SEPTEMBER, 1972 the J HeKeystone State's Offkhi f/SHWG BOATING Ategez/ne... ^J 25c Single Copy Why Bother???
The organized sportsmen of Pennsylvania have been the voices for conservation of our natural resources for years. They have led the fight in the Clean Streams Laws, the Strip Mine Laws and have been the strong force that has enabled Pennsylvania's Fish tec Commission and Game Commission to maintain separate identities and independence from interference from political sources. Long before the "Ecology Kick," the sports men were like voices crying out in the wilderness, they were our conservation conscience, rallying the other citizenry to the cause while the big clock on the wall ticked off the wasted hours. It now seems that many eco-faddists have suddenly come alive, many of them be coming instantly unpopular by saying, "Why haven't you done something?" At any rate, the organized sportsmen represented by the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs have, through enlightened leadership, maintained the strongest stand against further rape and misuse of our resources and have backed the Fish and Game Commissions in a spirit and manner unique to Pennsylvania. A good example of their effectiveness has been given to us in the story of Lake Erie, and this issue of the ANGLER begins a series on the Lake and helps to unravel the confus ing stories that have been told about the Lake. h One of the original weapons of the alarmed conservationists was to make a lot of noise N about the problem (sometimes giving the adverse viewpoints or emphasis to get the atten tion of the public so that the General Assembly and the implementing agencies could act). N Lake Erie was depicted as a "dead lake" in Look Magazine and several TV series, and al St though this rallied a number of people to the cause, it also had a bad effect. While sewage K treatment, industrial waste treatment, and proper land use were positive results of the N spectaculars, the "dead lake" philosophy spawned a feeling of lethargy to the point where a number of people said, "Why bother?" & The sportsmen, the citizens of Erie and the Pennsylvania Fish Commission believe that it is worth bothering about. The Fish Commission has invested already, and encumbered for the future millions of dollars in bond issue moneys, etc., for improvements, salmon and trout holding facilities, boating accesses and other facilities for the sportsmen and the general public—and we surely would not be doing this if we believed that the lake was dead! PI Read Roger Kenyon's article in this issue (he'll have more in future issues) and the Cooperative Nursery Special and you will readily see that ex cept for the sick portion of the Lake west of us, Lake Erie still has some of the qualities of a pris tine body of water that needs help not only to save that part of it. . . but to restore the balance of the Lake to the kind of water that the citizens of the United States need and deserve.
h I
Executive Director RALPH W. ABELE Nfcc MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER °*ARD R. HEINY, President . Williamspori 7°°GLAS McWILLIAMS. V.-Pres. Bear Gap Pennsylvania's Official Fishing and Boating Magazine ^RARD J. ADAMS Hawley LARE Bedford s NcE DIETZ Published Monthly by the lt 1(* GUAGLIANONE Johnaonburg lL PENNSYLVANIA FISH COMMISSION c LlAM O. HILL Erie COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA J^-VIN j. KERN Whitehall ^^AJJK E. MASLAND, JR Carlisle MILTON J. SHAPP, Governor ^^S j. STUMPF Laughlintown
j^UTJTVE DIRECTOR Volume 41-No. 9 September, 1972 ^W.Abele
TAJVx TO THE DrRECTOR ^•Singer ROLLER CONTENTS "5rdT.Durkin Lake Erie, Changing—But Not Dying, by Roger Kenyon 6 ?^LOF INFORMATION You'll want to know the truth about Lake Erie regardless of where you live and fish. ** T. Johns, Director Mill Creek Lake, by John I. Thompson 10 A brand new lake in Lycoming County. iJ^JLPF ENGINEERING & FISHERIES ard I R. Miller, P.E., Director The Amateur Taxidermist, by Bob Kopta 12 'ilb^EERlNG DIVISION It's work—but not as difficult as you think. «y £* *• Hobbs, P.E., Chief (3 atlk, Assistant Chief Boat Trailering Tips 14 JURIES DIVISION The season's not over yet—worth reading. *lano o' Bradford, Chief h ^raff, Assistant Chief When The Shad Ran The Juniata, by Jim Yoder 16 *" CV. . ChieR°DUCTIOf N SECTION Hard to believe? An interview with an "eye witness." 'C: The Deep Six, by George E. Dolnack, Jr 20 fER PRODUCTION SECTION Insurance came in handy for this luckless twosome. Chief STATEWIDE—2; FISHING OUTLOOK—3; LEAKY BOOTS—4; KEYSTONE CAMPING—23; STREAM NOTES— g.OF WATERWAYS 24; CO-OP NURSERY SPECIAL—26; BOATING QUESTIONS & ANSWERS—29; FISH TALES—30; TAKING *\t es E- Leising, Director A CLOSER LOOK—Inside, Back Cover. L JENFORCEMENT DIVISION Ri S*-Chie£ JAMES F. YODER, Editor j, **• Manhart, Deputy Chief »H) j^QUFT SAFETY DIVISION rt *icT in, Chief P°rl, Marine Education Specialist ^j^LO? ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES State Headquarters 3532 Walnut Street, Progress W ' °'Brien, Director (Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1673, Harrisburg, Pa. 17120) K 5^ AD) COORDINATOR Telephone Information 717-787-2579 u Reed FISH CULTURAL STATIONS — DIVISION OF FISHERIES
BELLEFONTE George Magaragel, Supt. LINESVIUE Tom L. Clark, Supt. A TER: An 3579 forms to ta I ^he l N*1"1"*1 BENNER SPRINGS Ray HcCreary, Supt. OSWAYO D. Ray Merriman, Supt. * 3>h .^'"yJvania Fish Commission, Box P* pw^?Wmift Pennsylvania 17120. BIG SPRING Wayne Weigle, Supt. (acting) PLEASANT MOUNT Charles Sanderson, Supt. y SYL K th.tie pr, * «VANI v rtiNA j / i ANGLEAi^oijiLRR i si spublis puDiisnesheh da month muiun- - CORRY/UNION CITY LeRoy Sorenson, Supt. REYNOLDSDALE Warren Hammer, Supt. >ta»et. Ij5ei?"sylvania Fish Commission, 3532 Walnut •lvania. Subscription: One HUNTSDALE Ted Dingle, Jr., Supt. TIONESTA Charles Mann, Supt. (acting) J'nf Seiid'ri. i" years—$5.00; 25 cents per single KB?, Fisli ??eclc or money order payable to Pennsyl- WALNUT CREEK Neil Shea, Supt. 0f ^ld«als „Lc™m'ssion. DO NOT SEND STAMPS. N d^ss Sr° ,lnB cash do so at their own risk- Change ?Oe* arid ld reach us promptly. Furnish both old p e sses aca Pti",' en„/ , - Second class postage paid at Harris- Meji/1 rettHt , am - 1-secona an class postage pata at narrts- REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS —BUREAU OF WATERWAYS j0t" eur PUKY';j'ler'< S?i se
*j(iSScc-'
will show your friends and neighbors ON THE COVER, from an Ekta- what sportsmen are doing for con chrome by the Editor, we feature NATIONAL HUNTING servation . . . and have done in the the unidentified angler we spoke past 70 years! about in this column in our May issue. Lake Erie was just too and FISHING DAY No one can do more for conserva tion than you, working in your own rough for boat fishermen, but this September 23, 1972 community on a friendly person-to- man had come to fish and set person basis with your neighbors and about to do just that. business associates. OPEN HOUSE is ON THE BACK COVER, that their sponsors, as well as the hun the perfect way to show your friends youngster in deep thought is dreds of other sportsmen's organiza that Pennsylvania Sportsmen are the eight year old Marshall Goldberg, tions scattered throughout the com best friends fish and wildlife ever son of Gerald H. Goldberg, a monwealth never get the credit due had. member of the Environmental them for their work in conservation. Your club facilities can be adapted Hearing Board. It's time to change all that. for conservation displays and ex NATIONAL HUNTING AND FISH hibits. Need help? Call your District In all probability, fishermen and ING DAY (Saturday, September 23, Waterways Patrolman—he's prepared tourists alike have been confused 1972) officially recognizes the roll of to show slides, speak, lead a clean-up with the pronouncement "Lake Erie America's sportsmen in conservation campaign or perhaps provide liter Is Dead," which made headlines some and outdoor recreation. ature for your displays. Don't miss a time ago, and with this issue we're You and your club are invited to golden opportunity to let your com going to begin to set a few things take the leadership in your commu munity know what you're doing-- straight. Biologist ROGER KENYON nity with an OPEN HOUSE which they may want to help. has been taking a long hard look at the situation and gives ANGLER readers a factual report on what ac Those were the days! The sturgeon in the photo below was taken tually is taking place at Lake Erie. in a fish box at Newport, on the Juniata River, in 1906. It was re His account, "Lake Erie—CHANG ported to have weighed 96 pounds. There are few folks alive ING . . . not dying," on page 6 will hopefully clear up some of the ex today who remember the occasion but one of them is Mr. George isting confusion and more on Lake Bitting of Millerstown who told the Editor all about, "When The Erie will be forthcoming in future is Shad Ran The Juniata," on page 16. sues of the ANGLER. "It's about time we let the public know that certainly for the Pennsyl vania portion, even with its problems, there is a lot of good left in the old lake and we have enough confidence in it to put our money where our mouth is!" says Director Abele. "The whole program of renovating and re storing Lake Erie water quality would go down the drain if enough people thought it were dead and not worth doing anything about." SPORTSMEN'S CLUBS differ from most other clubs in that not too many have gone down the social path of "eat, drink and be merry" only. Our Co operative Nurseries are an outstand ing example of organized sportsmen in action. Too often, unfortunately,
PENNSYLVANIA ANGLE? FISHING OUTLOOK By.. Stan Paulakovich
he North Branch of the mighty lures will occasionally catch a few a black silk or nylon stocking and TSusquehanna, the "long reach" fish, but none of these can come close cut off the top 12 inches or so. A river, starts its meanderings in New to the productivity of the prime bait wire loop is made from a coat hanger 'ork state. It crosses over into Penn in the area—the stone catfish. and bent into a six inch circle. The sylvania then back into New York A long time ago, when the fame of mouth of the stocking is woven or ar>d back again into the Keystone the stone catty as a fish-getting bait tied on to this ring, (similar to a lit state at Sayre, Pa. From here, twist- became known, some ingenious an tle dip net,) and the other end is tied lng> turning and picking up water gler devised a simple method of get shut. This net is held downstream, **°rn many tributary streams, it final ting them from the river. Called a on the bottom, just below a stone ly empties into the Chesapeake Bay. "Bull Head Scoop," it is constructed where a catty is thought to be hiding. That section which winds through of wire mesh and slats in a box-like When the stone is lifted, the catty Bradford County, 46 miles of it, is the affair with handles. Irma and Steve seeking the shelter of the darkness subject of this month's article. Strickland who live along the river provided by the net, swims into it. Up "Ucky" Persun, Waterways Patrol at East Towanda are both dedicated to three inches long is an ideal size man for this district, says of the Stone Catty enthusiasts for small- stone catty. They are hooked through ^ea, "Twenty years ago, when I first mouth bass. The scoop is pushed up both lips when fishing with a bobber Parted here, there were more fisher- stream close to the bottom (as "Buck" or while casting and retreiving. ^n on weekdays than we have now Persun demonstrates in the photo) in Fishing this part of the Susque ?•* Weekends. Fishermen from the hanna this fall, concentrate on the Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and Williams- deeper holes, some of these will run Port area who fished here then have 15 feet deep. The gamefish have long aken to fishing new water areas since departed the flats and shallows cl°ser to home. So that today, this and are congregated in the deeper Section is under fished." pools—or at the head of them. The Susquehanna in Bradford Starting in the upper reaches, let's ^°unty is largely wild, wooly and, to look at some of the favorite holes a great degree, inaccessible. It is not and access areas down through this ™me pleasure boating water. Al- stretch. The Pennsylvania Fish Com flough there are several 3 and 4 mile mission access area at Sayre has a °ng pools where water skiing and respectable sized pool with good Cruising can be done, it is basically depth, a favorite walleye hole for fishing river in Bradford County. many. Downstream four miles the Jyelve and fourteen foot John boats, Chemung river flows into the Sus Kiffs and row boats lend themselves quehanna and this is a great Small- dutifully to this stretch. mouth river. There is a dirt road ramp at Tozers bridge on the Che wishing for smallmouth bass and mung below Sayre where you can aUeyes during June, July and Au put a boat in. During September most gust here is just "so-so." In Septem- of the riffs in the river will be shal er> as the air and the waters begin low and it might mean some pushing c°ol, fishing starts to pick up. Af- the riffles where the "blue eyes" are er to get down. The pool one mile above the first couple of frosts hit the hiding under the stones. The current the Chemung confluence on the main ea, the action really begins. Fisher- sweeps them into the funnel-like e river is a favorite fall fishing spot n who fish during the summer mouth of the scoop. They are carried with a good length of deep water. At ,, 0nths can't believe their eyes when over a built in ledge in the scoop and ev Tioga Point, just below the Chemung, see pictures of stringers of huge are trapped underneath. is another long deep hole. Next area "lallmouth, walleye and muskies Old timers used to be able to reach tak,e n downstream is Slope Wall, just below from the river during Fall. down in the water and very gently At Athens. Ulster Bridge, downstream, this time of the year, and in fact raise a stone from the bottom and all has a town access ramp and can be year long, fishermen on this part capture by hand, the stone cattys the start of a good float trip, down to the river use live bait. A great hiding beneath. There was no need n the Hornbrook access, three miles -p y anglers prefer helgrammites. to carry a bait bucket—when you away. The next good spot below is in e se normally don't pick up walleye needed one, just reach down and get an area called 'The Frozen Banks." J^gh. Others use crayfish, either it. There are not too many of these Then at the mouth of Sugar Creek, e soft or the hard shells with main fellows around anymore! Fishermen which is known locally as "Squaw "^ removed and some use min who pick "blue eyes" during daylight e's or nightcrawlers. Spinners or hours use another method. They take continued on page 32
