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•••••••H SEPTEMBER PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 1953

OLD COVERED BRIDGE - NOISY FISH - BAIT VS ARTIFICIALS - CRAYFISH

WOMEN ANGLERS - FILLET YOUR FISH - HARVEST BASS - WATER DOG HUNT r^r

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-KENNETH O. EHRHART PHC

CLEAN STREAMS !

EVERYONE'S WEALTH !

EVERYONE'S CONCERN !

EVERYONE'S BUSINESS !

KEEP PENNSYLVANIA CLEAN KEEP PENNSYLVANIA GREEN! COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER PENNSYLVANIA

HON. JOHN S. FINE GOVERNOR

PENNSYLVANIA VOL. 22, No. 9 SEPTEMBER, 1953 FISH COMMISSION PAUL F. BITTENBENDER, President WILKES-BARRE LOUIS S. WINNER, Vice-Pres. LOCK HAVEN BERNARD S. HORNE IN THIS ISSUE PITTSBURGH MILTON L. PEEK RADNOR WILLIAM D. BURK THE OLD COVERED BRIDGE Don Shiner 3 MELROSE PARK GEN. A. H. STACKPOLE FISHES THAT SOUND OFF! Wilbert N. Savage 6 DAUPHIN WALLACE DEAN BAIT VS. ARTIFICIALS Joe Pancoast 8 MEADVILLE, PA. WATER DOG HUNT Hal H. Harrison 10

EXECUTIVE OFFICE SOME WOMEN ANGLERS I HAVE MET Bill Wolf 12

C. A. FRENCH, Executive Director HARVEST BASS Ray Ovington 14 ELLWOOD CITY H. R. STACKHOUSE HOW TO FILLET YOUR FISH Center Administrative Secretary R. C. McCASLIN BIG ONES FEED AT NIGHT Keith C. Schuyler 13 Comptroller • THE LOBSTER'S LITTLE COUSIN Erwin A. Bauer 20 PUBLIC RELATIONS J. ALLEN BARRETT PLUG CASTER'S BONANZA Lee Diehl 21 Director EDITOR'S ANGLE 29

FISH CULTURE INDEX TO PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER ARTICLES, ISSUES—OCTOBER, 1952 THRU C. R. BULLER SEPTEMBER 1953 '. 31 Chief Fish Culturlst GORDON L. TREMBLEY Chief Aquatic Biologist ARTHUR D. BRADFORD Pathologist CYRIL G. REGAN Chief Dlv. of Land and Water Acquisition THE COVER . . . OLD COVERED GEORGE H. GORDON BRIDGE, vanishing landmark of a by­ Official Photographer gone era in Pennsylvania history. THOMAS F. O'HARA Construction Engineer —Cover photo by Don Shiner HATCHERY SUPERINTENDENTS Dewey Sorenson—Bellefonte Merrill Lillie—Corry & Union City Edwin H. Hahn—Erie T. J. Dingle—Huntsdale BACK COVER: INDIAN LADDER FALLS Howard Fox—Linesville on Indian Ladder Creek near Dingman's J. L. Zettle—Pleasant Mount George Magargel—Reynoldsdale Ferry, Pike County. This is highest of a Bernard Gill—Tlonesta series of 6 beautiful falls on the stream. John J. Wopart—Torresdale •—'Photo by La Mar Mumbar

ENFORCEMENT W. W. BRITTON Chief Enforcement Officer

DISTRICT SUPERVISORS Northwest Division CARLYLE S. SHELDON George W. Forrest, Editor 1339 East Philadelphia Street, York, Pa. Conneautville, Pa.; Phone 3033 Southwest Division MINTER C. JONES 361 W. Lincoln St., Somerset, Pa.; Phone 5324 South Central Division The PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER Is published monthly by the Pennsylvania Pish Commission HAROLD CORBIN South Office Building, Harrlsburg, Pa. Subscription: $1.00 per year, 10 cents per single copy'. 521 13th St., Huntingdon, Pa.; Phone 1202 Send check or money order payable to Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. DO NOT SEND Northeast Division STAMPS. Individuals sending cash do so at their own risk. Change of address should reach C. W. SHEARER us promptly. Furnish both old and new addresses. Entered as Second Class matter at the Box 3, Sweet Valley, Pa.; Post Office, Harrlsburg, Pa., under Act of March 3, 1873. Phone Dallas 48427 Neither Publisher nor Editor will assume responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or Southeast Division Illustrations while In their possession or In transit. Permission to reprint will be given JOHN S. OGDEN provided we receive marked copies and credit Is given material or Illustrations. Only 242 E. College Ave., York, Pa.; Phone 7434 communications pertaining to manuscripts, material or Illustrations should be addressed to the Editor at the above address. HENRY BLATNER PHOTO

"Its ancient roof resounds the hoof As water roar beneath it Through storm and strife it clings to life And only time can cleave it." "The Covered Bridge," Author unknown

PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER The Old

Covered Bridge

ONE WAY TRAFFIC, the old covered bridge still handles its share of modern traffic but it's a bad place to meet a hay wagon. Many of these old land­ marks have now given way to fire, floods and progress, many still remain vanishing as only memories of rural Pennsylvania 100 years ago. Pennsylvania THREE TON LIMIT on most of the old spans indicates the 19th century archi­ tects, like many today, thought little of the future needs of a growing state. landmark Most bridges are on rural, dirt road routes, seldom cause hardship by weight restrictions.

By DON SHINER

[Photos by Author unless otherwise credited)

ISHERMEN are most familiar with the old covered bridges, travel­ ing highways and country roads of rural Pennsylvania, journeying Fto familiar trout and bass streams. Nestled at the foot of rolling hills and arched gracefully across the streams are those old wooden struc­ tures that have been built more than a century- ago. A great many have withstood a hundred years of usefulness and remain as symbols of the days when grandfather was a boy. Though these quaint old CLEARANCE on most covered spans bridges were erected for grandfather's ox-cart or shay, they still safely is limited to II and 12 feet, farmers accommodate the fisherman and his modern motorcar. of the 'eighties loaded their hay accord­ ingly. Built for ox-carts, wagon teams, the farmer's modern tractor equipment Old country roads were built along the streams which wind around safely negotiates from one side of the tall mountains and rolling hills. It was here the early settlers of Penn­ stream to the other to work his fields. sylvania found traveling at its best. Though it was necessary to cross streams at many points, these early folks forded the water on horse­ back or with buckboards drawn by teams of oxen or horses. As progress mounted, bridges were erected and the old covered bridge became a popular design. These wooden bridges were meant to last a spell and have; many still in use today. Some 188, by count of the highway department, still remain scattered throughout the rural parts of Pennsylvania.

(Continued on page 22, more photos on pages 4 and 5)

SEPTEMBER^-1953 BADLY IN NEED OF REPAIR, County Commissioners are currently placing the still needed bridges back in operation. This old bridge has been reinforced with concrete pier across Conewago Creek in Adams County.

HENRY BLATNER PHOTOS

WORKMEN of the old school still love to work on the old spans using hand tools, hand fittings much like the 19th century carpenters. Beams and rafters still carry advertisements of East Berlin, Pa. merchants of a century ago. Clothing, shoes, blankets, Indian remedies, pills, linaments, tobacco ads provide interesting reading. •«•

OLD TIME PHOTO of the bridge builders of the early I800's. Logs hewn by hand, these big fellows swung a lusty axe. When timber was too heavy to handle they were floated down the creek to building site. Farmers got about $1.00 per log.

PINE TIMBERS used in construction measured as much as 15 to 18 inches square, each cut from a single tree. Floors were supported on bows as shown here. The camber In the flooring measured three to four feet in height at center. Inside, the social life of rural folks of 100 years ago had the old covered bridges rocking and rolling with barn dances and the jig. Weddings, public meetings also were popular.

REFUGE still for anglers, old bridge serves as shady relief from sun and storms. Some of these spans could tell wondrous tales of budding romance, a place to just chat about the weather, gossip of the countryside. PI .SI IKS • •

BLUEGILL SUNFISH also applies the friction principles of stridulation to give off audible sound.

(U. S. Fish & Wildlife Photos)

HERE'S a common belief that fishes have no voice Tmechanism, and consequently are unable to create anything resembling audio vibrations. But this is a mistaken idea, for there are a number of noise-making fishes, and the sounds they produce range from a "bark" to whistles, imitations of jungle tom-toms, mixed voices of barnyard fowls, etc. Of course fin-equipped residents of the aqua have never gone to the extreme point of releasing a vocal filibuster to convince doubting anglers hailing from the Keystone or any other state. But they do make use of their sonic prowess in a variety of interesting ways—sometimes with mannerisms tailored to suit particular occasions. Right off the reel I could name for ANGLER readers several dozen fishes that can produce some sort of sound. The sound-producing areas may vary from gill openings to bones supporting the pectoral fins of certain fishes. Some fishes make a bizarre noise by grating together their teeth; others "drum" by rapidly expelling air from the air-bladder, or by the action of high-frequency muscles against the air bladder itself. Perhaps the champion noisemaker of the fish world is the croaker. The sound he produces is almost like that of a pneumatic drill, given off in drum-roll beats of two or three in succession. During underwater sound investiga­ tions conducted by the TJ. S. Navy, it was learned that CROAKER, is champion of all noise-making fishes with the the croaker is responsible for most of the volume of noise drum a close second. created beneath oceanic surfaces. So intense was the sound that it could be heard in the air when the fish itself was "drumming" at a measured depth of fifty feet! And L. P. CATFISH or BULLHEAD has gill covering which supplies Shultz, in The Way of Fishes, relates that he once heard stridulation equipment for limited sonic powers. croakers thirty feet down when he was aboard a barge in a South American lake.

Some species in the triggerfish order are able to produce a fairly loud drumming sound by vibrating an area of skin resembling a drum just behind the pectoral fin; other members of the triggerfish family grate together the upper and lower pharyngeal teeth and thus give out with a horrifying "screeching door" noise. The horse mackerel and the sunfish are able to produce sound in the same manner, but at a lower rate of volume. This method of making sound is called stridulation (the rubbing or friction of one surface against another.)

PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER

» hat sound off!

Almost all the TRIGSERFISH clan are able to produce sound.

By WSLBUR NATHAN SAVAGE The STICKLEBACK is very low noise maker, uses its fins to make underwater small-talk.

One of the most effective forms of stridulation is a built- in feature of the Indian catfish. It possesses an elaborate friction system involving the vertebral column and the dorsal fin. The sounds are produced by the scraping of the first interspinous (radial) bone of the dorsal fin between thin ridged plates representing the hinder portion of a bony ridge formed by the fusion of the spines of the fourth and fifth vertebrae. When the fish flexes its body in a certain plane this apparatus is brought into play and harsh, grating noises are produced.

In the gournards (sea robins), and in the toadfishes, sound is produced by special muscles lying in the walls of the air-bladder, which, when they contract, throw the walls into rapid vibrations, cause sounds ranging from pig-like grunts to crooning and sroring. By experiment it has been shown that if either the muscle or the nerve supplying the bladder is artificially stimulated, a perfectly normal sound is produced, even when the bladder has been removed from, the fish and placed on the operating table. No sound is given off if the bladder is punctured, but the introduction of a rubber balloon inside the bladder leads to a sound when the muscle is stimulated by electricity.

Besides the Indian catfish, already mentioned, a number of other "cats" are able to sound off in no uncertain tones. In most of these barbed warriors the noise is pro­ duced through the agency of extremely active muscles associated with the air-bladder, and the apparatus proper resembles an elastic spring mechanism. The "springs" are specially modified portions of the fourth vertebrae, and their HOSFISH, can grunt like a pig with startling perfection. expanded ends are attached to the front part of the air- bladder. Two strong muscles run from the "springs" to the skull, and when these are called into action the walls of the WEAKRSH or squete'a gue made noises which the ancient bladder vibrate rapidly (at the rate of about 24 contrac­ Greeks put into fable many centuries ago. tions per second), and a growling or humming noise is produced. In most cases the air-bladder is divided into sections with open-top partitions, each chamber containing gases which help to amplify the intensity of vibrating movements—the range of which represents wide tonal diversity in individual types.

