SPRING CREEK BROWN TROUT—18 TO 24 INCHES. CAUGHT BY BOB LONG, PHILADELPHIA.

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS OFFICIAL STATE MAY, 1935 PUBLICATION * ANGLER* Vol. 4 No. 5 ,<<••

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA PUBLISHED MONTHLY BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS by the Pennsylvania Board of Fish Commissioners HH S3 S3 S3 IIP

OLIVER M. DEIBLER Five cents a copy «-*o 50 cents a year Commissioner of Fisheries

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

SS S3 E3 ALEX P. SWEIGART, Editor Members of Board South Office Bldg., Harrisburg, Pa. OLIVER M. DEIBLER, Chairman Greensburg

DAN R. SCHNABEL S3 S3 S3 Johnstown

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

PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER welcomes contri­ GEORGE E. GILCHRIST butions and photos of catches from its readers. Lake Como Proper credit will be given to contributors. CHARLES A. FRENCH All contributions returned if accompanied by Ellwood City first class postage. H. R. STACKHOUSE i Secretary to Board

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IMPORTANT—The Editor should be notified immediately of change in subscriber's address

Permission to reprint will be granted provided proper credit notice is given THE PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER fish. As for the main stream, a vital GOVERNOR EARLE IS source of low temperature water has NO. 1 ANGLER vanished, and this essential tributary Pennsylvania's No. 1 citizen, Hon­ during hot weather has been robbed orable George H. Earle, Governor of the Commonwealth, is also the Key­ of the usefulness intended by nature. stone State's No. 1 angler this year. Summing up on the subject of Resident fishing license No. 1 was ^ANGLER/ issued to the state's chief executive. "Shelter on Streams vs. Open Fish­ Intensely interested in conserva­ ing," our anglers must consider two tion of fish and game and in the cause MAY, 1935 of Pennsylvania sportsmen, the Gov­ alternatives: first, the clearing away ernor is an ardent fisherman and of brush and foliage on the shores, VOL. 4 No. 5 hunter and has been for years. Fishing for game fish particularly ap­ tangles of logs and other obstructions peals to him and at every possible in the stream itself, to make fishing opportunity that the affairs of state will permit he will be on trout or easy, or second, assisting nature to bass waters in the Keystone State. accomplish the best possible results by stream improvement and increas­ ing the available supply of shelter. EDITORIAL the temperature factor enters, and I believe that there is little doubt the food possibilities provided are an concerning the course to be followed. issue. Let us consider, for example, In the first instance, easy fishing will a small spring run, rising in moun- mean fewer fish to be caught. It will tainland, and tributary to some larger mean streams devoid of much natural trout stream. Its source, a spring food for fish, and damaged to such an Shelter on Streams having a water temperature of per­ extent as fish producers as to retard Versus Open Fishing haps 50 degrees Fahrenheit, may for many years their rise to peak pro­ emerge in a tiny rock-clad gorge, duction. Every trout stream should Nature's scheme tolerates no inter­ practically closed in by foliage of have areas too dense to fish, areas ference. Conservation annals, with-' overhanging trees and fringed by that serve as natural feeders to more out exception, show that when man ferns. The course of this spring run open water. interferes with the balance of life and may be only a quarter of a mile in In the second course, a field is food necessary for maintaining that length, and nature has provided that opened whereby the fisherman may hfe as dictated by nature in her brush and thick vegetation shall aid directly in the better fishing pro­ scheme of things, disaster follows. shade it until it enters the main gram. The past century has wit­ It is my firm conviction that our stream. Shade is vital to it, keeping nessed waste of our natural resources Pennsylvania fishermen are looking the water at low temperatures to the unparalleled in history. Vast forests to the future of the great sport of point of juncture. If it is of sufficient of virgin timber, nature's giant res­ angling. The future is the keynote size, it may serve as a spawning area ervoirs, fell before the advance of the heing sounded now by the Fish Com­ for trout in the main stream. Here sawmill in Pennsylvania. Nature mission in its constant efforts to the fry will hatch, and until they at­ patiently resumed her task after the better fishing for years to come. With tain the fingerling stage in growth great log drives became history and this thought in mind, we must con­ will remain. A highly essential today our watersheds are clothed with sider a factor vital to the very heart source of their food, insect life from a splendid growth of young timber. °f our better fishing p r o g r a m— the overhanging foliage, is constantly Our streams and their sources in the shelter in the form of vegetation and dropping on the surface during the timberlands are once more shaded in cover on our streams and on the summer months. many instances and fed by natural Watersheds they drain. Constantly Sufficient shade holds not only this reservoirs, the forests. On many the strain upon our fishing waters is brook's secret as an ideal tributary to meadow trout streams, the willow being increased as thousands of Penn- a trout stream, but its adaptability planting campaign this year should sylvanians are turning to this ideal as a natural spawning ground as well. be of real benefit. sport. It is necessary for us, as fish- Remove this vital shade from the er We owe to future generations of men, to realize that we must sacri­ stream and its benefit as a cold water Pennsylvania's anglers and to our­ fice the ease with which an open tributary is destroyed. Sunlight, selves the responsibility of assisting stream may be fished, for the more penetrating the water, warms it, and in every way possible the comeback difficult fishing in a stream having lack of cover greatly reduces its avail­ a of our streams that only nature can dequate brush and shelter on its ability as a good nursery stream assure. fhores and cover in the stream itself, which nature intended it to be. Cer­ *f real progress is to be made in the tainly the sportsman finds little to drive for improving fishing. attract him to this ravaged feeder Our trout streams are in great stream. The few trout in it, if any **eed of the protection afforded remain, are of such small size that °y trees, brush, and cover. Here they are not to be considered as legal Commissioner of Fisheries 2 THE PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER Favorite Dry Flies By CHAS. M. WETZEL (Illustrated by the Author)

ICKING out a collection of trout flies world's greatest fly fisherman) imitated so ubiquitous or aquatic insects and are found Pthat rank high on Pennsylvania waters is successfully in England. I can do no better on practically all of our streams. quite a task; and it is with a rather dubious than to give his description of this artifi­ Body, buff or light olive floss silk, tied feeling that I have compiled the dressings cial. rather slim and ribbed with fine gold wire; for the following list. In my opinion, this Body, stripped condor, dyed a shade of hackle, dun color; tail, none; wings, pale group with its various colors, is a fairly sulphury white ; hackle, dyed Naples yellow; starling or light grey duck wing feathers. representative one and should catch trout— tail, Gallina, dyed Naples yellow; wings, No. 7. The Blue Winged Olive Dun that is, if they are rising. The material pale starling; head, three close turns of This fly is an imitation of the mayfly used in the construction of the flies works horsehair, dyed pale dead leaf color. Ephemerella bispina and is very similar to equally well on either the common or the Condor quill is rather difficult to obtain, the English blue winged olive Ephemerella up-turned body artificials—those imitating but may be procured from H. Noll, Apsley ignata. Dr. Needham, who first classified the mayflies. I might add that the latter and Zeralda Sts., Philadelphia, Pa. It is E. bispina, is my authority for the above flies are not an innovation, yet through obtained by stripping the flue from the fibres statement and at great trouble I have also faulty tying in the past they have been rel­ of a condor wing feather, but peacock quill secured Rev. Eaton's (the English entomol­ egated to a position where they do not from the eye of the tail feather should work ogist) description of E. ignata. rightfully belong. With the descriptions equally as well. The advantage of condor Body, olive floss silk, ribbed with yellow given herewith, those of you who have fol­ quill lies in its greater strength; disadvan­ silk thread; hackle, brown; tail, grey lowed my past articles on fly tying, should tages—harder to remove the flue, while fibres; wings, coot wing feathers. have no difficulty in constructing any of stripping. My own and alternate design I No. 8. The Sherry Spinner them. Some of the flies are creations of will now give. This fly is intended to represent the imago fancy; some in a general way are copies of Body, pale yellow floss silk ribbed with stage of Ephemerella bispina, the blue insects—patterns so well known that one gold wire or tinsel; hackle, dyed yellowish winged olive dun. feels like changing them; one or two are brown; tail, fibres from a wood duck feath­ Body, quill, either condor or peacock; close imitations of flies, copied long ago by er; wings, starling or light grey duck wing hackle, ginger; tail, ginger hackle fibres; a far more skilled angler than I; while feathers. wings, two pair of pale ginger hackles set still others are my own interpretations of on horizontally. No. 5. The Pale Watery Spinner aquatic insects, which I have caught over No. 9. The Brown Bi-Visible This fly is intended to represent the imago and on the water, both in Pennsylvania and Although it resembles no insect, this is a stage of the pale watery duns. It is tied on various northern streams. peach of a fly. No more need be said. with the wings in an outstretched horizon­ No. 1. The Royal Coachman (Fanwing) Body, brown hackle, palmer tied full tal position, either with the hackle points, length, with two turns of white hackle This is one of my favorite flies and has or one side of the hackle clipped off along wound on at the head; tail, brown hackle probably accounted for more trout than any the quill as I described somewhere before. fibres—quite bushy. of the following. It is probably no better The latter method is undoubtedly the best No. 10. The Blue Bottle than the others, yet the confidence I have way, although some fly tyers don't like it, The prototype of this fly is quite well in its efficacy has never been shaken. It having an aversion to using a scissors on any known and recognized by everyone. It be­ is a fancy fly, but it's great on trout, es­ part of a fly. pecially browns. longs to the Diptera and is known as Lu- Among the mayflies, copulation usually cilia sylvarum. Body, peacock herl, with a red floss silk occurs in the air. The male darts from be­ band in center and red tip; hackle, brown; Body, steel blue silk or chenille, ribbed low and seizes his mate, attaching himself with black silk thread; hackle, black or tail, a few fibres from a golden pheasant with his claspers, or forceps to her hinder feather; wings, the curled and mottled dark grey; tail, none; wings, coot wing body segments, meanwhile embracing her feathers. breast feathers from a mallard duck. thorax with his elongated fore tarsi or feet. No. 2. The Pale Evening Dan No. 11. The Alder Unable to support herself and mate, the This is an imitation of the smoky alder From conversations with various anglers, couple sink to the ground, and by the time fly, known as Sialis infumata, order Neu- I believe this fly to be an imitation of the this is reached, intercourse is usually com­ roptera. small mayfly Cleon vicina. It is smaller* pleted. The male being prone to polygamy Body, a blend of wool, black and brown, than the pale watery duns and has clear flies off in search of another mate, while with black the ground color—or as an alter­ colorless wings, whereas the wings of the the female shortly repairs to the water to nate—peacock herl; hackle, black; tail, pale wateries are clouded. lay her eggs. While ovipositing, she can be none; wings, black mottled with rust color, Body, pale yellowish white floss silk, rib­ seen rising and falling over the water, or dark mottled turkey tail feather. bed with fine gold wire; hackle, dun color; dipping down and touching the surface with No. 12. The Cowdung tail, grey fibre; wings, starling or light gray the end segments of her body. This action An old favorite, imitating the cowdung duck wing feathers. washes off the eggs that are being extruded, fly, genus Scatophaga, order Diptera. No. 3. The Governor from her paired oviducts. Some of the may­ Body, olive color floss silk; hackle, brown; A fancy fly that does well on most trout flies have two egg sacs which they drop in tail, none; wings, grey duck wing feathers. streams. Probably it was originally intend­ a mass; others creep beneath the water and No. 13. The Green Drake ed as an imitation of a caddis fly. deposit them; while still others fall prone This fly is patterned after the large Body, peacock herl with red silk floss tip; upon the surface, with wings outstretched mayfly Hexagenia Zimbata. The browner hackle, brown; tail, none; wings, the brown and deposit their eggs that way. The latter colored drake H. bilineata is a close rela­ and black mottled tail feather of a turkey. is the position that the artificial spinner tive to this fly but is not always found on No. 4. The Pale Watery Dun imitates,—i. e. while ovipositing or imme­ the same stream. The nymphs of Hexa­ diately afterwards, when its life cycle is genia, have a pair of mandibles which places Most of the pale whitish yellow mayflies completed. are called either pale evening duns or pale them among the carnivores, but the majority watery duns. Many claim that the original Body, yellowish ochre floss silk ribbed of mayflies are herbivores, feeding on dia­ artificial included both the pale evening and with gold wire or tinsel; hackle, same as toms, aquatic plants and decaying vegeta­ the pale wateries in its makeup; but I ben dun; tail, same as dun; wings, two pair of tion. The drake nymphs are of the burrow­ lieve the pale evening dun to be Cleon vicina, dun hackles set on horizontally. ing type and appear to be found only on a much smaller fly than the pale watery duns No. 6. The Midge some of the larger streams and waters. 1 Baetis bioexilata and Centroptilum Zuteolum. This is patterned after the midge fly will give the dressing for this fly with the Both of the latter flies have been identified (genus Chironomus, order Diptera) that ap­ up-turned body, as I have described the fan and classified in America, and they are the pears in such vast swarms around Lake Wal- wing type before. identical insects that Halford (probably the lenpaupack. The midges are among the most Body, raffia grass, ribbed with brown silfc %/^

