, WNSYLVAMA DECEMBER—1979 Keystone State's Official FISHING BOATING * agler Magazine... ^ 40c Single Copy ERIE'S NIGHTMARE

I his year, Erie County experienced the best salmon fishing season in history. Most of this success was due to the return of a record stocking of young coho salmon (971,000) by the Pennsylvania Fish Commission in the spring of 1978. Coho salmon have a three-year life cycle; they are reared in our fish cultural stations and kept in holding stations until they reach proper smoking age, then released. In September and October of 1979, they returned by the thousands. The chinook salmon, first introduced by the Fish Commission in Lake Erie in 1971, has a five-year cycle; and, since our earlier releases were small fish, little return has been realized. We are, however, holding a number of these for 18 months before smolting and expect better future returns. The tributaries to Lake Erie in Pennsylvania are very small. And, although adequate flows exist for smolting juveniles, the return of large numbers of adult fish running five to eight pounds provided the background for a nightmare! Some of these tributaries have been declared nursery waters in their entirety; on others, portions have been declared nursery waters for the purpose of securing spawn for succeeding generations of salmon. Surplus salmon are either transported to inland lakes to provide additional recreational fishing, or sold, at high bid, to a commercial fishery. Although the Fish Commission had attempted, early in the salmon program, to secure property for parking and public use facilities along a number of tributaries, including Trout Run, the expected resistance from landowners mandated our acquiring additional property only on Walnut Creek. This has developed into what might be called a "mini-state park"! Our public use building at Walnut Creek will be completed over the next couple of years. What bothers us is people's reactions: the horror stories from our beefed-up law enforcement patrols in Erie County, from the news media, and from disgusted anglers ... it proves that all of the slobs were not depicted in "The Guns of Autumn." Lined up, elbow-to-elbow, at the mouths of the tributaries, these people fought each other, knocking each other down to command a better spot for snagging fish; kicking, stomping, netting . . . even extending their activities into nursery waters where a great number of them were promptly and properly arrested. One pair even devised a bomb which, tragically, exploded prematurely — one of those young men lost both his hands. We arrested a public official in a business suit, complete with shirt, tie, and vest, and no boots, wading glassy-eyed into the nursery waters on Trout Run! The Fish Commission cooperated with local municipalities and the Erie County Health Department in restoring some semblance of order to this intolerable display of odious human behavior: parking on private property, cleaning fish on front lawns . . . relieving themselves on private property! To help alleviate this insufferable mess, portable toilets were installed, through a cooperative effort, on Trout Run where no public land is available; trash was picked up; warning signs were posted. In early October, the Commission opened greater lengths of Elk Creek, Walnut Creek, Crooked Creek, and Twenty Mile Creek, followed shortly by permitting trout and salmon fishing in all Lake Erie tributary streams, except designated nursery waters. One thing is certain: the 1980 returns of coho will not be in any record numbers such as were seen in 1979. Our water supply problems and disease cut the number of coho salmon smolts drastically, and that will show up in the 1980 run. We think the salmon program is a success. Certainly those motels and other businesses in Erie County which have benefitted from the influx of tourists and anglers should agree to that. We also noted how relatively few slobs it takes to turn a clean sport into a nightmare. Unfortunately, the atmosphere is infectious, and people who would have never thought of illegally snagging fish turned to that unsportsmanlike conduct to "get their share." We are going to do our best, with sportsmen's cooperation, to see that this does not happen again. The program is too good to have it ruined by ungrateful slobs! Ralph W. Abele Executive Director Pennsylvania Angler

Pennsylvania's Official Fishing & Boating Magazine Published Monthly by the PENNSYLVANIA FISH COMMISSION, COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA Richard L. Thornburgh, Governor

MEMBERS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA FISH COMMISSION John A. Hugya, President Johnstown Leonard A. Green, Vice President Carlisle William Cox Elysburg William O. Hill Erie Walter F. Gibbs Reno Calvin J. Kern Whitehall Sam Guaglianone Johnsonburg Jerome E. Southerton Honesdale James J. Stumpf Laughlintown

MEMBERS OF THE BOATING ADVISORY BOARD Nicholas Apfl, Chairman Fairless Hills Clayton Buchanan Pittsburgh Sherwood Krum Hawley Charles Chattaway Monongahela Leon Lyon Beliefonte

Volume 48 - No. 12 CONTENTS December, 1979

Jig Time in December by Tom Fegely 6 Cold Water Walleyes by Bob Korosa 9 The Point by Wes Bower 12 Safety on Ice by Virgil Chambers 16 Juniata River Musky Fishing by David R. Thompson 19 Lake Wilhelm's Panfish by Richard E. Faler, Jr 24 Economy Fishing Outfit by Frank Lucas 26

FRONT COVER Talk about die-hard fishermen! The story of some hot action during cold weather begins on page 6 of this issue. Dr. Dale Steventon in the foreground is wearing a "float coat" which offers protection from both the cold weather and an unexpected dip, should one occur. Smokey Schaffer, who stood up cautiously for the picture, wears a PFD vest under a heavy outer garment. Photo by Tom Fegely.

BACK COVER Staff Photographer Russell Gettig has captured, once again, the beauty of winter along one of Pennsylvania's streams. Winter photography, when you are not too engrossed in your fishing, can be an exceptionally rewarding experience.

MONTHLY COLUMNS WATERSIDE WANDERINGS 2 FLY TYING 28 MEALS FROM THE CREEL 4 STREAM NOTES 30 ANGLER'S NOTEBOOK 32

James F. Yoder, Editor

POSTMASTER: All 3579 forms to be returned to the office of the Pennsylvania Fish Commission, P.O. Box 1673, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 17120. The Pennsylvania Angler, (ISSN 0031-434X), Copyright 1979, is published monthly by the Pennsylvania Fish Commission, 3532 Walnut Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Second Class postage paid at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and at additional mailing offices. Subscription rates: One year—$4.00; Three years—$10.00; 40 cents per single copy. Send check or money order payable to the Pennsylvania Fish Commission. Do Not Send Cash. Changes of address should reach us promptly giving both old and new addresses, including both zip codes. Subscriptions received and processed by the end of the month will begin with the second month following. The Pennsylvania Fish Commission will not assume responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, or illustrations while in their possession or in transit. Communications pertaining to the magazine should be addressed to: The Editor, Pennsylvania Angler, Pennsylvania Fish Commission, P.O. Box 1673, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Unsolicited materials, manuscripts, or photos will not be returned unless accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope for their return. Waterside Wanderings

by Linda Steiner

D<"ecembe r is marked by ice guides, turns monofilament line into knows who has put a filled, capped formation and at this time of year the stiff wire and freezes to woolen gloves container in the freezer. This is als° waters of the state are slowly locking and jackets. The hazards of being a the reason why the ice is on the top of up in frozen form so that soon the only winter fisherman! a lake. recreation for the angler will be In the transformation from liquid to The coldest water in a lake is fishing through small holes cut in ice solid, water is an incredible substance. always just below the ice, and the 1 covered lakes. But right now, I find It is an excellent heat retainer, as it warmer water is beneath that, so tha myself between fishing seasons. requires unusually large amounts of only the shallowest ponds ever free2 With Pennsylvania's lakes and warming and cooling to raise or lower solid. It is no wonder that when ice ponds still becoming ice, the surface is its temperature even one degree. That fishing, I usually find that the fish ar often too thin to stand on and too is why a big body of water always has near the bottom. thick to fish through. This always a mitigating effect on the climate of While I am waiting for all this to seems to be the case when I can get the area surrounding it, both summer happen, I am most often along the some time to go winter trout fishing in and winter. waterside in December while engag one of the lakes which the Fish But when water does freeze, as is in other outdoor activities, such as Commission stocks. I guess I'll just happening in ponds and lakes across hunting, hiking, ski touring, or jus1 have to wait for the ice so I can trade the state, it is doing something else rambling — if the snow isn't too de my spinning rod for a jigging pole, or that is quite remarkable. As in most Along with the transformation of be lucky enough to go out on one of substances, water becomes denser as it water to ice comes the first of the those December days that feel like cools, but unlike many other liquids, it season's deep snowfalls and, if I ca lingering fall or early spring, and find doesn't simply become thicker and do nothing else, I can be there to the lake clear. heavier until it freezes solid. appreciate the change that snow afl Most of the larger streams and When water cools to about 39 ice make in the appearance of .s rivers are open yet. 1 see the walleye degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Pennsylvania's lakes and streams- and musky fishermen out on them in Celsius), it expands slightly, becoming fun to take my camera or sketch Pa ^ their small boats until the creeks are less dense and lighter. That very cold along because water, cold and suni e choked with ice and, along the water will float, therefore, and as it team up to produce some haunting > shoreline, the floes pile up like reaches 32 degrees F. (0 degrees C), beautiful scenes. icebergs. Splashing water freezes to and actually freezes, it becomes even A nighttime ice storm had turne'd the metal boats, ice clogs the rod more buoyant and expands, as anyone the mountainside I was climbingin

PENNSYLVANIA ANGl 'flittering land of crystallized trees brilliant white and the ice flashed the winter snow and ice settles in. The '^ branches, and when the morning prism rainbows. The shadow of a canyon of Shohola Falls often u" appeared, it set them glowing. In chickadee swooped in and the bird produces an unusual scene when the j'e fragile, glasslike world; slim found a spider under a loose piece of springs and runoff water, which gers of ice hung from every limb bark on a bush overhanging the creek. usually drip over the rock cliffs, freeze ^ leaf and cascaded in frozen sheets In another season the spider may have to form tall, white, cascading ytti rocks and bushes. But in the icy spun a web there and caught caddis columns, tinted with hints of blue, dryland the forest had now become, flies and other insects emerging from green and stained pinkish brown from i% one sound could be heard, besides and flying over the little stream. seeping soil. Je occasional tinkling of the natural If you spend any time outdoors in Along the shore of Lake Erie in '^ndeliers as one ice-covered branch the winter, no doubt this description early winter, the wave action of the .°uched another, only one thing of a woodland creek mantled in ice lake on frigid structures surrounding lurried to still be in motion. and snow reminds you of one you have it creates unusually beautiful and °"tinuing up the hill and dropping seen. Then you will also agree that, grotesque ice formations from ^o a hollow, I found the murmuring although in this case the glassy world familiar objects. A dock develops a *as from a tiny creek, Wolf Run. Of caused by the ice storm would thick coating of ice as the waves wash ; urse, there are no longer any wolves disappear as the sun rose and melted it and the temperature drops. Icicles Southwestern Pennsylvania, but the it, waterfalls are particularly good form in rows, like layer upon layer of attie did not seem incongruous with places to see the more lasting effects fringes along its sides. Spars or '^e little stream hidden in the of water and cold. driftwood trees become huge ice °Untain hollow, especially when the One head-high falls in the castles, complete with spires, towers ^Oty and ice made the setting seem and ice pillars on every floor. Tree Str northwestern part of the state, below ange . . . wild. which we often fished in the branches grow rows of icicle teeth. The run has its source in the yet But the effect vanishes when the lake "frozen hemlock swamp on the itself freezes, and looking out from the °Untaintop, where turkeys and deer shore now, I have an impression of • ay still feed on the soft plants. Even what the frozen arctic of flat .a winter, the waters of the state are a whiteness and heaving ice ridges must °cal point for wildlife activity, look like. Specially where they remain ice-free Along many rivers and creeks, Ue to the motion of the water or the which are still relatively warm when Presence of springs. the first northern air blasts through , downstream, raccoons and a mink the state, the mist rising from the ad visited the waterside. Their tracks water, like your breath on a cold day, " the snow had been preserved by the freezes to streamside trees, producing °'aze from the ice storm, and I could an early morning hoarfrost, sometimes 'H see where they had been digging over an inch thick. This gives the " the soft bank along the stream or appearance of it having snowed only P°ked under rocks and logs. They along the waterway. Fragile ice , ere no doubt looking for a meal of a crystals coat every limb, twig and 'bernating frog, salamander, snake, springtime, sends up a shower of spray shoreline weed. If you want to take even some insects, that in frigid weather freezes to trees advantage of this ephemeral ,Verwintering as torpid adults, fat and streamside rocks and bushes, photographer's dream, be there early arVae, or masses of eggs. creating the same crystalline effect. before the rising sun destroys it. Where I stood, Wolf Run had been But one day that I was there I noticed The freshwater of Pennsylvania, as /ansformed by the season into the that something about the falling water elsewhere, is interesting for its '"d of picture you see on holiday seemed strange. The liquid itself life-giving properties, and it provides a ards. Shadowing the creek was a appeared unusual, and I commented medium of existence for all the fishes anopy of green, ice-glazed leaves of at the time that the falls looked as if, and other organisms that live ^°untain laurel and rhododendron, had the water not been moving, it immersed in it. But as it freezes it , hile from overhanging snow banks, would have frozen in place! displays a physical beauty all its own, 0r>g icicles dripped to the water. The It wasn't an illusion. Cold water is quite apart from its other roles. From re ek water itself was clear and I physically thicker, more viscous is the the intricate formations of ice crystals °ndered if the light-colored sand and chemical word, than hot. As it reaches and snowflakes, to the almost alien r ° avel bottom hid the eggs of the temperature at which it is most world created out of familiar a "-spawning brook trout, arrested in dense, near 39 degrees F., it is streamside surroundings, it works its ^ir development until spring. heaviest and thickest, and this is magic on the landscape with snow and I could sometimes see small trout in noticeable under certain conditions. ice. If you're fishing this month, just ^ shaded portions of the creek in the Very hot water seems thin and checking the ice thickness on the lake ^tnmertime, but now there were only splashy, and is. from time to time, or outdoors for ty water and deep blue shadows of On the opposite side of the state, some other recreation, you'll find the *Je hemlocks. Where the sun pierced the Pocono Region, with its many waterside world is a different world in "rough the branches, the snow was waterfalls, is particularly beautiful as December.

