Piute l.y II. J. Myt-rs A Member of the Bullfrog Chorus # OFFICIAL STATE NOVEMBER, 1933 PUBLICATION ^ANGLER? Vol. 2 No. 11

PUBLISHED MONTHLY Want Good Fishing? by the OBEY THE LAW Pennsylvania Board of Fish Commissioners # W E3E3E2 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS Fire cents a copy «~» 50 cents a year OLIVER M. DEIBLER <*• Commissioner of Fisheries KEJJ3

£3 S3 S3

ALEX P. SWEIGART, Editor Members of Board South Office Bldg., Harrisburg, Pa. OLIVER M. DEIBLER, Chairman Greensburg JOHN HAMBERGER GEORGE GRAY, I.ustrafor Erie M. A. RILEY Ellwood City J3 H £3 DAN R. SCHNABEL Johnstown LESLIE W. SEYLAR NOTE McConnellsburg Subscriptions to the PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER EDGAR W. NICHOLSON should be addressed to the Editor. Submit fee Philadelphia either by check or money order payable to the KENNETH A. REID Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.*^ Stamps not ac­ Connellsville ceptable. ROY SMULL •f Mackeyville

PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER welcomes contribu­ H. R. STACKHOUSE tions and photos of catches from its readers. Proper Secretary to Hoard credit will be given to contributors. C. R. BULLER All contributions returned if accompanied by Deputy Commissioner of Fisheries first class postage. Pleasant Mount

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

Permission to reprint will be granted provided proper credit notice is given PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER

play an important part in providing necessary to take a trout under the con­ better fishing for the fishermen of Penn­ ditions just described is by no means sylvania. unlike the accuracy of the shot required The number of trout a stream can to bring down the head of big game you carry depends on the condition and have stalked. amount of food in the stream. Many of But the greater sport to be had from ^ANGLER/ us older fishermen remember when the fly fishing, and especially from dry fly streams of Pennsylvania carried many fishing, is by no means the only reason times the number of trout most of them for practicing it. Trout hooked on a fly NOVEMBER, 1933 do today. Stream improvement can are usually hooked in the lips. They bring back the carrying power of our are seldom hooked in the gills, and the VOL. 2 No. 11 streams. We cannot afford to neglect fly is never swallowed. That means that it any longer. little trout can be returned to the water In many parts of the State stream im­ unhurt, when hooked on a barbed fly. provement projects which will definitely But if a barbless fly is used, if you better the fishing have been undertaken have either pressed flat or broken off the on trout waters. Dams, boulder and log barb of your hook with a pair of sharp- EDITORIAL deflectors, and additional covers are nosed pliers, then you can return to the easy to build and are of real practical water entirely unhurt at least 95 per advantage. Valuable work in stream im­ cent of all undersized trout. In the provement was done by a number of great majority of eases you need not Citizens Conservation Corps Camps dur­ touch the fish at all, merely turn the The Sportsman's Part ing the summer. hook point downward and the fish falls in Fish Conservation Stream improvement does three off. things. It provides food, because more I have been fishing for trout, bass, and By Gifford Pinchot, insects a

along the Susquehanna and Delaware are in the red man, is quaintly described by Har­ cunninge a way to take fish withall, whereof many instances fashioned exquisitely an 1 riot, who wrote concerning Indian angling sondrie sorts as they founde in their rivers with painstaking care. Jasper and quartz methods in 1585. unlike unto ours, which are also of a verye were apparently favored as material, and "They have likewise a notable way to good taste. Doubtless yt is a pleasant slghte these spears or gigs were used in the taking eatehe fishe in their Rivers, for whereas to see the people, sometymes wadinge, and of great fish such as the sturgeon. Hooks they lacke both yron and Steele, they fasten goinge sometymes sailinge in those Rivers, and lines were made with equal care. Skil­ unto their Reedes or longe Rodds the hollow which are shallowe and not deepe, free from fully woven hemp lines and hooks made tayle of a certain fish like to a sea crabb. all care of heaping opp Riches for their from stone, bone or bird claws were used. in steede of a poynte, wherewith by nighle posterite, content with their state, and living Dipsies used with hand and pole lines were or day they stricke fishes and take them frendlye together of those things which God also artistically made, the most elaborate be­ off into their boates. They also know how of his bountye hath given unto them, yet ing fashioned of hematite and shaped some­ to use the prickles of other fishes. They without giving Hym any thankes according what like a common plumb bob. It was said also make weares, with settinge opp reeds to His desarte. So savage is this people and that many of the early colonists used these or twigs in the water, which they soe plant deprived of the true knowledge of God. For Indian fishing devices in preference to those one with another that they growe still nar­ they have none other than is mentioned be­ brought from abroad. rower and narrower, as appeareth by this fore in this worke." Hook and line fishing, as indulged in by figure. Ther was never seen among us soe Harriot also commented on methods em­ ployed by the red men in cooking fish. "After they have taken store of fishe," he wrote, "they gett them unto a place fitt to dress yt. Ther they sticke upp in the grownde 4 stakes in a square roome and lay 4 potes (poles) upon them and others over thwart the same, the like unto an hurdle of sufficient heighte, and laying their fishe upon this hurdle, they make fyre underneathe to broile the same, not after the manner of the people of Florida, which do but schorte (scorch) and harden their meate in the smoke only to Reserve the same during all the winter. For this people, reservinge nothing for store, thei do broile and spend away all att once, and when they have fur­ ther need they roste or seethe fresh, as we shall see hereafter. And when as the hurdle can not holde all the fishes, they hange the Reste by the fyrres on sticks set upp in the grounds againste the fyrres, and when they finishe the reste of their cookerye. They take good heede that they bee not burntt. When the first are broyled they lay others on that weare newlye broughte, continuing the dressinge of their meate in this sorte (manner) until they thincke they have suf­ ficient."

During the colonization period, when the tide of settlement passed beyond the Alle- ghenies, Indian fishermen of friendly tribes) plied an active trade of bartering fish with the settlers. Great abundance of fish in Pennsylvania waters continued for more than a century after most of the tribes had moved toward the west, and in fishing the colonists undoubtedly used and improved on devices that the red man had found so ef­ (FROM AN OLD PRINT) fective. INDIAN FISHING METHODS 4 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER From Minnows to Bass • Balance in Stocking

ALANCE is a feature in Pennsylvania's B fish stocking program. Under the present system of propagation and distribution, im­ provement of sucker fishing is given as much consideration as betterment of angling for trout, bass, and other game fishes. Propaga­ tion of the minnow, an essential source of forage for voracious species of game fish, is also stressed. A glance through figures for distribution during 1932 serves to explain this program. Trout, brook and brown, ranging in size from sis to 12 inches, numbered 1,098,741; black bass, smallmouth and largemouth, finger- lings. 205,030; pike perch or wall-eyed pike, fry, 35,754,050, and pickerel, adult, 4,280. In the panflsh classification, 1,912,050 sunfish, from one to four inches in length, 390,774,992 yellow perch, fry to adult, 406,793 bullhead catfish, from two to 10 inches, and 15,028,770 suckers, fry to adult, were stocked last year. Minnows released varying in size from one to four inches, numbered 996,560, and frog tadpoles, from one to four inches, 877,700. Lake Erie was stocked with blue pike, cisco, and large trout fry, hatched on batteries at the Erie hatchery. Pennsylvania has thousands of sucker fishermen who find sport on easily accessible waters during winter and early spring months. Heavy catches of these fish during recent years have steadily Increased. In part, this betterment of sucker fishing may be attrib­ uted to outlawing the gig in taking fish, while heavy stocking has been beneficial. In the panflsh group, bluegill sunfish, yellow perch, and catfish rank as favorites with the fishing public. Taking bait readily, these popular fish constitute an important portion of the annual catch in the inland waters. Smaller streams, ponds and lakes may be stocked with these species to advantage, hence a wide range for distribution is avail­ able. Minnow distribution is particularly ef­ fective In larger bodies of water containing bass, pike perch, or pickerel. Two objectives are attained through this system of stocking. Nature's balance, so essential in holding waters at the peak of their production, is benefited, and greater variety is assured for fishermen during days astream. Balance in aquatic life, that is, presence of a number of different species of fish in a body of water is recognized as an essential factor for good fishing. Bullhead catfish and suckers, *or instance, are bottom feed­ ers, relying for existence upon a source of food supply that might otherwise be wasted. HATCHING BATTERY IN OPERATION Black bass, pickerel and wall-eyed pike take their food from the minnow schools, stone catfish, and other types of forage fish. In­ fall to the surface of the water near shore. permit that every day of the year, Sundays sects, worms, and small aquatic organisms These species also feed to some extent upon excepted, fish of one species or another m^y comprise the food supply, in large part, of the minnow schools and other live forage. be legally caught by licensed anglers. » the forage fishes. Sunfish, rock bass, and From the fisherman's viewpoint, balanced mild winter day, for example is ideal f°r yellow perch are classed as shore feeders, stocking of the inland waters has another sucker fishing, and for this type of sport' relying upon food such as insects that may important angle. Pennsylvania fish laws the fisherman is generally within range °* PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 5

