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«|3B Pennsylvania Hosts East Coast Trout Managers

On June 23-25, 1992, the American Fisheries Society (AFS) and other sponsors held a three-day Trout Culture and Management Workshop at Penn State. The intent of the workshop was fourfold: (1) assess the state of knowledge on the East Coast; (2) develop new working relationships among the states; (3) learn to do jobs more effectively; and (4) encourage the participation of anglers in workshop sessions. In Pennsylvania, the word trout means many things to many people. To sportsmen, it means a variety of fishing opportunities. Fishermen spend over 17 million hours a year fishing for trout on inland waters, making more than 6.7 million annual fishing trips. Commission staff estimates that 5.4 million trout are harvested each year and millions more are caught and released. To the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and its employees, trout means the kingpin of its many popular programs. Over the past decades the Commission has gained wide recognition for its broad approach to trout management. Its coldwater fish culture system and trout stocking programs lead all but a few states, and its coldwater stream and lake classification system and stocking allocation methods are nationally recognized. The Adopt-a-Stream Program, with its major thrust toward habitat improvement and public access, serves as a model to many. Pennsylvania is also recognized as the nation's leader for its Cooperative Nursery Program, which involves sportsmen directly in the many facets of hatchery creation, operation and fish production. Its bio-engineering approach to solving fishery resource problems has been a leader and the Commission's staff has been active in many professional organizations. The Commission has endeavored at every opportunity to acquire valuable coldwater stream front­ age, and its acquisition of many of the Commonwealth's major spring water sources is the envy of most states. Pennsylvania's approach to management of its many miles of coldwater streams is also noted for its ability to provide varied opportunities to the fishing public. Specially regulated areas provide a variety of year-round trout fishing experiences, and the agency maintains a statewide group of fisheries managers to monitor, evaluate and manage Pennsylvania's many fisheries. A very active law enforcement staff of waterways conservation officers and deputies patrols Pennsylvania's coldwater resources to protect this valuable habitat. The Commission reviews every development and maintenance permit issued in the Commonwealth to ensure protection of aquatic life and the wetlands and waterways that support the fisheries. The Commission is also directly in­ volved in efforts to upgrade classification of valuable coldwater streams. Pennsylvania has been a strong voice in efforts to control the acid precipitation problem that threatens many of our nation's valuable fisheries. The Benner Spring Research Station has gained worldwide recognition for its many contributions to trout culture methodology and hatchery facility and equipment development. The station's efforts have made Pennsylvania a national leader in development of hatchery effluent treatment systems and its brood stock development and selection programs are internationally recog­ nized. Pennsylvania has a broad and successful trout management program, and it is fitting that the East Coast Trout Management and Culture Workshop was held in the heart of Pennsylvania. The sponsors planned an outstanding program and the workshop was a great exchange of information and a progres­ sive step for East Coast trout fisheries. Pennsylvania August 1992 Vol. 61 No. 8 Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission William J. Sabatose ANGLER President The Keystone State s Official Fishing Magazine ^^ Brockport J. Wayne Yorks Two Jewels of Northeast Pennsylvania by George Smith Vice President Nescopeck Creek, Luzerne County, and Bowman Creek, in Benton Luzerne and Wyoming counties, are freestone treasures for James S. Biery, Jr. summer trout action Swatara Summertime Smallmouths in the Lower Susquehanna River Marilyn A. Black Cochranton by Bob Clouser Ross J. Huhn The 50-mile Susquehanna River stretch from the mouth of the Saltsburg Juniata River to Holtwood Dam offers some of the best smallmouth bass fishing in the eastern United States 8 Paul J. Mahon Clarks Green Luck by Bruce Ingram T. T. Metzger, Jr. Luck, skill, or something else? Sometimes the winning edge Johnstown could really be one of several factors 12 Howard E. Pflugfelder New Cumberland Anglers and Landowners Working Together by Mike Sajna Leon Reed With consideration and effort on the part of anglers, Pennsylvania Honesdale could keep all its present fishing water and maybe even add to it. These anglers chose to get involved, and they found landowners Boating Advisory Board happy to work with them and keep their properties open 14 Donald J. Little Smallies in Trout Water by Dave Wonderlich Chairman Parts of many fine trout streams contain plentiful and willing Philadelphia populations of smallmouth bass 16 Clayton Buchanan Pittsburgh Keystone State River Catfish by JeffKnapp Martin P. Eisert The Allegheny, Susquehanna, Monongahela, Ohio and Delaware Erie rivers offer excellent catfish action right now 20 Judy Obert Greentown The Ohio River Bonanza by JeffKnapp Thaddeus Piotrowski The Ohio River has fine fishing for white bass, smallmouth bass, Bloomsburg largemouth bass, hybrid striped bass, walleyes and sauger. Here's how and where to cash in on the fishing 23 Magazine Staff The Streamer I Never Outgrew by Art Michaels Editor—Art Michaels After 24 years, one of the author's first fly tying attempts is still a Art Director—Ted Walke Circulation—Eleanor Mutch fish-getter. : : 27 Staff Assistant—Rose Ann Bartal On the Water with Dave Wolf Staff Assistant—Charlene Glisan Volunteers 31 Staff Assistant—Nita Galati

Pennsylvania Angler (1SSN0O31-434X) is published monthly by Ihe Pennsylvania's Biggest Smallmouth Bass: Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, 35.12 Walnut Street. Harrisburg. PA 17109. ©1992. Nothing in this magazine may be reprinted without When, Where and How Anglers Catch Them by Bill Porter the written permission of the Pennsylvania lash & Boat Commission. Subscription rates: one year, SI: three years, $25; single copies are X1 .SOeuch. Second Are you using the right baits and lures to tempt the big ones? class postage is paid at Harrisburg, PA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Pennsylvania Angler Circulation. Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Are you fishing the best waters at the right times? .32 Commission. P.O. Box 1673. Harrisburg. PA 17105-1673. For subscription and change of address, use above address. Please allow sis weeks for processing. Send all other correspondence to: The Editor. Pennsylvania Angler. P.O. The cover Box 1673. Harrisburg, PA 17105-1673. Editorial queries and contributions are welcome, but must be accompanied by self-addressed, stamped envelopes. Bass action in August means smallies in rivers and bigmouths in impoundments. On page Material accepted for publication is subject to Pennsylvania Fish & Boat 23 you'll find the lowdown on a western Pennsylvania hotspot, and on page 16 you can read Commission suuldards and requirements for editing and revising. Submissions about how to tempt smallmouth bass in waterways where you might not expect to find them. are handled carefully, but the publisher assumes no responsibility for Ihe return or safety of submissions in his possession or in transit The authors' Turn to page 8 for an expert's secrets on how to catch smallmouth bass in the mid-state por­ views, ideas and advice expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect tion of the Susquehanna River. Highlighted on page 4 are two northeast Pennsylvania trout the opinion or official position of the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission or its staff. The Pennsylvania Fish & Bout Commission receives federal fishing gems. August also means catfish action, so for fishing information you can use right aid in sport fishrestoration . Under appropriate federal acts, the U.S. Department now on where and how to tempt channel catfish, please see page 20. If you're a fly fisher­ of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national man, check out page 27, and if you wonder whether or not you're skillful or just lucky, turn origin, age. sex or handicap. If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility as described above, or if you to page 12. All anglers have a stake in the article on landowners and anglers working to­ desire more information, please write to: The Office of Equal Opportunity. gether, which begins on page 14. This month's front cover was photographed by Doug Slanim. Department of the Interior. Washington, DC 20240. of Northeast Pennsylvania by George Smith When the weather warms and freestone streams turn tepid, some Pennsylvania trout fishermen begin to lament the passing of spring. They begin to miss the cold water, fast action and the major mayfly hatches of April and May. Yet anglers in the state's northeastern counties have a little secret, and that se­ cret is a pair of freestone treasures where anglers can readily catch trout throughout the summer. When the sun shines bright and the "dog days" arrive, anglers in Luzerne and Wyo­ ming counties quietly head for two of the finest streams in northeastern Pennsylva­ nia. They pack their gear for a trek to Nescopeck Creek in Luzerne County, or they climb into waders and fish Bowman Creek in Luzerne and Wyoming counties. Both waters are scenic, they hold plenty of trout and they have a unique appeal. Bowman Creek Bowman Creek is the more storied stream. Bowman flows cold and clear from tiny Mountain Springs Lake high on Red Rock Mountain in the northwest comer of Luzerne County. It tumbles through splash dams that were used in earlier times to provide the Wyoming Valley with ice, and then it runs in a northeasterly direction through Luzerne and Wyoming counties and empties into the Susquehanna River. Bowman rushes past little towns like Stull, Noxen, Evan's Falls and Etonville before merging with the sprawling Susquehanna downriver from Tunkhannock. Bowman is a fisherman's stream, and its trout have become legendary in northeastern Pennsylvania. The water has a fishing history as rich as any central Pennsylvania lime- stoner, and on a good day Bowman can be as productive as the freestone streams bab­ bling through New York's celebrated Catskill Mountains. Anglers can score on Bowman and Nescopeck creeks with size 16 black, From its headwaters near Ricketts Glen brown and gray caddises, yellow and brown size 12 stoneflies, and Tricos in State Park, Bowman trickles through re­ sizes 20 and 22. Black and red ants in size 18 work well, and Letort Hoppers mote State Game Lands 57 as well as sec­ tied with olive-green dubbing in sizes 12 and 14 match the natural insect. tions of private land before flowing into Spinner enthusiasts can take fish with size 0 offerings, and bait fishermen can the little village of Stull. do well with fathead minnows and hellgrammites. A Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commis­ sion stocking program has been undertaken at Mountain Springs Lake, which gives life

