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IMP ^1 The Keystone State' Official Fishing and Boating Magazine 0/ ?oN KUKM I am using this, my first col­ revered because of those qualities. umn in Pennsylvania Angler & Many of the issues that he wrote about Boater magazine, as an opportu­ 20 and 30 years ago are still relevant nity to introduce myself as the today—some even more so. He is an Fish & Boat Commission's ninth ex­ icon against which all other directors ecutive director and to begin a dialog will always be measured. with Pennsylvania's anglers and boat­ How do we translate that philoso­ ers. It is certainly fitting that the first phy into the 21st century? How do we words in every issue of this magazine position the Fish & Boat Commission are written under the "Resource First" to be the best possible agency and to logo with the words "Protect, Conserve address the issues facing the aquatic and Enhance." These words mean a lot resources of the state? How do we take to me and to all who fish and boat in a staff that is already recognized as one Pennsylvania. I humbly and with the of the best and continue or expand greatest respect accept the responsibil­ support that addresses their changing ity of serving as your executive direc­ needs? These are the challenges that I tor, and it will be my great honor to gladly will face. keep alive the conservation heritage of To answer these questions, we need this fine agency. to look at the stresses facing the re­ Going back to 1866 when James source and develop an agenda that is Worrall was named Pennsylvania's first proactive, timely and exciting. This Commissioner of Fisheries, through agenda must also look to the future to the 1991 designation as the Pennsylva­ prepare us for a dynamic world. In a nia Fish & Boat Commission, to today, sense, we need to develop a fisheries A Vision for the traditions and accomplishments of and aquatic resources agenda for this the Future the Fish & Boat Commission are with­ still-new millennium. out equal. The staff and programs of First, it is apparent that we have a the Commission are highly respected changing public and therefore a nationally and I am excited about be­ changing constituency. This is re­ ing a part of this team. flected in how people spend their time, I would like to address what "Re­ how they value time, the basis for their source First" means to me. Obviously, ethics, and how they approach life. We I didn't know Executive Director Ralph have a generation that is considered W. Abele, but from reading his "post modern." They have different "Straight Talk" columns covering 15 perspectives and expectations, often a years, it was obvious that he lived out different framework for the develop­ the Resource First motto and philoso­ ment of values, and a different view­ phy. He did so by being a leader in point on the natural world. Do they resource management and an active want to have a quality environment? and uncompromising advocate for The answer is definitely yes, possibly fisheries and broader environmental even more so than previous genera­ issues as they affect the resources of tions. Do they have the same opportu­ the state and the nation. His "Straight nities to experience the environment as < Talk" columns covered topics as wide- many of you did growing up? Defi­ \Keep Rennsvtvania\ ranging as acid rain, fishing ethics, wa­ nitely not. We need to understand this ter quality laws, surface mining, changing human landscape better and comments on Interior secretaries, and build programs that embrace it and human population growth. He was offer experiences that fill a void that steadfast in his thinking, always look­ their existence may not offer. Fishing, ing out for the resource, and he was boating, floating in a canoe or simply

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 www.fish.state.pa.us enjoying water can fill this void, and PROTECT • CONSERVE • ENHANCE Where one agency is weak, another is we need to provide that opportunity strong. The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat and lead people to it in ways that natural resource management and Commission is an exceptional agency, will allow them to connect with the fisheries management in Pennsylvania and we will best address the future by environment. and in many other places. This maintaining and expanding that ex­ Second, we cannot manage the glimpse into the future reveals dy­ pertise as an independent body but aquatic resource without looking at namic teams of people working on wa­ also through expanded partnerships the landscape that affects it. Good tersheds and landscapes, and engaging with our colleagues in the many other boating and fishing depend on good the public in the management of our conservation groups statewide. I know water quality and proper habitat. Wa­ streams and lakes in ways that will lead that already there are some fantastic ter quality and habitat are part of a to substantial and permanent im­ and effective partnerships built, and I larger landscape system. Looking at provement. Fish & Boat Commission hope to continue to support those aquatic systems from a broader per­ staff will be an integral part of this while building new and productive spective will position us to be key process because they have expertise, relationships for the future. players in creating solutions that will knowledge and technical skill that is, I am a person who likes to get things result in quality fishing and boating and will be, sought after and valued by done. I know that the people of the experiences. We all know that the many. The challenge will be to balance Fish & Boat Commission are the same. landscape of Pennsylvania is undergo­ this work with the important tradi­ I want to see positive effects on the re­ ing dramatic change. The National tional fisheries activities. source. That is why I got into this pro­ Resource Inventory showed that the Finally, how do we make this hap­ fession, that is why I am here, and that state is losing over 100,000 acres of pen? Partnerships have been and will is what we will do. rural land per year. This is the same continue to be critical to this success. rate as California, a comparison that is No single agency, no matter how large not all that flattering. or well-funded, can solve environmen­ As a result of these types of changes tal problems alone. No single agency and many others, we are already seeing has the expertise, resources, authority, JDjluglas J. Austen, Ph.D. an important part of the future of or energy to be successful by itself. Executive Director

Dr. Douglas J. Austen Sworn in as Ninth Commission Executive Director

Dr. Douglas J. Austen has tal Sciences at the University been officially sworn in as the of Illinois. new executive director of the He earned a Ph.D. in 1992 Pennsylvania Fish & Boat from the Department of Ani­ Commission. Dr. Austen took mal Ecology at Iowa State the oath of office as part of the University. In addition, he agency's winter quarterly meet­ holds a master of science de­ ing, last January in Harrisburg. gree with an emphasis in fish­ Dr. Austen brings to the eries science from Virginia Commission more than 25 Polytechnic Institute and years of fisheries and Dr. Douglas J. Austen (right) takes the executive State University and a bach- natural resource manage- director's oath of office, administered by Commission elor of science degree in wild­ ment experience in a variety of Deputy Executive Director Dennis T. Guise. With Dr. life and fisheries science from top-level positions. Before his Austen is his spouse, Lezli. The swearing in took place South Dakota State Univer­ hiring, he served as head of the during the Commission's quarterly meeting, last January sity. He is a Certified Fisher­ Technical Support Section of «'» Harrisburg. ies Professional by the the Illinois Department of American Fisheries Society. Natural Resources and as an adjunct faculty member in Dr. Austen is an avid outdoorsman. He and his wife, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmen- Lezli, have four-year-old twins who love to fish. photo-Art Michaels www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 3 Edward G. Rendell Governor PENNSYLVANIA FISH & BOAT COMMISSION Samuel M. Concilia President North East- Paul J. Mahon Vice President Chirks Green Donald K. Anderson Preseason and preparations Mcyersdale Richard W. Czop Everything in nature has a preseason—a time when the animal prepares for a Collegeville period of major activity, like spawning, increased feeding and growth. We an­ Ross J. Huhn glers have a preseason, too—a time when we get ready for the trout season and Saltsburg Ted R. Keir a long period of open-water fishing. This issue is packed with trout season's Athens preliminaries. Howard E. Pflugfelder New Cumberland Turn to page 7 for the Commission's list of expanded fishing opportunities. Leon H. Reed This feature was usually a one- or two-pager in past issues. This year it's three Honesdale pages of new and expanded fishing opportunities. Be sure also to read the new William ). Sabatose Brockport Wild Brook Trout Enhancement Program regulations in this article. BOATING ADVISORY BOARD On page 27 you'll find the 2004 Inseason Stocking Schedule—eight pages of Steven M. Ketterer must-know details for trout anglers. Harrisburg Part of many anglers' preseason includes helping stock fish in March and Chairman Rex R. Beers April. If you plan to help stock fish, be sure to read the important information Philadelphia on page 56. Michael L. Lentine Langhorne Check page 24 for reminders on how to catch trout with worms, and on page G. Edwin Matheny 20 Linda Steiner provides practical details on how to wade safely and effectively. Greensburg On page 10 Mike Bleech explains how to pick just the right creek for opening Thaddeus Piotrowski Bloomsburg day. Consider this information carefully because it might help you discover new, EX OFFICIO MEMBERS productive places. And on page 36 Vic Attardo weighs in with effective fly fish­ Douglas J. Austen, Ph.D., ing tricks. One of his strategies for catching more trout is to work different styles Executive Director; of the same fly, instead of changing flies to different patterns. Check out how he John F. Simmons, Director, Bureau of Boating and Education; keeps the trout tricked. John Wiediger, Department of On page 18 Charles R. Meek shows how to tie a Black Caddis, which works Conservation and Natural Resources especially well early in the season, April and May, and on page 35 Carl Haensel MAGAZINE STAFF Editor—Art Michaels describes how to score with a Floating Minnow (a streamer). Art Director—Ted Walke March is part of our "season" for sport shows, so visit the Commission's ex­ Circulation—Linda Covage hibit at the shows listed on the Commission's web site. At Commission sport REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS show exhibits you can buy a license, purchase products and publications, renew Vic Attardo Charles R. Meek Mike Bleech Wayne Phillips your subscription, and ask questions and get answers. Rob Criswell Bob Sopchick Good luck opening day! See you on the water!—Art Michaels, Editor. Jon Farley Linda Steiner Cliff lacobsan Dave Wolf

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater (ISSN1093-0574) is published bimonthly by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, 1601 Elmerton Avenue, Harrishurg, PA 17110-9299. E2004 Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. Nothing in this magazine may be reprinted without the written permission of the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. Subscription rates: one year, S9; three years, S25; single copies are 53.00 each. Periodicals postage is paid at Harrisburg, PA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Circulation, Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, P.O. Box 67000, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000. For subscription and change of address, use above address. Please allow six weeks for processing. Send all other correspondence to: The Editor, Pennsylvania Angler & Boater, P.O. Box 67000, Harrisburg, PA 17106- 7000. Editorial queries and contributions are welcome, but must be accompanied by self-addressed, stamped envelopes. Material accepted for publication is subject to Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission standards and requirements for editing and revising. Submissions are handled carefully, but the Commission assumes no responsibility for the return or safety of submissions in its possession or in transit. The authors' views, ideas and advice expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinion or official position of the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission or its staff. The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission receives federal aid in sport fish restoration. Under appropriate federal acts, the U. S, Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex or handicap. If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any program, activity or facility as described above, or if you desire more information, please write to: The Office of Equal Opportunity. Department of the Interior. Washington. DC 20240.

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 www.fish.state.pa.us March/April 2004 The mission of the Pemtsylvania Fish & Boat Commission -Pennsylvania Volume 73 Number 2 is to provide fishing and boating opportunities through the protection and management of aquatic resources.

GENERAL INFORMATION 717-705-7800

EXECUTIVE OFFICE Douglas J.Austen, Ph.D., Executive Director Dennis T. Guise, Deputy Executive Director/Chief Counsel Laurie Shepler, Assistant Counsel Feature articles John Arway, Pick Your Creek Wisely by Mike Bleech 10 Division of Environmental Services A Black Caddis by Charles R. Meek 18 J. Gary Moore, Legislative Liaison Louis C. Kauffman Jr., Wade Right by Linda Sterner 20 Human Resources Director 10 Opening-Day Worm-Fishing Tips by Art Michaels 24 Tom Ford, Director of Policy and Planning Dan Tredinnick, Press Secretary Fly Fishing Tricks by VicAttardo 36 Cod in the Mountains by Rob Criswell 44 COMPTROLLER Mary DeLutis (Acting) Special features BUREAU OF ADMINISTRATION 2004 Catchable Trout Stocking Program Changes by Tom Greene 7 717-705-7900 Licensing and Boat Registration The Upper Mon Water Trail by Tim Terman and Michael Workman 14 717-705-7930 PFBC 2003 Annual Report Executive Summary .• 25 Wasyl James Polischuk Jr., Director Tom E. Thomas, Information Systems Pennsylvania's 2004 Approved Trout Waters Inseason Stocking 27 Brian Barner, Federal Aid/Grants Wildlife Forever State-Fish Art Contest Rules & Regulations, Brenda Verner, Licensing and Registration and Entry Form 39 BUREAU OF FISHERIES Angler Award Program 41 814-359-5100 Pennsylvania State-Record Fish 42 Rickalon L. Hoopes, Director Andrew L. Shiels, Division of Research 2004 Pennsylvania Trout/Salmon Stamp & Print 43 Richard A. Snyder, Spring PLAY Newsletter 47 Division of Fisheries Management James E. Harvey, Commission Staff Awards 64 Division of Trout Production Martin T. Marcinko, Regular features Division of Warm/Coolwater Protect • Conserve • Enhance Fish Production by Executive Director Douglas J. Austen, Ph.D 2 BUREAU OF ENGINEERING Casting Around by Art Michaels 4 AND DEVELOPMENT 814-359-5152 This Month in PFBC History 4 John E Simmons, Acting Director Mail 6 Richard Mulfinger, P.E., Division of Engineering, WCO Diary by WCO Jonathan R. Kay 17 Construction & Maintenance Your Fishing Field Guide by Carl Haensel 35 Bernard J. Kiesnoski, Property Services Notes from the Streams 54 David Bumann, P.E., Engineering Vacant, Fishing & Boating Facilities Design Currents 56 PFBC Pamphlets 57 BUREAU OF LAW ENFORCEMENT 717-705-7861 PFBC Publications and Products Order Form.. 58 Tom Kamerzel, Director Fishin' from the Kitchen by Wayne Phillips 60 Guy A. Bowersox, Assistant to the Director George C. Geisler Jr., Angler's Notebook by Jon Farley 61 Assistant to the Director Cast&Caught :...63 BUREAU OF BOATING AND EDUCATION 717-705-7833 On the cover Subscription Inquiries This issue's front-cover painting, by Ron Kuhn, titled "Fishing the Pines 717-705-7835 John F. Simmons, Director of Michaux," depicts an opening-day trout-fishing scene on a southcentral Dan Martin, Boating Safety Program Pennsylvania stream. Carl Richardson, Aquatic Resources Program Ted Walke, Educational Media Services

www.fish.state.pa.us

www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 5 spiny softshell. In both species, the and some of its larger tributaries in males (up to 10 inches) are signifi­ southeast PA. While surveying for cantly smaller than the females and map turtles in the Susquehanna River have more distinct spotting on the watershed, we observed two spiny carapace (upper shell). Females are softshells. They are not native to that much larger and usually show a cam­ basin and their origin at this point is ouflaged pattern of splotches. Female unknown. Therefore, spiny softshells midland smooth softshell turtles grow can be found in a number of locations to around 14 inches in length, while in Pennsylvania. female spiny softshell turtles can reach Despite targeted searching, there 18 or even 20 inches in shell length. are no recent records of midland Thus, based on a reported length of 16 smooth softshells in PA. Until con­ inches, the odds are that Mr. Shannon firmed sightings are recorded, we will Softshell turtles saw a spiny. continue to consider the species extir­ It was interesting that in one week I Interestingly, spiny softshells were pated (locally extinct). saw two references to a species that I did apparently introduced into some of Keep reading PA Angler & Boater not know existed, the soft-shell turtle. New Jersey's tributaries to the Dela­ for more information on our native The second of these was in the July/ ware River 40 or more years ago. Now species!—Andrew L. Shiels, Chief, Di­ August 2001 issue of your magazine. this species is found in the Delaware vision of Research.^ You show a photo of the midland smooth softshell turtle and indicate that it is an "extirpated" species. However, just last week my brother-in-law, Clarence Shannon, told me that he and his grandson caught the largest soft-shell turtle he had ever seen while fishing for carp and catfish in the Ohio River near Shippingsport (interestingly, across the river from Midland). He said that the turtle was about 16 inches long and 12 inches wide. He went on to tell me that he had caught a number of smaller ones over the years and also described their aggressive nature. Perhaps this is one more indicator of how well our Ohio River Watershed has continued to improve.—Walter Davie, Cranberry Township.

It is encouraging to those of us who work in the arena of lesser-known, of­ Happy angler ten under-appreciated species to know Here are two photos, one of a 22-pound, 6-ounce, 37-inch carp I caught that the magazine's readers put the in­ last June at Edinboro Lake at the wall on Lakeside Drive. I received an An­ formation we publish to good use. gler Award for this catch. The other photo is my 11 -year-old nephew Anthony Historically, there were two softshell Pieczynski with a limit catch of steelhead, each of which went about 26 inches. turtle species found in Pennsylvania. On a day last November I thought it would be a good day to take Anthony The midland smooth softshell has not fishing at Walnut Creek. There were a lot of fish in all of the lower holes. It been found in the state for many years, was drizzling all morning, and then the creek came up about 3 inches but as far as we know. The eastern spiny stayed clear. Another school decided to run. This turned out to be the best softshell, on the other hand, is rela­ day for steelhead I have ever seen. Everyone I went with caught a limit and tively common in the bigger waters of everyone I could see was catching fish. Keep up the great work managing our the Ohio River Watershed. I suspect Commonwealth's great fisheries!—Bradley J. Dilla, Pittsburgh. that your brother-in-law observed a

6 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 www.fish.state.pa.us Virgin Run Dam, Fayette County

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by Tom Greene WamSSs Hall Run, Clinton County. A 2.2-mile section will extend from the confluence with Gravel Lick and Laurely Fork down­ For the 2004 SeaSOn, the Pennsylvania stream to South Renovo Reservoir. The stream will receive a preseason stocking of brook trout. Fish & Boat Commission will distribute some 4.2 million adult trout. This figure will include the pro­ Hereford Manor Lake, Upper, Beaver County. This 16- duction of 4 million catchable trout at state fish acre lake will return to the stocking program after a one-year hatcheries, 100,000 produced at the Allegheny Na­ hiatus that allowed water levels to be lowered for dam safety tional Fish Hatchery as part of a cooperative agree­ concerns. The lake will receive preseason and inseason stock­ ment between the Commission and the U.S. Fish & ings of brown and rainbow trout. Wildlife Service, and 100,000 trout as part of a pur­ Indiantown Run, Lebanon County. A 1.4-mile section will chase contract with a commercial hatchery. Com­ extend from the confluence with Saint Joseph Springs down­ pared to the 2003 season's figure, this number is an stream to Marquette Lake and will receive a preseason stock­ increase of some 200,000 adult trout. ing of brown and rainbow trout. Kaercher Creek Dam, Berks County. This 32-acre lake will be stocked only in the fall with rainbow trout. New waters Koon Lake, Bedford County. This 233-acre lake will return Big Moores Run, Potter County. A 3.3-mile section will to the stocking program and will receive rainbow trout extend from the confluence with Knickerbocker Hollow inseason. downstream to the lower boundary of Susquehannock State Lake Jean, Luzerne County. This 245-acre lake will be Forest. The stream will receive a preseason stocking of brook added to the stocking program and will be stocked with brook trout. trout inseason. Delaware Canal, Bucks County. Located in Upper Wash­ Mahoning Creek, Armstrong County. A 2.9-mile tailwater ington Crossing State Park, a 1.0-mile section will receive section will extend from the outflow of Mahoning Lake down­ preseason and inseason stockings of rainbow trout. The sec­ stream to the confluence with Pine Run. The stream will re­ tion will extend from the upstream boundary of Washington ceive an inseason stocking of brown and rainbow trout. Crossing State Park downstream to the canal lock at the Neshaminy Creek, Bucks County. Located in the bound­ lower park boundary. aries of Tyler State Park, a 1.0-mile section will extend from Drury Run, Clinton County. A 2.9-mile section will ex­ the base of the dam above the Tyler State Park causeway tend from Pong Hollow downstream to the confluence with downstream to Richboro Road (SR 0332). This water will Sandy Run. The stream will be stocked only preseason with receive a preseason and an inseason stocking of brown and brook trout. rainbow trout. English Run, Lycoming County. Stocking will extend 1.9 Schuylkill River, Little, Schuylkill County. Located near miles from Broughton Hollow downstream to the mouth. The Port Clinton, the lower 1.1 miles will receive a preseason and stream will receive a preseason stocking of brook trout. an inseason stocking of rainbow trout. Greenlick Run, Clinton County. A 1.9-mile section from Shanerburg Run, Sullivan County. The lower 1.5 miles the confluence with Little Greenlick Run downstream to the will receive a preseason stocking of brook trout. mouth will be stocked preseason with brook trout. Stony Fork, Tioga County. A 2.2-mile section will extend www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 7 2004 Catchable Trout Increased early season opportunities Stocking Program To provide additional early season angling opportunities, the preseason stocking rates have been increased on the follow­ Changes ing stream sections located near population centers: Antietam Creek, Berks County; Beaver Creek, Chester County; Big Run, Lawrence County; Brodhead Creek, Monroe County; Bushkill Creek, Northampton County; Cascade Creek, from the confluence with Paint Run downstream to the mouth. Erie County; Cedar Creek, Lehigh County; Chester Creek, The stream will be stocked preseason with brook and brown Delaware County; Chester Creek, West Branch, Delaware trout. County; Coplay Creek, Lehigh County; Darby Creek, Delaware Swift Run, Mifflin County. A 2.2-mile section will extend County; Darby Creek, Little, Delaware County; Falling Spring from the headwaters downstream to the mouth. The stream Branch, Franklin County; Flaugherty Run, Allegheny County; will receive a preseason stocking of brook trout. Hokendauqua Creek, Northampton County; Ithan Creek, Tionesta Creek, Forest County. The 0.9-mile tailwater sec­ Delaware County; Jordan Creek, Lehigh County; Lehigh Ca­ tion will extend from the outflow of Tionesta Lake downstream nal, Lehigh and Northampton counties; Lehigh Creek, Little, to the mouth. The stream will receive an inseason stocking of Lehigh County; Long Run, Allegheny County; Monocacy brown and rainbow trout. Creek, Lehigh and Northampton counties; Pennypack Creek, Toby Creek, Little, Elk and Jefferson counties. Because of Philadelphia County; Pine Creek, Allegheny County; Ridley recent improvements in water quality, a 4.2-mile section will Creek, Delaware County; Roaring Brook, Lackawanna County; extend from the confluence with Mead Run downstream to the Skippack Creek, Montgomery County; Stony Creek, Mont­ confluence with Rattlesnake Creek and will be stocked inseason gomery County; Swabia Creek, Lehigh County; Swarr Run, with brook and brown trout. Lancaster County; Turtle Creek, Allegheny and Westmoreland Wapwallopen Creek, Luzerne County. A 0.9-mile section counties; unnamed tributary to Stony Creek, Montgomery will extend from 0.25 miles downstream of SR 3012 down­ County; Valley Creek, West, Chester County; Wyomissing stream to 500 yards downstream of State Road 10 (SR 3013). Creek, Berks County; Wissahickon Creek, Montgomery This water will receive a preseason stocking of brown and rain­ County; and Wissahickon Creek, Philadelphia County. bow trout. White Deer Creek, Union County. A 3.0-mile section ex­ Stocking program increases tending from the westbound lane of SR 0080 downstream to Changes in classification and/or stocking limit extensions the mouth will be stocked preseason with brook and brown have led to increases in the stocking program on the following trout. waters: Allegheny River, Potter and McKean counties; Appenzell Early warning waters Creek, Monroe County; Asaph Run, Tioga County; Aughwick Mill Run, Lebanon County. A 2.0-mile section will be re­ Creek, Little, South Branch, Fulton County; Bald Eagle Creek, moved from the stocking program because of landowner post­ Centre County; Bear Creek, Little, Lycoming County; ing. This small water had been stocked only preseason. Beaverdam Creek, Somerset County; Blacklick Creek, North Branch, Cambria County; Bobs Creek, Bedford County; Briar New Delayed-Harvest Areas Creek Lake, Columbia County; Brodhead Creek, Monroe Juniata River, Little, Blair County. In cooperation with County; Browns Creek, Greene County; Buffalo Creek, Butler landowners, a 0.75-mile section has been added to the Delayed- and Armstrong counties; Bull Creek, Allegheny County; Harvest, Artificial-Lures-Only program. The limits extend Bushkill Creek, Northampton County; Bushkill Creek, Pike from the first northeast SR 0220 bridge upstream of Bellwood and Monroe counties; Canoe Creek, Blair County; Canonsburg downstream for a distance of 0.75 miles. This area is the first Lake, Washington County; Chartiers Creek, Little, Washington Delayed-Harvest area established in Blair County and will re­ County; Chest Creek, Cambria and Clearfield counties; Clarks ceive stockings of brown and rainbow trout during the spring Creek, Dauphin County; Cloe Lake, Jefferson County; Codorus and fall. Creek, East Branch, York County; Conemaugh River, Little, Lycoming Creek, Lycoming County. In cooperation with North Branch, Cambria County; Connoquenessing Creek, landowners, a Delayed-Harvest, Artificial-Lures-Only area has Butler County; Conewago Creek, Adams County; been established. The area extends from the riffle upstream of Conococheague Creek, West Branch, Franklin County; Cooks Powy's Curve downstream for a distance of 1.3 miles to the Run, Clinton County; Cove Creek, Bedford County; Cowans bridge on Old Route 15 (SR 0015) near Haleeka. This section Gap Lake, Fulton County; Crooked Creek, Erie County; Dela­ will be stocked with brown and rainbow trout during the ware Canal, Bucks County; Donegal Lake, Westmoreland spring and fall. County; Duck Harbor Pond, Wayne County; Duke Lake,

