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OFFICIAL STATE OCTOBER, 1935 PUBLICATION ^ANGLER* Vol. 4 No. 10 -

SJE3E3

OLIVER M. DEIBLER Five cents a copy — 50 cents a year Commissioner of Fisheries

C. R. BULLER Deputy Commissioner of Fisheries K K S3 Pleasant Mount

£2 S3 S3 ALEX P. SWEIGART, Editor South Office Bldg., Harrisburg, Pa. MEMBERS OF BOARD OLIVER M. DEIBLER, Chmrmart Greensburg

s? Eg a DAN R. SCHNABEL Johnstown

LESLIE W. SEYLAR NOTE McConnellsburg Subscriptions to the PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER EDGAR W. NICHOLSON should be addressed to the Editor. Submit fee either Philadelphia by check or money order payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Stamps not acceptable. Individuals KENNETH A. REID sending cash do so at their own risk. Connellsville

CHARLES A. FRENCH Ellwood City HARRY E. WEBER PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER welcomes contributions Philipsburg and photos of catches from its readers. Proper credit will be given to contributors. MILTON L. PEEK Ithan All contributions returned if accompanied by first class postage. H. R. STACKHOUSE Secretary to Board

IMPORTANT—The Editor should be notified immediately of change in subscriber's address. Please give both old and new addresses

Permission to reprint will be granted provided proper credit notice is given <*ANGLER? Vol.4 No. 10 OCTOBER, 1935 EDITORIAL Better Stream Cover Means Better Fishing More cover on our trout streams has been stressed at various times by the Fish Commission, and that this feature of the drive for better fishing has been carried out in many .sections of Pennsylvania during the past' three years is apparent. Not only have organized sportsmen, junior conservationists and individ­ uals interested in trout stream bet­ terment taken an active interest, but members of the Civilian Conserva­ tion Corps have also been doing splen­ did stream improvement work. It is hot my intention to discuss this phase of the better fishing drive, but rather the necessity of more cover in our outstanding warm water streams where the angler who seeks bass, wall-eyed pike and pickerel must find his sport. Just how vital cover is to these streams has been, I believe, amply demonstrated on many of our waters factor has been more beneficial to im­ stream improvement is a thought during the past three years. We proved warm water fishing. well worth our consideration. Lake know that the bass cycle over that Stream cover is not only essential Wallenpaupack again this year is period here in Pennsylvania has been as protection for the young of game furnishing good fishing. Perhaps the continually upward. This year, al­ fish, but serves as a rich production greatest advantage to fish life in this most without exception, reports in­ area for vast quantities of organisms big body of water is the fact that be­ dicate that there are more bass, essential to the growth of young fish. fore it was flooded, old tree stumps, smallmouth and largemouth of vary­ Without this vegetation in many of matted vegetation and logs were left ing sizes, in our streams than at any our streams, they would yield poor in the area, later to be submerged time during the past ten years. Of fishing, if any. Frequently, it may and form ideal cover for the fish life course, ideal spawning conditions and cause annoyance for the angler, but that was to be produced. Many lures heavy stocking with bass are par­ the vast good to fishing accomplished may be lost by deep trolling fisher­ tially responsible for this increase in more than compensates for this men who seek the thrill of a wall-eye number, but abundant cover as a fac­ factor. strike at Wallenpaupack but this tor is of equal importance. How often, in casting for bass or same cover has been highly vital to The bass fisherman has observed pickerel, has not the average fisher­ the fishing it now affords. on the Juniata and Susquehanna man had the advantage of cover for­ When water temperatures drop in rivers, for instance, immense patches cibly demonstrated? Often a strike early autumn, a great deal of the of aquatic grass. This vegetation en­ from some large bass or pickerel is aquatic vegetation will be dislodged croached, it is true, on many fine forthcoming from the spot where the in our warm water streams and shallows and deeper flats favored as branches of a sunken tree protrude washed away, but the purpose this fishing spots. It was not, as some above the surface, or where the shad­ fine cover has served during the sum­ fishermen were prone to believe, owy outlines of a big log are to be mer months must have lasting influ­ planted by the Fish Commission, al­ observed. Again that strike from a ence on the fishing that is improving though as a better fishing move this big game fish may come just where each year on our inland creeks and Would have been most effective. Na­ a pocket occurs in the weed bed or in rivers. ture alone was responsible for this a tiny bay fringed by lily pads or vast increase of natural cover. Low reeds. Cover and big game fish are water and high water temperatures frequently thus closely linked for the encouraged the growth of aquatic angler's observation. vegetation and consequently provided That warm water stream and lake ideal conditions for increase in num­ improvement can be as practical from ber of fish life. Perhaps no single a fish production standpoint as trout Commissioner of Fisheries. 2 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER Fishing Surface Lures For Bass

By Myron E. Shoemaker

HE fly rod surface lure for bass has making bass rise in the early morning, in T been used so effectively by many fisher­ the middle of the day when it is hot and men that Its popularity is increasing very in the evening and night time. I am very rapidly and many fly fishermen now use firmly of the opinion that no one knows just nothing else. There are several different what a bass is going to do and it is up to surface lures manufactured and while they the fisherman to find out after he has started are different in shape and size, all are made fishing. To me this is the thing which from deer hair or bucktail, closely tied and makes fishing with the surface lures so fas­ clipped to the desired shape and size thought cinating. best. A variation of colors are carefully worked into some of these lures which gives Bass being of a very temperamental na­ the finished product an appearance that the ture, there are no set rules as to the action bass simply can not resist. I have heard of the lure on the water. With the line, some fishermen say, "I would hit that too leader and lure properly greased it is very if I were a bass." easy to do most any kind of antics with the lure on the water's surface. It apparently Just who the originator of the surface BASS BUGER TIED BY H. R. makes no difference to the bass whether the lure is I do not know, but the first of these WEAVER OF WILKES-BARRE lure drops gently to the water or hits with lures which I used was made by Joe Mes- is what is properly handled and the lure a splash. This must be determined after singer, Morgantown, W. Va. How his dis­ takes care of itself. The line is the most the fisherman starts fishing and observes covery came about I do not know. How­ important part of the fly fisherman's outfit what takes place. Sometimes the bass will ever, I am aware of the facts in the creation and for the surface lures I would suggest leap from the water and take the lure in the of the popular "Bass Bugger" made by a level line of I> size. If a double tapered air. Other times he hits it immediately Harry Weaver, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. It no line is desired it should be either HCH or upon its landing upon the water. Again it doubt will be interesting to know the facts. HDH depending on the length and weight will float a short distance before the strike. Just one year ago he was fishing with a of the rod. The rod should be at least 9 Natural floating of the lure is most effective friend who was using a surface lure for feet and one of 9% feet would be better. at times and again it is quite necessary to bass. Seeing his companion make a cast It should be free of the rigid backbone which give the lure some action by a mere flick of for a bass which had just taken a natural is so prevalent in so many fly rods of today. the tip of the rod, then letting it float nat­ from the water surface he was thrilled to The surface lures have more wind resistance ural again. Other times quick, short, succes­ see a two-pound bass leap from the water than any other type of fly rod lures and can sive movements of the lure have the desired and take the descending lure before it hit. not be properly handled with one of those effect. In any event the surface lure should Immediately an idea developed and it was stiff rods. A rod with a smooth accelera­ be fished either up stream as in any dry but a short time before Mr. Weaver was tion from the butt clear through to the tip fly fishing or across the current for small- experimenting in making a creation for the which will give the proper follow through mouth bass. For large mouth bass it is well fly fisherman to use for bass. The result Is is the best type to use. A rod of from 6 to let the lure remain motionless on the well known by the fishermen who use his to 6% ounces will best serve the purpose. water for a minute or so then slightly move product. It is very effective for both large A lighter rod might work but it will not it and let it remain motionless again. At and smallmouth bass and I have personal stand the gaff of the hard fighting bass over other times it is most effective by giving it knowledge of fishermen who have taken a long period. The reel need not be an ex­ short, successive jerks which seems to give forty and fifty bass in a single week with pensive one. Any single action reel will the lure almost the same action as some the surface lures. serve the purpose, that is, one that will hold of the surface plugs. Regardless of how Your editor has requested the writer to 90 feet of fly line. The leader need not the bass wants the lure to look or act one reveal to you some of his observations in be more than six feet in length and not too can never tell whether the bass will take using surface lures for bass. One of the heavy. the lure with a smash and splash or just first things I would like to make clear to In order to handle properly the surface gently suck it from the surface. If the the fly fisherman is the fact that the month lures I would suggest by all means that strike is a vicious one then set the hook at of August is by no means the end of the the line and leader be greased thoroughly. once; if the lure is simply sucked from the fly fishing season. For some reason some The lure also should have some application surface just hesitate momentarily, but not fishermen have this impression. September which will not cause it to waterlog. Any too long, before setting the hook. All that is an excellent month. October also fur­ good grade of line dressing will serve the is necessary to set the hook is a flick of the nishes some fly fishing in either the morn­ purpose for the line and leader. For the rod. If the bass has the lure well in his ing or afternoon of those warm days when lure I find that a piece of paraffin about mouth, he will be of great assistance to you there is not a ripple on the water and the twice the size of a marble dissolved in about in helping to set the hook and will do it bass are feeding on top. Even the cool a half ounce of gasoline is very good. This quicker than you can. Just imagine your­ nights of October will bring many a big does not add any weight to the lure and self jabbed with a pin and what your re­ bass to the surface. Personally I prefer leaves it in excellent condition. It is easy to action would be. This is where the greased those two months for surface lure fishing apply and dries almost immediately. This line is of assistance to you. It is on the due to the fact that there are not so many leaves a very thin coating of film on the lure water's surface and there is nothing to stop hatches of flies and the flies are not so which will keep it dry for some time. quick action in tightening the line when plentiful when the" hatch is on. making the strike to hook the fish. This Many fishermen ask the question:—Can also greatly assists in letting the bass have The fly fisherman using the surface lures bass be taken with the surface lures during must be properly equipped for that type of a little time after sucking the lure in. The the day or must they be used at night? Bass soft texture of these lures does not cause fishing in order successfully and properly can be taken with them either day or night. to handle the lure to get the desired amount the bass to spit them out immediately as There is no use denying the fact that bass he does when taking a lure of a hard sub­ of satisfaction out of it. I have used the are very selective and high hat at times and expression "handle the lure" because it may stance, that is, a hard body substance. even an expert fisherman, whether he uses These hard bodies are foreign to the bass be more clear to the novice. The line really live bait or artificial lures, has his troubles PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER s