ECEMBER — 1979 fish is governed by the season ano quality of the water they are ta" , from. Even trout, shad, pickerel a taste panfish will acquire an "off' when caught in water that has bee" roiled by several days of heavy rain- Carp, one of nature's vacuum de , ers, are bottom feeders and suck >° from river, pond or lake bottoms, sef rating the edible portion and sPeW' ^ the undesirable mud and sand D into the water, causing it to bec° murky. If your disposable vacU 1i cleaner bag splits while in use lU'<• your room is suddenly filled with n" . ing dust particles, you'll understa the feeding habit of the carp. Even j ally the dust will settle to floor leV6' We 've said it before; we 'II say it again: properly prepared, the carp dust- is delicious table fare. The author tells many ways it can be done. meantime you'll be inhaling Carp feed more often than you use your vacuum with a split bag, resu ltin? when the "Saturday night bath" was a in the water being roiled more oftet1. MEALS ritual, and the bathtub was used on The filter system in the vacuum c other weekdays to keep the fish alive. be replaced — but not so with from the The biggest complaint about carp is carp. The red "mud" stripe runn1 j the muddy taste it usually has but this under the skin and the full length . can be eliminated by keeping the fish the carp's body acts as a filter a CREEL alive until you get home and then collecting point as does the vac1uoi f not by Margaret Karch Zaimes placing it in cold water for several bag. Unfortunately the stripe is. days. Now this is where the home replaceable while the fish is l'vl~. bathtub came into the act. It was the This is where the running cold ^a perfect spot for the housewife to store cleansing process enters the scene. Opurn me not ... I am good that live carp and permit it to cleanse Being on the slippery side, as tr str eating if treated kindly." This should itself. are, it is a good idea to add °a| seV be the chant of the much-maligned Today's life style requires a daily vinegar to the purging water She carp. Unfortunately, most people have bath or shower ... and who would hours before removing the fish- j never tried the prolific breeder that is want to share the tub with a good- fish will exude a gelatinous film a overpopulating many of Pennsylva­ sized carp? If you are lucky enough to make it much easier to handle W1 nia's waters. have two bathrooms available for the cleaning it. s Carp are not native to the U.S. Back family to use, lend the extra one to a Don't ignore the sporting qual , in 1870, however, it was one of the carp for several days. Being a bottom of the carp — it is a hard nip . world's most important freshwater feeder, the carp won't even think of You'll find it is a cagey "devil" a food fish. Our federal government jumping out. Allow a little fresh water does require as much expertise on . considered this a good reason for to continue running into the tub, just part of the angler as any other importing and releasing carp in East­ enough for the overflow drain to carry sought. „ ern U.S. waters. However, the ready off the excess. Toss in a handful or two It is optional as to whether 7 availability of meat and other fish at of uncooked Mother's Oats to sustain purge the carp you catch. Some , that time prevented it from becoming the scaly critter during the cleansing glers do and others prefer to clean a a popular fish in the average house­ process. filet them immediately. . „ hold. Lacking the desire to share your We have found the folloV^J Ignored by fishermen, the carp tub, any good-sized leak-proof con­ method for dressing a catch is 1u' continued to breed and spread from tainer can be used outdoors to do the and easy. Using a long, sharp fi'etliki ponds and lakes into streams. It pref­ job. If you have recently replaced your knife, make the first cut diagon3 ers warm waters but it never scorns the indoor tub, make it into a decorative behind the gill plate and head, cut e cold waters of Pennsylvania and will outdoor pool, plant flowers around it; right down to the backbone. ^ jt survive wherever it can find sufficient plug the bottom drain and use it for insert the point of the knife and ru food. carp purging. Right handy when you next to the backbone with the cut Many years ago, fish markets were decide to have fish for dinner in the edge pointing toward the dorsal fin- tJ equipped with large retaining tubs next day or two. you move the knife toward the ns containing fresh water to keep carp I'm sure the carp would not be tail, slice gently toward the d°^ t alive until sold. No housewife in the scorned by today's angler if he knew making sure to keep the blade ^- j] know would purchase carp unless it how to eliminate the muddy taste that against the bones. In this way, v° ^ was alive. This was back in the days is frequently present. The flavor of all be cutting all the meat away from

PENNSYLVANIA ANGL n ^nes. When the knife reaches the tail, toes are unavailable, cover onion slices snacks in the following way: Frank j "0u'll have the upper half of the filet with canned or stewed tomatoes. Bake skins and removes the bones of a four- Se e parated from the fish. Then, cut at 350 degrees until fish flakes easily. or five-pound carp and cuts the meat ^refully over the entire length of the Smaller filets may be layered with into two-inch-thick chunks and covers backbone and repeat the cutting away stuffing between each layer. them with what he calls a "regular Process on the lower half of the filet. Another method for pre-treating the brine" with saltpeter added. A large J Turn the fish over and do the same fish is to sprinkle all sides with kosher crock or glass jar is used — never a hing on the other side. When you've salt and let stand for a half-hour in a metal container — and then he stores „ finished, the head, rib cage, backbone nonmetal dish. Prepare in the follow­ the filled crock in a refrigerator for ^ and tail will be in one piece and can be ing manner. about a month. He was not quite sure t discarded. 2 lbs carp filet cut into serving sized of the proportions — he has been D Now, you're ready to skin the fish. pieces doing it so many years he no longer j f-ay the filet, skin side down, just 2 strips bacon, diced measures the ingredients. '"side the edge of your table or coun- 2 or 3 onions, finely chopped After brining time is completed, the j !er. Make the initial cut about a half- '/t tsp dill seed fish chunks are removed and thor­ '^ch from the tail, being careful to cut '/2 tsp paprika oughly washed. The washed chunks °nly through the meat and not through Butter are drained and air-dried before plac­ 'he skin. When the blade reaches the 1 cup sour cream ing on smoker racks. Cold smoke for "tin, turn the cutting edge toward the While fish is salt curing, fry bacon, about a half hour. , fiead end of the filet and, with the add chopped onions and stir in dill We recommend using kosher salt in "lade flat against the table or counter seed and paprika. Continue stirring all the above salting processes in „ J°P, slice the meat away from the skin. until onion is lightly browned. preference to ordinary table salt e 't helps to hold the tail end of the filet Coat inside of a bake-and-serve loaf because it is pure salt and does not 2 *ith your free hand while making the pan liberally with butter. Shake off" as contain any additives. I' Cut- much salt as possible from the filets Carp flesh is firm and sweet tasting When both filets have been skinned, and place a layer of fish over bottom of when the fish is taken from the cold - Vou can easily cut away the strip of red pan. Spread half the onion and bacon waters of late autumn or in early , ^eat that holds the "muddy taste." mixture over fish. Cover with the March — just after the ice moves off Incidentally, this is a good way to remaining filets and top with bacon- the rivers. f filet any fish. onion mixture. My friend, Mary Taggert, of Moo- Wash filets thoroughly in cold water Pour '/2 cup sour cream over all and sehead Lodge in Quebec Province, a t | ld they are ready to prepare in any of bake at 425 degrees until fish flakes Canada, sent me the following recipe , ^e following ways. when fork tested, Pour remaining half for Sweet and Sour Fish with Pineap­ A. J. McClane, author of the Ency- cup of sour cream over the top and ple. To make, assemble the following: e tfopedia of Fish Cookery, recom- bake for an additional five minutes. 1 lb fish cut into y4 inch pieces J fiends using a dry marinade to Garnish with fresh dill or parsley when 2 eggs . jtiprove the flavor of carp before cook- serving. '/i tsp salt 'ng.To make the marinade you'll need: Perhaps you like your fish broiled. '/A tsp yellow food coloring s 1 cup finely ground onion, including If so, cut the belly portion and fatty 1 '/i cups cold water, divided the juice lower side from filets and broil in 2 cups flour j 1 cup kosher salt preheated broiler. Brush frequently Mix together eggs, salt, coloring , 2 tbsp vinegar with bacon drippings while broiling. and half the water. Beat two minutes. , 1 tsp black pepper Fish should be about 2 inches below Add flour and mix well. Add remain­ '/s tsp grated mace heat source. ing water and beat until batter is crea­ , Combine all ingredients and mix To make a tasty appetizer, wrap my. If batter is too thick, add a little thoroughly. Place fish on nonmetal oyster size chunks in bacon strips and more water to make batter creamy. j Platter and spread marinade over the broil until fish flakes easily. Meanwhile, heat vegetable oil or fish. Allow to stand for one hour. Carp, like many fish, is delicious shortening in deep fryer. , Wash fish in pan of cold water to when smoked and makes excellent Dip each piece of fish into batter I remove all traces of surface salt. snacking food. and deep fry until golden. Drain and , No additional seasonings will be To smoke, trim away fatty belly keep hot in warm oven while making needed if marinated fish is cooked in portions of filets when cleaning fish. the following sweet and sour sauce: a , ny of the following ways: Wash fish with salt water and then '/2 cup white vinegar 3 To pan fry, cut fish into about /»- lightly cover with dry salt, allow to 2'/2 tbsp cornstarch •nch thick strips. Dip each strip in cold stand overnight in the refrigerator. 4 tsp water i ^ater and then roll in unseasoned fine The following day, rinse clean, drain 5 tbsp brown sugar i oread crumbs or a half-and-half and pat dry with paper toweling. Put 5 tbsp catsup i fixture of flour and cornmeal. filets on smoker rack. Do not try hang­ Mix all ingredients. Heat and To bake, stuff half or whole filet ing them or they will fall apart. Smoke continue stirring until sauce is hot and ^ith your favorite bread stuffing and for several hours in a hot smoker so thickens. Heap fried fish into a deep fold other half over it; close with tooth- they will be completely cooked. platter or bowl and top with 1 cup . Picks. Cover top of fish with thin slices Frank Zionkoski of Wilkes-Barre drained pineapple chunks. Pour hot I °f onion and tomatoes. If fresh toma- smokes his "finger lickin good" carp sauce over all.

DECEMBER- 1979 5 "Heavy" is the action to be had using an ultralight wand during..

