Minnow. The latest incarnation feather tied Matuka style and it's a bit easier to do. To finish of the Goat Hair has a bead head for deepwater fishing. If goat the fly, dub or chunk the lamb's wool as a broad head. underfuris unavailable, try Angora Goat-Baby Seal Substitute, natural color. Each of the minnow imitations is a terrific fly Hellgrammites and I wouldn't fish smallmouths without them. t~s Here's a live bait I love to use on small and moderate-size streams. The reason I limit the real thing to more manageable waters is because I find hellgrammites difficult to cast long distances while The Hinge wading. In a narrow stream I simply play out the line from my When fishing down and across with the fly rod using streamers reel. A micro splitshot about 8 inches above the hook gives me and other subsurface flies, it's important to maintain some all the weight I need. controlled slack at the rod tip. I call this slack "the hinge." Hellgrammites are the larva of the dobson fly, a big bruising insect you don't want to meet at night-the male's jaws are like a pair of twisted scissors. They're enough to make a scorpion shudder. Both stages of the dobson fly are excellent smallmouth bait, but only the hellgrammite is really available to the angler. One night camping on the Delaware with my granddaughter Ashley, a four-inch female dobson landed on our tent. Natu rally I added a hook and tossed it into the river. It barely hit the water when I got a bass. My barber, Galen Beard, (honestly, his name is Beard) taught me a thing or two about live hellgrammite fishing. He told me to pinch off the rear pincers so the bugs can't cling to the rocks, and when a couple offish have chowed down on the bait, turn the bug's soft bodies inside out. I've done both and Beardy is right. Hellgrammite scent is so powerful, I once had a hook with just a dab of body juice left on it and a stream bass still went after it.
HOT TIP 4. To fish a hellgrammite, use a thin- wire, long-shank Aberdeen hook. The Aberdeen won't mangle the hellgrammite and the bass is less likely to swallow the long shank. As with all live baits, if the fish swallows your offering, don't attempt to remove the hook. Anglers approach streamer fishing in one of two ways: Ei Clip the line and set it free. ther they point the rod down at the water, having the fly line Hellgrammites are easily imitated by Woolly Buggers. I've also emanate from the last guide in nearly a straight line, or they hold seen a few more exacting imitations tied with foam and rubber, the rod tip at some 45-degree angle, thus producing a large amount but they don't impress me as being as lifelike as those fashioned of slack between the tip and the water surface. with marabou tails. After years of experimenting with differ Instead of those approaches, I suggest keeping the tip a tad ent color chenilles, I have finally (at least for now) settled on a above or below the horizontal plane of the water, depending on fly that uses a variegated brown and black chenille. Variegated- how deep you are wading. Allow the line to fall in a gentle "L" that is, two-tone chenille-is becoming easier to obtain. (In Penn from the rod, creating a short piece of slack between the rod tip sylvania you can find it at Cold Spring Anglers in Carlisle and and the surface. at Flyfisher's Paradise in State College). Tie the fly with a dark- When a bass hits, it will have this slack line to turn and run marabou tail, variegated chenille, palmered grizzly or dun hackle, with before feeling any resistance. The hinge allows the bass a few stands of Red Krystal flash at the collar, and use a bead to travel a short distance with the fly while firmly taking the hook. head. This personification is perfect. Without this controlled slack, the bass is more inclined to drop I fished with Eric Nelson on the Delaware last September and the fly. the bass really went for this fly when they snubbed others. When stripping the line, the hinge reappears beneath the rod Smallmouths in the Delaware watershed have a real taste for tip if you hold the rod at the correct plane. ^ hellgrammites. For shallow streams in the watershed, I make As the smallmouth strikes, allow the slack to straighten, and I the fly without a bead head. then set the hook by lifting the rod. At the same time pull down I on the line with the line hand. This one-two punch produces solid hook-ups and should lessen the number of missed streamer I strikes. -VA.
Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Some Pennsylvania Streams Are a
They come out only at night. And they appearance leads many to describe it as Allegheny River, they also have the nick look like giant, 2-foot long, flattened something that seems to have been run name "Allegheny alligators." newts. Imagine pulling one up on the end over by a car. One field guide calls the hell of a fishing line on a dim, moonlit night. bender "grotesque," "exceedingly slimy" Habitat concerns "You can imagine why they get the name and something that looks "more like bad But even in Pennsylvania, home for the hellbenders," says Andrew Shiels, Fish and dreams than live animals." hellbender has been greatly restricted in Boat Commission Nongame and Endan Despite the name, hellbenders have the past century. They were once distrib gered Species Unit Leader. good taste when it comes to habitat, choos uted through much of the Susquehanna Hellbenders are the largest salamanders ing clean, clear, flowing rivers and streams and Ohio drainages, but many waterways found in Pennsylvania, and one of the with lots of large rocks to hide under. Hell have become too polluted to support the largest found anywhere. They can reach benders historically were found over much giant salamander; rocks and hiding areas 29 inches long, but more typically mea of the eastern United States, but Pennsyl in other streams have become filled with sure between 10 and 20 inches, and can vania remains one of the best places for silt from land run-off; while other habi weigh about 5 pounds. finding them. In fact, its scientific name, tat has been eliminated by dams and They are never destined for wildlife Cryptobranckus alleganiensis, implies that impoundments. posters that feature warm and fuzzy ani this region has long been something of Because they are nocturnal, live under mals peering softly. The hellbender's skin a hellbender hotspot. Occasionally caught rocks, and their dark gray-brown skin is thick and wrinkled, and its flattened by night fishermen seeking catfish in the blends with the stream bottom, they are
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories last A Lifetime rarely seen by fishermen, and have never Their rate of reproduction is also a been well-studied in the past. "The aver mystery. Hulse says it is rare to find a small, age person doesn't come in contact with young hellbender. And he has never found them," Shiels says, "so you can't rely on hellbender larvae, though he has found anecdotal reports to give you good infor larvae of a similar species, the mudpuppy. mation about hellbenders. You have to go Hulse estimates that only about a half- out and find them yourself, and you have dozen people actively study the hellbender to know what to look for." in the United States. So for the last few years, the Fish & Boat To understand better what the long- Commission has supported the efforts of term outlook for hellbenders in different Dr. Arthur Hulse, a biology professor at parts of the state may be, Hulse and his that works out to about one hellbender Indiana University of Pennsylvania, who graduate students are closely monitoring for every four linear feet of stream. systematically wades rivers and streams, three populations. In one Westmore-land By comparing the well-being of those flipping rocks and looking for hellbend County stream, hellbenders have been populations, Hulse ultimately may be able ers. The research is financed by the Wild restricted only to one or two miles of to make judgments about how other hell Resource Conservation Fund. The fund, stream; headwater areas are too small for bender populations will fare. But, he supported through voluntary checkoffs the salamander, and acid mine drainage notes, the hellbenders have one impor on the state income tax form and the sale downstream makes the water too polluted. tant factor in their favor: The types of of special "Conserve Wild Resources" li "It has been hammered," Hulse says. "We habitat that they prefer are also those that cense plates, is the state's primary means have a stream that has been massively support the types offish habitat people of supporting nongame wildlife research. affected for a long time, and what we have want to protect. Ultimately, the hope is to piece together is a small, isolated population." Too small, "When I find hellbenders, I find a good a record of where hellbenders are found perhaps, to survive. "The data that I'm stream that for the most part is as close today and to determine their status in the seeing," Hulse says, "suggests an aging, to its original condition as we can find in state. While not considered endangered, declining population." this state," Hulse says. "They all support the animal has clearly declined in abun Hulse is also keeping tabs on the popu good trout fisheries; a lot of them sup dance. "This is an animal that is vulner lation of a creek in Indiana County, which port very nice smallmouth bass fisheries. able," Hulse says, "and if proper also has an isolated hellbender popula So where the hellbenders are, you're talk management isn't carried out, it may in tion. But in this case, the population is ing about streams that are of very good deed become threatened." larger than that of the Westmoreland quality. As they start to decline, they can Hulse has found a lot of evidence that County stream and covers a larger area. indicate the declines in other parts of the hellbenders were once more widespread Finally, he is closely examining a creek community." in the state. Often, that evidence is a popu in the Allegheny National Forest. "We can But, addressing one concern sometimes lation in headwater areas of a stream that think of this waterway as about as close raised by fishermen, Hulse said hellbend is cut off from other hellbenders by pol as we are going to get to what the habi ers do not eat trout. He has never seen luted water. "I assume that the area down tat was like for hellbenders before the area remains of a trout in the stomach of a hell stream would have supported populations was colonized," Hulse says. Hellbenders bender. They seem to prefer crayfish, at some time," Hulse explains, "because in that creek are plentiful. Hulse estimates worms, crustaceans and insects. "If anyone they had to have come from somewhere." there are about 90 pounds of hellbend sees or catches one," Hulse says, "they In addition, archaeological digs at Indian ers per acre. "That's a lot of animal, es should feel that they've been fortunate to sites along the Ohio River frequently un pecially for an organism that is one of the have seen such a unique animal, f~h cover hellbender remains. "They were top carnivores," he says. Put another way, and release it unmolested." probably a part of their diet," Hulse says. Scientists began noting their decline in the early part of this century, as the quality of many rivers and streams declined, though it is not clear whether the pollu tion kills the hellbenders directly or wipes out their supply of crayfish and other food.
Still a mystery In many respects, the animal Hulse is looking for is still a mystery. It's even un certain how long they live. In captivity, one has survived for up to 29 years, but that individual was already several years old when captured. "The answer is that nobody knows how long they live," Hulse says. "My The hellbender's skin is thick and wrinkled, and its thinking is that we're talking about very flattened appearance leads many to describe it as long-lived animals here. I wouldn't be omething that seems to have been run over by a car. surprised to find that we have animals that have a life expectancy of 50 or more years."
Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 19 "Look! There they are again," said a puzzled Dave Hornstein, pointing to a mass of bottom-hugging marks on the LCD depthfinder. "Definitely not big fish," I noted. "Look somewhat like a baitfish school." We had been working the deep edge of a midlake hump in search of walleyes when we drifted over a pod of something on the bottom. Before they moved off the screen, Hornstein received two hits on his jig-and- minnow but had not managed to hook anything. Now we were back over them again. "Missed another one!" Hornstein com plained. "They are not walleyes. They're smacking the minnow good, but not hold ing onto it." "Crappies?" I responded with a ques tion, just as I rolled a fish with a half-ounce blade bait but failed to connect. "Could be," said Hornstein. "But it's hard to believe I would miss three solid strikes from crappies with a jig-and-min- now." On my next lure lift I felt another tug. I continued sweeping the rod upward into a hookset. Something danced on the end of the line as I reeled in. "Bluegill!" Hornstein said as I swung the fish aboard. "A big bluegill!" "From 35 feet of water," I added, remov ing one tine of a large treble hook from the tiny lips of the 'gill. As I switched to a smaller Cicada blade bait, Hornstein grabbed another rod he had rigged for deepwater crappies. He baited the Aberdeen hooks with minnows and dropped the rig to the bottom. In 10 or 15 minutes we had caught enough fat blue- gills to make a family fish fry. Not bad for November, I thought to myself, and just another demonstration of the diverse locations of fall bluegills. Fish for all seasons Here's a little experiment. Ask a group of panfish anglers to talk 1 about their favorite time for bluegills. Most will speak glowingly about springtime fishing when the sunfish are in the shallows for the spawn. Others will address summertime fishing Small jig around and float weedbeds
20 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime with poppers. Still others would stake claim to ice fishing as their favorite time for 'gills. But how many men tioned fall? Probably no one, If they know about the fantastic fall bluegill bite, no one is talking. It's a niche many panfish anglers don't like to share. Yet, during the fall there's plenty of room on the water for fishermen, and there are plenty of hungry bluegills. Surprisingly, fall bluegills can be taken over a range of depths and habitats. They may be caught from shore in some lakes, and in other waterways a boat is definitely required to reach them. They may be re lating to wood, rocks, or the remaining vegetation. It just depends on what a for the handful of panfish anglers still particular body of water has to offer. at it. As water temperature contin ues to drop into early October, Different situations most bluegills abandon the weed as weeds recede. Permit me to illustrate the above points edge. They form mega-schools With decaying veg with examples. First, let's discuss that on rises (small humps) in bay etation no longer a suit- November incident of catching bluegills areas or on points in depths .rJfr'p) able habitat, bluegills in 35 feet of water, which took place from 20 to 25 feet. £j^ P^ move into open water. They Conneaut Lake in Crawford County. By mid-October trying to jr concentrate in the winding creek Conneaut is a 925-acre natural find bluegills in the shallows of this natu O channel, which averages a couple of lake with multiple basins sepa ral lake is like searching for hens' teeth. feet deeper than the surrounding flats. rated by underwater ridges and Very few anglers are seeking them at this Starting about the first of October, humps; maximum point, figuring the fish aren't feeding. anglers in quest ofbluegills line the cause in the basins That's what I used to think, too. But way that crosses the upper portion of range from 40 to more than a decade ago, I stumbled into Wilhelm. On a good day some fisher 70 feet. During concentrations of bluegills on hard bot men take home a five-gallon bucket of toms in depths from 30 to almost 40 feet. plump 'gills and pumpkinseeds. Blue Since then I have discovered that gills can be caught from the shore un 'gills remain very active and catch- til the lake ices over. able in deep water until around the How's that for opposites in the late fall? first of December. One lake where bluegills are found in 35- About 25 miles down the road in foot depths far from the shallows, and Mercer County is 1,600-acre Lake another where 'gills are within casting Wilhelm. A very different waterway distance of the bank. from Conneaut, Wilhelm is a flatland You may have picked up on one com reservoir with a maximum mon thread: Late-fall bluegills move to depth of 28 feet. The deeper water. Now, deep water is relative uppermost portion to the environment. In Conneaut the fish of the reservoir is very are able to move onto a very deep, hard shallow and completely weed- bottom; in the upper end of Wilhelm the choked during the summer. bluegills simply shift to the channel, which I spend most of my time fishing is the deepest water imme the lower portion of the lake by boat. By diately availably mid-October, I generally find bluegills have moved from the shallows to stumps and brushpiles on the deep flats or near the main creek channel; depth locations range the summer, bluegills are found from 10 to around 18 feet. in and around shallow weedbeds, However, it's a different story on the up as well as in open water to depths per portion of the reservoir. During the Small of about 25 feet. summer, thick vegetation hampers fish spinners can When water temperature begins to ing effort. But as the water cools, the weeds also be drop about the first of September, blue begin to " "~* effective. gills concentrate along the outside edge die and the water loses its pea-green stain. of the weedbeds. Catches can be impressive Open water channels and pockets expand
Fishing Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 21 Autumn Both movements are likely related to a bass cousins. Actually, during fall excur sustainable food supply. sions, I often find bluegills, walleyes and smallmouth bass schools holding on simi Bluegills in your area lar structures. This might include rock You can apply that insight to ponds, Tiny minnows take bluegills. Use outcroppings, rock ledges, isolated snags 3 lakes and reservoirs in your area. I can a /s-ounce or '/2-ounce bell (logs, branches, sunken boat) along a not predict exactly when bluegills move or sinker with two size breakline, or a bottom transition zone from how deep they go in all waters around the 8 or 10 long-shank firm material to soft silt. state. However, I do know from fishing Aberdeen hooks. When bluegills are 25 to 40 feet deep, many different lakes across the Common a micro jig dangling below a float is not wealth that the "deeper water than sum going to cut it. At this depth, a vertical mer" theory usually holds true. I have taken straight-down presentation is the most big bluegills from rocky bluffs on Raystown effective approach. and Kinzua reservoirs in the late fall, as Jigs are always a good choice for fish opposed to the shallower back end of bays. ing vertically. However, finding a deepwater On shallower reservoirs, the bridge leadhead for bluegills can be a tough as area is often productive; that's usually signment. The hook needs to the spot where the old creek channel be small, no larger than a size passes through the causeway. 8. But to get down to 30 feet, the jig needs some weight. Unfortunately, Lures and baits heavier heads and small hooks usually do Don't think your lake has big bluegills? not go together in commercial jigs. For Try fishing during the fall. Chances are tunately, I came across the type of jighead the fish caught will be some the largest of needed at a sport show a few seasons back. die year. That's certainly what I have found. When I run out of these compact heads At times the 'gills can be ravenous. with a small hook, I'll be searching again. Slip a small tube or Fuzz-E-Grub body on These panfish, like other species, are Deep-water tactics building up reserves for winter. In some the jighead, and tip it with a mealworm Before you can catch deepwater lakes they are eating whatever they can get or a small fathead minnow. bluegills, you have to find them. Without in their mouth. Let's consider some lure Minnows for bluegills? Yes! I rarely catch a good depthfinder and an understand and bait options, but keep in mind a pre bluegills widi minnows during the summer, ing of bottom structure, your time would sentation used in 6 feet of water will not but fall is a different story. Small minnows be better spent targeting lake situations be effective in 30 feet. are so effective in the deeper water that my where the 'gills are bunched up only When fishing from the bank, it's hard buddy uses a modified Kentucky Lake crap- a cast from shore. to beat a tiny jig suspended below a float. pie rig to fish fatheads for 'gills. The rig 3 However, if you like to probe the A /-4-inch soft-plastic tube or split-tail on consists of a '/s-ounce or '/2-ounce bell sinker dark depths, keep thefollowing a Y64-ounce or '/32-ounce head is standard. on the end of the line with two size 8 or 10 in mind. In deep Hair jigs catch fish, too, as do teardrop ice long-shank Aberdeen hooks spaced 8 to 10 water, bluegills jigs. Tipping any of these with a maggot, inches above the weight. The heavy sinker are object-ori waxworm or mealworm draws more strikes; drags the bottom, keeping the line taut, ented, in much I'm particularly fond of using mealworms while the angler slowly motors around the the same way in the fall. structure on the electric motor. as their black For a bobber, I prefer long-stem floats My favorite deepwater bluegill lure is because they are more sensitive to bites. a small blade bait. The '/s-ounce and Distance of the cast as well as the depth '/4-ounce Cicadas from Reef Runner at which bluegills are feeding determine are perfect for bluegills; most other whether a fixed or slip float should be used. blades have hooks that are too large. Fixed (non-sliding) floats are fine if cast To fish this lure, free-line it to the bot ing close to shore and if the fish are no tom, engage the reel, and take up slack deeper than four feet. However, if you need line so the blade is sitting on the bot to reach out farther from shore or need tom with the rod tip about to suspend the jig deeper, a slip (sliding) 12 inches off the water's float is the preferred choice. Balance the surface. Next, slowly lift the float by adding splitshot to the line so only blade off the bottom by rais the top of the stem is visible; this creates ing the rod tip 12 to 18 inches. the most sensitive setting. Then set the blade back down. Not Often bluegills are aggressive enough only are bluegills attracted to this lure's to be taken on larger lures. I sometimes action, but so are all species that love to use a heavier casting bubble with a '/i6- dine on struggling minnows. ounce tube jig; this is retrieved very slowly. Whether fishing from the boat or from Small spinners can also be effective. shore, don't overlook autumn bluegills. ^"""T
22 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime /Inffkr by Carl Richardson
illustrated by Ted Walke
Critter Collectors Soda Bottle Trap _1 Picture frame hanging Materials needed: wire (or other suitable rigid Kick Seine • Two- or three-liter soda 18-gauge or smaller wire). Materials needed: bottle. Use bottles that Ll Large nail • Two wooden dowels, 1 inch diameter, 4 feet long. have an opening of less (10 penny or larger). • Window screen (fiberglass material than 1 inch. Regulations —1 Wire cutters. works best) measuring at prohibit traps with larger • Utility knife. least two feet by four feet. openings. _l Permanent marker. Q Quarter-inch staples and DIRECTIONS heavy duty staple gun. marker to 1. Using the permanent marker, identify trap LJ Utility knife or write your name, address and wire cutters (for telephone number on the out utility knife cutting screen). ^ side of the bottle. Pennsylva to cut top ofbottle nia fishing regulations require that unattended traps be iden tified with this information. 2. Cut the top from the bottle just where the bottle begins to taper <\ toward the opening. 3. Invert the bottle top and place it inside of the remaining por tion of the bottle. 4. Heat the nail and make four holes in the two pieces. The wires used to hold the two pieces together will go through these holes. DIRECTIONS % utility knife 5. Cut four pieces of wire, each 1. Cut screen to a . to cut screen about two inches long. wire two size no longer than 6. Wire the two pieces together pieces four feet. Fish and Boat Commission regulations limit the and cut off excess wire. Make V" together I length of nets and seines to four feet. Seines larger than sure to leave at least one piece four feet require a special scientific collector permit. longer. This will be the one you 2. Lay dowels along shorter edge of screen, lining up the use to open the trap. bottom of screen with the bottom of dowels. 7. Heat the nail and make several 3. Wrap screen around dowel, one complete wrap. Staple holes in the body of the trap. heat nail screen to dowel rod, placing staples every six inches or so. to make 4. Repeat process on other dowel. holes in To use the soda bottle trap: bottle To use a kick seine: one or two persons Place large metal washers or small stones inside the trap for weight. Shuffle your feet, kicking over view from above Traps are most effective when rocks, disturbing the bottom placed in shallows of ponds or and walk toward the net. lakes or the slower-moving por tions of a river or stream. Trap can also be baited with bread. Be care ful when using trap in early spring. Breeding or migrating sala NOTE: Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission manders may find their way into regulations limit the number these traps. One salamander will ofbaitfish and/or aquatic After nearly a minute of kicking, attract others and soon you will invertebrates (fishbait) you •aise the net-bottom first-out of the have a bottle full of dead O can possess daily to SO. water. Pick critters offscreen. salamanders.