The elastic spring device in the electric catfish causes a hissing sound, and a South American catfish is said to

(Turn to page 23)

SEPTEMBER^-1953 Bait Versus Artificials

UCH has been said and written Mto the effect "there is more to fishing than merely catching fish." Word merchants have put together glowing accounts of the sunlight dancing on rippling waters, songs of By JOE PANCOAST birds, glimpses of wilderness creatures and other facets of days spent on lake (Outdoor Editor—Philadelphia Bulletin) or stream. That these add to angling cannot be disputed but they don't black out one basic fact—fishermen, as a whole, want fish and not fancies. The facts prove it. A survey, conducted by Pennsyl­ vania State Fish Wardens in 1947, showed that 61 per cent of 33,035 trout fishermen interviewed were using worms for bait. Artificials were on the terminal tackle of only 24 per cent of the casters, while 13 per cent leaned on live or baitfish and 2 per cent depended on fish-bait. Thus, 76 out of a 100 anglers used some form of natural food. In 1949 the figures hadn't changed much. Wardens found 59 per cent tossing worms around, 5 per cent had fish-bait on their hooks and 10 per cent had faith in bait-fish. The balance of 26 per cent used artificials. Creel census work is still underway in Pennsylvania but during the last two years has taken the form of in­ tensive work on fewer water areas rather than a general census. Within a few years the Fish Commission hopes to have a definite pattern covering all phases of fishing. If the amount of artificials found in tackle stores were used as a basis for determining the number of anglers PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER using lures instead of bait, it would Such a move can be classed as "con­ In my mind; more would do the appear that only a few dunked into servation." The same tag doesn't apply same if the opportunity were at hand nature's larder or fish tid-bits. to the rule on many private waters and we, who use artificials, stopped Tackle salesmen believe that new­ and some state owned stretches, limit­ trying to dress up our favorite form of comers to the ranks of artificial users ing all anglers to artificials. That is angling to represent something only are few and that most merchandise is not "conservation." It is a matter of for the few. dispensed to those already bitten by "distribution." Prohibiting all but After all, the use of artificials is fly, spinning or plug casting bugs. A artificials enables more anglers to get only a method of taking fish. For­ peek at the array of lures toted by a a few of the fish present. It takes a gotten is the fact that trout flies dyed-in-the-wool artificial disciple mighty skillful rod wielder to clean only came into being because the bears out the point. out a pool through the exclusive use originals were too delicate for the of counterfeits. The worm or minnow Perhaps I am lost in the woods but, hook. fishermen can turn the trick easier. to me, these figures have but one The man-made concoctions con­ meaning—anglers want fish. If that The additional handicaps the arti­ ceived since are certainly not as were not true, then why the great ficial user takes on has led some of effective as the natural product. But number using natural baits? There are the feather and tinsel clan to believe they are more fun, which lessens some who may claim that using bait they breathe rarer air. Whoever started somewhat the desire to—just catch is easier than fussing around with this nose-in-the-cloud attitude didn't fish. help angling a bit. If those who stick temperamental fish foolers created by Why not more of this combination. to artificials would only recognize the man. Grant, then, some anglers want It appears to be good medicine, for in urge to catch fish motivated most of to take it nice and easy and relax in recent years, the Rx has helped an their tactics, the breach between bait nature's lap; that still leaves a host ailing fishing condition. of rod and reelers dunking edible and artificial slingers would not be morsels in front of fishes' snouts. so great. Miles of privately owned waters, formerly closed to the public, have Along about now this autopsy will Bringing the two closer together been opened under special regulations begin to find little favor with bait would help angling by increasing the that hinged largely on the exclusive fishermen. It shouldn't. There is nothing number of those using lures. A lot use of artificials, plus rules to protect wrong about wanting to catch fish. of bait fishermen would make the land owners. Those, who use only artificials and switch to imitations tomorrow if given Two prime examples are in the would as soon be caught robbing the a helping hand. I base that on personal Poconos. Three and one-half miles of church poor box as found possessing experience. the famous Brodheads Creek, once live bait, have the same hankering For 20 years not a piece of live bait barred to the public, are now open only more of it. has graced my line. Not because of through the cooperation of the Pocono Ever watch one of them in action? any false sense of "sportsmanship." A Mountain Sportsmen's Association and They change lures and cast until arms trout or bass on the dinner table is riparian owners. Only artificials are are numb. They want fish. just as dead whether taken on a worm permitted; the daily creel is six, mini­ Willingness to recognize that the or a No. 20 dryfly with barbless hook. mum size eight inches, and fishing bulk of all anglers possess an intense The latter is more difficult and, when permitted only between 5:00 a. m. and desire to hook a finny opponent, accomplished, makes me feel better. 10:00 p. m. Pocono sportsmen also ar­ changes the outlook on bait versus Further, I dislike fooling around with ranged the same set-up on four lures. The situation becomes a Hatfield- live bait. Artificials are easier to carry miles of the Big Bushkill. and cleaner. McCoy prototype with both sides Thirty miles further north the feuding over nothing. Others have found it so too after Hawley-Wallenpaupack Sportsmen's Basically, there is nothing wrong a peek behind the iron curtain that Association succeeded in getting five with bait fishing, especially if the blocks those interested in fooling fish. and one-half miles of the lower Sho- enticers are worms, crickets, grass­ Without exception these fellows hola Creek open to public fishing. hoppers, mice or other land products. wanted to know more about fly, plug There are other instances through­ Ecologically, there can be harm in casting or spinning without being out the State. Emphasis is always on removal of natural stream life for preached to or made self-conscious of the use of artificials. Why? Because a use as bait. It can hurt fishing by their desire for "know-how" limited supply of fish can be made to reducing natural food to the point Just where can a bait fisherman stretch further under such a set-up. where hunger overweighs caution, turn readily for information on the It would seem anglers would go for making fish easier prey. Too, the fish use of artificials? Opportunities are this like kids for candy, but the figures that can be supported by any body meager and those available are eagerly say otherwise. of water depends upon the amount taken up. For example, George W. Only fishermen can engineer a shift of food present. Harvey of Pennsylvania State College to more artificials and less bait, especi­ But the bait-user isn't alone in his has conducted extension course classes ally the aquatic varieties. Unfortun­ destruction of fish food. The purist once a week for six sessions at Swarth- ately, the task rests with a few—those fly fisherman wading his favorite more, near Philadelphia. His subject possessing the know-how of making stream breaks the natural food chain was "Fly Tying and Angling Tech­ something inanimate appear like a just as effectively as those foraging niques." filet mignon to a fish. for fishbait or bait-fish. Research has Each time the course was over These fellows hold the key and, proven this to be true and some clubs, subscribed. The majority of those unless they share it, the angling door owning private waters, have already attending were strangers to the realm on artificials will always remain closed banned wading in an effort to improve of artificials—but they wanted to learn for a large percentage of fishermen and the natural food supply. and eagerly accepted the challenge. thalfs not good!

SEPTEMBER—1953 9 UNDERWATER SHOT of this ugly gent doesn't help his appearance a bit. It takes an iron grip to hold these slimy creatures as they struggle to free them­ selves. Contrary to popular opinion they're harmless.

20-INCH HELLBENDER just pulled from water by Paul Swanson. This huge salamander is 2y2 inches short of the Swanson's record and 7 inches short of the record for the country.

waler dog hunt

By Hal H. Harrison the motivating factor behind this un­ usual pastime, the fact that the brothers have been able to sell speci­ (PHOTOS BY THE AUTHOR) mens alive to various biological supply houses at a price ranging from 25c to $1 each, has added zest to the venture. ??TV7HAT good are these blankety- Fishermen generally hate these Hellbenders are caught during the TT blank waterdogs?" hideous, pre-historic-looking aquatic day by wading in creeks, lifting rocks That's a question scores of fishermen monsters . . . excepting Paul and and grabbing the thing in their hiding ask themselves every year when their Dave Swanson, two Venango County, places or feeding on crayfish. These baited hooks are swallowed by water- Pennsylvania anglers who have found methods of hunting them are based dogs, more correctly known as hell­ in waterdogs a rare and exciting on the knowledge that hellbenders are benders (Cryptobranchus alleganien- sport, and a fair profit too. nocturnal in their habits. sis), the largest local members of the Since 1932, these two men, who con­ In the beginning, the Swansons salamander family. duct Swanson Brothers Nursery on caught hellbenders with a long-handled And well may they wonder as they Route 8, midway between Butler and net. They discontinued this in favor struggle to loosen their lines from Franklin, have engaged in the sport of their bare hands because they these huge, slimy, wiggling creatures. of catching waterdogs with their bare missed too many. In addition, grabbing The tussle usually ends with the hands. During that time, they have them offered more sport, for invariably angler cutting his line, muttering a captured alive, over 1,000 of these a terrific struggle followed the capture. curse on all waterdogs in general, and slippery critters, some measuring over Despite their vicious, hideous look, bashing in the head of that indi­ 20 inches in length. waterdogs are absolutely harmless. Not vidual in particular. While fun and adventure has been many people will venture to touch

10 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER ANGLERS CONFUSE the mudpuppy, top, with hell­ bender, bottom. The mudpuppy has bright red external gills while the hellbender does not but is a large flat, flabby creature varying in color from yellowish brown to brick red yet most are dull brown.

HELLBENDERS, like other salamanders, lay eggs. Here are two found under a rock in bed of stream, have become detached from the rosary-like string in which they are laid.

them, but their fears are entirely un­ founded. Like so many other things in nature (huge caterpillars, for example) COOPERATION NEEDED to snag 'em. Dave Swanson hefts big rock in a their vicious-appearance is their best Venango County creek while brother Paul grabs a hellbender hiding under­ protection. neath. Once inside burlap sack, salamander is considered safely, "in the bag!" It is dollars to doughnuts the tyro would be unable to hang onto the first waterdogs he grabs. The creatures' bodies are coated with a heavy slime which makes them as slippery as any­ thing could possibly be. The Swansons have perfected an iron grip, plus a method of holding the hellbender's front legs between their fingers, which has proved successful in getting the things from the water and into a burlap bag hanging from their sides. Even so, they miss quite a few. Record catch for the Swansons was 51 waterdogs in three hours. Paul, hunting alone, caught 36 in two hours and a half on one occasion. The largest specimen the men ever took measured 221/2 inches. The record for the United States is 27 inches. In recent years, the Swansons have (Turn to page 28) SEPTEMBEK^-1953 KEITH SCHUYLER PHOTO some women anglers I have met

