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, RESOURCE Pennsylvania Fishing and Boating FIRST Memories Last a Lifetime

The Pennsylvania Fish and cious resources. That's why Boat Commission's theme for we're asking you to share your 1997 is "Pennsylvania Fishing skills and share your memories. and Boating Memories Last a Teaching a friend to fish or Lifetime." This theme ties in boat is the best way that you can directly to the Common­ help provide new fishing and wealth's overall travel and boating memories for future tourism theme. It recognizes generations. For most of us, that many of the fondest time is our most precious as­ memories of our anglers and set. We're asking all Pennsyl­ boaters relate to a day fishing vania anglers and boaters to with family members, a glo­ take time from your hectic rious summer afternoon schedules to help teach young waterskiing on a mountain and older people alike to fish lake, or a spring morning in or boat. Take a friend fishing, pursuit of an elusive trout. and give him or her the skills We are marking this theme to make angling his or her life­ in a number of ways. The time sport. Teach a youngster Commission participates in to boat safely, and instill in him the Eastern Sports and Out­ or her a love of the water and door Show in Harrisburg, the skills to enjoy it safely. major sports shows in other Share your skills and your love cities, and other programs for fishing and boating. throughout Pennsylvania. The Fish and Boat Commis­ Our displays at these shows sion is also inviting all anglers will feature pictures of Penn- and boaters to take a trip down sylvanians fishing and boat­ memory lane and share your ing throughout the years. When you look at these nostalgic most memorable fishing or boating experiences. Maybe it was photos, you might think you see Uncle Ed or Aunt Jane. You'll the time you caught that record sunfish as your Dad looked see how many things have changed in terms of equipment on, or the day you learned that you could stay up on waterskis and technology; but you'll also see how many things have stayed for more than a few seconds. By recounting the fishing and the same in terms of love of the outdoors and fishing and boating memories that have lasted your lifetime, you can help boating skills. others learn the wonders of water-based conservation and Furthermore, the Commission is selling several commemo­ recreation. rative items. Please see page 56 of this issue for more details It's easy to participate. Just write an essay, anecdote or true and ordering information. story of no more than 750 words describing your most memo­ The "Fishing and Boating Memories Last a Lifetime" theme rable day on the waters of the Commonwealth. Your story can reminds us that most of us started fishing and boating as make us laugh, make us cry or make us think back to our good children under the guidance of a parent, grandparent, rela­ old days on the water. The contest rules appear on page 61 tive or friend. The family tree of Pennsylvania anglers and boaters of this issue. stretches back for generations. But as we approach a new century Share your memories of fishing and boating and teach a and a new millennium, we need to ask ourselves where the next youngster the skills that have made fishing and boating so generations of anglers and boaters will learn their love of the memorable for you. By doing this, you can help ensure that outdoors and the water resources of Pennsylvania. The an­ new generations of anglers and boaters will have fishing and swer is simple: They'll learn from you. Each of us has a stew­ boating memories that last a lifetime. ardship responsibility for our outdoor resources. So, too, do (AEMORlSr we, as stewards of outdoor recreation, need to take responsi­ bility to teach others to fish or boat. We need to continue to Peter A. Colangelo attract more people to outdoor recreation not just because it's Executive Director great fun and a great lifetime sport, but because we know that Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission sportsmen care about conservation and protection of our pre­

2 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime January/February 1997 Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission Volume 66/Number 1 Donald N. Lacy President Reading Samuel M. Concilia Vice President North East Donald K. Anderson Meyersdale Ross J. Huhn The Keystone State's Official Fishing and Boating Magazine Saltsburg Paul J. Mahon Clarks Green Mail 4 Enoch S. "Inky" Moore, Jr. Newville Pittsburgh's Hybrid Stripers by Mike Sajna 6 Howard E. Pflugfelder Nescopeck: Round Two by Julie Lalo 10 New Cumberland Leon Reed Radiant Energy Trout by Vic Attardo 13 Honesdale William J. Sabatose Mud, Flood and Fish by Linda Steiner 17 Brockport If I Had Only Four Dry Flies by Charles R. Meek 22 J. Wayne Yorks Benton Fishing and Canoeing Alone by Cliffjacobson 24 Boating Advisory Board Boat Control is the Ticket to Angling Success by Darl Black 26 Thaddeus Piotrowski Chairman Remembering by Joel M. Vance 29 Bloomsburg Casting Lines with Dave Wolf. 32 Gary Babin Lancaster Winter 1997 PLAY Newsletter Special Insert Clayton Buchanan Pittsburgh Pennsylvania's Dynamic Darters 33 Gary Miles The Coldwater Heritage Partnership Program by Robert L. Petri 37 North East Vincent Riggi Aggressive Ice Fishing for Trout by Mike Bleech 40 Clarks Summit Winterize Your Small Boat by Art Michaels 44 Ex Officio members: Peter A. Colangelo, Executive Director, Mussels by Karl Blankenship 46 John F. Simmons, Director, Bureau of Boating and Education; Horsepower: How Much Do You Really Need? by Bob Stearns 48 Gary Smith, Department of Pennsylvania Fishing and Boating Memories Last a Lifetime Conservation and Natural Resources Magazine Staff byDanTredinnick 50 Editor—Art Michaels PA Fish & Boat Commission Publications List 51 Art Director—Ted Walke Circulation—Eleanor Mutch SMART Angler's Notebook by Carl Richardson 53 Circulation—Patti Copp A Parachute Light Cahill by Walt Young 54 Regular Contributors Vic Attardo Charles R. Meek Anglers Currents 56 Robert L. Petri Darl Black Anglers Notebook by Seth Cassell. 57 Karl Blankenship Mike Sajna Mike Bleech Bob Stearns Cast & Caught.. 58 Seth Cassell Linda Steiner Cliffjacobson Dave Wolf Notes from the Streams 60 Julie Lalo Walt Young Maps Useful to Pennsylvania Anglers and Boaters 62 Penmyhania Angler & Boater (ISSN0031-434X) is published bimonthly by 'he Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, 3532 Walnut Stteet, Hamsburg, PA 17109. ©1997PAFish&BoacCommission.. Nothing in this magazine Holding Your Mouth Right byJimMize 63 may be reprinted without the written permission of the PA Fish & Boat Commission. Subscription rates: oneyear,$9,tlvfeeyears,S2S',single copies are$3.00each. PeriodicalsposrageispaidatHarrisburg,PA. POSTMASTER: Scndaddresschangesio: l'enti^ieti:iwA'iiiltr&!iii.:t:r ('itnil.ition, Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, P.O. Box 67000, Hamsburg, PA 17106-7000. For subscription and change of address, use above address. Please allow six weeks for processing. Scndailothercorrespondenceto: The Editor, 1'ennyli'Jnia AfgiereT-ftwfrT.p.o. Box 67000, Harrisburg.PA 17106-7000. Editorial queries This issue's cover was photographed by •md contributions arc welcome, but must be accompanied by self-addressed, stamped envelopes. Materialaccepted for publicanon is subject to Pennsylvania Barry & Cathy Beck. The fishing scene is I'tsh&Boat Commission standatdsand requirements for editing and revising. Submissions are handled carefully, bucthe publisherassumesno responsibility the Columbia County portion of the tor the return or safety of submissions in his possession ot in transit. The aurhors' views, ideas and advice expressed in this magazinedo not necessarily Susquehanna River, where smallmouth bass reflect the opiniunotoflicialpLisitionofdiePeimsyfvania Fish ccBoat Commission ot its staff. The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission receives federal aid are the main quarry. 111 sport fish restoration. Under appropriate federal acts, the U.S. Department °t the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national ongtn, age, sex or handicap. Ifyou believe that you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility as described above, or if vou desire more information, please write to: The Office of Equal Opportunity, Department of the Interior, Washington, DC 20240.

Fishing & Boating Memories last A lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Noeflsh advice that says, "When you're being run There is a new strain offish in the waters out of town, get ahead of the crowd and of the Pocono Mountains. It is called make it look like a parade." If the Com­ "noefish." mission cannot reverse its unfortunate A few weeks ago, I took a ride to seek out decision to reduce the frequency of ap­ a new stretch of water to fish. I finally found pearance of the Angler, then at least give a small stream that I had never fished before. us subscribers credit for having sense Being unsure about whether the water was enough to see through the flimsy excuses open or posted, I went to a nearby tackle shop about better service, more content, etc. and inquired about the stream. The owner Higher license fees, more increasingly said that there were no fish in that stream. I complicated and expensive special sea­ decided to give it a shot anyway. sons, and now fewer Anglers. What's next?- I fished for about 2 1/2 hours and caught Bud Angst, via email on the Commission's World six nice fish. "Noefish" have an amazing Wide Web site. resemblance to brook and brown trout. Therefore, I accepted the gendeman's veracity We've been trying to point out the ben­ that there were "noefish" in the stream-a new efits of bimonthly publication, but right breed of trout! PA Angler changes up front we've said that the changes to the These Noefish are beautiful and sturdy You've asked for views on the upcoming Angler came as a result of the Commission fighters. So anytime you hear of a stream changes to Pennsylvania Angler. I'm "agin" wanting to bring expenses more in line with that has Noefish in it, go fishing. They seem them. I fail completely to see how pub­ revenue. Just so there's no mistake, yes, to have no preference in the kind of artificials lishing bimonthly will increase interest this decision was economic. In fact, the presented to them. I did not find it neces­ in the publication. Quite the contrary. Commission will save about $78,000 a year sary to change flies. The Noefish took the Rather than be without material such as in printing and postage costs by going bi­ first offering. is published in the Angler for 60 days, monthly. I seriously doubt that these Noefish were readers will turn to other PA fishing pub­ We doubled the size of the magazine for stocked by the Fish and Boat Commission. lications, of which there are several. two main reasons. First, we believe it Perhaps the streams of Pennsylvania are As a former publisher, I can testify that maintains the quality of the product. We'll healthy enough to produce a new strain of frequency of publication is a factor in save money with bimonthly publication trout. readership. To increase reader interest, and still give readers the same number of I have been catching these Noefish for many publishers increase the frequency of pages each year we print with monthly years, thinking that this fish was a normal publication, not the reverse. publication. Second, over the years the trout, stocked or wild. The conclusion that I also deplore the addition of boating Commission has received letters from I have come to is this: Fish any place that you information. Please, don't clutter up my subscribers who say they'd like to see a maybe told that the fish are not there. You favorite fishing magazine with boating magazine with more pages in it so that we can be sure that there are, at the very least, information. can cover a wider range of topics in each "Noefish"!-77?0m Rivell, Greentown, PA. Don't expect me to be impressed by the issue. Bimonthly publication of 64 pages news that I'll be getting just as much instead of 32 pages lets us do that. Wild trout content in a 64-page publication as I got Our adding value to the magazine is no I think it's great that the Fish & Boat in two 32-pagers. A, I doubt it. And B, hype. Special publications diat would have Commission is attempting to restore the even if it's true, it's irrelevant. I want my been printed separately now appear in the wild trout population. I'd like to see more Angler monthly, not bimonthly. magazine. Subscribers would not see this wild trout, and I think more restrictions Lastly, I consider your explanations information unless they specifically or­ on sizes and creel limits would increase their insulting in that they assume we fisher­ dered certain publications. We're also numbers. I release any wild trout I catch men/subscribers are not astute enough printing the PLAY newsletter quarterly in because there are very few of them in my to know the real reasons for going bi­ the Angler—adding 8 pages, not using the area. Keep up the good workl-RonaldJ. monthly. Money. Specifically, expenses. current 64. Messimer, Berwick, PA. It takes less effort-and thus, less money- Our thinking on including boating to compile, edit, publish and mail 64 pages material is based on the Commission's Basic fishing questions bimonthly than it does to produce a 32- desire to let the magazine reflect the en­ I enjoy reading your publication PA Angler. pager each month. Layout and printing tire Commission's purview. Our surveys However, some of the comments I hear and expenses are likewise reduced. show that some 80 percent of Pennsylva­ somewhat agree with are: I harbor a strong suspicion that eco­ nia boat registrants own boats specifically 1. Why don't they give more info on some nomics, not a desire to provide better for fishing, and that some 75 percent of basic tips for good fishing? service, has stimulated this unfortunate Angler readers own boats for fishing. 2. In what ways do you fish (fly fish) decision. And that, with its baloney about Thanks again for your comments. Please whether it is an overcast day as compared better content, the Commission is follow­ do let me know your opinion of the new to a sunny "blue sky" day? ing that old and well-founded political PA Angler & Boater.-Art Michaels, Editor.

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Memories To Last A Lifetime

3. Bait fishing when to use artificial spot, it is also the obvious choice for boaters. Stream electrofishing compared to using live bait? A johnboat cautiously and courteously made surveys by Fish & Boat PENNSYLVANIA 4. Does power bait work as well as ex­ its way upriver, giving us a wide berth and Commission biologists FISH & BOAT pected? no-wake speed. The first jetboat came from captured rock bass to 10 COMMISSION These are just a few of the questions I downriver. He did reduce his speed some­ inches, redbreast sunfish to 7 inches and hear.- "AnglerJim." what, but did not pass at what I could con­ smallmouth bass to a respectable 16 sider a courteous distance or safe speed. The inches in these areas, and there were lots Thank you for your letter. We're glad second boat came from upriver very fast and of fallfish to fill the angler's day when you enjoy PA Angler. the operator yelled as if I were going to be other species were not biting. Two of our You asked why we don't give more in­ able to move fast enough to get out of the more productive fish sampling locations formation on basic tips for good fishing. way. He throttled back long enough to de­ were upstream of die Middle Spring Creek From time to time we print basic informa­ cide that fish were more important than fel­ confluence and in the area of the PA 641 tion, but most of our readers tell us they're low fishermen, then gunned it south passing bridge near Newburg. The fish holding skilled, so we try to cater to their needs. 15 feet or less from me. He even had the at those locations may have changed What kinds of basic information would nerve to grin as though the encounter could because of the flood waters last summer, you like us to print? We love to hear from be funny to someone waist deep in rapid so you may have to scout for new pools you and other readers with suggestions on rocky water. and cover. subjects for the Anglerl Maybe these boaters felt as though I was The creek does have its share of envi­ You also asked about the difference in jaywalking on a midtown Harrisburg street. ronmental problems throughout its fly fishing on sunny days compared to I must have missed the part in the safe boat­ length. Development, urbanization, overcast days. Many fish are sensitive to ing manual requiring anglers to run from storm water runoff and the cumulative light. They prefer shaded water. Whether the water every time someone gets a effects of numerous wastewater treatment you use flies or lures, you might want to hankerin' to try a spot 10 miles downriver. plants in the lower reaches strain the study a waterway carefully and locate the The new boats have the run of the river stream's ability to assimilate various borders between sunlit and shaded spots. and just because they can run 45mph in less pollutants from about Carlisle down­ Work your flies and lures along these edges. than six inches of water does not mean they stream to its confluence with the You also asked when to use artificial lures are exempt from safe and courteous boating Susquehanna River. instead of bait. For one thing, using live practices.-C/wcfe William, Denver, PA. The upper reaches ofth e Conodoguinet bait can be more expensive than using ar­ Creek, the area of your interest, is affected tificial lures. Also, many anglers use min­ Conodoguinet Creek questions by agricultural practices. Nitrate concen­ nows to locate schools of crappies, and then I just moved to Franklin County from trations and sediment from runoff from switch to jigs once the school has been Montgomery County. I've been an avid cultivated land, and feedlots with increas­ found. Whedier to use live bait or artificials smallmouth bass and pickerel fisherman ing numbers of farm animals resulting is also a matter of personal preference- all my life. I fished the Tuscarora when in manure runoff to the stream, are some which are you more confident fishing? I lived near East Waterford, catching nice of the problems. You asked if scents work. Yup! They smallmouth bass and a few pickerel. Adult trout are stocked in the spring do! In my personal experience, I've faired I tried to fish the Conodoguinet Creek from PA 997 near Roxbury upstream, better with scents applied to lures than I by Newburg near the old covered bridge, including the 54-acre Letterkenny Reser­ have without them. but couldn't even catch a hellgrammite. voir, to the confluence of Bear Valley Run.- Thanks again for your letter! 1 hope this The creek was so beautiful that it shocked Larry Jackson, Area 7 Fisheries Manager. wformation is helpfuL-A** Michaels, Editor. me that the fishing was so poor. Finally, Be careful out there! I started to use a big crayfish. I had a few bites, but nothing large enough to take Backtalk This is an open letter to the jet boat the bait. I switched to a small plug and Argue with the Commission. Ap­ operators on the Susquehanna River. Boat caught a small fallfish. Then I changed plaud us. Advise us. The Fish & Boat builders had a picture of the Susquehanna to a spinner; I caught dozens of fallfish Commission invites you to write let­ River at Rockvule when they developed the n up to 15 inches in length. ters to the editor in this space if you ew jet bass boats. They are the ultimate have an idea on Pennsylvania Angler rig for this waterway and I look forward Where are the bass? Are there any trout & Boater content; a question or to the day when I can own one. For now in this creek? It seems like good habitat concern about the Commission; I will be happy to fish the river as I always for bass, trout, pickerel and sunfish, but something to say about fish and have, by wading. I haven't caught any. Where are the hellgrammites and the abundance of cray­ fishing, or boats and boating; or a Last August 11, along the east shore of fish found in other creeks? Where can I helpful idea for anglers or boaters. the river below the Fort Hunter Access, I go for smallmouth fishing near Letters are edited for clarity and nad two close encounters with jet boaters ln Shippensburg?-A»dre«/ Sauerwald, space considerations. less than an hour. I was wading with two Sbippensburg, PA. Address correspondence to: Art °r my fishing partners in about three feet Michaels, Editor, Pennsylvania Angler °r water working my way across the only Conodoguinet Creek supports fair popu­ & Boater, P.O. Box 67000, Harrisburg, easily navigable portion of the river in this lations of reproducing sportfish in the PA 17106-7000. area. Because it's the only easily navigable stream reach between Roxbury and Carlisle.

Fish, '">g & Boating Memories last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater #B fllP

The wall in Tim Reddinger's bait shop pretty much tells the tale. Toward the back of the small Bridgewater, Beaver County shop hangs a mount of a tiger musky taken from the nearby Beaver River. At the front of the shop, near the window where every­ body can see it, hangs a mount of a 31.8-pound hy­ brid striped bass. It also came from the Beaver River. When Reddinger opened the Reddi Bait Shop 10 years ago, muskies and tiger muskies were the fish Beaver Valley anglers pursued with a passion. Over the past four or five years, though, the two musky species have taken a back seat to the hard-fighting hybrid striped bass. "Guys around here go after them tooth and toe­ nail," the garrulous Reddinger says. "As each and every year goes by, they're learning a little bit more, learn­ ing their habits and where they hang out. They catch BY MIKE them left and right around here." Beaver Valley an­ glers have been so captivated by hybrid stripers that in 1995 a group of them led by Reddinger launched an emer­ gency rescue effort to save some of the big fish. The drama started when water in the channel feed­ ing the power plant at the Tenth Street Dam in Beaver Falls dropped, stranding about 20 hybrids and dozens of other fish in six inches of water in the power plant chute. Alerted to the problem by workers at the nearby Repub- lic Steel plant, Reddinger and oth­ ers obtained permission to enter the chute and formed a bucket brigade that saved all but three of the hy­ brids, as well as numerous other fish. For his efforts, Reddinger was presented with the Fish and Boat Commission's Conservation Service Award. "We crawled 20 feet straight down into the turbine chute and let me tell you, it was kind of scary in there," Reddinger says. "But we couldn't let them die. We saved buckets full. We saved trout, stripers, smallmouths, carp. We saved them all, but the hy­ brid stripers were the most important to all the guys there."

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Since the mid-1980s, hybrid striped bass also "The fishing about two years ago was really The Commission have been a much prized fish on the Ohio River. hot," says Lykens. "I mean really hot. One of stocks hybrid striped The Fish and Boat Commission first stocked hy­ the reasons it has slowed now is because most bass in the revitalized brid stripers in Pittsburgh's three rivers in 1984. of the stripers are caught up near the dams and Ohio, Monongahela Before then, though, both Ohio and West Vir­ our dams are being closed off to fishing. It isn't and Allegheny rivers ginia had extensive hybrid stocking programs in that the fish aren't there. The fish are still there. to add another place. As new pollution control laws and They're just not being caught as readily dimension to the the decline of the steel industry cleaned Access Areas as they used to be because the num­ angling. Below, up the city's rivers, some of those fish ber of fishermen is down." Commission biologists made their way upstream, touching off /A\ = Brady's Bend Angered by litter and other abusive take scale samples a storm of excitement. re\ = Cowanshanhock behavior, property owners posted the from captured hybrid After a few years that fishing slowed, An = Rosston front channel and back channel of the stripers to measure according to Wayne Lykens, owner of An = Tarentum Emsworth Dam, while the borough of age and growth rate. Island Firearms, a bait shop on Neville &\ = Springdale Leetsdale stopped access to the area Island about six miles down the Ohio fi\ = Deer Creek from Pittsburgh. Then three years ago, as more of Pennsylvania's fish began to reach catchable size, the fishing picked up again. Unfortunately, it also brought with it the problem of angler behavior, the number one cause for the loss of fishing water in Pennsylvania.

nng & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 7 4k A -* •••• •• »AA

^Sp Jit jjps pjl around the Dashields Dam. Lykens es­ found a stable source for the hybrids. The timates he lost 15 0 customers a day when Commission is trading fish, mostly wall­ the two dams were posted. Today, he says, eyes, with South Carolina and Georgia. there are only three places left on Neville Both Lorson and Billingsley hope a stable Island open to public fishing. source will enable continued annual "The posting hurt a lot of people in stocking of the three rivers. this area," Lykens says. "Me as a busi­ Even though the source for hybrid ness person it hurt. But it also hurt the stripers may have stabilized, access limi­ fishermen themselves. And I don't blame tations continue to keep the stocking rate them [landowners]. Most of the people in the Dashields pool of the Ohio River here on the island are just fed up with at four fish per acre, according to Lorson. the litter people leave. The New Cumberland pool on the state "Guys with boats are having a good there from the Ohio, and from two lakes line will continue to be stocked at the time with these bass, though," he adds. that had been stocked with them and rate of four fish per acre, too. But that "I've never seen a fish fight like these empty into the river, Lake Arthur in pool also benefits from stockings by things." Butler County and Shenango Reservoir Ohio and West Virginia. Like the Three The fighting nature of hybrid striped in Mercer County. Rivers pool, the Montgomery pool, which bass is one reason die Fish and Boat Com­ Billingsley calls the hybrids presence includes the mouth of the Beaver River, mission decided to stock the species in die Beaver a "big plus, because for years is slated to receive eight fish per acre. in Pittsburgh's three rivers die Beaver was so badly polluted diat die Because of the presence of a number Area Fisheries fishery was very of power plants with warm-water dis­ depressed. charge pipes, the Monongahela River in the Elizabeth area also will be stocked with hybrid stripers. It will be the only section of the three rivers above Pitts­ burgh to receive fish. "They flock to warm-water dis­ charges," says Lorson. "Out in the Mid- Manager Rick In the last west that is where they have major Lorson calls them four or five years, it has fisheries during the winter. December, "a super predator" and really come back, which is January and February are prime months classifies them in the a credit to everybody." to catch big hybrids out there. That's "same category as steelhead and other According to Lorson, the Three Riv­ why we're managing it, but we just tackle-busters." He says the Commis­ ers pool diat surrounds downtown Pitts­ haven't been able to develop that yet. We sion decided to stock them to add an­ burgh itself is managed as a lake because have some evidence offish there, we've other dimension to angling in the of its size, forage base and access. The surveyed some fish, but we just haven't revitalized Ohio, Monongahela and Al­ pool reaches from Emsworth on die Ohio had real good stockings." legheny rivers. to Sharpsburg on the Allegheny to The stocked hybrid stripers range from Although anglers have reported good Braddock on the Monongahela, an area one to two inches in size. Lorson would catches of hybrid striped bass, stockings of over 2,900 acres. like to get fish of three to four inches, by the Fish and Boat Commission have Along with making for spotty stock­ but said Ohio has reported good results been spotty because of difficulty in ob­ ings, difficulties in obtaining hybrid stocking die smaller fish. "So maybe we taining the fish. "Everybody wants striped bass also kept early stock­ are okay getting those fish," he says, "as them," says Craig Billingsley, the Com­ ing numbers low. Ohio's pro­ long as we can get them mission Area Fisheries Manager whose gram showed eight fish consistently at that territory includes the Beaver River. per acre to be the The first stocking was in the number Monongahela near Elizabeth in 1984, according to Lorson. That was followed by other plantings in the lower Monongahela in 1986,1988,1990,1995 and 1996. The lower Allegheny received fish in 1986,1995 and 1996, and the Ohio needed River in 1986,1990,1991,1995 and 1996. to establish or On the Ohio, which stretches 40 miles improve a hybrid Limited studies to the Ohio-West Virginia line, even num­ striped bass population, ac- ^ done at Blue Marsh bered pools were stocked in even num­ cording to Lorson. Until 1991, B "•"' Lake, Berks County, bered years, and odd numbered pools though, the Commission was able show the fish reaching 7 to in odd numbered years. to obtain only enough fish to stock 8 inches after one year, 10 to 14 inches To die best of Billingsley's knowledge, Pittsburgh's rivers at a rate of four fish after two years, 17 to 20 inches after diree the Beaver River has never been stocked per acre. years, and 17 to 22 inches after four years. with hybrid stripers. Fish in it moved Recently, however, the Commission To help develop a trophy hybrid striped

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories last A lifetime Allegheny River bass fishery in Pennsylvania, the legal Striped bass and hybrid striped bass a deeper body and a more arched back size limit statewide was recendy increased are most easily distinguished, according than hybrids. They also have a relative from 15 to 20 inches, according to to Lorson, by the stripes on their sides lack of stripes-only one stripe reaches Lorson. above the lateral line. Purebred strip­ from gill to tail on the body, and a white Hybrids were chosen for stocking ers have seven or eight heavy, distinct bass has only one tooth patch on the back in Pittsburgh's rivers instead of pure­ black stripes that run the length of the of the tongue. Hybrid and purebred bred stripers because the Ohio, body, from gill to tail. Hybrid stripers striped bass have two tooth patches on Monongahela and Allegheny are too have seven or eight less distinct lines that the back of their tongues. warm for the full-blooded species. are usually broken. The fish on Both Reddinger and Lykens report that Programs in Ohio and West Virginia Reddinger's wall appears to have both some hybrid stripers are taken by anglers also have shown that hybrids do well solid and broken lines on its sides. in the three rivers year-round. The slow in the Ohio River. None of the three Reddinger says he talks to an average periods are late fall and early spring when rivers is part of the striped bass origi­ of about 10 anglers a week who catch the water is cold. Lykens says April, May, nal range, but they are native waters hybrid stripers. The average fish is about August and September are among the of the white bass. 25 inches long and weighs best months. Most fish are taken early Hybrid striped bass are a cross be­ 4 to 6 pounds. in the morning or in the evening in the tween striped bass and white bass. A good fish whitewater around the dams. Few hy­ Striped bass can grow to goes 12 brids are caught more than pounds. in open water. Lures and baits that work well include jigs and minnows, particularly white plastic-tailed jigs, crankbaits, night- crawlers, shiners and small spoons. 50 pounds in "Anything sil­ Pennsylvania, but a ver works be­ big white bass weighs only cause there are a 1 1/2 to 2 pounds, according to The fish on his lot of emerald shin­ Lorson. Because of the white bass wall, which was found two ers and a lot of gizzard shad in the riv­ element, most hybrid stripers run be­ years ago, measures 41 1/4 inches ers," says Reddinger. Then he launches tween 5 and 15 pounds. long and has a girth of 26 inches. into a story about a youngster armed with The 31-pound fish on the Reddi "They don't call them 'hybrids' around a $10 spincasting outfit who was once Bait Shop's wall was found dead in here. They call them 'stripers,'" fishing next to him and caught three hy­ the Beaver River. Reddinger had it Reddinger says. "I hear the word 'hybrid' brids in a row. mounted as a show of respect and says when a fish is under 20 inches and I hear "I could have reached out and touched he is not sure if it is a hybrid or pure­ the word 'striper' when it gets over 20 the kid," he adds. "But I couldn't buy bred striped bass. The Commission inches." a fish to save my life. I was ready to throw once tried stocking purebred strip­ One problem in managing hybrid him in, but went home instead." ers in Lake Arthur and the Shenango striped bass, according to Lorson, is Reservoir, according to Billingsley, but anglers who mistakenly keep undersized both of those waters proved too shal­ hybrids thinking they are white bass, the c low and warm for the species. panfish of the rivers. White bass have