4 August 1992 Pennsylvania Angler to the narrow creek, and stocking contin­ ues downstream, above Stull, at the Luzerne- Wyoming County line. A dirt road parallels the creek as it runs from its headwaters to Stull. This provides easy access to the trout that cling to life in waters that can become terribly shallow during the summer. Bowman grows in size as it tumbles down from Red Rock Mountain. It may be no more than a brook in the rugged woodlands, but by the time it reaches Stull the little creek widens to about 40 feet. The stream is stocked with brown and brook trout from about five miles upstream from Stull to the Susquehanna, a span of roughly 19 miles. After it pours through Noxen, Bowman runs past farms, fields, towns and woodlots. Most anglers pursue Bowman Creek trout in this stretch. Route 29 follows the stream from Noxen until it surges into the Susquehanna, and access points are plentiful despite some posted land. There is parking near the firstbridg e that spans Bowman downstream from Noxen. The water here is shallow whether you fish upstream or down, but oxygen-rich riffles keep trout lively throughout the summer. There are also a few deep holes downstream from the bridge all the way to another bridge, past the intersection of routes 29 and 309, where Route 292 con­ nects with Route 29. Specially regulated area Parking is limited here, but the fishing is fabulous. Wade upstream and probe productive pocket water, or fish downstream, through a long, deep pool, and connect with a one-mile delayed-harvest, fly-fishing-only stretch. The water under special regulation has been officially "adopted" by the Stanley Cooper Sr. Chapter of Trout Unlimited, and the chapter has made significant improve­ ments to the streambed and shoreline. Marsh Creek and Bowman converge have provides access to the final stretches of This special regulation water, where trout been pleased to land small, silvery rainbow Bowman before the creek reaches the river. can be creeled from June 15 until the last trout, which suggests that a limited indig­ day of February, is mixed and interesting. enous population of rainbows has become Nescopeck Creek Pocket water is plentiful, and there are fast, established in the stream. If Bowman Creek can be considered deep riffles that pose a challenge. A pleasant roadside rest area offers pic­ something of a cosmopolitan waterway The infamous "Barn Pool" is relatively nicking and parking for anglers who fish because it runs near a road and passes deep and can be incredibly still. The very lower Bowman Creek. Located off Route through several towns, then Nescopeck best fly casters have been frustrated by great 29, just below the intersection of Jenks Road Creek, the "Nesky," in southern Luzerne numbers of selective fish rising in the Barn and Route 29, the grassy rest area provides County, deserves to be designated a stream Pool. access to riffles, runs and a few sprawling of the deep woods. The Nescopeck origi­ There is another parking area located pools where patient bait fishermenroutinel y nates in dense wetlands within State Game below the Barn Pool, where tiny Marsh pull trophy trout from Bowman waters. Lands 119, near Mountaintop. Here the Creek trickles under Jenks Road to meet One last bridge spans Bowman before it creek flows at little more than a trickle, and Bowman Creek. runs into the Susquehanna. It's located about the colorful native brook trout that inhabit Anglers who fish the narrow run where two miles downstream from the rest area and these waters seldom reach legal size. August 1992 Pennsylvania Angler 5 of Northeast Pennsylvania The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Com­ on a size 20 or 22 hook. mission established a 2.4-mile delayed- Attractor patterns like the Adams, Royal The cold waters of the Nesky rumble in harvest, artificial-lures-only stretch on the Wulff, Humpy and Rat-Faced McDougal a southwesterly direction, and when they Nescopeck last January. Anglers should often produce fish when all else fails. Keep pass under Route 437, between the towns have no problem recognizing this section a few handy in sizes 12 and 14 for desperate of Mountaintop and White Haven, the stream of stream. WCO David T. Corl reports that moments. becomes fishable. the water under special regulation is well- Summer is the time for terrestrials on all Honeyhole Road, which is paved but is posted. Pennsylvania freestone streams, and fly not identified by signs, runs from Route The delayed-harvest area of the fishermen should not visit either Bowman 437 to Route 309 near the town of Drums. Nescopeck runs near the Lake Francis or the Nesky without an ample selection. It parallels a nine-mile stretch of the parking lot, which is located roughly in the Ants are a must on both creeks. Tie them Nescopeck that is largely contained within center of primitive Nescopeck State Park. in black and red on a size 18 hook. Black the boundaries of undeveloped Nescopeck Trout may be creeled from this special beetles and crickets are productive where State Park and State Game Lands 187. Most regulation water from June 15 until the last Bowman passes through woodlands, and anglers limit their fishing to this nine-mile day of February. they are a necessity throughout the entire section of the creek. length of the heavily wooded Nescopeck. Because the Nescopeck winds through Bait, tackle A little later in the year, Letort Hoppers game lands and a state park, there are plenty Bowman and Nescopeck creeks have their can prove deadly where the Bowman shore­ of access sites. Several well-worn paths origins at opposite ends of Luzerne County line is bordered by fields or tall grasses. and gated, ingrown logging roads lead south and are separated by miles of mountains I've seen green grasshoppers on the from Honeyhole Road to the stream. and a few valleys. Yet they do share a Nescopeck's shoreline. Use olive-green Even though access and parking pose little common trait. Tackle requirements are dubbing to tie size 12 or 14 hopper imita­ problem, anglers should be forewarned: A similar on both streams. tions to match the natural insect. lengthy walk is required to reach the Nesky's Anglers who frequent the creeks enjoy Because the Nescopeck is surrounded by best waters. With one exception, at about success with baits, flies and lures, but clear small swamps, mosquito imitations can be the halfway point on the Honeyhole Road, water demands light lines and cautious deadly. the Nescopeck cannot be seen from any of presentations throughout the summer. Bait Small lures are a must on Bowman and the parking areas. fishermen find that mealworms and small the Nescopeck. The smallest Rebel or After the Nescopeck passes under Route red worms impaled on tiny hooks prove Rapala silver minnows are proven fish- 437 it flows through a mile of private prop­ productive. Let the bait tumble through catchers, as are tiny Rooster Tail, Panther erty before reaching public land. the riffles in fast water, or add the lightest Martin and Blue Fox spinners in size 0. If There, nurtured by little Creasy Creek, bit of splitshot and drop bait to the bottom you can locate spinners with a size 00 blade, the overflow from Olympus Pond, and at of a pool. so much the better. least six tiny feeder streams tumbling down Trout are seldom able to resist such of­ Fishermen using bait or lures should have from Nescopeck Mountain, the Nesky takes ferings. This still-fishing method is espe­ ultralight equipment. A rod that is five feet, on its regal freestone character. cially effective in Nescopeck's deeper pools. six inches in length is plenty. Smart an­ One angler I know fishes Bowman exclu­ glers stick to four-pound-test monofilament. Deep pools, fast runs sively with hellgrammites, which are com­ In summer, if the water is extremely low The stream remains relatively small, mon in the nearby Susquehanna River. These and clear, two-pound test might be needed. shallow and full of brook trout when it first large baits can attract some very large trout. Bowman Creek is wide and open enough enters public domain. Hike downstream Fathead minnows are also productive. to accommodate a nine-foot fly rod, but I through the pines, to where the waters are Hook minnows through a nostril and let them use a shorter rod on the Nescopeck. Over­ stocked, to find deep pools up to 30 feet wander where they may. The minnow's hanging tree limbs on the Nesky can make wide and a good combination of brook and lively action telegraphs a seductive mes­ anything but roll casts problematic. Use brown trout. sage to the trout. a rod that measures 8 1/2 feet. Better yet, The pools are where most anglers con­ Salted minnows take trout from Bow­ fish with an eight-footer. gregate. The runs between the pools are man and the Nescopeck in the spring, when Six-weight fly line has become the all- fast and often difficult to fish because of the waters are still very cold, but during around standard for fishing in Pennsylva­ overhanging vegetation, but they should not the summer, the fishsee m to prefer live bait. nia, but a five-weight line is more than be overlooked. Often these chutes hold good Fly fishermen can take advantage of adequate for these two streams. The lighter numbers of fish that have not been spooked several hatches. Caddises are prolific, and line creates less disturbance on the water. by angler traffic. size 16 black, brown, tan and gray "all-pur­ For a real thrill and ultralight action, use When you fish the Nescopeck it appears pose" imitations cover all the bases. a fly outfit built to accommodate a four- as if you are miles from civilization. The Occasional sporadic stonefly hatches have or three-weight line. appearance is not deceiving. To the north been reported on Bowman. Tie a few in Bowman and Nescopeck creeks have there is nothing but Nescopeck Mountain. yellow and brown on a size 12 hook just many virtues. Both hold vast numbers of Mount Yeager casts a shadow on the Nesky's in case. trout, they are incredibly scenic and they water from the south. To the east and west The glamour mayflies, like Hendricksons have miles of water open to public fish­ there is only the stream and the densely and Quill Gordons, may be gone for the ing. Both have special regulation areas, wooded valley. Anglers fishing the stream year, but moderate Trico hatches continue so be sure to consult the Summary of Fishing should not be surprised to find that they throughout the summer on both streams. Regulations and Laws 1992 that accom­ share the shoreline with deer, bear and turkey. Anglers need fine tippets, and tie the Tricos panies each fishing license. 6 August 1992 Pennsylvania Angler Lastly, both waterways have become when the cool spring weather fades and something of a mecca for northeast Penn­ summer arrives. sylvania anglers intent on catching trout Camping,

Anglers who would like to enjoy a little camping with their fishing will not be disappointed with either Bow­ man or Nescopeck creeks. Both waterways have state parks nearby where you can set up a tent or park a motorhome. If you plan to fish Bowman, camp in Ricketts Glen State Park, near the town of Red Rock. Ricketts Glen has 120 family campsites as well as 10 cabins that may be rented. In addition, 254-acre Lake Jean at Ricketts Glen State Park can provide some interesting fishing for warmwater species. Call the park at (717) 477-5675 for more information. Nescopeck Creek passes through Nescopeck State Park, but the park is undeveloped and camping is not permitted. Camping is allowed at nearby Hickory Run State Park in White Haven. Hickory Run has 381 family campsites. An added bonus is good trout fishing in nearby Mud Run and the Lehigh River. Call (717) 443-9991 for additional informa­ tion.— GS.

Rt. 389 n/escnpecl to Rt. 437 Eame Lands Mountaintop to Mountaintop 119

T41D Nescopeck Eame Lands 187 Creek Lake Creasy Francis^ Creek

Honeyhale Road Delayed Harvest Area Olympus Pond Eame Lands Rt. 437 187 to Vhite Haven

/Vescopej Rt. 389 Creek to Mountaintop

August 1992 Pennsylvania Angler 7 Summertime Smallmouths lower Siisduebamia River by Bob Clouser photos by the author

August 1992 Pennsylvania Angler Pennsylvania anglers are blessed with the finest smallmouth bass-producing river on the East Coast, and possibly the best in the U.S. The Susquehanna River runs over 400 miles, draining some of the most fertile land in the East. The main stem, some­ times called the North Branch, is joined near the town of Northumberland by the West Branch. The main stem flows south to its influx into Chesapeake Bay. While making the trip south through the state, many structural elements of supporting habi­ tat of the smallmouth bass change with each mile of the journey. Prime area I rate the area from the mouth of the Juniata River south to Holtwood Dam as a prime productive area for the August angler. This river section's many grass beds and shallow gravel bars, combined with deep-water areas between its many lava ledges, protect and produce more smallmouth bass than any other sec­ tion of the river. Anglers fishing this 50-plus-mile area should be aware of the two sets of regulations governing these waters. In a section of It's 1:30 p.m. and the air temperature is 84 degrees. The sun is river 38 miles long from the Dock Street Darn in Harrisburg downriver bright overhead and the sky is clear with the exception of a few to Holtwood Dam, smallmouth bass must be 15 inches or larger thunderhead clouds building far in the west. I position the boat before they can be harvested. The harvest limit is four per day. upstream of two shallow gravel bars parted by a 50-foot-wide four- foot-deep trench lined with a few large boulders and a series of ledge rock—ideal habitat for smallmouth bass. After the disturbance Pennsylvania anglers are blessed to the area created by the approach of the boat ceases, we drift. My angling friend casts his lure to a large rock just under the surface. with the Susquehanna River— We watch the lure sinking slowly in the clear water of the Susquehanna River, and the large dark-bronze form of a smallmouth the finest smallmouth bass-pro­ bass rises slowly to inhale the lure. ducing river on the East Coast, After catching and releasing eight bragging-sized bass from the area, my angling friend ponders the old wive's tale that bass don't and possibly the best in the U.S. bite during dog days, and he can't believe the fishing could be this good, just because it's August.