Another Sportsman Governor Pennsylvania sportsmen were not the only fortunate ones to have a Governor elected who is one hundred percent conservationist and sports­ man, as the following clipping taken from the Conservation Magazine of Tennessee indicates: "Gov. Hill McAlister has won the esteem and praise of the sportsmen of this state because of his selection of such a fine group of commis­ sioners to control the state's outdoor life. The Governor "has fulfilled his pre-election pledge), to take the SPENT WING BUGER Game and Fish Department out of politics/' This pledge and the fulfillment of and he can detect it very readily and can Personally, I take a great deal of pleas­ it, as carried out by Governor Mc­ spit it out almost immediately. ure in simply casting these surface lures, Alister, closely parallels the same The question of the depth of the water seeing them light on the water and float on stand Governor Earle of Pennsylva­ is something which the fisherman should their way, not knowing at what minute they nia has taken in keeping political interference out of the Game and determine for himself. Some fishermen pre­ will disappear under the water's surface, Fish Commissions. fer fast water and others slow water, some taken by a rising fish, or disappear from It is needless to say that these Gov­ shallow and some deep. Bass roam about so view in a spray of water from the vicious ernors have the solid backing and much that one can never tell where they strike of a hungry bass. The uncertainty support of the sportsmen of these will be during the warmer weather. Of of what will happen and the mere casting of two States. In Pennsylvania, with course in the late fall they are in the deep the surface lure leaves a fascination second over a half million organized sports­ water and then on the warm days are found to none in fishing, and once the fisherman men, together with their friends, this means a considerable following in more shallow water. Regardless of the starts using them, he will have many pleas­ and support for our Governor, who depth or swiftness of the water If the bass ant hours ahead which he will not soon is looked upon as the sportsmen's wants your surface lure he will get it. forget. real friend. When the bass are located and especially when they are rising to natural flies it is quite important that the lure be dropped Editor's Note—Myron Shoemaker lives at Just as near the rise as is possible. This Laceyville, on the famous North Branch of does not seem to scare the bass and he will the Susquehanna. His observations, based SETH SAYS sometimes rise immediately. on practical experience in bass fishing, should be of particular interest to our Jest give me a good There are two or three sizes of these sur­ readers. As a fly fisherman, he ranks with long cane pole, right face lures and many color combinations. As the best in Pennsylvania today. strong line an' a spoon to the sizes I would suggest at least two. bait, an' I reckon I got One of number 4 hook and one of number 2 the best outfit fer pick­ hook. Size sometimes makes the difference erel fishin' a man kin between a successful day and a bad one. If ANGLERS COMPETE AT WALTON git. Ef a feller skit­ the bass are really hitting hard the larger ters among the lily hook is best. If they are simply sucking FIELD DAY pads an' weeds 'long about this time o' year, the lure in, then the smaller size is best. In spite of rain-sodden fields, a large he kin hev some real fun. Pickerel an' bass Color, I really believe, is a matter of crowd attended the seventh annual field day hev got inter the deep holes on the crick choice among fishermen rather than a choice of the Delaware County Chapter, Izaak an' this month oughter be the best fer to the bass, although there are fishermen Walton League of America, recently. fishin' in the season. What with the air who claim fish can distinguish color, while Trapshooters, pistol marksmen, rifle shots, snappy an' bracin', the trees along the crick there are others, who are scientists, who fishermen, and archery enthusiasts supplied a-colorin' up an' mebbe a touch o' frost in claim they are color blind. Regardless of keen competition for the numerous prizes. the mornin', a feller who likes ter fish hes Whether they can distinguish color or not I Some of the events started as early as some happy days ahead. am always prepared and have some different 10 o'clock in the morning and it was near Jerry Tims 'n' me hes always fished live colors but not many. One fisherman may evening when the final scores were regis­ desire yellow, others red, and others nat­ bait most fer bass an' pickerel, but we fig- tered. The affair was held in the Marr- gered out one night thet mebbe there was ural colors and so on. If a fisherman has Wolfenden meadow, along Ridley Creek, Sood luck on some certain color and has somethin' ter this palaver about fake baits. about one mile northwest of Media. So we each gits a spoon hook at the store confidence in that color I would advise him Fly and bait casting furnished keen com­ to stick to that color because he has con­ in town, an' starts out. By gorry, thet was petition for fishermen in five events. some fun we hed. We'd drop the spoon in fidence in it. And confidence in a lure First place for fly casting, accuracy at weans a lot. plouts here an' there not far from shore, an' known distance, went to Morton Paul, of them pickerel'd jist about hop out on the When bass have not been too selective I Swarthmore, score 96. P. G. Piatt, of Wall- bank fer it. I ketched one thet weighed have done considerable experimenting with ingford, took second with 92 and B. G. better'n three pounds an' was 24 inches long, color and sizes and have found one color to Smith, of Kennett Square, was third with Jerry he beat me at thet fer he got a 25- be just as effective as another. At other 90. incher weighin' three an' a half. They was times when they have been too "high hat," In the event for accuracy at unknown big broad fish, an' I ain't never seen our 1 have tried all kinds of colors and sizes distance, first prize was won by M. J. Tobias, fish in the crick in better shape fer the Without a rise and could see the fish all the of Williamson School, score 96; second, P. winter. Them pike was a-rollin' in fat, t'me, then have returned to one of the first G. Piatt, 94; third, H. O. Wilcox, of Media, Jerry an' me ketched us five apiece, an' not colors and made the catch. Possibly this 93. one was under 17 inches. fish, became maddened by being constantly The prize for distance fly casting was won We spotted some right fair squirrel trees bothered and possibly he wanted that par­ by Morton Paul, 76 2/3 feet; second place, down by the crick, an' chances is we'll be M. J. Tobias, 72 1/3; third, P. G. Piatt, ticular color. However, the way he hit the right at 'em on the first day o' squirrel hire would not indicate that he was infuri- 71 2/3. at season. Reckon this time o' year hes ed; just curious or hungry. Not having In bait casting, for distance, the first about all a feller who likes ter fish an* hunt the mind of the fish it is hard to decide. prize winner was J. L. Pierce, of Lenni. could want. 4 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER PLAIN PANFISH By Charles M. Wetzel