S E P T E M B E R-l 9 7 2 good if not taken in quantity? My uct which nature and man have pro family and I have enjoyed many, vided. I want to extend an invitation many good fishing trips up there, to you and your family to enjoy Lake and we are anxious to go again. We Erie's fishing without fear of mercury have tried to find out if the fish were contamination. Recently I checked good, but nobody we talked to could a fisherman from Pittsburgh fishing give us a satisfying answer. This is on Presque Isle Bay. He held up a why I decided to write to you. I hope nice catch of perch and his remarks this letter does not take up too much were "if this is a sample of Lake of your time." Erie pollution—I like it." THOMAS KALKA, Pittsburgh NORMAN E. ELY Waterways Safety Coord. OUR KIND OF ANGLER! Dear Mr. Kalka: Lake Erie District I have enjoyed fishing in Penn Thanks for your letter of May 23 sylvania since I was 10 years old and expressing your concern about what WELL ROUNDED? now am 44 and fish approximately has been written and said about Lake Erie's fish life and pollution. This is truly a fine magazine. Very 12 hours per week from April to informative. I enjoy the letters, es November. Please renew my subscrip The minute mercury content of Lake Erie's fish should not be con pecially those that try to reserve the tion for another three years of en lakes and streams for themselves. joyable reading. sidered unless one's diet consists of 4 pounds of fish per day for a year. Gripes about boats—children taking My boys, Kevin and Billy, go with Then there would be a chance that our hard earned trout—"out of me much of the time. I know they the body would retain an excess of staters" catching the big ones. This will grow up to be good sportsmen mercury in the body cells. magazine has taught me about litter and fishermen. I love to teach them ing—helped with tying flies—in Mercury research in America is a of the great pleasure of fishing. formed me about lakes and streams P. S. If the price of a license was very new research program but in Japan there have been casualties re —all in all the best magazine for the $100.00 it would not be too much fisherman in the state. for the pleasure I get from fishing. sulting from over-contamination of fish. This occurred on a Bay area Enclosed my renewal for three WILLIAM R. MARCH, Jr., years. Congratulations—a job well Dillsburg, Pa. where the persons contaminated lived aboard small boats and their diet con done—or being done well. sisted of 90% fish. The parts per HARLAN P. THOMES, Beaver, Pa. LAKE ERIE BUFF million found in the fish was 50 Thanks Harlan, we hoped you'd see •' Ed. note: The following letter was re times greater than the mercury con that way! Ed. ceived by Norman E. Ely, Waterways tent found in fish in Lake Erie. This mercury contamination was from a Safety Coordinator, Lake Erie District. BOATING BOOSTER His reply follows. discharge from a plastic plant going directly into this bay. Enclosed please find $5.00 for 3- "I know that you are quite busy, The human body is believed to di year renewal of the Angler. and have to cover a lot of area, but I have read many letters in this I was hoping that you could help me. gest one-half parts per million of mercury in a 24 hour period without magazine, both pro and con, on boat I like to get away on a weekend fish ing articles. I do not own a boat a' ing trip about once a month during retaining mercury in the cells. A great deal of research is needed be this time, but I still read it frorH the summer. Since the mercury scare cover to cover, and enjoy it very and such at Lake Erie, we have been fore conclusions can be reached on mercury found in fish. Far greater much. going to Pymatuning. The fishing As I hope to buy a boat in the nea* there is okay, I guess, but not really amounts of mercury are found in medicines prescribed by doctors for future, I find these articles very ifl' to my liking. I like to eat the fish I teresting, and the information W catch, and so does my family. We certain patients. It is my opinion that the mercury scare of fish life in them is sure to be of some use to me- enjoy having fish fries, but we have Thank you for a very fine fishing not had many since Lake Erie was Lake Erie was not well founded. and boating magazine. closed. Bass are game fish and in Lake JOSEPH F. TERSAK, Pittsburgh, Pa. "My wife has just taken up the Erie cannot be taken or sold by sport and is beginning to enjoy the commercial fishermen. The only fish outdoors. I would like to take her permitted to be taken by commercial ALLEGHENY CANOEING where I have known very good fish means are the food fish—perch, wall I never miss reading Capt. R°sS ing, but I don't want to go unless eye, smelt, catfish, burbot, suckers, "Boating" page in the Angler and one can keep and eat the fish one etc. Game fish are northern pike, have learned a lot from it. One of tnl catches. This brings us to the point muskellunge, bass, salmon and rain main interests is canoeing and kay of this letter. I have read in the news bow trout in Lake Erie waters. So, aking so I noted with interest the paper where commercial fishing for another newspaper article was not question from "E.T.C." of Allisoi1 bass 9 inches and under is permitted, factual. Park in the February, 1972 issU« but nothing was said about the plea In conclusion, Lake Erie is a very about canoeing the Allegheny. sure fishing. I would appreciate the productive body of water for fish life Capt. Jack was correct as usual. * answers to the following questions and a great many man hours of is about 99 miles from Warren i0 if you please. Are the perch any good recreation are derived from this body Emlenton (106 from Kinzua Dam i0 to keep and eat? Are the bigger bass of water as well as an eatable prod Emlenton) and five days is aboU< 4 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLE? right. The going can be kind'a rough While fishing there last weekend that we should strive for the greatest hi the afternoon when the wind blows at least 30 to 35 motor bikes used this recreational benefit through max hardest from the south-west and trail and there never seemed to be imum utilization not preservation. tends to blow you back up the river, any silence! There was always some To this I would respond that a wilder hut all and all it's a beautiful ride. one riding one of these "things" ness atmosphere is a bit like inno Capt. Jack mentioned walking the somewhere. I believe that to go into a cence, you mess around with it and canoe over the riffles. This was so wilderness area one should have to you lose it. before Kinzua Dam, but now the dam walk or stay out! What we are dealing with is two keeps a pretty steady flow up all Also up Hammersleys Fork Branch essentially different philosophies of summer and on all the trips we have there is now a jeep road where the recreation and two incompatible taken alone or with the Allegheny jeeps go over the ground around logs forms of recreation. The only so Canoe Club, we have never had to and through the creek up to almost lution I can see to this dilemma is Walk a single riffle. Cow run. to restrict the use of motor vehicles in Most of the trip and some other This is one of the largest streams those remaining areas where there is streams in the area are written up in central Pennsylvania that for years a wild trout population in a wilder real well in "Canoeing in Kinzua had been a wilderness area. And as ness setting of fine aesthetic appeal. Country" available for a buck from you may know in past years had al This is in essence what the Pennsyl Allegheny Outfitters, Box 211, Claren ways been an excellent brook trout vania Fish Commission is striving don, Pa. 16313. stream. for with the Wilderness Trout Geological Survey Topographic My gripe is, why must this place be Streams Program. We welcome your t^aps are canoeist "road maps" and ruined by someone who doesn't want support for this program and hope thirteen excellent 1W maps cover to walk in and fish in solitude? we will have the support of all ang the 100 mile trip. They are: Claren Motor bikes and jeep trails every lers who share your appreciation of don, Warren, Youngsville, Cobham, where . . . beer cans, pop cans in the values of a quiet scenic place to Tidioute, West Hickory, Tionesta, the stream! fish and who are willing to walk a Resident, Oil City, Franklin, Ken- This place should be restored to the few miles for this type of angling. n erdell, Eau Claire, and Emlenton. way it always has been—with fly I cannot comment on the legality Two of them, Youngsville, 1969 and fishing only added. I saw a dozen of operating vehicles on state-owned Tionesta, 1968 are hot off the presses. small brook trout lying dead in the land in the Hammersley Fork area. One further word of caution. A stream along with the cans and junk I'm sure if you write to the state Sreat deal of the Allegheny shoreline that people bring in and throw away. agency which controls the land in and many of the islands are private I think this is one stream that question they could advise you of ly owned. Be sure you are on public should be a walk-in stream to fish. the legal aspects of riding motor land or have the owner's permission Maybe this would keep out the junk. cycles and trailbikes on this land. before camping or stopping. The Also I believe this is state owned Others have suggested the Hammers Western Pennsylvania Conservancy ground. Isn't there a law forbidding ley Fork watershed as a prime candi ai*d the Bureau of State Parks are these bikes etc., from using these date for a wilderness area and our c°nsidering making park areas trails? biologists were investigating the area around the Tidioute and Kennerdell this summer. ar H. DONALD LARSON, Altoona eas but this is in the future. Mean You were correct when you men while check carefully. One of our Dear Mr. Larson: tioned that people with a gripe are favorite spots is Hemlock Island I'm not sure we need to impose a not uncommon to a conservation a bout a mile north of East Hickory. fly fishing restriction on the upper agency. If all gripes were as con *here are many others including section of Hammersley Fork as you sistent with my own feelings as several good private campgrounds. suggest; other than that I am in yours, I would welcome them. The Happy canoeing! agreement with your complaint. It more people that complain about *• K. HOLLOWAY seems we are going through an era in mechanized intrusions into the last ReP-, Shenango Valley Canoe Club which people equate recreation with a vestiges of any type of wild area we high decibel rating and a cloud of have in Pennsylvania, the more likely dust. There is, among this crowd, a it is that the general public will real QUIET PLEASE! very limited appreciation of solitude ize how much we have to lose and , I have a gripe which I suppose or of walking a long distance just to how rapidly we are losing it. Sn t uncommon to you people. fish. DELANO R. GRAFF Last weekend I went up to Ham One of the real problems in pre Asst. Chief, mersley Fork Stream in Clinton and serving a wilderness setting is that Division of Fisheries p°tter Co. I haven't been there for there has developed, among many s°rne time. What I saw I was amazed people, a tendency to label anyone JUNIOR CITATION WINNER at- Also, Executive Director Ralph W. who doesn't want to open up every Please send me a Citation applica . bele said you are officially designat inch of the continent to the masses a tion. I am 15 and I caught a 14-inch es 75 streams as a Wilderness Trout "preservationist." Their "knee jerk" crappie bass on a perch flatfish at tfeam Management Program. response to any suggestion to pre Deer Lakes Park, Russellton, Pa. Now back to my story. If you look serve anything by limiting access is I enjoy your magazine very much a map you will see the stream is to claim that a wilderness serves no and I find many interesting tips, made up of Hammersley Fork, Nelson beneficial purpose if no one enjoys it articles, fly tying, etc. The Pennsyl a«d Bell Branch. Along Bell's branch save a few hardy, healthy, well condi vania Angler is really a great maga bere is a trail to the top of the moun- tioned individuals who will walk zine. Thank you very much. ai n to Montour road. in to enjoy it. The concept here is DOUG WELTY, Cheswick
SE PTEMBE R-l 9 7 2 • • LAKE ERIE
by Roger Kenyon, Aquatic Biologist
Lake Erie Research Branch
PART I or many, Lake Erie has come to represent the best example of a deteriorating environment. FMore emphatically it has also been appraised as HBHBHMMBHSHI^BHBiHI "dead". The latter being an unfortunate and inap propriate reference while the former may retain some validity. What about the future of sportfishing at Lake The label "dead" sustains a sense of hopelessness; Erie? Will fishing, like this Coho Salmon catch, be a terminal, abiotic and, irreversible state. NOTHING but a memory for this youngster in the years COULD BE MORE REMOTE FROM THE TRUTH! ahead? We hope not... we think not! With this and forthcoming articles, we will attempt to dispel this misconception of Lake Erie and bring The fantastic growth rate of the Coho is a defin forth some of the findings of the Fish Commission ite indication of an abundance of live forage avail and other research agencies working the Lake. The able to the lake's gamefish populations. Released changes in the Lake ecosystem will be explored along as young smolts weighing "three-to-a-pound," the with the ramifications upon the fish and fisheries. adults return in 18 months weighing up to 8 Lastly, we will confront ourselves with the future of pounds or more. Lake Erie and the options for restoration. In short, the association of the adjective "dead" with the status of Lake Erie bears little resemblance Cleveland Ulmer of Erie, who holds the coho he to the actual problems and changes this large body caught last year, would be difficult to convince of water is undergoing and does little to promote the that Lake Erie was "dead." required measures for basin wide restoration. It only distracts one from making prudent and thoughtful judgements regarding realistic courses of action and effective programs. If the Lake is not dead, just what is the situation? Perhaps it is best to first consider the well docu mented, historical changes in the physical and chemi cal components of Lake Erie and then proceed to examine the resultant effects upon the entire eco system. Lake Erie is the oldest (12-13000 years) of the five Great Lakes and also the shallowest. Both these factors apparently are keys to the processes which have been instrumental in accelerating the rate of eutrophication of Lake Erie. The limnologist defines eutrophication as the geological and biological process which matures a lake from a young, cold, clear, deep.