Fishing & Boating Memories Last A lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater The Emergent Tup's Indispensable Nowadays, new fly patterns tend to be designed for specific purposes-to repre sent a particular spinner, for example, or a special dun, nymph or pupa. Such a pattern is aimed at filling a special niche and is rarely adaptable to other uses. It isn't likely a caddis pupa pattern could be adapted to a streamer pattern. Nor could Joe's Last Hope streamer be readily con verted to a spent spinner. The detail shown by today's fly dressers undoubtedly reflects an increased knowledge of entomology and a heightened angler awareness of trout and their favorite food forms. Even though many older patterns were dressed to represent individual insects, such as the Halford dry flies, an equal number were more or less generic in nature. Possibly the best example of the latter is the Royal Coachman, which may be foil nd in the categories of dry fly, wet fly and streamer. In England around 1900, R.S. Austin described to G. E. M. Skues a pattern that little Tup's looked like a reasonable match eventually discovered that the stiff hackle was to take its place among the classics. of the naturals. But cast after cast over of the dry fly creates a hump on the sur Skues, Britain's leading chalk stream the uppermost fish drew a complete blank face when drawn just under the film. The nymph advocate, used the pattern as a wet and I began to suspect I was lining it. I hump may be observed a fair distance away fly with great enthusiasm and named it moved upstream a few steps and began and it undoubtedly draws the attention "Tup's Indispensable." to cast diagonally down to the trout to of the trout. It's probably similar to the Eventually, the Tup's was also adapted deliver the fly ahead of the leader. Again effect of an emerging mayfly nymph with to use as a dry fly, and it found favor with the fly passed over the fish without a stir, its wings partially unfurled. A stiff hackle many anglers in this category as well. In but at the end of the float, when I began is the key to achieving this effect, but the deed, I know several fly fishers who use my pickup to recast, the fly ducked un hackle's barbules would be slightly shorter the dry version even today when such der the surface and was promptly nailed than normal, no longer than 1 lji times pale mayflies as Sulphurs or Cahills are by the second trout. the hook's gape. hatching. Taking the cue, I repeated casting Since the fine-wire hooks found on downstream, drawing the fly under and standard dry flies are too light to be eas Dressing: Emergent retrieving it rapidly just under the film. ily drawn under the film, I use a heavier- Tup's Indispensable The fish were obviously taking emergent wire wet fly hook. The slight increase in nymphs, although I didn't realize it at the weight facilitates quick entry through the Hook: Size 14 to 18 Mustad 7948A time. I managed either to catch, or to at film, but not enough to make the fly sink or equivalent. least scratch, the remaining risers along too quickly. Thread: Yellow 6/0 prewaxed. the rocks. The Emergent Tup's Indispensable is Tails: Pale ginger hackle whisks. The incident was puzzling to my inex a prime example of the special adaptation Tag: Yellow floss. perienced mind and I began to question of a classic pattern to a particular func Body: Pinkish amber fur or synthetic. the logic of fly fishing. I was happy with tion. It is not a pattern for the kind of Hackle: Pale ginger or cream from my success, but catching trout on a dry general, everyday use for which we might cock's cape. fly fished wet didn't seem to make much fish, say, an attractor fly or a searching sense. However, over time I began to pattern, although it may well take its share My own experience with the Tup's In appreciate the complexities of the sport, of trout when fished at random. Its real dispensable began in the early days of my along with a realization that trout have value becomes evident when moving fly tying career-a time when I was eager a point of view we may not always be able emergers are exciting the fish to a frenzy. to try nearly every fly I could get my hands to assess. Work your Tup's through the feeders on. At first I used a dry fly version of the Following that event my curiosity led and use a light touch in striking. That's Tup's during an emergence of small, me to try to discover why the dry Tup's not easily accomplished when good fish cream-colored mayflies. Several trout were worked so well as a wet fly, albeit a not- are slashing wildly. But even if you break rising along the edge of a rock outcrop so-very-wet fly. Repeatedly casting and off a fly or two, it's an exhilarating J—u ping in the center of a large pool, and the retrieving in a stretch of shallow water, I experience not to be missed. *—'
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories \Ast A Lifetime Z.. Tie in a 3-inch length of yellow floss at the bend and wind over the short end to the tie-in point. Wind the thread back to within 3 turns of the bend and trim the excess floss in front.
I • Tie the thread behind the eye and wind back to the bend. For tails, bind a small bunch of ginger hackle barbs at the bend. Then wind forward over the tail butts, leaving a space behind the eye. Trim the excess butts and return the thread to the bend. 3s
J. Wind the floss 3 turns from the base of the tails, tie off and trim the waste end of the floss.
4. Form a loop with the thread, apply dubbing to the thread and twist to close the loop. Wind the working thread forward.
w>. Wind the body dubbing forward and tie off. Tie in the hackle on edge, at a right angle to the shank, with the dull side facing the eye. Bend the hackle butt forward. Bind it with two turns and trim the excess.
0. Wind the hackle three turns and tie off. Trim the excess, whip-finish and lacquer the head.
Fishing & Boating Memories Last A lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 25 Susquehanna River at Wyalusing, Bradford County
entering the sea far north, three in the Middle Atlantic states. One Pennsylvania watershed ultimately drains to the Gulf of Mexico, which itself is open-ended to the Atlantic. After thou sands of miles, all the water flowing out of Pennsylvania ends up in the same big pot. Six Ways As in the Continental Divide in the western United States, down whose slopes water flows either to the Adantic or the Pacific Ocean, ^—^ to the ~s Pennsylvania has its own watershed divides. These watershed borders are of relatively high elevation, with respect to the land scape on either side of them, which receives their flows. In some places the divides are knife-edged, either side of a steep moun tain; in others it's a seemingly flat-top field with a subtle slope both ways. Sea Pennsylvania's watershed divide boundaries snake clear across by Linda L. Steiner We all know that fishing requires concentration, but an or cut small corners out of the state, giving us three large and glers from Izaak Walton on down have also recognized this as three smaller watershed systems. The big ones are the Delaware the contemplative sport. Think, for a moment, of the ultimate River and its Pennsylvania tributaries, draining 6,470 square miles fate of the water swirling around your hip boots. If it isn't evapo along the eastern boundary of the state; the Susquehanna River rated by the sun that's burning your neck, it's in for a long journey. and its feeders, receiving the run-off from the central part of Here on a cold, wild trout stream headwaters, the droplets have the state, more than 20,920 square miles; and the Ohio River, only begun their voyage, first in impatient cascades, later daw with its major contributors, the Allegheny, Monongahela and dling through sluggish stretches, but ultimately ending up in Youghiogheny rivers, draining most of the western part of the the sea, with a new personality: salt water. But which sea, and state, over 15,600 square miles. by what route? It's a mighty lot of conjecturing from contem The smaller and lesser-known watersheds are in far north plating the waves at your boot tops. west, the center of the northern edge, and the center of the In Pennsylvania, that flow is going one of six ways, because southern border of the state. Up in the northwest, Lake Erie's Pennsylvania has six major watershed systems. When the rain Pennsylvania watershed is a small one, compared with what drops that became your fishing stream fell to earth, they com the Great Lake receives from other states with longer shore mitted themselves to one of these drainage regions. Five of the lines, only about 510 square miles. The Genesee River water watersheds find their final outlets at the Atlantic Ocean, two shed, a tiny triangle in northern Potter County, collects water
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime from less than 100 square miles. The Potomac River watershed, a thin southern border slice, flows south from a drainage area of nearly 1,585 square miles. Landforms influence flow Why doesn't all the water in the state flow one way-say, dump eastward on a short course to the Atlantic? Blame, or credit, mountain building and plateau uplifting, and ancient glacial advances. The watershed boundaries don't necessarily fit Pennsylvania's physiographic provinces, which are parts of the state that ge ologists have grouped because they have similar surface for mations. However, the features of the major terrain types do help explain why our water leaves us in so many different di rections. Geologists divide the state into about 15 physiographic provinces. The Ridge and Valley Province sweeps through the middle part of Pennsylvania, in parallel curves of long mountains and wide valleys running from the eastern border to the southcentral border. The curved back of the Appalachian Mountain Section of the province is the Allegheny Front, the mountain front a dividing line with the next physiographic area. The eastern-most part of the Ridge and Valley Province, the Great Valley Section, links with the Shenandoah Valley farther south. Streams in the Ridge and Valley Province tend to flow southwest or northeast, fol lowing the lines of the valleys and ridges. They are directed mostly toward the Susquehanna, the Delaware and, to a lesser extent, the Potomac rivers. The lowlands and gentle hills of the Piedmont Province, the physiographic arc that takes in the southeastern corner of the state, has its waters aimed by the confines of the Ridge and Valley Province to the Susquehanna and Delaware rivers. West and north of the Allegheny Front is the geologists' Ap palachian Plateaus Province. This covers most of western Penn sylvania and includes the Pittsburgh Plateaus, a swath angling from the southwest toward the middle of the state; the Allegh eny Mountain Section, which abuts the Allegheny Front; and the Allegheny High Plateaus section, to the north. It's not a land of long mountain ranges, but of hills and raised flatlands that are cut deeply by streams. Some sections look like mountains in their own right. Except for its most eastern and northern Glacial effects portions, the Appalachian Plateaus Province's waters go to the Two sections of the Appalachian Plateaus Province were once Allegheny and other Ohio River tributaries. covered by great masses of ice that bore down on them from the north. The northern hemisphere's "Ice Age" began about a half- million years ago, with advances and retreats of massive glaciers over the landscape. Pennsylvania experienced several advances and retreats of the ice, the last one melting back about 15,000 years ago. The glaciers bulldozed over the northwest and northeast corners of the state, changing the direction rivers flowed. The Allegh eny River, French Creek, Tionesta Creek and the Beaver River drainage are all believed to have flowed north toward a river that ran where Lake Erie is now. Today they run south. In eastern Pennsylvania, the North Branch of the Susquehanna River and Pine Creek flowed north before the glaciers, traversing New York's Finger Lakes Region to join a river system where Lake Ontario now lies. These, too, were blocked and redirected south by the walls of ice. Lake Erie, the child of the glaciers, was once much larger. The narrow lowland along the lake in Pennsylvania, part of the Central Lowland physiographic province, was exposed when the ancient lake shrunk. Some scientists say the current epoch is just a lull between the
Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 27 Six Ways DRAINAGE BASINS
WARREN
CRAWFORD
VENANGO MERCER
LAWREI
ERIE OHIO GENESEE POTOMAC SUSQUEHANNA DELAWARE
last march of the glaciers and the next. Pennsylvania is also, for watershed receives acid mine drainage pollution, coming out the time being, out of the mountain-building business. The once- of the anthracite "hard coal" country. Not all water running high Appalachians are eroding into the valleys with the rains, off the land reaches the ocean in good shape. the rivers, as always, working with gravity to find the fastest way The lower Delaware River watershed is the responsibility of to the sea. Fisheries Manager Mike Kaufmann. It's unique in the state, because this is the closest Pennsylvania gets to "ocean front Delaware River watershed property." It may not actually be "seashore," but the lower If the creek you're fishing is in the Delaware River watershed, Delaware is tidal up to the fall line, between Morrisville, Penn it might be anywhere from Wayne to Chester County, or as far sylvania and Trenton, New Jersey. west as center Schuylkill County. The watershed divide mean Kaufmann says the lower Delaware has three different groups ders in a north-south direction, roughly paralleling the Dela of fishes: ones that live in fresh water, ones that can live in both ware River, but a county or two westward. The major tributaries fresh and salt water, and ocean fish. The section down to about are the Lehigh River and the Schuylkill River. Waters in this the Schuylkill River has typical resident freshwater fish, like drainage find their way to the Atlantic Ocean via the Delaware smallmouth and largemouth bass, channel catfish and sunfish, River, pass into the Delaware Bay and round Cape May, New Jersey. with migratory shad, herring and eels passing through. Where The northern section of the Delaware River watershed demar the saltwater and freshwater mix, in a zone that starts near the cates what's commonly called the "Poconos," a land of water mouth of the Schuylkill, there are blue crabs, white perch, mullet, fall, forest, lake and swamp, which owes its aspect to the glaciers. menhaden, bluefish, weakfish and striped bass. Some saltwa The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission biologist whose ter species' young, like croaker and bay anchovy, use the Dela fisheries management area is the upper Delaware River basin ware Bay as a nursery area, moving to the ocean later. The lower is Dave Arnold. The waters of the Poconos are mostly infertile, Delaware also has the federally endangered shortnose sturgeon says Arnold, the natural result of sandstones and shales that and some rare, tiny sunfish species. underlie them. Some are also stained brown by natural tannins The lower Delaware River watershed flows through rock types seeping from decaying organic material in the region's many bogs, rare in the state, not just the usual sedimentary sandstones and which leaves the water slightly acidic. It's a place for the brook shales, but crystalline, heat-formed metamorphic rocks, like gneiss, trout, chain pickerel, pumpkinseed and shad. Entering the schist, serpentine and quartzite. Kaufmann says the streams have Delaware on their spawning migration from the sea, shad swim a fair amount of fertility, with some quality limestoners add the whole way up the river's course in Pennsylvania. ing their nutrients. Creeks tend to be sluggish, but they fall faster The Delaware picks up additional nutrients as it reaches the as they approach the Delaware. Although intense human settle outflows of richer streams, flowing through limestone depos ment carries water quality problems like sewage and untreated its near Allentown. The Pocono region, says Arnold, is one of run-off, the lower Delaware has come a long way, says Kaufmann, the fastest growing in the state with human development, which from the "bad old days" of the 1960s and early 1970s, when it in some cases has added useful fertility to sterile streams, although was so polluted, so deprived of oxygen at times, that there was run-off and siltation are problems. The central part of the a block to fish life.