ROBABLY the greatest number of fish water all around, feeding on the midge fly and undoubtedly the great majority are P caught on our streams and lakes are the chironomous, which the wind had collected caught while fishing for other fish, like the pan fish (small fish, fried whole, of frying in large patches. trout in early spring. pan size) such as the perch, rock bass, fall "If only we had some trout flies along, The Catfish fish, catfish, chubs and sunfish. The crappie, we'd have a mess in a short time," I said, When fishing for bullheads or catfish, it too, falls under the same category, but I watching the perch splashing around. is essential that the bait reaches the bot­ have not included it as this fish appears to "We don't have any," said Dad. "Let's tom of the stream bed for these fish are be rarely found in our Pennsylvania waters. see if we can't catch some on night bottom feeders; and to achieve this effect It is quite difficult to show others how to crawlers." a small sinker is usually employed. The catch panfish, especially when we all be­ "I'll keep them around, while you fish," most commonly used bait is the angleworm, lieve we have graduated from the panfish I offered, dropping the anchor overboard. but minnows and pieces of sparrow work school, and knowing my limitations, I will Attaching a tandem spinner to my line, equally as well. Bullhead fishing is at its attempt it only in a general way. (similar to that illustrated in Fig. 8) I best during a flood when the water is high In fishing for panfish two methods are dropped it into the water; and by con­ and discolored. commonly employed. 1. The "Old Timers" stantly raising and lowering it, the fish Remember our barefoot days, when we im­ generally used the long cane pole, with float, were kept in a continual state of excite­ patiently waited for the rain to cease so sinker and hooks attached to the line as ment. In a short time they moved away, we could go fishing, while outside in the shown in Figure 11. This rig baited with no longer fascinated by the glittering blades, street the gutters were overflowing with angleworms has always been popular with but not until after we had caught our mess muddy colored water washed from the near­ young and old alike. 2. The modern angler of fish. by fields? Everyone knew that it was bull­ scorns the use of such heavy equipment and We are particularly fortunate here in head weather—that the catfish and eels uses instead the light fly rod, generally Pennsylvania in not finding worms in our would shortly begin feeding on the myriads equipped with three wet flies as illustrated perch. On various northern lakes, these of angleworms carried down into the creek in Fig. 1. This is the identical rig of the pests bury themselves in the flesh of the by the storm—and how necessary it was to wet fly trout fisherman, so popular (in all fish and can easily be located by the small get to the creek, just at the time when the streams. A light six-foot leader with point brown spots in the white meat after the water started to grow cloudy. and two dropper loops is required for at­ fish has been gutted. Finally the storm would be over and with taching the three wet flies. This conven­ Worms and minnows are probably the a "whoop," we'd rush out to the chicken tion is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, while best perch baits, but when the fish are sur­ yard to dig for worms, which after the Fig. 4 shows the method commonly employed face feeding, trout flies prove superior to rain would be near the surface of the in fastening the line to the leader. anything. The flies should be cast out over ground. How the chickens would be crowd­ Aside from the bullhead, all of the pan­ the water, allowed to sink a moment, then ing around, rushing in and seizing the angle­ fish rise well to the fly—the gentlemanly retrieved with a slight twitching motion. worms out of the freshly turned earth in a way of catching fish. For those of you with I have had the best success with the red most exasperating way. fly casting aspirations, no more suitable ant, professor and a small governor. Then over to "Bingman's hole," a great place for obtaining experience can be found White perch are found in the Neshaminy place for "catties," where an immense white than on our warm water streams, fishing Creek and some excellent sport can be had oak towered out over the water,—and where for the panfish. There, as often as not, you fly fishing for them during late May and the shore line dropped off gradually through will find some expert fly caster indulging in early June. At dusk the school starts work­ a muddy bottom, thickly clustered with pond his favorite sport; and at a small expense ing upstream for probably two hundred lilies to the deeper pool beyond. How fishy securing almost the same enjoyment as if yards, causing a great commotion on the it looked with myriads of small foam he were far away on some turbulent moun­ surface of the water; and if one keeps patches monotonously circling on its sur­ tain stream. Probably this same angler has abreast on this foraging trip, a double now face. Upstream the muddy water would just been off his strike, (failure to hook the fish) and then on the red ant will not prove un­ be arriving. We would be on time for hadn't and is seeking to recover that synchronous usual. we run all the way over? With fingers coordination of eye and movement, so es­ Chubs and Fall Fish trembling in eagerness we would start un­ sential to the successful fly fisher. Make Chubs rise well to the fly and are usually winding the line wrapped about the long no mistake about it, panfish rise well to the found in the swift riffles or immediately be­ cane poles, bait up the two hooks with fly and furnish excellent sport on the light low, where the current slows down over the worms, adjust the cork or float to the depth rod. deeper pools. Worms, crickets and grass­ of the water and cast it out. Then would hoppers are among the best of baits, but follow that breathless period of expectancy, The Perch broken by a shout from John: "I got a bite, One of the most outstanding character­ probably the greatest number of chubs are caught on flies during trout season. Like look at that cork going out over the water istics of the perch is that they gather to­ wouldya." gether in schools; and when one is caught the sucker in late summer, their flesh grows others usually follow, that is if the school very soft, but they are among the best of "Don't wait fer the cork to go under, he's can be kept in the immediate vicinity. fish for tasty eating. Scale, remove head runnin' off with it. Pull 'im out quick," I A few years ago my father and I were and entrails; fry crisp and brown, eating would yell excitedly. "Mebbe it's an eel." fishing Lake Wallenpaupack for wall-eyes. bones and all. John would take a firm grip on the rod, Having fished for a few days gaining plenty Fallflsh, commonly called whitefish, are give a lusty heave and the fish would de­ of experience and no fish, it was high time found in the majority of our larger streams scribe a graceful arc over his head, landing that the skillet should take on the fishy and are without doubt one of our prettiest far back in the field. Hastily scrambling up ordor usually associated with camping out. fishes. On the North Branch of the Sus­ the bank, we would gather around and ad­ On previous trips we had more or less estab­ quehanna below Wyalusing, I have had ex­ mire the prize. lished a precedent* that the wife expected us cellent results using a tandem spinner and "Do you think he'll go a foot?" John to live up to, and rowing across the lake that small Paramachene Belle fly similar to Fig. would ask anxiously, viewing with pardon­ evening after another Ashless day, Dad said: S. They also take a dry fly, especially those able pride the six-inch bullhead. "Charlie, we'll have to catch a mess of fish like the Coachman, Bee, Rube Wood or "All of it," I'd answer enviously, mentally soon. This razzing we're getting from your others which are tied with thick plump adding three inches to the estimated length. wife every night is getting on my nerves." bodies. Some of the fallflsh attain a large Then followed the usual obsequies. And so Nearly half way across the lake, we size and put up a real scrap on a light fly it would continue. noticed a school of yellow perch breaking rod. I have never found them so plentiful Many a time we fished till dark, the most

