MAY 1965 —DELAWARE RIVER SHAD PENNSYLVANIA fifomtaijluattra Angltt FISH COMMISSION Published Monthly by the DIRECTORY PENNSYLVANIA FISH COMMISSION COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA EXECUTIVE OFFICE William W. Scranton, Governor ROBERT J. BIELO Executive Director •

GORDON TREMBLEY PENNSYLVANIA FISH COMMISSION Assistant Executive Director RAYMOND M. WILLIAMS, President -East Bangor EDWARD R. THARP ROBERT M. RANKIN, Vice President —Galeton , Assistant Executive Director GERARD J. ADAMS - -Hawley JOHN W. GRENOBLE — A Watercraft Safety Division JOSEPH M. CRITCHCTELD Confluence DOUGLAS MCWILLIAMS Ely8'' > WALLACE C. DEAN - Meadville R. STANLEY SMITH — Waynes^ WARREN W. SINGER HOWARD R. HEINY —Williamsport Assistant to Executive Director

PAUL F. O'BRIEN Administrative Officer i JOHN M. SMITH MAY, 1965 VOL. 34, NO Comptroller

GEORGE W. FORREST, Editor DIVISIONS Research and Fish Management KEEN Buss - -• Chief ConisniA Propagation and Distribution HOWARD L. FOX Superintendent 1 DELAWARE RIVER SHAD FISHING-Ben Callaway i$ Real Estate 4 RETURN OF ANOTHER NATIVE-THE AMERICAN SHAD OF GLEN SPENCER - .- Chief DELAWARE RIVER Engineering 9 THEY'RE CRAZY ABOUT SHAD-Charley Zaimes EDWARD MILLER ... Chief 12 ULTRA-LIGHT DYNAMITE AND SHAD RECIPES-Charley Za^ Law Enforcement 14 MR. SIBLEY BONES A SHAD-Margaret Karch Zaimes WILLIAM W. BRTTTON - Chief 16 ACTION AT LINESVILLE OPEN HOUSE-John S. Ogden Pathologist 18 BOATING With Robert G. MILLER ARTHUR BRADFORD ... Chief 20 TEN TIPS FOR TROUBLE-FREE SPINNING-Joseph Bates, Jr. • 22 VARIATIONS ON A FAMILIAR THEME-Chauncey K. Lively 24 CARP AT THEIR BEST-Edwin L. Arts REGION ONE S. CABLYLE SHELDON Warden Supervisor 26 NOTES FROM THE STREAMS Tionesta 16353 Phone: 814-755-3567 28 TIP-O'-THE-MONTH-C. Boyd Pfeiffer 29 SCHOOL'S OUT-Ned Smith REGION TWO MINTEB C. JONES Warden Supervisor Cover Photo—Ben Callaway R. D. 2, Somerset, Pa Phone: 814-445-4913 /n<" POSTMASTER: All 3579 form* to be returned to Dunlap Printing Co., REGION THREE Cherry and Juniper Sis., Philadelphia 7, Pa. CLAIR FLEEOER Warden Supervisor The PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER is published monthly by the Pennsylvania Fish Comrn^g 351 Terrace St., Honesdale, Pa., South Office Building, Harrisburg, Pa. Subscription: One year-$2.00; three years-$5.00; 23 ^ffl per single copy. Send check or money order payable to Pennsylvania Fish Commission. p¥ ,&& Phone: 717-253-3724 SEND STAMPS. Individuals sending cash do so at their own risk. Change of address should jf., us promptly. Furnish both old and new addresses. Second Class Postage paid at Harrisbuw and at additional mailing offices. . ^ REGION FOUR Neither Publisher nor Editor will assume responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or ill"5''^!''' while in their possession or in transit. Permission to reprint will be given provided we jpt*' m a u cr marked copies and credit is given material or illustrations. Communications pertaining to . £ rrf, ?*' HAROLD COBBIN Warden Supervisor material or illustrations should be addressed to the Pennsylvania Fish Commission, Harrisbu"" H. D. 2, Annville, Pa. Phone: 717-273-2601, Ex. 86 NOTICE: Subscriptions received and processed the 10th of each month will begin «" I. G. M. P.. 19003 second month following. DELAWARE RIVER SHAD FISHING

By BEN CALLAWAY Philadelphia Daily News

A BIG NET is a necessity in shad fishing, because the battle isn't over until the soft-mouthed shad is firmly entwined.

"HE return of a native presents a new challenge to an to the exclusion of bait. The way he thumps, then jumps, «nt ire generation of "amateurs." And the miraculous pulls with authority and runs with speed, his growing *od oj^-day revival of an old spring migratory run is army of addicted anglers includes trout transfers, bass ering what may well be the local "best bet" for fresh- buffs and walleye workers. fisnin These "Delaware River tarpon" or "poor man's Atlantic for -—«**igg- . Thi uee namname oUfi thmec speciespcuicsa iisa shadaiiau.. Thx i*e^ localw\.tue^ tfltn of ,(j? e new-found eexcitemen t is a lovely long stretch salmon" couldn't have picked a better place or time to ^ e Delaware River. stage their spectacular comeback. The 100-plus miles of sPo silver-plated gladiator is, indeed, a city-plagued Delaware shad water is within reasonable reach of a huge Oman's friend in need. The shad even prefers lures chunk of U. S. population.