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thread; hackle, brown; tail, fibres from a Body, a blend of orange and brown silk,—• small volume to even give the dressings. wood duck feather; wings, goose wing feath­ ground color brown—ribbed with gold tin­ That is our main trouble. We have too ers, dyed pale greenish yellow. sel ; hackle, brown; tail, brown turkey tail many flies. Everyone who ties his own ar­ No. 14. The Professor (Fanwing) fibres; wings, two pair of light cocky- tificials has probably been guilty in adding This fly is one of the best of the fanwings. bonddhu hackles (brown tipped with a black to the number, including myself. If we Probably, the red tail arouses the trout's center) set on horizontally. could pare down the list—say to fifty—mak• fury and goads it into striking. No. 20. Dod's Pet ing an honest effort to study and imitate the Body, yellow floss silk or wool, ribbed This is my version or interpretation of a fly on the water—our stream days would be with gold tinsel or wire; hackle, brown; caddis fly (genus Limnephilus order Tri- more pleasantly spent and the joys of ang­ tail, a few fibres dyed bright red; wings, choptera) whose larva builds its house out ling would be increased a hundred fold. curled mottled mallard feathers,—off thei of small stones and sand. It is quite com­ breast. monly found around Beavertown and on No. 15. the Black Gnat most Pennsylvania streams, especially in the Strange as it seems, this fly appears to shallower headwaters. Since I am probably GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP be one of the best for night fishing. Seven­ the first who ever attempted to imitate this PAYS—HERE'S PROOF! teen years ago this spring "Rube" Kelly, fly. I am taking the liberty of christening (probably the best fisherman on Kettle Keeping trout or any other game it, "Dod's Pet." fish caught out of season doesn't help Creek) and I were fishing the Hammersley. Body, a blend of dyed orange and brown In the inky darkness and fishing with a a fisherman's conscience and cer­ herl from an ostrich feather; hackle, brown ; tainly can't be a source of pride. The black gnat, "Rube" scored a big catch of tail, none; wings, mottled turkey wing following report submitted by War­ brook trout, while I secured plenty of ex­ feathers. den Link Lender bears out the saying perience in night fishing. I have never seen No. 21. The Ginger Quill that good sportsmanship always pays. Rube since that night. Every time I fish the We'll let James Cleaver of Bedford Kettle, I call at his house and invariably All. the quill flies are good and this one in tell it. particular. It is a favorite with many, in­ I meet with the same response: "He's out "Dr. E. M. Stevens, retired Metho­ fishin'." cluding, I believe, the editor of the ANGLER. dist minister of Bedford, and a com­ It is probably taken to represent collectively panion tried their luck for pa'nfish No. 16. The Fore and Aft Fly and in a group the pale watery and the light This is a fly that has sprung into promi­ in Yonts Run, Bedford County, in olive duns. August two years ago. This stream nence within the past few years. Like bi- Body, peacock quill at the eye of a tail also has some trout in it. It has two visible, it is another good floater. feather, or quill stripped from the wing branches, the left hand branch being Body, orange floss silk, ribbed with black feather of a condor; hackle, ginger; tail, large enough to run Triplett's mill. silk thread; hackle, grey or grizzly from a ginger; hackle, fibres; wings, light slate I went after the preacher that eve­ Plymouth Rock rooster; tail, wood duck cluck wing feathers. ning and he had a number of sunfish feather fibres. and rock bass. But he told me of a No. 22. The Ginger Quill (Fanwing) trout that he had caught and put No. 17. The Spider This fly differs from the ginger quill only back because it was out offseason. This fly was probably an attempt to imi­ in that the wings are of a slaty spreckled This trout had measured 16 ?£ inches. tate the crane flies—those long legged in­ blue, taken from the wing bow of an un­ "All winter we kidded the minister sects that hover over the water. It is made known duck. The curled feathers on the wing because he said that he would catch in a number of patterns, like the fore and bow are superior to the breast feathers for that trout the next season. In May aft flies, but the one I like best is given fanwings, as they are shorter and heavier of the next summer, Clem Johnson, below. in the quill. Try this fly sometime. Dr. Stevens and I made out to go Body, bright yellow floss silk, ribbed with trout fishing and Dr. Stevens sug­ black silk thread; hackle, badger (black No. 23. The Yellow May Dun gested that we go to Yonts so that center with a creamy edge) with very long An imitation of the mayfly, known among he could catch his big trout. fibres. entomologists as Heptagenia flavescens. We "We separated when we got to the No. 18. The March Brown have all seen these yellow flies flying over stream and came together at the end the water. Heptagenia interpunctata is of about three hours. Clem and I An old English fly fisherman, artist and had a couple of trout but Dr. Stevens entomologist, by the name of Ronalds called somewhat similar. I dare not change the held up 17 inches of as pretty a trout the prototype of this fly Baetis Zongucauda. dressing of this old artificial. as you ever saw and suggested that Later Halford called it Ecydurus venosus. Body, yellow silk floss body, ribbed with we laugh now. Was he proud of I will call it Siphlonurus alternatus, for I gold wire or tinsel; hackle, yellow; tail, yel­ that trout? He had waited nine believe this particular mayfly was originally low hackle fibres; wings, duck feather months to catch it legally but I'll named the March Brown in this country. wings, dyed yellow. wager that he got more kick out of that trout than any he ever caught." Ronalds evidently classified the fly incor­ No. 24. The Yellow Sally rectly—or the name was later changed—and This is an imitation of the green stone to the average fisherman, the difference be­ fly, genus Chloroperla, order Plecoptera. Its tween Ecydurus venosus and Siphlonurus color is probably due to infiltration of alternatus, would not be apparent. Both chlorophyll. I have never had much success would probably be called the March Brown. with either this fly or the Yellow May, but Only someone trained in entomology and ac­ many anglers swear by both. customed to the venation of wings, would Body, light green floss silk ribbed with perhaps know the difference. In insect tax- brown silk thread; hackle, dyed greenish anomic work, the wings are very important, yellow; tail, yellowish brown fibres; wings, and those of the mayflies with their numer­ green—from a parrot. ous veins, cross veins and intercalaries are No. 25. The Cahill among the most difficult to read correctly. This is an old favorite with many anglers. I know whereof I speak for I have spent Body, rabbit's fur or mouse colored mo­ many an hour laboring over them. But hair ; hackle, brown; tail, mottled wood duck getting back to the March Brown. This fibres; wings, grey mottled wood duck drake fly is considerably smaller than Hex- fibres cut from a feather. agenia, and through the ages seems to have been the dividing line in size that distin­ And now the list is complete. I have guishes the duns from the drakes. not included any of the gaudy flies like the Paramachene Belle, Red Ibis, Silver Doctor Body, chocolate brown floss silk, ribbed and others, for outside of Canadian waters, with yellow silk thread; hackle, brown; I have never caught any trout on them. It tall, brown turkey tail fibres; wings, brown is my hope that I have not neglected any mottled partridge or turkey feather. of your old favorites, but if this has proved No. 10. The Great Red Spinner the case, I will blame it on lack of space. This fly is intended to represent the imago There are so many flies—new ones are stage of the March Browns. constantly cropping up—that it would fill a LAST YEAR'S RECORD BROWN TROUT FROM THE LACKAWAXEN THE PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER Balanced Tackle in Fly Fishing By KENNETH A. REID Member, Board of Fish Commissioners

