FISH FORAGE NOVEMBER, 1941 TEN CENT V^ Hk ^/ OFFICIAL STATE VOL. 10—NO. 11 PUBLICATION ^ANGLER? NOVEMBER, 1941 v_

ARTHUR H. JAMES PUBLISHED MONTHLY GOVERNOR by the COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA PENNSYLVANIA BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS

Publication Office: Telegraph Press, Cameron & Kelker Streets, Harrisburg, Pa. Executive and Editorial Offices: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Board of Fish Commis­ sioners, Harrisburg, Pa. CHARLES A. FRENCH Commissioner of Fisheries Ten cents a copy—50 cents a year MEMBERS OF BOARD CHARLES A. FRENCH, Chairman ALEX P. SWEIGART, Editor Ellwood City MILTON L. PEEK South Office Bldg., Harrisburg, Pa. Radnor HARRY E. WEBER Philipsburg NOTE Subscriptions to the PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER EDGAR W. NICHOLSON should be addressed to the Editor. Submit fee either • Philadelphia by check or money order payable to the Common­ J. FRED McKEAN wealth of Pennsylvania. Stamps not acceptable. New Kensington Individuals sending cash do so at their own risk. JOHN L. NEIGER Scranton

PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER welcomes contributions JOSEPH M. CRITCHFIELD and photos of catches from its readers. Proper credit Confluence will be given to contributors. CLIFFORD J. WELSH AH contributions returned if accompanied by first Erie class postage. H. R. STACKHOTJSE Secretary to Board Entered as Second Class matter at the Post Office of Harrisburg, Pa. under act of March 3, 1873. C. R. DULLER Chief Fish Culturist, Bellefonte

IMPORTANT—The Editor should be notified immediately of change in subscriber's address Please give old and new addresses Permission to reprint will be granted provided proper credit notice is given Vol. 10. No. 11 ^ANGLERA^I^l W LC IV / November, 1941

EDITORIAL

STOCKING BLACK BASS

During the past two months, September and October, the largest and most extensive Black Bass stocking program ever attempted by your Board of Fish Commissioners has been in progress. Not only are the regular bass-fishing streams being given our annual attention, but this year for the first time in our history a Statewide LAKE-STOCKING program has been undertaken. Pursuant to the Board's recently adopted policy, all lakes in the Commonwealth having a surface area of forty acres or more which are open to public fishing and which lakes already contain bass, are included in the program. The fleet of Tank-Trucks are rolling and daily surveys and check-ups indicate the finest bass distribution ever projected. The new Warm Water hatchery at Huntsdale was operated for the first time this year with very gratifying results. The production at this plant, coupled with the output of swiftly developing facilities at the other hatcheries this year, has reached a sum total of more than a half million fish ranging in size from two to eight inches. Our greatest concern, naturally, has been the extreme drought and alarming low water levels prevalent in many sections of the Commonwealth, all of which have been care­ fully considered in our stocking program. These abnormal dry spells have been serious and devastating and on behalf of the entire Board I express our sincere gratitude for the fine team-work displayed and exercised by the many clubs and individuals in these affected areas, who assisted in rescuing and removing countless numbers of stranded fish to deeper waters.

Commissioner of Fisheries 3 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER NOVEMBER WYALUSING By DICK FORTNEY

NEVER did find out the name of the old I man with only one good eye, with the straggling white mustache that fanned down across his thin lips, and with the friendly grin. Doc and I stopped at his gasoline sta­ tion, nestled in a little hollow at the side of the road, one hot afternoon in the old pro­ hibition days. He sold us some gasoline, dipped a bottle of home brew out of the well and gave it to us with his compliments and then told us about his favorite bass hole. The next summer, when we returned he was gone. In his stead one of those smart young men—in white uniform and all effi­ ciency—was running the little gas station. I never found out the name of the old fellow, but he introduced me to what I think is the grandest bass stream in Penn­ sylvania, and in all the years I have fished the creek since then I never have passed the little gasoline station in the hollow without offering up a silent word of thanks to him, wherever he may be. I'm writing about Wyalusing Creek, writ­ ing with the memories of my ninth summer of fishing this grand stream still in sharp focus in my mind. I'd like to keep it all for myself, if that could be done, but at Stately fringes of trees enhance the beauty of Wyalusing Creek. the same time I'd like to sing its praises to Wyalusing Creek is a tributary of the posted the creek as a private fishing reserve^ one and all and to assure you, friend reader, North Branch of the Susquehanna River. It Wyalusing is a friendly stream, set in the that it will give you as warm a welcome rises in a welter of small streams well up in midst of green fields, murmuring past cleaHi as it has given me and countless others who Northern Pennsylvania, flows leisurely for neat farm houses—now deep and mysterious, have discovered its charms. about 25 miles down a beautiful, fertile now flat and lazy, again twisting and gurg' But before we go a line farther, a serious valley, and finally dumps its load of water ling over stony turns and riffles. word of caution—fish it for fun, not meat. into the Susquehanna at the town of Wyal­ It flows past little villages, slips beneath For it will crush the scheming of the fish using, perched along U. S. Route 6 about 40 the concrete spans of highway bridges an" hog and humble him with its mysteries, even miles west of Scranton and 18 miles East for mile after mile reflects the sheen of the as it surely will bestow a glowing reward of of Towanda. sun to catch the eye of the angler looking joy upon him who puts most of the fish back The stream, in fact, follows closely High­ for a stream in which he can fish lazily, yet for another day and who angles for the pure way Route 106 from Wyalusing to Montrose, with confidence that he will reap dividend5 joy of the strike, the savage battle, and the and it is all open except for about three of action. satisfaction of granting the gift of life to a miles near the town of Rush, where a group No trout ever inhabited Wyalusing Creek' creature over which he has triumphed. of sportsmen have leased farm lands and It just isn't that kind of a stream. Its swim' ming holes and cow fords are evidence °* that. Rather, it is supreme as the home &. the fighting smallmouth bass and of the stream-lined pickerel, and of brilliantly colored sunfish, tiger-striped rock bass, lea" and racy fallfish, and the finny chaps wh° keep the stream clean, the suckers and the carp. There was the angler from Johnstown» name forgotten, who took from one of i*5 great pools a smallmouth that pulled the scales at four and a half pounds, and the lad from Philadelphia who craftily tossed out a deep-running plug and whipped & seven pound wall-eyed pike that struck the lure savagely in a deep green pool almos' within shouting distance of the town fro*11 which the creek gets its name. I'll never forget the 22-inch pickerel th*j hit a silver spoon and after a whirlwind battle panted out its life on the grass whne a cow grazed contentedly not twenty fee away. Or the sunfish nine and a half inches lon£ that took a stone-catfish and put up a battle that would have done credit to any he-baSS' And my friend, Brooks, had a lot of fun 5 Giant carp share this big hole in Wyalusing Creek with fighting bass and streamlined pickerel. with a fallfish, lowly though some angler 1941 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER tiay consider the fish, which took his red and White fly and spinner, for the chub was a giant 18 inches long and fought as if it, too, had bass blood in its veins. Big catches? My friend, they can be made in Wyalusing Creek provided you go for the Pleasure of fishing and not to satisfy any lust for killing. Look here in my diary under date of July 18-19, 1940: "Brooks and I caught 35 fish in an evening and a day of angling, but we kept only a few for an old lady we knew on a farm up the road a bit. Arrived on stream at sunset July 18, and fish took bass bugs with smash- tag strikes; then the following day they Went crazy over the helgramites we offered them." And again, under date of October 4, 1939: "Brooks and I caught 24 fish today, every °ne of them on a fly and spinner, but we didn't even carry a creel down to the creek With us. The stream was flowing strong and cold; it was our last visit of the summer, and somehow we just couldn't end the season in an orgy of killing." And I remember too, one July afternoon When I found the creek high and roily after Brooks rigs up his tackle at the car along a favorite hole. a cloudburst had struck upstream. Sitting the pools and feeling our hearts thump hopper and the crab and the minnow, and °n a huge peninsula of rocks at one of the against our ribs in response to the sucking, the shore frogs, even the wriggling night- deepest holes in the stream were a couple spray-churning' strikes. crawler for the bait fisherman; flies and of chaps fishing with throw lines, while tied And then, to cap the climax, I laid aside spinner, large wet flies, and deer-hair lures to a branch of an overhanging tree four my fly rod and the quietly floating lures and for the fly rod angler who prefers artificial taonster carp churned the water. took up the casting rod and a yellow and lures; the midget plugs, both surface and And if you ever cross the stream at the black Crazy Crawler— plug with metal arms underwater, and small spoons for the cast­ bridge at Rush—you'll recognize the spot by that swims on the surface with a great fuss ing rod devotee. All of them bring the bass a pretty white creamery at the side of the and commotion. Then for an hour, while and pike, the sunfish and rock bass and road—look down over the railing into the my friends stuck to their silently floating fallfish, swishing through the water for a side of the stream where the water is milky bass bugs, I caught fish for fish with them battle royal. each day when the creamery utensils are with the noisiest, silliest casting lure in my But Wyalusing Creek is a stream of many Washed. There you will see, like dark ghosts tackle box! moods—moods as many as the fish and the in the blue-white water, bass that weigh There's fishing for every kind of angler in types of fishing it offers. two and three pounds lazily swimming about, Wyalusing. Again, look with me at the diary: attended by amazing numbers of their small­ The helgramite and stone-catfish, the grass- July 18-19-1940—The hottest day of the er brethren and of panfish. But I have yet summer, with the water so clear that we to interest one of these milk-fed battlers in could see the fish take the bait and lure, yet any kind of lure or bait. They are for we caught fish in the shallow runs, where Watching, not catching. rocks on the bottom provide shelter. Yes, with all their abundance, fish are not July 7, 1939—Low water, clogged with just for the taking in the pools and runs great patches of green moss that form on this of Wyalusing Creek. They are selective; stream as regularly as July comes around; they rise only to the offerings of men who yet by fishing in the clear patches of water study their moods and habits, who learn four of us caught 30 fish before we stopped their hiding and feeding places, who treat counting. them as worthy adversaries. Ocotber 4, 1939—The moss all gone now, You have to know how to do all kinds of and the creek up a foot with autumn rains. fishing, every trick of the bass fishing art, But all we caught this day were panfish to get results consistently. and small bass; the big fellows seemed to My diary recalls to me that three of us have disappeared for the year—gone down fished the creek one August day of 1941, to the river to spend the winter, the farmer starting out in the morning with live bait folk say, but sure to return again with the and having such action that all of us were first high water of spring. Whooping with the sheer joy of it. Then You have to search out the fish and figure suddenly the bait failed in the deeper holes, out how to lure them to battle—that's the and we had to turn to the faster water with fun of fishing ' in Wyalusing or any other flies and spinners—and the orgy of smashing creek—but if there is one general rule for strikes and leaping battles began all over this favorite bass stream of mine, it is this: again. Look for the bass in water shallow enough Noon brought a biting sun, and no breeze that you can see bottom and in pools where at all, and for several hours we lay in the rock formations along the shores or in the shade of some thick pines and drowsed and channel provide shelter for them. talked and smoked. Lunches were eaten For every trip I have taken to Wyalusing as the sun slipped down behind the high Creek I have some special memory. hill in front of us, and again we courted The evening my friend, Howard, fishing a Wyalusing. fly and spinner just before dusk, hooked into This is Dick Fortney (which really is the pen- Now neither bait nor glittering spinners name of Richard F. Williamson, of Williamsport) some huge creature which hung doggedly with a 25 inch, six pound walleyed pike he to the bottom, refusing to give an inch of served. We turned to deer-hair bass bugs, caught September 12 in Wyalusing Creek. The letting them float like monster dry flies on fish was taken on a plug. . . (Continued on Page 18) PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER NOVEMBER It**1" WW * Mi Kv ill ll - \\v ***-*

as tc oi r tt »; to*- w» ^1 11" U

1c & Tsrf" si tl \* b

0 ft k ft M,v •^ HL All ,V '!>'' ' > »* it d ti tl u v h

S] tl s- a ti

LY ROD spinners are a subject of much seen to interest the fish. And right here we understanding. (The definition will prob­ F controversy. Some use them very often have the crux of the whole matter: A spin­ ably make everything about as clear 3s and for many kinds of fishing while others ner is made to attract fish. mud.) won't touch them and look with slight dis­ Not a very startling conclusion and prob­ After much and almost exclusive use °* dain on those who stoop (?) to their use. ably known to most people who fish. But spinners for an entire year and a half t@ To reiterate a statement made in a preced­ gentlemen, it is one thing to know a matter explore the limits of this phase of fishing' ing article, fly rod spinner fishing is an art. and quite another to understand it. To un­ the writer has come to the conclusion tha* As in all arts the technique and tools have derstand is to have the knowledge plus the fishing with fly rod spinner can be a veO' very definite advantages and equally definite experience of the use of that knowledge. sensitive and graceful method of angling or disadvantages. An understanding of these There can be nothing static or passive about it can be sloppy and stupid and not aS limits will result in more fishing pleasure sporting as bait fishing. Some of the me' and bigger if not more, fish. chanical monstrosities which are sold a5 The artist of the fly rod who coaxes a wet spinners and the way some of them are used make fishing with them merely a laborious fly through the dark lair of a fish or tempt­ n ingly floats a dry fly over his head is a exercise. Every man has his taste and ° aspersions are being cast at the man wb° specialist in fishing waters. How helpless e these fellows feel when fishing a flat or swirls a double spinner weighing an ounc shallow. True, not all anglers pass up this and trailing a treble hook concealed in I kind of water, some of them are fish-wise bunch of hair, over the head of a fish. " he enjoys this sort of work, more power veterans and some of them are dubs. But Specifications: Shank and saddle wire, the average fellow seems to sense instinc­ to him. But this discussion is being written No. 6 music wire scale. o.ozo" opprox. to teach the beginner and to inform the tively that yo&'ve either got to be very good Spring tempered. Nickle plated. or else you're merely too optimistic when angler who is looking for a different tech' Clearance at "D": o.oos"+. nique to increase his fishing pleasure. you try water of this sort. 'dole thru spinner blade: i/ii drill. The angler who habitually visits two-by- •Spinner blade material thickness: 0.01+', There are many different kinds of spinner5 four mountain trout streams finds even a do. A? U.3. ^Standard gauge. even when only those intended for the $1 small spinner superflous. But conditions are Blade length: IJ/IS." rod are considered. I almost said designe" different when the angler casts a small fly Blade width: i)a\ but intended is the word since almost ever? into a lake, a broad flat, or a larger river. Overall length: l-i/z'. lure designed for the casting or trolling ro<* The very immensity of the space to be cov­ Clasp length: s/a". has a miniature edition of itself advertise'1 ered lessens the chances of the lure being Distance of friction bead from bottom: l/a" as "fly rod" size, yes, even pigmy casting taken, for we all know that a lure must be plugs! Of all the types of spinners only tbe 1941 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 5

