"1 CENTENNIAL 1866-1966 0 m ylvani
PENNSYLVANIA FISH COMMISSION'S OFFICIAL FISHING AND BOATING MAGAZINE
* NATIONAL ill Sent feels February 7-13
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Help Scouting • Help Conserve 3S
HA Our Natural Resources... R. PENNSYLVANIA FISH COMMISSION Jptetmsijluattta: Angler DIRECTORY Published Monthly by the PENNSYLVANIA FISH COMMISSION COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA EXECUTIVE OFFICE
ROBERT J. BIELO William W. Scranton, Governor Executive Director • GORDON TREMBLEY PENNSYLVANIA FISH COMMISSION Assistant Executive Director ROBERT M. RANKIN, President Galeton EDWARD R. THARP HOWARD R. HEINY, Vice President .Williamsport Assistant Executive Director GERARD J. ADAMS Hawley JOHN W. GRENOBLE Carlisle Watercraft Safety JOSEPH M. CRITCHFIELD Confluence DOUGLAS MCWILLIAMS Bear Gap WALLACE C. DEAN Meadville R. STANLEY SMITH Waynesburg WARREN W. SINGER RAYMOND M. WILLIAMS East Bangor Assistant to Executive Director
PAUL F. O'BRIEN Administrative Officer
JOHN M. SMITH FEBRUARY, 1966 VOL. 35, NO. 2 Comptroller • DIVISION DIRECTORS
n KEEN BUSS Research and Fish Management R. D. 1-Box 200-C Bellefonte, Pa.-16823
HOWARD L. FOX Propagation and Distribution 2 THE FISH COMMISSION AT THE COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION BeHefonte, Pa., R. D. 3-16823 GLEN SPENCER 4 JIG-FISHING COMES OF AGE-Don Shiner Real Estate Harrisburg 7 ANGLER'S SHOPPE-Don Shiner EDWARD MILLER T, ,, . Engineering 9 MOBY DICK WEATHER VANE-Hi Sibley bellefonte, Pa., R. D. 3-16823
WILLIAM W. BRITTON 10 BIDE A WEE-A1 Shimmel Law Enforcement Harrisburg 12 GETTING DOWN TO TROUT-A. I. "Pal" Alexander ARTHUR BRADFORD Roll r Pathology 16 BOATING WITH ROBERT G. MILLER °euefonte, Pa., R. D. 1-Box 200-C 16823 18 MODERN CAMPING-Del and Lois Kerr GEORGE FORREST Public Relations Editor 19 MIDGES-FOR TOUGH TROUT, Part II-Ed Koch Harrisburg • 22 NOTES FROM THE STREAMS
s c REGION ONE 28 TIP-O'-THE-MONTH-C. Boyd Pfeiffer 1 t V I E SHELD N "ionest ' 1 ' ° Warden Supervisor a I6353 Phone: 814-755-8811 29 SCHOOL'S OUT-Ned Smith
w REGION TWO Cover art by Ned Smith I. B UCK R. D j C Warden Supervisor ' Somerset, Pa Phone: 814-445-4913
POSTMASTER: All 3579 forms to be returned to Dunlap Printing Co., Inc., Cu REGION THREE Cherry and Juniper Sts., Philadelphia, Pa. 19107. 351 T»!!.LEEGER Warden Supervisor The PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER is published monthly by the Pennsylvania Fish Commission, err South Office Building, Harrisburg, Pa. Subscription: One year-$2.00; three years-$5.00; 25 cents »<* St., Honesdale, Pa., per single copy. Send check or money order payable to Pennsylvania Fish Commission. DO NOT Phone: 717-253-3724 SEND STAMPS. Individuals sending cash do so at their own risk. Change of address should reach us promptly. Furnish both old and new addresses. Second Class Postage paid at Harrisburg, Pa., and at additional mailing offices. H , REGION FOUR Neither Publisher nor Editor will assume responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or illustrations 4 while in their possession or in transit. Permission to reprint will be given provided we receive s • t> 2 \°* ™ Warden Supervisor marked copies and credit is given material or illustrations. Communications pertaining to manuscripts, «• Annville, Pa., material or illustrations should be addressed to the Pennsylvania Fish Commission, Harrisburg, Pa. G Phone : 717 NOTICE: Subscriptions received and processed the 10th of each month, will begin with the ' M R i70 ' "273-2601, Ex. 86 second month following. The Fish Commission at th COLUMBIAN EXPOSITIO!
This is the season of the year when thousands of per "Behind the waterfall and under the bank over whic'1 sons visit the Pennsylvania Fish Commission's exhibit at it tumbled was constructed a tunnel, lined with 03? the Pennsylvania Farm Show, and the major sportsmen's bark and adorned with twisted laurel roots and in tbf shows throughout the state. With a few exceptions, the sides were arranged part of the 20 aquaria containing tn' exhibit is displayed at various functions within the state, various food fishes of the State. The only light in the tul however, according to an article taken from the Report nel was that which came through the waterfall, afl of the State Commissioners of Fisheries for the years 1892- through the water of the aquaria; thus the movements "' 93-94, "Among the acts of the Legislature of 1892-93 was the fish as they swam about could be observed to tW an appropriation of $8,000 to the Pennsylvania Fish Com best advantage. There were altogether twenty aquari* missioners in order that they might make a creditable the largest of which were each six feet long and thr$ exhibit of its work at the Columbian Exposition in Chi feet deep, and the water which sustained the fish li" cago. As soon as the measure became a law, the Com within was all filtered lake water and constantly change'' missioners began to prepare for an exhibition which would "The aquaria around the sides of the exhibit, like thoS* be a credit to themselves and the great Commonwealth in the tunnel, were with the exception of their face* which they represented. A kite-shaped space of 1701 buried within masses of oak and cedar bark, so that tM square feet was allotted them in one end of the Fisheries machinery of the exhibit was hidden from the view °| building adjoining the space given the state of Wisconsin. the visitor. In the aquaria were shown trout from at Contracts were made for a number of aquaria of French ages from babyhood to maturity. There were broS plate glass and iron with J. W. Fiske of the Variety Iron 5 trout, brown trout, California trout and a few hybrid ' Works, of York, Pa.; for plumbing with E. Baggot & Son of There were besides five specimens of nearly all the vaH Chicago, and for decorative work with J. J. Stoberniche & able food fishes which thrive in the fresh waters <% Son, of Philadelphia. The management of the whole ex Pennsylvania. hibit was placed by the Commissioners in the hands of Col. John Gay of Greensburg. When the exhibit was in "To keep these fish alive and healthy was one of ffl place there was an artistic presentation which for the most difficult tasks of those entrusted with the care "' money expended, in the opinion of many, rivalled the the exhibit. The least carelessness in handling or aw work of some of the other states whose commissioners had abatement of vigilance in other particulars would resiw at their command nearly or quite double the funds of the in the appearance of a fungus on the eyes and bodies " 1 Pennsylvania Commissioners. the fish, which, unless checked would speedily cause the ' death. It is to the credit of those in charge that there vm "The entrance to the exhibit, which was at the narrow comparatively little mortality from this cause, and in coff end of the kite-shaped space, was surmounted by a cedar sequence, the Pennsylvania exhibit was particularly notice' and oak bark rustic arch, bearing the Keystone State coat able for the fine, healthy appearance of the living fish I of arms. Directly inside the inclosure were two limpid the aquaria. pools of water fed by the streams of a waterfall which fell from among a realistic grouping of rocks, moss, fern "In a little corner back of the exhibit was the office ° and plants covered to the top of the exhibit. Within the Col. John Gay and his two assistants, Mr. Buller aM two pools, connected by a model of the Roger's fishway, Mr. Brady. were many small fish and the ease with which these "For visitors to the World's Fair who were particular" fS finny inhabitants of the water constantly passed from one interested in the work of fish culture, the Commissione pool to another by means of this ingenious contrivance employed Mr. William E. Meehan, an associate editor ° was a perfect object lesson of its utility. the Philadelphia Public Ledger, to compile a pamphl6 on the 'Fish, Fishing and Fisheries of Pennsylvania.' Th1 "In front of the lowermost pool were models of the 1 State hatcheries at Allentown, Cony and Erie, and the pamphlet was profusely illustrated and gave an interesti' " sides of the arch at the entrance were ornamented with history of the Indian methods of catching fish; the cause' s large photographs of the interior and exterior of the hatch which led to the depletion of our streams of their m° 1 eries and by fifteen beautifully executed colored drawings valuable food fishes, and an exhaustive account of t' of fish which frequent the waters of the State. work of restoration by the Fish Commissioners."
2 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLE11 PENNSYLVANIA FISH COMMISSION EXHIBIT COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION
FER RUARY-1966 ^iq^Ltkhinq QOWMA oft &CJ& By DON SHINE*
ICE-FISHING is attracting vast numbers of anglers each winter. The majority are swinging toward "jig-fishing" method.