Jig Time in December

by Tom Fegely photos by the author

D on't be too hasty about stashing away that ultralight outfit. Thoug11 your mind may be on deer hunting ° the upcoming ice fishing season at tn moment, there's still plenty of g°° freshwater fishing left in Pennsylva; nia's lakes. In fact, this "jig time period of the year, prior to freeze-uP' may be the most productive of 1979- A case in point is a perch fishing trip I took with a couple friends JuS prior to the deer season last yea,; Accompanied by Tom "SmokeY Schaffer and Dr. Dale Steventon, botlj of Allentown, we launched our boa onto a Pocono Mountain lake that * knew had a hefty population of PeT° _ The author unhooks a fat perch taken on ultralight tackle and a jig. Note — plus largemouth bass, chain plC use ofPFD. All in party were wearing Personal Flotation Devices. erel and crappies. "Doc" Steventon, next page, wore increasingly popular "float coat." But it was the prospect of comin^

P E N N S Y LVANIA ANGL E* That's real snow falling on Dr. Dale Steventon, left, and Tom "Smokey" Schaffer after a hot (?) day of jigging. home with enough of the tasty perch to If keeping all those fish sounds glut­ success was realized with either a fillet and fry for the evening meal at tonous, keep in mind that the Pennsyl­ black and yellow, maribou-tailed jig or ^chaffer's Pike County cabin that vania daily panfish limit is 50 panfish a rubber, lead-headed "ugly bug" — Encouraged us to launch the electric (per person) — and perch are, indeed, also in black and yellow colors. liotor driven boat in 28 degree weath­ panfish. In addition, perch are known Whether there is any particular signif­ er. to overpopulate waters in which there icance to the use of these colors at this Early winter perch jigging is a sport is not an adequate harvest and this time of the year is open to speculation. Pursued by relatively few anglers. In lake was one such overpopulated All I know for certain is that we tried 'act, we were the only ones on the lake water. red, white, brown and green jigs and that day. By midmorning snow began All three of us used similar gear for only had minimum success. Better to fall and it only let up for about an the day's fishing. Though the makes of than 90 per cent of the catch was made hour all day. But the "hot" fishing our rods and reels were different, they when a yellow, black or yellow-black kept up all day long despite our cold were all ultralight rods, spinning reels combination was on the end of the line. cheeks and freezing fingers. In fact, by wound with four-pound-test monofila­ And why question success? day's end we'd hooked 52 yellow ment, and several types of lead jigs. Yellow perch are schooling fish. Perch, five largemouth bass and a This light equipment is instrumental Where you catch one, you'll also find dozen chain pickerel. Two of the bass in developing the "feel" of the perch's others. This means that when the cold and all of the pickerel were returned to hit and in properly working the 1/8 - weather action gets hot it stays that the water and the other 55 fish filled 1/4 ounce jigs. Though we changed way for several minutes at a time. the live well and weighted down a jigs several times throughout the cold During one 10-minute stint on that stringer. morning and afternoon, the best frigid day last year (about noontime, if

DECEMBER — 1979

^ were of the "hammer handle" varied and not legal "keeper" size. One of the problems encountered • late season angling is keeping t" upper line guides free of ice. The bes way to do it is to regularly blow warn1 air from your mouth on them a", crush the ice with your fingers. A han warmer, the type you might take alon? deer hunting, also does quick work ° the ice when held against the guides- In fact, a handwarmer gets plenty ° use on a windy, snowy, 28 degree day- Working a spinning reel with gloves' somewhat difficult so I kept my rig", hand gloveless and occasionally place it in my pocket where a hand warrfle relieved the stiff fingers. Though I didn't do it at the time, a pair of old wool gloves with the indeX finger cut out is an excellent way l both keep your hand warm and still o able to feel the line when casting. Naturally, it's also recommended that thermals and warm outer clothing be worn. Other than casting, landing fish, and pouring hot coffee from tn^ thermos, there's not too much phys'ca activity going on and those nor' winds can make you feel like a nake Dale Steventon 's hefty largemouth bass fell for a black and yellow jig. penguin on an Antarctic float trip- The bonus of such a day's fishing lS my memory serves me correctly), the hit. the table fare these fish provide. 1JJ three of us hooked and boated 15 Upon comparing notes after our cold weather the flesh is firm an" perch before the hungry nomads first two dozen fish, we determined white and there's not a better treat i° moved on or our boat drifted off the that it was on the "drop," just after the the whole family than batter-frie. hotspot. Ten of them measured 12 jig began its downward fall, that the perch fillets. Dipped in a saucer of inches or better and provided a good fish were hitting. At times they whipped eggs, rolled in bread crumb* fight on the light tackle. slammed the lure with such fervor that and fried in hot oil, my kids and tn The "secret" to catching these setting the hook was unnecessary. A devoured my whole share of black-striped fish, and the occasional few of them seemed to be so hungry panfish catch in one sitting. bass and pickerel that are attracted to that they actually swallowed the jig Though fishing with small minno* your offerings, is to first come up with and it had to be removed from deep in can probably be just as productive f° the color and style of lure that's right the throat. winter perch and bass, chances at for the day. This may require some Most times, though, a sharp upward that you'll run out of bait long befar£ experimentation but with three an­ motion at the first sign of action on the the fishing day is over when you hita glers a variety of combinations can be light end of the rod was necessary to good lake and a "hot" day as we did- tested. set the hook firmly in the perch's Then, too, it gets awful cold dipp'n^ f The technique for properly using mouth. Numerous misses accompa­ into the bait bucket time and again f° the jigs is relatively easy to master, nied the hits and it took some practice fresh minnows. though Schaffer and Steventon had to get the hang of things. That's why I'd recommend stockier four or five perch each before I hauled When a bass took the offering there up on inexpensive jigs in a variety ° my first one over the side! But the wait was no question as to its identity long styles and colors and giving this pre' was worth it as my initial catch was a before it came to the surface. Though and post-Thanksgiving sport a seriou" fat 15-incher that earned me "lunker" perch are scrappy, they don't outfight try. There are dozens of small lake honors for the day. The method that largemouths — especially the two and and shallow ponds throughout Pen11' produces in winter is to simply cast out three pounders that didn't seem to sylvania that are sure to house hungO1 about 10-15 yards, allow a few seconds have lost too much of their spunk perch. for the jig to sink, then wind it back at despite the ever-decreasing tempera­ As said earlier, this is not the tin1 a moderate speed with an occasional tures in their mountain lake domains. to stash those ultralight outfits for the twitch of the rod tip. It's this twitch Small pickerel patrolling the perch year — not when "jig time" is hotte that gives the jig the necessary action schools for immature strays were also than ever on those cold Pennsylvan>' that excites the perch and makes them enticed to the jigs but most of them waters.

8 PENNSYLVANIA ANGL E* Ji9ging ovor th& sids snows lui e to be fished at one depth for an indefinite period; a tight line detects strikes. Cold Water Walleyes

by Bob Korosa photos by the author

-I. here were still patches of ice in the Before the second swallow had keep his structure lessons in mind. The sheltered bays and coves of the lake. A landed in my stomach, Bill was calling walleye relates tightly to structure. cool breeze put a slight ripple on the for the net. "It feels like a pretty good This deep water fish will hold off chilly waters and a slate gray sky one!" Bill exclaimed. He fought the points and in the bend in creek chan­ Promised snow or sleet. Needless to fish gingerly on the light spinning nels. The fish prefers clean bottoms say, the conditions did not appear idyl- tackle. Several minutes and a couple of with sand and gravel as a base. he for a fishing adventure. mad dashes later, the four-pound Combine depth, structure and bottom "This is a perfect day for walleyes," walleye was led to the net. "Not too features and you have an outstanding "ill enthusiastically remarked. "We'll bad for a start," he noted. walleye jigging hole. rUn into a school of 'em!" That four-pounder led to a day's Once a suspected jigging hole has No matter how I tried, I couldn't total of eighteen walleyes landed. It been located, the lure must be properly hold the eagerness in my voice as Bill was my first introduction to coldwater presented. This is a part of Edworthy's

DECEMBER — 1979 •) Walleye, left, fell for a sonar type lure worked over the side of the boat. Fish apparently take rfe vibrating lure to represent a dying minnow — an easy meal- Toothy-mouthed specimen, above, went for an old favorite: & jig tipped with a piece of plastic worm — "dynamite" combo!

settles back to the bottom. Most of the can cover a point or creek channel and possibilities. strikes occur when the lure is falling. not miss a square inch of potentially Lures for coldwater walleye j A tight line will signal the strike. fish holding water. are of three basic types. There ariggine thge When jigging for walleyes in cold Bill suggests starting shallow and conventional lead head and w°rn water, a sensitive touch is an absolute gradually working deeper. If he starts combinations. The second version must. Whenever the lure "feels" on a point, he will begin his coldwater the spoon. The third model are tn different, set the hook. Many times a jigging in fifteen feet of water. He will vibrators. Bill likes to use the jig an strike will only be a hesitation in the work around a point at that depth then worm combinations for the shall°^e lure's descent. A slight halt in the gradually work deeper as he keeps an depths. He uses the heavy spoons t lure's fall should be followed by an eye on the depth finder. In this manner very deep probings. The vibrators a immediate fast set with the tip of the he eliminates where the fish aren't. used in the in-between zones. rod. Do not try to fall out of the boat in Once a walleye is taken, he will hold With jig and worm combinations- setting the hook — the walleye's the boat at that depth and work the Bill prefers to use the nonweedles mouth is not nearly as tough as a bass'. area out. Walleyes are a school fish models. This gives a slight edge ' A quick, sharp hook set will sink to and hold tightly together. Catching hook setting qualities. He will switc hooks home. The strike has to be one walleye means there are more to a fibered weedguard version immediate or the fish will release the directly below. Don't leave an area working a structure area with nea.jj artificial. where you have taken one until you cover. The fibered weedguard w' In order for the jigging system to be have tried various retrieve tactics, allow the jig to slither through tn effective, the angler must have a good depths and lures. toughest briars and branches. depth finder and watch it constantly. For creek channels, Edworthy Edworthy's choice of color is has' By using the depth finder, a fisherman chooses to work bends. He will start on black. He will add a small amount ° can cover an entire area with the same the outside bend on the shallow side bear hair to the jig in very cold *at depth and gradually work to deeper and gradually work his way to the to give a tad more action. The tnre,r water. The electric motor is a valuable middle of the channel. He then works inch worm with a quarter to one-na tool in keeping optimum boat control. his way back up the other side. This ounce lead head is the preferre By using these two tools, a fisherman tactic covers all depths and structure combination. The lighter jig is used

10 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLE shallower water and on calm days. The submerged timber. The treble hook being retrieved. This causes the lure to heavier jig is tossed into deeper ranges will tangle at times, but the heavy dart back and forth giving the impres­ and used to give better feel on windier weight of the lure will actually knock sion of a fast wiggling minnow. The days. itself free. If you do get snagged, give metal models have a solid blade body For jigging spoons Bill prefers the the lure a slack line and bounce the with a chunk of lead attached to the heavy three-quarter to full ounce spoon up and down vigorously. This base. A treble hook is attached to both Models. The heavy jigging spoon is will usually bounce it off. ends. These lures come in a variety of Sreat for working water in excess of Edworthy prefers the bright chrome shapes and sizes. twenty five feet in depth. The heavy finish in spoons. He feels the shine is Bill has a preference for the solid height gets the lure down fast. It also better detected at the dark depths of chrome models. This best imitates a 8ives the angler a better feel of the lure twenty five and thirty feet. The flash shad minnow or other baitfish. It gives and type of bottom he is fishing over. of the spoon as it falls back to the off the brightest flash in murky If the spoon hits the bottom solidly, bottom after being ripped up gives the waters. It is also seen more easily in lhen you are over good walleye impression of a darting baitfish. That twenty or twenty five feet of water. bottom. It is either a sand and gravel could be the reason so many of the Edworthy uses the quarter ounce combination or rocky. If the spoon hits strikes occur on the fall of the lure. version in the fifteen to twenty feet s oftly, you are over muck or some The real workhorse for coldwater range. He switches to the half ounce °ther soft floor. This is not desirable. jigging is the vibrating lure. These version in the twenty to twenty five The heavy jigging spoon is also come in the plastic and metal varieties. feet depths. For greater depth or 8reat for working heavy cover. Most The plastic versions have a flat surface windy conditions, the three-quarter fishermen shy away from using it in on the head to catch water as it is ounce models are employed. The vibrators are great for working Array of effective lures for cold water walleye jigging author describes. deeper water for walleyes. When they are used over the side, they give a solid feel of what is going on below. The vibrators create a lot of tension on the line. This transmits the strike well. With all three lure types the same tackle is used. The best equipment for coldwater jigging is the spinning rod and reel combo. Spinning doesn't slow up from the cold and get stiff as does baitcasting. The guides are also larger on a spinning rod which enables the stiff line to pass more easily. The spin­ ning outfit is also more easily used with gloves protecting the hands from the biting cold. A medium stiff rod of six feet is a good all around choice. Line size varies from eight- to twelve- pound-test, depending on depth being fished and water clarity. The lighter line gives better sensitivity at a greater depth. Be sure to give various lure retrieves a try. With the vertical system of fish­ ing, the lure can be worked at any depth desired. This gives the angler a chance to hesitate the lure, hop it, or bounce it in any depth water desired. Be sure to give the lure a hesitation every now and then. This represents a baitfish lying motionless and will often trigger a strike. Be sure to work the lure off the bottom. Many times walleyes will suspend two to ten feet above the lake's floor. With the verti­ cal jigging, a fisherman can zero in on those fish and add to his stringer. Give Bill's system of vertical jigging a try. You will add another dimension to your fishing repertoire and add a taste to your table.