August 1992 Pennsylvania Angler 9 There is also a closed season during the middle of April to the currents, is not usually affected by short-term storm runoff. Some middle of June. These regulations apply to all waters of the state. areas affected are below tributaries or sections of the main cur­ The river north of the Dock Street Dam has regulations of a 12- rent flow, not necessarily along the shoreline. Fishing the edges inch or larger harvest size and a six bass per day legal limit. where the cloudy and clear water mix is a good choice. The August angler should look for rock formations, islands and Water clarity during August, especially very clear conditions, weed beds surrounded by or close to water depths of three feet often creates difficult fishing. A long cast, a fast retrieve, and a or more. Smallmouth bass use the deeper water for protection quiet approach should be added to your tactics. from the glaring rays of the sun. As their need to eat increases, they move to areas of heavy Algae structure, usually in shallow Algae conditions should be water, inhabited by minnows, approached with still another crayfish and other food. The tactic. Green or brown algae angler familiar with these usually blooms when the river conditions is usually success­ temperatures rise above 80 ful in hooking a number of degrees. When the algae these feeding bass. bloom is heavy and the day is brightly lit by the sun, a Sunlight secrets reflective condition exists Smallmouth bass have no under the surface of the wa­ eyelids, nor do their pupils ter. Lures or bait should be dilate for protection from fished very slowly. This re­ indirect or direct sunlight. flective condition, caused by Anglers should use this trait particles of algae drifting and and adjust their fishing tech­ mixing with the water, dras­ niques accordingly on bright, tically reduces the range of vi­ sunny days. The sun's posi­ sion or the distance a bass can tion during August, especially spot a lure. When these al­ at high noon, does not cause gae conditions exist, choose glare on the water's surface overcast days or faster-moving if the water flow is moving areas such as rocky riffles, or from west to east. The river plan your fishing outings near has many bends that cause nightfall. changes to its southerly flow Algae conditions usually many times over the entire lessen as water temperatures length. drop, either from cool sum­ Do you ever wonder why mer rains or the approaching bass feed during certain pe­ fall season. riods at one depth and other times at another position? Lures Sunlight glares in their eyes Whatever your choice of at certain times when the sun fishing tackle may be, spin­ is at different angles. This could affect their ability to see or fo­ ning, bait or fly, August usually means a change, not only in tac­ cus on objects at different levels in the water. Bass feed most of tics, but in lures, including colors and sizes. Most of the food the time in shade-covered areas, while others in sunlit areas do available to bass have had at least three months to grow. Min­ not feed. Hold something in front of your eyes while facing the nows of all kinds, crayfish, insects and some shoreline inhabit­ sun, and you will not be able to see it. ants like mice and frogs have attained larger sizes. To entice a For a longer productive evening of fishing, select a bend of the strike from a larger bass, offer larger baits, lures and flies. Us­ river with the shoreline or a mountainside protecting the west­ ing small lures usually tempts only small bass. ern shore. This location shades the water early while the eastern Colors of effective lures vary. As the sizes of baitfish increase, shore is still exposed to glaring light. Selecting an area offering so does the amount of reflection or flash from their sides. A bright- these conditions and using the outward moving shade line should silver or chartreuse lure could add to your success in August. give you more productive fish-catching time than fishing a brightly Add some unusual but effective methods of retrieving lures to lighted area. your August tactics. A successful method for surface fishermen is to let the lure lie motionless after your surface lure lands on Storms the water's surface. Bass are very easily spooked when the wa­ Other conditions affecting August angling are algae, weather ter is low and clear. The sound of the lure hitting the surface usually fronts, and runoff from thunderstorms. Storms are a condition temporarily causes a bass to scurry for cover. After a moment we can't control. If you are on the water during approaching storms, the curiosity impulse of the bass usually causes it to investigate. you should leave the water and seek shelter. Usually after a storm If your surface lure is still in the general area where it made con­ has passed, smallmouth bass go on a feeding frenzy. If you have tact with the water, your chances of a strike are greatly improved. an opportunity to witness this, a shallow-running lure should be Fly rod anglers using a similar method with large streamer flies the right choice. The Susquehanna River, wide with ever-changing have improved their mid-summer catches. After making a long 10 August 1992 Pennsylvania Angler cast with a streamer, pause and let it sink slowly. Most strikes in the Commission's Big Bass Program. This newly established occur as the fly falls or sinks. Smallmouth bass have a habit of area could become the best smallmouth bass fishery in the East. swimming up to the prey and inhaling it. If a strike does not occur The section above the Middletown riffles to the Dock Street at this time, strip the fly with a fast retrieve for about three feet, Dam calls for shallow-draft boats for safe navigation. Mid-sum­ and then let it pause and sink slowly again. This is a very effec­ mer fishing is productive around the many small islands and numerous tive technique for enticing strikes from dog-day smallmouth. grass beds. Rock ledges abound in this area. Insects are plenti­ ful in these shallow areas, offering the surface fisherman many Access enjoyable evenings. Access to this 50-plus-mile section of the Susquehanna River The stretch below York Haven Dam to the dam at Safe Har­ is available at all Fish and Boat Commission access areas. This bor offers diverse fishing. Anglers use many methods. Condi­ section of river has much private access, some of which let you tions differ from fast-flowing water just below the dams to riffles, put in for a fee. The following access points are publicly owned pools, islands, grass beds and slack water in the Lake Clarke Pool ramps with free access and parking. above the Safe Harbor Dam. The section of the river from the influx of the Juniata River Techniques include bouncing hair or plastic jigs on the bottom downstream to the Dock Street Dam, located near Harrisburg, has in the long, deep, fast sections to casting shallow-running plugs very limited public access for boating, but wade fishing can be around and over the many gravel bars and grass bed-covered sections. done virtually anywhere when low water conditions permit. Use Long, deep channels such as the one that forms the Accomac Pool good judgment when attempting to wade any waterway, especially at Accomac, York County, offer good holding water for those big if you are not familiar with the area. Cartop boats, canoes and bass during the hot days of August. shallow-draft boats are a must because of shallow-water condi­ Evening fishing gets productive around dusk near the piers of tions during mid-summer. the Route 30 bridge. The bottom end of the Columbia riffles creates At the western end of the Rockville Bridge, in Perry County, enough oxygen during the hot summer months to harbor plenty you can put in at the Marysville Borough Access, located on South of bass. Main Street at the Rockville Bridge. I recommend cartop boats The Lake Clarke Pool above the Safe Harbor Dam is used by only here. high-powered boats and water skiers. You can get in on good Access from the east side of the river is easy at the Fish and fishing along its rocky shoreline and also along its many islands Boat Commission's Fort Hunter Access, located north of the Rockville of the upper pool. Smallmouth bass in this area usually travel Bridge on North Front Street, Harrisburg. Use the Fishing Creek with the abundant schools of baitfish. Locating these schools of exit from routes 22/322 and drive toward the river. Turn left at baitfish can be beneficial toward your success. Front Street and you'll see the access on your right. On the York County side of the river is the Wrightsville Ac­ Anglers using this section of the Susquehanna, especially wade cess along Route 624 just below the Route 462 bridge. This is fishermen, report fantastic catches of smallmouth bass. August the extreme end of the Lake Clarke Pool and is suitable only for fishing is rewarding by locating areas where grass beds and rock small boats. There are two public access ramps below this one bars are next to deep-water pools. In early August, insect hatches at Long Level. These and some of the others on both sides downriver are abundant and offer excellent evening fishing. are put in by Pennsylvania public utility companies. South of Marysville in Cumberland County in the town of West On the Lancaster County side, from the York Haven Dam Fairview is the Commission's West Fairview Access. Mid-sum­ downriver, you can use the Falmouth Access, along Route 441 mer conditions at this access call for shallow-draft boats and below York Haven Dam. The Marrietta Access, located off Route cartoppers. Smallmouth abound in this ledge-laden section. 441 south of town, puts you on the Accomac Pool. This area should Just south of West Fairview is the Harrisburg City Island Ac­ also be used only with shallow-draft boats. The Columbia Ac­ cess, located on City Island. This section has areas of deeper water cess just below the Route 30 bridge in Columbia is limited to small, and is also used for high-speed boating and water skiing. shallow-draft boats and has limited parking. Just south of the Dock Street Dam to the York Haven Dam lies Below Safe Harbor Dam to Holtwood Dam, the accesses put another section of high-quality habitat. Public access is limited you in Lake Aldred—fast, rocky riffles below the dam to placid to the southern end of this area. Even with this limited access, water backed up by Holtwood Dam. The PP&L access at the mouth this is the most heavily fished section of the river. Private clubs of the Pequea Creek just off Route 324 puts you on this pool. The and two large marinas are located here. opposite side of the creek also offers another put-in marina. The Fish and Boat Commission has two access areas for this Gizzard shad are abundant in this section. Smallmouth bass section. One is located in Dauphin County at Middletown near ambush the schools of shad from the many island points that dot the south end of Union Street. Shallow-draft boats are a good this area. The fast-water outflow from Safe Harbor Dam offers choice because of low-water conditions. The west bank near the the boating angler excellent mid-summer angling. town of Goldsboro in York County has a very good access area The most important part of any fishing or boating outing is safety with plenty of parking and an excellent ramp. This ramp puts first. Do not venture into strange waters without the proper safety you on the backwaters of the York Haven Dam (Lake Frederic). equipment, and stay away from all dams—either the upside or On weekends, fishermen should try the north end of the pool, below the downside. the Middletown riffles. Many cabins fill the islands and many The dog days of August can be some of the best days of the boaters spend their summers here. August anglers should fish fishing season. With a little change in tactics, lures and locations close to the many islands located in this area and around the many that are just a little different from the other months, you could large rocks in the north end of the pool. catch the trophy of your life. The area from below the Dock Street Dam downriver to the The Susquehanna River is not only the best. It's the only one Holtwood Dam, a distance of 38 miles, was chosen by the Fish and we have. Respect its beauty and protect its fish and it f Boat Commission to become a high-quality fishery for large bass should always let us enjoy its treasures. DB August 1992 Pennsylvania Angler 11 by Bruce Ingram

In 1891, Mark Twain penned a short story ing-diving minnow plugs. It's a bright, warm few seconds (a dink bass doesn't take long called "Luck." It was all about the renowned sunny day and not surprisingly our hero fails to use all its energy) the little creature flipped Lieutenant-General Lord Arthur Scoresby, to catch any of these light-sensitive fish. off the lure. Humiliation knows no bounds who though a total and absolute fool, Stupidity: Not hardly—just ignorance. when you lose control of a five-inch smallie. managed to win a miraculous succession Being unfamiliar with a gamefish and a Do I deserve your sympathy? No way. of battles through pure luck. In fact, certain body of water is no sin. This an­ It was pure stupidity on my part to keep Scoresby was such a dolt that his major gler just did not realize that walleyes are hurling lures that had no chance of succeed­ triumph came because he mistook his right not going to chase minnow plugs in the shal ing on that particular day. hand for his left, thus setting off an incredible lows on a sunlit day. The chain of events that led to total victory for correct lure choices would his side. All of Scoresby's success was have included any of the attributed to his being just plain lucky. Alphabet lures such as A hundred years later, we are still fas­ Bomber Long A's or Cordell cinated with the concept of luck, especially Big Os and the method would in regard to fishing and specifically in re­ have been to troll offshore gard to fishing lures. We speak of having humps, bars and ledges in the lucky lures that really produce for us, having trenches. unlucky days afield because the fish refused Last year, for example, this to take our artificials, and having good approach resulted in anglers fortune because the fish mauled everything nailing scores of eight- to 10- we threw at them. pound walleyes. I don't believe in fishing luck or in lucky Now if this fisherman re­ lures. Instead, I believe that our decision turned to Erie on numerous to employ certain artificials is based on five occasions and didn't change factors: Ignorance, stupidity, habit, con­ his gameplan—that's stupid­ fidence and knowledge. Understanding ity. I know about that afflic­ those factors and how they affect our de­ tion as well. For instance, sev­ cision-making on which imitations to se­ eral years ago a friend and I lect can help us catch more and bigger fish. went on a July jaunt for river smallmouth. My favorite all- Awareness time stream bass lure is a First, the ignorance and stupidity factors Rapala floater-diver. It's a are actually intertwined. Let's say an an­ great lure for smallmouth that gler plans a trip for walleyes up to Lake are actively feeding and also Erie. Having a limited knowledge of both for bass in a neutral mood. marble-eyes and Erie, he is nevertheless However, the fish that day confident about doing well. After all, he had been turned off by a cold almost always does well when he fishes Lake front. My fishing compan­ Arthur, his home lake, for largemouths. ion quickly realized that fact After arriving at Erie, this sportsman and switched from plugs and begins pounding the shoreline with float- crankbaits to worms and grubs. He worked these of­ ferings deep and slow right Ignorance, stupidity, habit next to cover like rockpiles, logs and submerged brush. He caught Lures aren't lucky. They are merely tools confidence and knowledge- smallies (boy, did he ever) despite the terrible and these tools perform best under certain understanding how these conditions. situations. My using a Rapala on that day Meanwhile, I stubbornly cast my min­ was like trying to hammer a nail with a factors affect our decision­ now imitations all day long, hoping for the screwdriver. Grubs and plastic worms, making on which imitations bass to shake off their doldrums and give though, are super artificials to use when me one of those heart-pounding surface stream bass are down in the dumps, and to use can help us catch strikes. I got one strike the entire day— working lures close to cover is the way to more and bigger fish. from a five-inchbass . It came up and kissed elicit strikes. the lure, and after I "played" the fish for a