>Wg & Boating Memories last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater NESCOPECK: @UNP BY JULIE LALO

JNOlie of the trademark signs points land, but not many realize that the 3,000- were installed. All the state did was of­ the way in. No dark-stained wood an­ acre patch surrounded by State Game fer users an easily accessed wilderness nounces that this is a state park. Still, Lands 187 officially became Nescopeck experience in the heart of the rapidly there's no mistaking that this patch of State Park more than 25 years ago. It was developing Pocono Mountains. Luzerne County is a special area. The bot­ yet another lowland that seemed like a In May 1984, the plans were dusted off, tomlands are home to woodcock. River good bet for flat-water recreation and the legislature agreed to $5.4 million to otters, eastern bluebird and osprey aren't flood control, and the state used Project cover design and construction, and Sena­ unknown. And Nescopeck Creek, with 70 money to buy the land and draw plans tor Raphael Musto held a public hear­ its Delayed-Harvest, Artificial-Lures-Only for an 830-acre impoundment. ing in his home county to reacquaint the reach, is so popular that anglers are will­ In the early 1970s, the state spent $2 public with the project. ing to drive hours for the pleasure. million to buy 163 properties and removed Then Executive Director of the Fish Sounds and looks peaceful, but this 41 homes and cabins. The valley was well Commission Ralph Abele stood op­ little piece of cold-water heaven stands on its way to be flooded to give us one posed to the dam, decrying the loss of now as an example of what has been ac­ more manmade lake. Then, Project 70 a blue-ribbon trout fishery, 5 1/2 miles f complished through citizen participation funding dried up, the blueprints were of feeder streams with native reproduc­ u in the decision-making process. shelved and the area was managed as an ing brook trout and 200 acres of wet­ P Those who come to this wooded val­ unimproved state park. No welcoming lands. ley must know they're treading on public signs were posted, no paved parking lots The Game Commission, the U.S. Fish

10 Pennsylvania Angkr & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Committee. One was DCNR Secretary are as John Oliver, who told the legislators much a about his belief that the proposal both violation of protects the park's environmental assets the ecology and provides access for all who wish to of the valley as enjoy them. the dam would "On my visit to the park during the have been. But oth­ second week of trout season, it was teem­ ers in the community ing with people," he said. "Cars were see the park's devel­ everywhere, including places they opment as an oppor­ shouldn't have been. But all the avail­ tunity for economic growth-a able parking spaces were filled, so they chance to cash in on a little of the tourist had no other choice." trade that routinely hits the bigger, better- He noted that the proposal would and Wildlife Service and a strong citi­ known state parks in the area: Beltzville, develop less than 2 percent of the park zen contingent echoed the concern. One Tobyhanna, Tuscarora and Hickory Run. land mass, and that the three day-use of the rallying volunteer voices was that In its three-phase entirety, DCNR's areas would be on sites already disturbed. of Jacqui Bonomo, who spoke up on be­ proposal calls for installing a swimming Still, when Bonomo spoke, she re­ half of the local Sierra Club chapter. The beach on Lake Frances (a nine-acre ar­ ceived the only applause of the day. She state came away willing to let the science tificial lake originally built to provide also would have to receive the award prevail—the Soil Conservation Service recreational support for a proposed for traveling farthest to testify. Now and the Department of Environmental residential subdivision); developing two director of the National Wildlife Resources assessed the effects of three other day-use areas; erecting an environ­ Federation's (NWF) Western Natural choices: a large dam, a small dam and mental education center, modern cab­ Resource Center, in Portland, Oregon, Bonomo still obviously carries the a dry dam. The study was completed in ins and the necessary sewer lines and Nescopeck close to her heart. And she's 1989, concluding that any of the three other infrastructure; providing parking so convincing about the value of the choices would create a "high loss of both for 500 cars and 12 buses; and establish­ land that NWF has encouraged her to terrestrial and aquatic habitat." ing overnight camping on 80 trailer sites continue her vigilance, even from 3,000 Bonomo recently observed that one and 20 walk-in campsites. miles away. other element contributed to halting It probably took less than a minute the dam. She said that public attitudes after reading that proposal before some "I admit to knowing the Nescopeck 12 years ago had shifted away from the conservationists agreed: Round Two was like I know my own face," she told the earlier let's-dam-it-all heyday when so begun. Letters were sent, calls were made, legislators, "and I admit to being hope­ much of our flat-water recreation was and one of the most important results lessly in love with it." In her sentiment made. "The local public was placing of the effort was die convening of a public that Nescopeck's best use is as a place more importance on accessibility to hearing. It might have been deja vu for for solitude-based recreation, she stands natural areas," she said, rather than Senator Musto. One dozen years after with sportsmen like Gerard Schutz and flooding them out of existence. he organized the first Nescopeck pub­ Ed Zygmunt, two officers in the North­ east Division of the PA Federation of By the start of 1990, the dam was lic hearing, the Senator convened an­ Sportsmen's Clubs. "This is a beauti­ dead, but the notion of developing the other. The opportunity for public ful area, and we don't want the human park into something more wasn't. In participation was given to the citizens, presence to be so great that it takes away 1991, the Bureau of State Parks (now and they took the occasion to share dieir from the natural beauty of the area," said m the state Department of Conserva­ thoughts and personal knowledge. Zygmunt. tion and Natural Resources) an­ In June 1996,14 citizens testified be­ nounced its vision for the park. fore the Joint Legislative Air and Water In his testimony at the public hearing, To some, the proposed improvements Pollution Control and Conservation Schutz made it clear that the sportsmen

>'ng & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater NESCOPECK: D) don't resist limited development. "We road is paved. If there is agree with the center and limited trail hope for compromise, it development," he said. It's the cabins, may occur at a table set for camping and extensive parking lots that the latest citizen's com­ would overwhelm and possibly destroy mittee created by the state the nature experience. to offer public participa­ Some sportsmen believe that the im­ tion opportunities. permeable surface parking lots will in­ Oliver's testimony in­ crease runoff during storms and cause cluded a proposal to form flooding problems for downstream resi­ the committee, and Sena­ dents. They believe that over-develop­ tor Musto chose to follow ment could bring the footfalls of so many through by inviting 10 people down on the biological diversity opinion leaders—local that now exists in this valley. officials, environmental Richard Schwartz, president of the and conservation group Western Pocono Chapter of Trout Un­ spokesmen, county and limited, repeated the point to the legis­ state agency representa­ lative committee. "Many of its feeder tives, the local chamber of streams contain native brook trout, other commerce and a college fish life, as well as aquatic life," he said professor to form a com­ of the Nescopeck Creek. "But they're mittee that "wti[ establish [aquatic life] threatened by the proposed a line of communication development." between the department "I am frustrated because I have always and the people interested felt we had an opportunity to do some­ in the park." The first thing different in developing a state park meeting was held last fall. around the ecologically intact part of If there is one other les­ Nescopeck Creek," Bonomo wrote in a son to be learned from recent letter to Oliver. "But what is be­ watching a group of citi­ ing proposed there is uninspired." zens who have cemented DCNR's Edwin Deaton agrees with the a committed position, it's sportsmen's observations about the that state agencies do con­ wealth of the natural experience in the sider all viewpoints when Nescopeck. "Everyone admits it's a spe­ making sometimes tough cial place, that it's different from all the decisions. "I've told the other parks around," says the head of many people I've worked the Bureau's Planning Section. But he with on the Nescopeck argues that the overnight accommoda­ that if we lose, it won't be for lack of try­ tions are needed to allow users of the ing," said Bonomo. "They've fought WHAT ABOUT proposed environmental education cen­ fiercely, and it's affirming to know that THE FISHING? ter to stay for more than a single day. we're still able to move opinion." Fishing is one of the most popular Part of the scheme is to provide dif­ What may help the process is that state activities at Nescopeck State Park, ferent venues for environmental educa­ officials respect the strong efforts of the and the Fish & Boat Commission has tion and interpretation. "Lake Frances conservation community, and as maintained an active interest in the is one venue; the Middle Day Use Area Bonomo said, "We give tremendous future of this park. Commission staff is where one can have access to Nescopeck credit to Secretary Oliver and Senator members attend meetings of the Creek, and access to trails at the south Musto for creating the committee to advisory committee and provide side of the creek; and the Lower Day Use allow local voices to be heard." information to DCNR on matters is immediately adjacent to glacial depos­ Schutz offered his own brand of phi­ related to fish and fishing. The its. We're offering a blend of educational losophy for why he's worked hard for Commission will continue to monitor opportunities." what he thinks is protection of the valley's changes carefully in angling pressure, Deaton notes that the arguments biological integrity. "Compromise is the fish populations and habitat so that among the citizens who want to main­ balm of politics. We're willing to give, we can make changes in fisheries tain the relative pristine setting may not and I think we'll get what we want." management and stocking strate­ be as divergent from the state's proposal He's hopeful, and attributes it to the gies for the stream and the lake. The as they first seem. "My perception is that thoughts of an historic Pennsylvanian. Commission will provide formal input the difference of opinion revolves around "I like what Ben Franklin said: 'The price in reviewing permits for proposed the size of things. What they envision of liberty is eternal vigilance.'" he says. development and will continue to as sufficient is somewhat different from "We're getting their attention." Any provide more informal input at the what we envision. I believe we're all sportsman should do no less, he thinks. request of DCNR and other state headed down the same road," he says. officials. Maybe, but in the state's mind, that o

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories last A Lifetime For a couple of years now, I've been conducting a little experiment regarding winter water temperature. As part of the inquiry, I wanted to see how much the mercury actually climbed in a frigid stream during the "heat of day." I started this research because I be- lieved-since it is common fishing lore- diat the temperature of a stream increases as the sun warms the water. After all, this ambient warming supposedly turns trout on to make them feed on a cold January afternoon, and dien makes diem go to bed early as the water cools with the setting sun. Misconception It's a nice theory. The trouble is, it's not based on facts. True, trout fishing in the middle of winter is usually best during midday. After Santa parks his sled back at the North Pole, I don't even think about hitting the water until at least 10 in the morning, or later. I definitely want to be on the creek at noon. I've tried to catch trout around sunset during the frozen months and I have had little suc­ cess. But on a sunny winter day, I can do pretty well between 11 and 2. In late spring and summer, I take a stream-side siesta during those hours. However contrary to the fishing fable, I've learned tliat this midday achievement does not occur because of an increase in water temperature. Instead, I now realize that where I search for trout, that is, in a sun-lit section of a stream, is the determining factor in my winter success, or lack of success. The evidence I came to the theory of winter location by studying and fishing my favorite wild trout streams in the southeast part of the state and also a number of popular streams in the central part of the state. In one test on a January day I took water temperature readings on a south­ eastern stream in two locations and at four different times. The first site was Wintertime stream trout fishing success depends not so much on water temperature a three-foot-deep pool below a wide, but on the sun's radiant energy warming the fish. shallow riffle. The entire run was cano­ pied by tall, heavy growth so that even

Fishtog <£r Boating Memories List A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 13 in winter the vegetation still presented perature, not the air temperature, having a moderate cover. Also, one side of the wanned sufficiently-it suddenly ran off. bank was bordered by a steep, rocky slope The same thing happens to a trout that never seemed to enjoy the direct rays in a sunny location. of the sun. In other words, during the Trout are cold-blooded, ectothermic orb's brief track across the winter sky, creatures, and their internal temperature this entire area received little light. fluctuates because it is influenced by the The second spot was a hundred yards TR©UT temperature of their environment. The upstream. It too was a pool internal temperature of en- about three feet deep. Be­ dothermic creatures, or tween a shallow riffle and warm-blooded animals, is the slower water was a nice a constant and relatively in­ run with a very fishable gut, dependent of its surround­ just like the first location. ings. Hypothermia and However, a change in bank heat stroke are two impor­ structure and sparse vegeta­ tant exceptions. tive cover allowed this area When it comes to water to receive full and direct temperature below 45 de­ sunlight. grees, trout become pretty I took temperature read­ lethargic. This decreased ings at the two locations at activity is a direct effect of 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 stream temperature on their p.m., discounting, of course, bodies. For the majority of the short time it took me to winter days, a limestone walk back and forth from stream will run between 33 one spot to the other. and 38 degrees, well below The water temperature at a trout's ideal range. But both locations at all times trout swimming in the sun measured a frigid 34 degrees. on a winter's day will expe­ The temperature did not in­ rience an increase in body crease one iota during the temperature and, corre­ four readings, or at least an spondingly, an increase in iota my thermometer could activity. register. Its rising temperature influences such Yet, between noon and 3 p.m., I caught sculpins, which are nocturnal during internal functions as the rate of secre­ four wild brown trout in the sun-clear area the summer months and a major food tion, the activity of digestive enzymes, and at another similar site. I didn't have source for trout, deviate to a diurnal the absorption rate of digested food and a single hit in the shade-covered waters, mode in mid-winter. the muscular activity of the digestive and in two other spots just like it. Large brown trout are known to wait tract. In other words, the trout, like the Clearly, a change in water tempera­ until dark before feeding in summer, but lizard, is getting a nice glow from the sun. ture had nothing to do with the trout's I have caught some of my largest browns reaction to my fly-there was no tempera­ in winter under a bright sun. Confirming the theory ture change. Instead, the trout were If trout are active in the daytime be­ But enough of biology. active in the sun-lit areas because their tween December and February and less cold-blooded bodies felt warmer. Their so in the warmer months, then clearly What does this mean to metabolism increased and they went on their winter lives are being governed by the fisherman? the feed. a need to feel the effects of light in a cold Traditionally, anglers have been taught For the record, I am not trying to environment. that they must fish the deepest pools in debunk the affects of rising and falling Some years back, I watched a fence liz­ winter to catch trout. On one of my water temperatures on trout activity-or ard crawl out of its night time hole and favorite southeastern streams, Bushkill on any species offish. I live and die by stiffly move to the top of a post. It was a Creek in Northampton County, I see fly the thermometer. But I believe we have cool day and the air temperature did not fishermen standing up to their chest been misinterpreting some of this infor­ rise above 50 degrees until well after noon. hairs each winter in one popular pool. mation when it comes to winter fishing. Between the time I first spotted the They methodically work nymphs up­ reptile and when it finally scampered stream on a short line, just as they have Weird science away, about a half-hour later, the sun had been told to do over and over again. I In general, light sensitivity plays a struck the fence post like a spotlight at have watched some of them for hours major role in governing the time of day a beauty pageant. and their catch rates can be described or night in which fish are active. In a As the light intensified, the creature as low, at best. = few cases, members of the piscatorial began stretching to its morning exercise Then there are those anglers who walk | clan may shift from a day-active to a program, and when it felt invigorated by upstream from the pool and fish the edge | night-active lifestyle. For instance, the radiant energy of the sun-its body tem­ of a moderate riffle that is only about *

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime knee-deep or thigh-high. Now everyone knows there are no fish in fast riffles dur­ ing the winter, but these few fishermen usually manage to catch a couple of trout on some of the coldest days. Upstream, a litde farther from this "hot spot," is another moderate riffle. It too is about three feet deep in the center gut, but on the slow current side it doesn't have quite the same sand bar as the first riffle. It also has a steep slope on the southeast bank with a jungle of wide sycamore trees growing on both sides of the stream. The first riffle has flatter banks and the bushes are sparse and empty in winter. Even though I and others have managed to take a few trout from this second riffle, it is not our preferred spot. Instead, we get more action by standing in the glow of the sun and fishing to trout that are feeding on the edge of the riffle in shal­ low water. These trout are also basking in the winter sun. Having some healthy self-doubt about this sun thing, I went out to Spring Creek in Centre County with an angler who has been fishing that stream for years. This angler is a terrific night fisherman who has taught me plenty about catching big browns in central Pennsylvania under the glow of a summer moon. But he has little experience with winter fishing and is only on his first set of 5mm neoprenes. Before we left on our trip, I made a pact with him. In exchange for dinner and gas money, he could fish only in areas of the stream where I told him to fish and only when I told him. After leaving in the middle of the night we arrived at Spring Creek about 8:30 in the morning and I promptly crawled into the back of the truck and went to I then pulled us out of that part of the had fished earlier, we connected with four sleep. I directed him to the area above creek and we drove downstream to where trout apiece. We fished slowly and the "new bridge"-a spot that anyone who the trees are as thick as the Enchanted methodically until about 4 p.m., when fishes this creek knows well. In winter Forest. Even though the sun was prac­ we realized we had not had a bite or seen conditions, the stream is no more than tically overhead, very litde light was strik­ a trout in the last 30 minutes. All Joe three feet deep in the riffles preceding ing the water. We fished through a said on the long drive back was, "I think the bridge. One bank is nearly level with couple of dark holes where Joe catches there might be something to this sun the water while a road with a few homes some beautiful fish in the spring and thing of yours." and a small rising hill parallels the other summer, but he had just one hit. I got In other excursions to his favorite bank. I set "Joe" to work in this area and nothing. waters last winter, my partner paid at­ said I'd wake up about 10 o'clock. By It was about quarter to 2 when we tention to the presence, or lack of, sun IQJ Joe had only one strike. got back to the riffles and pools above on the water and said he had correspond­ We then ate brunch and went back to the new bridge. The air temperature ing results. the same section of stream about 11 was 37 degrees, and the water tempera­ o'clock. By this time the sun was on the ture was 5 degrees Celsius, not one Practical terms water and we could see a small cloud of degree higher than when we had left When searching for winter trout I no midges hovering beneath a large sycamore. it earlier that day. We were cold but longer spend time in deep pools. For J°e nymphed and caught three nice the sun was on the water and we re­ years I never had much luck in these browns within an hour, fused a sculpin sumed our fishing. places, so why bother? Besides, I don't miitation and caught two browns, and This time, we both had hot hands. like to be chest-deep in cold water no missed two others. Working through the same section we matter how thick my waders.

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 15 Fishmg & Boating Memories last A Lifetime MORE RADIANTr

I now begin my hunt for winter trout Young's Golden Pheasant Tail Nymph, in sunny, shallow locations. The basic or an Olive Damsel Fly Nymph is a better criteria is that a section of a stream winter choice. should get as much light as possible But if I had only one type of fly to during a winter's day and it must receive use in winter, it would be some form the midday sun with little interference of a streamer or a sculpin pattern. Cold water slows a trout's metabo­ from surrounding hills and vegetation. Sculpins are active on sunny winter days lism. Trout become more active At the same time I realize that not all and trout are willing to take a swipe at when they move to places where the sunny locations are equal. Those areas one, knowing it's a worthy meal. In ad­ sun warms their bodies. that are very shallow, such as thin riffles dition, the mild brown colors of most and pools less than 12 inches deep, are sculpin patterns are a nice natural mix not on my list of preferred spots. But and don't frighten wild fish in low water. if the riffles are between one and three Always try to match the shade of your feet deep, and particularly if there are sculpin pattern to the stream substrate, a few depressions in the riffles, these are but make sure it has a tinge of red at the zones I target for my winter fishing. the gills. Another key location is a shallow, Another good choice is the Heavy sunny eddy containing large rocks. Here Metal Minnow, size 12, in either silver I fish the rocky area, particularly the or gold. This simple creation is a Woolly pockets behind the structure and the Bugger with a light-gray marabou tail, edge of the riffles along the rock line. silver metallic tinsel chenille and a dun Trout still want some form of cover, and or grizzly palmered hackle for the sil­ the rocks offer good protection while ver version. The gold pattern uses an still permitting them to bask in the sun. olive marabou tail, gold metallic che­ Finally, I fish flats and tailouts that are nille and grizzly hackle. Use red and at least two feet deep, but not much pearl Krystal Flash in the tail and try deeper than four feet. If the tailout is a red thread head. I turn to the Heavy thin and wide and the subsequent riffles Metal Minnow when die stream doesn't Trout and other fish, insects, also less than a foot deep, I don't bother contain many sculpins. reptiles and amphibians move to, with this location on a bright day. As for presentations in winter's low and actively seek, places where the If I want to fish dry midges instead water, I prefer the long-line down-and- water may be warmer. of nymphs, the flats are the first loca­ across method. As the fly makes its tions I seek. Sometimes I've seen where swing through the current, I concen­ Trout blood contains special a flat may be in the sun but the trout trate on the end of the fly line where chemicals, salts and other fluids taking the dries is in a patch of shade. it meets the permanent butt. At the first that keep the fish's blood from Chalk this up to not wanting to feed sign of a pause in the drift, I strike. freezing, just as antifreeze while looking up at a bright light. Winter fishing may not be as produc­ prevents a car's radiator water tive as fishing a mayfly or caddis hatch. fromfreezing. What's for dinner? For one thing, a stream filled with melt­ When a trout is working in a sunny ing snow rarely produces, no matter how winter location, it is almost invariably bright the sun. But fishing for trout feeding on minnows or nymphs. But in the middle of winter gets me out of the classic insistence of a large, black the house and gives me a chance to work nymph for winter fishing is not always on strange theories, like these. the best advice. For years I fished varia­ As for the trout you may have caught tions of stonefly nymphs almost exclu­ while a blizzard was raging around you, sively. Lately, however, I've found that I have no explanation at all for that. But a smaller, lighter-colored nymph such give me time. ,—, as a Bead Head Pheasant Tail, Walt

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Sugar Creek, Venango County, a stocked trout stream Five point five inches, they said. That's how much compared to what had happened elsewhere in the region. rain fell in northwestern Pennsylvania in a 24-hour period The local radio station said that many county roads this past July. Actually, all the rain fell between midnight were out and bridges were washed away. The trout creek and daybreak, because I woke through the night to the sound below the house, usually less than a dozen yards wide, of the downpour pummeling the roof. By dawn it was done. had swelled to an angry, brown river, hundreds of yards The next morning, the visitors at my home and I sur­ across. For my guests, fishing was out of the question. veyed the ruin of the dirt road in front of the house. Half My out-of-state friends surveyed in awe what the day before of it, soil and gravel, was washed away, leaving a six-inch had been a summer-low stream and said, "Do you always drop from the still-usable side. That was minor damage have rains like this out here?"

Wig & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 1/ Summer storms, spring break-up, and fishermen's tales of bankers, too shy, too then there are hurricanes. A week be­ smart, too nocturnal, that couldn't be fore the bigjuly rain hit us here in north­ caught until they got careless, and greedy, western Pennsylvania, we sat dry as the when the rains came. eastern part of the state was drenched But what if those replenishing rains by a hurricane that had moved up the don't quit? What happens when that coast. For an inland state, Pennsylva­ "little off-color, little bit high" passes the nia gets regular hurricane rains. Many point of sanity, when the stream suc­ remember the infamous "Agnes" and cumbs to the madness of flood? No, gully-washers of that magnitude "Eloise" storms of the early 1970s, with Flood brings with it two problems: come rarely, but serious thunderstorms Wilkes-Barre underwater, parts of Route mud (silt) and velocity/volume. These do arrive often. Not every rain means 80 closed, and mountain-county stream- are conditional evils and there is a ben­ the creeks will rise, but an intense, short beds gouged and ripped 10 feet above eficial side to both flow speed and in- storm or a prolonged deluge, especially normal level. Hurricanes bring wind, too, wash. But for fish, mud and large when the ground is already saturated or adding trees and debris to the water flow, amounts of fast water mostly mean is baked cement-hard from summer which becomes battering rams against trouble. drought, will cause the streams to come banks, knocking them loose and add­ How much trouble? When you see up and go brown. ing more mud. your favorite trout stream become a Flood and mud can happen any time monstrous, muddy version of its normal of year, not just during the thunder What happens to the fish? self, should you give the sport up for golf? weather of summer. Spring thaw is tra­ But what about the fish? If you are Have all the fish washed away to the Gulf ditionally flood time, when early rains not caught up, literally, in the flood, your of Mexico, or at least to the next county? combine with above-freezing tempera­ concern as an angler might be, "What's Although fish do move, by choice and tures and melting ice and snow to over­ happened to the fish?" Obviously fishing by accident, caught up in the flood, the load streams. Last January, during the is postponed until the creeks return to apparent extreme velocity of the flood statewide "Flood of'96," a friend had ice their banks and clear up a bit. But will doesn't mean all the fish have been sent chunks three feet thick and Cadillac-sized the fish still be there? down the river. in his front yard, plus water in his base­ An old-time fisherman's adage is to A natural stream is not a featureless ment. Ice floes, riding and tumbling in "fish on rising water" or when the water's sluice. But there are places in Pennsyl­ the high water, had jammed on the turn "a bit off-color." There is good sense to vania, especially in towns, where streams in the creek behind his home. The re­ this. As the rains wash the land and what have been relegated to concrete ditches. sulting dam caught ice and debris and grows on it, they pick up extra booty. It's easy, looking at a creek raging backed up the stream flow. His damage Insects and other invertebrates flush into through one of these cement troughs, was slight compared with media reports the stream, adding a slug of food. Preda­ to believe that all fish and aquatic life, of flooding downstream, as gathering tory fishbecom e active on the rising flow, like minnows, crayfish or caddis flies, waters put the Allegheny and Susque­ feasting on what washes in and on the that were in the manmade section were hanna well above flood stage, making bait fish that are also frantically feeding scoured out by the flood. Even in the the state capital virtually "at sea." on the added chow. There are many concrete spillway there are rough and uneven, chipped or protruding places on the walls and bottom, creating minia­ ture pockets of slower water, if not ac­ tually calm eddies in which something small can ride out the flood. Then consider what happens in a stream that flows naturally, with a full complement of riffles and runs and holes. Its bottom and banks are stud­ ded by rocks, boulders, cliffs or ledges; it has deep pockets and pools; and its course is rerouted again and again by winding turns, making stretches of slacker water. Sunken trees, root sys­ tems and undercut banks also add char­ acter, and as fishermen know, places that hold fish. Unless these features are ripped up and washed away by the flood, they continue to provide sanctuary for fish and other water life, even when there is a lot more water flow in the stream. Streambank collapsed after high water. Cherrytree Run, Venango County

18 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime nt^i

Red linn, Elk County. This kind of small stream can be damaged by road siltation.