1 to the species was upon crushed ice in the market. " since that first big 1961 showing, license plates from tn states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York ha moved towards the mighty Delaware where the t"* states converge. Since we're almost all "amateurs" at this particu'3 phase of local fishing then, because of its very newn^' it might be comforting to know, before our first n11 adventures, that more hooked shad escape than make into the net. Even the best shad fisherman, especia1' the bank-based spincaster, loses more than he lands- Overwhelming first choice for tackle is a light spinf'"* rig. Line test varies from two to eight pounds, but &*e those normally addicted to ultralight shenanigans ha often switched to heavier gear rather than fight the fr" tration of continually losing husky shad on light line. For the ultimate in enjoyment, and where the fish-fil'e water is shallow enough (four feet or less in depth)' fly fling is worth a try. On this, an 8 to 9 foot fly rod, of about five ounceS weight, with a sinking weight-forward line is reC^ mended, along with plenty of backing and a sturdy ' foot leader. The blossoming of interest in shad fishing has led hundreds of new lures swamping the market. Yet, fat a these creations, each locale each season seems to have °n "hot" item which everybody is using or wants to ^ For the Delaware River, generally, a "shad dart" W" THE "HOT LURE" varies from place to place and from time to time, c hence a full tackle box of assorted shad artificials is essential in small, tapered soft metal body with tail—is the ch°' the angling arsenal of the compleat fisherman. over flies and metal spinners. Combinations of red, ^1" and yellow are most popular as an inventory of Dela*^ River shad fishermen's tackle boxes will attest. Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York, Yet, almost every angler who's given shad fishing seri°^ overly-rich with humans and generally regarded as under- study has become convinced that the presentation of t(1 endowed with piscatorial population, welcome any added lure rather than the details of design, including coW' action for freshwater devotees. And the shad has indicated are most important. Although there is no particular & that rod-and-reel pressure is probably the least of his in casting, there is one basic, universal rule: problems. Go slow and low-fish the lure deep. Distance ' The Delaware River is paralleled along much of both casting is helpful, of course. The longer the cast, vf sides by good highways, but there are many more miles more water covered on such a wide flowage as & of rugged terrain which separate the men from the boys- Delaware. climbing and scrambling down steep, wooded sides to Proper fishing for shad means the lure is on or ne3 find seldom-fished water. the bottom. Using light line (eight pounds or less) ^, Depending upon your approach to the subject, Dela­ get some distance with the tiny lures. Yet, this ^ ware shad can be considered either the oldest or the necessarily mean loss of much terminal tackle. Be Pe newest nearby fishery. Recorded catches date back more pared: tote a well-stocked tackle box. than a century. Entire communities' economies were once The real skill comes in playing the fish. The anato1^ largely dependent upon the annual "silver tides" which of these anadromous acrobats includes a paper-thin motjt surged upriver. By the turn of the century, the shad The angler who hooks one in the corner of the lip ° provided the Atlantic seaboard's most valuable river heavy line may possibly strike a bone, getting back fishery. Yet, by some 25 years ago, the previous huge straightened (and empty) hook. But anywhere else, * runs had dwindled down to a precious few. Pollution soft tissue is such that setting the hook too hard at *J! from Trenton, Philadelphia, Camden and Chester was con­ initial strike, or "horsing" a husky shad netward & sidered the most likely culprit in killing off almost all more likely simply tear out the hook. of the previous abundance. Now, as the pollution has Playing the fish requires a tight, but not unyield'1* subsided somewhat, the shad run has shown a spectacular line. That involves a steady hand, a smooth drag- revival. proper knot attaching line to lure, and no nicks in c Because of those 25 or so "nothing years" which pre­ line. The latter should be examined carefully and ofte , ceded the big spring comeback of 1961, shad bypassed The lighter the line, the more often the inspection, almost an entire generation of anglers. Their only exposure course. In deciding upon which line to use, the ang1

PENNSYLVANIA ANGt$ torn between casting distance (two pounds works for concentrations of other anglers, letting them do his °nders with these tiny shad darts) and strength (eight scouting for him. l°Unds much the better to do a big shad in, or shaking To make the most of the spring shad run (only nature , Se from a rocky river bottom). Some among those limits the catch, since there are no restrictions as to °osing heavier line have employed a sinker some minimum size or maximum number), the serious shad K) a a ° 12 inches above the jig, adding distance to the cast fisherman will work the early part of the season (late s w keeping the lure lower in the water. Swivels are April and early May) from Yardley up to Uhlerstown Qom nsed, with line attached directly to the jig. and Upper Black Eddy; the middle (May-June) portion y hen trolling, manv tackle combinations are often used of the season upriver from that stretch and the late (June- 'id l» • • July) season from Milford up, in what is considered the neavier lines pose no big problems. Many variations shad's primary spawning area. i used, with spoons up front and shad darts on the There are many choice locations from Matamoras down , tom and most often sinkers 36 inches or more above t to Stroudsburg which offer smooth, wide and deep water ani fe ^un^ess a dropper is used) since the boat-borne with riffles and islands. Included in this is a 40-mile g|er is usually fishing water much deeper than his u stretch of ideal floating water. a"k-based brother. There is a tremendous variety of water and scenery , ut here, too, the universal rule of shad fishing-work t along the mighty Delaware, where twin branches trickle e lure slowly and deep-still applies. And another nera out of the Catskills and eventually become a major sea­ as l rule for shad success is to strike back lightly, so til T t0 tear out tne ho°k an(* tnus *0se the Waf ^efore way, where unspoiled green beauty above lowers itself Rattle really begins. to dirty, smoky steel-and-concrete urban ugliness. There also is a variety of fish in the upper stretches during fe ] man in tne ^oat may °^ten 'ose nis ^sb a^ter be l^s the fight is already won. This is because the shad the late stages of the shad run. Add shad to the gamey many other fish, "spooks" at sight of the boat, and gauntlet which runs through smallmouth bass, brown 'Oak, es one last, quick lunge for freedom. trout, walleye and many lesser species. itit Ut *e wading fisherman must try to lead his adversary This salty addition to the Delaware's fishbag is wel­ Osli a quiet pool, using gentle persuasion to nudge the come, indeed. As an anadromous fish, the shad spends 0l,t of fast water where the current multiplies the most of its life in the salt but returns to freshwater to feal Weight in putting heavy stress on light tackle. spawn in major areas above the Water Gap. The mature his return of a native is really a revival. Past history shad spends three or four years somewhere in salt water 00 s«ad includes references dating back more than 100 before returning to complete the cycle. In September Vears The peak year apparently was 1896 when some and October, countless three-to-seven inch young shad and°rtS tel1 of tnree mimon shad nettecI on tne Delaware migrate downstream, in their first trip to the sea, in such " others indicate 19 million pounds of shad that year. quantities near the surface at times as to look like s etWeen the 1930s and the big bounce back of 1961 raindrops. liad 0ame - ' for L so scarce that hardly anybody even looked The white shad, native to the Atlantic Coast from the theiri - Most obvious reason for the revival is improve- St. Lawrence to Florida, has been successfully introduced iient lr> the pollution problem. to the West Coast, some of the original transplant stock tr,;' ulti-million dollar projects at Philadelphia and Wil- coming from New Jersey's Navesink River, in which, S n an Qa j° ^ other corrective programs at Trenton, ironically, shad are now extinct. The male averages 2 to 3 sid anc* Chester have cleaned up the Delaware con- pounds, the preferred roe 4 to 5 pounds, with individual ab ye 'y. Increased flows in the recent vintage shad big shad up to a record 13M pounds. tirr, S e certainly played a part (high water at the There are a lot of questions still unanswered about lr>ie c . - . n this salty spring visitor. But what we do know about forr k migration diluted impurities). Further, timing atir° lbot i h tbe bl'Ik °^ tne migration upstream in the spring him—the thrash of his first strike, the splash of his clean i the re bee turn of the baby shad seaward in the fall have leap, the power of his pull and the speed of his run, is •>,, avorable in these same recent years. enough to give good reason to call the Delaware a great 6 u s j\tj P tream spring migration of the American (or river and to call fishing for shad great fun. to.., lc> °r white) shad is, of course, of primary concern And it's enough cause to put aside other "pressing r t0 i, °d and reel sportsman. It's not really synchronized duties" this spring to pursue a shad run which just can't— 0rn Ur,]p °f a bush, flowery though such prose can be, or won't—waib W °y coincidence. Rather, it's a matter of water erat t0 g^ ure. When the water temperature reaches 55 k e t e 8rees, the upstream migration starts. The wanner ater ab0 > the faster the shad move. First arrivals, just Sgc 'he Trenton-Yardley area, are normally in the 0r fisu third week of April. Since the real mass of Onie Scu0rB s in one main migration, the angler who really res 111 %n this short season is the man who locates the any tration early. He may do this by fishing below riffl es or any obstructions, or he may simply watch MAK 1965 fill %

