TEN CENTS APRIL, 1938 OFFICIAL STATE APRIL, 1938 PUBLICATION ^ANGLER? Vol. 7—No. 4
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PUBLISHED MONTHLY COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA by the BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS PENNSYLVANIA BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS
111
Ten cents a copy — 50 cents a year CHARLES A. FRENCH Commissioner of Fisheries
111 MEMBERS OF BOARD
CHARLES A. FRENCH, Chairman ALEX P. SWEIGART, Editor Ellwood City South Office BIdg., Harrisburg, Pa. MILTON L. PEEK Radnor HARRY E. WEBER Philipsburg
SAMUEL J. TRUSCOTT NOTE Dalton Subscriptions to the PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER EDGAR W. NICHOLSON should be addressed to the Editor. Submit fee either by check or money order payable to the Common Philadelphia wealth of Pennsylvania. Stamps not acceptable. FRED McKEAN Individuals sending cash do so at their own risk. New Kensington H. R. STACKHOUSE Secretary to Board
PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER welcomes contribu tions and photos of catches from its readers. Proper credit will be given to contributors. AH contributions returned if accompanied by first C. R. BULLER class postage. Chief Fish Culturist, Bellefonte
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VNGLER APRIL, 1938 Vol. 7 No. 4 EDITORIAL
TROUT STREAM IMPROVEMENT
IN Pennsylvania, as in virtually every other densely populated and industrialized state in the East, those in charge of the fishing resources have been faced with a gradual decrease in mileage of waters suitable for maintaining fish life and, at the same time, a sharp increase in number of fishermen Not only has this condition served to intensify fishing on the remaining mileage of our clean streams and made vastly increased stocking from the hatcheries necessary, but it had demonstrated definitely the necessity for bringing our suitable trout waters to the greatest capacity for production of fish of which they are capable. To that end, Pennsylvania in recent years has been devoting more and more thought to bettering of environmental conditions, not only for legal sized brook trout, brow" trout and rainbow trout when these fish are stocked from the hate er^es but for fingerling trout planted in suitable nursery waters and naturally, reliant for their growth on food produced in larger streams to which they move as they develo There can be little doubt that intelligent improvement of environmental conditions under which stocked trout must live is every bit as ,mportant as the stocking program
Engaged in Pennsylvania's stream improvement campaign have been the organized sportimen in many sections of the Commonwealth who have played a most active and commendable part. In many instances, associations have furnished mater als for projects undertaken by the Works Progress Administration. The Works Progress Administration has, in the different counties, earned on intensive stream improve ment on many popular trout streams. During the las year, construction, ofshelters, dams, deflectors and rip-rap walls to serve as suitable checks for ero ion, ha; bee accomplished with an idea of permanence primarily in mind In all probabihty you may fish one of these improved trout streams this year and I believe the worthwhile results accomplished will be readily apparent in most instances. The Civilian Conservation Corps, working in conjunction with representatives of the Fish Commission, has also accomplished a great deal in improvement work on streams in the vicinity of various CCC camps. These two government agencies have earned on extensive programs of trout stream betterment certain to show results in years to come. One of the most pressing problems, particularly as it relates to trout streams ,n agricultural districts, is introduction of more shore cover. We feel that the willow planting campaign to be undertaken in various counties th.s spring will serve a splendid purpose in this phase of the stream improvement program. Plant A Willow is one of the most commendable slogans ever stressed in the drive for better trout fishing. As Commissioner Weber, who has been intensely interested in willow planting, pointed out in the March issue of the ANGLER, the root system rapid growth and dense foliage of this tree, make it ideal for stream banks in which it takes hold readily. It seems to me that environmental improvement, with an eye to increasing the food capacity and shelter requirements for trout has been and can be linked to an even greater extent to the hatchery production of the three species.
Commissioner of Fisheries •"I
PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER ly tii
TROUT TACKLE SUGGESTIONS til en By R. W. McCAFFERTY or th Sketches by the Author le< HE dry fly is unques- the insects that ua Tt i o n a b 1 y the most enhanced their di: widely publicized artificial appearance. Had a lure used in taking trout. they floated over ar The sight of a well bal the fish motion if anced, high floating, nat less as did the on ural looking dry fly being flies I was usingi deliberately sucked under I felt their effec Tl the surface into the mouth tiveness would of a nice brown trout is ye have been on a par with my float di- something long to be re ers. Another outstanding fact was membered. The fact that ile —this fish was interested in food a the fly is nearly always on or near the surface, and seem s visible minimizes the to ingly, action was a prime factor- ev chances of failing to hook The following furthers my be a rising fish. That factor s fo lief. I had given up the dry flie alone accounts for the tre now in preference to nymphs- mendous popularity of this St] delightful method of tak Knowing that a large percentage of the ing fish. nymphs in this stream were black, the color to In many instances, that phase had been decided for me. I had enter to fact is also a serious detri- tained for some time an idea that artificial ants, fished in the same manner as nymphs, m e n t to success. How e often have all of us used when taken by the fish, were believed to b dry flies when we knew the latter and not a real ant, said ant be well enough that some ing purely a land insect which, possibly due other lure would have been to accident, had fallen into the water. The much better. An incident exceptions to this, of course, are the periods worthy of mention, I be when flying ants are swarming over the lieve, occurred on Cedar stream. Run in Tioga and Lycom Here was an opportunity to prove nvj' ing Counties during June, theory. A size 12 black ant was tied to my 1936. dry fly leader and I paused for a few mo It was one of those days ments to rest the trout. The first cast was when, through no sound perfect, and I proceeded to fish the ant as I reasoning at all, I had de SPENT WIN* often had on previous occasions, letting | cided to try to take trout drift with the current unretarded, impart on dry flies. The morning ing no action whatever. AVhen the lure sun had .just risen over the rim of the high those which were larger and probably more plateau on my right. The new leaf growth, drifted within a foot of the fish, a little to shy. After taking my casting position near one side, the fanning of his fins quickened refreshed by the mist which nightly descends the edge of the stream, I tied on the fly into these deep, fern lined gorges, was cov and he rose into position to take the fly. In which I knew would fool this fellow. I had stead of striking, he followed cautiously a ered with dew, and as the sunlight filtered selected a multi-colored, gold bodied, variant short distance and returned to his origin^' through the rising mist, each leaf glittered (the credit for the discovery of this success station. A short pause and then I duplicated as though covered with myriads of dia ful pattern we shall give to ??; it is claimed monds. by many). Although tied on a small hook the first cast. This time as the lure ap proached the fish, instead of using the Filled with anticipation I tied onto my this fly appears rather large on the water. e 12 foot 4X leader a number 12 Blue Quill. This is characteristic of variant type flies. method which had failed to produce on th first drift, I raised the rod tip suddenly The stream was low, a normal condition for A dozen casts divided into straight and the Plateau streams at this time of the about three inches and followed immediate curved casts were sufficient to convince me ly with a similar action. A repetition w3s year. The choice of fly was prompted by the that this was not the right pattern. Changes 1 unnecessary, the trout had taken the ant i' type of fly which had been hatching the of flies were made from time to time, vary the twinkling of an eye. Without the evening before. This manner of selecting a ing the colors and sizes. Even while the fly for morning fishing is satisfactory— shadow of a doubt, this trout was looking artificial fly floated over the fish, several e sometimes. The number of times it proves natural flies also floated over it and were for nymphs which were rising to th successful is the exception rather than the taken without hesitation. The most I could stream's surface where a metamorphosis rule. get was a splash rise, a rise where the fish takes place, changing them from a swim Thoughtlessly, I had fished several nice apparently decides to take the fly and then ming and crawling water insect to a dainty pools before I realized that nothing was be refuses it at the crucial moment, usually winged one. ing gained except casting practice. A ending by splashing the water surface with It was evident, in this case at least, that the feeding fish was aware of the preva change to several types and sizes of flies its tail. t0 within the next half hour netted me exact Why had I persisted in using the floating lence of one type of food only. To try ly nothing, not even a rise! I had noticed, fly in my attempts to catch this trout? tempt him to strike any other type was use however, that an occasional small fish was Granted, I did see two natural insects drift less. breaking the surface, but even these I could downstream over this fish and have them The action given to the ant also was an not induce to strike. taken by the trout, in preference to my of important phase. When the ant was given As I moved cautiously upstream I no ferings which were not more than six no action, it attracted attention, but did not ticed a "brown" of about 11 inches lying in inches away, but these natural insects had, induce a strike. When the lifelike motion midstream, apparently in position for feed or were, just emerging from their nymphal was imparted it was immediately taken- cases and their wings were fluttering as is There were numerous empty nymph cases ing. I resolved to take this fish or quit for e the morning. If one could not catch one of customary preparatory to the insects taking being carried downstream. Occasionally on this size, it seemed hopeless to angle for to the air. Definitely, it was the action of of these would attract the fish but, as near- PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 3