PENNSYLVANIA ANGLEB CHANGING . . . but not dying!
relatively unproductive body of water to a warm, The spectacular leaps of the coho salmon, ascending the many small shallow, productive and biologically rich environ waterfalls on Erie's tributary streams, are an annual delight for thou ment, both in variety of forms and abundance of sands of spectators. organisms. If this process is permitted to continue, the Lake eventually will acquire its senescent form— 1800's and early 1900's due to the rapid conversion a marsh, swamp or even disappear entirely. The ma (and subsequent erosion) of the Maumee River turation of a lake is a complex process, requiring a Watershed to intensive farming. Increased shoreline span of geologic time and, with or without the pres erosion has further burdened this and other areas of ence of man, is a natural phenomenon. Urbanization the Lake bottom with increased sediments. In most and agriculture has the profound ability to accelerate instances these sediments carry increased nutrients the process of eutrophication often advancing the in the form of organic compounds and the various state of maturation of a body of fresh water many elements of the processes of biotic production and thousands of years within a few decades. Industrial food chain development. Almost a century of inten and municipal wastes and intensive agricultural ap sive agriculture and increased urbanization in the plications upon the Lake watershed enrich the waters, western Lake Erie watershed has been responsible for Promoting a biological enriched environment. the depositing of excessive amounts of sediments, Probably because Lake Erie is a massive body of organic deposits and solids as well as the nutritive water its deterioration has been so intensively focused elements—the phosphates and nitrates. The rates of Upon. Traditionally it has been considered that large sedimentation have been less in the central basin and lakes are immune to the effects of rapid eutrophica retarded in the eastern basin of the Lake. tion because of their capacities to dilute all that is Wasted into their volume. Lake Erie has not reflected PHOSPHATES this traditional concept. We shall elaborate upon this as it pertains to the unique situation of Lake Erie, Among the chemical constituents dissolved or presently unique among the Great Lakes themselves. suspended within the ecosystem, phosphorous may The Lake itself can be divided into three distinct prove to be one of the most important despite the fact geographical basins. Their biological features and that it is one of the least abundant in the Lake. differences are manifested by the differences in their Phosphorous, as an element, is a necessary factor geophysical features. The western basin is shallow in the production of green plants which include rooted With most of its bottom sediments composed of aquatics as well as phytoplankton and attached forms either muck or gravel-rubble deposits and shoals of algae. It is often considered by biologists to be a with limestone bedrock strata exposed in areas. limiting factor because of its low concentration (often The central basin is somewhat deeper (averaging only trace) in the water and bottom sediments. Algal about 70 feet in depth) but without shoals or ir and aquatic plant production then is often limited by regularities on its flat, plain-like substrate of clay the concentration of available phosphorous. and mud. The eastern basin is the deepest with a The effect of increased algal and rooted plant pro maximum depth of 210 feet with a characteristically duction has been dramatic in its influence in pro sloping floor extending towards the maximum sound- moting the rapid aging of Lake Erie, particularly in lng several miles east of Long Point, Ontaria. The the western and central basins. Not only has this in bottom substrates are composed of sand, mud, gravel creased productivity altered the food chains and aild shale bedrock or mixtures of clay, sand and dominance of several invertebrate and vertebrate or gravel. A large submerged sand bar divides the cen ganisms, but has caused rapid and severe changes in tal and eastern basins. As we will observe, these the chemical composition of these waters, especially differences have a dramatic control over the biology with reference to dissolved oxygen and other gases. and state of eutrophy within the Lake. Algal growths in the western basin have become so Eutrophication has made the most dramatic ad severely accelerated that noxious blooms of the blue- vances in the western basin. The initially shallow green algae, Aphanizcrmenom, Anabaena and Micro- °asin was subjected to further filling during the late continued on next page
SEPTEMBE R-l 9 7 2 7 industrial growth within the Lake Erie watershed. LAKE ERIE— These changes are indicators of increased enrich CHANGING ...but not dying! ment, in the general sense, inasmuch as they are often constituents of the wastes of a modern, popu continued from preceding page lated, industrialized society—the major stimulant cystis and excessive growths of the attached algal to rapid eutrophication. form Cladophora cause malodorous and otherwise ob noxious problems when these growths begin to decay TEMPERATURE AND DISSOLVED OXYGEN in the shallow bays around islands and along the Although the mean annual temperature of Lake shore. Upon sinking in deeper waters, however, these Erie has been elevated 2° F since the early 1900's masses and growths of algae will, under certain cir this trend has followed that of the climate and is not cumstances, consume oxygen in the water to the necessarily a consequence of increased eutrophica point of depleting the bottom water's oxygen supply tion. However, temperature has a marked influence entirely. The majority of these affects have been re concurrent with increased oxygen demand of the stricted to the central basin and irregularly occur in water and sediments of the western and central ba the western basin. sins. When large areas of the central basin attain The source of this increased productivity has been thermal stratification during late summer, the upper related in part to increased phosphate concentrations water strata (epilimnion) and the bottom water strata since the 1920's when phosphates were beginning (hypolimnion) are maintained as separate layers to be monitored. It is during this period that other in whose waters never mix during this period of strati dices of water chemistry change were also observed. fication. Long periods of stratification permit the Sulphate, chlorides, sodium and potassium, total dis oxygen demanding bottom sediments to deplete the solved solids and calcium concentrations showed hypolimnion of its life giving oxygen. The conse relatively rapid increases in concentration. These quences to fish and aquatic life are notorious and will changes in the chemical characteristics of lake water be discussed further in later articles. It should be were a direct response of increased urbanization and noted that this situation is not often attained, for-
I50FEET \0 f.a.tn. TEMPERAn/RE CURVE 22 " °C
60 FEET D»5SOLVEO OXYGEN 10 o.p.m. CURVE 22rr°C
Profiles of the water column from the three basins of Lake Erie depict the concentrations of oxygen at various depths during the first week of September. The effects of thermal stratification are different for each basin and likewise the result effects upon dis solved oxygen in the bottom waters. Two columns in the central basin indicate the transition from the western basin to the eastern basin—"a separate lake."
8 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER APHANIZOMENON
HO
CALCIUM <$7 30 CE: ANABAENA o ^-- 20
SULFATE —' OODIUM AND fOTA ^yM • — u 10 CHLOFUDgJ z o CLADOPHORA 1920 mo 1960 YEAR Above, left. Increases in the various chemical constituents of Lake Erie are indicative of the advancing state of eutrophication and biological productivity. Above, right. These are representatives of green and blue-green algae (magnified 600 times) that have been increasing in abundance in response to the increase in nutrients in Lake Erie. The decomposition of large masses of these forms causes severe oxygen depressions in the central basin, but have also been responsible for expanding food chains in the ecosystem. tunately, in the western basin as one might expect; it to become relatively insoluble. Insofar as we have winds and currents act in this shallow area to dis observed, the eastern basin has not manifested the courage thermal stratification and the mixing and ex characteristics of eutrophication in as full measure posure of bottom waters to the atmosphere permits as the western and central basins. In a manner of regeneration of oxygen to the basin's water system. speaking, the eastern basin could be considered a Within the eastern basin water column, thermal "separate lake"—presently without the troubles of stratification is also observed. However, dissolved the other basins of Lake Erie. oxygen depressions on the order of the severity noted We have simplified the complex chemical and phy in other areas of the Lake have not been documented. sical changes experienced by Lake Erie for the pur The first reason is due to the fact that the sediments pose of ready explanation. The changes have been of the eastern basin have not been altered to the ex correlated with increased fertility and aging which tent that they consume oxygen at the same rate as has been the cause of increased biological produc sediments of other areas of the Lake. The accelerating tivity. The problems evolving from a productive growths of plankton and algae have not approached aquatic ecosystem have given the impression of a dy the rates of the western basin, organic enrichment ing lake when, in fact, life in Lake Erie has never from wastes from urban areas has not been as severe, been so extensive in variety and abundance. Many water temperatures are cooler and shallow water forms of fish and aquatic life have been replaced zones of decomposition which stimulates oxygen con by others. The earlier disappearance of several species sumption are not as extensive as in other areas of has given space and energy for the production of dif Lake Erie. Although phosphates are abundant for ferent species. The increased enrichment has ex the organisms of production in all basins of the Lake, panded the scope of many food chains, permitting they are thought to be reduced in availability in east the increased abundance of many forms of fish life. ern waters because they may be trapped in the sub The Lake is by no means dying. strates and insoluable. This entrapment is the result This will become more obvious after a historical of a low rate of liberation of phosphorous to the water look at Lake Erie's fish populations in the next ar column. The constantly high concentrations of oxy ticle on this subject in the November issue of the gen, which oxidizes available phosphorous, causes Angler.
Don Neal tells us all about, NEXT "THAT COHO CRAZE." Jim and Sylvia Bashline show how to, MONTH "FILLET THOSE COHO."
SEPTEMBE R-l 9 7 2 MILL CREEK LAKE a new lake for Pennsylvania s Anglers ana Boaters
hy John I. Thompson Contract Administrator
n a bright June morning last year in the pictur office, installation of telephone service, and the loca O esque, hilly, farm-studded valley between Ly tion of pertinent elevation and boundary stakes. coming County's Mill Creek and Baty's Mountains, the Much of the project area could be seen from the Pennsylvania Fish Commission started construction hill. A scattering of overgrown stone piles, the re of another lake for Pennsylvania and visiting sports mains of foundations, marked where houses and men. The Commission's Chief Engineer, Will Hobbs, other buildings had stood long ago. One, obviously and veteran dam expert Roy Frank, along with two from its size, had supported a large, heavy structure. of his team, designer Ken Hoy, and Luke Fisher (who It was downhill from the gathering and along the would be the Resident Inspector on the job,) con edge of a narrow meadow. A few yards from it, in ducted an Initial Job Conference. Partly introductory the middle of the meadow, quietly flowed a creek in function, it was the first meeting between the con which emerged from a large brush-covered marsh. struction contractor and themselves. The scene was Once before, part of this low-lying 400 acre area had a farm lane cutting across the end of a pastured hill. been flooded. During the lumbering era, in the last Unrolled across a dusty car hood was a thick set century, it had served a steam-driven saw mill of plans. Its details, construction methods to be used, operated by a man named Lippincott. Much of the and paper work procedures were the subject. Also remains of the stone dam he built are still standing. settled were the matters such as the scheduling of They are only a short distance downstream from the regular meetings during construction, Inspector's Commission's new dam. The foundations in the
". . . in the middle of the meadow, quietly flowed a creek which emerged from a large brush-cov ered marsh. Once before, part of this low-lying 400 acre area had been flooded."
10 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER Aerial photo shows some of the area to be flooded. Mill Creek stands out as a dark meandering line entering the photo from the right; spillway is to the lower right of center. Typical rolling farmland of Lycoming County surrounds the new lake. Vannucci Photo.
meadow are the remains of the saw mill. It is prob rectangular concrete tower containing a stop-log and ably safe to conjecture that it was from this mill the valve system for controlling the depth and flow stream derived the name "Mill Creek." of the impounded water. The plans the engineers had gone over together Under normal conditions the lake will cover 389 that morning presented a picture of the new lake acres to an average depth of ten feet. At flood stage and its public-use facilities. They also represented the spillway limits expansion to a maximum 441 four years of work up to that time by the Commission. acres. The shoreline is irregular, consisting of one Beginning in 1967 with Commonwealth Project 70 small bay and six coves. The northernmost is cut by Land Acquisition and Borrowing Act funds, its biolo a causeway bearing Gamble Township's Road No. gists, surveyors, engineers, and real estate specialists 846. Between it and the mouth of the bay at the had made the necessary feasibility studies and prop south end of the lake lies a 7,000 foot course which, erty negotiations. A total of 676 acres, costing $243,- under steady cross winds, will be a long fast reach. 000, was purchased, ensuring protection of the water The visitor will find three access areas available shed. Then, in 1969, the personnel of the Commis for his use. Each has a large paved parking lot and sion's Division of Engineering undertook the prepara boat launching ramp, mooring cable, boat dock, and tion of the design specifications and drawings for the rest-room facilities. One access is located at the north project. The final development phase utilizes Com end of the lake by the causeway. The second is at the monwealth Land and Water Conservation and Rec south end, off Township Road No. 691. The third is lamation Act, "Project 500", and matching Federal along the southeastern side, and also on Township funds from the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation. Early Road No. 846. Trout Run, which is north of Wil- in June of 1971, an award was made through public liamsport on Route 14, is four miles due west of the bidding processes of a $659,000 contract to the lake, and Warrensville, five miles southeast. Giffin Construction Company of LeRaysville, Penn sylvania. Construction began on the twenty-fifth of Manually operated, electric powered, and sail boats that month with the holding of the Initial Job Con will be welcome. The latter, as on all Commission ference. Target date for completion is September lakes, will be limited to a length not exceeding 14 30, 1972. feet. The rate of "turn-over" of the lake's water is The main feature in this new Commission project controlled to create conditions ideal for fish life. Al Js the 550-foot long embankment containing 21,000 though swimming is prohibited, the angler and cubic yards of earth. Situated between two low hills, boater can look forward to many happy hours. They the northern end covers the site of the old saw mill. can anticipate Muskies, Northern Pike, Largemouth The eastern, up-stream side is faced with stone rip Bass, Channel Catfish, Black Crappies, and possibly rap—the lower with sod. At the southern end, the Red Eared Sunfish. In three or four years, when hillside is excavated to make room for a concrete these fish are ready to be caught, it will all add up to spillway. In the center, directly over the original creek another great place to go for outdoor recreation in "ed, the breast is 25 feet high. Located there too is the Pennsylvania.