RETURN OF ANOTHER NATIVE u re uj re: o NCE upon time—in fact up until near the turn of the Hi last century—there were no smallmouth bass or walleyed The American Shad Ve pike in the Delaware River. Nor were there any rainbow fu trout, or brown trout, or bluegills, or channel catfish. sh A horrible state of affairs, you might think? or Well, not exactly. Because in those days the river almost literally filled each year from top to bottom with of the w, a great silvery fish known as the American shad, Alosa N, sapidissima. This largest member of our herring family— which sometimes reaches a weight of eight pounds or more—ascends rivers to spawn in fresh water. And it apparently thinks nothing of journeying some 300 miles Delaware River upstream to find a particular situation—possibly the exact scene of its birth some years previous. Anyway, shortly after the turn of the century and after the newly introduced smallmouths, walleyes, etc., had By JAMES WESTMAN,* WILLIAM KELLY,** irrupted into great abundance, the shad run in the Dela­ MARK CHITTENDEN, JR.,* HOWARD LOEB** ware suddenly collapsed. Only a skeleton force of adults ascended the river each spring, and only a skeleton force of young shad descended towards the sea during summer and autumn. catch them from a boat or by wading the river. And 1 Meanwhile, human civilization had been dumping more can even stalk them and tease them into striking. , and more of its sewage and industrial wastes into the And what do you do with these almost tireless, leaP1 river—and most particularly in the Philadelphia-Camden- gamesters after you catch them? \ Chester area—until several miles of water near Philadelphia Well now. Have you ever eaten shad roe fried ^ , I became almost devoid of dissolved oxygen during the bacon? Or have you eaten roasted shad browned J summer months. right? If so, enough said! This state of affairs lasted for almost half a century when, in 1961, big runs of shad again began to appear in The Why and the How h>[ the Delaware. Needless to say, this dramatic return of a native , prompted some major researchers—particularly in view "The Poor Man's Salmon" & the reservoir construction that is now going on in $ Now this dramatic comeback of the shad might not Delaware River and of the millions of anglers who have stirred a ripple of interest outside professional circles within easy access and who might be eager to fish had it not been for the fact that during its period of the "poor man's salmon." J scarcity in the Delaware, anglers had elsewhere discovered Ergo, our research over the past three years < the American shad to be a superb game fish. In the been along two lines: (1) The life history and ecology Connecticut River, for instance—where shad become c the American shad in the Delaware River, with parti j(I< "bottle-necked" below the Enfield dam during their up­ reference to pollution and future reservoir construction stream migration—increasing hordes of anglers swarmed to and (2) how to catch the American shad in the Delav this site and stood elbow to elbow while casting their River—up to 40 or more per day. spinning lures of colored beads and tiny jigs into the But first things first. swift-moving water below the dam. In the Susquehanna River, anglers patiently trolled then- Ascent of the Adults iH> lures below the Conowingo Dam, and many were re­ During the month of March, adult shad swarm \\ warded. Delaware Bay and are caught in the nets of comme* But neither of these rivers has offered the bonanza that hit the Delaware in 1961 and has endured since ° Department of Environmental Science, Rutgers—the State VJniv New Brunswick, N. J. J}f' that time. Because here, truly, the American shad has "• N. Y. State Fish Laboratory, New York State Conservati"" become "the poor man's salmon." It can be taken by partment. „plj 000 These studies have been supported, in part, by the Delaware ^0- trolling, by spin-casting, and by wet or dry fly. You can Basin Commission and by the Sport Fishing Institute of Washington,

PENNSYLVANIA ANG ht*\ *ermen. These are shad in their prime, even though eir roes (eggs) may be far from maturity, during the first week of April the shad reach Trenton, e^ Jersey, and proceed upriver . Twice weekly-or weekly-samples of these adults at p^bertville, New Jersey, during 1963 and 1964, have pealed that they were from three years of age (males) P to r six years of age (males and females). This e tj* arch has also revealed that few shad-if any-of he 1963 run of adults had been in the river since the )6ar of their birth. Some of the scales from the 1964 ^n< however, indicated that a small proportion of the ^ had spawned once before-either in the Delaware r some other river. ^ Within two weeks after the adult shad had reached ^bertville, they were being taken as far up as Lacka- l^n, Pennsylvania-some twenty miles above Port Jervis, e^ York. This happened in both 1963 and 1964. t, °y May 7, both in 1963 and 1964, shad were taken in 6 f. East Branch of the Delaware-some three hundred miles from the sea. U ti P°n the basis of our observations, adult shad con- j^6 to go by Lambertville for a period of six weeks or C°!!7Unless cut down by Pollution in the Philadelphia- ,aitlden-Chester area-and proceed upriver to spawn, l!jjy in the area above Delaware Water Gap. is re " is in contrast to early historical reports, which CQrd in shad spawning almost throughout the river, even 'tidle Water below Trenton. Spawning Areas t)i *Ving the spring seasons of 1961 and 1962-or before e S)j Present study was begun-float trips down the Delaware Sgested that shad were spawning heavily from a few Co'? S°Uth of Delaware Water GaP northward t0 Han" N Y ev . - - Spawning seemed to take place chiefly during tjw^SS in pools or runs, but sometimes during the day- Under heavy clouds and rain. ok Uring 1963 and 1964, we had much more time to rve &* spawning behavior, when the chief spawning Unds fa Were apparently again in the upper river. In w a ' e finally chose a stretch on the East Branch just w miles above Hancock for intensive study.