Flood! Bends help form pools and riffles as the to the overall health of stream life the Without the side confinement of ar­ stream digs out and deposits, slows and heavy water is a plus. tificial walls and dikes, the volume of speeds up. These add to the attractive­ A streambed scouring may destroy floodwater in a stream is only going to ness of the stream to fish and aquatic some invertebrate life, or loosen and reach the top of the bank. Low spots in life by creating a variety of habitats, and flush it downstream, but it can also make the creek sides up and down its course make it pause in its haste to the sea. At conditions better for those creatures that allow the water to spill out onto the the turns the creek, big with runoff, eat had a better grip, through its silt-sweep­ surrounding land, the stream's flood away its banks, removing mud, gravel ing ability. Case caddis fly larvae, with plain, dissipating volume and energy. and rocks, and dropping them again their tubes cemented to rock, stay put The story of the floods of the Nile fer­ elsewhere. unless actually scraped off. Flattened tilizing Egypt each year is reenacted Floodwaters can mobilize pebbles, stonefly and mayfly nymphs can cling wherever streams overflow onto adjacent rocks, even boulders, according to the to stones in fast water—they're built for ground. The waters slow and drop their flow's volume and velocity, but they also it. When the current's rushing by too load of silt and soil. work to flush out spots in the stream that fast the nymphs can scurry to the down­ Fish may occasionally follow or be were silted by previous run-off. This stream side or find slacker water behind washed into these calm water areas, flushing can gouge holes and runs some bulge on the stone. which are, in reality, out of the stream deeper, clean out riffles, and improve the bed altogether. They might be swimming spawning habitat for many types of Settling silt through forests, fields, maybe even fishes, as well as stream insects and other When water loses speed, it loses its someone's backyard. If it floods at the invertebrates. ability to carry silt and drops the load, n ght time, you might even see carp Trout are just one of the fishes that gravity taking over. Where silt falls it spawning in a cornfield. requires clean gravel, with empty spaces can not only degrade or destroy spawning If the fish don't find their way back between the particles, for spawning. sites, but can suffocate insects and other to the creek bed with the receding wa­ Shiners, darters, dace, sculpins, redhorse invertebrates, fish eggs and even the fish ters, and become landlocked, raccoons, suckers, chubs and others also need the themselves, if the mud load is severe minks and other predators get a bo­ room between the rock pieces to hold enough. A heavy coating of silt, at the nus meal. and protect their eggs and young. Not wrong time, can prevent young fish from Rivers and creeks are constantly work- only can the developing fish hide there emerging into the stream from their lng to take the shortest path in respect from predators, but water, with life- gravel nest. A slug of silt may not com­ to gravity. That is, they "want" to fall giving food and oxygen, can circulate pletely eliminate that year's spawning, as quickly as possible. A creek hitting through the rubble. If mud and flood that "year class" offish, but it can reduce the bank at an outside bend is going to don't occur in prime nesting time for the it dramatically. Enough mud years and w«rk at cutting out that bend com­ fish, if instead the high water washes away overall fish populations can suffer. pletely, making the route a straight line. accumulated silt before the fish spawn, When flood-carried silt settles out, it's

hmg & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater often "out of mind" to the angler. It's other aquatic life have persisted, even especially dirt roads, and you have mud no longer seen, unless the fisherman developed into the forms they are today, along with flood. notices a mud bar buildup or a pool that's through the high and low extremes of Dirt roads are especially insidious. become shallow and mucky. Mud is most their water world. There have been and When we travel to the "pristine" Big obvious when it makes a normally glass- always will be hurricanes, heavy rains at Woods counties to fish, dirt roads seem clear stream look like cof­ part of the rural charm ... fee and cream. The flow until it rains. Pennsylvania may take days to slow has over 23,000 miles of dirt enough for the mud to drop and gravel roads and al­ out, so what do the fish do though not all of these run in the meantime? along streams, even mud Some types of fish are mobilized on a mountain- more susceptible than oth­ top has to go somewhere. ers to the effects of sus­ On improperly maintained pended particles in the roads, the road itself can be­ water. Fish constantly fil­ come the drainage conduit, ter water through their gills, washing itself into the absorbing the dissolved oxy­ stream. Or the dirt-bot­ gen, so silt in the flow con­ tomed drainage ditch tacts their delicate breathing alongside the road can structures. The particulates flush too directly into the can interfere with respira­ stream. A back-country dirt tion and are abrasive to the road may make getting to gill filaments. Silt can ad­ the stream easier, but when here to the mucous cover­ it rains your pathway to ing of the gills, which can fishing puts mud into a become inflamed. Breath­ creek that's not meant to ing can be severely affected, get it. The road you take to especially in sensitive fish trout fishing may even be like trout. Trout can also die destroying that fishing. from exhaustion trying to Some steps are being avoid the onslaught of silt, taken to correct that, prima­ and in doing so expose rily through education and themselves to predators. demonstration of better Silt also carries bacteria. road maintenance and If what was detected in drainage techniques (not Pennsylvania Fish and Boat high-walling banks or di­ Commission hatcheries, that hatchery ice-out, and mid-summer thunderstorms verting ditches directly into streams), the trout raised in turbid water had more that drop buckets overnight. But has use of harder, less erodible road surfacing bacterial gill infections than trout raised there always been this much mud? (like limestone or recycled synthetics) and in clear water, is true for the wild, then Silt in streams is largely correctable, the pursuit of funding for it all (possible mud can literally make fish sick. because it's mostly the result of what legislation). Because Potter County has Muddy water is difficult, if not impos­ people do on the land. True, an extreme so many dirt roads and, with its many sible, to see in, and gamefish, like trout, storm and a riverbank geology that in­ wild trout streams, is a mecca for fish­ that rely primarily on sight to feed are cludes loose silts and gravels have prob­ ermen from all over the state, the deg­ handicapped. With their innate require­ ably always sent some mud downstream. radation from road mud was especially ment of cold, clear, clean water, trout are But a stable rock streambed, with veg­ noticeable to concerned anglers. Penn­ at or near the top of the scale of suffer­ etation-stabilized banks, within a for­ sylvania Trout, the state council of Trout ing from stream-born silt. Catfish and ested watershed, produces very little Unlimited, a national coldwater and trout carp are on the lower end. Carp are an discoloration at high water. If you doubt conservation organization, has been extremely resilient species, tolerating that, visit one of the wooded headwaters involved since the early 1990s trying to almost anything Mother Nature or still in existence in the state today— lessen road sediment in trout streams. people throw at them. Like the catfish, though diminishing in numbers—where In cooperation with the Dirt and Gravel they have sensitive barbels around the the leaf strewn forest floor's intact, the Roads Task Force, the trout group sur­ mouth that help them find their way and streamsides are mossy and there are no veyed 66 counties, identifying the source let them taste as they go. Through their nearby dirt roads. The run-off of heavy of the sediment going into the streams— lateral lines, fish also sense water cur­ rain can be clear. whether it's the road, banks or adjacent rents and the movement of other fish, land use—and finding out which spots so eyesight isn't everything. Mud along with flood in the state are the worst and should have We can't stop the rains from falling, But add manmade disturbance, highest priority for correction. even if they do so at inopportune times cleared or cultivated land, eroding high­ By volume, sediment is the greatest and in inordinate amounts. Fish and way cuts, unreclaimed timber trails, and source of pollution in Pennsylvania. And

20 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime stream siltation is a prime pollutant of the Chesapeake Bay, according to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, a group trying to protect and improve that es­ tuary. The Susquehanna River and its tributaries drain almost half of Pennsyl­ vania, carrying whatever washes in, and ultimately entering the Chesapeake. One way to reduce the amount of silt going into the water, says a Chesapeake Bay Foundation panel, is to reserve forested buffers along streams and greenway corridors, separating open land and erodible fields from the waterway. Woods, and to a lesser extent, a grassy area or low-vegetation buffer, filter and hold the sediments before they get to the stream. The Foundation is working on refining the idea, including offering incentives to landowners, since most of the watershed is privately owned. Better timbering, oil and gas, and coal mining practices can, and are, helping to lessen the mud load of runoff from these operations. It just takes industry cooperation, education and compliance with environmental regulations. Retire­ This NASA satellite view shows Hurricane Fran, centered in Virginia, pouring ment and reseeding of logging trails and copious amounts of rain on Pennsylvania. For an inland state, Pennsylva­ landings, and grading and reseeding after nia gets regular hurricane rains. Many remember the infamous "Agnes" oil and gas well drilling are especially and "Eloise" storms of the early 1970s, with Wilkes-Barre underwater, parts cntical when these businesses are work­ of Route 80 closed, and mountain county streambeds gouged and ripped ing in fragile upstream locales-wild trout 10 feet above normal level. Hurricanes bring wind, too, adding trees and country. debris to die water flow, which becomes battering rams against banks, knocking them loose and adding more mud. Role of wetlands To reduce the damage of flooding, wetlands should be preserved. How can a swamp help a stream? By receiving and Cattle and other livestock wear down landowner upstream of my ground be­ holding back water that overflowed from the edges of streams and trample and kill gan clearing his stream edge, to extend or would otherwise have reached the the bank vegetation. This enables the his manicured lawn right down to where creek too quickly. Wetlands are nature s creek to wash away its own banks, be­ the fish live. I told him that it was the catch basins. From wetlands, water that coming wider, flatter, shallower and less brush and trees that were preserving his is caught and stored is released to the likely to hold fish, as well as adding a land, acting as a cushion when floods stream slowly, after the flood is over, shot of silt downstream with storms. hurtled ice chunks and logs at it. Veg­ helping to maintain creek flows during There is assistance in information, etation was holding the banks in place, dry periods. Even part-time, seasonal manpower, materials and funding to help but by removing it, as he was doing, his wetlands are valuable, these low-lying farmers fence their livestock out of ground would probably soon be mine. areas gathering creek overspill after streams, while still providing a watering He let the creek edge regrow. storms or winter melt, but drying out source. Although the U.S. Fish and Waters will rise and fall, creeks will most of the year. Wildlife Service's "Partners for Wildlife" change their course, fish numbers will Where river banks have eroded, there and the Game Commission are the agen­ wax and wane with what happens in their Js help available. From here in cies coordinating stream bank fencing home. We can make floods easier on the Pennsylvania's northwest, with its French statewide, you can begin by contacting fish and the stream, less violent and Creek Project, to the southeast, with its your county conservation district, listed muddy, by manipulative techniques, like pequea-Mill Creek Project, various gov­ under county government, to get in touch fencing cattle out and doing a better job ernment agencies and sportsmen and with the effort. on dirt roads, and by keeping hands off, conservation groups are working with If you're not a farmer, but own, as I not filling in wetlands and letting the landowners to stabilize and replant do, land along a stream, you can help forest grow to the water's edge. streamsides. Other problems have been your own fishing by not diking (part of Rains will come, snows will melt, caused by incorrect agricultural practices, my land is in the flood plain and acts hurricanes will blow in and over and out "ke allowing livestock to walk all over as a seasonal wetland) and by keeping again. Eventually, the sun will shine and the stream in their pasture. the streambank wooded or brushy. The it'll be time to go fishing. f~h

mi * Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater evenings when other patterns fail. I usually carry Adams patterns in sizes 12 through 18. The smaller sizes copy the blue quills, so common from opening day through the end of the season. Light Cahill What dry fly fisher would be without a good supply of Light Cahills? I have // / Hod Only a fond memory for this pattern on Elk Creek in Lycoming County. I fished over my first hatch on that stream more than 30 years ago. At that time I didn't have Four Dry Flies the variety of patterns I had later. I carried a few Adams and Light Cahill patterns. by Charles R. Meek One evening about 7:00 p.m. at the sec­ tion where Hoagland Branch enters Elk For decades I carried a heavy on the Loyalsock just north of Wil- Creek, every trout in the pool began metal fly box with me on each fishing liamsport and you'll see nymphal shucks feeding. The mayfly that brought the trip. I loaded that box with 500 to 1,000 of these drakes lining the rocks along the trout to the surface looked like a light patterns, maybe 200 different ones, fear­ shore. Examine die banks and rocks along cahill, so I tied on one of only two size ful that I wouldn't have the correct fly the shore on Mill Creek, 20 miles north 14 Light Cahills I owned. with me when I needed it. Hatch or no of Mansfield, and you'll see evidence of hatch, I carried all those patterns with slate drakes that appear diroughout much me to the stream. On an average night of the summer. Just about every evening when no hatch appeared, I might try 10 from late May through July you can see different patterns. The more frustrated this species emerging on many other I became, the more patterns I used. All Pennsylvania streams. A second genera­ totaled throughout an entire season I'd tion of the same species reappears again pound the surface with maybe 100 dif­ in September and early October on many ferent patterns in maybe four or five sizes. Keystone trout streams. If you calculate More recently, I've limited that num­ the number of days that you'll find slate ber of patterns I carry to a more manage­ drakes appearing on any given stream, it able few. Why? George Harvey has often would be over 50 days of the fishing sea­ said that he could match many of the son. So if trout see this hatch that many hatches in Pennsylvania with four or five That evening-that incident—forever patterns. Which patterns do you need? made an indelible impression for die rest When you're matching hatches and you of my fly fishing career. Ten heavy trout prefer fishing dry flies on Commonweakh took my first pattern before it looked like streams, you should always carry with you a piece of thread tied on a hook. Five several sizes of Adams, Light Cahills, Quill additional trout took the second pattern Gordons and Blue-Winged Olive Duns. before die hatch ended and die trout quit Why do these particular four patterns surface feeding. That one incident was produce, especially when hatches appear? enough to make me a believer in a Light Let's look at the four and see why they Cahill pattern. I carry these patterns in work throughout the entire season. sizes 12 through 20. George Harvey often talks about the Adams time he saw a green drake hatch on a small The Adams is a top producer through­ days, don't you think a dark gray-bodied stream and he left the car without any of out the summer. From June through fly, very similar to the body of the slate these large patterns. George tied on a size August, if you prefer fishing on top, the drake, would produce? 12 Light Cahill that day and landed a 17- Adams will catch trout. I know many I'm convinced that one of the reasons inch streambred brown trout on die small fly fishers who use it almost exclusively. the Adams works so well during the stream he fly fished. So the pattern works There are reasons why an Adams works summer is because it closely resembles even when the drake appears. The Light so well. Look at one of the best hatches, the slate drake mayfly. Look at the Cahill matches so many of our common the slate drake, that you'll see on many Adams dry fly and the slate drake may­ mayflies of Pennsylvania. trout streams throughout the Common­ fly. You'll quickly note that both have Why does the Light Cahill produce wealth at that time of year. I've fly fished dark-gray bodies and cream to dark- consistently throughout the fishing on most of the good trout streams of the brown legs. season? It copies many of die light cahill s northcentral part of the state and I can't I've often used the Adams on those mayflies found on so many Common- | think of one of them that doesn't have summer trips. It has consistently pro­ wealth streams. You'll find mayflies | a good slate drake hatch. Look at the rocks duced for me on those early summer copied by the Light Cahill on streams i

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime from late May through early September. Look at Penns Creek, Big Fishing Creek, or the Little Juniata River and you'll see light cahill naturals emerging almost every month of the fishing season. Quill Gordon It first happened on Mehoopany Creek in northeastern Pennsylvania one early spring day. That afternoon of fly fish­ ing near Forkston still remains a vivid memory. I saw dozens of quill gordon naturals appear over some fast water and trout went on the first feeding frenzy of the season. I tied on a size 14 Quill Gordon and the action began. It ended two hours later with eight trout caught and released and again that many missed or lost. But the Quill Gordon works for much of the season. I remember the day I hit a gray drake hatch and spinner fall on Quill Gordon in sizes 12 through 20. The winged olives and trout took the pattern! Potato Creek near Smethport. The hatch smaller patterns copy some of the Baetis So whether you're fishing to a little occurred on the stream near the end of and blue quills found on trout streams blue-winged olive dun in April or Octo­ ber, or a larger-sized version through­ May and trout began feeding on the much of the season. I usually use a size out the year, make certain you carry spinners at 7:30 p.m. I rummaged 18 to copy blue quill hatches and a size 20 plenty of Blue-Winged Olives. Carry through my fly box and quickly grabbed for some of the little blue-winged olives. them in sizes 14 through 20 and you'll a size 14 Quill Gordon. A size 12 pat­ have yourself covered for most of the tern would more closely have matched Blue-Winged Olive Dun hatches found in Pennsylvania. the size of this large mayfly spinner. From almost the first day of the sea­ Trout began feeding on the spent spin­ son until the last, you'll encounter may­ ners in the long riffle in front of me. I flies with olive bodies on some of cast the Quill Gordon and they readily Pennsylvania's better streams. Fish Big took the pattern. After an hour of spin­ Fishing Creek in early April and you'll ner fishing the sky grew dark and the fall see little blue-winged olives appearing. ended-but not before the Quill Gordon Fish Spruce Creek in mid-May and you'll saved the day for me with the gray drake see little blue wings on the surface. Fish spinner fall. dozens of streams throughout the state like Pine Creek or the Delaware River in late May and you'll encounter a larger Quill Gordon It hatch, the blue-winged olive, copied by a size 14 pattern. Fish Penns Creek or MI i Spring Creek in mid-September and what hatch will you encounter? Of course, you'll probably witness a little blue- By now you're probably wondering winged olive hatch. K't'S what happened to some of our other I've met even more notable hatches and favorite patterns. When no hatch occurs fishing with the Blue-Winged Olive I usually use a Green Weenie, Bead Head T throughout the state. I'll never forget IteiH Pheasant Nymph or a Patriot dry fly. But that first episode with the blue-winged when a hatch appears, or I suspect that •pr olive on northeastern Pennsylvania's one has appeared recently, I depend first Bowman Creek. That happened in late on dry flies that copy many of our May a couple of miles below the specially So the Quill Gordon works in the hatches. regulated water. This time a larger blue- spring and midseason, but what about Don't you be without the Quill Gor­ winged olive appeared and I matched it later in the year? Along with the Adams, don, Adams, Blue-Winged Olive Dun, with a size 14 pattern. the Quill Gordon also matches the slate and Light Cahill. Remember, with vari­ drake that appears in June and again in Even into September the Blue-Winged ous sizes of all four you can be prepared September. I've used the pattern on Olive Dun produces trout. I fished the for many of the hatches you'll encoun­ Penns Creek when the fall generation of Labor Day weekend on Big Fishing Creek ter in the state throughout the entire slate drakes appeared and it proved to on a section of the stream two miles above season. J—u be the right choice. Mill Hall. One morning, shortly after Which sizes should you use? I tie the Labor Day, I fished over a hatch of blue-

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater nng & BoatingMemories Last A Lifetime 23 A ONE by CI iff Jacobson

For weeks you planned the float tandem canoe. If there's wind, or you have the thwart to the suggested height. The trip. The bass fishing should be excel­ to turn fast, you'll need the paddle leverage leading edge of the thwart should pitch lent. Then, hours before the event, your and neutral balance of being situated in downward about 30 degrees so it doesn't friend calls to say, "Sorry, I can't go." It's the middle of the canoe. jab your derriere when you kneel. You'll too late to find another partner-you'll A good procedure is to kneel just be­ want to contact cement closed-cell foam have to choose between staying home or hind the center thwart or carrying yoke. kneeling pads to the bottom of the ca­ going alone. If the canoe is too wide here for comfort, noe. Build up the pad thickness so that You inspect the aging 17-foot scoot sideways and place both knees close your rear is centered on the seat when you Grumman you'd planned to paddle. together in the bilge (you'll want a foam kneel. Your yoke must be removable so There's a long, twisting smallmouth kneeling cushion). The canoe will heel it won't interfere with your paddling stream to navigate, several nice rapids over smartly ai id sit firmly on its rounded position. and a 300-yard portage around a low- side. Your center of gravity is very low, Try this procedure on reasonably calm head dam. What if the wind blows up so don't worry-you won't tip over! This water if you don't want to modify your or you have to make fast turns around classic "Canadian position," as it's called, canoe: Turn around on the front seat and rocks? Can you do it alone? You wish provides acrobatic control on quiet water, paddle the canoe backward. The stern for a down-sized solo canoe-but, the but it's tough on knees, very tiring and is now your bow. If there's a thwart next Grumman is what you have and what precarious in rapids. And of course, to the bow seat, remove it so it won't you'll have to paddle. Are you up to the you'll have to do all your paddling on interfere with your position. Place packs, challenge? the same side. tackle and loose gear forward of the yoke Thousands of float-tripping canoeists to trim the canoe dead level. Pour a cup are faced wifh a similar dilemma. A brave When rapids rage of water into the canoe: It should pool minority go forth; die timid majority stay Rapids are prime spots for small- just below the center thwart. home. There's great satisfaction in pad­ mouths, so learning how to negotiate When the weather gets rough, shuffle dling your own canoe. You alone decide them is vital. Level trim is the rule for forward to the center thwart and kneel where to run rapids, when to stop for running rapids, which means you must just behind it. The thwart should barely lunch, whether to stay on shore or paddle pilot the canoe from its center. touch your chest. Move your gear back the rough stream. If you have a typical wide-beamed to re-trim the craft. Your center position Soloing perfects paddle skills and tandem canoe, try this: Remove the allows the weightless ends of the canoe builds self-confidence, and perfecting center thwart and install a narrow seat to teeter-totter confidendy with the waves. your skills helps you be a better angler. or wide kneeling thwart 18 inches behind This is an extremely stable position Let's review the rules for paddling your center and 10 to 12 inches off the floor. when the wind blows up. Bad weather own canoe. You may need long extender bolts to drop or long rapids may keep you on your knees for some time, so be sure you have Modify the boat padding. The strap-on pads that gar­ How you'11 carry your big canoe around deners wear are inexpensive and provide the low-head dam comes later. Right now, a good grip. the concern is getting the craft from the garage to your car. Man or woman han­ Paddles and such dling a 75-pound canoe alone is nearly • Paddles: You're both bow and stern impossible without the aid of a portage in a solo canoe, so you need equipment yoke. Every canoe shop has portage yokes, that's geared to the challenge. Generally, though few are very good. You'll save the beamier (wider) the paddling station, money and treat your body more kindly the longer the paddle you need to reach if you build your own yoke. the water. Ditto, as seat heights rise. Next, check out possible paddling Your solo paddle should be two to four positions. Canoes are best soloed from inches longer than your favorite tandem the center, or from a point slightly behind paddle to provide the leverage you need center. This rule is written in stone and to maneuver. You'll burn plenty of calo­ holds whether you are paddling a solo or ries whipping your canoe about alone,

24 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime -i ft -

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The magic of purebred solo canoes Tough day at the office? An hour's fishing after work on a local If you love fishing alone in a canoe, you'll want to experience pond may provide the rejuvenation you need to "continue on." the joy of a canoe that's built for the purpose of solo paddling. Solo canoes are the sports cars of the paddling world: tandem Solos are light, fast and easy to control, even in high winds. Modem canoes are sluggish 18-wheelers. solo cruising canoes average 14 to 15 feet and generally weigh But let's not get ahead of ourselves. It begins with going under 40 pounds. Once you learn to paddle them well, you'll alone in any canoe, for a few minutes or a few days. But the have no trouble keeping pace with your friends in their tandem magic is there from the start. The solo angling bug bites deep, and its venom lasts a lifetime. canoes. And you'll have much more fun on any watercourse. so avoid paddles that have wide banjo sponge is standard equipment for solo 3. Don't "ride with the flow" in a blades. A blade width of seven to eight anglers in canoes. strong tail wind. Keep paddling! If you inches conserves energy and provides don't maintain speed, the canoe may enough bite to make snappy turns. Paddle strokes broach in the waves and swamp. You can really blast across a lake if you Paddling a beamy (wide) canoe 4. Paddle on the lee (downwind) side use a double-bladed paddle in your ca­ straight without the help of a partner of the canoe. noe. However, the typical kayak paddle is an energetic pastime, even if you're 5. Learn to tack across wind. is too short. You'll need a length of well-practiced in the solo art. Of course, around nine feet. It's hard to find you can switch your paddle from side Safety concerns paddles this long-you may have to make to side as needed, but this is ugly and Capsizing on open water is your only your own. Simply cut off the aluminum inefficient. Switching sides "Minnesota real concern. Without a support crew, shafts on two identical plastic-bladed style" makes sense only if you are pad­ you have to swim your outfit to shore- paddles and install a locking sleeve. dling a very narrow canoe-or you are reason enough always to wear a life Some paddle makers offer break-down located in a narrow portion of a wide jacket. Be sure your canoe has enough double-blades, and they allow you to canoe. If the width of your paddling flotation so it won't sink. Flotation specify shaft length. A few provide snap- station measures more than 30 inches, foam adds about four pounds to a in grips that convert each half of a you're best advised to snug up to a rail canoe, so minimal amounts are often double-blade to a single blade. What and power along with a "C-stroke." used on high-performance boats. could be more wonderful? Equip your canoe with lines as sug­ • Safety lines: It's not easy towing a The wonders of wind gested, and secure gear to the canoe so swamped canoe ashore alone, without Solo angling canoeists, like sailors, it won't drift away if you capsize. Res­ a rope. So tie 10 to 15 feet of brightly are in tune with the wind. The rule for cuing a swamped canoe alone is hard colored polypropylene (it floats) rope to "level trim" prevails unless you are run­ enough; chasing after packs, tackle and each end of your canoe before you launch ning before or with a very strong wind. a camera bag is next to impossible. your craft. Don't wrap lines around These are the rules: Carry a knife in case you have to cut thwarts-they should be available when 1. Trim the canoe slightly bow down yourself free of a tangled rope. And you need them. Most paddlers coil and (two inches are enough) when running always bring a butane lighter (or wa­ stuff ropes under a loop of shock cord into the wind. It's better to move tackle terproof matches), whistle and first-aid on deck. Some creative types screw quick- and gear forward than the paddler. kit, even if you're out only for a few release clips or tiny metal clothespins You'll discover it's easier to balance a hours. to the gunwales and run each line to a canoe for solo angling if you divide your Getting water out of a swamped ca­ position where they can grab it easily. tackle and gear into two packs or noe isn't hard. However, climbing back ' Sponge: Whenever you change bundles. aboard in running waves is. In rough paddle sides, water drips into the canoe. 2. Trim the canoe slightly tail down water, you'll probably have to swim, so In no time you'll have a pond. A big when running down-wind. you'd best be prepared for it. r-^

Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 25 0 © 0. is the Ticket to Angling Success

by Darl Black

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H Jeff Snyder leaned against establish control of the craft, the ele­ Basic boat control methods include the bow pole seat of his bass boat as he ments take control of your fishing. drifting, anchoring, and of course, po­ glanced back and forth between two sitioning with the electric motor. Proper depthfinder screens. His right hand held The fishing boat positioning of the mobile casting plat­ a 7-foot medium/light-power casting rod. Back when my dad introduced me to form is a multifaceted adventure, and Over the port side about 50 feet of 8- fishing in the 1950s, there were few boats not easily mastered without practice. pound-test monofilament trailed from on the water. We fished from a 16-foot the rod tip. A 5-inch avocado Kalin Grub lapstrake wooden boat powered by a Tools of control on a 1/2-ounce football jighead danced 5 1/2-horsepower Johnson outboard, Depthfinders and boat positioning go enticingly on the end of the line. usually anchoring in lily pads to dabble hand in hand. Sure, visible cover can be A breeze moved the boat across the minnows for crappies or haphazardly fished without sonar, but move a few feet Lake Erie surface at a good clip. Every drifting the open water with Junebug from the shore and you need the under­ so often Snyder touched the foot but­ spinners for walleyes. water eyes of a depthfinder. ton on the trolling motor to move the Other times dad would go bass fish­ Even though the average angler may boat left or right along the drift path. ing with a friend in a smaller johnboat want the pretty picture display created By watching readings from different or canoe. Taking turns, one person by liquid crystal graphs, many seasoned transducers, one on the bow and one on fishermen prefer the old flasher-style the stern, Snyder was teetering along an depthfinder. Support for flashers re­ 18-foot breakline. The bow-mounted mains steadfast because die unit provides depthfinder (with transducer on the instantaneous information. The marks electric motor) was at his feet; the sec­ of a flasher show what is under the trans­ ond unit (with transducer on the tran­ ducer at that very instant—"real time som) was positioned on the boat's reading," it's called. console with its screen rotated so he A liquid crystal graph provides a slight could see it clearly from the bow. delay in the picture, which means what The view from two screens let him you see on the screen is already behind balance the craft at the exact depth where the boat. smallies were hugging the bottom. Drift Of course, for a little more money it's too shallow or too deep and the trailing possible to purchase LCD depthfinders grubs might as well miss the schooled with 3-D bottom views or side-scanning fish by a mile. capabilities. Whatever you choose, it is I've fished with many anglers, but I had important to use a depthfinder you can never seen anyone manage to keep a would cast lures to visible cover while understand. If you're unwilling to learn drifting boat positioned so precisely. the second angler rowed or paddled the how to read the lines of a flasher, don't Under a bluebird sky with smallmouth boat. All this, of course, occurred before put one on your boat. bass hitting less than enthusiastically, the days of electric motors and The electric trolling motor has revo­ we managed to put together an impres­ depthsounders. lutionized boat control. The term "troll­ sive catch, complete with photo proof. How fishing from a boat has ing motor" perhaps is a misnomer. When you see a photo of an angler changed! Today there are approxi­ Although it can be used for trolling, the landing or holding a nice fish, questions mately 300,000 boats registered in Penn­ chief purpose of the electric motor to­ come to mind. What kind of lure or bait sylvania. According to a Commission day is to position the boat for the best did the fish take? What time of day was survey a few years back, the most popu­ casting opportunity. Gone are the days it caught? How fast and how deep was lar fishing craft in the state is a 14- to of oar or paddle positioning. the lure retrieved? What kind of rod, reel 16-foot aluminum boat. Compared to Most anglers prefer to use a foot-con­ and line were used? And the list of ques­ the tub I fished from as a boy, modern trolled bow-mounted electric motor. tions goes on and on. boats are very maneuverable. Others remain loyal to a hand-controlled But in the quest for details of the catch, The recent trend is to slightly larger transom mount. Of course, a bow- one critical tidbit is usually overlooked. craft, particularly in the walleye and bass mounted motor may be of the hand- How did the angler control his or her boat market where more 18- to 20-footers controlled type, too. position to make the presentation to the are sold each year. With today's pow­ When using a bow-mounted electric, tish? If you are a bank fisherman or wader, erful 24- and 36-volt electric motors, a a second depthfinder positioned in the position may seem like a simple propo­ 20-foot craft is not difficult to maneu­ bow with a transducer on the shaft of sition. Your feet are planted firmly (or ver. Just keep in mind that in breezy the electric motor is strongly recom­ nearly so) on the shoreline or on the bot­ conditions the high freeboard on alu­ mended. The angler must work with tom of a streambed. Direction and speed minum V hulls increases maneuverability both the electric positioning motor and of movement is controlled by each step. problems compared to the low profile depthfinder to achieve accurate boat However, when angling from a boat, of a bass boat. The tradeoff, of course, positioning on structure. It is possible it s an entirely different story. A boat is is that the low-profile boat cannot handle to follow a shoreline, and sometimes a a floating platform at the mercy of wind, rough water as safely as a high-side fish­ visible deep weed edge, without a waves, wakes and current. Unless you ing boat. depthfinder, but as soon as fishing shifts

m g & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 27 decide how to use them. They may who depend solely on the electric posi­ be used to mark single deepwater tioning motor to hold at key spots, Snyder objects, or string several along a is not ashamed to use other boat control is the Ticket to Angling Success breakline so you can more easily methods. trace it with the electric motor. Markers "You can't fish isolated spots for Lake may also be used to identify the beginning Erie smallmouths like inland anglers do to deeper water, the sonar plays a criti­ and ending points of a desired drift, or for crappies or largemouths," said Snyder. cal role. the key area to cast once you drop an "On big waters, smallies are likely located An angler must learn to glance con­ anchor. at a particular depth on any given day. tinually at the depthfinder, make direc­ Although often overlooked in today's Smallmouth schools stage on structure tion adjustments with die electric motor, high-tech fishing, drifting is a legitimate along that depth. Setting up a controlled and cast—all at the same time. The elec­ presentation for open water species. Ei­ drift across a long structure makes a lot tric motor/depthfinder combination ther the electric motor or gas outboard more sense than trying to hold at one allows the angler to slowly track a can be used to help control the direction particular section of the breakline or flat." breakline or creek channel, circle a sub­ To achieve a sideways boat posi­ merged hump, or zigzag a tapering point. tion that lets several anglers trail It is also possible to hover in place over lines without tangling, Snyder shuts a couple of deep stumps, a pile of rocks, down the outboard motor and turns a sunken boat, bridge abutment, or any the prop into the wind. This keel other isolated cover that may attract fish. angle puts the boat broadside to the Anchoring is a precise approach to breeze. He then uses the bow elec­ boat control, but not considered a suit­ tric motor to slide left or right as able search method to find fish. With needed to track the depth. the development of stronger and more "If a strong breeze is pushing the reliable electric positioning motors, some boat too fast, I tie a drift sock to a anglers started leaving the anchor at front cleat to slow the boat's drift," home. Don't do that! An anchor still Snyder says. "If the lake is dead flat is a very important tool and safety item. or the breeze too light to move the There are many types of anchors on the boat fast enough, I use the electric market. The navy-style is probably the to troll grubs." most effective all-around anchor. A boat The same drifting tactics Snyder under 15 feet can get away with a 15- uses on Erie can easily be applied pound anchor; a boat 16 to 20 feet should to inland waters, not only for have a 20-pounder. And don't forget to smallmouths but for other species have enough rope to allow the anchor to like walleyes and crappies. Instead get a good bite into the bottom. of dragging curl-tail grubs, walleye For anchoring in depths up to 30 feet, anglers would do better with spin- the ratio of rope to water depth is a mini­ ner-and-worm rigs. On non-weedy mum 3:1. This means, depending on wave lakes in the summer, drifting small and wind conditions, it may take a length tubes or minnows over flats or along of rope three times the depth of the wa­ the river channel is a surefire technique ter at which you wish to anchor. In deeper and speed of a drift. However, an equally for crappies. water the ratio may be as high as 7:1. important tool for drifting is the drift sock. Not wanting to be pegged to one spot, Always keep the bow of an anchored The parachute-shaped nylon sock billows Snyder rarely drops an anchor for Lake boat into the wind or into the river cur­ out in the water, thereby increasing resis­ Erie smallmouths. Years of experience rent. After the first anchor is deployed, tance to a boat pushed along by surface have demonstrated that smallmouths are a second anchor may then be dropped also breezes. On a day too rough for effective usually spread over an "area" rather than from the bow if boat swinging interferes trolling motor use, a drift socks slows the at a single "spot." However, in other cir­ with your casting or bait presentation. boat to a satisfactory fishing speed. cumstances, anchoring is both practical Actually, boat swing can be useful in and effective. covering additional water when anchored. Putting it all together Anchoring is most effective when fish Don't drop an anchor, first or second, Choice of boat control methods de­ are holding tight to a deepwater structure, from the stern in a current. If the bow pends on the species sought, location of or when a school is moving into a defined anchor fails, you're left with a stern fish and the lake/weather conditions. area for a feeding spree. Of course, to anchor. In a current, this arrangement Occasionally it may be possible to stick anchor in the right spot requires knowl­ can swamp the boat. with a single approach all day long, but edge of the species movements coupled I consider the small buoy markers more likely it will be necessary to switch with past fishing experiences on a particu­ important tools of boat control. These control methods as the fishing situation lar water. Random anchoring, simply brightly colored floating markers attached changes. An angler capable of using all because you do not know what else to do, J to a cord and weight are used to identify aspects of boat control will be among produces only a random fish or two. •§ underwater spots for better positioning. the most successful. It's kind of like putting pins in a map. You Unlike many tournament bass anglers c I

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime wnnernixivw by Joel M.Vance (\ J

Once we sat in bis The church was hot. juiy and woods lore. His death had been heat. It was a palpable presence that made typical of him-a headlong plunge into boat at sunset when a sad occasion also uncomfortable. If you a new adventure. have to send off your oldest fishing buddy, He drowned in Birch Lake because he the west caught on at least it should be on a day when the never learned to swim. When they found air snaps and sparkles and the trout leave him he had a couple of loops of 25- fire and flamed the somber dark holes in Thirty-Three pound-test braided casting line around Creek to chase mayflies in the shallows. his arm and on the other end of the line with incredible A bank of thunderheads promised a was a 42-pound musky, the largest fish hard, cooling rain before long. There seen in the four-county lake area in at brilliance. would be a quick runoff through the least 20 years. They found a broken rod deep, fern-softened woods, pumping in the boat. Apparendy he'd been playing "Soak that up, both oxygen and food into the creeks. the big fish, the rod broke, he tried to The water would come up and trout save the catch and somehow fell out of son," he told me. would feed. the boat. That was Uncle Al-save the fish Uncle Al would have been watching and forget to save yourself. First things "It won't ever be those rainclouds. Sucking on a pipe and first. picking out which stream he was going I felt my throat lump, tried to fight just that way to fish. down the tears. "We all knew Al," the But Uncle Al was finally in the place minister said, searching for encomiums again." held studiously avoided for so many which were hard to come by because we years, the Methodist Church. Seventy- all did know Al. five years old and stout as an oak billet. "He was..." The minister paused and Full of beer and cantankerous opinion I was tempted to smile, for the minister

tng & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 2 9 was restrained from scratching his head The car air conditioner whispered and in frustration only by his training. "He ^eriwriberirig the tires slurped and smacked over the was a man of good intentions and a heat-softened roadbed. Without real­ friend to everyone." yet another cake or pie, so I put on an izing it, I'd driven to the Thirty Three That much certainly was true. I'd been old pair of jeans and a T-shirt and Creek crossing. There were no cars at Uncle Al's fishing buddy and he taught climbed into my big car-big, luxurious, the well-worn pulloff, and on impulse, me what wasn't in the books, taught me a quietly-humming status symbol. Soft I parked and got out. The air was heavy. how the lakes breathed and the woods and overblown. Like me. Tar stuck to my shoes as I walked across sang and the fields whispered and he did The car was as out of place in the rutted the highway and slid down the embank­ it without a lot of hokey enthusiasm. driveway of the old shingle-sided house ment to the fisherman's path that led Once we sat in his boat at sunset when as Uncle Al would have been bellied up into the shadowy woods. the west caught on fire and flamed with to the bar at the country club. He'd have "Don't even think about fishin' till you incredible brilliance. "Soak that up, son," grumbled, "Hey, these guys don't know get to where there ain't no gum wrap­ he told me. "It won't ever be just that dogfish from doughnuts. All they want pers," Uncle Al used to growl, pushing way again." to talk about is investments." through the alders with me tagging along Another time on a trip out of state he Pd drifted a long way from the jug- behind. "When you get to where you dragged me out of bed, none too gen­ eared kid I once was, who hung around can't see no path, that means there ain't tly, to see the northern lights. I stood with the knotty, gnarled little pine-knot been a lot of other dudes in there. That's shivering in the cold night air as the sky uncle with no teeth and bleared eyes that where you start fishin'." And he'd stash pulsed and flared. "Next time you get missed nothing. his (our) four beers in the creek, unlimber to thinkin' you own the world," he said, Uncle Al taught me to fish for brook an old fly rod with a set in it like the "you try to make this happen." trout. He stuck a pop bottle filled with trajectory of a low-velocity cannonball, I'd been back to Birch Lake only a little minnows in the hip pocket of his and fumble in his bait can for a night- couple of times since college. A demand­ overalls. His limpy jogtrot would keep crawler, or his Coke botde for a minnow. ing job, a couple of kids, a thumping the water aerated and he'd hike far back I took my time on the path, which was mortgage, paperwork at night, Saturdays on Thirty Three or Sucker or Weirgor slippery from the rain, feeling the wet at the country club. It left little time for Creek and drift minnows under the root from the grass soak through my pants. fishing. The business of life is business. wads and into the eddy pools. The brook I recognized a few landmarks, includ­ Who said that? Herbert Hoover? No, trout hit hard, fought right up to the ing a deep hole where I'd slipped one cold he was a fisherman. instant he cracked them over the head day and dunked clear to my ears. Uncle Maybe no one said it. Maybe I said with the heavy handle of his old pock- Al cussed me at first for being clumsy, it... I jerked my mind back. The minis­ etknife. The fish were rich, pink-meated, because it meant the end of the fishing ter was finishing the mercifully short and often we'd build a little fire on the trip before it even began. But when I ceremony. We should have had it down creek bank, spit them on a switch and started crying because I'd spoiled his fun, at the Bluegill Bar, on Uncle Al's home roast them, like marshmallows. Uncle Uncle Al growled, "Aw, heck, I fell in turf. We should have set up a few rounds Al always carried a little salt shaker for there, too. Hush up or I'll swat your ears for the lumberjacks and potato farmers the fish and he invariably stashed four off." And I knew he didn't mean it and who were Uncle Al's cronies, and then cans of beer in an icy spring hole. Three was sorry he'd been upset with me. we should have taken him out to some were for him, one was for me. The path became less distinct. I cut little trout stream, laid him on the cool across a bend and carelessly dragged my moss amid the sun-dappled wildflow- arm over a stinging nettle. The fiery itch ers and then gone away and left him. drove me back to the tumbling stream That's what we should have done. where I plunged the offended skin into the cold water and sighed with the re­ he cemetery rites were even more per­ lief it gave. T functory than those in the church. That's when I saw the boy, just up­ Sweat trickled down my back and the stream from what Uncle Al and I had thunder rumbled even louder. I walked called The Big Hole 20 years before. He away from the raw earth, feeling the first had his back to me, a blond kid maybe drops of the summer storm patter down. 12 years old. He was carefully drifting By the time we got back to the old home bait through the swirling, dark water, his place, rain was washing down in wind-' fly rod bent by age and poor workman­ thrown torrents, and the branches of the ship. The ratty reel was held on with what gnarled apple tree genuflected. Then the we used to call bicycle tape. storm was gone and weak sunshine Even as I watched, the line checked, flirted coyly with the last surly storrrfl then twitched against the current. In­ shadows. Finally the storm grumble^ stantly, the youngster set the hook and off to the east like a growly old dog. carefully played a nice brook trout for I didn't want to start the 500 miles a few moments. Then he deftly flipped home this late in the day, but I couldn't the squirming fish onto the grassy bank. face the smarmy pulse of neighbors stop­ He neatly killed it with the handle of ping by to pay their respects, bringing his old pocketknife and stuck the fish

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A lifetime good fish. I played him carefully, letting him rip line off the old fly reel, quickly taking up the slack when he darted to­ ward me. The line cut through the water with a tiny hiss, the only sound. Scuts of foam swirled slowly, but even the water tum­ bling into the pool was almost sound­ less. The fish was almost played out. It was a big brookie, perhaps the biggest I'd ever caught. It looked to be perhaps 15 inches long, its brilliant spotting clear and sharp. It rolled on its side, done in. I knelt, wet my hand, held the fish gendy while I worked the tiny hook loose. I supported it as it slowly regained strength, righted itself, finning weakly, gills working. The fish eased forward out of my cupped palm, paused just an instant, and then with a strong flip of its tail, was gone back into the tea-col­ ored depths of the pool. Even as I knelt in the silence, a red- bird called, from far away, as if it were the first bird of the day, in the hushed silence of dawn's beginning. Then it called again, more clearly, finally resolved itself as a bird calling from right over my in a wet cloth flour sack. I hadn't seen sat down on a rounded boulder and head. I shook myself, trying to clear the a cloth sack like that for years. Irubbed my face. It felt stiff with the cobwebs, wiped my hands on my pants, The boy turned toward me and I said, long trip, the strain and grief of the rose and said, "That was some fish..." But "Having any luck? I mean, I guess you funeral. the boy was gone. are. You just caught that one..." I paused, I took a deep breath, blew it out ex­ I looked quickly around the clearing. realizing I was babbling. "You caught plosively. "Don't ever grow up, kid," I He wasn't there. I laid the old rod down, me by surprise," I said. I'm running off said. "It's not all it's cracked up to be." trotted a few steps to the sharp bend at at the mouth. I walked over to him, on I flipped a pebble into the water. the head of the pool and peered upstream the springy, soggy moss-covered "You want to try to catch a fish, Mis­ into the lowering sun. For just an in­ streambank. ter?" The boy asked. I looked at him and stant, his form hazed by the sharp sun­ "I used to come here when I was about he held the rod toward me. I realized that light, I saw the boy... and beside him, a your age," I said. "A long time ago." The I very much did want to try. I pulled out shambling old man. boy said nothing. "What are you using my license and pinned it on my shirt. He They were indistinct, but as the old for bait?" I asked. handed me the Coke bottle and I sloshed man hobbled away, I knew him. Then He dragged a Coke bottle out of his a minnow loose, capturing it gently they were gone, melted into the shadows. hip pocket. There were several minnows between my thumb and forefinger. I "Hey!" I shouted. "Hey, wait up." A swimming around in it. I noticed it was hooked it under the dorsal fin, swung kid's expression I hadn't used for years. one of the old-style bottles, the kind I it out over the pool, let it drop and sink. There was no reply. Perhaps if I hur­ hadn't seen in years. A tiny splitshot carried it deep into the ried, I could catch up with them, give the "That's a neat trick," I said. "I used dark water. boy back his rod. And see who the old to do that, too." I forgot about the youngster. My at­ man was. I trotted back to where I'd laid "You fish much, Mister?" he asked. tention was focused on the line. I felt the rod down. It wasn't there. I thought on it. "No, not now," I said. the soft pressure of the water on the line Oh, sure, I looked halfheartedly for "A long time ago I did. That hole always with my left hand, the time-rubbed soft­ it. But I knew I wouldn't find it. Maybe had a lot of trout. I guess it still does." ness of the cork grip with my right hand. there are no endings, only continuations. And then I thought of something. I studied the pulsing meanders of the I looked around the clearing, watched "That's funny-I called it a hole. That's pool's currents, guided the minnow so the ceaseless, timeless pulse of the creek. what we called them when I was a kid, it would be carried under the overhang­ I studied the scene, the trees, the ferns, but I got to hanging around with guys ing bank where the brookies would be the trout lilies, the moss, the rippling who told me I was supposed to call it a sitting out the hot day. I felt the twitch dark water. run. We wouldn't have been very popular of a taking fish, and set the hook. It was "Thanks again, Uncle Al," I whispered. using worms and minnows and talking an old ritual, not played for many years, And then I started back up the trail, about fishing in a hole." and it felt good. on the long road to tomorrow. f~j The fish throbbed against the rod, a

Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater times of pleasure. If I had a close friend, you can be certain he or she fished and took the sport seriously. Vacations always involved water and a place to cast. It mattered little whether it was a still-water pond, a Class A trout stream or breaking surf. There was one requirement only-there had to be fish, or a least a good possibility offish. My collection of fly fishing gear grew and grew as did fly tying materials. Of course, as with most things, the more I practiced, the better I became. But love and passion may grow to obsession, and when and if with it reaches that point, then perhaps you, like me, are in danger of keeping it fun. Dave Wolf I have fished with those cat-like crea­ tures, bouncing across the water or up and down the stream. Matter of fact, I Keeping It Fun still turn into one on occasion. Fishing washes me into a sea of tension; of se­ It is just me and a boil, along the far bank. riousness best reserved for the problems My tippet is fine, my fly tied with preci­ of life, not the pleasures. Headaches and sion and the best materials. Despite the tight, sore muscles should not be, in my back eddy of flowing, circular waters, I opinion, the result of a day of fishing. have, over the years, learned to cast and I have complained loudly and explicitly is down, right after he takes a natural. mend line well enough to present the fly when I have missed a good fish, or when The timecome s and the cast unrolls. The properly. I feel my shoulders tighten as at the boat, the hook pulled free. I have current grasps my fly line, threatening the fish boils and sends rings that even­ left the waters angry when my day went to drag my fly to the fish. I flip the rod tually dissipate halfway across the pool. bad. "Bad" meaning I took no fish, or to mend line and the fly bobs naturally "Good fish, " I say aloud. "Darn good fewer than I thought I should have. with the current. The fly waffles and fish." My heart quickens and my hands I have indeed acted childish when a wavers into his feeding zone, and as the perspire. My vision is locked. Nothing steelhead went cascading over the boul­ fish snout appears a mink scrambles and no one in the world but a trout and ders and my leader parted. Strange, for along the bank. There had been a time me, with business to take care of. I no longer keep fish. that it would not have been a distraction. How I arrived at this place in time may I, too, know of a friend who decided Tunnel vision between that fish and me. or may not be important. But the ride to give tournament fishing a try. It was But I watch the mink for a split second, was not overnight. It has taken years on a small event, but he soon found that and in that instant the heavy brown rises end to reach this destination. First, diere the participants were downright serious and takes my fly. was a grandmother who loved to fish, fishermen. After hours of fishing my I lift the rod to set the hook and only and was capable of taking her fare share friend found mother nature calling and "jag" the fish. I smile as the waters quiet. on a regular basis-a woman who was asked his fishing partner to drop him He is too wise to rise again, and I salute always smiling, kind and fun-loving. It off at a facility along the shoreline. His him, as I do all those that get away-well was this woman who had led me to the partner became irate to die point at which almost, for I regress from time to time gentle flow of Penns Creek, where with he would not talk to my friend through­ as well. If my friends would have been her instruction I cast my first glob of out die remainder of die event. Myfriend there they would have laughed and nightcrawler with the help of a bamboo almost quit tournament fishing, but teased me about my reaction time slow­ pole. A forked stick is where I placed the decided on another partner instead. ing with age, and I would have laughed rod and then I sat and waited. Patience When recalling the event, he told me, as well. was perhaps the first thing that I was to "it just wasn't fun." But to his credit he It matters little to what degree of ex­ be taught. took control of the situation and made it pertise one has risen, or how many end­ After an eternity, the rod bounced three fun. As I believe, he believes that there are less hours one has spent on the water. times, and on the third bounce I set the far too many concerns of life greater than What really counts is that you are hav­ hook with a mighty upswing of the rod. catching a fish,an d that fishing is a plea­ ing fun. An ingredient stolen from so My grandmother laughed until the tears surable escape, or at least it should be. many aspects of life that are out of our dropped from her eyes and ran down her This is not to mean that you cannot control. Not in fishing. In fishing the cheeks. Fishing, I realized, was fun, and carry fishing to the fanatical stage if you measure of success is your own-the the laughter was much more frequent are having fun. It is enjoyable to be a many methods allowed to achieve your in life back then, than now. fanatic, but it is simply hard to keep from goal. Daily angler or weekend explorer, Life rushed by like a flooding river, and falling over the line into obsession. the day may best be measured by the fishing became an integral part of it: My The boil appears again and I begin tim­ smile on your face and the calm that has business, my working hours and my ing the rises. I want to cast when his head crept deep within you. f")

32 Coming up! Your winter issue of the P.L.A.Y. newsletter! o WINTER 1997 COLD WATE Winter is an exciting time to be outside! Last of all, wear a life jacket. It not only There are many winter sports to enjoy like ice makes you float if you fall into the water, skating, sledding, ice fishing, snowmobiling but it also helps to trap your body heat. and skiing. Being warm and safe What if you fall into the water and should be number one on your list can't get out? If you can't get out of of things to do this winter. the water and the shore is too far, get If your winter activities take into the Heat Escape Lessening Posture, as HELP. Cross your arms across you near water, be very careful. known Cold water can steal your body heat your chest. Cross your legs at your HEAT ankles and pull them up to your chest, more quickly than cold air. That's ESCAPE why you should dress in layers, LESSENING as if you were doing a "cannonball" starting with long underwear. POSTURE jump off of a diving board. By keeping Clothing made with wool is best for your body in a ball, you help trap air keeping you warm, even when it's wet. Top it all off in your layers to help you float, and you hold in with a knit hat, scarf and gloves. body heat, too. Find the 16 words and phrases hidden in the word search below that relate to coldactivities watermd saj LVXFJ s i_m>v nrivi re l-l I C=ZII_C£l_reE>l\/l ¥= o FR.OXEU.Y'C; F> R- 1 l-l E B I L D l-l O B E XV S D

J TT C2> E D E J E S W H W y\. yv F i i_ z B o o 1 s CZEMEfNJEVD LI >X IVI l< KIHESGLOV E S C5 XV E V l_ E VV IVt CS S CZ V TDPVECZrsjO I IV! l_ O O W R. A C? J KB V rsj T B S K >C Z S CZ XV R. Answers on next page. I Picture s Guess the name of each fish according to each picture's description

Misty Jumper Shermans Dale, PA Michael jUm

Richard K. pp A ertf Bath >,PA % M

Answers to Cold Water Survival Maze r^\ Corey Lear, Berwick, PA

1 William Matthew Shields Phila, PA v_y i Wow Pennsylvania had a lot of floods this bottom that fish use as food. Sediment can smother fish past summer! And with the floods came muddy water. eggs, too. Muddy water can cause many problems for fish. Mud Well, what can we do about silt and sediment? We that you see in water is called silt. Silt is very small can try to keep silt out of the water. We can keep grass, particles of loose soil that get washed off the land by trees and other plants growing in our yards. The roots heavy rains. When the water in a creek or river slows, of these plants help hold the soil in place when the hard the silt starts to settle. The silt that lands on the creek rains come. Bare soil is washed away easier than covered bottom and on the shores is called sediment. You can soil. Trees and plants are also very important on the also find sediment on roads and in basements that have banks of streams and rivers. been flooded. A wetland can hold a lot of water and keep areas Silt is usually carried by a creek or river all the around it from flooding. When water gets held up in a time. Sometimes there is a lot of silt and you see muddy wetland, it slows down. Sediment settles out of the water. Sometimes there is only a little silt carried by a water in the wetland instead of ending up in the stream. river and you can't even see it. When there is a lot of Another thing we can do is to be on the watch for silt in the water it damages fish's gills and makes it stream disturbances. A stream disturbance is something hard for them to breathe. Silt also carries bacteria. that changes a stream. These are things like farm animals This bacteria can cause infections in fish's gills. walking on the shore and in a stream, bulldozers digging Silt can cause more problems for fish. When the silt near a stream, and dirt bike trails going through a stream. settles out as sediment, it covers the bottom of a river. All of these things loosen the soil. When the hard rains Fish find much of their food on the bottom of the river. come, this soil is very easily washed into the stream. If the sediment is covering their food, the fish can't get to it. The sediment can also suffocate the insects on the

As described above, stream disturbances can loosen the soil. It washes into streams, causing sediment and silt

y

Shown here are four different kinds of "siltstarters." Describe what's happening in each scene and what could be done to avoid being a "siltstarter." "Wipers" fin A striped bass hybrid, nicknamed "wiper" or "sunshine bass," is a cross between a male white bass and a female striped bass. It combines features of both types of bass into on Hybri# d hshes one fish. Pennsylvania usually gets A hybrid is a cross between two closely related its striped bass hybrids from Georgia. The striped animals or plants. In this case, we're talking about bass hybrid grows faster and gets larger than the fish hybrids. In a hatchery, the two fish are white bass, but not quite as big as a striped bass, combined in a way to get the good features of two It is also easier to keep alive in different water fish in one fish, known as the "hybrid." conditions. Hybrid fish also occur in nature. In a hatchery, Striped bass hybrids are stocked as 1- or 2- a hybrid can be developed to grow faster, get bigger inch fingerlings from May to July. In one year, a and fight more than either of the parents. Some striped bass hybrid can grow to be 6 to 9 inches, examples of hybrids in Pennsylvania are the golden In only three years, a hybrid can grow to legal rainbow trout, tiger muskellunge, striped bass hybrid length (20 inches)! and saugeye. Last year, the Fish and Boat Commission Hybrids can be developed for many different stocked almost 100,000 striped bass hybrids in reasons. There may be other hybrids around you large lakes and rivers across Pennsylvania, that you don't even realize. A mule is a hybrid. It The easiest way to identify a striped bass is a cross between a donkey and a horse. Another hybrid is by the lateral bars just above the lateral hybrid is a tangelo. It's a cross between a tangerine line. If the lateral bars are broken into dashes and an orange. You may see signs for corn hybrids and are not solid lines, the fish is probably a along the roadside. "Bread and butter" or "salt and striped bass hybrid. If the lateral bars are solid pepper" is the common name for a corn hybrid that and run from head to tail, the fish is probably a you may find in a grocery store. Can you think of striped bass or white bass. any other hybrids? Check an encyclopedia to see if See if you can figure out the missing fish you're right. names in the hybrid combinations below.