By BILL WOLF

PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER ACK in the days when Pennsyl­ second time after one bad exhibition many times. A woman who never Bvania's trout season opened at of poor sportsmanship. They start with caught a fish before starts angling, midnight I was one of many casting two strikes against them when they and misses the first one. Or perhaps into the inky blackness of the Wissa- fish with men because there is an she catches her first fish. It doesn't hickon when I heard a ladylike absurd prejudice against women who matter. What matters is that something "Damn!" beside me and thought I mingle in "masculine sports." This wild has challenged her, something recognized the voice. Next time I had prejudice extends from the individual that she has caught if only momen­ occasion to use my flashlight, I turned male clear up to the national outdoor tarily has struggled at the other end of it upon the person whose expletive magazines which hesitate to use fem­ the line to get off, to go free. If she had attracted my attention, and it was inine angles on angling for fear of lands the battling fish, she is sold for­ someone I knew. "Hi, Mary," I said offending men readers. It even ex­ ever on fishing. If she doesn't land that casually, just as though it were abso­ tends to clothing and equipment first one, she is still sold because she lutely normal to meet an attractive manufacturers, who make practically is resolved to net the next one. woman acquaintance along a stream in no attempt to outfit women anglers After that original thrill, the excite­ the black hours before dawn. "Where's sensibly, comfortably and attractively. ment persists, furthered by a determi­ Bud?" It shows in innumerable cartoons which nation (which they probably wouldn't "Downstream there somewhere," she make the woman angler the butt of admit) to beat the men at their own waved vaguely, and waded out of the the joke, and in a general conde­ game. This does not necessarily mean shallows to have a cigarette with me. scending, patronizing attitude toward that they want to catch more or "Guess you heard me swearing? I've them. larger fish—although that is part of been hanging up on something I can't it—but they do want to catch as many, see out there in the water." Later, in The prejudice springs from an as­ to be accepted without allowances the daylight, I came across her and sumption of male superiority, and long for sex, and to show that they can her husband still fishing. Next spring custom. In the past, men hunted and take it. I was on the Octoraro opening morn­ fished, women stayed at home, whether that home were a cave, frontier cabin One woman that I know became in­ ing—also at midnight—and Bud and terested in fishing because she tried at Mary were there, too. or house, and tended the fire, did the cooking, minded the children. This first to be a good wife only. Her hus­ Sometimes I would see her at club condition existed until quite recently, band liked fishing, so she agreed to field days, competing in the plug and except among wealthier persons where fishing vacations and would follow her fly rod casting events, or at other women were relieved of the fire-food- husband along the stream, sometimes similar contests. Then, one spring, I children problem and could accompany disentangling his line and lure when was sucker fishing when Bud came their men afield. Generally, though, he hung up on bush on the bank, along without his wife. "Oh, Mary had custom dictated that women stayed sometimes just watching him. From a baby and may not even get out for at home—and custom bred the mascu­ there she progressed to using his trout opening." he answered my ques­ line assumption of male superiority in outfit to make occasional casts—then tion. But she did make it, I learned the field. The assumption is ill-founded she caught a fish. Next she had her later, and, although I have lost track because women are the equal of men own outfit, and now she fishes regu­ of them, I have no doubt that Mary in most sports where greater size or larly beside her husband. However, still goes fishing with her husband greater strength does not count— she seldom catches more fish than whenever she can, despite the fact which certainly includes angling. he does, and this, I believe, is design that she now has a couple of children. on her part. A sort of courtesy toward Remembering some women anglers her husband. She never did anything spectacular, I have known, one thing impresses me never caught any record fish; but most about them. That is their dogged Women have a certain cold-blooded somehow she represents all women perseverance. When the going is rough, approach to fishing that is interesting, anglers to me. She fishes like a man, and the fishing is bad, the women stick and which convinces me that the asking no favors because of her sex. to it long after most men would be female of the species is deadlier than I never heard her complain, and never ready to quit. Not to bring in family, the male. With few exceptions, they heard her husband complain about but my wife usually is the first on a don't give a damn about theory and her. He accepts her as a fishing com­ trout stream in the morning, we see technique. They will not sit down and panion as readily as he would any man. little of her thereafter, and have to read what others suggest, they will not She is no exception, but the general hunt her at quitting time in the eve­ study their art, won't get involved rule among women who fish. And I ning because she fishes right up to the in arguments about how to catch fish. would like to go on record now as be­ last minute. Likewise, on a partyboat They learn a few knots, enough to lieving that any woman who really sailing out of Wildwood, N. J., one of enable them to tie a leader to a line, likes to fish is a better man than most the woman anglers aboard was first to a fly to a leader. They learn to cast sufficiently well to get out enough line men are at angling. This conclusion is drop her line, fished throughout the —but they take no particular pride in based on knowing many women day, quit at the last possible minute, their casting. They are more careless anglers, and having observed many and cleaned her fish on the way back than men with their tackle. others that I did not know personally. to port. "She's a regular all summer," It has nothing to do with the number Captain Bob Pierpoint told me, "and These, mind you, are generalities. of fish caught by either sex, with she's no spring chicken, either—must There are exceptions to everything skill in casting or boat-handling abil­ be nearing seventy." said above, of course; but, generally, ity. I simply mean that such women There is something about fishing women are interested in one thing are better sports than men. that arouses primitive instincts in a only after they start fishing—and that is, catching fish. Certainly, men are in- They have to be better sports or women that more than equal those they wouldn't be invited along a found in men. I've seen it happen (Turn to page 25)

SEPTEMBER^1953 13 Harvest Bass

By RAY OVINGTON

14 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER OST anyone can take bass when jitter action. In order to effectively Mthe season first opens. Harvest fish such a light lure, light line is a bass are temperamental! necessity because brother, when a There are several reasons why I like four or five pound bass hits a streamer fishing for bass in the late fall. There amid overgrown weeds, or near snags, are few if any bothersome flies and it takes a bit of handling to land him. insects, the morning and evenings are Don't tell anyone, but one way to cool and the lakes are all but deserted make that bucktail or streamer lure except during the mid-day. The fish twice as effective is to rub fish slime are pestered less and have grown a into it ... it really works! I tie my bit since the opening of the season, bass fishing bucktails with generous though fishing for them isn't as easy fur bodies that will soak up that fishy as the conditions might reflect. I like odor and hold it for quite a number a little more contest for the prize. of casts. In most cases, the harvest time bass are beginning to move out of the deep If you are a live bait man, follow water early in the evening while on this general casting technique and their feeding spree and are prone to you'll also find, with light spinning stay inshore later in the morning. They gear, that you can throw the minnow now require a change of lure more great distances accurately, with little often, a careful approach, better or no weight needed to get it out. handling of tackle and longer rests There are times when the real thing, between casts. This is when they fished properly is absolutely deadly on will utterly ignore a lure after they these harvesters. Still fishing of course have seen it a couple of times, for it takes its toll, but this is for the day­ loses its appeal rapidly. time hours. Casting can begin when the sun is low. I have learned all this the hard within inches of the brush and snags. way. I've made it a habit to question Bass bugs too are the medicine I have often cast out into the lake, bass anglers as often as possible in the under many conditions and can also be handled very well with the spinning while giving the shore a rest, to have search for any answers or conclu­ rod. True, it is hard to cast a light a bass come from the depths and sions that could be made and most bug great distances, but youll find grab the surface plug. Another trick seem to concede that the smaller lure with spinning gear, it is much easier is to troll a surface wobbler well be­ sizes are more effective this late in to work them and you will have less hind the boat. Cast your other rig to the season. Where a big double jointed line splash on the water. When more the shore and ahead of the boat occa­ plug or the large surface plug was a distance is required or while fighting sionally, then row forward a bit to a killer in July, miniatures are now in a breeze, add a small split shot or fresh area, keeping a close watch on order. The smaller lure drops to the two ahead of the bug and use spinning that plug you are "trolling." If water with less splash. The lure, if a line that is just a bit heavier. For you are equipped with spinning tackle, floater, should remain still for at least usual "fishing" with the bug, if the lay the rod down in the boat with the a minute before the retrieve is started rod is limber, three pound test mono­ drag set fairly loose and with the and then, it is not just pulled home filament is right . . . use four or five anti-reverse "on." When the fish hits, . . . stop it often, pop it a bit, retrieve if you are working against a wind or the reel handle won't spin as it does smoothly for a stretch, let it lie still when greater distance is required. with conventional bait casting outfits, and repeat the process. It will often When you make the cast, wave the nor will there be danger of losing the be found the bass will follow along rod rather than flip it. Also, let the rig overboard. After the strike, with and take the plug as it approaches the lure hang down from the tip for the rod in your hand, it is a simple boat ... a pickerel and pike trick. If about two and a half feet, giving that matter to tighten the drag and play you see the bass following and at the little extra swing to help pull off the the fish. last minute "chickening" on the hit line from the reel. If the rod you are In general, if you use spinning tackle, . . . immediately change the lure . . . using is fairly stiff and fast in the you'll enjoy the play of the fish due rest the area while the bass returns tip, wrap a piece or two of wrap­ to the softer action' of the rod as to the shore, then try again. I've around lead between the tip top and compared with the bait casting stick. frequently seen this process pay off. the first guide. Wrap it flat so that it There is a hazard though . . . you'll When it comes to these smaller lures will not catch in the line. You will have to strike a bit harder to sink the and the more delicate technique, I find that this will slow down the action hooks. Remember that spinning line find spinning tackle answers the need. just enough to be accurate. You'll out- stretches more and the soft action rod The casting distance can be lengthened fish and outcast the fly rod man . . . means more setting action to secure considerably over that commonly used with much less effort. the barbs. Fight the fish with the rod in bait casting, thus lessening the When it comes to night fishing, the at right angles to the line direction chance of disturbing the bass that are techniques, so killing during the early and the biggest bass in the lake will along the shoreline. For underwater and mid-season, must be refined a bit. never break even the thinnest practical lures, I've found that a bucktail The fish come into the shore or up to spinning line. weighted with a couple of split shot, the surface in search of minnows, so Don't be "chicken" and hang up that or one with weight under the dressings night fishing now is not concentrated rod and line with the first frost. will cast accurately and far enough. merely along the shore line where Harvest time is the time to harvest Use a slow retrieve, paused with it was necessary to place the lure that big fat banker for the pot!

SEPTEMBER—1953 15 how to FILLET YOUR FISH

A walleye or pilte-perch was selected to show how to fillet your fish, but trout, bass, pickerel, yellow perch and others can be cleaned and dressed in this same manner. Using a sharp knife, begin by cutting through the skin from head to tail along the dorsai fin.

Next cut a diagonal line from head to pectoral fins on belly. The skin is tough so use a sharp knife. Do not bother to scale fish.

Continue to cut through the skin along the belly from the pectoral fins to tail. Skin can now be peeled from fish.

16 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER Use the knife to lift the edge of the skin, then peel it With the skin laid over the tail, run the knife back toward the tail. Skin will peel easily from freshly along the backbone from tail to head or in re­ killed fish. If part of flesh clings to skin, use the knife to verse order, cutting fillet from body. Sever fillet cut or push it from skin while it is being torn from body. close to head.

The two fillets from the walleye ere practically bonefree and prepared with­ out skin, it's mighty delicious! There's no work to clean a fish by this method, in fact it's fun.

Wrap the fillets in wax paper and freeze. Cook according to your favorite recipe. Salt the fillets lightly, roll in flour or meal, then fry in deep fat or bake to a mouth-watering appearance.

Here is the fillet cut from one side of the walleye. Very little of the edible part remains on the fish. Use this same procedure to fillet other side of fish. Remove the fillets and discard the remainder of walleye. After a little prac­ tice filleting becomes easy and you will make nice cuts and have little waste.

SEPTEMBER—1953 11 Blip ONES Feed

by

TRANGE sounds, solitude, an al­ And, while the world rests, it is S most frightening black void plus a then big fish move from under the blanket of peace pregnant with unex­ bank, sheltering boulders, protection pected thrills . . . That's night fishing. of submerged logs and twining roots, Mght Of all the angling methods known from out of the depths that are even to man, there is none in my book dark by day. Like^ cautious subma­ more fascinating and productive of big rines they cruise the shore line, ven­ fish than the dark hours on a good ture into the shallows and scan the bass lake or trout stream. And, since quiet surface of the water. Now and night fishing is best during the hot again they turn into a twisting, dash­ months, the stars often bring with ing mass of determined muscle as the them a cool balm pleasant and sooth­ quiet is momentarily shattered and a ing after a noisy, hot and arduous day. luckless creature is carried below. The rasping moan of the bull frog, All fish must feed. And if you know the isolated splash of a feeding fish, a spot where there are big fish, but big a distant train whistle, uncoded mes­ fish rarely caught, there can be but sages in firefly Morse, a watchdog at one answer. They feed by night. work, the short-lived dawn of an auto Ask the old timers who one time cresting a hill, cool water, comfort­ counted it sport to gig for fish at night able air . . . these are the treasures with the pronged spears that have long of the night which enrich our senses since been outlawed. They will tell By KEITH C. SCHUYLER in a manner found by no other means. you of the monsters they have seen True, our visual sense is treated by the glare of their gasoline lights. only to modifications of black and You would be amazed at the size of white, but touch, smell and hearing the fish which inhabit the pool where develop a new acuteness. Imagination you consider a twelve-incher a good makes up for the hidden realities as one. night takes over from day. Early morning and late evening have

