1 The Keystone State's Official Fishing and Boating Magazine September/October 2001 $3.00

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 IS FISH-FORFREE DAY- TAKE A FRIEND FISHING. A Matter of Opinions

Anglers and boaters care. They care about constant stocking, and provides oppor­ the proposed changes to the Delayed- their sport, and they care about the re­ tunity to extend the "no-kill" experience Harvest program, the idea of allowing source. They care about the Fish & Boat to more anglers. The "no-kill" period fishing with artificial lures on Delayed- Commission and its programs, and they extends from September until mid-June Harvest waters currently limited to fly care about proposed changes to fishing of the following year. From mid-June fishing only attracted a lot of comment. and boating regulations. Anglers and through Labor Day, the limited-harvest Using today's modern communication boaters have a wide variety of opinions. component allows anglers to take three techniques, including the Internet and Anglers and boaters don't hesitate to let trout per day. These trout would other­ e-mail, fly-fishers sent in many messages us know what they think, and they of­ wise be lost to natural mortality as a result opposing any change to the Delayed- ten communicate their views in no of stress induced by elevated water tem­ Harvest regulations. At the same time, uncertain terms. peratures and reduced flows. supporters of "traditional angling" have Let's look at a couple of examples that Delayed-Harvest management is a contacted the Commission to indicate the Commission, the Boating Advisory deliberate attempt to extend the use of their opposition to any special tackle re­ Board and the staff are currently review­ stocked trout and to permit more types strictions on trout waters. They want the ing. The Commission received a petition of anglers to experience no-kill angling. Delayed-Harvest waters open to all tackle to change special boating regulations on "Recycling" of trout is a key component and oppose even the artificial-lures-only Beltzville Lake in Carbon County. The of the Delayed-Harvest concept. There­ restrictions. petitioners, avid water skiers, want the fore, to minimize hooking mortality, an In the face of these diverse opinions, current regulations modified to open the Artificial-Lures-Only tackle restriction the Commission decided to seek public entire lake to water skiing and expand was created. comment on proposed changes to the the times when water skiing is allowed. The Delayed-Harvest program began Delayed-Harvest program. In a similar At a public meeting held at Beltzville State in 1983 with one water, a 1.25-mile sec­ move, the Commission decided to seek Park, the comments were about evenly tion of Cool Spring Creek, Mercer County. public comment on a suggestion to re­ divided between supporters and oppo­ In the past 15 years or so, Delayed Har­ duce the daily creel limit on panfish from nents of the proposed changes. For every vest has continued to grow. Today, there 50 per day to 25 per day, effective in 2003. water skier who wanted the current regu­ are 26 Delayed-Harvest, Fly-Fishing-Only In seeking public comment on both these lations changed, there was an angler or (DHFFO) waters, and 51 Delayed-Harvest, proposals, the Commissioners were not other boater who thought his or her rec­ Artificial-Lures-Only (DHALO) projects. endorsing them. reation would be hurt by more water The Commission is currently seeking It's important for anglers and boaters skiing. After due consideration of the public comment on a concept to merge to understand the importance of their widely split opinions on this issue, the the two different tackle restrictions ap­ input in this process. The Commissioners Commission decided to issue a notice of plicable to Delayed Harvest into a single (and the staff) read all public comments proposed rulemaking (and start a for­ DHALO program. This would provide and give them full and fair consideration. mal public comment process) on a for simpler regulations and more diverse A public comment period is a chance for proposal to keep the water-ski zone as trout fishing opportunities at a time of anglers and boaters to share their reason­ is, while expanding the hours when water reduced trout stocking. The proposal has ing as well as their conclusions. skiing is allowed. attracted a good deal of opposition from The members of the Fish & Boat Com­ Boating regulation proposals are not fly fishers who want to maintain the mission cannot promise you that their the only ones that attract wide divergences DHFFO restrictions. decisions on regulations and policies will in public opinion. Proposed changes to The proposed change to Delayed-Har­ always agree with your opinions. But they our Delayed-Harvest trout fishing pro­ vest regulations does not affect the can promise you that they will review and gram have also attracted a lot of inter­ Heritage Trout Angling program, which consider all viewpoints and make the very est. Delayed-Harvest management is one was created specifically to reflect the best decision they can in the best inter­ of the most popular and widely used spe­ tradition fly angling has played in Penn­ ests of the Commonwealth, fishing, cial-regulations programs the Commis­ sylvania trout angling and conservation. boating and the resource. sion offers. The eight waters under the Heritage Trout The underlying principle in Delayed Angling regulations offer no-kill trout Harvest centers on the use of trout- fishing opportunities for fly-fishers only. stocked stream sections to offer a high Even before the Commission approved Peter A. Colangelo catch-rate fishery that places less empha­ publication of a notice of proposed Executive Director sis on harvest, creates less need for rulemaking to seek public comment on Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission

-&i PROTECT • CONSERVE • ENHANCE >MBF j Commission Update

Nominations Sought for Commission Curtails Trout Abele Conservation Heritage Award Production at Big Spring The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission is seeking nominations for the 2001 Fish Culture Station Ralph W. Abele Conservation Heritage Award. The Ralph W. Abele Conservation The Fish & Boat Commission recently Heritage Award is the highest recognition the Commission can confer on persons proposed to undertake an orderly dispo- who distinguish themselves in the cause of conservation. The Commission estab­ sition of the remaining adult and lished the Abele Award to recognize citizens of Pennsylvania who have made outstanding fingerling trout held at Big Spring Fish contributions to the protection, conservation and enhancement of the Commonwealth's Culture Station. Trout production will aquatic resources. The award serves as a memorial to Ralph Abele, longtime Com­ not resume there until installation of a mission executive director, for his steadfast and courageous work in protecting and major upgrade including recirculation conserving our natural resources. technology, subject to review and approval The Abele Award is presented to a Penn- by the Department of Environmental Pro­ sylvanian who has dedicated his or her time tection (DEP). and energy to the conservation of the state's According to Commission fisheries natural resources, specifically the aquatic managers, it may take until mid-Novem­ resources, through one or more of the fol­ ber to stock all the remaining trout from lowing accomplishments: Big Spring Fish Culture Station. Some • Personally invested heavily in the long- of the 30,000 remaining adult trout may term education of Pennsylvania's youth on be moved to other fish culture stations, conservation issues vital to an improved with the others to be stocked early this aquatic environment. fall. More than 700,000 fingerlings will • Put at risk his or her person and live­ be stocked in appropriate waters or moved lihood to undertake public activities and to other facilities as soon as weather and positions on behalf of improving and pro- water conditions permit. tecting the aquatic resources of "We believe the interim operations plan Pennsylvania. we submitted to DEP was a good one. At • Led a regional or statewide environ­ the same time, our goal at Big Spring must mental effort that has been recognized for focus on the longer term and protection its duration and success in protecting and of the resource. We want to upgrade the enhancing the aquatic resources of Penn­ hatchery and install recirculation tech- sylvania. nology. We need to attract the • Played a leading role in reclaiming and Commonwealth funding needed to ac­ enhancing a major significant natural water complish this major, expensive upgrade," resource in the Commonwealth. said Fish & Boat Commission Executive • Led an effort to pass major environmental legislation for the protection, con­ Director Peter A. Colangelo. servation and enhancement of Pennsylvania's natural environment. • Brought national recognition to Pennsylvania through personal activities, ac­ tions and contributions to the aquatic resources. Launch Permits Employees and active Commissioners of the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commis­ sion are not eligible for this award, but they are encouraged to submit nominations. Permits issued by the Department Nominations may be sent to Dennis Guise, Deputy Executive Director/Chief Counsel, of Conservation and Natural Re- Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, P.O. Box 67000, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000. sources (DCNR) allowing Nominations should be postmarked no later than September 10,2001. The nomi­ non-powered boats to launch at state nations should describe, in a maximum of three typewritten pages, the following: park lakes are now valid for use at • Biographical information. access areas and lakes operated by • How the nominee meets the categories for recognition. the Fish & Boat Commission. The • Specific accomplishments of the nominee. Commission will begin to issue • Past recognitions of the nominee. launch permits in December 2001. • Affiliations of the nominee. For complete details on this recip­ • Additional information to warrant award of this honor. rocal recognition, visit the "News Past Abele Award winners include notables such as Ken Sink, Dr. Maurice Goddard, Releases" area of the Commission's Lenny Green, Dr. William Kodrich, Robert W. McCullough Jr., Peter Duncan, James web site: www.fish.state.pa.us. L- Myers, Larry J. Schweiger and Enoch S. ("Inky") Moore.

www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Commission Update

Nominations Sought for Commission Curtails Trout Abele Conservation Heritage Award Production at Big Spring The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission is seeking nominations for the 2001 Fish Culture Station Ralph W. Abele Conservation Heritage Award. The Ralph W. Abele Conservation The Fish & Boat Commission recently Heritage Award is the highest recognition the Commission can confer on persons proposed to undertake an orderly dispo- who distinguish themselves in the cause of conservation. The Commission estab­ sition of the remaining adult and lished the Abele Award to recognize citizens of Pennsylvania who have made outstanding fingerling trout held at Big Spring Fish contributions to the protection, conservation and enhancement of the Commonwealth's Culture Station. Trout production will aquatic resources. The award serves as a memorial to Ralph Abele, longtime Com­ not resume there until installation of a mission executive director, for his steadfast and courageous work in protecting and major upgrade including recirculation conserving our natural resources. technology, subject to review and approval The Abele Award is presented to a Penn- by the Department of Environmental Pro­ sylvanian who has dedicated his or her time tection (DEP). and energy to the conservation of the state's According to Commission fisheries natural resources, specifically the aquatic managers, it may take until mid-Novem­ resources, through one or more of the fol­ ber to stock all the remaining trout from lowing accomplishments: Big Spring Fish Culture Station. Some • Personally invested heavily in the long- of the 30,000 remaining adult trout may term education of Pennsylvania's youth on be moved to other fish culture stations, conservation issues vital to an improved with the others to be stocked early this aquatic environment. fall. More than 700,000 fingerlings will • Put at risk his or her person and live­ be stocked in appropriate waters or moved lihood to undertake public activities and to other facilities as soon as weather and positions on behalf of improving and pro- water conditions permit. tecting the aquatic resources of "We believe the interim operations plan Pennsylvania. we submitted to DEP was a good one. At • Led a regional or statewide environ­ the same time, our goal at Big Spring must mental effort that has been recognized for focus on the longer term and protection its duration and success in protecting and of the resource. We want to upgrade the enhancing the aquatic resources of Penn­ hatchery and install recirculation tech- sylvania. nology. We need to attract the ® Played a leading role in reclaiming and Commonwealth funding needed to ac­ enhancing a major significant natural water complish this major, expensive upgrade," resource in the Commonwealth. said Fish & Boat Commission Executive • Led an effort to pass major environmental legislation for the protection, con­ Director Peter A. Colangelo. servation and enhancement of Pennsylvania's natural environment. • Brought national recognition to Pennsylvania through personal activities, ac­ tions and contributions to the aquatic resources. Launch Permits Employees and active Commissioners of the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commis­ sion are not eligible for this award, but they are encouraged to submit nominations. Permits issued by die Department Nominations may be sent to Dennis Guise, Deputy Executive Director/Chief Counsel, of Conservation and Natural Re- Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, P.O. Box 67000, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000. sources (DCNR) allowing Nominations should be postmarked no later than September 10,2001. The nomi­ non-powered boats to launch at state nations should describe, in a maximum of three typewritten pages, the following: park lakes are now valid for use at • Biographical information. access areas and lakes operated by • How the nominee meets the categories for recognition. the Fish & Boat Commission. The • Specific accomplishments of the nominee. Commission will begin to issue • Past recognitions of the nominee. launch permits in December 2001. • Affiliations of the nominee. For complete details on this recip­ • Additional information to warrant award of this honor. rocal recognition, visit the "News Past Abele Award winners include notables such as Ken Sink, Dr. Maurice Goddard, Releases" area of the Commission's Lenny Green, Dr. William Kodrich, Robert W. McCullough Jr., Peter Duncan, James web site: www.fish.state.pa.us L- Myers, Larry J. Schweiger and Enoch S. ("Inky") Moore.

www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Pennsylvania Edward W. Manhart Fish & Boat Commission Leon H. Reed 1940-2001 President Honesdale This issue is dedicated to the memory of Edward W. Manhart, former di­ William J. Sabatose rector of the Fish & Boat Commission's Bureau of Law Enforcement. Ed Manhart Vice President Brockport lost his 10-year battle with cancer when he died while on vacation in Oregon Donald K. Anderson on August 7,2001. He was 61 years old. Meyersdale Ed retired as director of the Fish & Boat Commission's Bureau of Law En­ Samuel M. Concilia forcement on December 25,1998. During a distinguished career of service to North East Ross J. Huhn the Commonwealth that spanned more than 30 years, Ed Manhart was a leader Saltsburg and supervisor, a teacher and mentor, a conservationist and outdoorsman, and Ted R Keir a friend. Hired by the PA Fish Commission on June 3, 1968, as a "fish war­ Athens den," Ed graduated with the Fourth Class from the H.R. Stackhouse School Donald N. Lacy Reading of Fishery Conservation and Watercraft Safety on September 27,1968. He was Paul J. Mahon elected class president, and he presented the address for the class at gradua­ Clarks Green tion ceremonies. After graduation, Ed was assigned to Luzerne County as a Howard E. Pflugfelder New Cumberland fish warden. Rozell A. Stidd In July 1972, Ed was promoted to the position of Wa­ Huntingdon terways Patrolman Supervisor II at the Harrisburg Boating Advisory Board headquarters office. He was selected as deputy chief, Richard W. Czop Law Enforcement Division, Bureau of Waterways, Chairman on October 1,1977. He was promoted to chief, Law Collegeville Steven M. Ketterer Enforcement Division, on April 6,1981. In 1987, Harrisburg the Law Enforcement Division of the Bureau of G. Edwin Matheny Waterways became a bureau, and Mr. Manhart was Greensburg Gary Miles named director of the Bureau of Law Enforcement. North East Ed had many noteworthy accomplishments in Thaddeus Piotrowski carrying out his duties as a leader of the Division Bloomsburg and Bureau of Law Enforcement. He inaugurated the Ex Officio Members: enhanced training program for deputy waterways con­ Peter A. Colangelo, Executive Director; John F. Simmons, Director, servation officers. He led efforts to upgrade the waterways conservation officer Bureau of Boating and Education; training program starting with the Sixth Class in 1974. Under his direction, Gary Smith, Department of the Commission enhanced its experienced officer training program. Conservation and Natural Resources Ed Manhart was actively involved in developing and changing the Pennsyl­ Magazine Staff vania Fish and Boat Code and its regulations. He was instrumental in promoting Editor—Art Michaels new laws such as the boating-under-the-influence law and homicide-by-wa- Graphic Design—Ted Walke Circulation—Linda Covage tercraft law. In 1980, Ed led efforts to recodify the Fish and Boat Code and Circulation—Eleanor Mutch give waterways conservation officers limited police powers. Regular Contributors Ed's leadership resulted in the expansion of the Commission's field force Vic Attardo CliffJacobson of officers from 72 to 82 full-time officers. Accomplished in 1992, this expansion Karl Blankenship Charles R Meek of the field force was the first in 23 years. Mike Bleech Wayne Phillips Jon Farley Linda Steiner Ed saw the need for, and instituted purchase of, various equipment items Dave Wolf that let officers complete their duties in a more efficient and professional manner. PennsylvanittAngler& Boater (ISSN\Q9$-0S74) is published bimonthly by the Pennsylvania Fish&Boat Commission, 1601 Flmcrton Avenue, Harrisburg, Furthermore, under his direction, a comprehensive policy and procedure manual PA 17110-9299. ©2001PAFish&BoatCommission. Nothing in this magazine maybe reprinted without the written permission of the PA Fish & Boat was developed for field officers. Commission. Subscription rates: one year, S9; single copies are S3.00 each. Periodicals postage is paid at Harrisburg, PA. POSTMASTER; Send address Ed's many accomplishments earned statewide and national recognition. In changes to: Pennsylvania Angler C Boater Circulation, Pennsylvania Fish &BcaiCommission,P.O.Bc*67Tj()0,rIarrisburg,PA 17106-7000. For subscription 1993, he was awarded the International Game Warden Fraternalism Award, and and change of address, use above address. Please allow six weeks for processing. Send all other correspondence to; The Editor, Pennsylvania Angler & Boater, in 1996, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Penn­ P.O.Box67000,Harrisburg,PA 17106-7000. Editorial queriesand contributions sylvania Wildlife Federation. Ed was also honored at the 1998 meeting of the are welcome, but must be accompanied bjp self-addressed, stamped envelopes. Material accepted for publication is subject to Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Northeast Fish and Wildlife agencies. Commission standards and requirements for editing andrevising. Submissions are handled carefully, but the publisher assumes no responsibility for the Ed is survived by his wife, Sarah, four daughters, five grandchildren and a return or safety of submissions in his possession or in transit. The authors' views, ideas and advice expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect brother. Along with raising daughters of his own, Ed was a "father" to more the opinion or official position of the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission or its staff. The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission receives federal aid than 35 foster children since 1970. in sport fish restoration. Under appropriate federal acts, the U. S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national Ed will be missed by family, friends, colleagues and co-workers in Pennsyl­ origin, age, sex or handicap. If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility as described above, or if you vania and throughout the nation. desire more information, please write to: The Office of Equal Opportunity, Department of the Interior, Washington, DC 20240.

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater www.fish.state.pa.us September/October 2001 Volume 70/Number 5

www.fish.state.pa.us

Feature articles Waterways Conservation Officers and Protecting Habitat by WCO Lee Creyer 8 Deep-Water Bass by Jerry M. Bush 12 Fall's Hot Largemouth Bass Season by VicAttardo 17 The Night the Lights Danced over Lake Erie by Mike Bleech 20 Teenage Bass-Fishing Wizard by Don Feigert 26 Deer-Head Caddis by Charles R Meek 28 Boating Tips from Trailer to Ramp by David M. Adams 30 Fall Trout Fishing on Northeast PA's Big Three by Robert H. Miller.... 34 The Casselman's Come Back Again by Linda Steiner 38 Winterizing Your Outboard Jet by Chris Gorsuch 42 "Top Gun" Aims at Safety by T.C. Flanigan 55

Special features Wildlife Forever State-Fish Art Contest 23 2002 Seasons, Sizes and Creel Limits Poster center poster Fall 2001 PLAY Newsletter 46 2001 PFBC Photography Contest Rules and Entry Form 63

Regular features Protect • Conserve • Enhance 2 Commission Update 3 Mail 6 SMART Angler's Notebook by Steve Whinbam 15 Casting Lines with Dave Wolf 16 WCO Diary by WCO Dave Kaneski 45 Notes from the Streams 58 Anglers Currents 60 Fishin' from the Kitchen by Wayne Phillips 60 Angler's Notebook by Jon Farley 61 Cast & Caught back cover

On the cover The channel catfish anglers on this issue's front cover were photographed by VicAttardo. Credits for smaller cover photographs: Brook trout (upper right), Mark A. Hale; fly fisherman (lower right), Dave Wolf, angler with smallmouth bass (lower left), Jerry M. Bush.