SEPTEMBE R-l 9 7 2 11 Many of the trophy iish landed each year in Penn sylvania never reach that place of distinction right fully reserved for them above the mantle . . . en tirely too many anglers don't care to invest in a pro fessional mount. Why not try one of your own?
by Bob Kopta,
Special Waterways Patrolman
Featuring the skills of Bob Snyder, Special Waterways Patrolman
he next time you catch a good days. Next, patch the holes you have size fish—or even a small one made by using household wax. Do Tas I often do, why not mount it? It's this by heating it and using a small not really hard but it takes time and paint brush to "paint" the wax on. patience, as Special Waterways Pa Don't use wax on the whole fish—just trolman Bob Snyder, who does a lot where it's needed. Use a knife to of fishing throughout the state, found scrape it so that it blends in with out. It all started like this. the rest of the fish. One Saturday last spring, Bob Your next step is to get a glass eye and I stopped at Northway Safari that will match your fish. Your local in Wexford, Pa., which is operated hobby shop can get these eyes but by Joe Howe and Rich Nussbaumer, if not, a taxidermist may sell you one well known taxidermists. While there, or tell you where they're available. we were invited to the back room The last step is to paint the fish and where Joe and Rich were "performing make it look like it was in the begin the art." When Bob and I were head ning. This is the hardest part. Get a ing home that evening Bob said he picture of the fish in color and match thought he could mount a fish and the colors. The Pennsylvania Fish he did just that! Bob had some trout Commission publishes a book called in the freezer to start his venture. Pennsylvania Fishes (500) or a wall The first step was to skin the fish chart which has most of Pennsyl and scrape all the meat from the vania's fish in full color for just skin. You have to get all the meat forty cents. You can obtain one of and bones out of the skin and it's not these by sending your check or money a very appetizing job, but Bob tells order to the Pennsylvania Fish Corn' me it gets easier to do after you have mission, Box 1673, Harrisburg, Penn done a few fish. The next step is to sylvania 17120. cure the skin. Here, Bob made his first mistake—he didn't know you When painting the fish, use oil had to cure the skin before stretching paints and by mixing these colors it over a piece of styrofoam which carefully, you can get the colors you you have to cut to the shape and want. After your fish is painted let size of the fish and then let it dry! it dry and then spray it with clear His wife Helen gave him a choice, shellack. This gives the fish a "wet' the fish goes—or he goes! look and keeps the paint from chip' To cure the hide, soak it in a borax ping. By the way, you can't sell or and water solution for about two days mount fish for pay unless you have a for a small fish and up to five days Taxidermist License, but why would for a big one. The soaking preserves you want to sell one of your own the hide and makes it more pliable trophy fish? As for Bob, he has when you stretch it on the styrofoam. mounted over 35 fish in the past feW Then sew and pin the skin to the months and every one he does gets styrofoam and let it dry for a few better than the last.
PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER Editor's note: Special Waterways Patrolman Here's How Its Done Bob Kopta is an avid boater of the first water but he's also a capable photographer as demonstrated in the step-by-step photo se photos by the author quence he made of friend and co-worker Bob Snyder mounting a variety of species.
A dull table knife is best for skinning. Use Stretch cured skin over the sanded styrofoam Before skinning out your fish draw an out scissors to cut away fins from flesh inside. All form and place in a well ventilated area to line of it on paper and transfer to a block of meaty tissue in head (including eyes) should dry. Smaller pieces of foam may be placed on styrofoam. Cut block to a rough duplicate of be removed before soaking in borax solution each side of the fins to prevent curling while the fish's proportions and sand it smooth. 2 to 5 days. drying.
After wax has hardened, trim away the ex Head cavity is stuffed with papier-mache— Placing tissue paper on the backsides of the cess paper backing. Careful attention with a eye cavity with wax. Wax used on skin sur fins, then painting them with wax helps small scissors is necessary in this step. Any face should be scraped to approximate skin strengthen them and aids in repairing torn holes or damaged areas in the skin can be texture in the area where used. Entire mount fins. Use ordinary household paraffin. repaired now with wax. should be shellacked before painting.
'^^••^•IIL: 'M Best way to shellac is with a little spray gun available at most hobby shops. Spraying •minting your mount will be the most difficult eliminates brush marks. Bob's sons, Jimmy Part of the project. Fortunately, oil paints Bob Snyder puts spots and fine detail in place and Michael seem fascinated by Dad's work. can be mixed to true colors. Compare your with fine brush tip. This is the final step Let your mount dry for 24 hours and its ^ix with a photo before applying. prior to spraying finished mount with shellac. ready for the wall!
EPTEMBE R-l 9 7 2 13 Know-How & Courtesy
PREVENT RAMP CONGESTION
aunching ramp congestion can build up fast. All it LJ takes is one inexperienced or thoughtless person. The following tips on trailering and launching will help you become a proficient trailer handler and avoid the sneers of impatient boatmen waiting in line to Wait a minute! Suppose Dad hit the brakes firmly and Mom lost launch their boats. her grip on that line—what would happen to that little fellow and Trailer manufacturers specify load capacities for the lunch? Better to have him safely ashore during launching. Photo: each model. Stay within these limits, and your rig Courtesy Evinrude Motors. will be easier to tow, launch and load. Be sure to the left and vice versa. This is the secret of expert include the weight of the motor and assorted gear trailer handling. Practicing backing before actually when you're adding up the total. trying it on the launching ramp will save you con fusion and embarrassment. ADJUST ROLLERS Make sure your rig is ready to go when you're oU Have your dealer correctly adjust the trailer rollers the ramp. Boating gear should be transferred into the to fit the contour of the hull. Besides protecting the boat while you're waiting. Make sure the drain plug boat from distortion, your rig will slide on and off is installed. the trailer easier. Launching is a two man job with one person acting Surprisingly, many boatmen struggle and swear as a guide for the driver. Line your rig up at a righ1 because they don't understand the correct operating angle to the water. Back up slowly and stop a fevf procedures of trailer mechanisms. If you have any feet from the edge. Remove the tie-downs, tilt the questions, ask your marine dealer. It's not a bad outboard motor up and unlock the bow winch. idea to have him demonstrate the correct technique several times. LAUNCHING PROCEDURES If you are inexperienced in towing a trailer, take a Back up again until the trailer wheels are one oi few practice runs. You'll notice it will take longer to two inches into the water. Set the emergency brake stop, and acceleration will be slower. Add a couple of and put the car in gear. Have your guide hold onto a inches when turning a corner so the trailer will clear lead line from the bow. This will prevent the boa* without hitting the curb. An empty parking lot is a from drifting into open water when it slides off the good practice field for perfecting trailering techniques. trailer. The loading procedure is just as simple. Line up BACKING TRAILER the trailer and the boat. Connect the launching cable When backing a trailer, remember that the car's and let the winch do the work of re-trailering. Pull steering wheel must be turned in the opposite direc the rig out of the water and off to the side before tion from the way you want the trailer to go. If you checking all fasterners, plugs and tie-downs. want the trailer to go to the right, turn the wheel to All it takes to become an expert is a little practice'
14 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLE*1 piece of required equipment that will offer advantages is an outside rear view mirror on the car. Driving a trailer rig is easy, but it is different from driving a car; it takes a certain amount of practice. Take it easy until you become accustomed to the ROUTINE added weight. And remember that you are now driv ing what amounts to a very long car, so be absolutely certain that you know the distances and time required to pass, to turn a corner, and to stop. With these simple precautions there will be no need TRAILER to worry when on the road with a boat trailer. As an added safety measure, however, it is always a good idea to check the hitch, winch, safety chains and tie- CHECK downs when stops are made along the way. BALANCE TRAILER WHEELS The wheels on your trailer need to be correctly balanced just as your car wheels do, for safety and Important to prevent vibration, side-sway and wear. Any service station should be able to balance the wheels correctly. For Safety
Safety afloat is fine—but don't neglect checking your trailer enroute. You owe it to yourself and fellow travelers. Photo: Courtesy Evinrude Motors.
railer boating has opened waterways across the T country to boatmen. With a good boat trailer, Properly balanced and carefully checked, boatmen can travel thousands of miles with no worries. Before each trip, it is a good idea to make a routine check of the trailer. The safety chains should be in spected to be sure they are properly secured so as to keep the trailer behind the car in the event it should come loose from the hitch. Although the average boatman will probably never experience this, it is an excellent safety precaution.
LOADING TRAILER When you mount your boat on the trailer, the center of gravity, with the motor attached and loaded with normal gear, should be slightly forward of center s° that some of the weight rests on the hitch. This '"H prevent bobbing of trailer and boat while on the road. Most boatmen make it a practice to release the pension on the winch rope and tie-downs when the °oat and trailer are not being used. Before starting a riP, remember to secure the tie-down and tighten the winch rope. A visual check should be made to see that all keel and hull supports are in place. Also check the trailer ughts to see that they are operating properly, keep be rollers and winch properly lubricated and repack he wheel bearings according to the manufacturers recommendations.
USE FRAME HITCH ft is a good idea to use a frame hitch rather than bumper hitch when pulling a boat trailer. Another
SEPTEMBE R-l 9 7 2 15 George Bitting
remembers...
Mr. George Bitting of Millerstown, Pa.