18 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER trieve your plug or fly from bushes and trees. Along the stream you will find branches, brush and weeds con­ siderably more numerous than in the daylight. BASS AND TROUT both reward night anglers But, it's all part of the game. who know their streams. Otherwise, it's dangerous Although there are disadvantages, business stumbling or bumbling around in the dark. there are compensations in addition to those already mentioned. For one thing, at a spot where it is sometimes difficult to find elbow room to fish during the day, you will usually find that you have things completely to yourself at night. This is well. For even at night the big ones are ex­ tremely wary and will head for home at the slightest disturbance.' That is how they become big fish ... by playing it safe. Another advantage is in the fact you can permit yourself more leeway in the selection of tackle. Where the water is low and clear and the fish are extremely leader shy in the day­ time, you can use tippets of strength more likely to hold the big ones at night. Too, although the big fellows do sometimes strike when you can see what is happening, they are almost invariably feeding close to roots or brush where they can wreck light tackle before you have a chance to turn them. At night, you may tangle with a lunker in water that barely covers him, and you have a chance to give him a good argument before he wraps you around his favorite rock or root. Anglers who have jobs preventing them from fishing often during the day can make up for this inconvenience by nocturnal sojourns. Patience is paramount. There are many things to distract a person's attention during the day, but time drags slowly when all is dark. It is often a real test of a man's religion when he finds a limb or a stump rather than a fish on the other end of his line. It takes a real died- Night fishing is rough fishing at long been considered favorite times to in-the-wool angler to sincerely declare best. We want to be explicit from fish by the general angling public. It he actually likes night fishing. is then the best catches are usually the beginning on that point. And, the made. What the conventional angler reason more fish are not caught by One of the quickest catches of big fails to realize is that he is finding those who seek their big ones during bass I've ever made came on a night good fishing at the end and the be­ the hours of darkness is because it is that even I would have marked down ginning of the feeding periods. If he difficult to present your lure in the as fit for sleeping. The wind was would get up a bit earlier in the right manner, in the right place. blowing a mild gale from the north and storms were threatening. Never­ morning or stay a bit later in the You must be prepared for plenty theless, since it was the last night we evening, he might be amazed at the re­ of trouble. Although the human eye had to fish on that particular trip, sults. accommodates itself amazingly well three of us decided to go out anyway. If you look back over your ex­ when the sun is gone, depth perception periences astream, you will likely re­ goes almost completely haywire. You The spot we had chosen was a member the biggest fish you ever will cast too long or too short many sheltered narrows where the river fed caught was taken close to, or during, more times than you will hit the mark. into a big bay. Two of the boys de­ the hours of darkness, or perhaps that Prepare to make repeated trips to cided to go directly there with the big thrill came on a dark, cloudy day. shore, if fishing from a boat, to re­ (Turn to page 27) SEPTEMBER—1953 19 'LL always remember a misty dawn I several years ago. Charlie waded out into a riffle that broke sharply around a bend in the creek and into a deep pool. He was armed with a fly- rod and a half dozen soft-shelled cray­ fish. Nothing more. Of the two of us, Charlie was by far the most ambitious. While it was still black as pitch, he had taken a flash­ light and collected the crayfish. And he was drifting them through the riffle when I awakened at first light. The coffee I was brewing had just begun to boil when I heard him give his rebel yell. He had hooked a two pound smallmouth. Before I could set up my tackle and join him, there were three more rebel yells. The second announced a ten inch rock bass. The third was caused by a two pound channel cat. But the truth was in doubt for more than a half hour; I finally put the net under an eight pound carp. It had taken the last of Charlie's soft-shells. It's hard to say what would have happened if we'd had more crayfish that morning. We tried various streamers, spinners, and spoons for WALTER M. LAUFFER PHOTO more than an hour afterwards, but ON ANGLER'S FAVORITE LIST of baits, the Crayfish is only a pair of obliging rock bass were also much sought for a delicious dish, Crayfish a La Creole. added to the stringer. We can only speculate. Crayfish have always been favorites of fishermen. They've also caused con­ siderable disagreement, too, between the soft and hard shelled schools of thought. There's many a veteran angler who will look you in the eye and say, "Craws is craws. Fish can't tell whether they're hard or soft." Here's what causes the whole dis­ The Lobster's cussion. Crayfish—there are several dozen species of them that inhabit all kinds of places—shed their shells as they grow larger. They are most active at night, scavenging on anything edible they can find. When they get too big for their britches, they move into shallow water to molt. That's a very little Cousin ticklish period in its life. Just before the shell is discarded, the creature is known as a "peeler." After that it's a soft-shell. For two or three days when the new shell begins to harden, it's a paper-shell. Then back to the hard-shell stage and a normal life eating everything it can find in deeper water. You take By ERWIN A. BAUER your choice when it's best for bait. Crayfish have no particular favor­ ites, unfortunately for them. All kinds of fish relish them—at least fishermen find that using craws for bait is often (Turn to page 27) 20 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER EVER before in the history of N angling have fishermen had such a wide opportunity to select the per­ fect casting outfit. Today's amazing variety of rods, reels, lines, and lures is a veritable bonanza for the old and new plug fisherman alike. To the old- timer this mass of tackle presents just another opportunity to increase the effectiveness of his fishing. Any new purchases he may make will be dic­ tated by the fine hand of experience. To the beginner at plug casting such profusion is likely to result only in profound and discouraging confusion. Unless he seeks the advice of someone experienced at the game he is likely to spend his dollars well but not wisely. It is with the idea that one person's experience may help the beginner, and perhaps the oldtimers too, that this article is attempted. Lest I be accused of being an un­ realistic idealist let me state at the

Plug Casters Bonanza

By LEE DIEHL

outset that I am aware that the per­ be durable, lasting if possible, a full believe that it is wise for the beginner fect casting outfit does not exist. It lifetime. And, lastly, it should, unless to start with a little heavier outfit and may exist for one purpose or for one you have more excess cash than I, progessively work toward finer tackle. person, but certainly not for all pur­ be relatively easy on the pocketbook. Would you suggest that a tennis player poses and all persons alike. What The accompanying illustration pic­ start with an unsuitable racquet or would perfectly suit one person might tures what I consider, for the moment that a beginning golfer play his first or might not suit another. Neverthe­ at least, the perfect light lure bass round with ill-matched clubs? Too less, it is fun to seek such an outfit, outfit. It will easily and properly many potential plug fishermen have and not unprofitable in experience nor handle any lures weighing from one- been discouraged by starting with the unrewarding in numbers of fish caught. fifth of an ounce up to one-half an wrong tools. True, when starting with Let us try to set up the perfect cast­ ounce. It is sufficiently strong for use an ultra light outfit you may lose some ing outfit for the Pennsylvania light on any fresh water fish except muskies minor pieces of tackle such as plugs lure angler. My ideas are not those of and large pike. Almost no effort is but, in the end, you will have by not an expert, but just those of one who required to make a cast of more than having to buy several successively has been through the mill right from adequate length, and it is light enough lighter, more suitable outfits. To me it the beginning of light lure fishing as it to use all day long without becoming makes more sense to start with the had its genesis in southcentral Penn­ tired. Its length and flexibility make very best tackle available and the very sylvania. If you agree with my ideas, it easy to lightly play a fish for maxi­ lightest which your personal needs will fine; if not, so much the better since mum pleasure and safety. I don't say justify. I have seen more good sports­ progress is achieved only through the that it is the ultimate in casting out­ men and conservationists quite literally exchange of ideas. fits, only that it is nearly perfect for created through the use of fine, sport­ Fundamentally, then, our outfit must, me. ing tackle than are persuaded by all first of all, be adequate strong for In choosing this outfit I have dis­ the literature published on the subject. the fish sought. Secondly, it must be carded the idea that length of rod and Let us take the illustrated outfit properly balanced throughout; cor­ height of user have any bearing on apart piece by piece. The rod is tubular rectly combining weight, length, ac­ each other. The idea just doesn't make glass. Specifically it is a Sila Flex tion, and power. Certainly, too, it must sense any way you look at it. Nor do I (Turn to page 26)

SEPTEMBER—1953 21 Pennsylvania Fish Commission Meets. Reviews Land Acquisition Program, Sets Aside Nursery Waters

At the annual meeting held in the Berks County—Egelman's Reservoir, State Capitol, July 1, 1953, the Pennsyl­ Orphanage Run, tributary to Tulpe- vania Fish Commission received a re­ hocken Creek, and Peters Creek. Cam­ port from a conference held in Allen- bria County—a pond fed from Trout town on June 5. The conference was at­ Run in Puritan, Pennsylvania, and a tended by representatives of the Penn­ pond fed by Piper Run in Cambria It is with extreme regret that the sylvania Fish Commission, the Penn­ County. Lancaster County—the stream PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER announces the sylvania Federation of Sportsmen's running through the public park at untimely passing of Carl A. Bidel- Clubs, and officials from the State of Lititz and Donegal Nursery in East spacher, North Central Supervisor of New Jersey. The principal subjects Donegal Township. Pike County—a the Pennsylvania Fish Commission's discussed at this conference dwelt portion of Pecks Pond, above wire on law enforcement bureau. Mr. Bidel- upon present reciprocal fishing rights E. Branch Inlet. Venango County— spacher's headquarters was in Wil- between New Jersey and Pennsyl­ that section of Lower Two Mile Run liamsport where he supervised the vania, with the question of rowing within Waltonian Park. Warren field activities of fish wardens in all, boats without a license receiving much County—Dedman Run and Greeley or parts of, Bradford, Potter, Tioga, deliberation. The conference felt that Run, tributaries to Spring Creek. Elk, Cameron, Clinton, Lycoming, fishermen should be permitted to start Westmoreland County—pools number Union, Center, and Clearfield Counties. and end their trip on either side of the one and two of the Westmoreland Mr. Bidelspacher, who had been ill, river, and recommended that changes County Sportsmen's Association located was visiting in Clearfield on Monday, be made in the law. Mr. Bittenbender, above Rector-Forbes Forest Game August 17, when he suddenly died. President of the Pennsylvania Fish Refuge. The following waters were Some forty uniformed fish wardens of Commission, indicated that repre­ closed as nursery waters for a similar the Commonwealth attended private sentatives of the Commission should period of five years: Berks County— funeral services from his home in attend any further meetings of the Siesholtz Dam. Crawford County— Williamsport on Thursday, August 20. conference, feeling that a formidable Pymatuning Sanctuary. Elk County— The delegation was under the personal plan of cooperation could prove very Whetstone Run from and including the direction of W. W. Britton, Chief En­ satisfactory to both states. Brockway Reservoir and all waters of forcement - Officer. The Board reviewed at length the the same run to the source. Lebanon For, and on behalf of the entire present accomplishments of its land County—the nursery ponds of the personnel of the Pennsylvania Fish acquisition program and expressed Millcreek Rod and Gun Club. Lehigh Commission, the PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER confidence of having accomplished County—the waters of the Trexler extends its profound and sincere con­ much in the field of public fishing. Trout Hatchery, Allentown, Penna. dolence to the bereaved family on Official action of the Board set up Warren County—Browns Pond. Wayne their loss of a kindly husband and the following streams as nursery County—Lake Wallenpaupack, within father, and an efficient law enforce­ waters for a period of five years: 750 feet of the dam. ment officer of this Commonwealth.

THE OLD five hundred exist elsewhere in the differ from those built in rural Penn­ nation from Maine to Oregon, across sylvania. COVERED BRIDGE the border into Canada and on to These structures remain as engi­ (From page 3) Alaska. Covered bridges are also found neering wonders, for few trained engi­ in Europe, in Germany, Switzerland, neers existed during the early 19- and Asia. Some in China date back century. They were built, for the more than 2,000 years. It was probably most part, by rural folks who doubled Though the Keystone State has its from Europe the early immigrants to as farmers, carpenters, blacksmiths, share, it holds no monopoly on these this country brought the design, al­ dentists, barbers or surgeons depend­ antiquated structures. About four or though in structural form the bridges ing upon the requirements at the time.