N OKJULK to attain any real success in I fly casting, it is essential that the indi­ vidual items of tackle be properly balanced °he with another. One may have the finest individual rod, line, reel, leader and fly that it is possible to procure and yet the assembled outfit may prove utterly hope­ less when it comes to casting. Lack of Proper appreciation of the necessity for this coordination in the different items of tackle is responsible for more woes of a beginner than any other single factor. Of course, he fciust also learn the technique of casting, but he must have a reasonably well bal­ anced outfit as a preliminary to learning the art of casting. As a proper understanding of the func­ tions of the various items of tackle is neces­ sary to their proper selection and use, it will De well to clearly differentiate between a % casting outfit and a bait casting outfit. In bait casting, the lure has appreciable height of anywhere from one-half to more than one ounce, and it is this weight that y°t- actually cast and which in turn pulls the line out after it. It is similar to throw­ ing a crabapple with an apple switch. In % casting, the fly has no appreciable weight and can not of itself be cast. Strictly speak- lngi you cost the line, which in turn carries with it the leader and fly. Naturally, this "y line must have appreciable weight which, Spending on the rod, will vary for the cus­ tomary 30 yards from about % of an ounce to an ounce and a half. The weight of this iihe should be sufficient to cause a decided head in the rod when it is picked up from the water preparatory to the backcast and ^a feet or more of it is beyond the rod top. Probably the greatest single error in fly fishing is the tendency to use a line that is entirely too light to properly develop the inherent action of the rod. For trout fly fishing on Pennsylvania Waters, a split bamboo fly rod eight feet in length and weighing approximately B% to 4 ounces will be found much pleasanter to £ast and just as effective as longer and heavier rods. A level fly casting line will °e found more suitable for small stream Work and for such a rod a size F would likely be correct. If the rod showed a ten­ ancy toward stiffness, it might require the next larger size E. In dry fly casting on the larger streams, a double tapered line has s°me advantages in delicacy of handling, aDd the proper size for this same rod would be an HEH or, in the case of a compara­ bly stiff and powerful rod, an HDH. A „y casting line is generally spoken of as enamelled silk" as opposed to the plain Raided silk used in bait casting. They are ?uite different affairs and are in no sense mterchangeable. wind on the spindle enough linen backing The bare reel should weigh from 114 to IY2 The reel is probably the least important line to build it up to the required diameter times as much as the rod. In the case of '.em in the fly caster's outfit. A single ac- so that the spool will be comfortably filled. a fly rod where the reel is set behind the tl°n plain click reel of the conventional nar- This will not only keep your line in better hard grasp, the weight of the reel actually *0v*' spool type with a diameter of three or condition by reason of the larger diameter of makes the rod feel lighter by tending to '4 inches is recommended. Usually the its coils on the reel but will give you greater balance it in the hand and relieves it of the sPoo] capacity will accommodate considerable speed in line recovery. The weight of the feeling of end or tip heaviness. With the ^ore than your 30 yards of fly casting line, reel for the 8 foot rod should be. at least proper weight reel on the rod, the assembled aafl it will be found advantageous to first 5 ounces but not more than about 6 ounces. (Turn to Page 15) THE PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER Fontinalis Rises Life Sketch of a Brook Trout

HE jagged outlines of a mass of drift­ Fontinalis was, from the angle of colora­ stream, he had taken brook trout that would T wood and ancient logs fringing the tion, build, length and girth, typical of equal Fontinalis in size and beauty. But eddy of Black pool were merging with the speckled trout in the era when the first white time had wrought its changes in his pet dusk of a May evening as Fontinalis rose settlers pushed the frontiers of the American stream, time and the brown trout. For the leisurely, time and again, to the succulent colonies past the mountain barriers of the Al- Old Fisherman was a "die-hard." While he green drakes. It was carnival time for the leghenies. His coloration was so vivid that granted that the brown trout was a fighting trout in a great central Pennsylvania no artist's brush could do it justice. The fish of no mean calibre, memories of other stream, and it would last not more than marbling of deep green and black on dorsal days with the species of Fontinalis had from one to two weeks. Shad fly time, local fin and back, merged in the sides to white served to embitter him against the invaders. fishermen termed it, this brief period of the and red spots on a dark background. And And here, in the Black pool, was a brooK year when vast hordes of drakes cluttered those red spots! Half as large as dimes, trout the like of which he had years ago the vegetation along the shores. During the they faded to pale blue on the borders. His given up hope of catching. day, an angler could shake from a single ventral surface or belly was a deep red; The carefully fashioned drake, imitating tree branch eight or ten and perhaps more the pectoral fins, below and behind the gill amazingly flies now on the water and over of the graceful insects. covers, ventral fins, and anal fin were deep which he had worked many evenings the In other sections of the stream, trout orange, bordered by black and white on the winter before, fluttered lightly to the surface were gorging themselves on the myriad in­ outer edges. A vague semblance of the parr above the log jam. Like a tiny gossamer sect life. Here and there, tiny dimples markings so prominent in baby brook trout sailed ship, its wings erect and upward appeared on the water, as giant brown trout remained. His head, while large with tilted abdomen balanced lightly, the arti­ rolled lazily to the surface, sucking the slightly elongated jaws, tipped a deep, ficial swung with the current into the eddy- daintily floating flies into their maws. broad body given to speed and power. In There was that eager surging rise of the Golden surges, much more swift and ex­ length he exceeded seventeen inches and in giant brookie, and Fontinalis was fast. plosive, marked the feeding of the small weight three pounds. For years, he had Carefully, reverently, the Old Fisherman browns. Twenty years before, shad fly time haunted the deep swirl beneath the mass of played him, until that moment when all of had been the sole enjoyment of the for­ brush and logs, leaving it only when the his shimmering beauty quivered in the cap­ bears of Fontinalis, the brook trout. To­ annual spawning urge impelled him and his tor's hands. Time had turned back, for an day, rare indeed were the shimmering silver kind to seek the headwaters. old man, whose greatest joy was dreaming and red and mottled dark green flashes that The persistent rises of Fontinalis on this of other days, horse and buggy fishing days- indicated the surface feeding of the native particular evening brought forth an ejacula­ He had caught once more a veteran charr in charrs. Another race, a race of invaders, tion from the Old Fisherman who had care­ the stream once famous for the size of its the brown trout of Europe, now was domin­ fully approached the pool. Back in the days speckled trout. ant. when lie drove horse and buggy to fish this The passing of Fontinalis from the Black pool may truly be termed the end of an era on a great stream fed by deep seated limestone springs. Now let us turn back to that time, seven years before to be exact, marking the origin of Fontinalis. ***** Chill autumn nights and frosty mornings had served to cool the lower waters of the stream to which Fontinalis was to make his appearance the next spring. From a deep pool cut beneath an overhanging bank, his sire, a fourteen-inch brook trout of striking coloration, started the spawning mi­ gration one morning in late October. His gorgeous mottling and spots seemed a fitting complement to the world of color on the shores of this wilderness stream. The bril­ liant red of the maples, the more sombre tints of the oak and hardwood leaves and the rich green of pine, spruce, hemlock and laurel were a setting for the stream up which the sire of Fontinalis made his way- As his mottled dorsal fin showed above the surface in the shallow riffle at the head THE PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 7