8 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 www.fish.state.pa.us ene County; Dunlap Creek Lake, Fayette County; Dyberry Creek, Forest and Warren counties; Tulpehocken Creek, Berks Creek, East Branch, Wayne County; Farnsworth Branch, War­ and Lebanon counties; Twentymile Creek, Erie County; Twin ren County; Fishing Creek, Perry County; French Creek, Lake, Upper, Westmoreland County; Twomile Run, McKean Chester County; Great Trough Creek, Huntingdon County; County; Virgin Run Dam, Fayette County; White Clay Creek, Harvey Creek, Luzerne County; Hereford Manor Lake, Lower, Middle Branch, Chester County; White Deer Creek, Centre and Beaver County; Hickory Run, Lawrence County; Hicks Run, Union counties; Wiconisco Creek, Dauphin County; Wolf Run, West Branch, Cameron and Elk counties; Hoagland Branch, Clearfield and Jefferson counties; Wolf Run, Elk County; Sullivan County; Honey Creek, Mifflin County; Howells Run, Woodcock Creek, Crawford County; Wykoff Run, Cameron Cambria County; Jordan Creek, Lehigh County; Juniata River, County; Yellow Creek, Indiana County; Yellow Breeches Creek, Raystown Branch, Somerset and Bedford counties; Justus Lake, Cumberland and York counties; Youghiogheny River, Fayette Venango County; Kettle Creek, Potter and Clinton counties; and Somerset counties; Young Womans Creek, Clinton Kettle Creek Lake, Clinton County; Keystone Lake, County; and Young Womans Creek, Left Branch, Clinton Westmoreland County; Kinzua Creek, McKean County; County. Kinzua Creek, South Branch, McKean County; Kishacoquillas Creek, Mifflin County; Lackawanna Lake, Lackawanna Fall stocking program addition County; Lackawanna River, Lackawanna, Susquehanna and The Susquehanna River, West Branch, Clearfield County, Wayne counties; Lackawaxen River, Wayne and Pike counties; will be added to the 2004 season's fall stocking program. Trout Lake Luxembourg, Bucks County; Lake Rowena, Cambria stocked during the fall are not bonus fish. They are part of a County; Latimore Creek, Adams County; Laurel Hill Creek, waterway's annual allocation. Somerset County; Lily Lake, Luzerne County; Lizard Creek, Carbon County; Loyalsock Creek, Sullivan and Lycoming Wild Brook Trout WILD BROOK TROUT counties; Lyman Run, Potter County; Mahoning Creek, Little, ENHANCEMENT AREA Enhancement NO BROOK TROUT MAY BE Indiana County; Manatawny Creek, Berks County; Marvin KILLED OR HAD IN POSSESSION Creek, McKean County; McMichaels Creek, Monroe County; Program Medix Run, Clearfield and Elk counties; Middle Creek, Snyder These new regulations be­ County; Mill Creek, Beaver County; Mill Creek, Lycoming came effective January 1,2004. County; Minsi Lake, Northampton County; Moon Lake, On the waters listed below, no Luzerne County; Muncy Creek, Sullivan and Lycoming coun­ brook trout may be killed or ties; Nescopeck Creek, Luzerne County; Neshannock Creek, had in possession. There are Lawrence and Mercer counties; Noels Creek, Cambria County; no tackle restrictions. The Octoraro Creek, West Branch, Lancaster County; Oil Creek, regulations apply to brook Crawford and Venango counties; Perkiomen Creek, East trout only; for all other species, Branch, Bucks and Montgomery counties; Perry Magee Run, inland regulations apply. Designated waters are open to fish­ Warren County; Pickering Creek, Chester County; Pine Creek, ing year-round (no closed season). A current trout/salmon Potter, Tioga and Lycoming counties; Pine Creek, Schuylkill permit is required. and Dauphin counties; Pine Creek, North Fork, Armstrong Potter/Tioga: Up­ County; Pleasant Stream, Lycoming County; Poplar Run, Blair per Kettle Creek Ba­ County; Poplar Run, South, Blair County; Powers Run, Elk sin, 28.3 miles, the County; Quittapahilla Creek, Lebanon County; Redbank main stem of Kettle Creek, Armstrong, Clarion and Jefferson counties; Roaring Creek from the head­ Creek, Columbia and Montour counties; Salmon Creek, For­ waters downstream est County; Scotts Run Lake, Berks County; Shenango River, to the confluence Little, Mercer County; Sinnemahoning Creek, First Fork, Pot­ with Long Run including ter and Cameron counties; Stony Creek, Dauphin and Lebanon Long Run and all tributaries counties; Sugar Run, McKean County; Swatara Creek, Upper, upstream to the headwaters. O Little, Schuylkill County; Swift Run, Snyder County; Tionesta Tom Greene is the Coldwater Unit leader in the Commission's Division of Fisheries Management. www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 9 PICK YOU .!:'• CREE BYMIKE BEEECH

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Trout anglers should see an excellent lesson in these If yOU read the statewide varying conditions: Where you fish for trout can be reports on last year's trout season more important than how you fish. This idea isn't based on the number of trout or the size of trout that are avail­ opening weekend, you saw some able in one stream or lake. These factors are surprisingly widely different reports. equal in most of Pennsylvania's stocked trout waters, but they are relatively unimportant when compared to Conditions were favorable in springtime water conditions. western PA but not nearly as Weather and water conditions change rapidly during inviting in eastern PA. spring, and they can vary greatly from one area to an­ other. In northern counties snowfall isn't unusual, but neither are warm, sunny days. One part of the state might be influenced by heavy rains that make streams

10 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 www.fish.state.pa.us high and muddy, while another area might have low, clear Best water conditions streams. In a single watershed, the main stem might be Water temperatures above 40 degrees, slightly higher high and muddy while headwaters run clear. The most un­ flows than those of summer, and just a little milkiness in usual situation during the first several weeks of trout season water color are generally the best conditions for most early is for all trout streams in the state to be in perfect shape. season trout anglers. In these conditions trout should be Clever trout anglers deal with the usual variety of spring reasonably active. Trout will be somewhat more relaxed in water conditions in three ways: slightly milky, slightly high water. Catches will be excellent. * Watch the weather reports and travel to a part of the state Fly-fishers might prefer clearer water, but also on the where water conditions are best. warmer side. The best conditions for fly-fishing, at least for %Scout the area near home to learn which streams or lakes fishing on the surface, are still a few weeks away. are most, or least, influenced by the weather. You are most apt to find these conditions generally in the *Use fishing tactics that are best suited to the water condi­ southern counties, particularly at lower elevations. The tions you encounter. Southeast Region, barring heavy rains that make streams www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater % March-April 2004 11 »**

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high and muddy, should have the best conditions on open­ Conditions in your area ing weekend. Warmer spring weather is typically several With an hour or two of driving time from most Pennsyl­ weeks earlier in the southeast than it is in the northern vania anglers' homes, you can expect to find some variety in counties. the conditions of trout waters. Mobility can be the key to Colder water typically prevails across the Allegheny success. Don't give up just because your first choice in fish­ Highlands, the Poconos and the Central Mountains. Snow­ ing waters is in poor shape. A stream or lake just a few fall, sometimes heavy, is normal there during early April. miles away might be much better. Last spring, some preseason stocking was delayed because Water is usually clearer as you move toward the headwa­ of heavy snow on the ground. However, when there is ters of a drainage basin. Streams accumulate suspended heavy rain across the state, some streams in these areas are solids as they progress downstream. Each dirt road, each much clearer than streams elsewhere because there is less cultivated field, each patch of exposed soil adds more mud. human development to muddy the water. This gives trout anglers a valuable lesson in soil conserva­ Stream conditions can be intermediate along the west­ tion. Move upstream from the uppermost muddy flow and ern-tier counties, from Erie southward through the Pitts­ you will find clear water. burgh area, and a bit warmer than they are in the Allegheny The wonderful old gentleman who taught me about the Highlands and Pocono Mountains, but not as warm as they outdoors, Ray Bimber, always took me on the opening days are in the Southeast. of trout season to wild brook trout streams in the Allegheny These are only generalizations, certainly nothing to rely National Forest. I never saw muddy water on opening day on for planning. To find the best water conditions, watch for the first several years that I fished. statewide weather reports during the week preceding open­ Finding clear water might be difficult in the Southeast ing day, or the date of your planned fishing adventure. Region, and anywhere with a lot of human development. Avoid the areas that have received heavy rain, which mud­ But in the forested areas there is usually some clear water. dies the water or raises stream flows to unfishable levels. Heavy rain will raise stream levels, but the water won't be so Watch for snow and frigid temperatures, which make water muddy. Trees and other rooted plants hold the soil in place. very cold. Modern weather reporting and forecasting leave Even in the Southeast, forest conditions aren't so far away little excuse for surprises by poor water conditions. that you can't reach them in a few hours. If you can travel around the state, you can usually find Another significant factor in developed areas is the good trout fishing conditions somewhere in Pennsylvania. amount of runoff. Much rainfall soaks into the ground in

12 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 www.fish.state.pa.us PICK You CREE

forested areas. But in developed areas, most rainfall becomes runoff. Roads, parking lots, shopping malls and even lawns do not soak up much moisture. Streams rise quickly in areas with a lot of this kind of development. Heavy rain is often localized. Moving from one drainage basin to the next is sometimes enough to find better fishing conditions. If heavy rains are just beginning, you might find clear water in lakes, or at least in the lower sections of lakes. Muddy water flows into lakes through feeder streams, and at a much slower rate along muddy banks. Because water flows slowly in lakes, it takes a while for an entire lake to become muddy. Watch for mud lines in lakes, the edges between muddy and clear water. Fishing is often very good along these mud lines. Lakes at higher elevations, those surrounded by for­ est and those fed by smaller streams will be least likely to be muddy, and they are the slowest waters to become muddy. Once lakes become muddy, though, they won't clear as quickly as smaller streams.

Making the best of conditions Maybe you can't get away from muddy water, or cold water, or high water. This doesn't mean you can't catch trout. Look for the least objectionable water. If you must fish in muddy water, fish for brown trout. Brown trout tend to be more active in muddy water than either rainbow trout or brook trout. Use either worms, nightcrawlers or minnows for bait. Fish your bait behind a small fluorescent-red or fluorescent- orange spinner blade. These colors stand out best in muddy water, and they send out vibrations that trout can easily detect. Pay special attention to calmer pock­ ets of water. Let your bait drift into these pockets, and be patient. If you must fish in cold water, fish very slowly, fish close to the bottom, and fish thoroughly. Trout prob­ ably won't move far or fast to take a bait. Fish as if you If you must fish in cold water, must get your bait or lure within three inches of a trout. Start by using bait. Then try spinners or spoons. Live fish very slowly, fish close to the minnows are often the best bait in cold water for both brook trout and brown trout. Grubs might be the best bottom, and fish thoroughly. bait for rainbow trout. Tip small spinners and spoons with small pieces of bait. Fishing conditions are seldom perfect during the first your methods to the conditions. Fishing isn't supposed week of trout season. Look for the stream or lake that's to be a guarantee of success. Uncertainty makes fishing in the best shape, find the best places, and then adapt sport. Conquering challenges makes success sweeter. O

www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater % March-April 2004 13 The Upper Mon Water Trail, Historic trail which opened in June 2003, is Archaeological evidence indicates that Native Americans occupied the Pennsylvania's first interstate water Monongahela riverfront from about 8000 B.C. There were no perma­ trail, and the first that readily ac­ nent settlements when the first European settlers arrived, but Shawnee commodates both powered and and people of other tribes claimed and used the Upper Mon region as a hunting ground. Native Americans named the river "Monongahela," unpowered watercraft. Nearly half which means "river with crumbling or falling banks." the trail is in Pennsylvania, starting Indian traders and outcasts from colonial settlements along the coast at Point Marion, Fayette County. came to the Upper Mon as early as 1694, when a small, temporary settle­ The trail includes a 65-mile section ment was purportedly made near present-day Rivesville, WV. Several of the Monongahela River from attempts were made to establish permanent settlements along the Mon Fairmont, WV, north to Rices Land­ during ensuing decades, but hostile tribes destroyed them in defense of ing, PA. It's confusing, even for resi­ their own claims. The first permanent settlements came shortly after dents along its banks, but the the end of the French and Indian War (1763), but the Upper Mon re­ "Mon," as they call it, flows north. mained a bloody frontier for three more decades. Indeed, relations be­ tween the pioneers and the Native Americans were generally hostile. The river is picturesque in many The pioneers built many forts to protect themselves during the "bloody areas and is certainly rich with his­ season," the summer months when attacks were most likely. Pricketts tory. Because of a series of dams Fort, just north of Rivesville, WV, accessible from the Mon, is a recon­ built by the U.S. Army Corps of En­ struction of such a fort. Two of the early settlements were at Dunkard gineers, the Mon today is deep Creek (near Point Marion, PA) in 1757 and at Decker's Creek enough for commercial traffic in­ (Morgantown, WV) in 1758. j cluding tow boats with barges. In its £• natural state, though, the river Trail of commerce would be much shallower. As settlements along the Mon grew, pioneers needed to send goods downriver to Pittsburgh and ports in the South, even as far away as New Orleans. At first, they built flatboats, rectangular vessels about 15 feet wide and 50 feet long that could carry up to 50 tons of cargo. Many settlers traveled farther west on such ves­ sels, which were also called "Kentucky boats" because of their destination. Flatboats could go only downriver. They were often sold at their destinations as lumber, or they were used to build settlers' new cabins. Keelboats were built later. Between 40 and 80 feet long and about 10 to 15 feet wide, these vessels traveled both downriver and upriver, propelled by a crew that pushed the boat with long poles. Mike Fink, of Pittsburgh, was a legendary keelboat character. Flatboats (foreground) were used to send goods In 1814 near Brownsville, PA, Daniel French and downriver. Later, keelboats (background) traveled Henry Shreve built and launched the Enterprise, a ship upriver and downriver, propelled by crews that that would revolutionize navigation and open the pushed these boats with long poles. nation's vast heartland to commerce. Equipped with a

14 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 www.fish.state.pa.us nearly flat hull and high-pressure steam engine, the Enter­ prise was the forerunner of all western steamboats. It was the first steamboat to make the journey down the Monongahela, Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans, and to return.

System of locks and dams In the 1840s locks were built on the Lower Mon, and by 1894 locks were added on the Upper Mon. You can see the first West Virginia cut-stone lock built in 1879 at Hoard, a few miles south of Point Marion, PA. You can also see rem­ nants of locks built in the early 1900s at various locations. A system of locks and dams for "improving" the Mon by maintaining a constant water level (slackwater) proved just as important as did the Enterprise in launching the steam­ Water trails are routes suitable for watercraft. boat era. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, tow Like conventional trails, water trails are recre­ boats transported coal barges filled with millions of tons of ational corridors between specific locations. cargo for the steel mills in Pittsburgh and power plants Water trails include access points, boat launches, along the Ohio River, and then they traveled on to New Or­ day use sites, and, in some cases, overnight leans for international distribution. Today, most coal is camping areas. Each water trail is unique, a re­ transported by rail on the west banks of the river, but a tow- flection of Pennsylvania's diverse geology, ecol­ boat pushing coal may pass you as you explore the Mon. ogy and communities. Pennsylvania includes 16 officially designated View from the trail water trails. Water trail guides show "trail heads" Much of the Mon's riparian (shoreline) land is forested (boat launch and take-out points), and they pro­ with oak, catalpa, willow, sycamore, cottonwood and other vide information about the scenic, historical and mainly deciduous species. In the trees and flying over the geological points of interest along the way. Wa­ river you may see stately blue and green herons, chattering ter trail guides also include information on fish­ kingfishers, many types of waterfowl, soaring ospreys, ing, wildlife watching and camping. hawks, vultures, owls and an assortment of songbirds and Pennsylvania water traiLs embrace the "Leave No darting swallows. The Monongahela is also home to bea­ Trace" code of outdoor ethics, which promotes the vers, and you might also see white-tailed deer, foxes and responsible use and enjoyment of the outdoors. squirrels. The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission des­ ignates official Pennsylvania water trails. The Fishing Commission offers a full range of technical sup­ Since enactment of the Clean Water Act, the river's fish port to local water trail partners. For more in­ population and species numbers have increased. Sauger, formation, contact the Commission at bass, catfish, walleyes, muskies, drum and carp are now 717-705-7807, or email [email protected]. plentiful. You must have a valid fishing license to fish in the Visit the Commission's web site water trail pages Monongahela River. Recently, paddlefish have been reintro­ at www.fish.state.pa.us. duced. This fish grows to 6 feet and hasn't been seen in the Mon since the 1800s. Now more than 100 types of fish www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 15 Seneca Center in Morgantown. This restored historic glass factory now hosts an indoor shopping mall, visitors center, bike shop, farmers market and glass museum. Mon River and Caperton Rail-Trail. This 51-mile populate the Mon. Discover much more Pennsylvania fish­ rail-trail follows the Mon River and Deckers Creek. Some ing information at www.fish.state.pa.us. sections are still under construction. Non-motorized uses are allowed. Points of interest in Pennsylvania Pricketts Fort State Park. This park features a recon­ Rices Landing. W.A. Young Foundry and Machine struction of a fort used in the 1700s. It has a boat launch, Shop was designated by a curator emeritus of the picnic area, visitor center, restrooms and parking.Q Smithsonian Institute as one of the greatest of its kind in the nation. It greets you on the riverfront of this small PADDLING SAFETY TIPS town, founded in 1792. Kayakers and canoeists may want All boaters should observe the following considerations: to use the public access ramp on Pumpkin Run (camping at • Paddling with a group. Group size and paddling skills are the park, call 724-592-6055). Larger boats can tie up on the a consideration in choosing a waterway. The recommended old lock wall. Stop by the Lock Six Museum (724-592- minimum number of boats is three. No one should paddle 6184), housed in one of the old lock houses, and Bank of alone. Each person has specific responsibilities in the over­ Sweets cafe and ice cream shop, and gazebo park, overlook­ all group organization. The safety of the group depends on ing the river. Restrooms are available. Contact Norma and everyone carrying out responsibilities. Murray Kline, 724-592-6184. Wear your life jacket. Almost 80 percent of all recre­ Greensboro. This small historic pottery town on the ational boating fatalities occur when the victims are not riverfront is currently working on developing a public river wearing life jackets. One wearable Coast Guard-approved access at the firehouse. Until then, you can use the old ferry personal flotation device (PFD, or life jacket) in serviceable landing in Greensboro, across the river from Georges Creek. condition and of the appropriate size is required for each Upriver, the historic Lock 7 building holds the last of its person in your boat. Life jackets must be worn by children kind in the world, and tours can be arranged. Mon View 12 years and younger on all boats 20 feet and less in length Park is downriver, and includes a swimming pool, picnic while under way (including drifting boats). Children 12 pavilions, ball fields, playground and parking. Services in years and younger must also wear a life jacket when on town include a small grocery store. board any canoe or kayak. Friendship Hill National Historic Site. Administered • Planning a float trip. Before starting out, consult maps, by the National Park Service, Friendship Hill was the home guidebooks and people knowledgeable about the river. of Albert Gallatin during America's early republic. Gallatin, Check water levels at www.usgs.gov. a Swiss emigrant, served his adopted country in public ser­ Alcohol and boating. Drinking and boating don't mix. It vice for nearly 50 years. Most notably, as secretary of the is illegal to operate a boat, including unpowered boats like treasury under presidents Thomas Jefferson and James canoes and kayaks, while under the influence of alcohol or a Madison, Gallatin reduced the federal debt and arranged controlled substance. financing of the Louisiana Purchase, the Lewis and Clark Hazards on the water. Hazards to boaters appear in many expedition and the National Road. For more information, forms. They include dams, submerged objects, cold water, visit www.nps.gov/frhi or call 724-725-9190. fast-changing weather, sunstroke and current. Hazards Point Marion. This town is at the confluence of the aren't always obvious. Boaters need to recognize dangers Cheat River and the Mon. There is a boat ramp at the and be prepared to avoid them at all times. riverfront park, as well as picnic pavilions, ball fields, a play­ • Launch legally. All motorboats must be registered. Non- ground and parking. The Mon River Rail-Trail will soon be powered boats such as canoes and kayaks using PA Fish & developed in this area. Boat Commission properties must either be registered or display a valid launch permit. Points of interest in West Virginia Mon River commercial traffic. Beware of towboats, WVU Core Arboretum. The 91-acre Core Arboretum, barges and other commercial traffic. Mon River navigation owned by West Virginia University, is mostly old-growth charts are available from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers forest on steep hillsides and the Monongahela River flood Pittsburgh District, at (412) 395-7425. plain. Some 3.5 trail miles provide access to densely For more details on boating rules, regulations, safety wooded areas and three acres of lawn planted with speci­ considerations, boat registration and launch permits, see men trees. Best known for its "spring ephemeral" wildflow- the PA Fish & Boat Commission's Boating Handbook, avail­ ers, the Arboretum is a great place to study, observe and able from Commission regional offices and license-issuing enjoy trees, plants and birds. agents, and online at www.fish.state.pa.us.

16 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 www.fish.state.pa.us 11 ^PENNSYLVANIA by WCO 1 f>*^!V WCCHJia Jonathan K.. K.ay 1

OFFICER

Opening Day Quittapahilia Creek, Lebanon County

The opening day of trout season is anglers, and never are our fishing re­ Boat Commission officers with policing right around the corner, and as you are sources so important to protect as they our ranks and preserving our aquatic preparing your fishing gear, waterways are right now. resources. Consider this short to-do list: conservation officers (WCOs), their Our law enforcement efforts begin • Do treat private lands open to pub­ deputies and volunteers are hard at even before the first trout is stocked in lic fishing as if they were your own. work stocking millions of trout in thou­ March, and they increase as the opening Obtain permission from landowners far sands of miles of waterways. day approaches. Sure, we do catch vio­ in advance if you desire to camp, build The first Saturday after April 11 tra­ lators fishing before the 8 a.m. start, and fires, cut firewood, and/or park in ques­ ditionally ushers in the new trout sea­ we apprehend people damaging private tionable locations on their property. son, and anglers greatly anticipate its property, littering and committing Do offer a portion of your catch and arrival. Since you are reading this other violations, but that's just the half your thanks to the landowner. Some magazine, you are probably one of of it. The best parts of our work include landowners may not eat fish, but your them! There is an excitement in the air the visits with anglers at their camps at offer of appreciation will certainly go a in the hours before the first cast that is 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning! This is long way. almost palpable. where the "rubber meets the road" in Do pick up any litter you find, even In my district, scattered groups of the WCO profession, and it is an ideal if it isn't yours. A few extra pieces of anglers converge on area waterways the time to get valuable input from the paper or plastic in your pockets won't day before the season starts to set up people who matter the most to us at this slow you down. camp and recreate into the early morn­ time of year. Do report violations to your local ing hours. The flicker of campfire Inevitably, there is always one person WCO as quickly as possible, and be will­ flames pierces the night's darkness and at every camp who asks, "What are you ing to testify as a witness. Take a stand dots the wood lines near popular doing here? It's only two in the morn­ against violators. streams in my Butler County district ing! Don't you guys ever sleep?" These • Do read your free copy of the 2004 such as Connoquenessing, Thorn and 2 a.m. visits have a lasting impression on Summary of Fishing Regulations & Laws Buffalo creeks. The aromas of food on anglers, and the word spreads around before you start out, and courteously re­ the grill, imaginative incantations of the town quickly. For a WCO, omnipres­ mind others if they haven't read it. These "fish that got away" and bellowing ence is a very important attribute that books are available from fishing license laughter drift from these camps on a helps minimize the number of fishing issuing agents throughout the state and cold, pre-dawn mist. violations. One just never knows where at Fish & Boat Commission regional law For the conservation officer, this mo­ or when we might appear! enforcement offices, or read the Sum­ mentous occasion is no time for sleep. I Trout anglers, please remember our mary online at the Commission's web tell my deputies and other officials as­ legal and ethical responsibilities as out­ site, www.fish.state.pa.us. sisting with this annual event that it is door enthusiasts. Poaching, littering The 2004 trout season begins at 8 a.m., our "bread-and-butter" season. At no and abuses of private property can cut April 17. Enjoy your time afield, and best other time will we have the opportunity deeply into our fishing opportunities. It of luck to all of you! Q to make as many contacts with local is up to you to help your local Fish & www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler 8 Boater • March-April 2004 17 by Charles R. Meek A BLACK CADDIS photos by the author

I remember the first hefty brown trout Creek, Penns Creek and Sugar Creek. I also add some weight to the fly I caught on a wet fly even though the When you hit a hatch of these dark body to get it underneath faster. For event occurred more than 50 years downwinged insects, this Black Caddis this I use up to nine turns of .010 lead. ago. My dad carefully watched and pattern should perform well for you. The added weight, the shiny gold rib­ coached me as I cast the fly upstream The pattern I tie today differs from bing on the black body and the bead a foot out from an overhanging bank. the original one that fooled the brown give the new pattern much more The monster trout came out from un­ trout. I tied that crude original pat­ weight and added sheen to attract der a hiding place and sucked in the tern on a regular nymph hook with a trout. wet fly a second or two after it had hit black body made from wool and a few Grouse back hackle is difficult to the water. In 10 minutes I had a big grouse hackles wound around the work with and fragile, so be careful brown trout in hand. What a proud hook at the eye. Since the introduc­ when you wind it around the shank. I day that was! A few years include two grouse hackles be­ later that stream, Goldmine cause it's often difficult to get Creek in Lebanon County, more than one wrap with one succumbed to acid mine hackle. The finished product drainage, but the memory of looks suspiciously like a more that conquest will remain fully dressed Zebra Midge. with me forever. When the grannom hatch is When I look back at that active I often forgo using the incident, 1 wonder how I tandem and fish the pattern ever landed that 18-inch singly. I often impart motion to holdover. I used a level float­ the fly to tease trout into strik­ ing fly line and a metal tele­ ing. One day during a caddis scoping "fly rod." I still have hatch on the Little Juniata that metal rod and I keep it River, I tested whether moving in a special cabinet alongside or twitching the downwing pat­ my bamboo and graphite fly tern had any effect on the num­ rods. It deserves a promi­ ber of trout I caught. I counted nent place. tion of beads, I have added one of the number of casts—half on a dead The fly I used to catch the big trout those, most often a brass one. I have drift and half twitching. I caught was an early version of a Black Caddis also added a fine gold ribbing to the more than two times as many trout wet fly. The Black Caddis pattern wool body. This ribbing suggests a when I moved or twitched the gained a special place in my fly box in segmented body so prominent on a downwing. So when a hatch of these those formative fly fishing years. The caddisfly. I tie the pattern now on a dark caddisflies is on, move the pat­ pattern, with some modifications, still size 12 to 16 scud hook. tern to get the best results. remains there today. It works espe­ The Black Caddis is not just a cially well early in the season—in spring pattern. It continues to catch April and May—when grannom Dressing: trout during much of the season. I downwings appear on the surface and often fish the pattern as the point fly in the air. I can think of dozens of Black Caddis in a tandem rig. I usually place the streams in the state that hold respect­ Hook: Size 12 to 16 scud hook. Black Caddis 2 to 3 feet behind the able grannom hatches: The Delaware Thread: Black. dry fly in the tandem. River, Little Juniata River, Big Fishing Body: Black wool or other heavy black yarn, ribbed with fine gold wire. Hackle: Two small brown grouse back feathers. Bead: Brass.