12 August 1992 Pennsylvania Angler I Flexibility s Habit is another factor in | the way we go about choos­ ing lures, and again, it's a poor reason to select a cer­ tain lure. This time, an an­ gler decides to travel to a northeast Pennsylvania pond that is known to con­ tain good numbers of blue- gills and other panfish. She has fished there before on a number of occasions and has always done well by tossing red ant imitations with a fly rod. On this outing, however, for some strange reason the 'gills won't touch a red ant. The fish aren't turned off by a cold front, the water temperature is with minnows. His methodology is simple. ored grub as his lures for the day. right, and the angler notes actively feed­ He runs a size 8 hook through a minnow's He goes several hours without fooling ing fish from time to time. Out of habit, mouth, clamps on some splitshot (the ex­ a single smallie. But with confidence he though, she loyally sticks with her red ant act amount depending on the current) about remains faithful to his game plan. Finally, instead of experimenting with a variety of 18 inches from the hook leader and swivel, this sportsman begins to catch bass—not flies. and then he works runs, pockets and eddies. many, perhaps a few every hour or so. But Finally, late in the day, she starts to en­ My buddy landed three rainbows and lost by the end of the day, he has caught and tice a few panfish and is able to take home several more before I decided that being released a dozen nice bass—all going 2 1/2 a few for dinner. She feels justified in her a "purist" was not in vogue that day. Af­ pounds or more. He checks the local tackle faith in the ant. After all, she caught fish ter I switched over to his game plan, I, too, shop and finds that no one has done as well with it eventually. began to catch fish. Some days a size 20 as he has. His confidence in his game plan This individual shouldn't feel so smug. gnat is the ticket. Other days a spinner is was the key to his success. She has actually blown the better part of best, and sometimes it's prudent to slip the the day by a foolish reliance on one fly. fish a minnow. Knowledge During the day, the bluegills probably clued Although it may not seem so at first, there The last factor in determining lure se­ in on a variety of prey. Part of the day, they is a great difference in deciding to stick with lection is knowledge, and it surely is the might have been foraging on nymphs, later a lure because of confidence instead of habit. most important one. Through countless they may have turned to scuds, and finally For instance, this time an angler travels to hours on our home-water rivers and lakes, late in the day (the time when the lady caught the Susquehanna River for a day of small- a knowledgeable angler knows that he must fish) the panfish indiscriminately fed on mouth bass fishing. It's the third day af­ sort through a long list of variables to de­ terrestrials. ter a cold front has passed through. The termine which imitation to tie on. The This person's trip would have been more fisherman knows that at this time of year— successful angler considers water tempera­ fruitful if she were not a creature of habit. and because of the front's passage—the ture, time of year, sun penetration, water Bluegills, like other fish, often change their mossybacks will be in a neutral feeding clarity, frontal passages and the peculiarities menu items during the course of a day. And mood. of an individual waterway. to be consistently successful, we need to He also is aware that the Susquehanna's This angler also knows not to leave home be as flexible in our lure choices as the fish smallies are most likely in deep water, say without certain lure types. Plastic worms are in their forage items. seven or more feet, and that they are hanging and grubs, minnow plugs, crayfish This flexibility on artificials should also fairly close to dropoffs and ledges. The crankbaits, jigs and spinners are always in carry over to using live bait for trout. Al­ reason he knows these things is because his tackle box. And this individual knows though some Pennsylvania trout streams he has dealt with similar situations before. that on any given day, five lure types from are restricted to fly fishing only and/or The activity level of the fish precludes their that sextet won't produce, but that almost artificial lures only, the use of live bait on chasing a lure, but they will attack an ar­ certainly one of them will. And lastly, this most other streams is allowed. I have never tificial that is properly presented near their individual knows that he should always be understood why some long rodders look holding areas. aware of the live bait option. askance at those who use live bait. Mark Twain was known for his penetrat­ I would rather bewitch a trout on a fly Confidence ing writing style, and his Scoresby was than by any other method, but I also rel­ In short, on this day our outdoorsman has definitely a fool. Luck may have saved the ish just catching fish. For example, last actually figured it out. He selects, out of day for Twain's character, but fishing luck June I fished a mountain stream with a good confidence, a jig 'n pig, a four-inch dark- and lucky lures should never be counted friend who almost always fishes for trout colored plastic worm, and a crayfish-col­ on to save your angling trips.

August 1992 Pennsylvania Angler 13 Anglers and Landowners Working Together With the assistance again of Houser and Banker, Evans and other by Mike Sajna Forbes Trail members developed a plan to cure McDonald's erosion Acid rain , industrial dumping and mishaps that kill thousands troubles. The club spent more than $ 1,250 on the project in 1989 offish in a single swoop seem to grab most of the headlines. And and another $2,500 in 1991, money the club raised locally through such things need to be addressed by everybody wanting to ensure banquets and other fund-raising projects. clean water and quality fishing, or any fishing at all, for future Those figures represent a direct savings to McDonald of $3,750, generations of Pennsylvanians. Life is short, only the earth is forever, but they still tell only part of the story. The money was used al­ the Indians often said. We are only custodians of the earth, not most entirely to purchase stone. Club members volunteered their owners. labor and even equipment. McDonald also kicked in the use of Still, pollution is not the main reason the Fish and Boat Com­ his bulldozer and other stone he had lying around his property. mission removes at least a few streams a year from its list of ap­ Nobody bothered to determine how much labor and equipment proved trout waters. The cause for that loss is posting by irate for the job might have cost if the farmer had undertaken the work landowners, and the fault lies with fishermen themselves. Ask on his own, but McDonald says he easily saved "several thou­ any waterways conservation officer, or active member of an an­ sand dollars," a very welcome savings in these days when farm­ gling club working to improve fishing in an area, about the trash, ers need to watch every dollar if they are going to survive. broken fences, open gates, illegally parked vehicles and poach­ Even more than money, though, McDonald found that work­ ers they encounter every season. ing with an organization such as the Forbes Trail Chapter helped "The actions of our angling population cause us more problems him avoid the bureaucratic nightmare of obtaining permits for the day to day than some of the environmental issues," says Dick Snyder, work from various governmental agencies. chief of the Commission's Division of Fisheries Management. "I "With the blanket permits that the Fish Commission has, you think to a degree it's more of a serious problem than some of the bypass filling out all those forms," Evans says. "For an individual catastrophic events we can treat." to go down there and try to stabilize a bank, he would have to But the situation doesn't need to be that way. With a little con­ get involved with soil conservation people, the Department of sideration and effort on the part of fishermen, Pennsylvania could Environmental Resources, the Corps of Engineers, and the Fish keep all its present fishing water and maybe even add to it. An­ and Boat Commission. All those things that he would have had glers who choose to get involved may even find landowners thrilled to do, TU, through the Fish and Boat Commission, does for him." to work with them and keep their properties open. To obtain help from Forbes Trail and the Fish and Boat Com­ "Fortunately, in this area we have people who are interested mission, McDonald had to sign an agreement keeping his prop­ in maintaining fishing," says Dick McDonald, a landowner in erty open to fishing. But it is a decision he has never regretted. Ligonier, Westmoreland County, about his experiences with the Forbes Trail Chapter of Trout Unlimited. "I'll just say it's been a Farmers can't lose blessing to me. They've really helped me. They've been an as­ "As far as giving people permission to fish, I can't see how a set. They saved me some money, saved me some time, worry farmer can lose," he says. "First of all, you're going to have poachers and work—and countless hassles with the bureaucracy." come in, anyway. If you give everybody permission, I think you create some good feelings and open it up to some good, legiti­ Erosion problem mate fishermen. And they'll help police the bad fishermen. Really, McDonald's involvement with Forbes Trail began back in the it's a win-win situation." late 1980s when he approached Tom Evans, another resident of Contrary to what many landowners may have experienced, Ligonier and chairman of the chapter's Stream Improvement McDonald reports he has not had a litter problem on his land. Part Committee, about the club helping him with an erosion problem. of the reason may be that his side of the Loyalhanna is opposite At the time, Forbes Trail had already been working for about four the road, so anglers must either walk or wade the stream to reach years on Loyalhanna Creek's delayed-harvest project, a portion it, which tends to cut down on the lazy fishermen who might litter. of which flows through McDonald's property. Keeping the property open has also resulted in courteous an­ Using designs provided by Dave Houser, chief of the Fish and glers picking up litter. Forbes Trail also helps by sponsoring an Boat Commission's Adopt-a-Stream Section, and Eugene Banker, annual cleanup day the weekend before the opening of trout season Jr., chief of the Property Services Division, chapter members had in April. Evans points out that there are areas along the stream already constructed several stream deflectors and stabilized large that are posted which the club bypasses during its cleanup be­ stretches of bank, including one bend that was eroding some three cause it is not open to fishing. feet a year. "We usually pass those by because we don't want to get thrown out," he says. "People who keep their lands open are going to "A landowner who has any kind of a stream reap the benefits. There's no question about it." As far as breaking fences and leaving gates open, McDonald problem-l can't see why he wouldn't says that every farmer has to judge those problems for himself. approach the local fishing club and say, He has had no problems and believes fishermen will respect fences and not open gates. 'let's see what we can du together.'"

14 August 1992 Rmnsylvania Angler Club members raised some $3,750—saving the property owner that amount—and members volun­ teered their labor and equipment to work on the project.

McDonald, who is presently thinking about selling his prop­ erty, is so happy about the partnership he has developed with Forbes Trail, and local fishermen in general, that even though he can't legally make such a restriction part of a sales agreement, he plans to urge anybody who might buy the farm to extend the agreement he signed and keep a right of way along the stream for anglers. "I think if other clubs could do the same thing in their communities, more water would stay open," he says. "And let the farmers know about what they do. Maybe a lot of farmers are not aware of the benefits they can get by working with a club. If other farm­ ers knew they could receive help from Trout Unlimited or other clubs, they would probably agree to do things like that. "But I am sure that depends on what kind of club you have," he says. "If you have a club that isn't aggressive, then they're not going to do it for you. And you don't have that aggressiveness in a lot of clubs. I just think it's a good environmental effort, and one good turn deserves another." Evans points out that a lot of people look at sportsmen's clubs as "self-interest groups" concerned mainly with supporting their own interests. He says "Any landowner who wants decent stream improvement is going they are often not aware of some of the good such clubs do be­ to become totally frustrated with the bureaucracy," McDonald adds. yond the narrow category of sports. The work Forbes Trail did "To have somebody like Trout Unlimited go to bat for you, it's on the bank that was eroding at the rate of three feet a year, for an unbelievable source of help because they can get it done quickly. instance, saved the local utility company from having to move Any landowner who has any kind of a stream problem, I can't one of its poles and the Loyalhanna Watershed Association from see why he wouldn't approach the local fishing club and having to relocate a hiking trail. say, "Let's see what we can do together."

August 1992 Pennsylvania Angler 15 Smallies m Trout Water

Even though it was only August, summer seep at the base of a large rock outcrop­ had already completed its usual work on ping and hooked itself on my size 16 white the fabled trout water stretches of the by Dave Wonderlich midge. We also saw several smallmouths Loyalsock Creek. A favorite pool near the in the 18- to 20-inch range that had their Lycoming-Sullivan County line lay it tied to a 12-foot leader tapered to a 5X minds on other things besides our offerings. motionless, low, clear and warm. Except tippet because of the smooth, clear water. There are always a few of those wherever for the deep holes on the lower stream that It was not the tippet to use to horse a good we fish—I'm sure they are part of the reason attract swimmers, the creek was completely fish. He had plenty of time, there were no we keep going back. deserted. Months before, when trout season obsu-uctions, and the fish steadily but grudg­ My first experience of bass fishing trout was younger and thoughts of thousands of ingly came to him. water took place 24 years ago on a stretch stocked trout were sharper, most of the best With his rod held back, Tom leaned for­ of upper Big Pine Creek in Lycoming water was standing room only. Not now. ward and grasped the fishwit h his free hand. County. I had been fishing Slate Run, I started at the base of a small riffle while It was a smallmouth, a keeper, dark green, catching and releasing a few trout, but fishing my angling partner Tom moved farther solid and still as feisty as when it first hit. the run was very touchy because of the low downstream into the pool. I could see him With a light twist of the fly, the fish was water. Patience and stealth were needed slip into the still water as quietly as pos­ free of its counterfeit meal. Tom admired that summer day, and that day, I'm afraid, sible. My fly rode the current in front of it one last time and bent to the water, and my patience had run out. Big Pine with a group of boulders only a few times when the bass disappeared into the pool's depths. its big and forgiving water called and my Tom's voice broke the silence. "Got one...it's It was an evening neither of us will soon brother Mike and I were on the creek in a nice one," echoed across the water. forget, and I believe it was the type of fishing 25 minutes. Tom held his rod high as he quickly took experience more and more anglers are trying What a difference. Big Pine was not as in line to play the fish from the reel. The to find. We hooked and released several clear, cool or refreshing, but it was good, light tip throbbed as the fish bore down and 12-inch-plus smallmouths along with a score big trout water, had great holes and pools, moved into deeper water. Even though Tom of good-sized panfish. Just before dark a and its own share of great scenery. Wil­ was using a size 12 White Wulff, he had lone brown uout managed to leave its spring lows lined one bank and pines the other,