of the home pool, another trout of twelve the surface to look over some queer-looking likewise, on occasion did not hesitate to re­ inches, the mother of Fontinalis, followed man-made lure that floated past. vert to cannibalism. him. Heavily laden with eggs, her progress In the third year of his life, Fontinalis In his fifth year, he accompanied a Was more slow and tedious. Up, up the dropped still farther downstream. He was twelve-inch female brook trout on the stream they progressed, the female lagging then a nine-inch trout, giving promise, spawning run. One of the survivors of the farther and farther behind in the diminish­ through the girth and bulk of his body even spawning episode from which emerged Fon­ ing depth and width of the stream, and in at that stage, of developing into an unusual tinalis, she had chosen as her home the same the swift riffles and brawling rapids. Fin­ pool in which Fontinalis thrived. But the fish. That summer, a squat slate-colored next spring, an artificial fly brought an end ally, in a tiny fern and moss bordered pool, reptile, the watersnake, succeeded in corner­ just over a bar of pebbles, the sire of Fonti- to this companionship and Fontinalis as he ing and seizing one of his companions be­ gained in weight and girth during the last nalis paused. Industriously he fanned clear neath a shelving rock, and Fontinalis hence­ °f all sediment a spot on the bar, his pec­ year of his life was solitary in his realm by forth lived in abject terror of this major the log jam. toral, ventral and anal fins accomplishing enemy to his kind that slithered so noise­ this task to the wriggling motions of his So completely had the brown trout taken lessly into the pool. body. over this stream, that it was now regarded When he had attained a length of thirteen as futile to release brook trout in it. It After the eggs had been deposited by the inches in the fifth year, he finally settled in female trout on the nest and had been fer­ was henceforth classified as brown trout the eddy beneath the drift. Now his diet, in water and stocked accordingly. Not that tilized by the milt of the male, both fish response to greater body needs, was more apparently lost all of the vitality that had it failed at any time to produce splendid varied. Chubs, shiners and dace, fell prey trouting, however, for the fighting browns characterized this amazing journey to the to his swift forays. And in this feeding on headwaters. Listlessly, in a brief time, they provided more than one fisherman with rare other species of fish, he had real competition. sport during that same summer in which "Iropped downstream, to the waters that Two invaders larger than Fontinalis, brown constituted their home during virtually Fontinalis ceased to be. Little wonder then, trout each well over eighteen inches in that like a glimmer of color from the past eleven months of the year. To the pebble length, harassed the minnow schools. Here bar nest, in low temperature water not sub­ was Fontinalis' last rise to fly that evening again was greater body need demonstrated, in May when the Old Fisherman scored. jected to much freezing, nature's incubator, and the brown trout thrived in this stream the parents of Fontinalis entrusted the wel­ It may be truly said that he still lives in harboring so much forage. They drew no memory. fare of the eggs and offspring. line between young trout of their own Then, one day in late March, a warm, mel­ This is the first of a series of articles by species, young brook trout and minnows, your editor on the life habits of Pennsyl­ low day, the egg containing Fontinalis and as they developed in size did much of vania game fishes. Next month—"Dolo- hatched, and a grotesque-appearing creature their feeding during the night. Fontinalis, mieu Strikes." With outlandish yolk sac came into being. *"or twelve days, Fontinalis in the fry stage lay absorbing his food from this sac. Then ne essayed short, very short, explorations from the pebble bed. And each succeeding •Jay found him gaining strength and size. "or there, in the headwaters in early sPring, minute organisms teemed. There he found an abundance of insect larvae, so essential to the development of all fingerling trout. Gradually, as spring merged into summer and summer advanced, Fontinalis. W company with others of the hatch, made his way farther downstream. He was now lD- the so-called fingerling stage, and, at a Point about one-half mile below the place °f his birth, he found a dark swirling pool. Jn that pool he remained another year, for beneath the shelving rock was ideal pro­ tection from his enemies. His coloration at this time was exceed­ ingly dark, blending with the shadowy pool, perhaps in no other race of fishes is pro­ active coloration more pronounced than in We eastern brook trout. In a tiny open Slade, another fingerling of the same hatch **s Fontinalis, had taken up its home. Over |be white sand and pebbles of the bottom, this trout was extremely light. Tending to increase the brilliancy of markings in these charrs was an abundance of rich organic food. Perhaps, too, the mineral content of ~be water was partially responsible. In fontinalis, at this stage, the parr markings, H?1*' ver*-icaI blotches extending down over ••be sides, were strikingly noticeable. Life was an alluring adventure for young *°ntinalis. Near the headwaters, food Seemed ridicuously easy to secure. Curiosity ^as characteristic of this baby brook trout, frequently, as he was lying head pointed ^Pstream, a life habit of the charrs, for !*0m above the pool came food carried by the swirling waters, some object would cause him to dart toward the surface. It gjp&t be a twig or any other incongruous Particle that served to attract his attention. Eve n during later years of his life, he some- tim es gave vent to this curiosity, rising to 8 THE PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER Primitive Fishing Last of a Series ot Articles Concerning the Origin of Fishing Tackle N THAT dim period when prehistoric mai\ is, however, a clever one, for a fisherman of I was forced to rely upon superior cun­ today who had lost his hook might imitate ning to exist, when his life depended upon it with a bit of wire. When we compare skill in fashioning weapons by which he the four forms (as illustrated), showing might capture fish or animals, a strange, only their outlines, the evolution of the fish­ groping start was made toward modern hook can be better appreciated." fishing. Whether he fished or hunted for In commenting on the stone fish-gorge, he subsistence was probably determined by the wrote: locality in which he lived, and, of course, it "It is evident that the man of that time is possible that both pursuits, instinctive followed the shape handed down to him by with the human race, were followed. His his ancestors; and as this fashioned stone slow rise to dominance may be traced, in from the valley of the Somme is of a most part, by progress made in fashioning fish­ remote period, how much older must have hooks. been the Paleolithic fish-gorge of rough Wrote Barnet Phillips, secretary of the stone. It might have been with a splinter American Fish Cultural Association in 1883, of flint attached to some tendril, in lieu of a and an authority on primitive fishing line, that the first fish was taken. methods: "It is very curious to learn that in France "After brute instinct, which is imitative- a modification of this gorge hook is in use ness, then came shiftiness and adaptiveness. today for catching eels. A needle is sharp­ The rapid stride of civilization, considered ened at its eye-end, a slight groove is made in its material sense, is due solely to the in the middle of it, and around this some use of such implements as are specially shreds of flax are attached. A worm is adapted for a particular kind of work. With spitted, a little of the line being covered primitive man, this could never have been with the bait. ***** the case. Tools of the Paleolithic or "Any doubts as to the use of the Neolithic Neolithic age (which terms indicate stages form of fish-gorge must be removed when it of civilization, but are not chronological), can be insisted upon that precisely this form whether they were axes, hammers, or SHELL HOOK of implement was in use by our Indians not arrows, must have served river-drift or years had elapsed since the formation of more than forty years ago (about 1S43). In cave-men for more than a single purpose. 1878, when studying this question of the People with few tools do manage by skill the lowest layer of peat in the bed. Other authorities thought it not older than 7,000 primitive hook, I was fortunate enough to alone to adapt these to a variety of ends. receive direct testimony on the subject. My The Fijian and the Russian peasant, one years B. C. Its surface slightly marred through the action of thousands of years, informant, who in his younger days had with a stone adze, the other with a hatchet, lived among the Indians at the headwaters bring to their trades the minimum of tools. this stone fish gorge is crudely crescent in shape and grooved at the center. of Lake Superior, said that in 1846 the ! The Kaffir, with his assegai, fights his bat- Indians used a gorge made of bone to catch Probably lost by a primitive fisherman in their fish. My authority, who had never what must have been at one time a lake, it seen a prehistoric fish-gorge, save the draw­ is possible that this stone fishing device ing of one, said that the Indian form was was covered with bait, the fish was permit­ precisely like the early shape, and that the ted to swallow it, and then, when the stone Chippewas fished some with the hook of j came cross-wise in its gullet, was captured. A very clever and plausible argument in the evolution of the fish hook was advanced in 1883 by Mr. Phillips. "In the Swiss lakes," he wrote, "are found the remains of the Lacustrine dwellers. Among the many implements dis­ covered are fish-gorges made of bronze wire. When these forms are studied, the fact must be recognized at once that they follow, in STONE FISH GORGE FROM THE shape and principle of construction, the VALLEY OF THE SOMME stone gorges of the Neolithic period. Now, ties, kills cattle, carves his spoons and it is perfectly well known that the early shaves himself. It was only as man ad­ bronze-worker invariably followed the stone vanced that he devised special tools for patterns. The Lacustrine gorges have had different purposes. the name of Iricole given them. This is a "Following, then, closely the advance of faithful copy of a bronze iricole found in man, when his fishing implements are par­ the Lake of Neufchatel. It is made of ticularly considered, we are inclined to be­ bronze wire, and is bent in the simplest lieve that he first used the spear for taking way, with an open curve allowing the line fish; next, the hook and line; and lastly, to be fastened to it. The ends of the gorge the net. There might have been an inter­ are very slightly bent, but they were prob­ mediate stage between the spear and the ably sharpened when first made. hook, when the bow and arrow were used." "This bricole varies from the rather One of the greatest finds ever made rela­ straight one found in the Lake of Neuf­ tive to primitive fish hooks was unearthed chatel, and belongs to a later period. It in the valley of the Somme River, France. is possible to imagine that the lake-dweller, In substance, it was a small piece of dark, according to his pleasure, made one or the polished stone. A peat bed, 22 feet below other of these two forms of fishing imple­ the surface of the earth, yielded this strange ments. As the double hook required more relic. Thft age of the peat bed proved a bronze, and bronze at first was very preci­ matter of debate at the time. It was be­ ous, he might not have had material enough PREHISTORIC FORMS IN EVOLU­ lieved by M. Boucher de Perthes that 30,000 in the early period to make it. This device TION OF FISH HOOKS THE PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER » civilization, others with bone gorges of a Primitive period. "In tracing the history of the fish-hook, Famous Trout Streams; it should be borne in mind that an over­ lapping of periods must have taken place. How to Reach 'Em By this is meant, that at one and the same time an individual employed tools or THE NORTHEAST COUNTIES Weapons of various periods. Today, the Western hunter lights his fire with a match. This splinter of wood, tipped with phos­ phorus, the chlorates, sulphur, or parafflne, represents the progress made in chemistry from the time of the alchemists. But this t''apper is sure to have stowed away in his Pouch, ready for an emergency, his flint and steel. The Esquimau, the Alaskan, shoots his seal with an American repeating rifle, and in lieu of a knife, flays the creature with a flint splinter. The net of the Norse­ man is today sunk with stones or buoyed With wood,—certainly the same devices as Were used by the earliest Scandinavian,— while the net, so far as the making of the thread goes, is due to the best modern Mechanical appliances. Survival of forms Squire some consideration apart from that °f material, the first having much the Wronger reasons for persistence. It is, then. yery curious to note that hooks not made of lron and steel, but of bronze, or alloys of C0Pper, are still in use on the coast of Fin­ land, as I have quite recently obtained brass hooks from Northern Europe such as are conimonly in use by fishermen there. A DEEP POOL ON THE LOYALSOCK Wyoming, Bradford and Sullivan coun­ off route 220 at Dushore. From Ricketts on ties boast some excellent trout waters. route 487 it is necessary to walk. While in many of the streams of this area, While the North Branch of Mehoopany brook trout 'predominate, scrappy brown Creek is somewhat similar to Mehoopany trout are also taken frequently. Creek in character, it is not so swift and In commenting on the trouting in these drains some cultivated land. Brook trout counties, Warden Myron B. Shoemaker of and occasional brown trout are taken from Laceyville, Susquehanna County, terms the its waters. The lower waters of Mehoopany fly-fishirg excellent from May until the close Creek and the Branch are accessible at BRICOLE (LATER PERIOD) of the season for trout on July 31. Individ­ Forkston on highway route 87 either from "The origin of the double hook having ual taste, of course, dictates the patterns Tunkhannock on route 6 or from Dushore on been, I believe, satisfactorily explained, to of flies that are effective. His own exper­ route 220. . Make the barb on it was readily suggested ience in fishing flies for trout, and he is an Bowman's Creek, another favorite trout t° primitive man, as he had used the same excellent fly fisherman, causes him to favor stream, may be reached on route 92, off route device on fish-spears and harpoons. the blue quill, hare's ear quill, ginger quill, C! at Tunkhannock, or from Wilkes-Barre on "This double-barbed hook from the Swiss Wickham's Fancy, cahill, female beaverkill. route 309, turning to route 92. The creek Iakes is quite common. Then, from the and orange finn for early season. However, flows through Noxen. Qouble to the single hook the transition was in suggesting the patterns, he declares a pre­ Good meadow Ashing is available on Me­ raPid. Single bronze hooks of the Lacus­ ference to the orange finn and cahill for shoppen Creek and its two tributaries, Riley trine period sometimes have no barb. Such general fishing. and White Branches. These streams flow differences as exist are due to the various "This orange finn," he writes, "is a fly chiefly through meadow land, although their Methods of attaching the line." which many fishermen are not acquainted banks are brushy. Brook trout predomin­ . Other materials that have been mentioned with. It is made up as follows: Pure white ate. They may be reached at Meshoppen on M connection with the fashioning of primi­ wing, orange silk body, and orange and black Route 6. tive fish hooks are shell and thorn. Some ver hackles with the tips being orange. It is Bradford County y clever fishing devices of the former very effective for both brook and brown Shrader Creek, a mountain stream, is the Material have been placed in the National trout and, personally, I think that if brook only outstanding trout water in Bradford Museum at Washington. trout can't be taken with it the fisherman County. While brook and brown trout are Many of the primitive hooks that have might as well go home. This fly can be pur­ present in this stream, the brookies predom­ been found are of impressive size. Perhaps chased only, I believe, through Dr. H. W. inate. Absence of roads near it makes stock­ 'he most plausible explanation for their Lyte, 427 North Street, Allentown, who ing from the railroad necessary. It can be seemingly outlandish proportions would be makes it. Hooks, numbers 10, 12, or 14, are reached from Towanda, which is located on that, when primitive man was taking his principally used." route 6 and 220, via Monroeton to Powell, "rst halting strides in the quest for domin- then taking a dirt road paralleling the a,1ce, the aquatic life of the period was of Wyoming County stream to Laquin, a distance of 10 miles. greater size than that today. Under such All of the trout fishing is above Laquin. c Four trout streams in Wyoming County °nditions, larger devices for taking fish are outstanding, Mehoopany Creek, North Sullivan County ^ould naturally have been used. Branch Mehoopany Creek, Bowman's Creek, In Sullivan County are the famous Loyal- •it is a far cry from the cave-man fisher- and Meshoppen Creek. Mehoopany and the sock, the Little Loyalsock, Double Run, Lopez Man of bygone ages and his crude stone North Branch are both mountain streams, Creek, Hogland Branch, Glass Creek and ash-gorge to the modern angler, equipped swift and rocky. The trout fishing in Black Creek. These streams are all swift- 5?th the finest lures and tackle the world Mehoopany Creek is all above Forkston, flowing mountain waters in which brook "as ever known; but in this somewhat brief where brook trout predominate. To reach trout predominate with the exception of the sketch of primitive fishing equipment, the the best fishing in this stream means plenty Loyalsock and Little Loyalsock where brown strong appeal of one of the oldest sports in of walking to the upper waters, which may trout are numerous. They may be reached fle history of mankind, fishing, is portrayed. be reached over highway route 487, turning on route 220 from Dushore. 10 THE PENNSYLVANIA. ANGLER