with soy-based inks

www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater First, it is possible that you may another angler yelled that he had also have seen either a well-marked black caught one. After a small tug of war, rat snake, which, contrary to its we realized we had the same fish. We name, is not entirely black. They noticed that I had hooked the bass on display underlying patterns of white, the right side of the mouth, and the brown and black, which, depending other angler had hooked him on the on how recently the snake has left side of the mouth. How strange molted, could appear vivid. Second, was that? you may have seen an eastern hog- As if I thought I had seen it all, nose, which can display a very which you never really do when fish­ contrasting and variable coloration ing, I then hooked a rock bass on a ranging from all black to a mixture shiner. As I reeled it in, I noticed that of yellow, tan, black and brown in a someone else had already caught this Snake identification series of blotches and bands. The fish before but had cut the line be­ Last July while fishing Gifford length of 4 feet you described is cause the fish had swallowed the hook. Run, I saw a snake I'd never seen be­ within the range (although on the I had hooked the loop on the line, not fore. It was a pretty snake, black and large side) of an eastern hognose. the fish, and had reeled this fish in by yellow and a bit over 4 feet long. The Finally, you could have seen an ac­ the loop. sighting was in the hole below the tual eastern kingsnake, which could What are the chances of that hap­ Lost Run Road bridge. I've seen my have been "dropped off" by some­ pening? I've been fishing about 15 share of water snakes and rattle­ one who had it as a pet and didn't years and I never had either one ever snakes on this stream—I've fished it want it any longer. happen to me, yet I had both happen since 1966. This was my first sight­ Although it is illegal to release recently all in one day. Unbelievable!— ing of the snake I described. such animals in Pennsylvania, per­ John Keller, Dover. On my way back home, I stopped sons lacking a sound ecological at the Harrisburg Archery Club. understanding of native herptile Nonpowered registration There is a "Snakes of Pennsylvania" populations have been known to do to powered it. However, released non-native spe­ wall chart there, and there was my I own a canoe that I have registered cies are usually found near areas of snake, an eastern kingsnake. with the Commission for several years high human use such as state parks, Recently I looked in the book Penn­ now. My registration is current and county parks, nature centers and en­ sylvania Amphibians and Reptiles. It will expire in 2002. I plan to add a vironmental education facilities. seems the eastern kingsnake should small electric motor to help me get Over the years, we have had reports not be anywhere near my favorite around on the lake near my house. Do of everything from tortoises to alli­ brookie stream. But there it was, and I need to register the boat now as a gators released into the wild in PA. I couldn't think of better habitat. powerboat? If so, what amount should Thus, I've learned never to say Maybe that's the reason rattlers I pay? I've already paid the $10 for a "never." Still, the odds are that the aren't as common as they were when I nonpowered registration. Does that snake you saw was not an eastern was in my teens and twenties. The amount get credited if I re-register the kingsnake. This is one of those cases rattlesnakes in Clearfield County canoe as a powerboat?—E-mailed ques­ where a picture really is worth a have a natural predator.—William H. tion (from one or more people) taken from thousand words. If you should see Traisterjr., Franklintown. the "Q&A" area of the Commission's web this or any other unusual reptile or site: www.fish.state.pa.us. As you know from reviewing PA amphibian and have a camera along, send us the picture and we will be Amphibians and Reptiles, the eastern Registration is required of any boat glad to assist in the identification.— kingsnake is normally found only in that uses some form of a motor (in­ Andrew L. Shiels, Nongame and a small area of southeastern Penn­ cluding an electric motor) as a form Endangered Species Unit. sylvania. This species' range of propulsion. Even though most reaches its northernmost limit in people realize that a boat with a large southeastern PA and extends south Unusual experiences outboard motor needs to be regis­ to Florida, east of the Appalachian Here's an unusual fishing story for tered, some people don't know that Mountains. There is no natural way you. Last April, while fishing the even a canoe with an electric motor is for an eastern kingsnake to find its York Haven Dam catwalk on the considered a "motorboat" and is re­ way to Clearfield County. Thus, Susquehanna River, I had caught a 14- quired to be registered as such. there are several possible explana­ inch largemouth bass, but as I was tions for your sighting. reeling it in, about 20 feet to my left

6 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater www.fish.state.pa.us People who do not intend to use a commonly described as spinners, results could have been accom­ motor may register a boat as a spoons, or plugs made of metal, plas­ plished with the use of a 14-inch nonpowered boat for $10 for two tic, wood, rubber or like substances minimum length limit. Therefore, at years. Registration fees for motor- or a combination thereof. the completion of the study, it was boats are based on the length of the Fishing must be done with tackle recommended that the slot limit boat and are also determined on a limited to fly rods, fly reels and fly regulations be replaced with a sim­ two-year cycle. Current fees for pow­ line with a maximum of 18 feet in pler 14-inch minimum length limit. ered boats are: For boats less than 16 leader materials or monofilament Other studies using slot limit regula­ feet, the fee is $20. For boats 16 feet line attached. Spinning, spincast and tions for wild trout fisheries have to less than 20 feet, the fee is $30. casting rods and reels are prohibited. provided mixed reviews at best. In For boats over 20 feet, the fee is $40. The use of small splitshot sinkers most cases, the best management To upgrade any non-powered reg­ on a fly leader would not be illegal in practice for these special-regulation istration, complete form REV-336 DHFFO and other Fly-Fishing-Only fisheries is to manage them with the (Sections B, C & K). Indicate at the areas as long as the hook is not use of an elevated minimum length top of the form "REGISTRATION modified to make snagging offish limit such as 14 inches. UPGRADE." In Section D (Boat more likely.—Dan Tredinnick, Press In Pennsylvania, we use a variety of Data), the owner must indicate the Secretary. management programs for wild new propulsion and fuel codes. trout. For example, Trophy Trout As for the fees, you will owe the Slot limits regulations are one form of special difference between the nonpowered I've heard that some states use slot regulations designed to stockpile fee ($10) you already paid and the limits, where you can legally take fish adult trout and provide a high catch- motorized fee. The Commission will in a certain size range, but anything and-release rate fishery for trout that then issue you a new registration smaller or bigger has to be released. are somewhat larger than the average card and decals.—Andrew Mutch. Has anything like this been considered 10-inch catchable-size trout. In addi­ for trout in Pennsylvania? Would it tion, Trophy Trout regulations Splitshot give more protection to those trout provide anglers with an opportunity I have a question about the regula­ that are the prime breeders?—E-mailed to catch some larger trout (greater tions on Delayed-Harvest, question (from one or more people) taken than 14 inches in length) on the wa­ Fly-Fishing-Only areas. I checked the from the "Q&A" area of the Commission's ters managed under these web page as well as the summary be­ web site: www.fish.state.pa.us. regulations. Typically, anglers do fore sending this message, but I not place much emphasis on harvest­ couldn't find what I was looking for. I Slot limits were originally imple­ ing trout when they visit the waters like fishing nymphs and prefer to use mented for the management of that we manage under special regula­ some splitshot on my leader to keep largemouth bass fisheries. The basic tions. Based on the results from them near the stream bottom. Is us­ idea with these regulations was to some of our recent surveys, we know ing splitshot in these areas provide protection for some quality- that many of the legal-size trout lawful?—E-mailed question (from one or sized fish and also protect a segment caught by anglers in these areas are more people) taken from the "Q&A"area of the population for recruitment released. of the Commission's web site: purposes. The variation of the slot Fisheries managers are sometimes www.fish, state.pa. us. limit regulations that you asked criticized for implementing regula­ about is very similar to a regulation tions that are confusing to the As you noted, there are some re­ that was used experimentally to man­ average angler. Slot limits are cer­ strictions on the type of tackle you age a wild brown trout fishery in tainly more complicated than a can use in stream sections managed Wisconsin during the mid-1980s. simple minimum length limit. Con­ under Delayed-Harvest, Fly-Fishing- The study was conducted on a fertile sidering the fact that slot limits have Only (DHFFO) regulations, as well limestone stream, similar in produc­ not been more effective (and in some as in other streams where Fly-Fish­ tivity to our limestone streams. cases, less effective) than a simple ing-Only restrictions apply. Fishing Under this variation of the slot limit, minimum length limit, we have not may be done with artificial flies and anglers were permitted to harvest implemented them as part of the spe­ streamers constructed of natural or one trout per day between 14 and 17 cial regulations package to manage synthetic materials, so long as all inches in length. Pennsylvania wild trout fisheries.— flies are constructed in a normal The results of this study concluded Tom Greene, Coldwater Unit Leader. fashion on a single barbless hook that the slot limit regulations did not with components wound on or about improve numbers of larger trout (20- the hook. Prohibited are other lures inch range), and essentially the same

www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Waterways M wt ^ <(> Conseruaflon Officers

fit* • A 'il'fflR»¥'

by WCO Lee Creyer

This article is the fifth in a series on the Commission's theme, "Habitat." The author explains the work of waterways conservation officers in pollution investigations, a vital part of the Commission's work to protect habitat.

O Pennsylvania Angler & Boater www.fish.state.pa.us I he silence of the radio was broken by a voice saying, "County to 18-2. We received a report that the water in Deer Creek, along Park View Road, is milky white and many dead fish were seen in the water."

"10-4 County, I'll be en route, ETA about IS minutes." Upon arrival, just looking out the window of my patrol vehicle I could see many dead fish lying along the banks. It was quite obvious something was discharged into the stream, and a pollution investigation would have to begin. The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission plays an ac­ tive role in the protection of the aquatic resources in Penn's Woods. Waterways conservation officers statewide investi­ gate and successfully prosecute individuals and corporations under the "Pollution of Waters" section of the Fish & Boat Code. "Pollution of waters" is defined as any substance, delete­ rious, destructive, or poisonous to fish that is allowed to run, flow, wash or be emptied into any water. Successful prosecution in these cases requires in-depth investigation and evidence-gathering techniques because these cases may be heard in court. Officers must prove "beyond a reason­ able doubt" that a violation has occurred and that a particular person or company was responsible for the act. On my arrival on a scene, the very first concern is safety. If a substance is toxic to fish, it may also affect the health of the officer investigating the scene. During the pollution, I could see that the birds and plant life surrounding the stream were not affected, so I was comfortable leaving the vehicle. The Commission works in partnership with the Depart­ ment of Environmental Protection (DEP) on many pollution incidents in the Commonwealth. Notification is made to DEP as soon as possible after the determination that a pollution has occurred. Similarly, when a call is made to DEP concerning a possible pollution, notification is made to the Commission district officer responsible for that area. Gathering evidence begins immediately after we deter­ mine that the area is safe. The first hour after arriving at a

Photographs and water samples are taken at several locations throughout an affected area. The first sample is always taken at the immediate point of discharge into the stream, if possible. Another is taken farther downstream, which can help determine the total length of the affected area. A final control sample is taken upstream, above the point of discharge.

www.fish. state, pa.us flmnsylvania Angler & Boater scene, things can become stream "looks" as if a quite hectic. Officers must pollution has occurred, remain vigilant during this or is occurring, because time to secure the immedi­ the water has an odor or ate area and prevent the isn't perfectly clear. Af­ destruction of any evidence. ter water samples are Necessary telephone calls taken and analyzed, we are made, along with re­ may find that the dis­ peated contact with the charge was within the county dispatchers. Infor­ permit limits and no mation from any witnesses violation has occurred. in the area is noted. Unlike It is vital that water vehicle accidents or burglar­ samples are taken and ies, we are dealing with analyzed. For this rea­ flowing water; our evidence son, we encourage can quickly be washed away individuals to call and or be significantly diluted Biologists determine if a product discharged into a stream was report any suspicious- by the flowing water. Pollu­ harmful to any fish or if it was below the limits of a permit looking water tions are treated like any issued to a company. conditions. other crime scene because After acquiring all that is exactly what they are. necessary water samples, Photographs and water samples are taken at several loca­ the next step is locating the source and stopping the flow of tions throughout the affected area. The first sample is the pollutant entering the stream. Many investigations are always taken at the immediate point of discharge into the instigated by a sudden discharge from a manufacturing stream, if possible. Another is taken farther downstream, plant or sewage treatment system that incurred an accident. which can help determine the total length of the affected A supervisor of the plant is immediately notified. The su­ area. A final control sample is taken upstream, above the pervisor is often already aware that a problem exists. point of discharge. This "control" sample is vital in any Depending on the extent and amount of the pollutant, local prosecution. The analysis of this control sample shows the fire departments and county HazMat (hazardous materials) quality of the water above the area that was affected by the teams are dispatched. These are additional resources we discharge. This analysis is then compared to the results frequently call on to assist during a pollution. They are from the water samples taken below the point of discharge. well-trained in the deployment of containment booms, ab­ Biologists can then make a determination if the product sorbent pads, and other devices used to prevent further discharged into a stream was harmful to any fish or if it was damage to the aquatic environment. A quick response and below the limits of a permit issued to a company. placement of these aids contains and minimizes the flow, There are thousands of discharges permitted across the which thereby prevents further damage downstream. Some­ state for a variety of reasons. Sewage treatment plants, in­ times we notify nearby residents, especially in farming areas dustrial plants, gas and oil where cattle may drink companies and paper from a stream. If a public mills are just a few of the water system may have legally permitted possi­ been affected, we also no­ bilities. When issued tify those authorities. these permits, the holders When the pollutant has must maintain water ceased flowing and the site quality standards listed in is under control, the inter­ the permit. Dissolved oxy­ view begins with the gen, pH, phosphates, suspected violator. The nitrates and water tem­ majority of the time, indus­ perature are only a few of try personnel open their the many parameters gates and freely permit en­ listed and monitored trance to the facility. We closely by the DEP. The attempt to find out exactly holders of these permits what happened and why. must maintain records Was it just an accident or a and are subject to inspec­ Agricultural areas are prone to manure entering streams, which deliberate act? Was it an tion at any time. There very quickly reduces the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water act of nature, negligence of are times when reports are that fish need. Herbicides and pesticides are also encountered. an employee, or just plain received that a certain These can have a devastating effect on macroinvertebrate life. carelessness?

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater www.fish.statc.pa.us One of the most difficult tasks officers must face is trying manure entering streams, which very quickly reduces the to separate fact from fiction. The amount of cooperation amount of dissolved oxygen in the water that fish need. we receive during an interview can greatly influence the re­ Herbicides and pesticides are also encountered; these can sults of these violation investigations. We often make have a devastating effect on macroinvertebrate life. suggestions such as reimbursing fire companies for absor­ In mountainous areas of the state, improper timber op­ bent pads, installing an alarm system, building containment erations can result in large amounts of sediment carried devices to prevent future spills, or performing monthly pre­ into streams during a rainstorm. Sediment can cover much ventive maintenance on operating systems. Although a of the streambed, smothering any aquatic life and thereby pollution has occurred and damage has been done, officers eliminating the food that fish need. Sediment is often a attempt to protect water resources by suggesting methods factor contributing to pollution around any type of land to prevent future occurrences. development where effective erosion controls are not imple­ After the interview, it's back to the stream. If a fish kill mented. has occurred, each fish is identified, its length measured, The coal mining areas of the state, with both operating and, if possible, kept as evidence. Depending on the severity and abandoned mines, have a chronic problem with acid of the fish kill, the identification and collection process can mine drainage. The exposed soil and rock allow a chemical be quite time-consuming. It normally takes several hours to reaction to occur, forming iron oxide and sulfuric acid. walk a section of stream, counting and identifying fish. If This acid then dissolves minerals and metals from the sur­ the kill is significant, where miles of stream have been af­ rounding rock, which flows through the ground water fected, this process can take days. system to the surrounding streams. The severe acid condi­ Another item that is closely monitored during any pollu­ tions, as well as metals such as aluminum and manganese, tion is the macroinvertebrate life present in a stream. can reach toxic levels. Macroinvertebrate life includes the mayflies, stoneflies, cad­ In urban areas, industrial facilities such as steel mills, pa­ dis flies and other aquatic insects that are present in most per mills and power plants use a wide variety of chemicals. streams. These species are basically fish food. Without the These facilities are required to have discharge permits is­ aquatic insects for fish to feed on, fish will leave the area or sued by the DEP. These kinds of pollutions are commonly die. Depending on the pollutant that entered a waterway, known as point source discharges and are regulated by the the fish may not be harmed, but the macroinvertebrate life conditions of the permit. However, accidents do happen, may have been severely affected. Other times the and unknown, non-permitted discharge sources are discov­ macroinvertebrate life is fine, but the fish have been killed. ered every year. Then there is always the possibility that a pollution has af­ fected both fish and macroinvertebrate life. Throughout the Commonwealth, officers encounter a great variety of pollutants. Agricultural areas are prone to

www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 11 by Jerry M. Bush photos by the author

v-onsider Lake Erie. I'd challenge any angler to produce more pounds of smallmouth bass on a day- in and day-out basis in any other waterway, anywhere!

Trolling spoons and crankbaits like these accounts for a lot of Lake Erie deep-water smallmouth bass.

12 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater www.fish.state.pa.us In addition, I have fished Lake Erie for the last 20 years, fish tend to suspend in the deep water. I believe many of the and I still marvel at the size of the "standard" smallmouths fish move to the deeper water soon after the water tempera­ caught there. Fish weighing 4 pounds are routine, and you ture in the shallows begins dipping below 65 degrees. The haven't had a good day there unless you've reeled in a bass bass, and the baitfish they feed on, sense that the deeper that was near 5 pounds. Most of the bass are caught in water is now warmer, and it will remain warmer for several about 30 feet of water, along gravel beds. Many come to the months. hook in slightly shallower water, along structure like sub­ The exact depth the bass occupy changes from day to day. merged boulders and weathered steps in the shale bottom. Autumn's stormy weather agitates the lake's water, mixing Over the years, however, I have come to realize that when cold pools with warmer water. Conversely, intermittent conditions are right, the fish can often be located 2 to 3 heat waves still occur from time to time, causing baitfish to miles out, off the shores of Pennsylvania, in water depths of be attracted to the bright sunlight and the warmth provided 125 feet and more. by those rays. As baitfish react to these changes, the What conditions cause such movement for bass? During domino effect comes into play. Where you find food for the month of September and well into October, when un­ bass in open water, you will find bass. seasonably warm weather moves into the area, accompanied Most bass fishermen understand the importance of struc­ by clear, bright skies for more than two or three days, the ture to bass. The problem is determining which structure a

www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 13 bass could be relating to about 75 feet before attach­ when it is suspended about ing the planer board. Then 50 feet below the water's sur­ let the board run another 50 face and the water depth is to 100 feet back, which gener­ 120 feet. As you are trolling, ally planes the board about and you pass over submerged 50 feet to the side of the boat. boulders or old shipwrecks, Another method of getting take note of their location on your lure in the target zone your GPS. Be mindful of for deep-holding bass is to sudden depth changes. use downriggers. The Circle the located structure downrigger gives you the op­ while attempting to locate tion of using lures that would baitfish on your fish locator. normally run shallow. Remember that changes in Spoons may turn the trick, or water temperature are also smaller crankbaits than those considered "structural" chosen for the planers can changes. provide opportunities for large bass. Anglers should also take note of differences in water Your choice must match the trolling capabilities of the color and clarity. This big waterway does not cool equally, other lures you are trolling. For example, a small-lipped and as you gaze across the water, you can actually see differ­ lure may not run properly when trolled at the same speed as ences in water color. the deep-diving crankbait on your planer board. Look for Don't be surprised if a bass strikes before you locate signs that the lure may be twisting or spinning instead or baitfish. You may come across a bass or two at the leading simply wiggling. If it's spinning, change lures or trolling edge, just before the school of small fry. The school of speed. baitfish may move in and out of a location that the bass are If you've been using your downrigger for walleye fishing, on. The larger fish may be perfectly content to hold near you may want to adjust the release tension. Deep-water bass this location, providing they know dinner is going to return seem to be more content at times to swim along with the to the area regularly. Perhaps the bass are content to rest in lure after they are hooked. daylight hours, knowing that the school of small fish will Don't have a downrigger on board? Try a diving and plan­ return each evening. If you present the correct lure, right ing disk. These disks attach directly to your fishing line, above the suspended bass, they'll leap at the opportunity for but the release mechanism is different from those used with a midday snack! in-line planers. You tie the fishing line to the front lever of Deep-running crankbaits work very well for this type of the disk. This lever snaps into an adjustable tension clamp. fishing. The same crankbaits you might choose for walleyes When the lever is clamped, it creates an angle to the disk so will suffice. Assuming the sun is lower on the water, bright that the water pulled against the disk causes it to dive. lures are a good choice. Lures with light-colored sides or a There is also a weight at the front end of the disk, which chrome finish produce fish in these conditions. If you have further accentuates the angle, and also causes it to dive. planer boards, try chrome-sided, deep-running lures, and This weight is the key factor for adjusting the trolling path. experiment with different colors combined with the The weight can be rotated to any position left or right of the chrome. I have one favorite lure that is lime-green on top disk. The adjustment causes the disk to dip to one side or with chrome sides and a white belly. It has produced many the other at varying degrees, thus causing the lure to drag to bass when trolled behind my in-line planers. the side of the boat. The more to the side the disk is trolled, If you don't want to invest in planer boards, check the the shallower it runs. If you choose the largest size, (there various brands of in-line planer systems. They are inexpen­ are several diameter choices), the disk is capable of placing sive and attach directly to your fishing line. A ring or snap your lure about 60 feet down when trolled directly behind is at the back end of the planer and a release clamp is at the the boat. When trolling for Lake Erie bass, shoot for a 40- front of the board. When a fish strikes, the line is supposed foot depth and a path about 20 or 30 feet out to the side of to pull from the clamp. After releasing, the board flips the boat. back, and is attached to the line only by the ring or snap. These disks present you with another lure choice that I The board is eventually dragged back to the fish and is like for deep bass: A spinner worm harness with a big, fat, reeled it in with the fish. Once released from the clamp, it juicy nightcrawler. No self-respecting bass can resist this provides no added tension to the fishing line, letting you presentation. Willow blades at the front of the harness aid fight the fish alone. with attraction. Chrome blades on one side, with purple, I have found that this equipment performs well in calm blue or pink on the other side, have worked well in the past. water. I can't seem to get them to run as far to the side of The next time you're fishing Lake Erie and you can't find the boat as most of the manufacturers claim, but they will bass in their traditional home territories, try picking up travel off to the side far enough to allow you to run several some deep-water inhabitants. There's a good chance a big lines while avoiding tangles. Start by letting the lure out bass will welcome you to the party! O

14 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater www.fish.state.pa.us by Steve Whinham Fishing by the Clouds You can tell if it is going to be a good day for fishing just by looking at the sky! Knowing cloud types can make the difference between practice casting and a full stringer offish. Cirrus, cumulus and stratus are the three main cloud types.