August 1992 Pennsylvania Angler '^^ '* FK ~i *£&r*. yv- *c^* ^f g? •^T}^ v

4ffK those sounds that you "see." Then, splash, smash, the bass would lash against the pull of the hook and the bent rod. You always expect a hit, but are rarely ready for it. And you are never completely certain what is fastened to the business end of your equip­ ment—usually bass, sometimes whatever, and many times at night the whatever is big. Prime spots David was good with his hellgrammites and good with his surface plugs, but I be­ lieve he was best at being observant dur­ ing the earlier trout season and therefore knowing where the good bass fishing would be later. Each spot we fished had either a deep run or excellent rock cover with dropoffs. They were adjacent to shallower areas with good baitfish and had riffles above to filter food into the bass's lair. The shal­ lower the water we fished during the day, the smaller the bass tended to be. That wasn't true at night when the bass were on the prowl for a good meal. David usually has a few surprises up his sleeve, and the big bass we caught that night weren't that exceptional for him. Where we caught them would have been exceptional news to quite a few people. I've shared these same waters with other fishing friends countless times over the years, and it still amazes me how few fishermen I've seen, and how good the fishing has been. It doesn't take much imagination to enjoy a trout stream with its inherent beauty. As a matter of fact, as summer progresses I and between was a large expanse of still to suspend his bait above the bottom as it have found it doesn't even take trout, as water. A shadow from the steep mountain slowly worked its way down the lazy pool. long as there are bass present. on the opposite bank ran parallel to the shore. There is always something exciting about Summertime, particularly August, may Mike worked the upper stretch, below seeing a bobber disappear under the sur­ be the prime time to give trout water a try the riff that feeds the pool, with a C.P. Swing. face, and that evening there were a lot of for bass. With August the typical low-water I was halfway down the pool, in the "chub those experiences. month, the bass will congregate in deeper water," with a small Light Cahill dry fly. I found the key to success is waiting long pools, but because they are a warmwater I don't know who struck fish first, but it enough to set the hook, but when that is fish, they won't hug the bottom near cold wasn't long until we both realized the fishing mastered, more times than not you are fas­ water spring seeps as do trout, but remain was great. The fish weren't spooky, they tened to another green-backed smallmouth aggressive feeders. Activity picks up at dusk seemed to be everywhere, and they wanted battler. The bobber disappears, it usually because the insect life also picks up. The Mike's spinners as well as my flies. I know comes back up, then starts off again—that insects trigger the bass to feed, and the night by the time the urge for the Pine Creek Inn's is the time to set the hook. The long stretch comes alive. spaghetti dinner became too great to resist, behind the island was full of bass, and the we had caught and released over 20 small- ones that took our bait were all at least keeper Presence of food mouth bass. size. I've never waited until dark to begin. I In my book this is great fishing by any After the light faded, we switched to black believe the bass are ready to eat when food comparison. Jitterbugs and the fun started all over again. is available, and their feeding is triggered It was a very dark night—I could just make by the presence of food rather than time Bait works, too out the tree line against the navy sky. The of day or night. Then there was the time, one of many, crickets were a constant sound along with Just as with trout, the fly fisherman can when we left for the same Pine Creek waters a distant, lightly babbling riffle. The only create a hatch by fishing a fly the trout expect to arrive just before dark. A friend, David, other sounds were the sloshing gurgles of to see. If it is fished carefully and put over was a great bait fisherman and wanted me our surface plugs. Everything was at peace the fish enough, many times the trout will to experience what he could do with hell- with the expected sounds tucked into the take. Part of the trick is knowing what the grammites. He used a clear-plastic bobber dark and into our minds, because it is with fish expects, or will accept. 18 August 1992 Pennsylvania Angler The same approach holds true for bass. The only difference Smallmouths stand on their own as a great sporting fish. When between bass and trout is that the bass are less snooty to exact caught out of the same water as trout, they give an interesting patterns, and when they strike, they act as if they want to kill comparison to trout on fighting ability. See what you think. everything in sight with their hits. When you are used to a sip­ ping trout on certain water, and especially during dog days when everything is quiet except the locusts, the slashing gulp of a sur­ face-feeding bass keeps the adrenalin pumping. Whereto Fish Trout streams that are noted for populations of smallmouth Wading bass—many with good numbers of specimens in the 18- to 20- inch range—include: It is best to follow normal guidelines for fishing low, clear water. Lycoming County Big Pine Creek Wade carefully, trying to make as little commotion above and below Lycoming County Loyal sock Creek the water as possible. Noise telegraphs great distances in the quiet Lycoming County Lycoming Creek water. Bass may be bulls when they strike, but they aren't stu­ Clinton County Kettle Creek pid. A low profile and careful casting mean fewer spooked fish Centre & Union counties Penns Creek and more strikes. Centre County Bald Eagle Creek Bait, lures, or flies should match the water and conditions. Smaller Tioga County Cowanesque Creek sizes should be used during the day because they can be fished Perry County Shermans Creek with less commotion and more finesse. Throughout the day I've Perry County Cocolamus Creek caught bass on the same dry flies I'd be using for trout. My sons Cumberland County Yellow Breeches have also done well with Crippled Minnow lures and various spinners Pike & Monroe counties Big Bushkill Creek as well as cork popping bugs. Bradford County South Branch Towanda Creek Line and fly leader tippets should be kept light. During the Bradford County Wysox Creek day I don't go over four-pound test on spinning equipment and Carbon County Lizzard Creek frequently use a 12-foot leader tapered to 5X with fly tackle. Typically, Wayne County Lackawaxen River the same flies, lures and bait you would use on the trout stream Susquehanna County Middle Branch Wyalusing Creek for trout are your best bet for bass on the same creek as long as Wyoming County South Branch Tunkhannock Creek your selection is based on a knowledge of the natural food avail­ Erie County French Creek able to the fish. Crawford County Conneaut Creek The opposite is true for lures and flies when darkness takes over. Lawrence & Mercer counties Neshannock Creek Bigger surface plugs, deer hair poppers, and large wets that make Lawrence & Beaver counties North Fork Little Beaver Creek a ruckus and tell the bass something is struggling on top of the Warren County Broken Straw Creek water are sure producers in low water. After dark you can also Juniata County Tuscarora Creek get away with heavier monofilament (six- or eight-pound test). Huntingdon County Little Aughwick Creek Fastest action Huntingdon County Standing Stone Creek Franklin County West Branch Conococheague Creek Fishing for bass in trout water after an August rain when the Montgomery County Perkiomen Creek stream is on the rise may produce the fastest action of the year. Schuylkill County Little Schuylkill Minnows, nightcrawlers, hellgrammites, spoons, spinners and flashy Lancaster County Hammer Creek streamers drifted or worked in the rising water with the rest of Lancaster County Middle Creek the food that has naturally washed into the stream will usually Lancaster County Cocalico Creek be taken without a second look. The line can be a little heavier Lancaster County Conewago Creek because the water isn't clear. Chester County French Creek Fishing at night with an elevated water level (typical May level) Chester County Brandywine Creek should provide the best opportunities for the biggest smallmoufhs. Delaware County Darby Creek Not only do the bass have the cover of darkness for protection, Delaware County Chester Creek they have greater water depth, the surface window is broken by Somerset County Lower Laurel Hill Creek increased current, and food is finally back in abundance. Wade Somerset County Stony Creek with extreme caution in the swifter and deeper water. A creek Westmoreland County Loyalhanna Creek should be well-known by an angler before it is attempted to be Allegheny County Bull Creek (lower third) fished at night. Armstrong County Buffalo Creek There are trout waters throughout the Commonwealth that have Greene County Enlow Fork (trib. to Wheeling Creek) good populations of smallmouths. Some are on the list of ap­ Greene County Whiteley Creek proved trout waters, others are part of those areas that are regu­ Greene County Browns Creek lated especially for trout. Consult the Summary of Fishing Regulations Greene County North Fork & South Fork and Laws for specific regulations governing the stream you wish (of Dunkard Fork of Wheeling Creek) to fish. Washington County Dutch Fork Creek If you are going to fish trout water that is controlled by spe­ This list is far from complete, as I'm sure every angler who cial regulations for trout or salmon fishing, you must have a trout sneaks onto his favorite stretch of trout water for late-summer stamp. Some areas also have regulated hours when fishing is bass already knows. But it does provide a start for exceptional permitted and others have restrictions on the equipment allowed bass fishing on Pennsylvania trout water.—DW. in a specific area. Before going, check carefully to be sure you comply with regulations. August 1992 Pennsylvania Angler 19 Keystone StateRiver Catfish byJeffKnapp Forktails. whiskered walleyes, line-slimers. Catfish have many handles, but not a whole lot of angler respect. Even though many anglers fish for catfish, fictitious tales revolve around the fish, and those who pursue it. Cats are often considered "lazy," as are those who fish for the species. The truth is that a channel catfishing game plan can be as ac­ tive as the species. Channel cats are efficient predators, and an­ glers need versatile fishing methods to take full advantage of catfish characteristics. One common association made with catfishing is that it's messy. You know, chicken livers, coagulated blood and rotting fish parts. But catfishing needn't be messy. In fact, one of the more effec­ tive catfish baits is often associated with part of the American heri­ tage—hotdogs. Yes, a strategically placed small piece of hotdog can be wonderful for duping cats. Catfish facts Channel catfish are well-suited to function in rivers, and not many places have more big rivers than Pennsylvania. The highly developed olfactory system of channel cats allows them to for­ age effectively in turbid water, which can often be the case with rivers. The world record channel cat was taken in 1964 in South Carolina by W. H. Whaley. It weighed a whopping 58 pounds. Closer to home, the Pennsylvania state record was re-established just last year when Austin Roth III caught a 35-pound, 2.5-ounce chan­ nel catfish from the Lehigh Canal. The previous record was a 35-pounder caught in the Allegheny River. That record stood for over 20 years. Dick Snyder, chief of the Commission Division of Fisheries Management, sees the channel catfish as an important gamefish species. The first is an active approach in which you hunt for catfish "The channel cat is beginning to shed its reputation as being a during the daylight hours. The second tactic is for nighttime fishing, rough fish," says Snyder. "It's actually a very effective preda­ when the big boys come out to play. The night bite is a more tor, and not the scavenger it's often portrayed to be." passive affair. You wait for channel cats to move in to feed at According to Snyder, our rivers have self-sustaining popula­ predictable locations. tions of channel cats. Some stocking does occur, but it is usu­ Channel cats tend to inhabit big, deep river holes. Find the biggest ally done in reservoirs, either as maintenance stocking or for the hole in a river section and you'll probably find the most and big­ introduction of the species. gest catfish. Channel catfish are traditionally thought of as being completely Tactics nocturnal, but they are catchable during the day, particularly the This two-way system can keep you on cats throughout the summer smaller ones, fish in the 14- to 20-inch size. They are usually in and into the fall. It's applicable for all the major rivers of Penn­ the deepest part of the hole. sylvania—the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio in western To catch these daytime cats, I use the same tactics I'd use in Pennsylvania; the Susquehanna in the state's central region; and the fall and early spring for river walleyes. I slowly drift the boat the Delaware in the east. Anglers in boats can best take full ad­ over these deep holes while vertically fishing a jig/bait combi­ vantage of the system, but plenty of cats are available for the shore nation. The bait doesn't need to be particularly messy, either. Here angler, too. is where that small piece of hotdog comes in.