Bills in Legislature Affecting Your Fishing By KENNETH A. REID Member, Board of Fish Commissioners

UT of the maze of bills on every con­ controversial decision as is the case under Practically every thinking sportsman Oceivable subject presented in the present the present limiting code. The passage of realizes that there is more to the fishing session of the Legislature, two that are this bill to the Fish Commission will be like problem than the mere stocking of fish- vitally important to the fishermen and their releasing the brakes from a car that is in waters belonging to others and where Fish Commission have finally appeared. The laboring up a hard climb. The organized there is no assurance that either the public strides that the Board is able to make in sportsmen of Pennsylvania are solidly in will not be barred from fishing, or the fish the future for the improvement of your fish­ favor of this bill and the legislators should themselves exterminated by pollution or ing depends to a very large extent on the be delighted to pass it—if for no other rea­ some other agency. Both as a guarantee of Legislature passing these two very desirable son than to rid their calendar of a hundred public fishing in the future and as a field bills. Together with Senator Thompson's and one petty bills that are presented every for a long time program of intelligent fish pure streams bill #273, which will likely session to change size limits, seasons, creel management and control in public fishing be amended slightly as it applies to active limits and other minor matters that should waters as a means to getting much better coal mines, they represent the most im­ properly be handled by and at the discretion returns from stocking, the fishermen of Penn­ portant pieces of legislation pending in the of your Board of Fish Commissioners. sylvania vitally need to own their own present session as far as fishing is con­ $2.00 License Bill waters. The demand for desirable fishing cerned. House Bill #2112 by Messrs. Westrick waters is so great that the best waters are Senate Bill #819 by Mr. Lanius, is by all and Chervenak, purposes that the resident being taken up by private clubs and the odds the most important bill on the calendar fishing license be increased from $1.50 to future of public fishing is in serious as far as the operation of your Fish Com­ $2.00 with the provision that this additional jeopardy. The handwriting is on the wall mission is concerned. Briefly stated it fifty cents from each license "be set aside and we must act before it is too late if we wotild confer upon the Board of Fish Com­ in a fund separate and apart for the acqui­ would save these waters for ourselves and missioners broad discretionary powers com­ sition, maintenance and improvement of our children. parable with those enjoyed by the Game public fishing waters." The passage of this bill would put ap­ Commission under Section 509 of the Game If the fisherman looks on his license as a proximately $150,000 a year in this special Code. Although many fishermen do not tax, any amount is too much; but if he fund for the "purchase of public fishing seem to realize it, the Board of Fish Com­ looks on it in its true light, namely as an waters" at an annual cost to each fisherman missioners under the present Fish Code investment or a contribution to the cause equivalent to one 500 lunch or a few packs does not have authority to do most of the of improved fishing, it has an entirely of cigarettes—or two good flies that he loses j things that these same fishermen are con­ different aspect. The day is long since past in the limb of a tree or the mouth of a j stantly urging us to do, but must have an when we could take fishing for granted as good fish through carelessness! Based on g act of the Legislature for each trivial change a pure gift from a bountiful nature. With­ the cost of trout that he catches as sport, in size limit, creel limit, season, etc. In the out the present activities of the Board, in­ (which will cost the average fisherman from i matter of closing tributary and headwater adequate as "they may be from an idealistic $5.00 to $10.00 per pound if he is honest streams as nursery water, the Fish Code standpoint, the sport of fishing would speed­ about it), this 500 increase is equivalent to j limits us to "one small stream in any one ily become a lost art in the Commonwealth just about one ounce of trout—or a tiny ! county." of Pennsylvania. undersize fish of about 5 inches! Except for The meat of Senator Lanius'. Bill #819 The most convincing argument in favor the man who does not have to go beyond his reads as follows: "To aid in the better of this license increase that I can think of front yard to fish and who fishes with a j protection of fish in water wholly within is to again refer you to the history of the cut pole and string, this 500 increase in the this Commonwealth, the Board may also re­ world famous Pennsylvania Game Commis­ license would represent such a small part of duce or increase open seasons and catch, sion. In 1927 when the hunting license was his fishing expense as to be negligible, and possession, size, and season limits, or may raised from $1.25 to $2.00, a mighty howl as a land-owner needs no license to fish on close or open seasons as in its judgment went up from many hunters who had not his own land, most of even this rather may be necessary to conserve the future fish thought through in the matter. In the com­ limited class would not be affected. supply in any portion of the inland waters paratively brief period of time since then or throughout the entire Commonwealth." the Game Commission has purchased nearly Now, let us see what this increase of 50