BLUEG1LL SUNFISH

streams yielding good sucker catches. Warm water ponds, streams and lakes afford fine fishing for bluegill sunfish, yellow perch, and catfish during May and June. The peak of the trout season comes usually during these months, and many trout streams yield not only good brook trout creels, but excel­ lent brown trout fishing as well. Variety in fishing is advantageous to the bass fisher­ man who may find these game fish not re­ sponsive to his lures. As a sideline to bass RESERVOIR BASS fishing, bluegills, yellow perch or catfish of­ fer fine sport. First consideration, before stocking any recently created body of water with black bass or other game fish, is infusion of the Large Mouth Bass In area with an abundance of forage. This ob­ jective may be attained after aquatic vege­ tation has developed. In logical sequence, minnows are introduced, followed by less vo­ Artificial Reservoirs racious species of fish such as the yellow perch, catfish, or bluegill sunfish. Young perch By Kenneth A. Reid form an important source of food for voraci­ ous species, and the high rate of reproduc­ Member, Board of Fish Commissioners tion characteristic of the perch makes it a valuable forage fish for a body of water to N Fayette and Westmoreland Counties afford about the only opportunity for bass which it is adapted. In larger waters, after I there is practically no natural bass water fishing without travelling from fifty to well the food supply has been sufficiently in­ due to the mine pollution of all the larger over a hundred miles. creased, bass, pike perch, and pickerel may streams that formerly contained bass. The While they are fished very hard through­ be introduced to advantage. bass fishing in these counties has been con­ out the season, it is not at all uncommon Scientific stocking of Lake Wallenpaupack fined entirely to artificial reservoirs. for one fisherman to take from three to five in Pike and Wayne Counties, after its forma­ In the drawing of coke from beehive ovens, or six decent bass in an evening fishing. tion, was a vital factor in its development large quantities of water was used. For The usual run will be from nine to twelve as a superb fishing area. Catches, not only this water supply, many of the old coke or fourteen inches, but bass of two and three of bass, pike-perch, and pickerel, but panfish plants built reservoirs varying in size from pounds are not uncommon. The fly rod with as well, during the present season have been as small as three or four acres to as large floating bucktail lures has proven very suc­ amazing. Wall-eyed pike weighing over 10 as twenty or thirty acres. One, the Bridge­ cessful, and within the past year a large pounds, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass. port Dam, is considerably larger, but most number of fishermen, who formerly used and pickerel exceeding five pounds in weight of them are from six to ten acres in area. live minnows, have discarded this method have been taken consistently. This lake, Their depth at the dams will vary from for the fly rod and artificial lures. One of opened to the public for fishing in 1027, to­ eight to ten to as much as twenty or thirty them, Ross Medcalf of Connellsville, who day ranks as an outstanding fishing water feet in a few cases. Many of them are now used the fly rod on bass for the first time in eastern Pennsylvania. Stumps, sunken considerably silted with mud and have ex­ this year, took ten one, evening on the hair logs, and other cover were left in the area tensive areas of mud flat shallows, often frog that ranged from ten to thirteen inches to be flooded and now furnish good cover grown up with weeds. from the Smock Reservoir. Since that time tor fish introduced under a vast stocking The majority of these reservoirs were he has restricted his "keep fish" to a few of Plan covering a period of approximately ten stocked with large mouth bass and crappie the largest ones, and has taken several from years. Another feature of the fishing on years ago. Blue gills, catfish and suckers three to four pounds. Wallenpaupack recently has been the catch are also found in several of them. One of While these fly rod lures have accounted of thousands of large bullhead catfish. them about ten acres in extent contains for a great many bass—more good fish than A similar plan of stocking the giant Py- largemouth bass, crappie, blue gills, minnows their users formerly took with live bait— ftiatuning Dam in northwestern Pennsyl­ and crayfish. It has not been stocked for their use will make for better fishing in the vania will be adopted with its completion, twenty years and is fished hard every day future because the tremendous loss from in­ and it is anticipated that this great artificial of the season. Bass reproduce naturally jured small bass taken on live bait is elimin­ body of water will provide excellent fishing and apparently take care of the heavy an­ ated. The fishermen are enjoying more sport In the future for anglers in the western part nual catch. This season I saw hundreds of than formerly and fishing for the sport of the state. small ones along the shore in the shallows. rather than a large catch of fish to take These reservoirs furnish a great deal of home. sport to the fishermen of these two counties. The introduction of the largemouth bass Bullheads spawn in May and June, de- In fact there are hundreds of people who into these reservoirs has proven a great boon Positing their eggs in holes in the banks or fish nowhere else, and who would not take to the fishermen. It seems to be able to Pond bottoms. out a fishing license except for them. They (Continued on Page 15) a PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER

BROOD POND FOR BASS AT PLEASANT MOUNT The Black Bass at Pleasant Mount By C. R. Buller Deputy Commissioner of Fisheries

F the two species of black bass, the Through its research work, Pennsylvania distance of approximately one mile, before O Board of Fish Commissioners extends its feels that it has made big strides in the last being used. greater efforts to propagation of the smail- few years in their artificial culture and The bass-raising ponds range in area from mouth, for the reason that they are best sends out each year a great many bass for one-half acre to one hundred acres, with a adapted to the waters that are suitable for distribution, of a size well fitted to cope with depth ranging from several inches along the bass, namely: the rivers and large streams, unnatural conditions existing in many of our shore lines, to from four to eight feet at the such as the Susquehanna, Juniata, Cono- waters. Nevertheless, this work is still in overflow. In the construction and prepara­ doguinet, French Creek and others. In re­ a more or less experimental stage, with no tion of these ponds, natural conditions are cent years, however, this branch of fish cul­ fixed mode of procedure that could be set imitated as near as is possible and prac­ ture has been extended to include also the forth as a guide for private individuals in­ tical. A rich growth of aquatic plant life largemouth bass. terested in this work. is preferred, with an abundant growth of Bass are so voracious that they require a Character of the Water Supply semi-aquatic plants along the shore line. large range. In every instance where they These natural conditions with special refer­ have been introduced into a small area, it has All bass culture is carried on at the Wayne ence to the plant life, are favorable for the been to the detriment of the other fish and Hatchery located at Pleasant Mount, Wayne natural accumulation of organisms, many for that reason, the Board of Fish Commis­ County. For convenience, the hatchery su­ of which are utilized as fish food. sioners has endeavored by stocking and pro­ perintendent has the plant divided into four All ponds are constructed so that the water tecting, to maintain good bass fishing in the units. supply is under control and the area can be rivers and larger streams, and requests the A portion of Unit No. 1 is devoted to bass drained practically dry when desired. The fishermen not to apply for bass for stocking culture. The water supply for this area ability to drain these areas is necessary, W small areas. conies from springs, whose water is collected order to properly fertilize and set up the Of the many'different kinds of fish reared in a large storage dam where it is per­ pond bottoms for each year's crop and to be and sent out for stocking purposes, the arti­ mitted to age and temper and is then con­ able to remove any undesirable species of ficial raising in large numbers of the small- ducted through a natural creek channel for fish which may accidentally enter the area- mouth black bass is the most difficult and a distance of approximately two miles, be­ By undesirable species, we have reference expensive problem yet undertaken. The diffi­ fore entering the bass ponds. to such fish as the pickerel, pike perch, or i° culties the fish culturists have encountered Unit No. 3 covering approximately one fact any fish that would take toll by feediuS in this work, are not only limited to Penn­ hundred water acres is also devoted to bass. directly on the smaller bass or by being com­ sylvania but to fish culturists in the other This area obtains its water from springs and petitors for the same source of food supply- states, as well as Canada, who are encounter­ it is conducted without being tempered or As soon as the bass are through spawning ing the same serious handicaps. aged through a natural creek channel, for a and caring for the baby fish, they are col' PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 7