22 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER But surely they must have taken pride gathered there to hold public meetings, and five cents for a flock of ducks and in their work for it is apparent in the a church service, wedding, or dance to chickens. But many travelers stole charm and strength exhibited in these the thin strains of music supplied by silently across these bridges when a old bridges. local string players. Passersby would toll keeper was sleeping in the shade Old timers say the pine timbers stop, join the celebrations, and dance of a nearby tree, and went whistling used were hewn by hand into huge to the flickering lights of the oil on their way, two to four cents richer beams some measuring 15 to 18-inches lanterns. Perhaps your grandmother to spend at the country store. True, square. Most of them were cut and became engaged at one of these affairs, Pennsylvania holds no monopoly on shaped less than 100-yards away, then or became infatuated with grandpa these old covered bridges, but nowhere dragged to the streamside with an ox while gazing through the open spaces are there fonder memories held of or team of horses. Those cut farther at the moon beams sparkling on the • them! away from the building site were rippling water below. To see covered bridges is to dis­ floated down the swift flowing streams. It is said that upon visiting one of cover rural Pennsylvania. Anglers can Old records show farmers who sup­ these old structures during a summer be found wading the streams under plied these big timbers and hewed evening, when the night is thick and these wooden structures and bare­ them to the bridge dimensions were black, you can hear the laughter of foot boys dabbling a baited hook and granted the sum of $1.00 each. With a happy young folks, or the echo of line from them. Pennsylvania is bridge requiring as many as twenty clattering hoof beats and rumbling stream-laced with these old bridges, members, the total amount represented carriage wheels as a traveler passes symbols of an era that has passed from a tidy sum of money in those early through on his way to a meeting held the scene, but they also mean a stream days of yesteryear. perhaps a century or more ago. These is there where the angler can don old bridges seem timeless for they his boots, creel, and seek the fish that Laying these huge beams across the have withstood the elements for more lie in the still cool pools and swift streams and reinforcing them to form than a hundred years. Through them riffles below. the bridge must have taken a great have passed early America. The rural deal of toil. But there was also gaiety barefoot lad on his way to school, the at these affairs. Farm lads spent the farmer in his buckboard loaded with day angling in the stream, brought hay, the minister and doctor on their creels of native trout to the women missions, the fisherman carrying creels FISHES THAT who served fish, bread and potatoes to of freshly caught trout from the stream the workmen as the bridge progressed SOUND OFF directly below. All traveled daily in construction. The completion and through these covered bridges. (From, page 7) opening to traffic was also a gala occa­ sion when neighborliness, good cheer Some covered bridges, located on and happiness were felt by all. major highways, were privately owned produce a sound described as a deep But why were these old bridges and heavy tolls were charged for growl distinctly audible at a distance covered? This question is often asked crossing. Old toll sheets show that fees of one hundred feet when the fish is of old timers and the answers they were as much as a penny for a horse, out of water. Sounds made by the sea give vary. Some say the stout roofs three pennies for a wagon and team, catfish differ from those of the croaker protected the timbers and flooring only because they are offered in from the rains, snow and foul weather. single-spaced even beats instead of Surely this must be so for the beams, rapid rolls. Actually, the sound is unpainted, have lasted for a hundred eerily like that of deep-throated tom­ years and more, still remain straight toms beating out a rhythmic jungle and strong. Others say the roofs tied message. the supporting beams into a single unit which could better support heavier The drums (sciaenids), renown for loads. their vocal efforts, are fitted with a unique structure which acts as a The roofs served other purposes too. sound-intensifying resonator, and the When a sudden storm rolled in from noises they can produce have been the hills, early travelers journeying on variously described as whistling, purr­ horseback or in a carriage, hastened ing, creaking, humming, drumming, their horses to a faster trot so both and gargling. Noises given off by could gain the covered sanctuary and drums are of sufficient volume to be there abide the storm. Covered bridges perfectly audible to a person standing offered refuge from the driving rains, on the deck of a ship. In the Malay a place to stop and bid the time of Peninsula and other tropical areas day to a passing neighbor while both native fishermen make use of the * rested their horses in the cool shade. sounds to locate shoals of drums. One These old covered bridges were, you fisherman listens in and signals his might say, social centers too. With companions where to cast their nets! few public meeting buildings in rural Both the trunkfish and the globefish Pennsylvania in those days many of are credited with "growling like dogs"; these structures were scenes of social and the little seahorses are said to life among the country folks. Lanterns utter a "monotonous sound analogous bedecked the barn-like bridges on to that of a tambour, which is charac­ warm summer nights as the rural folks teristic of both sexes, but is more

SEPTEMBER—1953 23 intense and frequent in the breeding of the pharyngeal teeth in sending than an academic interest in sub­ season." An Indian species of the forth its own contribution to under­ surface sounds. The sounds created horse mackerel can grunt like a young water noises. by fishes, shrimps, and other submarine pig, and a related species from Egpyt The Spot, a close relative of the creatures caused a significant degree is known to the Arabs as "Chakoura" Croaker, produces a keenly pitched of confusion during World War II. or "Snorter." wild-duck honk. The timbre is differ­ After working out a functioning model The bullhead uses a portion of the ent from that of any other noise- of an instrument that would detect gill cover for stridulation, and is able making fish, and is readily identifiable submarines, the Navy discovered that to create a scraping or groaning sound. by many amateur naturalists special­ the mechanism brought in so many The flying gournard uses the hyoman- izing in the science that deals with unidentified noises that the sound of dibular bone to make its particular fishes. Being non-gregarious the Spot real submarine motion could not al­ kind of sound, while the stickleback, is unable to concentrate a noisy con­ ways be filtered out and recognized filefish, boarfish, surgeonfish, and cer­ cert in a small area, but he does a with any safe or positive measure of tain other types produce noise by com­ creditable job in sounding off with certainty. To complicate matters, no bining the use of pelvic, anal, dorsal, highly individualized honks. accurate information on sounds made and pectoral fins. What causes fishes to produce by submarine life was available. Some members of the carp family, sound? Actually, the motivating or Something had to be done, and the like the Conger eel and the loaches, impelling force is in most instances appeal for practical aid naturally was create sound merely by expelling air a well-sealed mystery. It is known, of focused immediately on the Naval from the air-bladder through the course, that grunts usually "grunt" Ordnance Laboratory in Washington, pneumatic duct. The Conger eel often when in distress. Even baby grunts an with Dr. M. B. Dobrin acting as one emits a "bark" through use of this inch long have been heard expressing of the chief technicians. expulsion equipment, while certain their dissatisfaction when circum­ To measure the intensity and fre­ types of carp add ghostly notes by stances placed them in a position quency of background water noise in tossing in murmuring sounds not un­ justifying aquatic SOS signals. In the open and protected waters the Navy like the incoherent muttering of some various studies of reasons for sonic recruited a staff of capable individuals distressed character in an unhappy efforts of fishes several new sound- from the Naval Ordnance Lab itself; predicament. producing types have been discovered. and from the Shedd Aquarium; U.S. While the hogfish is not a boisterous Two of the most notable ones are the Fishery Biological Lab; and the Divi­ noisemaker, it can grind out a fairly Garibaldi of southern California and sions of War Research of both Colum­ good output of sonic volume in the the coral reef fish. bia University and the University of form of short pig-like grunts—hence In a preceding paragraph mention California. After investigations were the name hogfish. The vocal efforts are was made of underwater investigations carried out at various points along the spontaneous, usually bursting forth in of fishes noises by the Navy Depart­ east coast of the United States the four or five raucous rasps. Like the ment. Certainly it is appropriate to research experts learned to screen triggerfish, the hogfish also makes use here point out that the Navy had more out natural underwater sounds, and finally exclusive sound recordings were made of fish noises. Results of the sound survey were amazing. The capabilities of fishes to sound off were most significantly reg­ istered in the impact-laden fact that they could give rise to octave sound pressures of more than a hundred dynes per square centimeter, and noise from the multi-sources extended over the entire sonic range of frequencies. It was learned that wind, waves, and tidal currents build up a measurable volume of water sound, but it rarely kicked the indicator needle above a single dyne per square centimeter, and in the octave sound band it usually failed to run that high. Conversely, as Dr. Dobrin pointed out, "biological sources can be responsible for sus­ tained noises with an octave pressure of up to several hundred dynes per square centimeter ..." In making background measure­ ments where underwater noises were particularly intense, the Ordnance Lab used hydrophones and special record­ ing discs. These were later played "There, inch for inch and pound for pound, goes through an octave analyzer into a the gamest fisherman I ever Knew." series of "Esterline-Angus tape re- U PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER '**jm,- -J jtjH

corders." Spectra were calculated and far to go home when the storm broke." plotted from the octave tapes. All WOMEN ANGLERS I One of the nicest fishing letters I ever submarine noise recordings have been received was from an old Negro woman preserved and dubbings are available HAVE KNOWN who gently reprimanded me for saying to any biological lab which can put (From page 13) that I didn't especially like carp as them to worthwhile use. a sports fish, and then told me how Systematic efforts were made to she had fished for carp all her life. record all sonic fishes, and to identify terested in the same thing; but they I have never gone anywhere, even their sounds. The studies and record­ try to learn much more about the art in wildest Canada, without finding ings, which covered areas from Cape than the women do. Some go so far as women anglers sharing the sport with May to southern Florida, under a to lose sight of catching fish entirely in their husbands. Far up on Wollaston wide variety of time and light condi­ their pursuit of perfection in fishing— Lake in northern Saskatchewan, be­ tions, had a three-fold purpose: to and I've never seen a woman reach yond all roads, I found that Sara Finch determine which species of fishes that point! was the only person who shared her were sonic; the conditions under which husband's love for angling for lake such species could be induced to Let's take Peggy as an example, She trout and Arctic grayling. Few party- produce sounds; and the general can hardly tell one fly from another, boats put out from the Jersey coast— nature and magnitude of such sounds. ties miserable knots, casts poorly, is or anywhere, for that matter—without After the survey was over it was careless about the way she handles their complement of women anglers. possible for those in charge to jot a hooked fish, and seldom can re­ They get seasick as well as the men, down the words: "Mission satisfac­ member which is her fly rod among but they keep on fishing. There is torily carried out." those taken on a trip—but, she catches scarcely a trout stream, or bass water, in Pennsylvania that doesn't have its It has already been pointed out that more fish than her husband. She does quota of women anglers. I have crossed no plausible answer amply covers the it by persistence, by a grim deter­ bridges in Des Moines, Iowa, late at question, "Why do fishes sound off?" mination not to fail. night, and found them lined with men Are they "talking?" Are they prac­ She has fished over much of the and women fishing for catfish in the ticing a form of "echo ranging?" Or continent east of the Mississippi, from river. I have witnessed bridgeways are guards or sentinels duty-bound Canada to Florida, and can't recall and causeways in Florida dotted with to cry out warnings of impending the names of the places where she has men and women fishing. danger? angled because maps mean little to A hundred more questions could be her—but she caught fish wherever They do this sometimes in the face added. We do know that fish voices she was, while her husband often was of actual hostility on the part of men. are so completely accepted in the skunked. Once she even caught a sail- One woman told me that she was fishing a pool on a trout stream when functions of everyday realism that fish in Florida on a handline, and was a man came up and told her to get they have for ages played a part in sore because she hadn't caught it on a rod, not realizing that taking a sail out, that that was his favorite pool legend, song, and myth of various on a handline was a fishing miracle and women had no right to be on it. lands. For an example we have to look that the men in the party would talk Naturally, she told him to go to the at the Greek myth about the weak- about for a long time. devil—with icy politeness, of course— fish. It was this fish, occurring abund­ and continued fishing. I have seen men antly in Mediterranean waters, that When she first started fishing, she deliberately wade through water into figures in the song of the sirens in the couldn't bring herself to break the which a woman angler was casting. necks of trout before putting them in Homeric fable. Doubtless the story I have heard other men swearing about her canvas creel—so she put the live originated in the fact that shoals of the "damned women" they had met fish inside, placed the creel on the along the stream, and who had caught these fishes may produce a singing ground, and dropped a big rock on it. sound not unlike the droning mono­ more fish than they had, if they had One time the fish "came alive" in the been truthful. tone of a great number of hoarse- bag, and started flopping around. voiced cicadas. Wading ashore, she found a really The truth of the matter is that While a rather widespread study large stone, and dropped it on the women are here to stay, and any man still is intermittently being made of creel, killing the fish all right, but also who actively resents their appearance sound-producing fishes, it isn't likely smashing a compact and crushing some at his favorite haunts is discourteous, that a sharply improved conception of cigarettes which she carried in the jealous and given to an inferiority the motivating behavior pattern is di­ creel. She never could bring herself complex. He just doesn't like to be rectly in the offing. As observations to put bait on a hook, so she never "shown up" by women. are being made, and new knowledge fished with anything but artificials. The woman, of course, must show is being gained, someone may even However, she fished, harder than any­ good sportsmanship, and if she does, hit upon the idea of breeding espe­ one I have ever known. she is entitled to the same considera­ cially with emphasis on capacities for Once I was driven from a stream— tion as a man would be. As mentioned sound tone and variety—perhaps even Bermudian creek in York county—by before, most women feel constrained interpretable sounds! So be alert, Mr. a violent electrical storm. I just to be topnotch sportsmen because they Angler—you may someday face vocal couldn't see through my glasses any realize they are fighting opposition. repudiation from the realm of fins and more. After the storm, I started out There are some women anglers, how­ scales for approaching improperly the again, and came across a little old ever, who pretend an interest in fish­ big one that "argued back and won lady with grey hair calmly fishing on, ing simply because some man they his freedom!" although she was soaking wet. She want likes angling, and they are worth "just liked bass fishing, and it was too no more consideration than the man