18 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 www.fish.state.pa.us Tie some of the patterns without the bead and weight and fish these just un­ J. • Place the bead on the hook with the point going der the surface. If you see trout feeding through the narrower on the emerging caddis just under the opening of the bead. The surface and you have only the weighted easiest way to work with patterns on hand, try fishing one on a beads is to place them on wax very short tandem rig. On those occa­ and move the beads around sions place the Black Caddis a foot be­ until the narrower opening is hind your lead or dry fly. on top. For added weight, The Black Caddis will always deserve wrap the hook with five or six a special place in my fly boxes. If you turns of .010 lead and slide give it a chance, especially in the spring, the lead up and under the it might help you catch more trout. The bead. Tie in black tying pattern is simple to tie and one that's thread just behind the bead important. Tie some in sizes 12 to 16. and make a dozen or so Who knows—maybe someday the Black wraps there to prevent the Caddis might merit a special place in lead from moving back. your arsenal after luring a big trout. Q Then wind the thread back to the hook bend and tie in the black yarn and fine gold wire at the hook bend.

£• Wind the yarn up to a point just behind the bead. Try to proportion the body so that the tip of the abdomen is thinner than the thorax (neck). Tie off and cut the excess.

Jm Take the piece of gold wire and rib the body four, five or six times as you move it up to the bead. Tie off and :• Tie in two short grouse cut the excess. 4. hackles. I tie these in on the far side of the hook.

J* Wrap each hackle around the hook one time just behind the bead. Be careful because these feathers are fragile.

O* Trim the tip of the grouse hackle, whip finish and add head cement.

www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 19 Your feet slip and you scramble to stay upright. You're going photos down, down into the river. For a brief moment the water closes over Linda and your head. Fear grips your heart. What you have dreaded most is abotf* Bob Steiner to happen—when you pop to the top again, hair streaming, maybe spitting out a minnow or two, you'll be met by uproarious laughter.

20 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 www.fish.state.pa.us angler. Wading is much more-than walking in water. Wad­ ing helps an angler get to the most advantageous position from which to make a cast, without disturbing the fish. Be­ ing a good wader allows an angler to reach water, and fish, that other people cannot. Having proper equipment is the first step to becoming a world-class wader. Yet many anglers spend far less and get far less quality in what gets them to the fish—their wad­ ers—than they do on the rod, reel, line and lures that they can use only when they do get to the fish! Put as much money into purchasing waders and you will immediately up your fishing opportunities and catches. That their wading boots should have had felt soles is the first lesson that "slipped-and-went-under" anglers learn once they're topside again. Wading over slick underwater rocks with rubber-bottomed boots is like walking on ice. Algae just compounds the slipperiness. Cushiony felt soles grip rocky bottoms, even with weed growth. They also work well when wading through mud or sand. Consider also studs, to wade like a champ. Hip boots are often the choice of anglers who want to save money. But unless an angler can guarantee he is only going to fish water lower than the top of his hip boots, he should invest in full-length or at least waist-high waders. Casting to that far-rising fish always takes one more step >ut. And that one step always takes hip boot wearers over e running boards.

Wading gear Whether an angler buys lightweight, breathable or keep- you-warm neoprene waders depends on when, where and how he'll be fishing. Many opt for the lighter material and add insulating clothes underneath. Some like boot-foot waders, while others prefer stocking-foot waders and buy wading boots separately. Whatever you decide, add gravel guards, or gaiters. These go over the top of the boot and around the ankle, keeping out stones and sand that can ear through or be just plain annoying. A belt, generally nylon web, should be cinched around the wader waist, not to hold them up (suspenders do that), but to prevent the waders from filling with water if the an­ gler falls. What keeps water out will also keep it in, and beltless, water-filled waders will double as an anchor. You want to visit, but not sleep with, the fishes. Becoming the source of a snicker for fellow fishermen Roomy, tightly belted waders, however, also trap air. If isn't all bad. If we can't lighten someone else's day occa­ you slip, you could go bobbing downstream with your feet sionally, what are we here for? However, there are more ballooned higher than your head. Press out as much air as comfortable ways to add a chuckle to other people's lives possible when donning the waders or loosen the belt a little lit than taking a dunking while wading—ways that don't have once you're in the water, to let the air escape, and retighten. the possibility of snapping a fishing rod, breaking an arm The most important piece of wading equipment is at­ or leg, or even losing your life. Drowning, as they say, will tached to the belt—the staff. This is the angler's third leg. really spoil your day. With it he becomes a steady "tripod," instead of a tippy Learning to wade correctly is not only about safety— "bipod." Wading staffs can be as simple as a broom handle and maybe saving face—but also about being a successful with a strong cord attached (drill a hole so the line doesn't

www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 21 NOSE

:), or you can go tor pncey, coliapsioie aluminum, tion they want to bend. In addition, with a comfortable grip and rubber/carbide tip for varying or limb could knock you off your feet. bottom conditions. Sturdiness and quick availability— When wading with the current, don't let the water urge that's what the cord is for—are the only real considerations. you forward so far that you can't turn around and retreat One more indispensable wading item should be in­ upstream. Be aware that quick flows often end in deep wa­ cluded—polarized sunglasses, to cut surface glare. These let ter. And be especially wary when bottom rubble washes out an angler see submerged logs, stumps and rock dropoffs, from beneath your feet: You're already past the point of not only so he fishes them, but also so that these obstacles safety and need to get to secure footing, now. don't trip him while he's wading. The average stream is full The most controlled wading is generally upstream, where of "submerged structure" that is both a boon and a bane to you can push with your knees against the current. Avoid the wading fisherman. wading at a 90-degree angle to the flow and exposing the Because of the refraction, or bending, of light through weak side of your knees to the water force. When wading to water, the stream bottom ahead may appear shallower than a specific spot in or across the stream, start either above or it actually is. Use the wading staff to plumb the real depth below that point and angle toward it. and proceed cautiously. In cloudy water, use the staff to be Use the wading staff either as a walking stick to help pull sure you're not at the edge of a deepwater ledge or about to yourself along or as a solid brace from which you can ven­ walk smack into an underwater log that will send you ture a step. Don't lift the staff above the water, but pick the swimming. tip up just enough to clear the bottom and slide it through. Anglers usually wade alone, but having a buddy along Wading technique doubles the wading ability of both. With or without wad­ Wading down-current is normally easier, but trickier, ing staffs, when anglers hold onto each other by locking than going upstream. Walking with the flow is always arms or even holding hands, they have an easier time tra­ tempting, and sometimes casting or drifting the bait or fly versing uneven stream bottoms and fast water. No wading below you brings the most bites. When facing downstream, staff? Improvise using a stout limb or even a long-handled though, the water will be pushing your knees in the direc­ fishing net.

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- Waaing cautions Wade fi$hitig4ft winter or otherwise icy^watef,' such as below bottom-release dams, hri cern of hypothermia. >nly does this chilling and possibly killing lowering of the body core temperature com­ in a large creek or river, getting out into the water, pound the dangers of falling in, but a numb and cold angler sometimes many yards from the bank, is often the only way who stands too long, too deep in waders in a frigid flow to reach fish. Just remember that major waterways have a may have trouble getting back to shore. lot of volume and flow force, as well as extra depth. Don't • Take a break and warm up before you assume the shallows you waded through from shore extend get to that point; the fish will wait. Re­ downstream or upstream, to where you've waded now. member to wear your life jacket while Make sure you can return safely either by retracing your wading in cold water. route or by studying the river from shore before you com­ Impoundments bring another cau­ mit to wading. Tributary creeks, even small runs, often dig tion to wading, if they generate hydro­ deep pockets where they enter the receiving stream, so be electric power. The river level aware of moving water coming in behind you. downstream of the dam may rise Just because an angler wears waders doesn't mean he quickly when water is released to run must walk in to their brim. Don't splash into the deepest the turbines. Before entering the river, hole around, chasing the fish out and ruining the catching look for signs saying how often and for yourself and for other anglers. Go only as deep as you when the water releases take place, how must or don't enter the water at all. fast the water comes up, how deep it Another reason not to plunge in to the top of the waders gets, and when it recedes. The signs should also tell you if a is that the more an angler's body is below water, the more warning horn or whistle sounds, signaling you to get to he is subjected to the push of the current. He'll also be shore immediately. closer to going under completely. In particularly heavy wa­ Small steps are the rule when wading, and if you're fish­ ter situations, wear a life jacket, especially a vest or a jacket ing as you go, that's all you'll want to take anyway. Pay at­ style known as a Type III flotation aid. These kinds of life tention to your angling, but stay aware of where your feet jackets mimic a standard fishing vest with pockets and fly are planted and where the next move will take you. It's not patch, and they also provide insulation in cold weather. "wimpy" to back out of a questionable wading situation, and no one will laugh at you for staying dry.O www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 23 ** ''' wQjfi

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X Spinning tackle, baitcasting outfits and spincasting set­ Impale the middle portion of a whole redworm on the ups with a medium-action to fast-action rod of about 6 to hook, and guide the hook point about a half-inch through 6.5 feet work well. You can also fish worms with a fly rod, the long portion of the worm. Let the hooked worm por­ but use only monofilament line: With the fly rod you'll dap tion settle around the hook bend, and leave the hook point the worm into likely looking spots without casting as you exposed. This hooking method lets the worm move natu­ would with flies and fly line. rally as the bait drifts. You can rig a piece of nightcrawler the same way. Or thread the hook point into the worm or Km Use clear or low-visibility green monofilament line in piece of nightcrawler and push the worm around the bend 4-pound test or 6-pound test. If you're spooled already and up the shank. Let the hook point hide in the worm. with heavier pound-test line, use a 2- or 3-foot leader of thinner line. / Low water temperatures in early spring keep trout for the most part lethargic. In streams and lakes, they prefer <3 Most bait shops in Pennsylvania sell four kinds of the deeper, slower portions, and they won't jump up and worms: Nightcrawlers, redworms, meal worms and wax swim a long distance to hit a worm. So the key to catching worms. Meal worms and wax worms are effective baits, but trout on opening day is to work the worm slowly along the they are actually insect larvae, not "worms." Nightcrawlers bottom at a natural pace with the current or a little bit are large and thick, so if you choose 'crawlers, bait up with slower. To accomplish this drift, attach splitshot about 12 small pieces. Redworms are smaller than nightcrawlers. inches above the hook. Use removable splitshot, those with Fished whole they offer the trout an undulating, enticing ears that let you easily crimp the shot on the line and re­ bait. move it. Adjust the weight for deeper or shallower water, or faster or slower water, by using small shot initially and then "T Use baitholding hooks in size 8 or 10 for 'crawler pieces adding or removing shot. or thin-wire hooks in size 10 for whole redworms. Baitholding hooks have one or two barbs in the shank, 8 Likely stream spots include undercut banks, overhang­ which help hold the worm in place. Snelled hooks are con­ ing tree roots, fallen tree limbs, midstream boulders, bridge veniently pre-rigged, but they are most often tied with thick, abutments, pools (large and small) that slow faster water, stiff monofilament, which may cause your bait to drift un­ and pockets that appear deeper than surrounding water. naturally. Trout might spot the thick mono easily, too. It's best to tie your hooks directly onto the line with a Palomar •7 Fish worms across-stream and upstream in wider knot or an improved clinch knot. streams, and upstream in narrower streams. Gather in line as the worm moves back toward you. Raise the rod tip oc­ 3 Sharpen all your hooks, even new ones. To test a hook's casionally during the drift in a molasses-slow jigging action sharpness, with light pressure drag the hook point across so that you maintain the best contact with the bait. When a your thumbnail. If the hook bites in, it's sharp enough. If it trout strikes, sometimes with just a tap-tap-tap, strike im­ slides across your nail, sharpen it more. A metal nail file mediately. you'd buy in a drugstore works fine. 10 No luck in the morning? Early in the season trout might become more active later in the day, when the sun has warmed the water a few degrees. Q

24 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 www.fish.state.pa.us PENNSYLVANIA Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission ANNUAL REPORT PFBC 2003 Annual Report Executive Summary

Founded in 1866, the Pennsylvania Fish & also issued 3,184 citations and 14,829 warnings for viola­ Boat Commission is one of America's oldest and most ef­ tions of the boating laws and regulations. Our officers fective conservation agencies. The Commission is an in­ boarded a total of 26,926 boats in 2003. dependent agency with responsibilities for protecting and Improved training and tools for our waterways conserva­ managing Pennsylvania's fishery resources and regulating tion officers resulted in a record number of 82 boating-un- recreational fishing and boating on Pennsylvania waters. der-the-influence (BUI) cases instituted last year. The agency's mission is to "provide fishing and boating During 2003, waterways conservation officers and other opportunities through the protection and management of staff briefed more than 15,000 individuals who attended aquatic resources." meetings across Pennsylvania. They worked exhibits at Commissioners are appointed by the governor to eight- sport shows, participated in youth field days, helped stock year terms with the advice and consent of the Pennsylvania fish and did much more. They did all this while devoting Senate. Eight commissioners represent districts; two at- about 90 percent of their time to core law enforcement large (statewide) commissioners represent boating interests. functions. The Commission has four agency-wide goals: ••To protect, conserve and Boating and enhance all aquatic re­ education sources. There were 11 recreational vTo provide for the pro­ Officers boarded a total of boating accident fatalities in tection of aquatic re­ Pennsylvania in 2003. The source users. 26,926 boats in 2003. average for the last 10 years is vTo address the expecta­ 11.6 fatalities per year. How­ tions of anglers and ever, 2003 was unusual be­ boaters. cause 10 of the 11 fatalities ••To advocate the wise, occurred in unpowered safe use of boats. Surprisingly, there Pennsylvania's aquatic were no fatalities between resources. July 26 and December 23. In 2003, the Commission To accomplish these goals, issued Boating Safety Educa­ the Commission is organized tion Certificates to about as an Executive Office that 14,000 students who success­ coordinates the agency's fully completed a boating policy and programmatic course. Most people com­ direction as established by pleting courses took them the commissioners and five online through the specialized bureaus. This Commission's web site. In report highlights Commis­ addition, the Commission sion activity during 2003. certified 1,253 students through 93 courses in the Law enforcement Water Rescue Program in During 2003, conserva­ 2003, the best year ever for tion officers issued 4,198 ci­ this valuable program. tations and 17,727 warnings for violations of fishing laws and regulations. Officers www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater % March-April 2004 25 Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission ANNUAL REPORT Maintenance and repairs in­ cluded work at the Tylersville State Fish Hatchery, Clinton Public outreach County; Tionesta Hatchery, For­ Our publications range from est County; Reynoldsdale Hatch­ fishing regulations summaries and ery, Bedford County; Huntsdale boating handbooks to fishing and Hatchery, Cumberland County; boating regional guides and Penn­ Pleasant Gap Hatchery, Centre sylvania Angler & Boater magazine, County; and the Mission prop­ now in its 73rd year. Exhibits, erty, Erie County. books, patches, pamphlets, posters Engineers conducted 40 dam and other products were also pro­ safety inspections as part of the duced and contributed to the state's dam safety program. Cur­ Commission's outreach. rently there are 17 Commission Our online efforts have yielded dams on the DEP unsafe dam tremendous results. Last year, visi­ list. Three of these dams have tation to the Commission's web site been drawn down for repairs. broke all past records. We had The technical breach analysis and more than 44 million hits and 5 inundation mapping is complete million page views. Use in all cat­ on all high-hazard dams. Cur­ egories increased by more than 50 rently there are seven emergency percent. Our new regional fishing action plans completed with all and boating reports proved par­ approvals, and the remaining ticularly popular. plans are in the draft approval process. Administration Maintenance and repair crews Resident license sales were down completed work at Walnut Creek by about 30,000 (3.7 percent), and Marina and North East Marina, the sale of trout stamps was down both in Erie County. by another 29,000 (or 4.3 percent). All other license categories also Fisheries showed decreases. Notably, the Trout stocking resumed in 74 Three-Day Tourist category stream sections and three lakes showed its first decrease since its that had been removed from the inception in 1996. Although it's program in 2002 because of re­ always difficult to draw conclu­ duced production. sions about the cause, it is notable that in 2003, high water More than 94.5 million fry, fingerlings and adult fish and wet weather plagued Pennsylvania during most of the comprised of 23 species were stocked in 2003. busy spring fishing period. Research Division staff continues to provide valuable in- In 2003, the Commission sold more than 16,000 li­ house technical expertise in water quality, fish culture research censes and about 11,000 trout stamps online, an increase and fish health. The Lake Erie Unit and the Anadromous Fish of about 60 percent from the previous year. Restoration Unit provided technical guidance to other agencies In 2003, Pennsylvania had 355,265 actively registered and the public and conducted large-scale fisheries manage­ boats. This was a decrease of .6 percent from 2002's ment and restoration activities. 357,434, and 1.4 percent fewer than 2000's all-time high of Some 3.98 million legal-size trout weighing 1.78 million 360,361. In 2003, the Commission also sold 4,401 Non- pounds with an average size of 10 inches as well as 1.43 million Powered Boat Use Permits for a total of $53,426. fingerling trout weighing 22,000 pounds at an average size of 3.3 inches were produced and stocked in Commonwealth wa­ Engineering and development ters. The Cooperative Nursery Program reported stocking 1.15 Access-area development work occurred at 20 Mile million legal trout into Commonwealth public waters. Creek, Erie County; Elk Creek, Erie County; Canoe Creek For more details on Commission activities and to view the State Park, Blair County; Frankford Arsenal Access, Phila­ complete annual report, visit the Commission's web site, delphia County; and East Fredericktown Access, Fayette www.fish.state.pa.us. Q County.

26 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania's 2004 Approved Trout Waters INSEASON STOCKING Beginning the Monday after opening day, programs augment the traditional spring stockings and provide more than two million legal-sized trout will be shipped from additional opportunities for the state's anglers. Some dates for these Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission hatcheries and cooperative stockings have not yet been established; these waters are marked as rearing facilities to restock most of the Commonwealth's trout waters. "TBA" (to be announced). Check the Commission's web site at To improve landowner/sportsmen relations and to provide www.flsh.state.pa.us for the most up-to-date information. increased opportunity for anglers who have limited time to fish, the Fall stockings (late September - October) are shown in red. Commission is announcing inseason stockings by week only. Winter stockings (November - December) are shown in blue. (Commission employees are not permitted to release information on Late-winter stockings (January - February) are shown in green. the exact date, time or number of fish to be stocked after opening Because of conditions beyond the Commission's control (weather, day.) A limited number of announced stockings are scheduled. These pollutions, postings, mechanical failures in stocking trucks, etc.), last- are marked with an "*" and the date and time of each stocking can minute changes in stocking schedules may occur. In such instances, be found in a separate list at the end of this document. the district waterways conservation officer will attempt, when possible, This listing provides information on the names of streams and to notify the local media of these changes. However, if the changes lakes in each county scheduled for inseason spring stocking and the occur after local media deadlines or if the officer is committed to week(s) during which they will be stocked. Information for the fall, other assignments, notice of the changes may not occur. winter and late-winter programs is also included in this list. This list is accurate as of February 5, 2004. For the most up- Fall, winter and late-winter programs are a useful management to-date stocking information, check the Commission's web site at tool, allowing trout fishing to be extended throughout the year. These www.fish.state.pa.us.

Waterway Week of: Waterway Week of: Waterway Week of:

Adams County Armstrong County cont. Berks County cont. Antietam Ck, E Br 4/26, 5/3, 5/17 PlumCk 5/17 HayCk 4/19*, 4/26, 5/10, 10/4 Bermudian Ck 4/26, 4/26" Redbank Ck 4/19, 5/10 Kaercher Ck Dm 10/4 Carbaugh Rn 4/26 Sandy Ck, Ltl 4/26,5/10 Maiden Ck 5/3 Conewago Ck 5/3,5/3", 5/10, 10/4" Scrubgrass Ck 5/17 Manatawny Ck 4/19, 5/10 Conococheague Ck 4/26, 5/10, 5/17 Mill Ck - trib. to Latimore Ck 4/26, 5/10 Beaver County Sacony Ck 5/3 Marsh Ck 5/10 Beaver R, Ltl, N Fk 4/19, 5/3 Mill Ck - trib. to Marsh Ck, Ltl 5/10 Brady Rn Lk 4/19*, 5/3*, TBA Schuylkill R 5/3 Middle Ck 5/10 Brady Rn, S Br 4/19*, 5/3* Mill Ck - trib. to Opossum Ck 4/26 Hereford Manor Lk, Lw 4/26*, 5/10*, TBA, Tulpehocken Ck 4/26, 5/3 Toms Ck 4/26 TBA Muddy Ck, Ltl 5/3 Waynesboro Water Co Rs 5/17 Hereford Manor Lk, Up 4/26*, 5/10* Northkill Ck 5/17 Raccoon Lk 5/3*, 5/17*, 5/24, Ontelaunee Ck 5/10 Allegheny County TBA, TBA Perkiomen Ck 4/19, 5/3 Bull Ck 4/26, 5/10, 10/4" Sewickley Ck, Bg 4/19, 4/26 Pine Ck 5/3 Deer Ck 4/19", 4/19, 5/17, Sewickley CkBg,NFk 4/19 Rock Rn 4/26 10/4" Traverse Ck 5/3*, 5/17*, 5/24 Sacony Ck 5/3 Deer Lk, Lw 4/19*, 4/26, 5/3 Scotts Run Lk 4/19, 4/26, 10/4, Deer Lk, Md 4/19*, 4/26, 5/3, TBA Bedford County 12/13, 2/7/05 Spring Ck 4/19, 5/3 Deer Lk, Up 4/19*. 426, 5/3, TBA Beaver Ck 5/24 Swamp Ck 4/19, 5/10 Montour Rn 4/19 Bobs Ck 5/17* Swatara Ck, Ltl 4/26 North Park Lk 4/19*, 4/26, 5/3, 5/10, Clear Ck 4/19 Tulpehocken Ck 4/19*, 5/3, 10/4 TBA, TBA Cove Ck 5/3, 5/17 Pine Ck 5/3, 5/3", 5/10, 10/4", Evitts Ck 4/19 10/4 Gladdens Rn 5/24 Blair County Sewickley Ck, Bg 4/19, 4/26 Juniata R, Raystown Br 4/26, 5/10 Bald Eagle Ck 4/19, 5/17 Turtle Creek 4/26 Koon Lk 4/19 Beaverdam Ck 4/26, 5/10 Shobers Rn 4/19, 5/3 Bells Gap Rn 4/19, 5/17 Armstrong County Town Ck 4/19 Blair Gap Rn 4/19, 4/26 Buffalo Ck 4/19, 5/3", 5/3, 5/10, Wills Ck 5/3 Canoe Ck 4/26, 5/10, 5/24 5/17, 10/4«, 10/4 Wills Ck, Ltl 5/24 Canoe Lk 4/19*, 5/10*, 10/4, Cherry Rn 4/19, 5/3, 5/17 Yellow Ck 5/10*, 5/10*" TBA Cowanshannock Ck 4/26, 5/10 Clover Ck 5/10 Glade Rn 4/19, 5/17 Berks County Juniata R, Mahoning Ck Frankstown Br 4/26, 5/10 4/26 Allegheny Ck 4/26 Patterson Ck Juniata R, Ltl 5/17", 10/4" 4/19 Antietam Ck 4/26, 5/3 Pine Ck, N Fk Poplar Rn 4/19 5/17 Antietam Lk 4/26, 5/3, 5/10, 10/4, Pine Ck, S Fk Poplar Rn, S 4/19 5/17 11/29, 1/31/05 Furnace Ck 5/10 # = Delayed Harvest Area * = Announced stocking. See separate listing. www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * March-April 2004 27 Waterway Week of: Waterway Week of: Waterway Week of:

Bradford County Cameron County cont. Clarion County cont. Gaylord Ck 5/10 Sinnemahoning Ck, Coon Ck, Bg 4/26, 5/10 Melioopany Ck, N Fk 4/26 Driftwood Br 4/26, 4/26% 5/10, Leatherwood Ck 4/19 Mountain Lk 5/3, TBA 10/4" Mill Ck 4/19, 5/3, 5/24 Schrader Ck 5/10", 5/10*, 9/2V Sinnemahoning Ck, Piney Ck 4/19*, 4/19, 10/4* Sugar Ck 4/19 First Fk 4/26, 5/10 Redbank Ck 4/19, 5/10 Sugar Ck, N Br 4/19 Sinnemahoning- Sandy Ck, E 4/19 Sugar Rn 4/19 Portage Ck 5/10 Toms Rn 4/26*, 5/10, 5/24 Sunfish Pd 4/19*. 5/17* West Ck 5/10 Turkey Rn 5/3 Towanda Ck 4/26", 4/26 Wykoff Rn 4/19 Tuscarora Ck 4/26 Clearfield County Wysox Ck 4/26 Carbon County Anderson Ck 4/26, 5/17 Aquashicola Ck 4/19, 4/26, 5/3, 5/10, Chest Ck 5/3*. 5/10 Bucks County 10/11 Clearfield Ck. Ltl 4/26", 4/26 Delaware Canal 4/19*, 4/26 Buckwha Ck 4/26, 5/10 Curry Rn 5/10 Lake Luxembourg 4/19*, 4/26, TBA, Hickory Rn 4/19 Gifford Rn 5/17 TBA, TBA Hickory Rn Lk 4/19, 5/3 Goss Run Dm 4/19*. 5/3* Levittown Lk 4/19*, 4/26*, 10/4, Lehigh Canal 4/19, 5/10 Hockenberry Rn 5/10 TBA, TBA Lehigh R 5/3. 5/17 Janesville Dm 4/19*, 5/3*, 10/4 Neshaminy Ck 4/19*, 4/26 Lizard Ck 4/19, 5/3, 5/10 Laurel Rn 5/17 Perkiomen Ck, E Br 4/19, 5/3, 5/10, 10/4 Mahoning Ck 4/19, 4/26, 5/10 Mahoning Ck. E Br 4/26 Tohiekon Ck 4/19, 5/3 Mauch Chunk Ck 4/19, 5/10 Medix Rn 4/19, 5/3, 5/17 Unami Ck 4/26, 5/10 Mud Rn 4/19s, 10/4" Moose Ck 4/26, 5/17 Pohopoco Ck 4/19, 5/10 North Winner Rn 5/10 Butler County Sand Spring Rn 4/19, 5/3 Parker Lk 5/10*, 10/4 Sinnemahoning Ck. Bear Ck 5/3 Bennett Br 5/17 Bonnie Bk 4/26 Centre County Susquehanna R, W Br 4/26, 10/4 Buffalo Ck 4/19, 4/26, 5/3 Bald Eagle Ck 4/26, 5/17 Tannery Dm 5/3*, 5/10* 10/4" Beech Ck, S Fk 5/10 Wolf Rn 4/26, 5/3 Buffalo Rn, Ltl 4/19, 4/26 Black Moshannon Ck 4/19s, 5/3, 5/10, Connoquenessing Ck 4/26, 5/10 10/4* Connoquenessing Ck, Ltl 4/26, 5/3 Fishing Ck, Ltl 5/10 Clinton County Glade Run Lk 4/26*. 5/10* TBA Marsh Ck 5/10 Baker Rn 5/10 Harbor Acres Lk 5/3*, 1/3/05 Perms Ck 4/19 Fishing Ck 5/3 Slippery Rock Ck 4/26, 5/3 Pine Ck 4/19, 5/17, 5/24 Fishing Ck, Ltl 5/10 Slippery Rock Ck, N Br 5/3* Poe Ck 5/3*. 5/17*, 5/24 Hyner Rn, Rt Br 5/17 Thorn Ck 4/19, 5/10 Poe Lk 5/3*. 5/17*, 5/24, 10/4 Kettle Ck 4/19*. 5/3, 5/17 Sinking Ck 4/19 Kettle Ck Lk 4/19*. 5/10*, TBA, Cambria County Sixmile Rn 4/19, 5/3, 5/24 TBA 5/24 Bens Ck 4/19* WolfRn 5/24 Young Womans Ck Blacklick Ck, N Br 4/19, 5/10 Young Womans Ck L Fk 5/3, 5/17, 5/24 Chest Ck 5/3*, 5/3**, 10/4* Chester County 4/19. 5/3 Columbia County Conemaugh R, Ltl, N Br Beaver Ck 4/19, 5/17 4/26*. 5/10*. 5/17, Briar Creek Lk 5/3*. 5/17, 10/18, Duman Dm Brandywine Ck, E Br 5/3, 5/17", 5/17, 2/21 /05 TBA, TBA 10/4* 5/3, 5/3", 5/10, 10/4 Elton Sportsmens Dm 4/19, 4/26 Brandywine Ck, W Br 4/19, 5/17 Fishing Ck 5/10 Hinckston Rn 4/19*. 5/10 Buck Rn 5/3 Fishing Ck, Ltl 5/17 Howells Rn 4/19. 5/3 Elk Ck, Bg 5/3 Pine Ck 5/24 Killbuck Rn 5/3* Elk Ck, E Br 5/3 Roaring Ck Laurel Rn 4/19, 5/10, 5/17 French Ck 4/26, 4/26", 5/10 Roaring Ck, S Br 5/17 Lake Rowena 4/26*, 5/3, 5/10, TBA, Octoraro Ck, E Br 4/19 TBA,TBA Pickering Ck 4/26, 5/10', 5/10, Crawford County Noels Ck 4/19 10/4" Caldwell Ck 5/10, 5/17 Paint Ck, Ltl 4/19. 5/17 Pocopson Ck 4/26, 5/3 Conneaut Ck 4/19 Stewart Rn 4/19 Valley Ck. W 5/3, 5/17* Deer Ck, N 5/10 White Clay Ck 5/3, 5/10, 5/17 Muddy Ck 5/10 Cameron County White Clay Ck, E Br 5/3, 5/10. 5/17 Oil Ck 5/24 Brooks Rn 4/19, 5/3, 5/10 White Clay Ck. Md Br 4/26, 5/10", 5/10, Oil Ck. E Br 5/17 Cowley Rn, E Br 4/19 10/4" Pine Ck 5/10. 5/17 Cowley Rn, W Br 4/19 Sugar Ck 5/10 George B. Stevenson Rs 5/3*. 5/17*. TBA, Clarion County Sugar Ck. Ltl 5/10 TBA Thompson Ck 5/17 Beaver Ck 5/3 Hicks Rn, E Br 4/19. 5/3, 5/17 Woodcock Ck 4/19, 10/11 Canoe Ck 5/3 Mix Rn 4/19 Gathers Rn 4/19 North Ck 4/19

# = Delayed Harvest Area * = Announced stocking. See separate listing.

28 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 www.fish.state.pa.us Waterway Week of: Waterway Week of: Waterway Week of: Cumberland County Erie County Fulton County Big Spring Ck 4/19, 5/10 Cascade Ck 4/19, 4/26 Aughwick Ck, Ltl 5/24 Childrens Lk 5/3*, 5/10* Conneauttee Ck 5/3 Aughwick Ck, Ltl, N Br 5/24 Doubling Gap Lk 4/26*, 5/3* Crooked Ck 4/26* 5/3 Aughwick Ck, Ltl, S Br 4/26*, 5/17*, 5/24 Fuller Lk 4/26* East Basin Pd 4/19 Brush Ck 4/26 Green Spring Ck 10/4" ElkCk 4/19* 4/26* Brush Ck, Ltl 4/26 Laurel Lk 5/3*, 5/10* TBA, French Ck, S Br 4/26* Cove Ck 5/10, 5/10", 10/4" 1/31/05 Lake Pleasant 4/26, TBA, TBA Cowans Gap Lk 4/26*, 5/17*, TBA, Middle Spring Ck 4/19, 5/10 Twentymile Ck 4/19, 4/26 TBA Mountain Ck 5/3, 5/10 Upper Gravel Pit 5/3*, 2/7/05 Licking Ck 5/10 Opossum Ck Lk 4/26*, TBA, TBA West Basin Pd 4/19 Tonoloway Ck, Ltl 4/26 Yellow Breeches Ck 4/19, 5/3, 5/17 Wooden Bridge Ck 5/10 Fayette County Dauphin County Back Ck 5/17 Greene County Armstrong Ck 5/10 Dunbar Ck 5/17", 5/17, 5/24, Browns Ck 4/26, 5/10 Clark Ck 4/19,4/26,5/10,5/17-, 10/4" Duke Lk 5/3*, 5/10* TBA, 5/17,5/24, 10/11" Dunlap Ck 4/19, 5/17 TBA Mahantango Ck 5/10 Dunlap Ck Lk 4/19*, 4/26*, 5/10, Dunkard Fk 4/19 Manada Ck 4/19", 4/19, 5/10, 5/17, 5/24, TBA, TBA Dunkard Fk, S Fk 4/19 10/4" Georges Ck 4/19, 5/10 Enlow Fk 5/10* Middletown Rs 4/26, 5/3 Indian Ck 5/17 Wheeling Ck, Pine Ck 5/17* Meadow Rn 4/19, 5/17", 5/17, Dunkard Fk, N Fk 4/19, 5/3* Powell Ck 5/10, 5/17 10/4" Whiteley Ck 4/26 Rattling Ck 4/26, 5/17, 5/24* MillRn 5/3, 5/17 Rattling Ck, W Br 4/26, 5/17, 5/24* Mountain Ck 4/19 Huntingdon County Stony Ck 4/19, 5/3*, 5/17, 5/24 Sandy Ck, Bg 4/19, 5/3 Aughwick Ck, Ltl, N Br 5/24 Wiconisco Ck 4/19, 5/10 Virgin Rn Dm 4/19*, 4/26*, 5/24, Blacklog Ck 4/26, 5/17 TBA,TBA Globe Rn 5/10 Delaware County Youghiogheny R 4/19, 5/3, 5/10, 5/24*, Great Trough Ck 4/26, 5/10, 5/17 Chester Ck 4/26, 5/3, 10/4 6/7,6/28,8/30, 10/4, Greenwood Lk 5/17* Chester Ck, W Br 4/26, 5/3 1/31/05 Hares Valley Ck 5/10 Darby Ck 4/19, 5/3, 5/10 Laurel Rn 4/19*, 5/3, 5/10 Darby Ck, Ltl 4/19 Forest County North Spring Br 5/10 Ithan Ck 4/19 Beaver Rn 5/17 Perez Lake 5/3*, TBA, TBA Ridley Ck 4/19*, 5/3, 10/4", 10/4 Bluejay Ck 4/26, 5/10, 5/24 Saddler Ck 5/24 Coon Ck, Bg 4/26, 5/10 Shade Ck 5/10 Elk County Hickory Ck, East 5/17", 5/17, 5/24, Shaver Ck 5/3 Standing Stone Ck Bear Ck 4/26* 10/4" 4/19, 5/3, 5/10 Three Springs Ck Byrnes Rn 4/26 Hickory Ck, West 5/17 5/10 Tuscarora Ck Clarion R, E Br 4/19, 5/10", 5/10, Maple Ck 4/26 5/24 Whipple Lk 5/17, 10/4* Millstone Ck, WBr 4/26 4/19*, 5/17*, 10/4 Clarion R, W Br 5/10, 5/24, 10/4" Ross Rn 4/19 Crooked Ck 4/19, 5/10, 5/17 Salmon Ck 4/19, 4/26* 5/3i, io/4 Indiana County Hicks Rn 4/19, 5/3, 5/17 Spring Ck 5/3, 5/17 Blacklegs Ck 5/3 The Branch Hicks Rn, E Br 4/19, 5/3, 5/17 5/31 Blue Spruce Lk 4/19*, 4/26* 10/4 Tionesta Ck Hoffman Rn 4/19* 4/19, 5/3 Brush Ck 4/19 Tionesta Ck, S Br Laurel Rn Rs 5/10*. 10/4 4/26, 5/3 Canoe Ck 4/26 Toms Rn Maxwell Rn 5/3 4/26*, 5/10 5/24 Cush Ck 4/19 Medix Rn 4/19, 5/3, 5/17 Cush-Cushion Ck 4/19 Mill Ck, Bg 4/19*, 4/26, 5/10, Franklin County Mahoning Ck, Ltl 4/26*, 4/26", 10/4" 5/17", 10/4" Antietam Ck, E Br 4/26, 5/3", 5/3 5/17, Two Lick Ck, S Br 4/19 Millstone Ck 4/19*, 5/3, 5/10 10/4" Yellow Ck 4/19, 5/17 Millstone Ck, E Br 4/19*, 5/10, 5/24 Antietam Ck, W Br 4/26, 5/3 Yellow Ck, Ltl 4/19 Millstone Ck, W Br 4/26 Carbaugh Rn 4/26 Mix Rn 4/19 Conococheague Ck 4/26, 5/10, 5/17 Jefferson County Powers Rn 4/19, 5/10, 5/17 Conccocheague Ck, W Br 5/3, 5/10 Big Rn 4/26 Ridgway Rs 5/10* Conodoguinet Ck 5/24 Canoe Ck 4/26 Spring Ck 5/3, 5/17 Cove Ck, Ltl 5/10 Cathers Rn 4/19 Spring Ck. E Br Dennis Ck 5/24 5/17, 5/24 Clear Ck 4/19, 5/17, 6/21, 10/4 Straight Ck Falling Spring Br 5/17 5/17* 5/17, 10/4" Clear Rn 5/3 Toby Ck, Ltl Lettcrkenny Rs 4/26 5/3*, 5/10*, TBA Cloe Lk 4/26*, 5/10*, 12/13, Twin Lks Rowe Rn 4/19* 5/10, 6/14 5/10, 5/24 1/31/05 West Ck 5/10 Five Mile Rn 5/10 Wilson Rn 5/24 Mahoning Ck, E Br 4/26 WolfRn 5/17 Mill Ck 4/19, 5/3, 5/24

# - Delayed Harvest Area -- Announced stocking. See separate listing. www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 29 Waterway Week of: Waterway Week of: Waterway Week of Jefferson County cont Lawrence County cont. Lycoming County con (. • Pekin Rn 5/3 Big Rn 4/19 Larrys Ck 5/17 Rattlesnake Ck 4/26 Cascade Quarry 4/19*. 10/11 Little Pine Lk 4/26*, 5/17*, TBA, Red Bank Ck 4/19, 5/10 Deer Ck 5/10 TBA Red Bank Ck. N Fk 5/3, 5/17, 5/17', Hickory Rn 4/19 Loyalsock Ck 4/19, 5/10", 5/17, 10/4* Honey Ck 4/19 10/4" Sandy Ck. Ltl 4/26, 5/10 Neshannock Ck 4/26", 4/26. 5/10, Lycoming Ck 5/10", 5/10, 5/24, Sandy Liek Ck 5/3, 5/17 10/18* 10/4" Toby Ck. Ltl 4/26 Neshannock Ck Ltl, WBr 4/19 Mill Ck (Warrensville) 5/10, 5/24 WolfRn 4/26, 5/3 Slippery Rock Ck 4/26, 4/26", 5/3, Muncy Ck 4/19, 5/3", 5/3, 5/17, 10/18* 10/4* Juniata County Taylor Rn 4/26 Muncy Ck, Ltl 5/3 Blacklog Ck 4/26, 5/17 Pine Ck 4/26, 5/10, 10/4 Cocolamus Ck 5/10 Lebanon County Pine Ck, Ltl 5/3", 5/3, 5/10, 5/17, Delaware Ck 5/10 Bachman Rn 4/19, 5/3 10/4* Horse Valley Rn 5/24 Hammer Ck 4/19*. 5/3 Pleasant Stream 5/24 Laurel Rn 5/24 Lions Lk 4/26, 5/3 Rock Rn 4/19, 5/3, 5/24 Licking Ck, E 4/19", 4/19*, 4/26, Marquette Lk 4/19, 5/10 Spring Ck 5/17 5/3, 5/17, 10/4" Mill Ck 4/26, 5/3 White Deer Hole Ck 5/17 Lost Ck 5/10 Quittapahilla Ck 4/19, 4/19", 4/26, Tusearora Ck 5/24 5/10, 10/4* McKean County Snitz Ck 4/26, 5/3 Allegheny R 4/26, 5/17 Lackawanna County Stony Ck 5/3*, 5/17, 5/24 Bradford Rs #3 4/19*, 5/10*, 5/24, Aylesvvorth Ck Lk 5/17* Stovers Dm TBA, TBA, TBA 12/13, 2/21/05 Gardners Ck 5/17 Tulpehocken Ck 4/19, 5/3 Chappel Fk 4/19, 5/3, 5/17 Lackawanna Lk 5/10*, 10/4, 2/21/05 Clarion R, W Br 5/10 Lackawanna R 4/19, 5/10 Lehigh County Hamlin Lk 4/19*, 5/10* Lehigh R 4/26*, 5/3, 5/10, 10/4 Cedar Ck 4/26*, 5/10 Havens Rn 5/3 Merli-Sarnoski Lk 5/10*, 5/17*, 10/11 Coplay Ck 4/26*, 5/3* Kinzua Ck 4/26, 5/10", 5/10, Roaring Bk 4/19, 5/10 Jordan Ck 4/26*, 5/3, 5/10 5/24, 10/4" Tunkhannock Ck, S Br 5/3", 5/3, 5/17, 9/27" Leaser Lk 4/26*, 5/3*, TBA, Kinzua Ck. S Br 5/24 WalbtratpckCkWBr 4/19", 4/19, 5/3 TBA, TBA Marvin Ck 4/19, 5/3, 5/10, 5/17, Lehigh Canal 4/19*, 4/26 10/4* Lancaster County Lehigh Ck, Ltl 4/26", 4/26*, 5/10, Meade Rn 4/19, 5/3, 5/17 Beaver Ck, Bg 4/26, 5/10 10/4*, 10/4 Potato Ck 4/19, 5/3 Beaver Ck, Ltl 4/26, 5/10 Monocacy Ck 4/19, 5/3 Potato Ck, W Br 4/19 Bowery Rn 4/26 Ontelaunee Ck 5/10 Sevenmile Rn 5/10 duckies Ck, Ltl 4/26, 5/10 Swabia Ck 4/26, 5/3 Skinner Ck 5/10 Climbers Rn 4/26 Sw itzer Ck 5/10 Sugar Rn 4/26 Cocalico Ck, Ltl 4/19*, 5/3 Trout Ck, Bg 5/3, 5/10 Sugar Rn, N Br 5/3 Conestoga Ck, Ltl 4/26*, 5/10 Tionesta Ck, E Br 5/3 Conestoga Ck, Ltl, W Br 5/3, 5/17 Luzerne County Tunungwant Ck. W Br 5/3", 10/4" Conewago Ck 4/26, 5/3 F E Walter Rs 5/3*. 5/17* Twomile Rn 5/17 Conowingo Ck 4/26, 5/3 Francis Slocum Lk 4/19, 4/26* Willow Ck 4/19, 5/3. 5/17 Conoy Ck 4/26*, 5/10 Harvey Ck 4/26, 5/10", 5/10, Donegal Ck 4/26, 5/10, 10/4" 5/17, 10/18", 10/18 Mercer County Eshelman Rn 4/26 Harveys Lk 10/4 Cool Spring Ck 4/26", 4/26, 10/11" Fishing Ck 5/3 Irena Lk 5/3*, 5/10*, 10/18, Mill Ck 4/26 Hammer Ck 4/19*, 5/3 2/21/05 Neshannock Ck 4/26, 5/10 Indian Rn 5/3 Lake Francis 4/19. 5/17 Neshannock Ck Ltl, W Br 4/19 Londonland Rn 4/26 Lake Jean 4/19 North Deer Ck 5/10 Middle Ck 4/19, 5/3 Lake Took-A-While 4/19, 10/18, 2/21/05 Sandy Ck 4/19 Muddy Ck. Ltl 5/3 Lehigh R 4/26*, 5/3, 5/10, 5/17 Shenango R 4/19, 5/3, 10/11, Muddy Rn 4/26 Lily Lk 5/10*, 10/11 2/7/05 Muddy Run Rec Lk 4/19*, TBA, TBA Moon Lk 4/26*, 5/17*, TBA, Shenango R. Ltl 4/19, 5/17 Octoraro Ck, E Br 4/19 2/21/05 Wolt'Ck 4/19 Octoraro Ck, W Br 4/26, 5/3, 5/10, 5/17, Nescopcck Ck 4/26, 5/17", 5/17, Yellow Ck 4/19 10/4" 10/11* Pequea Ck 4/26, 5/3 Pine Ck 5/17 Mifflin County Rock Rn 4/26 Wapwallopen Ck. Big 4/19, 5/17 Havice Ck 5/24 Shearers Ck 4/19, 5/3 Kishacoquillas Ck 4/19, 4/26, 5/24 Lycoming County Licking Ck, E 4/19*, 4/19*, 4/26, Lawrence County Bear Ck, Ltl 4/19, 5/10. 5/17 5/17, 10/4" Beaver R, Ltl, N Fk 4/19 Hoagland Rn 5/24 Bessemer Lk 4/19*. 5/10*, TBA

# = Delayed Harvest Area * = Announced stocking. See separate listing.

30 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 www.fish.state.pa.us Waterway Week of: Waterway Week of: Waterway Week of:

Monroe County Perry County cont. Schuylkill County cont. Appenzell Ck 4/26, 5/3 McCabc Rn 4/26 NeifetCk Flood Control Rs 4/26 Brodhead Ck 4/26, 5/17, 5/24, 10/4 Montour Ck 4/26 Pine Ck 4/19*, 5/3, 5/17* Buckwha Ck 5/10 Panther Ck 5/10 Pine Ck - Bushkill Ck 4/26, 5/3, 5/10*, 5/24, Raccoon Ck 5/10 Trib. to Schuylkill R 4/26, 5/17 10/4", 10/4 Sherman Ck 5/3* Pine Ck - Dotters Ck 4/19, 5/3 Shultz Ck 5/3 Trib. to Schuylkill R, Ltl 4/26, 5/17 Hidden Lk 4/19*, 5/3*, 2/21/05 Pumping Station Dm 4/19 Lake Ck 5/3 Philadelphia County Rabbit Run Rs 5/17 Lehigh R 4/26*, 5/3, 5/10, 10/4 Pennypack Ck 4/19, 4/26*, 5/3 Schuylkill R, Ltl 4/19, 5/10*, 10/4" McMichaels Ck 4/26, 5/10 Wissahickon Ck 4/19, 5/3, 5/10, 10/4 Swatara Ck, Lw, Ltl 4/19 Princess Rn 4/26 Swatara Ck, Up, Ltl 4/19, 4/26 Snow Hill Dm 5/3* Pike County Tuscarora Lk TBA,TBA Tobyhanna Ck 4/26"*, 4/26, 5/3, 10/4* Bushkill Ck 4/26, 5/3, 5/24, 10/4 Whippoorwill Dm 4/26, 5/10, 5/17 Tobyhanna Lk 4/26*, 11/1 Bushkill Ck, Ltl 5/3, 5/10, 5/24 Decker Bk 4/19 Snyder Countv Montgomery County Dingmans Ck 10/4* Mahantango Ck, N Br 5/10 Deep Creek Dm 4/19* Fairview Lk 5/10, 11/1 Mahantango Ck, W Br 5/10 Loch Alsh Rs 4/19, 4/26 Lackawaxen R 4/26, 5/24, 10/4 Middle Ck 4/26*, 4/26, 10/4" Pennypack Ck 4/19, 4/26*, 5/3 Lake Loch Lomond 4/19*, 5/3* Middle Ck, N Br 5/10 Perkiomen Ck 4/19, 5/3 Lake Minisink 5/10 Swift Rn 5/10*, 5/17, 5/24 Perkiomen Ck, E Br 4/19, 5/3 Lily Pond 4/26 Skippack Ck 4/19, 5/3 Little Mud Pond 4/26 Somerset County Stony Ck 4/19, 4/26 Masthope Ck 4/19, 4/26, 5/3 Beaverdam Ck 4/19*, 5/3 Unami Ck 4/26, 5/10 Promised Land Lk, Lw 4/19*, 11/1 Bens Ck 4/19, 5/17 Unnamed Trib, Slony Ck 4/19, 4/26 SawCk 4/26 Bens Ck, S Fk 4/19, 5/17 Wissahickon Ck 4/19, 4/26 Shohola Ck 4/26 Blue Hole Ck 5/3* Breastwork Rn 5/3 Montour County Potter County Brush Ck 5/3* Mahoning Ck 4/19, 4/26 Allegheny R 4/26, 5/17*, 5/17, Casselman R 5/31* Roaring Bk 5/24 10/4* Clear Shade Ck 4/19, 5/10", 5/10 Cowanesque R 5/3 Elk Lick Ck 4/19 Northampton County Cowley Rn, E Br 4/19 Fall Ck 5/3* Bushkill Ck 4/19, 4/26, 5/3, 5/24, Cowley Rn, W Br 4/19 Flaugherty Ck 4/19 10/11 Elevenmile Ck 5/3 Gladdens Rn 5/24 Bushkill Ck, Ld 4/26, 5/24 Freeman Rn 4/19 Jones Mill Rn 4/26*, 5/17, 5/24 Hokendauqua Ck 4/19, 5/3 Genesee R 4/26 Juniata R, Raystown Br 5/3 Indian Ck 4/26, 5/3 Genesee R, Md Br 4/26 Kimberly Rn 4/26*, 5/24 Jacoby Ck 5/3 Genesee R, W Br 4/26 Kooser Lk 5/3, 5/17*, 5/24*, Lehigh Canal 4/19*, 4/26* Kettle Ck 4/19*, 5/3", 5/3, 5/17, 6/28 Martins Ck 4/19, 4/26 10/4* Kooser Rn 5/3, 5/10, 5/17* Minsi Lk 4/19*, 2/21/05 Kettle Ck, Ltl 4/26 Laurel Hill Ck 4/19*", 4/19*, 4/26*, Monocacy Ck 4/19, 5/3 Lyman Rn 4/26, 5/3, 5/24 5/3, 5/10, 5/17*", Saucon Ck 4/19, 5/3 Oswayo Ck 5/3 5/17, 10/4* Oswayo Ck, S Br 5/3 Laurel Hill Lk 5/3, 5/17*, 5/24*, Northumberland County Pine Ck 4/19, 4/26 TBA, 1/31/05 Mahantango Ck 5/10 Pine Ck, W Br 4/26 McClintock Rn 5/17 Roaring Ck, S Br 5/17 Sinnemahoning Ck, E Fk 5/10 Middle Ck 5/3* Schwaben Ck 5/17 Sinnemahoning Ck, Piney Ck 4/19, 5/17 Shamokin Ck, Ltl 4/19, 5/10 First Fk 5/3", 5/3, 5/10, 10/4" Piney Rn 4/19 Zerbe Twp Rod & South Woods Br 5/3 Shaffers Rn 5/3* Gun Club Pd 5/10 Stony Ck 5/3, 5/24 Schuylkill County Whites Ck 5/17 Perry County Bear Ck 5/3", 5/3, 5/17 Wills Ck 4/26, 5/3 4/19, 5/3, 5/10, 5/24*, Bixler Rn 4/76 Catawissa Ck, Ltl 5/17 Youghiogheny R Buffalo Ck 4/19 Cold Rn 5/17 6/7, 6/28, 8/30, 10/4, Buffalo Ck, Ltl 4/19, 5/10 Deep Ck 4/19* 1/31/05 Bull Rn 4/26 Lizard Ck 5/10 Fishing Ck 5/10, 5/17 Locust Ck 4/19*, 4/26 Sullivan County Fowler Hollow Rn 5/24 Locust Lk 4/19*, 5/3*, 5/10, Elk Ck 4/19 Holman Lk 4/19*. 4/26*, TBA 12/13 Fishing Ck, W Br 5/3 Horse Valley Rn 5/24 Mahanoy Ck, Ltl 4/26, 5/17 Hoagland Br 4/19, 4/26, 5/10 Juniata Ck, Ltl 5/10 Mahantango Ck 5/10 Hunters Lk 4/19*, 5/3*, 9/27, Laurel Rn 5/24 Mahoning Ck 4/26 2/21/05 Loyalsock Ck 4/19, 5/3

: Delayed Harvest Area * = Announced stocking. See separate listing. www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 31 Waterway Week of: Waterway Week of: Waterway Week of:

Sullivan County cont. Venango County cont Westmoreland County Loyalsock Ck, Ltl 4/26 Two Mile Rn, Lw 4/19 Donegal Lk 4/19*, 4/26*. 5/3, Mehoopany Ck, N Fk 4/26 Two Mile Rn, Up 4/19, 5/17 5/10, 5/17, TBA, TBA Muncy Ck 5/3 Fourmile Rn 4/19, 5/3 Pole Bridge Rn 5/3 Warren County Hendricks Ck 5/3 Schrader Ck 5/10* Blue Eye Rn 5/17* Indian Ck 5/17", 5/17, 10/4* Brokenstraw Ck 5/3* Indian Lk 4/26, 5/10, TBA Susquehanna County Brokenstraw Ck, Ltl 5/10* Jacobs Ck 5/3, 5/10 4/19*, 4/26*, 5/3, Gay lord Ck 5/10 Browns Rn 5/17 Keystone Lk Lackawanna R 4/19, 5/10 Caldwell Ck 5/10=, 5/10, 5/17, 5/17, TBA, TBA Martins Ck 4/19 in II Linn Rn 4/19 Meshoppen Ck 4/26 Caldwell Ck, W Br 5/10 Loyalhanna Ck 4/19, 4/26, 5/10. Meshoppen Ck. W Br 4/26 Chapman Lk 5/10, 12/6, 2/7/05 5/17", 5/17, 10/4* Quaker Lk 4/19 Farnswortb Br 4/19, 5/10, 5/24 Mammoth Dm 5/3*, 5/10, TBA, TBA Salt Lick Ck 5/3", 5/3 Fourmile Rn 5/17 Mill Ck 5/3 Snake Ck 5/10 Hickory Ck, E 5/24 Northmoreland Lk 4/26, 5/3*, 5/10, TBA, Starrucca Ck 5/17 Hickory Ck, W 5/17 TBA Tunkhannock Ck 5/3 Jackson Rn 5/10, 5/24 Sewickley Ck 5/10 Tunkhannock Ck, E Br 5/17 Perry Magee Rn 5/24 Tubmill Ck 5/3 Wyalusing Ck, E Br 4/19 Pine Ck 5/17 Turtle Ck 4/26 Wyalusing Ck, N Br 4/19 Spring Ck 5/3 Twin Lk, Lw 4/19, 4/26, 5/10, Tidioute Ck 5/24 5/17, TBA, TBA, TBA Tioga County Tionesta Ck 4/19, 5/3 Twin Lk, Up TBA, 2/21/05 Asaph Rn 5/10* Tionesta Ck, E Br 4/26. 5/3 Beechwood Lk 5/10*, 1/31/05 Tionesta Ck, S Br 4/26, 5/3 Wyoming County Cowanesque R 5/3 Tionesta Ck, W Br 5/3, 5/10, 5/24 Bowman Ck 5/10", 5/10, 9/27* Lake Hamilton 4/26*, 5/17*. TBA, Twomile Rn 5/17 Lake Winola 5/10* TBA Martins Ck 4/19 Mehoopany Ck 4/26 Long Rn 5/10* Washington County Mill Ck 4/19 Aunt Clara Fk 4/26 Meshoppen Ck 4/26 Pine Ck 4/19,4/26, 5/17*, 10/4 Canonsburg Lk 4/19*, 4/26 *, 5/3, Meshoppen Ck, W Br 4/26 Stony Fk 4/19 5/10, 5/17, TBA,TBA Oxbow Lk 5/10* Stony Fk, E Br 4/19 Chartiers Ck. Ltl 4/19, 4/26. 10/4 Tunkhannock Ck, S Br 5/3", 5/3, 9/27*, 9,27 Tioga R 5/3 Dutch Fk Ck 5/17'', 5/17 10/4* Tuscarora Ck 4/26 Dutch Fk Lk 4/19*, 4/26 *. 5/17, Union County 5/24, TBA, TBA York County Buffalo Ck 4/19, 4/26 Enlow Fk 5/10* Beaver Ck 4/19 Halfway Lk 5/3*. 5/17*, 1 BA Millers Rn 4/26, 5/3. (14 Codorus Ck 4/26 Laurel Rn 4/19 Mingo Ck 4/19, 4/26, 5/10 Codorus Ck, E Br 4/19, 5/17 Codorus Ck, S Br 4/19, 5/17 Peons Ck 5/24 Pike Rn 4/19, 4/26" 4/26. Rapid Rn 5/3 10 4" Fishing Ck 4/19, 5/3, 5/10 Spring Ck 5/17 Templeton Fk 5/10* Glatco Lk 4/19 Spruce Rn 5/3* Tenmile Ck 4/26, 5/10 Lk Marburg 4/19 White Deer Ck 4/26**, 4/26*. 5/17*. Muddy Ck 4/19, 5/10. 10/4* • 5/24. 10/4' Wayne County Muddy Ck, N Br 4/26, 5/3 Muddy Ck, S Br 5/10 Butternut Ck 4/19", 10/4 Otter Ck 4/26, 5/3 Venango County Duck Harbor Pd 4/19 Sheppard Myers Dm 4/26, 5/3, TBA Horse Ck 5/17 Dyberry Ck 5/3. 5/10. 5/17. Yellow Breeches Ck 4/19, 5/17 Justus Lk 4/26, 5/17, 11/1, 10/4* 2/7/05 Dyberry Ck, E Br 5/3, 5/10*. 5/17 Mill Ck 5/3 Dyberry Ck. W Br 5/17 Oil Ck 5/3', 5/3, 5/24, 10/1 8* Equinunk Ck 5/17 Pine Rn 5/3 Jones Ck 4/19 Pithole Ck 4/26. 5/3 Lackawanna R 4/19, 5/10 5/3 >/24, 10 4 Pithole Ck W Lackawaxen R 4/26, 5/3, . Wi-fM Prather Ck 5/17 Lackawaxen R, W Br 5/10, 5/17 Sandy Ck 4/19 Long Pd 5/17, 11/1 mhM%tttonDottt\ Sandy Ck, E 5/24 Upper Woods Pd 4/19*, 5/1" *, 11/1. nn r^nik^WlJjJuL!.lLLL) ?. • Sandy Ck, Ltl 5/17, Id 18* 2/21/05 W^P^ Scrubgrass Ck, Ltl 5/24 Van Auken Ck WRsningariBoatingm Sugar Ck 5/10 (Waymart Br) 5/17 EMLL__^ i ^ Sugar Ck, E Br 5/17 Wallenpaupack Ck, W Br 5/3 m.i v,"' J*m ^M Sugar Ck, Ltl 5/10 x L. l ,...,.... i.i v./-. f e Delayed Harvest Area -- Announced stocking. See separate listing. '*4.stat

32 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 www.fish.state.pa.us PENNSYLVANIA Pennsylvania's 2004 Approved Trout Waters 'ANNOUNCED STOCKINGS

At its April 2002 meeting, the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat on open lands with attributes similar to public lands; are stocked at Commission created a pilot program for announcing the specific a date and time when impacts on other scheduled stockings can be day and time of inseason adult trout stockings on selected streams. minimized; and provide fishing opportunities in a setting that will Since 1978, Commission practice has been to announce only the minimize traffic problems and user conflicts. week when waters will receive inseason stockings. That policy Because of conditions beyond the Commission's control (weather, remains in effect for the vast majority of trout-stocked waters. In pollutions, posting, mechanical failures in stocking trucks, etc.), 1997, the Commission began conducting announced inseason last-minute changes in stocking schedules may occur. In such Saturday stockings at certain public lakes as a way to increase and instances, the district waterways conservation officer will attempt, diversify fishing opportunities. All of these announced stockings when possible, to notify the local media of these changes. However, are inseason, beginning after the April 17 trout season opener. if the changes occur after local media deadlines or if the officer is The waterways that were selected for the announced inseason committed to other assignments, notice of the changes may not occur. program meet specific criteria in that they are readily accessible; This list is accurate as of February 5, 2004. For the most up- have ample and convenient parking; are located predominately on to-date stocking information, check the Commission's web site public property with any sections located on private property being at www.fish.state.pa.us. Waterway Date Time Waterway Date Time Waterway Date Time Allegheny County Butler Comity cont. Cumberland County Deer Lk, L\v 4/24 1 15pm Harbor Acres Lk 5/5 1:00pm Childrens Lk 5/8 9:30am Deer Lk, Md 4/24 1 15pm Slippery Rock Ck, N Br 5/5 1:00pm Childrens Lk 5/15 9:30am Deer Lk, Up 4/24 1 15pm Doubling Gap Lk 5/1 9:00am North Park Lk 4/24 1 15pm Cambria County Doubling Gap Lk 5/8 9:30am Bens Ck 4/21 11:00am Fuller Lk 5/1 9:00am Beaver County Chest Ck 5/4 11:00am Laurel Lk 5/8 9:30am Brady Rn Lk 4/24 1 30pm Chest Ck 5/7 11:00am Laurel Lk 5/15 9:30am Brady Rn Lk 5/8 1 30pm Duman Dm 5/1 11:00am Opossum Ck Lk 5/1 9:00am Brady Rn. S Br 4/24 1 30pm Duman Dm 5/15 11:00am Brady Rn, S Br 5/8 1 30pm Hinckston Rn 4/19 11:30am Dauphin County Hereford Manor Lk, L\v 5/1 1 15pm Killbuck Rn 5/7 11:00am Pine Ck 5/19 11:00am Hereford Manor Lk, Lw 5/15 1 15pm Lk Rowena 5/1 11:00am Rattling Ck 5/25 11:00am Hereford Manor Lk, Up 5/1 1 15pm Rattling Ck, W Br 5/25 11:00am Hereford Manor Lk, Up 5/15 1 15pm Cameron County Stony Ck 5/5 11:00am Raccoon Lk 5/8 1 30pm George B. Stevenson Rs 5/8 11:15am Raccoon Lk 5/22 1 30pm George B. Stevenson Rs 5/22 11:15am Delaware County Traverse Ck 5/8 1 30pm Ridley Ck 4/24 12:30pm Traverse Ck 5/22 1 30pm Centre County Poe Ck 5/8 10:00am Elk County Bedford County PoeCk 5/22 10:00am Bear Ck 4/28 11:00am Bobs Ck 5/22 8:00am Poe Lk 5/8 10:00am Hoffman Rn 4/24 10:45am Yellow Ck 5/15 9:00am Poe Lk 5/22 10:00am Laurel Rn Rs 5/15 11:00am Mill Ck, Big 4/19 11:00am Berks County Clarion County Millstone Ck 4/22 11:30am Hay Ck 4/21 1:00pm Toms Rn 4/26 11:00am Millstone Ck, E Br 4/22 11:30am Tulpehocken Ck 4/23 1:00pm Ridgway Rs 5/15 11:00am Clearfield Count) Twin Lks 4/24 10:45am Blair County Chest Ck 5/7 11:00am Canoe Lk 4/24 10:30am Goss Run Dm 4/24 11:00am Erie County Canoe Lk 5/15 10:30am Goss Run Dm 5/8 11:00am Crooked Ck 4/27 9:45am Janesville Dm 4/24 11:00am ElkCk 4/21 9:30am Bradford County Janesville Dm 5/8 11:00am ElkCk 4/27 9:30am Schrader Ck 5/13 10:45am Parker Lk 5/15 10:00am French Ck, S Br 4/29 8:30am Sunfish Pd 4/24 11:00am Tannery Dm 5/8 11:00am Upper Gravel Pit 5/8 9:45am Sunfish Pd 5/22 11:00am Tannery Dm 5/15 10:00am Fayette County Bucks County Clinton County Dunlap Ck Lk 4/24 10:30am Delaware Canal 4/23 12:30pm Kettle Ck 4/24 11:00am Dunlap Ck Lk 5/1 10:30am Levittown Lk 4/24 1:15pm Kettle Ck Lk 4/24 11:00am Virgin Rn Dm 4/24 10:30am Levittown Lk 5/1 12:45pm Kettle Ck Lk 5/15 11:00am Virgin Rn Dm 5/1 10:30am Lk Luxembourg 4/23 12:30pm Youghiogheny R 5/29 12:30pm Nesliaminy Ck 4/23 12:30pm Columbia County Forest County Butler County Briar Creek Lk 5/8 12:00pm Salmon Ck 4/29 11:15am Glade Run Lk 5/1 1:15pm Toms Rn 4/26 11:00am Glade Run Lk 5/15 1 15pm www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 33 Date Time Waterway Date Time Waterway Date Time Franklin County Luzerne County Somerset County Letterkenny Rs 5/8 10:30am F E Walter Rs 5/8 12:00pm Beaverdam Ck 4/22 8:45am Letterkenny Rs 5/15 10:30am F E Walter Rs 5/22 12:30pm Blue Hole Ck 5/6 10:00am Frances Slocum Lk 5/1 12:30pm Brush Ck 5/8 9:30am Fulton County Irena Lk 5/8 12:00pm Casselman R 6/5 10:30am Aughwick Ck, Ltl, S Br 5/1 11:00am Irena Lk 5/15 12:30pm Fall Ck 5/6 10:00am Aughwick Ck, Ltl, S Br 5/22 11:00am Lehigh R 4/28 1:00pm Jones Mill Rn 4/27 10:00am Cowans Gap Lk 5/1 11:00am Lily Lk 5/15 12:30pm Kimberly Rn 4/27 10:00am Cowans Gap Lk 5/22 11:00am Moon Lk 5/1 12:30pm Kooser Lk 5/22 10:00am Moon Lk 5/22 12:30pm Kooser Lk 5/29 10:00am Greene County Kooser Rn 5/22 10:00am Duke Lk 5/8 1:00pm Lycoming County Laurel Hill Ck 4/21 10:00am Duke Lk 5/15 1:00pm Little Pine Lk 5/1 10:45am Laurel Hill Ck 4/27 10:00am En low Fk 5/15 1:00pm Little Pine Lk 5/22 10:45am Laurel Hill Ck 4/28 10:00am Wheeling Ck, Dkd Fk, N Fk 5/8 1:00pm Laurel Hill Ck 5/18 10:00am McKean County r Laurel Hill Lk 5/22 10:00am Huntingdon Count] Bradford Rs #3 4/24 9:45am Laurel Hill Lk 5/29 10:00am Greenwood Lk 5/22 9:30am Bradford Rs #3 5/15 9:45am Middle Ck 5/6 10:00am Laurel Rn 4/24 9:30am Hamlin Lk 4/24 9:45am Shaffers Rn 5/8 9:30am Perez Lk 5/8 9:30am Hamlin Lk 5/15 9:45am Youghiogheny R 5/29 12:30pm Whipple Lk 4/24 9:30am r Whipple Lk 5/22 9:30am Mifflin County Sullivan County Licking Ck, E 4/21 10:30am Hunters Lk 4/24 10:45am Indiana County Shenango R 4/21 10:30am Hunters Lk 5/8 10:45am Blue Spruce Lk 4/24 12:00pm Schrader Ck 5/13 10:45am Blue Spruce Lk 5/1 12:00pm Monroe County Mahoning Ck. Ltl 4/28 12:00pm Hidden Lk 4/24 1:00pm Tioga County Hidden Lk 5/8 1:00pm Asaph Rn 5/14 12:00pm Jefferson County Lehigh R 4/28 1:00pm Beeehwood Lk 5/15 12:00pm Cloe Lk 5/1 11:00am Snow Hill Dm 5/8 1:00pm Lake Hamilton 5/1 12:00pm Cloe Lk 5/15 11:00am Tobyhanna Ck 5/1 1:00pm Lake Hamilton 5/22 12:00pm Tobyhanna Lk 5/1 1:00pm Long Rn 5/14 12:00pm Juniata County PineCk 5/19 12:00pm Licking Ck, E 4/21 10:30am Montgomery County Deep Creek Dm 4/24 11:30am Union County Lackawanna County Pennypack Ck 5/1 1:00pm Halfway Lk 5/8 10:00am Aylesworlh Ck Lk 5/22 1:00pm Halfway Lk 5/22 10:00am Lackawanna Lk 5/15 1:00pm Northampton County Spruce Rn 5/8 10:00am Lehigh R 4/28 1:00pm Lehigh Canal 4/24 1:00pm White Deer Ck 5/1 10:15am Merli-Sarnoski Lk 5/15 1:00pm Lehigh Canal 5/1 1:00pm While Deer Ck 5/22 10:00am 5/22 1:00pm Minsi Lk 4/24 1:00pm Merli-Sarnoski Lk Warren County Lancaster County Perry County Blue Eye Rn 5/18 8:30am Cocalieo Ck, Ltl 4/22 11:30am Holman Lk 4/19 11:30am Brokenstraw Ck 5/7 9:30am Conestoga Ck, Ltl 4/30 11:30am Holman Lk 5/1 11:30am Brokenstraw Ck, Ltl 5/10 9:00am Conoy Ck 4/30 11:30am Sherman Ck 5/3 11:30am Hammer Ck 4/20 11:15am Washington County Muddy Run Ree Lk 4/24 11:00am Philadelphia County r Canonsburg Lk 4/24 1:30pm Pennypack Ck 5/1 1:00pm Canonsburg Lk 5/1 1:30pm Lawrence County Dutch Fk Lk 4/24 1:30pm Bessemer Lk 4/24 10:30am Pike County Dutch Fk Lk 5/1 1:30pm Bessemer Lk 5/15 10:30am Lake Loch Lomond 4/24 1:00pm Enlow Fk 5/15 1:00pm Cascade Quarry 4/24 10:30am Lake Loch Lomond 5/8 1:00pm Templelon Fk 5/15 1:00pm Promised Land Lk, Lw 4/24 1:00pm Lebanon County Wayne County 1 lammer Ck 4/20 11:1 Sam Potter County Dyberry Ck, E Br 5/12 1:00pm Stony Ck 5/5 11:00am Kettle Ck 4/24 11:00am Upper Woods Pd 4/24 1:00pm Upper Woods Pd 5/22 1:00pm Lehigh County Schuylkill County Cedar Ck 4/29 12:30pm Deep Ck 4/24 1:15pm Westmoreland County Coplay Ck 5/1 12:30pm Locust Ck 4/24 12:30pm Donegal Lk 4/24 12:30pm Coplay Ck 5/8 12:30pm Locust Lk 4/24 12:30pm Donegal Lk 5/1 12:30pm Jordan Ck 4/27 1:00pm Locust Lk 5/8 12:30pm Keystone Lk 4/24 12:00pm Leaser Lk 5/1 12:30pm Pine Ck 4/24 1:15pm Keystone Lk 5/1 12:00pm Leaser Lk 5/8 12:30pm Pine Ck 5/19 11:00am Mammoth Dm 5/8 12:30pm Lehigh Canal 4/24 1:00pm Northmoreland Lk 5/8 12:30pm Lehigh Ck, Ltl 4/29 12:30pm Snyder County 10:30am Swift Rn 5/15 Wyoming County Lake Winola 5/15 1:00pm Oxbow Lk 5/15 1:00pm