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories last A Lifetime CENTRAL LOWLAND PROVINCE ^^L PHYSIOGRAPHIC PROVINCES APPALACHIAN PLATEAUS PROVINCE
^ ERIE
WARREN
CRAWFORD
VENANGO
GREENE COASTAL PLAIN PROVINCE APPALACHIAN PLATEAUS PROVINCE VALLEY AND BLUE RIDGE PIEDMONT PROVINCE RIDGE PROVINCE PROVINCE '
GLACIATED ALLEGHENY HIGH ALLEGHENY PITTSBURGH APPALACHIAN SECTION PLATEAUS SECTION MOUNTAIN SECTION PLATEAUS SECTION MOUNTAIN SECTION
GREAT VALLEY TRIASSIC CONESTOGA COASTAL PLAIN SOUTH SECTION LOWLAND SECTION VALLEY SECTION PROVINCE MOUNTAIN
GLACIATED LOW READING POCONO PIEDMONT EASTERN PLAINS SECTION PRONG PLATEAU SECTION UPLANDS SECTION LAKE SECTION
Susquehanna River watershed into their valleys, says Kaufmann. The soils are some of the most In Pennsylvania, the main-stem Delaware is totally free-flowing, fertile in the state, and streams are often discolored, from run unlike the lower Susquehanna, which has a series of dams. off after rains as well as natural algae and plankton growth. The Kaufmann's fisheries management area crosses into the lower Susquehanna is correspondingly rich. Susquehanna River watershed. Kaufmann has the lowermost The Susquehanna River's immense watershed cuts a wide swath section of the Susquehanna in Pennsylvania, from York Haven through the middle of Pennsylvania, from New York to Mary Dam to the Maryland line. From there the Susquehanna com land. The eastern border is the Delaware River watershed. The pletes its journey to an arm of the Chesapeake Bay, in Maryland, Susquehanna River watershed's western divide begins in northern which opens narrowly to the Atlantic between Virginia Beach Potter County, moves west to take in most of Clearfield County, and Cape Charles, Virginia. and dips to slice into eastern Somerset County. The Potomac With the exception of a 14-mile stretch of free-flowing wa River drainage divide provides the southern border, except where ter downstream of York Haven Dam, the lower Susquehanna is the Susquehanna spills through to Maryland. It is like three more like a series of lakes impounded by Safe Harbor, Holtwood watersheds in one, draining nearly half of the state, and includes and the Conowingo hydropower dams. Before the dams, shad the West Branch and its feeders; the North Branch, which dips and other anadromous (migrating from the ocean to fresh wa in and out of New York state before heading full-tilt south through ter) fish ran the Susquehanna and its tributaries. Kaufmann Pennsylvania; and the main-stem Susquehanna and its major says York Haven Dam is the last obstacle to fish passage into tributary, the Juniata River. the free-running Susquehanna and its feeders, with a fishway Larry Jackson is responsible for fisheries management in the planned for that facility over the next two years. Then herring, portion of the Susquehanna River basin below the confluence white perch and white bass will once again swim in the of the West Branch and East Branch, down to just south of Susquehanna. Harrisburg. He also has the Juniata River system. This water The streams come out of the surrounding countryside into shed section has great diversity, with cold, infertile forested the lower Susquehanna from rolling hills or plateau, cutting deeply headwaters, as well as rich, limey valleys hosting some of the finest
Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater trout and warmwater streams in the state. The Six Ways Genesee River watershed /—^ to the «/ tops of the mountains, with their poor sandstone soils, A nearly "forgotten" watershed of Pennsylvania is the have low-production brook trout streams, but in 15 Genesee River, which makes a small triangle in north minutes, says Jackson, an angler can be in a valley stream, Sea ern Potter County, with its base to the New York bor catching big brown trout in fertile, limestone spring-fed water. der. This, too, is Bruce Hollender's jurisdiction. The northern The Susquehanna itself near Harrisburg holds an "exquisite section is rolling, with farming and more fertile streams than smallmouth fishery," he says. Agricultural and other land use are found in Potter County's southern mountains. The Genesee's run-off is the biggest water quality problem. Clean-up of pol headwaters are near Ulysses, and it and its tributaries quickly turn lutants from paper mills in the region have helped the Little their back on Pennsylvania and head north, into New York. They Juniata, and.the Frankstown Branch is improving. come to the spectacular waterfalls in New York's Letchworth State Park, arrive at Rochester, New York and empty into Lake Ontario. Susquehanna West Branch Lake Ontario's downstream outlet is the St. Lawrence River, Plunging its fingers into the coal-bearing shales and sandstones ultimately the Atlantic Ocean. of the densely wooded, deep-cut plateaus is the Susquehanna River's West Branch sub-basin. A long, predominandy east-flowing Potomac River watershed river course stretches from Clearfield, Cambria, Cameron and The other lesser-known drainage is part of Larry Jackson's Clinton counties, past Williamsport to the river's southward turn responsibility, and a lengthwise slice that seems to be cut out of at Muncy. The West Branch and many tributaries are fouled by the bottom of the Susquehanna watershed. This is Pennsylvania's mine acid drainage, losing hundreds of miles of water to fish contribution to the Potomac River watershed. The boundaries ery productivity, but there are also numerous backwoods trout are in Somerset and Adams counties, with one river course jut streams. ting southward, the West Branch of the Conococheague. Jack This is Bruce Hollender's fishery management charge. North son says that in this series of ridges and valleys, the streams are of Route 80, he says, much of the land is not degraded by agri less fertile in the west, and more rich as you travel toward culture or development, and the headwater streams are "rela Gettysburg. The fish life strongly resembles the Susquehanna tively pristine," renowned for wild brook trout. These grade to drainage. The southern-flowing streams cross into Maryland "fine freestone brown trout streams" lower off the mountains, and empty into the Potomac, which drops through Washington, says Hollender, then to smallmouth bass water, as in the lower DC and to Chesapeake Bay, with its access to the sea. Driftwood Branch. There's a "real dichotomy," he says, between the rocks, soils and streams that flow from the western section Ohio River watershed of the watershed, with very low alkalinity and easily ruined by The Ohio River watershed is headed an entirely different di mine acid, and the highly alkaline, nutrient-rich waters of cen rection. Cross the watershed divide in Somerset County, angle tral limestone valleys, especially near State College. to the state's far corner in Greene County, go up to mid-Beaver County along the western edge, add in the Allegheny up to Lock Susquehanna North Branch 6, and you have Richard Lorson's fisheries management area. Robert Moase has fisheries management responsibility for the The Ohio River, with its major tributaries, the north-flowing "other" branch of the Susquehanna, the North Branch, whose Youghiogheny and Monogahela, and the south-flowing Allegheny, headwaters are in Otsego Lake, near Cooperstown, New York. contains a diversity of fishes unrivaled in the state's other wa The North Branch dips into Pennsylvania tersheds, says Lorson. The Ohio empties in northern Susquehanna County, bends into the Mississippi River, which drains the back into New York at Great Bend, and re entire central United States, finally spread enters Pennsylvania to stay at Sayre, in ing itself into the Gulf of Mexico. Fish Bradford County. species from that vast region have colonized The North Branch at first drains a re the river system, and several unusual to gion that glaciers covered and, in this state, Pennsylvania live in the big, slow Ohio. flows mainly through broad valleys. It gets There's white bass, sauger, shortnose gar, water from plateau farmlands and forested smallmouths, buffalo and freshwater drum, hills along the eastern part of the state's and paddlefish have been restocked. northern border, and is fairly fertile, says The "Pittsburgh area" of the Ohio River Moase. There's good fishing for small- drainage has steeply falling streams, some mouths, walleyes and muskellunge. The with waterfalls, coming off high plateaus river is affected by mine acid and urban and the Allegheny Mountains, lower farm uses in the Scranton through Wilkes-Barre lands with meandering, muddier streams, section. Some of the higher elevation and creeks that drain the bituminous, "soft tributaries that drain sandstone-based hills coal" region. There is good fishing, as well have low alkalinity and are degraded by as water degraded by acid mine drainage. acid precipitation, says Moase. Below the Lorson says he's "excited over how far we've industrialized Lackawanna-Luzerne come in the last 20 years," in improving County corridor, the fishing improves. water quality in the region. The North Branch gives up its flow to the Above the locks, the Allegheny River is main branch of the Susquehanna, in free-flowing to Kinzua Dam, near Warren. Northumberland County. The reservoir backs up into New York, and the Allegheny River above the impound-
Pennsyli'ania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime cosmetics. Her long fingernails were mended surgery. "No way," she said, and painted bright red and they were always we prayed about it. She exercised dili ers well-manicured. gently and in only two months she was I met her four years ago. I took her out wading rivers again, as if there had never on my boat and put a fishing rod in her been a problem. She follows me up the The Best Catch of All hands, the likes of which she had never rivers and down the streams in search by Jim Croyle done before. It was love at first sight-my of that first legal bass, trout, walleye or love for her and her love for fishing. She steelhead. Even the bluegills and rock seemed to be a natural-took to fishing as bass aren't safe anymore! if she'd grown up around it all her life. She now makes her own lures. She Putting a worm on a even takes her fish off hook, however, wasn't as the hook and gets very natural. I still haven't quite excited when she loses figured out how you bait a a big one. She's my hook while chasing a worm best friend, my partner across the deck of a boat- and now my wife- with the hook! Now that sorry, guys, I caught has changed. She picks this one. You didn't them up by the dozen out {7Jf~~ think I was going to re of the yard at night, com lease her, did you? Best plete with flashlight and catch I ever had! coffee can. She also has I asked her why she graduated from worms to likes fishing so much catching minnows and cray and she said, "Where Who would have believed it-a beautiful fish with a net. I'm just glad else can you go and be lady, Jeannie, from Fair Lawn, NJ, just she takes me along! one with nature, look at minutes from New York City, someone We do a lot of fishing beautiful scenery, see all whose spare time was taken up with now, mostly in rivers. She kinds of wildlife, get Broadway shows, movies and lots of girl had a painful nerve condi great exercise, enjoy the friends. She's a lady who had two careers- tion in the small ofherback sport of fishing and one in social work, another one in for which the doctor recom catch dinner, too!" f~7
ment curves to re-enter Pennsylvania near Eldred. The head fishing, and much less fish diversity than in the Allegheny River waters are in Potter County, near Gold. There, says Ron Lee, the drainage. fisheries manager for the "upper" Allegheny and its tributar ies, you can step across the river. Lake Erie watershed This section of the Allegheny, and especially its feeder French Billingsley also oversees the state's Lake Erie tributaries, which Creek, contain the most varied aquatic life in the state, rang drain a narrow band inshore from the big lake. Conneaut Creek ing from freshwater mussel species to common and rare dart reaches deepest, toward Pymatuning, but most streams, like Elk ers, brook lampreys, madtoms, hellbenders and mudpuppies, Creek, Walnut, Four Mile and Twelve Mile, scarcely penetrate and a gamut of nearly 80 different fishes. It is believed the river's 10 miles inland. The streams run through the shales, clays and original northward flow allowed it to pick up one set of fauna, gravels that were inundated in previous glacial lakes, which had while water life of the Mississippi River system was added when higher water levels than present Lake Erie. Some creeks cut deep the river turned southward because of glacial blockage. gorges through the sediment to expose impressive cliffs, while French Creek and the streams coming into the upper Allegheny the fertile countryside above is flat. from the west, says Lee, off glaciated land, are more fertile than The usual complement of warmwater fish are in the streams, those coming from the unglaciated eastern high plateaus. Coal plus some Lake Erie fish use the tributaries at times. Steelhead seams have affected some streams with mind acid, although the trout run as far upstream as they can, while spawning shiners, Clarion has come back from a degraded past to an ever-increasing smelt, carp, goldfish, bass, catfish and gar visit the stream mouths. fishery. This is Pennsylvania's oil country, and oil and natural Rain in this area doesn't travel far in stream flow, but quickly gas activity produces some oil, brine and dissolved heavy metal joins Lake Erie, eventually to plummet over Niagara Falls to Lake pollution. Ontario, then to the St. Lawrence River and the North Atlantic. Before the Ohio River reaches Ohio, it picks up flows from There are six ways for the water pressing against your hip-booted terrain along the western border of Pennsylvania, the Beaver River, legs to reach the sea, depending on where in the state you're the Shenango (which flows out of Pymatuning Lake), standing. Six different passages with their own personalities, Connoquenessing, Slippery Rock and more. The land is flat or short and sweet in the Lake Erie watershed, or the long way around gently rolling, covered with clays and gravels left by the glaciers. along the North Branch through the length of the Susquehanna. Streams are extremely fertile, says Craig Billingsley, Area Fish Wasn't it nice that for a moment in its epic journey, J—L eries Manager. There are few trout streams, mostly warmwater the water paused at your side? . »—/
Fishing & Boating Memories last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Seasons, Siz< COMMONWEA] SPECIES SEASONS All species of TROUT and SALMON Regular Season- April 18 at 8 a.m. to midnight September 7 Extended Season- all approved trout str^nr and their downstream areas; and all \ak® a ponds, January 1 to midnight February r a: September 8 to midnight December 31 BASS- LargemouthancTSmallmouth January 1 to midnight April 17 and 12:0U.i and Spotted all inland waters** on June 13 to midnight, December 31*** MUSKELLUNGE and Muskellunge hybrids January 1 to midnight March 14 and 12:01 a.] PICKEREL* *** on May 2 to midnight, December 31 PIKE- Northern and Amur WALLEYE and hybrids (Saugeye) SAUGER AMERICAN SHAD Open year-round AMERICAN SHAD (Lehigh River and tributaries) Open year-round AMERICAN SHAD, HICKORY SHAD, Closed year-round ALEWIFE, BLUEBACK HERRING (Susquehanna River and tributaries) HERRING and HICKORY SHAD Open year-round __/• AMERICAN EEL Open year-round STRIPED BASS and STRIPED BASS/ Open year-round WHITE BASS HYBRIDS SUNFISH, YELLOW PERCH, WHITE PERCH, Open year-round CRAPPIES, CATFISH, ROCK BASS, SUCKERS, CARP, WHITE BASS BAITFISH and FISHBAIT (except mud bugs) Open year-round
AMERICAN EEL (as baitfish) Open year-round ^y- MUDBUGS (dragonfly nymphs) Open year-round
PADDLEFISH Closed year-round -/> * Includes the Youghiogheny Reservoir and does not include SPECIAL REGULATION AREAS. ' Approved trout wattQte ** In the Summary, see Conowingo Reservoir and Susquehanna River and tributaries charts for special bass ' * During the period! . < seasons applicable to flowing waters within the Susquehanna River Basin. 1998 OPENING DATES TROUT: APRIL 18 Zes and Creel Limits ALTH INLAND WATERS* MINIMUM SIZE DAILY LIMIT 7 inches 8- streams, lakes and ponds (combined species) except areas with special regulations 7 inches 3 (combined species)
12 inches 6 (combined species from all habitats) 30 inches 2 (combined species) 15 inches 24 inches 2 (combined species) 15 inches 12 inches no minimum no minimum CLOSED 0
no minimum no daily limit 8 inches 50 20 inches 2 (combined species)
no minimum 50 (combined species)
no minimum 50 (combined species) 6 to 8 inches 50 no minimum Unlimited if taken from lakes, ponds, swamps, and adjacent areas. 50 per day if taken from moving waters (rivers and streams) CLOSED 0 f*i /? c/°sed to fishing from March 1 to opening day of the regular trout season in April if t '2:01 a.m. Januray 1 to midnight March 14 and 12:01 a.m. December 1 to midnight December 31, the daily limit of pickerel is three.
^S: MAY 2 WALLEYE: MAY 2 BASS: JUNE 13 The mm Trout/Salmon Stamp and Print Competition A watercolor painted by Ed Parkinson of Browndale, PA, was selected as the winner of Pennsylvania's 1998 Trout Stamp Art Competition. Parkinson's stream scene depicts an angler on the West Branch of the Delaware River on a glorious autumn day. Parkinson's painting will become the Fish and Boat Commission's 1998 Trout Stamp. In addition, the painting will be available as a limited- edition fine-art print from Wilderness Editions, Warriors Mark, PA. The competition for the 1998 trout/salmon stamp and print took place June 3 at the Radisson Penn Harris Hotel and Convention Center, Camp Hill. There were 66 paintings, submitted by 61 differ ent artists, on the subject of "trout streams of Penn sylvania." The winners are:
1st Ed Parkinson, Browndale, PA - Delaware River, West Branch. 2nd Luther Hall, Mystic, Connecticut - Loyalsock Creek. 3rd Rob Stine, Vestal, New York - Slate Run. 4th Luther Hall, Loyalsock Creek. 5th Frederick Carrow, Oil City, Pennsylvania - Oil Creek. 6th (tie) Roger Cruwys, Bozeman, Montana - Little Juniata River. 6th (tie) Lorraine Bush, Reading, Pennsylvania - Tulpehocken Creek. 8th Bob Anderson, Volant, Pennsylvania - Oil Creek.
Judges and other dignitaries were (left to right) Del Graff (judge), Director of the Commission Bureau of Fisheries; Peter A. Colangelo, Fish & Boat Commission Executive Director; Al Mayhew (judge), retired, former Director of the Commission Bureau of Administration; George Lavanish (judge), Wilderness Editions Publisher; Enoch "Inky" Moore The 1998 trout stamp print and patch will be available October 1, 1997, (judge), Commissioner; Dennis Guise (judge), from Wilderness Editions, RD 1 Box 73, Warriors Mark, PA 16877; telephone Commission Deputy Executive Director and Chief (814) 632-7645. The 1998 trout stamp will be available December 1, 1997, Counsel; Ted R. Walke (judge), Chief of the from Commission licensing agents. The 1997 trout stamp print, Neshannock Commission's Graphic Services Section; and Tim Creek by Christopher Leeper, of Youngstown, Ohio, is also ^^^ Klinger, Trout/Salmon Stamp Program Manager. available from Wilderness Editions. \_J
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A lifetime Good Hope Dam, Conodoguinet Creek, Cumberland County
CONSULTATION AND GRANT PROGRAM for Fish Passage and Habitat Restoration Purpose This document describes the Pennsyl that persons who own or maintain dams • The Chesapeake Bay Program's Living vania Fish and Boat Commission's (PFBC) on the waters of Pennsylvania must install Resources Subcommittee has established consultation and grant program to pro fish passage facilities or other devices to a Fish Passage Work Group and a Habi vide fish passage and stream habitat res enable fish to ascend and descend the tat Restoration Work Group to facilitate toration at dams on tributaries to the waters at all seasons of the year. An alter the restoration of migratory fishes to his Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay. native to fish passage devices is removal toric habitat. This program is supported by EPA Chesa of the blockage. The current version of this ® The PFBC represents the Common peake Bay Program funding. Tributary law is set forth at 30 Pa. C.S. Ch. 35. wealth of Pennsylvania on the Fish Pas fish passage and habitat restoration are • The Chesapeake Bay Program, began sage Work Group and is represented on integral parts of the American shad in 1987 and administered by the Environ the Living Resources Subcommittee. restoration project managed by the mental Protection Agency, has established • The 1993 Susquehanna River Settle Susquehanna River Anadromous Fish Res a priority for restoration of migratory fish ment Agreement with the utility owners toration Cooperative. to historical habitat within the Chesapeake of hydropower dams on the main stem of Bay drainage. the Susquehanna River, provided for fish Background passage of migratory fishes at Holtwood, • The Susquehanna River Basin is the Tributary fish passage and Safe Harbor and York Haven dams. largest river system in Pennsylvania, largest habitat restoration are • The PFBC annually applies for fund river system tributary to the Chesapeake ing to support migratory fish restoration, Bay, and historically boasted the largest integral parts of the including fish passage on tributaries, runs of migratory fishes in the east coast. American shad restoration through the Chesapeake Bay Program's • When the Fish and Boat Commission administration of Section 317 of the Clean was established in 1866, its primary re project managed by the Water Act. sponsibility was to restore migratory fish Susquehanna River • The PFBC has used Bay Program runs to Commonwealth waters, includ funding to support a project by Pennsyl ing the Susquehanna River Basin. Anadromous Fish vania State University to inventory "Im- €> Pennsylvania law has long provided Restoration Cooperative. pediments to Fish Passage in the
Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 35 "' ^tu^J--^: Dock Street Dam, ----- " setting priorities for program funding Susquehanna River, include: Harrisburg U.-. @ The owner's willingness to breach and remove the dam. Removal is the most in |j|r, expensive and environmentally beneficial alternative. • Closeness of blockage to the Chesa peake Bay and its relationship to other ~-^§H^- blockages downstream. ^^-^eWj^g • Quantity and quality of habitat avail ^•&0i!lSP ' able upstream of blockage with implemen - "vt*- '"^J"''•*>&' -^*~ " -^ST™ I„MI, •. tation of fish passage. # Ability of dam owners to contribute nonfederal match for Bay Program grants. jp^" % Capability of owner to operate and ^^^^^r maintain fish passage facilities. Pennsylvania Tributaries to the Susque procedure is designed to make it easier and hanna River." This project identified and affordable for owners to remove unwanted Benefits of removing dams characterized blockages and available and unsafe dams in Pennsylvania. Breaching, demolition and disposal of habitat to migratory fishes on large tribu dams is the preferred method for achieving taries entering the Susquehanna below Funding support fish passage. Benefits of removing dams the confluence of the Juniata River. Providing fish passage is ordinarily the include: • In 1996, the consultation and grant responsibility of the owner of the dam. ® Unimpeded movement for migratory program has supported removal of two However, funding support may be avail and resident fish. low-head dams and the construction of able to assist dam owners in carrying out @ Eliminates public safety hazard. one permanent fish passage facility. Five their responsibilities. Chesapeake Bay # Reduced liability concerns for dam removals are scheduled for 1997. Solici Program funding for fish passage project owners. tation for projects to be implemented in design and implementation maybe avail <§ Restoration of stream ecosystem 1998 and future years is ongoing. Requests able. Bay Program grants for fish passage functions. for participation in future years are cur require a 1:1, federaknonfederal match. ® Improved habitat for stream plants rently being accepted for review and pri Limited nonfederal match may be pro and animals. ority evaluation. vided by the PFBC based on project pri # Eliminates fish ladder operation and ority and capability of the dam owner to maintenance. Who should participate contribute financially. • Reduced watercraft portage. \_j Existing or perspective owners of dams or blockages in the Chesapeake Bay drain Priorities for funding projects For information, contact: R. Scott Carney, age of Pennsylvania are eligible to partici Chesapeake Bay Program funding sup Anadromous Fish Restoration Coordinator, pate in this program. The program port for fish passage and habitat resto Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, 1225 coordinator will be contacting owners of ration is available from federal fiscal Shiloh Road, State College, PA 16801-949S, high priority blockages to fish passage and budget allocations. Considerations for (814) 355-4837. persons applying for permits to construct or modify dams. Provisions for fish pas / \ sage can be a permit requirement for any REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE plans to modify or construct new dams. Consultation and Grant Program for Fish Passage and Habitat Restoration
Consultation support Name The PFBC Anadromous Fish Restora tion Coordinator is available to assist with provisions for fish passage at blockages Address in the Susquehanna Basin. Coordination assistance can include acquisition of project funding, state and federal resource agency coordination, facilitating acqui sition of necessary permits and waivers; Telephone engineering design and technical support, and education and information support. The PFBC and Pennsylvania Depart Stream name ment of Environmental Protection, Divi sion of Dam Safety can utilize a procedure authorized under the waiver provision of Use of dam Section 105.12 (a) (16) to facilitate the Send form to R. Scott Carney, Anadromous Fish Restoration Coordinator, Pennsylvania breaching and removal of dams. The Fish and Boat Commission, 1225 Shiloh Road, State College, PA 16801-9495
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime that thing," he said. Then he smiled and with him for a spell. I readily obliged. I looked back to the stream that paralleled was surprised when he said he had enough the winding, pot-holed blacktop. Butch was fish and that if I wanted to fish some more as practical about his fishing as he was about he would simply follow along, although life. He fished minnows only; nothing else, he saw no point in it all, because I would but he only fished the first couple of months just put them back anyway. I looked at of the season and then again when the the old man and into his eyes. I knew he waters became high and a little off-colored. could fish all day and take more fish. I I pulled the Jeep to the side of the road also knew that if he continued to fish he and Butch pushed open the door and was would keep all the fish he would catch and casting before I could get my rod together. that he knew it, too. He had set his own Our plan was to fish the two miles back to limit and that depended on the number the house. I knew we would have to cross and the size offish he had taken. the stream a number of times to work the "Got myself two meals and a breakfast better holding waters. I was concerned that right here," he said, patting the wicker the stream was too high and swift for Butch, creel. The man was simply too practical but of course, he would prove me wrong. to argue with and I never would have done Our first crossing came after he had taken so. He was born into hard times, raised Butch was a distant relative, distant two nice carry-over browns, rapped them during poor economic times, and he had enough not to explain. He was a short man on the head and slipped them into his moss- learned hard lessons early in life and they with cheery white hair and worn teeth. He carpeted wicker creel. Butch ate his fish, had stuck. smiled and laughed continually and I al and he figured two browns of 15 inches I took down the rod and we chatted as ways attributed his happiness to all the time would fill his stomach quite nicely. we walked back home. I was always taught he spent fishing, hunting and just spending I took two smaller browns and released that an older person is usually wiser than time in camp. Camp stood on the moun them. Butch didn't understand the releas most younger folk. It comes with expe tain top that overlooked the Kettle Creek ing offish, and wondered out loud, "Why rience, I figure, with the experience of valley, not a bad place to find a quick smile. fish if you aren't going to keep them?" I living and fending for oneself... and if He had come to fish, he announced, as knew that I could not explain my choice Butch was still smiling through all those he swung open the front door without of fly fishing under all conditions as sim years, well then, there was no sense in knocking first. He never did knock. He ply something I preferred, nor could I con trying to explain the virtues of catch and had the feeling he was always welcome, and vince him that releasing fish was something release or anything else, for that matter. he was. When I asked where he wanted to good. I knew that any form of discussion A simple man with a smile is hard to fish, he never cared where, nor did he pay of the matter would not change his con much attention to any promise of good victions that were every bit as strong as mine. fishing; to Butch fishing was always good. Butch was in midstream fighting the He knew that he could catch fish anywhere strong currents of the bank-full river be and at any time. He did not fear failure; fore I realized it. I struggled to follow, the he knew little if anything about it; one stones turning underfoot to be washed might say that Butch was a happy man or away with the current, the gravel melting that he simply chose to be happy. beneath my feet. The strength of the cur In many eyes, Butch had no reason to rent was more than I expected, and with be happy. He had made only a marginal the waters trickling down the top of my living before retiring and his home was as waders, I looked to see if Butch was tread modest as the cabin and the older model ing water. I knew I was a good four inches vehicles he drove. taller than he was and I knew he must have His eyes always flashed with excitement, been forced to tiptoe his way at some point eyes that highlighted his light complexion during the crossing. and the deep lines the constant smile wore He looked back and flashed a wide grin, into his face. I grabbed my always-strung "Need to get yourself a wading staff, son," rod from the rack and we headed upstream he said. He, of course, had one, the prac in my Jeep. tical man that he was. Perhaps the reason The river was high, the way that Butch he lived to gain old-age status and smile liked it to be. The old galvanized minnow about it. bucket was already strung over his shoulder I caught no more fish; Butch's total was and I was sure it was filled with live "shin five-all nice fish, all browns. We had com ers," as it always was. Butch was in excel pleted at least three more precarious stream lent shape, and it may have been an insult crossings and my legs tired trying to keep I to call him "old," although I don't think up with the man who was at least 40 years I it would have mattered to him. my senior. I also took into consideration J He looked at my fly rod and the streamer that he had five hefty fish and a minnow | that dangled from the hook-keeper. bucket to carry. "The river's too high and off-colored for Butch motioned for me to stop and sit
Pishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 37 tie your boat to a ring or bar (half hitches), tie two ropes together (sheet bend), and by Cliff Jocobson snug your boat to a cartop or secure your gear in your boat (power cinch).