by Jim Yoder WHEN TH$
istorical accounts had recorded bits and pieces of they pulled the canal boats across the river . . . but I H the Shad fishery on the Juniata but I thought was just young then." it was just short of believable that anyone who par I was surprised at the mention of gasoline engines, ticipated in that era would still be around to talk "Could it have been a steam engine that supplied about it. the power?" A telephone call found Mr. Bitting anxious to re "Well, I don't know ... it could have been done count his teenage days along the Juniata River and with waterpower. You see, when they opened these a few days later I arrived with a tape recorder and gates that filled the canal there was an awful pressure dozens of questions. there. They would put the mules in the boat and pull George Bitting told me he was born in Perry (pro it across. I heard fellows telling that they 'walked' the nounced "purry" by the natives) County in 1885. mules across the breast of the dam, but that isn't "That would make you about 87?" "Yes, somewhere true. You couldn't walk across the dam because it around there," he replied, with apparent disinterest sloped too much and there was always too much for the statistic. I found it difficult to believe—this water there." octogenarian moves about with a spriteness to be "I noticed a number of old stone homes here in envied by men two decades his junior! George lives Millerstown and up along the river. Were they part alone and does his own immaculate job of housekeep of the landscape back in those days?" ing. 'Tes," he said, "they were used in the canal days. "How old were you when you fished for shad in the They were hotels, most of them . . . that was a long Juniata?" I asked. "Oh, I can't tell you exactly . . . time ago." I suppose I was around 12-14 . . . around there. We Pointing to a sketch he had made of the dam and fished downstream from the dam at Old Ferry, this the old fishery below, the old timer continued. "Now was built across the river just upstream from Wildcat there were three fish baskets here, on this side of the Creek. We ran our seines above where Wildcat Creek island, and two on the other side. And here (pointing entered the river." Mr. Bitting then described the dam farther downstream) George Rhoades had one, and as one of stone and wood construction and "seven or Walter Brant had one down there. This was right eight feet high." According to his account, the dam above where we fished . . . where we seined. served as a "cross-over" for the canal boats. Above "Did these baskets catch shad?" I asked. the dam the canal served Millerstown on the east "Oh no, I don't think they ever caught any shad bank; boats crossed at the dam and proceeded down with the fish baskets, they caught mostly carp and stream to Newport on the west bank. eels." "There was a ropehouse on each side—just above "What did they do with the carp?" I asked curious- the dam. It seems they had a gasoline engine in the iy. ropehouse—I just don't remember how they did it, 'They ate them—they'd eat them today if they but the rope went the whole way across. I saw how could get them. There were an awful lot of eels, be-
16 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER
^ Artist Lin Steiner re-creates here the dam at Old Ferry. $HAD RAN THE JUNIATA
fore that dam was put in." (This was repeated time deep ... it would reach down good in eight feet of and again throughout the interview.) "When the water. We used a flatboat to run the seine." Conowingo Dam was put in, that's when we lost out. "Was this just a big rowboat?" After that we couldn't get any shad—after they built "Yes, that boat was about, Oh, I'd say about 18 feet that dam." long, about 7 feet wide and about 14 inches deep. We "Tell me," I continued," did anyone ever think of had the cork line coiled on one side of the boat and fishing for shad with hook and line in those days?" the lead line coiled on the other. Two men would go "Yes," he replied with some hesitancy, "they fished out in that boat, one handled the two oars and the with hook and line, but not too many of them. On other the net. We'd make a big circle with the boat Ascension Day, still, that was the day that everybody and bring the seine back to a stone that jutted out Would gather along the river and fish . . . but mostly into the river. It made sort of an eddy there and we With seines." didn't have to fight the current. "There were only two fisheries that I knew of and "Josiah Grubb was the man who owned the fishery 'fie other one was about three miles below where we and Earl Horting, Harry Grubb, Stewart Snider, Wil fished—that's the one Al Wright had. I couldn't liam Bitting (my brother) and I were his helpers." lell you who his helpers were, but he's the man who Mr. Bitting's memory of names and the finer de had the fishery below us." tails of the dam, the canal boats—even the size of the "What did they do with the shad when they caught seine's mesh, astounded me. His account of the shad them? Salt them? Smoke them?" I queried. fishery was so vividly described, the writer had a "Sell them fresh mostly," he recounted, "a fellow difficult time remembering it was 1972. I could pic Would come there pretty near every night from way ture myself, bib-overalls and all, wading the Juniata UP along the big river (Susquehanna) and maybe —tugging at the seine to bring in the haul. Ah yes . . . °uy the whole bunch then go up there and sell them, meanwhile, back at the tape recorder and the inter if we got 350 for a roe shad, a big one, why we view. thought that was a good price. The buck shad brought "Did you ever catch any other fish besides shad in around 15-200." the Juniata?" Up to this point Mr. Bitting had men As Mr. Bitting recalled the events of the shad-tak- tioned only shad, carp, and eels. "How about bass? lng on the Juniata, I wondered just how extensive the Walleyes? Pickerel? Rock Bass?" rUn might have been. "They said he kept an account "No, you see these nets had three inch mesh, that ar*d in the three years that we fished he bought 1561 was the law, and the smaller fish would go right shad from our fishery. You know, there was just a through them." pertain time of the year—in May—that we fished. "But how about using hook and line," I pressed on, 1x1 June, after the shad had spawned, they were no "for anything else, say bass? Just what did you have good. in the Juniata way back then?" Our seine was 75 yards long and about six feet continued on next page
SEP T E M B E R-l 9 7 2 17 it but they told me it was a big fish. I mind of them When the Shad catching it." "Do you ever wish you could go back and fish for Ran the Juniata shad the way you did then?" continued from previous page "Yes, you know, they were supposed to, when they "We got mostly eels and suckers. At that time there put that dam in, they were supposed to put a fishway were very few bass . . . very few bass," he replied— in . . . but they never did. They brought it up here a sadly, I thought. couple of years ago and that's all the further it ever "Were there trout in the smaller streams that went. . . they never did anything." emptied into the Juniata?" The apparent absence of gamefish in the Juniata in "There may have been but I don't recall as there Mr. Bitting's early years came as a surprise to me. I were. You see, people fished the creeks for eels mostly. found it difficult to comprehend that the Juniata, one They'd go up these creeks, still, and get them with of the finest gamefish waters in the Commonwealth hook and line. After that dam was put in, well, we just today, was at one time but a carp and sucker fishery didn't get any fish anymore . . . only what they after the shad run subsided. Eels were a great favor stocked—you know, put in." ite then and were apparently abundant but they too "You mentioned, earlier, a man who ran a 'steamer' stopped coming—"when they put that dam in." on the canal. Can you tell me anything about him?" Many historical accounts record the annual spring "Yes, that was Warren Cross. After they quit using migration of the American Shad as one of great the canal altogether, he would come down the river economical significance. The Delaware River is the when they would open the gates here and he would last Pennsylvania waterway to sustain a shad run. go to Newport—down the canal." Pollution "blocks" in its lower reaches make even this The pool above the dam apparently provided some remnant of a once great fishery a touch-and-go kind "elbow room" for the little steamer. "It backed the of thing. And for those who still enjoy this tremen dous sport fishery along the Commonwealth's eastern boundary the proposed Tock's Island Dam may write 75 YARDS LONG the final chapter in the history of shad fishing in CORK LINE Pennsylvania. Will it be another Conowingo? Shad have grown accustomed to "uphill-all-the- way" but in the last century, each foot of forward "progress" has set the shad back another two. Dams, for whatever purpose erected, draw a sharp line of demarcation for shad on their spawning run. From "The Report of the State Commissioner of Fisheries, 1892-94": LEAD LINE "In May, 1829, the run of shad in the Juniata was phenomenal, the Mifflin Eagle, on the 19th of that The seines of early shad men were the tools of the trade, (not to scale) month says that 'it is stated that the shad are caught in much greater abundance below the dam at North's water up quite a ways," he said, pointing to an area Island, in the Juniata, than has ever been known at beyond the border of his sketch. any previous time. * * * The dam at North's Island "To Thompsontown?" I volunteered. retards their further progress and the consequence is "Oh no, not that far, but it went up there quite a that the people further up the Juniata are deprived of ways." the luxury of fresh shad, which so abundantly falls Mr. Bitting indicated three piers on his sketch, just to the lot of their neighbors a few miles further down-' above the breast of the dam. "I don't know what those Thus was ruin brought to a profitable industry in the piers were used for. I always thought they were pro upper waters of the Juniata." tection for the boats, in case anything happened, but I'm just guessing. They were built higher than the The same "Report" decries the loss of the shad fish surface of the water . . . they were stone and I sup ery to the upper waters of the Susquehanna by the pose when the river is low you'd still be able to see construction of the Nanticoke Dam in Luzerne Coun them. I never did know what they were there for." ty and similar losses on the Delaware, Lackawaxen "Did you ever hear of any sturgeon being caught in and Schuylkill Rivers. These were the early dams the Juniata?" built to maintain water levels in the canal system and "Yes, I never saw any but I heard of two being in some cases, like the Nanticoke Dam, served as a caught around Newport . . . in Al Wright's fish "cross-over" just as did the dam at Old Ferry. basket." The great Columbia Dam on the Susquehanna, "Just a few days ago I heard of a sturgeon having which was but a foretaste of things to come, cut off been caught 'way back that weighed something like all further shad passage upstream. Fishways were 96 pounds." attempted, met with mixed success and were even "Well, it could be possible," he replied, "I didn't see tually abandoned as impractical. The destruction of
18 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER
J* Fish markets have all but disappeared on the Pennsylvania scene. "If we got 350 for a roe shad, a big one, why we thought that was a good price . . ."
the dam by flood waters was but a brief respite. But, worth—of dam blocked progenitors. Has a disturbed from the "Report of 1899" "Soon after the breaks in environment dulled, perhaps wiped out the migrating 'he Columbia Dam the fishermen here became very instincts that were natural a century ago? It's akin to enthusiastic. . . ." isolating 100 generations of cats, restricting them to Their enthusiasm was to be short-termed. The a cereal diet and wondering "will they still prefer construction of the Conowingo Dam, literally inde fish?" structible steel and concrete, signalled the apparent But then, the White Shad has been introduced into end to the shad fishery upstream. Western rivers where they never existed; they have The future? A new fish collection device con successfully negotiated the fishways, ladders and structed below the Conowingo underwent initial tests traps . . . and have become established! last May. American Shad will be collected and trans Would the anticipated shad fishery justify the ferred upstream. If the "man-handling" doesn't dis cost? There are many questions to be answered be orient the shad and they continue their migration fore the American Shad is seen again in the Juniata upstream, similar devices will be installed on the River. power dams farther up the river. In the meantime, since the signing of a joint Federal-State agreement * early 1963, fertilized American Shad eggs have been transplanted in the headwaters of the Susque hanna River (and in some selected tributaries—the Juniata is one) and studies since that time have demonstrated that shad eggs can hatch, larvae can develop, and juveniles can survive and prosper in ^ost of the Susquehanna River. . . ." The program calls for five years of testing before c onsidering the actual construction of fishways— The Conowingo Dam in Maryland is the first migration block en costs of which have been variously estimated at 10 countered by the Shad. The experimental fish collection facility is to 20 million dollars. shown below. Fish are diverted into the trap by sub-surface weirs; hopper, below left, brings catch to surface then transfers fish, below The first tests conducted in late May were done right, to sorting tank. Shad are removed and placed in river above dam. Under adverse conditions. Water temperatures were Uiuch lower than those required to "trigger" the shad Migration and the Susquehanna River had been con sistently higher than normal. More water passed through Conowingo in early 1972 than during the same period in any of the preceeding 45 years! Shad were few in numbers, both at the collection facility aud in the tailrace fishery below the dam. At any rate, it will be some time before the feas- tbility of shad lifts and/or ladders will be finally de termined. And what about the shad themselves? w,e re dealing with generations—a half century's
SEP T E M B E R-l 9 7 2 19 this is the story of ome years ago a friend bought a 12 foot boat kit S and recruited me to help him assemble it. We spent more than a few weekends doing the job in his garage and had a lot of fun at the same time. "THE MAD TURK" After it was put together, we painted it a buff yel low and trimmed it in a deep green. The name came next and it was christened 'The Mad Turk" for no and her contribution to— apparent reason other than it was different. A 10 horse Martin was chosen to speed it thru the water and an equally new trailer completed the outfit. Considerable thought was given to the maiden voyage of "The Mad Turk" and we finally decided to launch her at the Youghiogheny Reservoir at Con fluence in Somerset and Fayette counties. The shake down cruise as it were, was to be combined with some fishing. "THE So, early one bright and warm Sunday in August, we were merrily on our way to Confluence. An hour and a half later at the launching ramp, "The Mad Turk" slid off the trailer into the water. Fishing tackle, oars, a tool box and flotation DEEP cushions were loaded into the boat and then the gas tank was filled. A safety chain was fastened to an eyebolt on the inside of the transom and the other end was secured to the outboard's stern bracket. On the first pull of the starter cord, the Martin SIX'' hummed to life. And off we went, skimming effort lessly across the water. My friend made a few practice turns at different speeds to get the feel of the boat and then he opened her up. We cruised under the Route 40 bridge and headed for Maryland. Upon reaching the Mason- by George E. Dolnack, Jr. Dixon line, we swung the boat around and headed back into Pennsylvania. An inlet looked inviting, so we stopped to do a little fishing. illustrated by Nick Rosato As noon approached, we pulled our stringer of pan- fish in and started back towards the car to pick up our lunches that we had forgotten in our haste to get out on the water. The motor was wide open and we were moving along at a nice clip approaching the continued on next page BOATER'S TIP Many accidents occur before the boat ever leaves the dock. One of the primary causes of accidents dockside is the boatman who tries to step into his boat heavily laden with a motor or heavy tackle box. It's not too uncommon to find the boatman landing PLAY IT SAFE in the water and wondering how he got there. The proper way to load a boat or attach a motor is to place the equipment on the dock or pier, step into FROM THE START the boat, and then pick up the equipment to put it in its place.
THE DEEP SIX He put out his arms, gestured and shrugged his shoul ders as he simply said, "The motor's gone." continued from previous page I couldn't fathom what he had said until he moved aside to expose the stern clamp still secured to the Route 40 bridge from the south. I was sitting on the transom with the safety chain intact. Sure enough, front seat and faced the bow. A speedy, trim boat the motor was in the deep six. The wild gyrations raced towards us and I followed it around as it roared were just too much for the clamp and it gave way. I Past, kicking up a heavy wake and spray. guess we were lucky not to lose the transom. I pointed at the other boat and nodded my head at We attempted to locate the motor by diving but it ^y friend. He gave me a big grin looking like a pos- was too deep and anyway, the boat had drifted away Sum chomping on a melon and then turned the boat from the spot where the motor fell into the water. "lightly to the right and then quickly back to the left Then we rowed to a boat dock on the shore where a again without throttling down. man had witnessed our unusual event. He confirmed The sudden maneuver caught me unaware and off our suspicions that it was too deep for diving without °alance and I instinctively turned my body around scuba gear and offered to tow us back to our car. and grabbed the gunwales with my hands in a reflex We looked somewhat odd coming in without a Action. I turned my head towards my friend and gave motor and it was quite obvious that something had ^im a scolding scowl. He repeated the maneuver once happened. So we were the recipients of a barrage of again just as I turned my head towards the bow. questions like, "What happened? Lose your motor?" Suddenly I was conscious that something was When we finally got away and reached the car I ainiss for the boat had slowed down and the bow said to my friend, "Well, there's a couple of hundred Piowed into the water. Then I heard a cacophony of in the drink." ounds coming from in back of me. At about the same He looked at me with a funny grin and said, "I'm llJie the boat began to vibrate and I turned to see the going to be embarrassed when I explain this to the in ^otor not only oscillating wildly, but thrashing an- surance company." §ruy in and out of the water as well. "How's that?" I asked, a bit perplexed. My friend's hands and arms were flailing about "Oh," he replied nonchalantly," the guy that sold <.p a windmill trying to get things under control. me the motor also talked me into some insurance for Great scot!" I thought, "The Mad Turk is living up a couple of dollars." 0 its name!" Talk about luck! Or was it just good planning? A sharp snap followed by a thunk pierced the other The next weekend we were back out on the lake °ises. Then silence. My friend turned around and with a new motor, more insurance and a little wiser ared at me with a stunned look on his ashen face. from the experience.
S£PTEMBE R-l 9 7 2 21 FORMER EDITOR
in memoriam George W. Forrest, who served the Pennsylvania Fish Commission in a number of capacities, including George W. Forrest Editor of the Pennsylvania Angler, died suddenly at his home in York on July 11, 1972. 1910-1972 George joined the Commission in 1950 and was the Angler's editor until 1956 when he left to enter into private employment. In 1960 he returned, again serving as editor until 1964 at which time he became Chief of the former Public Relations Division. Since 1968 he had been in charge of special publications and promotion programs.