JUST TO REMIND YOU ITS TIME TO GET AFTER THE WATERSNAKE MORE CARP FISHING TIP FOR TROUTERS BOARD MEMBER Word received recently from Peter Patri- Writes H. H. Smith of Clarks Summit: APPOINTED coski of Mount Carmel indicates that much "Here is a tip for you trout fishermen- snake hunters. Carry your gun when you Appointment of Charles A. French, keen interest has been aroused in that sec­ Ellwood City, to the. Board of Fish tion of the state in carp fishing. He said go fishing, but get shells loaded with small Commissioners, has been announced that at least fifty per cent of the fishermen shot. You are not then very apt to miss, by the Governor's Office. Mr. French's in the vicinity of Mount Carmel are now as often happens when you shoot at them appointment for a term of six years carp fishing enthusiasts. with a bullet." was recently confirmed by the Senate. He succeeds John Hamberger of Erie. Keenly interested in the Pennsyl­ vania conservation movement, Mr. PENNSYLVANIA FEDERATION OF SPORTSMEN'S CLUBS French has for years advocated prac­ tical fish conservation. With his ap­ Fellow Sportsmen: pointment, Ellwood City, the home Pennsylvania has about 900 sportsmen's organizations and nearly a mil­ of the late Mathew A. Riley, whose lion licensed sportsmen. Under the existing law, the funds derived from death was mourned by hundreds of sportsmen throughout the state, is these licenses are used solely for the maintenance of the Fish and Game again represented on the Board. Commissions, and through the intelligent use of this fund, Pennsylvania He is secretary of the Northwestern has been placed at the head of all the States of the Union as a game pro­ Federation of Sportsmen, an organi­ ducing State and has purchased vast areas for public hunting grounds. zation now numbering 75,000 mem­ At every session of the Legislature bills are introduced which would bers and a past president of the Ell­ wood City Rod and Gun Club. lessen the efficiency of your two great Boards, some of them would have stolen our entire fund and others would tend to destroy the very purpose of the Boards, and all would work injury to your investment as visualized in the present status of the Fish and Game Commissions. ^'ould be almost unlimited, and in conjunc­ It is up to the sportsmen to defend that fund and maintain the effi­ tion with Senator Lanius' "Discretionary ciency of the Fish and Game Commissions, and this can only be done by a Power" Bill #819, would be the means of united effort on the part of all. improving public fishing at least 100 per ce We urge that you not only express your willingness to join the Feder­ nt in the course of a few years. This ation, but also take an active part in organizing your Division. tittle 50(S will pay the fisherman greater re­ The dues are three cents per member. turns than any other comparable invest­ Please take this up with your Club at once and advise the undersigned ment he can possibly make. of your wish to assist in the formation of your Division. If you are sincerely interested in having better fishing, you will actively support this TEAR OFF HERE AND MAIL TO SECRETARY 'triumvirate of better fishing bills—Senate Bills #819 and #273, and House Bill #2112." Write your senator and represen­ Dr. C. A. Mortimer, Sec'y.-Treas. tative to vote for them. They are still in Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, c°mmittee as follows: #819 in the Senate 194 South Main Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Committee on Game and Fisheries, Senator Harvey, Chairman; #273 in the Commit- We, , are ;*e on Forests and Waters, Senator Ben (NAME OF CLUB) Thompson, Chairman; and #2112 in the desirous of becoming affiliated with the Pennsylvania Federation of House Committee on Fisheries, Mr. William Sportsmen's Clubs and hereby make application to do so without in­ • Kinney, Chairman. curring any financial obligation. Before you go fishing, do your part in suPport of these three bills so that next year and in the years to follow you and yo\ir children may enjoy much better fishing. 12 THE PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER TROUT FEATURE MARCH STOCKING Brook, brown and rainbow trout, ranging in size from 7 to 9 inches featured the March stocking program of the Fish Commission. Other species distributed were minnows, to serve as additional forage for game fish, sunfish, and catfish. Brook trout stocked numbered 07, 280, brown trout 16,000 rain­ bow trout 14,160, sunfish 3,500, catfish 500, and minnows 1,044,700. Following were streams stocked in the various counties: Adams—minnows, Marsh Creek, Conewago Creek, Little Marsh Creek. Allegheny—minnows, Roberts Run. Armstrong—minnows, Fort Run; brook trout, Hauling Run, North Fork Pine Creek, Patterson Creek. Scrubgrass Creek. Beaver—minnows, Big Traverse Creek, North Fork of Little Beaver River; brook trout, Big Traverse Creek, Brady Run. Bedford—minnows, Yellow Creek, Bobs Creek; rainbow trout, Thomas W. Koon Lake;; brown trout, Yellow Creek, Wills BROWN TROUT Creek, Raystown Branch Juniata River, Cumberland Valley Run: brook trout, De- eters Run, Flintstone Creek, Cove Creek, 'Cumberland—minnows, Yellow Breeches Creek, Conestoga Creek, Big Chickies Creek; Beaver Creek, Sherman Valley Run, Deaner Creek; brook trout, Big Spring, Cockley brook trout, Donegal Creek, Seglock Creek. Gap Run, Bobs Creek, Three Springs Creek. Run, Mountain Creek, Bird Run, Old Town Lawrence—brook trout, Taylor Run, Deer Berks—minnows, West Branch Pine Creek, Run; rainbow trout, Big Springs, Yellow Creek. Pine Creek, Northkill Creek; brook trout, Breeches Creek. Lebanon—minnows, Snitz Creek, Hammer Northwest Branch Perkiomen Creek. Dauphin—minnows, Swatara Creek; brook Creek, West Branch Hammer Creek; brook : Stair—minnows, Bobs Creek, Piney Creek, trout, Stoney Creek. trout, Hammer Creek, Mill Back Creek. Clover Creek, Canoe Creek; brown trout, Elk—minnows, East Branch of Clarion Lehigh—minnows, Little Lehigh River; Bald Ragle Creek, Piney Creek: brook trout, River, Big Mill Creek; brown trout, Mill brown trout, Jordan Creek. Bobs Creek. Canoe Creek, Bellsgap Run, Creek; brook trout, South Branch Straight Luzerne—minnows, Lehigh River, Bear South Poplar Run, Sandy Run. Creek. Creek, Wapwallopen Creek; brook trout, Bradford—minnows, Schrader Creek, Erie—minnows, French Creek, Beaver Dam Nescopeck Creek. North Branch of Susquehanna River. Run; brook trout, South Branch French Lycoming—minnows, Grays Run, Loyal- Bucks—minnows, Tohicken Creek, East Creek, Beaver Run, Black Run, Trout Run, sock Creek; brook trout, Grays Run, Larrys Swamp Creek. Bear Creek. Creek, Muncy Creek, McMurrin Run, Nip- Butler—minnows, Little Connoquenessing Fayette—minnows, Cedar Creek, Right penoise Creek; brown trout, Slate Run, Ly­ Creek, Silver Creek; brook trout. North Hand Fork of Gillspi Creek, Crab Apple coming Creek. Branch Bear Creek, Bear Creek, Little Con­ Creek, Star Junction Creek; brook trout, McKean—minnows, Kinzua Creek, Potato noquenessing Creek. Mill Run tributary to Big Sandy Creek, Creek; brook trout, Fuller Brook, Kinzua Cambria—minnows, Slatelick Creek, Bobs Pine Creek, Laurel Run tributary to Youghl- Creek, Chappell Fork. Creek; brown trout, Clearfield Creek, Bobs ogheny River, Mill Run, tributary to Indiana Creek, Dunbar Creek, Beaver Run, Laurel Mercer—minnows, Little Shenango River, Creek; brook trout, Hinkstown Run, Rogus Shenango River. Harbor Run, Little Conemaugh River, North Run, tributary to Big Meadow Run, Moun­ tain Creek; rainbow trout, Big Meadow Run. Mifflin—brook trout, East Branch Kisha- Branch Blacklick Creek, Saltlick Run, Bobs coquillas Creek. Creek, Cedar Run. Killbuck Run, Finlay Forest—minnows, Salmon Creek, West Run, Big Laurel Run, Mudlick Run. Hickory Creek, Allegheny River. Monroe—minnows, Tobyhanna Creek, Big \Cameron—minnows, Portage Creek, Drift­ Franklin—minnows, East Branch of Little Bushkill Creek, Brodheads Creek; rainbow wood Branch Sinnemahoning Creek; brown Antietam Creek; brook trout, South Branch trout, Brodheads Creek. trout, Driftwood Branch. of Little Antietam Creek, Conococheague Montgomery—minnows, Pennypack Creek, j Carbon—minnows, Pohopoco Creek, Aqua- Creek; rainbow trout, East Branch of Little Towanenein Creek; brook trout, Mill Creek. shicola Creek; brook trout, Aquashicola Antietam Creek, West Branch of Little An­ Northampton—minnows, Hoken d a u q u a Creek. tietam Creek, Falling Springs Creek. Creek, Bushkill Creek, Saucon Creek; brook Centre—minnows, Spruce Creek; brook Fulton—minnows, Licking Creek, Cove trout, Saucon Creek; rainbow trout, Saucon trout, Penns Creek, Benner Run, Laurel Run, Creek; brook trout. Wooden Bridge Creek, Creek. Logan Branch, Wallace Run, Mountain Little Aughwick Creek, Oregon Creek, Little Northumberland—minnows, Chillisquaque Branch; brown trout, Bald Eagle Creek; Brush Creek. Creek. rainbow trout, Spring Creek, Little Moshan- Huntingdon—minnows, Shavers Creek; Perry—minnows, Shermans Creek, Huston non Creek. brook trout, Licking Creek, Little Aughwick Run, Browns Run; brook trout, Green Valley Chester—minnows, Brandywine Creek, Creek, Laurel Run. Run. White Clay Creek, West Branch Brandy- Indiana—minnows, Little Yellow Creek, Philadelphia—minnows, Wissahickon wine Creek; brook trout, White Clay Creek, Yellow Creek; brook trout, Brush Creek, Creek. Pusey Run, Valley Creek, Birch Run, Two Little Yellow Creek, North Fork Little Ma­ Pike—minnows, Raymondskill Creek, Log Run, Lyndell Creek, Doe Run. honing Creek, Little Mahoning Creek. Lackawaxen River; brook trout, Big Bush­ Clarion—minnows, Deer Creek, Piney Jefferson—minnows, North Fork of Red kill Creek, Dingmans Creek, Raymondskill Creek. Bank Creek, Little Sandy Creek, East Branch Creek, Little Bushkill Creek. Clearfield—minnows, Lick Run Deer of Mahoning Creek. Potter—minnows, Pine Creek, Allegheny Creek, Mosquito Creek ; brook trout, Wilson Juniata—minnows, Licking Creek, Lost River, Mill Creek. Run. •> Creek; brook trout, Big Run. Schuylkill—minnows, Black Creek, Fish­ Clinton—brown trout, Lick Run. iMCkau-anna—minnows, Gardner Creek, ing Creek. Columbia—minnows, Roaring Creek. Roaring Brook; brook trout, Roaring Brook. Snyder—minnows, Middle Creek, PennS Crawford—brook trout, North Branch of Lancaster—minnows, Holtwood Dam, Safe Creek; brook trout, North Branch Mahan- Middle Branch of Sugar Creek; brown trout, Harbor Dam on Susquehanna River, Con- tango Creek; rainbow trout, North Branch Thompson's Run. Little Suaar Creek. owingo Dam on Susquehanna River, Fishing Mahantango Creek. THE PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 13

Somerset—minnows, Beaver Dam Run; Tainbow trout, Laurel Hill Creek; brook trout, South Fork Bens Creek, Elk Lick "WERE OUR FACES RED!" "MAN-EATERS" Creek, Kooser Run, Piney Run, Brush Creek. There are probably many fisher­ George Zimmerman, secretary of men in Pennsylvania today who the Lehigh County Fish and Game Tub Mill Run, Meadow Run, Beaver Dam might contend that they outrank S. Protective Association, issued a sol­ Hun. W. Hobson of Easton and two com­ emn warning a short time before the Susquehanna—brook trout, East Branch panions as the worst anglers' in the opening of the trout season, to mem­ Lackawanna River;, West Branch Lacka­ state, but they'll have to step if they bers of his organization to keep a wanna River, East Branch Tunkhannock do it. Writes Angler Hobson: sharp look-out for a school of "man- Creek, Tunkhannock Creek; rainbow trout, "The following incident may settle eating" trout in the Little Lehigh Starrucca Creek. all doubts as to who are the three Creek, a favorite fishing stream in that section of the state. Tioga—minnows, Cedar Run, Asaph Run, worst anglers in Pennsylvania. Last summer while returning with two Zimmerman sent out his alarm Kettle Creek; brook trout, Elk Run; rain­ companions from a fishing trip in after he heard the story of Earl Price, bow trout, Pine Creek. Pike County we found a small pond forester of the city of Allentown, Union—minnows, Perms Creek, Buffalo we had never noticed before, al­ about an experience he had along Creek; rainbow trout, Half Way Dam. though we had passed over the same this stream the latter part of the Venango—minnows, Little Sandy Creek, road dozens of tunes. Fish wTere 1934 trout season. Mr. Price says Upper Two Mile Run, Pit Hole Creek, Horse feeding all over the pond and as we he was fishing with flies along the Galley Creek; rainbow trout, Little Scrub- could find no "No Trespass" signs we creek and made a rather bad cast grass Creek; brook trout, Upper Two Mile. lost no time in getting our lines in from the shore. He began retrieving East Branch Sugar Creek, East Sandy Creek. the water. Although we fished every his line by use of the reel until the inch of^ the shoreline and ujsed a flies were close to the shore when he Horse Creek; brown trout, Pit Hole Creek. variety of natural and artificial lures, essayed a back cast. Warren—minnows, Little Broken Straw not one of us could get a strike. Just about that time he saw a huge Creek, Columbus Pond, North West Branch Finally, the owner arrived and or­ fish make a rush for the end fly and °f Spring Creek, Broken Straw Creek; brown dered us off his property. AVe asked, an instant later the monster, which trout. Pine Creek; brook trout, Four Mile "Are there any fish in this little turned out to be an eighteen-inch Creek, Arnot Creek, Phelps Run, Coffee pond?" "H— yes," he replied, "this brownie, hit him on the foot and Creek; rainbow trout, Pine Creek. is a private fish hatchery and I have landed helpless on the grass. over 3,000 adult trout in there." Washington—minnows, Pikes Run, Maple Although surprised by the "vi­ Creek, Minge Creek, Dry Run. "Were our faces red, but not from cious attack," Price managed to step Wayne—minnows, Lackawaxen River, sunburn." on the fish and put it out of business. Crooked Creek; brook trout, Little Equinunk Creek, Big Branch Dyberry Creek, Calkins Creek, North Branch Calkins Creek, Crooked Creek, Johnsons Creek, West Branch Lacka­ waxen River. Westmoreland—minnows, Loyalhanna Creek, Indiana Creek, Greenwood Creek, Swerney Creek, Traxo Run; brown trout, Jacobs Creek; brook trout, Furnace Run, Little Pucketa Creek, Loyalhanna Creek. Wyoming—minnows, Meshoppen Creek, North Branch Susquehanna Creek; brook trout, Bowmans Creek, Leonards Creek, Meshoppen Creek. York—minnows, Susquehanna River, Little Conewago Creek, Conewago Creek, South Branch Codorus Creek; sunflsh, Krentz Creek; catfish, Krentz Creek; brook trout, Orson Run, Toms Run, Furnace Run.