Spawning Behavior sjj ,Is a wonderous experience to observe the American {);„, as it: follows its destiny upriver to the scenes of its Severa the l years previous and some 300 miles from Sea a]m - It passes through several miles of stinking— 0St ir, Wa, describable-filth of human civilization in the tidal s fjn ,. °f the lower river; it fights rapid after rapid; and abo y reacnes tne c'ear waters in the highland valleys w Ve the Water Gap, and in the shadows of the Catskill Un ° tains. edd6re' durin8 the daytime, the shad usually seek a deep y r poo the ° '> where they mill around slowly and await tifti approach of evening. Sometimes they circle and some- they just slowly move upstream and downstream. 6y ave nacl nttie t0 eat des ite 1 tlie i ^ ' P the' " hunger, during FISHING FROM the bank or wading are popular in reaching for n ° g trek. For there is much less animal plankton excellent shad catches on the Delaware River.

1965 temperature than by quantity of river flow at this of year. A In other words, this return of a native—this bonanZ* the poor man's salmon in the Delaware—would appear be due chiefly to the conditions of the water in the P* ; delphia area on the one hand, and the time of arrive1 the young in this area, on the other. But more this later. Meanwhile, let's pause from the scientific and spec Ir tive, and consider that very exciting matter of catc" A. sapidissima on spinning gear and fly rod.

II How to Catch Delaware shad hit these darts hard plus many other types of spoons 5 and spinners. While lures and presentation are the secret of succe 4 . shad fishing in the Delaware, there are other factors are obviously at work. Water temperature, for insta , and other food in the river, and their drive has been con­ may be an important one in the New Jersey sectiOIJ , cerned with other things. But if easy food is encountered the river. If not, then how can you account for the —on the bottom, midwater or top—they will often take a that during April and early May of 1963, you coul" J I pass at it. shad with ease on spinning gear in the big waterS As evening approaches, the shad begin to move slowly Scudders Falls near Trenton, N. J., but that during i downstream to the shallows at the rear of the pool where same period in 1964 you just watched them go by *L the water may be only a foot or two deep. And as the philosophic frustration? The water temperature? darkness gathers they begin to race up and down and degrees lower during 1964! . $ back and forth. Yet the water temperature in the New York see Suddenly there will be a splashing and rattling sound, doesn't seem to be so important. Perhaps the shad and if you quickly cast the beam of a flashlight you may less tense and more hungry? or perhaps we are beco11 see two or three shad in the spawning act. And if you guilty of that horrible scientific sin known as "an study matters closely, you may find that the eggs sink pomorphism?" Oh, well. It's a complicated subject' to the bottom, where they become trapped under the ever- First the Lures present stones. ril '" The activity continues far into the night, but by day­ There's plenty of time between now and Aprl | light next morning the shad will again be found milling manufacture the "killer diller" lures. And we sug or cruising in the eddies or pools. Presumably the same this be done not only for the personal satisfaction j shad spawn night after night, for the female apparently derived, but because commercial lures are often des'S ripens only a portion of her eggs, possibly a tablespoonful to catch fishermen rather than fish. u or two, at a time. Anyway, the accompanying illustrations portray ^ The Young Are Born best lures we have used and some of the results ga therefrom. Within a week or so, if all goes well, a very small propor­ tion of the eggs hatch and a very small proportion of the Next the Presentation v"!: young survive. Otherwise, the upper reaches of the Dela­ Shad tend to stick to the channels in the river, e ^ ware would be packed solid with young shad. though they may roam around a bit—particularly "^ Anyway, the young—which soon resemble eyes, trans­ after sundown. Ergo, you concentrate on the chann parent pins—quickly transform into the shape of miniature whether in rapids or in long "pools." Then, after ha .. adults. They then school up and apparently begin slowly figured out where the main channel runs, you are re to move downriver backwards while picking at zooplank- to operate. r ton (miscroscopic animal life) and surface foods. This In the big, fast waters of the lower river, spinning o flf accounts for the so-called "dimpling" of the young shad. is almost a "must," and this can be used from a boa with high waders. In fact, a float trip downriver is P To Be or Not to Be ably the surest method to locate and catch shad. . M tnese Now here, according to our researchers, is the crucial The so-called shad "dart" is very effective in , iei stage in the life history of the Delaware shad. For if waters, but so also are the large nymphs when weig , ( these little fish—the young of the year—reach the Philadel­ with a clamp-on sinker a couple of feet in advance ° . phia-Camden-Chester area before late autumn they will lure. The important thing is to get the lure very probably all die. Because the pollution is so great in this to the bottom during the crucial stage of the presenta area that there is usually not enough dissolved oxygen in The casting presentation with spinning gear is .s the water before that time to support fish life. And the called a "sweep" and consists of casting the lure a oxygen condition seems to be determined more by water the current or a bit upwards, allowing it to sink, and t J5^ PENNSYLVANIA ANC1 Ending the drift in the line so that the lure operates delicate mouth. (An understatement—Editor.) g °n an arched pendulum. Do not jig or otherwise "tease" When using a light fly rod in the upper Delaware, j e We unless desperate. The shad usually strikes the where you can use some footwork, prepare to do some ,Ure when it is between "4 o'clock" and "6 o'clock" chasing downstream. In fact, the unofficial world's record dovv*stream. would seem to be close to a half-mile! The crucial position, of course, whether standing in the Trolling Ver °r fishing from a boat, is at the edge of the channel 0 tftat the lure at "6 o'clock" is still in the channel. Trolling the pools or runs with an outboard and with When a shad strikes, it does so rather gently. In fact, darts or a small spinner is the most consistent method u m for catching shad. In fact, big scores can frequently result a° ay think you have bottom again. But the fish has J*«cat.e mouth and there is no need to strike back. (P. S. from this method. A 3 to 5.5 h.p. outboard motor is 18 c recommended, and the method works just as well near an account for a great saving of lures!) Hancock, N. Y., as in the lower Delaware. Our best nyway, jf y have hooked a shad, all doubts will OU returns have been gained when using Mepps spinners in anish forthwith. For the strength, swiftness, and tireless- ess nickel finish, with upwards of 130 feet of line. f of A. sapidissima is something to behold ... and eel! , Furthermore, it can leap clear of the water, "grey- Fly Fishing .°Und," and "tailwalk." This is particularly true of shad . 'he lower Delaware. Because here the fish is fresh The fly rod comes into its own in the upper Delaware, 0ltl the sea with all of the weight, potential energy and the section above the Water Gap. The best lures we °We* necessary for the long trek up to its spawning have found are the small nymphs, or flies, portrayed in bounds the accompanying illustration. B' ut even when it has reached these upper regions of But even in the Upper Delaware, spinning gear is also th j e "ver, it still has much in reserve-for spawning and effective. So we suggest that both types of gear be uiany more weeks of vigorous life. at hand. The "sweep" described earlier is very effective when Playing the Fish presenting a nymph on a fly rod, and we recommend M 'ess you are able to follow a hooked shad downriver plenty of backing. But there are other techniques that Mt. h'°u t drowning yourself, it is best to have plenty of can pay off handsomely. This is particularly true when g ht-p0un(j tes(. jine on tne reel; perhaps 150 yards or fishing the East Branch, where fly fishing for shad reaches n re' Because you're going to have to "persuade" the the highest degree of challenge and sophistication. Here, j 'T0116 that always seeks the current—upstream to your in the crystal clear waters in the shadows of the Catskills, in one can actually search for schools of shad, stalk them, a . g net. Do this most gently, and prepare to spend ot of time in the doing. For the shad has a very and "tease" them into striking.