FISH COMMISSION ELECTS OFFICERS— At the July 14, 1972 meeting, the Pennsylvania Fish Com mission elected Howard R. Heiny, Williamsport, to suc NEWS ceed Calvin J. Kern, Whitehall, as president of the nine- member board. A member since 1966, Mr. Heiny is an experienced boatman and was the board's vice-president prior to the election. Douglas McWilliams, Bear Gap, was BRIEF elected vice-president. A Commission member since 1964, he is a past president of the group.
THE HANDIEST HOOK HONE
by C. Boyd Pfeiffer
There have always been several standard tips on how to sharpen hooks. One, of course is to always ket, fishing vest, or tackle box. This only invites keep a hook hone in your tackle box or fishing vest losing, misplacing, or breaking this necessary piece and touch up the hooks when necessary. Or, if you of equipment. One sure way to prevent this and al are in need of an extra fast cutting sharpener, re ways have the hone with you is to glue the hone or place the regular hone with a small ignition file. And file somewhere on your tackle box. Be sure to use a if you are caught without a file or stone use the good strong waterproof glue so that the hone will be abrasive striking surface of a pack of matches as an in place many seasons to come. Prominently diS' emergency measure. played, the hook hone will be a constant reminder to The problem with these tips is that the hook hone you to touch up your hooks and keep them sharp for (or its substitute) is always carried loose in a poc- that next lunker.
22 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLEB
. KEYSTONE CAMPING by Thad Bukowski
ous walleye are caught, particularly Camping Along as fall progresses into winter, and bass fishing climaxes before the wall the Allegheny eye season hits its peak. Top sized "pike" was a 13 pounder taken with he fog lifts off the big river and in the past two years. Tsmoke curls lazily straight up At Irvine and the Buckaloons worn the many campfires. The smell campground, the Brokenstraw flows °f bacon greats early morning fisher into the Allegheny. At Tionesta, men as they return in their boats, Tubbs Run enters and downstream ^ith much shore clanging, to get at below President at Henry's Bend, the early chow. Pithole enters. Really big brown trout As a camper I usually sneak out be are caught at these points and the fore breakfast for a short stint with gravel bank where the Tionesta Creek 'he artificials and surprise myself oc flows into the Allegheny long has casionally with a few good bass or been a top walleye and muskie hang Walleye, then come back ravenous for out. Lower Pithole, hard to get into, Above: Nut trees shade campers at Island a morning feed. Toast, jam, bacon, has one of the biggest "residenter" Park, an island campsite just downstream from eggs and coffee and my day has be populations of trout in any stream Hunters Bridge which crosses the Allegheny gun beautifully. of this area, according to Pennsyl downstream from Tionesta. Below: Boats are available for rental at Cloverleaf Eddy, one The autumn season is one of the vania Fish Commission biologist of a few places along the river in addition *nest for the camper to turn to the checks within the past three years. to Klinestiver's at Tidioute. rivers. Nights are cooler and when The interested camper has good 'he aspens and tulips begin to turn camping points at Buckaloons and Vellow and the maples a blushing Cloverleaf Eddy which is between Pnik, the river fish go on a feeding Warren and Tidioute and rental boats sPree after an unproductive summer. are available here. Five miles down The broad stretches of the Alle stream from West Hickory on the gheny River, particularly from Irvine west side of the river, a 200 site all- ^here the Buckaloons campground electric private campground has top- hinges the northwest corner of the notch-facilities. One edge of Tionesta edge of the President Eddy. ^iegheny National Forest all the way has a small private campsite while Klinestivers at Tidioute offers a free jWnstream to President Eddy and the other edge harbors a Corps of En boat access and small boat accesses beyond, nearly 40 miles, is a camp- gineers site which accommodates tent are also available at President, Hen lRg-fisherman's opportunity to con campers on one side of a dead-end ry's Bend, Tionesta, West Hickory, nect big during the fall. road in a hemlock grove and trailers Cloverleaf and Buckaloons. Boats . The Allegheny through these areas in a more open area on the other side. may also be rented at the Cloverleaf J? great fishing water. Lud Haller of Somewhat farther downstream, Eddy and Klinestivers. l0nesta, who keeps a record of big just below Hunter's Bridge, a prim Those interested in float fishing have fish caught in the Allegheny-Tionesta itive but picturesque site is on an outstanding possibilities to take one- Watershed, recorded over 70 legal island of the Allegheny and another day stints from Irvine to Cloverleaf, ^nskellunge taken last year. Numer small campsite is located at the lower Cloverleaf to Tidioute, Tidioute to West Hickory, West Hickory to Tion- Many public and private campsites are to be found along the Allegheny River. This continued on page 28 private campsite offers 200 all-electric hookups across the river from Tionesta. It is reached via the West Hickory bridge and downstream five miles. Heart's Content Scenic Area surrounds the camper with 120 acre stand of huge 400 year old timber.
pU HEARTS CONTENT '"I SCENIC AREA AU.eCrif.Nr MIIOML FOREST
ALL FIRES FORBIDDEN S E P T E M B E R-l 9 7 2 a fish, one of the fishermen, asked if it would be legal to tie one of the ducks on the line of his spinning rod and let the duck catch him a limit. *UJ G. W. Frank Kann NOTES WWP (Sullivan/Lycoming County) AT LAST WE HEAR IT! At the recent Pleasure Boating Safety course held in the Clarion WHAT NEXT? JOHN "FINE" DOE- County Court House, the turnout was While eating in a restaurant in I happened to meet a gentleman very gratifying. The group had many Mercer County, Sgt. Dunkle and Sgt. that was determined to pick a middle questions concerning boat handling DeBerti of the Pennsylvania State name because he had none at the and equipment that should be car Police came in and asked what we time. When I asked what it would be, ried on board a boat. To me, the most were doing around 1:00 P.M. We he replied, "Fine, because it seems gratifying comment came after the said we were available, why? They that no mater where I go fishing I final session, when one of the stu said they had a small problem . . . end up being fined for one violation dents said, "I have been boating for then decided it was a large problem. or another!" five years, and in these three nights, A woman had fallen in a house and Frank Schilling I have learned so much. I realize couldn't get up. The problem was a WWP (Philadelphia County) now, that the patrolmen have quite a sizeable one—the woman weighed NEW TECHNIQUE? job on their hands, trying to educate between 450 and 500 pounds! the public as to boating safety, and 1 Within a two hour period I had When we arrived we found six wish to thank you and Mr. Swanson the privilege to observe the following State Police, 3 men from the am for a well presented and very educa incidents at the first in-season trout bulance and the woman's husband tional course. If only more people planting at Parker Dam State Park. with WWP Ansell—that made an would come and learn what it is all The wife of a friend of mine, remov even dozen men. A special platform about." One comment like this one ing a dead worm from her hook with had to be made and then it was still makes it worthwhile, especially after a spring loaded clothespin, and trying a job getting her into the ambulance. hearing some like, "I have been boat After about three hours of building, ing for 'X' years, and don't need yov figuring and hard lifting, we man to tell me how to operate my boat." aged to get her into the ambulance Robert J. Cartel and on the way to the hospital! WWP (Clarion County) C/oyd W. Hollen LESSONS ANYONE? Asst. Supervisor (Region I) While on patrol of the Susquehan na River early this spring, SWP Ter ry Baker came upon a young lad fish PLUM FOOLISHNESS! e One of the most common occur ing. After observing him for som rences at Pymatuning Lake is the use time it was apparent the young fellovf of small cartop prams or other flat knew how to handle a fishing rod' bottom boats, which were found to Upon talking to him it was learned be overloaded just by the weight of that his name was John ReynoldSi the occupants without counting the age 16, from York. He has 12 fishing citations from the Pennsylvania Fis^ weight of their motor and fishing 1 equipment. This particular type boat "WHAT A WAY TO ADVERTISE!" Commission and said he is a "Pas Pennsylvania Fish Commission Fisb' was not meant for a lake such as to put a live worm back on with the ing Champion." This last title may Pymatuning. On even a calm day, same clothespin; an angler, on his not be official but I certainly thin* when the water is fairly smooth, backcast, catch and land, but with he should be given some considers' there still is a possible chance of the help of the driver and a few tion for such a title. overturning, let alone when the lake other fishermen, a 4000 pound car. is fairly rough. This type of boat was Just another average day at Parker William F. Hartl* manufactured for use on a small Dam. WWP (York County) farm pond or possibly in a marsh or Edward W. Brown swamp where the water does not get WWP (Clearfield County) CUT AN ANCHOR- rough or choppy. Above all else, com SAVE A LIFE mon sense should be the number one DOUBTFUL- On two occasions this spring boa' factor when deciding on the type of On April 21st Hunter's Lake re fishermen's anchors have been caugn boat for the larger lakes throughout ceived an in-season stocking of Rain on bottom of lakes. Each time tW the state. The Capacity Plate on all bow trout. Due to the cold water the well meaning angler pulled too ha!'1 boats should be observed and the rule fishermen were not having much luck and capsized his boat. They not only followed for each individual's safety and most left in disgust. To add in lost fishing gear, but it could have while boating. sult to injury a pair of Merganser been there lives. Warren L. Beaver ducks were having a great day. After H. F. Reynold WWP (W. Crawford County) seeing one of the ducks come up with WWP (Wayne County'
24 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLE? L EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS SMORGASBORD? legal, how big the lake was, etc. He Recently two high school students This tale was related to me by D. then asked where the fish had come Playing hookie from school to go G. P. Walter Whitman about a fel from, and I told him they were flown in by plane to Clifford Airport. The fishing were apprehended for fish low worker who made a trip to Pleas gentleman then bought a subscrip law violations by Deputy Walter How ant Gap and told Walt he knew why tion to the Angler, for his grandson, ard. Upon returning to school they the fish wouldn't bite. He said he was because he said he was not a fisher approached their classmates with a quite surprised at one pond he saw man. can labeled "Please Help Support Your which he claims was a "Smorgas Fish Commission!" I don't know how bord" because it had any and every Robert E. Fasching ^uch their classmates helped, but kind of feed a fish could want, he WWP (Lackawanna County) 'he hookie players did. decided we put the fish in this pond a day or so before stocking and filled Arthur A. Herman FINE NEW ACCESS them up so that after stocking they WWP (Westmoreland County) On Memorial Day weekend, the are so full they won't bite. I don't city of Tarentum and the Fish Com quite agree—I've received a few loads mission dedicated the new Access that seemed pretty hungry and they DUMP HIM! Area constructed by the Commission must not have gotten to that par On one of the trout stocking of last fall and had a nice turnout of ticular pond. Little Mahoning Creek in Indiana boats and people at the ceremonies. bounty a helicopter was donated to James H. Lauer The Commission's Engineering Divi stock some trout at some remote WWP (Lycoming County) sion is to be commended for the nice sPots on the stream. Some of the job they did in constructing this c°rnments overheard were, "Wonder facility and it is certainly appreciated ful," "best stocking I have ever seen," by the Waterways Patrolmen in Al "That's it, hide them from us," "Put legheny County, the boaters and the lhem where we can't find them," and officials of the City of Tarentum. "They ought to put the patrolman in Gerald T. Crayton that bucket and dump him in the WWP (N. Allegheny County) stream." Needless to say this was one tir*ie I didn't try to satisfy all the fishermen. THANK YOU! Allen G. Stiffler Last spring, during pre-season WWP (Indiana County) stocking, we had the welcome help of the Conservation Club from the Chief Logan Campus of the Mifflin County CLEANUP VOLUNTEERS School District, in the stocking of One of the parking places on the Penns Creek. F ish For Fun project on Big Kettle "YOU THINK THIS IS BAD? . . . YOU SHOULD These young men not only did a Cree k at Bunnell Bridge had con SEE THE STUFF I HAVE TO FLY THROUGH!" tremendous job of trout stocking, but querable litter. Two families deserve with the help of their advisor, Mr. ^fch credit for the cleaning up of FROM FAR AND NEAR- Gene Brown, they filled a pickup j**is litter over the holiday: The Lysle truck with litter and disposed of it. I have been pleasantly surprised by !?• Gardner family of 919 W. 3rd St., the number of non-residents that we Richard Owens **te, Pa., and the Norman B. Stok have checked on Clover Creek this WWP (Mifflin-Juniata Counties) tfttiily of 919>/2 W. 3rd St., Erie, Pa. year. I have personally checked fish rhese people picked up and raked up ermen from at least 6 or 7 states on eight bushels of cans, paper and NEVER SAY DIE Clover Creek this year. I was, how °ther rubbish. How much better it ever, a little taken back when SWP Gary Clark of Emporium related °°ks now along this beautiful Larry Boor apprehended a fellow the following incident to me. It seems tream! Slim Croyle is paying to have from Brazil fishing without a license he spotted a palamino trout lying in **e rubbish hauled away. Many on Clover Creek. I guess you could a hole on the Driftwood Branch. He °anks to these concerned people. say "they come from miles around to cast his salmon egg near the fish and Kenneth Aley fish Clover Creek." he caught the fish. He released it and WWP (Potter County) the fish returned to the same place. Walter A. Rosser His buddy, Phil Burkhouse, came WWP (Blair County) along and Gary told him where the 0pERATION "FILL-A-SACK" fish was. He in turn cast there and Trout Unlimited is distributing and INQUISITIVE- caught the fish and returned it. He Slr}g litter bags to clean up every- While stocking fry size largemouth cast again and the trout gave it a I es trash. One landowner quit tack- in the new lake at Lackawanna State good look but decided not to go , g up No Trespassing signs when Park, a gentleman seemed quite in through the same experience again. . came across several members do- terested in what was taking place, The trout can thank his lucky stars ftg just that. Take the hint, save although he did not comment about that he was caught by these fellows Ur right to use this man's land and anything until I was done stocking for the next time it could mean the ake your litter home. the fish. The gentleman then ques frying pan. H. Porter Duvall tioned me to great lengths, as to how Stanley G. Hastings WWP (Jefferson County) long it would take for the bass to be WWP (Cameron County) S£PTEMBE R-l 9 7 2 25 A CO-OP SPECIAL LAKE ERIE gets "T.L.C." Coho Salmon have been stealing the spotlight at Lake Erie but Lake Run Rainbow Trout, like the 22 incher above, are great favorites with Erie anglers. 3-C-U'ers electro-shock similar from 3- C- U sportsmen specimens, below, for propagation purposes.