When I was a teenager in the 1950s, I equipment, so we spent our free time sew But with rare exceptions, the same knots worked summers for a Boy Scout camp in ing canvas and splicing ropes. When our and hitches are used to tie them. The good Michigan. The job paid almost nothing work was complete, we took White Light news is that the knots I know will last a but the living was free and I could canoe ning out for a genteel show-off run. Ev lifetime. Unlike my computer, they won't or sail whenever I liked. The camp had a ery line was coiled and stowed and proper need upgrades! number of old sailboats, most of which knots were used throughout. We ended Do you look like a pro when you tie to were junk. But there was one sleeper in our sail by smartly coming about within a dock? Does your car-topped canoe stay the crowd—an 19-foot wood-ribbed C-scow inches of the pier—at which point my put in wind? Can you tie ropes together that was built in 1938. If the wind was right, friend casually stepped ashore, mooring so they won't come apart under load? Are White Lightning, as we called her, could run line in hand, and in a blink, set a perfect you able to secure a load into your boat the socks off every sailboat—and most clove hitch on the upright post. White Light or truck so it won't shift with the waves powerboats—on the lake. Naturally, there ning stopped elegandy, within a millimeter or the road? were those who disagreed, so what began of the rubber tire bumpers on the dock. Here are three classic boating knots plus as an innocent sail often ended as a no- Our friends on shore applauded loudly. a unique pulley-hitch you'll want to learn! holds-barred race. As the years passed, I lost my interest Once, in our exuberance, my friend and in sailboats and became mildly interested Clove hitch I did a very stupid thing—we converted the in powerboats and passionate about ca This popular hitch is used for moor main sail from a smaller 16-foot sailboat noes. I've had to learn new ropes—nylon, ing boats to piers and pilings and to se into a spinnaker for the gaff-rigged scow. Dacron, polyethylene and Kevlar are not cure ratlines to the shrouds of sailboats. Then we waited until there were storm like the manila Unes on old White Lightning. It's also the most common "starter" knot warnings on the lake and took our creation out for a test. The taut cotton sails and decade-old manila lines squealed in protest as the old boat surged to planing speed. Minutes later, there was a loud BANG as everything tore loose, and suddenly we were in the drink. Thank goodness the damage was limited to shredded sails and broken ropes—things we could repair. My friend and I learned a lot about boats that summer. There was no money for new
3 O Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime One half hitch Two half hitches a clothes line, guy a tent, etc. The power cinch is so practical that you'll wonder why you never learned it. Once mastered, you'll change all your friends' attitudes about knots. Begin the power cinch by forming a simple overhand loop. Be sure to pull the free end of the rope—not the secured end- through the loop, as illustrated. If the loop is formed exactly as described, a simple tug on the rope will eliminate it. standing end If you are tying a boat on top of a car, tie the long single line to the boat's bow or stern (use two half-hitches) and run the double line through a steel S-hook on the car's bumper, as shown. Now apply power. for lashings and the one my friend used Sheet-bend You have a powerful pulley with a 2:1 to tie White Lightning to the dock. You can Use this knot to tie two ropes together. mechanical advantage! make the clove hitch by taking a double It works even when rope sizes and mate If you want a reliable knot, complete pass around an upright, or you can form rials are very dissimilar. John Smith, cap the hitch by tying a double half-hitch it in two loops. tain of the Mayflower (1627), considered around one or both lines. The advantage of the clove hitch is that the sheet-bend one of the four most im Outdoors handbooks define dozens of it can be formed at any point along a rope portant sailing knots; the others were the knots. Sailing books describe hundreds! simply by superimposing two loops. It can bowline, sheep-shank and wall knot Passionate boaters may want to add the also be easily snugged or loosened by (which isn't used today). The sheet-bend bowline, fishing knot and one or two more pulling or pushing on the ends of the rope. gets its name from its intended purpose- to this list of four. Only serious sailors, This feature saves considerable adjustment to mend a broken sheet (sail) line when mountain climbers and stubborn knot- time, especially with a long rope. Next time there's no time to splice. heads need more than these. you go through a U.S. Army Corps of Some years ago, a friend won a $5 bet o Engineers lock and dam, check how the when he used a sheet-bend to tie a bro Power cinch workers tie your boat. Ten to one it's a ken waterski tow rope. When the slippery clove hitch! polypropylene line snapped, the ski-boat captain bet my friend he couldn't tie the S-hook Two slippery half-hitches two ends together so they'd hold. My canoe and a round turn friend tied a "double sheet-bend" and skied This knot is the most secure way to tie the rest of the day on the repaired line. a boat to a ring or bar. On a short rope, It's important that the bitter (free) ends it's an honorable substitute for a clove of the sheet-bend be on the same side, as hitch, and the one you'll want to learn if illustrated, otherwise the knot may be you don't want to clutter your brain with unreliable. Use the single sheet-bend on to canoe needless knots. conventional nylon and Dacron ropes; the The "round turn" is simply another loop double sheet-bend is more secure on slip on car-top on a bar or ring. The round turn on the pery polypropylene. When rope sizes differ rail takes the stress off the knot and pro greatly, the smaller-diameter rope should vides extra security. It also reduces abra be used as the "working rope" to make the sion and therefore prolongs the life of the turns around the larger rope. rope. Most boaters eliminate the round turn and use two simple half-hitches. Power cinch (trucker's hitch) Learn the knot both ways. Use this powerful "pulley hitch" to snug your canoe on a car, lash a load into your boat, secure a box in your truck, rig Sheet-bend
to S-hook two half-hitches on bumper
Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 3 9 Thirteen-year-old Clifton Forker, of Linglestown, caught this largemouth bass in his favorite fishing hole. The bass weighed 6 pounds and measured 23 inches. Nice catch, Cliff!
This largemouth bass was hooked by Terry Psimer, Kenmore, Ohio. The Lake Wilhelm fish, caught on a jig weighed 5 pounds and measured 21 '/* inches in length.
Richard Kalp, Acme, hooked this brown trout while fishing the Carnegie resident James Chappel Youghiogheny River near fooled this largemouth bass with Ohiopyle. The fish weighed Bobby Home caught this 13-inch a plastic worm. The fish was 7 pounds, 9 ounces and measured tiger trout in Chester Creek. A 22 '/2 inches long and weighed 27 inches in length. tiger trout is a cross between a 6 pounds. brook trout and a brown trout.
William Phillips, Silver Spring, MD, used a crankbait to Alan Heller, Franklin, caught convince this largemouth bass to and released this 18.5-inch strike. The Rose Valley Lake fish Daniel Edgar, Verona, earned a Senior Angler Award for this 20-inch smallmouth bass in Elk Creek, weighed 5 '/i pounds and was smallmouth bass he hooked while fishing Lake Erie. The fish weighed Erie County. 21 '/2 inches long. 5 pounds and was caught on a jig-and-minnow combo.
40 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Mm Memories To Last A Lifetime
Eugene Deutsch hooked this 12-pound, 4-ounce brown trout while fishing Beltzville Lake. The fish was 28 inches long.
Eight-year-old Dwayne Bauder, of Bethlehem, was fishing Monocacy Creek when this brook trout grabbed his minnow. The fish measured 20 inches long and weighed 4 '/i pounds. Nice job, Dwayne!
Norman, Oklahoma resident Steve Hull caught this walleye in Lake Erie. The fish weighed 10 pounds, 12 ounces and was 31 1/2 inches long. Warren Strouse, Collegeville, shows the mount of the 4-pound smallmouth bass he caught in Perkiomen Creek near Mark Vega, Bronx, NY, earned a Junior Schwenksville. The fish measured Angler Award for this largemouth bass. 20 inches long. The fish, caught on a worm, weighed 4 pounds, 1 ounce and measured 19 inches. Nice job, Mark!
John Smith III, Elizabethtown, was fishing Paula Lasecki, Harrisburg, hooked this Stephen Staron, Montoursville, caught this Kettle Creek, Clinton County, when this 19-inch golden rainbow trout while fishing the walleye at Hills Creek State Park Lake, Tioga rainbow trout hit his lure. The fish weighed Yellow Breeches Creek near Bowmansdale. County. The fish was 29 '/i inches long and 5 pounds, 8 ounces and was 24 '/* inches long. The fish measured 19 inches in length. weighed 8 pounds, 6 ounces.
Pishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 41 Bass fishing on foot requires as much fishing skill as fishing from a boat. More Bass Fishingso when you consider the difference in mobility. Anglers on foot can't possibly cover as much water as anglers in boats. They can't move as much, nor can they reach as much water. Anglers on foot are from the Shoreline limited by walking speed, posted prop erty, impassable barriers, mean bulls, and 0^** hy Mike Bleecfi many other things. So they cannot af ford poor fish-finding skills. Knowing Winter had broken early in the Allegh which waters hold bass is not enough. eny Highlands, providing a longer-than- Lake Marburg, Codorus State Park, You must know precisely where to fish usual window of opportunity for bass York County, Bass fishing on foot in those waters. fishing before the season closed. Most requires as much fishing skill as fishing local anglers were not yet thinking about from a boat. Knowing which waters Manmade ponds, beaver ponds fishing because the Allegheny River was hold bass isn't enough. You have to Largemouth bass are well suited to pond running high and muddy. But my two fish know precisely where to fish in those life. You are more likely to catch a tro ing buddies and I had no intention of wait waters because you don't have the phy size largemouth in a 3-acre farm pond ing for the start of trout season. Armed mobility that a boat provides. than in one of our biggest lakes. with a bucket of lively shiners, we Most manmade ponds and beaver scrambled down the river bank to a quiet dams have the same basic bottom con backwater where flooded brush offered figuration (see Figure 1). The deepest largemouth bass perfect habitat. water is near the dam, along a flooded With the shiners rigged under bobbers, creek channel or ditch. The bottom slopes we began flipping them alongside cover. steeply from the shore along the dam, and Minutes later we were all hooked to bass. maybe along the sides of the lower end It was one of those days when everything of the pond. The upper end is shallow, went right. Through the morning, I don't with more gently sloping bottom. Bea think 15 minutes ever went by without at ver dams and many manmade ponds are least one of us hooking a bass. Light snow fed by small streams. Some farm ponds fall that began late in the morning did not are fed by springs or run-off. dampen our spirits a bit. In fact, it added Once winter loosens its grip, active bass to the joy of the morning. We knew there move into the warmest water, usually were a lot of bass anglers in the vicinity who shallow water at the head of the pond. would have loved to have been in our po Another situation to watch for is warm sition, but they just didn't think of it. They pockets on the windward sides of larger were thinking about launching their boats. ponds. Surface water warms relatively fast. Who says you need a 150 hp bass boat Steady wind will push surface water, and to catch bass? Nothing against the bass it will accumulate in pockets, or small bays boat crowd, quite often I am among them, along the windward shore. Feeder streams but the print and television media give the can bring in either warmer or colder wa impression that you can't have fun fish ter. For these reasons, a thermometer can ing for bass unless you zoom over lakes be one of your most helpful tools. Con at 60mph, scan the water with high-priced centrate your fishing in the warmest water electronics, and fling lures designed by bass you can find. tournament pros. It just isn't so! Bass are usually not very aggressive in Nor is it true that all of the best bass cool water, so your lure or bait should anglers pilot the big bass rigs. Some of be something they can catch without a the best bass fishing in Pennsylvania is out lot of effort. If you have your sights set of reach of big bass boats, on remote sec on a big bass, a lively shiner about 6 inches tions of creeks and ponds where the only long is probably the best bait you can use. access is on foot. This is a quite differ Fish it under a bobber, close to the bot ent slant on bass fishing today, though 30 tom. A few of the better early season ar years ago it was the way most people fished. tificial lures are spinnerbaits with single Doing it today is a sort of escapism, re Colorado blades; floating minnow lures calling a more serene outlook on fishing. such as the Thunderstick, Rapala Min This does not mean fishing on foot is now, or Rebel Minnow; and vibrating, inferior in any way, neither in challenge lipless crankbaits such as the Cordell Spot nor excitement. or Rattletrap.
42 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime MAN-MADE PONDS AND BEAVER DAMS
only way to determine depth and structure from shore is with the aid of a good lake map. Finding cover is more difficult. You have to get out there and look for it. Any cover that is not visible is very difficult to locate. It is for this reason that shore anglers gravitate to Figure 1. Many manmade ponds and beaver dams have smaller waters. the same basic bottom structure. The deepest water is near Fallen trees provide some of the best the dam, at a sunken creek channel or ditch. The steepest cover in Pennsylvania reservoirs. Fishing bottom slope is close to the dam. The head of the pond is in this cover from shore is difficult because shallower, with a more gently sloping bottom. Areas marked "A" lures and baits are retrieved toward the tend to warm quickest during early spring. Weed beds marked "B" and crotches of limbs, as are any bass you hook. the fallen tree marked "C" are excellent largemouth bass cover through About the best you can do is to fish live summer. If the pond gets very warm during late summer, and again from mid-fall minnows suspended over sunken limbs through winter, the deepest area, marked "D," might hold most of the bass. with bobbers. Cast from as far away along the shoreline as you can so you can pull These same methods might work any they can find. This is generally the deepest bass away from the limbs. time in open water. But by the time the water in the pond, and in a sunken feeder Docks are usually private property. But water temperature climbs into the 50s, bass channel. If the bass are finicky, try small if you own a dock, and perhaps have should show interest in topwater lures. plastic worms, about 4 inches long, rigged friendly neighbors who allow you on their Since this is such exciting fishing, don't Carolina style. docks, fish around and under them care let it pass. Peak time for topwater lures Early during fall, ponds turn over. The fully. Cast under a dock from shore be is morning, evening and night, but give water looks sickly at this time, and fish fore stepping onto it. Cover the water it a try any time. Start by retrieving ing is poor for a week or so. But after this under the dock thoroughly, getting a plas topwater lures close to the shore, then fan- period, fishing picks up until the ponds tic worm, jig or spinnerbait on all sides cast the pond. freeze. Rely mostly on live minnows once of each dock leg. Bass usually strike a topwater lure the the water temperature drops into the 40s, Wooden docks are usually more attrac first time it gets within their striking zone, and fish slowly. tive to bass than metal docks. Docks in if they are going to strike it. So once you The same sequence of lures and baits the water year-round are usually better than have covered an entire pond, switch to is a good guideline at any of Pennsylvania's docks that are removed every winter. another lure. If you miss a bass on a largemouth bass waters. Many natural lakes and some reservoirs topwater lure and it does not strike that have extensive weed beds adjacent to the lure again, cast back to the same place with Larger lakes, reservoirs shoreline. Fan-casting weedless topwater another lure. If that doesn't work, try You can walk around a pond to find the lures over weed beds is a very reliable fish another. Don't give up easily on a bass best fishing water. But at a large lake, you ing pattern. Strong line, at least 14-pound that has already demonstrated aggression. have to be able to predict where the best test, may be necessary to haul a bass During summer, largemouth bass tend fishing will be. through the weeds. to be more cover-oriented. Fish your lures As with ponds, active bass will be in the During fall, bass tend to congregate by and baits close to weeds, brush, logs, warmer water during early spring. These steep structure that leads into relatively anything that bass might use as cover. Get spots are usually the heads of reservoirs, deep water. Such places maybe difficult right into the cover with snag-resistant and in shallow water at the heads of bays to locate, but once you find a fall bass lures. Texas-rigged plastic worms are in both natural lakes and manmade res honey hole, fishing can be fantastic. On probably your most useful lures. In ponds ervoirs. a lake map, look for deep water close to with extensive, thick weed beds, topwater Bass spread around the lake more dur shore. Then follow this area until the slop lures might be the only way to fish ing summer. The better shore fishing areas shallow water broadens. Right along the from shore. are typically where cover, relatively deep edge of the steep bottom and the more Some ponds get very warm during water, or irregular structure is close to gentle slope is often a fall hotspot. In August and early September, and bass shore. Without extensive experimenting reservoirs, this situation often occurs spend a lot of time then in the coolest water by dragging lures across the bottom, the where a sunken creek or river channel
Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 43 swings away from shore, or where a road Bass Fishing otherwise long stretches of very shallow bed enters the water. water. This is one of the better opportu from the Shoreline nities for anglers on foot because you can Rivers, creeks be within reach of numerous bass with Just try to find a better way to spend a If you are a trout angler, reading small out moving far. hot summer morning or evening than mouth bass water should be easy. Often, A skillful live bait angler can catch more wading in sneakers and shorts, fishing for the only difference between trout water bass than anyone else on a river or creek acrobatic smallmouth bass in one of the and smallmouth bass water is tempera during summer while the water is low and numerous creeks and rivers that flow ture. Bass can thrive in water that is le clear, especially during daylight hours. through Pennsylvania. The water might thal to trout. Smallmouths generally don't Crayfish, hellgrammites, stonerollers, not seem cold when you first get your feet inhabit water as swift as the swiftest wa "riffle runners" and stonecats are some wet in shallow water, but by the time the ter trout use, nor do they inhabit streams of the locally favorite baits on Pennsyl water reaches the soft flesh behind your as small as trout inhabit. Their niches vania waters. Find out which is the fa knees you will feel the oppressive heat certainly overlap, though. vorite on the water you fish. It can make leaving your body. Your whole attitude Smallmouth bass are liable to inhabit a big difference. about life will change. any rocky, gravelly or sand-bottomed part Any of these live baits should usually Some of our creeks and rivers support of a creek or river except the shallowest be fished with as little weight as possible- good populations of big smallmouths. or swiftest water. They are partial to ar just enough to drift the bait close to the Some are loaded with smallmouths less eas with rock rubble bottom where cray bottom. An exception is still-fishing at than a foot long. Even though those fish are abundant. night with soft-shell crayfish. This is a waterways that give up the big bass get During summer while water flow is low, good bet for larger smallmouths. most of the attention, your chances of smallmouths congregate in the deeper Perhaps the best artificial lure for river having a great day of fishing are at least pools of creeks, or in deeper troughs of and creek smallmouths during summer as good at one of those creeks that are is a leadhead jig with a natural-colored loaded with small bass. The trick is us body. During spring and fall, minnow- ing the right tackle. A 10-inch smallmouth shaped crankbaits are excellent. Try a is a great scrapper when it is caught with stop-and-go retrieve, imitating an injured ultralight spinning gear or light fly fishing minnow. Topwater lures are usually most tackle, and you might catch 50 during an productive during summer while the sun evening at one of our better creeks. is not in the sky, or during late spring and Please pinch down the barbs of your mid-fall. hooks whenever you fish any of these Some Pennsylvania rivers and creeks also waters where you expect to release a lot hold largemouth bass. Look for them in of bass. What's the difference if a few the slow-moving, soft-bottom stretches, throw the hook during one of their cart especially where there is some form of wheeling leaps? wood cover. Even in pools with very mild Creeks and smaller rivers offer an ad current, expect largemouths to be out of vantage to bass anglers on foot. You can the current. Fish close to cover with Texas- read them without the need for sonar. rigged plastic worms, spinnerbaits or lively Polarized fishing glasses that cut surface minnows under bobbers. glare can help. Some rivers and creeks that are not Smallmouths move around quite a bit noted for largemouth bass hold fishable in creeks and rivers, depending on the numbers at select locations, particularly nature of the waterway. High flow can those that have largemouths in lakes some either spread the bass out by creating more where in their watershed. Look for them suitable habitat, or congregate the bass in quiet backwaters during periods of high by creating too much unsuitable habitat. flow. In smallmouth creeks, look for large- Oxygen problems can cause bass to con mouths in those long, soft-bottom gregate below riffles or tributaries dur stretches that you usually pass over when ing mid-summer to late summer. Bass you are fishing for smallmouths. Just anglers have to be able to identify or re Pinch down your remember to switch to largemouth tactics, act to situations like these. flipping lures or baits in and around cover. It is more common, however, for hook barbs when Largemouths often escape notice in smallmouths to occupy the same general waters where local anglers think in terms areas throughout the bass fishing sea you fish of smallmouths because their niche is so son. The same gravel shoal bars and flats different. where they spawn during early June are waterways where There are plenty of good times to be had evening feeding areas during July and bass fishing on foot. Whether you do not August. During fall, the smallmouths you expect to have a boat, or you are a boat owner looking J are generally along dropoffs at the edges for a different challenge, try it this year. | of the bars and flats. release your fish.