TROLLING the upper Delaware is a consistent method for catching shad.

^UY- 1965 the same principle of presentation that we have describe earlier, except that in this instance the lure can be P° tioned more accurately and the reactions of the fish ci be observed. But to get back to our story of the native's return.

Ill The Evidence h As the adult shad gradually spend themselves- l spawning and almost starving they become "slab sided' and emaciated until they are only shadows of their for*" selves. In fact, they may lose from 40% to 70% or m°r of their former body weight. Now, it would seem apparent from our research that shad which go far up the river to spawn—say ab"v Barryville, N. Y.-just don't have enough energy left * make it back to the sea. Furthermore, it appears •*§ those which might spawn much further downriver wou reach the Philadelphia area during summer or ear" autumn only to be killed by the very low oxygen contel1 in the water, which persists there at this time. Selecting A Pool In other words, it would seem that the adult shad h»ve To be consistently successful in this sophisticated sport, only a small chance of winning their way back to the Se'1' you must first of all discover pools with shad in them for one reason or another. , and which can be waded. Furthermore, you must be able The evidence seems obvious: Countless numbers ° to get close to the fish. dead adult shad have been observed in the upper DeIr Impossible you say? No. Because with a good pair of ware during late summer; and lethal oxygen conditio"5 polarizing sun glasses and with careful persistence, you have been recorded to exist over many years in the can actually see the fish. But a school of 50 or more shad Phila­ resting quietly near the bottom a few yards away from delphia area from about mid-spring to mid-autumn. you can remain "hidden" from sight even though the What of the Future? smallest fish in the school is not much less than 20 The future of A. sapidissima in the Delaware w°uii inches long. The first indication is very often the aware­ appear to be precarious if not downright dubious. ?° ness of a smokey-blue patch of "something" towards the instance, even as more and more sewage wastes c01" bottom. under treatment in the Philadelphia-Camden area, so &e ste Stop right there! With more peering, the outline of there more and more people and more and more wa 0 a deeply forked tail or two can be sorted out of the blue to be treated. And so also is there more and m ^ mist. You have now found a school of shad, and the industry. time has come to test the tackle. Then again, there is the certainty of more and **f. reservoirs. The Tock's Island reservoir, for example, wh'c Again the Presentation will very shortly be under construction, will dam PJl The ingredients of a well presented cast are simple. Delaware a few miles above the Water Gap and back ^ Carefully, slowly wade to a point directly opposite, or the water all the way to Port Jervis, N. Y. And whet&*j very slightly downstream, from the main body of the or not a fishway will be constructed to allow passage ° school. Place your fly at least six feet upstream from the the shad is not known by these researchers. leading edge of the school, or six feet above the fish if But if the shad should be blocked from access to & a single. A rather loose cast with plenty of slack is best, upper Delaware, and if water quality conditions do "" since this gives the fly a moment or two to sink a few greatly improve in the Philadelphia-Camden area, &?[ inches before the current puts a belly in the line and there is every reason to conclude that the spectac«'3 causes the fly to "swim" downstream at current speed. return of a native-the American shad in the DelaWarf Watch the fly closely, and make sure that it is "swim­ River-will be a short-lived thing. Perhaps we could ci ming" so that you can feel the slight line pressure on the it a "flash in the pan"—with no pun intended. rod tip. If all goes correctly, the fly will sweep down­ Meanwhile, to quote an old cliche: "Where there ' stream head first. Shad will often hit as the fly starts to life there is hope." And there is also every reason to c° swing, or they may follow the fly around the arc and elude that "the poor man's salmon" will start ascend1 hit just before the fly stops motionless below you. Occa­ the Delaware a few weeks hence. It should reach La sionally, a fish can be tempted to hit by twitching the fly bertville, N. J., during the first week of April, and t a bit, both during the drift and after it comes to rest East Branch during the first week of May. i, below you. But isn't this where we came in?— From New ^ Actually, as you may have concluded, this is precisely Conservationist.

] 8 PENNSYLVANIA ANG L« 'ftOUT fishermen of Eastern Pennsylvania are simply Then they went downstream, stepped into the water, forming a human chain shoulder to shoulder, and walked nuts about shad. toward the brush barrier, driving the spawning shad These admirers are divided into two categories. First, ahead of them. ere is the clan of dyed-in-the-wool trout anglers who "Recent years have had trouble finding an isolated pool When thousands of the fish had been herded into the . "ich they could fish in the early season. Second, there shallows below the barrier, the settlers and Indians simply ,S ^e fraternity of fishermen who formerly cluttered the reached into the water and flipped the fish to the river alks of trout streams on opening day just because there bank where the women and children were waiting to sort Vasn and clean the catch. 't anything else to fish for except suckers. Ni°W , both groups are happy. The inveterate trout Stream pollution was no problem for the early Penn- e ntb'usias t no longer has any trouble finding plenty of sylvanians but as time passed and the industrialization lc*e open stretches of trout stream which he can work of the Keystone State forged ahead the waters of the 0 his heart's content, uninhibited by the former intruders. Delaware became fouled with the by-products of civiliza­ tion. The spring spawning runs grew smaller and smaller, Wh,er e have the crowds gone? Thhey'r e strung out along more than 100 miles of the especially after the turn of the century. In the late 1940s the Delaware shad were hardly worth elaware Riyer an(j they're having a ball, catching shad at range from two to eight pounds, occasionally bigger. bothering about. In 1950, the shad run reached an abys- they9re crazy about