11 All things come together at "The Point^

by Wes Bower photos by the author

.F amous fishing holes, like g°° wine, sometimes improve and ge better with age. So it is with one of tne best known fishing spots in Southed1' tral Pennsylvania: "The Point," more formally known as the Fish Comm>s' sion's Point Access Area. Named for its location at the confluence of the Juniata River an" the Raystown Branch, The Point 's located a few miles east of Hunting' don. It is the furthermost upstrea^ access area on the river owned aflo maintained by the Pennsylvania Fisn Commission for use by fishermen ana boaters. The property was purchased by the Fish Commission in 1962 ana developed over the years. Facilit'eS include a paved parking lot, a launch' ing ramp for small boats, and comf°r facilities. There are 8 similar access areas strategically located along tn

12 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLE" b c*n mean different things to different People. In our area, however, The roint has one special meaning — a 'arned good place to fish! To old timers like Frank Kowalski, '°r instance, the word Point sparks the ^collection of many a trip to his favor- "e spot dating back to just after World ^ar I. Frank is 80 years young, and 'as had many happy memories of the Jrea. The angling sage remembers the 'ong" trip from Altoona to Hunting­ don when travel wasn't as convenient as it is today. He remembers the one dollar fishing license, but with a gleam 1,1 his eye, proudly displays his two ''ollar senior fishing license of today jjnd claims it is still a darned good buy. ^owadays, Frank is usually driven to [he Point by his son along with his favorite fishing buddy," his grandson ^teve. Steve is five years old. Bob Hoenstine, a local school teach­ er, is much younger than Frank, but HS enthusiasm regarding The Point is tost as intense. Hoenstine can be found ^hing at The Point almost every day °f the year. Well known for his success 5s a musky fisherman, Bob claims that ['shing at The Point was "never better!" With fifty or more muskies to ^is credit each year, all carefully ^leased to fight another day, Bob is Ml qualified to evaluate the quality °f fishing on the Juniata River. In Edition to the many muskies, Bob a'so lands a number of fine large Mleyes each year. Who can argue ^ith this kind of success? Old-timers like Frank Kowalski talk ^bout the days when a good catch was toade up of eels, bullheads, and rock ^ass. Today's fisherman can expect sTiaIlmouth bass, walleyes and Huskies. The different species now Abundant in the river are due to the ^arm-water stocking program of the Pennsylvania Fish Commission, as Ml as pollution abatement due to the losing of certain paper mill operations upstream. The typical fishing year at The ^oint begins during the early spring Months with sucker fishermen congre­ gating along the river banks. Suckers, aHfish, and bullheads are in good sUpply and are caught in abundance ty the cool weather fishermen, most of ^hom are armed with hooks baited ^ith red worms or night crawlers, ^-ater on in the year, opening of bass Sftason will find many anglers in search "f the smallmouth. The fighting

DECEMBER — 1979 AMT HHHBHBHHHBHHL ;

.

i-^^^W^i BaS girSj

Above: a group of curious youngsters examine cave adjacent to "The Point." It's a favorite spot for "arrowhead hunting." Linda Walters, left, is trying to decide what the fish might be hitting at "The Point," the first of nine PFC access areas on the Juniata River. Linda Romberger and Jerry Stafford, right, are shown enjoying the fishing on a pleasant summer day.

bronze-backs, along with large num­ The future looks even better for triangle'." bers of sizeable rock bass, usually fishermen who use The Point! With Two large bodies of water joining make up the stringers of successful the giant Raystown Lake located form one creates a magical influen e fishermen. When late fall arrives, and approximately five miles upstream, on users of the area and when th then throughout the winter months, the influence of this impoundment is fishing is slow it's a good time to lea, you can find heavy concentrations of already being felt. Some of the species back, light up the pipe, and dream ° walleye and musky fishermen lining established in Raystown have "es­ yesteryear. the banks of The Point. Boat anglers caped" downstream, and northern Oftentimes migrating birds utiliz"1^ also congregate to fish this stopping- pike, brown trout, and striped bass are both waterways provide an eye off point for the schools of walleyes beginning to show up in the down­ changing array of sights to fuftn making their way upstream for the stream Juniata River area. Several dwell upon. Valentine contends tv spring spawning run. stripers in the eight to nine pound class The Point seems to bring out the be , Although many different types of have been taken from the river during in people, and it's often a time lures and baits are offered to the the past year. pleasant conversation and unhurt' walleyes and muskies during the cold Huntingdon County Waterways Pa­ leisure at its finest. winter months, there are two that trolman Jim Valentine reports that However, as we reflect about the of account for about ninety percent of the "The Point" continues to be a favorite past, as Frank Kowalski does, fish taken. These are the lead-headed site for young and old alike, no matter consider the present with the yo^n^ jig weighing '/> to 1 ounce and rapala what the season. Jim comments, "The breed like Bob Hoenstine, we can driJ or rebel type crank baits. Favorite Point has its regulars who are constant one conclusion, "The Point has bee" colors for jigs are yellow or white. fishermen on the premises. But week­ darned good place to fish for ma ^ Silver or gold are the most productive ends, holidays, or the early days of many years." For youngsters " colors for the artificial minnowlike various fishing seasons generally pro­ Frank's grandson Steve, the futu crank baits. duces some new faces on the 'magic looks even brighter.

14 P E N N S Y LVANIA A N G L £ If you're a traditionalist,

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blanks for each — list as many as you

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MAIL TO: someone very Pennsylvania Fish Commission Angler Circulation happy this year P.O. Box 1673 Harrisburg. Pa. 17120 at Christmas.

(If you'd like us to send a card, please specify "A Gift from ") SAFETY ON ICE

by Virgil Chambers

Boating Education Specialist

•^oon many waters of the Stay off ice during thawing spells, Commonwealth will be covered with a especially early and late winter. Ice solid layer of ice and the angler will that may be safe in the morning can again have the opportunity to enjoy turn into a booby trap by afternoon- fishing, as some would say, at its best. Be wary of areas prone to However, ice fishermen are not the fluctuating water levels such as only sportsmen that will use the ice- eddies and coves on rivers and covered waters of our state. streams, and reservoirs. Large Recreational activities such as cross­ sections of ice may no longer be country skiing, ice skating, supported by water — an extremely snowmobiling, ice boating and winter dangerous condition regardless of hiking will all give people a reason to how thick the ice might be. gather on the frozen surface. Year Avoid ice formed over running after year, more and more people are water. Currents and springs can venturing into the cold and finding erode and melt ice from below enjoyment "on the water." creating unstable or fragile ice. The most common question asked Dark areas of ice usually indicate by these subfreezing lovers of the out- this condition. of-doors is, "Is the ice thick enough?" Large bodies of water can be Ice walking or skating was always treacherous. The ice toward the considered to be safe at four inches ice center may be extremely fragile or thickness. Four inches is indeed safe the water may fail to freeze at all, for a small group of skaters or several due to the effects of wind and ice fishermen. But, no one should ever currents. travel on a frozen body of water Independent of how careful one without a thorough knowledge of the may be in checking out the conditio^ condition of the ice. This requires an of the ice, accidents of breakthrough inspection of the ice, checking it in still occur. A fall though the ice does several places for thickness and not have to end up in a tragedy if °n integrity. If conditions are has acquired the knowledge of rescu questionable, postpone the ice-borne Clear quick thinking is important, activity for another time or check out whether self, groups, or equipment i another location. used. According to the National Safety If you are the victim of a fall .j Council, regardless of ice thickness through the ice it is important to av there are still important safety rules to panic and keep movement to a follow: minimum. Minimum movement he F Whenever possible confine your to retain the air trapped in the activities to established locations. clothing which adds buoyancy to

PENNSYLVANIA AN G L E remain afloat. Do not immediately whatever equipment is available. ankles of the person ahead of him. aUempt to climb out. Trying to hoist Items like tree branches, planks, poles, Ideally, the lightest person should be Vourself over the broken edge of the ropes or even a belt or jacket could closest to the victim. Together they lce may only crack additional sections, serve as an extension to keep the can work their way toward the victim. resulting in repeated dunkings and rescuer clear of the dangerous break. After making contact and placing a 'atigue. You must try to disregard In using an extension the rescuer or secure hold on the victim, the lead 'hat initial impulse of climbing out. rescuers should not stand. Rather they individual signals for the entire 'nstead, you should slowly extend the should lay in the prone position and "chain" to wiggle back to safety. ^rms forward onto the unbroken reach out to the victim. Remember, as Equally as important as the rescue s Urface, preferably in the direction in the self-rescue it is important to lie is the first aid treatment of the victim 'fom which you came across the ice down flat on the ice to avoid after he has been brought to safety. Prior to your fall. With a good strong concentrating the weight on a smaller Ice accident victims may require *ick you should be able to crawl on surface area. Some more ideal pieces artificial respiration or Cardio­ four belly to a nearly level position, of equipment used for ice rescues — pulmonary Resuscitation (C.P.R.) hiding yourself forward to the safety when available — are ladders and which should be administered only by °f the supporting ice. It is best to small flat-bottomed boats. In using a trained individuals. If the victim is c ontinue to slide from the break until ladder, again lie flat and extend the breathing when brought to safety, fou are clear of the weak ice then roll ladder to the reach of the victim. The first aid treatment for hypothermia Yourself to safety. The sliding and flat-bottomed boat and three (cold exposure) is the next step. filing helps to distribute your weight individuals can make a very effective Treatment for hypothermia ^venly over a greater surface area, rescue. One person enters the boat e depends on the condition of the ssening the chance of breakthrough, arms hanging over the stern, body person. Mild hypothermia victims who 'f the ice does break again repeat the spread flat parallel along the craft. s show only symptoms of shivering and 9me technique until help arrives or The other two men carefully slide the are capable of rational conversation ^ntil you have reached safety. A more boat to the victim. Once contact is may require only removal of wet Effective way of pulling yourself up made the victim can possibly enter the a clothes and replacement with dry nd out of the freezing water is to craft over the stern or the boat can be clothes or blankets. carry a couple of spiked objects with slid back bringing the victim up and In more severe cases where the ^hich to get an anchor in pulling out of the dangerous hole of cold victim is unconscious or semi­ Yourself up and away from the broken water. edge. conscious, immediate steps must be A more common setting is a fall taken to begin the rewarming process. All too often, when someone falls through the ice and no available Again, training in first aid is trough the ice well-meaning would- rescue equipment nearby. In this case recommended. "e rescuers also break the ice because it may be necessary to form a human If you enjoy the ice for your winter °f a poorly thought out attempt to chain. To form the chain, several activity, be patient. I can assure you, J'sscue. In assisting a victim of a rescuers are needed. The rescuers, by we will have our frozen lakes and "reakthrough it is best to use lying flat on the ice, hold onto the streams for many cold months ahead.