Indiana and the Colorado types are worthy of discussion. These may seem like harsh Words but please remember that your pa­ tience and the space for this article is lim- •ted, so there is no point in analyzing various dinners and explaining their unsuitability "or our purpose. The Indiana spinner is made up of an assembly of spinner blade, saddle or stirrup to connect the blade to the shaft. One end H the shaft has a ringed eye turned in it; the other end is made into a clasp. The clasp "lay be of several different types. The saddle Wire carrying the blade is supported on its lower side by an anti-friction head or beads. Sometimes these beads are soldered to the shaft and in other makes slide loosely over the shaft. The illustration shows a spinner Which is the result of much study and many trials in actual fishing. Boy, did we have fun testing spinners! On one Saturday fishing trip alone the spin­ ier box held over ten spinners of different kinds and makes. Several were of our own "lake and were out to compete with the com­ mercials. Some of the spinners promptly dove to the bottom and it took much brisk retrieving to keep them from scraping along tile mud and rocks. Some twisted the leader •Uto knots, others had the fly traveling in vertical circles on the retrieve. They all had one fault in common, they refused to sPin consistently. They had to be raced strings of a steel guitar. Next, visit a fish­ hole about l/8th of an inch from the tip of through the water or else fished through ing tackle store; from among the assortment the outline of the blade. With a heavy pair swift currents to make the blade turn. Most of cheap Indiana spinners, pick out one with of scissors or tin snips cut out the blade aggravating of all were those which started a heavy blade about three-fourths of an and smooth off any burrs or rough spots. to spin then mysteriously quit and wouldn't inch long. I got one from an auto acces­ Now put the blank over top of the spinner start again. sories store for three cents (on sale.) This blade. Hold the two together and shape the W. R. Walton in his splendid discussion of blade is as heavy as lead and so poorly fin­ tin over the blade. You can use a smooth spinner fishing in the PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER ished that it is a dull nickel instead of being piece of wood and a pair of pliers. The aroused my sympathy when he described shiny. If you want brass spinners get some newly made blade will have a cross-sectional his struggles with recalcitrant spinners. I shim brass at the auto supply store. The appearance as shown in the drawing. Don't could just see the scenes taking place, hav­ brass comes in sheets, get some ten thou­ try to make a completely rounded top. The ing gone through the same experience more sandths (.010") thick. top of the new blade should be much flatter than once. A nice shiny two color spinner blade can that its pattern. But to get back to the spinner. Most of be made from the top cover of pocket The saddle or stirrup which holds the the data is given in the drawing. The spin­ tobacco cans. Your pipe smoking friends will blade to the shaft is made from music wire. ier is hand-made. It can't be bought. But be glad to save them for you. A spinner The ends of this wire are bent into rings Mease don't let this keep you from making blade made from this stuff will have a shiny with a pair of pliers around a small nail or some. They're so easy to make. Perhaps tinned top and a bright red inside. It's quite a thick needle held in a vise. It must fit &y work as a tool-maker and designer gives rust-proof. loosely over the shaft yet not be too sloppy. •tte a biased view on making things but I The next step is to remove the blade from Make up the shaft from the steel wire Really am sincere when I say that anyone using a nail, pliers and a vise. With one of c the spinner. Then lay the blade on the brass an duplicate this spinner. sheet or the tin and scratch its outline onto the beads reclaimed from the original spin­ First, buy some steel music wire from a the sheet. Using a l/16th inch drill, drill a ner locate the blade and spinner saddle as­ music store. The stuff shown was made from sembly so that the end of the blade clears the loop of the clasp. This is important. The blade must clear the loop at all times. Solder the bead in place using plenty of flux, a well tinned soldering iron and enough heat to make the solder flow and alloy itself to the shaft and bead. Don't get any solder on the side of the bead where the saddle rides. Make sure the blade turns freely on the shaft. Make the ringed eye on the shaft. See that the tip of the blade cannot wedge itself between the shaft and the stirrup wire. If it does, bring the ringed ends of the wire together. A careful study of the drawing and the specifications will help in case of doubt. Trouble with this spinner usually occurs at the following points: (a) Too tight rings on end of saddle; (b) Blade striking clasp loop or bead of fly; (c) Wedging of blade tip be- (Continued on Page 18) 8 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER NOVEMBER * RA% »

ALLOWEEN has come and gone, gen­ PART 2 inside and out. Rubberized fabric froi° H erally signalling the end of the fishing which waders are generally made does n0' season for most Keystone State anglers. And and quarters the wheat stubble and bramble permit escape of bodily perspiration &Q& no doubt before these concluding paragraphs patch; his beagle bays along the distant consequent evaporation. As the wearer to a discussion on storage and rehabilita­ smoky, hazy hillside. wades along, cool water outside condenses tion, beginning under a somewhat similar We have previously and perhaps too perspiration, resulting in an accumulation °' head in last month's issue, shall have ap­ generously at length discussed rods, lines, moisture. The day's temperature, coldness peared in print, our old friend, the timder- reels, leaders, flies, etc., and while there may of the water and degree to which the fisher­ doodle, woodcock to some, will have elected be better modes of attack in arriving at the man perspires influences amount of con' more concrete action to supplement the mere same conclusions, generally those as out­ densation and wetness to be found withi*1. casting of a pensive eye toward the south­ lined will suffice. This time and in sequence The wader will dry quickly if turned inside land. The flight will be on in force, mayhap the most cussedable of fishing dipsy-doodles out—sometimes stuffing the interior with over, surely beyond the Mason and Dixon —waders heads the list—to be followed by newspapers for a short spell as a medium Line and with the vanguard at least already landing nets, boats, clothing, etc. safely enshrined in winter quarters under Now if waders were not originally de­ the bright comforting Dixie sun. signed as innovations of Old Nick, I would Likewise the fisherman will have traded like to know what was and when. At best the one time idyllic dreamy waterway now these rubberized armpit kissing overalls are increasingly chilly and almost deserted, for an abominable bit of equipment—chafing, the beckoning russet, gold, brown, orange binding, snagging and springing leaks at un­ and red of the autumnal landscape—he is expected and inopportune times, hot, heavy a gunner now, and already his pointer sniffs and uncomfortable—downright costly and short of life. Still waders are somewhat like the gas buggy—once a fellow imbibes of the luxury he can never be happy again without them. To be painstakingly honest, without waders the average fisherman is not equipped to get the most out of his trips— always in early spring and late autumn there is choice water non-negotiable with boots. And boats are not always available nor ad­ visable. Still some of the handicaps are to be overcome in part by a measure of fore­ thought on the part of the fisherman. Cost­ liness and short livity may be combatted, feebly it is true, by proper and prompt re­ pair when a worn, chafed spot appears or there is accidental snagging. Most wader manufacturers prepare a small stream repair kit, reasonable in price and of a sufficiency for any job that the ordinary fisherman might personally wish to undertake. Patches, cement and instructions are included. Major rips or damage are always for the con­ sideration of the manufacturer; likewise it is only good insurance to return the current nuisances to the maker during the off-season for a check-up or at least to someone servicing such equipment. TH£ HUTHOR PREFCRS TH-S Preceding winter storage—as at the con­ C»WTOUR OF "B" clusion of each seasonal trip to the water­ ways—the waders should be dried thoroughly 1941 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER of absorption is quite advisable. Both the drying operation and winter storage should be in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight. Sun and heat are deadly to rubber. Waders are not to be folded and lain away in a box while Old King Winter crackles outside. Tear newspapers into Workable sheet and stuff each leg carefully and moderately firm, beginning with the toes and working upward to the top. Then hang in an upright position just so the feet touch the floor lightly. Twine attached to the suspenders and in turn looped over an over­ head bar or pegs fills the bill. This ar­ rangement relieves some of the dead-weight Pull. And don't let their meek muteness throw you off stride along about January, February or March. All the dormant cus- sedness still lingers there and you'll probably start saying things aplenty and with avid fervor come April 15. Waders are related to nothing so much as an almost inanimate dozing jackass—Old Nick lurks with a terrific Wallop in almost every slumbering joint. The old landing net—why bother, a new one costs only a couple dollars? Maybe so; taaybe so, but are you sure. Somehow or other, just about like everything else, some lets seem handier than others—more reach, ftianeuverability or something—at least so it appears to me. One such I have used for sometime while a newer, far costlier job, lingers at home—the self-same latter com­ bining with dubious leaders aforementioned causing me no end of grief during the early trout season days 1940. The old baby seems to have the knack of getting right smack dab in front of nice fish with less effort, hkely because the artistic curve to the frame has softened away and lengthened out, add­ ing more reach; also the bag is much deeper RoU

IKE the rest of mankind most fishermen you aplenty. On one of my trips astream I sized brook trout with a cellophane cigar L have gone completely haywire in their shall not soon forget the frenzied lunges and wrapper after everything else had failed. I quest for "the colossal, the glamorous, the dogged resistance of what I guessed to be a did not have a wrapper in my possession, but exotic." Old fashioned reliables such as sizable trout. Indeed, I announced it to my I did have some cellophane envelopes con­ perch, catties and pun'kin seeds have been wondering companion. "That's some fish!" I taining leaders. Accordingly, I quickly got relegated to the same dusty niches as are exclaimed. And it was—a nice fallfish. one out, tightly twisted it and fastened it to occupied by the hoop skirt, the buggy and Chagrined? I was at the time, but the battle my hook in a single loop. the mustache cup. it had staged provided much food for thought. Yup, I can almost hear you saying: "It's If you are one of those anglers who is for­ Not more than four miles from my home is easy enough for him to write that, but seein' ever seeking a piscatorial El Dorado or who a pond that fairly teems with sunfish and is believin'." annually sinks a sizable sum in an all out catties; the latter of course, being the com­ Indeed, the cellophane alone was not effort to land unsophisticated finny giants in mon yellow-bellied bullhead. Oh, there are enough, so that scarcely a single fish so far-away places, then, put on the drag and bass in it too, but after two or three weeks much as looked at it. However, the addi­ take 'count of stock. of frenzied activity (on the part of the an­ tion of a tiny spinner about the size of a You as well as I have heard well-meaning glers), most of the bass fishermen abandon it small finger nail caused things to really friends greet our return from a successful for more lucrative spots. For the rest of the happen. From my position the spinner fishing excursion in distant places in this summer the pond basks under a genial sun, looked like a disembodied something sliding vein: "Well, now that you have 'slayed' with its denizens waxing fat and sweet and through the water under its own power; the them, you'll not want to fish around here." sportive. Most any time in the gentle season hook being almost undiscernible and the If you are a time disciple of the recreation one can observe long lines of sunnies playing cellophane invisible. Perhaps it appeared that contributes so much to the joy of living, tag with each other. At dusk the bullheads likewise to the fish. Anyway, in thirty min­ your answer will be: "And why not?" feed in the shallows oblivious of the boom­ utes the envelope was worn to a frazzle, the Certainly, the tackle smashing strike of a ing chorus of amorous (poetic license) bull­ twelve fish creeled attesting to its seductive 'lunge, the leap of a bass and the fervid tug frogs. power. of a sizable brownie are those things that My excursions to this chosen spot were At a certain quarry pond in the town of keep the average angler everlastingly at it. frequent. The sunnies were sophisticated. At Bessemer the water literally teems with But for peace and lazy contentment give me least that is my designation for those fish bluegills. They are not large, but what they still-fishing for pannies on nearby waters in who haughtily ignore popular and attrac­ lack in size they make up in sheer numbers the company of genial companions or alone. tive lures. In one respect, however, they and ornery voraciousness. . Yes, I'll confess that once I too was one of were all that one would desire for experi­ Some time ago I acquired a two and three- those who disdainfully sniffed at the mere mental purposes. You could present lure quarter ounce, seven and one-half foot fly mention of the so-called boyhood fishes. But after lure unsuccessfully, then they would rod, a wand that more nearly resembles a since then legion are the times I have caught fall for a nondescript that would not have stalk of wheat stripped of its leaves rather black bass and returned them to the water, deceived the dumbest of bullheads. than something with which to manhandle reserving the luckless perch that chanced to One day in particular comes to mind. That fish. With a tiny black gnat bent to a black tangle with our outfit, for the larder. Those afternoon the sunfish seemed to be in an sewing thread line I had an outfit that trans­ of you who turn up your noses at the men­ especially sportive mood. They had passed formed those bluegills into 100 pound tarpon tion of raccoon perch, have never had them up practically everything that I had with me. For incomparable thrills I recommend such served brown and piping hot with a mess of From various vantage points I observed a an outfit, especially if the rod set you back home-fried potatoes. My mouth waters at dozen or more sizable schools whose individ­ some thirty or forty bucks. You are almoS' the mere thought. uals either played with one another or basked certain to break something unless you forge* Sport? With fly rod and proper accoutre­ in the warm surface water. that you are fast to a mere bluegill sunfish- ments any of the tribe of pannies will thrill Suddenly I recalled the capture of a good I do not mean to imply by the above that one must use an expensive outfit to have fun with pannies. With a regular fly rod or a bait casting outfit or even a cane pole, one can have a barrel of sport. Generally ex­ pressed, in this State panfish have doubtless contributed more fun to more people than any other species of fish. Let me illustrate- The great majority of fishermen (probably 80 per cent), sojourning to Erie Bay °r Presque Isle peninsula set forth with the avowed purpose of slaying a string of bass- However, what nearly always brightens 3° otherwise uneventful Ashless day? Sure, the rock bass. I must confess that most of r°/ trips to the bay would have resulted J" blanks if it had not been for the dependable goggle-eye. On one occasion we discovered some re3* sport when the lake and even the usually quiet bay were kicking up too much of a sea for comfortable fishing. Some one suggested that we unlimber our fly rods and fish the shallows and pockets in the numerous water courses ramifying the peninsula. It was early in the season and the blue' gills were on the prod. In the quiet, Pr°' tected waters, scarcely ruffled by the fierce wind, we caught numerous fine specimens- 1941 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER

Since then we have returned many a time With the express purpose of spending the day With this peerless panfish. I might add that tnost anglers seeking this sunfish wade the shallows. It's much like trout fishing except that one really catches fish. Isn't the catching of fish the one thing that makes fishing enjoyable to most anglers? At least if it is not the catching it is the expect­ ancy anyway. Yes, I know, even the most avid catcher of fishes can go angling with two or three cronies and he will have en­ joyed the day even tho' nary a fish may he creeled. But wasn't the catching of fish the primary objective? Altogether too many fishermen lightly pass off a fruitless bass or 'lunge fishing trip with: "Oh, I had a good time anyway." In most cases a Ashless trip is entirely un­ necessary if the participants are willing and equipped to fish for the modest pannies in­ habiting those selfsame waters. It is no re­ flection on any fisherman to resort to light tackle and lures or even live bait if he finds the big boys off their feed. I never fail to include light equipment on any of my excur­ sions after larger quarry. I discovered long ago that game fish are capricious creatures. I recall a really discouraging day with the land that bouncing rock we had grabbed up turesque fisherman still-fishing the attractive bass (or rather I should have said bass fish­ our rods and in less time than it takes to tell water below the dam in Neshannock Creek ing), literally turned into a riot by its rol­ it, connected with fish, both of them rock at Neshannock Falls. He sported long hair licking cousin, the rock bass. bass. (tresses), and an unkempt beard, both as From morning until dusk we had cast our It was only a matter of minutes to get out black as a crow's wing. A wide brim hat array of plugs over a considerable expanse our fly rods and put them into action. For corraleed most of the wild tresses. A faded Without.so much as getting a "touch." lures two of us chose trout plugs while the blue shirt, denim overalls and stout shoes Shortly after dusk we reached a rocky third tied on a light bucktail and spinner completed the attire. pocket in the midst of a weed area. With combination. However, it is my guess that In the conversation that ensued, I learned hope nearly crushed by our utterly unsuc­ the choice of lures would have made little that he visited Neshannock Falls at least once cessful day we listlessly prepared to make or no difference. Those rock bass really had weekly to follow his favorite pursuit. He our last stand. Indeed, only one of the trio homicidal tendencies. In less than an hour further explained that he came down from deigned to make the attempt. I was one, of we creeled thirty-six of the largest of the north of New Wilmington, a distance of some the onlookers. more than fifty we had hooked. It was some­ seven miles. What was really astounding The plug sailed true for a selected spot at thing that transformed that dull day into a tho' was the fact that he made the round the edge of the weeds. The splash of the glowing success, trip afoot. plug and that of the striking fish sounded as Why hadn't the rock bass been active dur­ Were trout his quarry? He sniffed almost one. You could have heard the delighted ing the day? Your guess is as good as mine. disdainfully. "Not them finicky things. Bull- yell of our surprised companion clear across We attributed it to the vagaries of angling pouts are my meat," he said. "Of course," the lake. and let it go at that. he added, "if I ketch 'un I'll pocket it, but In the few moments that it took him to Early this summer I encountered a pic- give me a nice pout for sweet eatin'." During my brief stay I saw him "pocket" three rock bass. Another time at the same place he intro­ duced me to his wife. To my discomfiture he unabashedly presented her as the old woman. She, too, was fishing; practiced fishers both who preferred to angle for what Walton termed the simple fishes. Panfish can at times be as temperamental as game fish. They, too, have their periods when to raise one is an achievement. With a companion I fished the mill pond above the dam on Neshannock at Volant. In the course of an hour we caught a bass apiece, both small fish. At the same time we fought off what my friend termed pestiferous goggle-eyes. An even dozen were returned to their element. A little later when it finally dawned on us that if we hoped to return to town with a reasonable string it would be wise to retain any subsequent rock bass caught. Accord­ ingly we began to fish for them with a vengeance. You know what happened. Yes, they quit biting. With more or less skill we used everything we had in the way of lures. At noon we quit For peace and lazy contentment give me still—fishing for pannies/ (Continued on Page 17) 10 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER NOVEMBER NOVEMBER PLUGGING Pickerel and Walleyes Are Aces for the Light Lure Caster Now By ALEX P. SWEIGART

OR the light lure caster who carries his F sport to the end of the warm water game fish, season, November angling flaunts a real challenge. October angling in our smaller streams, as was pointed out last month, seems to ring down the curtain on effective light lure fishing for his highness, the small- mouth bass. Low water temperature, bass congregated in deep pools and flats, and somewhat sluggish from the accumulation of fat stored for winter hibernation plus a stiffening up process that appears to come with colder water, combine to offer com- partively meagre rewards to the artificial caster. Anyway, that's how it looks from this corner, and, it may as well be admitted right here that a leopard frog, soft crayfish or lively minnow fished close to bottom for bass, Pickerel caught in November usually run heavy and fat, are splendidly conditioned fish. at this season of the year, will outscore any artificial lure we have ever seen. So much being fished, it will at times be advisable to colors and finishes, it has been found that for November plugging for bass, but fortu­ bend down the weed guard, particularly on spoons in the plain silver finish can usually nately, here in Pennsylvania we have other spoons such as the Johnson Silver Minnow. be relied upon to entice strikes from stream species of game fishes that merit the deepest The guard can be bent down below the pickerel in waters where the silver shiner respect and affection from the angle of fight­ hook point, making this lure a much better is a predominant type of forage. This spoon ing qualities. Chain pickerel, walleyed pike, hooker. If, a little later, the weedless fea­ has consistently been an ace bet in Tuscarora and, in the northwestern corner of the State, ture is again desired, the guard can be easily Creek, Sherman's Creek and Middle Creek- muskellunge are veritable aces up the sleeve brought into position to serve the purpose On the other hand, in waters where the for the numb-finger clan who stay with the for which it was intended. yellow perch and golden shiner are out­ casting game until the November 30 deadline. For November fishing, warmth in clothing standing forage, by far the best bet has Old timers in the muskie fishing clan, how­ is a requisite and waders are a real asset. been the spoon in gold finish. ever, seem generally agreed that trolling Of course, in some mill dams where pickerel In fishing spoon, a snap swivel is highly with natural lures, such as a fair-sized occur, boats are available, and combing the essential as the action of these lures other­ sucker or big chub is by far the best method lily pad pockets and shoreline weedbeds in wise is almost certain to cause a badly to follow in taking these tigers of the fresh such locations from a boat may yield many twisted line. Bronze color is preferred i°v water. strikes. In fishing spoon, or for that matter, these swivels, which should not be too large- While the November casting outfit should plug, it is well to slow down on the retrieve. Finally, there is the matter of the leader. include the standard group of plugs, with Most spoons are so constructed that good Artificial gut testing 10 or 15 pounds, with wobblers that go at moderate or close to action often may be had with slow reeling, 10 pounds usually sufficient in strength, bottom depth, such as the midget River Runt and fishing them deep may bring results. serves well as the material from which to and midget Pike Oreno in the preferred make your leaders. Length may vary irovn Color in Spoons class, by all means have on hand a generous 6 to 14 or 15 feet, depending upon the con­ array of spoons. The Lou Eppinger spoons Probably no sport in the world has more dition of the water. In murky water, a " in fish scale finish are fine, and the same theories advanced concerning it than has foot leader may serve to advantage, while goes for the Johnson Silver Minnow, Size 1, angling, so advancing another can't do any greater length should be used in exception­ in both silver and gold finishes, and the harm. Last month the discussion centered ally clear water. Placing the cast along weed Tony Acceta Weed Dodger. On the Silver about colors of plugs that seemed most suit­ beds, in deep pockets and lily pad coves Minnow, we have found that use of a rubber able for autumn angling for smallmouth bass. shelving on deep water is a good procedure- pork rind, lopped off so that it only extends We stand convinced that finish or color in Pickerel Traits spoons is just as important when it comes about half an inch behind the hook, adds to Revered fishing friends very often, in re­ to taking pickerel. To illustrate, several the attractiveness of the lure. A longer ferring to the pickerel, term it the most years ago in one of the mill dams in central pork rind strip, it has been found, often re­ unpredictable fish they have ever tried to Pennsylvania, we caught pickerel occasion­ sults in many missed strikes as pickerel take. And that, we think, is the best de­ ally that, when opened, were found to con­ tend to follow the lure, nipping at the pork scriptive word to use when referring to tain common sunfish. In fact, the sunnies rind and very often failing to connect. In this native gamester. An incident that oc­ were plentiful in this water and apparently the Eppinger spoons, sparse deer hair serves curred a number of years ago on a central constituted a major source of forage for the a similar purpose. stream comes to mind. The cast had been pickerel. Various types of spoons were tried, While on the subject of spoons, it may be placed in a likely looking cove and the lure red and white, bronze scale, silver and gold well to mentioit those equipped with weed had not traveled more than three feet before guards. Unless unusually weedy water is plated with results that were not outstand­ ing. Finally, however, a very effective lure was found. This was the Eppinger spoon in green scale finish, copper belly, and sparse deer hair over the single hook. Its color flashes as it darted through the water on the retrieve were suggestive of the sunfish, and it worked better than any other spoon in that water. Smaller pickerel are extremely raccy in build but strike the light lure with amazing vim con­ A beautifully marked chain pickerel. Delving further into this matter of spoon sidering their weight. 1941 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 11 a pickerel of 16 inch length connected with i •- , , 't, twisted about underwater for an instant, then threw the lure in its initial leap. On the very next cast, believe it or not, the fish followed the lure almost to the spot tyhere it was lifted from the water, hooked solidly again and was landed. A fresh tear >n the light tissue of the lower jaw con­ vinced us that it was the same fish. In direct contrast to this persistence in striking, was the behavior of a much larger fish two years ago on the same stream. This pickerel, its length judged to have been about 20 inches, had chased a good sized chub into a weed bed, but apparently had missed its strike. The spoon was placed over the spot with the Another ace bet (or the November light lure caster, the walleyed pike. firm conviction that, pickerel moods being tyhat they are, a solid strike would result. the hook, a leap and it was back in the during the present season. Unpredictable is Instead of the strike so confidently expected, water. the word for these fish. the fish in question merely followed the It would appear that there is no such Several factors combine to make November Spoon virtually to the tip of the rod, then thing as a happy medium for the strik­ plugging for pickerel well worth a try. Un­ quietly sank from sight without even bump­ ing tendencies of our Pennsylvania chain like our smallmouth bass, this fish remains ing the lure. Again, this season, we were pickerel: Either they seem to ignore all and active during the winter. The eggs in the fishing the Silver Minnow, with the con­ sundry lures or go into a striking rampage female fish are developing rapidly in prepa­ ventional short strip of rubber pork rind that provides action aplenty. Smaller ration for the spawning period which comes attached, in a weedy dam. In the retrieve, pickerel may be counted upon, of course, to in very early spring, definitely having some the impression was given by a series of furnish more consistent action, but with the bearing on the voracity with which they small tugs that the lure was encountering big fellows we have a strong feeling that seek their prey in the dying days of autumn. tyeeds in its passage through the water. strikes come more by spurts. Lower water temperatures seem to add zest Weeds nothing. One of the best pickerel One lure not in the spoon classification to their striking. Seen in years followed the lure into shallow that yielded a surprising number of strikes Note how often, when you are fishing for ^ater, nipping at that short strip of rubber from pickerel this year was the South Bend this slender scrapper, you find the best fish Pork rind, its gill covers expanding and con­ Midg-Oreno in the yellow and black Shad- not too far distant from some good shelter to tracting with each nip. Repeated casts failed O-Wave finish. Apparently, yellow is an which they can dart if hooked. It may be to interest the big fellow after that. Last appealing color to pickerel, and our good the submerged roots of a big tree along the season, a friend admitted that one of these friend, Nev Sherlock, has a much battered shore, a sunken stump or a tree which has slim scrappers startled him just about as yellow Midg-Oreno with red head that has fallen into the water. At any rate it is a much as he has been startled in years. The been the most cherished pickerel lure in his good thing to bear in mind this tendency in Pickerel followed his lure into shallow water collection. Occasionally, pickerel will also the event the fish is hooked. Many good along the shore where he was standing, rise to strike a strictly surface lure, as wit­ pickerel are lost each year through rushing smacked into it and was forthwith heaved ness the taking of an 18 inch pickerel on tactics. The light tissue of its jaws is easily °nto shore. One twist and it was free from the smallest size of Fred Arbogast's Jitterbug torn making a breakaway from the hook much more simple for this fish than for the bass. Probably as many pickerel are lost through attempting to lift them from the water at the termination of the scrap as in . any other way. Keeping the rod tip down in playing this fish, maintaining a steady •>;*•v-• - pull on a tight line and enough arch in the casting rod to assist in wearing down a big chain pickerel are points to remember. Finally, running them into a shallow bar and securing a good grip back of the gill covers in the final phase of the battle is good procedure. It is to be stressed again that the single hook spoon, with the hook anchored in the lure is to be preferred above all others in angling with spoon for this swift game fish. With a lure of this type anchored in its jaw, a pickerel has less chance to throw it than is the case where the weight of the spoon dangles from a double or treble hook connected by a wire ring. In its foraging, this fish seems to favor lurking in weed beds from which it darts —sfl like an arrow at its passing prey. However, ^gfiw^ptf W^MV- IT" * while this trait apparently is well estab­ lished, it is not unusual to see pickerel cruis­ ing about in deep flats or pursuing minnows in the shallows. Be that as it may, a well placed lure, so long as it has flash, glitter or good action (in case of plugs) will very • .•• ••'••. •'•" ''' : often bring a sharp strike. Movement must be the thing most requisite in stirring its interest in any lure and the more attractive and suggestive of food this movement may Common sunfish, when plentiful in pickerel water, seem to be a favorite food for the pickerel. The green scale finish back, gold bellied spoon is worth trying at such locations. (Continued on Page 20) u PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER NOVEMBER strike better in one pool than in another on the stream, under ordinary conditions. It's a waste of time to fish in a gravelly open stretch of water if within reach are rock ledges and other cover which fish naturally seek. And as often as not good fish are found in the shallows of a pool as well as in the deeper head-section. Ignoring or forgetting these facts are mis- takes that cost you fish. And then we can think of some others, such as: Failing to keep the tackle in proper con­ My good friend B. G. once had a favorite Letting down the guard is another mistake dition, so that it will give the utmost in deer-hair bass bug, smaller than most deer- that costs fish. efficiency and service. hair lures and all black in color. Time after In reeling a plug, floating a dry fly, or Making a disturbance on the shore or in time, when angling companions using other sending bait down into a pool, a nice fish the water as you progress along a trout ot lures failed to get a strike, B. G. took a seems sure to strike if the angler turns his bass stream. Using extra-fine leaders when angling for nice fish with his pet. head to talk to a friend or tucks his rod e But, alas, no more! under his arm to light his pipe. The moral bass and pickerel; and by extra-fine W On a murky evening along Wyalusing is: Pay strict attention to the lure or bait mean leaders that are intended for brook Creek my friend B. G. called upon his black so long as it is in the water where a fish has trout and not the smashing strikes and furious battles of the bigger varieties. bug for the supreme test. He was angling the slightest chance to strike it. a for a huge bass which a farmer had spotted Hurrying a hooked fish also is costly. Going out on a trout stream and using pet or a new fly without giving any though' living under a big tree that hung out over If the tackle is strong enough to set the a the stream. hook in the first place, it is strong enough at all to the question whether that lure is true imitation of the natural insects prev­ The bass rose to the first cast, took the to keep a trout or bass under control until the fish has fought out its strength and can alent on that stream. bass bug with a smashing strike, and then Starting out on a fishing trip when the left B. G. standing stunned with a slack line. safely be landed. Besides, what is the thrill of fishing, after all, if it is not the swirling, weather is horrible or when stream condi­ With that bass went the black bug—and darting battle of a trout or bass at the end tions are at their worst and then expecting B. G. mournfully confessed that he had cast of the line? Lifting a fish out of the water to catch fish. the lure with an old leader which he had with the line and leader; attempting to drag And so on and on and on. failed to put to the test of a strong pull of a heavy fish up on the shore with the rod; Just add to the list mistakes you yourself his hands. refusing to give line to a hooked fish that make—you know you make them and yo^ So B. G. made a costly mistake—one that is trying to make a run for liberty—these know better than to make them. We're all cost him his favorite lure and what also that way. are ways of hurrying a fish that in about 6 might easily have been a record smallmouth. seven cases out of ten restore the fish to its There's one final mistake this writer fee' That's just an illustration—one case of a lot of fishermen make that deprives them liberty. { many—of mistakes that cost the unthinking Haste is another serious mistake. of the full happiness of angling. And tha angler fish. Mistakes, for the most part, It's folly to tear up and down the stream, is getting into a frame of mind where yo^ that could be avoided by use of common dabbing a bait or lure into a pocket and are satisfied only with a lot of action an" sense. Silly things that even the most vet­ then rushing along to the next one if a fish big fish. eran anglers do, although they all know is not hooked in the first thirty seconds. It's Brother, it's time in Pennsylvania and most better. folly to begin fishing a pool before looking other states for anglers to realize that a fuU Probably the most common mistake of all it over in an attempt to find out where fish creel and a striking fish every five minutes is striking too hard when a fish rises to the are most likely to be found. It's folly to are definitely things of the good old dayS' bait of lure. splash into the shallow end of a pool with There are just too many fishermen and to" few fish, and it isn't likely anything can be Another friend R. S. told us of the trick eyes focused on the deeper water at its head. There's no reason to believe that fish will done, more than it is now, to equalize the of using size 18 and 20 black wet flies to situation. entice some of the big trout in Penns Creek But every angler has it in his own poWer and its tributaries, but he warned us that a with such tiny lures the strike had to be to overcome that situation and still get very gentle, a mere lifting of the rod or supreme kick out of a day astream. One method is this: Locate a big bass °r rolling of the wrist being sufficient to drive e the hook home. trout, and instead of roaming all over tb stream taking pot luck, devote your whole We spotted a fine rainbow in Pine Creek attention and skill to winning a battle °* just above where it flows into Penns Creek wits with that fish. and floated one of the black midges down Another way is to develop a frame °* past it. With a flash the trout struck, and mind that will find pleasure in a battle wit*1 it looked like a whopper. But we gave a rock bass or some of the other so-called pafi heave on our rod that zipped the fly out fish which still inhabit our streams in pie*1' of the mouth of the fish and sent it whacking tiful numbers. into a tree at our back. We did just what And the third way is to use light tackle S" we had been solemnly warned not to do, and that the comparatively small fish feel Bw the best trout we had seen all season re­ big ones. mained in the creek. We'd like to illustrate all three methods' Nobody who ever angled has failed to say, Remember, they are methods for avoiding at one time or another, "I had hold of a the mistake of being disappointed on the dandy, but just turned him over." Well, stream. that probably was because the strike was First, our friend L. V. got a great kic* so hard that the bait or lure was ripped out last summer out of trying to outsmart a huge of the jaws of the trout or bass. Remember, brown trout which he discovered foragin» a hook in good condition is needle sharp and in a deep riffle in Loyalsock Creek ne3^ needs only a slight tug to drive it into flesh. Williamsport. Three times the huge fisn If you don't believe it, try it on your finger H. L. White, of Lebanon, with the 18 inch, three roared to the surface and smashed a dry pound smallmouth bass he caught this season in some time. Swatara Creek, Lebanon County, on a shiner. (Continued on Page 17) 1941 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 13