SEPTEMBEEr—1953 35 who pretends an interest in interior all by herself. After while, she put P41N, a Coxe 95C, a South Bend No. decoration just to please some woman. her rod in a sand spike and walked 60, or a Langley Lurecast. Any of these The fakers among women are easily down to my friend to ask him the reels will correctly balance the light detected. They talk too much about time. When told it was five o'clock six foot rod. It is simply a matter of it! The woman who actually likes in the afternoon, she exclaimed "Darn personal preference on the part of the fishing fishes a lot, talks little about it. it! I have to go back to Philadelphia user as to which suits him best. just when the tide's getting right. I do not know many "famous" Nylon lines have so improved over I'm going to be married tomorrow women fishermen, but if men want the past few years that the diameter- morning!" proof that women anglers are here strength ratio has been considerably permanently, they need only look at reduced. Some of the nine pound test world record lists for salt water big lines of today have a smaller diameter game fish, and at entries for annual than the five pounders of a few years fresh water fishing contests. It isn't back. After all, it is the diameter and by accident that women's names creep PLUG CASTER'S weight of the line which make easy into the lists. They are there because casting, not its breaking strength. The the girls plug away day after day BONANZA light outfits perform best with lines under exactly the same conditions men testing from five to nine or ten pounds. face, and it isn't surprising that a fair (From page 21) The soft braids spool better than the number of the big fish go to them. hard ones but do not last as long. Some, like Mrs. Michael Lerners, It happens that the line illustrated is are lucky in having the wealth to go Herter's Cuxhaven in a five pound test where they wish—others, like plain model SP55R-F. When purchased it but in this case, the rated test does Jane Doe, just go. My friend Walt and was one piece construction, but for not mean much since the actual break­ his wife, Madeleine, travelled by a convenience in carrying I cut and fer- ing point is nearer eight pounds. Any rickety old Ford all over Pennsylvania ruled it. The blank itself without ac­ of the lines now produced by our on fishing trips. Across the Delaware, cessories weighs just a shade under leading manufacturers in tests ranging in New Jersey, I came across a man two ounces. Complete with handle it from five to ten pounds and not too and his wife living in a trailer beside is six feet five inches in length. Since hard braided will perform beautifully a trout stream because they liked to it was purchased simply as glass blank and correctly match rod, reel, and line. fish, had no money to pay fishing camp I had to mount the guides and provide rates. handle and case. It is listed as a three- Just so I couldn't be accused of eights ounce tournament rod, but is armchair casting I briefly checked the No figures are available on how amply strong for most of our eastern performance of my outfit on some many women fish. Few states keep such states game fish. The butt portions are measured casts. Now I'm no great statistics, which is a pity because ac­ reinforced, which places most of the shakes as a caster so these results are curate license sale records breaking action up toward the tip where it not intended to illustrate the maximum down the total anglers by sexes would belongs, gives good hooking quality, effort of which the outfit is capable. open the eyes of those who are in­ and increases somewhat the weight Using a new Heddon Tiny River Runt, clined to belittle women fishermen. range of lures which can be adequately just purchased in anticipation of next Indications are that the time is not far handled. It also gets away from an season's fishing, I averaged 106 feet on distant when as many women as men unsatisfactorily high arc when casting, three casts with this lure which the will fish. Iowa, which has kept separ­ a fault of some rods as long as this. maker says weighs one-fifth of an ate records, found 35 per cent of the Lures as light as one-fifth of an ounce ounce. As a further test I also tried licenses sold one year went to women. will bring out good rod action and "Old Faithful," a South Bend Midge- In this state, such records wouldn't be lures of half an ounce will not over­ Oreno (three-eights of an ounce) too accurate because Pennsylvania is burden it. A 7 lb. 2 oz. small- and averaged 116 feet on three casts. conveniently close to salt water, and mouth, was caught on a similar rod. For the most part casts of that length many of its fishermen, men and It stood the test without fault. Within are unnecessarily long in actual fishing. women, angle in the bays and ocean the past two years nearly all major True, once in a while you may need where no license is required. tackle companies have begun to market a lot more distance than that but Some states, like North Carolina, rods in the six foot class with extra mostly short, accurate casts are the make a deliberate bid for feminine light actions. I am quite sure that any more productive. Try hooking a bass anglers with trout streams set aside of them could be used with equally at the end of a very long cast and for their use only—but the average good results. you'll know what I mean. woman doesn't ask such favors. All Care must be used in selecting a Some persons will undoubtedly, and she wants is a chance to go along on reel to correctly match and balance rightfully, question the use of such an an equal footing with the men, despite these long, light rods. Excessive weight outfit on the basis of strength and the criticism of some men, despite at the hand detracts from the pleasure durability. I've used mine for five ungainly clothing that was never de­ of casting and can be tiring. Then, too, years, which is about as long as they signed for the feminine figure, and many of the heavier reels are designed have been on the market, without despite such interruptions as child­ to correctly spool a line of about fifteen mishap. Sure, I've lost an occasional birth and associated family problems. pounds test and thus do not perform plug, but not on fish. After all, such The modern attitude is best expresed, well with light lines. The reel illus­ an outfit without a leader doesn't perhaps, by a girl angler encountered trated is a Shakespeare model 1973D. make sense. I use, and don't recom­ along the seashore by a friend of mine. It is light, silent, fast and designed mend, a four pound test leader. Six is He noticed her casting into the surf to properly lay a light line. I use with better. If you are the kind of fellow next to him, an attractive young thing equal pleasure and success a Heddon who does a bit of horsing now and then

26 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER in spite of good intentions to the con­ the water when it is necessary to trary, you can make the light outfit BIG ONES FEED use one. quite safe by using the light leader. It BY NIGHT You can change flies without a light. will break at the knot where it is It is relatively easy to work the tippet fastened to the line or at the swivel, (From page 19) through the eye of a fly hook by if you use one, before any major part holding the ringlet against the tip of of the tackle can be damaged. your tongue. Touch the tip of the tippet to your tongue next to the I have been asked many times why, motor while I rowed the half mile ringlet and work it through by feel. to fish on the way. if I prefer very light lures, I don't use Not sanitary, perhaps, but it is a spinning outfit. That one is easy; I By the time I arrived, after picking effective. don't like them. To me they feel up a twenty-inch walleye from the clumsy. I'm not condemning spinning. choppy waves enroute, the other Of course, surface lures are almost a necessity in night fishing since you It just happens that I dislike it. At fellows had three walleyes and a bass. are frequently fishing very shallow the same time I hasten to acknowledge But, from the time I entered the nar­ rows until I drifted past the other water and weed pockets. But, choice my indebtedness to the spinning en­ of color becomes an interesting ques­ thusiasts for more and better light lines boat, I had three bass from sixteen and one-half inches to eighteen and three- tion. and midget lures. To them goes the quarters inches in length. All in about It is generally conceded that dark major credit for nudging our tackle fifteen minutes. Then the moon came colors show up best against the doubt­ companies into faster production of up and the fun was over. ful light afforded by the stars. How­ these items. The light casting outfit can But the other two had actually lost ever, I have made some of my best hold its own against any form of cast­ night catches on bass with a red and ing in weights from one-fifth of an more fish than they caught while I was rowing to them! And, each fish white lure both in plugs and flies. On ounce upward. was hooked on a surface lure. trout, though, the very dark patterns The only sound method of choosing seem to work best for me. If wall­ Trout fishing at night takes infinite eyes are present where you are fishing a rod, as well as a line and leader, is patience and considerable skill. But in for bass, they are likely to take the to determine what weight lures are to many respects, you will find tactics same plug that works well on the bass. be cast; then balance the rarekle around reversed from daytime angling. A big them. On that basis the outfit here dry fly, bigger than anything you Sometimes you hear arguments as described is soundly assembled and normally use in the daytime, is best. to whether a smallmouth or a large- mouth bass hits better at night. I well balanced. Six years ago such an Since the strike of a trout is much haven't noticed much difference. Small- outfit would have been impossible to quicker than a bass, and the fish will mouths seem more partial to the get if it was intended to cast lures spit the fly out almost immediately, smaller lures such as are used with a you must usually keep a tight line. over the weight ranges I have indicated fly rod, but my biggest was taken on a You can fish a big fly for trout in the because no rod material had been per­ good-sized plug. fected which would absorb the strain same manner that you do for bass Those who would seek out their fav­ without damage. The glass rods have ... by skittering it over the surface of orite haunts for fish when the sun is changed all that. They have brought the water. Rarely will you connect in this manner in the daytime, but dark­ gone must work hard and diligently at the all-around rod closer to reality. ness hides much even for the trout. their sport. And, yet I can only wonder You can safely use such light, balanced at those who point the nose of their Don't miss the shallows. In very tackle without fear of rod damage and boat toward the dock and start wrap­ quiet water, you can chance a normal at the same time get the maximum ping up their rod when the sun goes lie with your line if you wish in the pleasure from your fishing. Good luck down. They are missing some unusual hope that you will hear the strike in and good fishing! thrills in fishing . . . thrills height­ time to connect. But you must bear in ened by the suspense that comes in mind many times a big fish will not knowing until the battle is won suck an insect under almost sound­ what prize it brings. lessly. For, big ones feed by night. A moving fly or bug is generally considered best for bass. But often I have heard the strike at a motionless fly rod lure and still managed to set LOBSTER'S the hook in plenty of time. However, LITTLE COUSIN it is not unusual for a bass to strike an artificial and run with it. Not so the (From page 20) trout. Lights are sometimes necessary, but use them only when absolutely neces­ a potluck affair. Smallmouths and sary. From the reaction most fish take rock bass are particularly susceptible. when a light is flashed, there is good The list also includes brown trout, reason to believe it will alarm them. large mouths, catfish, carp, buffaloes, Too, a light throws shadows over the sheepshead, and at least one jumbo bottom of the stream which move with red-horse I know about. Lake Erie the ray and are almost certain to anglers could no doubt add walleyes "I couldn't get a baby sitter." frighten the fish. Keep the light off and saugers to the list.