Cirrus clouds appear high in the sky. Cirrus clouds are Stratus clouds suggest the possibility of rain and usually wispy and look like feathers. High cirrus clouds and southerly precede a cold front. Stratus clouds are low and have dark winds signal the approach of a warm front. Warm weather or gray bottoms. Cold fronts send fish into deeper water, makes fish sluggish and brings them into the shallows to making them less responsive. When you see stratus clouds, feed. During these times, try increasing the size of your lure, expect rain. Fishing in light rain can be productive, espe­ jig or bait. Furthermore, the warmer the weather, the slower cially for trout. Wind and rain knock flying insects into the the presentation should be to attract the fish. water. Trout become more active because insects are one of their favorite foods.

Cumulus clouds suggest good weather and a moderate breeze. Winds associated with cumulus clouds create choppy Stratocumulus or cumulonimbus clouds mean thunder­ water. This reduces light entering the water and fish like storms. These towering clouds build fast and darken rapidly. bass and walleyes move into the shallows to feed. Choppy Stop fishing; your fishing rod is about to become a light­ water also makes it difficult for a fish to see you, making ning rod. Fishing is usually poor after a severe storm. When them less spooked by your presence. clouds darken and the wind shifts by more than 90 degrees, the weather is going to turn severe quickly. It is time to head for shore or shelter. O

Www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 15 Things might have been brighter if gave me some comfort in the knowledge many anglers had not opted to release that a strike was most likely to occur when their fish. The thought of killing every my hook was baited. I recall only one fish trout in the stream may have been cause that took my baitless hook, and there may for revolt. have been enough leftovers on the hook Besides, even the flyfisher did not want for this fish to gnaw on. to fish night and day, and he was hav­ Regardless ofwhic h bobbers you choose ing a tough time getting his line back into to use, they are a worthwhile investment those undercuts where roots of stream- and are becoming more commonplace side trees had forked their way into the than ever before, now that both bait fish­ with water. But the whole idea may have cre­ ermen and flyfishers use them. Spin ated the fly fishing bobber. fishermen are using "trailers," and I have Dave Wolf The idea for a fly fishing bobber went seen at least a dozen or more using a float­ through many phases in development to ing or diving lure in front of them. I include a tiny bit of fluorescent orange suspect they will perfect the next bobber. or red. But the yarn became waterlogged, I have seen big bobbers disappear when The Bobber and its Many Uses so we went with "stick 'em" bobbers and someone was fishing a minnow large then to egglike bobbers and finally to in­ enough to make the bobber swim with the It wasn't too long after God created fish dicator flies—basically, a bobber fly with baitfish. I was fascinated watching the that he allowed man to create the bob­ a hook that took fish. That's a great idea bobber swim. I was even more fascinated ber. It became apparent that when casting a bait to the waters, man just wasn't get­ ting the knack of setting the hook in time. So bobbers came in all forms from wood to cork and then to plastic-in some ar­ eas, milk jugs. However, in many areas milk jugs became illegal and even tougher to cast. Apparently the fish became smarter as they evolved, too. The native brook trout would not tolerate a half- gallon milk jug cast into a clear brook. But we licked that one by inventing spinning line testing 2 pounds and we that worm fishermen and spincasters when the hardball-sized bobber disap­ made it nearly as thin as a spider web. should seriously consider. After all, if peared. Thinking the angler missed the Now that really makes casting milk jug your bobber can take fish, as well as your bobber dunking, I yelled to him from my bobbers almost impossible, without bait, the fish are in double trouble. It also boat nearby. He smiled, waved and snapping the line. makes many trout less bobber-shy. laughed. I thought he was laughing be­ Before you think I'm picking on bait Before you think I'm opposed to bob­ cause he had missed the fish, but no, he fishermen, be assured that I'm not. bers, think again. I have a short attention was laughing at me. Flyfishers now also use bobbers. span and have worn out one good set of He then struck so hard that he should There had been some braggarts who eyes trying to detect a strike. I have also have fallen out of the boat. But he knew said that a "good" flyfisher using nymphs noticed that watching the end of a float­ what he was doing. The fish surfaced and could fish out an entire stream—deep ing line all day has given me severe I grasped the sides of my boat to stay water lakes would be much tougher. Ap­ headaches. within it. It was a truly large fish, fitting parently it took even a "good" flyfisher But even when I did watch red-and- for the size of the bait. "A musky," he said, a long time to do so. One such expert white bobbers, I often looked away at the holding it out to show me and then re­ complained that he could have, if the Fish precise moment my bobber disappeared. leasing it. & Boat Commission hadn't kept stock­ So a bobber became a worm indicator as However, although not called a bobber, ing trout throughout the fishing season. well as a strike indicator. I cannot recount the tip-up of ice fishermen with red flags Of course, before the expert proved to the number of times that I had reeled in may be the best strike indicator of all. It the world it could be done, Commission the line to check my bait to find it missing. would seem impossible to miss fish with biologists found trout living 10 to IS feet This, of course, led to deep troubling indicators of that size, but we all do. back beneath undercut banks. Some thoughts of when my bait was stolen. While some have declared that using believed they came out at night to feed, With a bobber disappearing and no a bobber or indicator is cheating, the fish but others weren't sure. "There may be fish on the end of the line, I found that have not complained. I suspect they know enough food back there to keep such trout at the very least I knew when it was time something about an angler's attention well-fed," one biologist noted. to refill my empty hook. That in itself span.VJ

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater www.fish.state.pa.us .-*• m

T •it Season i by Vic Attar do

Evwmuoe

I mvHZO C?

know you'll question my meteorological wisdom, but I * believe the fall season should be, divided into three distinct periods, all of which I have subtly named.

*• First, there's the aptly labeled

K*C' " "First Fall," which I perceive starts 1 ' rfil^'iMjh!***" about the third week of Septembei*. ^8PJ|t taw*" «*«iuflM * During "Real Fall," bass anglers should work key structure. Good locations are beds of verdant weeds and the outside edges of weed lines.

Most years this isn't fall at all—it's more like a cooling off produce a thick pea soup or just a dusting of green confetti. of summer. I suppose this period could be called "Last Depending on the weather, turnover can occur quickly, its Summer," but then we'd confuse it with the actual last sum­ effects gone in three or four days, or it can last nearly two mer, which I never seem to remember. In any case, there are weeks. Whether it occurs closer to "First Fall" or "Real Fall," days in First Fall when we can still wet wade, so what's you may as well stay home during turnover. Most bass are fallish about that? not going to bite. After First Fall, there's the three- or four-week period when leaves change color and drop from the trees. This Real Fall patterns beautiful process is usually complete by the second or third Even though Real Fall often produces good numbers of week of November, right about the start of buck season. It largemouth bass, the fish can be in many moods. To catch also includes the end of daylight-saving time and Hallow­ 'em, you have to match their moods. een. This I consider to be "Real Fall." During "Real Fall," bass anglers should work some key struc­ Then there's "Third Fall." By this time, the hardwood ture with common, but effective, approaches. Key locations trees are bare, there's often ice on the roads, and up in during this time are beds of verdant weeds and the outside northcentral Pennsylvania or down in the Laurel Highlands, edges of weed lines. So, too, are creek channels and flats, and a good snow is not out of the question. Third Fall is also coves, or bays, with tributary creeks. I know this covers a lot of not fall at all—it's winter. You might call it "First Winter," territory, but it excludes deep water, the inside edge of most but winter is long enough as it is. weed lines, mid-lake structure and weedless shallows. Now that you have completed my home course in meteo­ During Real Fall, largemouths are capable of many forms of rology, let me tell you that the focus of this story is the behavior. On any given day, they'll feed on the surface or hug second fall, or "Real Fall." tight to the bottom. They'll also gulp a variety of prey, includ­ In my book, Real Fall runs about three or four weeks, ing but not limited to crayfish, alewives and gizzard shad. from mid-October to mid-November. Water temperatures Real Fall fish might feed only in the morning, or they might across the bottom half of the state hover in the upper 50s wait until the sun comes up to begin a day-long blitz. Gener­ and very low 60s. Above 1-80, water temperatures are a few ally, late-evening and night fishing are winding down by degrees cooler. mid-October, so you can rule this out. Say what you want about spring and summer—this is a Yet, this variety of time, place and food source makes the great time for largemouth bass fishing. The bass are hun­ season a challenge to bass anglers. When putting a First Fall gry, they're often around shallow structure, and they pattern together, this is how I might proceed through the day. cooperate by attacking a variety of baits including Happily, I don't have to start my fishing at 5 or 5:30 in the topwaters, crankbaits, spinnerbaits and some plastic. morning. During Real Fall, you can be on the lake by 6 or 6:30, There is, however, one long hiccup that can occur around at sunrise, and be confident you haven't missed anything. "Real Fall" that makes fishing lousy. Most manmade lakes If it's a weekday outing, the first place I fish is around the go through a nasty period of indigestion called "turnover." docks and ramp where a weekend tournament was held. Fish Turnover occurs in stratified lakes when the warm water on dumped there often stay there for a few days. the surface mixes with the cool water on the bottom. As I look for ramps with weed growth surrounding dropoffs turnover takes place, the algae near the bottom rises to the beside the ramps, and any rip-rap abutting the modified struc­ surface. Depending on the lake's water quality, this can ture. My first lure is a buzzbait, followed by a

18 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater www.fish.state.pa.us shallow-running spinnerbait. However, I'll give these up after Instead of making pinpoint presentations, I'm running a a few casts around the ramp to work a medium-running bait around and through pinpoint locations. These include crankbait. This should be a killer in this situation. Run the those old Real Fall favorites noted before, but this time, the bait so it parallels the edges of the ramp, particularly in five baits are not clawing the surface. Instead, they're at sus­ to eight feet of water. Also let the crankbait contact the pended depths, or along the bottom. nearby weeds, and when you feel the lure grab a stalk, pull it The lure kit for this game fills a tackle shop wall. It in­ gently away from the grass. In this place, don't rip it out of cludes a variety of shallow- to medium-running crankbaits, the weeds, as you should in weed beds away from the tourna­ suspending crankbaits, suspending stickbaits and those all- ment ramp. important lipless triangle-shaped rattling crankbaits. After working the tournament area, fish any beds a few Covering the latter, don't forget the new suspending models hundred yards away from the prize spot. My lures here are some manufacturers are producing. When you stop the re­ again a buzzbait and shallow-running spinnerbait, either a trieve on suspending lipless cranks, the bait hovers. double Colorado blade or a dual Indiana/Colorado. Unlike Contacting an obstruction, pull the bait away, and then let it the ramp zone, I'll work these baits for a greater time, pulling sit for a few ticks of the clock. Before resuming the retrieve, the buzzbait over open pockets and tossing the spinnerbait in give the rod tip a nod or two to inch the bait along. After the openings and parallel to the outer weed line. nods, power pack the restart and be ready for a hard strike. In the first hour or so of a late-dawning morn, I'll use buzz­ Do this with all suspending baits. ers and spinners over and outside of every weed bed I can Around noon is the tough time during Real Fall. A lot of find. But here's a trick. Say you get a ring bass that have been feeding all morning on a buzzbait, but the fish doesn't answer now just shut off. Of course, there are still the phone. Immediately toss a five-inch fish to be caught, but the bite is limited. finesse worm or a jig and trailer into the With the sun high, I go to working area where the blowup occurred. Make a laydowns reaching out to deep water, at soft presentation and work the baits slowly least 7 feet, preferably 7 to 12. Now^s the and carefully. Only when you have thor­ time for the stout rod, jig and pig, or jig oughly probed the strike area should you and plastic trailer. The game is to probe move on with the buzzbait/spinnerbait the outer branches with slow lifts and falls. combo. Sometimes I also dig crankbaits into deep- holding laydowns and that produces a few After breakfast good fish. But instead of spending time on By now, the sun will be a bit higher. Let's jig and pig techniques, let's push the clock imagine you're fishing a crystal-clear Real ahead a few hours to 3 to 5 p.m. Fall day, blue skies, practically cloudless. Some days it happens, some days it The weedbeds are still choice real estate, but doesn't, but when it does you're in for a now begin to look for "weeds plus." "Weeds memorable experience. I'm talking about plus" includes weeds plus rocks, or weeds an afternoon schooled bite. Through the plus points, or points with rocks and some course of the day, the bass have gathered weeds. around a pod of baitfish. The gamers may Earlier the bass were spread out, but with have followed the bait about, or the bait the sun climbing higher, I expect the better just carelessly moved into dangerous fish to find choice ambush spots. The qual­ ground. It doesn't matter. What happens ity fish have vacated sparse weed beds and is that as the day grows old, the bass start moved to sites where there is deeper, and attacking the pod. They dash into the darker, cover. I don't mean deep water as, baitfish and start picking them off. The shad, alewives, perch say, over 12 or 15 feet. I mean places where a boulder sits near or whatever get chased up. The angler, if he's alert, notices a weeds, or a sloping point offers additional protection. series of swirls on the surface. The action comes and goes. There are two ways to play this mid-morning game. The Overall, the best area to find this activity is in the middle of first is to flip jigs and trailers at choice sites. With this you coves or bays, or out in the main lake. Again, that's a lot of get close to your target and probe the best locations. It's a territory, but the marauding schools can go anywhere. very good tactic. But for discussion's sake, let's look at an­ To fish these movable feasts, you have to be very careful. If other gambit that isn't usually covered. This encompasses you drive your boat into the swirls, say good-bye. It's better to staying away from your target and making long, at least 40- get within casting range quietly, and then keep off the trolling foot, casts with a variety of crankbaits. motor. If the swirls stop, don't go gunning around. Wait. I like this trick because it keeps me hidden from bass I bet The underwater struggle is being played out and the surface have gone through a blitzkrieg summer. Understand also activity should reappear, probably in the same general area. that just because I'm not flipping close to the target, it Try these real tricks while you're out in Real Fall, and I hope doesn't mean I'm not target-casting. you have a real good time. O

www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 1 y THE NIGHT THE LIGHTS DANCED OVER LAKE ERIE by Mike Bleech photos by the author

he parking lot at the Walnut Creek Access was nearly much farther with a long rod. Sometimes long casts are vacant. More folks walked along the beach than fished. To absolutely necessary. Second, by placing the long rod in a the west, the sun was approaching the horizon, spreading a rod holder at a high angle, you keep a lot of line off the wa­ darkening orange glow. Dave Baker and I watched a small ter. Less line on the water means the surf will have less drag fishing boat approach from the distance. Each time it hit a on the bait. larger wave, water exploded in a white spray. It slowed Still-fishing in surf causes other problems. It will roll when it got close to the breakwater at the mouth of Walnut and drag most sinkers, even very heavy sinkers. Take a les­ Creek, and idled through the channel and into its slip. We son from ocean surf anglers and use pyramid sinkers. The walked down to the dock to do what fishermen usually do. shape of these sinkers digs into the bottom. Attach these "How's the fishing?" my friend asked. sinkers to the line using sinker slides. These are nylon "A couple of walleyes," came the reply. "Pretty slow." tubes with an attached snap. The sinker attaches to the Walleyes, of course, are the big draw during summertime snap and the line goes through the tube, allowing the cat­ at Lake Erie. But we had not come for the walleyes. We had fish to pull the bait without feeling the weight of the come to fish for channel catfish in the surf. Back on the sinker. Channel catfish are not especially sensitive to beach at the opposite end of the Fish & Boat Commission weight, but sometimes you must use sinkers that weigh sev­ property, near a short point, the other two members of our eral ounces to hold in the heavy surf. catfishing gang, Larry Snavley and his son Spencer Mead­ Slide the line through the sinker slide, and then tie a ows, were setting up their gear. We joined them. swivel to the end of the line. Tie a leader about two feet Catfishing is generally an uncomplicated sport. But long to the other end of the swivel. Then tie the hook to catfishing in the Lake Erie surf presents some twists. Long the end of that leader. This will keep the weight separated rods are helpful for a couple of reasons. First, you can cast from the bait.

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater www.fish.state.pa.us Catfish anglers often use two baits. This is not a good of our time circled around the charcoal grill Dave had idea in the surf because the surf will quickly and hopelessly bought at a local market. tangle two leaders. Spencer had been asking when we were going to eat our Channel cats are strange critters. While reputed to be less hot dogs since we had arrived. than choosy about what they eat, Lake Erie surf cats have a "I haven't eaten anything since breakfast!" he com­ distinct liking for shrimp. I suspect this has something to plained. do with the oiliness of several of the fish that inhabit the "Oh yes you have!" Larry insisted. "You had lunch." lake—notably shad, alewives and smelt. I was taught to use "Well, I'm hungry anyway." shrimp during my first night of surf catfishing. We bought I suggested that Spencer pester Dave about getting the them long before leaving home and left them under the food started. Dave, a burly 350-pound man, has a lot of pa­ back window of the car all after­ tience when it comes to kids and noon. Needless to say, they were has a much softer touch than plenty ripe by the time we Larry. Dave got to work on the used them. charcoal fire. Experimenting with several other Lake Erie sunsets are a trea­ baits through the years completely sure, among the most beautiful convinced me that catfish can have on Earth. This night it was per­ tastes peculiar to specific water­ fect. The sky was medium-blue ways. Some of the packaged baits with just enough puffy clouds to that can be found in tackle shops reflect the red sunset. Granted, will work. But instead of using any the deep reds are caused by air of the baits popular for catfishing pollution that floats across the elsewhere in the state—nightcrawl- water from the mass of industry ers or minnows—stick with shrimp that surrounds the Great Lakes. or packaged baits at Lake Erie. But the sunsets are inspiring Shrimp might sound like an expen­ nonetheless. sive bait, but they really aren't if We could actually see the sun you buy frozen shrimp on sale. I moving once it neared the watery suggest buying an amount that is horizon. When the yellow ball usually called "large" in Pennsylva­ disappeared, all that remained nia markets. Then pull out just was a red glow edged with blue. what you need for each fishing trip. Against this serene backdrop, a Another convenient thing about flock of Canada geese swam past, shrimp is that they stay on a hook their joined silhouettes appear­ better than most baits. Turbulence ing against the dim horizon like below the surf keeps the bait roll­ Catfishing in the Lake Erie surf presents some twists some sort of sea monster. I won­ ing, ripping and eroding from a to a usually uncomplicated sport. Long rods are dered if this is how some of those hook. Dough baits and most other helpful because you can cast much farther. By placing sea monster stories might have baits will last only a few minutes the long rod in a rod holder at a high angle, you keep a started. when the surf is rough. A shrimp lot of line off the water. Less line on the water means Soon the only light came from will stay on the hook until a fish the surf will have less drag on the bait. the moon, the lanterns, and the eats it off. dark-orange charcoal fire, which, Channel catfish have very large mouths, so use a large I discovered, had been the location of some mischief by hook. A wide gap size 1/0 to 3/0 is about right for use with Spencer and Dave while the sunset held my attention. large shrimp. If you use packaged bait, use a treble hook. "Spencer," I asked, "What are you eating?" Dough baits hold much better on a treble hook than on a "Chicken gizzards." single hook. To keep this type of bait on the hook even bet­ "You're eating bait?" ter, tie bait sacks just as you would tie egg sacks for "It's good!" steelhead, except that you tie the treble hook inside the "Well, at least you guys cooked it first. Stay out of the sacks. You have to attach a new hook every time you put on shrimp." a new bait, but this isn't really a problem because you can "Ok. It stinks anyway." Which I took to mean that he use the hooks again. already tried to eat the shrimp. Catfishermen are either loners or socializers. Sitting A moderate but steady wind out of the northeast had alone on some dark lake shore or creek bank is about as pushed a foot-high surf onto the beach when we had ar­ alone as you can get, and it's a wonderful setting for pon­ rived, but over the hour it took to get dark, the surf dering the ways of the universe. But this night we were subsided to a light sloshing. Once the lanterns were lit, the socializers. Though our chairs were spread within talking air was calm. Along the edges of the lantern light we distance around two propane lanterns, we still spent most watched small fish chased by larger fish. When we shined

www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater THE NIGHT THE LIGHTS DANCED OVER LAKE ERIE