Question: What are some good points at same location where one is taken. Another which to fish the North Branch of the Sus­ method is to row in a wide circle, gradually quehanna River for bass and walleyed pike? narrowing the circle in deep water. Slow What types of artificial lures and live bait rowing of the boat and insuring that the lure seem to be best on this stream?—M. V. D. is close to bottom are also points to remem­ Answer: Some of the most favored sections ber. November may yield surprises in taking for fishing this fine stream are in the vicinity walleyes on the trolling rig. Finally, lines of Mehoopany, Wyalusing, Laceyville, and for this type of fishing should be plenty Towanda. It is a rapid type stream yielding strong, of from 18 to 24 pounds test. I bin apluggin' fer one o' them big bass some fine bass and walleyes. At the locations Question: What is a good method for keep­ down in the rock hole all seezun an' durned listed, boats may be hired and come in ing fish caught early in the morning on a ef them fish ain't ez smart ez enny trout I mighty handy for autumn fishing. As for live very hot day under circumstances where a ever did see. On a clear day twasn't no bait, the stone catfish, helgramite, or clipper live net is not available?—R. W. S. trick ter stand on the top 6 the big rock last as it is known on the Branch, crayfish and Answer: Even if you happen to have a munth an' see them fish aswimmin' erbout, minnows are favorites, while real success in live net along, bass or pickerel caught on but jest try ter ketch 'em in daylight on plug fishing deer hair floating lures and fly and such a day will be found to die quickly er bait an' a feller mite ez well saved his spinner combinations on the fly rod has been when stream water temperatures are high. time. The water wuz so low an' cleer thet reported. As for plugs, the light lures work For that reason, it is wise to kill a fish you even one o' them baby plugs semed ter scair well and the Heddon Midget River Runt has intend keeping (after checking length, girth the daylight out o' them. Well sire, Joe been popular along with the South Bend and weight if it happens to be near record Fromm an' me got ter figgerin' thet mebbe Midg Oreno and Shakespeare Midget. proportions), gut it, remove the gills and the best time ter try fer them ud be erbout Question: Am interested in doing some late eyes. After that, wrap the fish in a piece of dark or atter nite. Well, I hiked me down fall trolling for walleyed pike. What outfit cloth and it should keep fairly well. there erbout dark one nite durin' thet hot would you suggest as good and what system spell we wuz hevin' an' the furst plug I put of trolling seems to be effective?—J. F. D. on wuz thet lettle jitterbug you got fer me Answer: For our stream walleyes in the FISH VIOLATIONS a wile back. Juniata, Susquehanna, and Delaware Rivers BRING DELAYED PENALTY Plugged frum the bottom o' the stretch an' and those found in lakes such as Wallen- Three years ago, in a local alderman's it wuz jest so dark a feller cude scairce see paupack in Pike and Wayne counties, trolls court, three Franklin men refused to pay the tip o' the rod when I puts out a cast an ing from a boat in November is one of the fines of $150 each for violation of the Penn­ warn, a bass socked inter it, yanked the reel most effective methods for taking these fish. sylvania fishing laws. Instead they insisted out o' my fingers and, thinks Jerry, thet's For most satisfactory trolling, two fishermen on an appeal to court. the big baby shure ez tootin'. The way thet should be in the boat, alternating at the oars, Today the three men, Merle Krepp, G. W. bass carried on wuz a caushion. Didn't cum although we know of some old river trollers Krepp and R. C. Krepp, are in the county outer the water oncet but it ud cum ter the Who frequently go it alone. As for the out­ jail where they will remain for 100 days top, swirl an' slap the surfass with its tail. I fit, it's hard nowdays to beat the June Bug unless they can raise $450 in fines plus costs diden't wanter force it too much but atter Spinner, which comes on a wire leader with which the court imposed upon them. wile it wuz plum tuckered an' I run it inter a barrel swivel to attach to the line. This is They were charged in 1938 with an attempt the shallers. an' slipped the net under it a broad bladed spinner, often coming through to prevent Donald Phenicie, a special fish Durned ef I wuzn't surprised at its size. It with the blade part gold and part silver, the warden, from seizure of a fishing device used wuz a nice fish all rite, a leetle better'n 16 lower half gold finish, the upper half silver. illegally for taking fish bait, illegal fishing inches but not the big baby by a heck o' a Other finishes include white enamel on the on Sunday and illegal fishing for bullfrogs. site. Jest the saim, I'm afiggerin' thet a bass thet size mite fite erbout ez hard ez enny upper surface, red underneath. A fairly long In his opinion Judge Lee A. McCracken fish in our crick. shanked bronze hook with a soft copper wire pointed out that it was a joint enterprise on to wrap around the bait completes the as­ the Allegheny River on a Sunday night and Semes ter me like the more I fish fer bass, sembly. As for bait to use with this com­ that each had taken part. "The evidence the dummer I git. Danged ef it diden't taik bination, while minnows are sometimes used, offered is in our opinion amply sufficient to me nigh onter 10 yeres ter reezun out er a favorite on the Juniata and Susquehanna sustain the convictions," the court said. figger out thet when the crick's low an' cleer as well as at Lake Wallenpaupack is the the chances is gude thet nite er dusk fishin' nightcrawler. Lamprey eels are still obtain­ Judge McCracken ruled that each of the three was guilty of resisting Phenicie in his ez the time ter ketch the good uns. A sur­ able on the Delaware and there they rank as fass plug thet kicks up a fuss is a durn site a pet trolling bait to attach to the spinner duties and in the illegal use of a fishing device and on this count he sentenced each more shure ter fool 'em better when the combination. They are exceedingly tough life's bad. and another old fashioned method of fishing to pay a fine of $100 and costs or 100 days in them was merely behind a swivel, minus the jail. He sentenced each to pay $50 fine and spinner effect. In trolling from a boat, with costs or spend 50 days in jail on the two counts of illegal fishing on Sunday and illegal NOTES FROM DOWN from 50 to 70 feet of line trailing in the WEST CHESTER WAY wake, two methods seem to be favored by catching of bullfrogs. The jail terms are to old time trollers. One is the criss-cross run concurrently, that is, the jail terms will The largest bass reported caught this sea­ method, from shore to shore, with mental not run more than 100 days. son, so far, was taken by G. K. Gahm at notations of locations where a strike is had. Bench warrants were issued by Judge Mc­ Westtown Lake on July 19. This largemouth Walleyes are notably school fish and there is Cracken and the three were picked up by was 23 inches in length, 14 inches in girth, an excellent chance of hooking others in the Sheriff I. O. Bell and deputies and lodged in and weighed 6 pounds. It was caught on a the county jail. sunfish. 14 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER NOVEMBER

1941 National Fly And Bait Casting Champions FLY CASTING CHAMPIONS Dry Fly James Price Fresno, Calif. Wet Fly Clyde Marshall East Liverpool, Ohio Skish Fly Robert Budd Jeffersonville, Ind. Distance Fly Eugene Anderegg Paterson, N. J. Salmon Fly R. G. Miller Huntington Beach, Cal. BAIT CASTING CHAMPIONS Skish Bait James Price Fresno, Cal. % oz. Distance Clyde Marshall East Liverpool, Ohio % oz. Distance Clyde Marshall East Liverpool, Ohio % oz. Accuracy Herman Hittenberger San Francisco, Cal. % oz. Accuracy E. R. Broeker St. Louis, Mo. ALL AROUND- -FLY AND BAIT CASTING CHAMPION Herman Hittenberger San Francisco, Cal. WOMEN CHAMPIONS Wet Fly Mrs. Ott Reisman Kansas City, Mo. % oz. Bait Accuracy Miss Aunalee Crusey Sidney, Ohio Skish Bait Mrs. Irene Tuck Fort Worth, Texas % oz. Bait Accuracy Miss Aunalee Crusey Sidney, Ohio Hon. John L. Neiger JUVENILE CHAMPIONS % oz. Bait Accuracy John Bauer Akron, Ohio NEIGER REELECTED Skish Bait H. Dixon St. Louis, Mo. NORTHEAST CHAIRMAN CLUB TEAM Convened in annual meeting in the Scran­ ton Chamber of Commerce building, dele­ 5 Man—% oz. Accuracy gates from seven counties with membership Carondelet Fly and Bait Casting Club St. Louis, Mo. in the Northeastern Division, Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, reelected all current officers to serve another year, This law has been on the statute books for a sylvania held at the Silver Lake Club and passed resolutions and motions of par­ number of years, but has not prior to this grounds was attended by more than two ticular interest to thousands of sportsmen in been enforced. thousand persons and was the most success­ this section of the Commonwealth. The Federation passed a resolution re­ ful ever conducted. John H. Price, Scran­ Delegates attended from Pike, Wayne, Sus­ questing the Fish and Game Commissions to ton, a member of the Pennsylvania Game quehanna, Wyoming, Lackawanna, Luzerne discontinue appointing any deputies who Commission, won a leg on the Silver Lake and Carbon counties. President J. L. (Jack) might use their positions to enforce trespass Rod and Gun Club trophy. He defeated a Neiger, of West Scranton, a member of the laws for large clubs or large land owners. large field of contestants, including C. E. State Fish Commission, presided. It was recommended that a bill be sub­ Jakway, of Towanda, winner in 1939, and Officers renamed to another one year term mitted to the legislature in the future calling G. P. Moore, Towanda, who won last year. were: President, Mr. Neiger; Benedick Kane, for any one selling bait fish to be licensed The bait-casting contest was won by J. L. of Susquehanna, vice-president; Henry W. by the Fish Commission, and that a strict Neiger, of Scranton, member of the Fish Strohl, Noxen, treasurer, and Robert W. regulation be carried out in the selling of Commission, and the clay pigeon shoot by Steventon, Palmerton, secretary. The new bait fish. Commissioner Price. Other events included terms of office will date from January 1, 1942. It was also recommended that changes be fox and 'coon chases and dog show. The Federation received the report of made in the fish code regarding ice fishing, Dr. F. S. Birchard, Montrose, chairman of Gerald Edmonds, of Palmerton, chairman of and also that a fine should be provided for the committee in charge of the dog show, the committee named to investigate the new motor boat owners who do not display their reports excellent interest in this part of the Split Rock Club in the Poconos. All past licenses when operating their boats. day's program. Pointers, beagles, 'coon actions of this committee were approved Another recommendation made by the hounds, cockers, springers, English setters, unanimously, and instruction given to the Federation delegates calls for any warden or fox hounds and Gordon setters were entered- group to proceed further in an effort to keep employe of the Fish or Game Commissions A total of 256 dogs were exhibited, 117 of the lands and water of the Pocono region who violates the fish and game laws of any which were foxhounds. The judge was Wil­ open to the public. Assurance was also given other state, or our national government, and liam F. Gilroy, Pittston, a licensed A. K. C the committeemen that such steps as will be who is convicted and fined for such violation, judge. necessary in the future will have the ap­ that such warden or employe be dismissed In the 'coon chases about forty dogs took proval of the Federation. Spokesmen for the from service immediately. part. In the first event, first line and first State Fish and Game Commissions reported Announcement was made at the meeting tree was taken by "Woodie," owned by to the Federation that no cooperation, or that all other resolutions which the sports­ Everett Joiner, of Binghamton. "Spot," agreement, has been entered into with the men wish to be considered by the Federa­ owned by L. M. Bass, of Binghamton, took Split Rock Club by either board. tion, should be in the hands of Secretary second line, and "Lead," owned by William Denton, New Milford, took second tree. The Federation also moved to oppose any Stevenson not later than November 15, as consolidation of the Fish and Game Commis­ provided by the by-laws of the organization. In the second chase "Brownie," owned by sions. Jess Hobert, Oxford, N. Y., took first line- "Joe," owned by Mr. Denton, took second Bait Fish Regulation line, "Kentucky," owned by Miss Spring­ Federation delegates also approved the de­ COMMISSIONER NEIGER BAIT steen, took first tree. "Jack," owned by Frank cision of the Fish Commission to enforce the CASTING WINNER Utter, Oxford, took second tree. law pertaining to the taking of bait fish from The annual field day and get-together of In the third chase, "Spot," L. M. Bass, public waters, and selling the fish at a profit. federated sportsmen of northeastern Penn­ Binghamton, first line. "Kentucky," Miss 1941 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 15

Springsteen, second line, first tree. "Bill," Mrs. Hill, second tree. Fourth class: "Bill," Bob Hobert, of Sus­ quehanna, first line. "Brownie," Jess Hobert, Oxford, second line. "Hot Shot," Miss Spring­ steen, first tree. Results of the fox chase in which 13 dogs Were entered, follow: First place was taken by Wynn Tiffany's dog, "Sam," New Milford; second place, M. Gamalass dog. "Fannie," owned by John Horvath, of Silver Lake, third place.