riSHERMEN dressed in warm winter duds dotted the the newer jig-fishing method. At least this swing is notic^' ice bound Hunters Lake in northcentral Pennsylvania able in the folded Appalachian ridge section, located be like mesquite plants in a glaring white desert landscape. tween the Blue Ridge on the east and the Appalachia11 Most were jig-fishing. They stood beside ice holes, or Plateau on the west. squatted on sleds or seat warmers, in closely knit circles, This shift toward jigging as the most popular form ° jigging lines in freshly chipped holes while biding time ice fishing stems, in part, from the phenomenal catche swapping yarns or grilling steaks. A variety of fish—trout, of fish, coupled to the variety of new equipment that h'1' pickerel, perch, bluegills—lay frozen like chunks of fire only recently, say the last five or six years, become aval'' wood on the ice beside the fishermen. Most used odd- able. I'm referring to the Korean type insulated boo' shaped jig sticks, many of home crafted designs, to the light weight quilted and warmly insulated coat, pof*' manipulate baits through the ice holes. I marveled that able charcoal grill, variety of jig rods currently on tl1 jig-fishing had, indeed, come of age. market, namely the "Pimple Pole," and lastly, the infini'1, To be sure, some ice-fishermen huddled near smoking array of excellent ice-lures. On the surface, one wow wood fires on shore. They squinted through binoculars hardly expect this equipment to revolutionize winter fisl'- and spotting scopes at far off ice-holes rigged with tip-ups. ing, nevertheless a quiet evolution has taken place. Co$ Every now and then one or two men would get up from sider these facts. their comfortable fireside seats to dash across the ice. Old fashion felts worn beneath arctics keep feet fair'! If they arrived in time, a fat pickerel or trout soon flopped warm on winter ice. Red plaid deer hunting outfits prove on the winter blanket. standard attire too. Still, ice fishermen found it necessa". 11 The vast majority of ice-fishermen on the ice this day to retreat to roaring shoreline fires to thaw the chill. Fi'" 1 conformed to a definite pattern, which indicated that a this remote station, they used binoculars to survey t' ' 11 swift shift in ice methods has come about in recent years. ice to keep tabs on tip-ups and ice holes. It was a m The shift is away from the old, reliable tip-up rigs toward dash to get to the hole whenever a flag snapped upwa'
1 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLE* to wave in the cold breeze. Sometimes a late arriving This seasonal employment aims the working force toward ng!er would find that a pike made off with the minnow ice-fishing with the result that it has become the Upper ait without getting hooked. Or a yellow perch too small Lakes region's chief form of recreation. get the minnow in its mouth properly, caused the flag Four young fishermen in that area banded together to to spring upward. There are other problems too with set up shop to produce suitable ice lures. One of their "UP nshing, such as scouring the winterfied landscape experimental lures, dubbed the "Swedish Pimple," pro tor suitable live baits. duced extremely fine catches. The four fellows began odern jig-fishermen have apparently overcome the turning out the "Pimple" in quantity. Its popularity has c'sadvantages associated with the older style tip-up fish- since spread like wild fire to far reaches of the continent, i 0r example, insulated boots, many guaranteed to wherever ice fishermen gather. I P t0es warm as toast at temperatures far below zero, The name is a misnomer. The lure has no resemblance is .^ ermen staV out on the ice most of the day. Gone to a pimple which you and I know to be a blemish on I' V,6 neec' fr"' periodic toe toastfng besides shoreline fires. the skin. Rather, this highly polished metal spoon re St weight quilted, insulated jackets and underwear of sembles many elongated lures, but has an unusual weight ' uar material also add to the iceman's comfort. The placement in the center, thereby giving the lure a unique and cnarcoal 8ri11' hauled directly out upon the ice wobbling, wiggling action in the water. This lure, as are parked beside the ice hole, serves as a dandy hand- other jig-baits, is manipulated with an up-and-down motion ' er and permits grilling hamburgers, coffee, soups, through the ice hole. The unique action, coupled to its nsh fries for a full course meal. Again there is no bright reflective surface, causes the lure to be irresistible co • shoreward for these tasty snacks which often to game fish. 'nue throughout the day, due in pa.rt to the brisk This day on Hunters Lake, and elsewhere in the Ap W1 nter air. palachian folds, jig-fishing proved by far the most exciting T" form of winter fishing. This greatly simplified winter °f thm, e Weighs heavily with fishermen who spend most tackle is less costly and produces fish. Couple these ad than eir time on the ice. Preferring to be active, rather vantages of tackle to the portable charcoal grill and newer Passively waiting for tip-ups to spring into action, cold weather clothing, and it becomes clear why jig-fishing nave ,-j . turned their attention to handline fishing or has now come of age. 3S S enera hoi ** '* * 8 "y known. They walk from one ice Newcomers to the current ice-season will want to in w ° another, jigging a polished spoon into the dark vestigate this exciting method of fishing through the winter a h* sense they go after the fish rather than await ] nce bite on the baited tip-up. By constantly changing . 1Qn, the schooled fish are eventually located. Action last r?* T. . • rish are pulled topside. When school moves else- , > it is a search and jig deployment to other ice holes encounte,. the school again. The result is that most rs make remarkable catches of winter fish.
v . , y forms of jig-rods took on a variety of shapes, as joint 3S tnere are fishermen. Most used old fly rod g., 0r spin-poles equipped with conventional reels. - , eels and guides malfunctioned due to heavy coatings fav summer gear was gradually discarded in has *e sPecia"y adapted jig-stick. One design that comCailght on fast is the "Pimple Pole," one of the few 'od rercia"y made rods of ingenious design. This hand s a Vo„- hollowed out handle which serves as a con- hook s orage box for spoons, split shot, ice flies and swiri short, light weight tip, with line storage block, J'K-st .aWay from the handle to provide a short, sensitive
id t0 tnese ice-rods are a wonderful array of lures especia d ^u "y for winter fishing. Weighted trout flies, ughly polished spinning-size spoons and spinners Prove , "S\vPri- f takers. One such spoon, known as the trout n Simple," has made phenomenal catches of wafleye and pike. This Mich/ Sp°on 0n'ginated in the Bay De Noc area of an er has k "' ^PP Great Lakes region where ice-fishing WitV, e.?0rne a way of life for the majority of residents. e c of ta hief occupation being the mining and shipping e still iron ore, this business comes to a virtual stand- wh.e n THESE "SWEDISH PIMPLE" lures are the rag* among winter fishermen the Great Lakes blanket under winter ice. in upper Michigan. F EBRl] ARY—1966 ICE FISHING JIG RODS
THIS IS THE POPULAR "PIMPLE POLE" used by many jiggers on the ANOTHER VERSION of the "Pimple Pole" is a collapsible, pocket winter ice. size rod. "ir
THE HOLLOWED OUT HANDLE serves as a storage box for extra lures, hooks and sinkers. THE TINY ROD folds up into a pocket-size article.
FE PENNSYLVANIA ANGLEB DON SHINER'S Meanwhile, what about those materials? Here again, there is no expense involved with this initial experiment. Untold amounts of feathers, furs and tails—really quality materials—are bagged by hunters in the field. Feathers from wild turkey, grouse, ringneck pheasant, mallard ANGLER'S SHOPPE duck, to name a few game fowls, are all ideally suited for fishing flies. Likewise with fur. That fur from the cotton tail, fox, deer and squirrel are the best that can be had , A\ E you hesitated getting started tying fishing flies, for feathered lures. Indeed, some of the patterns, famous earing yOU may not like this hobby, and then have a the world over, are made from these exact wild •Zable group of tools and feathers on your hands? In the feathers/fur. Throw in some neck feathers from a domes rst place, who led you to believe that the fish fly hobby tic rooster, wooly yarn from an old pair of hand knit Quires a heavy investment, or that you need buy any- socks, and the neophyte is as well equipped as the gent thm g to make this initial step? Chances are good that who has dressed fish hooks for years. * u already have the tools and materials lying about the Convinced? Then let's say a few words on the utter use. You can use these makeshift articles for an initial simplicity of tying that first fly. y session and turn out some good streamers and/or wet A typical fish fly-bucktail, streamer, wet fly, dry, ''les. nymph, wooly worm or other—amounts to merely thirty or 0 begin with, the vise is the indispensable tool in fly forty winds of thread to hold bits of feathers-fur-yarn to 1 - S- This gripping instrument holds the hook firmly, the hook. e eing your hands to wind the feathers, fur, and bits of The initial step involves clamping a large hook in the n • mto place. You surely have a mechanic or carpenter jaws of one of the aforesaid fix-it tools. Knot a two-foot in the basement workshop that can do this chore. long piece of sewing thread to the hook shank. Use silk v about a mechanic bench vise, vise-grip pliers, floss or wool yarn for the body of this initial fly. Hold am p, or any one of a half dozen other tools that has the free end of this material on top and parallel to the s ca '.. pable of gripping a fish hook? These fix-it tools shank, and wind the tying thread over the yarn and the readily serve in the capacity of a fly vise to get you hook. When the wool material is fastened in place, be ted in this interesting, if not downright fascinating, gin to wind the yarn spirally around the shank, to within fish «>' hobby. a quarter inch of the hook eye. Now wind the sewing ., 0und up manicure scissors, spool of nylon sewing thread over the hook and loose end of the yarn to prevent > pieces of wool yarn from your wife's knitting the latter from unraveling. et ,' » and remove a few feathers from your wife's Now for the wings. Hold two or four hackle feathers, ne t that style-wise is passe. You now have the mak- or a bundle of hair (bucktail is fine) on top and parallel n 8f of trout/bass flies. to the shank. Wind the sewing thread over this material, 0 show what can be done with handyman tools, we binding it securely to the hook at the area where the body e " mbled a typical array of tools that form a part of material ends. r y workshop. These included the bench vise, vice- You may wish to get fancy, adding a second material P pliers, several styles of C-clamps, adjustable wrench, as topping over this original wing. You may also want cutters and regular pliers. We tied a bucktail lure, to tie some fibers beneath the eye to serve as "gills" on ._ K a different fix-it tool at each step in the fly assembly. this streamer. Whatever the case, wind the sewing thread started with a big bench vise, progressing through the over all loose material ends, gradually building a nicely "°'tment from side-cutters to C-clamp. tapered head. Tie several half-hitches in the thread, add ne tools did a remarkable job pinch-hitting for a con- a touch of lacquer or glue to the knot, and the bucktail , jonal fly vise. During this initial test run, we tied a fly is completed. Now that wasn't difficult! J 8 bucktail on a No. 6-4X long shank hook. Then we There you have it, the essence of tying fish flies. You : a No. 10 wet fly, a style of lure that is a bit more have tools in the basement, feathers in the attic, and ° ved to assemble. Smaller flies, tied on No. 14's and hooks in your fishing box. So why not join the feather- Wirt to ^'s' W01UC1 be a little more difficult to assemble fishers? Spend an hour or two experimenting. Bet you, these mechanic tool flv vises, but with a little pa- like the rest of us, will become so enthralled with this e"ce, it could be done. feather bundling, that you'll spend half the winter tying , e point we are stressing here, is that fishermen who old faithful patterns and invent some fly patterns of your nave hi j . , a°- a yen to commence tying fishing flies, but hesi- own. By the time spring fishing season rolls around, you'll th lnvestmg in tools and fly materials, or can't squeeze be as well equipped with fish flies as any jobber. Another sh u ^10rn tne alreacby burdened family budget, discovery comes later. When you manage to sock steel lm te 4. Pi"ovise, using workshop tools for this initial into a hefty trout, you'll discover the fun you have missed all these years. an 1 °e S 'n't:'a' aptitude test clearly shows an interest Get started dressing your own fish hooks. Give your to «„ ,nt '" tnis gem-of-a-hobby, then it's time enough self an aptitude test by using the tools scattered on your ncl ft ten bucks for a good flv vise, and an assortment fix-it workbench. materiallaterials. See Photos on Next Page
PE *RUARY-1966 7 A husky bench vise is capable of holding the hook securely thus freeing your hands for the tying opera tion. Silk floss is being tied to the hook shank for the fly body.
Pair of side cutters now holds the hook as surplus material is cut from the fly body.
Husky vise-grip pliers hold the hook as *"' bundle of fur to serve as wings on the $•'*
Vise-grips again hold the hook as peacock topping and a fancy feather are tied in place, the latter to serve as a "cheek" or gill.
