October, 1935 ^> Wii&* Ty
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*r V i.0mfi f^&££ r$>^•*#* October, 1935 ^> wii&* ty/ OFFICIAL STATE OCTOBER, 1935 PUBLICATION ^ANGLER* Vol. 4 No. 10 -<m i*- COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA PUBLISHED MONTHLY BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS by the PENNSYLVANIA BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS 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.