EXPLAIN NEW RULING GOVERNING BAIT FISH A drastic change governing taking of bait- fish and fish-bait from public fishing waters of Pennsylvania was announced by the Board of Fish Commissioners and became effective after October 1, 1941. The law as it is now drawn prohibits the sale of bait-fish and fish-bait taken from Pennsylvania's inland Waters. Prior to October 1, a rule of the Board permitting the selling of thirty-five bait-fish or fish-bait was in effect, but under the law they cannot be sold unless pur­ Permanence in stream improvement devices is illustrated in this photo taken of work on a southeastern Pennsylvania trout stream. chased from a Commercial Hatchery. It has become necessary to enforce the START BASS STOCKING IN Provisions of the law so that the natural THE FRONT COVER food content of our streams will be con- SMALLER LAKES On our front cover this month are Served. During the last few years the re­ The Fish Commission has begun its pro­ portrayed two types of bass jorage well moval of bait from the majority of our gram of stocking bass in the lakes of the known to every bass fisherman. Fred bass waters has been in such numbers that Commonwealth. This is the first year the Everett depicts the stone catfish, also it has seriously depleted the food and Commission has had a statewide lake stock­ known as "stone roller," "stone cat" forage, and it is becoming a problem of ing program. Under the new setup lakes and "stonie" in this painting, while on tnuch concern. which have an area of forty acres or more the rocks immediately above the fish The Board feels that the majority of fish­ and are open to public fishing, and which ermen will be in accord with the law and now contain bass are included in the pro­ are helgramites, larva of the Dobson asks their cooperation. gram. Judging by the many letters which fly. The painting was made from live It is stressed that this does not prevent have reached the Fish Commission office, specimens at the Commission's Pleasant a fisherman from taking his own bait from the various sportsmen's organizations are Gap Fish Farm near Bellefonte. Public fishing waters, but under the law he very well pleased. This has been made cannot have more than thirty-five (35) bait- possible by the Commission's increased bass fish or thirty-five (35) fish-bait or fifty (50) production program. his companions appeared to enjoy the outing °f the combined species in his possession at Commissioner French announced that a to the utmost and contributed a string of any one time. If bait-fish or fish-bait have complete survey of all hatcheries indicates 12 to the 76 fish the party turned in at the been purchased from a commercial grower the Board will have the finest bass distribu­ close of the voyage. Who operates under a license issued by the tion in its history. The number raised and Board or from a dealer who has purchased distributed this year should be well over The first boat pulled in at the docks of them from a Commercial Hatchery, larger half a million fish ranging in size from two the Gun Club cottage at Hornets Ferry at lumbers may be had in possession but a to eight inches. about 5:30, and by 6:30, all were accounted receipt or bill of sale must be produced if for by Leo Scholl, in charge of that part questioned by a Warden. Minnow boxes STAGE ANNUAL NORTH BRANCH of the arrangements. Mr. Scholl measured anchored in a stream, pond, lake or at place FLOAT the largest fish turned in and then an­ °f residence, must have attached thereto the nounced that John Helsing of Canton caught owner's name, address and fishing license The 1941 fish float sponsored by the the largest black bass, one 18 inches long, lumber. Boxes divided into sections by Towanda Gun Club is history now, but it and Bill Baker of Towanda the yellow bass, ttlore than one person must have the in- will be a long time before the forty sports­ one 20 inches long. Each was awarded an °Jvidual owner's name, address and fishing men who took part in it forget the splendid appropriate prize. license number attached to each section. outing they enjoyed, the comradeship, the A delicious dinner followed the trip down Fishermen are permitted to take bait on delightful day on the river, the fun, the fool­ the river and then the group broke up, to a fishing trip within or without the State ishness, and the good fishing. look forward to next year's event. Provided the possession of bait-fish and The flotilla of twenty boats pulled away Former Fish Warden Myron Shoemaker fish-bait does not exceed the possession from the landing at the James Meredith came up from his new work in New Jersey limits and the bait are for his own use. cottage in East Towanda. Mr. Meredith him­ to take part in the float. When he arrived Bait-fish and fish-bait may be taken on self, grand old sportsman that he is, was at Wysox he found he had forgotten his Sunday under an amendment to the Sunday commodore for the event and gave the start­ license and sent his son back after it. His Wishing Law. The following devices may be ing signal from his seat in one of the boats. wife reports that at 4 A.M., Myron spent used in taking bait: Two (2) rods and two Rival team captains were William L. Woodin considerable time looking for a felt shirt that (2) lines with not more than three (3) and Freddie Schaffer. Occupants of one of was put away in the moth balls. Myron books attached to each line; Minnow seine the boats was Col. Lynn G. Adams, commis­ blames those moth balls and the odor they °r dip net not exceeding four (4) feet sioner of the Pennsylvania Motor Police; his left in his shirt for the comparative small square or four (4) feet in diameter, or a assistant, Colonel Fisher, and Robert Lat- string of fish he turned in. minnow trap with not more than one open­ timer, head of game protectors in that part Charles B. Dayton of Towanda was chair­ ing of not more than one inch in diameter. of the state. These men had such a fine man of the event, his assistants being Merle *Ws and lines used for taking bait must time that Colonel Adams declared he will go Apgar, Fred Schaffer, Leo Scholl, W. L. "e under the immediate control of the person again next season, if invited, and of course Woodin. To these men is given much credit Using them. the invitation was quickly extended. He and for the success of the venture. 16 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER NOVEMBER

As Snowflakes Near sun—when the fish is three or four inches larger, one should have a good heart and (Continued from Page 7) three or four hands. Ability to converse alarmed fisherman, line and leader tangling freely in some foreign dialect is also a de­ and holding momentarily at spots along the cided advantage should there be ladies or way, not to mention hopeless slack. Simply ministers about. sticking the net down, the brownie raced Anyway the particular brownie under dis­ right plumb into it—and then real trouble cussion eventually came to grief the second began. time, how wholly irrevelent, apparently the The net was an old veteran, several times luck of the very dumb. Now most every discarded, though at that time carried as a anecdote should have a moral and this time spare and generally reinstated when crawling do not be careless with flaws in the links of through rough brushing going. Several not the net—one never knows when he might tie insignificant holes had been recently plugged into the all-time big one and any equipment with nothing more substantial than ordinary is only so strong as the weakest link. And thread from the sewing kit and not too care­ this fisherman has long since learned any fully at that. And by this time the fisherman water deep enough and with sufficient pro­ fully realized the brownie to be the biggest tection, especially the hard to fish out of the yet, all of which did not tend to make the way pool, is just the place a sockadologer next few minutes the more enjoyable. At may have a rendezvous with fate. any rate as the struggling prize was lifted Not all of us are gifted with the ability to from the water, he went right through the engineer the construction of a boat, but most net, heading downstream, tired but still anyone with a little horse sense may prop­ frantically slugging. The tip of the rod erly store and preserve the common inland arched dangerously, the line whistled through fresh-water utility craft so frequently em­ the entangling mesh, the brownie threshed, ployed on creek, pond, lake and river by thundered and bored, utilizing every ounce bass, wall-eye and sometimes trout anglers. of the current pull together with his own Many none too affluent fishermen pay a remaining strength, the fisherman suffered goodly price for a boat-—either of commercial the tortures of the damned. For the fellow or local construction—and then see the craft who thinks such an experience might be go to eventual pot through indifference and funny—who has never tried to handle even shortsighted carelessness. Proper preparation Net patched and knotted, frame wrapped and a moderately sized trout with line and leader s for winter storage and adequate protection of glued, still the elongated battered veteran Ie trailing through the center of a landing net the favorite; it seems to get in front of th the painted surfaces will repay the fore­ nice ones easier. there is an interesting experiment still in thought many times over. Keeping a boat in store. Sometime when you catch even a tip-top condition—in or out of water—always As the boat comes from the water, tt moderate fish, say eleven or twelve inches guarantees longer life and better service; should be carefully cleaned of all dirt, sano> and are using an old net, cut out a link or likewise a few simple safeguards provided in grit and aquatic parasitical organisms, the!1 two at the bottom, slip the battler through autumn spell less worry and reduced expen­ blocked up evenly and without sagging a* and see the fun. There's an experience diture come the next season. any point. Regardless of the contour of the worth while and something new under the First, do not let the craft at anchor long surface upon which the blocks may be enough to be caught by a freeze, even minor. bedded, be sure the craft rests in an exact The advent of October 31st spooks, witches, horizontal position. Of course, it is to be goblins and pranksters generally heralds the understood during the cleaning process, a end of the active season, sometimes a bit careful scrutiny shall be maintained to deter' longer for the duck hunter; then it is time mine whether the paint is still good or if an}' to consider removal and to decide upon a fault or structural weakness may be de' proper place for storage—preferably cool, veloping. No doubt a new coat of paint wi" dry, nicely aeriated, and well shielded from be planned—if only for appearances. the elements. If to be berthed outdoors, pro­ vide a water-tight bulwark against rain, Should a bad flaw be discovered in part o* sleet, snow or gale. A sturdy ridge pole and the flooring or other component part—sorne framework, upon which to tack tar paper, to point which may have come into violent con' be covered in turn with canvas, preferably tact with a submerged rock ledge or eveO on high well-drained ground is mostly suffi­ one more visible—better replace the section cient. Lacking tar paper and unwilling to entirely—with continued use the damage vrv* incur the expense of such material, discarded get no better rapidly. Those unsightly tin of sheet of galvanized sheeting or, perhaps bet­ wooden patches, nailed and cemented wit" ter, old wooden boards securely fastened to copious white lead—and so common—cer' the ridge pole and anchored at the bottom, tainly do not contribute to the euphony °* also covered with canvas, does the trick quite the job, maneuverability nor long livity-' happily. Incidentally the canvas can not or­ such repairs are makeshift at best. Likewise dinarily be characterized as waterproof; broken seats, covers and patched oars should rather it is moisture repellent and tends to be gone over, thoroughly repaired or re' shed precipitation upon contact. Tar paper placed. protects against seepage, and to a lesser de­ Back to the paint. There is always the gree, the galvanized iron or boards, during possibility, the finish in fact mostly so, need* freezing months. A not inconsiderable fault a bit of retouching here and there if only *J of the iron is the tendency of metal to sweat cover scuffs and bruises. If not pitted, flaked under certain conditions—regardless of or scaly, a little energetic muscle action >?j method adopted be sure air can freely cir­ conjunction with a roll of sandpaper v?'-ill culate. Reasonably dry balconies, barn lofts prepare the old girl for a new coat suit. B stuffed with bits of newspaper. (Note: This though not wholly unnecessary shield against remaining trace or vistage. A hand scrape* photo snapped outdoors as a matter of dust and grime. D convenience.) and paint remover, then a thorough wash j° 1941 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 17 with either turpentine or gasoline, handles Paeans for Pannies the preparatory task without reproach. (Continued from Page 9) Purchase primer and paint from only tried in disgust, lamenting our foolhardiness for and reputable concerns—and be sure to ex­ having released those that we had caught. plain the condition of the craft to the retailer The above episode has often caused me or manufacturer, whether merely a retouch to wonder if it is entirely the angler's skill job or an entirely new covering from raw that causes fish to take his offering. If that material outward, also the type water on is the case, why then, do fish some times which the boat is used. From experience the break over and literally tumble over each paint salesman can detail the proper com­ other to get the lure. The mood of the fish bination—also the mode of application. And has a lot to do with the fisherman's skill. all in all do not imagine you can improve on Conclusively, be they what they may; bass the mixture—nor' directions ordinarily shown or sunny, trout or pout, 'lunge or fallfish, on the can; expert engineers have already they each and all are susceptible to those given the matter a long and searching anal­ uncertainties which make angling the sport ysis and the layman is generally not quali­ that it is. In the words of the immortal fied to dispute the conclusions. Therefore Izaak: any attempt at originality may prove a de­ "For Angling may be said to be so like cided mistake and suggest only future grief Mathematics, that it can never be fully in large hunks. And do not attempt to econ­ learned; at least not so fully, but that omize on primer—at the same time not for­ there will still be more new experiments getting for a moment that the thinnest pos­ left for the trial of other men that suc­ sible coat of primer or paint offering unques­ ceed us—." tioned protectiveness always proves most satisfactory in the ultimate. The Angler's Notebook Lastly do not paint if either weather or (Continued from Eage 12) boat is damp—nor in low temperatures. Be fly, and three times L. V. whooped with sure all surfaces are clean, solid and hard. delight as the old lunker sped up the riffle By all means avoid a cold, damp or dusty and wrecked his tackle. Time after time shed. Steer completely away from cheap L. V. went back to that spot, and when the brushes, doubtful paint or extraordinary low final day of the trout season came the trout quotations for outside work by contractors, still was living in the riffle. Our friend says either professional or amateur. Re-read the Fibre rod cases—safest for the off season. he got more thrills out of his brushes with directions on the can the second and yet a that big trout than he did out of catching third time before attacking the job. Use only nice creels of trout in other streams. thinners recommended and as directed on wrap carefully with many turns of heavy S. S had an hour he never will forget on the container or in the usually accompanying brown paper. If properly done, any moth Wyalusing Creek one afternoon, even though leaflet of instruction. In conclusion do not energetic and resourceful enough to get the bass were definitely off their feed. He Wait until a day or two before next fishing through the barrage is quite deserving—such got into a rock-bottom pool and began cast­ season to get at the task. There is no real a virile beast should not be blitzkrieged ing a fly and spinner. Soon his yells of substitute for ample time when a good job is completely into oblivion—maybe we could delight brought the rest of us to the spot— to be done. utilize the breed somehow in national and for a solid hour we watched him catch Grime and perspiration are foreign to cloth defense. rock bass, sunfish, huge white chubs, and an —woolen or cotton—and any considerable Now we've covered about everything but occasional small pickerel. He didn't kill a accumulation for other than a limited time the old battered hat. It needs special treat­ single fish, and the rest of us enjoyed the can hardly be interpreted as a contribution ment, after which friend wife will go into fun so much that we neglected our own to long wear. Some fellows fish in any old ecstasy over your looks, at least my missus angling. clothing; others have special outfits or at does. And there is nothing like pleasing the And finally we could name half a dozen least jackets, pants, socks, underwear, shirts, little woman. anglers—all of them experienced sportsmen etc., mostly costly. Be sure to park the old lid as near the —who use the lightest practicable tackle in Before packing, woolen apparel should be furnace as possible, the exact spot where the their quest of bass and trout. Washed carefully with lukewarm water and most dust might be expected to land when "A 12-inch bass on this tackle feels like a mild non-caustive soap, at our home ashes are removed. Then as each snow falls, a young whale," says one of them. "It makes Usually Ivory or Lux flakes, but likely there especially those half-rain, half-sleet, marrow the little fellows feel like big ones." are others to meet the requirement. After a chilling drizzling gifts from the weather man, So let's all ponder the mistakes that cost us thorough rinsing, hang the article up to dry. resurrect the old pal, jam it on the dome and fish—and we will have a more enjoyable As a word of caution, do not subject the dp your stuff with shovel, pick and broom. angling season in 1942. dripping garment to undue wringing as it The moisture will add a touch of mellow­ comes from the tub—woolens will not tol­ ness to the sooty and ashy residue, and lend DR. PRESTON BRADLEY erate such treatment—merely squeeze the an air of permanency to the effect. Once Dr. Preston Bradley, past president, and excess water away with gentle pressure of your hat approaches the proper state of dis­ now president emeritus of the Izaak Walton the hands, permitting the remainder to drop solution, there should be no question of League of America, is nationally known as a or evaporate on the line. Milady will even catching fish—disreputable top pieces and big conservationist and public speaker. He is dispute such gentle treatment—she will fer­ fish seem to wander about hand in hand. one of the original 54 founders of the League. vidly insist the dripping woolens must be And if you do not like the above advice— He is an ardent fisherman and outdoor fan, folded carefully between Turkish towels and nor that embodied in the paragraphs appear­ and for more than 20 years has spent three months of every year in his log cabin on Ver­ then a sopping operation performed, employ­ ing the preceding month—do as I think this ing gentle sponging pressure with the open milion Lake in the Minnesota north woods. fisherman shall—toss all out of the window He is considered one of the most fluent and Palms. And don't forget wet woolens are not and spend the next three or four months, to be exposed to the sun nor to a temperature successful speakers on outdoor subjects in worrying where and how to secure a new the United States and his addresses have been °f less than the water from which so re­ outfit—lots of fun and time won't hang heavy cently removed. enjoyed by hundreds of conservation and when the zero hour approaches about April sportsmen's groups throughout the country. As with the flies, again moth are to be 15, especially if the newly ordered rod, line In the Mississippi Valley he is widely discouraged. Impregnated bags may be pur­ or waders are not at hand—or the "killer known, not only for his work in conservation, chased for little or nothing at the five and deluxe" batch of flies go amiss in the mails. but also through his pastoral work in the ten cent stores. Or do as I do—simply fold, And people often wonder why the hair is Peoples' Church of Chicago which he founded throw in a handful or two of moth balls, and thinning on top of my dome. You guess. in 1912. IX PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER NOVEMBER