2 as I could detect, none were taken at any good fight before succeeding in landing him, time. a IVz pound brown. , This trout was in a case of extreme selec By employing a light leader and careful tivity. I have often observed fish taking casting, several more trout up to a pound empty nymph cases as well as bits of sticks and a quarter, were caught in this pool, all °r debris of all kinds and after detecting on the Grey Wulff. Then, as though acting their error, emit them again. Possibly, se- upon pre-determined signal or particular 'ectivity increases as the appetite is grad time, the majority of the fish ceased feed ually satiated. That would account for the ing. At least, with the exception of about difficulty encountered sometimes in taking four fish in this pool, they had stopped com a trout which apparently is feeding freely, ing to the surface for their food. One of a*id the ease with which a creel can be filled the remaining surface feeders appeared "* you are astream when one of those raven to be a fair fish, so another angler and my ous feeding periods has just begun. self moved into position to cast for it. We Let me further substantiate my theory. were both using 12 feet, 4X leaders. After T a few moments of casting over this trout he East Branch of the Ausable River last man derives from it. The pleasure in turn Jfar afforded me some of the most widely without success, we began a more sys tematic attempt. Plies of various sizes and is present because this method of fishing is, ^versified fishing it has ever been my priv generally speaking, easier than most other ilege to enjoy. No time during our ten days descriptions were tried and the only sign of interest displayed by the fish was a splash methods. Now don't take that too freely. nshing on this river was it our good fortune The dry fly can present some very difficult to rise to a Brown Spider. witness a big fly hatch. It was on the problems. Probably the one most frequently evening of one of the best hatches that the encountered is drag. Meticulous study of l All the while, however, this fish had been °llowing incident occurred. breaking the surface of the stream. The the water currents and casting practice will A section of about 400 yards of the fact that we had good luck earlier in the overcome that. stream was being fished rather thoroughly evening on dry flies and that it was nearly Another thing which has a tendency to j? a number of dry fly men. I was disposed dark was probably the reason I had not to study fish and fishermen rather than try make this fishing confusing is the hundreds changed to nymphs. Darkness forced us off of patterns of flies available. After a few %• luck until a little later. Two men in the stream and as I took apart my tackle I years of fishing, nearly everyone will form resolved to try for this fish the following morning. ulate a list of flies they think best for the streams they fish. Many books or articles There were no fish breaking the surface on fishing are accompanied by a list of flies early the next day as I carefully approached considered by the authors to be in general the spot where all our efforts had been pis- the most killing patterns. These lists are, in catorially scorned the preceding evening. most instances, authentic. Nevertheless, I tried a few dry flies, then, convinced of the futility of that method, If an angler does choose to limit his flies changed to nymphs. A black strawman, to a dozen or two patterns, I suggest ob about one inch long, tied on a No. 8 hook taining each pattern in several different was selected. A cast was made, the fly drop sizes. A few sizes 8 and 10 and as many as ping into the water a few feet upstream possible in sizes ranging from 12 to 20 are from where I supposed the fish to be lo my personal choice. cated. I allowed the fly to sink approximate ly a foot and then imparted a series of small jerks to it. On the third cast a fish struck and after a few moments of playing it I netted a plump brownie about ten inches long. I was certain that this was not the fish we were trying for the evening before so VARIANT I continued fishing. Using the same method of retrieve on the succeeding casts I again hooked a fish on the fifth cast. This one was ^rticular had attracted my attention. They heavier and when netted I found it to be a aU been confining their efforts to one pool n female of 14 inches, undoubtedly the fish I « in an hour's time were rewarded with /^ fish, a seven inch brown. As I prepared was after. STOVE: FLI NIM>H . nsh, they decided to discontinue their ef- It would appear that I am attempting to 0r discount the importance of the dry fly. That , ts and proceeded to take down their Among the number of successful anglers «ckle. The fish were beginning to feed more is not the case. I am unable to see this type I know are two that prefer dry flies tied ,, e<% and many could be seen breaking of fishing in the same light as do the pur only in wingless hackle patterns or palmers wate . ists. I do have a weakness for trying these r flies before anything else and have often and Bi Visibles. Another's preference runs s.'Jne fish was coming to the surface per- wasted valuable time changing and experi to the quill bodied patterns, either wingless tently, taking spent flies floating on the menting with them while I could have been or hackle point wings. ''face. Several evenings dry fly fishing catching fish on some other type of lure. had proved the Lee Wulff, both light and Occasionally, hackle point, spent wing r Certainly, credit for a percentage of the > k, to be an excellent fly on this stream. popularity of dry fly fishing should be given flies have proven their killing qualities. Of tied one of these flies to my leader and to the pleasure which the average fisher this style, the spent wing Adams is my fa ®Pped into the river just below this fish vorite. iiit ^ aPPeared to De quite small. I had not .tended trying for him, but inadvertently Naturally, if you experience exceptional °Pped my fly to the water to float while I luck on one particular pattern of fly you iriPped line from the reel. As the fly will have a tendency to be partial to that fly. aJ\°hed the water a small dimple appeared Guard yourself against that. The fewer set a ~ I struck instinctively. He was hooked opinions an angler accrues, the better his (j °-> thinking it to be small, I worked him chances for many tight lines. Versatility w ° n to the riffles to prevent disturbing the and impartiality are assets to every fisher j°°l- Several attempts to net this trout were man. Ustrated by his wild rushes and I had a 4 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER SUCKER WEATHER By N. R. CASILLO Sketch by the Author
HEN the twigs and smaller branches few feet farther another of the nocturnal wasted. A discourse on many subjects Wof the river willows that grow along snipes went fluttering off into denser cover. causes the moments to rapidly slip by> the banks of the Shenango or Neshannock Dr. Burr Rogers, a member of the pisca Often we were entertained by wandering (or any other stream for that matter), turn torial trio, ambassador of good will (par troups of chickadees or by the antics of a bright yellow, as if the irrepressible vital ticularly with the wives), and an ardent acrobatic nuthatches. There need not be a | ity contained within is actually attempting grouse and woodcock enthusiast, considered single boresome moment. to burst through the more tender covering, this episode a fitting prelude to the very "Whoops, there goes my line," hoarsely j Bill Klee either makes it a point to come excellent day that followed. whispered Burr as the slight belly in his around and see me or phones to tell me that Sucker fishing when the fish are really line slowly straightened while the sensitive that irresistible urge is once again upon on the prod is great sport with any kind of rod tip curved downward perceptibly. Both him. And since the willows are affected by equipment. However, with a flyrod, a free- Bill and I became suddenly hopefully alert every bright and reasonably mild day spool reel and a light bait casting line one as we watched Burr maneuver the rod. throughout the winter and early spring, will experience plenty of excitement, and if it happens to be the angler's first experi He crouched on his haunches holding the Bill is therefore more or less chronically rod in his right hand and a loop of line ft1 ailing. If he doesn't get to douse a worm ence, he will wonder why he so long de the other. In return for a gentle investi' into the muddied waters of some nearby ferred taking up the really fine sport. Of gative pull he received a smart jerk. Burr creek and feel the fervid, springy pull of a course, no fisherman will be foolhardy looked back at us and grinned. sizable black or white sucker stimulated by enough to use his finest flyrod; a discarded c its frigid environment, he suffers horribly. one or any of the very inexpensive rods "He's on there," he said. "Now watch W that are avilable will be suitable. But, don't give him the works." When it comes to the gentle art Bill and I 1 are kindred spirits, therefore we usually ail quibble about tackle; get out even if it's In the same breath he jerked upwards O at about the same time and the only rem with only a handline and hook. the rod. Nothing happened. "He's got your bait," Bill remarked. edy is to get out to some sequestered spot Bait! How can you dig worms in mid 11 along a suitable stream to keep our periodic winter? Easy. Go to some farmer's barn "Gosh, if he hasn't," admitted Burr up" rendezvous with friend Catostomus. yard, select the side of the manure pile that pulling the hook to the surface. appears to be best drained and sink your It was Bill's turn. As soon as his r°" ) I like to think of angling as did Old e Izaak, a sport wherein one may come in fork into the ground. If the ground is sol showed action he had it in his hand and b ' idly frozen, then expose territory that has gan to slowly pay out the line. After one i contact with things out-of-doors in the com a pany of genial companions; where one may been covered by the manure. You will find or two tense minutes he gave the rod tip indulge in quiet talk or idly dream as worms if the manure is neither too fresh slight twitch and the fish was hooked. fancy dictates. And if such is the case does or wet. There is nothing spectacular about the it matter much whether one angles for After assembling our outfits we baited fighting tactics of a sucker. Yet, that fan11' trout, bass or suckers? Some of the most the regular snelled trout hooks we were liar feel of a hooked fish is just as thrilling pleasant hours of my life have been spent using with succulent night crawlers, leaded as when you're fast to more desirable prey' fishing for the grinning, bewhiskered bull the line sufficiently and cast out into the One or two prodigious jerks, a short, ski*' head or the guttery sucker, and yet the turgid water. A nearby log furnished dry tering run (if you give it line), and the sibilant swish of a tapered line as it un seats. victim is about spent. Of course, if th€ coils from the backcast is music to my ears. Paradoxically, those minutes of apparent specimen is extraordinarily large and ,s So what does it matter so long as a fellow idleness while waiting for a bite are never fighting in fast water you are likely to 2? is fishing. Now, Bill is a chap with the same turn of mind, so that his periodic urges to seek the lowly sucker are not only V E. excusable but actually commendable. One of our memorable excursions in pur suit of this modest member of an extensive family occurred last year during one of those fairly comfortable days that are more or less common in early March. On this par ticular day the sum was beating down with plenty of ardor but an icy breeze more than offset Old Sol's pre-seasonal enthusiasm. The locale of our activities was that stretch of French Creek between the mouths of Conneaut Marsh and Sugar creeks; all topnotch sucker streams if you should ask me. Conneaut Marsh creek is on the west side of French so that the early morning sun was already flooding that side when we ar rived. The union of the two streams forms a narrow point standing well above the normal water level, a miniature slice of good, firm soil sparsely covered with alders and similar shrubs; the whole nestling in the lee of & fringe of tall maples dense enough to thwart all but the most rigorous of wintry blasts. The point is a favorite with all the local sucker fishing fraternity. Upon crossing a shallow ditch prepara tory to entering the alders we were startled by the whistling takeoff of a woodcock. A Enjoying the "MeditativMeditative Sport" PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER
A Typical Pennsylvania Sucker a surprise, for that first surging run may ment and the dozen fish we had kept and for all attempts to get them to take baited take out a lot of line. departed for the mouth of Sugar Creek; hooks failed. "He's a nice one," Bill glowed as he our destination being but a stone's throw Shortly after we had settled ourselves be w°rked the fish landward. In another mo from one of the town of Cochranton's prin low the railroad bridge on Sugar Creek, ment the firm, silvery body of a handsome cipal streets. we were startled by a loud splashing ap w"ite sucker was proudly displayed by its French Creek is a large stream, and dur parently emanating a short distance above captor. ing the spawning season in the spring parts us. Upon investigation we discovered that The fishing rapidly improved and there of it literally teem with suckers. A couple the disturbance was created by the churn were very few minutes of inaction. A fair of years ago on the opening day of trout ing bodies of numerous suckers as they sP*inkling of black suckers enhanced the season we saw thousands of them endeav passed through a shallow riffle on their way catch because they, are considered by many oring to ascend the dam at Venango. Hun upstream. In a pool above the shoal water to be more toothsome. However, the com dreds of them at a time would essay the could be seen scores of them milling about parative edible qualities of both types is swim through the shallow sheet of water in the slightly murky water; vanguards of a debatable question with me for I find that was slipping down over the sloping the hordes that were yet to come. them both equally enjoyable. During the apron. One could descend the wall border It is claimed that the spring run of the fish colder months their flesh is as firm as that ing the east side of the dam and actually in the early days was a phenomena which °t a fresh-run salmon, and the flavor deli- pick up the struggling fish as they attempt never failed to attract and excite the atten Cl°Usly sweet. Yes, they're bony, but so are ed the ascent. Failing to negotiate the ob tion of those who were at all observing. As m any fish that are considered good eating. struction they would slither back into the a boy in New England I can vividly recall turmoil below only to try again and again. the part that I often played in helping in Old Bill Jones the one-legged fireman in e the capture of thousands of them, chasing " building wherein I work, is a topnotch Just below the dam in about three feet of Uc them into the shallows onto the waiting ker fisherman who has a special way of water some enterprising individual had tines of pitchforks manned by a small army Preparing the fish so that the bone problem anchored a large sheet of tin or other bright ls of men and boys stationed there. Another effectively eliminated. First, he cleans ail( metal on the bottom. The dark bodies of the favorite mode of capture was to feel for i skins them, then runs the beheaded fish were vividly silhouetted against the them under overhanging banks where they odies together with coarse cracker crumbs contrasting background which at times they had sought refuge. Still another was by through a food chopper. The fish balls mold- almost completely obliterated they were that spearing them with a three-pronged spear * from this base are delectable when prop- er as they passed between the narrowing 'y seasoned and done to a golden brown. • numerous. I have often wondered if the tin (Continued on page 18) After lunch we gathered up our equip- wasn't placed there to facilitate gigging, 6 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER STREAM IMPROVEMENT IN PENNSYLVANIA STREAMS By C. JOEL YOUNG
O much has been previously published S of the subject of stream improvement, that it might seem there is little left to be said. One fact should be borne in mind, how ever, that all streams are not alike. What we may do in one stream may be imprac tical or unnecessary in another. How will we know our streams' needs? It is this thought that will justify this article and simplify getting to the problem of each stream's peculiar needs. Let us start with a vision of the ideal stream. It is, of course, a stream that has all, or the greatest va riety of desirable factors in proper propor tion and in fitting relation to each other in the smallest given stream area. Then let us say, "How will we recognize this 100 per cent stream?" Quite likely we will not. If, however, we know the necessary compo nents that are found in the ideal stream, then it is easier for us to visualize what is needed to make a good balanced stream. We are then better able to judge what our g . =5=3 PLAN VILW stream lacks or has in over abundance and thus arrive at a practical answer to those questions of the what, why and wherefore of stream improvement. No attempt is made to be specific in step ping up food requirements for fish because in the ideal stream, nature takes care of this. In other words our stream improve ments must be aids to this end. In making the survey, it is only necessary to answer intelligently where each desirable element of a good stream can become negative. An overabundance or a lack of any of these factors is a negative finding. All stream improvements are to help nature do tors and open boulder dams and long "Y" Log deflectors can, however, be built in her part. With this as the motive we must deflectors or double deflectors that speed up a permanent manner if the work is care capitalize upon our knowledge of nature's the water are the most successful devices fully done by using a "dead man anchor" courses of action. We can best lay our foun used in cultivated sections. Do not attempt to tie the log into the bank and running dations in low water; it is not assumed or to make a trout stream out of a warm water the end into the bank far enough to keep intended that each plan suggested by the stream. It is absolutely impossible to make the ice and other floating matter from tear following sketches should be carried out in the water cold no matter how fast you speed ing it out. Here another factor enters. The making the stream improvements, but it up. A stream can only be made into a nature of the bank must be considered. rather that the method or methods em better stream of its particular type. Firm banks will hold logs much better than ployed be chosen as evidencing the best or loose ground, gravel or shifting banks. easiest manner to overcome each condition Materials: Stones vs. Timber Log covers and parallel logs are best definitely established as being a negative Here again one must consider the type of anchored into the bank by hitching a %" finding in our stream survey. stream and nature of banks and bottom of cable to the cover or log and anchoring this stream. Your writer has found that stones to a "dead man" buried in the bank. Do not Devices and Construction are more practical in the streams with use stakes to anchor log covers or parallel First consider the type of stream and the gravel banks and gravel shifting bottoms. logs. Trees will make good anchorage if species of fish therein. Trout streams differ Having found that stone is more practical located at the proper places. widely from warm water streams as to loca than timber most of my work is made of Banks should be protected at points tion, whether through a forest area or cul stone. Of course, throughout a forest area where deflectors or dams are taken into the tivated section, interpersed woodland, or where timber is plentiful and lots of shade banks so that the water will not wash meadows with no trees along the banks. is available the timber construction, if around the ends and eat the ground away- The improving of trout streams in and worked out properly, is very practical. I Where the banks are low, stone paving is throughout a forest area is the simplest have used timber with very good success all that is required, but where the banks method. There being lots of material, small where stones were scarce and hard to trans are high it is necessary to make a log crib dams and retards can be built with won port. However, when timber gets loose dur bing or rip-rap the banks. It is very im derful success. But trout stream improve ing floods it always causes damage by float portant to stop bank erosion and keep silt ment throughout the cultivated sections ing into bridges and fences. Stones may be out of an improved stream. All the sharp such as we have in the southeastern part of displaced by floods but they will not float bends in the stream should be protected Pennsylvania is a different matter. Im away and can be replaced at a very slight against erosion and the banks protected to pounding dams are not a part of this pro cost. By watching the results of floods, I deflect the wash away from them. gram and do not work out well as this tends have come to the conclusion that stone work A good rule to follow in building stone to warm the water too much during the for dams and deflectors is more permanent riffle dams is to taper them from the banks summer months. Small riffle dams, deflec than timber. to the middle of the stream so that the mid- PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 7
THREE. TYPES OF BOULDER DAMS BV C JOCL VOUNG
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fconk* Rip- ft«pp*d
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5TRE.AM IMPROVEMENT TYPES
«e of the dam is about one-third lower County, Saucon Creek, Northampton Coun tilt. I have also seen this type of dam tilt wan the ends for a distance of one-third ty, Cherry Creek, Monroe County, French owing to the weight of the water over the 'he entire width of the dam. This allows the Creek, Chester County, Strauss Valley front if the key log is laid too far back. *ater to run over at all times and distrib- Creek, Carbon County, Aquashchicola and A skirting is also necessary in front of utes the pressure during high water. If this Buckwa Creeks, Carbon County. this dam to keep the water from washing ^le is followed the ends of the dam will The above list gives one the variety of too large a hole, allowing the key log to |0t wash out, leaving the middle high and streams from a very small stream to a very roll into this hole. In case of a shifting dry. large stream where the above methods were gravel bottom this is true. Skirting can be used. Most of this work is now two years built with stones or timber. A timber rack Log dams can be constructed with great old and went through some very severe anchored to the main dam will afford a sUccess if they are carefully constructed place for fish to hide under and still keep a*>d the logs run well into the banks. They floods. the water from washing under the key log. should be backed up with stones wherever Log and Timber Dams NOTE: The writer of this article has de possible so that the stones taper to the top Log and timber dams can be successfully signed and constructed various devices and of the logs. used but care must be taken to properly built with W.P.A. funds over one million anchor the ends into the bank so that the dollars worth of stream and dam work. Ad , Where the stream is too wide to use a Sl key log will rest on the bottom of the ditional cuts showing a number of dams and ngle log across it, a good plan is to build stream on impervious material which will ? log deflector on each side of the bank and improvement devices will be found on pages not shift or roll. 14 and 15 of this issue. j}°ok the middle logs into this. This can be A practical dam is shown in the drawing jrone by using dock spikes and dovetailing and if this method is carefully followed it he. dam logs into the deflectors and filling will not wash out nor will the water dig TAMAQUA ANGLERS hem with stones. I have built a dam of this under the logs. The up-stream side of the BUILDING HATCHERY 5T>e across a stream 150 feet in width and top logs must be cut off flush and planks feet in height, using three logs, one on driven into the stream bed and securely Good progress is being made on the trout ,°P of the other fastened together with nailed to the bottom log. This keeps the hatchery which the Tamaqua Fish and °ng dock spikes. This dam raised the water Game Association is erecting on Owl Creek, at) water from digging under the bottom log out 24" in stretch where the water was and going on through to the key log and near that town. It is expected that the 8*% about 6" before. This dam is on the ponds will be completed and ready to re u weakening the entire dam. I have seen this shkill Creek in Northampton County. happen and the entire dam had to be re ceive fingerlings early this spring. Some of the outstanding stream improve constructed. Stones must also be placed be- Some fine big trout were taken from the ment projects are on the Little Lehigh 'tween the key logs and the saddle logs to creek and released in other waters by work ^'eek, Lehigh County, Crooks Creek, Bucks anchor the dam down so that it will not men engaged in construction work. * PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER TROUT TOPICS Random Fishing Notes Concerning Trouting in Pennsylvania
By ALEX P. SWEIGART