ey re boating and beaching these silver-sided anadro- Us ocean beauties with such regularity and in such libers that shad fever has become a seasonal disease. SHAD! , Welcome virus for the area economy, too, for when the . ad season starts the cash registers ring loudly and often Overside sporting goods stores, bait shops, boat liveries, te's, hotels, restaurants and taverns. Best of all, as far as the confirmed trout angler is con- attled> the revival of shad fishing has taken pressure off i e trout streams, thus providing a double-barreled °nanza. T By CHARLEY ZAIMES a he shad is a cooperative fish, providing plenty of ^tion for the spinning rod fisherman and the fly rod ad- Photos By Margaret Karch Zaimes Ct 0{ With equal fervor and without favor. But the spirit t)i Operation ends when the fish takes the lure. From ^ n °ri, the fisherman is his sworn enemy and the shad to an? Put as much water as possible between himself mally low point. Fred Lewis and his late brother, Bill

the gUy With the rod. Lewis, of Lambertsville, N. J., continued to operate the to /Zz'ing i°ng runs are characteristic, so it's imperative shad fishery begun by their father and uncle in 1890 in ave a full spool of line on the reel. the New Hope-Lambertville pool, kept up the catch is he taking of shad on rod and reel in the Delaware records maintained by their father. These statistics show ti relatively new sport that has come into its own in that in 1950 several casts of their nets failed to produce sh j?ast three years. However, there's nothing new about a single shad. U ' Records left by the early Moravian settlers in They did take a few in the next two years but in 1953 ^ 'ehem underscore the importance of shad in those the score again dropped to zero. However, the next year ttj L ,T^e Indians taught their white neighbors the showed a notable upturn in the catch and it has been °f planting a fresh shad in each hill of corn to as- getting better every year, running into the thousands \*__ a bountiful crop. The redskins also showed the again since 1960. Here was proof positive that state en­ j'vians how to smoke the shad for later eating. forcement of the Clean Streams Act was beginning to v s iously, the need for shad was considerable so the pay off! ett ler s fQr didn't bother with sport fishing. They joined Basically, there are four common methods of taking s With the Indians and built huge brush barriers shad. First and most productive, of course, is the seining ey placed across a shallow stretch of the river. technique used by the commercial fishermen who market

1965 their catch. At one time this was a highly profitable, productive spawning pools are at Milford, Lackavva" though seasonally restricted, business. and Narrowsburg. Today, the required investment in both equipment and By far the most popular lure for the spin fisherman• know-how has drastically reduced the scope of commer­ the weighted jig known as the shad dart. Actually. ' cial shad fishing in the Delaware and it does not repre­ just a variation of the old Quilby minnow. The darts a sent a serious threat to the sportsmen. available in several body styles and sizes. The most cfl The second method is by rod and reel from the river mon features a white body with red head and white bu bank. The third is by rod and reel from a boat and the or calf tail. These are easy to cast without addition fourth is bowfishing which is finding increasing popu­ weight and are easily trolled. larity because of the shad's proclivity for cruising just Fly rod fans prefer salmon-sized streamers which U1 under the surface in the late stages of the spawning work just below the surface. season. A few dry fly addicts have reported success using l*1*, From mid-April until mid-May the shad schools move white flies fished dry but I can't vouch for this myse upriver from pool to pool, pausing sometimes for a day or never having tried it nor having seen it. It's perfe^ • two of rest. It's at these times that fishing is best in the plausible, though, inasmuch as shad will frequently ta lower reaches of the Delaware. Typically good pools are a trolled lure at the surface. at New Hope-Lambertville, Upper Black Eddy, Easton, Among the spin fishermen there's some argument "v Martins Creek, Foul Rift, and Belvidere. whether the lure should be retrieved rapidly or slo*-. The longest season, however, is enjoyed by the anglers There are some who insist that the only sure-fire met*' who frequent the spawning pools from Milford to Nar- is to retrieve so slowly that the lure barely moves al°^ rowsburg. Here, the shad can be found in surprising the river bottom. The other approach is to whip * numbers from mid-April to late June. Three of the most handle of your reel as fast as you can turn it. The there are those who prefer a rate of retrieve somewbe between these two extremes. I've experienced except'0 to all these contentions. I recall a sunny morning on the junction pool at La<* i waxen. I had been casting for about three hours and h3 boated seven shad when I decided to rest and have smoke. Setting my spinning rod against the transom the boat I proceeded to light up. While I did this, the dart settled to the river There was just enough current flowing under the anchor

SHAD FISHERY—Workers bring in net with fair catch of shad and herring off Lewis Island in New Hope-Lambertville pool of Delaware River. (Photo by Margaret Kerch Zaimes)

HEFTING THE CATCH-Peter Nestor and Jon Zaimes of Allentown ponder the weight of these American white shad taken by commercial nets in Delaware River off Lewis Island in the New Hope-Lambertville pool. (Photo by Margaret Karch Zaimes)