flashlights onto the lake for a better look, The meteor shower stopped at about 3 the surface exploded with gizzard shad- o'clock. It was replaced by a strange white millions of them all along the shore. glow to the north. Gradually the glow grew. Bobbers placed between our rod guides I turned off the propane lantern to get a were illuminated by the lanterns. This better look. First the light just crept toward simple, ingenious system for detecting us from across the lake. Then long fingers pick-ups was taught to me by my brother- reached overhead. The light pulsated, be­ in-law, Al Aikens, who introduced me to coming brighter, then darker, changing Lake Erie catfishing about a quarter-cen­ shapes, dancing like bright spirits in the sky. tury ago. A few minutes later the lights receded The bobber is placed between the first more quickly than they had appeared, leav­ and second guides from the reel with a lot ing a glorious display of stars. But at the of bow in the line, set so the line will slide same instant, a breeze that carried a hint of through the bobber clip. When a catfish rain began blowing on the backs of our takes the bait, the bow is pulled out and necks. the bobber rises toward the rod. This is An unusually large, yellow moon was ris­ Even though they are reputed to be the best, and only good, method I have ing now in the east, over the city of Erie, less than choosy about what they seen for detecting hits in surf. The usual silhouetting the skyline. It became white as eat, Lake Erie surf catfish have a method of watching the rod tip is unreli­ it rose higher into the night sky, casting a distinct liking for shrimp. able because the rod tip is constantly long reflection over the lake. bouncing. "Shall we get out ahead of the rain?" Dave The first shooting star streaked over the lake at about 10 suggested. "It doesn't look like the catfish are going to bite." o'clock, disappearing into a haze that we had not even noticed During the few minutes it took to make a decision, clouds until then. It hung low over the water and obliterated stars in covered the moon. Our night of dancing lights was over. We that direction. Directly overhead the sky was clear. The had seen a brilliant-orange sunset, shooting stars, the North­ weather forecast had called for it to go the other way—clouds ern Lights, and a big yellow moon. Now we needed a moving in around midnight with the possibility of rain. flashlight to find our way back to the car. This was the night of the Perseid meteor shower, and we Rain began hitting the windshield about the time we crossed had front-row seats for the celestial display. The haze that under Interstate 90. We were pulling into the parking lot of a had covered the lake soon dissipated, leaving the entire sky convenience store in Union City before either of us spoke. unusually clear for midsummer, giving us full view of the "I want to refill my coffee mug," Dave said. He is not one to streaks of bright light. Most were brief flashes lasting less waste words. "Nice night for fishing." than a second, but a few arched across the lake much farther But some nights are better for catching... and brighter. It went on for hours. What a rare opportunity The atmospheric conditions that produced the awesome it was to have such a clear sky, and to be dance of lights over Lake Erie were about the awake for one of these phenomena. opposite of what you should choose for Spencer and Larry called it quits at catfishing. The best times, according to midnight. With a 90-minute drive home Western Erie County WCO John Bowser, are and having to get to work by 9 o'clock the when the water along the shoreline is muddy, next morning, it would be a short night either from wave action or from the tributar­ for Larry. About an hour later, Dave and I ies. Warm nights and low-pressure weather picked up the fishing gear and moved a systems make it even better. few hundred yards west to the breakwater Expect the best fishing from sunset to at the mouth of Walnut Creek. about 1:00 a.m., and then again during the Shooting stars began appearing more last few hours before sunrise. frequently. We sat in silence except for Hot spots include the creek mouths, par­ oohs and aahs, reclined in our folding ticularly the mouths of Elk Creek and Walnut chairs. Few things can occupy the mind Creek where there is access on Fish & Boat so that it is clear of other thoughts, free Commission property. Bowser also suggests from artificial stimuli, so peaceful, so re­ the shoreline along State Game Lands 314, laxing. When it was over it was like which borders Ohio. Catfish are also caught waking up refreshed. Keep it simple. You just need a regularly from the shipping channel at the few hooks and sinkers, and maybe entrance to Presque Isle Bay.O some swivels.

Pennsylvania Angkr & Boater www.fish.state.pa.us Three budding artists have been named Pennsylvania state winners in a national fish art contest. The three artists were picked as state champions in their respective age classes for their depiction of the brook trout, Art Contest Pennsylvania's official state fish. Kristina Gaetano of Mountaintop was named the grades 4 - 6 winner. Josh Joint of Erie repeated as champion in the grades 7 - 9 category, duplicating his 2000 honors. Patricia Oelschlager of Mountaintop was selected as tops in Pennsylvania for grades 10 - 12. The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission was a part­ ner agency in the State-Fish Art Contest, which was conducted by Wildlife Forever. A total of 143 Pennsyl­ vania entries were submitted as part of the contest. Each Pennsylvania winner received a Year 2001 Penn­ sylvania Trout/Salmon Stamp print and patch from the Commission. In addition, the top artwork from Pennsylvania in the Wildlife Forever State-Fish Art Contest was recognized at the State-Fish Art Expo at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, last June. A massive art dis­ play featured all the winning artwork and an award ceremony acknowledged these talented young artists. The Pennsylvania-winning artwork can be viewed on the Commission's web site at www.fish.state.pa.us. Win­ ners from other states can be seen on the Internet by visiting Wildlife Forever's contest site www.statefishart.com or on America Online (keyword: Winner: Kristina Gaetano, grades 4-6 fishart)^

Winner: Josh Joint, grades 7-9 Winner: Patricia Oelschlager, grades 10 - 12

SEE NEXT PAGE FOR 2002 CONTEST RULES AND REGULATIONS AND ENTRY FORM. www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater -2002 WILDLIFE FOREVER State-Fish STATE-FISH ART CONTEST Art Contest RULES & REGULATIONS

HOW TO ENTER: PRIZES: Completed portfolios must be postmarked by March 31 of each year. All contestants will receive a certificate of participation. Portfolios must include: Three winners from each state will be selected on Earth Day • A completed entry form. of each year—one winner per grade group (4-6th, 7-9th, 10-12th) • Artwork of participant's state fish. for a total of 1 50 winners (50 states x 3 winners = 150). • One-page composition about participant's state fish, its habitat, All winning designs will be displayed at the Mall of America or efforts to conserve it. in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the State-Fish Art Expo in June. The composition must include the student's name and address. I All winning designs will be presented online at • Entry forms are also available by calling toll-free 1 -877-FISHART www.statefishart.com and America Online-Keyword: fishart, for (877-347-4278). Please allow two weeks by mail. Entry forms one year. will not be accepted by e-mail. Please download or print the entry form at www.statefishart.com and send via regular mail. THE FINE PRINT: • Entry forms must be completed, signed by a parent or guard­ The State-Fish Art Contest is not open to the immediate relatives ian, and glued to the back ofthe original artwork. of Wildlife Forever employees or participating sponsors. • Completed entries should be mailed to: It is the student's responsibility to inform Wildlife Forever of Wildlife Forever State-Fish Art Contest, any change of address. 10365 West 70th Street Contestants living in Washington, D.C. may use either the Eden Prairie, MN 55344 Maryland or Virginia state fish in their portfolios. Wildlife Forever: Has the right to use the name of any State-Fish Art contes­ RULES & REGULATIONS: tant without compensation. The State-Fish Art Contest is open to children in grades four Retains ownership of all artwork entered in the contest. In through twelve attending public, private, or home-schools in the order to promote the Wildlife Forever State-Fish Art Contest, United States. Only one entry per child will be accepted. products such as posters, prints, T-shirts, etc., may be produced Portfolios will be judged on the quality ofthe artwork. from winning artwork. Any monies realized from the sale or li­ The artwork must call attention to the official fish of his or censing ofthe artwork will be used to support the contest, wildlife her home state. PA's official state fish is the brook trout. The conservation, and education initiatives. The winning artists must fish must be depicted in its natural underwater habitat. Infor­ provide autographs without charge to Wildlife Forever. mation about each state fish is available on the Internet at Retains all winning entries until June 1 ofthe following year www.statefishart.com or on America Online, Keyword: fishart. and will return the winning entries to the students in June upon All artwork must be the contestant's original, hand-done creation. request. Photographs and computer-generated artwork will not be ac­ Will return all non-winning entries upon request after August cepted. 31, if the student provides a self-addressed 10"x13" envelope. All artwork must be 8.5 "x11" and horizontal, without a mat, Reserves the right to destroy unclaimed entries after one year. frame, cover sheet, or border. Art techniques may include Will not insure entries it receives or be responsible for loss or scratchboard, pointillism, chalk, charcoal, dry brush, watercolor, damage ofthe entries. Crosshatch, lead, collage, linoleum printing, or crayon. Please note: If contestants use chalk, charcoal or lead, they should PA Fish & Boat Commission web site: www.fish.state.pa.us seal the artwork with an adhesive. All artwork must not exceed 1/4-inch in total thickness. PA's State Fish No lettering, signatures, or initials may appear on the front ofthe artwork. Any artwork with such identifying characteris­ Brook Trout tics will be disqualified and eliminated from the competition. Completed portfolios must include a typed composition or theme paper not to exceed one page in length. Com­ positions should be related specifically to the characteristics ofthe state fish, its habitat, behavior, or efforts to con­ serve it. The composition must include the student's name and address.

24 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater www.fish.state.pa.us WILDLIFE FOREVER STATE-FISH ART CONTEST ENTRY FORM Important for Teachers: If part of a classroom project, please fill out teacher and school information before duplicating and distributing to students. Duplicate and glue to back of artwork.

Entries addressed to: Entry Deadline: Must be postmarked by March 31, 2002 Wildlife Forever, State-Fish Art Contest 10365 West 70th Street Eden Prairie, MN 55344

Grade • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th • 8th • 9th • 10th • 11th • 12th Check one: Croup 1 Croup 2 Croup 3 { Contestant

Last Name First Name Birthdate

Home Address

Street or PO Box

City State Zip

Telephone

Home Parent Daytime I Art Entry Title Art Medium Used t Fish Species Composition Title School and Teacher Information

Teacher's Name \ Name of School I Street Address City/State/Zip

I hereby certify that this is my original work and that it is not a copy of published photographs, magazines, book illustrations, or other materials protected by copyright laws. I understand that Wildlife Forever and other sponsors are not responsible for loss or damage to my artwork and/or composition. I grant exclusive right to Wildlife Forever and its designees to utilize my artwork and/or composition for reproduction and promotional purposes and to display my art. Also, I agree that my artwork and/or composition my be used, altered, or published as they see fit without compensation to me. I also grant Wildlife Forever the right to release my name and hometown in promoting the winners of the contest.

Signature of Student Date

Signature of Parent, Guardian or Teacher Date Entry questions should be directed to [email protected] or by calling toll-free 1-877-FISHART. Artwork must be 8.5" x 11" HORIZONTAL and no more than 1/4-inch thick. Do not mat or frame. Do not have lettering or boarders on the front.

www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 25 by Don Feigert „.—-photos by the author

The best bass fisherman I know is 15 years old. He's Marty Heben, of Hermitage, Mercer County, and what he Marty Heben at Lake Erie with his famous tackle box called "The Suitcase." doesn't already know about Marty fishes western Pennsylvania lakes—Erie, Wilhelm, finding and fishing big bass, Shenango and Pymatuning—and sometimes rivers, such as the Allegheny and the Shenango, but farm ponds are his you and I will never learn. favorite venue. He fishes several ponds in the Mercer County area, sometimes alone, often with friends or family. And he's very successful. Recently he caught 17 nice I spoke to Marty about his passion for fishing recently at bass in one day. Last year he hauled in his biggest large- Lake Erie, where he was casting a spinnerbait, and casting mouth ever, a hefty 8.5-pounder. and casting. "What do you like so much about farm ponds?" I asked. "I always start out with a spinnerbait," Marty said, "be­ "They're loaded with bass," he said and smiled. cause that's my search bait. I find out how active the bass Marty started fishing at age five, when his father intro­ are, and I go from there." duced him to the magic of the waters. Since then he's If the fish are aggressive, he explained, and hitting near become a student of bass fishing, paying close attention to the surface, he'll try a buzzbait, a stickbait or poppers. When his own experiences but also learning from others. He the action slows, he fishes with a plastic worm or a jig. studies magazines and videos and thinks about plans and "Is it always bass you're after?" I asked. "And do you like strategies when he's not fishing. to try for them in big lakes like Erie?" "I like the 'how-to' stuff in national magazines like "Largemouth bass are my favorite species," he said, "be­ Bassin' and Bassmasters," Marty said. "And I like the 'how- cause they're so aggressive. I once caught a 6-inch bass on a to' and 'where-to' of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater because 5-inch lure. I couldn't believe that." it's more local."

26 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater www.fish.state.pa.us 15-year-old Marty Heben hoists a nice a largemouth taken from a farm pond.

Marty devours every issue of these magazines. He also "I also love to use weightless soft-plastic stickbaits in the watches several TV shows, such as Bill Dance Outdoors, Jimmy summer," he said, "working them slowly over the tops of Houston Outdoors and Fishing with Roland Martin. "Oh, and I weeds near the surface. Great action. You can see the lure can't forget Fishing with Orlando Wilson," he said. "Great show." and see the bass come up and inhale it." Marty plays baseball and basketball for his high school "In the fall, I like to use a lipless crankbait," Marty con­ team, but bass fishing is his first love. tinued, "especially when I see fish start chasing shad. I like "I really like the challenge of trying to catch big fish or a to reel it real fast and rip it over the top of the dying weeds. lot offish," he said, "trying to put together patterns to out­ It produces real well." smart those bass. And I also love getting outdoors." Marty owns the most incredible tackle box I've ever seen. Marty always practices catch and release. "I'm not inter­ It looks like a canvas suitcase with several layers of plastic ested in eating them," he told me. "And I can put them back compartments, each labeled according to contents, such as in and catch them again next year, when they're bigger." "tubes and floaters," "topwater lures," and "terminal He much prefers artificial lures over live bait. "It's more tackle." active, more fun," said Marty. "You're always casting and "We call it 'the Suitcase,'" said Jason Woge, of Hermitage, planning strategy, not just sitting there watching a bobber." a fishing friend of Marty's. "And some guys call Marty 'Mr. Marty's favorite lure is the spinnerbait. "When I first Fisherman.'" started using spinnerbaits," he said, "I used regular steel "Why's that, Jason?" I asked. wire, and it always got bent and tangled up. Then "Because he's caught the biggest bass of all of us and the spinnerbaits came out with titanium wire. They create more most bass, too. He always knows the right lure to use for vibration, and I think they're better-quality spinnerbaits." the temperature and conditions, so when he chooses a lure, He also likes to work jigs. "I use jigs mainly when I think everybody else imitates that or they borrow a lure from the fish are inactive," he said, "or when it's cool or a cold Marty. He spends all his money on fishing tackle." front has just come through. Also when I'm fishing brush This is great stuff, I was thinking at the time. You can from a boat close to shore. I like to drop a jig down, jig it a become an expert in the outdoors at a young age. Teenagers few times, and see if I can pull a bass out of there." can be outdoors heroes, too, not just rock music idols and Marty also enjoys topwater football stars. lures. "I like the 'walking the "Do you call Marty 'Mr. Fisher­ dog' technique," he said. "I love man' yourself?" I asked Jason. seeing the lure move across the "Nope. I call him 'Captain top of the water and then a bass Hook.'" explodes on it." "Because he's so good at hooking "I like to use suspending bass?" I asked. jerkbaits, too, especially early in "No," Jason said. "Because he the spring, when the fish are just once hooked himself in the lip with starting to get active. They seem one of his own lures, and we had to to react after the lure suspends take him to the hospital to get it for a while." removed." Marty fishes with plastic Oops. Well, nobody's perfect. \J worms when his favorite ponds are full of weeds in the summer. He also works artificial worms on a Carolina rig outside the weeds in deeper water. Marty at "IS workbe"ch> looking over some fishing gear.

www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 2 7 Deer-Head Caddis by Charles R. Meek

What an evening! jim Misuira and Peter Kunis Tie up a series of Deer-Head Caddis patterns in sizes 10 to had invited me to fly fish on the Lackawanna River near Scranton. 16 with bodies of black, dark brown, tan, cream and green. In the past two decades this great river has made a valiant at­ That way you'll be prepared for many of the caddisfly hatches tempt to become one of the top Pennsylvania trout streams. you'll see. It has certainly succeeded! For years it spewed acid from the I've used the Deer-Head Caddis for more than 15 years and many nearby abandoned mines. Some acid mine drainage still it has been one of my favorite patterns to copy many of the spills into the river, but it holds some hatches and plenty of downwing hatches. heavy streambred brown trout. What are the advantages of the Deer-Head Caddis over the As we approached the river, a few March browns emerged, other caddis patterns? The Deer-Head Caddis seems to float but no trout showed. I decided to try one of my favorite pat­ better, forms a distinct caddislike head and allows the tier to terns—a downwing fly called the make a thorax of a different color on Deer-Head Caddis. I tied on one of the pattern. If you've ever examined these patterns with the wings swept a natural caddis, you'll see that some back over the tan poly-dubbed body. have a thorax with a slightly different That pattern did not let me down that color than the body. Tying the Deer- evening: I landed three heavy browns Head Caddis attains that variation in before the three of us decided to quit. color. That same tan deer-head pattern I add a hackle to most of the patterns has proven successful across the state. to make them float better. On some That caddis pattern caught a big of the patterns I cut the hackle off the brown on the Clarion River at top and the bottom so the pattern rests Johnsonburg, and a 19-inch brown more flush with the water. On many on Penns Creek just a week after the flies I also add a light tan z-lon shuck green drake hatch had ended. On cen­ at the bend of the hook to copy die adult tral Pennsylvania's Little Juniata leaving the shuck of the pupal stage. River, a green-bodied Deer-Head Caddisflies have no tail, so the shuck Caddis fooled a heavy brown trout gives the pattern more stability. in early May. You'll encounter one difficulty when Downwing patterns like the Deer- tying this pattern: Judging the length Head Caddis copy stoneflies and of the wing. Normally, when tying the caddisflies. Both types of insects, conventional caddis pattern, I make the when at rest, fold their wings over the body. What's different wing extend just a fraction of an inch out over the bend of the about the Deer-Head Caddis? Most caddis patterns are tied hook. With the Deer-Head Caddis, you have to estimate how with the butt section of the deer hair facing forward (toward far the wing will extend backward. What you do is tie in the the eye). These butts are tied in just behind the eye of the hook. wing just behind the eye and then dub some of the poly dub­ With the Deer-Head Caddis you again use deer hair, but make bing at the thorax. Now go back to the bend of the hook, dub it longer than normal, and have the butt section face toward and wind tan poly for the body up to the thorax. Then bring the rear and the tips extend out over the eye. These tips are the wing up over the dubbed thorax and tie it in. Practice sev­ then folded back over the body and tied in just behind the eye. eral times if you're not pleased with the length of the wing. On Downwing patterns are important on many Commonwealth a size 12 regular hook, I usually make the wing extend about streams almost the entire fishing season. As the season opens, a half-inch beyond the eye. After tying a few patterns, you'll many anglers see huge grannom hatches on trout waters. These find it relatively easy to estimate the length of the wing. grannom caddisflies usually have blackish-brown or black bodies In the example below, I use tan poly for the body, but re­ and range in size from 10 to 16. Visit any northcentral trout member, you can tie this pattern with any body color material stream like Big Pine Creek or the North Fork of the you want. Sinnemahoning in late April and early May and you'll prob­ Add the hackle where the head of the caddis ends and the ably encounter the cream caddis. From early May and throughout wing begins. If you're tying a size 12 pattern, use hackle that much of the summer, you can expect to see green-bodied cad­ you'd normally use for a size 14 or 16 dry fly. dises appearing on almost any Commonwealth trout stream. Next time you encounter a caddis or stonefly hatch on one Throughout the summer months and well into October, I've of the state's streams, be prepared with a Deer-Head Caddis seen good tan caddis hatches appear. imitation. After you've used the pattern you might consider it one of your favorites. O

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater www.fish.state.pa.us Dressing: Deer-Head Caddis (Tan) Hook: Size 12 to 18 dry fly hook. Thread: Tan. Wing: Dark-brown deer hair. Hackle: Dark brown. Body: Tan poly, dubbed (also use green, brown, black, brown or cream).

I • Tie in the tan thread and wind back from the eye a third of the way on the hook shank. Tie in about two dozen deer hair fibers. The tips should extend out over the eye of the hook and the butt sections should extend backward toward the hook bend. On a size 12 dry fly hook, the tips should extend a half-inch in front of the eye. Wind about a half-dozen turns of thread over the butt to secure the fibers.

Dub tan poly and cover only the thorax. Wind back to the bend of the hook "• Leave the thread there and pull and dub the tying thread with tan poly. the deer hair up and over the thorax, Wind up to the back of the dubbed thorax. and tie in.

Tie in a dark-brown hackle. Make certain the shiny side (darker side, or the top side, of the feather) faces back and the dull side faces forward. C/» Wind the hackle six or seven times around the hook where the wing ends and the head begins. Tie off the hackle and whip finish.

www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 29 by David M. Adams

I he phrase "school of hard knocks" could easily describe my boating experiences during the past 20 years.