SEPTEMBEK^1953 27 There's no particular trick to catch­ the craw, soft or hard, will live longer ing or keeping crayfish. Fact is you can too. » WATER DOG take them easily by hand—without Some anglers remove the pincers; some any equipment at all. You have to be use only the tails. Some peel the tails HUNT fairly quick and agile—and you have while the less painstaking members of to avoid a pair of pincers that aren't the fraternity leave the shell where {From, page 11) exactly dull—to get very many this it belongs. This is good for catfish way. But practice makes perfect and and carp, but perhaps no more so the so-called oldtimers can get a day's than the whole, undissected product fishing supply in no time at all. noticed a diminishing number of hell­ You can get plenty of argument, benders in the Venango County creeks Crayfish are also easily taken with though, no matter which method you where they have collected them com­ legal seines. Minnow traps with cone use. mercially. While fishermen may con­ or funnel type entrance are good, too. sider that good news, herpetologists Bait one of these, preferably one made Sometimes soft-shells are hard to are of the opinion waterdogs do little of hardware cloth, with a piece of beef keep on the hook very long, or for or no harm to the fish population of a neck. Let it stand for several hours very many casts. You can always tie stream. and you should have plenty of bait. them to the hook with a short section This method will only take hardshells, of thread or nylon leader. Or you can In his own investigations of stomach however. solder a piece of fine, pliable wire to contents, Paul Swanson has found the hook shank. This will serve to crayfish to be the predominating food Some few patient anglers have col­ fasten the baits securely as long as taken by hellbenders. Indeed, a stream lected burrowing crayfish for bait by you can keep your casts from snagging that contains bass will likely be ideal digging them out of their holes in clay on the bottom. And speaking of the for hellbenders, for both seek the same banks or in heavy clay soils near bottom, that's just where to fish your food . . . crayfish. water. This is too slow and sometimes crayfish. too unrewarding. Actually it's a takeoff In addition, hellbenders are noted on the blue herons and other wading Crayfish are better adapted to stream scavengers and often feed on dead birds which have a peculiarly interest­ fishing. The largemouths and other or dying fish. ing method of taking these burrowing fish of impounded waters will take Like other members of the salaman­ species. The hole is partially closed them, of course, but considering the der group,^hellbenders propogate by with a pebble or chunk of clay. When vegetation and other problems so laying eggs. These are deposited in the crayfish comes up to remove it,— usually presented, it's sometimes ex­ rosary-like strings under rocks in socko, he's caught. Down the bird's" asperating business. Try them, instead, stream beds. long gullet he goes. where glides and riffles break around The hellbender should not be con­ large rocks and boulders. Drift them You can keep crayfish in minnow fused with another similar aquatie where the stream depth drops off sud­ salamander the mudpuppy (Necturus tanks or in any of the containers that denly. Never pass the tail of a pool successfully keep minnows alive for maculosus maculosus), which is also without drifting every bit of it thor­ commonly called a waterdog. This one short periods of time. It's well to feed oughly. Make your drifts naturally; them pieces of meat from time to time. has bright, bushy, red external gills stay away from heavy sinkers and on each side of the neck. Generally, it It's also well to keep the smaller ones such as that. separated from the jumbos for they is not as common as the hellbender. have no laws among them outlawing After the strike, you must proceed "Although I have never observed a cannibalism. Keep the molting craws cautiously. Here haste makes waste. hellbender out of water on its own from the others, too, because they are Allow the striking fish some time to volition," Paul Swanson declared, "I helpless, or nearly so, at this period in inhale the bait to a point where the know that they will live a few days their lives. And be sure, always, to hook is inside his mouth. Many fish, out of water, if kept cool and moist. remove dead crayfish and excess meat especially the larger bass, take cray­ We ship them in damp sphagnum moss to prevent contamination. fish gently and almost imperceptibly at with a fair amount of success." times. You almost have to sense the In the course of 17 years work with If you have a large enough con­ strike. It's another matter though, hellbenders, the Swansons have tried tainer—and if your supply is large when you sink the hook into solid a great many experiments and done a enough—you will have at least a few resistance. great deal of revealing research. soft craws all the time. You can delay That even includes cooking and eat­ the hardening of their shells for ex­ The same evening that Charlie caught ing them. tended periods by keeping them on the big carp, he exposed me to a "We found them palatable, but quite ice—or in the refrigerator—but it's brand new use for crayfish. While I tough," Dave Swanson stated. "The necessary to use them quickly after collected firewood and a pail of water toughness may have been due to our removal from the low temperatures. from a nearby farm house, he col­ cooking, or we might have just picked They'll die soon afterward in any lected a bucket of the lobster's little some old ones," he added. cousins. That done, he removed the case. "What did it taste like," I asked tails and peeled them, The tails were There are many ways to hook and the brothers. then dumped into a pot of boiling handle craws as there are fishermen. water where they stayed for perhaps They looked at each other, puzzled Well almost, anyway. Most popular is five minutes. Charlie then removed the for an answer. Then Paul asked me: using the whole works hooked through craws, salted them—and we ate them. "Have you ever eaten a well-cooked the tail, point up or point down. Gen­ shoe?" erally the basses swallow the critters Just one more comment on boiled tail first so it's not a bad idea to use crayfish—I like 'em a little better with the tail method of hooking. I believe cocktail sauce. KEEP PENNSYLVANIA GREEN! 28 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER w~m

^Jhe C^ditor 5 Ornate9{

Successful Angling Year at Harrisburg's Italian Lake, Optimist's Fishing Project. Prizes Awarded

James Lohman, 12, Harrisburg, registers his l6'/2-inch bass with Ray Shutt, Chairman of the Optimist Fishing Com­ mittee, as the Annual Fishing Contest for children opened at Italian Lake. It Mayor Claude R. Robins, City of Harrisburg, welcomes took James only 10 minutes to make young fishermen while a city park policeman and Dr. Wil­ the catch. liam J. Ross, conservation director of the City T*ark Commission look on.

Lucky young man with the fish! Project Registering young anglers into Italian Lake Children's Fish­ is open Tuesdays 4 to 7 P. M.; Satur­ ing Paradise, Harrisburg, Pa. The Opti-Mrs. also played an days 8 until noon, contest closed last important part by registering youths, supplying identifica­ month. tion buttons.

The first day of the Optimist Fishing numbers didn't matter because young­ grown considerably, this year the Project opened last June 19th with the sters who participated and parents channel between the two lakes will kickoff made by Harry O. Dayhoff, who watched had one grand day of be opened allowing fish from the lower Director of Parks of Harrisburg, Pa. fun plus a good glimpse of excellent lake to reach the upper lake where Registration on first day was over development in sportsmanship. the boys and girls fishing project is 900 boys and girls. While some good The project, started six years ago by located. catches were registered, the size or the Optimist Club of Harrisburg, has No person can estimate what this

SEPTEMBER—1953 2!) project has accomplished for the chil­ dren of the community over the years but it has certainly offered boys and girls an opportunity to get out and fish, work off excess energy and keep them off the street out of the way of possible harm and danger; a chance to develop real sportsmanship and a regard for the rights of others. Adults and parents could profit by observing this fine project that supplies some of the answers for our troubled times. The Optimist Club is to be commended on their splendid work and they, through the pages of the PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER, extend an in­ vitation for parents to come out, bring their youngsters for a swell day of fun and fishing at Italian Lake, Har- risburg, during the rodeo seasons each year.

Dear Sir: Here Is photo showing Mrs. Larry Sapudar of Philadelphia holding an 8 lb. 13-oz, Walleye, SO^-inches long she caught trolling in Lake Wallenpaupack. Would appreciate seeing the photo in THE PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER. MRS. W. A. METZGAE Nazareth, Pa.

YOUNG ANGLERS FISH GREEN PUMP DAM Above photos are youngsters on location at Green Pump Dam, Williamstown, Pa. children's fishing project stocked by the Pennsylvania Fish Commission and open to all young anglers under 16 years of age. One little guy shown In pix has mighty carp caught at the project, look at that rod bend on another. The third is photo of a Fish Commission truck stocking the dam.

LOST! LOST! Last August 16, along Black Moshannon, spinning rod and reel treasured by Elmer P. Cald­ well, 2309 7th Avenue, Altoona, Pa., was left behind on the bank Mrs. Larry Sapudar with in confusion of loading Mr. Cald­ Big Walleye. well, an invalid in an armchair, into the car. We appeal to any sportsman who finds or found this gear to return it to Mr. Cald­ well at the above address.

Dear Editor: This eight-year old boy caught this sucker last spring in Bald Eagle Creek and is very anxious to have his picture in THE PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER because a couple of years ago I sent a picture of his older l9'/2-inch, 31 lb. Brown Trout taken by brother to you holding a fish and you put 11-year-old Francis Condelli of Arnold, It in the ANGLER. I have taught both these boys in Beech Pa. on Pithole Creek, Venango Co. Creek, Pa. schools. This young fisherman's name is Roger Fultz, son of Grover Pultz, Roger Pultz with his catch. Beech Creek, R. D. MRS. W. A. CLARK Lock Haven, Pa. 30 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER INDEX TO VOLUMES 21 and 22—October 1952—through September 1953 Titles of Articles are in capital letters, Page numbers and issue follow.