1. Striped bass+ X^ = striped bass hybrid

2. Rainbow trout + West Virginia golden trout =

+ northern pike = tiger muskellunge

4. Sauger + = saugeye Where in Pennsylvania is Carmen Fishiego? Nescopeck is No More!! Not long after noon, we received were too tempting, or maybe it was just her notification that Nescopeck State Park was no cronies who coerced her. Nonetheless, longer on the map. This park in Luzerne County Carmen Fishiego has never done a deed so wasn't even fully developed yet-it didn't even dastardly as this. Nescopeck needs your help. have a park office-and now it's gone. To which waterway has Carmen taken the The suspect has never been so obvious. stash? The Bureau of State Parks called Maybe that scenic stretch of Nescopeck Creek Headquarters with these details. was irresistible, maybe it was the trout that

A northern pike in a nondescript van was seen driving east on Interstate So not far from our Northeast Regional office. <£ Chuckie Chub and Bernie Bass were This gnarled number apprehended in the Three Rivers City was found drawn in the and taken in for auestioning. When dirt where the park asked if they were associated with the used to be: 28S, ZyjS. crime, they responded, "Not necessarily." Who has been nominated to head up the case? None other than you, Gumshoes. Now get to work and let's nail that no- Our radios picked up this coded message. What could good northern! it mean? "We're bringing LochNES to the MONster." ivani• a Ms Freshwater

Freshwater mussels are relatives of oysters and filter water just like the native mussels. They cleaned clams. They have very simple bodies. Inside their up Lake Erie very quickly. But zebra mussels can filter two hard shells is a soft body, a pair of gills and a water too well. They filter out all the particles and strong foot. Mussels eat algae. They are filter-feeders. don't leave any for other mussels and fish. This means that they suck in water, filter out small Many biologists are studying mussels because they particles (very small pieces of things), then push out want to know more about them. There are many things the water. that we don't know about mussels. Biologists want to They have two siphons (si' phens), or tubes, that know more about what mussels do and how they do it. they use to filter feed. They are very close to each They also want to know how many mussels are in other. One siphon is used to suck in the water. The Pennsylvania. If you see any mussels on your travels mussel filters out particles while the water is inside in Pennsylvania, write a letter to the PLAY Tackle Box it. The gills also get what they need from the water- and let us know. oxygen! Freshwater mussels live on or in the bottom of a When the mussel is done with the water, it shoots lake or river. They spend their entire lifetime in a the water out through the second siphon. Mussels very small area, unless they get carried downstream use their strong, muscular foot to burrow into the by a flood. The baby mussels develop inside the female's bottom of a river or lake. They also use it as an anchor. shell. At a certain time, she releases them through Mussels act a lot like swimming pool or aquarium her siphon and into the current. The baby mussels are filters. As water moves through a filter, particles get very tiny. They attach to the gills of certain fish. They stuck inside and cleaner water comes out. In an travel on the fish's gills until they find a good place to aquarium the filter is used to get rid of old fish food let go. They burrow into the bottom of the river or and algae. In a swimming pool the filter takes out lake and grow to be adults. Mussels can live to be 15 1 bugs, dirt, leaves, algae and pieces of grass. In our to 100 years old! streams, mussels filter out algae and other things. HfijBMHS^n Filters help keep the water clean. That's what mussels do, too. Pennsylvania has HOW A 42 species of freshwater mussels that are mouth FILTER FEEDER native to the state. FEEDS: In Pennsylvania and other states, mussels are declining. Mussels are disappearing because of many exhalant things. Soil washes into rivers from yards and fields. siphon When this soil settles to the bottom of the river, it smothers the mussels. Dams slow moving water. Some mussels can live only in fast-moving water. Too many chemicals in the water also kill mussels. Another thing that kills mussels is the zebra mussel. Zebra mussels were accidentally brought into Pennsylvania. Zebra mussels use thread-like tentacles to attach to freshwater mussels. Zebra mussels can inhalant completely cover freshwater mussels and keep them siphon •• food intake from opening their shells. Freshwater mussels that •• water intake and filtering can't open their shells will die. Zebra mussels also foot Hey kids, how much do you know he Coun about the counties in Pennsylvania? Try to answer these questions. Then fill in the names of the 67 counties on the map. You may use the list for help. 1. Name three of the four counties with animal names. Adams^H^^ ^ Dauphin Monroe 2. Which of these three counties does Allegheny Delaware Montgomery not border New York state: Bradford, Armstrong Elk Montour Beaver Erie Northampton Susquehanna, Wyoming? Bedford Fayette Northumberland 3. Name three of the four counties Berks Forest Perry named after presidents. Blair Franklin Philadelphia Bradford Fulton Pike 4. Which are the four corner counties? Bucks Greene Potter 5. Which county houses the state Butler Huntingdon Schuylkill capital? Cambria Indiana Snyder Cameron Jefferson Somerset 6. In which county can you find the Carbon Juniata Sullivan highest point in Pennsylvania?

1 Centre Lackawanna Susqhehanna (S 7. In which county was oil first drilled Chester Lancaster Tioga Clarion Lawrence Union in Pennsylvania? Clearfield Lebanon Venango 8. Name the two counties that border Clinton Lehigh Warren the state of Delaware. Columbia Luzerne Washington 9. In which county can you find the Crawford Lycoming Wayne Cumberland McKean Westmoreland Northeast Regional Office of the Fish ^ 4 Mercer Wyoming & Boat Commission? ^^^ 1 Mifflin York Pennsylvania League of Angling Youth Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission . 1997 P.O. Box 67000 Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000

PENNSYLVANIA FISH & BOAT COMMISSION HEY, ANGLER& BOATER READERS! You can look forward to seeing the Pennsylvania League of Angling Youth (PLAY) newsletter in the PA Angler & Boater four times each year. But to get the full benefits of membership in PLAY, you need to complete the coupon below. Full membership in PLAY is only $3.00 per year and members receive the PLAY Newsletter, a collectable patch, tacklebox LIFE JACKETS stickers, a good luck fishing hook and several activity pages. Sign up They Float your favorite YOUDO\*T! J youngster for PLAY ir be prepared

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Be sure to wear a warm hat and a turtleneck or Pennsylvania • League • of • Angling • Youth scarf when you're outside on those The Pennsylvania League of Angling Youth is an educational I program designed to reach youngsters. Members receive a' cold, wintry days. colorful sew-on patch, quarterly newsletter, publications, | Almost half of access to the PLAY Correspondence Center and more. your body heat is It's a bargain at only $3.00 a year. Sign up today! lost through your head and neck in cold weather. Name. -Age. Jack Frost may be nipping at your nose, but the bluegills are still biting! Try using Address. small jigs and flies in fluorescent orange and red. Add a real grub to the jig to make a City. .State. .Zip. bluegill's favorite Make checks payable to: Pennsylvania fish & Boat Commission, Mail to: Pennsylvania • winter treat. Fish & Boat Commission, P.O. Box 67000, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000. TE 7WB^R1997WlIVlER1997WByiER19^ Pennsylvania's

PENNSYLVANIA M FISH & BOAT | M COMMISSION

Darters SULC among the most vividly colored, behaviorally complex, ecologically important and abun­ dant fishes found in Pennsylvania. Yet, how many visitors to the Commonwealth's waterways have ever seen a darter in the wild or even realize that such creatures exist? As the smallest members of the perch family, they rarely exceed four inches in length. For this reason, no one looks at them as table fare, as we see the yellow perch and walleye. Al­ though they are sometimes used as bait by anglers, they are not as popular as blacknose dace, shiners or stonecats. Still, darters are arguably the most attractive of all Penn­ sylvania fishes in terms of physical appearance. This is es­ pecially true of the males during the breeding season. Darters are also an important biological component of the waterways they inhabit. Each species has evolved to occupy a specific niche, which allows partitioning of available Rainbow darter habitat and food resources among other fishes. Darters prey on insects and crustaceans, and in turn are preyed on by species such as smallmouth bass and walleyes. Thus, darters are one link in the larger chain of their aquatic environment. The presence of darters in a waterway re­ flects good water quality and diversity of appropriate habitat. Attractive or not, we are learning more about the vari­ ous darter species and their interactions in Pennsylvania's waterways. The roles that darters play and the functions they perform continue to emphasize their importance. Description The taxonomic classification of darters is a continuing process. New species and/or subspecies continue to be de­ scribed by ichthyologists using advanced techniques to discern differences and similarities among isolated or nearby populations. Darters are perch-like fishes grouped into the Percidae family and are restricted in distribution to North America. Three genera of darters comprise over 150 North American species. They represent greater than 20 percent of the 750 species of freshwater fish found in the United States and Canada. Currently, two genera of darters are recognized as occurring in Pennsylvania. Twenty-one darter species are split between the genus Etheostoma (13 species) and the genus Percina (8 species). Until recently, the ge­ nus Ammocrypta was represented in Pennsylvania by a single species, the state endangered Eastern Sand Darter. How­ Banded darter ever, this species, formerly known as Ammocryptapellucida, was recently renamed by taxonomists and is now named

Fishing dr Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Pennsylvania's

Etheostoma pellucida-xhax. is, at least of the fish. Juvenile Using a different approach, some until another researcher can make darters consume small Etheostoma species, such as the greenside a more compelling case for it to crustaceans such as cla- darter, attach their eggs to submerged return to the genus Ammocrypta. docerans, copepods and ostra- vegetation or rocks and then abandon cods. Adults prefer chironomids them. In this case the female releases Why they're "darters" (midge larvae), simulids (blackfly larvae), one to three eggs at a time and attaches A darter's ability to maneuver in, ephemeropterans (mayflies) and tri- them to a rock, stick or plant. around and under rocks and substrate chopterans (caddisflies). Large darter The most complex and energetically gives it an advantage as a bottom forager. species such as the longhead darter may demanding strategy is used by species Riffles and swift currents provide pro­ also eat amphipods (freshwater shrimp), such as the johnny darter and fantail tection for darters because few preda­ isopods (sowbugs) and crayfish. darter. These darters engage in nest tors can live there. Many darters such Darters rarely compete with most building and cluster spawning. The male as the johnny darter do not possess a minnow species because the minnows digs out a nest underneath a flat rock swim bladder. This lack of buoyancy often occupy the upper levels of the water in preparation of mating with one or allows them to stay near the bottom and column. Food availability and water several females. After mating, the female facilitates their rapid darting movements. velocity help to determine the activity attaches the adhesive eggs to the under­ In addition, bottom-dwelling darters pos­ levels of darters' foraging. For example, side of die rock. The male then provides sess flattened, downward-sloping heads. in pools or areas of slower current, darters care and protection for the eggs until This feature lets them take advantage of range farther to procure food. Similarly, they hatch. water flowing to help plane or push down when flow rates are high, travel is re­ Generally, in darters and many other on the fish's head, thereby helping the duced. Feeding is primarily by sight, so fishes, the colorful appearance and per­ fish to remain near the bottom. Con­ darters are daytime feeders. Still, peaks haps courtship dance of the male is versely, mid-water darter species such as in feeding activity typically occur early sufficient to attract a female for breed­ the blackside darter do possess a swim and late in the day. ing. However, the male fantail darter bladder to help them remain suspended attempts to improve his chances by dis­ in the water column. Reproduction playing an additional feature that is Overall, darters are small. However, Reproduction in darters generally especially attractive to females. Female there is considerable variation in maxi­ takes place during the spring and sum­ fantail darters prefer to mate with males mum length among the species found mer. Day length, or photoperiod, is tliat already have eggs. To the female this in Pennsylvania. The Eastern sand darter important in initiating reproductive is probably a signal that the prospective (2.0 inches) and the Tippecanoe darter activity among darters. Water tempera­ male is a good "risk." That is, he has (1.8 inches) are the smallest Pennsylvania ture plays a larger role in termination already demonstrated that he has the darters. The logperch and greenside of spawning activity. For many darter physical fitness to protect a clutch of eggs darter can each reach lengths of 6.5 species spawning has been reported to to their maturity. But what if the male inches and are the largest darters in the occur over extended periods of several has not previously mated with another Commonwealth. months. Also, there is evidence that female or has been unable to comman­ In nature, it is usually true that "form females of some species may spawn sev­ deer a clutch of eggs from another male? follows function." So it is not surprising eral times during the reproductive sea­ Theoretically, he would not be selected that the Eastern sand darter has a different son. Sexual maturity for many species by the female for breeding. body shape than its stream-dwelling cous­ can occur at age one. However, egg pro­ In response, male fantail darters de­ ins. This species lives primarily in lakes duction increases with age. Mature fe­ velop fleshy knobs consisting of modi­ or slow-moving waters and burrows into male darters can produce between 230 fied epidermal cells at the tips of the the sand for protection. The sand darter and 1,000 or more eggs, depending on spines on their first dorsal fin. These is proportionally much longer and thinner the species. knobs, also known as egg mimics, re­ than its flowing water relatives. This lets Spawning by darters is accomplished semble the shape and color of actual it quickly wriggle into the sand, leaving in one of three ways, depending on the darter eggs. Researchers have shown tliat only its eyes exposed. This tactic provides species. All members of the genus Percina female fantail darters prefer to breed witii the sand darter with protective cover in and some Etheostoma bury their eggs in males that display egg mimics. Even areas where rock or gravel substrate does the substrate. The eggs are abandoned though these fleshy knobs may also be not exist. and there is no parental care. useful as tools in housekeeping of the Feeding Darters are mid-depth and bottom- dwelling fishes. Their location and movements depend on substrate type as well as the velocity, chemical and ther­ mal composition of their liquid environ­ ment. They seek their prey among the rocks, gravel or sand along the stream or lake bottom. Prey items typically range in size up to approximately 3/16-inch. Prey selection varies with the lifestage

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Regulations Anyone wishing to capture or study darters in the Commonwealth's waters should consult the Summary of Fishing Regulations and Laws or contact the near­ est Fish and Boat Commission Regional Law Enforcement Office. Species that are not listed as endangered, threatened or candidate can be captured with the same gear that is legal for gathering baitfish. However, it is unlawful to catch, take, kill or possess protected species. Because iden­ tification of darters can be difficult, es­ pecially for the amateur, study these fishes nest, their primary function is as a fe­ where it is non-native by way of unin­ in their own environment without remov­ male attractant. tentional stocking or a bait bucket in­ ing them. troduction. Historic fisheries surveys Provided that state or local regulations Distribution in the Susquehanna River watershed did allow it and adequate safety measures are Darter species are neither randomly not reveal the presence of this species. taken, snorkeling is a great way to observe nor evenly distributed throughout the However, in the 1960s it was discovered and gain an appreciation for these beau­ Commonwealth's waterways. Before in an upper Susquehanna River water­ tiful fish. Their colors and interesting man-induced changes on the North shed tributary. behaviors can rival that of fishes in more American landscape, fishes were distrib­ This species is currendy well-established exotic locations, such as the Caribbean. uted by natural forces. Glacial advances particularly in the main stem of the Various field guides are now available to and retreats, emergence of mountain Susquehanna River. Since this species aid in species identification, and many ranges and erosion of watershed-sepa­ occupies a niche similar to darters native university libraries contain more advanced rating barriers all contributed to present- to the Susquehanna River Basin, adverse texts on darter ecology. day fish distributions. interspecific competition may result. This Today, the greatest concentration of situation is currently being studied. Protection and conservation darter species occurs in northern Alabama Darters thrive in clean, unpolluted and eastern Tennessee. The number of Ecological interactions water. Threats to their survival include darter species declines in North America Besides the role that darters play as habitat alteration or loss, point and as the geographic distance from that re­ both predator and prey, there are un­ nonpoint source pollution, and compe­ gion increases. Tributaries of the Missis­ doubtedly other interactions that remain tition in the form of exotic species intro­ sippi River were the main routes of darter to be discovered. An important relation­ ductions. Acid mine drainage, particularly dispersal throughout the eastern United ship still under investigation involves in streams of the Ohio River Basin, has States. However, the Appalachian Moun­ darters and freshwater mussels. Some degraded or eliminated many miles of tains apparently served as enough of a fish species, including darters, are inte­ darter habitat. physical barrier to reduce the dispersal of gral to the reproductive cycle of native Sedimentation is especially harmful to species eastward. As a result, Pennsylvania Pennsylvania mussels. After a female darters. Excessive sediment and silt can waters in the Ohio River Basin contain freshwater mussel has mated and devel­ smother eggs or reduce populations of a greater diversity of darters than the oped larvae, they must be dispersed into forage items. For example, mayfly nymphs Susquehanna River Basin and Delaware the aquatic environment where they even­ are a staple in their diet. However, many River Basin, respectively. tually settle to the bottom to mature into species of mayflies are susceptible to the In many cases the headwater areas of adults. These microscopic larvae, which harmful effects of sedimentation. Thus, Pennsylvania streams in the Ohio River are also known as glochidia, are released if the forage declines, the darters must Basin represent the northern or eastern into the water column and attach to the select another forage or begin to suffer. limits of the range for a particular spe­ gills of certain fish species. As diversity of prey declines, so does the cies in North America. Some of these Typically, only one or a few fish species diversity of predators until eventually the darters are listed as state endangered, are suitable for attachment by the chain begins to break down. threatened or candidate species because glochidia of a given mussel. Mussels can­ Water quality protection strategies that of their rarity within the borders of Penn­ not swim, so the fish provides a means effectively address habitat loss, alteration sylvania. As such they are protected by of transport for distribution of the lar­ and pollution must keep pace as increased special regulations. In addition, projects vae into other areas of the stream. Some demands are continually placed on involving activities that may adversely Pennsylvania streams that contain endan­ Pennsylvania's aquatic resources. Dart­ affect these species are reviewed by Com­ gered, threatened or candidate darters also ers will remain a dynamic part of mission staff in an effort to conserve the contain endangered mussels. Therefore, Pennsylvania's aquatic heritage as long as remaining populations. the continued existence of the mussels is the quality of their habitat is sufficient Often species are present in a water­ directly linked to the survival of the host to support them. Appreciation of dart­ shed because of human activities. At least fish. It is probable that specific darter/ ers and their habitat will increase as more one species, the banded darter, appears mussel relationships will become apparent Pennsylvanians discover these seldom to have been introduced to a watershed as the research continues. seen but very important fishes. O

Fishing &• Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 35 Lake Erie Pennsyfvani; New York French Creek Lake LeBoeuf Edinboro Lake

Cussewago Creek

PENNSYLVANIA DARTERS Common Name Scientific Name Drainage Basin Occurrence Species Status* Greenside darter Etheostoma blennioides E, O, S, P, G Common Rainbow darter _ .Allegheny River Etheostoma caeruleum E,0 Common French Creek, Bluebreast darter Etheostoma camurum O Threatened Iowa darter Etheostoma, exile E,0 Candidate Where Darters Fantail darter Etheostoma flabellare E, 0, S, P, G Common Go with the Flow Swamp darter Etheostoma fusiforme D Extirpated Although darters occur throughout Spotted darter Etheostoma maculatum O Endangered Pennsylvania, one waterway contains an Johnny darter Etheostoma nigrum E,0,G Common exceptional diversity of darters and other Tesselated darter Etheostoma olmstedi aquatic species. Beginning in southwest­ S,D,P Common ern New York, French Creek flows 117 Eastern sand darter Etheostoma pellucida E,0 Endangered miles to its confluence with the Allegh­ Tippecanoe darter Etheostoma tippecanoe 0 Endangered eny River in Franklin, Pennsylvania. Al­ Variegate darter Etheostoma variatum 0 Common most 1,270 square miles of land in Banded darter Etheostoma zonale 0,S Common Chatauqua County, New York in addi­ tion to Erie, Crawford, Mercer and Logperch Percina caprodes E,0,S Common Venango counties in Pennsylvania are Channel darter Percina copelandi E,0 Threatened drained by French Creek. Gilt darter Percina evides 0 Threatened Stream flow reversals resulting from Longhead darter Percina macrocephala 0 Endangered glacial activity changed the prehistoric Blackside darter Percina maculata E,0 Common course of French Creek to its present- day southerly flow in the Ohio River ba­ Sharpnose darter Percina oxyrhyncus 0 Extirpated sin. Previously, French Creek flowed Shield darter Percina peltata S,D Common north into the Atlantic Ocean via the River darter Percina shumadri 0 Common St. Lawrence River system. Glacial ac­ E • Lake Erie, O • Ohio Riv r, G = Genesee River, P - Potomac River, S • Susquehanna River, D = Delaware River tivity caused aquatic species present in * Species Status: Protecte i status as of January 1,1997. the St. Lawrence River system to be "cap­ tured" and added to those species present in the Ohio River system. DRAINAGE BASINS When stream flows changed direc­ tion, the darters and other species had no choice but to "go with the flow." Con­ sequently, French Creek exhibits an un­ usually high number of fish and invertebrate species. With 70 species of fish and 26 freshwater mussel species, French Creek is the single most diverse waterway in Pennsylvania. Thirteen (61 percent) of the 21 darter species found in Pennsylvania are known to occur in French Creek. Biologically speaking, French Creek may be the most impor­ tant stream in the state.