lected in most instances from the brood with fertilizers and chemicals and retarding ponds and confined in more or less crowded the water flow. They are then inoculated conditions throughout the late summer, fall with small aquatic organisms, principally and winter months. This is done so that the daphnia or water fleas which are the first same brood ponds can be utilized for the food of the baby fish. The treating of the rearing of other crops, such as the suufish pond bottoms is for the purpose of creating or catfish, throughout the summer and fall a condition beneficial for the natural propa­ months, and for retaining brook trout gation of the organisms introduced. If con­ throughout the winter. In the early spring, ditions are ideal, by the time the bass are the brood ponds are cleaned of all other ready to be introduced, a large crop of or­ species of fish and a certain number of par­ ganisms for them to feed upon will be avail­ ent bass introduced into each one, for the able in the ponds. However, before the bass purpose of reproduction. The number of are introduced, fine mesh screens are inserted parent fish allotted to a pond depends prin­ at the overflows and the water flow in­ cipally upon Its size. creased for some time, in order to purify Thus far fish culturists have not been able the water. This food crop that has ac­ to devise an artificial food upon which adult cumulated in the ponds, will feed the baby bass will feed and thrive. While it is true fish for a short time, but as it is gradually that they can be induced to feed sparingly depleted, additional food must be introduced. on certain artificial foods, some essential As with the adult, no practical method of element or elements appear to be lacking, artificial feeding is known, with the result with the result that many of them quickly that they must be fed also on the foods succumb to disease or become barren the nature intended them to have. They go following season. If the hatchery superin­ through a number of different feeding stages tendent feeds his fish in such a manner that and for convenience we have divided these the majority of his brood stock becomes into three stages—first: the sac feeding stage barren, he will naturally have a great short­ or the period when they are subsisting on age of offspring. Therefore, this must be the nourishment taken from the yolk sac; guarded against, and in order to do this A TYPICAL PENNSYLVANIA SMALL second: the daphnia feeding stage or the with what knowledge we have at the present MOUTH BASS period when they are feeding upon small time, the bass must be fed upon the natural aquatic organisms consisting principally of foods that would be predominating if they terial, leaving only the cleanly washed the so-called water fleas, of which the daph­ were living in a wild state, such as live fish, gravel. The nests vary greatly in size, rang­ nia and cyclops predominate, and third; the crayfish, tadpoles, and aquatic insects. The ing from eighteen inches to three feet in di­ fish feeding stage or the time starting when live fish which we propagate and utilize for ameter. After the nest has been carefully they can eat small fish life. The last two this purpose are different species of minnows. prepared, the male entices the female to stages overlap greatly but are based on the In the feeding of the baby bass, the na­ come upon the nest and deposit her eggs. As predominating food of each period. The or­ tural food is also required. It is needless to the eggs come forth, they are very sticky, ganisms for inoculating the ponds, are pro­ say that to produce this enormous crop of with the result that they cling to the cleanly pagated throughout the winter under glass forage is a task requiring considerable washed gravel of the nest. and in heated buildings. As soon as weather knowledge of just what is needed, and in After the eggs have been extruded, the conditions permit in the spring, this culture this work we are devoting approximately female departs leaving the responsibility of is carried on out of doors, in nursery areas as many water acres to the forage culture caring for the eggs and offspring to the male set aside for this purpose. as to the bass culture. During a portion of parent. This care consists of keeping away The Board of Fish Commissioners, through the winter months the bass lie dormant, at the enemies, fanning the nest by fin and its Research Work, has selected species of which time they are consuming very little body motion to keep up water circulation minnows whose offspring will be of a size food, which follows that during the fall and preventing the accumulation of sediment suitable for the baby bass to consume at months they must be supplied with such which may smother the eggs or young fish. the time they require them. These forage natural food as they will consume, or they When the bass first hatch, they have at­ fish are propagated in large areas set aside will lack the vitality during the dormant tached to the lower portion of their bodies for this purpose, and when the baby fish period to develop the next season's egg sup­ yolk sacs which furnish them with, nourish­ reach the fish feeding stage, crews of men ply, with the result that if under-nourished, ment for a short time. As it is gradually are employed to transfer the small forage the next season's crop would be a failure. absorbed, they gain in strength and each fish from these areas to the bass nurseries. In coming from their hibernation, they must day swim farther from the nest, settling back The length of time it is possible to hold again be supplied with abundant food, con­ upon it or near it at nightfall. By the time the bass in the nursery ponds, before re­ taining their natural requirements or they the sac is entirely absorbed or nearly so, leasing them in our public waters, depends will not be in condition to carry them safely they require a larger feeding range, with the principally upon the forage crop. If troubles through the delicate period of spawning. result that they leave the protection of the are encountered in propagating the forage Spawning parent and lead a more or less separate ex­ and the supply is below normal, it will na­ istence. Thus far, fish culturists have not been turally have influence upon their size and able to improve on the parent bass method During the period that the parent fish is the number for distribution. of caring for the eggs and very young fish. protecting the eggs and offspring, he feeds Bass are very sensitive to conditions sur­ For this reason a certain number of parent very sparingly, with the result that by the rounding them at spawning time. Even fish are placed in each brood pond at the time his services are no longer required he sudden lowering of the water temperature approach of the reproduction period, where is very hungry and would not hesitate to a few degrees, will interfere with the egg they are permitted to prepare their nests, devour his own offspring or others of the laying process and may result in a total loss deposit their eggs, and care for them and same species. It follows that in order to of the egg crop. After bass have reached the very young fish, in their own way. obtain the best results, the fish culturists the fish feeding stage, they are very vo­ In Pennsylvania, the spawning takes place must remove the baby bass from the brood racious and will practice cannibalism even generally during the last half of May or the ponds just before they leave the protection to the extent of devouring one another in the first half of June, the time depending much of the parent. The baby bass are placed in shipping cans if not carefully sorted before upon the weather conditions. At the ap­ nursery ponds which have* been previously started on their journey to the public waters. proach of the time when the females are prepared for them. All through their stay at the hatcheries they ready to give forth their eggs, the male Food of the Baby Bass must be fed live natural food. The propaga­ selects a suitable place and proceeds to A few weeks before the baby bass is trans­ tion of the forage crop is an enormous task build a nest. This consists generally of a ferred from tlief brood ponds to the nursery in itself. Certain years disease also takes place on the gravel bottom where he removes ponds, the nursery ponds are set up or gotten its toll for which no practical remedial all sediment, sticks, leaves, and other mil- in readiness by treating the pond bottoms measures are known. 8 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER ll CONSERVATION TOPICS (I

Live Bait Hints Boy Angler Scores Watersnake Incidents A growing tendency with Pennsylvania's Augustus Kachel, 9, who appears in the W. S. Madore, secretary of the Izaak Wal­ anglers to discard use of live bait in fishing picture, may appear a trifle proud. Every ton League in Hyndman, Bedford County, for game fish in favor of flies and other arti­ reason to be, at that, for the big brown trout tells of an unusual happening that illustrates ficial bait will benefit the supply of bass, he is holding, length 25 inches, weight six the audacity of watersnakes. Emory Shaffer pickerel, and wall-eyed pike in two ways. pounds, put up a real fight before he landed had caught a bass slightly over nine inches The crop of natural forage available in bass it while fishing in Allegheny Creek, Berks in length in Wills Creek. Placing the fish streams will not be thinned down to the County. It was taken during the trout in a live net, he left it for a few minutes to detriment of game species, and a smaller season, of course. fish another section of the stream. On his number of undersize bass, pickerel, and pike A number of men and boys swimming in return he found that a watersnake had en­ perch will be injured seriously when hooked. the Schuylkill Canal, near Gibraltar, which tered the net, and half swallowed the bass. However, wide use of live bait in bass fishing is Augustus' home, were occupying his atten­ Fuller Barclay and Don Goodwin, official still prevails on some waters and the follow­ snake hunters of the League happened along, ing hints on care of this type of lure are and Don shot the snake. Lucky shot, he given with the thought of cutting down waste observed later, as it was the first snake he in a valuable source of forage. had killed that day. Included in the classification of popular Warden J. H. Bergman of Butler reported live bait are minnows of various species, that he observed a large number of water- stone catfish, helgramites, and crayfish. Min­ snakes while patroling the Connoquenessing nows most widely used are the silver and Creek this summer. One snake when opened golden shiners, and the run chub. Chubs was found to contain several nice trout. The are hardier as a rule and make an active bait Butler Hunting and Fishing Club is offering for still fishing. Stone catfish also rank a prize this year to the member killing the well as live bait, living for a long period of largest number of these predators. Water­ time when on the hook. The helgramite, too, snake tails in good number have been com­ is an active bait. ing in during the contest. In keeping bait in a live box, particularly minnows and stone catfish, the first essential is to keep the box clean at all times. A fisher­ man may not, under the law, have more than 50 minnows or 50 stone catfish in pos­ session at any one time. During periods of %JK^ Seth Says hot weather, when the water temperature j|^5j|j* Speakin* of fishing, of a stream is high, mortality is frequently >5(%\ llE *ts Dre*'ty hard to heavy with bait fish crowded together in a one live box. Before such a box is placed in tfillN jfiK^fel^" ^eat °* them •SifflKfW^^IPp belted kingfishers, I use, it should be thoroughly scrubbed, and ^* '^ F reckon. Come to think exposed to the air and sun. After bait fish of it, you don't often have been placed in It, they should be in­ see 'em miss a strike. Jest the other day, I spected frequently, In particular if the water took my tackle and slipped down to the temperature is high. Any dead fish should be crick to ketch me a mess of suckers. As I removed immediately, as they afford abundant was sittin' there I hears a chatter and along opportunity for development of disease germs comes a big kingfisher. He no more than and fungus destructive to live fish. got to within a hundred feet of where I was In keeping helgramites, a highly success­ sittin' when he seemed to stand still in the ful method is through use of moistened grape air for a few seconds. Then down he goes, leaves. Heat is the element to be particularly jest like a bolt of blue feathers, that long tion. When he glanced into the stream he guarded against in retaining helgramites bill aimed straight at the water. He didn't saw the giant trout. Seeing a fish of that alive. If possible, they should be retained miss, no, sir. And when he starts on up size to the average boy means action. Au­ in the moist and cool atmosphere of a cellar. creek he has a fish, sort of looked like a big gustus proceeded to dog some bait, equip An abundant supply of water is not neces­ chub. Not more'n a few minutes after he himself with an old pole and line, and presto, sary. Grape leaves are eaten readily by the was gone, along comes another kingfisher. the monster was taken. What a struggle it helgramites. and serve to keep them in good It took its perch on the limb of a tree across turned out to be when the mammoth trout condition. The leaves should be moistened from where I was sittin'. Well, sir, in five struck, according to Warden Bill Wounderly. occasionally. minutes down it dropped, and out it came If present, in sufficient quantity in a water with a fish that looked like a fall-flsh. Two supply, chlorine may prove detrimental to PLIES FOR BAIT OR NO FISH more times, it did the same stunt, before it bait fish held in captivity. The live bait box, Joseph Lape and Dr. Myers of Nanticoke started on upstream. 'Twouldn't have been when placed in a stream, should be scoured adhere strictly to the policy "fly-fishing or a hard shot to down it, if I'd had my little frequently of the scum that may be observed no fishing." Just before the close of the target rifle. trout season, while on a trip to Cross Fork to coat the interior of the box. I flgger that in killin' off some of these Creek, in Potter County, they caught 20 As a final suggestion, when fishing live bait kingfishers, us fellers who like to fish will brown trout, averaging a pound apiece in for bass it is most beneficial to a stream to be doin' a lot of good. They ain't protected weight. release minnows or similar forage that have by law. About the nicest thing about 'em not been used during the day astream. Fre­ though, is that they're sociable cusses and quently, these bait fish are in a weakened FIVE YEARS OLD, CASTS PLUG pervide fair amusement when a feller is condition from carrying in a minnow pail, and Tommy Jones, Jr., of Nanticoke. all the fishin'. If they was less plenty we could still an attempt to take them home may result way five years old, is an accomplished plug have all the amusement we needed. in partial or total loss. Released in the caster. His pet fishing water is Lake Nuan- stream, they recover rapidly and form a gola. While casting a plug bait in the lake valuable source of forage for game fish. The during the bass season, Tommy connected Yellow perch eggs are entwined on sub­ fisherman, in this way, may definitely benefit with and landed a fine largcmouth bass, tip­ merged logs, stumps, aquatic plants and so angling on a- favorite stream. ping the scales at five pounds. forth. PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 9