VERY angler who has consistently The Browns Take Over the aggressive brownie, once introduced to E fished Pennsylvania trout waters dur Modern trout fishermen stand convinced, the best natural brook trout water avail ing the past quarter century, no matter generally, that the imported brown trout is able, shortly establishes supremacy therein. whether he found his sport on wilderness rapidly coming to the fore as dominant Often we hear the argument that brown waters of the North Tier, the big central species in Pennsylvania trout waters. Delv trout will withstand higher water tempera Pennsylvania streams or in other sections, ing into notes on a central Pennsylvania tures than the native charr and that, in is certain to have observed drastic changes meadow stream, we find perhaps the most general, they will thrive under adverse in stream characteristics and in the general convincing proof of any to our knowledge stream conditions fatal to the welfare of the fishing picture. Without doubt, greatly in relative to its adaptability to virtually all natives. Both of these contentions are made tensified fishing on our limited mileage of trout waters in the state. Certainly these negative in the instance of this stream, high trout waters and building of good roads notes serve to prove rather definitely that banked, sodded as an aid to erosion preven- making these waters more readily accessi ble to the average fisherman have been strong contributing factors to these changes in the general fishing picture. Probably no form of angling has more colorful appeal than does trout fishing. As for changes in trout stream characteristics, floods, such as the disastrous one in 1936, and erosion, due to unchecked run-off of surface water, have contributed heavily. There have been other changes, too, shifting of the trout popula tion from brook trout, our natives, to brown trout or rainbow trout in many waters, changes which were discussed in the March issue of this magazine. It is not exaggerating to say that for every trout fisherman of a quarter of a century ago, 50 are trying our trout waters today. To keep pace with this vast growth in popularity of trouting, hatcheries main tained by the licensed fishermen are con stantly augmenting the number of legal size trout and fingerlings available for stocking. While good roads, it is true, have made most trout streams readily accessible, these same roads have facilitated greatly increased planting via the truck method from the hatcheries, a factor recognized as vitally important to the continuance of this type of angling in the industrialized East. Drought years prior to the 1936 flood ex acted heavy toll on trout food organisms in many streams as shrinking water levels left large sections of riffles and shallows exposed to air and sun. Climaxing this loss of trout food, stream levels rose to un precedented heights in March, 1936, cul minating in the Saint Patrick's day flood disaster. Walls of water in high-banked streams gouged loose good sized boulders, scoured the bottom and in some extreme in stances formed new channels. Probably no other single factor during the past 25 years had a more drastic effect in changing gen eral stream appearances. Fortunately, two winters of fairly normal stream levels have followed the '36 flood, and the food supply in many trout streams has been staging a gradual comeback. In view of the intensive stocking program of legal sized trout now nearing completion in preparation for the opening of the season on April 15, this comeback of natural forage is most encour aging. Season catches will, of course, sharp ly reduce the number of planted trout with the result that fish remaining in the streams should find sufficient food in most instances to carry them over until the '39 season. A Brace of Fine Conditioned Brown Trout from a Potter County Stream. PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER tlon, and maintaining virtually the same Rummer water temperature during the past 15 years. The stream at its head is fed by two spring tributaries, both suitable for trout. ^he left fork has been more subject to fluc tuation in flow, although we have taken ^fook trout from its pools well into July. f*ot more than 100 yards from its point of Juncture with the left fork, the right fork gushes from the base of a steep ridge. This Slant limestone spring flows a heavy quan- ^ty of water ideal for trout and, merging *ith the smaller limestone fed branch, has yaried slightly, if at all, in levels, even dur- *ttg drought years. From the angle of the •food supply, the stream is extremely rich, yense hatches of flies occurring with aston- •shing regularity during the summer Months. Crustaceans such as the crayfish are also numerous. Fifteen years ago, brook trout were abundant in this stream, as they probably "ad been for hundreds of years. Then an enterprising fisherman decided that perhaps a change to the popular brown trout might Provide more varied fishing. Securing some °rown trout fmgerlings he introduced them '° this stream. To the best of our knowl edge, this was the only brown trout plant ing made until it was felt that since the In contrast to the small headed rainbow shown on this page, observe the elongated jaws of the two brown trout had so firmly established itself, largest brown trout in this catch from Fishing Creek, Sullivan County. ^ should be listed as a brown trout stream, 'ear after year, following the introduction is a stream just as ideal for our native Occasionally one of these giant trout will °* the brown trout fmgerlings, the number charr today as it was prior to the time of make his way into a small stream serving °f brook trout taken or observed diminished, the brown trout introduction. Few if any as nursery water for fingerlings, and, in ^Util the ratio of catches was four browns changes have occurred on its upper water this instance, the toll he takes from young to every brook trout. Finally, the taking of shed. trout descending to the larger stream is a brook trout from the water became so There can be no question about the grow heavy. An instance of this type is known Unusual as to arouse comment, although ing popularity of the moody brown trout to have occurred last season on a small r with our trout fisherman. Perhaps one of stream set aside as nursery water in Clin °wn trout up to 20 inches were caught ton County. ^casionally. The very nature of the stream, the main reasons for this popularity is the Wlth its deep, cut-under banks, sunken logs size which the brown attains. Any trout In Great Britain, where trout waters aUd alder shaded pools favored exceedingly fisherman likes to hook into a big fellow. have been carefully managed for many 'his invader. And this, mind you, was and The rapid growth of brown trout, however, years and where fly fishing is the dominant has another feature which must not be dis form of trout fishing, big trout control has regarded. It is only fair to say that' the long been a subject of study. Since the larger the fish, the more food required for brown trout in Britain occupies the same its existence. Big brown trout, and for that matter, all of our popular game fishes, are confirmed cannibals. Even if they do find sufficient food of other types in waters where they lurk, they are not averse to tak ing a smaller member of their own species as a tid-bit. We frequently hear the king fisher, the blue heron, the osprey, the mink An eight-pound brown trout taken from Still Creek and the raccoon condemned as fish preda by William Zucuskie, Tamaqua, on a night-crawler. tors, and yet we shall venture to say that one giant brown trout in a year is superior role as the charr in our waters, in that it as a destroyer of other trout to any of them. is a native fish, British fish cultural findings The water is his element; growth and de concerning its habits and culture are velopment have served to increase his vo worthy of deep consideration. racity, craftiness in feeding is instinctive. Wilson H. Armistead, British piscicul- In addition to being a bottom feeder, he tural expert, has this to say concerning very often seeks his prey at night, another cannibalism in trout: "The cannibal ten factor in his favor when it comes to escap dency in all trout becomes much more de ing human enemies. veloped as they grow older, and when they The craftiness of one of these old brown have once taken to regular feeding on trout in securing his food is amazing. In smaller trout they seldom or never rise to stinctively he seems to know that he is no the fly: consequently, they remain unmolest match in speed or agility to smaller trout ed till they die, and are a continual source in the same pool. He must rely on cunning, of loss to the river. As breeders they are taking advantage of a moment of careless very inferior to younger fish, and by means ness on the part of the smaller fish, per of their abnormally developed jaw they are haps brought about in its eagerness to se frequently able to inflict severe wounds and cure food. At any rate, over a span of time, drive away the younger males. They fight the feeding methods of this old cannibal fiercely at spawning time and anyone who °*e the small shapely head of this big rainbow prove incredibly effective, to the detriment has had an opportunity of handling wild "out from Brokenstraw Creek, Warren County. of younger trout in the stream he inhabits. (Continued on page 18) They haven't caught a fish in two years in Lin coln school gymnasium, but every Thursday night during the winter months Erie's bait casting enthu siasts go about the business of keeping themselves in condition for summer casting. Top picture shows the group which participated in regular weekly casting. Left to right they are Dr. M. L. Warner, Mrs. M. L. Warner, Dr. C. H. Hapgood, Walter L. Weber, Roy Hersch, Nevin McKee, William Schild- macher, Sr., William Schildmacher, Jr., Wolf Stroh- meyer, Craig Williamson, Earl Swartzman, and M. E. "Biff" Hardinger. Lower panel shows three of the feminine casters, Mrs. Roy Hersch. Miss Harriet Bowen and Mrs. M. E. Hardinger, getting a few instructions from Walter Weber, Erie's cast ing champion. (Frank Sehauble Photo.)
Erie Bait Casters Had Active Winter Writing in the Erie Daily Times one day in January, sportswriter Joe Williams had the following to say concerning an ardent group of Erie Bait Casters. Quoting from ing place, would swear by all that's holy They're swishing the air with flies and reel' his column "Sport Sparks": that there had been a wholesale delivery ing in imaginary trout. They're having * The only actual fishing being done in from the padded rooms of the buildings at time of their lives hitting targets and poS4' e Erie today is that which many anglers of North Warren which house insane of the ing their scores. But, above all, they'* the district are doing with drop lines state. keeping themselves limbered up and eyes are trained, or will be, to near perfe^' through holes they cut in the ice out on the But such is not the case. Such fellows as 1 bay. Walter L. Weber, Nevin, McKee, M. E. tion for the casts out over that certain ro "Biff" Hardinger, Bill Schildmacher and pile, etc., for bass next summer. But the bass and muskies are "striking" •ft The Erie Bait Casters have been an oJ with regularity and in a wicked fashion others, have all of their bearings, and while they're not bringing home any fish from ganization since 1926, 12 years durii*. each Thursday night at the weekly sessions Lincoln school gym they're nevertheless set which time they've held their indoor session' of the Erie Bait Casters club which holds ting themselves up to have the laugh on in the fall, winter and early spring. Mart forth in the gymnasium of Lincoln school many an angler when another summer rolls of the regular attendants at these even*5 at the corner of 31st and Wayne streets. around when the season on bass and other have participated in every meeting sin"6 Most anyone who'd walk into Lincoln gamesters of the lake and county streams the first one. school gym on a night when the bait casters is opened. Many casting anglers in the city a*1 are having a seance with the finny family, They're casting plugs every Thursday at county have availed themselves of the priv' c and not knowing beforehand what was tak the pine flooring of Lincoln's gymnasium. ileges extended by the group and have b ' PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER n come more proficient in the use of bait cast- COOPERATION URGED ln g tackle as a result. Many anglers, too, BY SETH GORDON Who years ago used only live bait in their fishing, have turned altogether to artificial AT CLINTON RALLY lures. Cooperation between the Game Commis sion and sportsmens organizations of the In the two-hour period that the group state on what may be best for the better convenes, from 7:30 p. m. to 9:30 p. m., the ment of wild life conditions was the key first hour is devoted to practice and instruc note of the address by Seth Gordon, execu tion with the second hour to a friendly com tive secretary of the commission, at the petitive accuracy contest. annual banquet of the Clinton County Fish The group invites any angler, male or and Game Association at the Masonic Tem •female, interested in becoming better ac ple in Lock Haven. Coming to that part of his address in quainted with tackle and trying to over which he dealt with the deer situation in come the back-lash and other annoying the state, he said: faults that take much of the joy out of cast "I hope I never see the day when the as, to attend the sessions and really learn sportsmen's group such as yours fail to 'he proper way to cast. speak their minds about conditions in their Weber, who is the ace of Erie's bait cast territory. While the commission gets lots of ers, and who not only is tops casting, but advice from all over the state and much of •Hakes his own rods, points out that other it of not much value, yet we do want to know when the sportsmen disagree with us." sPortsmen train their bird and rabbit dogs, s One of the largest crowds to attend in hoot skeet, rifle and pistol, all to better many years was