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^^rv Pennsylvania December 1985/80V ANGLER The Keystone State's Official Fishing Magazine W: SStflifc.i-i. Yx«sjt*sirf, ..»** <*.«» »«i»i-*W5w<^i. V fc/^-S*. •^*WH* %**•* *• ^M " *I|P f^SB The year 1985 will go down in the books as another serious drought year, albeit the greenest in memory. There was good precipitation in the springtime, but by early summer we began to see the deficits in precipitation. This came on top of a general lack of snow cover, and water tables began to sink. There was enough rain to keep most lawns green, and even the farmers weren't hurting too much because there was enough precipitation to go root-deep. Hurricane Gloria, with its rains covering the eastern part of the Commonwealth, helped out some. Our salmon run in Lake Erie was impeded by warm water and the lack of water in the tributaries. The rains in early November wiped out the drought in the Delaware River Basin and even flooded parts of western Pennsylvania. And all the time, most weather broadcasters talked about the "threat" of rain; and again, this is their custom, believing that they are talking to an audience of people who only play golf, watch baseball games, and go on picnics. Across the Atlantic, the British Isles have had the wettest summer in over 100 years, with more than 150 inches of precipitation by the end of September. Even we would admit that's too much. At this point, however, it is difficult for anyone to enjoy living in this world unless he can accept its imperfection. Nature is older than man, and she is still far from perfect. Summers do not always start on June 21; bugs and beetles and other insects often go beyond Nature's obvious intentions, devouring the leaves and buds with which Nature has adorned the countryside; when the land has remained too dry for too long, Nature sends relieving rains — but frequently they come in torrents so violent that they do more harm than good. Over the years, however, Nature keeps going about her business in her own imperfect way, and the result, in spite of her many mistakes, is a continuing miracle. It would be folly for man to seek to do better. Perhaps we can take heart in setting goals to go along in our imperfect ways; making our mistakes while doing what we think is right, as we are given insight, and trying to work with Nature — not against it. In the meantime, may the holidays bring you the warm feelings we have experienced riding out that rough and bewildering, but beautiful and exciting, storm we call "life"! ^S^ep^ ad- C^UL^ Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Fish Commission Marilyn A. Black, President ANGLER Meadville Theodore T. Metzger, Jr., December 1985 Vol. 54 No. 12 Vice President Johnstown Walter F. Gibbs 1-2-3 Cleaned! by Michael Lacy Titusville Presto! Fillets quick as a wink! Leonard A. Green Carlisle The Adopt-a-Stream Program by Dave Wolf Ross J. Huhn Sportsmens clubs and conservation groups are taking Saltsburg miles and miles of waterways under their wings 6 Calvin J. Kern Whitehall Robert L. Martin Ice Fishing in Pennsylvania by Stan Paulakovich Bellefonte Whether you're an experienced fisherman or a novice hard- Joan R. Plumly water angler, this detailed information can help you find Jenkintown good spots and fill your creel 9 Jerome E. Southerton Honesdale J. Wayne Yorks The Pennsylvania Wild Resource Conservation Fund Benton by Larry Shaffer The author shows you how to do something wild 17 Boating Advisory Board Clayton Buchanan, Pennsylvania Angler Subject Index, Volume 54 Chairman Pittsburgh (January through December 1985) 21 David Coe State College County Features—Indiana County by Jan Caveney Helen B. Lange and Cambria County by R. L. Kish 23 Sharpsville Edward J. Rogowski Holland Body Work by Chauncy K. Lively The author shares his secrets for making fur bodies on flies .. 28 Staff EDITOR/Art Michaels Striped Thunder by Charles C. Cooper GRAPHICS/Ted Walke This "Profile" series installment details a success story PHOTOGRAPHER/Russ Gettig that's spreading throughout the Commonwealth 30 CIRCULATION/Eleanor Mutch STAFF ASSISTANT/Jayne Povleski POSTMASTER: Send 3579 forms to Pennsyl Straight Talk 2 vania Fish Commission. P.O. Box 1673, Harris- Anglers Currents 18 burg, PA 17105-1673. Pennsylvania Angler (ISSN003I-434X), ® 1985, is published monthly. Mail 19 Second class postage paid at Harrisburg. PA. Anglers Notebook 20 Subscription rates: one year, $5; three years, $14; single copies are 80 cents each. For subscription and changes of address, contact Angler Circula tion. Pennsylvania Fish Commission, P.O. Box 1673, Harrisburg, PA 