A big C-clamp now holds the streamer as we use the whip knot to finish off the thread wrapping.
ih1 Finally, clear nail lacquer is painted over ping to prevent the thread from unravel1"
PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER Flange threaded MOBY DICK WEATHER VAHE to tube By Hi Sibley, and riveted to angle All dimensions in inches. bar Cut whale and man from aluminum sheet or 1/8 tempered hardboard.For the former us* a fine-tooth metal-cutting blade; on a jigsaw. For hsrdboard, the same, if power saw not available, a coping saw will do the job. Rivet all parts to an aluminum angle bar, 3Ax3Axl/8. Note that weight is carried on pointed end of mast so that vane turns In very light breeze.
SND VIEW
Whale
Waves
J~ ST 1/8 Pin thru collar cr on 1/2 rod •i Guy wires (2 looped over pin. -> 1 ic+- Wood mast step - ' AdapAdapt angle to rrooo f line. Drill holes In shingles so they will not spilt when nails are driven to wood below, FEBRUARY_1966 SLOW DOWN COUSIN AND bide a wee By AL SHIMMEL FATHER WALTON characterized angling as the con long Moshannon flats. The water was somewhat over out' templative man's sport, thus classifying anglers among knees with here and there a deeper pocket that had been those individuals that normally are less active and less dug by the current around partly submerged boulders- ambitious than their contemporaries. Artists have used Alders grew in a solid wall along both banks. My partner their artistic license to further defame the angler with was wading one bank while I followed the other. There paintings of pastoral landscapes including dreamy skies, was a good hatch coming off the water and the trout were shady trees, softly flowing streams and reclining figures of cooperating beautifully. We had proper flies and had no rotound proportions, drowsily watching a propped rod. thought except the business at hand. Suddenly a deer While it has been proven that the pursuit of the finny came sailing over the alders and landed in the stream so tribes has less hazard than crossing a busy intersection close that I could have touched it with my hand. I ducked at noon or bucking the free-way traffic during a summer so emphatically that I was wet to the waist. Two others weekend, I resent the implication that the practice of the followed in rapid succession, fortunately a bit upstream angler's art is entirely free of risk and that anglers are lazy- from my position. They were close enough that I was individuals of portly frame. thoroughly wet from the splashes they made when they A lady guest at a luncheon meeting of outdoor au struck the water. They dashed across, paying no attention thorities, many of whom were anglers, observed to a to my friend, bolted through the alders and bounded up feminine friend that it was about the leanest, hungriest the hillside. Although I escaped with no damage except and handsomest group of males that she had observed in a fractured dignity and a thorough bath, I will skip the a long while. With this statement we dismiss Father pleasure of observing the ventral surface and sharp hooves Walton and the artists of the past. of deer, within inches of my head . . . especially if the There are times when the angler is exposed to dangers animal is frightened. and difficulties while practicing his art. Whether the ele Among my angler acquaintances is a man with whom ments turn out to be tragic or merely remembered ex I have associated for many years. I had the pleasure of periences, many of them with a touch of humor, may be introducing him to the sport and he became an ardent avoided in most instances by taking the necessary precau follower of Father Walton immediately. I say man be tions. Occasionally the incidents are dictated by circum cause he is above six feet in height and well over two stances beyond the angler's control but these are few. hundred pounds in weight. Being above middle age he is One such incident frightened me considerably. It was obliged to wear collective lenses and has the habit o» mid May. With a companion I was fishing one of the tilting his head back and to one side as he follows ll 10 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLES floating fly. This habit keeps him somewhat off balance. proached the far bank. Here a flat rock lay about a foot He was standing a few feet from the bank reaching for a under the surface. It seemed a made to order step. I put good fish that was hidden under an overhanging branch. one foot up on the slippery surface and shifted my weight He managed a backhand cast that dropped the fly at just to lift the other when the current overbalanced me and I the right spot and when the trout struck it jumped very fell backward into the stream. The current rolled me over Near the brush. My friend stepped backward and stumbled several times before I somehow scrambled back to the 011 the slippery, glass smooth cobbles. Fighting to avoid bank from which I had started. My landing net was railing, he stumbled backward and fell full length on the broken and my box of streamer flies was gone. Luckily So°- He escaped with nothing more severe than a my rod lodged among the willows below and was retrieved. Wl"enched back and a broken rod. I shudder to think what My body was covered with bruises but I was fortunate might have happened had he fallen on the loaf sized to get off so cheaply. cobbles that lined the shallows. It was growing dark and we had considerable distance A lady angler of my acquaintance was less fortunate. to go. The woods path was faintly marked. My partner v'th her husband she was accustomed to fish a fast slip- was ahead going at a good pace and I was following as Pery stream that flowed through the mountains a few best I could. He stopped so suddenly that I collided with mi'es from their home. They each had their favorite water him. and because of the smallness of the stream, fished apart My friend was motionless and I was curious to see why r°m each other. The husband would drop his wife beside he had stopped so suddenly. The reason was all too ap ne road that paralleled the stream then go on to another parent. About a dozen feet ahead was a skunk, doing a Part of the stream to fish undisturbed. This routine was partial handstand with his artillery aimed in our direction. ollowed several times each week during the summer I froze too. After a few painful seconds of suspense the venings. One night the lady somehow wedged her foot animal dropped on all fours and moved slowly up the etWeen two stones and fell, breaking her ankle. For- trail still carrying his signal flag at half staff. Every so Ur>ately the road was only a few yards above the stream often he would stop, turn deliberately and measure the * the point of the accident. She crawled painfully up to interval between us. If he thought we were closer than ne road where her husband found her a short time later. courtesy required he called a halt. If he was satisfied he rna'l wonder that she lost much of her enthusiasm for moved ahead at a very deliberate pace. He was our guide trout water . . . for most of the quarter mile back to our car. The mystery A friend with whom I followed the trout for many years was solved when he entered a hole under a stump. It eA that trout fishing was the ultimate in sport. He fished reminded me of a very deliberate Scotsman who had a ron» opening morning to closing evening at every op favorite expression when our American impetuousness set a portunity. He spent the time between seasons tying flies faster pace than he thought was necessary, "Bide a wee". and getting his equipment in order for the next campaign. Many of our difficulties would never occur if we followed °ne day when we were fishing a deep quiet stream I his advice and moved at a slower tempo. hear d his urgent call and hurried up to find him sitting in water up to his ears. Only by tilting his head backward at a sharp angle was he able to keep his face above water. n some manner he had become entangled in a set of bed '^Prings that some misguided individual had dumped into he pool. I had considerable difficulty extricating my fiend and was in hearty agreement with his opinion of h°se responsible for his predicament. His French ancestry may have had something to do with the torrent of elo quence with which he expressed his displeasure. ^ was early season. The water was beautifully clear and * °it above normal. These are the days when the trout ave not filled out the lankness of winter and the larger sPecimens have not yet learned caution. The Moshannon sP"t around an island. Against the ledge on the far side ^as a pool that had been the home of a portly brown '•ring the previous season. If I could cross to the island felt sure that the streamer I was using that morning ^ould tempt him, however, the channel was barely wad- 'e with hip boots. Common sense advised caution, but Vflat angler is sensible when the big trout are on the prod? I looked the water over carefully and decided the best p ace to cross was the shallows just at the head of the ' and. Cutting a stick for a wading staff, I made my way autiously through the deeper channel. Although I had to 'uggle to keep my footing, all went well until I ap- ^BRUARY—1966 11 a o o o c!P-ii,!H,M.tK*Hw*.**«Mi«".M . , oTO CLOSE-UP of soft copper wire and hooks used for tying the Wire ' TYING sequence of the Wire Body. tflffifTTffi ***MW«UWMfc3 \ / CLOSE-UP of the wet-fly and streamer-fly versions. 12 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLE? By A. I. "Pal" ALEXANDER II •AVE trouble opening day? Did the kid with the spin- lead-wire wraps, sinking lines, and weighted flies, I Ing rod and oversized galoshes embarrass you by asking evolved a reasonable solution. vv many fish you caught—and in such a loud voice you Does it always work? No, of course not, but, at least, c°uldn't ignore him? I have a formidable piece of artillery to work with until *t seems like every opening day, and the first couple of the water warms up, and more pleasant conditions prevail. eeks that follow it, are always the same. The streams and My approach was to tie a deep-sinking attractor fly, ers are a swollen, roaring torrent, and the trout are which I call the Wire Body, that goes down like a diving Sltu«g on the bottom. bell, in view of those bottom-trout, giving them the op strange faces, and outfits, are everywhere. Old friends portunity to "take". like Epeorus pleuralis and Iron fraudator are nowhere to The material and tying of this fly are somewhat uncon seen. It isn't even necessary to remember which vest ventional, although the materials are readily available, and °ket holds the stream thermometer—not with ice in the the tying is quite simple. guid es, it isn't! The necessary materials to dress the Wire Body are TVni s is, perhaps, the most difficult and discouraging 4/0 yellow tying thread, white rabbit hair, Royal Coach e tor the fly-fishermen. Sure, there will be other times, man Brown hackle, and copper wire approximately .016 r on, when the trout are so extremely selective they of an inch in diameter. Copper trolling wire, 18 to 20 'd bring Theodore Gordon to tears, and you can't pound test, will do. For hooks, use heavy wet-fly hooks * a ridiculously small tippet through an eyeless fly in in size Nos. 8, 10, and 12 with 2X long shanks. For dark while the trout bomb all around you. This is streamers, use 4X long shanks in the same sizes. grating, to be sure, but, at least then, you will be alone. The tying procedure is as follows: uring the first few cold weeks, trout take their refuge 1. Tie in the thread at the eye and closely wind, do not ne bottom of the stream, and, as they have all winter, spiral, to the bend. Tie in a few Royal Coachman their food in the form of immature aquatic insects and Brown hackle fibres for the tail. Wind the thread bait fish which are also there on the bottom where ^water is warmer. back to