DECEMBER — 1979 17 Considered the dean of Juniata musky fishermen, having caught over 500 muskies, Bob Cook's goal is a 50-incn

18 PENNSYLVANIA ANGL1" winter musky fishing on the I Juniata River

by David R. Thompson photos by the author

•1. he cold underwater world of the have no reason to stretch the truth. Stydinger, because for years winter •Wiata River in winter has the poten­ They have spent hundreds, nay thou­ fishing has produced the largest mus­ tial today to warm the hearts of an- sands of hours learning specialized kies. "November 1 is when I consider illers with the savvy and stamina to musky fishing skills and their quarry's musky fishing really starts," he says. Pursue Pennsylvania's largest and habits. When they compare this river "We fish when it's so miserable it isn't Much coveted gamefish, the trophy with other musky hot spots in the fit to be outdoors." Muskellunge. United States and Canada, their But the rewards of catching muskel­ The river's reputation grows conclusion is unanimous: the Juniata is lunge are worth the pain. Muskies Readily each winter when muskel- best. They both sight and catch more aren't caught on every outing, of Mnge of 25 to 30 pounds are landed muskies in this Pennsylvania river course, but they are observed following *ith more regularity than most fisher- than elsewhere. lures or caught on enough days to Men realize. In fact, Central Pennsyl­ The river is a constant source of make any outing promising. vania musky fishermen who know the happiness and surprises for Dick It is the promise of catching a mon­ fiver intimately maintain the Juniata Owens, the man who stocked the first ster musky that brings Bob Cook of M winter has become the best place to muskellunge fry in the Juniata in 1965 Lewistown to the river during winter ^sh for trophy muskellunge. and who doubted from the beginning when most men are relaxing in the And when do muskies bite best? that anything worthwhile would result. warmth of their homes. Many consider Bright, sunny days are best and we "I was skeptical about it developing Cook, 61, dean of Juniata River tet the most action between 10 a.m. into the major fishery it is today," he muskellunge fishermen. He has *1d 2 p.m.," Stydinger says, adding admits, glancing toward the mounted caught over 500 of them. Last winter Mat it isn't necessary to be on the river 't daybreak when, in his experience, "ot many muskies are caught. Muscollonge in the Susquehanna It isn't unusual to find musky fisher- A few years ago, the Commission began the experiment of planting muscollonge in Men plying their trade on the Juniata the Susquehanna River. Within the last or two (sic) a few of these fish have been taken, ^hile everyone else is rushing to enough to give encouragement that they may be established eventually, if planting can ^mplete Christmas shopping. Last be persisted in. Unfortunately the chief difficulty in the way is the securing of eggs or a tear on December 23 at least ten few mature fish for breeding purposes. Huskies were caught. And on New 'ear's Day musky anglers know how (Excerpt from Report of the State Commissioners of Fisheries 1899.) M celebrate: they go fishing, of course! V J Accomplished Juniata River musky muskellunge heads on the wall of his alone he took 30 legal ones, seven in ^hermen have become conservation- South Central Division Fish Commis­ one day. "All I want now is a 50- winded and usually release fish under sion Headquarters at Mifflintown incher, and there are some in here," he ^ inches. "I never thought I'd see a where he is the regional supervisor. says. "ay when people would be contemp- Now he's proud of the success of the While Cook and Stydinger are two Mous of a thirty-six inch fish," Owens musky stocking program. "I feel the of the river's most experienced and ays. "Today these good fishermen are Juniata River has better fishing now successful musky fishermen, Mike Cutting them back in the river." than it ever did," he says. Brown of Thompsontown RD repre­ It is this unselfish attitude of fisher- Owens needn't convince Ray Sty­ sents the new breed of Juniata River Men that will help the Juniata River to dinger of Thompsontown about the musky angler. Brown's accomplish­ e main the trophy muskellunge fishery river's excellent musky fishing. Sty­ ments in the 3'/2 years he's concen­ '' has become. It is a river offering dinger was among the original handful trated on catching muskellunge border 'Mallenge and those who know it best of anglers who accepted the challenge on phenomenal. Last winter he took *re certain that the greatest trophy of musky fishing when the stocked fish his 100th musky, and he remembers it ^Usky of them all is lying like a log at grew to legal size (30 inches). Last well. his very moment waiting to warm the winter he caught a 34'/2-pound mus­ "It was the last day of the season 'earts of winter fishermen. kellunge in the Juniata. and I needed to catch five muskies to Now this is no boast. Besides, The fact that the huge fish was meet my goal of thirty for the year," Mniata River muskellunge fishermen taken during winter didn't surprise he says. He not only reached his goal,

DECEMBER — 1979 19 iiiiim •IIIBIIIHI imiujaiMiiimwBMniia HMWMIBIHIMIHI •HIIIIIUMUMII MUMiiiHiiwiH i n^niwuiHiiiiPiiwwimMm—!•• —TIMIIMII^B

Bob Cook ties on lure for a day of winter fishing. Gaff he uses for those he keeps leans handily on his tackle box- he caught his largest musky ever: a larly the mouths of Cocolamus, Jack's water's cold — is vital." 43-incher weighing 25 pounds. His and Tuscarora Creeks. Knowledgeable Considering that winter anglers are exuberance that day echoed up the anglers explore the eddies along shore fishing current, eddies, access si ' river near Lewistown. and don't overlook the water behind and mouths of creeks, just where For most fishermen the goal of the bowling alley at Lewistown and at next trophy musky will be caugh1 ' catching that many muskies in one the "cinder dump hole" there. anybody's guess. It could be anywr>e ' day — on the last day of the season no It was formerly believed that thanks to a stocking program w J less — would be too unrealistic to be Juniata muskellunge preferred only musky fry or fingerlings are relea li­ considered. Brown, however, is no quiet, slow-moving water and that nearly annually. This means there re average angler. His dedication, persis­ fishing for them in swifter water was a a respectable number of these p CI tence and confidence are so strong that waste of time. This, however, has been tors available for the increasing n" . he believes he'll catch a musky on disproved. "Half the winter fishing is ber of anglers becoming intereste S every cast. It's this attitude coupled no good from shore because the river's winter musky fishing. ^e S'r with a vigorous, "no-nonsense" fishing too low," Stydinger says. "When the "There's far more utilization oi Ky style that has elevated him to a high Hyin water's low, I like to take a boat out resource now in winter especia .Us fishing stature in so short time. and anchor and fish. We used to think 5 sa Hi the last three years, vt : While these three experts have the muskies didn't frequent current, but "However, the Fish Commission J" 6al advantage of knowing where and how they do. Once 1 caught five fishing the concerned about the muskellunge to fish, they agree that muskellunge current in the middle of the river." ing wiped out." The reason Is Tin are spread throughout the entire For this type of winter fishing, they successful musky propagation P Me: Juniata from the Raystown Branch use the bass boat that Brown remod­ gram pioneered in Pennsylvania 'trie down to the Juniata's confluence with eled for musky fishing. "We take hot continue to supply fish for stocKi W the Susquehanna River near Duncan- dogs along and cook them right out "We don't know if the muskies, ^ Jnp non. The Fish Commission's access there in the boat," Brown says. "It's a reproducing in the river or not, >n sites are good places to start musky lot of fun; but the important thing is to adds. te(j W« fishing. Where creeks flow into the know how to handle your boat well. arve "Most of these fish are h fisf, ^ri river also often hold muskies, particu- Boating safety in winter — when the from shore and winter caught Th E* 20 PENNSYLVANIA N G L *em a bit bigger," Owens continues. % observation coincides with that of ^b Cook who helped release the first "niata River muskies. Cook says, Ninety percent of the muskies caught ' winter are females, and they're full 'eggs. I caught one that had two and lie-half quarts of eggs. It may be that Bse egg-filled females need more to *t, so, more are caught." Cook learned to catch muskies by ^king mistakes. "I lost the first :'even I hooked before I landed one. ty line was six to eight pounds which as too light; now I use fourteen •tod. "Another important thing is to use a ''ft" rod, except for the tip which Wld be limber, so that you can set 'e hook. When you feel a hit, you'd

^dependable lure for cold weather "niata musky fishing has been a *hite jig with a bucktail skirt and filing a rubber night crawler. ^ter pull hard about three times. I've *d muskies I thought were hooked jj'itn around for ten minutes then open e f ir mouths and out came the lure. '"•ey just weren't properly hooked." Using this equipment and fish- J^king method, Cook landed the 30 tal muskies last winter. All were ^ght on white jigs with a red rubber °rm and attached to a six-inch wire Ver. "I don't just cast out and 'rieve; I make the lure act crazy," he p. He imparts action to the jig by 'tnping the limber rod tip up and Pn with wrist and forearm move­ nts as he retrieves the lure close to driver bottom. There is no argument about the jig Ray Stydinger, left, and Mike Brown carefully select the "lure-of-the-day."

fcCEMBER — 1979 21 being the best producing cold weather musky lure. "In the winter, they're good," Stydinger says, "but in sum­ mer, forget jigs. If you're fishing jigs properly, you'll lose twenty to twenty- five a day because they'll hang up on the bottom. I lost 180 to 200 jigs last winter. But the good thing is seven out of ten times if a musky follows a jig, he'll take it eventually. You have to keep fishing for him." Ed Amey of Thompsontown, who caught 17 muskies last winter and who fishes with Stydinger and Brown, says a musky won't waste energy in winter chasing a lure and then not take it. On the other hand, Stydinger notes that these fish porpoise more in winter and when porpoising they don't hit lures apparently because they aren't feed­ ing. Lead-headed jigs weigh three- eighths to one-half ounce. Stydinger prefers a fine wire hook because it is sharper and easier to unhook. The skirting he uses on the jigs is generally deer tail. Cook uses a Mister Twister for skirting. Common jig head colors are white, black, red, and yellow. Before anglers realized how pro­ ductive jigs were for muskies, they used plugs of about seven inches and these also caught fish. A double- jointed orange Rebel was a favorite as were silver plugs that more closely resembled live fish. Such plugs still catch their share of muskies but for the time being the "jig is up." Stydinger says fishing a jig causes the line to twist so he uses a bead chain on the line to reduce twisting. "I use a wire leader only when the water is dirty," he says. "I feel I hook more muskies without the wire leader. Someday, however, I may lose a big one by not using wire leader because hooked muskies do a lot of rolling." They also sport a mouthful of sharp teeth. He and the others use rods of six to six and one-half feet and open face Stydinger and Brown, both of Thompsontown, fish for muskies at the bo& reels with 14- to 17-pound monofila­ ramp at the Muskrat Springs Access Area. Muskies are caught every ment line. Their rods have ceramic year from this popular fishing place. Weather is typical of winter days- guides and Amey says he waxes them caught and to musky anglers that's the pockets of open water near shore- ( to prevent freezing. important thing. Stydinger says, "I've There are many comfortable ^' to The adage "you can't judge a book changed my mind about fishing dirty days when the weather is conduct 016 by its cover" applies to fishing the water. We had some good days fishing fishing. Yet, as Owens com .e river in winter. In late winter, especial­ it, though the fish may not see the jigs "Musky fishing in winter isn't f° y r ly, it can be dirty with soil and debris as well." faint at heart. You must be P °V 0\A washed into it by melting snow and Then there is ice. It floats downriver attired and equipped with ^ rains that cause the water level to in cakes and sometimes locks up the weather gear. Some anglers . f fluctuate. Despite the unpicturesque eddies and access sites. But, no matter, snowmobile suits and soft lea"1 water conditions, muskellunge are muskies will still be caught in the gloves.

22 PENNSYLVANIA ANG Editor's note: from Commonwealth waters in 1978 hooked him, I was doing fine, until I Last month we promised to share — a 51-inch, 35-pounder. decided to use the 'pump and crank' *ith our readers Art Byerly's predic­ ".. .you may be hearing from me method to take some of the pressure tion that the new State Record again — there is a musky over 50 off the reel (after a 45-minute fight). *fuskellunge would come from the pounds in Conneaut Lake that my "When I was lowering the rod, and Waters of Conneaut Lake. Although fishing buddies and I have hooked cranking, I lost him. I guess I didn't *e've received similar predictions onto, but lost. He is always in the keep enough pressure on the line. I goring Pymatuning, Kinzua (which same area and has hit just about every just sat there for about five minutes, 'as already provided a new State type of lure there is. He has broken with numb arms, trying not to cry. As Record Walleye and a Northern Pike), rods, lines, and hearts. Ted Fitch I said, you may be hearing from me '"d Lake Marburg, here is Art's hooked him, and ended up with a plug again because I sure plan to go after j^ediction, excerpted from a recent and 3 inches of mouth skin attached him some more. I feel he may be a new *Uer. Art, by the way, caught the to it. Novotny has also tangled with State Record — if anyone can ever get *cond largest muskellunge taken this monster and lost. The time I him to the net!"