Recently, I had a boating day planned on the Allegheny River. With excited family members waiting at the dock, a turn of the key produced a dull click, and yet, another click. Meanwhile, off to my side, looks of dejection reflected on the water. Soon the scramble began and the search for tools was on. After a forgot­ ten and neglected positive battery cable was tightened, we were able to continue our day of boating. The best way to avoid a breakdown on the ramp or on the Check the boat. Verify that all safety equipment is on water is prevention. Using this simple checklist the day be­ board. Check the battery charge and connections, fuel con­ fore you launch or the morning you set out can prevent an dition and connections, and steering linkage and operation. unpleasant beginning of a trip. Prevent a common failure such as a flooded engine or a Check the trailer. Inspect the hitch coupling, tiedowns, slightly off-placed kill switch by knowing the basics of fuel tire pressure (shake the tires firmly—excessive wobble indi­ systems and electrical systems, as well as having an under­ cates a possible wheel bearing problem), and trailer lights. standing of how to perform a minor repair and knowing which tools you need.

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater www.fish.state.pa.us Include in your tool box the Component failure is the main following: 6-inch long 2 by 4 sec­ cause of electrical problems. Never tion of wood, 13/16-inch spark plug attempt to jump start any boat, in socket tool, 6-inch and 8-inch particular, an outboard. Not only needlenose pliers, regular and is it unsafe, but many of today's Phillips-head screwdrivers, hammer, electronics are sensitive to any in­ propeller wrench (floating), electrical correct cable hookup. Never check tape, spare bulbs, crescent wrench, for spark by disconnecting the extra primer ball and spare propeller. plug wire. This type of diagnosis Know how to handle a flooded should be done only by a techni­ engine. The correct way to start a cian. If all the basic checks fail to flooded electric-start engine is first start an engine, an engine compo­ to disconnect the fuel line. Then nent probably has failed. move the throttle cold-start lever to Check the steering. An object wide open. Next, make sure the catching the linkage in the choke is not engaged. Finally, crank splashwell causes most binding the engine for an eight-second count. linkages. On many boats, a forgot­ Repeat this procedure two or three ten part called the "cable nut" times. To protect the starter, allow a might loosen. To check the steer­ Failure of electronic equipment and some four-second break between attempts. ing system cable nut, look at the component failures can sometimes be Once the engine starts, immediately lower front of the motor. The attributed to loose battery connections. slow the engine and stop it. Recon­ steering cable runs to the bottom Always check the connections first if nect the fuel line. and a large nut holds it onto the something doesn't work. When an engine starts but stalls motor. Tighten the nut and check within minutes, the fuel system could the steering. be at fault. Although some powerful Your boating day won't end with outboards are equipped with power tilt and trim prob­ electric fuel pumps, most boat­ lems, but power tilt and ers find that on their trim can cause a major in­ outboards, the primer ball and convenience if you're line are still the most common backing down the ramp and fuel delivery system. Make the propeller bangs the sure the primer ball is hard ramp pavement. and holding pressure. Then If the fluid pump is check the gas tank vent. With not running, check the vacuum pump fuel delivery, an fuses and battery connec­ outboard engine will stall in tions. If the pump is minutes if it is not properly running, check the fluid vented. level. Even if it's just Check the fuel filter. slightly low, it might not Most outboards have a screw- trim properly. Another im­ on filter at the side of the portant item to remember is engine. Before removing it, that the ground wire at the look at the fuel bowl. If water trim pump is a major cause is present, the liquid will be Musts for the tool box: 6-inch long 2x4 section of wood, of trim motor failures. one of two colors. A dark 13/16-inch spark plug socket tool, 6-inch and 8-inch Remember—a few min­ color is gas and a clear color is needlenose pliers, regular and Phillips-head screwdrivers, utes of checking can save water. In this case, replace the hammer, propeller wrench (floating), electrical tape, spare hours of aggravation.O fuel; if not, remove the filter bulbs, crescent wrench, extra primer ball and spare (avoid spillage with a rag and propeller. dispose of properly) and check for dirt.

www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 31 '2002. Seasons, Sizfis Jmm\0 \JJmm COMMONWEAL:

Regular Season-April 13 at 8 a.m. through September'

Extended Season- All approved trout streams and thei1 downstream areas and all lakes and ponds, January I tllMgh February 28 and September 3 through December 31 J^ BASS***- Largemouth, Smallmouth January I through April 12 and November I through December 31 and Spotted, all inland waters** LAKES April 13 through June 14 June 15 through October 31 BASS***- Largemouth, Smallmouth January I through April 12 and October I through December 31 and Spotted, all inland waters** RIVERS AND STREAMS April 13 through June 14 June 15 through September 30 _/* MUSKELLUNGE and Muskellunge Hybrids January I through March 14 and May 4 through Decef]^J^3j

PICKEREL **** January I through March 14 and May 4 through DeceflVf 31 ^t1 sf PIKE- Northern and Amur January I through March 14 and May 4 through Decert $\ 11 f WALLEYE and Hybrids (Saugeye) January I through March 14 and May 4 through Decef 31 >T* SAUGER January I through March 14 and May 4 through Decef1 h3|

AMERICAN SHAD OPENYEAR-ROUND

AMERICAN SHAD (Lehigh River and tributaries) OPENYEAR-ROUND AMERICAN SHAD***** CLOSED YEAR-ROUND (Susquehanna River and tributaries) _^ HICKORY SHAD***** CLOSED YEAR-ROUND

HERRING, GIZZARD SHAD***** OPENYEAR-ROUND STRIPED BASS and STRIPED BASS/ OPENYEAR-ROUND WHITE BASS HYBRIDS SUNFISH,YELLOW PERCH,WHITE PERCH, OPENYEAR-ROUND CRAPPIES, CATFISH, ROCK BASS, SUCKERS, CARP, WHITE BASS BAITFISH and FISHBAIT (except mudbugs) OPENYEAR-ROUND AMERICAN EEL OPENYEAR-ROUND AMERICAN EEL (as baitfish) OPENYEAR-ROUND MUDBUGS (dragonfly nymphs) OPENYEAR-ROUND

PADDLEFISH CLOSED YEAR-ROUND

*** Approved trout waters are c/"5.;^s'1 * Includes the Youghiogheny Reservoir and does not include special-regulation areas. For purposes of this subsection y{dl ** In the Summary, see Conowingo Reservoir and Susquehanna and Juniata rivers charts for **** During the period from Ja^jfr^0 special bass seasons applicable to flowing waters in the Susquehanna River Basin. ***** Unlawful to take, catch orj! 2002 OPENING DATES TROUT: APRIL 13 PROTECT • CONSERVE • ENHANCE MINIMUM SIZE DAILY LIMIT

7 inches 5- streams, lakes and ponds (combined species) except areas with special regulations

7 inches 3 (combined species) except areas with special regulations

15 inches 4 (combined species )

NO HARVEST Catch and immediate release only (no tournaments permitted)

NO HARVEST Catch and immediate release only (no tournaments permitted) 12 inches 6 (combined species )

CLOSED

no minimum 50 (combined species) except areas with special regulations 20 inches 2 (combined species)

no minimum 50 (combined species) except areas with special regulations

• ••«^«.tJ , ,j.:.» " ' *9- no minimum 50 (combined species)

8 inches 50

6 inches to 8 inches 50

no minimum Unlimited if taken from lakes, ponds, swamps, and adjacent areas 50 per day if taken from moving waters (rivers and stream CLOSED

Ve 8 from March I until opening day of the regular trout season in April. V th pools and recreational dam pools on the Susquehanna River and navigational dam pools in the Ohio River drainage are "rivers." i rough March 14 and December I through December 31, the daily limit of pickerel is three. °rc shad, hickory shad, alewife and blueback herring (collectively known as river herring) in the Susquehanna River and its tributaries. WALLEYE/PIKE: MAY 4 BASS: JUNE 15 -,*.v

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by Robert H. Miller photos by the author

j 4 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater www.fish.state.pa.us •' # *

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Fall-caught Delaware River trout. Coldwater releases from upstream reservoirs cast their magical effect for 27.5 miles from Hancock, New York, downstream to Callicoon. »•;' •Jr

you into thinking you're fishing a storied Western river. The rains of September change the summer's low flows and languid fish into streams brimming with cold, gurgling water and rejuvenated trout. With this reawakening comes

II the best fishing of the year.

Upper Delaware River For decades, this Class A Wild Trout Water has been called the blue-ribbon trout river of the East. Here the en­ tire population of trout reproduces naturally. Coldwater releases from upstream reservoirs cast their magical effect for 27.5 miles from the beginning of the river at Hancock, New York, downstream to Callicoon. Sandwiched between New York's Catskill Mountains and Pennsylvania's Endless Mountains, this part of the river is surrounded by nonstop picture-postcard scenery. When the other two big rivers in northeast Pennsylvania are having low-water problems, this Lackawaxen Rive^-tookbi0 is the place to go. Low water is never a problem here, most of the time; it's high water that's the problem. When excess water is re­ leased from upstream reservoirs, this river turns into a boiling torrent that can swamp your boat and put an end to I all trout fishing on Northeast Pennsylvania's Big Three your wade fishing. When the water is high, stay off the Rivers, the Delaware, the Lehigh and the Lackawaxen, has its Delaware River, but when the water is low elsewhere, the big own special rewards. The autumn scenery, like a palette's pools here become fishable by boating or by wading. colors splashed on an ice-blue canvas, is the most beautiful The biggest drawback to the Delaware River isn't the flow, of the year. In the fall, the best fishing time isn't the morn­ or the number of fish—it's the access. There's very little ing or the evening—it's all day long. The approaching public land adjoining the river. Thankfully, the Fish & Boat winter has triggered the trout's need to feed constantly. Commission maintains five accesses between Hancock and The solitude, the 18- to 24-inch trout, and the breathtaking Callicoon. The Shehawken (Hancock), Buckingham (south beauty of northeast Pennsylvania's "Big Three" can trick of Stockport) and Callicoon (Callicoon) accesses all have

www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 35 Stoddartsville Falls, Lehigh River, looking downstream

parking areas and launch ramps. Here you can park and wade or launch your un­ BigThr limited horsepower boat (there are no horsepower re­ strictions on this part of the river). The Equinunk (Equinunk) Access area doesn't have a parking area or a launch ramp. You must find roadside parking to use this one. Between the towns of Stalker and Hankins, the access at the special regula­ tions area has a parking lot. The access problems on the Delaware River translate into high fishing pressure at the few places anglers can wade into the stream. In the springtime, that means you'll have to get on the river early in the morning to enjoy some solitude. But in the fall, you'll often have the river en­ tirely to yourself. The Shehawken, Bucking­ ham and Equinunk accesses are located along PA Route 191. The Callicoon Access is located south of the bridge joining PA's SR 1016 and NY Route 97 at Callicoon. Addi­ tional river accesses are located at the bridges cross­ ing the river at Hancock, Lordville, Hankins and Callicoon, but parking is lim­ ited at each of them. The pools created by these bridges conveniently provide some of the best fishing on the river.

West Branch of the Delaware River Upper Lehigh River This part of the Delaware River deserves special mention. The coldwater section of the Lehigh River begins at the Those in the know consider West Branch fishing to be even Francis E. Walter Dam and continues 28.5 miles to the town better than the main river's action. Only a 7-mile stretch, of Jim Thorpe. Brown and brook trout are stocked from from south of Hale's Eddy to Hancock, is open to anglers just below the dam to Sandy Run, a distance of 9.3 miles, with a Pennsylvania fishing license. Again, limited access to and there's plenty of downwardly migrating trout all the the river keeps many anglers away from the West Branch. way to Jim Thorpe. The Commission Balls Eddy Access has a large parking area Access to this stretch of the Lehigh River is excellent. and a launch ramp. It's located near the intersection of SR Lehigh Gorge State Park, with its 22-mile rails-to-trails path, 4014 and T 780, northeast of Winterhaven. allows almost unlimited access to the river's western bank.

36 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater www.fish.state.pa.us The only drawback to fishing this part of the river is the steep bank that you must carefully negotiate if you wish to remain free of battle scars. A wading staff and carbide- gripped boots are also a good idea. The rocks of this freestone river have been worn smooth and slippery by eons of water erosion. Your best bet here is to walk or bicycle down the old railroad grade and fish the big pools. The river makes plenty of turns as it carves a southerly path, and these big bends hold some big trout. Three state park accesses conveniently divide the river into manageable sections. They're located at White Haven, Rockport and north of Jim Thorpe at Glen Onoko. The Rockport access intersects the Lehigh Gorge Trail at the halfway point. Another access is at the village of Lehigh Tannery. Here State Route 2046 crosses the river. There are parking areas at all these sites, but no launch ramps. The Lehigh River can also be reached by a trail originating from PA Route 534 and passing through Hickory Run State Park. Hickory Run Trail originates just west of the park ranger station and is 1.5 miles long. If you're a hardcore trout fanatic and a dedicated hiker, you can also access this river stretch from State Game Lands 40,151 and 149. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Francis E. Walter Res­ ervoir provides access to the Lehigh River's tailwaters. There's 6.5 miles of wadable creeklike water from just below the dam all the way to White Haven. Access to this stretch of the Lehigh River is from a seasonal road (open the first day of trout season through October 31) located behind the picnic area opposite the impoundment's operations facility. 1. Upper Delaware River The reservoir is located north of PA Route 940,1.5 miles 2. Upper Lehigh River east of the Pennsylvania Turnpike's (1-476) Exit 35. When considering the Lehigh River, don't forget the 3. Lackawaxen River headwaters that originate along the Monroe and Lackawanna County lines. There's 15 miles of river from the river with water. When this happens, the river isn't safe the headwaters at the village of Clifton downstream to the to wade. Francis E. Walter Dam. The best access to this stretch of Access to the river is excellent from just below Hawley at the river is from PA Route 115 at Stoddartsville and along Kimbles to the Lackawaxen's confluence with the Delaware SR 2013 (River Road) between Thornhurst and Clifton. River at the town of Lackawaxen. PA SR 4006 (Towpath There are some big (18- to 22-inch) trout here, and Road) parallels the entire river and there are many roadside Stoddartsville Falls are worth a trip just to view their spec­ parking areas. Commission surveys of the river reveal a tacular 75-foot multitiered drop. The falls are located just population of naturally reproducing rainbows that supple­ west of PA Route 115. ments stockings.

Lackawaxen River Regulations, stocking The Lackawaxen River runs for 15 miles from the outflow A Pennsylvania fishing license is valid in the Delaware of Lake Wallenpaupack to the Delaware River at River (including the West Branch) between New York and Lackawaxen. The river is a marginal coldwater fishery, but Pennsylvania when fishing from a boat or from either shore. under the proper conditions it holds some nice trout. Dur­ The West Branch of the Delaware River from the Pennsylva­ ing periods of adequate water levels, you can find trout nia/New York border downstream to the confluence with holding in the bigger pools. When there's high water on the the East Branch of the Delaware River is an Artificial-Lures- Delaware, big trout that normally live in the depths on the Only water from October 1 to 8:00 a.m. on the opening day Lackawaxen Pool have a habit of migrating upstream into of trout season. the Lackawaxen River. When the weather's very hot, PPL's You can check the water level of your favorite stream by Lake Wallenpaupack generators will be running and filling visiting http://water.usgs.gov/realtime.html.L7

www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 37 T^^WP ^timfc:

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(DEP) Mine Inspector Supervisor I he Casselman River comes to us at the Ebensburg regional office. from West Virginia headwaters His "beat" is Somerset County. along the flanks of Meadow Moun­ "When I came to the job in the tain. Defying the usual route of 1980s, the Casselman was devoid Pennsylvania rivers, but like some offish life," recalls Pontorero. other waters in the Southwest Re­ "The river began to recover in the gion, the Casselman flows from mid-1980s and early '90s, with south to north, from West Virginia remining being done." By then, through the Maryland Panhandle environmental laws and mining and then into Pennsylvania. When industry regulations were in ef­ it crosses the state line into fect and were slowly repairing the Somerset County, the river is a fine damage of so many past decades. trout fishery. The Fish & Boat The Youghiogheny River, Commission stocks the Casselman which receives major flow from from the Maryland border to the the Casselman, had also experi­ T502 bridge, near Boynton, a dis­ enced rebirth. That river tance of 5.6 miles. established itself as a valuable From Boynton downstream recreational source, with fishing nearly 40 miles, to where the stream and boating shoring up the Volunteers stock trout in the Casselman River at meets the Youghiogheny River, at economy in a region where coal Markleton. That the Casselman has come back from Confluence, the Casselman has was no longer king. The future the dead again is something anglers are still pinching died—twice. The last time, in 1993, looked fine for the Casselman themselves over. Incredibly, the Casselman is in it seemed death had claimed the and the Youghiogheny, with better condition, water-quality-wise, now than before river irrevocably. Some who had trout and bass stocked, other its second death. come to know and appreciate the fishes returning naturally, insect Casselman in its first rebirth turned their backs, without hatches good enough to bring out the fly fishermen, and hope. But death could not hold the Casselman and it has even otters reintroduced into the watershed. Then death returned to life, a second time, with help from its friends whacked the Casselman a second time, with a negative effect and the law. also falling on the Youghiogheny River. The Casselman's troubles go way back, to the discovery of Bob Ging, a member of the Chestnut Ridge Chapter of coal in its watershed. Lighting homes and businesses, fueling Trout Unlimited, remembers that evil day. "On May 10, the region's economy and a growing nation, the combustible 1993,1 was fishing on Laurel Hill Creek. We weren't doing rock carried a price in its quarrying—stream death. Exposed too well and I suggested to my companion that we go to the to air and water, coal produces acid mine drainage, a witch's Casselman," says Ging. "We had started to see hatches, the brew of contaminants including sulfur, iron, aluminum, Casselman seemed to be making a comeback, and manganese and other heavy metals, and a corrosiveness that sportsmen's clubs had been stocking the lower end. While destroys a waterway's ability to support life. there that day, I was checked by Fish Commission officer In the early 1900s, the 3,000-acre Shaw Mines deep mine Bud Flyte and I told Bud, 'The river doesn't look too good.' complex was active in the Casselman watershed, southwest Its color was funny. Bud said, 'No, it doesn't look good.'" of Meyersdale. The mines brought jobs to the region, but That was the first hint of the tragedy that quickly fol­ acid mine drainage took the lowed. At its worst, the river Casselman's life. Those who re­ that folks had grown used to membered catching fish in the river as clear again resembled di­ grew older and passed away, and lute tomato soup, arising little remembrance remained of from the metals from a slug when the Casselman was clean. To of mine acid drainage that those living in the small towns had hit the stream. In some along the river, the Casselman was spots an ominous white a contaminated place for refuse stain disfigured the bot­ and waste. The thought of fishing tom—aluminum precipitated in the Casselman was unheard of; from the toxic flow. Ging, kids who swam in the stream on who is an attorney, had the hottest summer days came out orange-stained, with eyes worked on mine acid pollution cases, but had never seen a stinging. disaster like this. "I had pretty much written off the Joel Pontorero remembers the Casselman like that and Casselman," he says. A fledging watershed group, which has seen it come alive, die and be reborn again. Pontorero is had been encouraged by the earlier recovery and had just the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection stocked trout, all but folded. Death had come heavily again Lwww.fish.state.pa.u s Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 39 The Casselman's Come Back Again

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The Casselman has several popular Whitewater sections used for cruising and teaching., Thejapids are Class I to fU'wHen the water is up. to the Casselman, in the southern part of the Shaw Mines complex. "We Beyond the dismay were questions. Something had found that Action Mining had diverted flows from three caused this setback. Among those involved in the investiga­ more of the WPA mine seals, put the flow into pipes and tion were the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission and directed it to a point off their permit area," says Pontorero. DEP. The property where the problem originated belonged "The three mine seals had been spewing out severely pol­ to Action Mining, and several severe acid mine drainage luted water since the 1940s, and Action Mining's operation sources were eventually identified. One trouble spot that degraded the water quality further." contributed to the Casselman's second killing was a place Between 1995 and 1999, movement toward a resolution called Weir 11. progressed, slowly, with one group, Youghiogheny Pontorero explained that during the 1940s, federal WPA Riverwatch, threatening to sue DEP if steps were not taken projects installed hydraulic mine seals on deep mines, to to address the problem permanently. On June 30, 1999, a prevent or minimize mine acid generation and prevent un­ consent agreement was entered into by Action Mining, DEP derground mine fires by flooding the underground and the Fish & Boat Commission. The provisions of the chambers with water. Weir 11 was built at the Shaw Mines, $625,000 civil penalty package against Action Mining with a standpipe that raised the water level and allowed the breathed new life into the corpse of the Casselman. Addi­ drainage to flow up and out. "The weirs didn't work and tionally, on December 20,1999, Action Mining was they may have had the opposite effect," says Pontorero. sentenced to a $50,000 fine and two years probation by the Coal mine chemistry wasn't well understood back then. United States District Court, under the Clean Water Act. When the 1993 incident occurred, Weir 11 was discharging In the civil agreement, $400,000 was to be used to con­ from the ground 25 to 30 feet higher than before, says struct a passive mine drainage treatment facility on Coal Pontorero. Run, for the contaminated water from the illegal diversion Although it may never be known exactly why the weir pipes. This, explains Pontorero, is now in place. The pol­ overflowed and delivered such a deadly slug to the river, luted water enters a vertical flow system, a pond where it Pontorero says the accepted theory is that melt of the spring passes first through mushroom compost, which removes of 1993's excessive snow cover caused high water levels un­ oxygen. Now anoxic, the water filters down through the derground. Flows from Weir 11 were more than 2,000 next layer, consisting of limestone. It is decanted from the gallons per minute when the Casselman was toxic-shocked bottom of the system into the next pond, a sediment, or set­ and its fish life killed. tling, pond. The pond order is repeated several times and Another large source of acid mine drainage was coming the discharge is ready to go on to the Casselman, much im­ from Shaw Mines Run. Steps to treat that flow and the dis­ proved. The water enters the treatment systems with a pH (a charge from Weir 11, both on the north side of the mining measure of acidity) as strong as vinegar (pH 3) and leaves complex, were undertaken after the investigation in 1993. neutral (pH 7). Remining was done, underground water pools and coal pil­ Although considered a "passive system," the treatment lars in the voids were eliminated, and outflowing water was regime is not without maintenance. Aluminum precipitates treated, says Pontorero. Still the river had hardly improved. accumulate in the limestone and must be flushed out peri­ A third source of the Casselman's contamination wasn't odically, into a holding pond. An aluminum recovery discovered until 1995, and it was a doozy. Acting on a tip system, an innovative project to be built through the federal from a local resident, investigators discovered pipes buried Office of Surface Mining and the Casselman River Conser­ in the vicinity of Action Mining's operation near Coal Run, vancy, will work to recapture valuable metal that is