E 10 PENNSYLVANIA A N G L °at to lift the lure off the bottom and hold it almost run but for the most consistent results fish the deep pools. g0tionless, perhaps swinging just a bit with the stream Highways parallel the river along practically its entire length, making virtually every stretch accessible. In ad­ n c. any event, I was enjoying the second puff of the dition to state-owned access ramps, there are many pri­ t^rette when I saw the rod tip begin to dance. The vate liveries and launching sites along the Delaware. el screamed. Line sizzled out against the pressure of Are shad good to eat? Definitely yes. Shad are ad­ tl, mittedly bony, but the subtle flavor of this fighting fish ^ '^enty minutes later, I boated a five-pound roe shad. is considered by many to excel that of most other fishes. rfPPy ending for an accidental strike! Covered with bacon strips, seasoned with just a bit of n salt and pepper inside the fish and oregano flaked over v^ ce then, I've deliberately used this same technique a 2 a fair measure of success. A word of warning, the top, then baked slowly in a tightly covered pan (three 0 hours at 250°) the shad becomes a gourmet's delight. yo fgh. Be sure the reel drag is set lightly. If it isn't, Ur c, e apt to see your favorite rod disappear downstream Despite the fact that the shad has been around a long ??ing after a trophy shad. time, there's a lot we don't know about his living habits. W,1 Private and governmental studies are currently under way tli en trolling for shad, work your lure well behind e to fill in this knowledge gap. In the years ahead, we tQ k°at. I prefer a minimum of 75 yards. This can be ^ °"v, however, if there are more than a few boats should know more about his migrations, his diet, etc. In a °, ln§ the same pool. At such times it's better to anchor the meantime, the fishermen along the Delaware are con­ d cast. tent to know that the shad are back. ^ he taking of shad is by no means confined to the Starting early in April and continuing through June, ,J7 ln a boat. Thousands of Pennsylvania, New York the shad move from the Atlantic to their upriver spawn­ TH ew Jersey anglers catch shad from the river bank. ing beds. Bulge-bellied roe shad deposit their eggs and ihp J—-»-.r "--&—- >——• --- — - n> . a the obliging buck shad spread their milky sperm to fer­ ^ ccepted technique is akin to casting for trout. Cast tilize the eggs. S°nally upstream and vary your retrieving speed. In August and September observant fishermen can see H°^ deeply should the lure be worked? Well, every e has its exception. My own rule of thumb, which has millions of young shad, already grown to about four Ve and ^ fairly reliable, is to fish deep in the early season inches, swimming back to the ocean where they will gorge h gradually move toward the surface as the season themselves until they are big enough to swim upriver and Pro greSses. emulate the reproductive process of their parents. Vs^j ere should you fish for shad? They are often taken Thus the annual spawning cycle goes on and on. And e moving through the riffles during the spawning the Delaware anglers continue to go crazy over shad!

^-1965 11 Ultra-Light DYNAMITE Shad

By CHARLEY ZAIMES

Photos fay MARGARET KARCH ZAIMES

Some like trout. Some like bass and others prefer P!*<' • But along the Delaware River, where shad have bee" food fish for more than 200 years, it's only natural ir> It- thlllleJ No. 1 taste tickler is the American whittVe shad- *••«• - —W..W — *..w**i in m^, 4 1U.1.1H.U1I "'" "** < *t subtle succulence lends itself to a variety of cuU11 achievements. It Most shad recipes call for prolonged baking to 'i°f' jtio"' the many bones which characterize the shad. An excep however, is the broiled shad recipe favored by Bob Sib of New Hope. Bob possesses the rare ability to bone HERRING LURE—This tiny gold imitation minnow is a favorite of herring fishermen on the Delaware. shad. Consequently, he is able to enjoy the special fla imparted by broiling and doesn't have to worry about o solving the bones. Here's his recipe: Picture a fish that strikes with the force of a smallmouth bass, dances with the agility and acrobatic elegance of a 1 boned shad rainbow trout and—on light tackle—fights with the freight 1 cup white burgundy wine train power of the big white shad. Now you have a perfect 6 strips Danish bacon description of the herring. 1 lemon In the lower reaches of the Delaware River hundreds Place two halves of boned shad (skin side down, ofl of Eastern Pennsylvania anglers have found the herring sheet of aluminum foil. Bend four sides of foil up to Vx, an early season fringe benefit that is hard to beat. vent spillage. Squeeze lemon into deep dish and • , Huge schools of herring move into the river in April, half cup of wine. Marinate shad by brushing bler>d arriving like clockwork two weeks after the first shad have lemon juice and wine onto fish. Lay three strips of bac moved through on their way to the upriver spawning beds. lengthwise on each fillet. Slowly pour remaining half cl Unlike the shad, however, the herring end their migratory of wine on fish and allow to marinate for at least one P°\ movement just north of the New Hope-Lambertville pool. Then broil for 15 minutes and serve. Ideal companion dl From there all the way down to the Philadelphia area is steamed asparagus with Hollandaise sauce. these testy scrappers can be found in abundance in every section of the river. Their length, averaging 10 to 12 • o a inches, belies their scrappy performance on the business E. A. Schwartz of Allentown has a recipe called "Ba" „ end of your terminal tackle. Shad—Grandmaw's Way." It's the long, slow way bu Admittedly a bony fish, the herring is nevertheless a pays off in flavor and you don't have to pick the bo11 coveted food fish in many Delaware area homes. They You eat the whole works. Here it is: can be eaten cooked, dried, salted or smoked. 1 shad For the ultimate in sport, herring fishermen use ultra­ Bacon strips light spinning or fly rods. The most common lure is a IC bare golden hook featuring a broad shank. Also popular Slit belly with scissors or sharp, narrow-blade kn' 1 al«' is the tiny golden metal minnow imitation. Both are readily taking care not to cut the roe (egg sacs) if fish is fen" available in regional sporting goods stores. If it is, remove the roe first and place in freezer ¥ One of the herring hot spots is the long river pool ex­ another meal. They're a treat seasoned and fried in butt tending from Trenton north to Scudders Falls. This water Scale your fish. Remove dorsal and anal fins by cut" is readily accessible from the Pennsylvania Fish Commis­ in on both sides of fin toward backbone. Also cut off 'ie i sion's access area and launching ramp at Yardley near the and tail. Clean out cavity. Be sure to remove all b'° point where General Washington and his troops crossed from along spine. Wash fish in cold water and place the Delaware to surprise the British and Hessians in roasting pan. Add about half inch of water. Don't 8 • Trenton. salt. Bake in oven at 250° for five to six hours. An n° The herring are most accommodating during the month before removing from oven, lay several strips of bacon of May. And for the ultra-light enthusiast they're pure the full length of the fish. Serve with lemon and salt dynamite! taste.

12 PENNSYLVANIA ANG^ E* yowi (pick!

SPECIAL TRIMMING—Strips of imported Danish bacon are then placed lengthwise atop fillets.