Snapping Turtle Eats Starling; Devise Unique Plan For Stocking Mud Hen Hooked Fish Warren County's fishing waters furnished Enthusiastic over the fine trout being re­ two unusual incidents last month, according leased in waters of Luzerne County this year to Warden R. C. Bailey. A bird-eating snap­ by the Fish Commission, sportsmen in that per was killed and a mud hen, dipper duck vicinity have been eagerly assisting in dis­ or hell-diver, call it what you wish, tested tribution of the fish, according to Russel the qualities of a four-ounce fly rod. Womelsdorf, warden, of Kingston. Appar­ ently, they have solved a perplexing problem On a recent turtle hunt, Ernest Johnson, in stocking fish in water inaccessible by road. secretary of the Brokenstraw Fish and Game Club and Fred Beckenbach, cashier of a "On my arrival at Stoddartsville, October Youngsville bank, captured a large snapping 14, to meet a consignment of brown trout turtle. for the Lehigh River," writes Womelsdorf, "I found 16 men, representing different After dressing the snapper, with the as­ sportsmen's associations in Hazleton and sistance of a trained nurse who was caring White Haven, already there and waiting for for Mrs. Johnson during an illness, it was de­ the fish to arrive. They had secured permis­ cided to make an analysis of the contents sion from the Fish Commission to distribute of its stomach. A starling, that had appar­ the trout in the Lehigh River between Stod­ ently been eaten only a short time before, dartsville and White Haven, a distance of was found. It is believed that the turtle, about ten miles. None of this section is lying in wait for prey, captured the bird accessible by vehicle and to my knowledge when it came to the pond to drink. has never been stocked before. These men Don Finley, ardent Warren sportsman, constructed a pontoon purposely for this oc­ matched this strange episode when he cap­ casion. It measured 16 feet in length, the tured the mud hen on a four-ounce fly rod. bottom was covered with half-inch mesh wire At the time of his strange catch, Don was screen and it was supported by rubber inner fly fishing in the Conewango River for bass. tubes and large carbide cans. Some of the Swooping at the lure, the mud hen took it men in other boats escorted the craft with and started for another section of the river. its cargo of 1,600 brown trout. They also ED SHEESLEY. HARRISBURG. DIS­ According to the Times Mirror of Warren, carried a camera to take moving pictures on PLAYS A NICE CATCH OF the bird was not injured, and after displaying the journey. SUCKERS his strange catch to several sportsmen, Don "How to stock this section of the Lehigh released it. has been a subject for discussion among sportsmen here for a number of years and Scores Triple on Bass the problem seems to have been solved In the From J. F. Kelly, of Ashville, a rural The call of stream and lake grows stronger above manner." mail carrier, comes word of a strange inci­ with the man who likes to fish with every dent that occurred recently while he was passing year. Great Autumn Fishing on Delaware fishing in the Raystown Branch of the River Juniata River. Outstanding catches of big wall-eyed pike or Susquehanna salmon are being made this "On September 30," he writes, "I was Ten Wall-Eyed Pike Weigh Ashing the upper end of the Raystown dam autumn on the Delaware River between Mil- at what is known as Fink's Bridge. Had 62 Pounds ford and Bushkill, a distance of 21 miles, fished above the bridge on the 29th and Big wall-eyed pike, or Susquehanna according to Warden Frank Brink of Milford. caught a bass 17% inches in length. At salmon, were on a striking rampage A checkup of catches, Frank said recently, shows that they average about five big wall­ about 12 noon, I rowed across the dam and in Crystal Lake, Susquehanna county, during the last week in September. A eyes per day for a fisherman. A number of anchored. I had two rods and two lines and pike weighing from four to five pounds have was using two live minnows on each line. banner catch of these fine game fish, the outstanding one of the season, was been caught, although no fish recently re­ After baiting both lines, I cast with the corded have rivaled in weight the mammoth short rod, and had just cast with the second made by Rev. Appleton, of Philadel­ phia, according to a report received 10%-pound pike caught earlier this season rod when I had a light strike on the first rod on the Delaware by Joe Andrews, Cementon set. I let him run and hooked him, but as he from Warden Joseph Podboy of Forest City. angler. seemed small I was in no particular hurry Trolling over a school of the giant During autumn, trolling for wall-eyed pike about reeling in. As I played him, however, is at Its best, and catches of these splendid and had brought him about half way to the pike, Rev. Appleton caught one weigh­ ing 10 pounds, another eight pounds, game fish made in all sections of the State boat, he began to pull a great deal harder. two weighing seven pounds apiece, and during the past month, indicate that 1933 My first thought was that I had made a six tipping the scales at five pounds will go down in the annals of the Fish Com­ mistake in thinking the fish small. As I each. His remarkable catch was made mission as a banner season for pike fisher­ reeled in, I noticed my other line pulling in two days fishing. Ten Pennsylvania men. toward the boat at the same time. When I game fish averaging better than six Most of the big pike are taken by trolling glanced over the side of the boat, I noticed pounds apiece, taken by an individual, in deep water. On the Delaware, the lamprey a bass on one of the lines and what ap­ is first-rate evidence that fishing in the eel rates as a favorite bait for the big peared to be another bass following it. Keystone State is definitely on the up­ fellows. Imagine my surprise when I lifted in the grade. lines to find one bass of 10y inches, one BASS DIES IN ATTEMPT TO SWALLOW 2 A number of other big Crystal Lake BULLHEAD 13% inches, and another 13% inches. Here's pike were taken at the same time. While patrolling Green's Pond, near Sly idea of what happened. The small bass Myron Stanton of Carbondale landed Lanark recently, Warden Joel Young found struck first and was hooked. While I was one weighing seven pounds, while John a 17-inch largemouth bass floating on the feeling it in slowly, the second bass struck Delta, also of Carbondale, caught one surface. When he picked up the fish, Young the minnow ahead of it, was hooked, and weighing four pounds and another a discovered that the cause of its death was When the two made their second run, tangled six-pounder. an eight-inch bullhead catfish, which had bi»- in my other line with the third bass on it. Four wall-eyed pike weighing 10 come lodged in its throat. The barbels of It was not more than a matter of three min­ pounds or more have been taken from the catfish were firmly imbedded in the utes from the time I anchored the boat until Pennsylvania waters this year. gullet of the fish, and apparently had caused 1 had the three bass landed. its death by asphyxiation.

J, \v PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER

Friday the Thirteenth Brings Luck to Angler Fishing Waters Stocked It may prove a shock to those who dread the appearance of a black cat on Friday the 13th to know that Bob Norgang, of Allentown, welcomes that Heavily in September date for his fishing trips. While fishing in Kistler Creek, a EDITOR'S NOTE: In announcing flsh distribiitlo.i for September, the ANGLER small tributary to the Ontelaunee calls attention to the fact that all approved warm, icater and trout streams in Creek, on the fated 13th, Bob landed a the various counties arc on the 1933 stocking list, if pour favorite strea)n is fine 14-inch smallmouth bass from one not listed in the September distribution report, and is approved, it has either of the small pools. A few minutes been stocked already or will be stocked later this pear. later, an 11-inch bass was added to his creel. His catch is unusual for this • season of the year, owing to the fact ISTRIBUTION of fish and frogs to waters of the Commonwealth during September that generally the larger bass work D touched a peak in the autumn stocking program of the Fish Commission. Fish stocked down into the Ontelaunee in autumn. numbered 1,446,163, including black bass, brook trout, brown trout, pickerel, yellow perch, An enthusiastic angler, Bob declared sunfish, catfish, frogs, and minnows were released in waters in sixty counties. recently that his "Friday the 13th" bass were the largest he has taken Black bass released numbered 55,690; brown trout, 33,840; brook trout, 57,820; yellow from Kistler Creek, writes Warden perch, 4 and 5 inch, 8,325; sunfish, fingerling, 712,600; catfish, fingerling, 230,420; frogs. Joel Young of Fullerton. 335,000; and minnows, 81,300. An exceptionally fine crop of black bass was produced this year at Pleasant Moiint hatchery. Bass released in September were three, four, and five inches in length on an average. Brook trout released were all over six inch legal size and many of them eight to ten inches, while a large number of nine and ten-inch brown Striped Bass Outrival Black Bass trout were planted. All brown trout were over legal si?*. As Killers Striped bass, taken each year in the lower Bluegill sunfish and bullhead catfish have waters of the Susquehanna and Delaware come rapidly to the fore in popularity with rivers, rank not only as fine game fish, but the angling public and heavy distribution of In voracity equal, If not exceed, the small- these fish in suitable waters is expected to mouth and largemouth bass of the inland improve fishing, not only from the angle of waters. This great game fish looms as a catches but also in variety afforded the fisher­ major menace to the shad, devouring its man during days astream. Pickerel released young in immense numbers. When the shad were adults, averaging 12 inches in length. migration is under way, the striped bass With water levels up in many sections of lurk in the wake of the great shad schools, the state, autumn stocking this year holds following them to the spawning beds. promise of being particularly effective. Not The rate of growth of striped bass, also only does an abundant Row of water provide known as rockfish, is amazing. Hatched in greater forage areas for fish, but an increase May, the young of this species will have in protection from natural enemies is also attained a length of one inch by June, and assured. during the first year have been known to Following are a list of counties stocked, attain a weight of five or six pounds. From and species distributed to various waters. the time the young have absorbed the food Adams—black bass, Marsh Creek, Bermu- sac, they prey almost exclusively on other dian Creek; brook trout, Conewago Creek, flsh. Conocochengue Creek; sunfish, IBermudian Commenting on the feeding habits of this Creek, Marsh Creek. voracious flsh, Dr. C. C. Abbot says: Armstrong—sunfish, Buffalo Creek ; frogs, "A rock fish will frequently 'corner up' a Buffalo Creek; catfish, Buffalo Creek. small school of minnows, and then pick them Beaver — sunfish, Brush Creek, Little up as rapidly and with as great ease as a Beaver River, North Fork of Little Beaver fowl will pick grains of corn; and while River, Connoquenessing Creek; frogs, Brush devouring the luckless minnows, will keep Creek, Little Beaver River, North Fork of them in a small space, close together all the Little Beaver River, Connoquenessing Creek; catfish, Brush Creek, Little Beaver River, time. There is no cessation of this murder­ TROUT STOCKING WAS A FEATURE ous work while a fish remains, for after de­ North Fork of Little Beaver River, Conno­ IN SEPTEMBER DISTRIBUTION vouring all that it is possible for him to quenessing Creek. hold, a more love of destruction keeps him Bedford—black bass, Raystown Branch Blair—black bass, Frankstown Branch at work. I once had a very favorable op­ Juniata River, Wills Creek, Bogs Creek, Juniata River, Williamsburg Dam on Franks- portunity of watching the rock fish feed in Dunnings Creek; brown trout, Buffalo Creek, town Branch Juniata River; brown trout, this way. It was a moderate-sized flsh, Wills Creek, Raystown Branch Juniata Piney Creek, Frankstown Branch Juniata about a foot long, and as near as I could River, Cumberland Valley Run; brook trout, River; brook trout, Bald Eagle Creek, Canoe determine it devoured a dozen 'cyprinelles' Buffalo Creek, Yellow Creek; sunfish, Dun­ Creek; sunfish, Stevens Dam on Sinking (silver-finned minnows) in four minutes. If nings Creek, Bobs Creek, Wills Creek, Lake Creek, Brush Run, Frankstown Branch Jun­ I err in my estimate it is on the safe side, Gordon, Thomas W. Coon Lake, Woodbury iata River, Williamsburg Dam on Franks- and it may be it was 15 minnows in that Dam, Raystown Branch Juniata River, Brush town Branch Juniata River; frogs, Stevens length of time. I subsequently captured a Creek; frogs, Lake Gordon, Thomas W. Coon Dam on Sinking Creek, Brush Run, Franks- dozen of these pretty shiners and I found Lake, Woodbury Dam, Raystown Branch town Branch Juniata River; catfish, Stevens that I could by no means squeeze them into Juniata River, Brush Creek; catfish, Lake Dam on Sinking Creek, Brush Run, Franks- a bulk that was not much larger than the Gordon, Thomas W. Coon Lake, Woodbury town Branch Juniata River. estimated interior of a rock fish in length; Dam, Raystown Branch Juniata River, Brush Bradford—black bass, Sugar Creek; yellov? and yet it is certain that the minnows cap­ Creek. perch, Sugar Creek; sunfish, Sugar Creefc tured by the rock fish were swallowed with­ Berks—black bass, Maiden Creek, Mono­ Rockwell Pond, Mountain Lake, HerrickviOe out decapitation or other reduction in size, caey Creek, Manatawney Creek; brook trout, Rod and Gun Club; minnows, Mountain for in that case I should have seen the frag­ Pine Creek, West Branch Perkiomen Creek; Lake; catfish, Mountain Lake, Herrickville ments of the minnows floating in the clear sunfish, Manatawney Creek, Monocaey Creek, Rod and Gun Club Pond, Rockwell Pond, waters." Maiden Creek. Sugar Creek. PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 11