44 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime O'• S and D0N7S for CROWDED Launch Ram
About this time of year, many boat retrieve for maximum speed and safety. Is boat for storage in your tow vehicle. Don't ramps are crowded. Suppose every time there a dock at which you can get your gear perform these tasks on the ramp. You you launched your boat, though, no one ready immediately after launching and won't tie up the ramp this way, and you'll tied up the dock, and each time you re where you can secure your equipment get home faster. In addition, when you trieved your boat, the ramp was clear and before retrieving out of the way of those launch the next time, organizing your gear you waited only momentarily, if at all, who are launching and retrieving? Will this way can help you get under way faster. for your turn. Enjoying this situation the wind or current make maneuvering If ramps have docks, where you can isn't impossible. It just takes a little ap your rig for launching and retrieving dif wait for friends or complete your boat plication of the Golden Rule and some ficult? If you launch on the Delaware River, ing preparations, use them instead of wait launch ramp smarts when accesses are will a tide change make you alter your ing on the launch ramp. You can also crowded. Here are six ideas we can use launching and retrieval scheme? beach your boat on smooth shorelines at to make launching and retrieving toler If a launch site doesn't have rigging the launch site either to wait for friends able for everyone. and derigging areas, prepare for launch to board or to wait your turn to retrieve Get to know your favorite accesses ing in a parking space. As soon as you your boat. so you can plan your launching and re retrieve your boat and get it on the trailer, Make a written checklist for launch trieving for maximum efficiency. Boat attach the bow hook and make your way ing and retrieving. You increase your ef ers tie up launch ramps because they don't slowly to the parking area. There, away ficiency by getting your gear ready for use realize that many access sites have specially from others trying to launch and retrieve and by storing items quickly. A routine built areas for launch preparation and for their boats, work with your equipment and governed by a checklist increases your tie-down after retrieval. These places are get ready to leave. efficiency and lets you spend the least called rigging and derigging areas. If we Remember that the ramp itself is only amount of time at the ramp. used these places, more boaters could for launching and retrieving, not for pre Applying these ideas before you launch launch and retrieve, and a long line at the paring your boat and gear. can give you and everyone else at the ramp ramp itself could be shortened. Before you call it a day and return to more time on the water. Crowded launch Before you launch your boat at an the ramp to retrieve your boat, put your sites don't always have to mean long waits unfamiliar access, look the place over and tackle away, prepare mooring lines and get and frayed nerves. It's up to us. J—L decide how you're going to launch and everything ready that's coming out of the
Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 45 •JilNNH '''I
if.
by Seth Cassell Most of the major cities in the East can latfish are one of Pennsylvania's big though these certainly are product! be found adjacent to a large water source. gest fish, but they're also one of the easi catfishing baits, they aren't necessary. In the past, the water near these industrial est to catch, as they're not too picky about Nightcrawlers, garden worms, live min hubs was often polluted and sometimes what they eat. Most of the time they feed nows, dead minnows, corn and cheese all void of any aquatic life. But now, in most by smell. However, they're not immune make fine catfish baits. As Commission urban waters, pollution has been curtailed to striking something that they find visu Area 7 Fisheries Manager Larry Jackson and water quality has improved to the ally appealing. says, "They run the gamut from rotten meat point at which gamefish thrive. As mentioned above, catfish usually to taking white flies off the surface." Although not a glamour species, catfish spend daylight hours hunkered down in During the day, with the aid of splitshot, are doing particularly well in these urban the bottom of a deep pool or along an slowly work your baits in likely catfish environments, and many anglers are taking undercut bank. They do feed during the holding areas. At night, because catfish advantage of the fishing opportunities they day, but it is often to a limited extent, es are on the move looking for food, it is often present. For many city fishermen, urban pecially on sunny days. best to leave your bait somewhat stationary. catfishing offers a reprieve from the hectic On overcast days, catfish are more ac Active fish will find the bait, and after urban life without having to travel a long tive. They're also more active during the that, it's just a matter of setting the hook distance. It's tough to beat-access is easy, day during high and discolored rivercon and reeling it in. equipment is inexpensive, the fish are big, ditions. One of the nice attributes of fishing and best of all, they're easy to catch. Catfishing gear is inexpensive. You can rivers in urban areas is that access areas According to Commission Area 6 Fish use just about any type of set-up. For most are usually easy to reach. Many cities have eries Manager Mike Kaufmann, catfish do Pennsylvania rivers, a medium-action areas where anglers can park and fish. Also, well in urban rivers for several reasons. For spinning rod with 8- or 10-pound test is for night fishermen, the city lights cast one, catfish like the storm-water and fine. Anglers who are specifically going enough light to illuminate the water and treated sewage discharges that flow into after big catfish, or if you work an area make it easier to see. rivers near urban centers. where catfish are larger that normal, a bait- Here's a look at some of the best urban "These discharges bring catfish a lot of casting rod with heavier line would be bet catfishing areas in Pennsylvania. Drive in food such as nightcrawlers. I even once ter. After all, in Pennsylvania, channel and from the country, walk from your down opened up the belly of a catfish that was flathead catfish are known to exceed 15 town apartment, or stop by after work or taken near a discharge and found an adult and 30 pounds, respectively. during a lunch break-the catfish are there! cardinal! This is an example of the vari Many anglers have taken a liking to fish ety of food they take." ing for "cats" with ultralight tackle. A small Harrisburg Kaufmann also notes that these dis trout rod can certainly make a fight with Although the mighty Susquehanna is charges are also typically warmer than the a dandy catfish more interesting. Just one of the most productive smallmouth main river flow, which can be attractive remember that light tackle means you have fisheries in the Commonwealth, it also to catfish during cooler months. to wear the fish out a great deal before boasts a fine population of channel cat The deep pools near bridges are another bringing it to the net. So anglers who want fish. Anglers can find excellent fishing reason for catfish liking urban waters. to practice catch-and-release should think anywhere near the Capital City. When bridge abutments are constructed, about using more conventional tackle. One noted location is near the Fort the river is excavated, and in the process, Which baits are good for catfish? The Hunter access, located on Front Street, the river becomes deeper. Catfish like to question should be, which baits aren't good north of the Rockville Bridge. In this area, use these deep pools as holding areas dur for catfish! Catfish take just about any anglers can fish by the shoreline, boat, and ing the day when they're not feeding. Most thing you can throw at them. Many in some places, by wading. urban rivers have several bridges with this catfishermen use all sorts of "stink baits," West Fairview is another good location. environmental feature. either homemade or commercial. Al This access is located at the confluence of
46 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime £.:&J*R£!S£''. »f. ')::# -=f«
anglers in Wilkes-Barre at the Market Street Bridge. Anglers can use a small boat or fish off the dikes along the river. Philadelphia Region Conodoguinet Creek. An abundance of a good catch rate there anywhere you can Area 6 Fisheries Manager Mike small and large islands breaks up the wa gain access." Kaufmann reports that the tidal section ter flow and creates ideal holding places Point Pool is where Pittsburgh's "Three of the Delaware River is "excellent" fish for all gamefish. This access is located on Rivers" join together. There, anglers can ing for channel catfish. Access areas are U.S. Route 11 north of Wormleysburg. find channel catfish and some flatheads. available throughout the city section of One interesting note about this area of According to Lorson, channel catfish over the river. Be aware of the consumption the Susquehanna is that it has an outstand 20 pounds and flatheads over25 pounds advisories on channel catfish from Yardley ing white mayfly hatch in July and August. can be found in this pool. down river to the state line. In late-evening, these flies cover the sur Anglers can find access from Point State Farther west, Kaufmann recommends face and the river's fishes go into a feed Park. Please note the Consumption Ad anglers try the Schuylkill River near ing frenzy. visory on this water in the Summary of Phoenixville. There is a consumption ad Although most flyfishermen target Fishing Regulations and Laws. visory on channel catfish from the Black smallmouths, catfish can be taken off the Pittsburgh anglers may also want to Rock Dam above Phoenixville to the mouth. surface as well. Take it from someone who look into North Park Lake, located north The Schuylkill River also boasts a good has experienced it-there is nothing like of the city near McCandless. Channel catfish population near Reading. Here, feeling a big catfish on the end of a flyrod! catfish are the main species there. there is an abundance of deep pools that attract catfish. Access in Reading can be Pittsburgh area Williamsport found north of the city at Felix Dam. Area 1 Fisheries Manager Craig Billingsley Urban fishing opportunities are avail These are just a few of Pennsylvania's says the lower Beaver River from the able in this area along the West Branch urban catfishing waters. Many towns across confluence with the Ohio River up to the of the Susquehanna River, where chan the commonwealth have creeks that con first dam at New Brighton is a good urban nel and bullhead catfish are available. tain catfish, especially bullheads. These catfishing water. Northcentral Law Enforcement Region catfish can tolerate poorer water quality "There are lots of catfish in the Beaver Manager Paul Swanson suggested anglers than flatheads and channels, and can be River," he says. "Some nice-size channel try the Williamsport Pool. found in smaller waters. Although they are catfish, too. I've seen some that were over "Find the backwater or slow-moving smaller than the other two species, they are 10 pounds." areas. These are the primary feeding ar fun to catch, especially with light tackle. The lower Beaver River is approximately eas and are the best fishing spots," he says. Remember to be careful when handling 200 feet across. On the east side of the river, catfish to avoid their spines. In areas where a concrete walkway exists that anglers can Wilkes-Barre there are no consumption advisories, an fish off of. Don't overlook fishing the The upper reaches of the main branch glers may keep up to 50 catfish and there tailrace area. Billingsley reports that cat of the Susquehanna River provide Wilkes- is no minimum. However, in areas of high fish can be found there in good numbers. Barre-area anglers with opportunities to fishing pressure, it is important to keep only "Catfishing doesn't get too much bet catch channel catfish. Here, the river is what you plan to eat and leave the rest to ter than at Point Pool," says Area 8 Fish characterized by long, slow-moving pools catch again. eries Manager Rick Lorson. 'You can get and short riffles. Access is available to c
Fishing & Boating Memories Last A lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 47 Anglers Currents International Association Rewards PFBC The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Com The Fish & Boat Commission, along with mission has received recognition for its its sister agency the Pennsylvania Game work to build a coalition of citizens, or Commission, has been actively involved ganizations and businesses interested in in building grassroots support for the preserving nongame fish and wildlife Teaming With Wildlife initiative, resulting species in the Commonwealth. in the second largest state support coa The Excellence Award was presented to lition in the nation. For more informa the Commission by the International tion on Teaming With Wildlife, contact Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Lisa Williams at 814-359-5162.
"piMri from the \iitchen Purdue Contributes to Catft'afe in Muafmxnn Cream Sauce Coop Nursery Grant Andy Melick (left), Purdue by Phil Hanyok Farms, Inc., manager for the Catawissa (PA) plant, and Cathy Maynard (center), Purdue's market ing manager, receive a 1994 Trout Print from Commissioner Donald K. Anderson. The Commission thanked Purdue with the trout print for a $1,000 contribution to the Commission's Coop Nursery Grant program. The contribution matches funds that the Commis sion is giving to 19 selected nurs eries. Nursery sponsors submit grant proposals for facility improve ments. Commissioner Anderson made the presentation at the Commission's May 1997 meeting.
New Members on Boating Advisory Board
photo-Phil Hanyok Governor Tom Ridge has appointed two new members of the Boating Advisory Board. 2 large catfish fillets Meanwhile, in a separate pan, melt one Steve Ketterer of Harrisburg and Ed (about 1/2-pound each; serves 2 people) tablespoon of butter over medium heat Matheny of Greensburg have been ap 2 Tbs. butter, plus 1 Tbs. butter and saute the finely chopped shallots until pointed to the Commission's Boating Ad 2 Tbs. finely chopped shallot they begin to turn transparent. Add thinly visory Board (BAB). Matheny is a retired sliced mushrooms and saute until nearly (more if desired) manager of governmental affairs for Al all the liquid has evaporated. Reduce the 3 large mushrooms per fillet, legheny Power, where he worked for 44 heat and add half & half to make enough sliced paper-thin years. He is a past president of the sauce (about 1/4 cup per fillet). As the 1/2 cup half & half (or cream) Monongahela Memorial Hospital, and sauce thickens over low heat, add chopped fresh chopped parsley to taste past chairman of the Monongahela City parsley. Remove the sauce pan from the Planning Commission. He replaces heat. Rinse the fish fillets under cold water Clayton "Red" Buchanan, who served Place one fish fillet on each plate. Dis and pat them dry witli a paper towel. Over nearly two decades on the Board. medium heat, melt two tablespoons of card the cooking butter. Spoon the mush Ketterer is a tax and enforcement ad butter in a non-stick pan. Fry the fish rooms and cream sauce on top of the fish. ministrator for the city of Harrisburg. He fillets in the butter uncovered, flipping Add more half & half or cream to keep the is Commander of River Rescue of Harris the fillets when they are cooked halfway mushrooms in a creamy sauce. burg, and a member of the Keystone through. Serve with cooked orzo or rice and your Aquatic Club and the Pennsylvania Boat choice of steamed vegetables. ing Association. He fills the BAB slot for merly held by Gary Babin.-Dd» Tredinnick.
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories last A Lifetime PFBC Products and Publications
Wall Charts 17" x 22" in full color Qty. Price Total Coldwater Fishes of Pennsylvania $1.41 +.09* $ Warmwater Fishes of Pennsylvania $1.41 +.09* $ Migratory Fishes of Pennsylvania $1.41 +.09* $ Miscellaneous Game Fishes of Pennsylvania $1.41 +.09* $ Panfishes of Pennsylvania $1.41 +.09* $ Forage Fishes of Pennsylvania $1.41 +.09* $ Frogs of Pennsylvania $1.41 +.09* $ Salamanders of Pennsylvania $1.41 +.09* $ Snakes of Pennsylvania $1.41 +.09* $ Turtles of Pennsylvania $1.41 +.09* $ Mail orders for above wall charts only. Add: $2.00 (7-5 charts) $3.00 (6 or more charts) $ Sub-total
Qty. Price Total Pennsylvania Amphibians & Reptiles $9.43 + .57* $ Weight-Length Estimator $2.83+.17* $ Guide to Public Fishing Waters and Boating Access $2.83+.17* $ Identification Guide to Pennsylvania Fishes $2.83+.17* $ Fishing and Boating Self-Adhesive Yardstick $.94 + .06* $
PFBC Fishing and Boating Map $ 1 for postage and handling $ Sub-total $ Pamphlets By mail, total of first three are free. Thereafter include $1.00 for each five ordered; can mix or match titles.