0 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER

fascinating hours of the day. Then the fire­ "It's sort of a secret compound," I an­ catching "sunnies" on trout flies is the flies would appear, and along the creek the swered with a grin, hastily pocketing the "bunk." deep-throated booming of the frogs held an tube. First it is necessary to locate the fish, eerie ring. Probably by that time the red Then ensued a silence of about five min­ probably the greatest secret of all in suc­ or stone catfish would start biting and as utes. Had I been rude and hurt the old cessful angling. Look for them around if by signal we would start wrapping up our chap's feelings? But no, after lifting out overhanging stumps, submerged logs, large lines, for we knew the fishing was over when another sucker, the old man again spoke up: rocks, lily pads and pockets in the long they started biting—the water had been "You know, young fellow, I surely would waving ruffled pond weed. Another favorite muddy too long. like to try some of thet fish lure." lurking place is just at the edge of a bed of Halcyon days they were, over by "Bing- "I'm quitting now and you can have what the water weed Philotria, commonly found man's hole." This was the spot where I is left," I answered, passing him the tube on Middle Creek and the majority of our caught catfish during the middle of day together with a few of the largest fish I warm water streams. when there hadn't been a rain for weeks. had recently caught. Having located the fish which assemble Mother's favorite fish was the catfish and I suppose I should have left him in on more or less in groups, start casting, chang­ regardless of the condition of the water, I the joke, but one event followed another—- ing flies frequently until the correct one is usually brought home a few for her. Nat­ was elaborated on to a great extent, espe­ secured—then remember the pattern for urally an accomplishment such as this cially when the old man continued to pump future use. aroused considerable curiosity among the me regarding the secret—so that it was im­ Wet flies are without doubt superior to local anglers, but the secret was relatively possible to explain without appearing ridicu­ all others and the shallower the water, the simple. I hadn't been using any magic fish lous. The old chap was so nice—even more effective the fly. One of the most de­ lure as a veteran angler thought one day wanted to form a partnership in manufac­ pendable patterns is the orange or carrot while I was hooking suckers from the old turing the lure—so that my generosity in colored nymph, reputed annihilator of brown red bridge spanning the Middle Creek. parting with the largest suckers was an and brook trout. With it, I have never Permit me to digress from my subject a act no doubt prompted by the way of atone­ caught a trout, but many a sunfish has suc­ minute while I recount this episode for it ment. cumbed to its devastating charms. fittingly illustrates the old saying that ang­ But getting back to catching catfish dur­ lers are among the most gullible and imagin­ ing the day in clear water. This was ac­ complished by wading in the stream and SPEAKING OF PICKEREL ative of all people. Northwestern Pennsylvania with Lake In those days it was legal to hook suckers, stirring up the mud and silt among the lily pads. It is only necessary to wait a LeBoeuf, Edinboro Lake and Conneaut that is to slip a bare hook (usually a treble) few minutes for the catfish to come out of Lake may boast the finest muskellunge fish­ under their nose as they lay motionless in the mud and start feeding, as they evi­ ing in the state; the north tier counties, the water. dently think that food is being washed down Potter and Tioga, the central counties Cen­ Now it so happened that on this particu­ from a recent storm. I have made several tre, Union and Clinton may bow to no others lar day I was walking along feeling rather outstanding catches of catfish in this man­ in trout fishing waters, while the Allegheny, disconsolate over not having caught any fish ner, especially during long dry periods when North Branch of the Susquehanna and the and happening to pass by the old red bridge they feed avidly. Juniata River and tributaries may rank ace on my homeward way, I stopped for a Bullheads are more or less nocturnal in high for smallmouth bass—but when it minute to look down into the water. Slightly habit and in lakes where the water is comes to fishing for the slim and aggressive farther downstream an old veteran sucker normally clear—fishing is usually done at chain pickerel, take off the hat to the ponds fisherman reclining on the bank was drow­ night. There are exceptions, of course, to and lakes of Wayne County and northeast­ sily puffing away on his pipe; and evidently the above, for at one time while fishing for ern Pennsylvania. Here, in a setting of he, too, found the fishing poor, for judging muskles in Little Mud Lake, Ontario, I forest grandeur second to none in the Key­ from his indolent position he hadn't moved caught a large channel catfish during the stone State, the native pickerel has held any in the last few hours. day on a No. 6 Lowe Star Spoon, probably its own and ranks, perhaps without doubt, Underneath the bridge in the slightly one of few instances of its kind; but be as the outstanding game fish in the area. cloudy water, the dim outlines of a school it as it may, if you want to catch catfish, Members of the Perkins Pond Club, busi­ of suckers were faintly visible., I couldn't fish for them at night or during a time when ness and professional men of Honesdale in see the hook to hook them for the water the water is muddy. Wayne County, have set a splendid example was too cloudy, and I was more or less at in fishing for pickerel. They have adopted a loss to proceed, knowing they would not Rock Bass a minimum size limit of 15 inches, and re­ take bait. This small fish is a vicious fighter and turn every fish under that size to the water. In my tackle box was an old tube of oil will strike savagely on plugs longer than Nine members of the Club, fishing on open­ colors and I finally seized on the happy itself. They are lovers of rocks but gather ing day of the pickerel season, landed 111 expedient of painting the bare hook with in schools around any convenient shelter, pickerel over 15 inches in length by 7:30 it. Everything worked out fine and in the like submerged logs, overhanging stumps in the morning. The fish were retained cloudy water the painted hook was more and the like. The small flyrod plug is very alive in wells under the boat seats, counted visible than the fish themselves. good especially the white one having a red upon returning to the landing, and then all head, illustrated in Pig. 9. Worms, wet I had caught one or two when this old but 20 of the total catch were returned to flies, grasshoppers, crickets, minnows, fly the water. Two of these pickerel topped veteran angler sauntered up, evidently and spinner combinations are all good but thinking I had struck a bonanza. four pounds in weight, one weighing 4% the most successful lures are those that pounds. "Young fellow, do you mind if I fish be­ kick up a commotion as they are being sides you?" he asked peering down into the Included in the membership of this live- drawn through the water. I have caught wire sportsmen's club are Prank Sheurholz, water, directly at the spot where the fish quite a few rock bass on the small feather were lying. Dan Faatz, Bill Boder, John Dingwall and minnow illustrated in Pig. 7; and the small Dr. Baer. "Not at all," I answered, moving over, "go cork bodied bug, Pig. 10, works fine when right ahead." the fish are surface feeding. Every now and then I would lift out a Sunfish BIG BASS FROM THE AUGHWICK sucker which stimulated the old lad to in­ Everyone knows the sunfish but compara­ The Aughwick Creek in Huntingdon creasing endeavor. Evidently his sight was tively few know how consistently to take County is furnishing fine fishing for small- bad, for it was apparent that he did not him on the fly rod with artificial flies. The mouth bass this year, writes Warden Bill see the fish lying directly below him. After secret is that they have not been using the Keebaugh of Hustontown. Recently, Cree one of these periodical catches, the old chap correct pattern, for like the trout, the sun­ Weston, youthful angler, landed a bass noticed me squeezing out the paint on the fish is very selective. It is probably due measuring 19 inches in length and weighing bare hook. to this discriminating trait that the sport 3 pounds, 13 ounces. Howard Freese, of "What kinda magic fish lure do you call has not proved more popular, for many Hollidaysburg, caught a real old timer of thet?" he asked suspiciously moving over anglers after a few unsuccessful attempts, the smallmouth clan, measuring 22 inches to have a better look. grow discouraged and form the opinion that in length and weighing 5 pounds. PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER "Pooey to You from Me"