by Bill Porter photos by the author
ake Erie—3-C-U Trout Association any luck?" The answer, for us, was Li —"Tender Loving Care"—Fish not typical: "Got one fair one and a Raising—Fish Catching—where's the couple of smaller ones." story? Sounds confusing, doesn't it? The fish had to be seen and tb« It is! What started out to be a two- bucket was unceremoniously dumped day trip to secure material for the on the beach and out rolled a 23 regular Casting with the Co-ops fea lake run rainbow and two young jack ture turned into a pleasant conflict cohos of very respectable length. Any of interests—one for the fine work one of the three would have put om being done by the 3-C-U sportsmen in picture in the paper back home, bu' their nursery complex and another this angler seemed to take them i*1 for a lake that to all accounts was stride and talked instead about tbe far from "dead" in spite of some of "big ones" he had caught earlier & the scare literature we had read. the season. If Lake Erie was dead' The story should begin with the what a way to die! lake itself. After all it was there be The trout and salmon fisherie5 fore the 3-C-U people got started—in were not the only plus signs. Loc^1 fact before modern man himself got fishermen told us of improved catche5 started. Harsh treatment of the in of perch in the Presque Isle area wi^ land sea over the years had its im tolerable mercury levels. Bass fishiw pact as pollutant levels rose; debris was getting better and other specif littered shorelines; some fish popula of sport fish seemed on the upswing tions declined; commercial fishermen Most sportsmen we talked to had a disappeared; and normal summer rec very positive attitude that the lake reation became a chancy thing. But was "coming back." too few people were concerned—or One of the Lake Run Rainbows captured is Jerry Honard, an active co-"P e examined (above) by WWP Jim Carter. Some not enough money, or something, de nursery man, and his son, Dan, we* e females measure 25"—weigh 6 pounds or terred the kind of survival action that our hosts for one evening and tfr more. Below, Bob Hetz extrudes eggs from was needed. Then came the "ecology talk ran, naturally, to fishing. L8>* ripe female on the spot. When a male is cap kick" and things began to reverse run rainbows and coho salmon he'0 tured the eggs will be fertilized and removed themselves—some say "too late," but the spotlight for awhile. Then tbe to one of 3-C-U's incubation facilities. we don't think so from, the evidence discussion turned to the general tf* observed on our trip. provement of Lake Erie fishing afl° How to prove the point of our con we were asked if we would bike {? tention? The best way might be to see some slides of a few walleyes. Q follow a single fisherman on the end course, we would and settled baC'1 of an Erie jetty in the early morning expecting the usual stringer-dead-fis'1 mist. The angler has picked up his kind-of-thing. Instead, there vet1 five-gallon bucket and, after a last shots of monstrous walleyes, hord^ look at the lake, begins to work his of fishermen, boats all over the plaC' way over the cement and rocks to the and a few comments from 0* car. Typical question: "Did you have Honards such as: "We kept 87 ov^ P E N N S YLVANIA ANGLE*1 the season;" "We threw back all the the lake run rainbows, coho salmon Fishing Club became an integral sup ones over four pounds;" "Smaller were included in the nursery pens. In porting member. ones taste better and are quite safe 1968 from the Trout Lake Motel site, Bob Hetz, who manages all 9 nur to eat;" "We use sturdy tackle be 10,000 young salmon were released to series and was one of the early foun cause of the big ones plus the coho find their way downstream to the ders, worked with us on the current and trout that hit occassionally;" and lake. The Cooperative Nursery Coho trip as did Jerry Honard, who is in etc., etc., and ETC!! Then, "Come Program had begun. charge of hatching operations. Others up in July—that's the good walleye Brood stock from the original 1966 appeared at varying times to assist time;" "Come back in the fall for the wild fry were held over and eggs with stocking, shocking, feeding, and coho;" and "We'll be glad to put you were taken and reared in a small the like. It is proper to say that these up for the spring rainbows." hatchery unit at the Rupert Spring two men are typical of the many All of which would seem to sell the site. This area has since been ex members of the 3-C-U that have con idea that Lake Erie fishing is far panded and egg jars installed. In tributed their time, money and talents from a distant memory—certainly addition to the rainbow and coho to make the cooperative nursery pro not a thing of the past. It is very eggs, walleye eggs have been incu gram a success for Lake Erie. It is rnuch a thing of the present and bated and have added to the output. not necessary to list the club rosters seems to be getting better all along Expansion has been the pattern ev —the 3-C-U workers know who they through the efforts of cooperating er since the 1966 beginning. Currently are and so do the fishermen. governments, both state and interna the 3-C-U complex operates a mixture But what of the lonely fisherman tional, and the dedicated work of of nine nurseries and hatcheries, rais that we were talking about earlier in "nany sportsmen, particularly the 3- ing thousands of coho, lake run rain this article? When we saw his catch C-U affiliated clubs. And now we're bows, some brook trout, and is cur we noted that the large rainbow had back to the original purpose of the rently conducting a successful first been fin-clipped. It was a 3-C-U fish frip, the cooperative nursery program with the walleyes. that was getting ready to make the ln the Lake Erie area, having momen According to Bob Brown, Chief, upstream run to spawn—not in her tarily lost sight of our purpose under Cooperative Nursery Branch, the 3- continued on next page
erry Honard treats eggs under watchful eye Eggs are removed from jars and placed on Lake Run Rainbow Trout fry which were of Bob Brown, Chief of PFC's Cooperative trays in spring stream bed for hatching. Sim hatched in the spring's stream bed will be Nursery Branch. ple? It works too! transferred to raceways like the one shown below for rearing to fingerling size.
'he influence of lively Lake Erie. C-U clubs stocked a total of 69,445 The 3-C-U association really needs fish for the 1970-71 fiscal year. About uo introduction, having been featured 50,000 of these were lake run rain ln the Angler in December, 1969, and bows raised from the egg stage by the certainly the sportsmen of the Erie cooperative nursery workers. Another egion are aware of its value and ef 12 thousand plus were coho salmon. forts. The balance of the fish were browns and brooks stocked in inland waters The group first formed in 1966 not tributary to the lake. Fish are ben a number of sportsmen felt it tagged or fin-clipped each year for Necessary to do something about the identification, checks on migration, ^ality of Lake Erie fishing. First rs and other useful data. I ery site approved to enhance the ake run rainbow fishing was a spring The name? It is a bit unusual— trib utary to Trout Run. The Fish actually it is a combination of letters Co:^missio n had no stock of lake run from a number of supporting clubs r ainb ows so permission was given that form the association. Originally e club to seine fry from the stream. it included the Erie County Sports As 5 a result about 600 7-8" trout were men League, the Gem City Outdoors- °cked the following spring and the men Club, the Wesleyville Conserva ^ °gram was underway. tion Club, and Trout Unlimited. In The following year, in addition to 1969, the Northeast Hunting and
S£ PTEMBE R-l 9 7 2 27 A new 3-C-U venture was the stocking of The eggs, measuring a scant 3/32 of an inch From the "PAMELLA," a 22 foot dory built walleye eggs in Lake Erie. Above, Jerry in diameter, are about ready to hatch and will by Dan Wilson, the eggs were gently siphoned Honard primes the siphon to start the flow someday add to the existing walleye fishery into Erie's depths about a mile offshore. Af of the first of 500,000 "eyed" eggs obtained at Lake Erie. Additional eggs were retained ter sinking to the bottom of the lake they from the Fish Commission's Linesville Station. ashore for hatching and rearing to fingerling will be practically invisible until they hatch. size before planting. Photos on this page courtesy of the Cos mopolite-Herald, Girard, Pa.
CO-OP Special pie ways are the 3-C-U's effective find their natural way through the ways. The eggs and sperm were tributary and out into Lake Erie to continued from preceding page mixed, allowed to "harden," and were develop and return to repeat the eventually placed in the Rupert cycle and to supply the angler with original stream, incidentally, but one Spring hatchery. These particular exceptional sport. Their growth will several miles away—a biological fact eggs are now out of the fry stage and be phenomenal—more than doubling discovered in the early days of the well into healthy fingerling rainbows their length and several times their Erie cooperative. at one of several 3-C-U rearing loca young weight in a year's time on the This fish was the prize of the fish tions. bountiful forage fish in the lake. And erman, but others of her kind were Next spring the trout will crowd the single fisherman will return to the electro-shocked farther upstream by the lower end of the raceways, as jetty with others of his kind, too, to Hetz and members of the Fish Com will the young coho salmon—ready fish for the silver trout and the vi- I mission. Eggs were extruded and a for their run to the lake. A plank will brant salmon with more assurance suitable male was recovered and his be removed, a screen lifted, and the that his part of the cycle will be re- milt placed in a coffee can—the sim- young trout will be on their own to peated again and again.
area. I caught my biggest walleye in camper loves to hide himself in the Keystone Camping the Cloverleaf Eddy where I also saw big woods, Hearts Content with I continued from page 23 a shore fisherman practically pass out stands of historic trees is a nearby esta, Tionesta to Hunter Bridge, or one day while landing a 14 inch bass. National Campsite in the big woods Island Park just below Hunter Bridge The gasping angler explained breath east of Tidioute, along Pa. 337. to President. Islands along the river lessly that a huge muskellunge took The camping angler may have suc make overnight boat camping a dis a pass at and tried to swallow his cess on big muskies and other game tinct possibility and such trips may bass! Muskellunge are often caught fish with whopper sized jitterbugs i" be extended along longer stretches of this way in the Allegheny and many black color, repalas and rebels of all the river for a week's journey or more fishermen can attest to the fact that types, surface mouse, underwater riv' if the boater desires. An outfitter's a "lunge" went after another fish er runts and Phillips killers. Fo* group at Clarenden has canoes and they were hauling in. fly fishermen, deer hair bugs and other rigs available for such trips. I Klinestivers, at the west end of the vari-sized muddlers are effective. have traveled the river by boat from Tidioute Bridge and Lud Haller's in Black and purple plastic worm5 Franklin to Kinzua Dam and cannot Tionesta, are top sources of informa and jigs are also outstanding, wit*' recommend any one area as being tion for the interested camper or jigs most effective late in the year. more beautiful than the other. float fisherman. Tidioute is also the Probably the best baits if the camp' My fishing with artificials has been site of the annual Pennsylvania Fish er can get them past his wife an^ haphazardly effective on almost any ing Tournament held on the Alle into the camping refrigerator are so" stretch of the stream. Strikes may gheny River, usually the end of Sep crabs and hellgrammites. I use an uP' come in bunches, then no action for tember or first weekend of October, usually limber ultra-light spinning a period which might be followed by with anyone in the state welcome to rod with a small reel and the bass quick successive strikes in another join in the two-day event. If the have a circus flinging my lures.