the eye. TK 2. Lay the copper wire along the top of the shank start n e experience of the preceding winter months has ing a little way behind (%") where the head is going to nt L ." the trout that his food is on or close to the stream be. Wind the thread tightly and closely over the wire an , ~~ d it is there he is looking for it. Because of his and back to the bend. uced rate of metabolism, the trout is not forced to 3. Wind the thread back to the eye. Bend the wire . se the varying depths of his immediate area to satiate sharply over itself and wind closely back toward the „ , °°d requirements. His appetite is now at its low ebb, eye, stopping where the wire was first tied in. Sever ne will not become voracious until the water tempera- an the wire on top of the hook and gently press the cut o d his rate of metabolism rise. This will occur when e end to secure it. Lacquer the wire body to resist j, mperature of the water approaches the 50° F. mark, tarnishing. a ;j increased need for food will necessitate covering in rarige of water, including the surface film, provid- 4. Build up a gradual taper from the end of the wire to S the delight known as dry-fly fishing, the eye with the thread to provide a platform for the sn-' 6 * *^a* ^,out are relatively immobile in the early wing. Cut a medium size bunch of white rabbit hair, bv H?' anC^ are ^eecnng on the bottom, is readily evidenced pulling out any extra long guard hairs, and tie in (j. . e howling success that bait fishermen have scouring on top of the tapered thread. Any excess rabbit hair s bottom with live bait. in or around the eye can be neatly disposed of by the The usual approach to a stream or river in the spring e judicious use of a red-hot needle. t0 „ tiy-fisherman, when there is no visible activity, is tun i a strearner or wet fly blindly—and hope. Unfor- 5. Turn the fly over in the vise, and tie in a sparse beard flv ' J . tne ^y seldom gets within range of the fish. The with a few Royal Coachman Brown hackle fibres. Tie lct isn See' 't confronted with a refusal; his fly isn't even off the head with a whip finish knot and lacquer. "by the trout on the bottom. Both the wet-fly and streamer dressing of the Wire c tr.(v ... °nventional wet fly swims too close to the surface, Body are light enough to cast easily and heavy enough 'tot 'ng a ^00t or so down at the most, and frequently to sink quickly for the longest presentation to the bottom- e Ve , , >i at this depth. feeding trout. Its flashing copper body and the breathing Selec is l „ f .*y at a minimum; the problem is to get quality of the rabbit hair wing make it a successful at w] tf\ ft, i sentatio hottom' and witn tractor, putting the fly-fisherman in the ball game in the a reasonably life-like pre- early part of the season. y hsherma this s " n and flytier, I experienced and pondered Maybe next spring when the freckle faced kid with the eaS nal pl ht of aftet ° 'g the fly-fisherman annually. Finally, loud voice hails you with, "Hey mister! catch anything?" "Umerous experiments with split-shot on the leader, You'll have an answer. PEB RUARY_1966 13 COMMISSION HISTORY 13 Excerpts from the "Report of the Commissioner for but by a very gentle process of manipulation in the hands the Restoration of the Inland Fisheries for the Year of an expert; whereby the common product of both the 1870" sexes is passed out into a tin trencher scarcely larger than "in the early settlements . . . the fishing was so abundant, a pie dish, in which impregnation of thousands of the that it did not seem to be in the power of man to reduce ovae takes place, and is effected by a mere movement of them, and laws in respect to them seemed almost acts of the dish similar to that which our grandmothers used to supererogation. But abuses have crept in, and grown to employ to cool their tea in a saucer. such an extent, that even the most important of all the In twenty-five minutes after the commixture of the milt fisheries along the coast, bid fair to be finally consumed and the roe has been effected in the dish, impregnation is and destroyed. certain, and the ovae assumes the form of opaque amber From the reports of the British provinces, and of all beads about, the size of early spring peas. These, so long the New England States, and from what we see before as they preserve this orange tawny color, are known to be our eyes, it seems to be certain, that the production of sound. If, however, they become in the least addled, they almost, if not all of our land-locked and migratory—or as it assume a creamy hue, and must be removed, or the is now fashionable to call them—anadromous fish, has been mortality would spread rapidly to the healthy ones. They reduced to the facility of a manufacture. are then, with the utmost care, handled by extremely Ninety per cent of the eggs of trout can be impregnated delicate and ingenious instruments, and ranged upon rods, and raised to maturity, notwithstanding that it takes nearly a system of glass rods placed just below the surface of two months to hatch them. There are establishments rising the water, the rods being placed near enough to each up all over the country, where trout will live, that actually other so that the ovae will not fall through. The water succeed in that extraordinary proportion, carrying on the must be kept constantly fresh and at an even temperature affair as a regular mechanical business. between 50° and 60° Fahr.; and in fifty or sixty days the Attention was drawn to this subject by the report of little fry breaks its shell and drops from between the rods your Commissioner in 1869, and it seems not without into the lower depths of the water in which it is free to some perceptible effect. Trout manufactories are springing paddle about. up everywhere. All that is wanting is a spring sufficiently For three weeks it is sustained in this water (ever run- copious to supply three successive ponds with water, in ning, ever fresh, pure and cool) by a yoke sack which it such quantity as that the temperature of these ponds will brings into the world out of its parent egg, and requires not rise above 60 ° Fahrenheit, during the summer. This is no other sustenance. At the end of that time, however, the a rule quite easily understood, and it must be complied yoke sack sloughs off and the perfect troutling is obliged with, or there will be failure. to sustain itself thereafter. The three ponds are: No. 1, for the troutlings—say little From its cradle or crib trough it is then removed by fellows born in the winter, who would be preyed upon by means of fine dip nets and placed in an artificial running their older brothers and sisters; No. 2—trout of the second stream for a few weeks more, fed by its proprietor with year, who, although perhaps not often preyed upon and small quantities of curdled milk or chopped liver, (calves'), swallowed, are a tempting morsel for the older ones, and until it is deemed to be strong enough to be thrown into No. 3, a pond for the mature trout—furnishing spawn for pond No. 1; here it finds grass and "small deer" of one the factory, and messes for the table. In the third pond they may be let live for years, until they attain the weight kind and another, and is occasionally treated to worms of three and four pounds. or other food by the owner or custodian of the ponds until the next spring, when it is transferred to pond No. 2, 3 From the lower pond (No. 3) to the head of the spring respectable little "chappy" five or six inches long, full of there is a fish ladder constantly ready for the adults to life and animation. In No. 2 he plays about for a year ascend when under the influence of the propagation in with his mates, growing in vigor and size until the follow stinct; which, as soon as it assumes power, is invariably ing spring, when he is allowed to associate with the adults obeyed, and the males and females ascend to be caught in No. 3, (being somewhat too large for a mouthful), until in a convenient reach of the little stream, and be relieved he is impelled by the instinct of propagation to ascend the of their respective burdens; not by the Caesarian operation ladder toward the place of his birth; there he and his lady exactly, as Macduff was brought into the world, so that it could not be said of him, that he was "one of woman born," love are obliged to submit to the manipulation of the II PENNSYLVANIA ANGLES to . ^ METHOD handling trout eggs where workers were forced s" or kneel to do the job. Scene is at Wayne Hatchery. IMPROVED METHOD had troughs raised as shown in Western Station at Corry, Pa. per a, t> and he and she are returned to pond No. 3, to swim There are several establishments of this kind in Pennsyl °W for another year, when they again ascend the ladder vania, and they are growing every day in numbers. ard the breeding reach. The cultivation of trout, then, may be said to be r r ° such perfection has this system of trout breeding thoroughly started, and may be well left to the individual ached, that, as has been stated, there are scarcely any energy and enterprise of the American people—an energy Ure Q, s. I venture to say that in an ordinary manufacture and an enterprise which have never yet failed of success „ '"animate things, say in the making of horseshoe nails, in whatever direction they have turned their hand." e e ar ;il. ' e more individuals spoiled by accident than there . . ."The great movement has commenced. Let the streams trouts or trout ovae killed by the beautiful system of be prepared. First by protection from piracy, then by Ul'e now in vogue in many parts of the United States. opening the dams. Let artificial hatching then be inaugu ]ji his system originated in France, and has been, I think, rated and the fisheries of these rivers will yet rank amongst y> brought to its present perfection in this country. the most valuable of these material interests." tEBRlJARY—1966 15 around the exterior of the pattern hull to provide the rigl> shape. | Not being a welder, Foulk has had to call in professions help for this phase of the building program and when I came time to start applying the steel sheeting Mrs. Foul' &oativt& was on hand to lend assistance. Foulks are using thref sixteenth of an inch steel sheeting which measures S| feet wide, by 20 feet long. One end of the sheet was first welded to the bottom & the keel. Then, with a lot of push on the part of Mr* 70tf6 Robert G. Miller Foulk, and some pull on the part of a chain hoist, tbc sheet was gradually worked in against the ribbing where it was first tacked into place before the final weld. ThlS procedure was required for each sheet of steel and a 1°' S>OM< E folks like to collect stamps, others prefer antiques of sheets went into the covering for a 51-foot long hull. and there are quite a few who like to build boats as a Originally the Foulks felt it would take at least three hobby. years to complete the craft but they have since found '' None of these are unusual, as far as hobbies go, but takes a lot of time and money. Unfortunately the form6' when you tackle a project, or hobby, like that of Frank is easier to come by than the latter and it has become i1 and Violet Foulk, of New Providence, Pa., you've got matter of working when the funds are available. something a bit on the unusual side and after two years This is to be a diesel powered craft with two 150 hi of work you've got it by the tail and you can't let go. engines supplied by four fuel tanks, each capable of coi>' Foulk is an engineer by vocation, plus a darn good taining 250 gallons of fuel. Both engines will be wate>' carpenter, but he and his wife have since entered the boat cooled with the water, after cooling the engines, running building field. However, instead of starting out small with through square tubing welded to the exterior of the hul'' a package deal, where all you have to do is supply a near the water