^ THE EAST — 'OUT WEST". LAKE ARTHUR

, Pennsylvania anglers have been Robert A. Parsons, below, had his Jiving tremendous success fishing hands full with that trophy, Commonwealth waters for the mighty a 46-inch, 25-pounder. The fish ^Uskellunge and, if you've been fell for a musky tandem. "'lowing the Angler's pages, you can ^e the good fishing hasn't been ^firmed entirely to the northwestern Jfction of the state. Author David R. hompson's account of the activity ''°ng the Juniata River, this issue; the Recess of musky men like Byerly, jtch, and Novotny in the Northwest; paries Glass' 50-inch, 39-pounder r°m Lake Marburg along Pennsylva- 'a's Southern Tier . . . makes you °nder where to go, doesn't it? Not to confuse the issue, but rather I illustrate just how close to home !°od musky fishing might be for each our readers, we're delighted to show ''at the Delaware River offers east- Jl Pennsylvania musky hunters: Kurt ^gemann's 45-inch, 26-pound mus- ^lunge, taken in the heat of August r Shohola, in Pike County. mMMMSm

JUNIATA'S FOR EVERYONE!

Brian Hack, of Mifflintown, took that 42'/2-inch, 21-pound musky from the Juniata when he was but 15 years old. Brian, left, was fishing a jointed rebel.

'ECEMBER — 1979 23 Lake Wilhelm's Pan fish by Richard E. Faler, It- photos by the author

VFet ready," I thought to myself, Muskies grow large here and stockings above 1-79, is an area of flooded f6 arm muscles tensed and my senses of striped bass and channel cats have and of water weeds, a challenS alerted for the next hit. The red and taken place, but little results have been mecca for any angler. , j, arn white bobber bounced once and then noted thus far. One of the up and coming g lujS started gliding through the water. Line There are quite a few pike in this species are the stocked walleyes- sU tightened, I heaved back, "Sock it to reservoir. Natives of the watershed, year has seen large numbers of , rS him!" they experienced an immediate popu­ gal walleyes being caught. ^nS A hefty bullhead bulldogged his lation boom with the flooding of the report catches of a dozen to l way through some thick weeds five reservoir. A few years ago it was dozen, all an inch or two shy of ^,i$l feet down. I kept the line taut against common to catch thirty to forth pike in size. This is reminiscent of the V ^ his pulsating throbs until he worked just a few hours. These fantastic pike flurry. A few scattered catch himself loose, then worked him up to catches, however, were comprised of twenty-inch-plus walleyes, along r 01 the boat. I grasped the line a foot twelve- to twenty-inch "hammer han­ the multitude of little fellows P ° \e above his mudpuppy mouth and dles." good walleye fishing in the next co hauled him aboard. Pike are still in the lake in good years' • . „ , , ying- Grabbing the bullhead so he could numbers and one can catch legal size a Wait a minute, you re »»j ^ be unhooked was done carefully as he ones now just as frequently as the "what about the panfish? What do ^ was still flopping back and forth, smaller models, but you have to work exposing his sharp spines. He was for them. "Easy" pike are no more. pike, walleyes and others have with them?" Quite a bit. DespJ*6 finally added to the stringer along with The muskies in the lake are found in 6 past and present status of the g ^£ a collection of others . . . other bull­ all sizes with a fair share of biggies lS heads, crappies, and bluegills. being landed. Muskies are muskies species in Lake Wilhelm, it n£j panfish that are drawing more ^ These panfish are all of good size wherever you go; Wilhelm's muskies more angling pressure each day- ^ and are quite numerous in Lake are as few and far between as Wilhelm in Mercer County. This anywhere. already mentioned, the big three ' .^ lake are bluegills, crappies, and ^ young reservoir which is managed for Bass fishing is good in this lake. An heads. All are numerous and oi stoOo ' the angler, no motor over 10 horse­ excellent variety of cover, both on t power allowed, is best known for its shore and in deeper flooded structure, size. This wasn't always the initial pike flurry, and recently, for contribute to Wilhelm's bass fishery. however. jpt bass and its coming walleye fishery. The upper portion of the reservoir, Fisheries managers will tell y° jng the biggest danger to good pa" t E B 24 PENNS YLVANIA A N G ^ worms and minnows. They are even a nuisance to pike fisherman who are surprised to find them readily taking pike-sized shiners. The bullheads of this lake seem to vary in their actions somewhat from those I have observed in other waters. One observation of peculiar behavior occurred on a bright late morning in clear water. I was popper fishing for bluegills on their spawning beds. Several times I watched a loose school of half a dozen good sized bullheads cruise into the shallows, like so many sharks, and feed. These fish were as wary as any brown trout, and retreated helter-skelter at the slightest move­ ment or the close splash of a fly. Night time is catfish time, but Wilhelm bull­ heads feed twenty-four hours a day. The bluegills and crappies seemed a little slower in numerical growth than would be normal. The spring of '78, You name it, Wilhelm's got it! Anything from a nice stringer of bullheads, however, found them reaching large opposite page, to northern pike, above left, baskets of crappies, numbers. The bluegills are hand-sized above right. . . plus palm-covering bluegills, below, all good eating. and the crappies larger. Many limit catches of 50 per angler have been taken in an evening of fishing. Bluegills and crappies are taken easiest during spawning. May finds the crappie in the shallows, especially west of 1-79. They take a week or two and work their way gradually into deeper water for spawning. At the beginning of their run they are scat­ tered. As the spawning urge takes hold and they move to deeper water they gather into schools. The crappies can be difficult to catch until these schools are located. The main causeway next to the bridge and cover next to some of the bays are good starting places. Once in a school, the fishing is fast and furious. Favored baits are the old-time standards, minnows and jigs. The bluegills start taking over before the crappies fade out. Late May a body of water is too many. They stunting. The result is a healthy popu­ and on into the summer will find them ^populate until their sheer numbers lation of large sized panfish. in the bays spawning. The males will *ke them uncontrollable. The next The bullheads, like the pike, experi­ be on the beds in shallow water. Just ,'ng that happens is that the body of enced an initial boom in numbers that before and during spawning many can ater is full of stunted panfish — out resulted in a stunted population. Five- often be located in deeper water at the balance with the predators. to six-inch bullheads were the rule. mouths of the bays. .The game species in Lake Wilhelm, The predatory fish took over, however, Worms and mealworms do the trick |e, bass, walleyes and muskies, are and this year saw this small average for the big bluegills. Small poppers on "' all large. They are very numerous, size increase to nine inches. With the a calm evening can add zest to the °ugh. 1 would venture to say that the numbers and sizes of some of the Lake catching, too. ,edatory fish of this lake are twice as Wilhelm bullheads being caught, there I cannot say that Lake Wilhelm is a 'Undant as those of Pennsylvania's is even some serious speculation that panfisherman's Paradise . . . Wilhelm Per lakes and reservoirs. These many the next state record for this species has its share of foul weather, baking 4tnefish are a blessing to the panfish will be coming from there. sun and mosquitoes. 1 can say, though, German by keeping enough of these The entire lake is good for the bull­ that Lake Wilhelm is "The Place" to 'rage fish in their bellies to prevent heads. They hit on the regular baits, go for panfish.

ECEMBER — 1979 25 "Fishing does not have to be complicated or expensive"

Economy Fishing Outfit

by Frank Lucas

Husky northern pike seems to prove author's point: handled properly, even the less expensive tackle provides great fishing fun!

JLn today's world of runaway l ^ tion, when a boat and motor can j thousands of dollars, a good rod ^ reel can run well over a hundred e n rod outfits, some of them, muc :ng — and the "experts" are proclaiiy h that thermometers, barometers, f. finders, and other expensive V^'^^r nalia are absolutely necessary f°r <.$, fire fishing success, one often w°n j-jii "Is this really the kind of spo' ^jig interested in?" or "Why can't i>s

26 PENNSYLVANIA N G I Not much money at today's prices. was convinced that my economy outfit After deciding on how much money to could take it and would land most any spend I now had to decide on what fish I was likely to run into. kind of outfit to put together, casting, The rod and reel was used a few spinning, or spincasting. A good cast­ times during the summer, mostly on ing reel costs considerably more than trips to farm ponds where a few fish twenty-five dollars and a spinning reel were caught, but I never really got can sometimes be difficult for a begin­ around to giving it a good workout on ner, so it looked as if a spincast reel of bass, until recently when I headed for some type offered the most possibili­ a small creek near home, looking for ties. smallmouths. Once I settled on a spincasting Arriving at the creek, I headed for a outfit I started shopping around for hole that had provided some nice the best bargain I could find. After a smallmouth bass in years past. Tying lot of looking I decided that one of the on a crankbait, I tossed it out into the combination rod and reel packages water and began a steady retrieve. sold by nearly every manufacturer When the first few casts brought no might prove to be my best bet, and strikes I started working the lure in finally purchased a "combo pack," closer to a submerged log until the lure consisting of a spincast reel and a was almost bouncing off it. This did it! six-foot fiberglass rod, spending just A smallmouth nailed the lure and the under eleven dollars. Most large struggle was on. The bass made discount stores feature specials in the several runs up and down the hole spring of the year to kick off the fish­ before I was able to get a hand under ing season and this is how I was able to him and flip him out onto the bank. get the combo pack as cheaply as I did. Snapping the bass on a stringer, I If it's a bargain you are looking for continued to fish, but had no more this is the time to get it. takers. The next hole upstream yielded My rod and reel purchase left me a small bass and provided the only with a little over fourteen dollars to action here so I moved on. spend for lures. Now, any fisherman The next spot turned out to be a worth his salt will tell you that having regular honey hole as I caught four only fourteen dollars to spend for lures bass in a row before losing the fifth is hardly worth leaving home over, but one. A bass nailed my crankbait on the I left anyway. With so little money, first cast at the next hole and immedi­ there was no choice but to limit my ately broke my line. In a little over lure selection and keep it as simple as three hours I had caught my limit of possible. Only two types of lures were smallmouth bass, had one break my bought, crankbaits and jig-spinner line, and in general had a heck of a lot combinations. These two types of lures of fun. have a lot to offer, they work under a After using the combo over the lot of different conditions and are summer I'm convinced more than ever among the simplest to use, merely that it's a good outfit, too, for the having to be cast and retrieved to be beginner or occasional fisherman. effective. The floating crankbaits can Granted the rod is not as finely also be used as topwater lures, giving finished as some and the reel is not the you one more option. Four crankbaits smoothest in the world, but it works and three jigspinners cost me twelve and didn't cost a lot of money. This dollars and fifty cents, bringing the would be a good outfit to use to intro­ total price of my economy fishing duce the wife and kids, or a friend, to outfit to just under twenty-three the wonderful world of fishing. It's dollars. easy to use and there should be no My first chance to use the rig came problems with entangled line such as when I made an early spring trip to can occur with casting and spinning Canada and decided to take it along. outfits. When I bought the outfit I The combo got a thorough workout on thought I would wind up giving it this trip as it was in use from early in away, but I've gotten kind of attached the morning to late in the evening for to it, so it and a few lures are now three and one-half days, catching stowed behind the seat of my truck. many walleye and northern pike. The Now, whenever I'm close to a farm largest fish caught was a nine-pound pond or creek, and have a few hours to northern that gave me quite a tussel fish, I have my fishing outfit handy before I landed him. After this trip I and can hit it.