Wyalusing (Continued from Page 3) line, until two of us ran up with flashlights and maneuvered out a 15-pound snapping turtle with the fly caught in the side of its leathery neck. The afternoon I saw for the first time my friend, Ernie, using a spinning outfit; and how a giant pickerel took his miniature spoon, switched ends like a bucking broncho, then leaped clear of the water and shook its head so violently that the tackle could not endure the strain. The morning a kindly farmer stepped out of a pool when I came in sight; offered me his place with the remark that he couldn't catch anything but fallfish anyway; and then honestly offered his congratulations when I ho.oked a pound and a half bass on the first cast. And of the day I spent on the creek with young Bobby, the 13-year-old son of a friend and gloried in the thrills of the finest fishing, so he told me, of his life. A day that began with Bobby catching a ten-inch rock bass One of the broad, deep flats that make Wyalusing an ideal bass stream. and ended with him getting strike after strike until his limit of bass was reached, on the first deer-hair bass bug he ever used. Properly made, a spinner of this kind will A fly can be large without being heavy. But here, what am I doing? Giving away spin easily and consistently. It will spin at Even a small fly can have a large reaction my information, one where I still can fish speeds which seem to make the fly barely to the torque if it is so designed. In my for a day without seeing half a dozen other move along. It is very light and when used with a lure designed for spinner fishing and anglers? Telling secrets? Betraying a comparable to fly fishing. In fact, this com­ matches to it, it settles through the water friendship built up through nine years to­ bination can be fished in almost the same slowly, allowing a retrieve which is quite gether, the stream and I? manner as in wet fly fishing. The exact article "The Wet Fly," are given the descrip­ No, fi-iend, not that at all. For Wyalusing method used will vary and everyone soon tions and drawings of three excellent flies for is big enough for both of us, and generous evolves his own way of fishing. use with spinners. too. I'll let you find the holes for yourself, Let us examine one of the most publicized In this connection I realize that all too learn the trickeries of the stream and its disadvantages of fly rod spinner fishing. many anglers won't, haven't the time or am­ faults and foibles—that will be half the fun. Namely, that of the drag which they exert bition or desire or are afraid to make their But bear in mind this warning—fish for on the delicate rod tip. Many writers are own flies. Well, there's 'many things that I sport, not meat. overzealous in warning against this drag. should do but never get around to doing One more glance at the diary before we Other writers claim that small spoons and either. However, these fellows should take close it finally: variants of spinners are livelier and don't a look at the illustration of the young lady July 11, 1941—Four of us took a dozen bass drag as much. Well, let's see. tying a fly. Perhaps they are overlooking and unnumbered panfish on plugs and bass Any force which acts on the rod tip causes something. Most commercial flies are tied bugs and spinners—and took only four fish this drag. The principle forces are: (a) The by girls. Women seem to have a knack of along home. weight of the spinner; (b) The rate of speed working with small or delicate things. They July 17-18, 1941—Bass and pickerel out with which the spinner is retrieved through like to make pretty things. In every home numbered, on bait and artificial lures alike, the water; (c) The rate of the current flow there is a nimble fingered woman, be it a for a party of four again—and only four fish if opposed to the direction of the spinner wife, a sister or a daughter. Why not ask killed in two days. movement, and (d) The weight of the lure. or inveigle her into fly tying? However, if August 7-8, 1941—Again three of us had 18 Therefore in combatting this drag we your wife is a fishing widow, don't let on fish, and only a couple taken home for a must: (a) make the spinner as light as pos­ that I suggested anything of the sort. good friend who cannot fish. sible. This is done in the spinner illustrated A fly must not be too bulky or made in August 21-22, 1941—A pickerel 22 inches and described; (b) retrieve slowly, a fast such a way as to interfere with the water long, two others slightly smaller, four fine retrieve complicates matters by increasing flow around the spinner, otherwise the spin­ bass, and some whopping sunfish and rock the friction of the moving parts. Increasing ner will not work properly. If a fly of this bass. Yet only a few taken home for the the force necessary to compress the water kind must be used, increase the size of the family. in front of the blade; increasing the water spinner until one is found which will work. r August 29, 1941-—Company coming from friction, etc. The forces grow at an amaz­ A spinner fly is just a wee bit too light f° Cleveland, and I decided to keep a good mess ing rate with each increase in the spinner wet fly fishing in fast water. This extra this time, for the first of the season. But velocity; (c) Avoid fishing against swift lift is needed to overcome the spinners as darkness fell, and I turned homeward, currents as much as possible. Fish up and tendency to nosedive to the bottom. W I had caught just one fish—a tiny "sunny." across. Fishing with the current, the spinner proper match between this downward pull See what happened when I fished for meat velocity must be greater than the current and the fly's lift, results in a combination instead of sporty velocity in order to make the blade turn, which can be fished with a nice smooth From even an old friend like me Wyal­ and (d) use light lures. The best way to effect. A slow motion retrieve is necessary using Creek exacted its penalty. accomplish this is to use flies designed for for trout fishing. A trout will miss a fly spinner fishing. under the same conditions which result in The proper fly for use with spinners is a bass hooking itself on every strike. Besides, Fly Rod Spinners one which is buoyant. It must slip through a fast retrieve may be injurious to the rod (Continued from Page 5) the air and water with a minimum of re­ tip. tween shaft and saddle wires: (d) Rough sistance. It must possess an action of its At this writing it is believed that the size spots on bead or saddle wire; (e) Improperly own when in the water. It must be large of the spinner described is the smallest size shaped blade and (f) Bent shaft wire. Care­ enough to overcome the torque of the re­ which should be used for ordinary fishing, ful checking of these points in case of trouble volving blade to present itself from traveling particularly on not—too—small trout streams will locate it and the remedy is obvious. in a vertical circle in back of the spinner. and not—too—large bass creeks. It is be' 1941 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 19

lieved that the size of the spinner should in­ crease with the size of the water fished. The range of sizes for fly rods is abruptly limited above the size of our present spin­ ner. If smaller sizes are used trouble occurs in matching the fly to the spinner. Any but the smallest flies break up the water flow causing the blade to revolve erratically. Besides, on small waters where reason dic­ tates a smaller spinner, a spinner is no more attractive than the fly itself. As mentioned previously, a spinner is an attractor or at­ tention getter. In clear small waters any moving lure attracts attention and a spinner may be detrimental. It's like trying to gild the lily. It is often written that a spinner attracts attention because of the flash it makes in the water. There is more to it than this. A gold or a brass or copper spinner reflects very, very little light if more than a foot underwater unless the water is extraordi­ narily clear. In fact I've caught fish using a slap down the intruder which was moving following the lure and making no attempt black spinner! Yes, even the shaft and the through his hole. to take it. Nothing, it seems, can make them stirrup were black. Evidently the move­ Incidentally in speaking of flies for spinner strike. To all appearances their hunger has ment of the blade plays a considerable part. fishing, I don't use winged flies and think just been satiated but the lure is so at­ Any color of spinner will seem black to a that the so-called bass flies sold for use with tractive that they investigate from sheer fish if the fish is below the spinner. Against spinners are ridiculous. Perhaps they'll catch curiosity. This view received some con­ certain background colorations in the water, fish, I don't know, but a winged fly and firmation when I found a large bass in black is the most easily seen color. It seems spinner are so unnatural that I'd feel silly midstream apparently sunning himself—if almost obvious that different colors of spin- fishing the combination. Hair or feather bass do such things. I cast over him, in tiers should be experimented with in sec­ streamers or the tadpole-like flies are to front of him, in back of him, and at last tions of the water where the background and be preferred. I tried to bump him with the spinner. He i the water colors change. slowly moved aside and let the lure pass by. Natural appearance of the lures and a close I persisted and he finally pecked at the lure A good rule to remember is that the most imitation of their prototypes movements in as it passed. He made no attempt to swallow easily transmitted color is the complement­ the water is profitable. There was one case or kill, simply pecked as though to drive ary one of the color reflected. If the water where I located an undercut rock where the it away. Finally, he turned tail and swam looks blue try a yellow spinner (brass or stream turned. The deep water wasn't over under a rock. He had taken the teasing gold), if the water is green, try a red spin­ about four feet across. I cast into this hole with the good naturedness of a well-fed ner (copper). In muddy water try black. and caught a nine inch smallmouth. After puppy and now that he had had enough he The same applies to the colors of the flies. releasing him, I tried again and after a moved away. few casts tied into a ten incher. I let this This premise is based on the assumption In conclusion, when spinner fishing you that fish see colors as we do. It may be fellow go. This promised to be sport but I was puzzled to find two such fish in so probably will not get as many fish as when all wrong but it provides a base to work fishing a wet fly but it usually comes out from and use has proven itself correct in little cover water. I tried again, wondering if and what would come out this time. After that the fish which are caught are much a number of instances. Since white is a bigger. This is especially true of trout fish­ combination of all colors, a nickle or chrome a few minutes of fruitless casting, I almost gave up but nevertheless tried casting from ing. In bass fishing, however, many smaller should be used by those who are not suffi­ fish will be caught. To prevent harming ciently interested in spinner fishing to carry different angles. Finally, there came a gentle tug, setting the hook, I prepared for another these little fellows I use barbless hooks ex­ colored spinners. It will serve the purpose clusively. Incidentally, a barbless hook j though not as effectively as the colored ones. battle. Nothing happened, though the line was taut. I pulled a little and rapped on hooks easiest and holds, and may save a In bass fishing there is reason to believe prize fish. My article in PENNSYLVANIA that a spinner and streamer fly combination the handle of the rod. Then I saw it, up from the bottom of the water came a fish. ANGLER for February, 1941, carries a descrip­ arouses the combativeness of the bass. All too tion of a good barbless hook. *ell I remember one instance: There were Up, up and up into the air he shot. He churned that small pool into a froth before Fish a spinner slowly and carefully. Stay two fellows standing on a flat-toppped rock. out of the rushing water, fish the edges, They weren't fishing. Later they told me I landed him. Fifteen inches of heavy small- mouth bass after two others were caught both for the sake of your rod and your I that they had been there for sometime. I creel. Don't swish the spinner out of the ! cast almost at their feet, sunk the fly and in the same pool. This may prove some­ thing or other but it certainly shows that water at the start of a new cast. Bring started to retrieve. Usually I would have the spinner almost to the very top of the Passed up the spot because the men were the fish were not frightened by the spinner; it must have appealed to them. water before lifting it. Casting with the Nearly visible from the water and would wind lessens the strain on the rod and in­ have put the fish down. I was talking to Another time was when I was casting creases your accuracy. them and not paying much attention to the against the bank of the stream over fast % when the old bronze-back struck. There water. On one cast I caught sight of a j ^as a vicious yank on the rod and the bass silvery flash arcing to within a few inches started to go places. He caught me unaware of the surface and disappearing. Five times and soon had me tangled in the line. He after that following every cast, I saw the ''aged in and out of the water and went same performance repeated before the fish around me faster than I could turn. In the caught my fly. A brown trout. That fel­ ^idst of laughter and shouted advise I low's aim was bad but he certainly wasn't Anally subdued and landed him. I was frightened by the spinner and fly. Though thankful that day that I was using a barb- only these two cases are given there are ^ss hook which penetrated fully and held. many times when the fish come back for •°Ut the point is: that bass knew that there more. y^te two men over his head and another One of the most exasperating things about 111 the water, yet he came charging out to spinner fly fishing is to see a fish or fishes •Hi PENNSYLVANIA ANGLES NOVEMBER