line, where it will cool from contact wit*1 hammer, screw driver, saw and elbow grease, they began the salt water. On some craft this line runs down and alon? at the other end of the scale and are working on a 51-foot, the keel but in this case it will appear to be a splash rai' double cabin, cruiser and a steel hulled one at that. and easily accessible in case repairs are required. Consequently, at this stage of the game, when someone Each of the two cabins, one forward and the other else is having a lot of fun fishing one of the two well amidship, will provide about six feet, three inches of head' stocked lakes on their property, Frank or Violet are down room; will contain two heads and a galley in the forward in the hold wielding a paint brush or fitting out the in section. The forward cabin will be equipped with an aif terior. conditioning unit from an automobile. The "VARCLIFF" or "VARCLIFFS," the "S" stands To eliminate the squareness in the cabin roof desig1' for a daughter-in-law who joined the crew since the boat as indicated on the original illustration, Foulke has 6b' building project began, had its start around Christmas, tained several station wagon roofs, containing sliding 1963, when the Foulks and son, Bud, began purchasing the windows, which provide just the right roundness. Sine6 first material required for construction. they are not wide enough to cover the craft, from port to Before that it was a dream for 20 years or more. The starboard, they have been cut down through the center Foulks have an unsatisfied interest in boating, in camping and will be joined by a piece of sheet steel. out at inaccessible areas, but have never owned a boat The craft is large enough to sleep six but in an emer of their own and hope their cruiser can eventually be gency it will accommodate at least four more persons, sorne come their home away from home. of whom could stretch out on the aft deck which will be The "VARCLIFF' is planned along the lines similar to covered with a canvas canopy. that of a double cabin cruiser shown in a boating maga The exterior of the hull was given a coat of black epoxy' zine ad some years ago and in orde- to build a hull of paint, up to the waterline, and Mrs. Foulk is now spending similar design they first purchased an inboard cruiser, a most of her spare time trowling a fast drying material- wood craft, which has been used as a pattern for the larger similar to that used by auto body men to fill in ding6 craft. areas, over the areas where the sheets of steel join. An unsuccessful attempt has since been made to dispose Foulk's skill as a carpenter now comes in handy. He of the original craft so the Foulks are gradually stripping plans to line the entire interior with wood, part of the it of any usable equipment which will be incorporated into forward cabin is already panelled in maple, and this re their new cruiser. quires a lot of drilling through steel in order to bolt the The keel to the new craft was laid, just a few feet from initial pieces in place. their front door, on April 23, 1964. It is two feet wide, Frank, Violet and Bud still have a lot of work ahead of one inch thick and made up into three sections, welded them but they are taking their time and trying to avoid together, for the entire length and stem of the 51 foot craft. as many mistakes as possible so that when Frank retires The ribs, made of one and one quarter inch "T" iron and he'll be able to sit back, relax and enjoy their home away welded at the center to the keel, were slotted and formed from home. 16 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER «nd M F0ULK' standing on the metal, circular, stairway he designed; in *W Foulk, seated on the forward deck, show the progress made to ,,r t(,e " "ction of their 51-foot cruiser. Photo, looking forward from aft deck, taken in October, 1965. tm $B Finally got around to having a courtesy inspection made y craft last summer by the U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and can't help but feel a bit proud to have that decal on the ^shield. , A cumulative activity summary of USCGA activities, j!Sed on the first nine months of 1965, indicates that >122 such inspections were made. y- recent release from U. S. Coast Guard headquarters ^lr>ted out that almost half of all lives lost in boating Clc>ents are caused bv boats capsizing with overloading Ile major cause. a result b0 . the Coast Guard, in cooperation with the at ng indust be ' ry and state boating administrators, has plT encouraging manufacturers to affix a boat capacity • * e inside the boat to give the operator a good idea just saf l many Passengers and pounds of equipment he can ' ®V carry under normal operating conditions. MRS. VIOLET FOULK and son, Bud, of New Providence, Pa., check °ul" things to remember when loading a boat are: over the plans for the family's 51-foot steel hulled cruiser which they istri are building less than 50 yards from their front door. In the back 3 n ^, hute the load evenly; 2. Keep the load low; ground is the wood hulled cruiser purchased for use as a pattern j 0n't stand up in a small boat; 4. Don't overload, in constructing the new craft. Photo taken during early summer, 1964. ew mig5lt add a 5th point: Don't load the boat to such an sen6"1* Wit^ e By DEL and LOIS KERR S>URELi Y everyone by now is aware of family camping. thing." These widely scattered few can be quick') It is recognized as the fastest growing family-participation spotted by a lack of facilities and an extra charge f°f form of recreation in history. But it may surprise even nearly everything. confirmed, dyed-in-the-wool campers to learn how exten The legitimate owner, on the other hand, is a man t° sively the sport has taken root here in the Keystone be respected. As a camper himself, he knows that trailed state. need large, easily accessible sites. Showerhouses are kep1 The following information is not drawn from imagina spotless and sanitary and grounds immaculately clea'1. tion, or even a projected estimate. It is based on fact. He is ready to assist the novice camper in selecting ;1 Today, over 200 family-type camping areas are open in good campsite or in any way possible. This owner lS Pennsylvania, offering a combined total of well over eager to direct you to nearby fishing "hotspots." Repea' 13,000 campsites! As the crow flies, the greatest distance business depends on your enjoyment! from any point in the state to a public camping area is Private campgrounds vary from one area to another now a scant thirty-eight miles. They may range from 10 to 250 campsites, the average Where are all of these campgrounds? Anywhere and around 56. If located in or near a highly attractive everywhere. They are located along nearly every main region, the campground may cater to overnight, travel' highway, perched atop high mountains or nestled in ing campers. Facilities will be first-rate, but recreatio11 lush, green valleys. A few are right in town (some trailer at the campground is unnecessary. The camper in th>s parks now welcome overnight camping) while others are case is mainly interested in touring the district and tafc deep in remote, heavily-timbered forests. Wherever you ing in points of interest. find outstanding recreation, impressive scenery or points Other campgrounds attract the vacationing campe* of interest; no matter which direction you travel, you will These may have huge complexes of organized recreatio'1 have a place to camp. including life-guarded swimming, fishing, slide shows- Most people realize that we have thirty-seven state lectures, horseback riding and hayrides, well-marked hi'-' parks which permit camping. National and federal camp ing trails and other forms of entertainment. Camp store* grounds make up another small portion. But few people are often located right on the property. know that the largest number of areas by far are found in Still another variety absorbs the overflow from sta^ the form of private campgrounds. At the time of this parks. Nearly all state parks which often employ the writing a grand total of 176 private areas are open for "No Vacancy" sign will have private camping areas veD business with more under construction. Before this year near the park. Many of these are within walking di*' is out, the number of private campgrounds alone could tance. The camper then has the use of public recre<1' well surpass the 200 mark! tional facilities at the park and the added benefits "' Is a private campground an exclusive club-type resort? the private campground at the same time! Absolutely not! The reference to "private" comes from Of course, many, many campgrounds cater to the the fact that the campground is owned by a private citi sportsman. Areas along the Susquehanna, Delaware, M' zen rather than having state or federal connections. We legheny and other rivers, plus those by sparkling, fast' know owners with professions such as a retired drug running mountain streams offer the fisherman and boate' salesman, a minister, a newspaper editor, factory workers, hours upon hours of prime recreation. etc. But, in nearly every case, the owners are also camp ers with years of experience and have constructed their It is not our wish to imply in any way that our man) areas according to campers' needs. state parks do not have truly great places to camp. The) are so attractive, in fact, that most of the more popul'1' The rate is slightly higher than state parks, usually $2.00 to $2.50 per night. The benefits are also greater. parks fill to capacity nearly every weekend. As a result- Most areas have flush-type sanitary facilities, hot showers, shoulder-to-shoulder camping exists and many people a** unhappily turned away. It is our considered opinion th*' dumping stations for trailers and for a nominal fee of 25/ f to 50/ additional per night, you can have electricity right private campgrounds represent a logical and welcoro at your campsite. You can also make reservations ahead solution to an increasingly difficult problem. of your visit to insure a good site when you arrive. Various areas with good fishing potential will be mefl" It must be understood that all private campgrounds tioned through this column in future issues. If you woul' canriot be classed as a campers' paradise. As will hap like a free directory listing many private campground* 1 pen in any type of business, a few enterprising individuals throughout the state write to us: Campground Associ' ' have opened campgrounds merely to cash in on a "good tion of Pennsylvania, Dept. A, Mercer, Pa. 16137. I!! PENNSYLVANIA ANGLE? 