27 as temporarily holding nymph wl = Gadgetry in Fly Tying cases in place and the sloping of w fly hackle. Certain wet fly pattern require that the hackle slope or W by Chauncy K. Lively back along the hook, and while barbs may be held back with fmge photos by the author tips, the furrows between the clos fingers sometimes permit the barbu De'espit e the availability of fly tying I still have a spool of Don Lynn's to bunch. Held down by the Snubo^ materials in seemingly endless variety superfine thread and it gets more than as illustrated, the depressed barbs a — of animal, mineral and synthetic occasional use. Its only fault is its arranged uniformly around the sha origin — and special tools for nearly tendency to fray easily on contact with while a few turns of thread are ma every aspect of fly making, the fly rough fingers, rendering the manual over the base of the hackle. dresser is constantly on the alert for whip-finish impractical unless one's Over the years I have seen qtm wonderful new stuffs and gadgets to skin is perfectly smooth. But that's a lot of homegrown contrivances for try at the workbench. Nothing that small price to pay for the thread's tying and have made a few of my ° ' passes through his household es­ unique utility and pre-waxing helps to but far and away the most ingenious - capes scrutiny. Shiny, colorful Christ­ reduce this disadvantage. a brainchild of our good friend, " j mas ribbons take on a new meaning; Two of my most useful tools are Cardell, of Birmingham, Michigan- kitchen gadgets are examined for dentists' picks which I found on an call it "Cardell's Magnificent ™ potential usefulness and the soft odds-and-ends table in an army Machine." . { underfur of the family cat seems to en 1I surplus store. One has a curved, crook- Having been an electrical ^ \en hold promise. And inspiration is some­ type point while the tip of the other is with Detroit Edison, Mr. Car • times derived from the commonplace short and at a right angle to the shaft. retired a few years ago and as a w1 — like milady's apparel. Both are handy for half-hitching in project in his first year of retiren1 In the early days of the Pittsburgh tight spots, permitting the loop to be he undertook the design and constr ^ Fly Fishers' Club it was usual practice seated with precision. I use the curved tion of a motorized rotary v to split off into small groups following point for spinning fur in the loop Powered by a foot-activated seW. our meetings, forming individual bull method of dubbing and both are ideal machine motor, the shaft of the sessions in which weighty matters (to for picking out dubbed bodies. Of rotates, turning the hook in uni ^ us, at least) were debated far into the course, tools of similar utility could Thus, in dressing a fly, instead night. One evening Don Lynn and I easily be made by forging needles to manually wrapping body mate got into a discussion of fly tying the desired shapes and setting them in and/or hackle around the hook m -s threads, wishing for a strong thread of shafts of wooden dowels. conventional way, the materia cobweb thinness with which the tiniest affixed to the hook and the rota«if There are operations in fly tying for e midges could be dressed without bulk. which the tier never seems to have shaft does the rest. The °P ^eve It was a Utopian wish; at that time enough hands, particularly when tail merely guides the material to acn only silk threads were available down whisks or hair wings must be cut and the desired taper, or in hackling- j to size 8/0 and the fine-gauge Danville put aside for use in a later sequence. I required density. The rotational sp j^ nylon threads had not yet appeared. once used clothes pins to temporarily is controlled by a rheostat and ma; . At the following meeting, a month hold these materials but their jaws are varied from slow to fast as desi ^ later, Don arrived with a glib smile on not precise enough for firm gripping. The vise boasts interchangeable »e his face and a cigar box tucked under Ideal for this purpose are small, with jaws to accommodate hooks ^ his arm. In the box were several spools spring-loaded alligator clips com­ the smallest of midges to the large salmon flies. The heads and shai of the finest thread I had ever seen. monly found in electronic supply 1 Buff-colored and flat in construction, shops. Those with smooth, unserrated of phosphor bronze, all beam ^ it was remarkably strong for its diame­ jaws are best. machined by Mr. Cardell. The vise along with such convenient access ter and far thinner than the 8/0 silk In our October column we briefly as thread holders, extendable 0aA s thread we had been using. Don related described a homemade gadget I call a £r fier, waste catch-pan and tool ho how he had conned his wife into donat­ Snubber, which acts as an extra hand — is built into a self-contained, P ing a pair of nylon hose with which to in manipulating deer hair. It is ble unit measuring about 16" X l „^\ experiment. He found that if he cut off constructed by doubling a six-inch and discarded the elastic top he could strand of heavy monofilament and As a conversation piece, ^ pick at the severed end of the stocking inserting the ends through a short Cardell's vise is of the "so you but until he found a continuous strand. plastic sleeve. The ends are then knot­ you've seen everything?" variety | This he attached to an empty spool ted to prevent the sleeve from sliding it's also a tremendously practice ^y which in turn was affixed to an electric off. In use, the material to be that could only have been conceiv ^ drill. When the drill was activated the controlled is ensnared in the monofil a keen fly tier and angler. Most ^ body of the stocking seemed to melt loop and locked in place by sliding the will have to be content with drea ^ before his eyes as it was transferred in sleeve to the material. In addition to up gizmos of far less complex J ^n a single, unbroken strand to the rotat­ handling hair, the Snubber has been regardless of the scale, gadgetry ing spool. useful in various other operations such and a fitting adjunct to fly tying-

P 28 PENNSYLVANIA A N G L* 1C

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Top left: a few of the "gadgets" in the author's bag of tricks, all of which were originally intended for other purposes. Top right photo shows use of the snubber in wet fly hackling; dentists' picks, left center photo, are a great aid to half-hitching in close quarters; alligator clips, right center, hold odd bits of material ready for use; and, finally, at right, the ultimate — Paul Cardell and his "Magnificent Fly Machine."

E C E M B E R 19 7 9 GOOD EXAMPLE — c A recent letter from a close friend mine, Indiana Conservation Officer R°n aid Sclight, related the following incident- Ron, his wife Kathy, daughter Allis°n' irotn, tk sthmtA. and her dolly, "Teresa" were backpack"* and canoeing in Minnesota. When the trip started they explained to their three-year' old daughter that they would have to #e0 CAREFUL UTTERBUG hoping to arrive and put a stop to the "life preservers" while they were in dangerous operation before someone was canoe so if they fell out they would n°a Last spring 1 received a call from a seriously injured. As it happened they and not get hurt. Allison readily accept^ concerned individual about having seen a arrived on the spot a little sooner than they this and then insisted that "Teresa," l local resident littering. The caller saw the had originally planned as the "speeding dolly, also be equipped with a "life Preser litterbug drive onto a bridge, get out of his hydroplane" turned out to be a 16-inch- er." As they entered each stretch of whi conveyance, walk to the side of the bridge, long radio-controlled craft directed by water all were checked to make sure the look into the rain-swollen creek then someone on shore. The dutiful deputies life preservers were properly fitted a nd "carefully" look to see if anyone was continued on their way, ignoring the little worn. In a rough stretch of water, »e y/iiS watching when he removed a box of trash upstart that had upset their routine. sa" was thrown from the boat but from his vehicle and "very carefully" recovered none the worse for the even' Larry R. Baker dump it into the stream. The concerned the next pool area. ,r neighbor not only provided a license Waterways Patrolman Mifflin/Juniata Counties The moral to this story is very simply number but also knew the litterbug and that "life preserver" saved the dolly,' was willing to testify in court if necessary esa," it could save you . . . if you are ^e to make sure this individual was penalized ing it. for committing such a lowly act. Court WHOOPS! Robert Lynn Stein«r appearance was not necessary as the litter­ 1 bug paid the fine and costs to the District Deputy Tom Kamerzel and I were driv­ Waterways Patrol" S/Luzerne County Magistrate. Thankfully, this time "care­ ing along the old "towpath" that parallels ful" was not good enough to allow a litter­ the Lehigh Canal in Allentown. It is a bug to leave unseen. bumpy old dirt road with many water- filled pothoies along its course. We noticed FOUND A HOME? Larry V. Boor two young lads fishing in the canal and th£ Waterways Patrolman stopped to ask if they had caught anything. I had two large black rat snakes in . Mercer County They said "Yes, we did, but you just ran display box in the window of the regij> over them." One boy ran back to the office. I decided it was time to turn the ^ pothole we had just driven through and loose so they could fatten up for winter- NOT QUITE! started feeling around the now muddied took them to a good area to turn them >° water in an attempt to retrieve his fish. We and a friend. Herb Schwegler, stopped j A small boy was fussing, as kids will do, went over to help him out, but it seemed as his pickup to see what I was doinS; in the local bank. His older brother looked though most of the dozen or so sunfish that crawled in the back of the Commiss> at me and said to the little fellow, "Shhh! the boys had stored in the pothole came pickup and just dropped the snakes on Shhh! There's a cop!" With a snicker the through OK. A couple, however, did wind ground. They both took shelter under restless lad replied, "Huh-uh, he's a guy up looking like flounder. friend's pickup, but, after a few minute who delivers packages!" watching only one had come out ,j Fred Mussel Don Parrish under it. I looked under and saw the j Waterways Patrolman Waterways Patrolman disappearing up inside the motor are • Lehigh County McKean County tried to pull it out but didn't want to n^ ear it. I let go and it completely disapP nCj After getting a mat from my vehicle j spending another 10 minutes undernea • •'UPSTART"! HAD TO HURRY? finally located it inside a 6-inch W < section of the frame. After anothe ^ While patrolling a stretch of the Juniata Recently I apprehended an individual minutes I finally got it out and sent it ° River on the Opening day of bass season, for a violation of the boat law — not way. Deputy Waterways Patrolmen George having any personal flotation devices on board his boat. There were four persons on Stetler and Ron Baker happened to come Cloyd Hollen across an unusual incident. A primary this boat including two children of the Assistant Superviser function while on the river during this day defendant. He told me that he just bought Northwest Regional v of heavy usage is to check each boat to the boat and didn't have time to buy any assure that the regulations are being personal flotation devices and he became very upset when I told him what the fine adhered to — especially safety regulations. VARIED ACTIVITIES — While rounding a bend in the river they was. I wonder how upset he would have been if he had had an accident — knowing 0uane saw what appeared to be a high speed On August 29, 1979 Deputy ^. hydroplane — far ahead — zipping across that he had not taken time out to buy any English and Don Tombaugh were out^ .fl veS what was obviously too shallow a stretch of PFD's. routine search for a reported ^reek water for such dangerous activity! distress in Lake Erie off the Walnut Robert L. Kish t The two officers dutifully steered their Waterways Patrolman Access Area. After determining the (0 boat in the direction of the faraway vessel, Cambria County to be false the two were returning E* 30 PENNSYLVANIA ANGI ) Walnut Creek when they spotted a red friend explained to him how to cast a line. 8 hook was a tiny fish . . . appeared to be a if revolving light on the water. The light Then Vic asked him, "How do you work bass fry. The fish was less than '/2 inch long i- 'Urned out to be a beacon on an amphi­ this thing?" when handed a spinning rod. and firmly foul-hooked through the back! bious type airplane which suffered serious Vic's friend made several demonstration Tim rather embarrassedly released the fish 1, damage while attempting to land on the casts, and Vic made his very first, which when I assured him it was too small, out of g ake. The pilot and his passenger were wasn't too bad, but Vic asked, "Now what season, and illegally caught. p 'uckily uninjured and the engine of the do you do?" He was instructed to retrieve •- Plane was still operable. The aircraft was the line by cranking the reel. Upon trying Larry R. Baker •r 'hen escorted in the channel of the access to retrieve, his line started to hang up, and Waterways Patrolman e *rea, into the mooring basin, driven up the his friend stated he must be hung up on a Mifflin/Juniata Counties it 'aunch area and secured safely in one of rock. But suddenly something started d 'he parking lots. It is surprising the tugging at the line. Several fishermen e lumber of people who still think we only nearby came to the rescue and aided Vic in '- jeal with fish! TROPHY — landing a 28-inch musky. Vic is still trying c James Carter to understand how a fish so big had to be During an inseason stocking, immedi­ e returned to the water because it was too Waterways Patrolman ately after the opening of musky season, Erie Country short! Wilmer "Jim" Stivers of Bradford ap­ proached me and announced, "Boy, I got a s Jim Smith nice 48-incher yesterday!" "A musky?" I Waterways Patrolman " "TROPHY" CATCH Armstrong County asked. "No, a rattler!" said Jim. r Don Parrish While checking fishermen the opening Waterways Patrolman 'ay of trout season, I observed a local FALSE ALARM McKean County science teacher (whose name escapes me) *ith a "bulging" creel along Yellow Creek. Recently Trooper William Stouffer and When he saw me he said, "Hey, Buddy, I were working together on a special detail n look what I caught," at which time he SLIPPERY on Glendale Lake. It was approximately [evealed two trout and a set of deer antlers. 3:30 a.m. when Trooper Stouffer noticed 4e said the antlers "hit" a minnow and While stocking fish in Yellow Creek this an object on the water. He shined his Save him more fight than the trout did. past season, we stopped the truck at a flashlight on the object and it turned out to bridge crossing the stream. As we were Allen G. Stiffler be a piece of vegetation floating on the handing the buckets of fish down from the Waterways Patrolman surface. Shortly afterward, the fog started truck, one young man, who was anxious to Indiana County setting in and approximately 10 yards in help fell out of sight between the bridge front of the patrol boat we both saw an i and the stream bank. After several minutes object approximately 15 feet long, moving of clawing, scratching, dirt and stones 1 &UMMY RUN — across the water. We stared at the moving flying, he reappeared on the bridge, at object which had a snakelike appearance which time Deputy Bob Letso replied, J On the afternoon of September 2, 1979 as it slipped silently across the surface of "Careful, young man, 'Travelers Warn­ special Waterways Patrolman Dan Chris- the lake in the night. There was no doubt in ings' are up." ' 'ine was patrolling the Lake Clarke pool of our minds and eyes that we witnessed the lie Susquehanna River when he noticed a first sighting of a Glendale Lake "Lock Allen G. Stiffler ' jjian fishing near the intake area of the Ness Monster." Could you believe that Waterways Patrolman ^afe Harbor Dam. Since Deputy Christine such a thing existed here in Pennsylvania? Indiana County "id not see a fishing license displayed on Well relax, for it turned out to be only a jhe man, as required by law, he felt he beaver pulling a long branch through the water! Jjiould have a talk with him. While Deputy CRAWLY SITUATION — Christine and the man talked, he told Robert L. Kish j deputy Christine that he was not fishing I received a call from a contractor that 'id did not have a fishing license. As it Waterways Patrolman 1 Cambria County was working at Pennzoil's Rouseville ''Urned out the man was a maker of home- Refinery. Seems they had run into a prob­ '. ^ade fishing plugs and was testing the lem of seeing snakes and the workers didn't *test design ... the plugs he was testing TOO LITTLE, TOO EARLY! want to work as they were reported as 'ad no hooks! copperheads. Knowing the area, I assured Ronald L. Hoffman I happened to get in a little rock bass them they were northern water snakes. To Waterways Patrolman fishing prior to the opening of bass season satisfy the complaint I made arrangements S/York County this year. As is often the case, my compan­ to meet with the contractor on site and ion was District Game Protector Tim have a look. They were water snakes and Marks on an evening excursion on the all was OK. Two days later I again ^ERY FIRST CAST Juniata above Lewistown. We had started received a call from Pennzoil and this time out using artificial lures in hopes of entic­ a little different. Seems they were unload­ This story was related to me by Vic ing a few of the sporty fish, but soon settled ing wood pallets from North Carolina and "unco, who moved to Pennsylvania during on drowning a few worms when the fish a big snake crawled out of one of the *>e 1950s, from Italy. Vic speaks broken indicated very early that they weren't terri­ pallets and got away inside a warehouse. English and had never gone fishing in his bly hungry. After over an hour of fishing Barrels of oil and other equipment were everywhere. This time I was of no help! Ve until just recently. A friend of Vic's, — with only a few keepers on the stringer *lked him into buying a license and spend- — we were on the verge of giving up and Cloyd W. Hollen Jg a weekend fishing at Tionesta Lake. returning home when Tim brought in his 'itting in a boat on Tionesta Lake, his Assistant Supervisor line to check his bait. Attached to the size Northwest Regional Office