28 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLE*1 " "Jl _l_ J. 11 " by Capt. Jack
From K. C, Doumington: Liquid Depth Volume From M. R. S., Scranton: "I recently purchased a 1965 Evin- 10% 16% "I recently purchased a 'Fish-Find rude outboard motor, Model No. 20% 25% er' instrument which also measures 403S2D. Could you tell me what the 30% 34% the depth of the water. It seems to proper fuel-oil mixture is for this en 40% 42% work all right as a depth indicator gine, and how can I test the gener when the boat is running at slow 50% 50% ator since the battery will not keep a speeds, but does not give good read charge?" 60% 58% ings when running fast; also, it does 70% 66% not seem to find any fish. What can —First off, this engine is a 1963 I do about this?" model, and it does not have a gen 80% 75% erator. You will have to use a battery 90% 84% —Nearly any depthsounder will charger as needed to replace the en 100% 100% give erratic readings at high hull ergy used in starting, probably about speed, due to the turbulence of the The total volume of your tank is every two or three weeks. The proper water around the transducer on the figured by multiplying the area of fuel mixture is 24:1, or one quart in bottom of the boat. The instrument's the end times the length and dividing a six-gallon tank. capabilities as a fish locator are ques by 231, the number of cubic inches tionable, since it would have to be a in a gallon: very large single fish or a closely 3.14 x 7 x 7 x 34 = 22.6 gallons. From J.E., Camp Hill: packed school of smaller ones to give 231 a reading. Try anchoring the boat • "My ten-year-old outboard motor Estimating from the table, your and letting the fish find you. still runs fine, except that it cuts out dipstick could be marked this way: occasionally when running at full 2-11/16 inches = 5 gallons speed. The engine has been checked 6- 1/16 inches = 10 gallons by a dealer, and he says there is noth 9-13/16 inches = 15 gallons SEARCH FOR ing wrong with it. What do you sug gest? Lost Boats Continues- —Try a new fuel hose from the Pennsylvania's pleasure boat registra From L.V., Pittsburgh: tion system will be used to help indi tank to the engine. Your original hose "My 14-foot fiberglass runabout has viduals locate boats lost in the June may be collapsing inside under the flood. If you lost a boat, contact your a double bottom, and 1 need to repair high vacuum required at full speed District Waterways Patrolman (his fuel flows, or the fittings may be al a hole in the hull where it is impos name, address and telephone number lowing air to enter, thus decreasing sible to get at the inside. How can appear in both your pamphlet of Plea 'he amount of fuel reaching the car I make this repair?" sure Boating Requirements and your buretor. The type of problem you de Summary of Fishing Regulations and —Trim the hole to an oblong Laws), and give him as much informa scribe is very difficult for a repair shape, then cut a piece of hardboard man to find, since he usually tests the tion as you can—-registration number, e or thin plywood an inch larger all make and type of boat, serial number ugine in his shop with his own tank around than the hole. Drill two holes of the hull and motor. and hose. in the backup board and insert a Similarly, if you found a boat, you length of strong twine. You will be can use the same procedure in getting ?88888S8 able to insert the backing board into it back to its rightful owner. The From R. T. M., Kittanning: the hole by turning it so that the "FINDERS-KEEPERS" philosophy does narrow dimension of the board fits not apply to lost boats. "The gas tank in my day cruiser is through the long dimension of the *4 inches in diameter and 34 inches hole. Run a length of wood across '°ng: how can I mark a dipstick to Te the hole on the outside, blocking it ad in gallons?" out from the hull, then fasten the "LARENCY"? Really now! •—Calculating volumes for various twine to the wood, pulling the back In our haste to make up for time lost e | vels in horizontal cylindrical tanks ing up tight against the inside of the due to Hurricane Agnes, both the printer ls a long and tedious process, but I hull. After the first few layers of and your editor were forced to dispense can offer a shortcut applicable to all cloth and resin have been applied, cut with certain areas of proof reading in tanks of this type. The following table the twine off flush and finish the order to get your August ANGLER to you Sives the percentage of full capacity patch, leaving the backup piece ce on time. Thus, LARCENY came to you as tc,r any given percentage of depth: mented on the inside. "LARENCY." Sorry about thatl
EPTEMBER-1972 29 A FISHING FEATURE FOR fflfoj]) FISHERMEN-FROM FISHERMEN «&FI S H^TALES^ by Doris Katsonis
This beautiful 27^ inch, 8i4 pound, rain bow trout was caught by ARTHUR DITCH of Allentown last July. He was fishing the Little Lehigh Creek and it took a worm.
TIM SMALL of Beaver Falls had a This happy fisherman, JOHN KUR- good day while fishing Presque Isle RELL, JR., age 14, of Sunbury, holds Bay last October. Here he shows a the 11 inch rock bass he caught from nice stringer of bass and the big one— the Susquehanna River using a spin a 48 inch, 27 pound, musky. casting rod and a worm for bait.
A McConnellsburg youth, JAMES KOEHL- ER, proudly holds his nice brown trout taken on a nightcrawler from Licking Creek Eight year old BRAD BAUSERMAN holds the 14 inch brook trout caught from last June, while MYRNA WINAND dis a pond in Clinton Co., while ISABELLE DRURY of Charleroi holds the yellow plays the big 38V4 inch northern pike she perch she caught from the Youghiogheny River and JOHN GREGORIS (right) landed from Lake Marburg last May. It caught his fat perch on a tip-up last winter from Sawkill Pond in Pike Co. took a minnow.
A coho fisherman, MIKE COYLE, JAMES GABELLI of Erie was fishing with spin proudly holds the nice 25 inch, 5V4 ning gear and a homemade jig when he landed This nice 21 inch smallmouth bass pound, specimen he caught while surf this 3014 inch walleye from French Creek in was caught by JAMES WALKEE of fishing near Trout Run at Erie. Mike Erie County last November. It weighed 9 pounds. Harwick last October. He was fishing hails from Philadelphia and made the the Allegheny River using spinning trip last November. gear and a minnow.
30 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLES ROBERT FRY, above, of Sunbury holds the 31 JJJch walleye he caught from the Allegheny at -Tionesta on a homemade jig, while STEVE WONTARSI of Lock Haven holds the large brown trout caught from a non-stocked stream Jn Clinton Co. using the fly rod, for the first t!We, that he won in fly tying school.
*oung CARL McGARY of Cheswick holds the 40 inch musky e EDWARD CALIGUIRE, a Pittsburgh policeman, caught his " landed from the Allegheny at Freeport while trolling with 33 inch brown trout while fishing at Kinzua Dam and HAR * flat fish. ALFRED MARTIN of Houtzdale, right, holds the OLD McELHATTEN of Warren, right, caught his big 45Vi t*'-4 inch smallmouth bass taken from Tionesta Creek last inch musky with spinning gear and a live chub from the Al October. legheny.
J1^ AUMAN of Sunbury holds his 21 DALE McGARY holds the 24 inch walleye he Another successful musky fisherman, nch channel catfish which he caught caught while trolling the same day little brother CHARLES SNYDER, JR. of Hummels- s'ng a hellgrammite with spin casting CARL, above, caught his big musky. Grandpa town, holds his big 46 incher taken °d- He was fishing the Susquehanna sends the ANGLER to them as a gift and took from the Susquehanna at Falmouth. It near his home. these pictures. Great Grandpa! hit a yellow bucktail.
R.AND -Y SEELY, 8, of Canton holds the yellow perch he caught Little DOROTHY KOTH of New Cumberland caught her a tip p from Lake Spr- "" Nephawin, while EDWARD BLISS of pretty rainbow from the Yellow Breeches using spinning gear his 'f1^ ^''Y' r'gnl;' holds the smallmouth bass he caught from and a nightcrawler, and LARRY CLAWSON, right, of Blairs- faviont e spot, Dyers Quarry in Berks Co. ville caught his largemouth in Indiana Co. on a black artificial
SE P T E M B E R-l 9 7 2 31 on the west shore. This is just below At Hornets Ferry, downstream, a Fishing Outlook the Bradford County Boating club ac dirt ramp provides access. The Fish continued from page 3 cess where free access is provided for Commission ramp at Terrytown, just fishermen. A fee is charged for plea below, provides access to a good pool Head." There are a few boats for rent sure boating. and is another fall favorite. Just here. Just downstream is the Penn History tells us that back in the above the bridge at Wyalusing is an sylvania Fish Commission access at early 1790's, Marie Antoinette, Queen other good deep hole. A fine float Wysox. of France was in trouble with her trip can be made from the Terrytown From the Commission ramp down court. A group of her loyal followers Ramp down to a private access ramp stream there is a small dirt ramp at came to this section of Bradford in Wyoming County at the Rocky the Wysox bridge. Below, at Echo County. They bought the land along Forest launch, about a 6 mile trip. Beach, boats can be rented and there the river and built a village with suit Gary Stair's place, about one-half is a private boat ramp. Next area able quarters for their queen, intend mile below the bridge, has bait for down is called the Standing Stone ing to spirit her out of France to safe sale and some boats to rent. This pool, so named because of the huge ty. Unfortunately Queen Marie had a covers the entire stretch and from boulder, at least 15 feet high, that fateful meeting with "Madame Guillo what it looks like, it's a nice place to stands upright near the water's edge tine" in 1793! be when the cool weather sets in. OUTDOOR EDUCATION 99 by Steve Ulsh "on Location Education & Training Officer
Each year Fish Commission per sonnel participate in many types of educational programs. These vary from fishing and boating schools, slide and film presentations, to lec tures and demonstrations. A type of educational effort, which (Right) The author gives an astounded trio is gaming wider acceptance by school a close-up look at one of the mounted speci districts in Pennsylvania, is that deal mens used in the Conservation Camp outdoor education program held at Camp Hoffman. ing with outdoor education. (Below) Stan Paulakovich, our roving "FISH The program pictured on these ING OUTLOOK" columnist, is liable to show pages is an example of the trend and up most anywhere. He was on hand to dem shows the Fish Commission's effort onstrate fishing technique and from the size to assist. of that lure—musky fishing was the topic! This particular program was in itiated two years ago by Mr. Edward Schick Assistant Elementary School Supervisor for Cranberry Area School District. The Fish Commission along with other State agencies participated in many varied phases from pre-plan ning and staffing to the actual teach ing of the children. Some of the areas covered were water ecology, fishing techniques, boating safety and pollution. Every effort was made to have the children participate physically by touching, handling and manipulating various items of equipment, aquatic speci mens and pollution samples. The current belief in outdoor ed ucation is to get the child out of the classroom and into the field. The Fish Commission readily agrees and pledges its assistance in these efforts.
32 span is indeed unique among small turtles. My favorite aquarium turtle is the TAKING A CLOSER LOOK Musk Turtle or "Stinkpot". Since it rarely leaves the water (wild or cap by Tom Fegely tive) there is no need for provisions other than a full tank. The "Stinkpot" Turtles of play an inconspicuous but important gets it name from the skunklike odor role in the ecology of any pond, lake it emits in times of danger. The or stream. rounded shell and two yellow stripes Pennsylvania In early fall most turtles burrow on either side of the head readily into the bottom mud where they identify this shelled scavenger. Be everal summers ago I watched a hibernate until March. Their inac sides dead animals it happens to find S lone angler wormfish a small tivity along with the decrease in it is known to eat fish and destroy rocky pool in Loyalsock Creek in Sul- metabolism, respiration and heart fish nests. It is interesting to note *ivan county. Within a period of fif beat enable them to survive on oxy that a single mating may produce teen minutes he caught and released gen absorbed through the skin. Stored fertile eggs for three or four years. 'Wo turtles. In disgust he moved on. up fat serves as nourishment. Musk Turtles frequently live for two decades or more. Out of curiosity I decided to give it All turtles reproduce by laying eggs a try. Before long I felt a solid tug which they bury on land. Typically Other aquatic turtles with limited and hauled in a reluctant, six-inch two to six leathery eggs make up a ranges in Pennsylvania include the long Painted Turtle. While removing clutch. They receive no protection ex Map Turtle (Erie and Susquehanna 'he hook from its jaw I noticed two cept a covering of soil or organic de drainage), Mud, Red-Bellied and Bog °ther fresh wounds. Evidently this bris. Marauding skunks and racoons Turtles (lower Delaware drainage), sarne turtle attempted "robbery" and frequently destroy the shoreline nests the Spiny Softshell (Ohio and Lake Was caught three times within a half during their nightly wanderings. Erie drainage) and Blanding's Turtle hour. Those that do hatch must face her (Lake Erie). ons, crows, and even large fish be Appropriately named, the Painted The predominantly terrestrial Box fore growing to a size sufficient to turtle has a shell bordered with red Turtle spends some time soaking in defend themselves. ar*d a deep yellow plastron (under mud holes on hot summer days and sell). Since it eats only when sub OTHER COMMON TURTLES occasionally wanders into a stream. merged, baited hooks offer "easy The Spotted Turtle, black with yel Wood Turtles, on the other hand, Pickin's" for this aquatic reptile. low spots across its head, neck and may spend equal time on both land *oung frogs and toads, insects, plants shell, is often seen basking on logs and in the water. Mushrooms and ald small fish make up the normal or rocks in ponds and slow-moving berries lure them into meadows and ^enu of most Painted Turtles. Pop streams. Although they compete with woods during the summer but spring lar as pets, they may live for ten fish for food, Spotted Turtles seldom and fall find them feeding on aquatic Vears or more. prey upon fish. Laboratory tests in life. . Pennsylvania woods and waters are volving a maze show that this species Whether you're a "Turtle watcher" ^habited by a dozen or so different is probably the most intelligent of all or not, their presence in Pennsylvania Pecies of turtles, some local in dis- turtles. Like its painted cousin, it eats waters adds interest to an angler's r*bution and others present state only while submerged and is easy to day and fills an influential niche in wide. Most live in or near water and keep in captivity. Its forty year life the ecosystem of any aquatic habitat.
^ 1. The spotted turtle is extremely wary and will dive from its log perch at the first sign of alarm.
2. The stinkpot is frequently mistaken for a small • snapping turtle. It has the ability to strip a hook of bait without jerking the line.
•^ 3. Western Pennsylvanians will find the Midland Painted Turtle frequenting their waters while the Eastern Painted Turtle lives in the East. In the Central part of the state these two sub-species tend to interbreed. The physical appearances of the three varieties are very much alike.
4. The wood turtle is readily identified by its sculp- • tured shell and the black blotches of each shield of the yel low lower shell. Pleistocene fossil remains shows that it has inhabited the Keystone State for many thousands of years. "Train up a child in the way he should go . . .
and when he is old 9 proverbs 226 ne wm nof depart from it
We know there's much more to a child's training than fishing . . . BUT IT'S A GOOD PLACE TO START!
THE PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER is family reading—
SEND: Your check, name and Subscribe Now! address & Zip to: Pennsylvania Angler 1 year—$2.00 Pennsylvania Fish Commission 3 years—$5.00 Box 1673 Harrisburg, Pa. 17120