20 August 1992 Pennsylvania Angler •• Simply dress a 1/4-ounce or 3/8-ounce jighead with a portion Productive catfish baits include sucker fillets and portions of of hotdog, no more than an inch long. Then fish it on the bottom larger baitfish like freshly killed shiners and chubs. Ribbon as the boat slowly drifts over the hole. If there is wind, it may leeches work well, too. All these offerings can be impaled on be necessary to use the motor to correct the boat's travel so that a jighead and drifted slowly in river holes. you continue to drift at the same speed as your bait. Other good baits for daytime catfishing include sucker fillets Because you're fishing for big cats, it's best to use big baits. and portions of larger baitfish like shiners and chubs. These should Stick with generous portions of cut bait (sucker, shad or chub fillet), be freshly killed. It's not necessary or even desirable to use de­ or use the whole baitfish. It isn't always necessary to use dead caying flesh for bait. Another good bait is ribbon leeches. All bait, either, because channel cats are quite willing to nail a live these offerings can be impaled on a jighead and fished in the described bait. Don't be afraid to use baitfish or portions of baitfish in the manner. four- to six-inch length for nighttime cats. Good-sized channel cats can be caught during the daytime, but for a chance to take on a real heavyweight, the game must be played Tackling channel cats at night. The channel cat has a highly developed sense of smell For pulling in smaller channel cats, lighter gear is adequate. that undoubtedly explains why the fish can forage so effectively The same tackle you use for bass or walleyes works just fine— at night. six- to seven-foot medium-action spinning or casting tackle spooled Big catfish—those in the 20- to 30-inch range—also inhabit with eight- to 12-pound high-quality line. deep river holes, though they are rarely caught during the day. When gearing up for big bruisers, use heavier equipment. I The water could best be described as deep and snaggy, because use the same stout casting tackle as I do for musky fishing—six- the best holes often have some sunken cover in them. to 6 1/2-foot heavy casting rods, quality level-wind reels, and 36- In the section of the Allegheny River that I fish, the big cats pound-test dacron line. There's always the chance of tying into lay in trees and logs that have been jammed into the bottom of a really huge cat, and you'll want to be prepared. deep water. At night they tend to rise out of the cover to feed. Big cats aren't shy, so don't be afraid to peg your offering with It's possible to catch these channel cats by suspending a bait di­ a heavy sinker. "Bass casting" sinkers up to an ounce or so work rectly over the snags. great, and you may need them to get the bait down in the cur­ Daytime cats can be taken by bringing the bait to the fish, but rent. Hooks should be of heavy construction, and no smaller than it's best to take a more stationary approach at night. Forktails make a size 2. predictable foraging migrations to defined areas. Keep all terminal tackle on the "beefy" side when gearing up In addition to holes with cover, channel cats tend to move to for big cats. the heads of the big, deep holes they inhabit during the day. Position Channel catfishing is a quality sport, and the species is a wor­ the boat above the upper lip of a hole so the bait can be still-fished thy adversary. Even though the heat of summer can sometimes in the prime zone. Shore anglers do best by setting up shop on a put a damper on the more glamorous species, channel gravel bar at the head of such a hole. cats bite well and fight hard.

August 1992 Pennsylvania Angler 21 %tKeystone **Rivertatfish map graphics- Ted Walke Pennsylvania Channel catfish

North Branch Susquehanna River Delaware Allegheny River WestBranch water Cap Area POOl 6 Susquehanna River

Delaware Pittsburgh River

Harrisburg Tidal Section

Ft. Hunter Area Susquehanna River

Best River Sections for Channel Catfish You can find good river catfishing along most of the ma­ jor rivers that flow through the Commonwealth. Here's a look at a few choice spots. • Allegheny River. The navigational pools of the Allegheny River play host not only to channel catfish but to the larger flathead catfish. One of the best areas to try for channel cats is Pool 6, a 10-mile stretch between Clinton and Kittanning. You'll find several deep holes in this area. The section just below Lock & Dam 7 is a good bet in the summer. • Ohio River. Some of the best forktail action on the Ohio takes place below the Dashields and Montgomery dams. Channel cats tend to congregate within the first few hundred yards of the dam because of the plentiful forage and high levels of dis­ solved oxygen. Several other large holes are within the first few miles downriver of the Dashields Dam, and you'll want to check Farther up the Susquehanna, the waters around Byers Is­ them for cats. land are good. Byers Island is located across from Pennsyl­ • Susquehanna River. The Susquehanna River is prob­ vania Power and Light's power plant downriver from Shamokin ably the finest catfish river in the state, producing both numbers Dam. offish and big fish. In 1991 alone, anglers turned in six se­ Anglers have taken channel cats up to 13 pounds in this nior award-sized channel cats (10 pounds and up) from the area, particularly the section near the Shadynook access area. river, along with several others from its tributaries. The largest ® Delaware River. The tidal stretch of the Delaware is was a 21-pound, two-ounce lunker. the best channel cat stretch on the lower river. This area ex­ Some of the best water is found between the Rockville Bridge tends from the bay up to Trenton, NJ. The spots to fish for and the Clarks Ferry Bridge, near Harrisburg. A few of the cats are where the channel, which runs from 25 to 50 feet deep, holes in this eight-mile river stretch drop to 25 feet. One good cuts in close to shore. area in particular is known as the Dauphin Narrows. There On the Delaware, Wallpack Bend, near Marshalls Creek, are cats in the 10- to 20-pound range in these waters. is also productive.—JK.

22 August 1992 Pennsylvania Angler mu PI The strike had the unmistakable whack of a good fish—the kind of hit when you set the hook instinctively. I had been holding the boat just above the lower edge of a large Ohio River hole downriver from the Dashields Dam. My jig-n-minnow had been dangling in the lip of the hole, a zone that often holds big walleyes. This fish proved to be a solid 20-incher, a clone of several others that I had taken from the spot earlier. None of them was a huge fish—just fine examples of well-fed river walleyes. Early fall can translate into tough fishing on many still wa­ terways, but this is not the case on most rivers. Autumn sig­ nals just the start of fishing opportunities that stretch into the next year. And on the Ohio River, one can fish for three spe­ cies of black bass, white bass, hybrid stripers, walleyes and saugers. Now's a good time to check your calendar and plan a trip. State of the fishery The rebirth of the Ohio River fishery has paralleled the river's improving water quality, an encouraging story that has been repeated on other large western Pennsylvania riv­ ers. The Ohio provides 40 miles of recre­ ational potential between Pittsburgh and the state line near East Liverpool, Ohio. Three lock and dam systems within this section of the river are Emsworth, on the lower end of Neville Island; Dashields, located just upriver from Leetsdale; and Montgomery, near Ohioview. Emsworth and Montgomery are gated dams. Dashields is a fixed-crest dam. Many of the abundant gamefish popu­ ^K^*^^5?^^B lations now found in the Ohio can be di­ rectly attributed to better water quality. Several species—the sauger, spotted bass, and white bass—have gradually increased in number by migrating into our waters from fw ^ 1 hundreds of miles downriver. Area 8 Fish­ eries Manager Rick Lorson, whose south­ west Pennsylvania district contains all the state's portion of the Ohio, sees the river as an important recreational asset. "Comparing it to what was there 15 years ago, it is a very good fishery. And the size makes it even more important," says Lorson. ^^mlij rlKtlii *1M ^^HT V* "All the major sources of pollution directly affecting fish survival—mine acid drain­ age, industrial and municipal waste—have f^bM been dramatically reduced." The "size" Lorson mentions refers to the 40 river miles containing about 6,000 acres of water. This size river provides a sub­ stantial area for fish production and fish­ ^W ing. Included in this area are the three "tailwater fisheries" created by the three dams. Even though the health of the fishery and &w^ the potential for better fishing opportuni­ ties had been gradually improving, every­ HSfeHi thing peaked in 1987 and 1988. The sauger August 1992 Pennsylvania Angler 23 and walleye fishing on the Ohio was fabulous during the fall and early spring. Anglers enjoyed quality bass fishing during the warmer months. Then, just as folks began to expect good fishing, things turned sour. The fish seemed to disappear, based on an­ glers' reports. "Fluctuations in fish populations in river environments are typical," says Lorson. "Anglers experienced tough fishing the past few years because of all the high water we had in 1989 and 1990. Conditions were poor for reproduction of both gamefish and baitfish. Fortunately, this has changed this year. Compounding the natural fluctuation was the effect of the Ashland Oil Spill of January 1988. We continue to determine the long-term effects of this 713,000-gal- lon diesel fuel spill." The stable water levels in 1991 led to a bumper crop of gamefish and baitfish. Emerald shiners and gizzard shad, the staples of the Ohio, were plentiful when Lorson surveyed sections of the Ohio last year. Saugers reproduced in good numbers in 1991, and they had decent spawns the two previous years, despite the poor conditions. However, growth rates were slow during those years. Dauphin Co. If the action of early 1992 [T] Fort Hunter LS Falmouth was an accurate indicator, l"2] Marysville (S Saginaw those fishing the Ohio dur­ l~3l West Fairview IH Marietta ing the fall of 1992 should \T\ Harrisburg City Island El Columbia be in for some of the best [~5l Middletown IH Wrightsville sauger and walleye sport that g] Canal Lock M Lock 2 is possible anywhere. During \T\ Goldsboro 35 Pequea the fall of 1991 and spring of 1992 the river came alive with incredible numbers of fish, especially saugers. Anglers who braved the cold weather last year regu­ larly boated high numbers of fish. I know, because I was one of those "numb-fin­ gered" fishermen. Walleyes, like the ones described in the beginning of this story, should also be plentiful. Bass The black bass fishery is an important element, and it is comprised of small- mouth, largemouth and spot­ ted (Kentucky) bass. The downriver sections tend to have more spotted bass. Close to Pennsylvania's border with Ohio and West Virginia, the spotted bass is the main bass species in the Ohio. Anglers findsmall-mouth s closer to the tailrace areas of the dams, where there is more current. Fishermen take largemouth Hybrid stripers The pools bass in the lower end of each pool, where The majority of the species found and "Pool" is the term used to describe a the river takes on a more lake-like nature. caught in the Ohio maintain their numbers section of a navigable river. A pool is White bass are numerous and provide a through natural reproduction. The Fish and determined by the name of the dam at the major panfish element to the Ohio River Boat Commission has introduced some fish downriver end of the section. The Mont­ fishery. Most white bass average about eight that are suited to the Ohio River environ­ gomery Pool, for instance, is the 19-mile to nine inches. What they lack in size they ment. One of these species is the hybrid section located between Dashields and make up in numbers. At times they can striped bass. Montgomery dams. be so thick, anglers have trouble getting A cross between a pure striper and a white Large rivers such as the Ohio can have their baits to the other species. bass, the hybrid is known by several names, large stretches of featureless water that are like sunshine bass and wiper. But to most, relatively void offish-attracting structure. Catfish, carp it is simply referred to as the "hybrid." Each of the four pools has particular areas Like the other big rivers of the region, In waters where the hybrid program has that hold populations of gamefish. These the Ohio plays host to flathead and chan­ been successful, such as Lake Arthur, an­ spots include island areas, small and large nel catfish and carp. Less glamorous than glers have been well-pleased with this tributaries, and the areas below each of the other gamefish species, these fish are nu­ gamefish. It grows quickly and reaches dams. Manmade elements such as bridge merous, big and powerful—not bad cre­ impressive sizes, and it is considered an piers, pilings, and submerged steel struc­ dentials. The sport these fish provide tends even finer fighter than the purebred striper. tures also provide cover. to be a summertime affair, so you might Hybrid numbers in the Ohio are still Even though different species have habitat want to go now for them, but action con­ marginal, which has equated to spotty angler preferences, the "good water" is somewhat tinues into early fall. After the water tem­ success rates regarding these fish.Accordin g limited. Thus, it's not unusual to find peratures drop into the mid-50s, the action to Lorson, he is increasing the rate at which walleyes mixed with smallmouths, and slows. hybrids are stocked on two of the four pools saugers in the same areas as white bass. Each found in Pennsylvania. strike has a built-in element of surprise. The Emsworth Pool extends from August 1992 Pennsylvania Angler 25 Pittsburgh's Point (the merger of the Al­ legheny and Monongahela rivers) down to mile 6 and the Emsworth Dams. Islands provide good fish habitat on big rivers, and the Emsworth Pool has its share. Brunot and Davis islands, and a portion of Neville Island, are all located here. Neville Island straddles the two dams that form this pool. One large feeder, Chartiers Creek, enters the Ohio near Brunot Island. The Dashields Pool is about seven miles On days the bass won't respond to sur­ Health Advisory long. The best areas are found in what's face lures, go down to them with hard baits. Rapalas, Storm Thundersticks and other For several years a health advisory— referred to as the "back channel"—the issued jointly by the PA Department of portion of the river that flows between the minnow-shaped imitations work well, as do fatter baits like Fat Raps and Wiggle Environmental Resources, the PA Depart­ south side of Neville Island and the main ment of Health, and the PA Fish and Boat shoreline. More than three miles of wa­ Warts. Grub-type lures—Power Grabs, Galida's Commission—has been in place warning ter are between the lower tip of Neville Island anglers not to consume certain species offish and the tailrace of Emsworth Dam. Grubz and Mr. Twisters—should also be part of your fall river bass arsenal. A se­ in the Ohio River. Unacceptable levels of Two of the prime areas in the back channel the contaminants PCBs and chlordane were are near the mouths of Moon Run and lection of subtle jigs like Fuzz-E-Grubs works especially well on smallmouth bass detected in carp and channel catfish. This Montour Run. Other smaller tributaries in advisory remains in effect for 1992. the Dashields Pool are McCabe Run, Thorn when the water turns cold in the late fall. I've taken smallies on the Ohio in Janu­ Advisories of this nature do not apply Run and Narrows Run. to all species. Black bass, white bass, Rick Lorson considers the Montgomery ary on grubs tipped with fathead minnows. White bass are easy to catch early in the walleyes, saugers and freshwater drum are Pool to be the best all-around water on the also tested on a yearly basis for contami­ Ohio. It's the area I've fished the most, fall. WCO Jacobs related a story where the white bass were literally biting a bare nant levels. Flesh analysis from the most and I can attest to the productivity of this recent testing has revealed that these spe­ 19-mile stretch. hook. During the early fall they school below the dams in open water and chase schools cies in the Ohio River are within accept­ Found within two miles of the Dashields able limits. Dam are the mouths of Little Sewickley of shad. These fish are aggressive. They respond well to topwater lures and shal­ To reduce health risks for contaminants Creek and Big Sewickley Creek. The Beaver for any species of fish, prepare the food River enters the Ohio in this pool, near mile low-running minnow-shaped baits. The possibility exists of tying into a hybrid sniper properly. Exposure to contaminants can 25. Raccoon Creek merges about four miles be reduced by 1) consuming smaller fish, below the Beaver. as well. Later in the fall the white bass school 2) removing skin and trimming fat from The Beaver River is navigable for three the fish's back, belly and sides—this in­ miles up to the old lock and dam near New in deep holes. Anglers catch them while fishing for walleyes and sauger. cludes any dark-colored flesh, and 3) broil Brighton. Three tribs come into the Bea­ or grill fish to allow fat to drain away.— The best walleye and sauger action gets ver along this stretch—Brickhouse Run, AFM Rick Lorson. Brady Run and Hamilton Run. Shore fishing going around November. Fish start stacking opportunities abound at these locations. The up below all the dams. Large holes and mouth of the Beaver is an excellent spot, the mouths of feeder creeks are important Public Access particularly the east side where a shallow fish attractors, too. Emsworth Pool point plunges into a deep hole. Jig-n-minnow presentations take the most City of Pittsburgh Southside Access (ac­ Beaver County WCO Greg Jacobs says fish. Metal baits—Hopkins Spoons, Sil­ tually on the Mon River, about two miles the remnants of an old lock and dam, found ver Luckys and Rocker Minnows—also up from the Point). on the Ohio near Monaca, are another pro­ account for their share of walleyes and ductive spot with structure and some deep saugers. These lures should be jigged in Dashields Pool holes. a vertical fashion. Sewickley ramp—located off Route 65. Good walleye and sauger fishing con­ The area just below the Montgomery Dam Montgomery Pool furnishes some of the best fishing on the tinues throughout the winter, and peaks just Pennsylvania portion of the New Cumber­ before the season closes in mid-March, when Commission access at Leetsdale. land Pool. Another good spot is the mouth the fish become concentrated as they pre­ Commission access at Rochester. of the Little Beaver River, which enters the pare to spawn. Commission access at New Brighton (on Ohio at Glasgow, about a half-mile upriver AFM Lorson expects the overall fishing Beaver River). of the state line. on the Ohio River to improve further as more pollution clean-up efforts fall into place. New Cumberland Pool Fall Ashing tactics In light of what's available now, that should No public access. Early fall angling efforts should target be something to see. Boaters may gain access from one pool bass. When the water is still fairly warm, to another by locking through. All that is topwater lures are an excellent choice. The author thanks AFM Rick Lorson and needed is a 75-foot length of rope. If you Propeller lures like the Smithwick Devils WCO Greg Jacobs for their assistance with value the finish on your hull, use bumpers Horse are great for calling up river bass. this article. when you lock through.—JK 26 August 1992 Pennsylvania Angler The Streamer I Never Outgrew by Art Michaels About 24 years ago when I first got into fly fishing and fly tying, I twitched it to make the rubber hackle pulsate. I used to own a I read Tom Nixon's book, Fly Tying and Fly Fishing for Bass and four-horsepower outboard, and with my 12-foot boat I trolled the Panfish. In that book was a streamer fly partem he called the Calcasieu shallows dead-slow. I also used to cast a Pig Boat to likely looking Pig Boat, after the Calcasieu River in Nixon's home state of Louisiana. spots on the lake. Largemouth bass, pickerel and perch couldn't I tied a quick adaptation of that fly, and ever since I've used it resist a Pig Boat. successfully for smallmouth bass, largemoufh bass, pickerel, yellow I've experimented tipping my Pig Boats with a variety of pork perch and other panfish. trailers, and sometimes I've The version of Nixon's wrapped an inch-long bit of alu­ Calcasieu Pig Boat that I make minum foil on the leader just is easy to tie. I start with a 4X above the fly as an attractor. to 6X long-shank hook in sizes I've waded rivers armed with 12 to 6, and I use black thread. Pig Boats and have caught At the bend I tie in red yarn smallmouth bass, too, but I've and wind it near the eye. Then never caught a trout with a Pig I tie in strands of white, black Boat—at least not yet. or gray rubber hackle—the Back then I fished exclusively same rubber hackle used in with a fly rod, and for most popping bugs and jigs. seasons from about June on, I The rubber hackle I used 24 recall using Pig Boats most of years ago was very thin— the time. Sometimes I used a much thinner than anything I've seen these days. I bought that tapered leader; sometimes I used an eight-foot section of six-pound- rubber hackle from Herter's, and since that company went out test mono. I fishedth e Delaware often then, and the river's smallmouths of business, I've found this specific thinness of rubber hackle no­ and spunky green sunfish seemed to want only Pig Boats. where else. My fly rod was an eight-footer for eight-weight line. That worked In any case, I tie on about 15 to 25 strands so that they radiate well for my small Pig Boats, and even though I flailed away then from the fly head evenly around the hook shank. I cut the hackle with the same tackle using larger Pig Boats, today I opt for a nine- squarely about a quarter-inch behind the bend. foot fly rod for nine-weight line to heave larger Pig Boats. Then I build a head with thread, whip finish it, and give it a When I started tying flies some 24 years ago, Pig Boats were