1 M*—FOR TOUGH TROUT PART II By ED KOCH *art one of this series gave a brief explanation as to why real or artificial. Endless hours of this type of fishing finally started fishing midges, how I arrived at the conclusion began to put a polished edge on our prowess with the short , y would work and a description on how to tie the size rod, small flies and fine tippets. At that time I was using "en midge in four colors. Let's get on with part two, a 7% ft. glass rod with 2 lb. tippet material. Casting had re development, tying and finally trying. to be accurate in fast water in order to put the fly in the ^ great deal of my time during the middle and late path of the trout's feeding station or at least near enough •lies was spent on Spring Creek, Bellefonte, both in and so that a slight turn to the right or left would permit the °i the Paradise project. At that time the fly hatches quarry to snatch the fast moving artificial. In the quiet le excellent and the dyed in the wool dry fly man who water the cast has to be "right on the nose" so that the J°yed the "sport" of fooling, catching and releasing his fly would float directly to the trout without drag. This ut was easily spotted among the hundreds of anglers meant that it could not hit too far in front or too near n before the current straightened the curve of the leader and L g for their lunker. Evening was the time for the best hatch so we had 6 or 8 hours of all day fishing to pass the started dragging the fly. So, though we weren't catching u'm, e in anticipation of the evening rise. We fished the gen- the largest trout in the stream we were slowly but surely era rvm of the mill patterns in dry, wet, streamer and a few learning the finer points of casting, drift, drag, reaction • phs. We were never much interested in seeing how time, but most important trout reactions. For a good many 8 a fish we could catch but in how many we could catch years, had anyone given me a choice of one fly to use all , release. Today our log still hangs in the kitchen season long, I would have gone with the hard back, black , et of our home back in the coal region. The date of ant. .i tnP> weather conditions, what type fly used and in During the evening hatch we generally fished the grizzly Jast three columns how many trout released. When I hackle yellow, or "dangle" as we called it. The fly was tied r to 'we", I will probably mean my father, Ed, Sr. and with a grizzly tail, yellow wool body and grizzly hackle. brother Norman whom we called "Mickey"and myself. No wings at that time, a high school lad wasn't interested th US **e<^ ^'es ano" °f course were interested in proving in turning out quality, but quantity. Wings were just j-. 0ur own particular flies were best. Mine over my too hard to tie and I lost too many flies to pain over tying s and my brother's and vice-versa. Some days were on a perfect set of wings and having fly and tippet dis a> some not so good and at first we weren't too in- appear in the first good trout that rose. Size 14 was ested in finding out why. We were fishing, having fun average for the dry. All we knew was that if we got our ' n°- thaa t was our main interest. One of our favorite flies fly to the rising trout, we had as good a chance as anyone *** tbe old wet or hard back ant—tied with black thread, else of the hungry browns or rainbows coming up and Uere j;^ d, with a soft hackle in front and fished wet. slurping in our imitation. The thrill of catching a trout Si2e Was generally 10, 12 or perhaps a small 14! Gradually on a dry fly made me quickly forget everything I had started tying the ant smaller and smaller and found observed during the course of the day. All tact was for vere more and more successful, until our fly boxes con- gotten at a time when it should have been most remem Jned nothing but 18's, 20's, 22's and 24's. A few 12's bered. Thinking the trout became foolish and careless ba U Carriea- "Just: lri case" but I can't ever remember going during a hatch, I did the same. Casts were not perfect, tim t0 t^lem- Tne small ant carried us through the day- flies were allowed to drag and consequently the number trn ™ng enabling us to release as many as 30 to 40 of trout hooked during the evening was always less than a before sunset. Almost always, we fished for trout during the day. It took several seasons for the light to q '. NVe could see. Trout laying in the moss pockets in finally dawn, that these trout were just as finicky, even \v»v Water> trout laying along the grass lined banks more so, than those I was able to fool during the day with '"tintng? fof^,.r iterrestrial- •.•!_.s to_ accidentall_ u .... iiy findn j athei •r way on il_th_e the tiny ants. When I began to settle down, cast well, Wat , r an keep alert and remember what I was doing all day long, f d trout lying in the riffles and glides where tth e a the trout came easier and oftener. We finally worked our , Varer rushed over the wing walls and dams bringing to wav down to a size 18 grizzly hackle yellow but never any By G trout ari abundant supply of all types of insects. smaller. The size 16 and 18 were excellent trout producers flv i 0r*mg over visible fish we could generally see our v and we were content. ' but more important we could see the trout's reaction in % drifted past. We could see our quarry rise, The "dangler" name for the same fly came for want of a ar ]eft > >d reject or take, in the slow water. Dart right or better word to describe what we observed many old timers a _ Sulp in the fly in the faster water where he had only doing during the evening hatch. Four or five foot of leader er of seconds to decide whether it was good or bad, was left hanging from the tip of the rod and the angler PE »»UARY_ 1966 19 =a^ FIG. 1 ~~( u"l^i,ii,,,,+yj!H.lnnp.,.im, iii'l'flffwfwiyfffi Ultf>HWI»lj:illi,!.i.l.lHl,i],Ui, FIG. 2 FIG. 3 would walk up and down the bank watching for trout lying Hackle—Black, brown and grizzly. near the grass. The fly would be dangled at rod's length Insert hook in vise, fig. 1. Pick up bobbin in right hand' out over the water and allowed to blow in the wind, hold end of thread between thumb and forefinger of left touching the water occasionally. Often times the angler hand, fig. 2. Holding thread against shank of hook—let' would raise and lower his rod tip "dapping" the fly on the hand below—right hand above—fig. 3, make 4 or 5 wraps surface as the English call it. Trout would jump four, with thread toward the bend of the hook so thread that is five and six inches out of the water for the fly and hook being wrapped on shank is over the thread held in lei' themselves on the way down. Skeptical but interested, we hand, fig. 4. Clip off excess thread. Using three hackle tried it and found it worked, very well indeed. I still use fibres, tie on tail, fig. 5. Tail should be approximately as it on occasion today on open water as often as the oppor long as the shank of the hook, fig. 6. Wrap body of black tunity presents itself. nymph thread to within 1/32 inch of the eye of the hook- Let's get on with the tying of three midges now that fig. 7. Tie in one size 18 black hackle, fig. 8, butt first' will give the angler a well rounded selection of hackle Wrap two or three turns of hackle and tie off, fig. 9. Whip flies for all season long. finish head, lacquer and fly is complete. They are the black hackle, brown hackle and grizzly Brown hackle—use brown thread, brown tail and broW'' hackle yellow. hackle. Hook size-18-94840 or 94842 Grizzly hackle yellow—use yellow thread, grizzly tail and Thread—Ed Koch's nymph thread, black, brown and yellow grizzly hackle. 20 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLE? FIG. 5 FIG. 4 FIG. 6 FIG. 9 FIG. 9 FIG. 8 21 PEfiRUARY— 1966 mm TIHIE STREAM* mmm • During the past few years the Allegheny River from • How can you define a "sportsman"? What is an "avid Pittsburgh to Tarentum has rehabilitated itself to the point fisherman? Recently, 25 members of the West Penn Chaf where catches of game fish, notably large and smallmouth ter of Trout Unlimited visited the Fish-For-Fun sectio1' bass and walleye, are becoming commonplace. During of North Fork Creek, Jefferson County. Acting as ho5 August and September minnows by the millions infested for Project Brookville, W. J. Burns, president of the Lio1^ the river and fishing was excellent in the area around Club, greeted the fishermen. Mr. Burns said he approach?1' Lock No. 3. Brian Galecki of Oakmont, and Tom Sechrist a member of Trout Unlimited who was expertly castiflj of Cheswick, on September 12, from 8 A. M. to noon, his fly on the waters of the North Fork. In the course ° caught and released over 90 large and smallmouth bass the conversation, Mr. Burns learned that this man ha^ just below Lock No. 3 at Acmetonia. The largest was 13/2 undergone open heart surgery. The fisherman then tol" inches. Bill Rose of Acmetonia, on September 20 caught Mr. Burns that he was going to enter the hospital late' two 18-inch largemouth in the same area and released in the week for additional open heart surgery. T» many small ones.—District Warden STANLEY PAULAKOVICH gentleman then went about the task of fishing. Sure'' (Allegheny). this man can be called an "avid sportsman".—District Ward* JAMES DONAHUE (Jefferson). • Ten years ago Game Protector John Troutman and I were checking a fisherman's minnow bucket at Koon Lake, ^In late October I came upon a fellow along the Si'5' Bedford County, when we noticed that the fisherman had quehanna River near Danville, carrying a shotgun in o" some tadpoles which had started to grow legs. The fisher hand and a spinning rod in the other. When I aske° man asked what these were called, and I answered, "Near- whether he was hunting or fishing, he gave this explati*' frog"— (tadpole closer to becoming a frog than remaining tion. "The bass and walleye are hitting and the ducks a1' a tadpole). Much to my surprise, on September 24, 1965, flying, so I decided to go after both, and I'm glad I did' while at Koon Lake, a man spoke to me and said he was He had taken three nice walleye and a duck.—District Ward*11 the fisherman who had the nearfrogs, and said he had ROBERT J. PERRY (Columbia, Montour and Northumberland) never been able to find any book that explained what a nearfrog is. So after ten years I explained what a nearfrog • While working at the Open House at the Benner Spriw is. This is a local name and I am not certain when it Research Station, a gentleman handed me a sum of mone) started, perhaps ten years ago at Koon Lake.—District Warden and said he wanted to subscribe to the PENNSYLVANIA WILLIAM E. MclLNAY (Bedford and Fulton). ANGLER. I apologized for not having my receipt boo'j with me, but assured him I would forward his money an" • Game Protector Richard Ruths, of Galeton, answered that his subscription would start with the next issue. H* a complaint from a farmer that beaver had taken over his reply was, "Even if you forget to send it in, you can co° 1 farm pond and were doing considerable damage. Upon sider it a donation for the wonderful exhibit I've seen he' ' investigation, Dick found that a large beaver had taken today."-District Warden JAMES T. VALENTINE (Huntillgdol1' over the pond. Dick proceeded to set the trusty Game Fulton). Commission beaver trap with high hopes of catching • Forty years ago the Bedford County Game, Fish aflfl beaver the first night. The next morning Dick was de Forestry Association stocked eight cans of tadpoles and " lighted to find the trap sprung. Upon retrieving the trap, cans of brook trout in Friends Cove, Cove Creek and •'' much to Dick's surprise, instead of the beaver, Dick had the Schellsburg area, Shawnee Creek, which is now the caught a 14-inch brown trout. After several trips, Dick location of Shawnee Lake. The fish and tadpoles wef caught the beaver and moved the trap to a more desirable furnished by the Pennsylvania Fish Commission. With*8 location. —District Warden KENNETH ALEY (Potter). my time the opening day of a frog season was like the fir* day of small game season. Hundreds of people hunte'1 • Evidence of the great fishing to be had in Pennsylvania 1 was again witnessed at the State Fishing Tournament held frogs in Bedford County. We still have quite a numb? in Tidioute in October. People attending the tournament of frog hunters, but nothing like it was twenty to tbiw. for the first time were amazed at the nice catches of game years ago.—District Warden WILLIAM E. MclLNAY (Bedfol'd' fish taken from the Allegheny River. One lady was heard Fulton). to say, "John, if there are fish like this right out in our front • While on patrol with Deputy Game Protector Germa'1 yard, why are we going to Canada every year."