present. More than 450 "Sonny" Heckert of Lemoyne may be young in their results in the field, so it is not so persons were served with an excellent tur years but he's turning into a crackerjack fisherman ridiculous to assume that Tournament Cast- under the tutelage of his angler dad, I. O. Heck ,n key dinner. Joseph A. Simon acted as toast- g will be of benefit to the individual do- master for the evening and fntroduced ert. We present "Sonny" with a big sucker he il»g it. Mayor George B. Stevenson who welcomed landed this spring in Yellow Breeches Creek, Cumberland County. Many an angler has found his trip ruined the guests to the city and congratulated Decause of ineffectual and poorly balanced the association on its good work. State Senator I. Dana Kahle said that of To the sportsman who catches the largest tackle, and observation of the majority of all the sportsmen's groups in his district Brown trout in Clinton County in the 1938 the participants in the weekly sessions the Clinton County one was the liveliest season, the Ritter Sporting Goods Co. will Proves that the selection of the proper and most active. He urged that the group give a cup with the successful angler's name tackle either makes the future trip a pleas protest at once against the proposed Cum- engraved on it, it was announced in the ure or a dud. mings Bill now being readied for passage course of the program. So if you're looking ahead to that fishing by Congress, which would require all pur trip next summer when you'll want to show chasers of any type of firearms to be fing TARENTUM DINNER UP some of your cronies when it comes to erprinted and have the gun registered. He said such legislation would work a lot of WELL ATTENDED casting, a few sessions this winter with hardships on sportsmen. One of the most representative arrays of these casters clubs will not be wasted time. The Rev. Samuel J. Truscott, Dalton, Western Pennsylvania sportsmen ever as •^H a fellow has to do is to take his own member of the State Fish Commission, sembled was that gathered in Tarentum re tackle to the school and enjoy the company urged cooperation between the sportsmen's cently, for the 14th annual banquet of °r throwing fishermen whose enthusiasm clubs and the commission. The sportsmen Tarentum District Sportsmen's Club. t°r the sport keeps them at it in spite of pay the bills, he said, and the commission Sportsmen from all sections of Western Sriow and ice. can know what they wanted only by the Pennsylvania district were here for the sportsmen themselves making their desires event. Over a score of affiliated clubs were known. officially represented, as were leading manu facturers of sporting goods. A telegram expressing his regrets at not In addition to Seth Gordon, Charlie being able to be present and congratulating French and Ross Leffler, all of whom were the association on its work the past year on the speaking program, were these not was read from Robert F. Rich, Congress able personages in sportsmen's affairs: man. Rollin Heffelfinger, head of District G, Mr. Gordon said that about 80,000 of the Irwin, Pa.; Dr. N. C. Mills, president Clar stubs sent in by sportsmen giving the ion County Buck Tails, Clarion, Pa.; Nor amount of their kill for the season had been man Boone, president Allegheny County tabulated. He estimated eight and a half Sportsmen's League, Crafton, Pa.; John G. million pounds of meat was taken, or pos Mock, outdoors editor, Pittsburgh Press; sibly 30,000 deer. He pointed out that in Ralph Liphart, game protector, Allegheny 1915 to 1924 about 4,000 deer were killed County, Homestead, Pa.; J. Bradley Mc each year. In the next ten years the total Gregor, traveling game protector, New jumped to 16,000, and in the past 10 years Kensington; Cliff Iman, fish warden, But it has been up to 20,000 a year. There must ler; Troy Burns, game protector, Butler; be 20 does, fawns or antlerless deer for Dr. W. D. Imbrie, state representative, Har- each buck, he went on, making the herd bet risville, Pa.; Charles D. Smith, past presi ter than a million. He said the Forest De dent County Sportsmen's League, Carrick; partment is complaining because the feed H. B. Keffer, county delegate, Clairton; W. ing of the deer has interfered with its work E. Guckert, secretary County Sportsmen's and in some cases even prevented flood pre League, Pittsburgh; Walter Kirk, Aliquip- vention work. pa, Pa. During the address Mr. Gordon said he Mr. and Mrs. John "Jack" Quig, Sewick- was a good sport and would prove it. He ley Hunt, Sewickley, Pa.; George J. Fuller, said he had heard that the attorney fees Peters Ammunition Co.; Frank G. Norris, r j - John J. Koehler, president of the Presque Isle for the deer case had not been paid, and Northwest Division Sports Association, But . P°ftsrnen's League in Erie. Practice for and hold- if this was the case, he would start a fund ler; Dale S. Irons, president Coraopolis 9 casting tournaments is one of the activities to do so by donating a dollar. Sportsmen's Club, sponsored by the League. 12 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER
Question: While I usually like to take a manent set. Popular spinner sizes in taking few days after trout, I get my best sport in bluegills range from No. 00 to No. 2, and fishing for catfish later in the season. When fly sizes from 2 to 4. As for patterns effec do the bullheads spawn, and what is con tive in taking this gamey little fellow, the sidered the best bait for them? I have been Royal Coachman, Paramachene Belle and using worms with pretty fair success when Gray Hackle rank as fairly good bets. the water got muddy.—J. McF. Question: I have heard that there are a Answer: There are plenty of Pennsyl number of different species of the rainbow Mtf* vania fishermen who share with you a real trout. Could you tell me to what species the affection for the humble bullhead catfish. rainbows we catch in Pennsylvania belong? I never seed a nicer batch o' trout then In lakes, ponds and streams where it oc —R. P. what I helped stock last munth in the curs, there is probably no other fish that Answer: The McCloud River rainbow, mountin crick. They was brookies an' they provides more consistent sport during the Salmo shasta (Jordan) is commonly known come in one o' them new fangled tank summer months. Spawning time for the as the rainbow trout of the fish culturists trucks. Run frum better'n six inches ter 12 bullheads comes usually in late May or and it was handled for many years by the inches an' the liveliest bunch o' trout ever June in Pennsylvania. The adult fish pair United States Fish Commission. Conserva went inter the crick. off and may, if necessary, work diligently tion departments in a number of states have Jed Smith an' me helped the drivur ter with their spiny pectoral fins in excavating planted this species. stock them fish. Now, it useter be when a a hole in clay or mud bottom into which Question: I note where you refer to the few wuz let loose in a hole, they ud sink the eggs are to be deposited. An old musk- brook trout as a charr. What are some of ter the bottom an' lay there like suckers rat burrow beneath the water line may the characteristics of charrs? Could you fer mebbe ten minits. Thet wuz when we answer their purpose for the nest. After name some of the other species in this or stocked frum cans. These here trout was the eggs have been deposited and fertilized, der?—A. L. no more'n let loose when zip an' they'd hed both adults stay with the spawn and later Answer: The brook trout, Salvelinus fon- rite inter the curent an' lay fannin' agin it with the young, which may hatch in from tinalis, is a member of a beautiful and head upcrick jest ez nice ez enny wild trout five to nine days, depending upon the tem graceful order of fishes, the charrs. In gen ye'd wanter look at. Lots o' kick an' go ter perature of the water. When first hatched, eral, the scales of the charrs are smaller them brookies, an' we stocked the crick most the baby catfish are black in color, later than in any other representatives of the mitey keerful, lettin' a few in this pocket, assuming the body color characteristic of trout and salmon families and frequently mebbe eight in a good hole, an' so on. This the adult fish. To see a brood of young bull embedded so deeply in the skin as to almost here thing o' lettin' to menny legul size fish heads, attended by the parent fish, moving escape notice. Coloration is usually dark go in one place ain't no way ter do, we fig- along a shallow shoreline in a warm water and round crimson spots occur on the sides. ger. We hed a lot o' fun jest helpin' ter stream is an interesting incident. Should The lower fins are sometimes margined with stock them trout, jest ez much ez we'd hev an enemy approach, one of the time-hon white, black or reddish. According to Jor hed afishin'. ored methods of protection on the part of dan and Evermann, this genus is represent Thet nite we goes down ter the store an', the adult bullheads is to sink to the bot ed in America by four species and six to o' course, most everbuddy in the valley tom, stirring up a cloud of muddy water seven sub-species. "No higher praise can be knowed by then thet them fish hed been to conceal the brood. In addition to worms given to a Salmonoid than to say that it is planted. 12 fellers thet likes ter ketch used in taking bullheads, we know fisher a charr" is generally conceded as an undis trout hed been tole thet the truck wuz men who score regularly with shrimp, puted fact. Members of this genus are not comin', an' jest Jed an' me hed showed up fresh or canned, peeled crabs or crawfish, only very active and exceedingly handsome ter help stock. Reckin' we hed ez much ter and minnows, both alive and dead. And fishes, but seem to seek by preference only do about our places ez enny o' them an' it when it comes to eating, it's hard to find a the cleanest and coldest waters available. shore did rile us thet they wuzn't willin' finer morsel than a bullhead taken from Other charrs are the Dolly Varden trout, ter do more ter help. This here thing o' good, clean water having rock bottom. on the Pacific Slope, the Dublin Pond trout figgerin' let the uther feller do it when it Question: Have heard that sunfish hit a of the New England states, the Long-Fin cums ter stockin' fish er makin' the crick fly and spinner combination readily. Could ned Charr of Europe, the Greenland Charr, better fer 'em ter live in is a heck o' a big yon give me some idea as to tackle for tak the Arctic Charr, the Blueback Trout of drawback ter better fishin'. Ain't one 0- ing them?—A. J. L. Maine's Rangely Lakes, and the Marston them fellers thet didn't show up won't go Trout of Canada. out at crack o' dawn on the 15th an' try ter Answer: The bluegill sunfish is winning Question: Where can I secure a good ketch his limit an' try ter repeat ez often many admirers among fly fishermen. It is ez he kin later on. a scrappy fellow and on a whippy fly rod stream map of Pennsylvania?—J. L. can furnish plenty of sport. No expensive Answer: A stream map of the type you Jed an' me jest about busted we wuz so tackle is necessary for this type of fishing. mention is issued by the Bureau of Publi sore when one o' them hed the guts ter say A medium weight fly line, three-foot lead cations, Tenth and Market Streets, Harris- thet they wuzn't no money in it fer him so er, spinnet and fly attached about comprise burg, Pennsylvania. There is a charge of why shude he help. I'm tellin' ye, we shore the list. Your bamboo fly rod should have 25 cents, money order, check or cash, for this map. Cash sent at your own risk. did lace him out fer makin' a crack like fairly good backbone and weigh at least thet, an' I figger next time the truck rolls 5% ounces as fly and spinner fishing to any great extent is tough on a lightweight Barmaid: "Oh, yes, I married a man in in, we'll be gittin' more help. trout rod owing to the weight of the spin the village fire department." Our runs an' cricks is in gude shape, an ner combination. Consistent use of a very Customer: "A volunteer?" I luke fer the best trout seasin we hed i" light rod may result in giving it a per Barmaid: "No, Pa made him!" a span o' time. Here's wishin' the boys luck' 1 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 13
RUSHES SEASON TWO TIOGA FISHERMEN . ."Here is a record breaker for all time," writes Warden Harry Cole of INVENT NOVEL CREEL Norristown. "On Friday, February 18, a fisherman from Pottstown was angl ing, wading and whipping with a fly outfit the stretch on the Manatawny Creek between the dam breast and the mouth of the stream and landed four nice fall fish. He caught several small er ones but carefully released them. A small black wet fly was the lure used in taking these fish. That certainly is rushing the season." Agree?