thick coat of fly head cement. Sometimes I paint on eyes, and one of my first attempts. Mine were unrefined and easy to make. here and there I've experimented with a variety of fly tying and But tying Pig Boats and catching lots of fish with them let me lure-making eye products, all of which made the fly too cumbersome. feel proud of my fishing and fly tying efforts—an important in­ Most of my Pig Boats are simple—wound yard, flowing rubber gredient in taking up and sticking with a new hobby. hackle, built-up head, and painted-on eyes. You'd think I would move on to more complicated patterns and Red and white are traditionally good colors for pickerel lures, more intricate fly tying techniques—or at least add them to my so I made my first Pig Boats with red yard and white rubber hackle. arsenal. When I'm out on the river with fishing friends, I notice I'm sure that other color combinations and body materials are also their caches crammed with poppers and their boxes stuffed with productive. surface lures and jigs. I have those things, too, but more often On shallow lakes from spring through fall, I used to drift in than not, I tie on a Pig Boat. my boat with the fly some 10 to 15 yards behind. Now and then August 1992 Pennsylvania Angler 27 Bill Hartle: Lower Your Boat Officer of the Year Insurance Premiums

Walk the dog Would you like to save money on your 1 have a friend who's an expert with boat insurance premiums? The Boat Owners baitcasting tackle. He fishes often for Association of The United States (BOAT/ bass using lures like a Gaines Fat Albert U.S.) offers the following advice: or a Zara Spook, and with these lures • Increase your deductible. As with auto he says he "walks the dog." What is and homeowners' insurance, the higher your this technique?—John Hunsberger, deductible (usually a percentage of the hull Norristown, PA. value), the lower your premium. Don't use the insurance company for a risk that you "Walking the dog" is a fishing tactic can afford on your own. in which you retrieve a cigar-shaped • Take a safe boating course. The U.S. lure across the surface of the water. Power Squadrons and the U.S. Coast Guard The lure jumps back and forth in a Auxiliary offer courses that often qualify rhythmic action. Walking the dog re­ for discounts. To find a course near you, quires a heavy stickbait so that you call the BOAT/U.S. Foundation Courseline can impart the correct action. A stiff at 1-800-336-BOAT. rod and a smooth reel also help. • Many insurers offer discounts when Mastering this technique requires safety and security equipment such as au­ Assistant Regional Supervisor William practice. When you cast the lure, let tomatic fire extinguishing systems and F. Hartle has been named 1991 Officer of it settle on the water. Lures used in burglar alarms are installed. the Year, according to Commission Bureau this technique settle sideways in the % Where you cruise can determine in­ of Law Enforcement Director Edward W. water, and that makes starting the surance premiums. It generally costs less Manhart. technique easier.—ed. to insure a boat on inland lakes and rivers Hartle began his Fish & Boat Commis­ than on coastal waters. sion career in 1967, serving as a Forest Wet-wader For more information about marine in­ County deputy fish warden. In 1969 he I plan to do some wet wading this surance coverage, write Marine Insurance, became a full-time officer and was assigned summer. I see a lot of anglers on the BOAT/U.S., 880 South Pickett Street, Al­ to York County. He served there until 1978, Susquehanna and Juniata rivers doing exandria, VA 22304, or call 1-800-283- when he became assistant supervisor of the this, but fish mostly from my boat, so 2883. I've never done it before. Any tips?— Northcentral Region, the post he currently holds. Paul Smothers, York, PA. Hartle is the Northcentral Region NRA Commissioner An old pair of tennis shoes, shorts police firearms instructor and the region's Calvin J. Kern and a T-shirt are the most common American Red Cross CPR/First Aid instruc­ wet-wading "uniform," but you might tor. He is active both in training and in law want to protect your feet more from enforcement, and has assisted in a variety the pebbles and sand that get into of law enforcement investigations statewide. sneakers as you wade. Some wet- Hartle and his wife, Joyce, have two chil­ waders wear wading shoes with gai­ dren—Michelle, who is currently pursu­ ters to seal out sand and pebbles. ing a masters degree in sports medicine, Wading shoes that rise above the and Michael, a senior at The Citadel, in ankles offer additional support for Charleston, South Carolina. the feet and ankles. Manhart announced the honor last May Fly rods or ultralight spinning at the Northeast Fish and Wildlife Confer­ tackle are your best bet. A nine-foot ence, in Norfolk, Virginia. The conference fly rod for nine-weight line lets you meets annually and includes states from lob large lures and helps you reach Maine to Virginia. high above the waterline. If you go with ultralight spinning tackle, use Correspondence Tip spinners in sizes 1 to 3 and minnow- If you ordered subscriptions, publications shaped plugs about 21/2 inches long. or other items from the Fish and Boat Com­ Crayfish patterns work well in Au­ mission, and if you need to correspond with gust. Jigs of 1/8-ounce to 1/16-ounce the Commission about your order, be sure We sadly note that Pennsylvania Fish and work well, too. A lightweight fishing to include in your letter the 7-digit number Boat Commissioner Calvin J. Kern died in vest and small waist-held tackle box on the back of your canceled check. This March. Commissioner Kern was appointed are also helpful.—ed. number appears directly below the stamp, by Governor Shafer in 1968 and served the "Pay to the order of the state treasurer." Commission for 24 years. 28 August 1992 Pennsylvania Angler Michael J. Thomas, of Coatesville, holds Robert C. Adams 111, of Downingtown, Leonard Huska shows off the five- the 16-pound, 1/4-ounce carp he caught displays the seven-pound, 10-ounce pound, 4 1/2-ounce palomino trout he last April in the East Branch of rainbow trout he caught in the Little caught last May in Warren County's Brandywine Creek, Chester County. Lehigh River, Lehigh County, last May. Spring Creek. The trout grabbed a Thomas fooled the carp with corn and Adams fooled the fish with Power Bait spinner. battled the brute on four-pound-test line. and hauled it in on four-pound-test line. Nice fish, Mike!