Qty. Title Qty. Title Acid Precipitation Map Sources Angler Award Program Marine Fire Extinguishers Bass, Muskie, Walleye Fishing Personal Flotation Devices Delaware River in Pennsylvania Snakes in Pennsylvania Drinking, Boating and the Law Trout Fishing in Pennsylvania Fish Restoration (Susq. R., A. shad) Water Pollution I Just Bought a Boat Wetlands Ice Fishing in Pennsylvania Wild Trout Fishing in Pennsylvania Lake Erie, PA's Great Lake Zebra Mussels Lakes in Pennsylvania Total Pamphlets Limestone Streams Sub-total
me size Ball Caps P* «* tan and blue snake Qty. Price Total PFBC Ball Cap-tan and blue $10.00 $ PFBC Ball Cap-snake $10.00 $ shipping and handling $1.50 $ Sub-total $
* PA residents include 6% sales tax. Subscribe for 3 years, Get this FREE PATCH! Subscribe, reneworextend your Pennsylvania Angler & Boater subscription for 3 years, and we'll send you this "Rainbow Darter" patch for FREE (a $5 value). Patch is available The Keystone Stare's Official Fishing and Boating Magazine ONLY with a 3-year subscription. Supplies are limited. Subscriptions/Renewals This offer expires June 30, 1997, or when patch supply is depleted. • YES! Enter my subscription for THREE YEARS at $25 • YES! Enter my subscription for TWO YEARS at $18 If renewing, please attach your mailing label here. • YES! Enter my subscription for ONE YEAR at $9 Please enter name and address on form below. J New subscription _J Renewal or Extending Sub-total $
1997 Hey Kids! Be a MEMBER! OFFICIAL P.L.A.Y. patch Pennsylvania • League • of • Angling • Youth Get this FREE PATCH!
PLAY is an educational program to help you learn about fish, fishing, Recipient's name: conservation, safety, and the waters of Pennsylvania. You'll receive ajacket patch, quarterly newsletter, coloring book, special publications and other items to help you be a better angler. A one-year PLAY membership is Address: $3.00. Please fill in recipient's name and address at left and fill in YOUR name and address in the form provided below. City: State: ZIP: Age: • YES! Enter my subscription for ONE YEAR at $3 —I New membership CJ Renewal or Extending Sub-total $
Embroidered Patches Qty. Price PLAY 1980 $2.83+.17* PLAY 1981 $2.83+.17* PLAY 1983 $2.83+.17* 1997 PLAY 1986 $2.83+.17* PLAY 1991 $2.83+.17* PLAY 1992 $2.83+.17* $ PLAY 1993 $2.83+.17* $ ORDER FORM PLAY 1995 $2.83+.17* For ALL ORDERS, please fill in the information requested below and mail TODAY! PLAY 1996 $2.83+.17* $ 1997 Darter $4.71 +.29* $ 1997 Memories .71 + .29* $ Your name (limited quantities available) Sub-total $
Please total your order here: Address Wall Charts Sub-total $ Books Sub-total $ Pamphlets Sub-total $ City State Zip Ball Caps Sub-total $ PA Angler & Boater Sub-total $ Mail to: PA Fish & Boat Commission, Publications Section, P.O. Box 67000, P.L.AY. Membership Sub-total $ Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000. Use check or money order for remittance made Patches Sub-total $ payable to: PA Fish & Boat Commission. Please provide name and address above. Prices subject to change without notice. Allow 6-8 weeks for delivery. TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED $
* PA residents include 6% sales tax. Berks County WCO is Named Officer of the Year
John V. Sabaitis has been named 1996 as a fulltime Waterways Conservation Bureau of Law Enforcement Director Officer of the Year for the Pennsylvania Officer. He now serves in Berks County. Edward W. Manhart praised the award Fish and Boat Commission. Sabaitis, a He has established strong working rela winner's exceptional attitude and ap six-year Commission veteran, received the tionships with other enforcement and proach to the multi-faceted duties of a award at the recent Northeast Fish and environmental agencies. He has also Waterways Conservation Officer. "John Wildlife Conference. developed an effective program to deal Sabaitis' efforts go above and beyond the Sabaitis began his association with the with pollution/disturbances while gaining call of duty. His diligence in serving the Commission as a Deputy Waterways compliance from violators. This high level interests of the angling and boating public Conservation Officer in Schuylkill County. of cooperation has resulted in a signifi is a credit to the agency."-Dd» Tredinnick. After six years as a DWCO, he was hired cant improvement to the area's waterways.
The mission of the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission is to Angler's Notebook tySukCami? provide fishing and boating opportunities through the protection and management of aquatic resources.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE Peter A. Colangelo, Executive Director Dennis T. Guise, Deputy Executive Director/Chief Counsel Laurie Shepler, Assistant Counsel K. Ron Weis, Project Planner John Arway, Division of Environmental Services Joseph A. Greene, Legislative Liaison Rafael Perez-Bravo, Personnel Tom Ford, Resources Planning Coordinator Dan Tredinnick, Press Secretary Fly-casting can be difficult to mas ter, especially for the beginner. When COMPTROLLER Ross E. Starner practicing, it is important not to start false-casting with too much line. Start BUREAU OF ADMINISTRATION 717-657-4522 with very little, and slowly release more Wasyl James Polischuk, Jr., Director line as you make your false casts. Be Tom E. Thomas, Information Systems The surgeon's loop is a knot that ginning the cast with too much line is Brian Barner, Federal Aid/Grants every angler should know. It can be a surefire way to get frustrated—and Mary Seine, Fishing Licenses and Boat Registrations used in dozens of fishing situations, snap your line. BUREAU OF FISHERIES such as making a connection loop at 814-359-5100 the end of a leader. This easy-to-tie As the water temperature gets colder, Delano Graff, Director neoprene waders are not only more com Rickalon L. Hoopes, Division of Research knot can be accomplished in three Richard A. Snyder, Division of Fisheries Management short steps. First, double the end of fortable, they are also safer than stan Dennis C. Ricker, Division of Trout Production the line for at least 4 inches. Then dard rubber boot-foots. Because Martin T. Marcinko, make two overhand twists to form a neoprenes fit tighter, they create less Division ofWarm/Coolwater Fish Production loop. Pull tightly and clip the tag end. drag, allowing the angler to move BUREAU OF ENGINEERING through the water more easily and safely. AND DEVELOPMENT Early autumn can be an excellent time 814-359-5100 to be on the streams trout fishing. The When a lake becomes murky, it can James Young, P.E., Director James I. Wake, cooler water temperatures make trout present some tough fishing situations. Division of Construction and Maintenance more active. Anglers who fish streams When fishing for largemouths under Eugene O. Banker, P.E.„ Property Services where wild trout occur should be mindful these circumstances, concentrate near Richard Mulfinger, P.E., that this is the time of year when they the banks and weed beds where it is shal Fishing & Boating Facilities Design spawn. Anglers should pay careful at low enough for light to penetrate. Use BUREAU OF LAW ENFORCEMENT tention when wading not to disturb any big, gaudy baits that make enough noise 717-657-4542 spawning beds. to attract the fish in the turbid water. Edward W. Manhart, Director Tom Kamerzel, Assistant to the Director Jeff Bridi, Assistant to the Director Many waterways in Pennsylvania hold Marabou, made from domestic tur several species of trout, including lake key feathers, is an excellent material for BUREAU OF BOATING AND EDUCATION 717-657-4540 trout. Related to Pennsylvania's native making lures and flies. In water cur John Simmons, Director brook trout, they can sometimes reach rents it moves just like a baitfish's tail. Dan Martin, Boating Safety Program lengths of 3 feet. Lake trout have an olive- The material can be purchased in many Carl Richardson, Aquatic Resource Program colored body with whitish spots along colors and can be affixed to poppers, Art Michaels, Publications Ted R Walke, Graphic Services the body. A good way to identify one, streamers, spinners and many other though, is by its deeply forked tail. types of lures for added realism. PFBC World Wide Web Site: illustration- Ted Walke http://www.state.pa.us/Fish
Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 49 Anyone who uses an aluminum boat often Hold the anvil against the inside end of the will sooner or later be faced with needed repairs. loose rivet. Use the flat head of the hammer to This is especially so if you're accustomed to haul start tapping gently on the head of that rivet. ing it in and out of places that aren't accessible Keep this up until the rivet seats tightly. Most via paved launching ramps, or you make long definitely DO NOT attempt to retighten the rivet runs across open water when the going gets with several hard blows. This could loosen it choppy. At first it starts with a small leak or two, further or deform it beyond repair. The leak just enough to require a little bailing once or twice would then only become worse, and you might during the day. But there's one absolute truism even damage the hull. when it comes to aluminum boats: All leaks only If you cannot re-tighten the rivet satisfacto get worse with time. rily, remove it using the procedure I'll cover Usually the source of this hopefully shortly. Then you can replace it with minor problem is one or more loose a new rivet, or a bolt, nut and several rivets below the waterline. But in a large washers. I've used the nut-and more serious situation it could be a Ml bolt system many times with great puncture or gash. As disturbing as any success, and it is especially practical of these might seem, the solutions really aren't that where only a few rivets must be replaced. difficult or expensive. And you can usually make the However, a word of caution. DO NOT use brass repairs yourself. or bronze nuts, bolts and washers around salt or brack Aluminum flexes with use. Rivets in the area of ish water—they will cause instant and very damaging greatest stress work loose. Water begins to seep in. by Bob Stearns corrosion to the aluminum hull. The best materials Eventually it gets so bad that it has to be fixed. Then for that environment are 5000 or 6000 series alumi you have two choices: (1) take it to a shop and have it fixed, or num, or good stainless steel. If using stainless steel, seat everything (2) do it yourself. Surprisingly, you can often go with the sec in a generous gob of silicone sealant to keep salt water and brackish ond option and get the job done with far less trouble that you water out, or you'll still get some corrosion in the aluminum might think. And you can also save more than a few bucks in where it touches the stainless steel. And skip the idea of using the process. galvanized materials, whether in fresh or salt water—they will Unless you have a long crack in a chine or otherwise damaged surely rust sooner or later (usually sooner, even in fresh water). some critical structural part of the hull, you can almost always If you choose to use rivets, there are three types you can use. fix the problem without resorting to a high-priced shop. This They are the solid aircraft type, that is, the type used to build includes not only leaky rivets, but also punctures, holes and gashes. your boat; open-end pop rivets; and closed-end pop rivets. Each has a special place in the scheme of things. Leaky rivet Solid rivets are obviously the strongest because they have a A leaky rivet doesn't mean automatic replacement. If it's only solid shaft. All pop rivets have hollow shafts but can still handle loose-not deformed or badly bent—and the holes in the metal most jobs if used properly. The chief advantages of pop rivets plates through which it passes haven't been considerably enlarged, are that they can be installed much faster than solid rivets, and the odds are it can be tightened with a hammer and a small block they can be installed in "blind" areas where their inside ends cannot of iron or steel to act as an anvil (the "anvil" should be a little be reached—a situation that eliminates the use of both solid rivets heavier than the hammer). and the nut-and-bolt solution. Obviously, a second hammer that's heavier or the head of an To remove old rivets, use a hammer and a center punch to gendy ax would do. The hammer should be at least a medium sized make a slight depression in the center of the rivet head. It's im ball peen type. portant that you take care to center the punch, otherwise the drill could wander off-center and enlarge the resulting hole out
To replace a met, first drill out the defective rivet (1). The rivet can be replaced with a machine screw, washer and nut (2-3). Mark leaky rivets with a black circle (above).
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime If you don't know the exact drill size needed, start with a bit that's Big holes, gashes obviously too small. Then work your way up a size at a time until Sometimes small holes and punctures can be sealed off with the head lifts off the old rivet. Use the punch to gently push the a rivet or bolt with very large washers. Or perhaps the dam rest of the old rivet out of the hole. age can be fixed by using that procedure in conjunction with It's best, if possible, to replace the old rivet with a new one of a high-strength epoxy patching material. Big holes and gashes the same size. If the hole is enlarged, use a larger size rivet that require a patch, the procedure for installing which is as fol comes closest to a snug fit without being forced. lows. Solid aluminum rivets are usually sold by the pound, about $20- If the damaged area is also dented, it should first be smoothed $25 for the sizes used in small boats. Their diameters are listed out with a rubber mallet, using a block of wood on the other l numerically, starting with /u" (no. 2), */n" (no. 3), '/s" (no. 4),'/.»" side of the hull as a form. Use careful, progressive tapping (no. 8), and so on. to remove the dents. If the dent is deep, with sharp corners, Thus, if your boat was built with no. 6 rivets (a typical size for it may be necessary to heat the aluminum very carefully. small aluminum boats), you should replace the old rivets with new Next, cut a piece of aluminum sheet that's roughly the same ones of the same size if the fit is still good. Otherwise, you might thickness as the hull into a patch that overlaps the crack, gash want to use a no. 7 or 8. It's a good idea to take the two pieces or hole by no less than an inch in all directions. Carefully clean that made up the old rivet down to the supplier and let him help the patch and the area it will cover. Center the patch over the you choose the diameter and length of the replacements. damaged area and draw a pencil outline of it on the hull to Solid rivets are available in a variety of materials: aluminum, make sure it covers everything it should. monel, steel and brass. You want only aluminum. They are available Drill a small hole through each corner of the patch and into as either soft (type A) or hard (type AD). If you don't have the special the hull. Temporarily fasten the patch in place with four small machinery needed to handle hard rivets, you should stick to type self-tapping sheet metal screws (type of screw material not A, which you can install by hand. important). Now drill a series of staggered holes, the size of They can be set in place with the same hammer-and-anvil method the rivets or bolts you intend to use, at 1-inch intervals through I outlined earlier. If you're fussy about appearance and don't want both patch and hull so that the damaged area is completely your new rivet heads slightly flattened by the hammer, for a few surrounded. Remove the patch, cover the area with caulking bucks you can buy a special tool called a "head set" that won't deform or flexible gasket compound, and replace it once more with the heads at all. The only disadvantage in using solid rivets is that the temporary corner screws. installing more than just a few is a time-consuming process. Fasten a rivet or nut-and-bolt through each hole until all Pop rivets are much faster. And, except in areas where there is holes are filled. Finally, remove the four corner screws and a lot of strain on components that must be held securely together, replace them with rivets or bolts. All that's left at this point they do a very adequate job. is any refinishing you might want to do for cosmetic purposes. When it comes to below-the-waterline repairs, closed-end pop Repairing a cracked hull requires the same procedure as fixing rivets should be used. However, in an emergency, if closed-end rivets a large hole or gash, except that before applying the patch a aren't available you can get by with open-end rivets. You'll have small hole (that is, '/s-inch) must be drilled at each end of the to plug each open end with a dab of glue or silicone sealer to eliminate crack to prevent it from getting any longer. F~h any potential leaks around the small round ball that causes them to expand. Pop rivets aren't quite as strong as solid rivets, so if you use them it's a good idea to go with at least one size larger than the original. In a blind area where there is no other choice, drill extra holes close to the rivet you removed and install pop rivets in those holes, too, for extra reinforcement. Pop rivets are available in a number of sizes from '/s-inch to '/4-inch diameter. And do be careful when enlarging the hole— you don't want to make it so large that the replacement doesn't fit snugly enough to prevent leaks. Also, if you can reach the in side end of the rivet, it's very important to use an aluminum backing washer for better holding strength.
To repair a crack or hole (4-7), mark the hole with a solid line, the patch area with a dotted line. Drill a small hole at each end of the crack. Machine screws hold the patch. Clean gasket compound around patch.
Fishing & Boating Memories Last A lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 51 We assisted in getting the boat to shore Fill 'er up? and back on the owner's trailer. During Recently, Lee Swanson, DEP's Oil and Gas an inspection of the boat after it was on Inspector for McKean County, and I were the trailer, we found a leak along one of investigating a few sites of mutual inter the hull seams. While completing an ac est. While driving up a steep hill outside cident investigation form, the owner told Lewis Run, Lee's vehicle began to miss, lose power and buck furiously. We got close to the top of the hill before the vehicle stalled in the process of turning around. Using the slingshot effect and gravity, we were able to make it all the way to the garage just as the vehicle quit for good. After some ini tial confusion, we discovered the problem. It really is amazing how much better those vehicles will perform with gas in the tank. Isn't that right, Lee?-WCO Pete Mader, McKean County. Don't I know you That one's out of season, too from somewhere? I was patrolling Hereford Manor Lake While field training in Lancaster County, not been readily accessible. This would the opening day of trout season when a WCO Pritts and I were discussing my past not have been the case if the PFDs had been fisherman stopped me and said that a man employment with the Department of Cor stowed in a compartment. Remember, he was fishing beside had caught a large- rections. Shortly after this discussion I "PFDs float-you don't.'''-Commissioner mouth bass. When I asked for the details, checked my first Lancaster County angler. Donald K. Anderson. he told me that the man had put the fish As I approached the angler, I noticed there in his car. I approached the man and asked was a feeling of tension on his part. As I Sympathetic student him to come to his car with me, and I ex spoke with the gentleman, I had the feel A mass-marking technique that allows plained why I was talking to him. He told ing he was uneasy. WCO Pritts came to Commission staff to identify hatchery fish me he did not catch a bass nor did he put observe my procedure and at this time the from those produced in the wild is an a bass in his trunk. I asked him to unlock angler said, "I know where I've seen you important technology used to evaluate the trunk so I could take a look. Inside there before. You're a prison guard." Stunned, efforts to restore American shad to the was something wrapped in a blanket, and I asked the gentleman which prison he Susquehanna River basin. The technique it was jumping around. Unrolling the blan worked at. He said, "Worked? Man, I was uses tetracycline antibiotics to impart ket, I discovered a 20-inch largemouth bass. in, and I remember you. You can't fool physiological mark(s) on the otoliths, or The man told me I was wrong, that the fish me!" I said, "Yeah, I can't fool you," but inner ear bones, of all hatchery-cultured was a walleye, not a bass. I told him I knew I just didn't have the heart to tell him I shad. One unfortunate but necessary the fish was a bass and again he said I was had worked at a female correctional facility. drawback to the technique is that small wrong, reasoning that he had been fishing Close, but not exactly identified!-En'fe numbers of shad must be sacrificed for his entire life and that the fish was a wall Shellgren, Northwest Region. otolith analysis and mark verification. eye. He stuck to his story and after a few Annually, Mike Hendricks and I give minutes, I told him it really didn't matter- Keep them readily accessible numerous tours of the Commission's Van walleyes were out of season then, too.-WCO So many times while checking boats on Dyke American shad hatchery, located in Greg Jacobs, Beaver County. our waterways, our officers find people Thompsontown, Juniata County. During who have their personal flotation devices one particular visit, a group of middle stowed away in compartments or under school students had gathered to observe seats. We always urge people to wear them Scott Rhodes and Tim Wilson processing or keep them out where they can get them shad otoliths. Otolith processing is a easily if the need arises. messy affair. It requires removal of the DWCO Frank Mihelcic and I were pa fish's head and dissection to retrieve the trolling the Youghiogheny Reservoir dur otoliths from the skull cavity. This par ing Labor Day Weekend. The Corps of ticular group of inquisitive students had Engineers called us to assist them with a many insightful questions about the pro boat that had sunk in Tub Run Cove. The cess. However, the most challenging boat was at anchor and the people were question, and perhaps least insightful, swimming. When the passengers got back occurred when one sympathetic individual on board, the boat suddenly began to take from the group asked, "Does it hurt the on water and sank. All that remained above fish when you put the otoliths back in?" the water was the boat's bow. - R. Scott Carney, Fisheries Biologist.