November Plugging time winner of the State live bird cham­ Mechanicsburg, won the shoot-off in Class C pionship, who broke 60 straight on the wild­ from J. R. Reichert and H. E. Menger, each (Continued from, Page 11) cat trap to retain his Class A championship. with original scores of 16. In the contest between Captain Hans G. In the rising bear, Boyd Fortney, Me­ Olsen, qualifier for the U. S. Olympic pistol chanicsburg, won Class A with 22x30; Guy team, and Ernie Lehmer, Eastern Pennsyl­ Clouse, Loysville, Class B with 22, and H. vania archery champ, the pistol man de­ Shaifner, Highspire, Class C with 17. feated the crack archer by a score of 73 to 35. The contest attracted much interest. Eighty men shot in the wildcat event. George Swartz won in Class B by breaking CASTING TOURNAMENT 19x25, and Oliver Seipe, New Cumberland, WINNERS LISTED won Class C with 16x25. The Pittsburgh Casting Club was host to Gene Benner, New Cumberland, won the 10th Annual Pennsylvania State Casting Class A Skish accuracy bait casting with a Tournament on Sunday, September 21, at its perfect score of 50, and H. C. Fickes, same Highland Park Platform. Some of the finest Weed beds and pockets are favored lurking town, was second with 48. Class B was casters in the country were assembled to vie places for stream pickerel. won by Tuck Hartman, Lebanon with 32, with each other in tests of skill with both be made the better the chance of taking and T. L. Mehafne, Harrisburg, was second bait and fly rods. They came from Colum­ pickerel. with 30. bus, Zanesville, Akron, East Liverpool, Mention in closing relative to the walleyed Skish distance was won by Tuck Hartman, Toronto, Erie, Beaver Falls, Washington, pike in November may not be amiss. While, averaging 193 feet, 8 inches in 5 casts with Greensburg, and Charleroi. Good scores were in the heat of summer, these game fish seem the five-eighth ounce plug. William Ecken- cast as the weather was perfect with no wind to congregate in deep pools close to bottom, roth, Lebanon, averaged 176 feet to place and comfortable temperature. John Thomp­ during late autumn they are definitely rovers second. Ralph Graden, Colonial Park, won son of Toronto, Ohio, cast a perfect score of in their quest for food. Night fishing may Class B with an average of 156 feet 4 inches 100 in the wet fly. John was a real dark generally be counted upon then to account and T. L. Mehafne, Harrisburg, was third horse and his performance was therefore for some fine walleyes for they are notably with an average of 141 feet, 8 inches. Wild­ exceptional. Russel Smith of Zanesville, night feeders, cruising about in the shallows cat distance was won by William Eckenrode editor of the official casting columns of The in their foraging. Slow retrieve of the plug with a 210 feet mark. Outdoorsraan, tied Clyde Marshall of East is in order now, and a surprising number In the pistol shoot Ben Rosen, Harrisburg, Liverpool with a 95 in the Dry Fly but lost of strikes from this game fish may be had nosed out Captain Olsen 48 to 47. A. Fren- the cast off. He also tied Nelson Lang of on squally, overcast November days. In man, Carlisle, was third with a score of 46. Pittsburgh with a 98 score in the % ounce fact, it would appear that weather of this Ernie Lehmer won Class A archery with a weight accuracy and lost that cast off' score of 256 with 30 arrows. George B. Dre- Howard Adrian of East Liverpool came belbis was second with 224 and John Mc- through with a 99 score in the popular plug Gowan, Carlisle, was third with 220. Mrs. event, setting a new State Tournament rec­ Bertha K. Drebelbis won the women's event ord. with a 212 and Mrs. Ruth McGowan scored Excellent prizes were provided by the 202 for second place. Lois Lehmer, eight- Pittsburgh Casting Club and the ladies of year-old daughter of the champion, won the the club set up a free lunch for the con­ novice event with a score of 183. testants that was most enjoyable. R. C. Flowers, Hershey, won the small The popularity of Tournament casting lS bore shoot, scoring a perfect 200. He had 13 evidenced by the fact that 66 contestants en­ shots in the X ring. Ammon Bell, Hummels- In ponds and lakes where this minnow, the tered the various events. Following are the golden shiner, occurs, gold plated spoons seem town, was second with another perfect score, results: to work to excellent advantage. having 9 shots in the X ring. W. R. Shearer, WET FLY ACCURACY—Class "A"—1st, Paul type is right to their liking. Trolling with Harrisburg, R. D., was tied for third with 99, Thompson, Toronto, Ohio, score 100, prize 2* the June bug spinner and night crawler also with 13X's having won the shoot-off for that quarts of Motor Oil; 2d, John Bauer, Akron, accounts for excellent catches of walleyes spot from C. Rowland, Carlisle. Ohio, score 99, prize Delta Power Light; and in our streams and lakes. Like the pickerel, I. H. Kiehl, New Cumberland, had high 3d, Russel Smith, Zanesville, Ohio, score these fish are early spring spawners and score, and E. E. Schmehl, Washington, D. C, 99, eggs in the female fish are generally well the low score in the lucky target event. prize Electric Toaster. developed by late autumn. Deep running C. J. Prescott, Bainbridge, won the run­ Class "B"—1st, Mildred Shook, Columbus, plugs have their place in daytime fishing ning rabbit shoot from 284 other shooters by Ohio, score 97, prize Delta Power Light; for walleyes in pools and deep flats, while breaking 24 straight. This was a field day 2d, those running closer to the surface may often record. John D. Shannon was second with Chas. Golden, East Liverpool, Ohio, score 9$ be used successfully at night. 23x25, and Vince Shofmeister, Camp Hill, prize Electric Toaster; and 3d, Ray Kinsey, Blustery November still holds allure for was third with 21. East Liverpool, Ohio, score 96, prize Electric Sandwich Grill. the plug caster who follows his sport to the Bill Douglas, former State 20-guage skeet Class "C"—lst, J. B. Thompson, Toronto, warm water game fish season deadline in champ, won the moskeet-O event with 8. He Pennsylvania. had been tied with Earl Alleman, West Fair- Ohio, score 92, prize Electric Toaster; 2d, view. Alleman shot 7 in the shootoff for M. M. Moats, Akron, Ohio, score 90, prize second place, H. Yingst was third with 7, R. FINE TURNOUT AT M. Porter was fourth with 6, and Don Bailey Electric Sandwich Grill; and 3d, Chas. A»- fifth with 5. vater, Pittsburgh, score 87, prize Karv Master CUMBERLAND FIELD DAY Knife. Ray Guistwhite, New Cumberland, with a DISTANCE FLY—Class "A"—1st, Russel With 2500 in attendance, the annual field score of 29 won first place from 375 others Smith, Zanesville, Ohio, L. C. 135, Av. 134.3, day of the Harrisburg Hunters' and Anglers' who shot in the running deer event; Harold prize Portable Ice Refrigerator; 2d, C. "• Association, the Mechanicsburg Sportsmen's Palmer, Harrisburg, R. D. 1, was second with Marshall, East Liverpool, L. C. 134, Av. l32-6> Protective Association and the West Shore 26; Peck Myer, Mt. Holly, was third with 20. prize Five Cell Eveready Flashlight; and 3d, Sportsmen's Association, held at Hempt's John Martin, Harrisburg, won the Class A Paul Thompson, Toronto, Ohio, L. C. 120, AV- Meadow along the Yellow Breeches Creek in 16-yard trap event with a perfect 25; R. 118, prize Thermos Jug. Cumberland County was a real success this Shank was second with 24, and Earl Alleman year. DRY FLY ACCURACY—Class "A"—1st, C. ^: third with 23. R. Shank, E. Eberly and A. ze Outstanding on the program was the rec­ Binder each scored 21 in Class B with Shank Marshall, East Liverpool, score 95, pri ord established by John D. Shannon, several winning in the shoot-off. H. E. Huber, Navigator Electric Clock; 2d, Russel Smn*' Zanesville, score 95, prize 1Y2 gallons Zere#> and 3d, Karl Breitenbach, Pittsburgh, score 93, prize Electric Toaster. 1941 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER

Class "B"—John Bauer, Akron, score 92, prize 1% gallons Zerex; 2d, U. J. Bauer, Akron, score 91, prize Electric Toaster; and 3d, Wayne Duke, Homestead, score 91, prize Five Cell Eveready Flashlight. Class "C"—Mrs. Clyde Marshall, East Liv­ erpool, score 90, prize Electric Toaster; 2d, Here Is How You Can Help M. M. Moats, Akron, score 88, prize Five Cell Eveready Flashlight; and 3d, J. B. 1. Smoking: Smoke only while stopping Thompson, Toronto, score 87, prize Thermos in a safe place, clear of all inflammable ma­ Jug. terial; never while traveling in the woods. LADIES % OUNCE ACCURACY—1st, Mrs. Clyde Marshall, East Liverpool, score 93, prize Car­ 2. Matches: Be sure your match is out. nival Toaster; 2d, Thelma Crawford, Char- Break it in two before you throw it away, leroi, score 91, prize Electric Hair Dryer; and 3. Tobacco: Be sure that pipe ashes and 3d, Mrs. U. J. Bauer, Akron, score 90, prize cigar or cigarette stubs are dead before Karv Master Knife. throwing them away. Never throw them JUNIOR % OUNCE ACCURACY—1st, John into brush, leaves, or needles. Bauer, Akron, score 92, prize Shakespeare Criterion Reel; and 2d, Warren Shephard, 4. Making camp: Before building a fire Pittsburgh, score 90, prize Tackle Box. scrape away all inflammable material from All the prizes in this event were donated a spot 5 feet in diameter. Dig a hole in the by C. W. Ward, president of the Pittsburgh center and in it build your camp fire. Keep Casting Club, who will also present the win­ your fire small. Never build it against trees ning Junior with a silver loving cup. or logs or near brush. % OUNCE WEIGHT ACCURACY—1st, Nelson 5. Breaking camp: Never break camp Lang, Pittsburgh, score 98, prize Coleman until your fire is out—dead out. Gasoline Lantern; 2d, Russel Smith, Zanes- ville, score 98, prize Carnival Toaster; and 6. How to put out a camp fire: Stir the 3d, T. E. Ganier, Washington, score 95, prize coals while soaking them with water. Turn Electric Sandwich Grill. small sticks and drench both sides. Wet Class "B"—1st, Willard Brown, Beaver the ground around the fire. Be sure the Falls, score 95, prize Carnival Toaster; 2d, last spark is dead. N. J. Bauer, Akron, score 93, prize Electric 7. Brush burning: Never burn slash or Sandwich Grill; and 3d, Mrs. Clyde Marshall, East Liverpool, score 92, prize Karv Master brush in windy weather or while there is Knife. the slightest danger that the fire will get Class "C—1st, R. T. Kimmel, Greensburg, away. score 94, prize Electric Sandwich Grill; 2d, 8. Extinguish any small fires you can. H. Crawford, Charleroi, score 89, prize Karv Report all fires to the nearest warden or Master Knife; and 3d, Ed. Wright, Charleroi, ranger. score 87, prize Vacuum Bottle. % OUNCE PLUG ACCURACY—Class "A"—1st, Soward Adrian, East Liverpool, score 99, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Prize Table Lamp; 2d, Paul Thompson, FOREST SERVICE Toronto, score 96, prize Shakespeare Wonder SfO 8—B738 Reel; and 3d, Wm. Behnen, Columbus, score 96, prize IV2 gallons Zerex. Class "B"—C. E. Kimmel, Greensburg, WILDLIFE WEEK SET FOR score 96, prize 1V2 gallons Zerex; 2d, Ed. APRIL 12, '42 Wright, Charleroi, score 96, prize Electric as heretofore, and that he, the fish warden, The fifth annual observance of National Toaster; and 3d, C. Warrick, Greensburg, shall have full charge of such plantings Wildlife Restoration Week by conservation­ Score 94, prize Silex Coffee Maker. and that he shall specify where the fish are ists throughout the nation will be held from Class "C"—H. D. Shipe, Charleroi, score 91, to be placed and the numbers to be planted April 12 through April 18, 1942, David A. Prize Electric Toaster; 2d, Fred Simpson, at the specified places. Furthermore, the Aylward, president, National Wildlife Feder­ Pittsburgh, score 89, prize Silex Coffee fish warden shall notify the interested clubs ation, Washington, D. C, announced. Maker; and 3d, Mrs. Ed. Wright, Charleroi, and request such help from any of them Begun by presidential proclamation in score 86, prize Thermos Jug. that he may deem necessary. 1938 to call attention to the need for con­ The Pittsburgh Casting Club wishes to serving and restoring America's wildlife and express its appreciation of the many individ­ RESOLVED: That all requests for fish for natural resources, the annual observance ual members whose cash donations enabled stocking purposes for any waters in Arm­ now unites more than 10,000,000 men and tile Prize Committee to select such excellent strong County shall be made through the women, members of some 36,000 organiza­ Prizes for this Tournament. Armstrong County Sportsmen's League, in­ tions in a common cause. stead of by the individual clubs as here­ An annual feature of National Wildlife tofore, in order to avoid duplication and to Restoration Week is the issuance of Wildlife unify our county organization. ADOPT RESOLUTION ON Conservation Stamps. RESOLVED: That the Armstrong County Wildlife Week in 1941 was marked by the FISH STOCKING Sportsmen's League respectfully request the official inauguration of an educational pro­ The Freeport Sportsemen's Club at its Board of Fish Commissioners of the State gram by the National Wildlife Federation to September meeting unanimously adopted of Pennsylvania, that the Buffalo Creek be place educational booklets on conservation tile following resolutions: closed to all fishing from the first day of in the hands of thousands of boys and girls RESOLVED: That the Armstrong County March till the fifteenth day of April of in public schools throughout the nation. Sportsmen's League respectfully request the each year, in that zone which is now classi­ The National Wildlife Federation, a non­ Board of Fish Commissioners of the State fied as a trout stream. This closed zone shall partisan, non-profit, non-political organiza­ °f Pennsylvania, that in all future plantings be from that section of the stream known tion was founded in 1936 through the leader­ °f fish in this county, our fish warden shall as Otter Hole, about one mile below Boggs- ship of Jay N. "Ding" Darling, often called 06 notified, instead of any individual club ville, upstream to the source. America's foremost conservationist. PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER NOVEMBER