DECEMBER — 1979 31 THE ANGLERS NOTEBOOK by Richard F. Williamson

FISH FACT: Ice fishermen catch few Strong, short-shanked hooks are excel­ A dry fly that does not float freely but bass because fish of this species holes up in lent for most kinds of live bait. They are that drags on the surface of the water > a state bordering on hibernation during the not so visible to the fish, and they sink almost always rejected by trout. Natura winter. They find refuge in rock crevices, more easily into the flesh of the mouth. flies float lifelessly, but an artificial fly sunken brush or sometimes even in mud, that drags creates a wake that is not natu and they feed very little, often not at all. Try the smaller sizes of natural baits, ral and that is clearly visible to the trout- such as minnows only two or so inches long. Trout can drive an angler up the wall They may take surprisingly large fish. when they feed hungrily on the surface but refuse the fisherman's artificials. Actually, Spinners in bronze or copper finish, the trout are taking tiny midges, which can rather that silver or nickel, are best in easily escape the notice of the angler as shallow water where brighter lures would they float in the surface film. Even big frighten fish. trout will on occasion ignore big insects and gorge themselves on midges. A fisherman is not necessarily known by the number of rods he owns, although rod collection is an understandable hobby. The good angler has just enough rods to handle

•^•^ the types of fishing he enjoys. He also has a spare or two for emergencies — but not a whole museum full. iLwfc

Don't bump into stumps or sunken logs if Marabou is a fine dressing for jigs a fishing from a boat in cluttered water for streamers. The marabou fibers come al>v bass, pickerel or bluegills. A bump will in the water and get the attention of a send vibrations through the water that will species of fish. spook all the fish in the area. Water depth can pretty well indicate Very light lines are matched to very small size of yellow perch you are likely to catc.^ lures for the obvious reason that the light The smaller fish usually are found in lines cast the little lures better. But there is shallows. The bigger perch like deep It's easy to check your fishing rod for another reason: light lines are far less visi­ water and often are caught as much as worn or cracked guides. Cut a slice from a ble to fish. or 30 feet below the surface.

woman's nylon stocking (one that has been e discarded, of course) and pull it through Little pinches of bread and whole kernels For bass fly fishing next season, try thes the guides. The material will snag inside a of corn are good "chum" to attract blue- wet fly patterns: Parmachene Belle, -Vel- guide that is not perfectly smooth. gills as well as carp. low Sally, Red Ibis, White Miller a" Black Gnat. Latest fishing trick? Take the tempera­ Bass were not biting one morning in a ture of a fish that is freshly caught. Its favorite small stream. My friend, Brooks, A short cast is much easier for the ang body temperature will be the same as that solved the problem. He waded into the to handle than a long one. It is *' of the water where it was hooked. Of shallow riffle at the head of the narrow therefore, to approach carefully to with' course, a stream thermometer is more pool and stirred up the gravel, sand, and relatively short distance of the water a accurate and less messy. other debris enough to put the water to be fished rather than to try to rea cb slightly off color. In a few minutes the bass from a great distance. It's easy to convert a floating imitation began taking bait. plug into a sinker. Attach a couple of Even tiny split shot pinched on a lea ^ buckshot to the line above the plug. can pick up debris from the water- narrow strip of thin sheet lead, adjust6 In landing a walleye, be careful of the length to produce the weight desired, , sharp spine on the top fin. The fishca n wrapped around the leader, is better. ^ * inflict a deep and painful wound with this strips in packets like book matches ca spine, so hold the fin down on the back of bought, or thin strips can be cut fro"1 the fish while you remove the hook. Then light metal of a toothpaste tube. you won't "spear" yourself. hfSt Poor casts sometimes haunt even the ^ Latest rage in plugs are those painted to anglers. The novice will impatiently J j look like real fish, such as perch. They have the line, leader and fly off" the water not been on the market long enough to make a new cast. The expert will le . show whether they actually are better than poorly cast fly drift well beyond the r the conventional lures. of the fish before picking it up.

32 P E N N SYLVANIA ANGl11 PENNSYLVANIA FISH COMMISSION DIRECTORY State Headquarters: 3532 Walnut Street, Progress, Pa. (Mailing Address: PO Box 1673, Harrisburg, Pa. 17120) EXECUTIVE OFFICE Ralph W. Abele, Executive Director Assistant Attorney General Administrative Assistant Comptroller Dennis T. Guise Howard T. Hardie Ross E. Starner Office of Information Willard T. Johns, Director 717-787-2579 Conservation Education, Stephen B. Ulsh 717-787-7394 Pennsylvania Angler, James F. Yoder, Editor 717-787-2411 Special Publications, Larry Shaffer 717-787-7394 Angler Circulation, Eleanor Mutch 717-787-2363

BUREAU OF FISHERIES & ENGINEERING Edward R. Miller, P.E., Assistant Executive Director Robinson Lane, Bellefonte, Pa. 16823 Tel. 814-359-2754* (*Unless otherwise indicated, all offices within this bureau may be reached at this same address and telephone number.) Fred W. Johnson, Water Resources Coordinator 717-783-2808 (Office at State Headquarters, 3532 Walnut Street, Progress, Pa.) Dennis Ricker, Administrative Officer* FISHERIES DIVISION* Delano Graff, Chief Trout Production Section, Ken Corl. Chiel* Fisheries Management Section, Robert Hesser. Chief* Warmwater Production Section, Shyrl Hood, Chief. 814-683-4451 Research Section, Vincent Mudrak, Chief 814-355-4837 Box 127, Linesville, Pa. 16424 Benner Spring Fish Research Station. Box 200-C. Bellefonte, Pa. 16823 Cooperative Nursery Branch, Paul Byers, Chief FISH CULTURAL STATIONS BELLEFONTE, William Hoover. Superintendent 814-355-4159 LINESVILLE, Charles Sanderson. Superintendent 814-683-4451 RD 4, Box 230, Belletonte. Pa. 16823 Box 127, Linesville, Pa. 16424

BENNER SPRING, William Kennedy, Superintendent 814-355-4837 OSWAYO, D. Ray Merriman, Superintendent 814-698-2001 RD 1, Box 200-C, Bellefonte. Pa. 16823 RD 2, Box 84, Coudersport, Pa. 16915

BIG SPRING, Wayne Weigle, Superinlendenl 717-776-3170 PLEASANT GAP, John Bair, Superintendent 814-359-2754 Box 341, RD 4. Newville, Pa. 17241 Robinson Lane, Bellefonte, Pa. 16823 CORRY-UNION CITY, Tom L. Clark, Superintendent 814-664-2122 PLEASANT MOUNT, Zenas Bean. Superintendent 717-448-2101 Corry, Pa. 16407 Pleasant Mount, Pa. 18453

FAIRVIEW, Neil Shea, Superinlendenl 814-474-1514 REYNOLDSDALE, Ralph Berkey. Superintendent 814-839 2211 2000 Lohrer Road, P.O. Box 531. Fairview, Pa. 16415 New Paris. Pa. 15554

HUNTSDALE, Ted Dingle, Superintendent 717-486-3419 TIONESTA, Charles Mann, Superinlendenl 814-755-3524 Box 393, RD 5. Carlisle, Pa. 17013 Tionesta, Pa. 16353 ENGINEERING DIVISION* Wilbert F. Hobbs, P.E., Chief Construction & Maintenance Section, Eugene Smith, Chief* Architectural & Engineering Section, K. Ronald Weis, Chief* Fisheries Environmental Services Branch, Jack Miller, Chief*

BUREAU OF WATERWAYS Gene Sporl, Assistant Executive Director 717-787-2192

LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION BOAT REGISTRATION/MARINE SERVICES DIVISION

John I. Buck, Chief 717-787-2350 Paul Martin, Chief 717-787-3042 Edward W. Manhart, Deputy Chief 717-787-2350 John Simmons. Marine Services 717-787-3042 Betty Stroud. Boat Registrations 717-787-4480 Management Support/Boating Education Branch Virgil Chambers, Boating Education 717-787-7684 (Vacant) Boating information 717-787-7684

REGIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICES NORTHWEST, Walter G. Lazusky, Supervisor 814-437-5774 SOUTHWEST, Thomas F. Qualters, Supervisor 814-445-8974 Mailing Address 1281 Otter St., Franklin, Pa. 16323 Mailing Address RD 2, Somerset, Pa. 15501 Location 1281 Otter St., Franklin, Pa. 16323 Location On Lake Somerset, Somerset, Pa.

NORTHCENTRAL, Paul F. Swanson, Supervisor 717-748-5396 SOUTHCENTRAL, Richard Owens, Supervisor 717-436-2117 Mailing Address Box 688, Lock Haven, Pa, 17745 Mailing Address RD 3, Box 109, Miffiintown, Pa. 17059 Location 1?9 Woodward Ave. (Dunnstown) Lock Haven, Pa. Location On Route 22, 3 miles west of Miffiintown, Pa. NORTHEAST, Clair Fleeger, Supervisor 717-477-5717 SOUTHEAST, Norman W. Sickles, Supervisor 717-626-0228 Mailing Address Box 88, Sweet Valley, Pa. 18656 Mailing Address Box 6. Elm, Pa. 17521 Location On Harris Pond, Sweet Valley, Pa. Location On Speedwell Forge Lake on Brubaker Valley Road BUREAU OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES (State Headquarters) Paul F. O'Brien, Director Personnel & Employment. Leon D. Boncarosky 717-787-7057 License Section, Mary Stine 717-787-6237 Budget Analyst, Vincent Roliant 717-787-2599 Federal Aid Coordinator. Glen C. Reed 717-787-6391 Real Estate. John Hoffman 717-787-6376 Office Services Supervisor, Chester Peyton 717-787-2363 Purchasing (Harrisburg), Avyril Richardson 717-787-2732 Purchasing (Bellefonte), Dennis Shultz 814-359-2754 t N' " •$•'

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