40 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater www.fish.state.pa.us deposited by the ton into the settling ponds. This holds the Though the Casselman's rebirth is still new, the trout fish­ promise of coupling mine drainage remediation with eco­ ing there is already good, says Jeffrey. The trout are feeding nomic incentive. on minnows, caddises, stoneflies, terrestrial insects and Other parts of the civil penalty assessment will go for more. The aquatic food base is still recovering, he cautions, stream improvement, trout stocking, river otter reintroduc- so don't look for great mayfly hatches yet. The biggest prob­ tion and additional passive mine acid drainage treatment in lem nowadays when fishing the Casselman, jokes Ging, is the Casselman River basin. Also, says Pontorero, Action keeping those "nuisance bass" off the hook. "It's hard to get Mining is working on setting up a trust fund for continu­ the fly past all those smallmouths to the trout," he grins. ing management of the treatment systems. From the Maryland line down to Boynton, above the mine- With several large sources of acid mine drainage now acid problems, the Casselman is a Fish & Boat Commission managed, the Casselman has rebounded dramatically. Approved Trout Water and receives catchable-size trout. The Those who are concerned about the river don't exactly say stretch from Boynton to Garrett is the most affected by the the river's second death was the best thing ever to happen coal mines. Fortunately, below Garrett the stream shows to it, but the 1993 devastation and fish kill have definitely rapid recovery. From Rockwood the rest of the way down is made good things happen fast for the Casselman. the best fishing, says Jeffrey. "One of the nicest ways to fish Rick Lorson, Area Fisheries Manager for the Pennsylva­ the Casselman is with a canoe," he explains. "You can fish nia Fish & Boat Commission, says the agency has resumed Garrett to Markleton and not be too concerned about having stocking fingerling trout in the Casselman, from to be an experienced canoeist." Another way to reach this Markleton to the river's junction with the Youghiogheny. portion of the river is from the hiking/biking trail that paral­ Smallmouth bass have also been stocked in that section, to lels the river. help accelerate the waterway's natural replenishment of the From Markleton down, some fairly heavy whitewater rap­ gamefish. Rock bass stocking is also being considered, says ids occur, making this a favorite run for kayakers. Here Lorson. Fish species already in the watershed, in the anglers may want to opt for an inflatable raft. Check with Youghiogheny be­ Riversport, an outfitter low and in and canoe/raft rental coldwater tributar­ in Confluence, for the ies leading into the river level before float­ Casselman, are also ing the Casselman, repopulating the says Jeffrey. Boats can mainstem, includ­ be launched at ing suckers and Markleton, Rockwood other baitfish. The and Garrett, and there longnose sucker, a are many carry-in state endangered spots, including species, was isolated trailheads of the Al­ in one sub-basin, legheny Highlands but has recently Trail. This rails-to- shown up in the trails path gives hiking Casselman itself. and bicycling access to The sucker could anglers who want to establish itself in find back-in fishing on other branches of At the mouth of Coal Run, a new passive treatment system treats 250 gallons the Casselman. the river system. per minute of a very bad discharge. Concentrating heavy metals for recycling, That the Casselman Dale Jeffrey, especially aluminum, in the final settling pond may help offset the system's has come back from president of the maintenance costs. the dead again is some­ Casselman River thing anglers are still Conservancy, says that group has become a partner in the pinching themselves over. "I sit down there some nights Fish & Boat Commission's Cooperative Trout Nursery Pro­ watching fish rise and otters and I can't believe I'm seeing gram. The conservancy is raising catchable-size trout to this, because of what happened here eight years ago," says augment the Commission's fingerling stocking. The group Ging. Incredibly, the Casselman is in better condition, wa­ intends to stock about 2,000 trout a year from its nursery ter-quality-wise, now than before its second death. and has already released some. With funds from the civil The river's recovery isn't guaranteed—there are more mine penalty against Action Mining, the conservancy has also acid drainage trouble spots in the watershed. The Casselman bought and stocked a warmwater strain of rainbow trout, River Conservancy has received a state Growing Greener which can better tolerate the Casselman's summer tempera­ grant to assess and prioritize treatment and reclamation tures. "Anytime you go down there you can catch these needs. Could the river die again? As Lorson says, there are fish," says Jeffrey. now a lot of eyes in the watershed. For the Casselman, that could be the difference between life and death. O

www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 41 Winterizing Your,

Outboard L(leW^WJt by Chris Gorsuch photos by the author

ne of the keys to keeping your outboard jet engine in If jet boat owners knew how easy and inexpensive it peak condition all season long is how it is stored over the is to prepare their boats for storage, most would cold winter season. There is more to getting your boat ready take their boats and engines through the steps. for winter storage than just throwing a cover over it. As a rule of thumb, whenever your craft is going to sit for 60 days Fuel stabilizer/conditioner or more, it should be conditioned for storage, or better The first step is to add the recommended amount of fuel known as "winterized." An outboard jet engine does not con­ conditioner to your gas tank. The ratio of conditioner to tain gear oil in the lower unit as a prop drive does, so many gallons of fuel is listed on the bottle. Use the amount rec­ boaters make the mistake that it does not need conditioning ommended for the amount of fuel left in the tank. This before winter storage. Skipping this crucial step often results additive stabilizes the fuel for long-term storage, dissolves in significant expense because of mechanical problems once harmful deposits in the tank, helps prevent condensation spring arrives. If jet boat owners knew how easy and inexpen­ and protects the fuel lines from freezing. sive it is to prepare their crafts for storage, most would take It is best to add the conditioner and then some additional their boats and engines through the steps. fuel. This assists in mixing the additive. A full tank is not required or recommended. It is always best to have room to Getting started add fresh fuel come spring. When it comes to gathering the tools and marine supplies Next, get the stabilizer into the fuel lines and engine. To required for winterizing your jet boat, you'll more than likely do this, the engine must be run for 10 to 15 minutes. The have to make a short, inexpensive trip to the local boat engine must never be run without ample water to cool it. dealer. Purchase a bottle of fuel conditioner, a can of engine That's why you use the flushing unit and garden hose. fogger and an engine flushing unit, if you do not already First use the adjustable wrench to remove the bolt located have one. The cost of a flushing unit is about $5. It is used between the grease fitting for the bearing and the lube hose in conjunction with a garden hose to supply water to cool the coupling. Thread the flushing unit into place and attach engine as it runs. These units are required when the engine is the garden hose. Turn on the water and then start the en­ run out of the water. The only tools required for winterizing gine. Let the engine run at fast idle for at least 10 minutes. the boat are basic—an adjustable wrench, spark plug wrench, This process stabilizes the entire fuel system. After the en­ screwdriver, grease gun and a garden hose. gine runs for 10 minutes, it's time to fog the engine.

42 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater www.fish.state.pa.us Fogging the engine For safety reasons, shut the engine off first and then re­ move the engine cover. Next, unfasten the screws that hold the air box in place. This is done to provide full access to each of the carburetors. It is important that you are in a well-ventilated area because this step does just as it sug­ gests—the smoke fogs the area well. With the water running, start the engine again. The process of fogging the engine might better be known as "bogging down the engine." The object is to spray the engine fog directly into each carburetor until the engine stalls. Each cylinder will shut down after about 5 to 10 sec­ onds of direct spray. What's happening is that the fogging spray reaches the pistons, rings and cylinders. Once there, it coats and protects them from corrosion during the off-sea­ son. Turn the ignition to the off position and disconnect the garden hose and flushing unit. Replace the flush bolt and fasten the air box back into place. With the socket wrench, remove each spark plug and The only tools required for winterizing the boat are basic—an spray the engine fog liberally into the top of each cylinder. adjustable wrench, spark plug wrench, screwdriver, grease gun After all the spark plugs are out and each cylinder has been and a garden hose. You'll also need a fuel conditioner, engine sprayed, briefly turn the engine over a few times to make fogger and a flushing unit. sure the fogging oil lubricates and coats the cylinder walls. Thread and tighten each of the spark plugs and connect the wire boots. The engine cover can now be replaced.

Reducing moisture To remove as much of the water and moisture from the jet pump and bell housing, fully tilt the engine back a few times. This empties most of the water left in the housing. Even though there will still likely be some water left, the object is to remove enough of the water so that when it freezes, it has ample area to expand without causing damage. Next, use a quality marine-grade grease and completely lubricate the main bearing until the new grease purges all the moisture from around the bearing. Pump a heavy dose of grease until the discharge coming out of the hose cou­ pling is clean and free of water. Wipe off the excess and Flushing unit in place. Turn on the water before starting the engine. reconnect the lube hose. This will protect the main bearing and seals during the winter. The grease gun is handy, but take the time to distribute fresh lubrication into all the grease fittings, also known as "zerks." After shooting grease into the steering housing, be sure to move the engine all the way left and right to disperse fresh grease along the slide arm.

Hull After the engine and fuel system are adequately condi­ tioned for storage, consider the hull. Pull the transom plug, clean and completely drain all of the livewells. If the livewells were heavily used, it might be a good idea to prop them open a few inches to allow some air to flow. Remove all gear from the storage boxes. Anything that might rust or mildew during temperature fluctuations should be stored "Fogging the engine" means spraying engine fogger into the indoors. cylinders so that the product coats the pistons, rings and cylinders. This protects the internal engine parts from corrosion.

www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 43 All safety equipment should be removed and inspected. Be sure the engine is off. With the socket wrench, First aid kits should be inspected and new supplies added. remove each spark plug. Spray the engine fog Wearable PFDs and throw devices should be inspected for liberally into the top of each cylinder. This lubricates damage and serviceability. Check the fire extinguisher and and coats the cylinder walls. Thread and tighten each make sure the pressure gauge shows that it is still fully spark plug and connect the wire boots. charged. All emergency flares have an expiration date, so make sure these dates do not expire before the end of the next boating season. If they do, replace them to meet the legal requirement, but don't discard them—they cannot count toward the legal requirement, but they probably still work. If you have a weather radio or flashlight, be sure to remove the batteries to prevent corrosion or damage. Re­ place the batteries when the boating season starts. Fully charge and then remove the starting and trolling batteries. Marine batteries are best stored inside during the winter to avoid the extreme temperature fluctuations that shorten their charging life. Store any LCD (liquid crystal display) electronics indoors. Even though they are sealed for marine applications, these units are susceptible to con­ densation from temperature cycling. If removing the electronics requires complicated unwiring, be sure to label all unharnessed wires with a permanent marker. Lastly, wash the dirt and debris off the hull and engine. Be sure to store the engine in the down, or run, position. Use the grease gun to distribute fresh lubrication into Cover the engine and the hull with a good fabric cover to let all the grease fittings. After greasing the steering it breathe. A cover keeps the elements off the interior and housing, move the engine all the way left and right to protects it from the damage often caused by the sun's rays. disperse fresh grease along the slide arm. Raise the trailer jack so that the bow is higher than the stern to allow for good drainage. Now your jet boat is properly stored for the winter.L/

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater www.fish.state.pa.us WCO Diaryby WCO Dave Kaneski, Northern Wayne County

September began in the midst of yet another holiday week­ together on a very productive day. We swapped a few stories, end, Labor Day. This is traditionally the end to the busy and Dyberry Creek was mentioned. I told Bob that it would boating season and the priority for enforcement then moves be stocked the next week. He gave me a very curious look on back to fishing. The majority of the citations we issued or the bank of the river we were fishing in Lackawanna County. filed were for fishing violations. Most were for people who He did show up and assisted DWCO Jack Osborne and me in didn't get around to buying a license yet or for finding the stocking the Delayed-Harvest section of Dyberry Creek that need to keep undersized fish for supper. next week. I guess you never really know who's fishing next On one occasion a woman was having a very successful day to you. fishing on one of our more popular lakes. However, if she Two nonbelievers from New Jersey also learned this les­ had read the summary book that's issued with the purchase son. On a day off on a dreary Sunday afternoon, I was of a license, she probably could have avoided receiving the fishing a very small stream section in Susquehanna County. citation for the many 8-inch largemouth bass she harvested. I was using a fly rod and reel that I had just restored. In 90 Reading the summary book probably would have resulted in minutes of very carefully positioning myself, I landed nearly another man's releasing, instead of harvesting, two illegal a dozen trout. In fact, those fish were the first trout the reel bass on Lower Woods Pond, and receiving a citation. had been used on in nearly 60 years. I was having a terrific With the boating season ending, hunting season came into time. Then I heard voices. These voices said, "There's some­ full swing. We served the dozens of arrest warrants accumu­ one there." Instead of fishing another stream section, these lated during the busy season. Most people would two men, in their early 20s, opted to fish in the very same acknowledge responsibility for their actions, but some would spot where I was. As they entered the water in their sneakers not. One man spent three days in jail for his violations of and cast their lines within three feet of me, they seemed to the fishing and boating laws. be disappointed when they didn't receive an immediate At the end of September, I spent several days at the strike from a hungry trout. They asked me if I thought they Bloomsburg Fair. During my three shifts there, I spoke to had spooked the fish. I smiled, and as I reeled in my line hundreds of people on a number of topics ranging from per­ and packed in my rod and reel for the day, I responded that sonal watercraft to freshwater jellyfish. I listened to dozens trout are sometimes finicky. After a few minutes I ap­ of stories and answered proached the fishermen hundreds of questions. I who were not up on the also gave advice on tech­ current etiquette of niques, strategies and small-stream fishing. I methods for making an­ identified myself and glers' fishing adventures asked to see their fishing more enjoyable. licenses? You guessed it, The honor guard neither had a license. brought me to the Both were cited and sent Southcentral Region on on their way. two separate occasions. I made a few other The first was a glorious fishing trips. I had the occasion. It was my opportunity to fish with honor to post the PA Fish retired WCO Jan & Boat Commission's Caveney on Mountain flag for the graduation of Spring Creek, and with the H.R. Stackhouse 15th Cumberland County Class graduation cer­ WCO John Cummings in emony at the Harrisburg headquarters. The second occasion "The Ditch" on Big Spring Creek. Both trips were very suc­ was a tribute to Commissioner Enoch S. "Inky" Moore Jr. in cessful adventures. I finally convinced my fishing partner Newville. We posted the colors and at the conclusion of the Dave Verdetto to put down his archery equipment and go ceremony a 21-gun salute honored his memory. fishing. He was skeptical of my stories of success at first, September allowed for some fishing adventures of my but when the first fish he landed was a 14-inch brown trout, own. The conditions were perfect. I landed trout between 5 he was convinced. inches and 5 pounds! All fell for dry flies. During these ad­ We issued 21 more citations, attended four hearings, ventures I met some interesting individuals. The first was caught nearly 200 trout, and served nearly a dozen Bob Collander of Scranton. It seemed we found ourselves warrants.

www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 45 Dedicated to the Memory of Commissioner Enoch S. "Inky" Moore Jr.

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Aquatic nuisance species (ANS) are aquatic animals and plants that have been introduced into new ecosystems. They harm the natural resources in these ecosystems and the human use of these resources.

Aliens. Invaders. Nuisances. Pests. Threats to biodiversity. Biodiversity. The variety of No, we aren't describing the latest Hollywood movie. We are species, their genetic makeup, describing aquatic nuisance species. This issue of PLAY focuses on and the natural communities in aquatic nuisance species. Either accidentally or on purpose, humans which they occur. have introduced species that aren't native to Pennsylvania. These Introduced species. A species organisms find that Pennsylvania's aquatic habitats are able to meet living outside of its natural their needs. In turn, these organisms have a negative effect on geographic range. Can be the critters (including humans!) and plants that are native to deliberately or accidentally Pennsylvania. introduced or brought into the Several words used throughout this issue might be new to you. new ecosystem. Also called Those words and their definitions are in the box at right. exotic, alien, non-native, nuisance or invasive species. Invasive. Spreading or taking Purple loosestrife along the Susquehanna River. over. Invasive species often take over or dominate a habitat. Native. An animal or plant originating in a region or geographic range. For example, brook trout are native to Pennsylvania.^

46 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater www.fish.state.pa.us People are often Releasing the cause of ANS moving pets or unused from one place to another. There fishing bait is another are several ways new species are introduced often accidental way ANS are to PA and neighboring waters. introduced. Red-eared slider Ballast water is a major pathway for new aquatic turtles are the best example of this kind of release. organisms. Ships transporting goods carry water These turtles aren't native to Pennsylvania, but on board in tanks. Water is pumped into these tanks through releases of pets, they are now abundant. to help keep the ship level. This water is called "ballast." Ships take on ballast in one country, maybe from another corner of the world, and release it into ports when delivering goods. This ballast water often contains ANS as stowaways. Round gobies and zebra mussels have been introduced to the Great Lakes from other parts of the world through ballast water.

When an ANS invades a new ecosystem, it affects the system in one of several ways. First, the population grows, often unchecked because of the lack of predators. Biologists use the term "invasive" to describe this happening. ANS may be new predators According to an article in the April 2001 issue in an ecosystem. ANS are also competitors. They of Aquatic Nuisance Species Digest, "It is estimatedcompet e with native species for food, shelter and that every minute, 40,000 gallons of foreign ballast living space. Often, as in the case of zebra mussels, water are dumped into U.S. waters. It is also estimated native clams and mussels are crowded out. Zebra that on any day, as many as 3,000 aquatic species, mussels are also efficient filter feeders. They compete ranging in size from bacteria to fish, are moving with native fish and other invertebrates. around the earth in ballast-water tanks." All these events affect biodiversity. In one lake People fishing or boating in water already infested in Africa, the introduction of a non-native fish in with ANS often aid in the spread of ANS to other the late 1980s resulted in the extinction of more waters. This spreading is often accidental and than 200 fish species found only in that Lake. preventable. ANS may stow away in livewells or Today, with our global economy and ease of travel, bilge water. Plants and zebra mussels may also people are moving ANS around the world. Laws cling to trailers and outboards. Launching that and regulations set by Pennsylvania have little effect. boat into an uninfested waterway may be all it They most often only reduce the spread. ANS is a takes to introduce ANS into that water. global issue, one that puts the biodiversity of our state at risk.

www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 47 Pennsylvania's

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Round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) Origin: Introduced from Europe into the Great Lakes in 1990 from the ballast water of an ocean-going ship. Description: Small bottom-dwelling fish. Concerns: Round gobies are aggressive feeders and can find food in total darkness. The round goby takes over prime spawning sites traditionally used by native species, competing with native fish for habitat.

Zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorphs) Origin: Introduced from Europe into the Great Lakes in the 1980s from the ballast water of an ocean-going ship. Description: Small fingernail-sized freshwater mollusk. Concerns: Zebra mussels colonize on surfaces, such as docks, water intake pipes and native mollusks. Their only known predators, some diving ducks, freshwater drum, carp and sturgeon, are not plentiful enough to have a significant effect on their Spiny water flea numbers. Zebra mussels have greatly affected (Bythotrephes cederstroemi) the Great Lakes ecosystem and economy. Origin: Introduced from Europe into the Great Lakes in 1984 from the ballast water of an ocean­ going ship. Description: Small plankton-eating crustacean, SSnffltfn slightly larger than one centimeter (0.4 inches) long. Sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) More than two-thirds of Origin: Native to the North Atlantic region and European ruffe (Gymnocephaluscernuus) this length is a long, introduced into the Great Lakes early in the 20th century. Origin: Introduced from Europe into the Great barbed tail spine. Description: Primitive eel-like parasitic fish. Lakes in 1985 from the ballast water of an Concerns: The rapid Concerns: Even though this species is native to the ocean-going ship. reproduction of this Susquehanna and Delaware River basins, the sea Description: Small fish, close relative of the species, lack of predators, lamprey has had a devastating effect on Great Lakes yellow perch. and competition with young fisheries, where it is non-native. It is a direct parasite Concerns: Because of its aggressive nature, fish for food may greatly on large game fish. w the ruffe has the potential to devastate both change the food webs of the perch and walleye fisheries by competing for Great Lakes. food and habitat.

Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) Origin: Introduced from Southeast Asia in the 1960s, probably through the aquarium trade. This plant was first reported in Pennsylvania in the mid-1990s in Adams and Bradford counties. Description: Submerged aquatic plant with finely toothed leaves. Resembles common elodea. Concerns: Hydrilla spreads quickly and creates mats of vegetation that are extremely dense. These mats may crowd out native vegetation.

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Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS): Aquatic animals and plants that have been introduced into new ecosystems. ANS have harmful effects on the natural resources in these ecosystems and the human use of these resources. These are the most aggressive nuisance species that have invaded Pennsylvania's aquatic habitats. All have negative effects on Pennsylvania's native plants and wildlife. Every effort should be made to halt their spread.

Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) Origin: Introduced from Europe in the early 1800s as an ornamental garden plant. Description: Tall-stemmed plant with knee-shaped leaves. A spike with Pinkish-purple flowers tops each stem. Concerns: Purple loosestrife has been '°und in all major river drainages in the state. It can invade a wetland and quickly crowd out native vegetation. It has little °r no value for wildlife.

Asian Clam (Corbicula fluminea) Origin: First introduced from Asia to the West Coast of North America around 1924. By the 1970s, the clam occupied most of the Mississippi Basin, the Gulf Coast and eastern United States. Description: Small freshwater mollusk. Concerns: The Asian clam causes serious water supply problems, affecting power and water suppliers and other industries. Asian clams are drawn into intake pipes and block water flow.

STATEWIDE IN MAJOR OTEBS Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) Origin: Native to the southeast United States. Established 1 J-ftfasia£ura n watermilfoil populations are the result of the myyrioWyriophyllum spicatum) release of unwanted pets. Introduced from Europe in the 1800s. Description: Medium-sized 9escrP jCriptioni : Submerged aquatic plant. freshwater turtle with a bright-red I ^eatherlike leaves have reddish-brown tips. stripe immediately behind the eye I Photo credits: Round goby, Dave oncerns: This plant grows so densely that it on each side of its head. Jude; Asian clams, U.S. Geological C 0 mes re t . Poor fish habitat, clogs propellers, and Concerns: The red-eared slider Survey; zebra mussels, J. Ellen Co swimming. Eurasian watermilfoil is competes for food and habitat Marsden; Eurasian watermilfoil, spiny th "M"0'1 throughout the state, but less common in with Pennsylvania's native waterflea, Minnesota Department ot 5 Northeast where native watermilfoils still thrive. turtles. This competition could Natural Resources; purple loosestrife iVwUVv (left), Ted Walke; purple loosestrife, affect sensitive populations of I M. Walter, Michigan Sea Grant; native turtle species. European ruffe, Gary Cholwek; red- eared slider, photo courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey; hydrilla, California W*\i Department of Food and Agriculture; sea lamprey, Great Lakes Sea Grant. in m M • 1 s

As the fishing stows in the heat of the day, you decide to go to shore for a break. You You decide to are carefully wading near shore keep a few nice bass and notice crunching below your START HERE that you just caught. As feet Reaching down, you grab a you put them into the live- handful of interesting little clams. You well, you notice stagnant like them so much, you take some water from your last fishing home to put in your aquarium ^k and the town's water trip. You dump the live- welt overboard and refill. ^r supply reservoir. MOVEBACK 5 SPACES MOVEBACK DIRECTIONS: Help reduce the spread of aquatic nuisance Those brightly species. Read all about them in the rest of the PLAY Newsletter. You'll need a playing pawn or marker (coin, colored, spiked kernel of corn, small stone, etc.) for each person playing flowers seem to be the game, and a die. Roll the die and move forward the everywhere you look. correct number of spaces. Read the space where you You tell your friends that land and do as it says. Then read the results below, if they may look nice, but you land on a blank space, pass the die and wait they're nasty. patiently until it's your turn again. The winner is the MOVE AHEAD first person to reach "Finish." 6 SPACES j Purple Loosestrife Penalty: Yikes! One month later your water garden is overcrowded by this invasive weed. s .Eurasian Watermilfoil Mystery: Aha! This feathery, ' dense-growing underwater plant clogs propellers and makes poor fish habitat.

. Hydrilla Hubub: Oh no! This submerged plant spreads As you quickly and will likely overgrow the pond and crowd retrieve your out native plants. boat, you take a few minutes to » Sea Lamprey Lesson: Oops! That's no eel! It's a sea scrub the hull. 4 J lamprey. You just helped spread them where they 7 MOVE AHEAD 8 don't belong. SPACES. .Zebra Mussel Mayhem: Oh my! You just helped XiJ spread zebra mussel larvae from one waterway to another. You accidentally tAsian Clam Catastrophe: Those interesting little kick over your r clams cause serious water supply problems by bait bucket and 1 blocking intake pipes and water flow. everything inside •7VK" - dumps into the ^Congratulations! You helped reduce the spread water. There goes ' of nasty nuisance species like the zebra mussel. all your bait! MOVEBACK 1 ^Way to Go! By encouraging your family and SPACE. Jfriends to leave them alone and not transplant them, you can do your part to keep purple loosestrife from spreading and becoming a problem.

\ Awful Accident: Not only did you introduce those baitfish to a new waterway, but you may also have dumped very small young animals, eggs and larvae that you could not You see. It's never a good idea to empty your bait brought along your bucket into the water. favorite pet turtle, which you bought from the local pet store. kTurtle Timeout: Your pet turtle was Thinking the turtle would be much 'probably a red-eared slider - a turtle happier in the wild, you release it into the native to the southern states. They are water and wave as it swims away. more aggressive than our local turtles and MOVE BACK 5 SPACES. may bully them off of important basking rocks and logs. It's very important to keep your pets as pets. Don't release them into the wild when you get tired of taking care FINISH of them. And don't assume they'll be T happier in the wild. As you know from reading this issue of PLAY, introduced for research there are many plants and or recreational animals that can be quite purposes. Whenever a nuisance to people and someone proposes to other aquatic plants and introduce a non-native animals. The Pennsylvania mm\mm species, this Fish & Boat Commission, commission reviews in cooperation with other the introduction to state agencies, works to help reduce the spread of determine if harmful effects may occur. The aquatic nuisance species by developing and enforcing commission then recommends to the individual state laws and regulations. For example, permits are whether the introduction should be permitted. required for people who raise and sell baitfish. The Not only does this commission help to protect each species they raise are limited to fish that are approved state's waters, but it also helps to protect the by the Commission and that already live in Chesapeake Bay from nuisance species. Pennsylvania. Some anglers don't consider the Education is another important way to help undesirable effects of emptying their bait buckets, prevent the spread of aquatic nuisance species in so this is the Commission's way of stepping in to Pennsylvania. The Fish & Boat Commission encourages help protect Pennsylvania's waters from nuisance boaters to scrub the hulls of their boats, and to species. There is also a law that prohibits transporting be careful about where they drain their bilge water fish into Pennsylvania from another state, province and livewells to prevent the unwanted transfer of or country and then releasing them in our waters. aquatic species. Anglers are encouraged to buy Also, fish already in Pennsylvania cannot be bait from responsible and permitted bait dealers, transferred from one waterway to another. and not to dump their bait buckets into our waters. One way that you can help is to share what you've learned in this issue of PLAY with your family and friends. Help the Commission "stop the invasion" of aquatic nuisance species into Pennsylvania. STOW the Spread of ANS

The Commission also helps to protect When retrieving your boat for the day, check Pennsylvania's waters from nuisance species by your boat, motor and trailer for weeds and other working as a partner in a multi-state commission. things "tagging along." Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Wash your boat's hull with hot water or with West Virginia and the District of Columbia each have a high-pressure spray. waters that flow into the Chesapeake Bay. These Drain livewells, bilges and other compartments. states work with one another to prevent and monitor Drain all standing water from your boat. introduction of non-native species into the Don't dump leftover bait into the water you're Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Species are sometimes fishing, unless you collected the bait there.

52 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater www.fish.state.pa.us Wteb Resources^! To learn more about aquatic nuisance species, look on the web. Here are just a few sites of the 25,000 matches you could find in a search. http://anstaskforce.gov/ An intergovernmental organization dedicated to preventing and controlling aquatic nuisance species. www.seagrant.umn.edu/exotics/index.html Minnesota Sea Grant program has excellent resources on exotics. Note to educators, clubs and youth groups: The To learn more about what is happening in Pennsylvania, look at: Fish & Boat Commission www.pserie.psu.edu/seagrant/extension/aquatic.html. This has a video available for page is for Pennsylvania's Sea Grant Program aquatic nuisance education. loan called "Stop the www.sg.ohio-state.edu/index.html Exotics: Clean Your Boat." Ohio Sea Grant program's web site has specific information on ANS Visit the Commission's in Lake Erie. web site or call 717-705- 7834 for information on Could you be helping the spread of aquatic nuisance species? Read borrowing this video. the article at: www.engin.umich.edu/seagrant/pubs/up/fall99/ baitfish.html titled "Baitfish and Aquatic Nuisance Species."

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he ultra-scenic Raystown Lake is the largest lake contained fully in Pennsylvania and a favorite of anglers intrigued by its extensive and varied fish population that includes striped bass and lake trout. The lake's 8,300 acres of water surface meander through successive wooded ridges of former riverbed providing nearly 29 miles of water, making it a boating mecca. With no horsepower restriction, Raystown Lake attracts every type of watercraft, from The lake's deep, clear waters draw fishing and boating enthusiasts throughout the year, but the lure of the lake canoes to luxury craft, pontoon boats and is especially strong during the summer. Boating activity personal watercraft (PWC). Even hunters increases as summer temperatures climb, and on hot summer holiday weekends, thousands of boats and PWC use its waters to reach remote areas for etch wakes across the water. deer, bear and wild turkey.

www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 55 The lake's deep, clear waters draw fishing and boating enthusiasts throughout the year, but the lure of the lake is especially strong during the summer. Boating activity increases as summer temperatures climb, and on hot summer holiday weekends, thousands of boats and PWC etch wakes across the water. But even in this picturesque setting, all is not perfect. The skin-baking temperatures of summer can inspire an overindulgence in alcoholic beverages by some boaters who become a menace to others. Boating under the influence of alcohol, BUI, can be even more hazardous than driving a vehicle while intoxicated because accidents on the water require specialized rescue techniques to pre­ vent drowning. You cannot walk away from a boating accident, and emergency response time can be long. Detecting and apprehend­ ing intoxicated boaters also requires special skills, techniques and safety precautions because of the additional hazard posed by the water environment. In recent years, recreational boating has increased dramatically. So has the small percentage of boaters who operate water- craft while intoxicated. This increased threat to public safety has required the Fish & Boat Commission to focus a substantial portion of its resources toward suppressing this growing problem. BUI training now requires more than 80 hours of training for new officers, and periodic refresher courses are required for field officers. These well- trained officers are affecting an increased public awareness of the problem as well as apprehending many violators. The BUI statute closely parallels the DUI law in the state's vehicle code. Detection, apprehension and prosecution standards are mostly the same, and enforcement of both laws requires a high level of officer expertise and professionalism. The Pennsylvania DUI Association annu­ ally honors the dedication to duty and exceptional performance of enforcement officers who exhibit notable proficiency in apprehending intoxicated vehicle operators with the presentations of its "Top Gun" Award. In 1999, for the first time in the organization's 20-year history, a "Top Gun" Award was presented to Fish & Boat Com­ mission Waterways Conservation Officer Alan D. Robinson, Huntingdon County. The award recognizes Robinson's excellent performance and signifies the support of the associated organizations.

56 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater www.fish.state.pa.us WCO Robinson is assigned to Huntingdon County, and Drinking by boat passengers and open containers on his district includes Raystown Lake. Robinson and neigh­ board are not illegal, nor is alcohol consumption by the boring officers from the Fish & Boat Commission and the boat operator. But there is a "fine threshold," as WCO Game Commission work long shifts during holidays such as Robinson describes it, where the operator truly needs to Memorial Day, the 4th of July and Labor Day, and special know when to "say when." Wise boat operators wait until events such as regattas, concerts and fireworks displays, to the end of the boating day to enjoy adult refreshments. keep boaters safe. On these days, the task of monitoring Operators of manually powered craft such as rowboats boat traffic on the large lake is demanding. The Fish & Boat and canoes can also be guilty of BUI. Fact is, any person in Commission officers patrol in two- or three-person teams control of the movement of a watercraft or having a cause by way of a trio of boats. and effect on its movement, is subject to the BUI statute. The officers are constantly alert to BUI indicators, most Ten years of Robinson's 13-year career with the Fish & of which are operational infractions such as speeding Boat Commission have been spent in Huntingdon County, through no-wake areas, inappropriate passenger positions, and during those years he's seen dozens of serious acci­ failure to follow rules of the road, and failure to display dents and several deaths on the lake. And although lights after dark. In fact, most BUI infractions occur after alcohol was present and may have been a factor in most of dark. This is especially true on hot summer nights. Obser­ them, two were solely a result of operators boating under vance of these infractions is probable cause for the officers the influence. to stop and inspect a boat for safety violations and evaluate "This is a family lake and we maintain a zero tolerance the condition of the operator. During the safety inspection toward BUI to ensure a safe boating environment for re­ the officers direct all questions and requests to the operator sponsible boaters and the boating public," Robinson says. and closely observe his mental and physical ability to re­ He describes a responsible boater as "one who appreciates spond. They also note the presence of open containers of the boating privilege and who prepares through education alcoholic beverages that are in plain view and note the pres­ and common sense to be responsible on the water by obey­ ence of beverage odors on the operator's breath. ing all laws and being courteous to other boaters." If these observations contribute additional probable Fish & Boat Commission officers successfully prosecute cause of BUI, the officers may request the operator to sub­ 40 to 50 BUI cases annually. To learn more about safe boat­ mit to some sobriety tests. These tests may include ing, visit the Fish & Boat Commission web site at hand-and-finger coordination, alphabet recitation, count­ www.fish.state.pa.us, and request the Pennsylvania Boating ing, and time estimation tests, all of which include Handbook. You may also call the toll-free boating course multi-tasking requirements that are difficult for an im­ line: 1-888-PA-FISH-l.O paired person to perform. If these tests further suggest the probable cause of a BUI infraction, the suspect may be re­ quested to submit to a blood alcohol content analysis by way of a portable breath analyzer (PBA). If the PBA device indicates a blood alcohol content of 0.10 percent or above, the individual will be required to submit to a blood alcohol test at a local hospital through the state's implied consent law. The intoxication level for minors is 0.02 percent. The implied consent provision provides that the act of operating vehicles such as cars, trucks or boats indicates the operator's consent to blood alcohol content testing. Re­ fusal to submit to the test results in a one-year suspension of the person's boat operating privileges in Pennsylvania. BUI is a second-degree misdemeanor punishable by a pen­ alty of $500 to $7,500 and/or imprisonment. Repeat offenders may be sentenced to up to two years in jail. The two-page Commission pamphlet "Drinking, Boating Elevated blood alcohol content tends to narrow and and the Law" answers frequently asked questions about shorten one's vision, reduce both mental and physical reac­ consuming alcohol while boating, how alcohol affects boat tion time, and fog judgment. On the water these effects are operators, and BUI. To receive a free single copy, send a amplified by a host of natural stressors such as heat, humid­ business-sized stamped, self-addressed envelope with re­ ity, bright sun, glare, wind, engine noise and even the quests to: Educational Media Section, PA Fish & Boat constant bouncing of the boat. Together they can prevent Commission, P.O. Box 67000, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000. an operator from seeing and recognizing hazards on the This publication is also available for viewing and down­ water and cause poor boat-handling decisions. On a busy load at the Commission's web site: www.fish.state.pa.us. boating day at Raystown, continuous wakes and the wind­ At the main page, scroll to the bottom of the page and ing topography of this riverlike impoundment can conceal click on "Publications." Click on this publication's title dangers that require operators to be alert constantly. in the list of online publications.

www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 57 I wrote, he asked how many pounds of failing to complete a boating safety course fillets I had pirated that day, if my freezer successfully and keeping his certificate was empty, if I could even catch a fish with him while operating the personal myself, and so on. Finally, I gave him his watercraft. Citing him for only the no- copy of the citation and explained the wake violation and nothing else, the fine procedure.—WCO William E. Martin, War­ cost him $61.50. That's some educational ren County. experience.— DWCO Mike Deluca, Southern York County. Mother knows best An individual was walking on a trail Copperhead encounter from Raccoon Lake when he spotted Park This past June, WCO Don Lauver and Chocolate milk? Ranger George Stamos. The individual I were patrolling the Juniata River between When I returned home with some wa­ threw his fish into the bushes. Officer Newport and Duncannon. We were near ter samples that I had taken while Stamos saw him do this and approached the Watts exit on U.S. Route 22/322 and investigating a pollution, I set the samples him. He was in possession of twice the came across some fishermen down over down on the counter to transfer them to legal limit of trout. Officer Stamos es­ the bank. Anyone familiar with this area my place of storage. My two-year-old corted the individual to his car to get his knows that this bank is extremely steep, daughter, Emma, saw them on the counter information. When they arrived at his car, and that anyone fishing down there was and hollered, "All right, Da-Da brought the person claimed that his mother, who probably a dedicated sportsman. But as chocolate milk." She was very dismayed was sitting in the car, had caught the ex­ dedicated WCOs, Don and I descended to learn that in fact they were water not tra fish and had returned to the car a little the bank to check licenses. On the way chocolate milk, and that she could not have while before him. On hearing this, his down, which didn't take long, we encoun­ some "milk." The whole time I was think­ mother said that she had not been fish­ tered one area on the trail where we had ing, "If this case goes to court, would the ing and that he should grow up and take to maneuver over some large rocks and judge let her testify as an expert witness his punishment like a man. That's one at the same time crouch under a downed on the sediment level in these water guy who's mother cut the apron strings.— tree, putting our upper bodies close to the samples?"-WCO Robert F. Mader, McKean WCO Raymond J. Borkowski, Northern ground. County. Washington/Southern Beaver Counties. Of course, everyone fishing was law- abiding, and after some pleasant Brown trout and smallmouths Boating Safety Education conversation Don and I started the Today I encountered a strange one. I Certificate dreaded climb back to our vehicle. I took checked a guy who said he had a "trout," As WCO Lee Creyer and I sat in our the lead (I'll know better next time) and which turned out to be about an 11.5-inch drifting patrol boat watching boats enter­ we proceeded up. When we reached a largemouth bass. The next place I stopped, ing Pequea Creek on Lake Aldred, a young point near the rocks and tree, I looked I checked a guy with a "smallmouth." It man on a personal watercraft sped by, down and noticed a northern copperhead turned out to be about a 16-inch brown creating a significant wake well within the basking on the rock close to my face. I trout! The last guy laughed at himself 100-foot protective space set forth by law. immediately started to backpedal, but my when I told him what he had. The first Because no wake is permitted within 100 partner, thinking I was falling, grabbed guy didn't laugh, but he did thank me after feet of drifting boats, we caught up with me by my protective vest and began shov­ I issued him the citation.—WCO James M. the man, stopped him, and conducted a ing be forward, closer than I wanted to Vatter, Westmoreland County. safety inspection. be to the reptile. I yelled "SNAKE," which During the safety inspection I informed not only got Don's attention but had him Caught in the act him that he had created a wake too close beating me back down the hill. Thanks, While patrolling the Allegheny Reser­ to the patrol boat and then asked if he had Don.-MTO Corey L. Britcher, Southern voir, DWCO Sam Pascuzzi and I boarded his Boating Safety Education Certificate Huntingdon County. a boat that did not have an all-around with him. The response was, "Who says white light displayed. After checking safety I have to have one of those?" I further Cold, wet dog hair equipment and giving the operator an asked if he had a horn or whistle and a fire Stocking trout in the spring can be a opportunity to get the light working, I extinguisher on board his personal water- cold, wet job, as well as a lot of work. asked if he had any luck while fishing. He craft. The response was, "No! Where am During a stocking of Big Buffalo Creek, said he had a whole bag of walleye fillets I going to put all of that?" I asked him Perry County, all the regular helpers were in the cooler. I asked to see them and he to go into the Pequea Creek landing where out and things were going smoothly. gave me the bag. The largest fillet was I could speak to him further about his While watching for traffic and helping about 7 inches long. violations. As he entered the no-wake zone, unload buckets of trout from the stock­ I explained that it was not legal to fil­ he did so at too great a speed, thereby ing truck, I watched a soaking wet and let fish with a minimum size limit before committing a second no-wake violation. muddy beagle run by the truck. One of getting them to the place of consumption, The total of this encounter was four the stocking crew had left his truck door and told him I would issue a citation. As safety violations and one violation for open, and the beagle saw this as an op-