52 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Memories To Last A Lifetime Low flow award Over the years, I have seen quite a few Those who would stop to think realize that Nice size Buick-too situations where our coop nurseries have to protect waterways we must be vigilant bad it's out of season had to raise fish on very little water. How of their drainages as well.-WCO Brian I have many dedicated ever, I believe the Perry Township Sports Burger, Centre County. and hard-working people who help stock men in Fayette County have gotten by on trout. During one stocking, I noticed some the least amount of water. On Novem Next time, pay attention fishing line wrapped around the center of ber 1 last year, I visited the nursery with I had stopped a boat for operating be the rear hubcap on the car of one of my Cecil Houser, Commission Coop Nurs tween sunset and sunrise without display helpers. With the owner alongside, I be ery Unit Manager. The water flow was just ing a stern light. When I was talking to gan unwinding the line and told him it a half-gallon per minute. However, they the boat operator, I could tell that he had looked like 4-pound test. "That's what I were able to keep their 1,000 trout alive been drinking and was possibly boating 1 use," he said. Opening his trunk and ex on this flow along with the use of a /> hp under the influence (BUI). I got on his amining his rod and reel, he found that all air blower. Fortunately, about 10 days boat and told him I was going to have him 200 yards were missing. Obviously, the last later, normal water flows returned. Tim perform three field sobriety tests. He failed time he put his equipment away, the line Gilmore, the club nursery manager, and the first two tests and I was about to have was left dangling outside and somehow it other members did an excellent job with him begin the third when he looked up got caught on the small center of the hub their fish under extremely poor conditions and said, "I know you. You were the in cap.- WCO Lee Creyer, southern York County. to rear trout. Keep up the good work!- structor at the boating safety course I Commissioner Donald K. Anderson. took." I asked if he liked the course and When does the tide come in? he said that he did. When he had at When on patrol, you never know what Mister, can you spare a dime? tempted and failed the third field sobri lies around the next bend. This is true Arriving in my new district, I contacted ety test, I told him he was under arrest for whether on foot, in a car, or in a boat. While one of the local Wildlife Conservation BUI. As I was taking him off his boat, he checking anglers and boaters, you some Officers for patrol and orientation to his said, "Maybe I should have paid more times find that they, too, do not know what district. We were at a local sub shop for attention to the part about drinking and lies ahead. On two occasions last summer take out orders when, after placing his boating." He was right.-'WCO Gregjacobs, I was asked questions that proved this order and receiving his food, the officer Beaver County. point. An angler in a small electric-pow ered motorboat asked what time the tide What do I send in? came in at Marsh Creek Lake, a 535-acre I was approached at a local outdoor manrr/ade lake in central Chester County. show by a gentleman who needed clari fication on his newly acquired rattlesnake permit. The gendeman said he understood all the regulations except the one about the part of the snake he was to send to Har- discovered he had no money to pay his bill. risburg. I told him that none of the snake No problem, he thought, but an unyielding was to be sent to Harrisburg. He replied, ATM machine would not accept his MAC "Oh, yes there is, and it says so on the card. After letting him wonder for a while permit!" if I would pay his tab, I covered his ex The conversation went on for several penses. I know the Game Commission is minutes and wasn't going anywhere. In The other encounter was on the a cooperating agency, but do I really need an attempt to win the argument the gentle- Schuylkill River on WCO Barton's jetboat to cooperate this much?-WCO PeteMader, men sent his wife to the truck to retrieve along an isolated section of river between McKean County. the permit. She return shortly and handed Phoenixville and Valley Forge. We were flagged by a personal watercraft operator Protecting waterways means him the permit. The look on his face told me I hadn't studied the rattlesnake per who appeared to be having equipment protecting watersheds mit closely enough and was about to lose problems. The craft had weeds or small It is somewhat amusing to consider that this discussion. With a smug look, he stones blocking the jet and could manage Waterways Conservation Officers are re handed me the permit and pointed out only idle speed. Upon approach, the op sponsible for considerably larger areas the line that read, "send disposition to Har erator stated that it must be low ride causing than fellow officers of the Game Commis risburg." He then went on to ask, very his navigation troubles. Without show sion. In some cases one Fish & Boat Com seriously, "In which end of the snake is ing any amusement, WCO Barton informed mission officer covers the territory of four the disposition?" With a straight face I the operator that he was pretty far upriver | or more Game Commission officers. This explained that meant how the snake was from tidal influence, and he didn't men is often, if not erroneously, dismissed by disposed of, not whether or not the snake tion a couple of dams in between. s the notion that we only have to patrol had a bad temper.-WCO David Keller, A reminder: Please become more familiar | waters while Wildlife Conservation Offic Adams/northern York counties. with the water you plan to boat on.-WCO ers patrol a more encompassing landmass. Donald Lauver, Jr., Northern Chester County.
Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 53 One thing is certain-there are challenges ahead but also opportunities to forge new partnerships and build a more diverse base of support. This article details the under Where Have Alllyin g trends and issues diat are influencing what the Commission will be doing in the year 2000 and beyond. License sales trends Historically, Pennsylvania is in the top five states in terms of total license sales. When you limit the scope to just fresh l—u \r water anglers, PA has more anglers than all other states except California and Texas. Sixty-three percent of Pennsylvania anglers fish for trout and 62 percent fish for bass. by Tom Ford Looking at total days of freshwater an gling, PA comes out second behind Texas. The current downward trend in fishing remaining license buyers will ultimately Forty-eight percent of all PA freshwater license sales in Pennsylvania confronts the have to rise to sustain the current pro fishing days are spent fishing for bass Commission with a tremendous challenge gram levels. species, while 47 percent of the days fished for the future. The Commission receives Fishing license price increases lead to by PA anglers are spent seeking trout. no general government tax dollars and is fewer license buyers and a smaller base of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) supported entirely by user fees paid by an support for the Commission and our survey statistics from 1980-1990 show a glers and boaters. The Commission re mission. The laws of economics dictate 24 percent increase in the total number lies on fishing license sales as the main that as the price increases, the demand will of anglers in Pennsylvania, which funding source for resource protection decrease as you exceed individual custom amounted to approximately IS percent of and management activities tJiat ultimately ers' willingness to pay. The Commission the state's population 16 years and older benefit anglers and all of the Common recognizes the cost of fishing licenses/ indicating they are anglers (not necessarily wealth's citizens. If the current decline stamps as having a significant effect on license buyers). License sales showed a in license sales continues, the Commis the number of fishing licenses sold. more modest increase of 8.5 percent over sion will be hard pressed to sustain the So what is the Commission doing to this same period. Both the number of current level of programs and services in contain license costs? The Commission anglers and the number of license buyers the next millennium. is working aggressively to sustain a stable appear to have peaked in 1990 when an The cost of doing business, like the cost license base, expand sources of revenue, all-time high of 1,163,758 fishing licenses of living, increases annually, even if mod and contain program costs. It is unlikely were sold. Unfortunately, since 1990 li erately. The support of fewer and fewer that any one of these efforts alone can get cense sales have been declining. annual license buyers means that, with the job done. By attacking the problem During the period 1990-1996, total li out a new source of revenue or aggressive from all three facets, it is hoped that posi cense sales declined nearly 16.4 percent. program cost containment, prices for the tive results will be achieved. Before the nine percent decline in license sales in 1996, the largest single decline was 7.6 percent in 1991 following the in troduction of the trout stamp. In spite of several years during the period 1990- 1996, when slight increases in the total number of licenses sold were realized, there is a clear declining trend in fish ing license sales in Pennsylvania. Mir roring this decline in total license sales, trout stamp sales have declined roughly proportionally. For example, between 1995 and 1996, total license sales declined 8.93, percent while trout stamp sales declined 8.83 percent. In actual numbers, the Commission has lost nearly 200,000 annual license buyers between 1990 and 1996. In 1996, fewer than one million licenses were sold for the first time in 20 years. The last time total license sales were comparable to the 1996 level (973,241) was in the mid-1970s.
54 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime t Big Spring Creek, Cumberland County
LICENSE SALES BY YEAR AND TYPE: 1980-1
1,200,000 1126162 1139444 1'""3.758 ,072,9871.092,038 1,051,7141|03M30 ' W7° '» —* ^ I '«74 '» ,,074,112 m2 ,,068,698 1,000,000 ^ V^j g^g . . , = im HE •• "•• | 973,241 TOTAL ••i Hil """ ^^ ^^ •"• ^^ ^~~~ LICENSES 800,000
600,000
400,000
200,000
0 1 L J 1 L I I L J i. J J L. _l_ I I | 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 C RESIDENT NON-RESIDENT TOURIST FREE SENIOR RESIDENT SENIOR LIFETIME
The largest losses came in the resident The transfer of annual fishing license percentage of the population that is pur license category, which declined 152,270 sales, from annual senior licenses or resi chasing a fishing license. License sales as licenses (or 15 percent) since 1990. The dent adult licenses to lifetime licenses, is a percentage of the Commonwealth's total other license category that declined sig eroding annual fishing license sales in population had an increasing trend to the nificantly is the annual senior resident Pennsylvania. As the state with the sec all-time high of about 10 percent in 1990. license category, which declined nearly 50 ond oldest population in the nation (nearly In 1996, fishing licenses were purchased percent to approximately 18,000 licenses. 20 percent of the state's population will by only eight percent of the total state Many former annual senior license buy be 65 years old or older by the year 2000), population which is down nearly two ers may have decided to purchase a senior this erosion will continue to be a signifi percent from 1990. lifetime license. Looking at the price dif cant factor in the decline of annual fish Even though PA ranks below most other ference between the annual senior resident ing license sales. states in percent of population 16 years license ($4.00 plus a $5.00 trout stamp) Even though PA has historically ranked and older who fish, it must be noted that and the lifetime senior license ($16.00 plus in the top five states in total fishing li the 1991 USFWS survey of hunting and a $5.00 trout stamp), many seniors may censes sold, the state also ranks near the fishing participation shows that PA ranked have opted to pay the $12 difference once bottom (47th) of all the states in the per third in total number of resident fresh and never have to purchase another fishing cent of the population over 16 years of age water anglers and second in the nation in license or stamp in Pennsylvania. that participates in fishing. Nationally the total number of days of freshwater During the period 1990-1996, the Com in 1990,19 percent of the nation's popu fishing by residents. Anglers are a minority mission sold 107,773 lifetime licenses, lation 16 years of age and older indicated in Pennsylvania, but PA's anglers are cer while total fishing license sales declined that they fished. In Pennsylvania, only 15.6 tainly avid. They actually spend more days by 190,517 licenses. Assuming that all percent of the population 16 and older freshwater fishing (an average of 18 days those anglers who bought senior lifetime indicated they fished. Participation is per angler) than any other state! licenses in 1990-1996 previously bought highest in Alaska, where 50 percent of the Angler places of residence roughly re either an annual senior resident license residents 16 years and older fish, and low flect the state's general population places (which declined by some 18,000 licenses est in New York where 13.8 percent of the of residence. About 45 percent of all fish over the same period) or a resident angler state's residents (16 yrs +) fish. ing licenses are sold in and around the license, more than 50 percent of the to Both the national and state participa metropolitan areas surrounding Philadel tal loss in license sales could be caused tion rates were up slightly from 1980, but phia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Erie. directly by the sale of lifetime licenses. since 1990 PA has seen a decline in the Considering that some "city-dwellers" buy
Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 55 PERCENT OF PENNSYLVANIA POPULATION BUYING A FISHING LICENSE
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
Commonwealth citizens are white. the ages of 17 and 24. The lower num Where Have All In terms of place of residence, 26 per ber of anglers in this age range, compared cent of PA licensed anglers live in a small with the general population in this age the Anglers city, four percent in big cities, 23 percent group, reflects a nationwide trend of losing ~iV v.. in suburbs and 47 percent in rural areas. anglers in the college years and immedi That's almost a 50/50 split between city/ ately following. It also may reflect the out- suburban dwellers and rural residents, migration of 17-29 year olds that PA has which generally reflects residence statistics experienced. their licenses "up-state," it is possible that of the general population. a majority of anglers live in urban or sub Concerning the level of education an Factors influencing urban areas. glers have, six percent of the anglers sur fishing license sales Generally speaking, license sales have veyed indicated they have a graduate There have been some theories advanced declined in the major metropolitan areas degree, 16 percent indicated they are col through the years about the factors that proportionally to the overall decline in lege graduates, 21 percent have some effect license sales. Factors cited include license sales. In 1990 through 1996, the college and 45 percent are high school the weather around opening day of trout most significant declines in total fishing graduates. Thus, a total of 88 percent of season, the combined cost of licenses and license sales occurred in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania's licensed anglers have stamps, whether or not it was a license which declined by 14,000 licenses, or 18 graduated from high school or have com increase year, the size and age of the percent of the 1990 base county sales. pleted college. Some 81 percent of the Commonwealth's population, the miles Nearly twice as many fishing licenses are state's general population have graduated of water stocked and the miles/acres of sold historically in Allegheny County than high school or gone on to college. It might water under special regulations programs. in any other county. be a stretch to say that anglers are smarter, Statistical analysis of the data shows but it appears that they have spent more that the most significant factor is the total Who is fishing in PA? time in educational institutions. cost of licenses and stamps, and the timing From a randomly drawn sample of 1995 Current fishing license holders, which of price increases. Anecdotal evidence license holders, the Commission knows include lifetime license buyers from 1978 shows that the weather around the first "who" buys Pennsylvania fishing licenses. to the present, are older than the average day of trout season has an effect on license Resident license holders are 88 percent age of Pennsylvanians. Some 24 percent sales. However, "statistically speaking" male, which means that 12 percent of our are age 65+, 10 percent are between the there is not a strong relationship between license holders are female. Another sur ages of 55 and 64 years of age, 23 percent the weather and the total number of li vey showed that only eight percent of our are between the ages of 45 and 54, and 20 censes sold in a year. Intuitively, bad trout anglers are female. Nationally, percent are between the ages of 35 and 44. weather has a negative effect on fishing women anglers comprise 17.7 percent of Some 14 percent of our license buyers are license sales, but it probably doesn't make the total angling population and 28 per 25-34 years of age, while 15 percent of the sense to spend Commission resources or cent of anglers 16 years and older. With Commonwealth's population is 25-34 energy worrying about this factor because females comprising 52 percent of the state's years of age. License buyers in the age it is out of the agency's control. population, PA has room to improve when range of 17 to 24 are under-represented it comes to recruiting women anglers. when you look at the percentage of the Angler recruitment In terms of race, 92 percent of anglers state's population between the ages of 17 Annual license sales are in part depen nationally and 98 percent of Pennsylva and 24 years of age. Only eight percent dent on recruitment of new anglers. As nia anglers are white. The 98 percent does of the license buyers are between the ages older anglers drop out of the angling not reflect the Commonwealth's racial of 17 and 24, while 11 percent of the population, a steady stream of new an composition, because 88 percent of the Commonwealth's population is between glers must be recruited from the
56 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Commonwealth's population to replace In 1980,30 percent of children between them. Without adequate recruitment of the ages of 6 and 15 (539,000) fished. In anglers, the number of annual license 1990, when some of this same group would buyers will decline. have been older (16-25 years of age), 22 Research in other states and at univer percent of this population was still fishing. sities shows that there are several factors Information on the number of kids fish critical to successfully "making" an an ing from 1990 to the present is lacking, gler. One factor often cited as the key but there are several conclusions that can to recruiting an angler is the introduc be drawn from the information. First, tory experience. there were more kids fishing in 1990 than
17-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+YEARS
The 1995 Penn State Data Center ing involvement. The more members of ever before in spite of population declines (PSDC) survey shows that 60 percent of the family who fish, the more individu in the total number of kids available to the Commonwealth's adult population als fish as adults. fish. The data also suggests that a good (18 years or older) were introduced to fish Some factors that are dispelled as sta number of kids (based on analysis by age ing. If an introductory fishing experi tistically insignificant in the national re group over time) will fish as adults. ence was the only thing needed to recruit search are: The results of the 1996 National Sur an angler, then PA should have five mil There is little relationship in where vey of Hunting and Fishing enhance our lion licensed anglers! individuals grew up and later fishing in knowledge of recruitment in Pennsylva The introductory experience is only one volvement. nia and will help determine if there is a part of the recruitment process. The other There is little relationship between problem. Right now, the immediate prob important recruitment factors include fishing activity and family type-that is, lem with the decline of license sales seems access to the resource, access to equip individuals in single-parent families are to be retention and not recruitment. ment, instruction and social support. The no more or less inclined to fish than are The Commission clearly has a dropout successful recruitment of anglers depends individuals in more traditional families. problem. A related concern is that we on all these factors. Surveys of current So with all this information provided might be losing two anglers with the loss anglers conducted at the national level on the issue of recruitment, does Penn of every one license buyer. The trout angler offer further insight into the recruitment sylvania have a recruitment problem? The survey showed that the average angler process: simple answer is that the available data household contains one fishing child. If About 84 percent of current anglers does not indicate that there is a problem. the parent(s) quits fishing, the kids they were introduced to fishing before age 15. The final verdict is still unknown. The influence will likely quit as well. This is A study at Michigan State Univer Commission is eagerly awaiting the results a two-for-one deal the Commission and sity (MSU) found that the earlier an an of the 1995 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service the sport of fishing can ill afford! gler is introduced, the better! The younger fishing participation survey for additional The Commission is actively working to a person is when introduced, the more one information. Information available from assess the reasons why anglers are drop will fish as an adult. the 1980,1985 and 1991 USFWS surveys ping out. Once these reasons are known, The MSU study also found that in shows the following: strategies can be developed to retain a dividuals who fish as teens are more likely Some 540,000 individuals age 6-16 stable base of support and ensure the next to fish as adults. years of age fished in 1980. In 1990, generation of anglers in PA. f~h Most anglers were taught how to fish 613,000 kids (ages 6-16 years of age) fished. by family or close family friends. This is an increase of 73,000 kids over the Tom Ford is the Fish & Boat Commission There is a close connection between same period when the total number of kids Resources Planning Coordinator. family members who fish and later fish in this age range declined by 183,000.
Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 57 en/iM/mania
0£ tata Z)r ^
In the 1950s, my pursuit of material Regretfully, I goofed. I should have the west bank and a few miles north of for the "Outdoors" column of Harrisburg's documented Barrett's story about the Dauphin on the east. Newport is a few Sunday Patriot-News required me to be at photo. Had I gone to Newport, diere might miles upstream on the Juniata. Whatever the State Capitol at least once a week. On have been some old-timer or other local its starting point, its alleged final, fatal, one such visit, J. Allen Barrett, the Fish source to provide a complete history of destination is well within the capability Commission's director of publicity, gave the photo. of a sturdy sturgeon. me a photo of the sturgeon. There was So here we are, some 45 years later, to Presumably, our sturgeon's migration no label on the photo, but Al told me, with endeavor by current research to authenticate would have begun somewhere in the At apparent authority, that the photo was the existence of an actual Susquehanna- lantic Ocean, then to the Chesapeake Bay, taken at Newport, Perry County, to record Juniata sturgeon and a once-upon-a-time then to the Susquehanna River mouth near the last sturgeon taken from the Juniata Pennsylvania caviar industry. Perryville and Havre de Grace, Maryland. River. The event would have taken place First, the local: The Juniata River flows Approximately 15 miles up the flats the well before 1900, as documented later in into the Susquehanna near the Clarks Ferry big fish would then have crossed the Ma this article. Bridge, above the village of Duncannon on son-Dixon Line into Pennsylvania and
SJfaou think that caviar originated only in (jurope anopsia, guess again!