By Iwana B. Anonymous

OR more than 15 years I have done Another unpardonable sin of mine is the F more than my share towards making use of live bait in bass fishing. I never life miserable for our piscatorial friends of purposely let a bass swallow the bait, as I lake and stream. Annually I've expended figure he puts up a better fight with the from $6 to $10 per pound for my trout; the hook in his jaw. I wouldn't recommend this cost of bass and muskellunge I haven't cared practice to everyone, as by letting the bass to estimate. Long ago I ceased to gain any swallow the bait, if you use good sized bait, diversion from my catches or anticipations it adds that much to its weight. Of course of them. I've come to the conclusion that the real reason I use live bait is because I when it comes to outdoor sports, I had can't catch anything bait or fly casting, the better discard my natural veracious tend­ latter being merely a pleasurable form of encies and in oral retrospect exaggerate the exercise as far as I am concerned. few puny successes I've bad with rod and To get back to trout fishing, the proper gun in order to retain the respect of my attitude for poor anglers like myself to take superiors with those instruments. FIG. 2 is not to expect to catch any trout. Just do Like brother Richard S. Bond (PENNSYL­ a little fishing on your way down the stream, VANIA ANGLER for August, 1935) when any so if you happen to meet any of your friends lacking in most people. Fishermen acquire of my famous contemporaries accompany me they won't get the idea you are sentimental it * * * "well, I guess I can listen to his on a fishing trip, my presence disrupts all by merely gawping at the scenery and drink­ story, he listened to mine." normal relations between them and the ing in the spring air. Once in a while you Finis. trout and they catch 6% or 7 inch ones the may have to extract a small trout from your same as myself. Sometimes we go far back hook. I recommend the barbless hook, as into the wilderness, in the "big woods" por­ the little trout will come off so easily that tion of the state where seldom any white it won't appreciably disturb your day dream­ CLARION BUCKTAILS FIGHT men go, except forest rangers, fire wardens, ing. There might be times when you will POLLUTION game wardens, fish wardens, the men who catch a six or seven inch trout. If you like Adopting as their slogan "Clean the dump the hatchery fish into the streams and to eat fish at all, hide these away in a corner Clarion," the Clarion County Bucktail As­ ten thousand other fishermen. Here the of your creel, and sometime when you can sociation has been steadily forging toward streams are almost as pretty as they are do so unobserved, cook them. They are de­ this objective. One of the outstanding within a few miles of home, except that lectable. Don't tell anyone about them, be­ sportsmen's field meets in the state, the there are more sardine and salmon cans by cause real sportsmen like our friends don't Tri-County Sportsmen's Outing, sponsored the more frequent fireplaces, and that it keep anything under eight inches. isn't as lonesome. However, papa and by the Bucktails was held at Cooks Forest grandpapa trout have instructed the kiddies Figure One illustrates what can be done on Labor Day. Scheduled events included to seize the bait, here as elsewhere. Always with a Kodak in substantiating any tall plug casting, rifle and trap-shooting, and taking for granted that the trout are not yarns you care to make about your fish. an address by Mayor Wm. N. McNair, of orphans. The trout in the picture are really nothing Pittsburgh. A picnic dinner was served. to brag about, if the truth be known. Place The purpose of this bit of pessimism is Other events were a Boy's Contest, Girl's your trout considerably in front of the twofold. Firstly because confession is good Contest and Women's Rolling Pin Contest. smallest creel you can find. Include a foot for the soul; secondly because there might rule in the background. I have often con­ Appearing on the first page of the pro­ just possibly be another person like myself sidered having a special ruler made, about gram is a splendid dedication by M. M. who just can't catch any big fish, and I six inches in length and marked off to repre­ Kaufman, second vice-president. It follows: would like to encourage him not to give up sent a foot. By a little practice in posing "THE GREAT ARCHITECT OF THE in disgust. Ditto with hunting. Don't take your fish, such special apparatus is not UNIVERSE planned and builded mirac­ it to heart if your friends can shoot a buck necessary. Another convenient method of ulously, placing on land, in the air and running, at five hundred yards, when you having pictures prove your tale, is to bor­ in the waters, animal, bird, fish and veg­ can't even make out horns at two hundred. row the fish from someone else, pehaps the etable life. In ignorance man has wantonly To my groat shame, I once shot a three point combined catches of several people. Figure wasted and destroyed them. NOW THIS buck standing, only sixty yards away! I Two illustrates this nicely. IS OUR AIM: We will sow more than we didn't get it through the heart either. (Is One point to remember in relating your reap. When we cut down a tree, we will it any wonder that I write this under the plant twenty. We will rear birds and ani­ cloak of anonymity?) fish stories is to fabricate them carefully, and then stick to the original. Elaborating mals; provide fields and forests, food and on them as you retell them is bound to re­ shelter for them. We will breed fishes in sult in your getting caught up some time. abundance and see to it that their water- You will probably be surprised as the years homes are once more made pure and clean roll along that some of your best stories and so remain. will become so real to you that you will be "Oh, the exhilaration, the health and convinced yourself of their veracity. pleasure found in our great out-of-doors! In closing, I hope that I have not left the "If you are a nature lover in any of its impression that I minimize the great sport many fascinations—a lover of mountains of fishing in any way. There is no other and valleys, of trees, vines, ferns, wild activity which is equally as stimulating in flowers and rocks; of lakes, rivers and so many ways. One develops his love of brooks; a hunter, a fisherman, a boatman, nature, his physique and his mentality. I a swimmer or a camper, or like a bee, just recommend angling above anything else to taking a sip of delight, here and there, people who are inclined to be unimaginative. throughout nature's realm, we ask you to Tolerance is one of the virtues most sadly become one of us." FIG. 1 8 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER The Snapping Turtle By Paul L. Swanson HERE is a small pond near my home of the balance of nature is a good one, but by a large number of snappers sold at mark­ Twhich was formed by the removal of it has many drawbacks. It usually ex­ ets. limestone for agricultural purposes. It is cludes man from nature, making him the The female snapper usually goes a short fed only by seepage and rain, but its depth chief offender for throwing things out of distance from the water to lay her eggs, prevents it from totally drying up during balance, assuming that disregarding the sometime in June or July. She burrows in a normal summer. To the south are many presence of man, nature would always be the sand or soil until she is fairly well- farms under cultivation; to the north are more or less "balanced." However, nature covered. After depositing the eggs she numerous wooded areas, making the pond a is never perfectly balanced. It is always crawls away; the dirt falling off her back convenient place for various kinds of am­ undergoing great changes. If it were not, into the depression, leaving the eggs cov­ phibians to congregate in the spring to per­ once it became balanced it would remain ered. The eggs are spherical in shape, about petuate their kind. more or less unchanged. Thus if the bal­ an inch in diameter, with a thin white shell. ance had been established during the age Twenty to thirty is the average number, al­ The rather uncommon Swamp Tree Frog of reptiles, that age would still exist, and though large examples lay many more. A may be found there at the proper season. man would occupy a very unimportant place specimen caught by David Swanson in Min­ Spring Peepers, Tree Toads, Common Toads, if he were here at all. nesota and donated to the Carnegie Museum Green Frogs, Pickerel Frogs, Leopard Frogs, contained 64 eggs. As with most other rep­ Wood Frogs, Spotted Salamanders, Jeffer­ The snapper has the redeeming feature of tiles, few of the young ever reach a state son's Salamanders and Newts all use the being prized as food by many. Personally of maturity. Very young turtles are eaten pond as an amphibian nursery. Thus it is I'd prefer some of the ducklings, frog legs by rats, fish, frogs and other animals, but an excellent laboratory for the study of or fish that the snapper preyed upon. For­ the older they become the fewer enemies these forms of wild life. Most of them find tunately the snapper and soft-shelled tur­ they have capable of doing them harm. their way to the pond in early spring, mate, tles, our two most voracious predatory rep­ The food of the snapping turtle consists deposit eggs and leave, some species remain­ tiles, are hunted for food, which thins down of a very large number of species of the ing only a day or two. The larval forms, their numbers much more than if they were animal kingdom. They have been known or tadpoles, make an interesting subject for inedible. to eat small mammals, birds, snakes, sala­ observation. I visited the pond frequently The snapping turtle is well known to most manders, frogs, tadpoles, fish, crayfish, in­ this spring and summer. One night I dis­ fishermen, although there are many who sects, snails and worms. One specimen was covered that two snapping turtles had moved call almost any large turtle a "snapper." It found to have eaten a robin; another a star­ in. I left them undisturbed to see if these is very easily identified by the large head, ling. Ducklings are frequently taken. In small creatures were suitable forage for the the long tail surmounted by flat tubercles, catching the latter, the turtle swims up be­ greedy chelonians. From then on the deni­ and the serrated margin on the rear of the neath the unsuspecting bird, seizes it and zens of the pond rapidly diminished in num­ upper shell. The lower shell is very small, drags it beneath the surface to drown. It bers. In about two weeks the larval sala­ leaving the fleshy legs exposed and furnish­ sometimes buries itself in the mud at the manders and frogs were so rare that I de­ ing much less protection than that of most bottom of a pool and awaits fish or other cided to remove the turtles. I captured one. other species of turtles. Young specimens prey to come within reach of its powerful A few days later a neighbor brought me have three keels on the upper shell which jaws. In a previous issue of the ANGLER, it the other, or at least one very nearly the gradually become less noticeable as the tur­ was noted that a captive specimen consumed same size, which he caught about a quarter tle grows older. The term "mud turtle" is from 3 to 5 pounds of fish daily for a period of a mile from the pond after it had killed sometimes incorrectly applied to the snapper, of one week. several of his ducklings. It still had a but more appropriately belongs to a much The snapper hibernates in the winter feather of one of its victims clinging to its smaller turtle which differs considerably in months, often collecting in large numbers. jaws when it was brought to me. appearance. Turtle hunters make the most of this fact To those who believe that every living A large snapping turtle has a shell about and collect at that season. Muskrat burrows thing on earth was put here for a purpose, 12 or 14 inches in length and would weigh are a favorite place for hibernation. In one the snapper, together with hundreds of other in the neighborhood of 30 pounds. In rare instance 26 turtles were removed from one creatures, is rather hard to explain. Per­ instances a larger one might be found, per­ burrow. According to another report, 1420 haps it acts as a weight to keep "the bal­ haps 40 pounds in weight. The average pounds of snappers were taken from one ance of nature" on an even keel. The theory weight is about 7 or 8 pounds, as determined muskrat runway.