ERIE OHIO CENESEE POTOMAC SUSQUEHANNA DELAWARE 36 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater ©BLoiraEifi HEUTiiK

BY ROBERT L. PETRI

Imagine a stream improve­ ment project that succeeds in reducing erosion and sedimentation in one sec­ tion of a waterway, but does not address an almost identical problem at a point farther upstream. That is how waterway and habitat improvement too often has been undertaken: One section of stream or problem at a time, often without ad­ equate regard for problems upstream that may undermine the effectiveness of the effort. The Coldwater Heritage Partner­ ship Project proposes a dramatic new way of protecting and enhancing the finest of our wild trout streams. Instead of the more traditional section-by-section ap­ proach, the Partnership aims to look at watersheds in their entirety, and tailor stream improvement efforts accordingly. The results are bound to mean a brighter tomorrow for many of our best waters. per year available for program use over the program approach. It is a new way The Coldwater Heritage Partnership the next three years. of going about the business of protect­ is a cooperative effort of die Pennsylvania John Arway, Chief of Environmental ing and improving our trout waters. Fish & Boat Commission, the Pennsyl­ Services for the Fish & Boat Commis­ Stream improvement efforts on water­ vania Department of Conservation and sion, represents the Commission in this ways across the nation have tradition­ Natural Resources and Pennsylvania effort and is enthusiastic about the pos­ ally focused on one stream or stream Trout, the 54-chapter state council of sibilities of the program. He points out section and one problem that affects that Trout Unlimited. that even though there are numerous particular portion of the waterway. Even Funding for the effort has been as­ projects underway to address problems though there is a long string of success sembled from a variety of sources. The in specific sections of numerous Penn­ stories associated with many of these Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission sylvania streams, the Coldwater Heri­ projects, such efforts are often at the has committed $20,000 to the project. tage program is far more ambitious. mercy of factors and situations out of The state and national levels of Trout First, the focus of this effort is to im­ the project participant's control. Unlimited are pitching $3,000 into the prove the streams that are already known The Coldwater Heritage Partnership program coffers. However, the largest to be high-quality trout water, and to Program is designed to go beyond this source of financial fuel by far comes from work toward making them even better. historic notion of limited, problem-ori­ the Pennsylvania Department of Conser­ Water quality and the ability of a stream ented focus to address entire watersheds. vation and Natural Resources. With to support wild trout will be first pri­ This emphasis on a more holistic ap­ funds made available by the "Key 93" ority in selecting candidate waters for proach to water quality and stream en­ Initiative approved by Commonwealth the Coldwater Heritage Partnership. hancement makes full use of die idea diat voters in 1993, DCNR will make $50,000 The second difference Arway notes is a watershed or aquatic ecosystem is a

Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 37 vironmental Committee, rounds out the project management committee as the representative of Trout Unlimited's 54 Pennsylvania Chapters and their parent organization, Pennsylvania Trout, Inc. Input is currently sought from Trout Unlimited chapters across the state in helping to identify and target watersheds for study and consideration under the living thing with many component parts, program, as well as potential sources of and that the best way to ensure project local funding to further increase the success is to look at the watershed in its effectiveness of project efforts. entirety and to make restoration and Bellis explains that Pennsylvania cur­ enhancement plans accordingly. rently has nearly 1,000 miles of high- Rick Carlson, Director of Policy for quality trout water capable of sustaining the Pennsylvania Department of Con­ healthy wild trout populations. Many servation & Natural Resources, repre­ of these waters are already producing sents DCNR on the program man­ some of the best trout fishing our state agement committee, and like John Arway, efforts, streams chosen for program has to offer. Others are producing rea­ he is enthusiastic about the possibilities attention must be open to public use. sonably well, but need additional help of the Coldwater Heritage Partnership. Carlson calls the Coldwater Heritage in reaching their full potential. Trout Carlson explains that the program had Partnership effort a "blueprint for in­ Unlimited's priority is the long-term its beginnings in 1994 when he and oth­ vestment" of the financial and man­ management of these special waters in ers in the old DER Office of Policy re­ power resources available for stream a way that best preserves them and their viewed the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat restoration work. And indeed, it is just unique fisheries for the enjoyment of Commission's fisheries management that. Candidate waters approved for generations to come. plan with Commission staff. Out of this action under the program can be eligible Where in Pennsylvania might the review came an agreement that there was for one of two different types of grants. funding power and citizen commitment a need, in Carlson's words, to "get out Preliminary Assessment Grants of up to necessary to make a Coldwater Heritage in front of things" when dealing with $2,000 are available for initially deter­ Partnership project a success be found? protecting the best of our wild trout mining the current condition of a can­ Two active and dedicated Trout Unlim­ streams. This meant meshing the exper­ didate watershed, and for building ited chapters in the eastern portion of tise and experience within both agencies consensus within the affected area. These the state have already climbed aboard to look at the larger picture. Carlson assessments can lead to an application and made inquiries about Partnership notes that while the Commission is re­ for a Coldwater Heritage Partnership grants to further their already exceptional sponsible for fisheries management and Grant, which will provide up to 50 per­ work on two of our finest wild trout improvement, and the old DER was re­ cent of the cost of development of a full streams. Both are "comeback" stories sponsible for overall water quality in watershed conservation plan to preserve of the first magnitude among Pennsyl­ Commonwealth streams, there was no and protect coldwater ecosystems. The vania trout waters. one entity with oversight responsibility grant recipient must provide the other The Lackawanna County-based Tri- for both. By creation of this joint task 50 percent of project costs either through County Streams Chapter of Trout Un­ force dedicated to the protection and in-kind services or other funding sources. limited hopes to tap the resources of the preservation of our better wild trout Once proposed efforts under the Part­ Coldwater Heritage Partnership program waters, a major step is being taken in nership have been developed, partici­ to further the improvement and protec­ closing this gap. pants will be directed to a host of funding tion of the Lackawanna River in the In his discussion of the nature of the opportunities and sources provided by Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area. After de­ Coldwater Heritage Partnership, Rick regulatory agencies and various conser­ cades of severe degradation from the Carlson emphasizes many of the same vation groups both at the state and na­ effects of acid mine drainage, over the criteria noted by John Arway. Accord­ tional levels. past decade the Lackawanna has emerged ing to Carlson, the Partnership is aimed Among some of the programs that as one of the premier wild brown trout at watersheds that either currently sus­ could be tapped are the Fish and Boat fisheries in the East. However, as Tri- tain or have the potential to sustain Commission's "Adopt-a-Stream" pro­ County Streams TU President Joe "highly productive and natural repro­ gram or the highly successful "Embrace- Cavagnaro explains, problems remain. ducing wild trout populations." This A-Stream" program administrated by the Cavagnaro and his fellow chapter does not exclude the possible inclusion National Office of Trout Unlimited. members are particularly concerned with in the program of waters that are cur­ Other sources of funding could include the possible effect of the new Cross Valley rently considered marginal for wild trout. Keystone Recreation Grants, Pasture Highway on the quality of the However, such waters must have the Streambank Fencing Grants, Commu­ Lackawanna fishery. They fear that the potential to produce wild trout once their nity Forestry Grants, Nonpoint Source development and intensive industrial- | problems are addressed and corrected. Grants, and Rivers Conservation Grants. ization that often follows such major j So that maximum benefit to the angling Dr. Edward Bellis, past chairman of road construction may adversely affect | public can be realized from Partnership the Pennsylvania Trout Unlimited En­ the continuing recovery of the 4

38 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Lackawanna. In addition to these con­ ambitious project." However, he also sees cerns, the massive destruction that ac­ it as one of the last pieces of the puzzle companied the severe floods of January in bringing the Codorus up to its full 1996 did not leave the Lackawanna potential as a wild trout fishery. With unscathed. Cavagnaro explains that its emphasis on the overall health of the during the height of the flooding, small watershed, the effort is a natural for the tributaries of the river overflowed their Coldwater Heritage Partnership, and banks and carried large amounts of coal Tom Feninez and crew are hoping to dust into the river. It was the effects of make use of the program to make a dif­ coal that depressed the Lackawanna for ference on the Codorus. so many years before its recent recovery, Even though the examples of candi­ and the members of Tri-County Streams date situations we have noted both in­ are hoping to initiate efforts under the volve Trout Unlimited chapters, it is Coldwater Heritage Partnership to take important to note that the Coldwater a watershed approach to solving the Heritage Partnership program is by no remaining problems that keep the means reserved for the use of these Lackawanna and its fine wild brown trout groups alone. Rick Carlson of DCNR fishery from reaching full potential. notes that any organization can partici­ In York County, the determined vol­ pate as grant applicant on behalf of lo­ unteers of the Codorus Creek chapter cal government officials. This includes of TU are hard at work planning the sportsmen's groups of all stripes, devel­ improvement of their namesake stream opment interests, and local conservation in the cool waters provided by the out­ groups and watershed associations. Mu­ flow of Lake Marburg. They, like Tri- nicipalities can participate directly. County Streams TU, are looking to the In fact, Ed Bellis of Trout Unlimited Coldwater Heritage Partnership program expresses hope that many of the efforts to help them accomplish multiple goals that will be fueled by the Partnership will in the Codorus watershed, and to aid in trout populations. The focus of the chap­ be undertaken by a coalition of the types the protection and enhancement of the ter efforts shifted toward habitat improve­ of organizations above. The broader the fine wild brown trout fishery that has ment to help keep the miracle of the scope of local involvement, the greater developed there. Codorus moving forward. the sense of local pride and project "own­ The Codorus, like the Lackawanna According to Codorus Creek TU Presi­ ership." And the stronger the sense of River, is another Pennsylvania waterway dent Tom Feninez, one of the remain­ local pride, the better the likely results. that has come a long way in the past few ing obstacles to a fully healthy and The Coldwater Heritage Partnership years. When the chapter originally be­ vibrant Codorus Creek lies in a pasture program is yet another example of what gan working with the stream in conjunc- just upstream from the new Selective- we can do for the aquatic resources of tion with Fish & Boat Commission Harvest project. Here, a meadow that our beautiful state when we connect the personnel almost a decade ago, the cradles approximately one-quarter mile expertise of fisheries and environmen­ management objective was maintenance of the stream is heavily used by livestock. tal professionals with the ardor and com­ of a high-density stocked trout popula­ There is much bank erosion in this mitment of the folks at the grassroots tion through the establishment of a stream section caused by the cattle and level, and then provide sufficient funds Delayed-Harvest area in the slow, mean­ their wanderings, and as a result, a sig­ to get the job done. One by one, we can dering reaches of the Codorus down­ nificant amount of silt and sediment continue to retake and restore the best stream from the lake. Stream improve­ enters the Codorus, making life less of our free-flowing trout waters. It is a ment work was undertaken, and new pleasant for the wild trout population program that not only addresses the understandings with streamside land­ below. Sedimentation is a problem the problems that beset our streams today. owners were reached. chapter has been trying to address on It is an effort with an eye toward provid­ Then something very unexpected and a watershed-wide basis since they became ing quality wild trout fishing for wonderful happened, here in the shadow involved with the stream. Indeed, much tomorrow. \J of the southeastern Pennsylvania mega­ of the improvement in the condition of lopolis. Good numbers of streambred trout habitat in the stream thus far has The author thanks Rick Carlson, Director of browns began appearing in the Codorus. been a result of previous projects aimed Policy of the PA Dept. ofConservatmn & Natu­ Both the chapter and their Fish & Boat at reducing the Codorus sediment load. ral Resources, as well as John Arway, Chief Commission allies stood back and took Feninez and his chapter have the agree­ of the Division of Environmental Services, another look. Sufficient numbers of wild ment of the pasture landowner to ini­ Pennsylvania Fish &Boat Commission, for trout were found in die Codorus to qualify tiate a program of streambank fencing their assistance in preparing this article. For it for Class A wild trout management. The to reduce the effect of the livestock on more information, write: Pennsylvania De­ old Delayed-Harvest area and its stocked the creek. Their goal is to improve con­ partment of Conservation & Natural Re­ | trout-oriented management objectives ditions here to the point where the strong sources, Coldwater Heritage Partnership, P.O. I were scrapped in favor of re-designation downstream wild trout population may Box 8475, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2316; £ under the new Selective Harvest Program, extend into the newly fenced meadow. phone: (717) 787-2316. " which is geared toward protection of wild Feninez sees this effort as a "very

Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater The dead ofwinte r had taken hold of Chapman Lake. Ice was 14 inches thick. Dull-gray sky made the powdery snow appear drab. A dozen other ice anglers spread around the lake in small groups sat on their buckets showing little enthusiasm. Mostly the air was calm, except for brief gusts that blew snow over the holes and quickly formed a thin layer of ice. Worth Hammond and I had drilled eight holes, six for tip-ups and two for jigging, but we gave up soon on the jigging, waiting for something to happen with the tip-ups, waiting for some indication that the trout that re­ mained from the last stocking were get­ ting active. Our attitudes changed when we watched a friend and his sons approach­ ing with their ice fishing gear. "This is their first try at ice fishing," Worth said. "It would sure be nice if they could catch some trout." With this as an incentive, we set about more aggressively looking for trout. Beginning over a rocky point, we drilled a line of holes that crossed the deepest water in the lake, enough holes to move the tip-ups around and have several left for jigging-enough holes to make our shoulders ache from turning the auger. We concentrated on the jigging, work­ ing each hole from just under the ice to the bottom, then back up to the ice. Trout use the entire water column under ice. Sometimes you might notice a pattern, most hits near the bottom, or a foot under the ice, but often the action is scattered between the top and the bottom. While Worth's friend and his boys were getting set up, we found three active holes, and then turned the action over to the boys. Their limits of brook trout were soon flopping on the ice, and they were hooked on ice fishing. What a difference an aggressive ap­ proach had made. Perhaps we would have caught trout, anyway. But one only has to understand basic probability to When ice fishing for trout slows, get realize that such an aggressive approach aggressive! Go after the fish. Don't wait to ice fishing for trout is far more likely for them to find your bait. to result in success than a passive ap­ proach. The odds of a hungry trout see­ ing a jig moved from hole to hole,

40 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A lifetime checking all depths, are far more likely than setting a bait through a hole and waiting for a trout to find it. And then the odds get far better still when a less mathematical factor is added, a knowledge of the places where you are most likely to encounter trout during winter. Typical Pennsylvania lakes that are stocked with trout for the ice fishing season present a different situation dur­ ing winter than during summer. Dur­ ing summer, much of the water in these lakes is too warm. Trout avoid shallow water where they are vulnerable to land and airborne predators. They tend to congregate in deeper water, near feeder streams, or around underwater springs. But trout might be anywhere during winter. None of the water is too warm, or too cold, or too shallow. The differ­ ence in temperature between top and Sunken creek channels extend the In natural lakes (see Figure 2), typi­ bottom is probably about six degrees, or entire length of most manmade lakes. In cal high-percentage places are a) the area less. The cover of ice reduces their wari­ places where the creek channel has steep, where trout were most recently stocked, ness of shallow water. high banks, look for trout when you can't b) humps, c) drop-offs, d) points, e) by find them anywhere else. When what­ cover, and f) in the deeper holes. "High-percentage" places ever conditions trout find displeasing oc­ In any case, the highest-percentage Trout might be anywhere under the ice. cur, they retreat into such places that are places, the places you want to check first, Still, there are places they are more apt the deepest in the area. If nothing else are the closest of these high-percentage to be, what I call "high-percentage" places. works, spend your remaining time there, places to the area where trout were most An aggressive, systematic approach be­ drilling holes until you find some irregu­ recently stocked. gins at these high-percentage places. This larity in the bank that offers trout cover, The only difference, as far as ice fishing is less important immediately following or refuge. is concerned, between natural and winter stocking, while the lake is full of Most of the manmade trout lakes I have manmade lakes is that manmade lakes trout, and far more important as the fished are not very deep, maybe 15 feet usually are constructed in creek valleys, number of trout in a lake diminishes. to 30 feet at the dam. This alone makes and their structure is that of a valley, It takes a while for trout to find the these places worth fishing because some where most structure is extensions of the places they like best. For a while, many trout usually inhabit this deepest water, shoreline structure. The deepest water trout mill around in the area where they if there is sufficient oxygen. Also, the is usually adjacent to the dam. Natural were stocked. By the time they are con­ breast of the dam might be attractive lakes, several in Pennsylvania of glacial gregated in the high-percentage places, structure, particularly if it is rock. origin, have less predictable structure. most of the recently stocked trout have been caught, so much of the lake might be completely void of trout. What are the high-percentage places? In manmade lakes (see Figure 1), the places I check first are a) the area where trout were most recently stocked, b) underwater points, c) the sunken creek channel, d) near small tributaries, e) by cover, f) off points that do not extend underwater, and g) near the dam. Points, whether they extend underwater or not, act as half a funnel. Any trout moving toward the point must swim along, then past the tip of the point, making the tip of the point a most likely place to intercept moving trout. Points that extend underwater provide a struc­ ture that might hold trout, because so many gamefish appear to like irregular structure.

Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 41 There might not be a feeder creek of Trout can be just as fussy about which appreciable size. Some underwater struc­ jig they might strike under the ice as they ture might be predictable from die shore­ can be about which fly they might rise line, but there might be humps, holes to in June. The common basic types of or drop-offs with no apparent relation­ jigs used for trout are leadheads, spoons ship to structure above the waterline. and swimming jigs. Each is available in Any irregular structure-humps, a huge variety of color patterns, which dropoffs, sunken creek channels, under­ certainly can make a big difference in water points-is likely to hold trout. your catch. It may be that trout like Structure that rises above surrounding certain colors best, and that their mood structure may be the best place to find changes from time to time. Or it might aggressive trout. Structure that drops be a simple matter of visibility. I suspect below adjacent cover is more likely to it is a combination of these things. hold inactive trout. Of course, you want Leadheads are the least expensive ice to find active trout. But when it appears fishing jigs, though you will seldom lose that no trout are active, at least you want a jig while ice fishing for trout, unless to put your baits or lures in front of trout. you jig through the limbs of a tree. By Some cover is extremely likely to hold carrying several different soft-plastic trout. A good share of die cover you find bodies, you can have a great color assort­ in manmade lakes, to a lesser extent in ment for just a few dollars. However, I natural lakes, is trees that floated into have had much better success using "doll the lake when the feeder creek was swol­ flies" that I tie (see Figure 3). These len and then sank or became lodged on usually combine color and flash either the lake bottom. Even an old log with by spiraling tinsel around a chenille body no limbs might hold several trout. Trees or adding reflective material to the tail. that have fallen into the lake along the I suggest having some jigs with silver shoreline can be excellent if they fell into flash and some with gold flash. Red, adequately deep water. orange, blue, green, yellow, brown, black, white and chartreuse should be included Be cautious when ice fishing near What a blessing a power auger can be in the color selection. Color combina­ wood cover, though. Ice generally melts for aggressive ice fishing! The more tions are usually better than solid col­ more quickly there because the wood holes you drill, the better your odds holds heat. ors, except that you might want a few ir are of locating trout. Also be extremely cautious near feeder solid black and brown jigs for trout that creeks because they can seriously weaken have been in the lake a while and have Start by jigging just under the ice for ice. Stay away from the area right at the become accustomed to natural food. 10 to 15 seconds. Then lower the jig about moutii. Approach the general area slowly, Jigging action should be varied until 18 inches and jig 10 to 15 seconds there. drilling test holes every few feet, and closer the trout tell you what they like. Some­ Repeat this procedure until the jig is just together as you get closer to the feeder. times all it takes is a little wiggle like you a few inches above the bottom, then do Stay far away from any feeder with strong might use for bluegills. Sometimes they the same thing on die way up. Sometimes flow. Be wary of discolored ice. want an aggressive jigging action, moving trout show a distinct preference for the the jig up and down several inches. One direction the jig is moving, down or up. productive action I use is an occasional Aggressive jigging Often it appears that trout follow a jig sharp jerk that lifts the jig a foot or more, How fast is aggressive ice fishing? up and strike just as it is about to escape and then quickly lowering the rod tip so Ponder a couple of possible situations: up the hole. Perhaps trout are active, but heavy fishing the jig drops on a slack line. Between Be alert for a depth pattern. Quite pressure has greatly thinned the trout these sharp jigs I wiggle the jig. often, the majority of hits occur either population. Or perhaps only a small por­ Jigging spoons are used the same as close to the bottom or just under the ice. tion of the trout are active. Maybe the leadheads. The only differences are that Sometimes there is no pattern. But you trout need a bit of coaxing. Aggressive they hang vertically from the line instead might find most trout at a depth of 3 feet, ice fishing is probably the best approach of horizontally, and they usually-not al- or 6 feet, or 11 feet, wherever. If this is any time fishing is not fast and easy. Your ways-have more flash. I use jigging the case, after a few hits at one depth, keep best odds for intercepting an active, or spoons about 75 percent of the time I your jig at that depth most of the time. at least receptive, trout are by cov­ ice fish for trout. ering as much water as possible. Swimming lures, like airplane Figure 3 However, you must strike a bal­ Doll Fly Rig jigs and Rapala jigs, are the only ance between fishing too fast and ice jigs that have some action other wasting too much time in one than that applied directly widi the place. Unless all of your hits come tip bait for jigging rod. Because of their shape, at the first opportunity for the trout flavor and smell a sharp upward jerk of the rod to see the lure, assume that they tinsel wrap over body sends these lures off the exact need to be enticed. marabou or soft-hackle tail vertical line on which they were

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Success on Laurel Run Reservoir, Elk County. Remember that in aggressive jigging your best bet for finding trout is to cover as much water as possible.

t/ Lakes don't freeze uniformly. Early and late in die season, ice mat's safe in die morning may be dangerous by late afternoon.

V Prolonged cold weadier lifted. Then the rod tip is quickly low­ will catch trout. But it is the swimming makes safe, thick ice. Use ered so the jigs fall on slack line. Once action that makes these lures different an auger to test ice. Four again, their shape causes them to glide and is their purpose. inches of clear, blue ice is away from a straight drop, and they Adding bait to swimming jigs reduces probably safe for lone "swim" for a short while somewhat in their swimming action. Use just a small anglers and small groups of the manner of a loose pendulum. You piece of bait to maintain adequate swim­ fishermen. must pause several seconds between Ufts ming action. I Hke either the head or tail for these lures to work as they were de­ of a small minnow on the middle hook V Single, unbroken pressure signed. ofaRapalajig. A whole small minnow cracks in ice are probably I have observed many anglers using can be used on an airplane jig. safe to cross, but stay away these lures the same way they would use Unless the trout are really active and from die areas where cracks leadheads or spoons, which is fine and abundant, in which case there is no need meet or intersect. for aggressive ice fishing, always tip any jig with some sort of bait. Minnows or w Be extremely wary of places maggots are my usual choices. If the where water levels change, minnows are more than a couple of such as rivers, streams, inches long, I use only half a minnow, inlets, outlets, coves, eddies unless I am interested only in big trout. and springs. Moving water Pinching the minnows in half makes erodes and weakens ice from them shed scales when they are jigged, beneath. So does wind and probably makes them smell stron­ pushing water under ice. ger. There is no need for lively minnows because jigging gives the rig morion. The V Avoid areas with stick-ups. minnows should be fresh, though. Protruding logs, brush, plants and docks absorb If you look at aggressive ice fishing for trout as more work, then maybe this is heat from the sun. not the approach you should take to this V Dark areas of ice may reveal sport. But if you look at it more as fun, places where ice is thin. then get ready for your best winter of ice Avoid these spots. fishing. And maybe you can adapt the same strategy to ice fish for other fishes. V Ice awls can save your life. The idea is to give it your best shot, give To make your own, it in the best places, and give it in as many see page 53. Chapman Lake, places as possible. Chapman State Park, Warren County. c

Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 43 by Art Michaels "Emergency service calls" is the terminals with fine sand­ what Rico Silvera calls it when paper and then coat them a guy who hasn't touched his lightly with petroleum jelly. rig since his last trip in die fall Charge the batteries fully, too. puts his boat in the water in Remove the batteries from the spring. Silvera, a trans­ items like portable radios, planted Pennsylvanian, owns flashlights and portable navi­ a boat dealership in Lenoir gation lights. Install fresh re­ City, Tennessee. "Then he placements this spring. calls us and says, "This doesn't If you live near saltwater or work, and diat doesn't work.' It's probably not too late to winterize your boat. brackish water, get underneath Too bad, because the right Protect your investment and start next season without a problem, the console and spray WD-40 winterizing maintenance in or a similar anti-corrosive wa­ the fall or early winter prevents most Silvera recommends removing the ter-displacing lubricant lighdy on the back problems when you're ready to fish again batteries and all electronics from the boat of the switch panel. This precaution pre­ in the spring," Silvera says. and bringing them indoors. He says it's vents corrosion and rust. Silvera divides winterizing a small boat best to store electronics and batteries in If the boat is covered, the wiring needs into three areas: boat, outboard and a place with a fairly constant tempera­ no special attention now except to en­ trailer. Consider Silvera's ideas on how ture. He also says if s wise to avoid "tem­ sure that it's dry. However, when you to avoid becoming one of his "emergency perature cycling" in a storage place. remove die electronics from the boat, la­ service calls." A small investment even Temperature cycling, says Silvera, is bel the wires so you remember which wire now-it's probably not too late-pays big the rising and falling of the air tempera­ goes where. Masking tape labeled with dividends next spring. ture. It can be 75 degrees inside your boat a waterproof pen does the trick. Boat during the daytime, but at night the It's also wise at this time to clean the temperature can drop below freezing. deck and carpeting with warm water, "First, pull the plug so there's no chance Temperature cycling damages electronics mild soap and a soft brush, and vacuum of the bilge holding water that might by causing condensation and moisture the boat's interior. Shampooing a car­ freeze during the winter," Silvera says. to form on die inside of the equipment. peted deck can bring a trampled, weath­ Besides living in Pennsylvania, Silvera has It can shorten the life of batteries by ered deck back to life. lived in New York state, so he's familiar robbing them of their ability to hold a with harsh, cold winters and the damage charge. Outboard they can inflict on neglected boats. Make sure the battery terminals are Silvera says it's best to store gas tanks Silvera also suggests covering your clean when you store your batteries. Sand full to prevent condensation. Inspect the boat. This stops animals bottom and lower portion of from taking up residence in the tank for rust and corro­ your boat, and it prevents the Check your battery's charge sion. Remove any rust and sun's ultraviolet damage to every month or so with a touch up the tank with paint. the boat interior. A fabric hydrometer. Silvera says you have two cover is best-a material that options with outboards. allows evaporation. "First, you can disconnect the "It's important to go fuel line and run the engine through the boat and make until the carburetors are dry sure you leave nothing and the motor stops," says aboard that's wet," Silvera Silvera. "However, I don't rec­ says. "Drain all the livewells ommend this procedure with thoroughly. Wash off mud, oil-injected engines because it sand and aquatic vegetation causes plug-fouling and hard from the anchor and die line, starting in the spring. and air-dry the anchor line "Instead," Silvera says, "add and mooring lines." fuel stabilizer to the full gas

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories last A Lifetime tank and run the motor on a water the cable and adding grease to all the source-back up the motor into the wa­ grease fittings in the steering assembly. terway or hook up the engine to a hose. "It's important to extend the cable as Run it for about 10 minutes. This pre­ far as possible and clean it to prevent a Equipment vents the gas from breaking down." buildup of dirt and gunk," Silvera says. He also suggests that if you plan to If you store the engine outside in the Check leave your rig unused for more than "up" position, or trailering position, When you winterize your boat, re­ about 90 days, fog the engine. This pre­ place a plastic garbage bag over the lower move your boat's safety equipment and vents corrosion from occurring inside unit so that water doesn't enter the ex­ check or replace each item. the engine. Use a fogging oil specially haust cavity. The "up" position turns l^Check the expiration date on your designed for this purpose. Storage Seal the exhaust cavity into a catch basin for flares. If they are expired, or if by Quicksilver and OMC's Storage Fog­ water. Water can freeze there and crack they will expire before or during ging Oil are two such products. You feed the lower unit It's best to store the engine the next season, don't throw them it through the carburetor throats while in the "run" position with the lower unit away. Keep them to use first in the engine runs until you bog the engine uncovered because an outboard's cooling an emergency. Buy new flares with down and it stops. This puts a lubricating system is self-draining. an expiration date good for at least oil coating on all internal components three years. Replace flares that so they don't rust or stick. Follow the Trailer show signs of leakage or directions on the can. "If you store your trailer for a long delamination of the case. "Remember that when you run the time, block the trailer so it doesn't sit engine again, you remove this coating," on the tires, causing flat spots and dry */Remove all the lifejackets and Silverasays. "Ifyo u fish during the winter rot," Silvera says. Store the trailer for cushions from the boat and on a nice day when the bite is on after adequate drainage so that the bow is inspect them for rips, wear, and you've winterized your engine, re-fog the slightly higher than the stern. torn, broken or missing hardware. engine when you store the boat again for "Check the lug nuts and tighten Wearable lifejackets and throwable the harshest part of the winter." them, and make sure the tires and the devices, like some seat cushions, Silvera also recommends changing the spare are fully inflated. The correct count toward the legal lower unit oil at this time. To do so, inflation pressure is molded into the requirement only when they are remove the oil vent screws and let the sidewalk" Now is a good time to ro­ in good, serviceable condition. oil drain into a clear glass jar. tate the trailer tires. "Lower unit gear oil shouldn't look This is also the time to add grease to %/ Remove your first aid kit from the like coffee with double cream," Silvera the bearing protectors, or pull the wheels boat and replenish supplies. says. "If it does, it means that water is and repack the bearings. Your dealer can contaminating the oil, and you probably advise you whether repacking or replace­ have a problem with the seals. In this ment is appropriate. The dealer can best case, take the engine to a dealer. In fact, perform this maintenance because re­ take the motor to a dealer with any in­ packing or replacing the hub's inner parts dication of water or metal filings con­ requires special tools for components taminating the lower unit gear oil." with specific tolerances. Silvera says to extend the steering cable Check the lights to make sure no water fully, which means turning the steering remains in the housings. This is also the wheel hard to the right. He recommends time to check your winch cable or rope. wiping WD-40 on the exposed part of If it's at all frayed, replace it. f~j

t^Remove your fire extinguisher from the boat and check its condition and pressure. If the pressure gauge indicator points in the green area, the extinguisher is usable. Most small-boat marine fire extinguishers use a dry chemical that can harden and cake. If your extinguisher uses a dry chemical, turn the extinguisher upside down and bang the bottom with a rubber mallet Then turn it right-side up and bang the sides a few times.-AM. Renew the hubs so that no water remains in there during the winter. Fresh grease and, if necessary, replacement parts are in order.

Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 45 Susquehanna River that rolls through Snyder County in central Pennsylvania. Bogan was looking for clams as part of a project supported by the Fish and Boat Commission and the Wild Resource Conservation Fund to inventory the mussel species found throughout the state. MOW Such a comprehensive study has been by Karl Blankenship done only once before. In the early 1900s, Arnold Ortmann of the Carnegie Mu­ seum waded through Pennsylvania wa­ terways and identified 65 species. "For the first time since the beginning of this century, we're going to have a good handle on where mussels are still left, which species remain, and at what lev­ "•'-"v' els," said Andrew Shiels, Fish and Boat Commission Herpetology and Endan­ gered Species Coordinator. As Bogan works his way across the state, the dire situation of many native freshwater mussels is becoming abun­ dantly clear. Since Ortmann did his work, 22 species have vanished from Pennsylvania, and two more are listed as endangered. To Bogan and others who study mussels, these facts are alarming. "People would be terribly upset if sud­ denly we lost that many of our woodpeck­ ers," he said. But many people couldn't care less. When people see Bogan standing bent- over in bone-chilling water and staring nto a bucket, they often ask what he is doing. After he tells them, they often are left shaking their heads. "It's pretty hard to get empathy for a clam," Bogan says. Clams are not cute and cuddly. In fact, Bogan points out, they don't even have a head. "There are two shells Standing knee-deep in It takes skill to spot and a foot and a Middle Creek, Art Bogan was sticking a mussel in a rocky mouth and two pairs his head in a bucket. It is standard equip­ stream bottom. To of gills," he said, "but ment, and standard operating procedure, the untrained eye, no head." Even snails, for his line of work. Bogan is a mala- there appears to be which Bogan also cologist, someone who studies mollusks, nothing but rocks. takes note of in a variety of aquatic animal that includes But in Middle Creek, streams, have heads. clams, mussels and oysters. Bogan was finding To the casual ob­ To find them, he uses a custom-de­ Sphaerium-fingernail clams. "Look at server, Bogan acknowledges, the life of signed bucket: The bottom has been cut that," he said, peering through the a mussel can be described simply: "They out and replaced with a glued-in piece bucket. "That's typically what you see- imitate a pet rock." In research circles, of clear plastic. When the modified a little black crack in the sand." exciting questions focus on such things bucket is pushed into the water, Bogan's Indeed, the tip of a clam was poking as why some species pull themselves out view of river and stream bottoms is as just above the sand. The rest was bur­ of the sediment at night to engage in clear as it would be if he were using a giant ied in stream bottom sediment. mating rituals while other species do so scuba mask. Middle Creek is a tributary of the during the day.

46 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Bivalves Ortmann feared the worst, and as far decades are helping to clean up the state's • But the sedentary lifestyle of the back as 1909 warned that "the worst rivers and streams to the point where mussel is misleading. The freshwater damage to our fauna is done by the native mussel populations could thrive mussels of Pennsylvania and North pollution of the streams." again. In fact, two species that had once America are bivalves, which means they Mussels may filter the water, but many been wiped out have returned. have a pair of shells, each of which is a rivers became so polluted that mussels large valve, joined by a hinge. Bivalves were overwhelmed. Some were smoth­ Role of zebra mussels are filter feeders: They draw water ered by silt washed from deforested lands. But Bogan and others are not optimis­ through their valves and filter out par­ Some were killed by acidic water drain­ tic about the future. Just as cleaner water ticles, such as algae, to eat. ing from mines. Others were simply poi­ brought some hope, a cargo ship arrived, "Ninety-nine percent of your anglers soned by assorted pollutants. In some carrying in its hold a menace from Eu­ are probably not even aware these clams streams, remnant populations have stayed rope: the zebra mussel. are out there," Bogan said, "but they're around for decades, but something has With no natural predators, the mus­ an active part of the natural filtering kept any young from surviving. sel has spread throughout the Great system of the river." Water downstream Bogan has found that the most severely Lakes, much of the Mississippi River of a large clam bed is measurably cleaner drainage, the Hudson River and the Erie than upstream water. Canal. Last year, zebra mussels moving In fact, large numbers of bivalves can up the Ohio River were reported in Penn­ filter huge amounts of water. Some sylvania. In previous years, they have been scientists believe that oysters once may reported in the headwaters of the have filtered all the water in Chesapeake Susquehanna River in New York. Bay in just four days. Today, it takes the As many as 11,000 zebra mussels depleted oyster stock about a year to do stacked atop a single native clam have the same job. As a result, taxpayers are been reported. They filter all the food spending tens of millions of dollars to out of the water before it can reach the remove pollutants that cause large algae clam, causing it to starve. Dead native blooms and destroy the bay's water mussels, coated with zebra mussels, quality. routinely turn up on the beaches along Bivalves in freshwater streams are Lake Erie. thought to play much of the same role, In places, things are so bad that sci­ but studies have only begun in recent entists have pulled the last survivors of years. "The amount we don't know about some species out of the water, hoping the life history, behavior and biology of affected rivers in Pennsylvania are the to breed them in captivity so that some­ these things is frightening," Bogan says. Monongahela and the southern portion day, if the tide of zebra mussels falls back What he and others are certain about of the Allegheny where few species can or reaches some kind of equilibrium, they is that the continent's abundant variety be found. "Ortmann said they were dead might be returned to the rivers. of freshwater mussels is decreasing at an in 1909, and they're still dead," Bogan In the future, scientists will be able to alarming rate. North America is home said. The Monongahela once had more use Bogan's data to measure the zebra to about 300 species of freshwater mus­ than 40 clam species, more than any other mussel's effect, just as Bogan uses sels, more than any other continent. Over in the state. Today, the river has been Ortmann's data to assess how streams have the course of millions of years, they have heavily affected by pollution, and some been changed during the past century. evolved into unique populations from tributaries run red as the result of acid A stream's legacy quickly becomes clear their saltwater ancestors as oceans rose mine drainage. after Bogan wades in. He combs a site and fell around the Appalachian Moun­ that appears to have good habitat po­ tains, isolating scattered populations Bright spot in Pennsylvania tential for about 30 minutes, covering here and there throughout the range. The bright spot in the state is French a stretch of about 100 yards, looking for For reasons not fully understood, Creek, a northern tributary of the Allegh­ clams. Sometimes, he finds only shells, small mussels must hitch rides-in effect eny, where all 24 native species remain. remnants of a vanished population, a becoming a parasite-on fish if they are In the Susquehanna River, Bogan has solid clue that something has happened to survive. Eventually, they drop off at been able to find 11 of the 12 species to the water quality. At many of the sites a place where they will spend the rest of historically found in that watershed, where Ortmann recorded mussel popu­ their lives. And their lives can be long: though some areas are better than others. lations, Bogan has found nothing. Some live more than a century. For example, he has found good spots "They are a tremendous environmen­ But adaptations that allowed them to in parts of the North Branch and the tal indicator," Bogan said. "There are survive the glacial rate of change dur­ Juniata River (the Susquehanna's larg­ a lot of species that cannot withstand ing the ice ages have not helped the est tributary), while portions of the West even a minor disturbance in the amount mussels survive the rapid degradation Branch are decimated as the result of acid of oxygen, acidity, silt and sedimenta­ of their streams in the 19th and 20th mine drainage and other areas, such as tion in the water. They aren't as cuddly as a panda. They aren't as majestic as centuries. More than two-fifths of the Lancaster County, have been affected by an eagle. But they're still a very impor­ native North American species are either farm runoff. Bogan is still completing tant part of the freshwater extinct or in serious danger. field work in the remainder of the state. ecosystem." \_J Early in this century, mussel pioneer Environmental laws passed in recent

Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 47 by Bob Stearns

Have we gone nuts over 25 to 30 mph. It is also true that a hull Rule of 30 horsepower for our fishing boats? I designed for planing speeds realizes only There's an easy way to estimate the sometimes wonder. At times it certainly somewhat less than a 50 percent increase horsepower necessary to get into the max appears so, especially ifyo u hang around in top speed when the horsepower is efficiency range for planing boats. It has certain popular unlimited horsepower doubled. On the other hand, doubling been around forever, and it's sometimes waterways on weekends. Perhaps this the horsepower means almost doubling called the Rule of 30. The rule was origi­ apparent craze is just a marine counter­ fuel consumption, and that's certainly nally developed for inboard engines, but revolution to speed restrictions on the no bargain if all those extra (thirsty) it still applies to all engines. What it means highway. An argument to support this horses can only get you to a spot a few is that if the gross boat weight to engine could come via the observation that "hot" minutes earlier. horsepower ratio is 30:1 (i.e., a 3,000- n boats have only recently begun to become Distance becomes the deciding factor. pound rig with 100 hp), you can reason­ somewhat popular in Europe, where Facing a run of 10 to 15 miles, a boat ably expect a full throttle speed of at least there are still some roads with no speed cruising at 25 to 30 mph is going to get 30 mph. Many of the newer boats with limits and the fuel prices are a lot higher. there in only a matter of minutes. Thus, more efficient hulls do better than that, Going fast to get to a fishing spot on there is a real need for more speed when but in general a top speed of 30 means open, uncrowded water, where it's safe, water conditions permit. Unfortunately, a cruise of 25 at around 75 to 80 percent can be a blast, and there's no sin in having big engines also add up to extravagant power. It works reasonably well with both a lot of ponies aboard if there's a sen­ fuel consumption at slow-trolling- 2- and 4-cycle power, and allows the en­ sible hand on the throttle. Long runs speeds, unless one can be shut down or gine to run at rpms low enough to pro­ are necessary on some waterways, so a smaller kicker is carried just for that vide a long, usable life. And for many speed can increase time on the water- purpose. modern engines, especially loop-charged but always at a price. As a rule of thumb, horsepower for outboards, backing off the throttle from So the "proper" horsepower for your horsepower, outboards and stern drives 100 to 75 percent (e.g., from 5,500 to 4,000 boat now becomes a relative thing and get better fuel economy at cruising speeds rpm) means a reduction of 35 percent or c depends entirely on what you intend to than inboards. When it comes to troll­ more in fuel consumption. °rn, do with it. ing, 4-cycle mills yield by far the best Obviously, we can usually get by with If slow trolling with only a short run economy. That includes the new 4-cycle less horsepower than we might other­ to where you fish or cruise is what you outboards as well. When it comes to 2- wise believe is necessary, if we consider like to do, then you certainly don't need cycle engines, of course, a small outboard all the factors involved. As an example, a lot of Detroit iron to push you around. runs slowly more efficiently than a big consider a 23-foot cabin boat I once tested You can comfortably get by with just outboard, even on a fairly big boat. that was powered by a pair of 75 hp enough horsepower to provide optimum For example, at slow speeds a 40 hp outboards (it was rated for up to 235 hp). displacement speed to get you there, and outboard burns just a little over a half- Quite to our surprise, we found that we you get the last laugh every time you pass gallon per hour, a 60 uses about .8 to 1.0 could easily get the boat on plane and the fuel dock. There is an easy way to gph, a 100 burns 1.5 to 2 gph, and a 200 up to a measured top speed of 23 mph estimate these requirements accurately, needs 3 to 4 gph to keep going even at with a single 75 hp outboard! And that and I'll get to that shortly. very slow speeds. Inboards, stern drives was with a full tank of gas (80-gallon) Planing speeds obviously require more and the new 4-cycle outboards of the and four adults, plus other gear. horsepower. For a lot of wide-ranging same horsepower tend to troll for less fishing that covers a large area, you'll than half of that. want a good turn of speed. But unless you have extremely deep pockets you still want the right horsepower for both ef­ ficient cruising speeds and the best possible planing miles per gallon (mpg). Keep in mind that planing speeds don't necessarily mean high speed. Most boats begin to plane effectively at around 15 to 16 mph, and actually reach their most efficient on-plane speed at around pbto*6TtMid*,k That boat weighed 4,640 pounds with Displacement speeds power would only add perhaps another that load, and possibly the hull (a modi­ What about displacement speeds and one or two mph rather than a 50 percent fied deep-vee) was a little more efficient horsepower requirements? Hull length increase (unless the increase is enough than some with a stronger vee in the is everything here, and there's a formula to get the boat on plane). Weight has bottom. Nevertheless, there's still a big that tells you how to estimate accurately virtually no effect one way or another difference between 75 and 235 horses. the maximum efficient displacement on displacement speeds, but when get­ Incidentally, top speed with bodi 75s and speed for most hulls. It goes like this: ting on plane it can be the whole ball the same load was around 37.6 mph. And S = 1.44 times the square root of L. S is game. That's why the world's shipping as you'd expect, slow trolling all day with the speed in mph and L is the waterline is all done at displacement speeds (which, a single 75 didn't require enough gasoline length in feet. by the way, is 25 mph for a 300-footer). to talk about. For example, a boat with a 16-foot And that is also why, for example, a For that particular boat, with twin 75s waterline length would have a maximum very light aluminum 16-footer could get producing a total of 150 hp, our weight/ efficient displacement hull speed of 1.44 on plane with as little as 25 to 30 hp, while horsepower ratio was 31:1. That's quite x 4, or 5.8 mph. Longer means faster, even a heavy fiberglass rig of the same dimen­ a bit better than the Rule of 30 would often with only slightly more hp. Best sions might require 40 to 50. seem to predict, but because that ratio displacement speed for a 20-footer is 6.4 All of this assumes the correct choice was originally developed for inboards, mph, and for a 30-foot vessel, 7.9 mph. of propeller. The wrong size, or if it's dam­ this really shouldn't come as a surprise. Trying to push that hull past its most aged or worn, can destroy the efficiency We also measured the rig's best fuel efficient displacement speed becomes an of the engine and you'll certainly need economy for cruising at speeds of 24 to expensive proposition unless you in­ extra horsepower to overcome the inherent 30 mph (4,000 to 5,000 rpm, 3.75 to 3.06 crease the speed to the point at which losses of a bad prop. The mpg)-obviously a far more efficient the hull is on plane (about 15 to 16 mph difference can be consid­ horsepower setup than a single 200, and for most small boats). For example, it erable—and expensive. every bit as good (if not a tad better) than takes only about 10 hp running at 75 But if you use this in­ a single 150 could do. percent throttle to get 6 to 7 mph with formation as the basic that 16-footer, and a 20-footer could do approach toward select­ it with about 20. ing the right engine for On the other hand, when it comes to your rig, you won't go wrong. Especially displacement speeds, doubling the horse­ if you keep in mind that not only does a larger engine burn more gas, it also costs more. And to make matters worse, it usually weighs more. So taking a close look at the bottom line, why spend the extra bucks to buy more horsepower than you really need? f~h • • •

• '*' Pennsylvania V&ll Fishing and » # p.i , •• ./'- • : • i ^ 199/ Boating Memories Last a Lifetime w y^^isISYLVANI A 1 & BOAT IMISSION MBSI 1 ! by Dan Tredinnick

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"Time is but the stream I go a-fish- or stinky or prickly or just plain gross? pate know better. Each day on the wa­ ing in." So penned author Henry David Didn't take long, though, until curios­ ter is different in it's own individual and Thoreau, in those nine little words cap­ ity took over. You marveled at how the special way. Memories like these are as turing for an eternity the fluid nature sunlight glinted off its wet scales. integral to our sport as the very acts of of an instant. Moments become min­ Later in life you did learn to let go, to casting and retrieving. utes, days turn to weeks, years blur into release your catch. Remember learning In 1997, die Fish and Boat Commission a lifetime. The waters of time roll ever the thrill of playing a fish and the even will celebrate common memories, versions onward, washing over us. These waters greater joy oflettin g it go to fight another of which we all carry in our creels. Incor­ do not roar like a mighty river, and if day? In a moment when you had abso­ porating the Commonwealth's official not for occasional glimpses of our chang­ lute control of the destiny for another theme, the Commission has adopted ing reflections on the glassy surfaces, living, breathing creature, you chose to "Pennsylvania Fishing and Boating the gentle flow of years might pass us let it thrive. That day you captured some­ Memories Last a Lifetime" as its motto by unnoticed. These placid waters are thing more precious-the realization it for the year. This theme will play a cen­ fertile, rich with vivid recollections of was OK to take with nothing more than tral role in our promotional efforts, in­ days gone by. And when we go a-fish- a creel full of memories. cluding sports show displays, news ing in this stream, we are rewarded with Of course, you still take the occasional releases, publications and a series of ar­ bountiful catches, each cast back in time fish. One in particular may have earned ticles here in Pennsylvania Angler & Boater. producing yet another memory. a place of honor on the wall. It could be We hope that you will join us in celebrat­ Funny how easily we can call forth a little worse for wear now, in need of some ing these ideals. Enjoy our look back at past events. Just think for a second: Re­ repair. It's a little faded with a few chips fishing and boating in yesteryear. Take member your first fish? Doesn't mat­ in the fin. But when you run your fin­ part by sharing your favorite fishing and ter where you where, what you caught gers along its thick back, you can recall boating memories with your fellow read­ or how you caught it, even though the very lure you threw and the precise ers. Send your favorite memories for pub­ chances are good that you can recount pitch screamed by the peeling line. lication consideration to us as part of our those details with unerring precision. When were you permitted to take the contest. For details see page 61. Like a first love, everyone remembers old johnboat out by yourself, the aging Most importantly, help create fishing his first fish. Think back 10, 20, 60 outboard coughing to a start after re­ and boating memories for a whole new years... how it tapped your line and then peated eager yanks on the starter? Funny generation: Take a young person fish­ gave a stronger tug? You tugged back. how the familiar waters of that small ing. Be a part of the magic moment when And cranked that reel so fast it's a won­ mountain lake took on a whole new look young eyes delight at the sight of the un­ der the handle didn't fall off. when you piloted them solo. forgettable first fish. You might see your­ Then the fish was at hand, touched To those outside the fishing and boat­ self in those eyes, a-fishing the stream only gingerly at first. The flush of success ing fraternity, these stories may seem of time. J-L likely edged with a little fear: Is it slimy remarkably similar. Those who partici­

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Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater O 1 PUBLICATIONS Hey Kids! It's time for PLAY. Pennsylvania • League • of • Angling • Youth PLAY is an educational program to help you learn about fish, fishing, conservation, safety, and the waters Name: of Pennsylvania. You'll receive a jacket patch, quar­ terly newsletter, "whistle for safety," special publi­ Address: cations and otiier items to help you be a better angler. A one-year PLAY mem­ City:, State: ZIP: bership is $3.00. Checks or money orders only Age: please, made out to: Send to: PLAY, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Pennsylvania Fish and P.O. Box 67000, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000. Boat Commission. .PENNSYLVANIALEAGUE mm^mmm^mmmmmmm \OF ANGLING YOUTH, Colorful Patches Please total your (limited quantities available) order here- Qty. Price Total Boating Safety $2.83 +.17* $ Wall Charts Sub-total $ PLAY 1980 $2.83 +.17* $ PLAY 1981 $2.83 +.17* $ Books Sub-total $ PLAY 1983 $2.83 +.17* $ PLAY 1986 $2.83 +.17* $ Pamphlets Sub-total PLAY 1987 $2.83 +.17* $ $ PLAY 1991 $2.83 +.17* $ PLAY 1992 $2.83 +.17* $ Patches Sub-total $ PLAY 1993 $2.83 +.17* $ PLAY 1994 $2.83 +.17* $ PLAY Sub-total $ PLAY 1995 $2.83 +.17* $ Sub-total $ | Total Enclosed $ PFBC Ball Caps One siz efits all. |K"*:" Your name ilk m Address P i City State Zip Qty- Price Total Mail to: PA Fish & Boat Commission, Publications Section, P. O. Box 67000, Har­ PFBC Ball Cap $10.00 risburg, PA 17106-7000. Use check or money order for remittance made payable shipping and handling $1.50 to: PA Fish & Boat Commission. Please provide name and address above. Prices subject to change without notice. Allow 6-8 weeks for delivery. •>ub-totaI $ |

52 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime " by Carl Richardson illustrated by Ted Walke you* Ice Awls CUECKil Toots NEEDED: DIRECTIONS Q Drill Trace the pattern on the wood Version A closed • Hand coping saw, and using the saw, cut out the two jig saw or scroll saw pieces. Note: If a coping or jig • Drill bits: saw is unavail­ • 3/16-inch able, the awls can • same diameter as be made just by the nails cutting the piece • slightly smaller than nail diameter in half. Using the • Hammer 3/16-inch bit, • Hacksaw or bolt drill one hole at cutters for cutting the end of each piece. On the end nails of each piece drill the following • File or grinder holes: One the same diameter as the nail, the other slightly MATERIALS: smaller. The hole that is the same • Any hardwood, diameter serves as a "sheath" for dimensions: the nail. The other is a pilot hole 2"x2"x8" to prevent the wood from split­ • Galvanized or ting. Make sure that the pilot masonry nails, hole on one side lines up with the 16 penny or larger sheath hole on the other piece. • 3/16-inch nylon rope, at least Drive the nail into the pilot hole 24 inches long on each piece leaving at least 11/2 inches of the nail exposed. Using the cutters or hacksaw, cut off the head of the nail. File or grind the head of the nail to a point. Put nylon line through the hole at the end of each piece. Knot the line so that it won't pass back through. Repeat on the To use other end. Assemble the two THS AWLS pieces and wear the awl around After falling in, the •H the neck when on the ice. ^~) awls are used to pull yourself to safety. To do this, ^J firmly drive each spike into the ice and ^fr pull yourself onto the ice. tfft Don't stand up once on the ice! Slowly roll to safer ice.

£&&*» &BoatingMemoriesLastA Lifetime i\'nns\i!'d)i!d An^k'r&Ba^lcr 53 the most trouble when tying parachutes. The first is the wing. Tying the wing correctly is vital on a parachute fly be­ cause it also functions as the post on which the hackle is wound. Stiff, fine- textured hair, such as calf tail and calf body, has traditionally been used for the wing material on parachutes. Getting this hair to behave properly gives some tiers difficulty. A few years ago I began experiment­ ing with alternative materials for para­ chute wings. Several of those I tried proved satisfactory, but the one I settled on is Antron yarn, for a number of rea­ sons. Antron yarn is inexpensive and readily available. Most important, it is quick and easy to work with and pro­ duces a wing that is functional and durable. Antron yarn is also available in a wide range of colors, giving the tier some options when fashioning parachute flies. For those desiring the most precise imitation, the wing color can be matched to that of the copied insect. If maximum visibility on the water is a concern, white or a fluorescent-yellow or green will produce a fly that is easily seen even in deep shadows or twilight. I have become a fan of high-visibility wings and now use them almost exclu­ sively. My experience has shown me that under most conditions the fish seem to The parachute-style dry on die water's surface in die same manner take parachute flies with fluorescent fly was invented by William Brush, an as a real insect's legs do. wings just as well as those with a more engineer from Detroit. Brush applied Even though parachutes possess these natural-colored wing. In some situations, for a patent on his design in 1931. In obvious design advantages, many tiers fluorescent-winged flies can prove to be subsequent years, patterns tied with the perceive them as hard to tie and avoid more effective. Because they are easier characteristic horizontally wrapped attempting these wonderfully effective to track on the water, it is easier to de­ hackle were marketed under a variety of flies. This is an unfortunate miscon­ tect drag and other flaws in presentation names, including Gyrofly, Umbrella, ception. Parachutes are different, not and make necessary corrections. Being Ride-Rite, and probably a few others. difficult. able to see the fly for a few extra min­ Despite all those catchy names, parachute There are two areas that seem to cause utes during the fading light of a late- flies never gained widespread acceptance evening feeding spree can mean hooking until relatively recently. another fish or two long after other Parachute dry flies have enjoyed a Dressing: anglers have headed back to their cars. tremendous surge of popularity in re­ Light Cahill Larger trout often begin rising only as cent years for good reason—they work darkness sets in, so those extra minutes Hook: Standard dry fly hook, and they work well. A conventional dry of fishing time account for some of my sizes 12 to 18. fly depends on a heavy collar of hackle best dry-fly fish each season. This alone Thread: Cream or pale yellow. to float it, which can also obscure the has earned fluorescent-winged para­ Wing: Gold, white or fluorescent- body and wing to some degree. A para­ chutes a permanent place in my fly box. yellow Antron yarn. chute, on the other hand, presents a sil­ Winding the hackle on a parachute fly Tail: Light-ginger hackle fibers. houette that more closely imitates a is the other tying step that some tiers find Body: Cream or pale-yellow natural mayfly. It uses only a few wraps troublesome. Attention to a few simple dubbing. of hackle wound around the base of the details helps ensure the desired effect. Hackle: Light ginger. wing. The hackle fibers radiate horizon­ For best results, the hackle should be tied tally along the body to suspend the fly in perfecdy flat with the outer or "shiny"

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime side of the feather facing up. The hackle stem should be bound down securely to prevent the hackle from twisting when wound and causing the hackle fibers to splay upward instead of radiating neatly around the base of the wing. The first turn of hackle is another key detail. Maintain reasonable tension on the feather so the stem is wound tightly around the wing post. Then take care to make sure each successive wrap goes under the one before it. There is also no need to over-hackle a parachute. Three or four turns of hackle are usually suf­ ficient. More than this often jams many hackle fibers upward, resulting in a fly 1 • Cut a length ofAntron yarn and fold it that looks bad and floats poorly. in half. Tie in the doubled yarn at a point With a little practice, any competent approximately one-quarter the length of the fly tier can master the techniques nec­ hook shank behind the eye. The wing essary to tie a good-looking and effec­ material should form a large loop as shown. tive parachute dry fly. And any favorite Black thread is used in Steps 1 & 2 for dry fly pattern can be converted to the better contrast. 2. Pull the wing material into the upright parachute style. Qf position and secure it in place with a series of tight thread wraps against the front side of the wing. Once the wing is positioned, make a series of thread wraps around the bottom of the wing itself to form a base where the hackle will be wound.

J. Trim away the butts of the wing 4. Tie in the hackle at the base of the wing. material and advance the thread to the The hackle should be tied in flat with the bend of the hook. Tie in a small bunch of outside of the feather facing straight up. After hackle fibers for the tail, and then form a the hackle is secured, finish the body by adding dubbed body up to the rear side of the wing. a little more dubbing in front of the wing. Be sure to leave enough room behind the eye to tie 5. Wrap three or four turns of hackle off the hackle and finish the head. around the base of the wing, making sure each turn goes below the previous one. Properly done, the hackle fiber should radiate evenly at a right angle to the wing. Maintain tension on the hackle and tie it off behind the hook eye, taking care not to hind down too many hackle fibers in the process. Trim away the excess hackle tip and finish the head.

6. Apply a drop of head cement at the base of the wing to seal the wraps of hackle in place. Complete the fly by trimming the wing to the proper length.

Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater MEMORIES, MUGS n] AND COLLECTORS' ITEMS m *£. Ass FROM THE PENNSYLVANIA FISH & BOAT COMMISSION PENNSYLVANIA FISH & BOAT COMMISSION "75 YEARS OF FISHING AND BOATING MEMORIES" MUG Mugs can hold cold or hot liquids, including 12-ounce cans. The 75 YEARS <2fAlifM FISHING AND ^ | bottom can be removed MEMORIES I to fill the sides with ice.

1997 FISHING MEMORIES ZIPPO TAPE PATCH MEASURE This is a limited This is a limited edition item edition item. Only and each is serially numbered. 7,500 have been made. Purchase limited to five per person.