ACTIVE JUNIOR CLUB IN BERKS COUNTY "One of the finest Junior Conservation Clubs we have in Berks county is the West Hamburg Junior Conservation Club," writes Warden W. E. Wounderly. "This club was organized in March, 1936; today it has a membership of 52 boys ranging in age from 10 to 14 years. All these boys are students in the Tilden Township Consoli dated School. They are directed by Stanley Wagner, West Hamburg. They have their Leave it to your practical fisherman every consider the most important; a built-in bait ltn box with an individual lid is incorporated own officers and conduct their business e to bring out something new in the meeting like a senior club. Their president paraphernalia required for his sport. This on the left side, which can be utilized for Ce small gadgets by the fly fisherman, or can is Michael Evangelista, the secretary is *tainly held true in the instance of two be removed in a split-second entirely, leav Earl Bohn, and their treasurer is Frank !fteran Tioga county trout fishermen, W. ing this space for other paraphernalia—the Evangelista. They have a meeting every *"• Smith and L. J. Focht, of Wellsboro, who ft compartments are removable and adjusta Monday night, always get someone to speak ave devised the creel shown in the accom- to them and show motion pictures in refer Pa ble, so he can take them all out or move *iying cuts. them around to suit his personal needs." ence to wild life and conservation. But let Angler Smith describe this trout "This past fall they planted 2,000 pine "shing product from the North Tier. He trees and have done stream improvement ^ites: CLARION BUCKTAILS work on Hassler's Run, a tributary to Mill Creek in Tilden Township. "Some of the features of this model creel HEAR COMMISSIONER are "They go to the Blue Mountain on Sun as follows: In the first place it makes it Members of the Clarion County Bucktail days and build shelters and feeding sta Necessary for the stream fisherman to Association at their March meeting heard ea tions for game. * r a hunting or fishing coat to carry an address by Charles French, Pennsyl "They have $23.00 in the treasury and '°ng the anglers equipment which often vania fish commissioner, in Clarion. • s pay no dues. When I asked them how they We know, especially in hot weather, is Commissioner French spoke on the state's raise the money, they told me they get their °t only too hot, cumbersome and burden- activity in stocking streams and in main mothers to bake a cake and sell chances on °me but also prevents ease in casting and taining fish-hatcheries, and stated that the cake to raise the money. They have in talking. three thousand trout ranging in size from their rules and regulations that all the "Further, this creel, as one whom we six inches to 18 inches long, had within the money must be used for the interest of con ^ntacted stated, is "everlasting"—he sug preceding two weeks been placed in Deer servation." gested we call it the "Everlasting Creel"— Creek and Tom's Run. Will outwear a number of the present reed In describing the operation of the new ^willow baskets. state hatchery at Bellefonte, he said that CATCHES 100 BASS, , 'The 'Accessibility' of your tackle in this the actual cost of the project was $16,579; asket over any form of outer garment is if it had not been done under WPA KILLS ONLY SIX peatly superior. The tackle compartment auspices, he added, it would have cost the Speaking of bass conservation, the s Water-tight or water-proof, and a safe commonwealth more than a million dollars. example that was set last season by ^e for valuable fly-books, etc Several reels of motion pictures of game- C. A. Kniss of Mifflinburg in taking We also claim sanitation—we both know fishing were also shown at the meeting. these fine game fish from his pet t,° W smelly the old fish basket becomes stream, Penn's Creek in Union county, ft c er being in use a short time—this creel is one that any conservation minded an be washed out in a jiffy and kept clean ELECT OFFICERS sportsman must admire. *?d sanitary. The fish compartment is de- At the regular meeting of the Allegheny Fishing fly and spinner, Kniss, who j*?Shed to permit a maximum of ventila- edits the Mifflinburg Telegraph, '0li. and drainage from the ferns and moss County Sportsmen's League the following officers were elected for the year of 1938: caught over 100 legal sized bass. Of •}at the average fisherman uses to keep that number, he killed only six. In his n,s trout cool. President, N. S. Boone, 38 Elmwood Street, Crafton; Vice-President, H. L. own words, he "Fishes for sport, meat . "Last but not least, the creel will weigh doesn't count." u Smith, 1225 Evans Avenue, McKeesport; t only a few ounces more than the pres Treasurer, C. D. Smith, 3003 Homehurst Dave Frederick, Mifflinburg burgess, et reed or willow basket and the fisherman ai Street, Pittsburgh; State Delegate, W. G. fishes with the same idea in mind. } keep all his tackle in this creel so when Atkinson, 2315 Birtley Street, Brooklme, During last bass season, he caught 97 S^* fishing he has but two things to think Pittsburgh; First Alternate, A. F. Men- legal sized bass, killing only a few, ^ ~"~his rod and basket. You may, no doubt, a zemer, 173 N. Fremont Street, Bellevue, and writes Warden Art Snyder of Mifflin ® ble to think of many things I have not -Secretary, W. E. Gukert, Haslett Street, burg. j^ed here that this creel may afford the North Side, Pittsburgh. ^rman but the above is some of what I 14 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER
"HORSERADISH" TAYLOR SPORTSMEN It seems Willard Beers, Walnutport, went STAGE I4TH BANQUET for a little sucker fishing down to Rock With J. L. (Jack) Neiger, president of dale Dam. the Lackawanna County Federation of About 10 of the boys were waiting for Sportsmen's Clubs appearing well in the an assignment of brook trout from the role of toastmaster, and the function en- hatchery at Bellefonte to stock Birches joyed by approximately 125 members and Creek. Along comes Beers with some com guests, the fourteenth annual Washington's ment about the aforementioned fishing trip. birthday banquet of Taylor Sportsmen "Did you catch any?" inquires Delb. Camp, No. 3, an organization affiliated with Semmel. the Federation of Sportsmen of Pennsyl' Beers, not batting an eye replies, "Naw, vania, was held in the Taylor hose house but I got a h—1 of a mess o' horseradish." clubrooms, Main street, Taylor. There was a distinct patriotic touch to Showing two types of dams built on the Haycock the jolly affair, speakers paying tribute to "What happened to your face?" Creek, Bucks County. "Had an argument with a fellow about the immortal Washington, while the ban- driving in traffic." One Hewitt dam (to the left) and three-log dam quet room was decorated with red, white "Why didn't you call a cop?" on right. and blue flags and emblems. "He was a cop." Auxiliary dam in front of Hewitt dam. Wm. F. Benjamin, Sr., venerable presi dent of Taylor Sportsmen Camp, welcomed
Near the headwaters on Haycock Creek, Bucks County, before the water was run through.
SOUDERTON MEETING Souderton Fish and Game Association had the pleasure of hearing Fish Warden Harry Z. Cole, of Norristown, at its regu lar business meeting at Frederick's cafe in Souderton. The membership committee reported 25 new members. Showing Boulder Dam, Saucon Creek. Raised the water 18 inches. the members and guests, reviewed briefly the steady growth of the organization and then introduced Mr. Neiger as toastmastei- Neiger, in brief remarks, traced the origi11 and growth of the Lackawanna County Federation and predicted a membership °' thousands within the next few years. Tay' lor Sportsmen Camp, incidentally, is the largest single unit in the federation. Henry Ott, active in Taylor Camp, is an officer of the county federation and he was most a*' tive in making last night's celebration 9 rousing success.
Speakers included Joe M. Butler, spor*5 editor of The Times; County Controller J°e Mitchell, Thomas Connery, chief deputy *" the controller's office; Attorney Ernes* Gazda, Taylor borough solicitor, and the Rev. S. J. Truscott, of Dalton, region3' member of the Pennsylvania fish comrflis' sion. Rev. Truscott also presented many &' teresting motion pictures of vital interest especially to fishermen. Prof. Schaeffer was the premier enter' tainer. A tasty dinner was prepared W wives of the club members and served w Showing Deflectors in Saucon Creek, Northampton County. Takes water away from bank in curve. members of the club. PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 15
threat to his future comfortable existence, to say nothing of his pleasure. "We are just now celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of our government on this continent; 200 years mark the be ginning of our intensive inroads upon its resources, but nine-tenths of our rivers are either full of sewage or the flow of their currents strangled by power dams. We have drained 72,000,000 acres of natural lakes and marshes from the face of our land; cut down 90 per cent of our continental forests and 200,000 families who ten years ago lived on their farm are now wanderers. The land exhausted, they have been evicted from their former homes by natural inexorable retaliation against abuses of her benevolent laws. A widening fringe of hungry people have appeared in our midst. "We are mildly conscious of the rapid disappearance of wildlife; of cutover forest lands and our disappearing top soil, but few realize that of all the gifts of nature, our water resources, the indispendable aid to all vegetable and animal life, are most abused. And yet, there is no agency of gov ernment in all our variegated collection of government bureaus whose duty it is to ew type of dam constructed on Haycock Creek. Note the fish shelter under dam. No key logs guard this most precious element. When saddle logs buried in bank before water was let in. water is gone, hungry man moves on to new pastures. We have reached the frontiers of our heedless civilization. They wrote pre our once beautiful continent and must now DARLING REVIEWS scriptions for the cure, which have been sit down where we are and eat and live for WILDLIFE SHOW tried and found effective. the rest of our continent history. The al ternative is to follow the precedent set by ch ^' (-Dm£) Darling, whose valiant "From the top-story windows of Conven a Japan and Italy, and take by force the re c^ mpionship of clean streams and wildlife tion Headquarters could be seen the Johns sources of others to sustain the bulging Nervation has endeared him to sports- Hopkins Institution, one of the greatest 6 population. Why is Hitler demanding col . n throughout the nation, had the follow- medical agencies in the world. It operates onies? Because Germans must be fed, and £ to say concerning the Wildlife Conser- 365 days and nights in the year to relieve the safety of nations is trembling with the won Conference held in Baltimore in Feb- the physical ills of the human family. >U threat. ary: Strange indeed by contrast that the corrod ^ The biggest and best annual Wildlife ing blight which is gradually sapping the "Nevertheless, the last few days of ap observation Conference has just come to life-giving resources of four continents, plication to these comprehensive aspects of conservation, the heedless waste and the end after four days, which set a record upon which the 130,000,000 inhabitants of our country depend for health, happiness restorative cures for it have left a hopeful a a maximum of profitable interest and picture in the minds of those who partic Minimum of intramural warfare between and prosperity for all future time, should 1116 and scie get only a four day clinic once a year. It ipated in the Wildlife Conservation Conven ini? " ntists. For the first time tion. We need not accept the records of past MlrlrStory' the demonstrated projects for was, however, a grand meeting and they mixed enough medicine to do a world of waste as an inevitable model for the future. e ""fe restoration were so convincing that The processes of restoration are better un 1 t}le most ra id of good if the patient don't forget to take it. Mn* ^ adherents to the derstood and the need for it gaining a vast 0soph of let+ y 'Shoot the works today and "Over in the vast Baltimore Armory was army of recruits. Wildlife environment can *o morrow take care of itself were either the finest sportsmen's show that has ever n be restored and it is the same process which to over or were so impressed, they forgot been staged. It was a marvel of complete 6x will save the productivity of our land and Plode their fireworks. ness in its display of sportsmen's activities waters. ere Were resent over 2000 and equipment. Live fish, game and wildlife *st P enthusi- "Only in the dim background lurks the lc of many varieties Were there in their na tjje representatives from all the states of widening fringe of hungry people in our n on an tive environment; where rippling streams tj6j ,^ ' d official delegates from our land. Furthermore, waste of our natural 8 were artfully devised and blossoming wild fof , ' Canada and. Mexico. Don't think resources is bound to increase that hungry \vji,a mmute that the delegates went around shrubs and thickets of game cover were Ut any fringe. Social unrest is born of empty stom the- ° blood in their eyes; chips on transplanted with such semblance of nature Snoul For achs and there is no more pertinent truth ^cin ders. once, they unanimously that even a buck deer thought it was spring t0 pin the Indian si n than that, no matter how benevolent the lute £ on the pol- and shed his horns six weeks ahead of time. SoiitS of our streams, the wasters of our Government, be it monarchy, socialism or jj and vegetation. "No sportsman or outdoors enthusiast Fascist, be it Communist or dictatorship, could complain that his hobby was inade or be it democratic, when any considerable to-j.J' has been four days packed solid with quately displayed. But standing out above portion of the populace goes continually un 05 cus J ' demonstrations and round table dis all conspicuous innovations, there was a derfed. Wealth and peace disappear when co,, l0ns under the leadership of the best new note in Sportsmen's Shows which dom natural resources are exhausted. Nine- rv C0tl^ ation doctors of the North American inated the entire atmosphere of the exhibi tenths of our depletion is needless waste." nent The