Mercersburg resident Jeffery Christy shows off the four-pound, seven- ounce smallmouth bass he landed in the Dauphin County stretch of the Susquehanna River last April 5. Christy fooled the fish with a jig. He released the bass in good condition right after the picture was taken.

A 27-pound, nine-ounce striped bass was Lackawanna resident James Steinson Bobby Przywara's catch last April at Lake Wallenpaupack. III (right) and Nice fish, Bobby! son James heft a 43-pound, two- ounce musky Robert Donnelly, age that they caught 9, from Moo sic, in Lake nailed this hefty 2 1/ Wallenpaupack 2-pound yellow perch last May. The last April in Lake musky grabbed Wallenpaupack. The a jig, and the perch clobbered a elder Steinson minnow. Good catch, wrestled the fish Robert! in on eight- pound-test line.

August 1992 Pennsylvania Angler 29 WCO Bob Kish conducts a mini boating course for 7th grade school students. Students are taught about the use and types of PFDs and the laws and regulations governing them, the BUI law, and safe boat capacity. They are also shown a video on boating safety and receive literature about boating. Because statistics show that PFDs either aren 't used or aren 't on board during boating accidents, the main object of the course is safety and the use of PFDs. This course has been taught to approximately 350 students, with about 90 percent of each class having been on a boat before. Questionnaires consisting of four simple questions were given to the students at the end of the course, and approximately 98 percent of the students answered that they learned to make sure PFDs were on board a boat and not to drink while boating. WCO Kish will continue to teach this mini boating course in schools. The mission of" the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission is to provide fishing and boating opportunities through the protect! on and management of fingler's Notebook fyjoefy aquatic resources. EXECUTIVE OFFICE Edward R. Miller, P.E., Old monofilament fishing line or plastic baits Executive Director Lawrence W. Hoffman. should never be discarded in the water. Executive Assistant Monofilament can wrap around propellers and C. Blake Weirich. Aquatic Resources Planning Coordinator damage seals. Both monofilament and plastic baits Dennis T. Guise, Chief Counsel can cause the death of birds and other wildlife. John Arway. Division of Environmental Services Joseph A. Greene, River smallmouth bass fishing can be excel­ Legislative Liaison lent just after a summer shower. The rain low­ Lois J. Telep, Executive Secretary ers water temperatures and adds oxygen to the COMPTROLLER water, stimulating fish to feed. Ross E. Starner BUREAU OF Lakes crowded with swimmers and water skiers ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES Lat(TsumTHefTir3y produce big trout for those during the day should be fished early in the morning. 717-657-4522 who fish at night. Try streamers and big wet flies Allison J. Mayhew. Director Usually there is a three- or four-hour period from Rafael Perez-Bravo, Personnel fished downstream into deep pools. Even heavily first light until the water skiers take to the lakes. Glen Reed, Federal Aid fished streams may hold trophy browns that feed Mary Stine, Fishing Licenses only at night. When replacing line on a spinning reel, lay the BUREAU OF FISHERIES new spool of line flato n the floor so that line comes 814-359-5100 Crankbaits are a good choice for bass fishing Delano Graff, Director off the spool in the same direction it is wound Vincent Mudrak. in rocky areas. They tend to bounce off rocks Division of Research on the reel. Richard A. Snyder, without hanging up, and many anglers believe the Division of Fisheries Management noise they make when hitting rocks is an addi­ Topwater baits with propellers work better when Dennis C. Ricker, Division of Trout Production tional fish attractant. the rod tip is held close to the water's surface during Martin T. Marcinko, Division of the retrieve. Warm/Coolwater Fish Production Trout in low water are extremely skittish. BUREAU OF PROPERTY AND Approach pools carefully after looking them over A length of PVC plastic pipe is perfect for storing FACILITIES MANAGEMENT from a distance for feeding fish. If necessary, crawl lake maps. Cut the pipe to the desired length, 814-359-5100 James Young. P.E., Director into casting range to maintain a low profile. glue a cap on one end, and press-fit a cap to the James 1. Waite, Division of other end. Such map cases are nearly waterproof. Construction & Maintenance Services Crappies like structure and shade. Bridges over Eugene O. Banker, P.E., Division of Property Services lakes and reservoirs provide both. On cloudy days Bass fishermen can store plastic baits in zip- the fish stay near the bridge structure. During BUREAU OF lock bags. Another good idea is to add a small LAW ENFORCEMENT sunny periods the fish move to stay in the shadow amount of your favorite fish attractant formula 717-657-4542 of the bridge. so baits are always ready to use. Edward W. Manhart, Director BUREAU OF BOATING Spinnerbaits are a versatile bass fishing lure. When temperatures in the shallows rise to 80 717-657-4540 John Simmons, Director They can be fished deep or shallow, they are degrees or higher, bass remain in deeper water. Virgil Chambers, Division of somewhat snag-free, and they are relatively in­ Try the shallows at first light. Then fish struc­ Boating Safety & Education Andrew Mutch. expensive. ture in deeper water when the sun rises. Division of Boat Registration Terrestrial imitations of grasshoppers, crick­ Stripping guides and tip guides on fly rods tend BUREAU OF EDUCATION & INFORMATION ets, ants, beetles and other critters that reach popu­ to wear quicker than running guides. Check these 717-657-4518 lation peaks in late summer are an excellent choice two for groves and replace them, if necessary. Stephen B. Ulsh. Director Larry Shaffer, Publications for the warm-weather trout fisherman. Kimberly S. Mumper, Education Ulustmtion- George bavanish Carl E. Richardson. Education Dave Wolf, Media Relations An Michaels. Magazines 30 August 1992 Pennsylvania Angler Ted R. Walke, Graphic Design with Dave Wolf Volunteers M

I fished past the jack dam, noticing only the magnificent pool it had created. I waded the crystal clear waters, casting a long leader so as not to spook the trout that held in the thin waters. I was pleasantly surprised to catch stocked trout a mile away from any easy access point to the stream. Later I had a long, pleasant conversation with an older gentleman I had met at streamside while preparing for the trip home. In talking, he told me he was a deputy waterways conservation officer and patrolled the stream on a regular basis. I gave little thought to his position, but told him I had had Also classified as volunteers are the 360 deputy waterways a good day fishing, and if he was interested, I had released all conservation officers who contributed 114,000 hours of time last that I had caught. year. That includes enforcement work, public relations functions, Years passed and I became actively involved in sportsmen or­ and attending sportsmen and civic organization meetings. Yes, ganizations. I gave my time as president of the Potter County deputies are paid a daily stipend, but most put in countless num­ Federation of Sportsmen, president of the First Fork Fly Fisher­ bers of unpaid hours annually. men, vice-president of the Potter County Anglers, and publicity Consider the late Joe Waiter, a deputy for the Fish and Boat chairman for the God's Country Chapter of Trout Unlimited. In Commission for 46 years. Yes, 46 years—the longest period of fact, I became so deeply involved that I spent an average of five service in the history of the Commission. Joe, like many others, days a week tending to environmental concerns. did what he did simply because he enjoyed seeing others reap the benefits of his labor. Exactly how many Boy Scout troops and other youth groups contribute time and effort to the Fish and Boat Commission's efforts is impossible to calculate. It is conceivable that the time spent on the waters by volunteers may exceed the Commission staff's total number of hours per year, and staff puts in many long hours that are often contributed hours. The Commission is grateful to all those who volunteer their time and effort in order to make fishing and boating safer and more fun. Ask them why they do it—why they spend countless hours giving so unselfishly—and they will '""' ^MWflJWI more than likely smile, scratch their r"istim Center[ heads, and tell you that they believe in clean water and fishing and Life progressed and now I sit on the inside looking out, so to boating, and that "aw, shucks, they speak. The view from "within" is sometimes awesome and seemingly really didn't do all that much." overwhelming, and I often wonder how the Fish and Boat Com­ Looking from the inside out we mission accomplishes the many goals it has set forth to do within know better, because without vol­ a year. No, this is not hype, despite the fact that it may sound unteers, the efforts of the Commis­ like it. Besides a dedicated staff, the Commission is blessed with sion would be severely hindered. volunteers who spend countless unpaid hours for the good of others Those looking from the outside who participate in water sports and recreation. should realize the efforts of the Consider that the Bureau of Boating has 550 volunteers who volunteers of this state and never teach boating and safety awareness and/or water rescue programs. take a safe boater, clean water, leap­ The Bureau of Property and Facilities Management reports 185 ing trout or stream improvement cooperators in its Adopt-a-Stream Program, and the Bureau of device for granted. Someone, some­ Fisheries has over 150 sponsors in the Cooperative Nursery pro­ where, put a lot of time and effort gram. Getting a handle on exactly how many volunteers play a into better fishing and safer boat­ part in the latter two programs is difficult at the least, because ing in the Keystone State. some clubs boast memberships of 4,000 or more, others signifi­ A group of dedicated individuals apparently believes that it is cantly less. In spite of all of that, there is quite a troop of volun­ better to give than to receive—or perhaps has found the teers out there—that you can be sure of. old adage to be true.

August 1992 Pennsylvania Angler 31 Smallmouth Bass: When, Where and How Anglers Catch Them by Bill Porter The Commission granted 96 smallmouth bass Junior and Senior Angler's Awards for catches made in 1991. To qualify for a senior award, a smallmouth must weigh at least four pounds, and for a junior award, the fish must be at least 3.5 pounds. When Pennsylvania anglers caught their award-sized smallmouths every month of 1991. Peak seasonal periods were evident with more fish caught in the spring pre-spawning time and again in the fall months than during the other months of the year. Taking the top 10 in the order of their ranking, the number one A look at the top 10 smallmouth winners bears this out: Janu­ bassfellforaGitzitjig. The others in order: Wiggle Wart, bucktail, ary (1), March (2), June (1), July (1), August (1). September (4). jig, nightcrawler, crawler harness, minnow, Dardevle, un-named Remember that bass regulations changed in 1991, so pre-spawn plug, and spinner. fish next season are no longer available. Stone cats, crayfish and hellgrammites appeared farther down the list with additional lures listed. The overall picture reflected Where more success with lures on and under the surface. Anglers caught their 96 smallmouth bass in 25 counties, rep­ resenting 34 waterways. Lake Erie topped the list with 35 catches. State record The Susquehanna River was next with 20 fish. Susquehanna River Charles Pence's 1990 state record smallmouth bass is still the counties included Snyder, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lycoming, top fish in the category. The fish, caught in Lake Erie, weighed Clearfield, York, Northumberland and Lancaster. The Juniata River seven pounds, 10 ounces. yielded seven trophy smallmouths with six from Perry County The biggest smallmouth bass in the Commission's 1991 records and one from the Juniata County portion. weighed six pounds, 13.5 ounces, caught in Lake Erie. The close There were four award-sized fish from Raystown Lake and four second came in at six pounds, 10.8 ounces from East Branch Lake. from the Allegheny River. Tionesta Lake provided two trophy The next six places ranged from six pounds even to five pounds, bass. The following waterways had one award-sized smallmouth six ounces—a range of just 10 ounces. The average weight of each: East Branch Lake, Leaser Lake, White Oak Pond, Allegh­ the top 10 smallies was 5.9 pounds. eny Reservoir, Twenty Mile Creek, Delaware River, Laurel Hill Creek, Rose Valley Lake, L.B. Shepard Reservoir, Pymatuning Your big smallmouth Lake, Conodoguinet Creek, Briar Creek Lake, Beltzville Lake The Fish and Boat Commission has a guide sheet with an ap­ and Nockamixon Lake. plication for the Angler Recognition program. Included are the Angler Awards and the 50+ Husky Musky Club. You can obtain How a copy free by writing to the Publications Section, Dept. R, Fish Within the top 10 fish recorded, the smallmouths took more and Boat Commission, P.O. Box 1673, Harrisburg, PA 17105- lures than natural baits. This may have been the result of the fishing 1673. Be sure to enclose a business-sized stamped, , styles of the anglers instead of the choice on the part of the bass. self-addressed envelope with your request. B»