Bucks—black bass, Tohickon Creek, Little Neshaminy Creek. Butler—sunfish, Wolf Creek, Bhuls Chan­ nel, Breakneck Creek, Harmony Junction Reservoir, Yellow Creek, Connoquenessing Creek, Glade Run, Thorn Creek; frogs, Wolf Creek, Thorn Creek, Connoquenessing Creek, Bhuls Channel, Breakneck Creek, Harmony Junction Reservoir, Yellow Creek, Glade Run; catfish, Wolf Creek, Thorn Creek, Con­ noquenessing Creek, Bhuls Channel, Break­ neck Creek, Harmony Junction Reservoir, Yellow Creek, Glade Run. Cambria—brown trout, Clearfield Creek, Chest Creek; brook trout, Beaver Dam Run; sunflsh, Beaver Dam Run, Dooman Dam, Davis Run ; frogs, Dooman Dam, Davis Run, Beaver Dam Run; catfish, Dooman Dam, Davis Run, Beaver Dam Run. Cameron — brook trout, Sinnemahoning AN ATTENDANT CHECKS EIGHTY CANS OF FISH. READY FOR THEIR TRIP Portage Creek, Clear Creek; sunfish, Devling TO PUBLIC WATERS IN ONE OF THE FISH COMMISSIONS TRUCKS Pond, Bowers Pond, Mix Run Pond ; catfish, Devling Pond, Bowers Pond, Mix Run Pond; Crawford—sunfish, Sugar Lake, Clear sunfish, Cove Creek, Licking Creek; catfish, frogs, Devling Pond, Bowers Pond, Mix Run Lake, Canadohta Lake, Cussewago Creek, Oil Cove Creek, Licking Creek; frogs, Cove Pond. Creek, Crooked Creek, French Creek; catfish, Creek, Licking Creek. Carbon—brown trout, Pohopoco Creek ; Oil Creek, Crooked Creek, French Creek, brook trout, James Run. Greene—black bass, South Fork Dunkard Sugar Lake, Cussewago Creek; frogs, French Fork of Wheeling Creek, North Fork Dunk­ Centre—brook trout, White Deer Creek, Creek, Sugar Lake, Clear Lake, Canadohta ard Fork of Wheeling Creek, Dunkard Fork Pine Creek, Synagogue Stream, Penns Creek, Lake, Cussewago Creek, Oil Creek, Crooked of Wheeling Creek, Enslow Fork Creek, Cherry Run, Elk Creek, McBridges Gap Run, Creek. Wheeling Creek; sunfish, Muddy Creek, Little Fishing Creek, Little Moshannon Cumberland—black bass, Yellow Breeches Dunkard Creek, Penna. Fork of Fish Creek, Creek; brown trout, S>pring Creek, Penns Creek; brook trout, Mountain Creek, Cock- South Fork of Ten Mile Creek, Browns Fork Creek, Bald Eagle Creek; yellow perch, Little leys Run, Alexandria Spring Run or Lines Creek, Whitley Creek ; catfish, Muddy Creek, Black Moshannon Creek; minnows, Little Run, Mt. Rock Run, Hogestown Run, Big Dunkard Creek, Penna. Fork of Fisli Creek, Black Moshannon Creek; sunfish, Penns Springs Run ; sunfish, Yellow Breeches Creek South Fork of Ten Mile Creek, Browns Fork Creek, Sinking Creek, Bald Eagle Creek; Delaware—black bass, Chester Creek, Dar­ Creek or Browns Creek, Whitley Creek; catfish, Penns Creek, Sinking Creek, Bald frogs, Muddy Creek, Dunkard Creek, Penna. Eagle Creek; frogs, Penns Creek, Sinking by Creek; sunfish, Darby Creek, Chester Creek; brown trout, Ridley Creek. Fork of Fish Creek, South Fork of Ten Creek, Bald Eagle Creek. Mile Creek, Browns Fork Creek, Whitley Elk—black bass, Spring Creek; brook Chester—black bass, East Branch Octoraro Creek. trout, Bear Creek, Maxwell Run, Big Run; Creek, West Branch Brandywine Creek, Huntingdon—black bass, Penn Central Dam French Creek; sunfish, French Creek, West sunfish, Game Refuge Pond, Straight Creek Pond, Black Swamp Pond, Indian Run Pond, on Raystown Branch Juniata River, Franks- Branch Brandywine Creek, East Branch town Branch Juniata River, Penn Central Octoraro Creek. Water Reservoir Ridgway, Becks Pond; cat­ fish, Game Refuge Pond, Straight Creek Dam on Frankstown Branch Juniata River, Clarion—black bass, Allegheny River; sun­ Pond, Black Swamp Pond, Indian Run Pond, Raystown Branch Juniata River, Juniata flsh, Red Bank Creek, Licking Creek, Alle­ Water Reservoir Big Mill Creek, Becks River; brook trout, Laurel Run, Standing gheny River, Huefner Dam, Clarion River; Pond; frogs, Black Swamp Pond, Indian Run Stone Creek; yellow perch, Juniata River; frogs, Red Bank Creek, Licking Creek, Al­ Dam, Ridgway Water Reservoir, Becks Pond, sunfish, Penn Central Dam on Frankstown legheny River, Huefner Dam, Clarion River; Game Refuge Pond, Straight Creek Pond. Branch Juniata River, Frankstown Branch catfish, Red Bank Creek, Licking Creek, Juniata River, Raystown Branch Juniata Allegheny River, Huefner Dam, Clarion Erie—black bass, French Creek, West River, Penn Central Dam on Raystown River. Branch French Creek, South Branch French Branch Juniata River, Williamsburg Dam Clearfield—brook trout, Montgomery Creek, Creek; sunfish, Edinboro Lake, Conneaut on Frankstown Branch Juniata River, Augh­ Mosquito Creek, Moshannon Creek, Mountain Creek, Elk Creek, Runion Creek, Elk Park wick Creek, Sideling Hill Creek; catfish, Run, Fork Run; brown trout, Lick Run, Dam; catfish, Conneaut Creek, Elk Park Raystown Branch Juniata River, Penn Cen­ MosqTiito Run; sunfish, Helveta Dam, Tan­ Dam, Elk Creek, Runion Creek, Edinboro tral Dam on Raystown Branch Juniata nery Dam Creek, Sabula Dam, Little Clear­ Lake; frogs, Elk Creek, Runion Creek, Edin­ River, Williamsburg Dam on Frankstown field Branch, Chest Creek, Sandy Lick Creek; boro Lake, Conneaut Creek. Branch Juniata River, Penn Central Dam catfish, Tannery Dam, Helveta Dam, Sandy Forest—sunfish, Allegheny River; catfish, on Frankstown Branch Juniata River, Augh­ Lick Creek, Little Clearfield Creek, Chest Allegheny River; frogs, Allegheny River. wick Creek, Sideling Hill Creek; frogs, Rays­ Creek: frogs, Tannery Dam, Sandy Lick F r a n k 1 i n—black bass, Conococheague town Branch Juniata River, Penn Central Creek, Helveta Dam, Little Clearfield Creek, Creek, Conodoguinet Creek; brook trout, Co­ Dam on Raystown Branch Juniata River, Chest Creek. nococheague Creek, East Branch Little Antie­ Williamsburg Dam on Frankstown Branch Clinton—brown trout, Big Fishing Creek, tam Creek, Dennis Creek, Pinola Run, Trout Juniata River, Penn Central Dam on Franks- Rouchs Creek; brook trout, Lick Run, Right Run, Broad Run, Carbaugh Run, Red Run; town Branch Juniata River, Aughwick Creek, Branch Young Womans Creek, Birch Island sunflsh, Conodoguinet Creek, Conococheague Sideling Hill Creek; minnows, Juniata River. Run, Swamp Branch of Big Run, Middle Creek, West Branch Conococheague Creek, Indiana—brook trout, Little Yellow Creek; Branch of Big Run, Big Run, Hammersley Goods Dam on East Branch Little Antietam sunfish, Little Mahoning Creek, Yellow Fork Creek, Rig Fishing Creek; sunflsh, Pine Creek, East Branch Little Antietam Creek, Creek; catfish, Little Mahoning Creek, Yel­ Creek, Bald Eagle Creek, Bald Eagle Canal; Indian Lake; catfish, Goods Dam on East low Creek; frogs, Little Mahoning Creek, catfish, Pine Creek, Bald Eagle Creek, Bald Branch Little Antietam Creek, East Branch Yellow Creek. Eagle Canal; frogs. Bald Eagle Canal, Pine Little Antietam Creek, Indian Lake; frogs, Jefferson—black bass, Little Sandy Creek; Creek, Bald Eagle Creek. West Branch Conococheague Creek, Goods brook trout, North Fork Red Bank Creek, Columbia—black bass, Fishing Creek; Dam on East Branch Little Antietam Creek, Manners Run; sunfish, Reeds Dam, Little brook trout, West Branch Fishing Creek, East Branch Little Antietam Creek, Indian Sandy Creek, Sandy Lick Creek, Red Bank Coles Creek; brown trout, Fishing Creek; Lake. Creek; catfish, Sandy Lick Creek, Reeds sunflsh, Fishing Creek. Fulton—brook trout, Little Aughwick Creek; (Continued on Page H)