34 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 www.fish.state.pa.us I picked up my first Floating Minnow at of fall trout fishing before the winter The strikes you can get with these a fly shop a few years ago. I had heard chill. Nymph patterns and other patterns are the most exciting part of tales of fish aggressively inhaling similar streamers had brought some small the fishing. On one cast you may get a patterns everywhere from local trout fish to hand, but we caught none of half-dozen strikes. The key to hook­ streams to Florida's mangrove flats. As the large trout that we all imagined ing fish is not to set the hook. This with many new patterns, I had no faith were lurking in the deep holes of the may sound odd, but consider this: in it, so it stayed untouched in my fly Little J. Underwater a predatory fish suddenly box for many months. A day of small- We spotted trout pushing minnows sees a wounded minnow on the sur­ mouth bass fishing on a creek near to the surface in an eddy near a rail­ face. With a sudden rush it heads to home finally brought it out. My wife, road trestle, and I tied on the Floating the surface and takes a grab at it. Cindy, and I were floating downstream Minnow. A few casts later, a large More often than not, it misses the fly. in our canoe when smallmouth bass brown trout, better estimated in If you set the hook now, you won't started pushing good-sized shiners to pounds than inches, came hurtling catch the fish. Instead, continue strip­ the surface. I tied the Floating Minnow out of the water. The Floating Min­ ping the fly in. With your rod tip onto a 7-weight rod and handed it to now disappeared as the trout crashed close to the water, strip the fly in using Cindy. Three casts, a dozen vicious sur­ down into the eddy. A quick strip and short bursts. When a fish finally con­ face hits and one 17-inch smallmouth hook set put the trout on the line, but nects and gets the fly in its mouth, bass later, we were both hooked on the it soon shook the hook. Smaller but you'll feel it on the next strip. Only Floating Minnow concept. still hefty brown trout continued to then should you bring your rod up Floating minnow patterns have been strike the fly during the rest of the day. and complete the hookset.O around for a while, with recipes dating back over a century using materials in­ cluding hollow goose quills. The cur­ rent popular version consists of a Mustad 3966 hook or equivalent, a floating head of two bug bodies glued together, and a body of deer hair and Krystal Flash. Begin the streamer fly by tying on the deer hair, Krystal Flash and tinsel. Glue the bug bodies on after you finish the body. Eyes can be either drawn on or glued on for added effect. A monofilament weed guard can be tied in for use in brushy areas. True to our expectations, the Floating Minnow has been successful just about The Floating Minnow has been successful just about everywhere the author has everywhere we have tried it. A day of tried it. This 17-inch smallmouth bass grabbed a Floating Minnow on a stream fall fishing on the Little Juniata River in southcentral Pennsylvania. proved its worth for trout. A few friends banded together for one last day www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 35 .-*.,;: i •'

anglers a natural with a particular style of fly. For instance, you can imitate a dun of the Ephemerella> or Sulphur, genus, with either a Parachute Sulphur, No-Hackle Sulphur, a Thorax or a Catskill-style Sulphur, to name the most popular. Even though it may be unintentional, fly anglers have Well, darn if some Hendricksons didn't come down the been directed to fish one or another style during a hatch. pike shortly after the second round of green caddises ended. But one trick I've been using in recent years is to work a I worked the eddy with a Catskill-style Hendrickson and number of patterns of the same mayfly through the course missed a couple of fish. Then the pattern was ignored. I of a hatch or spinnerfall. trimmed the hackle off the bottom of the Catskill and The lesson came home while I was on the upper Dela­ landed a fish. With no other Hendrickson patterns in my ware one spring day and found that having multiple pat­ kit, I had to give up. "The fish," I said to myself, "have seen terns of the same natural became a necessity. I had everything I've got." positioned myself on the inside curve of a strong run below Balls Eddy. The stretch started with a wide, sweeping riffle, First success secret and in the corner where the river turned sharply was a dis­ cernible eddy. Typically, a pocket eddy like this is a key The first trick is this: Don't carry just one style of fly. place to peck at Delaware River trout during a hatch. The Often when you get strikes and then refusals, it's because day was cool and moist, and the air was soon filled with the fish just recognize your fly. This is when you should many hatches. As I approached the water, I saw trout rising pull out another fly imitating the same natural with the in the pocket. same color but another pattern type. When I have a pretty good idea about what's happening Capturing a natural, I discovered it was a green caddis, so on a stream, say, hatches of hendricksons, sulphurs or any­ I went into my caddis box and found a green Elk Hair with thing else, I carry different styles of the same fly. I like a a trailing shuck. With that fly I hooked three trout and thorax tie, a compara-dun, parachute and full-hackled landed two of them. But after a time, the pod of fish re­ Catskill style. For fussy fish in slower water, I mix in a cut- fused my Elk Hair. They had simply seen enough of it. The wing pattern. caddis activity ended and the fish seemed to disappear. When the fish refuse to come near one style they've al­ Not wanting to force the issue, I sat on the grass. In a few ready seen, I tie on another. Sometimes I go up or down a minutes I noticed blue-winged olives rising all around me in size, preferably up, but mostly it's a style change. When you the tall vegetation. They were coming off the wet grass and get refusals, switch pattern types. Keep the fish tricked. beginning to form a high cloud. Realizing a spinnerfall was about to happen, I tied on a Blue-Winged Olive (BWO) Spinner. It was fully hackled but with the bottom clipped Flat-sticking out. My second favorite fly-fishing trick concerns stream­ As the spinner cloud descended to the surface, the pocket ers. I call it "flat-sticking." I used to call it "dead-sticking," eddy began to boil again. I laid the BWO out over the trout, but bass anglers and shad anglers use that term for some­ got hits several times and landed another two fish. But after thing else, so I changed. the second trout, I took nothing but refusals. The technique begins with a basic down-and-across Then the light bulb went on. The spinnerfall was still streamer cast (see Figure 1). Throw the line across, or occurring, so I removed the hackled BWO and tied on a Parachute BWO. I cast this pattern and landed another two trout before the remaining fish refused it. Going through my fly box, I found another style of BWO, a no-hackle with an Antron® post. This fly was a totally unorthodox tie, actually, a fly-tying mistake. Yet, on a sub­ sequent cast, I caught trout. After the BWO spinnerfall ended, another set of green caddises appeared. Because the trout were concentrated in the eddy, I stayed in the same area, fully realizing that most of these fish had either swiped or refused my Elk Hair on the previous spurt. A few trout did make cautious strikes, but they were obviously wary. Fortunately, the light bulb was still on. Forgoing the Elk Hair style, I found a front-hackled, flat-winged thing, sort of a Henryville Special-style of caddis residing in my caddis box. The color was perfect and I landed a couple of nice trout with it during another of these "10-minute hatches and spinnerfalls."

graphic-Ted Watkt www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 37 toward the shore or shoal where I'm swing­ ing the fly. Another way to flat- stick is to keep the line extended as you wade across a river. Typi­ cally, I've worked a nice piece of water and de­ slightly upstream, allow cided to move on, go­ the fly to sink and re­ ing farther out and trieve the fly in a swing­ deeper. As I wade, I ing arc with erratic leave about 40 feet of strips. The trick to flat- line hanging below me sticking is to let the fly with my index finger hang downstream of pressing the fly line your position. Ideally, tightly to the cork and the streamer should be a small loop between in the break between the my finger and reel. As main current and some I move across the river­ slack water. The fly bed, I keep the rod in should sway between the my downstream hand edge of the deep water and low to the water. and the shallower water. My knees are mush, so How long I let a streamer I use a wading stick. remain in this position As I wade across, I depends on the chances I frequently get a thunk believe there are in at­ on the line. It's oc­ tracting a trout, but 15 to curred so often, it no 30 seconds is usually longer surprises me. plenty. As soon as I feel the strike, I pull the rod Typically, at the end of back hard, sweeping it a downstream arc, an upstream. I don't lift unweighted or lightly the rod until I complete the hook set. weighted streamer gets lifted to the surface by the current. Then, when the fly slides into slack water, it usually drops to If I were to lift and set, I'd actually be putting slack in the the bottom. To accomplish flat-sticking, I wait until the line for a moment. It took me time to figure this out. downstream arc is completed and the fly is at the edge of Sweeping the rod to the side is the only way to set the hook the current. I then jig or jostle the rod tip lightly and swing when the rod is flat to the flow and you are perpendicular to the fly slowly back and forth by swinging the rod to my left the current. Simply pull it back level and upstream. Then, and right. How much jigging and swinging I do depends on with the line tight, you can lift and fight the fish normally. the current. It varies a lot from spot to spot. I remember once unhooking a rainbow I had caught What makes flat-sticking so effective is that it frequently while wading across with the flat stick. I needed something teases a trout that's sitting at the edge of fast water. If I had in my vest, so I let the line swing out below me again. It was just completed the arc and quickly retrieved the fly, the fish downstream about 25 feet when the tip went wild. But this probably would have not seen it as a viable target. But a time I held the rod high under my arm with no pressure on streamer hovering near its position in a slack seam is too the line. The trout was on and off because the rod was not tempting to pass up. in position for a hook set. Lucky fish. In other cases of successful flat-sticking, I nab a trout The more I practice fly fishing, the more tricks I use to that rushes to my streamer from several feet away. Wearing catch fish. These tricks are typically not part of the ballet polarized glasses, I've seen this happen several times. A dance of regular fly fishing, but heck, they do work. And flash appears in the main current and bang, I get a strike. after all, the essence of fishing is just fooling a fish. Q I've also seen the wake across the surface as a trout beelines

38 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 www.fish.state.pa.us 's State Fish -Brook Trout HOW TO ENTER Completed portfolios must be postmarked by March 31 of each • Completed portfolios must include a typed composition or year. Portfolios must include: theme paper not to exceed one page in length. Compositions • A completed entry form. should be related specifically to the characteristics of the state • Artwork of participant's state fish. fish, its habitat, behavior, or efforts to conserve it. The compo­ • One-page composition about participant's state fish, sition must include the student's name and address. its habitat, behavior or efforts to conserve it. The composi­ PRIZES: tion must include the student's name and address. • All contestants will receive a certificate of participation. • Entry forms are also available by calling toll-free 1- • Three winners from each state will be selected on Earth 877-FISHART (877-347-4278). Please allow two weeks by Day of each year—one winner per grade group (4-6th, 7-9th, mail. Entry forms will not be accepted by e-mail. Please 10-12th) for a total of 150 winners (50 states x 3 winners = 150). download or print the entry form at www.statefishart.com •All winning designs will be displayed at the Mall of America and send via regular mail. in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the State-Fish Art Expo in June. • Entry forms must be completed, signed by a parent • All winning designs will be presented online at or guardian, and glued to the back of the original artwork. www.statefishart.com. • Completed entries should be mailed to: Wildlife Forever State-Fish Art Contest THE FINE PRINT: 2700 Freeway Blvd. #1000 • The State-Fish Art Contest is not open to the immediate Brooklyn Center, MN 55430 relatives of Wildlife Forever employees or participating spon­ sors. RULES & REGULATIONS: • It is the student's responsibility to inform Wildlife Forever • The State-Fish Art Contest is open to children in grades of any change of address. four through twelve attending public, private, or home- • Contestants living in Washington, D.C. may use either the schools in the United States. Only one entry per child will be Maryland or Virginia state fish in their portfolios. accepted. • Portfolios will be judged on the quality of the artwork. Wildlife Forever: • The artwork must call attention to the official fish of his • Has the right to use the name of any State-Fish Art contes­ or her home state. PA's official state fish is the brook trout. tant without compensation. The fish must be depicted in its natural habitat. Information • Retains ownership of all artwork entered in the contest. In about each state fish is available on the Internet at order to promote the Wildlife Forever State-Fish Art Contest, www.statefishart.com. products such as posters, prints, T-shirts, etc., may be produced • All artwork must be the contestant's original, hand-done from winning artwork. Any monies realized from the sale or creation. Photographs and computer-generated artwork will licensing of the artwork will be used to support the contest, wild­ not be accepted. life conservation, and education initiatives. The winning artists • All artwork must be 8.5"xll" and horizontal, without a must provide autographs without charge to Wildlife Forever. mat, frame, cover sheet, or border. Art techniques may in­ • Retains all winning entries until June 1 of the following year clude scratchboard, pointillism, chalk, charcoal, dry brush, and will return the winning entries to the students in June upon watercolor, Crosshatch, lead, collage, linoleum printing, or request. crayon. Please note: If contestants use chalk, charcoal or lead, • Will return all non-winning entries upon request after Au­ they should seal it with an adhesive. gust 31, if the student provides a self-addressed 10"xl3" enve­ • All artwork must not exceed 1/4-inch in total thickness. lope. • No lettering, signatures, or initials may appear on the • Reserves the right to destroy unclaimed entries after one front of the design. Any artwork with such identifying char­ year. acteristics will be disqualified and eliminated from the com­ • Will not insure entries it receives or be responsible for loss petition. or damage of the entries. www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 39 WILDLIFE FOREVER STATE-FISH &7f ART CONTEST ENTRY FORM • C*^?1?/{(.C4?

Entries addressed to: Entry Deadline: Must be postmarked by March 31, 2004 Wildlife Forever, State-Fish Art Contest 2700 Freeway Blvd. #1000 Brooklyn Center, MN 55430

,h ti Grade • 4th • 5th • 6" • 7th Q gti> Q 9ti a io •n* • i2 Check one: Group I Group II Group III

Contestant Last Name First Name Birthdate Home Address Street or PO Box

City State Zip Telephone ( ) ( ) Home Parent Daytime Art Entry Title

Fish Species

Art Medium Used

Composition Title

School and Teacher Information

Teacher's Name Name of School Street Address City/State/Zip

/ hereby certify that this is my original work and that it is not a copy of published photographs, magazines, book illustrations, or other materials protected by copyright laws. I understand that Wildlife Forever and other sponsors are not responsible for loss or damage to my artwork and/or composition. I grant exclusive right to Wildlife Forever and its designees to utilize my artwork and/ or composition for reproduction and promotional purposes and to display my art. Also, I agree that my artwork and/or composi­ tion may be used, altered, or published as they see fit without compensation to me. I also grant Wildlife Forever the right to re­ lease my name and hometown in promoting the winners of the contest.

Signature of Student Date

Signature of Parent, Guardian or Teacher. .Date

Entry questions should be directed to [email protected] or by calling toll-free 1-877-FISHART. Artwork must be 8.5" x 11" HORIZONTAL and no more than 1/4-inch thick. Do not mat or frame. Do not have lettering or borders on the front.

40 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Fish 8c Boat Commission ANGLER AWARD PROGRAM Qualifying Minimum Weights and State Records Rules Species Catch & Release Sr. Jr. State Record 1. Program open to resident and non-resident Inches Pounds OuncesPounds Ounces Pounds Ounces 2. All fish must be caught in Pennsylvania waters open to the public with­ Bass, Largemouth 20 5 0 4 0 11 3 out charge or fee. Except for First Fish, fish taken from farm ponds, fee-fish­ Bass, Rock 8 0 12 0 8 3 2 ing lakes, ponds or streams, or waters restricted to use by club members or Bass, Smallmouth 19 4 0 3 8 8 8 their guests, do not qualify. Bass, Striped (includeshybrid) 3. Fish must be caught by legal methods during legally open seasons. 4. Kept fish must be weighed and measured by fishing license agents, Of­ Marine 30 23 0 21 0 53 13 ficial Weighing Stations, or tackle stores or authorized employees of the Penn­ Landlocked Lake 23 10 0 7 8 53 12 sylvania Fish & Boat Commission. Bass, White 14 2 0 1 8 3 15.7 5. Catch-and-release and First Fish catches must be witnessed. Bluegill 8 0 12 0 8 2 9 6. Measurements must be made with a metal ruler or tape measure. Measure Carp 28 14 0 11 8 52 0 from tip of the nose (with closed mouth) to tip of the tail. Catfish, Bullhead 11 1 8 1 0 4 4 7. Photographs. For kept fish: A clear, side-view photograph of the fish Catfish, Channel & White 24 10 8 8 0 35 2.5 IS required UNLESS its species has been verified by an official weighing sta­ Catfish, Flathead 34 20 0 16 0 43 9 tion or authorized employee of the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. Crappie 10 1 4 1 0 4 2.88 For catch-and-release fish: A clear, side-view photograph of the fish IS al­ Drum, Freshwater 21 5 0 4 0 19 14 ways required. Photographs for catch-and-release category must be taken Muskellunge (includes tiger)3 9 28 0 20 0 54 3 at the catch site. Driveway, bait shop or kitchen shots are unacceptable for Perch, White 9 0 12 0 8 1 7 catch-and-release fish. In addition, photos showing mishandling will be dis­ Perch, Yellow 11 1 4 0 12 2 9 qualified. Pickerel, Chain 20 4 0 3 0 8 14.8 First Fish: Need only witness signature. Photos are encouraged, but not Pike, Northern & Amur 27 11 0 8 0 35 0 required. Salmon, Atlantic 21 5 8 4 0 17 2 8. Applications must be received within 60 days of the catch. Salmon, Chinook 30 14 0 11 8 28 15 9. To be considered as a potential STATE RECORD fish, additional re­ Salmon, Coho 24 8 0 6 8 15 5 quirements must be met, and a separate application is required. See any of­ ficial weighing station or contact the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. Salmon, Pink 17 3 0 2 8 4 8 10. The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission reserves the right to inves­ Sauger 18 2 0 1 8 4 0 tigate the identification, methods used in catching, and the accuracy of mea­ Shad, American 22 6 0 4 8 9 9 surement and weighing. It also reserves the right to reject any application. Sucker 17 2 12 2 0 12 14.4 11. Only one patch per species will be awarded annually to each appli­ Trout, Brook 15 2 0 1 8 7 0 cant. Trout, Brown 21 8 4 19 5 0 10 12. Each entry becomes the property of the Fish & Boat Commission with Trout, Lake 30 15 0 12 0 27 13 all publication rights. The information contained on the application and ac­ Trout, Palomino 20 5 0 3 8 11 10 companying photograph may be used in, but not limited to, press releases, Trout, Rainbow 20 5 0 3 8 15 6.25 published articles and promotional materials. Photographs cannot be returned. Trout, Steelhead 24 10 0 8 0 20 3 13. Parental signature is required when applicant is under 18 years of age. Walleye 23 8 0 6 0 17 9 NOTE: State record fish require a separate application. Contact an offi­ cial weighing station or Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission office.

Fish Species Application for: (check one) Q Senior Angler Award DateCau9ht- for those anglers 16 and older. Angler's Name Age_ Award includes certificate and patch. J Junior Angler Award Street or P.O. Box for those anglers under 16 years of age. Award includes certificate City . State - Zip. and patch. Fish Weight. Jbs._ .Length. Girth • Husky Musky Club anglers who land a musky that Water Where Caught. is 50 inches or longer. Award includes certificate and patch. County Where Caught - • Catch and Release Rod Reel Line. award for those anglers who practice catch and release. Name of Bait or Lure. Qualification based on length.

• First Fish Weighed and Measured by . certificate recognizing a new angler's first fish. There are no size Catch Witnessed by qualifications. Applicant's Signature . Date. www.fish.state.pa.us Parental signature if applicant is under 18 years of age.

Mall application and photograph to: Angler Award • Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission • P.O. Box 67000 • Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000 Pennsylvania Record Fish

Bass, Largemouth Donald Shade Salmon, Coho Jack Scheirer Waynesboro, PA 11 lb. 3 oz. Birch Run Reservoir McMurry, PA 15 1b. 5 oz. Lake Erie Adams Co. 1983 Erie Co. 1985 Bass, Rock David L. Weber Salmon, Pink David A. Rabatin Lake Ciry, PA 3 lb. 2 oz. Elk Creek Bethel Park, PA 4 lb. 8 oz. Elk Creek Erie Co. 1971 Erie Co. 1995 Bass, Smallmouth Robert T. Steel man Sauger Tim Waltz Havertown, PA 8 lb. 8 oz. Scotts Run Lake Williamsport, PA Susquehanna River Berks Co. 1997 Lycoming Co. 2001 Bass, Striped - Landlocked Lake Robert Price Shad, American Anthony Mecca Huntingdon, PA 53 lb. 12 oz. Raystown Lake Peckville, PA 9 lb. 9 oz. Delaware River Huntingdon Co. 1994 Pike Co. 1986 Bass, Striped - Marine Donald J. Clark Sucker Raymond Szalewicz Boothwyn, PA 53 lb. 13 oz. Delaware River Titusville 12 lb. 14.4 oz. Allegheny River Forest Co. Delaware Co 1989 2003 Trout, Brook Bass, White Robert H. Hornstrom Vonada Ranck Watsontown, PA Meadville, PA Conneaut Lake 7 1b. Fishing Creek Clinton Co. Crawford Co 2002 1996 Trout, Brown Bluegill Tom Twincheck Fazle Buljubasic Erie, PA Blairsville, PA 2 lb. 9 < Keystone Lake 19 1b. 10 oz. Walnut Creek Erie Co. Armstrong Co 1983 2000 Trout, Lake George Brown Tom lllar, Jr Carp Apollo, PA Juniata River 27 1b. 13 oz. Lake Erie Saltillo, PA Erie Co. Huntingdon Co. 1962 1996 Catfish, Bullhead Eddie Lasorda Trout, Palomino R. W Hafer Exton, PA 4 lb. 4 Marsh Creek Greensburg, PA 11 lb. 10 oz. Lake Erie Chester Co. 1983 Erie Co. 1986 Catfish, Channel Austin E. Roth II Trout, Rainbow Dennis L. Clouse Bowmanstown, PA 35 lb Lehigh Canal Bethlehem, PA 15 lb. 6.25 oz. Jordan Creek Northampton Co. 1991 Lehigh Co. 1986 Catfish, Flathead Seymore Albramovitz Trout, Steelhead Corey T Brown Wtlnut Creek Pittsburgh, PA 43 lb. 9 oz. Allegheny River Osterburg, PA 20 lb. 3 oz. Erie Co. 2001 Allegheny Co. 1985 Walleye Mike Holly Crappie Richard A. Pino Bradford, PA Allegheny Reservoir Covington, PA 4 lb. 2.88 oz. Hammond Lake 171b. 9 oz. Warren Co. Tioga Co. 2000 1980 Drum, Freshwater Tim Rogers 19 lb. 14 oz. Finleyville, PA Monongahela River RULES FOR STATE-RECORD FISH Washington Co, 1994 • To be considered as a state record, the new fish weight must exceed the current Muskellunge Lewis Walker, Jr. state-record weight by one ounce or more. Meadville, PA Conneaut Lake • Fish must be caught in Pennsylvania waters open to the public without charge or Crawford Co. 1924 fee. Fish taken from farm ponds, fee-fishing lakes, ponds or streams or in waters Perch, White Kevin Nelson Strunk restricted to use by club members or their guests do not qualify. Bangor, PA 1 lb. 7 oz. Minsi Lake • Fish must be caught by legal methods during legally open seasons. Northampton Co. 1991 • Fish must be weighed on a certified scale. Weighing must be witnessed by one Perch, Yellow person, not including the angler or any companions accompanying the angler at the Keith Meek time of the catch. Macungie, PA 2 lb. 9 oz. Beltzville Lake • Measurements must be made with a metal ruler or tape. Measutements may be Carbon Co. 2000 made by an Official Measuring Station or authorized employee of the Pennsylvania Pickerel, Chain Dave Wilson Fish & Boat Commission. Honesdale, PA 8 1b. 14.8 oz Long Pond • Species identification must be verified by a Fish & Boat Commission biologist, Wavne Co, waterways conservation officer (WCO) or other authorized employee of the 2002 Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. Pike, NortJiern Carl J. Stoltz • A clear side-view photograph of the fish is required. Fins should be spread open to Bradford, PA 35 lb. Allegheny Reservoir the extent possible. The photograph should be in color. McKean Co. 2003 • Application must be received within 60 days of the catch. Salmon, Atlantic - Landlocked Lake Brian Keller • Resident and non-resident anglers can qualify. • Completed application must be sworn to and properly notarized. Altoona, PA 17 lb. 2 oz. Raystown Lake •The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission reserves the right to investigate the Huntingdon Co. 2001 identification, methods used in catching and the accuracy of measuring and Salmon, Chinook Gregory Lasko weighing. It also reserves the right to reject any application. Erie, PA 28 1b. 15oz. Lake Erie Visit the Commission's web site, www.fish.state.pa.us, to download applications for Erie Co. 1990 state-record fish. Angler Award applications may also be downloaded from the Commission's website, or see page 41.

42 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 www.fish.state.pa.us Efs ©fewr *<'$??$-*&'

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»SNl •.#''^r%?' Pennsylvania Trout/Salmon Stamp & Print A painting by Susan Bankey Yoder of Atglen, Pennsylva­ nia, won the 2004 Pennsylvania Trout/Salmon Stamp Art Competition. The painting, titled "Quiet Time," depicts a fly-fisherman netting a trout on Brandywine Creek. Susan For information on trout/salmon stamp Bankey Yoder said the painting has high sentimental value prints and patches, contact Wilderness because she and her husband often fished there when they first started dating. She has been a frequent competitor in Editions, at [email protected], the annual art contest, often placing among the finalists. In or call 814-686-1965. 2002, she placed third. In 2003, her entry initially tied for Visit the publisher at first, but placed second after a "runoff" vote for first place. This is the first time a woman has painted the artwork www.wildernesseditions.com. for the Commission's trout/salmon stamp, which started in 1991. Susan, a recent inductee in the Society of Animal Artists, has received many awards and honors while dili­ gently using her talent to build the foundations of her ca­ reer. Her work as an illustrator has resulted in the 2005 Trout Stamp & Print publication of numerous books and examples of her work A contest will not be held for the 2005 stamp year. can be seen nationwide. She has a commitment to conser­ An artist is being commissioned to paint the 2005 vation as well, by contributions and memberships to vari­ trout/salmon stamp & print. ous wildlife programs and organizations. O

www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 43 Cod in the Mountains by Rob Criswell

If you wanted to find a cod in Pennsylvania, where would you look? The Susquehanna River, the Delaware Estuary or Lake Erie? Most

photos by people think that cod are ocean dwellers, and that they can be found the author in the Keystone State only in the seafood section of supermarkets or the Pittsburgh Zoo's aquarium.