DAVY AND STUPENJUS STURGEON, Freeman, Gilbert, Trout Fishing in Penna., James Stevens, 18, Oct. 21, July ACE OP BLUFFERS, Ben East, 13, Oct. Diehl, Lee, Glass Rods, 21, Oct. Frost, F. L., Jr., Sportsmen's Flasher Lamp, Ahre'ns, Carsten, School page, 32, Oct. Diehl, Lee, Plug Casters Bonanza, 21, Sept. 29, Dec. ALL-AMERICAN BEAUTY AND GLAMOUR Ditmer, Wendell P., Fiddleheads, 8, Dec. BABE, SPARSE GREY HACKLE, 8, July DRY FLY CAST, A NEW, Eugene Burns, G ALMOST SKUNKED, S. R. Slay maker, 11, 21, May 19, Feb. DYEING FLY TYING MATERIALS, Chas. GAME COCK FEATHERS, Albert G. Shim­ Ambrose, Paul, Finnegan's Fish, 20, Dec. M. Wetzel, 15, Dec. mel, 20, Jan. Anderson, Jack, Pickerel Winter Study, 24, GLASS RODS, Lee Diehl, 21, Oct. April GLUEING TECHNIQUES FOR AMATEUR ANGLING AGONY, Eric Wahleen, 14, Aug. E. ROD BUILDERS, Vincent C. Marinaro, ARCHER FISH, Wllbert N. Savage, 5, Jan. Part I—10, Dec; Part 11—22, Jan. Atz, James W., Fish at Home, 2, Feb. EARLY AMERICAN FISHERIES, 28, Dec. GOOD TALK, Fred Cornelius, 31, Jan. East, Ben, Ace of Bluffers, 13, October Gordon, George, Boys Out Fishin' 15, Oct. East, Ben, Erosion, 4, Aug. EMERGENCE TABLES TROUT STREAM Gordon, George, Benner Spring, 6, Nov. INSECTS, Chas. M. Wetzel, Cover 3, April Gordon, George, Indiantown Gap Memorial BAIT FISHING FOR BASS, Don Shiner, EROSION, Ben East, 4, Aug. Lake Management, 10, Nov. 14, July BAIT Vs. ARTIFICIALS, Joe Pancoast, 8, Sept. F Harlow, Wm. M„ Woodland Wonders, 12, BAT, THE, Wilbert N. Savage, 7, Oct. Nov. Bates, Joseph D., Streamer Flies, 20, Oct. FAVORITE ANGLING STORIES, Jim Harrison, Hal H., Water Dog Hunt, 10, Bates, Joseph D., How to Select Spinning Hayes, 18, Dec. Sept. Lures, 20, Nov. FAVORITE WET AND DRY FLIES, Chas. HARVEST BASS, Ray Ovington, 14, Sept. Bates, Joseph D., Matched Spinning Tackle, M. Wetzel, C. L. Peters, 14, March Harvey, George W., Fly Tying Via Simpli­ 14, April FAVORITE WET AND DRY FLIES, Chas. fied Methods, 16, Jan.; 12, Feb.; 18, Mar.; Bates, Joseph D., Tips on Monofilament, M. Wetzel, C. L. Peters, 14, April 18, April; 18, May; 16, July 10, June FEDERATION OF SPORTSMEN'S CLUBS Hayes, Jim, Favorite Angling Stories, 18, Bauer, Erwin A., Spinning Made for Carp, RESOLUTIONS, Sept 1952, 22, March Dec. 8, June FEDERATION OF SPORTSMEN'S CLUBS HELLGRAMMITES, HIGHJINKS WITH, Bauer, Erwin A., Hellgrammite High Jinks, RESOLUTIONS, March 1953, 22, May Erwin A. Bauer, 20, July 20, July Feldman, Margaret, Reel Oil, 18, Aug. Herr, Dorothy M., Importance of Little Bauer, Erwin A., Mad Muskies, 12, Aug. FERNS, FIDDLEHEADS, Wendell P. Dit­ Things, 31, Nov. Bauer, Erwin A., Lobster's Little Cousin, mer, 8, Dec. HOW LONG DO THEY LIVE, Osmond P. 20, Sept. I FILLET YOUR FISH, 16, Sept. BENNER oPRING, George Gordon, 6, Nov. FINNEGAN'S FISH, Paul Ambrose, 20, Dec. Breland, 2, Oct. BIG ONES FEED AT NIGHT, Keith C. FINANCIAL STATEMENT 1952 FISH COM­ Hurst, Paul M„ Jr., Can Fish See Color, Schuyler, 18, Sept. MISSION, 32. March 5, Dec. FINNY SPECIALISTS IN CAMOUFLAGE, I BIG STINK AT ERIE, Bill Walsh, 3, May ICE FISHING IN PRESQUE ISLE BAY, BOATS, Don Shiner, 14, June Wilbert N. Savage, 2, Nov. LAKE ERIE, Alfred Larson, 2, Dec. BOAT KITS, Keith C. Schuyler, 18, June FISH AT HOME, James W. Atz, 2, Feb. IMPORTANCE OF LITTLE THINGS, Dor­ BOAT, FISHING FROM, Thad A. Bukow- FISH BEHAVIOR, Wilbert N. Savage, 2, othy M. Herr, 31, Nov. ski, 20, June March INDIANTOWN GAP MEMORIAL LAKE Boyd, William, Romance of the Shad, 10, FISH COMMISSION. MINUTES—Meeting MANAGEMENT, George Gordon, 10, Nov. May Nov. 17, 1952, 20, Feb. IS FISHING FOR GIRLS?, Eugene Burns, BOYS OUT FISHIN', George Gordon, 14, FISH COMMISSION FINANCIAL STATE­ Oct. MENT 1952, 32, March 4. June Bradford. Arthur D., Bryazoans or Moss FISH HOOK, Ben G. Robinson, 12, Dec. ISAAK WALTON AND HIS FRIENDS, Animals, 8, Nov. FISH IN THE OLD CANAL AGAIN, Harvey Frank A. King, 2, July Breland, Osmond P., How Long Do They R. Frantz, 5, May Live, 2, Oct. FISH MANAGEMENT IN PENNSYLVANIA, BRYAZOANS OR MOSS ANIMALS, Arthur Gordon L. Trembley, 11, March Jourde, Earl A., Camping Short Cuts, 8, D. Bradford, 9, Nov. FISH STOCKING, Keith C. Schuyler, 6, Aug. Buzowski, Thad A., Sucker Strategy, 18, March Feb. FISH WARDENS REASSIGNMENTS, 17, K Bukowski, Thad A., Fishing From Boats, March 20, June FISHERIES, EARLY AMERICAN, 28, Dec. King, Frank A., Izaak Walton and His Bukowski, Thad A., Catfish Calamity, 24, FISHERMAN'S PARADISE REGULATIONS Friends, 3, July Aug. 1953, 23, May; 22, June Knight, Richard Alden, Land That Big Burns, Eugene, Sixth Sense in Fishing, 7, FISHES THAT SOUND OFF, Wilbert N. Fish, 10, April Dec. Savage, 6, Sept. LAND THAT BIG FISH, Richard Alden Burns, Eugene, For Them What Likes Fish, FISHING—3000 A.D., Bill Wolf, 10, March 9, Jan. FISHING BOOK REVIEWS (by Hugh Knight, 10, April Burns, Eugene, Tightllne Nonsense?, 22, LANDING NETS, Don Shiner, 22, Dec. April Johnson) LARGEMOUTH, LITTLE LURES FOR, Burns, Eugene, A New Dry Fly Cast, 21, Old Man & Sea, 29, Oct. Keith C. Schuyler, 20, Aug. May Saltwater Spinning, 29, Oct. Larsen, Alfred. Lamprey, Status of in Lake Burns, Eugene, Is Fishing for Girls, 4, June Natural and Fresh Water Fishing Baits. Erie 1952, 12, Oct. Buss, Keen, Snapping Turtles, 2, Jan. 29, Oct. Larsen, Alfred, Ice Fishing, Presque Isle Fun With Trout, 23, Dec. Bay, Lake Erie, 2, Dec. How to Take Trout on Wet Flies and Larsen, Alfred, Mooneye, Shad, Sawbelly?, Nymphs, 29, Feb. 7, April CAMPING SHORT CUTS, A. Earl Jourde, Gone Fishin', 30, June LIFE WITH A FLY TYER, June L. Dalton, 8, Aug. Bob White. Charley Cottontail, Billy 12, March Bass, Bobby Bluegill, Tommy Trout, LINES ABOUT LINES, Keith C. Schuyler, CANAL DAYS, MEMORIES OF, Don Shiner, 31, June 6, May Part 1—14, Jan.; Part 2—10, Feb. Zane Grey's Fishing Adventures, 29, July Lively, Chauncy K., Nymph Fishing Notes CAN FISH HEAR?, Robert E. Stover, 6, Dec. Sportsmen's Digest of Fishing, 29, July CAN FISH SEE COLOR?, Paul M. Hurst, Natural Salt Water Fishing Baits, 29, July and Notions, 14, May Jr., 5, Dec. FISHING REGULATIONS 1953, 26, Nov. LOBSTERS LITTLE COUSIN, THE, Erwin Casey, J., Pale Empress, 14, Nov. FLASHER LAMP FOR SPORTSMEN, F. L. A. Bauer, 20, Sept. Casillo, N. R., Worm Fishing Art, 12, April Frost, Jr., 29, Dec. LOSE A HOOK—SPARE A BASS, Don Casillo, N. R„ Right Fly Line, 13, June FLOAT FISHING THE SUSQUEHANNA, Shiner, 6, Aug. CATCHING TROUT WITH A CAMERA, Don Shiner, 16, Oct. M W. T. Davidson 3, April FLY BOOK, THE, Albert G. Shimmel, 29, Marinaro, Vincent O, Glueing Techniques CATFISH CALAMITY, Thad A. Bukowski, May; 31, June for Amateur Rod Builders, Part I—10, 24, Aug. FLY TYING VIA SIMPLIFIED METHODS, Dec ' Part II 22 Jan Collins. Stephen, Streamside Plants, 6, Jan. George W. Harvey MINNOW FISHING FOR TROUT, Don Cona'nt, Roger K., Pork Chunk Goes General Instructions, 16, Jan. Shiner, 8, April Modern, 12, July Body Construction and Hackle Dry Fly, MONOFILAMENT, TIPS ON, Joseph D. Cornelius, Fred, Good Talk, 31, Jan. 12, Feb. Bates, Jr., 10, June COVERED BRIDGE, THE OLD, Don Winged Wet Flies, 18, March Mock, Johnny, Yes, I Remember?, 6, June Shiner, 3, Sept. Winged Dry Flies, 18, April MOONEYE, SHAD SAWBELLY?, Alfred Streamer Flies, 18, May Larsen, 7, April D Bass Bugs, 16, July Muench, Josef, Winter from Camera Dalton, June L., Life With a Fly Tyer, FOR THEM WHAT LIKES FISH, Eugene Angle, 16, Dec. 12, March „,.. Burns, 9, Jan. Mumbar, Lamar, Penna. Stream Photos, Frantz, Harvey R., Fish in the Old Canal 16-17, May Davidson, W. T., Catching Trout With a Again, 5, May Camera, 3, April MUSKIE, MAD, Erwin A. Bauer, 12. Aug. SEPTEMBER^1953 31 N Schuyler, Keith C, Religion in the Rough, STREAMERS, STORIES OF, Joseph D. 18, Nov. Bates, Jr., 20, Oct. NEW SILVER PLATTER, Kenneth W. Schuyler, Keith C, Lines about Lines, STREAMERS, SCHEME FOR, Don Shiner, Thomas, 25, Aug. Part 1-14, Jan.; Part 11-10, Feb. 16, Feb. NYMPH FISHING NOTES AND NOTIONS, Schuyler, Keith C, Big Ones Feed by STREAMSIDE PLANTS, Stephen Collins, 6, Chauncy K. Lively, 14, May Night, 10, Sept. Jan. SEA GULL THAT CAME BACK, John K. Stevens, James, Davy and the Stupenjus Terres, 10, Oct. Sturgeon, 18, Oct. Ovlngton, Ray, Spin Fishing for Bass, 10, SEA LAMPREY, STATUS OF IN LAKE Stover, Robert E., Can Fish Hear? 6, Dec. July ERIE 1952, Alfred Larsen, 12, Oct. SUCKER STRATEGY, Thad A. Bukowski, Ovlngton, Ray, Harvest Bass, 14, Sept. SHAD, ROMANCE OF THE, William Boyd, 18, Feb. 10, May T Shimmel, Albert G., Rythm of the Rise, Terres, John K., Sea Gull That Came 12, May Back, 10, Oct. PALE EMPRESS, J. Casey, 14, Nov. Shimmel, Albert G., The Fly Book, 29-May; NEW SILVER PLATTER, Kenneth W. Pancoast, Joe Bait-Us Artificials, 8, Sept. 31 June Thomas, 25, Aug. PENNSYLVANIA STREAMS, Don Shlner- Shimmel, Albert G., Stream Practices 2, Lamar Mumbar Photos, 16-17, May TIGHT LINES NONSENSE?, Eugene Burns, June 22, April Peter, C. L., Favorite Wet and Dry Flyes, Shimmel, Albert G., Game Cock Feathers, Trembley. Gordon L., Fish Management in 14, March; 16, April 20, Jan. Pennsylvania, 11, Nov. PICKEREL WINTER STUDY, Jack Ander­ Shiner, Don, Minnow Fishing for Trout, TROUT FISHING IN PENNA., Gilbert son, 24 April 8, April Freedman, 21, July PISCATORIAL EYE VIEW, 6, Feb. Shiner, Don, Memories of Canal Days, 6, PLUG CASTERS BONANZA, Lee Dlehl, 21, May Sept. Shiner, Don, Penna. Stream Photos, 16-17- PLUG MAKING, Ben C. Robinson, 4, July May VALUE OF FISH MARKETS, George X. PLUGS, Don Shiner, 22, Nov. Shiner, Don, Boats, 14, June Sand, 21, March PORK CHUNK GOES MODERN, Roger K. Shiner, Don, Bait Fishing for Bass, 14, VIRGIN RUN LAKE DEDICATED, 2, Aug. Conant. 12, July July PYMATUNING LAKE, NEW REGULATIONS Shiner, Don, Float Fishing the Susque­ W FOR, 27, March hanna, 16, Oct. Wahleen, Eric, Angling Agony, 14, Aug. R Shiner, Don, Plugs, 21, Nov. Walker, J. Herbert, Rafting Days, 8, Feb. RAFTING DAYS, J. Herbert Walker, 8. Shiner, Don, Old Eel Walls, 10, Jan. Walsh. Bill, Big Stink at Erie, 3, May Feb. Shiner, Don, Scheme for Streamers, 16, WATER DOG HUNT, Hal H. Harrison, 10, REEL OIL, Margaret Feldman, 18, Aug. Feb. Sept. RELIGION IN THE, ROUGH, Keitch C. Shiner, Don, Old Covered Bridge, 3, Sept. WELL, WHAT'S NEXT, Lee Wulff, 12, June Schuyler, 18, Nov. SIXTH SENSE, Eugene Burns, 7, Dec. Wetzel, Chas M., Dyeing Fly Tying Ma­ Robinson, Ben C, Fish Hooks, 12, Dec. Slaymaker, S. R. 11, Almost Skunked, 19, terials, 15, Dec. Robinson, Ben C, Plug Making, 4, July Wetzel, Chas M., Favorite Wet and Dry Robinson, Ben C, Smallmouth of Heat Feb. Flies, 14 March; 16, April and Sunlight, 22, Aug. SMALLMOUTH OF HEAT AND SUNLIGHT, Wetzel, Chas M., Emergence Tables Trout RYTHM OF THE RISE, Albert G. Shim- Ben C. Robinson, 22, Aug. Stream Insects, Cover 3, April mel, 12, May SNAPPING TURTLE, Keen Buss, 2, Jan. WINTER FROM A CAMERA ANGLE, Josef S SOME TROUT I HAVE MET, Bill Wolf, Muench, 16, Dec. 23, April Wolf, Bill, Fishing— 3000 A.D., 10, March Sand, George X., Value of Fish Markets, SOME WOMEN ANGLERS I HAVE MET, Wolf, Bill, Some Trout I Have Met, 23, 21, March 12, Sept. April Savage, Wllbert N., Fish Behavior, 2, March Sparse Grey Hackle, All-American Beauty Wolf, Bill, Some Women Anglers I Have Savage, Wllbert N., Archer Fish, 5, Jan. and Glamour Babe, 8, July Met, 12, Sept. Savage, Wllbert N., The Bat, 7, Oct. SPIN FISHING FOR BASS, Ray Ovington, WOODLAND WONDERS, Wm. Harlow, 12, Savage, Wllbert N., Finny Specialists in 10, July Nov. Camouflage, 2, Nov. SPINNING LURES, HOW TO SELECT, WORM FISHING ART OF, N. R. Casillo, Savage, Wilbert N., Fishes that Sound Joseph D. Bates, Jr., 20, March 12, April Off, 6, Sept. SPINNING, MATCHED TACKLE FOR, Wulff, Lee, Well, What's Next?, 12, June SCHOOL PAGE. Carsten Ahrens, 32, Oct. Joseph D. Bates, Jr., 14, April Schuyler, Keith C, Fish Stocking 6, March SPINNING WAS MADE FOR CARP, Erwin Schuyler, Keith C, Boat Kits, 18, June A. Bauer, 8, June Y Schuyler, Keith C, Little Lures for Large- STREAM PRACTICES, Albert G. Shimmel, YES, I REMEMBER!, Johnny Mock. 6. mouths, 20, Aug. 2, June June

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