VENTRAL SURFACES OF PAINTED TURTLE, (LEFT), AND SNAPPING TURTLE AT RIGHT. NOTE DIFFERENCES IN STRUCTURE OF THE LOWER SHELL PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 9

TROUT FEATURE AUGUST STOCKING Trout above legal six-inch size, brook, brown and rainbow, featured stocking of The Rights of Children in Rivers Pennsylvania waters by the Fish Commis­ An Editorial sion during August. Of a total number of 100,544 fish distributed, brown trout, 8 to By Ben Hur Lampson, Editorial Writer, The "Portland Oregonian" 12 inches in length, numbered 58,718; brook Under the crag where the ouzel sings, trout, 7 to 8 inches, 39,400, rainbow trout, And the ivied wall where the church-bell rings, 8 to 10 inches, 1,440; pickerel, 3 to 12 inches, Undeflled, for the undeflled; 426; bullhead catfish, 2 to 10 inches, 360, Play by me, bathe in me, mother and child. and bluegill sunfish, averaging 5 inches, 200. OW that was the selfsame crag down which small Tom breathlessly clam­ N bered, beyond Harthover—the small and sooty Tom—in Charles Kings- Following are the waters stocked in the ley's dearest of tales, "The Water-Babies." And the river, of course, was an various counties: English river, wherein the puzzled little chimney-sweep washed all his grime Adams—brook trout, Carbaugh Run, Toms away, and whose bright current bore him far to strange adventure. And yet, Creek. for so it is with rivers, the song in Kingsley's strange and gentle book, whereof each chapter is understanding and sympathy, the lines might worthily Armstrong—brook trout, Corn Planter have been written of one of our own rivers,—of one of our own rivers before Run, Patterson Creek, Scrubgrass Creek, ever it quits the hill, meadow or forest for cities and towns and the factories Mill Run. that men build beside water. It might have been written of one of our streams Bedford—brown trout, Yellow Creek, before ever the clearness and healing of hill-born water was tainted by the Wills Creek, Cumberland Valley Run, Im- wastes of thousands of people and the casual foulness of industry. lerton Run, Raystown Branch Juniata But the stream that received small Tom, the stream that was heartsease, River; rainbow trout, Thomas W. Koon with "every pebble at the bottom bright and clean," laughed on and on in that unforgettable story of childhood, until at long last—but much too soon—it Lake. came to an English city, where all its brightness was darkened and all its Berks—brook trout, Swamp Creek, Black laughter stilled. And none might go gladly to it then, as small and fugitive Creek, Raush Creek. Tom had gone, for the gladness and healing of the flowing water, the birthright Blair—brown trout, Clover Creek, Bald of children, had been quite stifled by shame. And to you who have read "The Eagle Creek, Piney Creek. Water-Babies," to sorrow and rejoice with its perplexed and fugitive little hero, Bucks—brook trout, Beaver Run. you cannot but remember how it was then with the river. How it was in Butler—brook trout, Bear Creek, North these lines: Dank and foul, dank and foul, Branch Bear Creek, Chanceys Run, Little By the smoky town in its murky cowl; Connoquenessing Creek; brown trout, Thron Foul and dank, foul and dank, Creek. By wharf and sewer and slimy bank. Cambria—brown trout, Chest Creek, Darker and darker the farther I go, Clearfield Creek. Baser and Baser the richer I grow, Cameron—brown trout, Sinnemahoning Who dare sport with the sin-deflled? Shrink from me, turn from me, mother and child. Portage Creek, Driftwood Branch. An English river, far away, and yet our river, too. For in their precise Carbon—brook trout, Mauch Chunk Creek, and scientific prose our doctors have uttered these same charges, and freighted Pine Run, Stoney Creek; brown trout, Poho- them with dread, of the rivers that flow past our doors. These rivers of ours, poco Creek, Hayes Creek. so they have warned all mothers, must be forbidden to children. The shadow Centre—brook trout. Cedar Creek, Pine is over and in the shamed water that once was a birthright—a birthright still, Creek, Wolf Run. Cherry Run; brown trout, although stolen away—the shadow is illness and death. There is no joy in such rivers, and doctors do well to warn mothers lest children go to the river Spring Creek, Penns Creeps Marsh Creek, as to a destined plavmate, and have only sorrow and pain to requite theif Bald Eagle Creek, Little Moshannon Creek ; instinctive belief in the goodness of rivers. pickerel, Moshannon Lake. One has heard, now and again, of opinions which hold that the cleansing Chester—brook trout, French Creek. of rivers, by the treatment of sewage and disposal of wastes, must somehow be Clarion—brook trout, Mill Creek, Toms bad for business—since the cost is computed in dollars. Of all the strangeness Run, Deer Creek, Step Creek, Mahles Run, that may be encountered in the strange, enchanted adventuring of small Tom, Buck Run, Little Piney Creek, Little Toby there is nothing whatever to compare with the stupid, cruel strangeness of this grotesque assertion. Is the restoration of the birthright of children, the Creek, East Sandy Creek; brown trout, cleansing of a river, evil for business? How monstrous is this imagining. Piney Creek. Why shouldn't it be good for business, since it is good for children, to cease Clearfield—brown trout, Lick Run. from defiling a river? Until Clinton—brook trout, Middle Branch Big Like a soul that has sinned and is pardoned again, Run, Swamp Branch Big Run, Twin Run. Undeflled, for the undeflled; Monument Run; brown trout, Big Fishing Play by me, bathe in me, mother and child. Creek. The fishes turn back from the tainted water that will not give them life. Yet there are those who will say, when the cleansing of rivers is urged, that Columbia—brook trout, West Creek, Little sportsmen are speaking selfishly for their sport. But the very fishes are telling Fishing Creek, Coles Creek, Lick Run. us that the river, which was born to a ministry of beauty and gladness, is so Crawford—brook trout, East Branch defiled that children may approach it only at their peril. And do the cautious Muddy Creek, McLaughlin Creek, Muddy critics of the cleansing of rivers dare represent that water which is death to a Creek, Sandy Creek, Md. Branch Sugar fish is excellent in every way for the child? The code of ethics and morality, Creek, Mosey Run, Kelly Run, Brannon the fundamental laws of sanitation alike require the cleansing of our rivers, until again these streams are undeflled. Run, Petrick Run. You who have children, you who believe in the decency of man and the Cumberland—brown trout Letort Springs obligations of citizenship and our common humanity—you who believe in the Run, Mountain Creek. birthright of rivers—must work and, when occasion offers, vote for the cleans­ Dauphin—brook trout, South Fork Powels ing and restoration of the streams of America. Let them be again as was that Creek. English stream to which small Tom descended, when he had gone down the Elk—brown trout, West Branch Clarion steep crag beyond Harthover. Let them be again as they were in our American River, West Branch Clarion Creek, Drift­ yesterday. wood Branch. Fayette—brown trout, Little Sandy Creek. Franklin—brook trout, North Branch pickerel, Penn Central Dam on Raystown Lancaster—brown trout, Big Chickiea Little Antietam Creek, Trout Run, Carbaugh Branch Juniata River; catfish, Penn Cen­ Creek, Rock Run, Fishh g Creek. Run. tral Dam on Raystown Branch Juniata Lebanon—brook trout, Hammer Creek, Huntingdon—brook trout, Shavers Creek ; River; sunfish, Penn Central Dam on Rays­ West Branch Hammer Creek, Backman Run. brown trout, Standing Stone Creek, Spruce town Branch Juniata River. Luzerne—brown trout, Lehigh River. Creek, East Branch Standing Stone Creek; Jefferson—brook trout, Camp Run. Lycoming—brook trout, Plunketts Creek. 10 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER

Black Hole Creek; brown trout, Larrys Creek, Rock Run, Loyalsock Creek, Lycom­ ing Creek, Muncy Creek. "City" Bass and Pike Mifflin—brook trout, Brooklyn Run; "City" bass and wall-eyed pike, you might as well term them that, brown trout, Long Meadow Run, Penns for they were caught right in the Creek, Strode Run. shadow, so to speak, of the state Monroe—brown trout, Lehigh River, capitol at Harrisburg, were striking Brodheads Creek, Paradise Creek, Middle well in August and September. And Branch Brodheads Creek, Pocono Creek, just to prove it, here's a report from Pohopoco Creek. Warden Prank Sanda of Steelton concerning the fishing ventures of Northampton—brook trout, Martins Creek, two Harrisburg anglers. Monocacy Creek. It seems that on August 30, Huss Perry—brook trout, Shermans Creek, Mc- Carpenter and John Dunlap of Har­ Cabes Run. risburg decided to try their luck at Schuylkill—brook trout, Kombs Creek, bass fishing below the Dock Street Beaver Creek, Rattling Run. dam, virtually in Harrisburg. Six smallmouth bass, ranging in .weight Somerset—brown trout, Laurel Hill Creek, from iy to 4 pounds, and a wall­ Raystown Branch Juniata River, Clear eyed pike, 18 inches in length, were Shade Creek, Flaugherty Creek. taken on live bait. Sullivan—brook tfout, Double Run, Rock But here's the cream of their Run, Pole Bridge Run, Black Creek, Lick catch, and it was made immediately Creek; brown trout, Loyalsock Creek, Little following the rainfall on September Loyalsock Creek. 3. Pishing live bait, shiners and chubs, at the same location, they Susquehanna—rainbow trout, Starrucca landed four wall-eyed pike, better Creek. known in this neck of the woods as Tioga—brown trout, Pine Creek, Cowan- "salmon." Those four salmon were esque River, Tioga River, Pine Creek. 23 inches, 26 inches, 27 inches and Union—brook trout, Corl's Run; brown 29 inches in length, respectively. trout, White Deer Creek, Penns Creek, Just another booster, this brief report, for the fishing some of our Laurel Run, White Deer Creek. city anglers may find right at their Venango—brook trout, Panther Creek, own back door. DICK TEMPLIN WITH A 3'A Mill Creek, Horse Creek, Hemlock Creek, POUND LARGEMOUTH BASS Cherry Run. CAUGHT IN BUTLER DAM NEAR Warren—brook trout, Northwest Branch MONTGOMERY OUTING BUTLER Spring Creek, Pine Creek, East Hickory OUTSTANDING SUCCESS Creek, East Branch Caldwell Creek, Little Rainfall in surrounding countryside did Beidler and Hampton prevailed in the Brokenstraw Creek, Six Mile Run, Farns- not spoil the annual outing of the Mont­ lower bracket by defeating Hunsberger and worth Creek. gomery County Fish, Game and Forestry Royer while Judge Knight and Smith over­ Wayne—rainbow trout, West Branch Association at the Benny Cassel farm at whelmed Warren Zeigler and L. Heebner in Wallenpaupack Creek; pickerel, Lake Como. Penn Square. The outing was regarded as the upper bracket. York—brook trout, Rehmeyer Hollow Run. the most outstanding in the history of the Quoit Contestants Association, one of the foremost groups of Thirty-six tossers entered the tournament sportsmen in southeastern Pennsylvania. arranged by Martin Horn, warden of the TO KILL SNAKES ON CEDAR After an afternoon of varied sports enter­ Montgomery county prison. Contestants in­ RUN tainment, a supper was served in the picnic cluded Judge J. Burnett Holland and Paul Cedar Run, famous north tier trout grove to conclude the program. Hunsberger, clerk of courts. Other entrants stream, has entirely too many watersnakes One of the highlights of the day was a were F. C. Yost, E. Thompson, H. C. S'hafer, for the best interests of its trout popula­ dog show at which Dr. Harry B. Steinbach, H. K. Dunaway, John M. Weber, B. C. tion, according to Warden John H. Krausse prominent Norristown veterinarian, acting Washington, H. E. Curll, H. M. Walton, G. of Cammal. Recently, while patrolling this as judge, praised the collection of fine dogs H. Smith, D. Famous, H. Zeleski, J. Eisen- stream, he shot seven of these reptiles in an assembled. berger, H. Evans, E. C. Clymer, Jr., Irvin afternoon. He and Norman Worthington, Dr. Steinbach made the event doubly in­ Gill, Frank Trout, R. Schall, H. Harrington, forest ranger at Leetonia, forthwith planned teresting by explaining things show judges J. Royer, Paul Bean, Nelson Schlotterer, A. a snake killing campaign in which boys from noticed in their work to award prizes. Knight, Dr. Miller, C. E. Brouse, Art a COO camp in that vicinity were to par­ French Beagles Victorious Schmoyer, F. Price and Earl Heebner. ticipate. The beagles brought to the show by J. Special Trap Shooting Match The largest game fish to be taken this Hansell French, secretary of Agriculture, In a special trapshooting match that at­ year from Pine Creek, according to Krausse, won all three prizes in that event. Adolf tracted much attention, Judge Knight de­ was a 30-inch wall-eyed pike weighing 7% Muller, former state chairman of the game feated Judge Holland with the gun, 23 to pounds. The name of the angler making board, entered a winner in the spaniel class, 21. Ambrose Gerhart's 24 was high score this catch was not reported, but he is said DeKalb Fluck, T. J. Carroll, of Consho- for the day. The list of breaks: to hail from Jersey Shore. hocken, had the prize-winning English set­ ter while a Limerick entrant, L. Remington, Cole, 21; Remington, 19; Walton, 15; carried away the Irish setter prize. The Bean, 8; Collins, 13. JUNIATA BASS champion pointer was owned by T. J. E. Smith, 23; Yeager, 12; Bullen, 5; From Warden C. V. Long, East Water- Brindle, Norristown, while a dachshund, Pedrick, 3. ford, comes word of good fishing on the owned by E. F. Brouse, district forester of Muller, 14; Gill, 19; Isenberger, 18; Car­ Juniata and tributaries. Fishing in the Washington Square, was the only bowser rol, 10; Cole, 19. river below Saxton, Robert Adatson, of class entrant. Muller, 14; Gill, 16; Isenberger, 20; Cole, Kulpmont made a fine bass catch on shiners. Judge Wins at Quoits 18; Bean, 11. . The largest fish in his catch measured 21 Among the other sport features was Judge Bertolet, 22; Yocum, 19; Swartzlanger, inches in length and weighed four pounds. Harold G. Knight, president of the associa­ 14; Gordon, 21; Cole, 10. Another bass in the catch measured 18 in­ tion, winning his own prize offered in the Gerhart, 22; Hartman, 13; Carrol, 20; ches, two touched the 17-inch mark, and quoit tournament. It was given to his team­ Weber, 16; Cole, 17. four were 16 inches apiece. mate E. G. Smith, of Oaks, who helped him Hunsberger, 13; Bean, 13; Isenberger, 14; A 20-inch pickerel was taken in Tuscarora defeat Howard Hampton and Howard Sweigart, 16; Weber, 15. Creek on pork rind bait by Alton Meloy, Port Beidler, Upper Merion farmers, 21 to 15, in Hunsberger, 15; E. Smith, 18; G. Smith, Royal. the exciting final match. 22; Sweigart, 12; Muller, 11. PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 11