30 TROUT COST FISHERMEN $325 Trout fishing usually isn't an expensive sPort, but it proved decidedly so for two Howard men, on April 19, who paid at the rate of about $1.80 an inch for approxi­ mately 180 inches of trout. Or, looking at 11 another way, they paid just ,$325 in fines *°r 30 undersized trout they had in their Possession when Fish Wardens apprehended them. AIR VIEW OF SPRING CREEK PROJECT NEAR BELLEFONTE. IT WILL The men were Thomas A. Pletcher and his BE OPENED THIS YEAR ON MAY 18. "Pother, Blair Pletcher, of Howard, -who ^ere apprehended Good Friday afternoon on FREEPORT WOMAN, 61, CLEARFIELD SPORTSMEN Bi? Run, near Howard, by Fish Warden IS ARDENT ANGLER Ge PLAN ACTIVE SEASON orge Cross, of Hammersley Forks, Clinton Among the thousands of anglers who have Sportsmen of Sandy Township, Clearfield county, and Game Protector Thomas Mosier, braved the none too favorable weather of of County, have organized a club which holds Bellefonte. the opening week of trout season was a 61- promise of being one of the outstanding At a hearing given them before Justice year-old woman of Iron Bridge, near Free- groups for conservation of fish and game in °f the Peace Harry A. Rossman, of Miles- port. She is Mrs. Sarah Keesey, widow of the county, according to word received re­ h,1l *g. that night, Blair Pletcher. who was George Keesey, who, before his death, was cently from Henry Dubroux, chairman of carrying the basket in which the fish were one of the Freeport district's best known the Vermin Committee, of DuBois. |°und, was fined $25 for fishing without a and best informed followers of Izaak Wal­ A booster meeting was held in February u 0 ' ' nse, while Thomas Pletcher, who claimed ton's favorite sport. and plans were laid for an intensive vermin he caught all the fish, was fined $10 each, Mrs. Keesey took out a license on Friday drive which is now on full blast. At the r ° a total of $300. They were discharged and left Saturday for Taylor Run, near New present time over 100 members have been r °m custody after they had arranged to Castle, where she spent the first days of the enrolled in the club. The merchants of pa y the fines and costs. season. She visited with a sister when not DuBois have donated over a dozen fine —The Centre Democrat. along the streams. prizes for the various drives. 14 THE PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER

REGULATIONS COVERING rearing pools and raise trout from fry re­ YOUNG WOMAN'S CREEK, ceived from the Federal Government. SLATE AND CEDAR RUNS "The site finally selected was at Weikert, Union County, and work on the project was During the 1934 fishing season the Board started at once, with the result that before posted Slate Run, Lycoming County, under freezing weather that winter, the members certain rules and regulations. The experi­ amongst themselves had constructed a 23,000' ment met with such success, that this year gallon catch basin with a hundred and forty Cedar Run and the Right Branch of Young foot, four inch pipe line to the site of our Woman's Creek are being included. pools and troughs. During the winter we The following rules and regulations must constructed 12 standard size hatchery be observed: troughs, which were ready for our first Fishing permitted on this stream only consignment of fry received April 1932. By from April 15th to July 31st, inclusive, and the time our first trout were ready to take between the hours of 4 A. M. and 9 P. M. from the troughs, we had built two 40' Standard Time. x 7' x 4' concrete pools; All fishing limited to artificial fly, or bait "In October 1932 we planted 1500 trout with barbless hook. that ran from 4% to 6% inches in length, Number of trout taken in one day limited the results of our first year's work. In 1933 to six. we planted 3780 trout. Last October we Number of trout per man per season, planted 6502 trout. You will note that while thirty-six. our output has steadily increased, we are Legal minimum size limit nine inches. by no means satisfied, and are now planning All tributaries closed to fishing at all to increase our capacity by building two ad­ times. ditional pools this summer. Our goal is to SLATE RUN (Lycoming County) JUVENILE ANGLERS INSPECT A plant 15,000 trout each fall. SECTION OPEN TO FISHING—From the CATCH ON ROARING RUN, "Our membership consists of 432 sports­ junction of Cushman and Francis Branches WESTMORELAND COUNTY men from 19 counties in Pennsylvania, from down to its mouth at Big Pine Creek, ap­ which you will see that this section is quite proximately 8 miles. road crosses them, the bridges being the di­ a favorite with the trout fishermen. CLOSED SECTION—Partly in Potter, viding line. "We wish to give due credit to the suc­ Tioga and Lycoming Counties—both Head THERE ARE NO SPECIAL REGULA­ cess we have attained, to the fine coopera­ Forks, Cushman and Francis Branches, and TIONS ON THE LEFT BRANCH OF tion we received from Mr. Deibler and the all other tributaries closed as nursery waters. YOUNG WOMAN'S CREEK. Federal Department of Fisheries." CEDAR RUN (Tioga and Lycoming Coun­ ties) SECTION OPEN TO FISHING—From junction of Buck Run, one mile above Le- PADDY MOUNTAIN GROUP CANTON SPORTSMEN tonia down to the mouth at Big Pine Creek, HOLDS ANNUAL DINNER HOLD ANNUAL MEET a distance of approximately 7% miles. An open forum pertaining to fishing fea­ The annual meeting and banquet of the CLOSED SECTION—Cedar Run above tured the annual dinner meeting of the Canton Rod and Gun Club was held in the the junction of Buck Run, and all tribu­ Paddy Mountain Fish and Game Associa­ social rooms of the First Presbyterian taries closed as mursery waters. tion held in Sunbury late in March. Fol­ Church Friday evening, April 12. The at­ YOUNG WOMAN'S CREEK (Largely in lowing an address by Kenneth A. Reid, tendance this year was the largest ever. Clinton County, heads in Potter County) Board member, the sportsmen present dis­ Over two hundred fifty sportsmen of this SECTION OPEN TO FISHING—Right or cussed various phases of the fish conserva­ vicinity attended. The ladies of the church East Branch of Young Woman's Creek open tion movement in Pennsylvania. served a delicious roast lamb dinner. to fishing from the junction of Lebo Branch The Association, one of the most active The merchants of Canton contributed up­ and County Line Branches down to its in the state, has been an energetic con­ wards of sixty prizes. These prizes included mouth. Also open on the Lebo Branch up servation group during the past four years. hunting equipment, fishing tackle, dry goods, stream to Lebo Trail Bridge, approximately Following is a history of the Association groceries, garage service, hair cuts and % mile, and up the County Line Branch to furnished by C. H. Love, secretary. shaves, etc. the junction of Baldwin Branch. "On August 8, 1931, about a dozen The club last year started a fish, game CLOSED SECTION—Lebo and County sportsmen who were interested in the fish­ and vermin contest but results were not as Line above these points closed as nursery ing conditions around Paddy Mountain sec­ good as might have been. However, prizes waters. Also all tributaries. tion of Penns Creek, held a meeting to see of two dollars each were given to LaZelle For the convenience of the fishermen the what could be done to better the fishing Thomas, Canton, for the largest brown actual closure points on the County Line aro\;nd that section. After a committeei trout, and O. J. Smith of Franklin for the and Baldwin Branches are just above the which was selected at that time had met largest pickerel. The contest will be con­ junction of these two streams where the with Mr. Deibler, it was decided to build tinued for another year and those desiring entry blanks should contact any of the club directors. At the business meeting, called to order BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS by the president, L. F. Root, the following were, elected directors for three years '• HARRISBURG, PA. Clarence Allen, Alfred Wilcox and Wm. M- Foster. These with the six other directors SUBSCRIPTION BLANK will meet in the near future to elect officers and map out a program for the current Enclosed find fifty cents ($.50) for one year's subscription to PENN­ year. SYLVANIA ANGLER. The German band from the Canton high school furnished delightful music for the Name occasion. (Print Name) Street and Number - Do not sit or lie on bare ground. It is harmful and likely to cause sickness. It Is better if caught out in the rain to sit oD City your hat and go bareheaded than to sit on the ground. THE PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 15