ELECT OFFICERS At the Annual meeting of the Hunting don County Game, Fish and Forestry As sociation, the following officers were elected for the coming year: President, Fred Mark, Huntingdon; Secretary, C. Herbert Jackson, Huntingdon; Treasurer, Howard Shilling, Huntingdon, and Vice-President, Maurice Banker, Huntingdon. Yellow Creek, an ace trout stream in Bedford County. PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 17 NANTY GLO CLUB TO RAISE FUNDS FOR IMPROVEMENT A committee was appointed recently by the Nanty Glo Sportsmen's Club to aid in raising funds for the promotion of proposed construction of dams on the north branch °f Black Lick Creek. The dams will be used ln stocking fish. The Nanty Glo club plans to pay for the costs of materials for building the dams, while the Government will be asked to pro vide the labor. Committeemen are John McHugh and Nick Herrick, Twin Rocks; Doss Paul, Bel- sano; R. B. Morris, Vintondale; Mike Dugretta and Louis Evans, Colver; Dom- enick Gellotte, Charles Prove, Henry Austin and A. A. Dietrich, Nanty Glo. The mem ber obtaining the largest amount of money, through the sale of buttons, will be given a radio by A. A. Dietrich. The meeting was held in Nanty Glo Moose Hall and plans were outlined for an extensive membership campaign, the drive to begin in the near future. Barry Morris, vice president of the county organization, was a guest at the meeting. Lincoln Lender, State fish warden, and F- D. Kirsch made a recent tour of the stream on which the proposed dams will be situated. PROJECT APPROVED Approval of another nearby stream im provement as a WPA project has been an nounced by officers of the Mechanicsburg Sportsmen's Association, sponsors of the Project. A total of $18,500 has been allo cated for the new project, which will im prove the Hogestown Run from its source to where it empties into the Conodoguinet Creek. •— FARMERS COOPERATE
ON CEDAR RUN Four brown trout from 10 to 23 inches and a 9-inch brookie from Fishing Creek near Benton. "Too big Farmers on Cedar Run have signed leases for the basket," writes Special Warden W. B. Fritz, who took the picture. with the Fish Commission to keep the stream open for public fishing through the This is the first season these streams' have SUCKER CATCHES coming season, in return for which the been closed to fishing and it is expected state will stock the stream with fish. Un that this action will result in an increased IN LANCASTER der the agreement, the farmers and land- fish population for Kettle Creek. Owners will permit fishermen to use the Fishermen will not be permitted, Mr. "Sucker catches have been fair in Ches stream, each land-owner providing at least Marshall explained, to take either fish ter county and very good in Lancaster coun °ne means of access to the stream. bait or bait fish from these streams, or ty, especially in Mill Creek," reports War In return for this fishing privilege, from the special project streams, such as den Horace Pyle of Coatesville. "It might J'nglers are expected to use every precau the right branch of Young Women's Creek, interest the readers to know that suckers tion against damage of any kind. They are Slate Run and Cedar Run, where projects were running from the Conestoga up Mill asked not to block the road with their cars, for the growing of fish and their protection Creek during the first week in February. n°t to tear or damage or cause any incon- are under way. Ve This is the first time I have witnessed such nience to the landowners. Anglers may fish on the project streams an early run, and Mill Creek was the only Making this announcement, Frank F. just named but must do so with bait they place that this happened in my district. I Marshall, president of the Clinton County bring along, or with other bait than min *1*h and Game Commission, thanked the nows and helgramites, the catching of might add that these schools of suckers tarrners for their courtesy in making the which in the project streams would inter moving upstream were small, ranging in aSreement and reiterated the appeal for fere with the success of the fish programs. length from 7 to 9 inches." appreciation on the part of fishermen on the stream. BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS Mr. Marshall also announced that the ef- °rts of the association had been instru HARRISBURG, PA. mental in obtaining an order from the state SUBSCRIPTION BLANK jPr the closing of five small tributaries to f-ettle Creek, which will set aside 15 miles Enclosed find fifty cents ($.50) for one year's subscription to PENNSYLVANIA * nursery streams for the breeding of fish ANGLER. y* the important waters of Kettle Creek, Name . phe feeder streams affected are Summerson, airfield, Spicewood and Walters Run, (Print Name) ™nich will be closed from the forks of the 1stree t and Number ream to its source. All five are spring-fed ""earns where the fish go in large numbers City ^ spawn. 18 PEN IN S HV ANIA ANGLER
SUCKER WEATHER (Continued from page 5) AN ANNOUNCEMENT banks of the smaller brooks. When it comes to hunting and news The migratory movements of the sucker of game conservation you'll go a long in connection with their spawning habits way to find a better magazine than are interesting. In the fall they abandon Pennsylvania Game News. We realize the smaller tributaries for the deep pools many readers of the ANGLER are of large streams where they remain all ardent hunters, and if you have any winter. In late March and early April they news relative to fishing's kindred return to their spawning beds located in sport, shoot it along to Leo A. Lutt- the same runs that they quit in the fall; ringer, Jr., Editor of the Game News, the smallest fish ascending farthest. Harrisburg, Pa. He will welcome your cooperation. About the middle of the afternoon we suspended activities to build a fire, for the Leo is canvassing his readers to raw breeze sweeping down the wide valley send along fishing dope to the AN Cliff Warren, Sabinsville, with a nice catch of trout GLER and we feel that, by pulling to was indeed uncomfortable. As we huddled from Cedar Run. about it absorbing its welcome warmth we gether, your two magazines will be observed a man of middle age jauntily at made all the more attractive. tired in a business suit, swinging down the TROUT TOPICS tracks carrying a cane pole and a can of (Continued from page 9) worms. With a cheery greeting and an en spawners will have noticed how many of NURSERY WATERS quiry as to how they were biting, he con the younger males are wounded, often so The following streams were set aside as tinued on below us and set up his outfit. In that they cannot recover. Such fish should nursery waters and approved at the last : a little while he joined us about the fire be destroyed, and the best way to do this Board Meeting, March 7: is to allow a certain amount of worm fish where we swapped yarns between lagging All tributaries to Pine Creek, as follows: j bites. ing. Restrict the use of worm to competent hands, by all means; but occasional bait- Little Slate Run 1% miles Within the hour two more anglers joined fishing is necessary, and anyone who has Little Four Mile Run 1% miles j us and even though the fish had practically studied any given piece of water will know Colton Branch of Four Mile Run.. % mile ceased biting, the congenial companionship the places to angle for the undesirable can Four Mile Run, above highway of kindred spirits caused us to linger until nibal." bridge 2% miles dusk. When it was necessary to leave it was Painter Run, above highway with a feeling of reluctancy, for friends While Pennsylvania has many worm fish ermen who take their share of cannibal bridge 1 mile ; made during the magic of sucker weather Mill Run, above forks 3 miles | are fast friends. trout during the open season, another class of anglers has developed who, individually, Lick Run, above Deerlick Hollow.2 miles I probably account for more big brown trout Steele Run 1 mile j than do any others. We refer, of course, to Little Asaph or Right Branch 3 miles { the minnow fishermen, men who know how- Schambacher Hollow Run 1 mile SHENANGO ANGLERS Right Branch of Straight Run. . .1% miles \ to impart just the motion necessary to a ; WIN FISH PRIZES "minnie on a wire" to make it well nigh Elk Run, above CCC Camp 1 mile irresistible to trout in the cannibal class. Featuring one of the winter meetings of With this group in action, big trout "con Total 19% miles the Shenango Valley Chapter of the West trol" is not a source of serious concern on The above at request of the Consolidated ern Reserve Fish and Game Protective As Pennsylvania's hard fished waters. Balanced Sportsmen of Tioga County. sociation held at Sharon was award of fish fishing, with wet fly and dry fly, streamer Nursery Pools on the old Schirner Farm, ( prizes for the contest conducted during fly and bucktail, worm and minnow fisher Schuylkill County — Request of Tamaqua 1937. men comprising its array of talent has, Rod and Gun Club, Tamaqua. Edward Patton won the loving cup and after all, much to commend it. Tributary to Furnace Creek, Heidelberg casting rod for catching the largest fish, a Township, Berks County, for a distance of ' muskie that measured 45% inches and BROKENSTRAW CLUB one mile, starting at headwaters of da.rO weighed 21% pounds. BOOSTS MEMBERSHIP located on tributary. Request of Robesonia The largest small mouth bass, which Fish and Game Association, Robesonia. measured 19% inches and weighed 3 pounds, Reports John W. Hutley, financial secre 11 ounces, was caught by Guy Vasconi. tary of the Brokenstraw Rod and Gun Club He was awarded a casting reel for his at Youngsville, Warren county: catch. Not content with taking away one The Brokenstraw Fish and Game Club TO CLOSE LEBOEUF prize, he captured second prize in the same organized for 1938, on January 11, with 14 TO MOTOR BOATS division by catching another bass that members; at our February meeting the membership had increased to 153, and now The Board of Fish Commissioners passed measured 18% inches and weighed 3 pounds, a resolution at one of its regular meetings ; 4% ounces. at this writing, March 3, we have increased our membership to 601. We are also spon that use of motor boats on Lake LeBoeuf- Virgie Crison landed the prize for the soring a vermin hunt which is now in prog famous muskellunge water in Erie county. best three small mouth bass to win a sports ress and showing very satisfactory results. be prohibited and made proper plans for posting. The Board went on record as be- man's wood knife. His catch measured 18% The membership drive and vermin hunt fag opposed to use of motor boats on small inches and tipped the scales at 2 pounds, ended March 12th, the losing side to assume 14 ounces. waters generally as these boats are playing the expense of a fish supper for the win havoc with fishing and become a menace to A trout knife award was won by Dave ners, the supper to be held during the Wild the public in general. Jarrett who caught a 20% inch big mouth Life Restoration Week of March 20th. bass that weighed 4% pounds. This club organized in 1924 and affiliated Approximately four acres of water i*1 A brook trout measuring 11% inches and with the Izaak Walton League as Chapter Harvey's Lake, Luzerne county, was set weighing •4 pound, 1% ounces earned a No. 7; later we severed this connection and aside as nursery water in the lake. pocket fishing knife for H. F. Gates. went on our own. We have a low member The licenses of the following fishermen ship fee and consequently a large member were revoked for one year: H. B. Plylei'' A flashlight was won by Russell David ship, and we are now a part of the Warren Ben T. Plyler and W. E. Barger, all of Ne*' son for pulling in a brown trout 21 inches County Council of Sportsmen and the larg Bethlehem, for taking undersized trout! long and weighing 2% pounds. est club in this group. We have several John H. Beck, Lilly; Floyd Norton, Ne* E. C. Bretzin landed the five best crap- other activities in mind for the spring and Albany, and Chester Ohmiess, Williamsport- pies to win a fishing line. summer. for taking undersized bass. PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 19