A 12 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER

LAKE WALLENPAUPACK, WHERE GREAT AUTUMN FISHING IS REPORTED

Lightning Strikes—Kills Hatchery Fish Those who hide their head beneath the bed pillows during an electric storm and envy the calm security of the fish swimming far beneath the water's surface are being disillusioned by Phil G. Zalsman, superin­ tendent of the Grayling State Fish Hatchery. Zalsman has reported to the Conservation Department that a bolt of lightning struck 25 brook trout in one of his hatchery ponds. It is the first authentic report ever received by the Department of death of fish from that source. A bolt of lightning struck a hatchery pond early in the morning, Zalsman reported. By noon he had picked up 25 trout that had been stricken. Only three survived the shock. The skin of one of the trout was entirely stripped off by the bolt. Others were burned from head to tail. There is no reason to suppose that fish are not frequently ;killed by lightning, the Fish Division said, but it is difficult to prove the real cause of death in such instances. The fact that hundreds of other fish in the same pond were not inj'urod would indicate that ordinarily the fish mortality rate from light­ ning is not high. (Courtesy—Michigan Sportsman).

Two and one-half hours' fishing on Wallen- panpack yielded a catch of 15 bass to Milt Harris and Elwood Gimble, of Heading, and AUTOM08ILE ROUTES TO Fred Singer, who lives at the lake. The LAKE WALLENPAUPACK largest bass weighed four and one-half pounds. PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER L3

instances the cold was so intense that anglers salmon, were captured from the Susquehanna Dead Bullhead Scores a Kill had to stop every few minutes to clear the River than black bass. When recently a giant wall-eyed pike ice from the guides on their rods so that "Points like Peach Bottom, Fites Eddy, plunged from the surface of Lake the line would run through freely." Bald Friars and Cove, in former years fa­ LeBoeuf, Erie County, time and Bass in 1905 mous as fishing resorts, were declared to be again, C. A. Comer of Waterford who "A reference to the reports of the Fish absolute failures. Pine Creek, a tributary was fishing nearby, investigated. With Commission and the Department of Fisheries of the Susquehanna, formerly well known in each contortion on the surface, the pike and to papers read before the State Fisheries the northern part of Pennsylvania as a great appeared weaker. Finally, its convul­ Association will show that for the last four bass stream for many miles above its mouth, sions became spasmodic as it rolled or five years there has been an alarming de­ was said to be almost entirely barren of bass. about, and Comer lifted it into the crease noted in the number of black bass in The Delaware River, its tributaries—the boat. the waters of Pennsylvania. The decrease Schuylkill, Brandywine, and Darby, all were Its barbels imbedded in the throat was not confined to one locality but seemed said to be in the same deplorable conditions. of the pike, a large bullhead catfish to be general throughout the State, with few "One cause assigned was a widespread was found. After killing the catfish, exceptions. disregard for the laws prohibiting spearing it had apparently attempted to swallow "Following these reports we find that the and netting. The people who heard of this its victim tail first, with disastrous re­ decrease was not merely in the catch of legal theory declared that during the spawning sults. The wall-eyed pike died within size fish, but what was far more important season the gigger would pole his boat to a a very short time of being lifted into there was noted a marked decrease in the spawning bed and wait for a few minutes the boat. It weighed nine pounds, ac­ number of smaller fish and of newly-hatched until the frightened flsh had returned, when cording to Warden W. E. Briggs of flsh. By 1904 many streams formerly noted it was easily speared, destroying thousands Waterford, who reported the incident. for the abundance of black bass were re­ of eggs. In this manner, they accounted for ported to be almost barren of this great the almost total absence. of newly-hatched game fish. It was said in 1904 that far more fish. The decrease in number of larger Fishing Yesterdays wall-eyed pike, commonly called Susquehanna fish they attributed to the illegal netter." Larger brown trout have been taken in Pennsylvania this year than were caught in 1905. A brook trout weighing three pounds caught this year tops in weight any reported to the Fish Commission in 1905. Pennsyl­ vania fishermen were then alarmed at the decrease in number of bass. These interest­ ing facts, gleaned from a report of the Fish Commission for 1905, turn back the pages to yesterday's fishing in the Keystone State. Following are excerpts that should be of interest to anglers who consistently say that fishing "isn't what it used to be." Trout in 1905 "As far as ascertained, the heaviest flsh taken by rod, hook, and line was probably from Gordon Run in Crawford County. It is reported to have weighed five pounds and 14 ounces. It was probably not a brook trout but a California (brown) trout. The fish was caught the latter part of April. On the 28th of the same month there was caught from Pine Creek, Lycoming County, a brook trout which weighed two pounds, nine ounces. Early in June there was caught from the same stream near Blackwells, Tioga County, a brown trout which measured 21% inches in length and had a weight of four pounds. The fortunate angler on this occasion only HEWITT DAM AT SPRING CREEK COMPLETED RECENTLY caught two other fish, but these two weighed a little over three pounds, his three flsh, therefore, weighed a litle over seven pounds, TO ANGLER READERS and he caught them with a three-ounce rod As the October issue of PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER did not reach and No. 16 hook (fly). readers now on the mailing list until Jate in the month, the Novem­ ber number is being sent out as a final trial copy. If you desire to "Centre County has long been known for continue to receive this publication, State requirements necessitate large fish, and every year some huge speci­ a subscription fee of fifty cents ($.50) a year In advance. The mens are captured from its waters. On April present mailing list will be revised this month to include only indi­ 28th, a brown trout of 23 inches was caught viduals who have forwarded the necessary subscription fee. Sub­ from Spring Creek at Bellefonte, and on July scriptions will start with the December issue. 8th, a Lewistown angler captured a brown trout of 25% inches from the same stream SUBSCRIPTION BLANK and within 200 yards of the spot where the Enclosed find fifty cents ($.50) for one year's subscription to PENNSYLVANIA other brown trout was caught. The flsh ANGLER, starting with the December number. weighed five and one-half pounds. NAME "The opening day for trout (then April 1) (Print Name) was exceedingly disagreeable, the weather in the morning was clear but cold and very STREET AND NUMBEB...., few trout came to the fly. The several thou­ CITY sand flsh which were caught were mostly Please indicate in what form money is sent, whether check or money order. taken with worms. For two or three suc­ Stamps not acceptable. Check or money order should be made payable to the ceeding days snow fell in nearly every quar­ Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. ter where trout congregated and in some 14 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER

Fishing Waters Stocked '(Continued from Page 11) Dam, Red Bank Creek; frogs, Red Bank Creek, Reeds Dam, Sandy Lick Creek. Juniata—black bass, Juniata River, Pom- eroy's Dam on Tusearora Creek, Tuscarora Creek; sunfish, Pomeroy's Dam on Tuscarora Creek, Tuscarora Creek. Lackawanna — sunflsh, Mountain Lake, Sicklers Pond, Lake Sheridan, Newton Lake, Crystal Lake, Hear Lake, Chapman Lake, Handsome Lake, Ford Pond, Baylors Pond; catfish, Mountain Lake, Heart Lake, Chan- man Lake, Newton Lake, Crystal Lake, Sicklers Pond, Lake Sheridan, Baylors Pond, Ford Pond, Handsome Lake; yellow perch, Mountain Lake; minnows, Handsome Lake, Ford Pond, Baylors Pond, Sicklers Pond, Chapman Lake, Crystal Lake, Newton Luke. DUNNINGS CREEK. BEDFORD COUNTY. WAS STOCKED IN ITS LOWER WATERS WITH BASS AND SUNFISH DURING SEPTEMBER Lancaster—black bass, Big Chickios Creek, Conowingo Dam, Conestoga Creek, Cocalico McKean—brook trout, Kinzua Creek; sun­ trout. North Branch Mahantongo Creek; sun­ Creek, Muddy Creek, Octoraro Creek; brook fish. Hamlin Lake, Mellander Pond, Kush- fish, Penns Creek, Aliddle Creek, North trout, Little Conestoga Creek, Swarr Run. equa Pond; catfish, Mellander Pond, Kush- Branch of Middle Creek, P. P. & L. Co. Dam Hammer Creek, Donegal Creek, Gladfelters equa Pond, Hamlin Lake; frogs, Mellander on Middle Creek, Freeburg Fire Pond No. Run, Middle Creek, Unicorn Creek, Seglog Pond, Kushequa Pond, Haniiin Lake. 1, Freeburg Fire Pond No. 2; catfish, Middle Creek, Rock Run; sunfish, Big Chickies Creek, P. P. L. Dam on Middle Creek, Free­ Creek, Conowingo Creek, Octoraro Creek, Mercer—sunfish, Sandy Lake, Neshannock Creek, Little Shenango River, Wolf Creek; burg Fire Pond No. 2, North Branch Middle Muddy Creek, Cocalico Creek, Conestoga Creek, Freeburg Fire Pond No. 1. Creek. catfish, Wolf Creek, Neshannock Creek, Little Shenango River; frogs, Wolf Creek, Sandy Somerset — brown trout, Wills Creek, Lawrence—sunfish, Cement Dam, Shenango Lake, Neshannock Creek, Little Shenango Laurel Hill Creek; brook trout, Clear Shade River, Neshannock Creek, Power House Dam. River. Creek, Whites Creek, Piney Run. Youngstown Quarry Pool, Carbon Quarry Pool, Connoquenessing Creek. Clarks Pond, Miifiin—black bass, Juniata Country Club Sullivan—brook trout, Pigeon Creek, Rocky Hottenbaugh Creek, Pond at New Castle Dam, Juniata River; brook trout, Treaster Run, Muncy Creek; sunfish, Eagles Mere Golf Course, Slippery Rock Creek; catfish, Valley Run, East Branch Kishacoquillas Lake; catfish, Eagles Mere Lake; minnows, Connoquenessing Creek, Lower Power House Creek, West Branch Kishacoquillas Creek, Eagles Mere Lake. Dam, Youngstown Quarry Pool, Carbon Laurel Run; brown trout, Penns Creek, Long Susquehanna—pickerel, Wrighters Lake; Quarry Pool, Connoquenessing Creek, Clarks Meadow Run; sunfish, Juniata Country Club sunfish, Pages Pond, East Lake, Comforts Pond, Hottenbaugh Creek, pond at New Dam on Juniata River, Juniata River, Jack's Pond, Wrighters Lake; catfish, Wrighters Castle Golf Course, Slippery Rock Creek; Creek; catfish, Juniata Country Club Dam Lake, Comforts Pond, East Lake, Pages catfish, Connoquenessing Creek, Lower Power on Juniata River, Juniata River, Jack's Pond ; minnows, East Lake. House Dam, Youngstown Quarry Pool, Car­ Creek; frogs, Juniata Country Club Dam on Tioga—brook trout, Tioga River, Cedar bon Quarry Pool, Neshannock Creek, She­ Juniata River, Juniata River, Jack's Creek. Run, Kettle Creek. nango River, Slippery Rock Creek, Cement Monroe-=-brook trout, Big Bushkill Creek, Union—black bass, Penns Creek, Buffalo Dam, Clarks Pond, Hottenbaugh Creek, Mill Aquashieola Creek, Pocono Creek, Pohopoco Creek; brook trout, White Deer Creek; sun­ Creek; frogs, Slippery Roek Creek, Clarks Creek; sunfish, Gregory Ice Pond, Deep fish, Penns Creek, Buffalo Creek. Pond, Hottenbaugh Creek, Cement Dam, Lake; catfish, Gregory Ice Pond, Deep Lake. Venango—black bass, Allegheny River; Shenango River, Neshannock Creek, Elliotts Montgomery — black bass, Manatawney Run, Lower Power House Dam, Youngstown sunfish, French Creek, Polk State Sanitarium Creek; sunfish, Mantawney Creek; minnows, Dam, Allegheny River; catfish, Allegheny Quarry Pool, Carbon Quarry Pool, Conoque- Manatawney Creek. uessing Creek. River, French Creek, State Sanitarium Dam Northampton—brook trout, Monocacy at Polk; frogs, French Creek, State Sani­ Lehigh—brown trout, Little Lehigh River; Creek, Saucon Creek, Bushkill Creek. tarium Dam at Polk, Allegheny River. brook trout, Little Lehigli River. Perry-—black bass, Juniata River, Sher­ Warren—black bass, Brokenstraw Creek; Luzerne—black bass, North Branch Sus­ man's Creek; sunfish, Sherman's Creek. sunfish, Brokenstraw Creek, Allegheny River, quehanna River ; pickerel, Nuangola Lake; Pike—pickerel, Promise Land Pond, Pecks Conowango ('reek, Penn Avenue Dam; cat­ brown trout, Huntingdon Creek, Lehigli Pond, Lake Wallenpaupack; yellow perch, fish, Conowango Creek, Penn Avenue Dam, River, Wapwallopen Creek, Kitchen Creek; Twin Lakes, Ecks Pond; sunfish, Panther Brokenstraw Creek, Allegheny River; frogs, sunfish, North Branch Susquehanna River, Lake, Welcome Lake, Lake Wallenpaupack, Penn Avenue Dam. Conowango Creek; Nuangola Lake, Harvey Lake; catfish, Twin Lakes, Bruce Lake, Ecks Pond, Pecks Brokenstraw Creek, Allegheny River. Harvey Lake, West Branch Susquehanna Pond, Promise Land Pond; catfish, Promise Washington—sunfish, Buffalo Creek, Ten River, Nuangola Lake; minnows, North Land Pond, Pecks Pond, Lake Wallenpau­ Branch Susquehanna River, Harvey Lake. Mile Creek, Krewers Dam, Laughloth Mill pack, Twin Lakes, Panther Pond, Ecks Pond, Dam, Harmon Creek Coal Company Dam, Lycoming—black bass, Loyalsock Creek, Bruce Lake, Welcome Lake; minnows, Wel­ Aunt Clara Fork of Kings Creek, Kings Lycoming Creek, Muncy Creek; brook trout. come Lake, Panther Pond, Lake Wallenpau­ Creek; catfish, Buffalo Creek, Ten Mile Pleasant Stream, Hogland Run, White Deer pack, Twin Lakes, Promise Land Pond, Peeks Creek, Krewers Dam, Laughloth Mill Dam, Hole Creek, Muncy Creek; brown trout, Ly­ Pond. Harmon Creek Coal Company Dam, Cross coming Creek, Larrys Creek; sunfish, Lycom­ Potter—brook trout, East Fork of First Creek, Aunt Clara Fork of Kings Creek, ing Creek, Loyalsock Creek, Muncy Creek, Fork of Sinnemahoning Creek, Luddington Kings Creek; frogs, Buffalo Creek, Ten Mile Pino Creek. Mill Creek, Little Muncy Creek, Branch of Genesee River, Eleven Mile Run ; Creek, Krewers Dam, Laughloth Mill Dam- Highland Lake; catfish, Muncy Creek, Ly­ brown trout, Kettle Creek. Harmon Creek Coal Company Dam, Cross coming Creek, Loyalsock Creek, Little Muncy Creek, Kings Creek, Aunt Clara Fork °* Creek, Highland Lake, Pine Creek; frogs, Schuylkill—brook trout, Deep Creek, Sugar Kings Creek. Pine Creek, Lycoming Creek, Mill Creek, Loaf Run, Bear Creek. Muncy Creek, Loyalsock Creek, Little Muncy Snyder—black bass, North Branch Middle Wayne—pickerel, Hiawatha Lake, Sne- Greek, Highland Lake. Creek, Middle Creek, Penns Creek; brook hawken Lake, Lake Sheridan, Island Lake-

^ PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 15

Coxton Lake, Duck Harbor Pond, Lake Fine Trout Waters Opened Bass in Artificial Reservoirs Henry; sunfish, Starlight Lake, Hiawatha Through construction of fifteen miles of (Continued from Page 5) Lake, Shehawken Lake, Perch Pond, Long road in Gaines and Elk Townships, Tioga Pond, North Jersey Lake, Gouldsboro Ice thrive and reproduce year after year in county, trout fishermen will have easy access Pond, Galilee Pond, Spruce Lake, Freothy spite of the most persistent fishing. It is to some of the finest trout waters on the Pond, Rose Pond, Adams Lake, Elk Lake, remarkable the number of good bass that a North Tier next spring. The road, completed Lake Ladore, Lake Como, Sly Lake, H'gh comparatively small body of water produces last spring, was constructed by the Depart­ Lake, Lower Woods Pond, Beach Lake, Long annually. Of course, they won't always ment of Forests and Waters as a safeguard Pond, Coxton Lake, Island Lake, Goose Pond, strike, and I suspect that many of the larger against forest fires. Its chief value, from Independent Lake, White Oak Pond, Bone ones know intimately about every type of a fisherman's standpoint, is that it will fur­ Pond, Poyntelle Lake, Big Hickory Lake, lure—which probably accounts for their abil­ nish a direct route from the Roosevelt High­ Spruce Lake, Duck Harbor Pond, Lake ity to withstand the hard fishing. But as way to the headwaters of a number of Ly­ Henry; catfish, Galilee Pond, Spruce Lake, long as the fishermen knows that there are coming county's best trout streams. Freethy Pond, Rose Pond, North Jersey Lake, good ones in the water, his interest in fish­ Gouldsboro Ice Pond, Long Pond, High Lake, This road leads from Rexford on Route ing is maintained. Sly Lake, Lake Como, Beach Lake, Lower 6 through fifteen miles of fine forest land to Woods Pond, Goose Pond, Duck Harbor a deserted mill town near the headwaters Pond, Bone Pond, Spruce Lake, Big Hickory of Cedar Run. Cedar Run is large enough Lake. Poyntelle Lake, White Oak Pond, In­ to provide plenty of food and cover for its Lebanon Waters Stocked Heavily dependent Lake, Island Lake, Coxton Lake, fish, and is well stocked with brook and Fishermen in Lebanon County should have Lake Henry, Starlight Lake, Hiawatha Lake, brown trout. splendid fishing for bluegill sunfish and cat­ Shehawken Lake, Perch Pond, Adams Lake, From the mill town, Leetonia, another road fish next season following heavy stocking of Elk Lake. Lake Ladore; minnows, Perch follows Frying Pan Run and leads to the these popular species, according to Warden Pond, Shehawken Lake, Hiawatha Lake, Francis Branch of Slate Run. Famed for its Frank Sanda of Steelton. Sanda, assisted by Rose Pond, Elk Lake, Lake Ladore, North brown trout fishing. Slate Run ranks with J. W. Brand, secretary of the Lebanon Coun­ Jersey Lake, Gouldsboro Ice Pond, Beach the best in the state. It is a large stream ty Fish and Game Protective Association, Lake, Long Pond, Island Lake, Coxton Lake, that flows about eight miles through Lycom­ and Amos Geistwhite, helped to stock Goose Pond, Duck Harbor Pond, Lower ing County, and should furnish fine brown Greble's, Freeport, and Mecks dams, on the trout fishing next season. Several hunters Woods Pond, Lake Henry. Little Swatara, Strack's dam, north of Myers- reported last year that they had never seen Westmoreland—brown trout, Tub Mill town, Annville Water Works dam, Staver's so many large trout on the spawning beds Run; brook trout, Baldwin Run, Powder Mill as they did in Slate Run. dam, and Kiawinis dam near Lebanon, and Run, Shannon Run, Linn Run, Mill Creek, Coalbrook dam on the Conewago Creek with South Fork Mill Creek, North Fork Mill A great trip for any fisherman next spring bullhead catfish ranging in size from six and Creek; sunfish, St. Vincents Lake, Four Mile would be a drive over this new road to Lee­ one-half to nine inches and bluegill sunfish Run; catfish, Four Mile Run; frogs, Four tonia and then to Slate Run. Fine brook fingerlings. mile Run. trout fishing could be had in the morning in some of the larger branches, and in the after­ Wyoming — sunfish, Chamberland Pond, noon and evening the big brown trout could Nigger Pond, Edinger Pond; catfish, Cham­ be tackled. Pine Creek, Painter Run, Four berland Pond, Nigger Pond, Edinger Pond. Mile Run, and other streams difficult of ac­ Stunned, Perhaps, But Not York—brook trout, Orson Run, Toms Run, cess before the building of the road are now "Out" Otter Creek, Fishing Creek, Leibs Creek. easily accessible. John Lookatch and Early Aley of Galeton vouch for this episode sub­ mitted by Warden Dewey Grant of ONE-ARMED ANGLER MAKES CATCH CATCHES FIVE-POUND BASS Galeton. It concerns one of Pine Creek's famous big trout, and it hap­ Five fine smallmouth bass were taken re­ One of the finest smallmouth bass taken pened when the trout season was in cently from the Aughwick Creek by F. S. from the Juniata River this year was caught full swing. Hetrick, one-armed constable of Bellwood. recently by Charles Figard of Bellwood, ac­ The Galeton anglers were fishing in Constable Hetrick is a skilful fisherman cording to Warden Link Lender. Figard was a pool inhabited by a brown trout re­ fishing near Newton Hamilton when he and each year scores nice catches, according putedly two feet long or over. It was caught a bass weighing five pounds. to Warden Lincoln Lender of Bellwood. just the right time in the evening to expect a strike. Suddenly their atten­ tion was drawn to a commotion in the In extracting a fish hook from the hand BUILD DAMS shallow water at the head of the pool. or other parts of the body, push the point Assisted by workers from C. C. C. camp A big fish was threshing about in the on through as near the place where it went number 50, in Huntingdon County, Warden shallows, apparently in pursuit of a in as is possible, and cauterize the wound Link Lender of Bellwood recently installed terror-stricken minnow. As both fisher­ at once with a good antiseptic. Don't pull 41 small dams on Detweiler Run, a trout men were using minnows for bait, the hook back. stream in Huntingdon County. they momentarily expected a response from the big fellow, after the water had calmed down where it had been feed­ ing. Lookatch a few minutes later ob­ served a big fish floating downstream, and pointed it out to Aley. It was undoubtedly the monarch of the pool. Its only movements were a few feeble twitches, and it was gasping as though in distress as it floated by. Aley touched it with his foot. In a flash, it came to life and darted to deep water. The theory is advanced that in some way, while pursviing the minnow in shallow water, it had struck a rock, THIS BROWN TROUT WAS 31 INCHES IN LENGTH AND WEIGHED NINE temporarily stunning itself. POUNDS NOTE THE LONG. HOOKED JAWS CHARACTERISTIC OF OLD SPEC­ IMENS OF THE BROWN TROUT SPECIES 16 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER

HERE \ THERE ^^—

N ANGLERDOM

October Bass Central Pennsylvania anglers look forward Kill Copperhead Snake to autumn fishing as the time of season Swimming Across Stream when the big fellows come to creel. Bass Observing a snake swimming the waters in Cumberland and Perry counties, Raystown Branch while they were pa- the famous Condoguinet in Cumberland Coun­ troling recently, Wardens Lender and ty, and Sherman's Creek, ace fishing stream Keebaugh approached it to within shooting distance. They had seen the in Perry, are living up to preseason predic­ snake enter the water from the oppo­ tions of catches of large bass. October an­ site shore, and Keebaugh opened fire gling yielded some real prizes. George James, on it with his pistol. A well-placed warden at Carlisle, reported the catches. shot cut the reptile in half, and in­ While trying his luck on the Conodoguinet vestigation revealed it to be a large at Rolling Hill on the 14th, Robert Zearing copperhead snake. of Balfour, caught a smallmouth bass weigh­ ing three and one half pounds. A crayfish was used as bait. Bruce Flegal of Carlisle Columbia anglers are having good fishing caught a beautiful specimen of the small- in the Susquehanna this autumn. Gordon mouth clan at Good Hope Mill on a crayfish. Wilson, mail carrier, recently landed a small­ His catch lipped the scales at three pounds, mouth bass weighing four pounds, 15 ounces. 11 ounces, and was made on the 19th. A Edward Nisley caught ten bass below the smallmouth weighing four pounds, one ounce, Holtwood dam averaging one and a half was taken in the Conodoguinet at Balfour pound per fish in weight. Fishing in Baker's on a helgramite by John Cuff, Carlisle. Quarry near Marietta, Bern Gilman caught William Brehm of Carlisle landed a four- ten bass averaging almost two pounds apiece pounder while fishing at Pine Hill on the in weight. The fish were landed in three Conodoguinet. Brehm's catch, like a number A CONNEAUT LAKE MUSK1E hours. of others, was made on a crab or crayfish, LENGTH, 47 INCHES. WEIGHT, 26 and evidently this type of live bait is an ace POUNDS. CAUGHT RECENTLY BY CHARLES MCCR1GHT. JOE CAN­ Catfish certainly are getting in the game lure this season. NON, STANDING BESIDE IT. IS 6 Sherman's Creek at Dunkelberger's in FEET ONE INCH IN HEIGHT fish class, according to Thornton Graham of Perry County yielded a fine four-pound small­ Sharon. While trolling for muskies in the Shenango River above Sharpsville, Keith mouth bass to Arthur Armstrong of Carlisle. A number of waterdogs or hell-benders Lock hooked and landed a 36-inch channel Armstrong made his catch on a large min­ were caught at Pomeroy's dam on Tuscarora catfish weighing 18 pounds. The big fish was now. Creek this summer, according to Warden taken on a white plug. Fishing below the dam at York Haven on C. V. Long, East Waterford. When an ex­ the Susquehanna River recently, Charles amination of the stomach contents of one of Brother and his son Paul made a splendid the salamanders was made, it was found to A black bass, believed to be the first to be catch of wall-eyed pike or Susquehanna sal­ contain fish ranging in length from three and taken out of the Sinnemahoning Creek aS mon. The largest wall-eye weighed five one quarter to four inches. One of the fish far upstream as Cameron in recent years, pounds, two ounces, and was 25 inches in was a sucker, and the others could not be was caught by Bud Blair of Ridgway on length. Runner-up to it in size was a pike- identified as they were partially digested. Labor Day, according to Warden Robert J- perch weighing almost five pounds. Seven Chrisman. The bass was ten inches in length- other pike in the catch ranged in length from Nice catches of pickerel have been made in 15 to 18 inches and averaged one and a Shooting watersnakes with a muzzle-load­ the Sinnemahoning this season. quarter pounds in weight. On the morning ing shotgun is a first rate method of snake following the catch, two 18-inch wall-eyes control, if you ask Calvin Croft of Waterside. were taken. Stone catfish were used as bait, Warden Link Lender reported during the The Oil City chapter of the Izaak Walton and the fish were all taken while still fishing. summer that Croft has killed 15 watersnakes League is justly proud of a fine junior league on Potter Creek in front of his house. chapter totaling 287 members. Boys in the chapter did highly commendable work in inr Old timers at fishing Lake Gordon, famous proving trout streams and in other conserva­ Trbublesome Hook tion activities during the past summer. Henry Wingard, son of the refuge largemouth bass water in Bedford County, keeper on Penn's Creek, noticed a large are of the opinion that catches of bass and other fish from the lake were better this brown trout struggling about on the Chalk up another type of food for water­ surface of the stream. After catching year than at any time in the past. An abundance of natural food for bass and snakes. J. C. Moffatt, ardent angler of Glen- it, according to Warden Art Snyder of shaw, writes that after killing a large water- Mifflinburg, Wingard found a small wall-eyed pike assures consistently good bass fishing in this popular lake next year. snake in the Raystown Branch of the Juniata hook embedded in its back. The trout River, he examined its stomach contents and measured 20% inches in length. found that it had just feasted on two newlJ" Pickerel spawn in March and April. born muskrats. A SPRING FEEDER STREAM Paul IN Swanson P.O. Box 5 Sec. 562, P. L . &R. Wesley ?«•• U. S. POSTAGE PAID Harrisburg, Pa. Permit No. 270

Season Farewell OVEMBER thirtieth brings the curtain down N on one of the greatest game fish seasons in recent 2?ears. And now, when long evenings loom, comes the angler's season of reveries. Remember that giant bass that fooled you just when you thought he was yours, or that big wall-eyed pike that fought deep down until it broke awa^)? When the pipe smoke wreathes toward the ceil­ ing, and you're in your easy chair — thinking back — about TOUR stream—these revery hours are happj) hours. And winter-time is revery time. From the action angle, however, don't forget that some great catches of suckers are in the offing for win­ ter fishermen.