BALANCED TACKLE IN FLY NIFTY FLY BOX FISHING One of the cleverest fly boxes it has been SETH SAYS (Continued from, page 5) our privilege to look over is that made by outfit should balance at a point about two Aaron Cartes of 5249 Sylvester Street, Phila­ By gorry, I ketched °r three inches in front of the grip. delphia. Aaron, a neighbor of Charlie Wet­ thet old trout I been The leader is also an important item and zel, whose splendid articles on native trout workin' on these past Unless it is chosen with consideration for the flies and fly tying have featured issues three year's, jest four size of the line, the caster will experience of the ANGLER, has a staunch advocate of days after openin' o' the difficulty in getting the leader to extend it­ this fly box in Charlie, who writes: season. Nary a purtier self straight out froni the line. The great "Frankly, it is one of the 'slickest' boxes fish hev I ever took. Majority of commercially tied dry fly I have ever run across. It's made of copper Sixteen inches he was leaders are too light on the butt or heavy and I'm darn proud of the one he made me. with spots big ez dimes. Ye jest oughter a end to cast properly. The tapered point of It is an ideal box, especially for fanwings seed Jerry Tims when he laid eyes on thet a fly line will calibrate .030 and sometimes, where its depth and roominess prevents big speckled trout. Seth, sez he, reckon there Particularly on English lines, .025. With crushing these flies, a fault so common in ain't a gonner be enny feller ketch him a fish a tapered dry fly leader with a butt end ordinary boxes. The cork strips in the box in the run this year ter beat thet ol' feller. Measuring only .010 or .011, the step down are so constructed that when the flies are Thet trout raised merry ned when I hooked ln size between the line and leader is too imbedded or in position, the hackles always inter him. I hed worked in keerful like ter abrupt and the leader is likely to fall in slope forward towards the eye of the hook, a little ledge back o' some tree roots an' let a bunch of wavy coils instead of extending another especially desirable feature which my red worm float inter the hole natral like. "1 a straight line beyond the end of the line. causes the fly to float well." An' then I feels just a few sharp pulls, not Particularly in leaders of 8 feet or more in the run a feller gits ginerally when a ten- length, casting will be greatly improved if WILLOW PLANTING incher takes hold. I Aggers right off it must the butt end of the leader is at least as be the ol' trout an' I lets him take it fer heavy as .014 or .015 from where it may be In answer to numerous questions from our subscribers and others relative to willow a little bit. Well, sir, when I pulls thet tapered down gradually as fine as you like bottom like to've busted. Straight off he °n the point. planting on Pennsylvania streams this sum­ mer, the following suggestions should be heads fer under the tree roots, an' I'm a-say- For bass fishing, a longer and more power- helpful. in' ef I hedn't got me a new strong line, I'd Jul rod is desirable, not because of the niver a got him. Anyhow, I turns him jest Young shoots on willow branches, from heavier average of the fish one may expect in time, an' then the scrap goes on. Thet 14 to 24 inches In length and from about one- to catch, but because of the larger and trout hed me most all-fired busy fer ten half inch to two inches in diameter are suit­ minutes, rollin' an' tearin' about ter bust heavier flies or lures that one must fre- able for planting. Cut while the sap is lUently use in order to take bass. For this loose. When I gets him up on the bank after w down, they should be placed in a cool, damp thet fight, I durn near turned him loose agin. ork, I prefer a 9% foot rod weighing 5% place to prevent early sprouting. Planting to perhaps slightly more than 6 ounces. Somehow, I'm a gonner miss workin' out on should be made if possible this month al­ him after good rains this year. Such a rod should have considerable power though it may run well into June and still Without being stiff, for the cast of the large be effective. As an aid to proper planting, Ain't many o' our fellers hed much luck ruzzy bass surface lures is somewhat slower it is well to carry along an iron bar or sharp the first day. I run inter twenty o' the best than that of the trout dry fly and the rod wood stick. The hole made with this in­ fishermen about these parts, an' most hed should have the power to follow through strument should be about half the length of only one er two trout. An' it wasn't no jPthout excessive speed of action which is the sprout. The butt end, or end with the wonder, what with the high water, an' the '•sually associated with stiffness. The largest diameter, should then be inserted in trout fed ter the gills. Jest wait 'till streams Proper weight line for such a rod would be gits right, I'm sayin', an' then we'll be git- a the hole, and earth tamped down about it. D level or an HCH tapered. From two to four rows of plantings are ad­ tin' some right smart fishin'. I can not over emphasize the necessity visable. t°r getting the right weight line for the trict Forester of Ligonier, were members of height and action of any particular rod. the party who saw the above incident. ^any small town tackle stores do not carry SNAKE EATS WATERDOG "Later, the same season, the writer caught a line in stock that is heavy enough for even "The item in PENNSYLVANIA ANGLEE for a waterdog in Loyalhanna Creek which a 3% ounce fly rod. The H and I size fly March concerning the waterdog which had measured thirty-eight inches in length. We 'toes frequently seen in tackle stores have partly consumed a watersnake recalls to have never seen or heard of a larger—and 110 place in a fly caster's equipment as they mind the experience of a party of fishermen wonder how large they do grow." are entirely too light to develop the action on Four Mile Run, Westmoreland County, °f any practical fly rod. As an aid in se­ first day of bass season a few years ago," FIRST DAY NEWS eding the proper size line for any particu- writes Don Robb, chairman of the Fish Com­ ar FROM NORTH TIER J rod, I am listing below a table of rod mittee of the Ligonier Valley Sportsmen's How did the boys fare on North Tier engths and weights with the proper size Association. waters opening day? The following report 'toe. "One cf the party, on observing a rather from Warden Horace Boyden, Wellsboro, Note:—These weights are for good qual- large watersnake, with an extraordinary Tioga County, covers the situation. He lty modern split bamboo dry fly rods with bulge appearing at about its mid-length, wrote on April 18: *°od reel seats. If equipped with metal proceeded to dispatch and cut open the rep­ "Opening of the trout season in Tioga r tile. On examination it was found that County was very disappointing to many eel seat? the same rod will weigh % ounce the snake had swallowed a waterdog (Cryp- 'fore. If the rod is comparatively stiff or fishermen who go on the first day. There tobranchus Alleghaniensis) about twelve were big floods in all of our streams, and Powerful, the next larger size line may cast inches in length. hetter. Cheap rods or those built twenty fed by melting of 10 inches of heavy wet "It is therefore evident that both branches snow that fell on April 8 and 9, the streams 5"ears ago, will have a softer or more limber of these fish destroyers sometimes eat each ac continue to stay up. So far as I have been tion for any given weight and may require other. able to learn, there have been no trout he next lighter line size. "The writer and Mr. V. M. Bearer, Dis- taken in any of the big meadow streams or ROD LINE in Pine Creek. All fishing has been done in the very small headwater streams and some Length Weight Level Tapered unusually large trout have been taken. Mr. 7% Feet .3 to 314 ounces G HFH Brace of Towanda caught 11 trout in Coon 8 .3% to 3% ounces Run, a very small branch of the Tioga AVs to 4% ounces HEH River, and they ranged in length from 8 to sy2 F 8 .4 to 4% ounces 11 inches. We look for good fishing as 8Y2 AV2 to 4% ounces HDH. soon as the streams get into proper condi­ 9 .5 ounces E tion, better throughout the season perhaps .5% ounces HCH than if a lot of trout had been taken on the 9% .5% to 6 ounces D first day." HERE \ THERE ', ANGLERDOM

Milford; Dwarfkill Creek—Theodore Fuller I. W. L. ELECTS REID and John Supplee, Milford; Sanvantine's DUCK-EATING SNAPPER Brook—Clarence Van Auken, Mrs. Clarence NATIONAL DIRECTOR Snapping turtles, which rank as Van Auken, Calvin Van Auken and John Hon. Kenneth A. Reid, of Connellsville, ace enemies to fish in Pennsylvania Fisher, Milford; Vandermark Brook—Wil­ a member of the Board of Fish Commis­ inland waters, also vary their diet liam Heilman, Jean Boilotat, Warner De- sioners, was elected to the National Board frequeaitly with poultry, particularly puy, Milford ; Raymondskill Creek—Eliza­ of Directors of the Izaak Walton League of ducks or young geese. And just to beth Drake, Milford; Mill Brook—Floyd America at the National Convention held in prove it, here is an interesting com­ Chicago last month. munication from H. H. Smith of Quick and Walter Hanna, Milford. Olarks Summit: Mr. Reid has been a member of the IzaaK "I was just looking at the shell Walton League continuously since its in­ Warden Joel Young of Fullerton reports ception, and is widely known in conserva­ of a 29-pound snapping turtle that good catches on Lehigh Valley streams open­ I have in the attic. There is an inter­ tion circles. He is also a former fishing ing day. Edward Haehnle, president of the editor of National Sportsman Magazine. esting story connected with it. Bethlehem Fish, Game and Forestry Asso­ "An old lady who lived alone on a small farm, beside a little dam ciation, landed 10 fine brook trout from was losing her young ducks or gos­ Saucon Creek. Ed Curry, Bethlehem, scored Speaking of sucker catches, that made by lings, I forget which. One morning with five nice brookies and four rainbows D. A. Garver and W. H. DeHoff of York just she heard a commotion in the water on the Saucon. Others making good catches about tops the list this year. Trying their and looked out to see one of the on this stream were Dr. H. F. Liebert, Rich­ luck in Cabin Branch which flows into the remaining two in the brood disap­ ard Steager and Clifford C. Ruth. Mono- Susquehanna River at Long Level one day pear, struggling, beneath the water. cacy Creek yielded good catches to Jack last month, they caught 10 suckers having a She ran out and saw the big snapper, Lantz, Floyd Rothrock, John Birk, Walter combined weight of 23 pounds. The largest and though she was old and very Birk and Paul Uhler. weighed 3% pounds. small (I don't believe she weighed more than seventy-five pounds) she plunged into the water waist-deep Warden Link Lender, Bellwood, reports One of the finest rainbow trout to be taken and grasped the turtle by the hind nice early season catches of brook trout on from famous Spring Creek in Centre County leg. The creature immediately re­ Vanscoyoc Run, Bigfell Run, Yellow Creek, this year, was that landed on opening day oi leased the duck and attacked her. Three Springs Run and Potter Creek in Bed­ She screamed for help, and to her the season by Mrs. Howard Lavley of Du- good fortune a paper hanger who was ford County. Piney Creek in Blair furnished Bois. Mrs. Lavley left the cottage in whicto working for her that day, ran out excellent fishing. she had spent the night before season open­ and grabbing an axe, split the turtle's ing, walked to the bank of the stream and head. From Special Warden J. H. Bergman of almost immediately hooked the big fellow^ "I arrived on the scene a few Butler comes word of good catches in the It measured 18 inches in length, according minutes latesr and she gave the critter northwestern trout streams. Dale Blevin, to "Pete" Hoffman of Bellefonte who re­ to me. He made a good stew and I Portersville, caught three 11-inch trout on ported the catch. Mrs. Lavley first learned still have his shell." opening day, Walter Young, New Castle, five to fish for trout at the Spring Creek project trout, 10 to 11 inches, Norman Boyer, But­ last year. ler, three 10-inch trout, Joe Mechling, Cono- Early season catches of big brown trout quenessing, seven 10-inch trout, Leo Oyster- A brown trout, 20% inches in length and presage another great year for the taking of ling, Valencia, four 11-inch brown trout, and these old timers. Topping those in size re­ weighing 2 pounds, 8 ounces, was taken on Norman Miller, Butler, seven 10-inch brook the Bushkill, Pike County, by Arthur Hahn, ported was a 26-inch, 6 pound 8 ounce brown trout. Great fishing and sportsmen's creels. trout caught in Yellow Breeches Creek, Cum­ Easton, R. D. 2. berland County, by Wayne Long of New Cum­ berland, on a minnow. Runner-up to it was a 23-inch, 5 pound 9 ounce brownie from the Little Lehigh near Allentown. It was caught by Elmer Fatzinger, Allentown. Bob James, Mill Hall, caught a 20% inch brown in Fish­ ing Creek, Clinton County, that weighed 3 pounds, 6 ounces. A 21-inch brownie was taken on the first day by Mr. C. Lewis of Tyrone. Fishing in the lower Yellow Breeches, Cumberland County, on the morn­ ing of Wednesday, April 24, Dan Galdino of Harrisburg, landed a brown trout measuring 21 inches and weighing 3 pounds, 4 ounces.

Pike County trout waters lived up to be- fore-season predictions in spite of very un­ favorable weather. Fine catches of trout, reported by Warden Frank Brink, were made on opening day in the following streams by fishermen listed: Indian Ladder Creek— Roy Carkuff and Martin Clark, Matamoras, K. Van Camp, H. Ducher and John March, Stroudsburg, and Frank Down, Delaware Township; Dingman Creek—E. V. Steele, JUST SUCKER FISHIN' How the Fishermans Dollar Is Spent!

PUBLICITY AND RESEARCH -BOAT PATROL- PURCHASE OF LAND & WATERS PAUL L. SWANSON, R. D. NO.2, POLK. PA. Sec. 562, P. L.fcR. U. S. POSTAGE P-A PAID Harrisburg, Pa. Permit No. 270

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Handle Small Trout Carefully. It Will Mean Better Fishing.