—District the first day of small game season, we discovered a sm11' Warden KENNETH G. COREY (Warren). fire which was just getting started near a new house. I 22 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLE*1 eked on the door and asked if they knew the fire was •_l was having lunch in a restaurant near Hills Creek j sre. They didn't, and we proceeded to put it out. The Lake when a young boy, whom I had observed earlier Jady couldn't understand how it could have started. I fishing from the boat dock, came into the store and asked ved her the glass jars and tin cans which were thr for a certain type of bobber. The type he wanted was not e and explained how a jar with water in it could act in stock so he took the smallest round bobber they had h 1 magnifvmg glass and easily start a fire. It would help available. He ran back to the dock and started fishing I fishing and hunting if people would think of this again. About 15 minutes later he returned and said the re they dump their trash anywhere along a stream or bobber was no good and he wanted his money back. '"th e Woods.—District Warden CLOYD W. HOLLEN (Blair). Seems he had just caught a perch about 5 inches long and ur'ng the experimental fall stocking of Buffalo Creek, the bobber didn't go under, so he figured it was not a need that while the men were fishing, women would good bobber. The clerk gave him his money back.—District itting in the cars reading or knitting. Then I saw one Warden RAYMOND HOOVER (Tioga). verse. For seven days in succession I checked a lady iUPeople are really beginning to be litterbug conscientious. ,8 er whose husband was sitting in the car. About the One day recently I pulled into one of the Fish Commis i . " day, my curiosity got the best of me, so I asked sion's access areas and observed a fisherman eating his , w"y he wasn't fishing and he said that he didn't have t lunch. After he completed his lunch he neatly bagged e Patience to fish.—District Warden ANTHONY DISCAVAGE the sandwich wrappers and deposited them in the trash lArinstrong). % Tv, can nearby. He returned to his station wagon, took his . Potter County Anglers Club did a considerable ash tray, and deposited its contents in the can. I walked . Ur>t of work on their nursery this past summer. They over to where he was getting his boat ready and asked eased their water supply by running 200 ft. of eight- what luck he was having. His first words were, "I know p We and taking water from the West Branch of Pine who you are". This surprised me, as I had made only one tyfi They are in the process of building a hatch house previous trip to the area since transferring to Somerset in p re Wey will hatch their own eggs. Keen Buss, the Fish June.—Regional Supervisor JOHN BUCK, (Region 2). mis s sion's chief aquatic biologist, will assist the club in to U*D tne )ar method of hatching. The club is planning • At a recent sportsmen's meeting the subject of frogs r °ck 5,000 one and one-half to two-year-old trout in and frog hunting came up. After a time, the conversation yy an Lake, Potter County, for ice fishermen.—District turned to what had been found in the stomachs of frogs. 0rd6" KENNETH AlEY (Potter).' Included in the list was about anything that would fit, such I p as snakes, tadpoles, other frogs, mice, shrews and turtles. \vlii r Galenas, °f Scranton, hooked a largemouth bass Some of the men wondered what species of wildlife took , e fishing in Mud Pond. The bass, which weighed e the greatest amount of frogs for food. The Game Protector to i. pounds, leaped in and out of the water trying pointed out that he had inspected the stomach of an a Q ke the lure. Finally it jumped into the boat! Mr. illegally killed Great Blue Heron and found fifty plus th t- ?aS Sa^ '' was trie f*rst t'me m f°rtv years of fishing frogs and tadpoles. Apparently this had been his day lA landed a fish with a boat-District Warden WALTER G. for frogs.—District Warden THOMAS L. CLARK (Crawford). SKY (Lackawanna). at attending the Fish Commission's live fish display •—From all the requests I've had by local sportsmen re u nous fairs this year, I found it very amusing to watch garding ice fishing (seasons, creel limits, equipment react:io lt i ns of the ladies when they saw the hellbender needed, etc.), it appears that this sport is growing to be thp 6e m t^le aquariums. Two young girls were watching one of the most popular winter pastimes in our state.— an ])ei,, d the eel would open and shut its mouth and the District Warden JAMES T. VALENTINE (Huntingdon-Fulton). •j,, ender would do a little movement at the same time, iu °>"6 ^'r* sa'^ '* aPPeared that the eel was saying • Jhis poem was passed on to me by Mr. John Zaganola Biv' an<^ f^e hellbender was doing it—just like a sergeant of the Columbia County Soil Conservation Service. I don't know its origin, but the writer surely shared the Sp * orders to a private. I think this would be a good sentiments of a great many fishermen. Hr\,, "Candid Camera" to visit.—District Warden CLOYD W. 1°IUN (Blair). When the bills begin pilin' high V to The kids need shoes, and the cow's goin' dry, (jj 1 r ^rst time, the Fish Commission had a major And the clouds are darkinin' up the sky, at Well, that's when I go fishin'. rec . ^ the Juniata County Fair and the reception we e \v " and the interest shown by visitors to the Fair When there's no refund on income tax, rn st And I split my toe with the darned old ax, c0 ° gratifying. One interesting sidelight was the ent And my wife says, "Will, you must face the facts." h0i, °f our immediate neighbor, who displayed house- Well, that's when I go fishin'. fuU1n n tur pie. ' ' e and appliances. He was very much im- ed i It doesn't matter if you're poor or rich, 1),. oy our display and commented that our display If you govern a state or dig a ditch. ejkjjjr°Ugh0*t rnor hale 1peopl e than ever before to that area of the The fish _ don't care whose bait they snitch, and his volume of sales had increased And that's why I go fishin'. O rdln" r„ gly.-Dis,rict Warden RICHARD OWENS (Mifflin and -District Warden ROBERT J. PERRY (Columbia, Montour, North Juniata\ umberland). ^BRu ARY—1966 23 GOVERNOR SCRANTON is presented the State "Conservationist of the Year" award for outstanding overall conservation effort and achievement by Joseph D. Hughes, of the National Wildlife Federation Endowment, Inc. GOVERNOR SCRANTON HONORED AS Johnson has tentatively agreed to attend the Nation" Awards Banquet and to personally make the presentation5 "CONSERVATIONIST OF THE YEAR" Ten outstanding Pennsylvania Conservationists were honored in Harrisburg on December 7 at the First Gov FORMER FISH COMMISSION ernor's Conservation Awards Banquet sponsored by the PRESIDENT DIES Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs in coopera Paul F. Bittenbender, of Kingston, former president ° tion with the National Wildlife Federation and the Sears- the Pennsylvania Fish Commission, passed away in Wilkes' Roebuck Foundation. Barre General Hospital on December 20, 1965. With some 500 leading sportsmen, conservationists and Mr. Bittenbender was appointed to the State Board °' outdoor writers in attendance, including a delegation of 11 Fish Commissioners in August, 1947, and was elect^ members of our Association, the ceremony was high-lighted president of the Commission in July, 1953, after haVJw by the presentation to Governor William W. Scranton of served as vice president. the State "Conservationist of the Year" award for outstand An enthusiastic fisherman from an early age, he W ing overall conservation effort and achievement. adept at the art of fly tying. , Awards presented were: He was a native of Philadelphia and an alumnus ° Wildlife Conservationist of the Year—Robert E. Fasnacht Wyoming Seminary and Wesleyan University. Conservation Educator of the Year—Charles W. Stoddard Mr. Bittenbender was associated with a Wilkes-Bar1' fl Soil Conservationist of the Year—Ivan McKeever brokerage firm for the past 30 years, and was a meirrb Water Conservationist of the Year—William E. Guckert of various organizations in the area. He is survived by his wife, the former Dorothy Renaf'1' Forest Conservationist of the Year—Dr. Maurice K. and a sister, of Kingston. Goddard Youth Conservationist of the Year—Penna. Youth For estry Camp No. 1 FISH AND GAME LAWS ARE Legislative Conservationist of the Year—John F. Lauda- VERY, VERY OLD dio In the time of the Roman Empire, nearly 2000 yea1' Conservation Communications Award of the Year—The ago, fish and game regulations read as follows: (1) Fis' Pittsburgh Press and Fred Jones and wild animals in a state of nature belong to no o$ Conservation Organization of the Year—Penna. Federa person. (2) Fish and wild animals become the proper", tion of Women's Clubs. of the person who first reduces them into possession . • ' Identical programs are being sponsored in each of the (3) The sea and public rivers are not capable of individu'1 50 states. All ten Pennsylvania winners will compete for ownership. (4) No citizen can be prevented from fishif- the national awards next in Washington, D. C. President in the sea and such rivers by any person. 24 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLE FEDERATION FISH COMMITTEE MORE STREAM IMPROVEMENTS MEETS AT HARRISBURG SCHEDULED IN BUCKS COUNTY Members of the Fish Committee of the Pennsylvania Stream improvements projects are catching on in Bucks ederation of Sportsmen's Clubs met with representatives County. District Fish Warden Miles Witt reports that the the Pennsylvania Fish Commission on January 4 in the Park Board of Milford Township, in conjunction with the *ce of Executive Director Robert J. Bielo to analyze Boy Scouts of the Quakertown area and the Milford Town arjous aspects of the Commission's program. Items dis ship Rod & Gun Club, have undertaken a large scale used included the extended trout season and the type stream improvement project on Unami, or Swamp, Creek areas which should be selected and the possible de in Milford Township. They have purchased wire for wire voir, ,0Prnent of a program for 1966 to answer additional baskets, and have already installed the first of many pro "Uestions on this subject; the Commission's policy con- posed devices in the Creek. The area will remain open to ning high-pressure stocking areas and policies govern- the public, and will add many new acres of fishable water 8 the establishment of such areas; Project 70 activities to the Unami Creek. The project is receiving whole date; fish salvage and the type of areas which should hearted community support. "icluded; and the Commission's policy on lease back r angements with local governmental bodies on P. L. 566 WEST CHESTER INSTALLS GABIONS °jects which returns control of the lake and all areas u'id it to the local government with the exception of The West Chester Fish and Game Association has in ivities relating to fish management. stalled five gabion stream improvement devices, which • Left to right on the above photo are Basse Beck, Sun- were furnished by the Brandywine Valley Association, in \.}y' Leon Reed, Honesdale; Les Secoy, Point Marion; West Valley Creek. Clyde Smith and Iris committee «S Oiler; Robert J. Bielo, Executive Director of the Com- placed these baskets across the stream, making a solid sion; Marion Brooks, Weedville; Warren Singer, As- dam breast which not only backs up the water, but ^s ar>t to the Executive Director; Gordon L. Trembley, forms a natural waterfall to aerate the water and furnish 's'stai)t Executive Director; Jim Biery, Allentown, and excellent cover for trout. The club recently had electricity installed at their 0 ward Balderson, Morrisville, Chairman of the Fish ^ mmittee. trout pond and purchased a pump to aerate the water during hot, humid periods. More than 160 youngsters turned out for the club's 15th annual fishing rodeo this past summer. The fish cooperated and the youngsters were kept busy pulling them out. Fishing outfits were awarded to those who caught the largest fish. "We have destroyed more of our environment than any nation on earth. Since World War II, the U. S. has consumed more natural resources than were consumed in the entire previous history of mankind."