44 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 www.fish.state.pa.us But freshwater cod really do ply Pennsylvania waters, and if your answer was Lake Erie, you're partly correct. How­ ever, would you have considered, even for an instant, look­ ing in small trout streams in the headwaters of the Allegheny River Watershed? Not only do they thrive in the great lake, where prey and habitat are almost without bounds, but they also dwell in anonymity in the more aus­ tere confines of cool streams in McKean and Potter coun­ ties, some so small that a nimble angler could jump across them. Unique among PA fishes Our cod is properly known as the "burbot," the single truly freshwater member of its family of important and well-known food fishes. The burbot is not going to win any beauty contests. Anne Brataas, in North Country Almanac, spared few insults when she described this beast as "a glis­ tening mucoid creature" that is "so spectacularly ugly that it is deserving of homage." Although this description may be a bit sensational, the burbot is certainly unique among In 2003, biologists found burbot in portions of the Pennsylvania's fishes. upper Susquehanna River. The surveys provided It may be readily distinguished from our other fish spe­ information on burbot population estimates and diet cies by its elongate, somewhat eellike form and long, flow­ analysis. More sites will be sampled this year. ing fins. It possesses a unique single barbel on the chin that resembles a small goatee, and a set of short, devilish horns, or tubes, between its nostrils. Burbot vary in color from Pennsylvania's burbot distribution is as unusual as the light yellowish to almost black, and many have varying de­ fish itself. According to Fish & Boat Commission Fisheries grees of mottling over much of the body and fins. Biologist Roger Kenyon, a healthy population currently ex­ Nearly as unique as the fish's appearance is its roster of ists in the big lake. On the other hand, those that are "land­ colorful nicknames. In addition to freshwater cod, it is locked" in the upper Allegheny appear to be dwindling, and known in different parts of its range as ling, ling cod, cusk, they are listed as endangered by the Commission. eelpout, spineless catfish, gudgeon, mud blower, mother eel, lush, dogfish, maria and methy. Before the glaciers Burbot diet studies paint the fish as a voracious night­ Before the assault of the great glaciers during the last Ice time predator. When it was captured in a seine, a 22-inch Age, the Allegheny River flowed northward toward the an­ Lake Winnebago specimen had consumed all but the tail of cestral Lake Erie, and all our burbot occupied the same a 16-inch walleye. The stomach of a 19-incher contained drainage. But when the final ice sheet retreated about five 3-inch perch, six 2-inch crayfish, six mayfly nymphs, 15,000 years ago, the Allegheny's flow was forced southward and a dragonfly larva. The favorite table fare of lake-dwell­ toward the Ohio River, and those remaining fish were for­ ing specimens is nongame fish, including sculpins, chubs ever stranded, northern fish in a southward-flowing river and trout-perch. system. This same phenomenon relegated the longnose The burbot's occasional hankering for a meal of lake sucker to a few streams in the southwest part of the state, trout, perch and walleyes, along with a side dish of herring where it is now endangered (see "The Lonely Longnose eggs, has landed it on the wrong side of many fishery man­ Sucker," Nov/Dec 2002 PA&B). The burbot also survives in agers and commercial netters. In the first half of the twenti­ similar circumstances in the upper Susquehanna River sys­ eth century, it was considered a serious nuisance to the tem in New York. Great Lakes commercial fisheries because it preys on more valuable fish and competes with them for food. Some states Field studies and Canadian provinces, at various times, have instituted Until recently, practically nothing was known of these "rough fish" control programs to reduce the numbers of Allegheny burbot, but that is changing. In 2002, the Wild such "undesirables." In one operation in Manitoba, 50,000 Resource Conservation Fund, the state's nongame tax pounds of burbot were caught and removed from a lake in checkoff fund, approved a grant request to study these iso­ three days of netting! lated cod. According to Dr. Jay Stauffer Jr., professor of ich­ thyology at Penn State University, the project objectives www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 45 Cod in the Mountains include surveying all known historic and potential burbot Hard times locations, determining the age structure of existing popula­ Lake Erie's burbot, although common now, went through tions, and examining diets and habitat preferences. some hard times. The invasion of the sea lamprey into the As a result of field work conducted during the past two Great Lakes had the same effect on burbot as it did on lake years, we now better understand the status of our Allegh­ trout, and their numbers plummeted. Lamprey control has eny cod, and it appears that its "endangered" designation is allowed burbot numbers to recover to present levels. accurate. Project leader Doug Fischer reports that in 2002, People have been trying for years to find a niche for the 72 sites were surveyed, mainly in McKean and Potter coun­ burbot. In an effort to overcome its old reputation as a ties, and a total of 59 burbot were collected and released. "trash fish," some promoters have tried to entice the restau­ However, 22 of those came from a single stream, and the rant industry into stimulating the public's interest in the others were thinly scattered over a large geographic area. burbot as table fare. Canada provided cleaned and skinned The fish are collected with the aid of a backpack burbot to Toronto hotels and restaurants, requesting that electrofishing unit. The captives are then weighed, mea­ their chefs provide an assessment of its quality. Although sured and examined for parasites and general health. Scale the results were positive, no market developed. samples are collected so that the burbot's age can be deter­ The burbot fishery of Lake Erie remains largely mined, and the fish's stomach contents are removed for the unexploited, although Kenyon notes that pier fishermen oc­ diet analysis. They are then returned to their home stream, casionally catch them. only slightly worse for the experience, and very hungry! The importance of the Allegheny River population can­ Fischer reports that the largest burbot captured not be overstated, and they must continue to be protected. stretched the tape at 15 inches, which is less than half the It is a unique relict of the Ice Age that provides living size its cousins in Lake Erie are capable of attaining. Most insight into biogeography and evolution, and even though of the fish were at least two years old, and the oldest was the old fishermen who yanked hundreds of trout from the seven. burbot's lair have never seen it, it is one of the state's natural treasures.O Burbot biology Until an Allegheny burbot reaches 10 inches, it eats in­ sect larvae and small crayfish almost exclusively. Its tastes expand from that length on, and it shifts its affinities to­ ward forage fish, including sculpins and minnows, but it still snacks on a large crayfish from time to time. Fischer also found small stones in his burbots' stomachs, indicat­ ing that they do a lot of "rooting around" in the bottom when feeding. These burbot are primarily nocturnal, so they must have daytime hiding places, and only streams with an abun­ According to Doug Fischer of Penn State, in the dance of boulders, undercut banks or downed trees yielded spring of 2003, portions of the Allegheny, specimens. Susquehanna and Genesee rivers were The burbot may be found in fresh waters nearly to the electrofished for burbot. The surveys also as­ North Pole, and it is common over much of Eurasia and sessed sites in the New York portion of the upper North America above the 40-degree latitude. Although Susquehanna and Allegheny rivers. Of these ar­ they've been collected as far south as Kentucky, the greatest eas surveyed, only portions of the Susquehanna numbers may be found in the Great Lakes northward. produced burbot. From July to August, persistent According to Kenyon, Lake Erie burbot move into shal­ rain caused high waters, hindering electrofishing lows up to 10 feet deep in January, under the ice if neces­ efforts. Surveys resumed in late August. The sur­ sary, to spawn over beds of sand or gravel. A single female veys provided Penn State information about bur­ burbot may produce anywhere from 250,000 to more than bot population estimates and diet analysis. a million eggs, but fewer than a handful will survive to be­ Preliminary results suggest that burbot prey on an come adults. In Lake Erie, these juveniles spend their first array of macroinvertebrates, crayfish and fish, in­ year close to shore, and sometimes they may move a short cluding other burbot. Additional sites will be distance up tributary streams. They may eventually grow sampled in 2004 to complete the population es­ to 30 inches and more than 10 pounds. In 1998, a timates, depending on weather and water level 17-pound whopper was caught from the Ohio portion of conditions.—Chris Urban, Chief, PA Fish & Boat the lake. Commission Natural Diversity Section.

46 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 www.f ish .state, pa. us Dedicated to the Memory of Commissioner Enoch S. "Inky Moore Jr.

SPRING 2004 Are you a $fj\ fiRJAngler]

I'll bet you think you are a smart angler. You fish where the fish are. You know which lures to use in different situations. You know how to tie a knot or two. And you've even caught your share of fish! If that's the case, then you are a smart angler! Good for you! But what we're talking about is a SMART angler. Each letter in the word "SMART" stands for an important part of being an angler. Use the clues below to fill in the blanks and figure out what being SMART is all about. The answers appear on the left at the bottom of this page.

. S first. 3. A clean water. */ If fishing from a boat, wear your life jacket. • Without clean water, there are no fish. %/ Always walk when carrying your fishing • Learn all you can about the fish you seek rod. and the places where they live. %/ Secure the hook to your rod when you're Do what you can to protect our water walking to your spot. resources. •/ Look behind (and above) before casting. l/ Take someone with you. 4. R I %/ Let an adult know where you're going and some of your catch. when you'll be back. Land fish quickly and handle them as 2. M little as possible. • Release fish quickly and gently. are important. • Keep only those fish you will eat. • Be polite and helpful to other anglers. • Pack fish on ice to keep them fresh until • Ask permission from landowners to enter you get home. their property to fish. ! • Give other anglers plenty of space. 5. others • Don't litter. Pick up any litter you find. to be SMART anglers. H The future of our sport is in your hands. I Share what you know with others. Take someone fishing: Young or old, fishing is for everyone! No matter what activity we enjoy, safety should aLways come first. Some­ times laws help us to Safetg Rrst! be safe—like wearing _, wear your life jacket, a helmet while riding When fishing from a a bicycle, or wearing Remember that calls for extra caution— a life jacket when it can zap heat from your body. boating. Always secure the to your rod when not fishing. Unlike boating, Watch your step on . though, there aren't When wading, could cause you to many laws or regula­ tions to keep us safe go in over your boots or head. while fishing. But Wear with felt-soled bottoms. there are many com­ Watch out for those sharp on fish. mon-sense things Know how thick the is before you go out on it. anglers should re­ member. Complete Stay back from slippery or unstable bank the sentences and Always check behind you before then find the words If your lure or hook gets hung up in , in the word search. don't jerk it—give a steady tug to free your line.

Word Search 1 f b n X n o h s y X p ] m Choices: cold water e c z y z h u o r i d y y slippery rocks deep holes o P e d f o c o t 1 x y f f waders b I a x m k I V r 1 hook \ r v f k fins s I 1 P P e r y r 0 c k s n ice boat s r u j x t n g P y k j m s edges casting b o a t i c o i d w a t e r branches b r a n c h e s J s g y d b ?d T)M q q r X a s t 1 e 1 Ul 1 TTg-r 3 p E "M)A 3 d q y y a c n 9 6 (sab p a) t ee i u I j d i • s (6 u i i s e p) E J A A b q p A-6 s ?"(S3_ q j u E x q) f P t ] n I a i e d g e s g 3 i e M p i o 3) t( 4 e o q) sI i ui f )| A d B } x I n J s ~i A J 3~d d i i T) e v w a s t t u s" 1 3 0 P d e r ] i m l J >l A 1 1 ui x E i q i] i A x i j I pCs\d o j A A p i 4 n q z A Z\3\3 b b c w d e e h o I e s J ui [ d x A s q P saaflASNv

Written by: Carl Richardson, Laurel Garlicki, Keith Edwards, Dennis Tubbs, Walt Dietz and Carl Haensel Edited by: Art Michaels % Layout, design and illustration: Ted Walke « PLAY subscriptions: Linda Covage and Patti Copp ©2004 Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission nnets ottant It's important to use good manners toward those around you. Give other when you're at the dinner table. It's anglers plenty of space to fish. Be re­ also important to use good manners spectful and keep your voice down. If when you're fishing. Good manners can you're catching fish, keep your hooting make a more enjoyable day for you and and hollering to yourself. Many anglers go others around you. fishing to enjoy the peace and quiet. Your Good manners include asking permis­ big smile, not your loud noises, will show sion from landowners before entering their everyone around you that you're having a land to fish, or before just crossing their great time. land to reach a fishing spot. Many landowners allow strangers to cross their property to fish. They don't have to. They do this as a courtesy. One way to show your appreciation is not to litter. And be sure to pick up any litter you may find. A more traditional way to show your appreciation is with a 1 thank-you card. Use the notecard below to write a short thank- I you note to your /MMM *Dean AoMcl&mi&i: I favorite landowner. I want to thank you for allowing me on 1 While you're on the your property, I spend many enjoyable 1 water it's important to| hours fishing here, and without your 1 show good manners hospitality that would not be possible, in I return. I promise to make sure that I leave I I nothing behind but footprints and will 1 i treat your land as if it were my own. • Please feel free to Thanks again. photocopy this card. >, I When you appreciate something, you are grateful for it and value it. Appreciation is something feel inside. But if you re appreciate something, if: to show it on the outside BY YOUR ACTIONS.

You can show your appreciation by: Learning more about something. What is one thing related to fish or fishing that you want to learn more about? Doing things to protect what you appreciate. List two things you can do to protect fish or fishing. i) m 2) Letting others know why you think ifs important. Describe why fish and fishing are important to you. 3

Check out the Commission's web site : www.fish.state.pa.us THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: • Do I know the seasons, sizes and creel limits for the fish I'll try to catch? %Are there any special regulations (like catch and release) for the area I'll fish? Do I like to eat fish? • Do others at home like to eat fish? %How many fish are "enough" for me and my family? •Who is going to clean and cook the fish? Does that person know how? • Do I have a way to keep the fish fresh before I get home?

You'll probably WILD BROOK TROUT ENHANCEMENT AREA want to keep some NO BROOK TROUT MAY BE KILLED OR HAD IN POSSESSION of the fish you catch because most everyone enjoys a fresh fish meal. Be sure you've followed the seasons, sizes and creel limits in the Summary of Fishing Regulations and Laws.

Then keep only the fish you intend to eat. You're not alone if you think unhooking a fish can be tricky. Some fish have tough skin around their mouth. Some­ times fish get hooked in an awkward spot. Lures with multiple hooks (like treble hooks) can seem impossible to remove! Before you go fishing, find a sturdy pair of pliers for your tackle box. Use the pliers to squeeze the barb down on each hoo^ Barbs are designed to help keep fish hooked. Removing the barb, or squeezing it down, makes removing the hook easier. You might think that barbless hooks mean you're hooking and reeling in fewer fish. But if you're careful about how you set the hook and reel in the fish, you'll find that you don't lose many fish. Removing a hook quickly from a fish is one important part to releasing fish. Another important part is keeping the fish safe during its release. The law states you must immediately return a fish unharmed if it is caught out of season, if it is too small, or if catching it puts you over the daily creel limit. That means you must work quickly and carefully! Use these guidelines to get the job done. • Land the fish quickly. Don't let it fight and jump until it's exhausted. Increase the drag on your reel and make sure your fishing line is in good condition. Keep the fish in the water as long as possible. Try not to iring the fish onto land where it can flop around on the ground. Handle the fish as little as possible. Quickly remove the hook. Practice grabbing the hook shank and turning the hook upside down. Usually the fish will slide off the hook. If not, gentle shake. STS m If you must handle the fish, make sure your hands are wet before you touch the fish. Sometimes a fish will get hooked deeply and there's no way to get the hook out. Just snip the line as close as possible to the fish's mouth. Then release the fish. The fish has a good of surviving. Return the fish gently to the water as soon as possible. Remember that "unharmed" is the key word. I Give the fish a few seconds to "shake it bend off." Then, if the fish doesn't swim away, gently move it back and forth in the water. This helps it get a fresh dose of oxygen by moving water over its gills. Here are some reasons why you should teach others what you've learned about being a SMART angler. Fill in the blanks.

Anglers s the Fish & Boat Commission by buying fishing licenses.

Fishing is a fun and h _ activity. Fishing is more fun with a f

Fishing is a good way for the whole f to spend time together.

Being a SMART angler helps us have and successful time on the water. SMART anglers help protect and conserve the

Unscramble the circled letters to figure out the bottom line. Why teach others to be SMART anglers?

Because the of fishing is in our hands. p OR ANSWERS, HOLD THIS SECTION UP TO MIRROR. Uwhfl -.farrow taMmirmriU .xnuo»rt ,s\s« ^imn\,fatt3h\tKM»3rt .no^u* -.zmrutA) five-after-lunch" idea. Again she told right across the water and onto the me how her husband had explained all docks. After knocking me for a loop, the the rules to her about fishing and that miniature tornado dissipated. I am very you were allowed to have only five on grateful that the tornado took only my the stringer at a time. After you keep hat and not the boat cover. My hat was five, you take them back to your trailer rescued and returned by a kind boater, and then wait until afternoon, at which but an incident report would have to time you were allowed to catch and keep have been filed for my boat cover. Who five more. At this point, I requested the in his right mind would believe that a honor of meeting this nice lady's hus­ miniature tornado hit only me on the band and she took me to him and intro­ entire lake?—WCO Erik P. Shellgren, Streams duced me. By the time I finished Forest County. explaining the actual regulations to the couple, I think Mr. First Five/Second Caught in his own net Litterbug Five's wife was going to make him pay Late one evening in June, Deputy Jay One afternoon in June I was standing more dearly than I if I had caught him Hewitt and I were patrolling the shore­ along the Allegheny River watching two myself!—WCO William D. Crisp, line of Lake Arthur, Butler County. The men from a distance as they consumed Cameron County. word was out that the hybrid striped beverages. After one of them tossed his bass were actively hitting the alewife empty bottle into the brush, I ap­ Miniature tornado? along the shores of many coves. As I proached him and issued a citation for One day last summer the Tionesta made my rounds, I encountered a shore littering. Two months later, DWCO area was experiencing strange weather fisherman sitting next to a very large Ron Matson and I were patrolling the patterns and I decided it was time to fin­ seine net. I knew by the appearance that same area when we saw two men along ish patrolling Tionesta Lake. I docked the net was larger than 4 feet x 4 feet. I the shoreline. After a few minutes one the boat and was unfolding the cover asked the man why he was using such a of them tossed a can into the when I heard someone yell a warning. A large minnow net. He said he brush. What a surprise to find it thought it was only 4x4 when he was the same men, only this time bought it, but realized that it was the other guy was the litterbug!— 12x4 when he opened it up at home. WCO Bruce Gundlach, Western "That's unfortunate, " I said, "be­ Armstrong County. cause I'm going to have to confiscate the net as an illegal device." The fish­ First five, second five erman angrily announced that it While finishing up a stocking wasn't fair that I was taking his net last year, a very nice elderly lady just because he made a mistake. was excited that we had stopped "Well, sir," I replied, "if you realized it near her campsite. After she was too big when you arrived at watched the last bucket go in, she home, why do you have it with you at said she had to get her rod in a the lake?" While he stood silent at a hurry and get fishing. I said loss for words, I informed him that something like, "Why the rush? his violation could cost him $200 You have all day," and she looked and that I'd be more than happy to at me very seriously and said, "Be­ seize the net as evidence if he wanted cause it is almost noon and I have to proceed with a citation. "No, that's to hurry to get my first five!" alright, officer," he said. "You take the With this my eyebrow went up " net and I'll take the warning."— and I asked her to explain the WCO Jonathan R. Kay, Butler County. "first-five-before-noon" idea. She patiently explained that if she wanted to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers employee Better check the chart! get her whole limit of the day, she yelled,"Erik! Lookout! Here it comes!" During a patrol on the Allegheny needed to get her first five in the 20 or so All of a sudden I struggled to keep the River in Warren County, I saw a fisher­ minutes before noon, and then in the boat cover and me from blowing away. man catch a musky. As he and his part­ afternoon she could get her second five I could not figure out what had hap­ ner admired it, I judged the fish to be fish. I asked her where she got the infor­ pened. Then I was told that a miniature right about legal size, 30 inches. When mation on the "five-before-lunch-and- tornado came down off a mountain I saw the partner get out a stringer with-

54 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 www.fish.state.pa.us out having measured the fish, I rushed was wanted for something else and didn't Bucks County. From his window, Area over. "How big is that musky?" I asked. know which offense had brought me to Fisheries Manager Mike Kaufmann has "It's not a musky—it's a northern" was the door. been privileged to see many wildlife spe­ the reply. I told the two it was certainly a There was always at least one funny cies and, of course, anglers fishing the musky, and I measured it and found it to experience with whomever accompanied stream. On this particular late October be just under 30 inches. After the two re­ me. However, the most interesting al­ morning Mike and I were having a leased the fish, I explained the differences ways seemed to occur when Assistant phone conversation about various work between the two fish and how those dif­ Regional Supervisor (retired) Jim assignments. He then mentioned that ferences are used to identify them. I also Wagner rode along. One occasion took two anglers had just set up to fish for suggested they look at the identification us to a local cemetery, where a suspect channel cats in the small tributary. chart in the fishing summary book. Af­ worked. As I spoke with the manager, Seems whenever flows in the small ter all that, one of the men looked at me Jim shouted, "There he is!" I turned, ex­ stream pick up following a substantial and told me that in Warren County, the pecting a confrontation. Instead, I saw storm, the channel cats move in for a way to tell the difference between the two our suspect hightailing it across the feast. Rains the previous night triggered was that any member of the pike family field...on a lawn mower! After chasing the movement of channel catfish into less than 30 inches was a northern and the suspect both with the vehicle and on the stream. "Well, they just landed anything over 30 inches was a musky. As foot, we finally caught him. As I hand­ number three," Mike reported. Then, a I said, better check the identification cuffed him, he asked, "Do you have to do couple of minutes later, he broke into chart!—WCO William E. Martin, Warren that? It's not like I was going to run or our conversation and said, "Number County. anything!" four is flopping on the bank." I thought A second warrant took us to an ad­ this is great—an instant report of a suc­ Seeing is believing dress in Philadelphia. A gentleman cessful outing. When we finished our While on patrol on Lake Henry on the matching the suspect's description an­ conversation, I glanced at my computer opening day of bass season, I was stand­ swered the door and immediately said monitor and noted that an e-mail had ing on a dock surrounded by lily pads. I that the suspect was not there. We found just arrived from the Area 6 office. was speaking with bass fisherman Kevin this odd because we had not had a Seems that while Mike and I were hav­ Park of Lake Ariel. He was fishingjus t on chance to say why we were there. The ing our conversation, Fisheries Biologist the edge of the lily pads. He was catching gentleman said he was a cousin, but did Dave Miko wandered over to the anglers fish on what seemed like every cast— not have identification. I then asked if he and took digital pictures for updating mostly bass and pickerel. While we were lived with his cousin or if he was just vis­ the office library. So I had not only a speaking, I heard a loud splash in the iting. The gentleman said he was visiting "blow-by-blow" account of the angling, water where the dock and shoreline meet. and asked why I had asked. I pointed to but also instant proof of the catches! When I turned to see what was causing the family picture above the fireplace The bottom line of the story is that two this disturbance, I was amazed. An im­ with him in it. He finally admitted he anglers knowing the feeding habits of a pressive largemouth bass was chasing a was the suspect, but he paid his fines, prime Pennsylvania sport fish took ad­ small chain pickerel. The commotion $137, in coins!—Southeentral Assistant vantage of conditions and caught the lasted only a few seconds, but when it was Regional Supervisor Thomas J. Burrell. makings of an excellent meal.—Dick over, the bass disappeared into the lake Snyder, Chief, Division of Fisheries Man­ and the pickerel, while making a hasty After 15 years agement. retreat, wound up sitting on the gravel After 15 years in the field, I was begin­ shoreline. I watched it for a few seconds ning to think I may have seen it all. But Kings Creek and then returned the frightened fish to a patrol on Sunday, March 16, 2003, re­ On opening day there were several the water.—WCO Dave Kaneski, Northern futed that idea. I was patrolling with people standing around a hole on Kings Wayne County. WCO Anthony Quarracino, and we Creek. Two of them were a young man checked ice fishermen at Perez Lake early and his aunt. There was a burst of ex­ Serving warrants in the afternoon. Less than two hours citement as the young man got a hit and While I was a WCO in Delaware later we observed our first water skier of set the hook. As he played the fish, in an County, I gained much experience in the season on the Warrior Ridge Hydro attempt to reel him in, his aunt also got warrant service. I always took another Pool of the Juniata River!—WCO Alan D. a hit. As the two of them battled their officer with me, because these situations Robinson, Huntingdon County. respective fish to shore, it turned out can sometimes be difficult. Sometimes that they had hooked the same fish.— the suspect got mad because you are at Electronic age marvels WCO Raymond J. Borkowski, Northern his home, or a spouse got mad because he The Area 6 Fisheries Management of­ Washington/Southern Beaver Counties.{3 or she was unaware of the incident. fice is located along a small stream in There was also the possibility the suspect Haycock Cove at Lake Nockamixon,

www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 55 NEW STATE-RECORD IMPORTANT INFORMATION SUCKER CAUGHT A Titusville man jigging for walleyes on the Allegheny River got an unex­ pected early Christmas present when instead he landed a new state-record sucker. Raymond Szalewicz was fishing a familiar spot in the river near West Hickory, Forest County, on December 13 at a location where he had previously landed several nice walleyes, including a 30-incher. Casting a black jig in the di­ rection of some woody debris, he was letting the lure settle toward the bottom when he felt a telltale bump and his line began to move upstream. "I immediately assumed it was a wall­ plwto-Art Mithack eye and I knew it was heavier than the Every year, the Pennsylvania Fish w Do not jump ahead of the stock­ big one I caught there before at the same & Boat Commission stocks trout in ing truck and park in off-road spots spot," Szalewicz said. He soon turned thousands of stream miles and doz­ that will be used by the truck. Doing the fish, and "when it rolled, I saw its ens of lakes, in spring, fall and winter. so can cause the truck to bypass that belly the first time. It came in easily, but Interested anglers and other citizens stocking location. its weight and the current made it very often arrive to help or watch indi­ w Do not park your vehicle so that it difficult to maneuver it to the collapsible vidual stockings. The safety of all in obstructs traffic. Park safely and le­ net I carry." attendance often becomes a signifi­ gally off the roadway. cant concern, as does the effective w Carpool with other participants, if stocking of the delicate cargo brought possible. to the water from our hatcheries. v If you're going to help carry buck­ A planned fish stocking can be dis­ ets, always off-load the buckets from rupted or delayed because of unsafe the back of the truck. conditions created by factors includ­ ' Fish don't survive long in a bucket, ing the weather, road and traffic con­ so carry your buckets as quickly as pos­ ditions, the number of participant sible from the truck to the water. Bring vehicles, access to the water by the the bucket back to the truck promptly stocking truck and officer, and par­ so that the stocking can continue with­ ticipant conduct. When attending a out delay. fish stocking, it's important for every­ Don't pour buckets of fish into Raymond Szalewicz shows the new one to abide by the directions given shallow, muddy or silted areas. Be sure state-record sucker he caught December by the waterways conservation officer the water is deep enough to prevent the 13, 2003, in the Forest County portion (WCO) or his/her designee at all fish from dying because of clogged of the Allegheny River. times, and: :4.Hs. w Arrive in time to hear the WCO's * Always stay alert to moving traffic. Soon he realized the fish was a sucker, briefing of safety and stocking in­ Keep children under immediate safe but not just any sucker. After he measured structions. control, and do not stand in traffic it at 31 inches in the net, he began to sus­ v Don't help carry fish if you have lanes while watching or helping to pect that he might have a special catch. A any health problems. stock. weighing on a certified scale confirmed it: v Do not park ahead of the stock­ The Fish & Boat Commission is not At 12 pounds, 14.4 ounces, it was the larg­ ing procession's lead vehicle or be­ liable for any injury to stocking assis­ est fish of its kind on record in Pennsylva­ hind the designated tail safety tants or damage to their vehicles. nia. The previous record sucker was vehicle. Please help make fish stockings safe, caught in 1995 by Troy A. Bemis, of En­ w Keep your vehicle at least 40 feet efficient and enjoyable by always stay­ deavor. It weighed 12 pounds, 9 ounces, behind the stocking truck at all times. ing safety alert! and was also taken from the Allegheny River in Forest County.