58 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime finned past the counties of York, Cumberland, part-Perry on the west bank, and Lancaster and Dauphin on the east. After entering the Juniata near Aque duct and Amity Hall, about 10 miles re mained if Newport is where the sturgeon met its end and had its photo taken. In cidentally, Aqueduct was one of my favor ite smallmouth bass haunts. The name is derived from an actual aqueduct that Endangered and Threatened Sturgeons in PA carried canal boats over the Juniata. When In Pennsylvania, the Atlantic sturgeon is threatened. The lake sturgeon and I fished there, remnants of the stone piers the shortnose sturgeon are both endangered. remained. The Atlantic sturgeon is the largest Pennsylvania fish. It can attain a length It can be documented that our Perry of 12 feet. This sturgeon breeds in the upper reaches of the Delaware River. County sturgeon's fatal journey occurred The shortnose sturgeon is the smallest of the three PA sturgeons. Mature fish before any of the big dams were placed on are about 20 to 24 inches long. The lake sturgeon reaches lengths of seven die Susquehanna-Holtwood Dam in 1910, feet. It is currently known to occur in Pennsylvania only in Lake Erie. Conowingo in 1928, and Safe Harbor in Exploitation by commercial anglers and pollution of spawning and nurs 1932. As a matter of fact, sturgeon were ery habitat caused the decline of the Atlantic and shortnose sturgeons. Pol long gone from the Susquehanna before lution and building locks and dams on western Pennsylvania's large rivers, those hydroelectric impediments were preventing the sturgeon's reaching spawning habitat, caused the decline of installed. the lake sturgeon. The source for the above statement and for the information to follow is a "Report of State Commissioners of Fisheries," year tinued: "Both the United States Fish set consisted of 33 heads, hides and bones. 1900, addressed to "His Excellency Will Commission and the Pennsylvania Fish To produce caviar, the eggs were run iam A. Stone, Governor of the Common Commission recognize the danger and the through several sieves of graduated fine wealth of Pennsylvania." former has begun preparations to propa ness and treated with "Lunerberg" salt, Here are several verbatim excerpts from gate the fish artificially, while the Penn specially imported from Germany. This the report: sylvania Commission is endeavoring to particular salt was said to produce a finer "Early in the present century sturgeons discover a way to do likewise." grade of caviar than that in which domes abounded in the Delaware and Susque The lack of information about the tic salt was used. hanna Rivers"-in the report of the Penn Susquehanna sturgeon in the 1900 report The treated roe was then packed in kegs sylvania Fish Commission for 1896- contrasts with page after page about the holding 135 pounds of product. It was appears the following: "Men not yet 60 Delaware River industry. Although the usually in the fall when an accumulation years old say it was not an uncommon sight New Jersey side of the Delaware at a place of kegs was shipped to Germany, probably to see several sturgeon during a single trip named Bayside was the most prominent for further processing and packaging. It between Camden and Philadelphia jump and long-lasting, a sturgeon industry was was said that some of that Delaware River ing in the river. Mr. Samuel Williams, now started in 1873 near Chester, PA. A Mr. roe was shipped back to the U.S. as pack in his eighty-fourth year, says that when Henry Hadley moored a large scow at the aged caviar. he was a boy, on one occasion he went with end of a town street and erected a fish camp I cannot guess the price of caviar at that his father on a shad fishing trip in the on die scow. There were bunks for sleeping time. However, the report did list the net lower Delaware, and during it he saw thou and a male cook to provide meals. cost, which included all the camp expenses sands of sturgeons." The camp had a fleet of boats, each of at the Delaware River, shipping to New If that boy was 12 years old on that trip, which was 25 feet long and had a tall mast York docks, and thence to Germany. The I wonder if his estimate of the fish he saw both fore and aft, and a two-man crew. total was $ 1.05 per pound. Remember that didn't increase with each of the 73 years Apparently, one man alone could not this was before the year 1900. Wouldn't to the 1896 report. handle a heavy drift net, especially to haul today's purveyors of the salty stuff love even More excerpts from the 1900 report: in a thrashing fish weighing anywhere to remotely come close to that cost? "The story which is here told of the stur between 50 to 100 pounds or more. The photo of the Juniata sturgeon and geon fisheries of the Delaware River is After the catch was unloaded onto the a few vague notes lay for some 45 years in the same for that of the Susquehanna camp deck, practically every part of the a file folder labeled "Future Outdoors River and the Great Lakes except that the sturgeon was used to maximize profit. The Articles," which brings to mind an old industry in the Susquehanna is entirely roe, of course, was the most valuable prod axiom-Procrastination is the thief of time. wiped out." uct, so any available egg sack was imme "One is never too old too learn" is also "It is claimed with every indication of diately removed for later processing of the applicable here. This crusty octogenarian truth, that unless something of a radical roe (eggs). The flesh was usually smoked always believed that caviar was exclusively nature be done there will be no sturgeon for sale to New York and Philadelphia res of Russian or European origin. Perhaps at all ten years from now." taurants. Sometimes it was passed off as people like me (and youngsters, too) would That statement was remarkably pro smoked salmon. never have associated caviar with our phetic. But the old boys were not willing The head, skins and bones were sold Susquehanna or Delaware rivers. f~h to throw in the towel yet. The report con- as "sets" from which oil was pressed. A
Fishini& Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 59 Few anglers would argue that fishing with artificials often requires more skill and knowledge, and can be more rewarding, than using natural baits. Walleye jigs, bass plugs, trout and salmon flies all require proper handling and finesse. But there are times when natural bait is simply a better choice, when our quarry is simply too fin icky to be taken in by metal or plastic. And teaching beginners, especially children, is usually more successful when the odds are stacked in favor of hooking fish. This is most easily accomplished by using live bait. Furthermore, many times only the real thing entices the lunkers. They got to be diat size by scrutinizing each potential meal very carefully before trying it. There are many choices of live baits available, even as there are many foodstuffs that different gamefish use as forage. Most anglers purchase bait from tackle stores, but you can avoid the inevitable shortages and realize substantial savings if you col lect your own. Worms Day in and day out, earthworms are the true workhorses of the bait world. Easy to collect and relatively easy to keep and transport, the worm has seen countless kids through their formative fishing years. They'll catch a huge variety of fish: Panfish, catfish, trout, bass, walleyes, pickerel, suckers, carp and more. There is surprising diversity in the earthworm family, but the two most commonly used are nightcrawlers and garden worms, dif ferentiated primarily by size. Garden worms average 3 to 4 inches, whereas nightcrawlers reach lengths of 5 to 8 inches or greater. Look for them in moist, soft earth in shaded areas and near tree or plant roots. Some tricks can be used to help gather them. One is to wait until it rains and sim ply gather those that have escaped from the flooded ground onto a lawn's surface or nearby pavement. Or you can create your own rain conditions by simply wa tering your backyard thoroughly. Another method is collecting them at night with a flashlight. Search for the wet glint of worms peeking out of their bur rows. When you grab one, it will prob ably attempt to dive underground. Don't pull hard; it will simply break. Exert con stant, gentle pressure on it until it tires and comes free. Some people recommend * searching in this manner with red cello- | phane taped over the flashlight, to pre- I vent the bright light from spooking the i. worms.
Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime One means of worm gathering is to use electric current in a metal probe, stuck in the dirt, to force the critters to the sur face. Although this technique can be ef fective, the safety problems make me shy away from it. Suffice it to say that it's necessary to use all due caution if you try this. Keep the collected worms in any handy container. The standard type is a small styrofoam bowl with a plastic lid, but almost any container of similar configu ration, such as an old margarine or but ter tub, serves just as well for short-term use if you poke a few small holes in the lid for ventilation. Be sure to include bedding with the crawlers. Native soil is fine for a few days, but use commercial bedding (available at most bait shops) if Catching your own has definite advan this method is very satisfying if you don't you wish to keep worms longer. Either tages. Remember, though, that you need need huge numbers of them or if you're way, keep them cool, moist, and in the dark a fishing license to do this. Perhaps the not in a big hurry. For typical species, use as much as possible. Refrigerators are, of biggest advantage is that if you catch very small, light tackle and hook sizes course, the storage means of choice, but baitfish from the same waters where you around 16-certainly no larger than 10 or be sure none of the other occupants in your will be fishing, you ensure that you'll be 12. Corn, breadballs, tiny worms and the home mistakes your bait container for a offering the best possible imitation of like are suitable for bait. bread spread! natural forage-namely, the real thing. Sometimes angling is, in fact, the only Although store-bought shiners can often reasonable method for targeting baitfish. Baitfish be productive, many of the lakes where they If your quest is the next world-record There are few baits that are more attrac are used don't have native populations of muskellunge, you'll be trying to catch tive to a hungry predator fish than a flut such interlopers. baitfish in the 6-inch to 8-inch range- tering, distressed baitfish, which appeals The easiest method to harvest baitfish perhaps perch or suckers-that a typical kid to a gamefish's sight as well as its lateral is trapping, using the familiar wire bas would be happy to catch all day long. line detection system. Good for bass, ket with funneled inlets. The basket is Angling is probably your best bet for these members of the pike family, trout, salmon, opened, baited with some cracker or bread baitfish. walleyes, many panfish, and some catfish pieces, closed, and left submerged. The Once you have them, you need to main such as channel cats, baitfish may be the fish are attracted to the bait and are led tain them properly. I usually don't try to closest approach to a "sure thing" in fish in through the funnel openings. Once keep baitfish healthy for more than a ing. The biggest drawback is their expense, inside, they typically can't find the way out. couple of days. The two most important and difficulty in keeping alive and active. Although the commercial wire traps are factors to watch are oxygen and tempera not expensive, it is simple enough to make ture: Don't let the former get too low, or your own. Leave the baited trap in die water the latter too high. Portable battery-pow for at least a couple of hours. Alternately, ered aerators work well, as do oxygen tab simply set up the trap in the afternoon, lets. For overnight storage of baitfish, Fve and check it again in the morning. had good luck simply keeping them in a Remember that if you leave a minnow small bucket in the refrigerator. When I trap or baitfish container unattended, you do this, I find it helpful to lower the wa must identify it with the owner's name, ter level in the bucket, which reduces the address and phone number. Minnow traps volume of water that needs to be oxygen can have no more than two openings that ated by the air inside the refrigerator. If don't exceed one inch in diameter. you have a lot of baitfish, keep them in Legal netting methods include dip nets, multiple containers so that there isn't too which are basically very deep, small- much competition among them for the meshed hoop nets with long handles, and available oxygen. umbrella nets. The latter are square nets in a metal frame. A rope is attached to Crayfish the frame, by which the net is lowered to, Also known as crawdads or crawfish, and raised from, the water. Dip nets or these small crustaceans are often a pre seines cannot exceed a diameter or square ferred staple of bass, especially small- A one-person seine. Angler disturbs the measurement of four feet. mouths. Other predator species, including bottom while critters float into the net. You might also consider fishing for pickerel, pike, big trout, and some panfish baitfish! Baitfish can be fun to catch in such as large perch, will rarely turn up their their own right (the legal limit is 50), and noses at this delicacy.
Fishing & boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angkr&Boater Be sure to leave enough space for bugs to get in
BOARD OR FLAT ROCK
These little fellows can be found in most a small hole in them, indicating where waterways. They can either be trapped or grub entered. Simply collect the acorns, caught, using some handy tools. If you're and keep them cool. The acorns may be already equipped for catching baitfish, you cut open when you're ready to fish. can use much of the same equipment. Waxworms live in old beehives. Keep Metal minnow traps can be baited with these fellows as you would mealworms. bits of fresh meat, or a can of pet food with White grubs are often found in dark, rich, holes punched in it, and set in a shallow shaded soil. Store them in their native soil, rocky area. Umbrella nets can be similarly making sure to keep it moist and cool. deployed, and lifted after dark. Most of these will keep for weeks or even If you need some right on the spot, a months if they are properly refrigerated. handy tool to devise is a metal can (from, say, canned beans) mounted on a pole. Leeches Puncture the bottom with some holes. Although not very high on the human With the pole in one hand and a stick in aesthetics list, leeches do figure promi the other, turn over rocks in a shallow area. nently as a delicacy for sunfish, catfish, Any specimens that turn up can be herded walleyes and bass. Of the different kinds into the can with the stick. Remember, GROUND of leeches inhabiting North America, the however, that the crayfish will try to es ribbon leech is most highly prized as a bait cape by traveling backward. Lift the can They are most easily caught from ponds out of the water; the water draining from fruit juice can) into the ground in a likely with lots of plant growth and algae, and the puncture holes will prevent the fellow spot, and baiting it with cracker or bread where there aren't very dense gamefish from escaping. bits, or cornmeal. Adding a dash of sugar populations. For keeping your crayfish, your baitfish can increase its attractiveness. Cover it They may be trapped in containers equipment will come in handy again. They loosely with a board to protect any pris baited with fish offal (heads and organs), can get sufficient oxygen either from the oners from unexpected showers, and leave chicken or beef liver, or bones. Some water or from the air, as long as their gills it overnight. Collect your bait the next people place the bait in coffee cans with stay wet. Keep them in cool, aerated wa morning. the top crimped together; others use wood ter, or they may be kept in a cooler or To keep your insects for a few days, make boxes. Set the traps late in the day or in equivalent packed with wet weeds, news sure that they are in a sufficiently roomy the evening, and leave them overnight. paper or moss. Again, keep the oxygen container in which they can move about Retrieve them before sunrise, if possible. levels up and the temperature levels down. somewhat. Keep it cool and ventilated, If not, be sure to place the traps where they and add some sort of cover (grass will won't be exposed to light, or add covers Insects suffice) to it. For long-term storage, go to the traps in the form of rocks and weeds. This includes both adult insects (grass ahead and freeze them. Later, when they To separate the ribbon leeches from hoppers, beetles, crickets, etc.) as well as are thawed, their bodies will have softened other varieties, place them on the palm larval forms such as mealworms and somewhat and this sometimes actually of your hand. Discard any that don't waxworms. All of these insects will catch makes them more palatable to the fish. squirm. Of those remaining, if there panfish, trout, bass and other fish. Larval forms are easier to catch-they appear to be more than one variety, keep Adult insects can be collected in the field don't jump around! Different types are those that seem larger or fatter, or have or trapped. To collect them, look for found, as you'd expect, in different envi no spots or stripes. Store them in small grasshoppers in fieldsan d crickets in more ronments. Mealworms are usually asso containers with fresh water. Minnow wooded areas. Often your quarry can be ciated with farm operations, and can be containers are fine, but almost any found under flat rocks or logs. Grab them found in piles of rotting grain. Keep them styrofoam or plastic container works. Like quickly because many are excellent jump refrigerated in small containers with wood most other baits, keep them cool. ers, or use an entomologist's ("butterfly") shavings or fine cornmeal. The information given here should be net. It's easier to gather insects this way Tent caterpillars are relatively easy to enough to get you started on most fresh when the temperature is down a bit. In find. Simply look in wooded areas for the water species. And the next time you're the event of any late-season heat waves, tell-tale, spiderweb-like silk nests they on your way to your favorite fishing spot, nighttime collection by flashlight is the construct in trees. When you collect them, wave to the anglers purchasing bait at the best time. take some leaves from the host tree for tackle store as you pass. You won't need Trapping them may be accomplished food and cover. Again, keep them cool. to stop in. j—i. by sinking an empty food can (say, a large Acorn grubs can be found in acorns with
62 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories last A Lifetime The Fish & Boat Commission's "Big Blue" has nothing to do Kennedy says, "and they are not something we can selectively breed. with college sports. It isn't a dog's name, an artillery piece, an Hatcheries keep them as show fish." earth-moving device, or a mountain. The Big Spring Fish Culture Station blues are among the largest Big Blue is about five years old and weighs a bit more than 21 the Commission has. Blue trout can also be found at Huntsdale, pounds. It's a state record rainbow trout with one remarkable Bellefonte, Corry and Reynoldsdale Fish Culture stations. characteristic: It's azure-blue on the top and sides, fading to white Albino trout, like blue trout, are another rare genetic anomaly. on the bottom. Because of a different kind of genetic quirk, albino trout lack Big Blue is a mutation that occurs in hatchery production of the ability to color themselves normally. Albino trout are dif rainbow trout. So far, this rare genetic glitch has occurred only ferent from blue trout in several ways: Albino trout are just as in rainbow and brown trout. This past year at Big Blue's Big Spring vibrant as other trout. They can also reproduce, but getting more Fish Culture Station home, some 30 rainbow trout were blue in albino trout is rare and unpredictable. All trout species can a spawn of about four million eggs. One year, more blue trout produce albinos. might appear. Another year, fewer. On the other hand, golden rainbow trout and the related palo "We separate them early on from the other trout because they're mino trout are genetically manipulated fish. In 1954, the West weaker fish, and we don't stock them," says Big Spring Fish Cul Virginia Conservation Department discovered a single rainbow ture Station Manager Terry Farner. "Unless they are set aside, trout that was partly normally pigmented and partly gold. West during the first year the other fish usually eat them, or they suc Virginia developed the fully golden strain, and by the 1960s, that cumb to the rigors of the hatchery's high-density environmental strain became popular among anglers. In the 1960s, the Com conditions." mission began producing and stocking the gold-colored palo Farner also says that blue trout don't reproduce. Neither the mino trout. The Commission now raises and stocks a slightly males nor the females develop mature reproductive organs. different strain, the golden rainbow trout. The rarity of that one "We've been getting blue rainbow trout and blue brown-trout partly golden fish was just as uncommon as albino and blue trout. for some 30 years or more, as long as I've been with the Com Big Spring Fish Culture Station's largest blue brown-trout is mission," says Bill Kennedy, Bureau of Fisheries Training Of about six years old and weighs 14.5 pounds. Both blue mon ficer. "Years ago there was a concerted effort to produce a line ster trout now live in a raceway among a few other blue trout of blue trout. But Dr. James Wright, and large golden rainbows. The nor a Penn State geneticist, determined mally pigmented fish won't pick on that something was wrong with them them now-they're too big. physiologically." Big Spring Fish Culture Station wel Wright identified them as genetic comes visitors. The hatchery is about anomalies, or mutations. He deter three miles south of Newville, mined that blue trout probably suffer Cumberland County, on Big Spring from a thyroid deficiency. A fish's thy Road. It's open to the public Monday roid gland produces hormones that af through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. fect its coloring during all its life stages. Check out Big Spring Fish Culture Thus, the hormonal mix-up lets these Station and cast your eyes on Big Blue fish form only the bluish pigment. and his azure buddies. They're J—t. "Blue trout are extremely rare," an amazin g sight.
Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater •
I soon found that LIFE wading in the river wearing a life jacket is like using a microwave oven. Once you own one you wonder how JACKETS you ever lived without it. Now, when I step TYPE I into water over my head, Off-shore life jacket- I don't have to swim be over 20 pounds of buoyancy, cause I float. It has and designed to turn an uncon pockets for my plug scious person face-up. boxes, knife, pliers, and other tackle, and loops to attach my stringer. WADING I keep a thermometer by Dan Martin and pair of clippers at Last July, an angler drownedand another nearly tached to the zipper. It's The Susquehanna River died when they decided to take their pursuit surprisingly light and just north of Harrisburg is a "just a little farther out" in the Susquehanna helps keep you warm in wide, fast-flowing river, full River at Harrisburg. That one extra step cool weather. Best of all, TYPE II of my favorite fish, the small- proved their undoing. Both were strong I can also use it on my Near-shore buoyant mouth bass. Several years ago swimmers, but were no match for the turbulent boat, and it's always vest-minimum toward the end of July, a water into which they had waded. The victim prepacked with the 15.5 pounds of buoyancy, buddy and I had planned a would have survived had he worn a life jacket. gear I need to fish for designed to turn an uncon wading expedition. Unex smallmouths. scious person face-up. pectedly he canceled, so I de When the water is in cided to go alone. I waded out among the rocks just your comfort range, you don't need waders or hip j \> downstream from the Clarks Ferry Bridge near boots to protect you from the cold, so I added a L . •• Duncannon. The water was low and clear and ranged pair of wading shoes to my summer wading gear. from two to four feet deep. I wore an old pair of sneak The felt bottoms cling to slippery rocks much better ers, a shirt with a large pocket for my plug box, and than my old pair of tennis sneakers, and they also a pair of shorts with a fish stringer hanging from my protect my ankles. Because they are nylon, they fe"A I belt loop. My net hung around my neck by a loop dry as quickly as my life jacket. TYPE III so that it was easily available but not constricting. I spent some time thinking about this incident Flotation aid- The fishing was slow at first, but as the evening and wondering how it could have been avoided. minimum 15.5 pounds of progressed, things picked up. After releasing sev First, I decided never again to wade alone in the buoyancy, not designed to eral small bass, I caught a nice 16-incher. I wanted Susquehanna River. Second, I needed something turn an unconscious person to eat one bass, so I hooked the fish to the end of that would keep me afloat if this ever happened face-up; more comfortable my stringer so that it could swim around until I was again. Shortly after this incident, I became the for water sports. ready to quit. Satisfied that even bigger fish were proud owner of a camouflage life jacket, a PFD yet to come, I began slowly working my way across (personal flotation device). the river toward a little grassy island that I knew All too often, a day of wading turns into an would be dynamite just before dark. unpleasant exercise in how to swim while hold Without warning, I stepped off a ledge into a hole. ing a fishing rod. Worse yet, every year people Immediately I submerged in the current. My first drown or are injured because they didn't take one thought was not to drop my fishing rod. Then I simple precaution. They didn't wear a life jacket. TYPE IV thought, "How can I swim and hang onto my rod?" Many fisherman still mistakenly think that life Throwable device- By then the stringer was also becoming a factor be jackets are only for boaters. They're wrong! minimum 16.5 pounds of cause the bass was wrapping the stringer around Modern PFDs come in a wide variety of types buoyancy, designed to be my legs. My ballcap with fishing license attached and styles. Many are specifically designed for an grasped, not worn. floated off, destination Baltimore! I had acciden glers. An important consideration when purchas tally inhaled some water and was coughing and ing a life jacket for wading or boating is proper sputtering. Though a confident swimmer, I was fit. It should fit snugly and be adjustable so it can having trouble staying on the surface. Fear entered be worn over clothing on colder days. I recommend the picture. Decision time arrived. I dropped the buying a life jacket from a store instead of a rod, unwrapped the stringer and swam to safety. I mailorder house. It can be fitted properly this way. spent the remainder of Get one with pockets and rings to clip things to TYPEV II mil the evening retrieving when fishing. Special-use device- my cap and looking for Moving water kills several anglers every year. Be must be used in accordance my rod. smart. When wading or boating give yourself the with any requirements on added safety and convenience of wearing the approval label. a life jacket. o