BLAIR ASSOCIATION Fred Hess, Todd, Schultz, Bill Williams, HAS FINE RECORD Kohl and Ulmer tied on the protection race, all breaking their targets. On the toss, The Blair County Game, Fish and Forestry Schultz and Williams won the trophy. Association have elected the following offi­ cers for the coming year: Wm. Templeton, G. Eisenberg won the trophy for the Mc- who has been prominently identified with Shee shoot with eight straight. Adolf Muller many sportsmen's organizations in Blair and his son, Eugene, were first and second, County as well as being chairman of the respectively, in the splashboard event. Blair County Unit of the Pennsylvania Fed­ Martin Horn, George Sinclair and Joe eration of Sportsmen's Clubs for several Ulmer were members of the committee af years was elected president; Jas. Wilson, ranging the event. vice-president; Harry Brennen, second vice- Other results: president; Geo. M. Aurandt, recording sec­ Dog- Show retary; Jas. A. Yon, Sr., membership secre­ tary; and Jas. A. Yon, Jr., treasurer. The Female beagles—1, Perkiomen Vixon, directors are Jas. Saleme, E. D. Calvert, Roy owned by Jeanne French; 2, Perkiomen E. Keller, O. J. Evans, C. S. Taylor, Ray Squaw, owned by Polly French; 3, Tip Toe, Marsden, Geo. Fluke, J. M. Davis and Max owned by Huberta French. Harshbarger. Chester B. Wray was elected Puppy beagles—1, Perkiomen Mohawk (1" solicitor of the Association. weeks old), owned by Huberta French. Male beagles—1, Rocky, owned by J. John The Association has just completed one of Wilde. the most successful years in its history, both English setters—1, Don, owned by Harper from the standpoint of conservation and Bean; 2, Robin, owned by Ernest Heim. finance. A considerable reforestation program Chesapeake Bay retrievers—1, Flukie Har­ has been carried out during the past two Courtesy Allentown Call. ris, owned by Harper Bean. years, more than 10,000 evergreen and food Wilbur Moser, Allentown, with the 22 inch, 3 pounds 15 ounces brown trout he caught last Pointers—1, Pepper, owned by Reubin bearing trees having been planted in Blair season in the Little Lehigh, Lehigh County, on Schall. County by this group. Through its efforts, a minnow. the game feeding program for the county Quoits was revised, a certain territory being assigned manner in which it was operated. This com­ Judge Harold G. Knight and his son, Har­ to each club in the county, thereby causing mittee consisted of John Kaylor, Robert old G. Knight, Jr., won in the quoit tourna­ a wider distribution of feed with no over­ Barry, Jas. Wilson, T. G. Crain, Albert John­ ment by defeating John Rorer and Jack Dale lapping and a considerable saving in game son, Sr., and Wm. Luke. in the finals. food as a result. Casting An educational program is now being set FRENCH BEAGLES WIN Distance—1, Leon Kohl, 142 feet; 2, Harold up through cooperation of the Altoona School C. Fratt, 140 feet. District for instruction in rifle shooting and AT OUTING Accuracy—1, Reubin Schall, 84 points! the proper handling of fire-arms. Classes in A judge and his son won quoit pitching 2, Walter Fratt, 83 points. Nature study and conservation of wildlife in honors; daughters of a former Secretary of all its forms will be conducted on the club Agriculture won prizes exhibiting dogs at the grounds in Riggles Gap which is ideally annual show and a Norristown realtor suited for this purpose. proved his skill at casting at the outing of PERKIOMEN CLUB HAS The Club has just completed the construc­ the Montgomery County Fish, Game and SNAKE CONTEST tion of one of the finest and most modern Forestry Association. After holding outdoor recreational sessions rifle ranges in the United States. There are Ideal weather favored the event at the during the months of June, July and August 60 firing points for all of the three ranges of Graterford penitentiary picnic grounds of the the Perkiomen Valley Sportsmen's Associa­ 50 yards, 50 meters, and 100 yards. On this sportsmen and a clambake climaxed the day's tion held its September session in its regular range on September 27 and 28, was held the program. e Pennsylvania Small Bore Rifle Championship headquarters, Borough Hall, SchwenksviU > President Judge Harold G. Knight and his when 50 members were in attendance. Tournament, in which more than 100 of the son, Assistant District Attorney Harold G. top-notch rifle shooters from the states of Knight, Jr., took the quoit honors by defeat­ The game committee reported featured Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Del­ ing John Rorer and Jack Dale in the finals. vermin contest entries for the past month, as aware, Ohio, Connecticut Maryland and Vir­ In the dog show, Jeanne and Huberta follows: Raymond Landis, 25 snake tails; £j ginia competed. In one match, three com­ French, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. J. Hansell Force, 9 snake tails, and Wm. Weirman, $ petitors equaled the world's record of 400- French of Collegeville, each won firsts with snake tails. n 38X out of a possible score of 400-40X. This beagles while "Flukie Harris," a Chesapeake One bass and one catfish were entered ' was the largest event of this kind ever held Bay retriever exhibited by Harper Bean, at­ the fishing contest by Wm. Weirman. The in Blair County. More than three thousand tracted much interest. fish committee report also informed the people viewed the matches during the two Dr. Harry B. Steinbach of Blue Bell was sportsmen that two truckloads of fish—bla^ days. Many medals, prizes and trophies were judge of the show and Reuben Schall as­ bass—were released in the Perkiorne11' awarded the successful competitors. Chief of sisted as ring steward. Branch and Skippack creeks. these was the Frank A. Hoppe Trophy which Trapshooting, in charge of Joe Ulmer, During the course of the indoor session the was won by State Champion Walter Scott of attracted a large field, including Mrs. Fred results of the recent casting tourname*1* Coraopolis, Pa., the presentation being made Hess, former state women's champion. by Wm. Templeton. Another feature of this were announced, as follows: 1st, Lansdal'j On the shootoff for second prize in Class A, event which won the unanimous acclaim of Sportsmen's Club; 2d, Lower Merion B° Leon Kohl, Norristown realtor who pre­ all visiting competitors was the accommoda­ and Gun Club; tie for 3d place, Dover Fish' viously had won the distance casting honors tions of the spacious club house coupled with ing Club of Philadelphia, and the Penn«- in that competition, broke 25 straight as Mrs. the service rendered by the Ladies' Auxil­ State Fish and Game Association; 4th Perk­ Hess shattered 22 blue rocks and Leroy 1 iary, who served over 400 hot meals in addi­ iomen Valley Sportsmen's Association. I* ' Schultz smashed 21. er tion to the hundreds of sandwiches and gal­ dividual high scores found Barney Berling ' lons of milk, soup and coffee. The officials Charley Todd won high over all and was former University of Pennsylvania »** 5 of the National Rifle Association who were eliminated from the class trophies. around athlete, and Linford Stevens, Kulp ' f present to supervise the shooting were pro­ Todd broke 48 targets. Oscar Wilde ville angler, tied with 29 points each; Ande ' fuse in their praise of the range and com­ smashed 46. D. Householder and W. Wil­ son, of Lower Merion, was second with 28T* ef plimented the committee highly upon the liams tied for Class B honors at 44 targets. points, while Ernest Jenkins, also of LoW T. Carroll has a 40 for Class C. Merion, was third, with a total of 28 points- 1941 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER

CLUB LEASES FISHING RIGHTS Although we may not have the equivalent of "Fisherman's Paradise," thanks to Mr. Three men who own farms in East Rock- French and the Fish Commission, by means hill Township agreed to give members of the of their splendid cooperation, the fishermen Branch Valley Fish, Game and Forestry As­ of this district will have a stream near at sociation the right to fish in the stream cross­ hand where it will be possible to tangle with ing their properties during a special ten year a tackle bursting brown or rainbow trout. lease. Mr. French has graciously agreed to make Announcement of the agreement was this dream of our Ike Waltons come true in made at a meeting of the organization in the spring of 1942 when the Buffalo Creek Fraternity Temple, Perkasie, when Clarence will be heavily stocked with large legal Mumbauer submitted a complete report of brown and rainbow trout. activities for this year. Mr. Mumbauer told how a new dam had been built this year at a point along the northeast branch of the The swimbladder of a fish is one of its most Perkiomen Creek. interesting organs, and perhaps performs a greater variety of functions than any other. It A. F. Beck, of Perkasie, offered to supply serves as an organ of respiration in some fishes stone for construction of a similar dam who draw upon the supply of oxygen in the nearby. He is one of the three farmers sign­ swimbladder for breathing purposes, thus en­ ing the ten-year lease. The others are Amos abling them to enter water areas of low oxy­ Bryan and O. S. Keeler. The leases specify gen content without being asphyxiated. Fur­ that entry to the creek must be made with­ thermore, if there is an excess of carbon diox­ out damaging the properties. ide, the swimbladder causes the fish automat­ ically to rise to higher levels of lower carbon Mr. Mumbauer showed pictures taken dioxide content—thus serving as a sort of while the dam was being built. safety valve. In some species of fishes the Nelson O. Fretz, who presided over the swimbladder also appears to serve as an addi­ meeting, reported that pheasants and rabbits tional hearing aid. are plentiful in this vicinity. According to a report of the membership committee, there are 483 members in the organization now; By the rapid contraction of a muscle in close contact with the air bladder which acts twenty-eight were received during the eve­ Barney Berlinger of Elkins Park, Pennsylvania as a resonator, some fishes are capable of pro­ ning. State Fish and Game Association and former all- round University of Pennsylvania athlete, who ducing a drumming sound, and from this fac­ won the % ounce plug distance event in the 1940 Lester Frederick, the treasurer, reported MAACC tournament. ulty has arisen the name of drumfishes as that $83 remains in the social fund. Another applied to certain members of the family report submitted showed that a benefit held Sciaenidae. Both sexes of the croaker, or boys reporting under the Selective Service recently netted the association $91. hardhead, are capable of producing this sound. Act. In the black and red drums, the spot or Lafay­ The forestry committee notified members With the opening of the hunting season, ette, and the squeteagues or sea trouts, the that 1,000 trees were planted on the Arthur the National Wildlife Federation warns hunt­ drumming muscle is present only in the males, Lawrence tract, South Perkasie. ers to be especially careful about starting while in other species the drumming muscle Concerning the offer of stone and the use fires. and air bladder are absent in both the male of the Beck property for building a dam, the and female. association decided in favor of the project and work will begin soon. WILL STOCK TROUT IN The midshipman fish is so named because it has rows of luminous silvery spots on the body, BUFFALO CREEK which are likened to the buttons on a mid­ Under the guidance of W. A. Ashe, District shipman's uniform. URGES PRECAUTIONS AGAINST Attorney, and President of the Sportsmen's FOREST FIRES League, the campaign to secure the reclassi­ Salmon have been found in waters varying fication of Buffalo Creek from a bass to a from the freezing point to 70°F. A warning to all sportsmen, motorists, trout stream has been brought to a success­ campers and hikers to take every precaution ful conclusion. At the most enthusiastic and to prevent forest fires was issued by I. R. harmonious meeting of Sportsmen's Club "Did you ever see a gang like that before— Watts, Servicing Director of the National representatives ever held in the Kittanning moving right in on us like that?" complained Earl. Wildlife Federation. District, Mr. Ashe culminated his successful "I suppose they just didn't know better," I campaign with the introduction of C. A. Because of the drought prevalent through­ suggested. French, Commissioner of Fisheries, who out the Northeast, forest fires lurk as a "You just think they didn't," answered Earl. made the official announcement that Buffalo potential threat to that section of the coun­ Then he added: "Well, maybe they didn't. try it was pointed out. Particularly affected Creek would be reclassified in accordance There are dumb clucks like that." are Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, with the desire of the happy sportsmen pres­ Just about then I thought maybe somebody New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, ent representing Armstrong, Allegheny, ought to write a book on etiquette for trout Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, Massa­ Butler and Westmoreland Counties. fishermen. chusetts, and Maine. In the East forest fires occur mainly during the spring and fall; in the West, generally BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS during the hot summer months. These are HARHISBURG, PA. the danger seasons, and droughts pave the SUBSCRIPTION BLANK Way for forest fires, Mr. Watts indicated. Enclosed find fifty cents ($.50) for one year's subscription to the When a similar drought occurred last "Pennsylvania Angler." spring, over 1,302,430 acres of forest land Were burned throughout the United States Please Check Name during the month of April alone. (Print Name) This acreage translated into equivalent • New Street and Number. board feet means that about 289,139,460 board feet of timber were consumed by flames, or • Renewal City enough lumber to house 192,759 American 24 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER NOVEMBER

HERE X THERE I N ANGLERDOM By BOB HANSON

Dan Paterlini of Charleroi scored a fine ship to come to the attention of the ANGLES catch of Allegheny River smallmouth bass op is the following report from Warden Frank plug while fishing in the vicinity of Tidioute. Sanda of Steelton. E. L. Shireman of Middle- Four smallmouths were taken, the largest town has caught over 200 bass since the 18y4 inches, weight 3 pounds 4 ounces, an­ opening of the season. The fish ranged ffi other 17 % inches, weight 3 pounds, and a length in most instances from 10 to 15 inches third, 16% inches, weight 2 pounds 2 ounces. and he killed only five fish, returning the balance to the stream. Only once this year Fres Lash of Reading reports excellent did he go out without catching any fish and fishing for walleyed pike while vacationing only five bass caught were under legal size- at Lake Wallenpaupack during the past sum­ Shireman scored his catches on live bait mer. A number of fine walleyed pike, sev­ and did his fishing in the Susquehanna River eral of them measuring 20 inches in length, between Hill Island and York Haven Dam. were taken on the 9 foot fly rod. Night- crawlers were used as bait, he reports. From Warden Horace Pyle comes the fol­ lowing report of catches in the southeastern With extremely low water in virtually all corner of the State. Harry Wilson of Media state streams, watersnakes and other natural caught a largemouth bass in Springton Res­ predators on fish life ranked as a serious ervoir, Delaware County, that measured 21 menace to fish life during the drought. inches in length and weighed 4% pounds. A According to Clayt Peters of Lykens, whose 17 inch largemouth, having a girth of £1 splendid articles have long been welcomed inches and tipping the scales at three pounds by the ANGLER, Mack Schoffstall of Lykens was caught in the upper Downingtown Brick killed a 38 inch watersnake on Powell's Yard Pond by C. H. Gittle of Downingtown- Creek, Dauphin County, that, when opened, Charles Lockner of West Chester caught a was found to contain a 10 inch brown trout. brown trout in June in Pocopson Creefc Chester County, that was 20% inches in G. E. Spinney, acting forest supervisor in length, had a girth of 10% inches and the Allegheny National Forest, furnishes the weighed three pounds one ounce. A 15# following interesting information relative to inch largemouth bass caught by Earl H* streams in that area of the state: "In revis­ Smith, R. D. 2, Coatesville on plug, had a ing the Cooperative Stream Stocking Plan girth of 11% inches and weighed 2 pounds for Allegheny National Forest, the State and 10 ounces. Federal technicians participating have this interesting sidelight to offer. Of the 200 or One of the finest smallmouth bass to be more streams on Allegheny National Forest caught in the Raystown Branch of the Jun­ important enough to have a separate map iata River this season was landed by Mrs- name, approximately one fourth have been Harry J. Miller of Huntingdon, according t0 named after animals. The wolf has been Jackie Wenrich, ZV-* years old, grandson of Warden Link Lender of Bellwood. Mrs- most honored with six streams bearing his George Michaels, Harrisburg, displays the fine Miller's catch measured 20% inches in length 1754 inch, VA pound largemouth bass that name. The raccoon is second with four Michaels caught this season in wildwood Lake, and tipped the scales at 4 pounds 8 ounces- namesakes shortened to "Coon." The deer on the outskirts of the Capitol City. It was taken on a minnow. Lender also re­ a has not been forgotten with Deer Lick, Buck Warden G. Max Noll of Montrose reports ports that Albert Pluff of Altoona took Lick and Doe Run appearing several times. the taking of a big eel in the North Branch 21 inch smallmouth on a nightcrawler '& Names of game animals have been used six­ of the Susquehanna River near Wyalusing the Branch. teen times, fur bearers thirteen, other mam­ by Lester Baysore of Muncy. The eel, meas­ mals three and birds ten. Names of fish and uring 36% inches in length, had a girth of Plugging in the Susquehanna River in the snakes also appear." 6% inches and weighed four pounds. Its vicinity of Hill Island, Charles Faust and stomach was found to contain two large Frank Zell of Middletown caught seven baSs From Warden William Mcllnay of Everett crayfish and a three inch smallmouth bass. ranging in length from 10 to 13 inches, re­ comes word that Andrew Zadorla of Johns­ Worm was the bait used. Randall Cochrane turning all fish to the water. A fine large­ town scored a'fine catch of smallmouth bass of Rush, caught a big carp on doughball in mouth bass was taken on chub by "Chubby at the mouth of Dunnings Creek below Bed­ the same section of the river. His catch was Horning of Middletown in the same section ford. Included in the catch were a 16 inch 33 inches in length, 22% inches in girth and of the river, Sanda reports. It was 21^ and two 12 inch fish. tipped the scales at 20% pounds. Twenty- inches in length and weighed 5 pounds ' three minutes were required to land the fish ounces. Three Mifflin County anglers, George on a casting rod. A 34 inch carp with a Harbst, Earl Goss and Nolan Musser, of girth of 23 inches and weighing 21 pounds H. L. White of Lebanon scored with a fine was caught at the same location on doughball Burnham, scored a fine catch of big carp on smallmouth bass in the Swatara Creek this by Francis Pickett of Rush. the North Branch of the Susquehanna River. season. The fish, 18 inches in length and Their total catch was 21 fish, Harbst catch­ weighing three pounds, was taken on 3 ing six, Goss seven and Musser eight. One of the finest examples of sportsman- shiner.

Indian Summer I walk the trail beneath the trees Where leaves lie noisy under foot. The yellows, russets, browns of autumn tapestry Are strewed about, while myriads more drop down, filling the air like sounds of summer showers coming from a distance. The trees are still and all around a smoky haze obscured the distant landscape with a robe of hazy purple. The sun, a disk of burnished copper, pale yet warm. The little people of the wood are busy laying up their winter stores of food and rustling in the fallen leaves. A flock of geese hurrying southward are trumpting out the cadence of their marching song, which tugs at human heart strings, bidding us to follow them to always summer lands. With thundering wings, a grouse shoots from the tangled vines and for a moment silhouette against the sky dives past the scarlet prongs of sumac. Witchhazel pods snap and click as they bombard the slope with black seed shrapnel. Wood fern and evergreen vie with purple asters, bitter sweet and dogwood berries for a place on natures autumn color palette. All are symphony in color, waiting bleak November and the snow.

by A. G. SHIMMEL