17105-1673. Address all other correspondence to: The Editor, Pennsylva nia Angler, P.O. Box 1673, Harrisburg, PA 17105-1673. Editorial contributions are wel comed, but must be accompanied by a self- The Cover addressed, stamped envelope. Submissions are Happy holidays to all in the family of Angler readers, and we handled with care, but the publisher assumes no responsibility for the return or safety of submis hope that 1986 brings renewed fishing and boating fun. This sions in its possession or in transit. The authors' month's wintery cover was photographed in Centre County views, ideas, and advice expressed in this maga zine do not necessarily reflect the opinion or offi by staff photographer Russ Gettig. cial position of the Pennsylvania Fish Commis sion or its staff. by Michael Lacy f V r J^"e had a terrific morning of tried using the electric knife on the Follow with the blade along the spinal ^ 1/lf crappie fishing, but as we last three fish. The first gave him column to the tail. Do not cut the skin W W poured about 100 crappies trouble enough to discourage him, but away from the body when you reach into the kitchen sink, we realized the by the third fish, he had it down pat. the tail. hard part was still ahead of us. As he left he said, "I'll have an electric • Turn over the slab of meat you "We'll be cleaning fish all after knife before I get home!" have cut away from the fish, so that noon," my fishing buddy moaned. the fish is up and the skin is down. "An hour, tops," I promised, and I Then with the blade pressed firmly explained about filleting fish with an against the skin, separate the skin electric knife. from the meat. Working together, my wife and I • The skin must be forced flat against can easily fillet three or four panfish the cutting board to avoid cutting'the per minute. We can do almost as well skin. Because the skin is still attached with walleye. I run the electric knife, to the tail of the fish, you can use the and Jeri, my wife, cuts the ribs out fish as a handle during this procedure. with a small fillet knife. • Now, simply repeat the process on The method works well for most Here, then, for those of you who the other side of the fish. This leaves fish with ribs light enough to be cut are tired of cut fingers and sore backs, you with two slabs of meat; the only with an electric knife. I have used it tired from spending hours bent over a bones left are the ribs. for walleye, crappies, perch, and fillet board, are the instructions for With a small knife—almost any bluegills. Walleye over four pounds filleting fish with an electric knife: knife will do—cut out the ribs. This are a bit much for my electric knife, • With the electric knife, filleting a cut varies with the species of fish, but but a heavier knife would handle fish is a three-step operation. In steps it presents no problem, because you bigger fish. one and two, cut a fillet from each will see, or feel, the bones to be cut My partner and 1 had those side of the fish. In the third step, cut away. crappies filleted in 35 minutes. Before the ribs from each fillet. The sequence of pictures shows the we were finished, he was convinced • Start by cutting just behind the gill entire operation. That's all there is to that this is the way to clean fish! He area down to the spinal column. it. 1, 2, 3, cleaned! \TZ] photos by the author Follow this sequence of photos, described in the article, to fillet a lot of fish quickly. Pennsylvania Angler Srflv *T5 fc3k «^l*^ PRw | V \ /J?S\;\ •..-V*!:.^ V;, Ifi 901 n : VUB l^lEL ! '' 'Is^sl%p ";,;^^B H 'HK ill. f'--W'.- ^'' Jj§lj%!'^H December 1985 5 , r Th• M e Adopt-a-Stream by Dave Wolf ubbling forth from the earth the waters breathe life The Pennsylvania Fish Commission has been working into a world that would pale without them. The hard at reclaiming rivers, streams, and lakes throughout the Bwaters wet the lips of a child, nurture the smallest of state, aiyi the Commission has been extremely successful. aquatic life, power industry, and provide substance for The Commission can take pride that it adds an average of agricultural lands. The rivers, streams, and lakes of the 60 stream miles to the stocking schedule each year. So that Commonwealth are the blood that pumps through the the clean-up quickens its pace, the Commission has arteries of man—they give and maintain life. breathed new life into a program entitled Adopt-a-Stream, Somewhere down the list of importance, the rivers and a program in which an organization with the guidance and streams provide recreation to the anglers and boaters of the support of the Commission can take care of (become a Keystone State.