—Dr. Francis ]. Trembley, professor of ecology, Lehigh University. ^RUARYARY—196— 6 25 CENTURY OLD ICE FISHING RIG Photos By JAMES YODER 100 YEAR-OLD combination tip-up and jig sticks with original lines JIG STICK RIG is shown here, the hole at the end serving as a guidc attached. to the line. USED AS A TIP-UP, a small green twig is cut to fit the pivot hole WHEN FISH STRIKES BAIT, rig tips up alerting fisherman to bite. A' long enough to prevent rig from being drawn down the hole by a same time allows line to uncoil butt end as fish runs with the bait- striking fish. WARDENS PRAISED District Fish Warden William Mcllnay, of Bedford Mr. Richard Owens, District Fish Warden County, and Student Fish Warden James R. Beatty, Jr., Lewistown, Pennsylvania who was then assigned to Bedford County, were com Dear Mr. Owens: mended for their assistance in investigating a hit and run The Board of Directors and myself would like to take th's accident on December 1, 1965. opportunity to thank you for the fine exhibit you supplied f°r The accident involved an intoxicated operator who sub our 1965 Juniata County Fair. Our people and fair management appreciated your fine CO" sequently resisted arrest. operation in helping to make the 1965 Juniata County Fair o 26 PENNSYLVANIA ANCLE" Mr. John Buck, Southwest Regional Warden Supervisor Pennsylvania Fish Commission Somerset, Pennsylvania Dear Mr. Buck: The John Frazier District Camporee Committee would like to thank you for your cooperation in helping to make our Scout Camporee a success. District Warden Stanley Paulakovich did an excellent job keeping 204 scouts and 54 scouters interested. His description of the various lures and how to fish them, his demonstrations with a spinning rod and fly rod and his talk on fish found in our local waters, was enjoyed by all. Again, we would like to thank you and Warden Paulakovich very much. Sincerely yours, Joseph A. Hamilton (for camporee committee) BIG RAINBOW BOWS OUT Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania Dear Editor: S ema DM I' le rainbow trout, loaded with eggs, was taken from a I am inquiring about a stone bridge situated about a mile e, '" »hhe mouth of Walnut Creek by District Fish Warden Norman El, s above Susquehanna town in Susquehanna County. I think the jfa ""? P«ial Fish Warden Reginald Exley (Erie County). Upon Erie RR uses it and it was built by a Frenchman. Can you tell er , '"'"g the trout to determine the cause of its death, they discov- „U^,,»- ,'4-P he bout it? in , spinning lure which is hanging from the mouth of the trout me more a no A. J. Stemler bee ' P *o in the throat of the fish. The lure appeared to have cu fjsL * from a monofilament line. Warden Ely surmised that the Folcroft, Pa. of L °? 'aided (during the closed season) and the angler, instead the r^'"9 *'1e "*''' cu* n's "ne *° re'ease ,ne "5n '"stead of killing Memo from Fish Warden Richard Roberts to the Editor: ISn »o recover his lure In reply to the letter from Mr. A. J. Stemler to your office, ah 'all run of rainbows had been in the mouth of the Creek for ree I have obtained the following information on Starrucca Viaduct 29 • * weeks and over 50 trout ranging from 15 inches to about at Lanesboro, Pa. cnes were counted in this same pool. Se At Lanesboro, Susquehanna County, stands a monument to o(jv. 'rout were the only fish to fish for in the Creek and O„J ° * some fisherman was fishing for the fun of catching them a Scotchman, James O. Kirkwood. After three contractors had Pleasing them. attempted to build the stone viaduct, one of the finest of any railroad system, Mr. Kirkwood did it. It is located on the main line of the Erie Railroad, an 18- arch structure, 1,200 feet in length and 110 feet high. Its eighteen arches have spans of fifty feet each and carry a double track with thirty feet clearance on top. The final cost of the viaduct was $320,000, which gave it the distinction of being the most costly railroad bridge in the world in 1848, when it was built. The contractor opened new quarries up the Starrucca Creek to get the stone. A track was constructed on each side of the stream, which brought the material to the work in cars. Every available man in the vicinity was employed, numbering 800 in May, 1848. Thirteen tiers of false work were extended across the Starrucca Valley, and operations were rushed day and night with such system that the viaduct was finished and ready before the specified time. It was the greatest structure of masonry in the United States when it was finished, and even today it is standing as a con spicuous example of engineering science. Mr. Harland F. Reynolds District Fish Warden Honesdale, Pennsylvania Dear Harland: Your splendid help and cooperation in making our Conserva tion Day a success were, as always, greatly appreciated, and I wish to take this opportunity of thanking you personally and 'JIGHT Y Hi W( BASS, an 8-pounder, caught by Stuart and Herbert Hirsch, on behalf of the Council. '' Pa. at Lake Wallenpaupack last season. We are getting a pretty good sampling of reactions from the boys, and there is no doubt that they enjoyed it and got a great deal out of all the work and talent that you and the other conservation specialists did. 'nuidv6 tll FEfi RUAKY_ 1966 27 DIRECTORY OF BLUE BOOK AGENTS Jip-O'-Jhs-Tnotdh Additional places for subscribing to the PENN By C. BOYD PFEIFFER SYLVANIA ANGLER and where the latest and newest Pennsylvania Fish Commission FISHING REPORTS and INSTANT INFORMATION are available. Berks County—Kagen's Inc., Reading, Penna. Bucks County—Andrew Maroney—Andy's Sport & Hobby Shop, Yardley, Penna. Cambria County—Shoff Sporting Goods, Ebensburg, Penna. Chester County—Daniel W. Bullock, Berwyn. Penna. Franklin County—P. Paul Overcash, Chambersburg, Penna. Jefferson County—Deman's Sporting Goods, Brookville, Penna. Lackawanna County—Eynon Drug, Eynon, Penna. Lackawanna County—Edward Rebar, Throop, Penna. Lehigh County-Gerald T. Chapleski, Allentown, Penna. CLOTHESPINS Lehigh County—Paul Daubanspeck, Allentown, Penna. Next time your wife has you hanging out the wasl1 Lehigh County—Pete Nestor, Nestor's Sporting (ahem) think of how many ways you can use a spring Goods, Inc., Allentown, Penna. type clothespin. If you have to replace a guide on a rod Northampton County-Charles Schwartz, Bethlehem, this winter, the spring clothespin will hold one foot of Penna. the guide in place while you start wrapping the other Schuylkill County—Joseph Kopena, Mary-D, Penna. one. Bass bug builders (say that rapidly, seven times) Susquehanna County—Halls Sporting Center, can use spring clothespins as a small custom clamp to hold New Milford, Penna. a bug while gluing the hook in the slotted body. Fl? Warren County-F. J. Erich Sporting Goods Store, tyers can use spring clothespins as large hackle pliers for Irvine, Penna. big flies. Clamped on a vise shaft, the clothespin cai' York County—Harry Haines, Lincoln Highway easily be flipped in the way of a bobbin to prevent un Garage, York, Penna. raveled thread when selecting the next material. Witl1 York County—Squab's Outdoor Shop, York, Penna. the ingenuity of fishermen, I am sure other uses will come to mind, but I just remembered I have to put the wash out. FREE COLOR CHART To buy an air mattress that fits your needs, remember to COMMON FISHES OF PENNSYLVANIA measure the length and width while it is inflated. A deflated WITH ALL NEW mattress appears much larger. AND RENEWAL SUBSCRIPTIONS LQutpnenT TO 'Petuc&eflvtuUa, s4tt$le>i Enclosed is $ for my (New) (Renewal) K fi, (Gift Subscription) 1 year (12 issues) $2.00 3 years (36 issues) $5.00 Please send to: Name Address Town Zip Code Make check or money order payable to the Pennsylvania m Pitt'" Fish Commission Mail to-PENNSYLVANIA FISH COMMISSION HARRISBURG, PA. r "THEY SAY they're demonstrating, but if you ask me, it's just anoth« Cash sent at your own risk. STAMPS NOT ACCEPTABLE. of their cotton-pickin' deluxe coffee breaks!" 28 PENNSYLVANIA ANCLE? SCHOOL'S OUT/ ^ »V Net? SMITH- '^Kslj^i^ BEFORE YOU BUY r ?=Zfje7& OJC si 7-ys°/Cst± s?t r ^o& * *«<* \ \ rt£*?AZG ^£^^CJ~^ ~£j$zz^mjmz 3 sz IB) -»! nm s/eor iGamr &7&/J=>S*AVG g-cs/JZe &A44X& <&//£>*? •joz '*/"" "v* =-^-= / «£** &££0W~Z>64G&4/)fS Of ^/.y £/*S^S' ft£Xst&6&& W&/G//7' rOftMRP &OU&Z& T/1f£jZ b e *ING that first trout fishing outfit is an important do nicely. If you plan to use it on a large rod be sure it ent to most young anglers, but many throw away their will hold all your heavy line. Reels that have extra, inter 0r,ey on the wrong equipment. Too late, they learn that changeable spools will be appreciated later on when you Su s 'table tackle can turn what should be an enjoyable acquire additional lines. °rt into a frustrating experience. If possible, have an Automatic reels are convenient, but are heavier than Perienced angler (who is a good caster) help you make single action reels and usually cost more than the average Election. If not, here are some tips that should help: young angler wants to pay. • Y°od fiber glass fly rods are available ready-made or The fly line can be the most expensive part of your . *** form. Kit rods are less expensive and are fun to equipment, but it is almost impossible to do good fly fishing with a poor line. It should be of the permanently floating '7 you have the ability. Not everyone has. Choose the type, limp and kink-free, with a smooth, slippery finish. Proper length for the waters you fish. 7% foot rods Fly lines come in level, double-taper, and weight-forward arefi ne for small to medium streams; 8 or 8& footers for construction. The level line is of uniform diameter through , cumm to large streams and lakes. The 5'6" to 6 foot out, and is the cheapest. The double-taper has a heavy I tl rods" are handy on small, brushy streams, but are a middle tapering to smaller at each end. The weight- "cky for the beginner to cast with. forward line has a heavy section near the forward end atever the length, the action should be correct, and for long casts. The double-taper is probably the best bet this ls difficult to determine. Whip the rod back and f°rth for most fly fishing. It casts well, the fine ends will lay a carefully. A rod that bends near the grip and feels fly on the water without a splash, and it can be reversed eav a " y should be avoided for fly fishing. Most of the for double line life. n '° should be in the tip one-third. It is of utmost importance to match your rod with a °-piece rods usually have better action than three- line of the proper weight. Follow the rod manufacturer's P'ece 0n recommendations, or refer to the following chart, keeping With es. Examine the ferrules. They should fit tightly n in mind that the actions of rods vary even among those gt o wobble. Good rods have lots of guides—the more s the smoother the line will flow through them. of the same length: G ll'dec sho l j rt tip-top should be free of rough spots, windings C e ROD LENGTH LINE SIZE ieej " smooth, tight, and well varnished. Check the & 4 a ' t and be sure it is firmly cemented in place. 7W 5 shiL'l S ^ ^smnS need not be expensive. An ordinary 8' 6 Action reel with an adjustable drag, or brake, will 88' 7 *EBR UARY-_1966 29 How To Catch Fish Through The Ice 1 • NECESSARY EQUIPMENT FOR ICE FISHING 2- CUTTING WE HOLE WITH THE ICE BAR OR CHISEL. 3" LOOSE ICE SHOULD BE CLEARED FROM „,«*• IHCLUDES ICE CHEST, TIPUPS, MINNOW BUCKET FIVE SETS ARE ALLOWED AND SHOULD BE THE HOLE WITH WIRE BASKET, SCREEN OR \±. AND BASKET FOR FISH/N6 6ERR. SPACED SO THEY CM BE QUICKLY ATTENDED. PERFORATED DIPPER. 4-S0UHD/N6 THE DEPTH OF THB WATER IS 5-PLACE A MINNOW ON THE HOOK AND REEL 6-SETTIN6 THE TIP-UP. FLACy IS BENT IMPORTANT. BAIT SHOULD BE SUSPENDED OUT TUB PREDETERMINED AMOUNT OF LINE DOWN ON TRI66ER AND TIP-UP PLACED ABOUT ONE FOOT OFF THE BOTTOM. THEN LOWER IT CAREFULLY. IN THE HOLE. 7- FLAG, Uf>1 SETS SHOWN ABOVE ARE 8-LET FISH MAKE HIS RUN, SET HOOK 9-M66IN6 REQUIRES CONSTANT UP RNP DO^ ^S~ SPACED CLOSELY AND CRN BE ATTENDED AND PULL IT IN . MOTION OF THE BAIT. PERCH EYES, MEAL WORMS, QUICKLY. ASSORTED JI6 FUES AND PlASTK BAllS ARE ALL (MP -*.