Zeigler, 11; Gerhart, 24; Harbison, 11; Cole, 14; Hunsberger, 14. Miller, 19; Woodward, 7; Muller, 17; Gill, 14; Yocum, 18. Dog Show Results The dog show results: Beagles—J. Hansell ' French's Delmont Scout Sire Cb.., Delco Mirror, first; French's Luckee Dix, second; French's Lucky Music, third. Spaniels—Adolf Muller's DeKalb Fluck, first; C. K. Shaw, of Whitehall road, Skip­ per, second prize. English Setters—T. J. Carroll, Consho- hocken, first prize; Reuben Shaw, Norris- town, second; E. C. Washington, third. Irish Setters—L. Remington, Limerick, Princess II, first prize; Dr. Wilier, College- vine, Prince I, second prize. Pointers—T. J. Bindle, Norristown, R. D. 1, first prize; J. Hansell French, College- ville, second prize. Bowser—E. A. Brouse, Washington Square, first prize. Tug-of-War Victors E. C. Clymer's tug-of-war team won that exciting event. The members of the winning tug-of-war team, representing the Hunters who out- . tugged the Fishermen, were Alan Wood, ONE OF THE UNITS OF NEW BASS HOLDING PONDS AT THE Irwin Gill, Benny Cassel, Paul Hunsberger, PLEASANT MOUNT HATCHERY, WAYNE COUNTY Jim Bullen, Norman Pedrick, Jim Schmoyer, John Royer, Harry Burns and Will Collins. delphia Aquarium: Judges Harold C. Mr. Muller presented a motion picture In the baseball game, Lloyd Heebner's Knight, William F. Dannehower and George camera and projector to Dr. Moore. hunters defeated Ernest A. Heebner's Fish­ Corson of the Montgomery County Common ermen in a thrilling contest, 10 to 9. Leon Pleas Courts; the Rev. James Niblo, rector BERKS SPORTSMEN WORK TO Nester twirled for the losers while Lloyd of St. John's Episcopal Church of Norris­ IMPROVE STREAMS Heebner did the hurling for the victors. town ; Deputy Attorney General Grover C. Warden W. E. Wounderly of Reading re­ Judge Knight and Warden Horn were on Ladner; Leslie Blackburn, Bedford; E. D. ports splendid progress in stream improve­ the right side as the five-inning tilt provided Haehnle, Bethlehem; Major Nicholas Bid- ment work by organized sportsmen in Berks plenty of action, the winning run being put die, president of the State Game Commis­ County this year. On June 11, the Berks over in the last inning by G. Warren after sion; Ernest E. Harwood, executive secre­ County Chapter of the Izaak Walton League L. Heebner had tied the count. tary of the State Game Commission; S'eth built a deflector at Slopewall. Fifteen men Gordon, of Washington, D. C, secretary of assisted in the work. the American Wild Life Institute; H. R. The Northwestern Rod and Gun Club built DR. MOORE LAUDED AT Stackhouse, executive secretary of the State 07 deflectors and dams on Mill Creek in TESTIMONIAL DINNER Fish Commission; Kenneth A. Reid, of Con- Bethel Township. Twenty-five men assist- In recognition of Dr. William H. Moore's nellsville; and Milton Peek, of Devon, mem­ in.'; in this work made a splendid job of it. service to Pennsylvania as a member of the bers of the State Fish Commission; Dr. Two dams and 10 deflectors were built in State Board of Game Commissioners, from Charles F. Nassau, O. L. Detwiler, John Hassler's Run, Tilden Township, a tributary which he retired a few months ago, more Schleinkoffer and Fred Haegele, of Hazleton. of Mill Creek, by the West Hamburg Fish than 300 prominent outdoor sportsmen and Major Biddle presented to Dr. Moore, in and Game Association. Twenty men helped conservationists assembled at a testimonial behalf of the game board, a scroll inscribed on tin?" project. dinner at the Bellevue-Stratford in Sep­ with a resolution adopted at the last meet­ A nice catch of bass was made in a dam on tember. ing of the commission. The resolution, the Tulpehocken late in August by George Adolf Muller, of Norristown, former pres­ which has been spread upon the board's Hart of the Palisades Country Club, accord­ ident of the game board, was chairman of minutes, eulogizes him for his devotion to ing to Wounderly. Three bass, one 16 in­ the welfare of the State's hunters and the dim er, and Dr. George Levis was toast- ches, one 16y2 inches and the other 17 in­ master. fishermen. ches comprised the catch. Mr. Muller hailed the guest of honor as one of the foremost authorities in the c mntry on the propagation of ring-neck BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS pheasants and bob-white quail. He called attention to the world record in the pro- HARRISBURG, PA. due'. i>n of these species established at the John S. Fisher State Game Farm in Mont­ SUBSCRIPTION BLANK gomery County under the advisory super­ vision of Dr. Moore. Enclosed find fifty cents ($.50) for one year's subscription to PENN­ Brief addresses of tribute were made by SYLVANIA ANGLER. Joseph Hiestand, president of the Philadel­ phia Chapter of the Izaak Walton League; Name Nathan Pechin, sheriff of Delaware County; Samuel P. Orlando, prosecuting (Print Name) attorney of Camden County; Edgar W. Nicholson, president of the Pennsylvania State Game and Fish Protective Association Street and Number and a member of the State Fish Commis­ sion ; Dr. Van Deusen, director of the Phila- City ia PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER

HERE \ THERE • ANGLERDOM

With cooling of the water and concentra­ tion of bass, wall-eyed pike and pickerel in Acrobatic Bass the deeper pools of many Pennsylvania Those fighting smallmouth bass of streams, some of the best catches of game the Allegheny are developing into fish of the year are in the offing for our real acrobats, and Dr. C. G. Sorgan anglers this month. Autumn fishing finds of Butler is now more than ever con­ the plug caster in his heyday, for the big vinced of this fact, according to Spe­ fellows are invariably on a striking rampage cial Warden J. H. Bergman. Appar­ during October and November. Live bait ently Dr. Sorgan doesn't need line, hook and bait to entice the scrappj fishermen also find definite improvement in brbrizebacks into his boat. their sport, as the bass in particular are At any rate, while fishing near the storing up surplus fat to carry them through shoreline of the river near Parker, the winter months of semi-hibernation, and, a 14-inch bass accommodated him by in consequence, feeding voraciously. A gen­ leaping into the boat. Usually, when eral and apparently well-founded belief pre­ this occurs, and it does sometimes, vails among many of our fishermen that this the boat is being propelled through shallow water, but the bass in ques­ autumn there are more bass in the streams tion didn't even need that incentive than at any time during the past ten years. to pull its stunt. Light catches, owing to high and muddy wa­ ter during the summer months, are one fac­ tor to back this belief, and without doubt, Warden Edgar Davis. He landed four pike the amazing bass increase through ideal having a combined weight of 22% pounds. spawning conditions occurred again this The largest fish in the catch weighed 7% year. pounds.

Bass catches in the vicinity of the New­ Owing to the fine stream improvement ton Hamilton dam on the Juniata River program carried out on Piney Creek, Blair have been good this season, reports Warden County trout stream, by interested sports­ Bill Keebaugh. Anderson Rodgers scored men, this stream furnished unusually good with a 3% pound smallmouth, while on Sep­ HERMAN RAUSCH, BUTLER, trouting this year, according to Warden WITH AN 18-INCH YELLOW tember 2, Bill Carbaugh landed four dandies. Link Lender of Bellwood. One of the nicest PERCH FROM ONEIDA DAM brown trout taken was that landed by Stew­ Miss Helen Brumbaugh of Altoona takes art White of Johnstown on a grasshopper. A three-pound smallmouth bass that broke rank with the anglers this season who are It measured 19 inches in length. his rod was landed in spite of the handicap members of the "Bass Over Three Pounds by Fred Liebtreu of Harrisburg at the tip Club." Fishing in the famous Raystown of McCormick's Island in the Susquehanna Branch of the Juniata River at Cipher A nice catch of rainbow trout was made River. It was 19 inches in length ard struck Beach, Bedford County, she landed a 19-inch on Laurel Hill Creek in Somerset County, the lure near a grass patch in the river. smallmouth weighing 3% pounds. Robert by Charles Wertz of Johnstown. Nine Adolphson of Coalmont landed four small- beauties, ranging in length from 10 to 14 mouths, the largest 21 inches, and the others inches, were taken. Favorite trout baits with Wertz are crickets and flies. 18 and 17 respectively. An 18-inch small­ According to Warden J. H. Simmons of mouth weighing 3 pounds was caught in the Rochester, Beaver County, Brush Creek in Branch by Chester Shull, secretary of the Fishing luminous plug at night on the that county has been furnishing good bass Sportsmen's Association of Wolfsburg. On Allegheny near Tidioute, Leslie Barnes of fishing this season. Among those making the same day, writes S'pecial Warden Harry Tidioute made a catch of smallmouth catches were Burgess Alex Pearson, his son Moore, Hopewell, who reported these bass having a combined weight of 30 Fallston, and Sam Lewis. catches, he creeled seven other smallmouth pounds, writes Warden R. C. Bailey of bass ranging in length from 10 to 14 inches. Youngsville. The largest bass in the catch measured 19% inches, two were 18% inches, The jinx that seems fo persist over nice One of the first wall-eyed pike to be taken and the rest of the creel, with the exception from Twin Lakes in Pike County was caught catches of bass being made when the water of one 13 inches, all topped 16 inches in last season according to Professor Stutsman. is muddy, was broken by Piper Barton of length. The fish was 14 inches long. About five years Emmaville on July 4, according to Warden ago, Twin Lakes was stocked with wall-eyed Bill Keebaugh. Fishing in Licking Creek, pike fry. Fulton County, Piper caught nine small­ Pine Creek, above Waterville, is furnish­ mouth bass, ranging in length from 11 to ing good bass fishing this season, reports 17% inches. Warden John Krausse of Slate Run. Ed Schnars of Renovo landed 10 bass from 10 H. W. Foux of Wyoming, caught a small­ Included among the great catches of wall­ to 13 inches and a wall-eyed pike 16 inches mouth bass, measuring 17 inches, and James eyed pike being made this year in Lake in length. Howard Crouse, Williamsport, Loftus of West Pittston, caught a small­ Wallenpaupack is that of Ernest Gregory, made a catch of 10 bass, 10 to 14 inches in mouth bass, measuring 15 inches, in Tunk- Dunmore, on August 14, according to length. hannock Creek on the opening day. SUPERINTENDENT TED DINGLE EXHIBITS TWO TYPICAL SPECIMENS OF THE TROUT BEING PRODUCED AT THE NEW HUNTSDALE HATCHERY, CUMBERLAND COUNTY. ABOVE, LEFT, SEINING FISH FOR STOCKING; RIGHT, ABOVE, PLACING THEM IN PAILS FOR DISTRIBUTION Sec. 562, P. L. & R. U. S. POSTAGE PAID Harrisburg, Pa. Permit No. 270

A SPORTSMAN'S CREEL OF TROUT

If You Would Catch More Fish Kill Less"