ORDER NOW! Item Unit Price Tax Total Unit (PA residents only) Mugs Each $2.83 .17 Mugs-Pack of six $14.15 .85 $15.00 FREE 75-Year Zippo Tape Measure $11.32 .68 $12.00 Anniversary Fishing 1997 Fishing Memories Patch $4.71 .29 License Button shipped with each order! Shipping and handling all orders The first resident fishing license was established in 1922, TOTAL enclosed: and license buttons were first soldinl923. For the first time, the Commision became self- Send orders to: supporting. This license button, Name modeled after the first one of Fulfillment Section 1923, commemorates 75 years PA Fish & Boat Commission of angler and boater support P.O. Box 67000 for Commission programs. Address Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000 Do not send cash. Use check or money (complete street address only for UPS delivery) order made payable to PA Fish (£ Boat Commission. Be sure your name and ad­ dress appear on your check and on this order form. Offer expires December 31. City. State. .ZIP. 1997, or when supplies are depleted. WHILE SUPPLIES LAST! 1997 itainbow Darter Patch In 1997 the Commission begins producing an annual series of five non-game species limited-edi­ Governor's Conference on tion patches, designed by the Commission's graphic designer Ted Walke. Only 7,500 patches of each annual & TRAIL? edition will be produced. This year's patch features TT7- the rainbow darter. For more details on Pennsylva­ nia darters, see the article on page 33. Patches will be available after January 1,1997. Each sells for $4.71 PFHNSW/AHIA plus 29 cents PA state sales tax for a total of $5.00. "Pecm -Haws "Radisscm Include $3.00 shipping and handling for each order. Camp Hilt PA Contact: Fulfillment Section, PA Fish & Boat Com­ April 27-29/ 1997 For mofe information call: ^__j :_i^:- mission, P.O. Box 67000, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000. 814-234-4272

The mission of the Pennsylvania Fisb&Boat Commission is to provide fishing and boating finglcr's Notebook ty&tkC* opportunities through the protection and management of aquatic resources. EXECUTIVE OFFICE An old trick ice fishermen use to attract fish Peter A. Colangelo, Executive Director Dennis T. Guise, Deputy Executive to their baits is dropping crushed egg shells down Director/Chief Counsel Laurie Sliepler, Assistant Counsel the auger hole. The light reflecting off the shells K. Ron Was, Project Planner may attract the fish, or perhaps the fluttering John Arway, Division of Environmental Services shell chips simply spark their investigative urge. Joseph A. Greene, Legislative Liaison Whatever the reason, give it try the next time Rafae! Perez-Bravo, Personnel Tom Ford, the fishing is slow. But remember that a little Resources Planning Coordinator goes a long way. Dan Tredinnick, Media Relations COMPTROLLER Old creek channels in impoundments are Ross E. Starner excellent places to ice-fish. This basic structure BUREAU OF ADMINISTRATION 717-657-4522 attracts a wide variety of large gamefish, as well Wasyl James Polischukjr., Director as bluegills, crappies and perch. Tom E. Thomas, Information Systems Brian Barner, Federal Aid/Grants Mary Stine, Fishing Licenses For hauling a lot of ice-fishing gear a long Andrew Mutch, Boat Registration distance, nothing beats a plastic snow sled. BUREAU OF FISHERIES They're cheap, light weight, and will carry buck­ 814-359-5100 Delano Graff, Director ets, tip-ups, jigging rods and the rest ofyou r gear Rickalon L. Hoopes, to your spot in one trip. Division of Research Richard A. Snyder Division of Fisheries Management When fishing during the wintertime, always Dennis C. Ricker, be sure your tackle is rigged before you go to Division of Trout Production Martin T. Marcinko, Division of the fishing location. It is difficult to tie on sink­ Warm/Coolwater Fish Production ers, lures, hooks, etc., when your hands are cold. BUREAU OF ENGINEERING AND DEVELOPMENT 814-3S9-5100 Many ice fishermen report that after drilling James Young, P.E., Director a hole, they get strikes immediately. Although James I. Wane, Division of Construction and Maintenance the angler may have picked an excellent loca­ Eugene O. Banker, P.E., tion, the instant success may also be explained Property Services Richard Mulfmger, P.E., by the idea that nearby fish are attracted to the Fishing & Boating Facilities Design area by the sound of the drilling auger, or by BUREAU OF LAW ENFORCEMENT the sudden influx of sunlight into their dark 717-657-4542 Edward W. Manhart, Director world beneath. Tom Kamerzel, Assistant to the Director Jeff Bridi, Assistant to the Director Five-gallon buckets are terrific for storing ice- A Palomar knot is outstanding for tying BUREAU OF BOATING hooks, lures and sinkers to the line. It's easy fishing gear. In them will fit small tackle boxes, AND EDUCATION tip ups, a thermos and other gear. If you cut a 717-657-4540 to tie, and it's very strong. 1) Double the line John Simmons, Director hole in the top, you can keep several jigging rods Dan Martin, Boating Safety Program through the hook eye. 2) Tie an overhand knot Carl Richardson, in the doubled line. 3) Move the hook through in the bucket as well. Once you get to your spot Aquatic Resource Program and empty your gear, you can use the bucket as Art Michaels, Publications the end loop. 4) Tighten the knot by pulling Ted R. Walke, Graphic Services both line ends and clip the tag end. a seat. PFBC World Wide Web Site: http://www.state.pa.us/PA_Exec/ illustration- Ted Walk?

Fishing & Boating Memories List A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Jim Suttie caught and released this largemouth bass while fishing on Pine Lake, Monroe County. The fish, which took a minnow, weighed 71/2 pounds. Nice going, Jim!

Wayne Jaillet, Mercer, hooked this brown trout while fishing in Neshannock Creek, Mercer County. The fish measured 23 inches and was caught on live bait.

Nicholas Bohonek, Pittsburgh, caught this steelhead in Elk Creek last October. The fish was caught on an egg sack and weighed 71/2 pounds. It was 261/2 inches long. Justin Edgar, Pittsburgh, used a jig and minnow to fool this husky rock bass. The Lake Erie fish weighed 14 ounces and was MattKiliany, Scottdale, used a crankbait to 10 inches long. fool this walleye into striking. The Lake Erie fish weighed 7pounds, 6 ounces and measured 26 3/4 inches in length.

Bob Elliott (left) caught this nice brown trout Michael Evans, Leechburg caught this brown Denise Harding, Scranton, holds up the last May while fishing in French Creek, trout while fishing in Brokenstraw Creek, largemouth bass she hooked while fishing at a Chester County. He and his fishing partner, Warren County. The fish, caught on a lake in Wayne County. The fish weighed 6 Damian Dieuliis, are active volunteers with spinner, weighed 4 pounds, 12 ounces and pounds and measured 22 inches in length. the Commission's stocking program. was 23 inches long.

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Eight-year-old Jenna Butts, Carnegie, was fishing on the Ohio River near Pittsburgh i^^^Vr when she hooked this 181/2-inch sheepshead. This 291/4-inch carp was enough to earn Nice job, Jenna! Billy Roach, Abington, a Junior Angler Award. Billy.was fishing mealworms on Green Lane Reservoir, Montgomery County, when he caught the 14-pound, 4-ouncefish. Nice job, Billy!

Douglas Pavick was fishing on Glendale Lake when this muskellunge nailed his spinner. The monster fish weighed 35 pounds and was 50 inches long.

John Stoops, 13, caught this 33-inch carp on the Allegheny River last March. The fish took a nightcrawler and weighed 15 pounds. John landed the fish on 6-pound-test line. Kingston resident Charles Mountjoy caught Nice fish, John! this brook trout while fishing on Moon Lake the opening day of last season. The fish measured 19 inches in length and weighed 4 pounds, 8 ounces.

Debbie Berkich holds the 38-inch channel catfish she Pittsburgh resident John Wytiaz was fishing in caught last August in Lake Elk Creek, Erie County, when this steelhead Arthur. Nice fish, Debbie! struck his lure. The fish measured 30 inches long and weighed 10 pounds, 6 ounces.

Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater friend added, "Huh-that's a really good ways conservation officer cadets at two thing to know, isn't it?" Looking now sportsmens' club meetings. At first I to my runner, I asked, "Recognize that failed to see the wisdom of this exercise. from anywhere?" It was at this point he But while I was actually preparing the realized that the hill he had just run presentation, it dawned on me just how across and rolled through, unshitted, was long and involved the process of becom­ literally engulfed with the ivy. His next ing a waterways conservation officer was. words said it all: "Man, I don't know why We began the testing process in late 1994 I did that. That was a really stupid thing and now it was April 1996 and we were to do." still in training. Equally amazed were "Allergic to it?" I asked. "Don't know," our audiences to learn that our basic he said. "Oh, you'll soon enough," I training was longer and more thorough added. "By the way, where is that can than any other Pennsylvania law enforce­ you were holding when I first saw you?" ment agency. They were also intrigued I asked. "Uh-oh," was all he said. that we were trained at an accredited I guess there's two valuable lessons I've municipal police officers' academy in gathered from this situation-if you addition to and before an even longer haven't done anything, don't run, and educational process at our Fish and Boat pay attention in that high school biol­ Commission academy. The ensuing ogy class-someday it may pay off- WCO positive comments from these sports­ Mark Kerr, Northwest Region. men were indicative of their pleasure in Botany lesson knowing that their conservation offic­ While patrolling the Allegheny River, Just call it superstition ers would be able to serve their needs so Venango County, I encountered this I'm not a superstitious person by completely after they graduated and interesting scenario. Walking the old rail nature...but lately, I consider an omen received their duty assignments.-WCO grade, I was spotted by two young men an omen. George Geisler, northern York County. sitting at the wood's edge. One of the For the past 20 years or so when I work men quickly stood up and disappeared with neighboring officer Fred Mussel of Hey officer, I'm lost into the woods. When I reached their Lehigh County something unusual al­ One day during field training in location I noticed an ever-growing circle ways occurs. Such as the patrol boat Luzerne County, WCO Dave Corl and of beverage cans around the spot where doing everything from not starting, sink­ I were driving on a rural back road miles they were sitting. Thinking back to the ing or floating away on us to Fred roll­ from the nearest house. As we turned man who slipped into the woods, I re­ ing his fingers up in the patrol vehicle's a corner, we came across a homely, called two primary features: He was window or slamming them in the trunk, wrinkled dog standing on a piece of paper shirtless and he left carrying a can. Fig­ getting confused with log rolling and that had apparently fallen off a nearby uring this was a good opportunity to rock rolling and sinking out of sight, telephone pole. We stopped to investi­ educate him on the negatives of litter­ driving down the road with a parachute gate and the dog backed away enough ing and still curious at the one indivi­ behind his vehicle (actually a swimming for me to read the "wanted poster" un­ dual's skittish behavior, the remaining pool cover that looked like a parachute). der its feet. It read: "Lost male St. Ber- gentleman, a very pleasant young man, All these things are just a small sample nard/Shar-pei mix that answers to the and I began looking for his departed of what I have witnessed, making work­ name of Charlie." I called out "Charlie" friend. ing with Fred very interesting. I could and the overgrown pup happily jumped When we found him, he had run along tell you more, but I don't want his wife into the jeep for the ride home. Appar­ the river hill. Finally, with both of them to get too hysterical. ently, Charlie could read but didn't know in front of me, I asked my racer why he But back to the omen. I finally exer­ where he was.-WCO Tom Nunamacher, ran when he saw me, not wanted or cised better judgment the other day, Northcentral Region. having committed any violation of a law returning to my office instead of working to the point when I first saw him. His with Fred-after a squirrel fell out of a Oops! only response was, "I don't know." Now, tree and on top of my head. While on routine patrol at Twin Lakes looking at the hill we had just gotten our PS: If there is a rebuttal to this Stream Park, I struck up a conversation with a shirtless runner from and at the path Note, don't believe a word Fred tells you. young couple who were teaching their underneath my feet, I re-evaluated and After all, our supervisor won't allow him children to fish. Suddenly, the mother figured, perhaps, first a botany lesson to operate a jet ski.- WCO Terry Hannold, heaved back and cast her son's entire rod may be in order. Northampton County. in the lake. Before I could say a word, "Know what poison ivy looks like?" the mother flipped off her shoes and I asked. Their reply, "Nope!" "Well, do The long road jumped in to retrieve the rod. She hur­ you see that plant there with the groups As part of my field training assignment ried out with the rod and apologized for of three odd-shaped leaves? That's poi­ in Lehigh County with WCO Fred Mus­ illegally wading in a state park lake.- WCO son ivy," I said. At this point the one sel, I was required to give a presentation Ron Evancho, Southwest Region. gentleman who helped me locate his on the selection and training of water­

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime M Memories To Last A Lifetime Watch your step The children are our future While on field training in Venango I believe our youth need all the help "Fishing and County with WCO Robert Steiner, I had they can get in today's world. They are Boating the opportunity to be part of a feature bombarded with nothing but doom, article in the local newspaper. The sub­ gloom and despair. I ordered a supply Memories Last a ject of the article was the opening day of PLAY applications and outdated news­ Lifetime" Contest of trout season from the perspective of letters from the Bureau of Boating and Readers are invited to write their a WCO. Later that same day we were Education. While on routine patrol, I fishing and boating memories and stocking West Pithole Creek when a will stop and hand this information to submit them to the Commission. photographer from the newspaper families fishing with their children. I Submit your article to: Fishing and showed up to "make us famous." WCO feel fishing will provide a lifelong pas­ Boating Memories Last a Lifetime, Steiner jokingly warned me not to fall time for the children. In addition, when Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Com­ in the creek in front of the camera. While the children realize fish need clean wa­ mission, P.O. Box 67000, Harrisburg, I stood on the bank holding a bucket of ter to live, my hopes are they too will take PA 17106-7000. Include your name, trout, the photographer made his way up the fight for clean water.-WCO James address, phone number and age. out onto some rocks...and promptly fell Stout, northern Luzerne County. You are encouraged to submit pho­ in. WCO Steiner later congratulated me tographs with your article. on being the first cadet he'd ever seen First pollution reminder The Commission will divide the make a photographer get wet.-WCO While in training in Centre County submissions into youth (articles sub­ Robert Croll, Southeast Region. with WCO Brian Burger, I encountered mitted by persons 17 or younger) my first pollution. Officer Burger let me and adult (articles submitted by per­ OK, I'll let you off this time investigate and collect evidence. Near sons 18 or older) categories. The While patrolling the Susquehanna the end of the investigation, Officer Commission will review all articles River, I noticed a squirrel sitting on the Burger asked if I was done. I quickly went and select at least two in each cat­ edge of a garbage container at a river over the long mental list of things that egory as prize winners. The top prize access. The squirrel jumped into the needed to be done and answered confi­ in each category will be a framed, barrel and emerged with a fast food dently, "Yes." Then he asked, "Did you signed and numbered print of the container. The squirrel climbed a tree see the fish kill?" My stomach dropped, 1997 Trout/Salmon Stamp paint­ and investigated the container. After he not believing I missed something as ing, as well as limited-edition found what he was looking for, he obvious as dead fish and I admitted that patches from 1996 (Harveys Creek) dropped the container, which fell to the I hadn't seen any dead fish. Officer and 1997 (Neshannock Creek). The ground. Because I couldn't get a good Burger then produced what I expected second place winners will receive the name and address on this violator, I to be a dead trout or bass. Instead, he 1996 and 1997 limited-edition decided to give him a warning.-WCO had an evil grin and a plastic bathtub patches. In addition to the prize James Stout, northern Luzerne County. fish. The "salmonid plasticus" is now winners, the Commission may se­ safe in my evidence locker as a reminder lect up to four articles as "Honor­ Oh, really? of my first pollution.- WCO William Crisp, able Mention" winners. While fishing undercover at a north­ Southeast Region. The prize-winning submissions east rod and gun club lake, we had a Timber! and the honorable mention winners marked patrol car and two uniformed may be published in upcoming edi­ During field training in Schuylkill officers do a walk-through. They checked tions of Pennsylvania Angler and County tJiis past spring I had die arduous everyone, including me. The fellow to Boatermagazine. Entries selected for pleasure of stocking trout with WCO my right, who tliey later cited for catching publication may be edited to meet Gary Slutter. We had just finished haul­ more than the legal limit, piped up when publication requirements. ing the first of many buckets of brookies they left, "Those guys think they are so Entries will be judged for origi­ several miles back on a steep, rugged tricky, but I can smell them a mile away." nality, suitability for publication and gamelands trail. We were hot and sweaty I had to concentrate to keep from smiling relationship to the "Fishing and from the labor, but had smiles on our as I thought to myself that his nose was Boating Memories Last a Lifetime" faces knowing that these fish were well not working very well that day. Later, theme. Each person may submit no scattered and would be a challenge for when the other officers had finished more than two entries. Entries must anglers. The grins lasted for the two citing him based on the information I not have been published previously, minutes it took us to get the jeep turned had given them after leaving the lake, and they will become the property around for the bumpy ride back to the he said to them, "You guys should have of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat road. There in front of us on the only been here 15 minutes ago. The guy to Commission. Photos will be re­ trail out was a 100-foot white pine that my left caught so many trout that he had turned if they are accompanied by chose that particular moment in its cen­ to keep going to the truck to put them a self-addressed, stamped envelope. tury of life to fall down. It took nearly in because there wasn't enough room on The deadline is July 15,1997. his stringer."-WCO Thomas E. Benevento, two hours to cut our way out.-WCO Tom southern Chester County. Nunamacher, Northcentral Region.

Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater $ U6Cful tO Pennsylvania

Anglers Delaware River near Easton. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Com­ pographic maps that list roads, moun­ 7360, West Trenton, NJ 08628. Tele­ mission does not sell these maps. For tains with elevation contours, forest phone 609-883-9500. ordering and other information, con­ areas, marshes, waterways, boat ramps Howard William Higbee's Stream tact the company or agency directly. and dams. Contact: DeLorme Map­ Map of PA (includes a free location ping Co., P.O. Box 298, Freeport, ME guide). Shows 45,000 miles of Pennsyl­ County Maps 04032. Telephone 207-865-4171. vania waterways, including the locations Type 3, or the larger multi-colored Waterproof Rough Country Topos of 900 trout streams and 300 lakes, Type 10 County General Highway are available for all field-use scale to­ dams, reservoirs and ponds. Identifies Maps, show all public roads including pographic quadrangle map areas in "Class A" limestone streams, bass wa­ state, township and forest roads. Lakes, Pennsylvania. Raised relief maps and ters and trophy fish waters. Contact: rivers and streams in the counties are also regional topographic maps can also be Vivid Publishing Co., 347 Rural Avenue, shown. Contact PA Department of purchased from: Modern Explorer Williamsport, PA 17701. Telephone Transportation, Publications Sales Store, Products, P.O. Box 588, Hopwood, PA 717-322-1167. P.O. Box 2028, Harrisburg, PA 17105. 15445. Telephone 412-438-7686. Schuylkill River Users Guide. Se­ Telephone 717-787-6746. Grizzly's Go'n Fish'n has many dif­ ries of eight waterproof maps. Identi­ Pennsylvania: County Maps and ferent kinds of maps. Contact the com­ fies public access sites, stream flow Recreational Guide provides a handy pany at RR 2, Box 513, Hawley, PA characteristics and dams and pools, guide book for the traveler and sports­ 18428-9637. Telephone 800-462-1943; from Port Clinton to Fairmount Dam. man. The easy-to-use reference guide 717 266-9807. Obtain from the State Book Store, 1825 contains maps of each county show­ The U.S. Forest Service publishes a Stanley Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17103. ing roads, parks and wilderness areas. map of the Allegheny National For­ Telephone 717-787-5109. Available from: County Maps, Puetz est, detailing all the forest service roads, Susquehanna Water Trails. Detailed Place, Lyndon Station, WI 53944. Tele­ as well as the locations of the region's canoeing map of the Susquehanna River phone 608-666-3331. trout waters. The map costs $3.00 plus through the Endless Mountains of Five-color, full-topographic county tax. Contact:.U.S. Forest Service, 222 northeast Pennsylvania. The map shows and county region maps are also avail­ Liberty Street, Warren, PA 16365, or towns, highways, access areas, camping able from: Modern Explorer Products, call 814-723-5150. areas and major islands. Endless Moun­ P.O.Box588,Hopwood,PA 15445. Tele­ tains Tourist Bureau, RR 6, Box 132A, phone 412-438-7686. Lake Structure Tunkhannock, PA 18657-9232. Tele­ (Hydrographic) Maps phone 717-836-5431 or 1-800-769-8999. Topographic Maps These maps show "structure" (depths, Fish Man Guide Services, 118 Topographic maps are published and bottom contours, dropoffs, etc.) and are Shippen Drive, Coraopolis, PA 15108. sold by the U.S. Geological Survey. An available for several lakes. Telephone 412-269-1285. index showing the topographic maps for International Map Co., 547 Shaler each quadrant of the state is free. The Boulevard, Ridgefield, NJ 07657. Tele­ Navigation/Nautical Charts index includes the area covered by each phone 201-943-6566 or 943-5550. Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio quadrangle map, its name, scale and year Northwoods Publications, Inc., 430 Rivers Navigation Charts are available of survey. Addresses of local map dealers N. Front Street, Wormleysburg, PA for the Allegheny River (mile 0-72), and federal map distribution centers are 17043. Telephone 717-761-1400. Monongahela River (mile 0-128.7) and also provided. Contact: Map Distribu­ Modern Explorer Products, P.O. Box Ohio River (mile 0-127.2). Contact: U.S. tion Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Box 588, Hopwood, PA 15445. Telephone Army Corps of Engineers, 1000 Liberty 25286, Federal Center, Denver, CO 412-438-7686. Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. Tele­ 80225. Telephone 303-236-7477. phone 412-644-6872. In Washington, D.C., over-the-counter River, Stream Maps Nautical Charts of Lake Erie and the sales (no mail orders) are available from: The Delaware River and Outdoor Delaware River are available from Dis­ U.S. Geological Survey, Main Interior Recreation. Series of 10 maps of the tribution Branch (N/CG33), National Building, 1849 NW "E" Street. Hours Delaware River. Waterproof maps show­ Ocean Service, Riverdale, MD 20737. 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Telephone 202- ing physical characteristics and recre­ Telephone 301-436-6990. Lake Erie 208-4047. ational facilities of the river from charts are in Nautical Chart Catalog 4; The Pennsylvania Atlas and Gazet­ Hancock, NY to Trenton, NJ. Contact: Delaware River charts, Catalog 1. f~h teer is a comprehensive guide with to­ Delaware River Basin Commission, Box Mouth Right by Jim Mize

Different mouth positions never seemed to help, and believe me, I tried them all. Puckering had no effect whatsoever, and besides, it was too prissy for such a tough character. I tried keeping my mouth wide open, but stayed in constant fear of swallowing bugs. I even fished with my mouth tightly shut. Dad especially liked this one. But it didn't help me catch fish. It took awhile before I realized that what he had and I didn't was confidence. Your senses leave you when you lack confidence. One of the first to go is your attention span. You daydream and take your eyes off your line. The light strikes that can't be felt are missed. A fish can pick up a sinking lure and spit it out widiout a twitch of die rod tip quicker than Jack Benny can sidestep a restaurant check. The slacker will never notice. Eyes that wander elsewhere miss fish activity. The swirl near the bank made by an easy feeder should have marked your next cast. Awhile back, I was fishing a lake for trout. The next to go is your casting. The best brushpiles My partner and I were between strikes and the warmth are not the ones up in the woods. Just as bad, you may of die sun, the gende rocking, and die hum of die electric start slinging lures that land five feet from the bank. motor lulled us both. Hoping to soak up some wis­ When fishing is tough, it's often because they're hanging dom before my nap, I asked him, "What's the secret close to cover. So if you're not casting accurately, a belief to catching trout?" that fishing is slow will become a self-fulfilling prophecy. His answer surprised me a little, though it shouldn't The fishing may not be bad, but if you believe it is, it have because I have heard it before from fishermen and will be. others who live with a rod in one hand. Yet, as fishing After confidence deteriorates further, you start chang­ secrets go, it may be the most overlooked and ing lures more often. You sort through your tackle box underemphasized secret around. It's confidence. for ideas, giving each a one or two minute trial and spend­ "The trick," explained my partner, "is to be fishing ing 15 minutes in between pondering. with something you believe in." Breaks for coffee or Cokes become more frequent. Dad called it, "holding your mouth right." As soon If you're gaining a lot of weight while fishing, it's a bad as my toddling fell in rhythm with the sway of the boat, sign. Unless you're handy widi your feet, you're probably Dad gave me a fishing rod to steady myself with. His not fishing while you're eating. And a lure that's not philosophy on fishing was that when we had the chance, in the water won't catch fish. It's as simple as that. we should go. Not rain, nor sleet, nor dark of night kept A lack of confidence can finally lead to just hang­ us from our appointed rounds. It's a wonder I didn't ing it up and going home. You quit. Often you'll have grow up to be a mailman. fished through the slow part of the day only to quit Ice could freeze on my rod, wind could chap my cheeks, an hour before dark, a time when fish usually feed. and rain could prune my fingers, but I hung in there. On gray, wintry days, I remember we would pace our­ By the age of six, I was a weathered, gristly old coot selves, agreeing to troll past one more rocky point before with calluses on his casting hand. Clint Eastwood, John quitting, and often as not, that point produced the only Wayne and I would have made a good direesome. Keeping trout for a day's effort. Dad would then suggest we to my self-image, I used only tough, ugly plugs. Devil try one more point, then one more, and finally one more Horses. Splutterbugs. Mad Dogs. I was a hard case. before heading back at dark. But just the same, I'd occasionally daydream and look So if you want to catch more fish, use lures you be­ for new ways to kill time. Some days, I'd hold fish races lieve in. When you try a new one, try it because you think around the minnow bucket. Other times I'd rummage it's going to work. through the tackle box, seeing if there were any old, ugly When the fish get lockjaw, remember that every fish plugs I'd forgotten about. Another of my favorites was has to eat something and they could start anytime now. to take lures apart and reassemble diem in different com­ And when they start, you just might catch one. You binations, swapping spinners, hula skirts, and anything have before and will again. else that would come loose. At such times, Dad would If you expect to catch fish, you'll do things a little catch fish and I wouldn't. "How come you're catching differently, and you'll catch fish. The whole trick, as fish and I'm not?" I would ask. His reply was always Dad says, is holding your mouth right. J—L '"Maybe you're not holding your mouth right."

Fishing & Boating Memories last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater WBSCWBE FOR 3 YEARS, GETTH/SMWC//!

Subscribe, renew or extend your Pennsylva nia Angler & Boater subscription for 3 years, and we'll send you this "Fish Penn­ sylvania" patch for FREE (a $5 value). Patch is available ONLY with a 3-year subscription. Supplies are limited. And don't miss the 1997 Inseason Trout Stocking Schedule, available from the Commission ONLY in the May/June 1997 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater! r I DYES! Enter my subscription for THREE YEARS at $25 I and send me my free "Fish Pennsylvania" patch. I | j SEND PATCH ] DON'T SEND PATCH I I DYES • Enter my subscription for two years at $18. I £ DYES • Enter my subscription for one year at $9. I I J New subscription ] Renewal or extending I I Your name I I i Address I I City -State • -ZIP Payment must accompany orders. Use check or money order made payable to Penn­ I sylvania Fish & Boat Commission, and return this form with payment to: Angler Cir­ I culation, Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, P.O. Box 67000, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000. Be sure your name and address appear both on this form and on your check. Offer cannot be combined with other offers. This offer expires June 30,1997, or when patch supply is depleted.