56 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater % March-April 2004 www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission PAMPHLET

Please indicate the requested titles with an X. Single copies are free. Limit: 6 pamphlets. For multiple copies, of the same title, please call the Commission at 717-705-7835. Title Description

• Angler Award Program State records, big fish, first fish, rules and application • Basics of Water Pollution Types of water pollution, effects on resources • Careers with the PFBC Opportunity descriptions, civil service, non-civil service • Drinking, Boating and the Law Commonly asked questions with answers • Fish Scale Sketch Commission overview, mission and programs • Fishing and Boating Map Accesses and amenities, with PennDOT highway map • Great Fishing Needs Great Habitat Poster on habitat components • Hazards on the Water Recognizing, avoiding dangers to boaters • I Just Bought a Boat, Now What Do I Do? Boat registration's frequently asked questions • Ice Fishing in Pennsylvania Basic how-to information sheet • Keep Pennsylvania Fishing! Basic information on the Fish Fund • Paddle PA Water trail listings, map and launch permit application • Pennsylvania Fishes Identification Guide Quick reference with illustrations • Personal Flotation Devices All about life jackets, life vests and life preservers • Personal Watercraft in Pennsylvania Vital information for owners and operators • Snakes in Basements and Buildings Remedies and prevention information sheet • Snakes in Pennsylvania Biology, identification, venomous, non-venomous • To Protect, Conserve and Enhance Watersways Conservation Officer career information

Region Brochures - "Fishing & Boating Opportunities in Pennsylvania" • NORTHWEST Counties: Butler, Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, Warren • NORTHCENTRAL SECTION I Counties: Butler, Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, Warren • Region map with streams, • NORTHCENTRAL SECTION II Counties: Centre, Clinton, lakes, roads Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Potter, Snyder, Tioga, • Approved trout waters Union • Boat access/launch ramps • Class A wild trout streams • NORTHEAST Counties: Bradford, Carbon, Columbia, • PFBC Region Offices, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Hatcheries Wayne, Wyoming • Pumpout stations • SOUTHWEST Counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Cambria, • Regulations overview Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Somerset, Washington, Westmoreland • Special regulation areas • SOUTHCENTRAL Counties: Adams, Bedford, Blair, • Universally accessible areas Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, • FREE of charge! Lebanon, Mifflin, Perry, York • SOUTHEAST Counties: Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northhampton, Philadelphia, Schuylkill

N ame

Add ress.

Ciity . . State ZIP. Please mail entire form to: Education Media Services, PA Fish & Boat Commission, P.O. Box 67000, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000. Allow 3-4 weeks for delivery. Or fax to Educational Media Services at 717-705-7831. Publication tequests can be e-mailed with publication title(s) and complete shipping information to: [email protected] PFBC PUBLICATIONS AND PRODUCTS ORDER FORM

Description Code# Quantity PA Species Wall Chart Sets (taxab Price Subtotal Set of: Coldwater Fishes, Warmwater Fishes, 103FCHTS $5.66 Migratory Fishes, Misc. Game Fishes, Panfishes, Forage Fishes (17~ x 22" full color) c 'N Set of: Frogs, Salamanders,Snakes, Turtles (irx 22"fuii color) 103RCHTS $3.77 2000 ro ROOKS (taxable, shipping and handling additional) ai 1 PAAmphibians & Reptiles 103AMPR $9.43 1 Guide to Public Fishinq Waters and Boatinq Access 103PUBF $2.83 2003 £ 1 Pennsylvania Fishes 103FISH $9.43 O 1 Endanqered & Threatened Species of PA 103ENDS $5.66 i 2001 +-» I'atr.lies/.Vl U!1S (taxable, limited Quantities available, shipping and handling additional) U 1998 Northern Copperhead 111NCOP98 $4.71 *'': P^: 2001 1999 Northern Leopard Frog 111NLFR99 $4.71 2000 Midland Painted Turtle 111MPTU00 $4.71 2001 Spotted Salamander 111SALA01 $4.71 T,,s..^»»«\ c o 2QQ2 Five-lined Skink 111SKNK02 $4.71 T3 2003 Paddlefish 111PADF03 $4.71 3 O 2004 Timber Rattlesnake - Black Phase New! 111TMBR04 $4.71 2004 Timber Rattlesnake - Yellow Phase New! 111TIMB04 $4.71 2004 2001 PLAY Patch: Saugeve 111PLAY01 $2.83 ^um200?i Prt-rI AwY Patchratui.- Hybrii lyuiidu Stripeouiycvd Bass 111PLAYQ2 S2LS3. I'm a Pennsylvania Angler Patch Get one for your 111ANG03 $2.83 rw%. fishing hat or vest! m a Pennsylvania Boater Patch 111BQAT03 &2S2. 2003 PLAY Patch: Rock Bass 111PLAY03 $2.83 CL 20C&<4 o 2004 PLAY Patch: Chain Pickerel New! 111PLAY04 $2.83 u O 2004 Trout Stamp "Quiet Time" 111TROU04 $4.71 •I—» o 2003 Waterways Conservation 111CONS03 $4.71 Q. 2004 Game Fish Series Crappie 111GAME04 $4.71 01 u-i Short 16-OUnce mug (removable base to add ice) 11SSMUG03 $4.71 (U 01 Tall 16-OUnce mug (fits mnst vehinlR nip holders) 11STMUG03 $4.71 Nature Cards Set #1 (Single Pack) 103NC101 $2.83 PFBC Notecards 103NOTECD $9.43 Q PFBC Safety Whistle 115WHISTL $5.66 O Wall chart sets, books and patches total PA residents add 6% state sales tax ro Subtotal E T5 Shipping and handling for orders under $10.00 - ADD $2.00 C (13 Shipping and handling for orders of $10.00 or more - ADD $3.00 _c Angler iY Boater Subscriptions/Renewals • YES! Enter my subscription for ONE YEAR $9.00 T3 CD • YES! Enter my subscription for THREE YEARS $25.00 tJ • New • Renewal Account # if renewing: O T3 TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED D1 C Mil, bubftshed in 1 _o Please mail entire form Free PLAY Subscnntions to: PA Fish & Boat U YES! Enter my FREE subscription. Commission, Educational u Media Services, P.O. Box Subscriber's Age • Age: 8 (20 issues) • Age: 9(16 issues) 67000, Harrisburg, PA ro • Age: 10 (12 issues) • Age: 11 (8 issues) LI Age: 12 (4 issues) 17106-7000. Use check or money order for remittance made payable Name to: PA Fish & Boat Commission. Prices subject to change without Child's Name notice. Allow 4-6 weeks for delivery Street Address

City State Zip CURRENTS

Grants for Phys Ed Commission to Seek Comments on Potential Fishing Programs Changes to "DHALO" Program The Future Fisherman Foundation is The Fish & Boat Commission will seek angler input on a proposal to allow making $200,000 available to physical the use of all legal tackle types during the summer months on Delayed-Har- education teachers who incorporate vest, Artificial-Lures-Only (DHALO) areas. The Commission opted to open fishing and boating education into their an extended public comment process on the possible change at its winter curricula, offering grants up to $5,000 to quarterly meeting January 26-27 in Harrisburg. help foster active leisure lifestyles and The Commission is interested in hearing from anglers on the idea of allow­ ethical attitudes about the outdoors. ing the use of bait on 57 specially regulated trout fishing waters during the so- Grants can be used for fishing and called "harvest period" of June 15 through Labor Day. The expansion to allow boating equipment, field trips, curricu­ baitfishing, if adopted, would apply only during the specified time and only lum materials and other resources to on "Artificial-Lures-Only" waters in the delayed-harvest program. assist instructors in carrying out fishing Pennsylvania has two delayed-harvest special-regulation programs for and boating education. Launched last trout: Delayed Harvest, Artificial Lures Only (DHALO) and Delayed Harvest, year, the National Physical Education Fly Fishing Only (DHFFO). Both allow year-round fishing with no closed sea­ Grants Initiative supported 34 schools in son (unlike most other stocked trout waters). Harvest is permitted from mid- 20 states with $150,000 in grants. The June through Labor Day, with catch-and-release angling at all other times. program was developed through a part­ The idea behind delayed-harvest regulations is to maximize total recre­ nership among the Future Fisherman ational fishing opportunities and to combine a harvest and a catch-and-re­ Foundation, Recreational Boating and lease component. Using stocked trout and tailoring fishing regulations to take Fishing Foundation, American Associa­ best advantage of changing stream conditions achieve these goals. As a result tion for Leisure and Recreation, and of extending the fishing opportunities for a longer period, streams in delayed- National Association for Sport and harvest programs are among the most popular for all special-regulation trout Physical Education. waters. Last year, seven teachers in six Penn­ Because of the widespread angler interest in the DHALO program, the sylvania school districts received grants: Commission will schedule at least two special public meetings regarding the Michael Thim, Bucks County Technical proposal. The dates and locations for these meetings have not yet been de­ High School; Sharon Retif, Germantown termined. The Commission invites comments on several issues, including the Academy; Bob Emery, Neshaminy effects of the proposed change on delayed-harvest areas on waters that flow Middle School; Warren Goodling, through private property. Hempfield High School; Barbara Ferrell In other action at the meeting, the Commission added the following wa­ and Andrea Miller, Boiling Springs High terways to the Wild Brook Trout Enhancement Program, effective January 1, School; and David Eichler, Donegal 2005: Birch Run, Potter County; Jeans Run, Carbon County; Kistler Run, High School. Monroe County; Lyman Run, Potter County; Minister Creek, Forest and Grant application forms and com­ Warren counties; Shaeffer Run, Perry County; Camp Run, Westmoreland plete details are available from partner County; and Wolf Swamp Run, Monroe County. organizations and online at The concept of this recently created program is to eliminate the effect that www.futurefisherman.org, or contact harvest may have on wild brook trout populations and to increase the abun­ grants administrator Jeff Bloem at 703- dance of older and larger wild brook trout. Under these regulations, catch- 519-9691x247. Applications must be and-release angling applies to brook trout at all times while the harvest of all postmarked by April 21,2004. All appli­ other trout species is governed by statewide season, size and creel limits. To cants will be notified in early June on the appeal to a broader base of anglers, these waters are open to angling year- status of their grant proposals, and a round with no special tackle restrictions. The regulations apply on a water­ training workshop for those awarded shed basin level (main stem and all tributaries) or to a portion of the basin, grants will be held in July to help prepare which provides increased protection for wild brook trout over a larger area. teachers for the upcoming school year. Portions of Camp Run and Lyman Run are currently in the All-Tackle, Se­ For details on the Commission's edu­ lective-Harvest Program and the Selective-Harvest Program, respectively. cation programs, visit the Commission's Those special regulations will be removed with the implementation of the web site, www.fish.state.pa.us, and on Wild Brook Trout Enhancement regulations. the left beneath "Navigate Our Site," click For complete details on Commission action during this meeting, visit the on "Education." Commission's web site at www.fish.state.pa.us.

www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 59 Early Ruling in Little Juniata Case Favors DEP, DCNR and PFBC

The Department of Environmental1 state's case asserts that the Little Juniata protect our rivers, streams, forests and Protection (DEP), the Department off should be open to the public for fishing, state parks," DCNR Secretary Michael Conservation and Natural Resourcess boating and other recreation. The de- DiBerardinis said. (DCNR), and the Pennsylvania Fish &c fendants seek to restrict public access to "Pennsylvania's anglers and boaters Boat Commission (PFBC) scored ani the river. should watch with interest as this case early victory in a landmark case that "The court's decision allows the could reaffirm their rights to enjoy the now moves forward to settle a dispute; Commonwealth to move ahead and state's truest natural treasures," said over the public's right to fish, boat and1 demonstrate that there is no legal basis PFBC Deputy Executive Director and recreate on a 1.3-mile section of the* for any individual to be excluded from Chief Counsel Dennis T. Guise. Little Juniata River. the lawful use of this stretch of the Little The Commonwealth's complaint, Huntingdon County Common Pleass Juniata River," DEP Secretary Kathleen filed in June, alleges that Donald Beaver, Court issued an order January 13,2004,, McGinty said. one of the defendants in the case, has denying preliminary objections by de­ "Making sure residents have access to been operating various exclusive fly fish­ fendants attempting to have the; public resources is a constitutional re- ing services on the Little Juniata River at Commonwealth's case dismissed. The; sponsibility inherent in our efforts to and below its confluence with Spruce Creek in Huntingdon County, and that Beaver and his employees have excluded Trout Stuffed with the public from the river, posting "no trespassing" signs and erecting cables across the waterway at both the upper and lower ends of the stretch. Accord­ ing to the complaint, Beaver has a con­ tractual arrangement with Connie Espy to use property she owns adjacent to the river on the eastern side. Espy is also named as a defendant. The state agencies' complaint asks the court to enjoin Beaver, his employees and other defendants from interfering with the public's right to use the 1.3-mile section of the Little Juniata River and It's difficult to top rainbow trout continue sauteing until ingredients confirm the long-standing position of as table fare, especially when you have given up nearly all of their the agencies that the Little Juniata is a stuff them with mushrooms and moisture. Season with salt and pep­ navigable water of the Commonwealth, spinach. per. Allow mixture to cool. Pat in­ held in trust by the state for the benefit side of trout dry and season with of the public. Ingredients salt and pepper. Place vegetable State ownership is based on the his­ (for four servings) mixture inside the trout. Cook torical navigability of the Little Juniata Four pan-sized rainbow trout trout in butter on top of the stove or River. The Commonwealth agencies be­ For the stuffing: bake in the oven. lieve there is ample evidence of the use of 2 cups mushrooms, diced the Little Juniata to transport goods 1 small onion, diced Serve downriver in the late 1700s and early y 2 cloves garlic, finely minced Serve rainbow trout with simple 1800s. Additionally, there are three • (1) 10-ounce package frozen side dishes. Mashed potatoes with a statutory public highway declarations spinach, thawed and drained steamed vegetable like broccoli, as­ for the Little Juniata dating back to 1794, 4-8 Tbsp. butter paragus or cauliflower are perfect. 1808andl822. If you prefer using fresh spinach, i Salt and pepper The court's decision to deny the pre­ substitute it for the frozen spinach. liminary objections is not a final deci­ Procedure Wash fresh spinach carefully. You sion on the case. The legal status of this Over medium heat, saute the will need to cook the fresh spinach stream remains in dispute, and anglers, mushrooms, onion and garlic in longer to get rid of the moisture. boaters and other users should be mind­ butter until soft. Add spinach and ful that this matter is not yet resolved.

60 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater % March-April 2004 www.fish.state.pa.us Use of Commercially On February 11,2004, Commission President Grown Trout Piloted Samuel M. Concilia During Winter (left) and Commission Stockings Executive Director Dr. Douglas J. Austen (right) presented You'd never know it to catch one, but Commissioner Ross J. there was something a little different Huhn with a about some trout stocked as part of the commemorative Fish & Boat Commission's 2004 winter plaque, honoring him stocking program. The 13,900 rainbow as the longest-serving trout stocked into eight lakes were part commissioner. On that <*°'°-A"Midmh of a pilot program using commercially date, Huhn's length of service exceeded that of any other commissioner. acquired fish instead of those grown in Commissioner Huhn began service as a commissioner on June 17,1980. His the state hatchery system. appointment was reconfirmed on July 1, 1986, and on May 3, 1995. The Commission is examining the Commissioner Huhn represents Commission District #2, which includes feasibility of augmenting stockings with Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Washington and commercial contracts. Tellico Trout Westmoreland counties. Farms, a North Carolina-based hatch­ ery, won a competitive bidding process Angler's Notebook tyJo«FarL to supply and stock the rainbow trout used in the trial. Big, elusive The Commission examined the trout crappies seek before the fish were released to ensure shallow water that they were in good health and that in spring for they met the Commission's standards. spawning, and The purchased fish were in the same you can find size range of the trout reared in the them more eas­ state-run hatchery system. All have ily then. Try been previously screened for chemicals locating them of concern. first with minnows and then switching to small jigs. The pilot program for the commer­ cial acquisition of fish is part of the A large plastic or rubber dish tub or laundry basket is a practical item to Commission's continuing efforts to en­ keep in your vehicle during fishing season. It can be used to hold wet hip sure that it can meet angler demand for boots, waders or wading shoes, as well as any other gear soaked or mud­ stocked trout. Some 100,000 brook died after a day on the stream. By doing this, you can also keep your ve­ trout reared at the Allegheny National hicle cleaner, drier and better organized. Fish Hatchery, near Warren, will be Fly tiers should check out fabric stores or sewing centers to find new and stocked this spring through a coopera­ unique tying materials. Shiny flosses and threads that add appeal to flies tive agreement between the Commis­ can often be found at these places for a fraction of the cost of commercial sion and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife tying supplies. They also offer extensive selections of inexpensive beads Service. that can be used to tie beadhead nymphs. The first shipments of purchased An item fly anglers should carry, along with their myriad of other fly an­ trout were stocked in December in the gling paraphernalia, is a small fish-tank net. Any experienced fly fisher­ following lakes: Lake Pleasant, Erie man knows how difficult it is to pick aquatic insects off the water's County; Twin Lake, Lower, surface for identification. A net, available at pet stores, makes this seer Westmoreland County; Lake Rowena, ingly impossible task much easier. Cambria County; Tuscarora Lake, Schuylkill County; Leaser Lake, Lehigh When going after catfish, try using this free bait that's readily available on County; Levittown Lake, Bucks County; all rivers: Crayfish. Simply round up a bucketful of crawdads before set­ Lake Luxembourg, Bucks County; and tling in for an evening of fishing for channel catfish. Use the whole cray­ Stovers Dam, Lebanon County. fish or just the tail. They're also nicer to handle than messy, smelly "blood baits."

www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler 8 Boater • March-April 2004 61 Governor and Lt. Governor Visit Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show The Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show at the Farm Show As part of his visit to the Sports Show, Governor Rendell an­ Complex in Harrisburg hosted visits last February from Penn­ nounced action to release $13.8 million in funding for projects sylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell and Lieutenant Gover­ at five state fish hatcheries and a demonstration project using nor Catherine Baker Knoll. Both of Pennsylvania's top state treated mine drainage as a water supply for aquaculture. officials took advantage of their visits to purchase their 2004 Lieutenant Governor Catherine Baker Knoll purchased fishing licenses. Resident Fishing License #2 as part of her visit. Governor Rendell purchased Pennsylvania Resident Fishing License #1 at the Fish & Boat Commission exhibit.

With Lt. Governor Knoll are (from left) Commissioner Sam Concilia, Commission employee Karen Hill, Commissioner Commission employee Danielle Hoover prepared Governor Paul Mahon and Commission Executive Director Dr. Rendell's license. Douglas J. Austen.

Visiting the Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show with Governor Rendell were (from left) State Representative Ed Staback, Commission Executive Director Dr. Douglas }. Austen, Governor Rendell, and Commissioners Paul Mahon, Don Anderson, Richard Czop, Ted Keir, Bill Sabatose, Leon Reed and Sam Concilia.

photos-An Michaels

2004 COPA Patch songbirds are common visitors to winter birdfeeders where they often eat sunflower seeds. Since 1995, the Conservation Officers of Penn The 2004 COPA patch costs $5.50 each ($4.71 per sylvania Association (COPA) has offered an an patch + 29 cents PA state sales tax and 50 cents nual collectible patch. After these highly shipping/handling per patch ordered). sought-after patches are sold out, they will be To order patches, send a request including your available only on secondary markets. mailing address and payment to: COPA, P.O. Box The 2004 COPA collectible patch features 345, Huntingdon, PA 16652. Make checks payable to the northern cardinal. These easily recognizable COPA. Send for your patch TODAY!

62 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 www.fish.state.pa.us IN PENNSYLVANIA

Charles Hoffman, Ridgway, shows the 14-pound, 15-ounce Ronnie Heavner northern pike that (right), age 14, came from the depths shows the 23- of the Allegheny inch channel Reservoir. Hoffman's catfish he caught fish took a live in the Schuylkill minnow suspended River near the from a tipup. Bridgeport Dam, Montgomery County. Ronnie's sister, Catherine, age 15, netted the fish. The fish took a nightcrawler. Ronnie and Catherine released the fish after the photo was taken.

Jennifer Clark, Harrisburg, caught this 25- inch catfish on a nightcrawler in the Susquehanna River, near Dauphin.

Sandy Neumann, John Heavner, King of Prussia, Ronnie and Catherine's Coopersburg, caught older brother, caught this 17-inch largemouth bass near this 17.5-inch Bridgeport Dam on the Schuylkill River, Montgomery largemouth bass at County. He caught the fish on a nightcrawler. After the Lake Nockamixon, photo was taken, he released the fish. Nockamixon State Park, Bucks County. The bass grabbed an eighth-ounce jig with a 3-inch pumpkinseed plastic tail. The bass Joshua Brody, age weighed around 3.5 4, and his pounds. After taking grandfather John the picture, the fish was Brody show the released. 17.5-pound, 32- inch carp they Eric Snyder, age 10, caught in the caught this 26-inch, Susquehanna 7.5-pound hybrid River. The carp striped bass in the took a slow-trolled Monongahela minnow. They River. He was released the carp using a minnow for after the picture bait. Eric was was taken. fishing with his grandfather, Richard Snyder, and his dad, Jeff Snyder. www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March-April 2004 63 During the Commission's January meeting, the Conservation Officers of Pennsylvania Association (COPA) presented a $2,000 check for the Fish & Boat Commission's Conservation Acquisition Partnership (CAP) program. In making this donation on behalf of COPA, During the Commission's January meeting, Executive Director Dr. Northcentral Regional Law Douglas J. Austen and Commission President Samuel M. Concilia presented Enforcement Manager Brian awards to five staff members for their contributions to Pennsylvania Angler Burger (left) noted that the & Boater magazine. Contributor awards were created in 1997 to recognize Association has been steadfast staff for writing material for Pennsylvania Angler & Boater magazine. in its support for the CAP Robert Wilberding, Manager, Pleasant Gap State Fish Hatchery, and Thomas Pekarski, program and that the check represents COPA's gifts for both Manager, Pleasant Mount State Fish Hatchery, were recognized as winners of the 2003 Major 2003 and 2004. Accepting the Feature Award in the Commission's Staff Contributor Incentive Program. Bob's winning donation for the Commission article, "Pleasant Gap Fish Culture Station's 100th Anniversary," appeared in the July/August were Commission President issue. Tom's winning contribution, "Pleasant Mount State Fish Hatchery's 100th Anniver­ Samuel M. Concilia (center) sary," appeared in the November/December issue. In addition to writing the articles, both and Commission Executive contributors gathered archival photographs of both state fish hatcheries and compiled ad­ Director Dr. Douglas J. Austen. ditional supportive material for their articles. For information on COPA, visit Richard Morder, waterways conservation officer for Perry/Juniata counties, was the win­ www.pawco.org. ner of the Best Short Feature Award in the Commission's Staff Contribu­ tor Incentive Program. His winning contribution, "Rescue at Braddock Lock and Dam 2," appeared in the January/February issue. This article described the rescue of a boater whose craft became lodged on the dam. The rescue was a cooperative effort among several entities. William Crisp (not pictured), waterways conservation officer for Cameron County, was chosen the winner of the Best "Notes from the Streams" Award in the Commission's Staff Contributor Incentive Pro­ gram. William's winning contribution, "Close Friend," appeared in the November/December issue. His contribution revealed the complexity of a WCO's job. Executive Director Austen and Commissioner Concilia presented a special magazine award to Clyde Warner Jr., assistant regional supervi­ sor in the Southeast Region. This award commended Clyde for his writ­ ing the "WCO Diary" column during 2003.