screening of fine motion pictures dear to FISHING CONTEST the heart of every outdoor sportsman. AWARDS GIVEN He stressed the importance of coopera The Great Swamp Fish, Game and For- tion among sportsmen themselves, in their estry Association of Quakertown, Bucks individual hunting and fishing clubs, in County, has announced in its monthly bul their county federations of sportsman or letin the following awards of prizes in the ganizations, and in the affiliation of their 1937 fishing contest conducted by the Asso county groups with the Pennsylvania Fed ciation: eration of Sportsmen's Clubs and the Game Roy King—Ten and three-quarter inch Commission and Fish Commission. rainbow trout, Saucon Creek. . Claude Rohrbach—Ten and seven-eighth !1 CLEARFIELD ANGLER ich brook trout, Cooks Creek. Harvey Fox—Twenty-two and three- PUBLISHES BOOKLET eighth inch brown trout, Lake Wallenpau- Trout fishermen of the state are certain Pack. to be interested in a booklet entitled "I Got William Hackman—Seventeen and a 'Im", written by Harris G. Breth, ardent Quarter inch small mouth bass, Swamp Clearfield trout fisherman, and printed by Creek. the Progress Printing Company in Clear Thomas Price—Eighteen and three-quar field. ter inch large mouth bass, Lake Wallenpau- Breth, who has fished for trout since boy Pack. hood, has incorporated into this compact Charles Strunk—Twenty-three inch pick- little book, of a size suitable for slipping erel, Tohickon Creek. into your hunting coat, many practical Stanley Landis—Fifteen and three-quar suggestions for taking of that speckled ter inch wall eye pike, Lake Wallenpau- monarch, the trout. While discussing fly Pack. fishing, he had not neglected that important phase of early trouting—fishing with bait. Thomas Price—Thirteen and a half inch It is attractively illustrated. Vellow perch, Lake Wallenpaupack. . Howard Blank—Nine and three-eighth The booklet is attractively bound in a yel *ch sunfish, White's Dam, Ridge Valley He's starting early. "Sonny" Munson fishing low and black illustrated cover. We liked ^reek. in Pymatuning. particularly the final chapter in the 59- page booklet entitled "Old Sam's Fishin' . Wiliiam Grant—Thirty and a quarter WEST BRANCH ANGLERS "ich carp, Swamp Creek. Tips". SCORE ON SUCKERS Congratulations on "I Got 'Im", Harris. "Just a note to let you know that the BIG ELM CLUB sucker fishermen are getting pretty anxious BASS EXPERT in Union and Snyder counties," writes War HOLDS BANQUET Schuylkill County has many good bait den Arthur Snyder of Mifflinburg, "and fishermen, of that there is no doubt, but The annual banquet of the Big Elm Rod along the banks of the West Branch of the one to whom this writer doffs his hat is 5*d Gun Club was held in the Baptist Susquehanna River good catches have been Ur Davey Oswald, of Newtown, writes Jack J* ch at Roseville, March 2, with about made at different places. Parker Boop of Richards of Pottsville. r*o hundred sportsmen and friends attend- Laurel Park reports that he has taken fine n Davey's father was a splendid fisherman j S- An excellent dinner was served by the catches so far this year. before him and he has imparted many ^adies' Aid at 6:30 P. M. in the church "Some of the favored sucker fishing spots closely guarded secrets to his son. Give lenient. in this section are along Penns Creek at Davey a gob of worms, a couple of min Following the dinner a program of ad- the different dams, at the mouth of Penns r nows, helgramites or frogs and place him esses and readings were enjoyed. Hon. S. Creek near Selinsgrove, also at the junc on a trout stream in trout season or a bass • Truscott, Dalton, member of the Fish tures of Turtle Creek, Buffalo Creek and stream in bass season and what he will do °mmission, gave an informal talk on what the Chillisquaque Creek with the West e to those fish is enough to make any of the .^ Board is doing to promote better fish- Branch of the Susquehanna River. A very so-called experts blush in shame. He swears p& for the sportsmen, and stated that good place is at the point where the North by the moon and knows all the signs of «nnsyivania has the largest bass hatchery Branch and West Branch of the Susque the fishing calendar. Never will he go out ~ any in the world, which is located at hanna meet at Northumberland, and an for a certain kind of fish unless the moon ^Pring Creek. other favorite spot is at the mouth of Del or the wind is just right and whether it is a Mrs. Grace Wakery, Little Marsh, gave aware Run above Watsontown. The cream apple blossom or some other time. He never veral readings which were enjoyed im- of the sucker crop, however, is usually comes home empty handed, and he never eiisely. She was extended a special invi- taken at the mouth of White Deer Hole bothers with small-sized fish. Back they go toon to attend the next year's banquet. Creek near Allenwood, Union county, if "to grow up" as Davey says. Al Budd, Troy, former Game Officer, who you can find room to fish, as this spot is One of the things which makes a trip ^Presented the Bradford County Sports- certainly thickly populated with fishermen with Davey worth while is the fact that he b& at tne Federation meeting in Harris- on good days." Fe ruar carries with him a skillet and the other tall?' ^ y 12th, gave an interesting essentials to make a meal. Then, with fresh- * on what took place at the meeting. COOPERATION URGED caught fish as the piece de resistance under ^- H. Wood, Game Protector from Wells- his skilled hands a never-to-be-forgotten /*°> gave a short talk on law enforcement AT ARMSTRONG RALLY w treat results. He is one fisherman with 0rk and answered several questions. Cooperation is the thing. whom you will never go hungry. When he j^eland E. Cloos, County Fish Warden, That, in substance, was the burden of takes the skillet along one knows there is oih Middlebury Centre, introduced to the Randolph Thompson's song to some seven fish at the end of the trail. or eight hundred sportsmen who comprised %ltSmen the ANGLER> and told how the ^errnen would benefit by subscribing to a nearly capacity audience in the high s school auditorium at Kittanning as the "I'm a Venus de Milo girl." magazine. A number of subscriptions "What's that?" ^e taken. Pennsylvania Game Commission presented her wildlife motion pictures under auspices of "Hands off!" W6 Game and Fish Officers present e the Armstrong County Hunting and Fish a,J Hugh Baker, Refuge Keeper, Asaph, toj? eith Harter, Fish Warden, from Dal- ing Club. Visitor: "Your son is a cute little rascal." jl Lackawanna County. Educational department representative Lady: "Yes, he takes after his father." ar for the game commission, Thompson con Visitor: "Oh, is his father cute, too," tj.Q , ry Longwell, Roseville, president, in deed the speakers and presided. ducted a running narrative during the Lady: "No, but he's a rascal." 20 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER
A HERE HD THERE
'H ANGLERDOM
Sucker fishermen on the Juniata water Branch of the Susquehanna River, writes shed, famous for the catches it has yielded Warden Harry Carl of Elysburg. Cook land HENRY OLSON DIES annually, had been having indifferent suc ed his big-eye on an artificial lure white Sportsmen in many sections of Penn cess in taking these fish during February and casting in the North Branch at a point in sylvania will be shocked to hear of the early part of March, reports Warden C. the river between Catawissa and Blooms' the passing' in January of Henry Olson V. Long of East Waterford. He believes that burg. It was 27 inches in length and weighed of Oleona, Potter county, one of the absence of freshets may have had something 6 pounds 2 ounces. On light tackle, it is best known hunters and fishermen in to do with the indifference of the fish to reported to have staged a thrilling fight- the North Tier country. that standard sucker bait, the garden hackle, or should we say garden worms? At any Mr. Olson died suddenly while at the rate, with a good flushing out of the streams, Miff linburg bass fishermen made uniform' home of his nephew, John Hegmann, better catches are anticipated. Long also ly good catches of these game fish las' Addison, New York. reports that trout streams held up to good season, writes Warden A. S. Snyder of Mif" Few men knew the streams of the levels, have been heavily stocked and that flinburg. Included in the list of anglers scor North Tier better than did Henry these streams in his territory carried over a ing good catches were Dr. Litzell, Torn Olson, and few men displayed finer nice supply of fish from stocking made prior Heiter, Ed Stitzer and Clarence Miller. Ir* sportsmanship while astream or in to the last season. Smith of Beaver Springs caught some fine the woods. Born at Oleona on March bass and pickerel in Middle Creek. Don 23, 1876, he was the son of pioneer Hackenberg of Mifflinburg caught 62 bass Sucker waters in northwestern counties, 1 settlers of this tiny North Tier hamlet on the other hand have been yielding excel on artificial lures in Buffalo Creek, Unio* who had settled there soon after the lent catches during the winter months, writes county, killing 20 during the season. departure of the Ole Bull colony. Warden R. C. Bailey of Youngsville, Warren Olson's Lodge, which he and his county. Gerry Mack of North Warren has wife conducted for years, was a favor taken over one hundred suckers from Cone- A varied catch was made by W. L. Huber* ite rendezvous for fishermen and hunt wango Creek, and this stream seems to rank of Tyrone while he was fishing at Mill Ha" ers of Pennsylvania and numbered as a favorite with sucker fishermen in that in Bald Eagle Creek, according to Warde" among its patrons many distinguished section of the state. Lincoln Lender. The catch included 4 suckers statesmen, writers and professional weighing 4 pounds, 3 yellow perch and 1 men. Olson's reputation as a genial catfish. host was widespread. Listed with the big wall eyed pike or He is survived by his widow. Susquehanna salmon taken by state anglers last year should be the fine fish taken by Here's another catch made last September I. B. Cook of Bloomsburg in the North that certainly had variety. George KnupP of Middletown, reports Warden Fran* Sanda, Steelton, landed in a day's fishinS in the Susquehanna River, 10 catfish, weigh' I ing from one to one and three quarter5 pounds apiece, two large eels, a 12 ind1 j black bass and a 12 inch fallfish.
Harold Hoover of Williamsport likes t0 I make his first cast on any day astrea111 count. While fishing in the SusqueharrB* River, West Branch, one day last seaSOP' on the first cast of the morning he hooke" and landed a 24 inch wall-eyed pike. Ha^ S an hour later, he scored with a 17 ind1 largemouthed bass. William Johnson, alf | of Williamsport, caught a 22 pound carp lfl the river on the same day.
A stone catfish was the lure used by RalP11 Cullen of Wormleysburg in landing a fine wall-eyed pike from the Susquehanna River j virtually within the shadows of the Stajf | Capitol last season. Cullen's catch was *[ inches in length and weighed 6 pounds * ounces. Earlier in the season, C. L. Cork^ of New Cumberland had scored with a % inch wall-eye in the river near New CuB1' berland. His catch weighed 5 pounds Donald Wor+hington of Leetonia with a nice catch of trout made last season on a North Tier stream. T"e Fish Commission's display at the Philadelphia Sportsmen's and Motor boat Show, held this year. This miniature model, designed by Fish Warden George James, graphically portrays the effects of stream pollution. Sec. 562, P. L. & R. U. S. POSTAGE PAID Harrisburg, Pa. Permit No. 270
Good Sportsmanship is Good Conservation ... PRACTICE IT!