58 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater www.fish.state.pa.us portunity to help us stock some trout. if they can no longer care for that animal, Ice thickness The new helper jumped right up on the find someone who will.—WCO David R. in any direction? stocking truck seat and waited for the Keller, Adams/Western York Counties. I spoke briefly with some ice fisher­ driver to move the truck down to the men on Upper Woods Pond. We talked stream with the trout. I felt bad, but Litter patrol about regulations, and they asked some couldn't help laughing out loud as the Officer Hannold and I were patrolling questions. The last question concerned driver removed the stowaway from his in January when the temperature was 20 the size of the hole while ice fishing. I seat and starting wiping up the paw degrees and the wind chill was zero. We explained that a hole could not be greater prints. Anyone who has ever owned a were checking out the Delaware Paver and than 10 inches in any direction, and that beagle and has been near it when wet can arrived at the Sandts Eddy Access. This this was primarily for safety. "In any di­ appreciate the condition of the truck.— area is a favorite dumping ground for Utter rection," he asked again. I responded, WCO Don Lauver, Perry/Juniata Counties. and garbage. "Yes, any direction." He smiled and asked As we drove down the ramp, we ob­ what if the ice were 12 inches thick? All Exotics served a truck and a man near the shore I could do was smile.- WCO Dave Kaneski, In May 1999,1 received a radio call with two large garbage bags stuffed full. Northern Wayne County. from York County Control requesting "Finally," we thought, "we caught one of that I meet with the park rangers from these litterbugs in action." We were sur­ Dead or scared stiff? Cordorus State Park. On arrival at the prised to see a man picking up garbage. Last spring, WCO Walter Buckman park office, I found the rangers gath­ He was Pack Pasch, avid personal water- and I set up a patrol on a stocked trout ered around a pickup truck that had a craft operator, boater and proprietor of stream after dark. As I was walking up fish lying on the tailgate. My first im­ Pasch Marine. Mr. Pasch was picking up the dirt road toward my designated po­ pression was that the rangers had every can, bottle and piece of garbage and sition, I saw headlights ahead. The creek encountered an out-of-season bass case paper and placing all of it into the gar­ had been along the road, so I thought I and were about to turn it over to me. I bage bags. The access area never looked would just step over the bank and remain quickly identified the fish as a piranha. so good. concealed. The bank was not there, so The 18-inch piranha was not the first Instead of sitting around and complain­ I began running toward the creek. Then that I had encountered, but it was the ing about the acts of inconsiderate I was entirely lit up by the headlights, so largest. This was to be the first of three litterbugs, he went out and did something I dropped to the ground. The car came recorded piranhas caught from Lake about the problem. Thank you, Rick Pasch closer and closer and suddenly stopped Marburg in the summer of 1999. The and all the other unsung heroes who we with the headlights pointed right at me. others measured 17 inches and 13 inches. never see do these good deeds to protect I thought the occupants must have seen Two were caught while the angler was our natural resources.— DWCO Rita K. me. They probably thought I was dead using nightcrawlers for bait, while the Schaadt, Lebigb County. or injured. Then the car doors opened. third was caught on corn. One piranha Then I thought they were going to come was released back into the lake. The Different kind of "spill" over and kick me to see if I were alive. other two were put into two freezers that Many Fish & Boat Commission WCOs Then the thought came to me that this shortly broke down and allowed the fish and DWCOs work various displays and might be an older man and his wife, and to deteriorate. exhibits at outdoor shows and fairs each I would give them a heart attack if I let year. This provides an excellent oppor­ While viewing this incident at face them walk up to me. I decided to stand tunity for the public to interact with a field value, some people may find it humor­ up and identify myself. As I stood up, officer in an informal setting. In fact, the ous. Still others may react with a glass bottle flew past my head. I yelled, comments and questions fielded by the fear—contrary to popular opinion, most "State officer." Four male teenagers officers are greatly appreciated. piranhas are vegetarians, not the vicious screamed like teenage girls that had seen carnivores in movies. This incident does The show hours at times can be long, Freddy Kruger. The car tires were spin­ give rise to some concerns: The intro­ so some officers elect to bring a snack or ning as the doors shut. A case of beer duction of non-native species into two just to tide them over. Such was the flew out the window as they pulled away. Commonwealth waters is a violation of case at the Jaffa Outdoors Show held in The vehicle was stopped by our marked the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Code, and Altoona. Many thanks to the efforts of patrol car. The boys jumped out and they because most exotic species imported into Bedford County WCO Ted Kane's fiance all started frantically telling the officers Pennsylvania are tropical or sub-tropi­ for arising early one morning and baking about someone lurking in the bushes up cal fish, they will not (fortunately) survive a double batch of homemade brownies the road and how he had jumped out at the winter if released into the wild. Most for the show. And an additional thanks them. I believe someone in the car was exotic species are purchased as pets, but go to Blair CountyWCO Walt Rosser, who able to make out my words and had the all too soon their owners realize how managed to spill the entire batch onto the presence of mind to dump the unopened costly they are to feed and house, so the floor behind the display before any of us case of beer out the window.—WCO Larry owner releases them. It is my hope that had the opportunity to sample Sue's ef­ L. Bundy Jr., Eastern Sullivan/Wyoming these pet enthusiasts would research the forts! Thanks again, Walt!-WCO A/dnD. Counties. demands these exotics place on them, and Robinson, Huntingdon County.

www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 59 ANGLERS CURRENTS Rozell A. Stidd Joins Commission Rozell A. Stidd, of Huntingdon, has Huntingdon, Fulton, Mifflin and Juniata been sworn in as Commissioner of the counties. Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. Born in 1921, at Guffey, McKean Nominated by Governor Tom Ridge and County, Stidd became a fisherman at the confirmed by the Pennsylvania Senate, age of four years and caught his first trout Stidd now represents the Fourth District the next year. He has been an avid trout as a member of the 10-member board of fisherman ever since. After graduating Commissioners. Stidd's district includes from high school, he enlisted in the United Cambria, Somerset, Blair, Bedford, States Regular Army Air Corps earning five Bronze Stars during the course of

Fishin' from the Kitchen ft. Pasta-Coated Catfish by Wayne Phillips To get kids eating fish, why not coat World War II. In 1947 he was commis­ catfish with pasta that turns crisp when sioned as a District Game Protector and fried! worked for the Pennsylvania Game Com­ mission in a variety of positions until his Ingredients for four servings: retirement in 1978, interrupted by a three- Q 4 catfish fillets (fillets less than year stint with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife an inch thick work best) Service. • 8 ounces cooked angel hair pasta or Stidd is married, with three children, Chinese bird nest noodles 10 grandchildren and a great-grandson. • Oil for frying • Salt and pepper to taste Walleyes: King at

Procedure ~~*-^ photo-Wayne Phillips Prince Callitzin Cook the pasta in boiling salted Hints Pennsylvania anglers may want to cast water. Do not add any oil to the pasta Use thin pasta for coating the fish. their gaze at Glendale Lake, Cambria cooking water. Drain the pasta and let Angle hair or Chinese bird nest noodles County. Recent Fish & Boat Commission it cool. Do not rinse the cooked pasta are perfect for this recipe. Try to cover studies at the 1,600-acre lake in Prince under running water because this re­ most of the fish when wrapping. It does Gallitzin State Park show that the num­ moves the starch that helps it stick to not matter if there are parts that are not ber of walleyes there is at a historic high. the fish fillets. After drying the cat­ covered with pasta, nor does it matter Commission biologists surveyed the lake fish fillets, salt and pepper to taste if pieces of pasta stick out from the fin­ last March and April using both trap nets before wrapping them with the cooked ished bundle. and electrofishing samples to assess the pasta. Place each fillet on top of a yellow perch, walleye, northern pike and mound of pasta, and fold the pasta Fish coating muskellunge fisheries. Among their finds around the fish. Heat a nonstick skillet Keeping the coating on fish can be was "a phenomenal catch rate for walleyes, on medium heat and fry the pasta- tricky. With starchy foods like pastas one of the best we've ever seen in this re­ coated fillets in a bit of oil. Let the pasta or potatoes, you rely on the starch in the gion," said Fisheries Technician David turn golden-brown before turning the food to help it adhere to the fish. Or­ Kristine. fish. Be careful when turning the fish ganize everything needed to complete Some 162 walleyes were sampled in 20 so you do not break up the pasta the recipe so that when the pasta is cool trap net sites along the lake's shoreline. Of bundle. enough to handle, you can wrap the fish those, 146 were legal size of IS inches or and then fry it. Warm pasta tends to stick larger. An impressive 43 were 20 inches Serve better than cold pasta. Drying the fish long or larger, including 19 that were 25 Zucchini cakes and a cherry tomato fillets with paper towels helps the coating inches or more in length. gratin are perfect with the fish. For stick to the fish. Using a nonstick pan The electrofishing results were equally children, place a tablespoon or two of prevents the coating from sticking to the promising. their favorite tomato sauce on the pasta pan instead of the fish. Turning the fish The study provided good news for Glen­ bundle. with a slotted turner helps to keep the dale, whose walleye population had crashed pasta bundle in one piece. in the 1970s because of inconsistent natural reproduction.

60 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater www.fish.state.pa.us ANGLERS CURRENTS

Becoming an Outdoors-Woman® Fall Weekend

The sixth annual Becoming an Outdoors-Woman® Fall Weekend is HP* scheduled for October 5, 6 and 7 in southeast Pennsylvania. At press time the specific location has not yet been confirmed. Courses will include basic fishing skills, beginning fly fishing, fly tying, basic canoeing and a host of other courses. For more details, contact the Pennsylvania BOW coordinator at 717-705-9350. Becoming an Outdoors Woman® is spon­ sored by the PA Game Commission.

The mission of the Pennsylvania Fish &Boat Commission is to Angler's Notebook tyJo, provide fishing and boating opportunities through the Fly-fishing is often over­ protection and management of aquatic resources. looked as a method of angling for largemouth bass. Fly tackle EXECUTIVE OFFICE Peter A. Colangeio, Executive Director can be very effective when pur­ Dennis T. Guise, suing bucketmouths in thick Deputy Executive Director/Chief Counsel cover, especially with popping Laurie Shepler, Assistant Counsel K. Ron Weis, Project Planner bugs because they can be cast John Arway, Division of Environmental Services with pinpoint accuracy. This Joseph A. Greene, Legislative Liaison is very helpful when targeting Louis C. Kauffman Jr., Personnel small pockets of open water lo­ Tom Ford, Aquatic Resources Planning Coordinator Dan Tredinnick, Press Secretary cated in areas of dense vegetation. For largemouths, consider using a slow-action 8-weight rod matched with weight-forward line. COMPTROLLER Ross E. Starner Bullet-style sinkers used in conjunction with rubber worms have the annoying BUREAU OF ADMINISTRATION Wasyl James Polischukjr., Director tendency to slide up and down the line during casts. A simple way to keep Tom E. Thomas, Information Systems them in place is to "peg" them. This involves jamming the tip of a toothpick Brian Barner, Federal Aid/Grants into the sinker's hole alongside the line. Then break off the toothpick, leav­ Mary Stine, Licensing and Registrations ing the tip inside the sinker. To remove the peg when re-rigging, use a small, BUREAU OF FISHERIES stiff wire to poke out the toothpick. Delano Graff, Director Rickalon L. Hoopes, Division of Research The cavitation plate on a properly installed outboard motor should be level Richard A. Snyder, Division of Fisheries Management James E. Harvey, Division of Trout Production with the bottom of the boat's hull. If it is not, you will get poor performance Martin T. Marcinko, from your propeller. If the cavitation plate is lower than the hull, you can raise Division ofWarm/CoolwaterFish Production it to the proper level by placing a board on top of the transom before clamp­ BUREAU OF ENGINEERING ing on the motor. If it is too high, you may have to consider cutting a notch AND DEVELOPMENT in the transom to lower the outboard. James Young, P.E., Director Richard Mulfinger, P.E., Division of Engineering, Construction & Maintenance Early autumn is the best time for smallmouth bass fishing. That's when Bernard J. Kiesnoski, Real Estate veteran anglers usually log their biggest catches. This is because decreasing David Bumann, P.E., Engineering water temperatures in late September and October cause a drop in the amount Vacant, Fishing & Boating Facilities Design ofinsec t forage, which subsequendy spurs the larger bronzebacks to begin feeding BUREAU OF LAW ENFORCEMENT voraciously on the food source that is still readily available—baitfish. Con­ Tom Kamerzel, Director sider hitting your favorite smallie river using live minnows, minnow plugs or Guy A. Bowersox, Assistant to the Director Vacant, Assistant to the Director soft baits—you won't regret it.

BUREAU OF BOATING AND EDUCATION John Simmons, Director A useful item to carry in a boat is a sponge. It can be used to soak up those Dan Martin, Boating Safety Program little puddles of water that form in crevices where a bailer won't reach. It can Carl Richardson, Aquatic Resource Program also come in handy for scrubbing the deck and hull. The best types are the Ted Walke, Educational Media Section large sponges designed for washing cars. PFBC World Wide Web Site: www.fish.state.pa.us photo-Jon Farley

www.fish.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 61 ANGLERS CURRENTS

As part of the Fish & Boat Two waterways conservation Commission's July 2001 meeting, Execu­ officers (WCOs) were presented tive Director Peter A. Colangelo (left) and with Lifesaving Awards. On Commission President Ted Keir (right) Sunday, April 29,2001, WCOs Raymond Bednarchik (left) and presented awards and recognition to John Sabaitis were conducting members of the Commission staff and boat patrol on the Delaware to Pennsylvania winners of the State-Fish River in the Easton area. They Art Contest. became aware of an overturned boat in the river with two people clinging to it. While Officer Bednarchik maneuvered the patrol boat alongside the overturned boat, Officer Sabaitis assisted both persons into the patrol boat. Their rescue was made more difficult by the strong currents and the reluctance of one of the victims to release her hold on the overturned boat. Because of their prompt action, the persons were rescued from a potentially life-threatening situation. Three young artists from the Keystone State were named winners in a na­ John Simmons, Director of the Bureau of Boating tional state-fish art con­ and Education, was recognized for 25 years of test. The trio was picked service to the Commonwealth. as state champions in their respective age classes for their depic­ tions of the brook trout, the Pennsylvania official state fish. The Fish & Boat Commission was a partner agency in the contest, which was con­ ducted by Wildlife Forever. Kristina Qaetano of Mountaintop was named the grades 4-6 winner for Executive Director Colangelo (left) presented Pennsylvania. Joshua Joint of Erie repeated as champion and took top state honors in the grades Commission President Ted Keir with a plaque in 7-9 category. Patricia Oelschlager of Mountaintop, the Pennsylvania champion for grades 10-12, is appreciation for his outstanding leadership and not pictured. Kristina Caetano (left) and Joshua Joint attended the Commission meeting and received dedication while serving as President of the trout stamp prints from Executive Director Colangelo and Commissioner Keir. See page 23 to see the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission from July award-winning artwork. Also pictured is Jim Brett, Advisor to Governor Ridge for Sportsmen's Is­ 24, 2000, to July 28, 2001. sues and Conservation.

Fish Culture School Graduation

Thirteen fish culturists from across Pennsylvania graduated 4 ^ a H from the Fish & Boat Commission's Basic Fish Culture School in June at Harrisburg. The graduating class completed many f SBMT' %\ napl"*J"'-F,'^'lf HP | **Ts!l& ' **• weeks of training at the H.R. Stackhouse School, Centre County. Commission President Ted Keir presented certificates of comple­ tion to the class members. The school marked many firsts in fish culture training. Duke Auman and Sheila Tucker are the first two women to com­ m » — •"» plete fish culture school in Pennsylvania and to serve as »> \. permanent fish culturists at our fish culture stations. This class is the first to complete training under the supervision Photographed for graduation were (front row) Jacob Daum, of a new training officer for the Bureau of Fisheries, Tom Craig Pugh, Rusty Garner, William Smoyer, Sheila Tucker, Di­ Cochran, and it is the last class to begin training under the vision of Trout Production Chief Jim Harvey, Lance McDowell, now retired training officer, Bill Kennedy. The class is the first (back row) Deputy Executive Director/Chief Counsel Dennis to hold its graduation in the Commission's Harrisburg head­ Guise, Commissioner Ted Keir, Bureau of Fisheries Director Del quarters. Graff, Al Lindenberger, Frank Pokol, Scott Fedel, Allen Boyles, Duke Auman and George Conley.

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater www.fish.state.pa.us Year 2001PFBC Photography Contest

PICTURE THIS! Your photograph in Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Magazine, in Commission publications, on the Commission's web site, and on Commission exhibits!

Rules The Year • The contest is open to amateur photographers (anyone who makes less than 2001 Pennsylvania Fish & Boat half one's annual income from taking and/or selling photographs). • Commission employees and volunteers and their immediate family members are Commission Photography Contest is not eligible. intended to foster a greater • Entries must be original works taken in Pennsylvania, and they must have been appreciation for Pennsylvania's fishing taken by the person entering the contest. • Entries must also show adherence to Pennsylvania fishing and boating laws and and boating, and aquatic resources. regulations. Contest winners will receive a • In photographs all boaters, and anglers in boats, must be wearing properly fit­ certificate, the limited-edition year ted, buttoned and zipped life jackets. 2001 trout stamp patch and the • Entrants are responsible for securing photo releases from identifiable subjects. • Entrants may submit only mounted 35mm color slides, color prints in sizes limited-edition year 2001 nongame 3 VJ"X5", 4"X6", 5"X7", or 8"xl0", or unmounted medium-format and large-format species patch. Honorable Mention transparencies. winners will receive a certificate and • All submissions must be in color-no black-and-white photos. • All submissions must be original-no duplicate slides or digital submissions. the limited-edition year 2001 nongame • No mounted, over-matted, framed or glassed prints will be accepted. species patch. • Retouched or electronically manipulated entries are not allowed. Winning entries and honorable • Please do not send negatives. • Each photo must include the entrant's name, address, phone number, location mentions may appear in a contest of the photograph, species identification (if applicable), and category, in addition feature article in a future issue of to a fully completed official entry form on this page for each category entered. Pennsylvania Angler & Boater. All • Participants are limited to a total of two entries per category. Multiple submis­ entries may also be used elsewhere sions are allowed, as long as entrants submit no more than two items per category. • The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission shall have the right to digitize and in the magazine, on the magazine's use all submissions for publishing, illustration, World Wide Web display, advertis­ cover, in Commission publications, on ing, trade, exhibitry and promotion, or any other use in any medium for any purpose the Commission's web site, and in without compensation. Entrants who want their materials returned must include a self-addressed, stamped Commission exhibits and other projects. envelope with the right amount of postage and appropriate packaging to safeguard The contest will run from May 2001 materials. Submissions that do not include return envelopes and postage will not through December 2001. be returned.

Complete this form with each entry and mail to: PFBC Photo Contest, PA Fish & Boat Commission, P.O. Box 67000, Harnsburg, PA 17106-7000. The deadline for the Commission's receiving entries is December 31, 2001. Categories Entrant's Name: Seasonal Fishing and/or Boating • Family Fishing and/or Boating a Reptiles and Amphibians (Animal closeups, Address: • or photos with the animals as the primary subject) • 4. Invertebrates (worms, aquatic insects, State: City: Zip:. crustaceans, mussels) • 5, Fishing & Boating Resources Phone: (primarily waterway scenic emphasis)

Office use only - Leave blank E-mail (if available): Category:Entry #:

Date:

Signature: This form may be photocopied. Mike Paules (left), Stewartstown, and Kevin Druckjacobus, caught these 26-inch, 5.25-pound (left) and 22-inch, 4-pound channel catfish in Lake Williams, York County. Both fish were taken on jig-and-minnow combos within 10 minutes of each other from the same hole. At 8:05 a.m. on the openingday of trout season, 8-year-old Nathan Kester caught this 21 -inch, 3-pound, 3-ounce rainbow trout. The action took place on Ontelaunee Creek, Lehigh County. Taylor Onkst, age 3, and her uncle Jim Hosgood display the 22-inch rainbow trout they caught at the Callitzin Sportsmen's Club. Nice trout!

Pleased with their trout season opening day success Ten-year-old Josh Hansen is all smiles with the this year were (from left) Hayden Matthews age nice walleye he caught in the Monongahela River. 8, Reese Matthews, age 10, and Dylan Snyder, Ethel Solinski, St. Benedict, PA, shows the 10- The 24.25-inch walleye nailed a live minnow. age 9. Their trout action took place at the Clarks pound, 4-ounce steelhead she caught in Lake Erie. Creek Children's Section, Dauphin County. DylanThe fish was 29 inches long. caught the biggest fish of the day, a 15.75-inch rainbow trout.