Andrew Tkach, Jr. of Lansford prefers shad with sherry. Wi hii s recipe: 1 shad tablespoons butter tablespoons sherry wine ,After shad has been properly cleaned and wiped dry, TCe fish in baking dish lined with aluminum foil. Baste ad w with sauce made of melted butter, half cup of hot ate Q r and two spoons of sherry. After basting, sprinkle Uts B 'de and inside of fish witn sait> pepper and paprika. a*e in oven at 400°. Allow 15 minutes per pound. Serve a

e o o An unusual blend of flavors produced this interesting t FINAL TOUCH—The rest of marinade is spread on top of bacon strips. e °'Pe from B. L. Sofranscy of Allentown: Allow to steep for at least two hours. J lb. shad 1 doz. oysters teaspoon chopped onions ^ad crumbs choPped parsley ave v^ fish split down the back, clean, season to taste th s ti' alt and pepper and set in refrigerator, covering anrf until readyt0 cook- Drain fresh,y °pened °ysters Put lic uid aside r0n l - Season with salt and pepper and s Asters lightly in bread crumbs. Stuff fish with oysters. W U Qj P slit or pin together with skewers. Cover the bottom tne c}i baking pan with rolled bread crumbs, sprinkle Cr°Pped parslev and teaspoon of chopped onion over Um Co bs and dot with butter. Place fish on this bed and ofT W'th rolled bread crumbs' chopped parsley and bits b fo utter. Put in hot oven to bake (375°) basting often ^ about 30 minutes. When almost done, pour in liquid a ff 'ned from oysters anc] drop in any oysters left over m pa° stuffing Serve fish in large platter and garnish with READY TO SERVE—After broiling 15 minutes, shad a la Sibley is a ey- Serves four. gourmet's delight.

13 ^l965 *%i. Sc&tat

&

(1) Use large, sharp knife to cut through tops of large rib b**fjj running blade against vertical bones to dorsal line (top of

Photo Story by MARGARET KARCH ZAIMES

Few and far between are those who know the vanish­ ing art of boning a shad. One who does is retired metallurgist Robert Sibley of New Hope, Bucks County, Pa. Sibley, one time national junior canoe cruising champion, learned the technique from a friendly hotel chef who years ago bragged he would pay a dollar for each bone found by a patron in any shad he had boned. No one ever collected. In the accompanying photos, Sibley demonstrates the boning process. With a little practice, he says, anyone can do it. One word of caution: the shad should be well chilled (4) Here, spine and attached bones have been cut away from i""" before boning. Otherwise the meat has a tendency to cling to the bones.

(7) Dorsal fin is cut away. (8) Line of small bones behind dorsal fin is then cut away.

£* 14 PENNSYLVANIA ANCl (2) c h, 0n,">ue '"Wed cut through tail section thus splitting shad into (3) To remove spine, repeat the first cut on the other side of back­ halves. bone. Run sharp blade alongside vertical bones.

(5) (6) Slide the point of small, sharp knife under large rib bones and Spinal section is lifted out intact. cut bones away from meat.

{9l (10) With first half of shad bones, rib bones are cut away from sec­ ,,,r are ussd ,o U an bones tha n,i9ht have been *fctoS* * P " o"* y ' ond fillet. Tweezers are used to finish job. Shad is ready for broiler. *d '"> cutting. ^AY- 1965 15 Interior of hatch house at the Linesville Fish Cultural Station, contains Spectators gather at the hatch house at the Linesville Fish Cult""1 most important warm water fish hatchery facilities in Pennsylvania. Station to hear Fish Commission member Joseph M. Critchfield disc"'5 fishing in Pennsylvania.

Robert Smith, Fish Culturist and Carl Martin, Assistant Fish Culturist Robert Oates, Fish Culturist and Charles Sanderson, Acting F°rfT lifting a trap net containing crappies, yellow perch, catfish, walleyes, man holding musky weighing 22 pounds and measuring 3' bluegills, common bullheads and muskellunge from the Pymatuning inches in length. Sanctuary at Linesville.

JHHH

Fish Culturist Robert Oates, holding a female walleye measuring 27 Removing eggs from a northern pike by the new air pressure me' inches in length. developed by Fish Commission personnel.

16 PENNSYLVANIA ANGL EP ACTION AT

LINESVILLE

OPEN

e f^ stumps in the Pymatuning Sanctuary are ideal spawning a r '°rgemouth bass and muskellunge. HOUSE

— Photo Story — By JOHN S. OGDEN

Several thousand spectators from Pennsylvania and neighboring states visited the Linesville Fish Cultural Station in Crawford County on Sunday, April 11, in near perfect weather, to witness modern methods of warm water fish culture. The taking of eggs from large northern pike and walleye brood fish was demonstrated. It was interesting to note the new air pressure method used in taking eggs from muskellunge and northern pike as developed by Fish Com­ mission personnel. The procedure of incubating and hatching eggs from these popular warm water fish was viewed by the many interested guests. Spectators watched from the water's edge of the Py­ matuning Sanctuary the lifting of a trap net. The fish trapped were removed from the net and placed in a barge and brought to the hatch house to be sorted, weighed and counted. Gill nets, fyke nets, trap nets, seines and dip nets were displayed on the grounds and attracted much attention. The use of an electric shocker was demonstrated in a race-way near the hatch house. It was explained by Warden Supervisor S. Carlyle Shel­ don that tons of warm water fish, including such fish as bluegills, carp, catfish, crappies and perch, are taken from the waters of the Pymatuning Sanctuary annually and stocked in the public fishing waters throughout Penn­ sylvania. It is not uncommon for the Pennsylvania Fish Com­ mission to stock millions of largemouth bass, muskellunge, ^"""'ssioner Joseph M. Critchfield and Assistant Executive Director walleye and northern pike fry and fingerlings in the public

Ti/itH Robert G. Miller

T HERE'S a treat in store for Harrisburg area folks, and contacts and raising the necessary amount of cash i° all Pennsylvanians as well, this Fourth of July when the staging such an event. Greater Harrisburg Boat Club stages its annual power There are entrance fees for each class but these woul^ boat regatta on the Susquehanna River. hardly cover the cost of trophies, other services require'1 In previous years, I understand, this was always a for sanctioned races, and the refreshments provided i° Memorial Day event. This year it will be a two-day the drivers at the close of the two-day event. affair, Sunday and Monday, July 4 and 5. Fortunately, where money is concerned, the races have Bob Maley, of 318 N. Front Street, Wormleysburg, the support of the city's director of recreation and fund' the present commodore of the Greater Harrisburg organi­ to aid in making it a success come from that quartet zation, delved into a bit of regatta background, during In previous years the races were staged off the Wormley5' a recent visit, and as far as he could recall its been burg shore and Memorial Day was selected because that J' going on for the past 11 years. the time of the year when the river level is normal'' 1 Previous sponsors were the Keystone Aquatic Club and higher than in July or August. This year, since W f the Greater Harrisburg Aquatic Club but on those occa­ completion of repairs to the Dock Street Dam, more wate e sions, I was informed, the races were of the "outlaw" is expected to be backed up behind the dam and henc variety, that is, not sanctioned by the American Power the July 4 weekend date was selected. Boat Association. Several plans, to make this year's races more interest' e They are now APBA sanctioned and, as a result, there's ing, are under consideration and whether the club will v a lot of work to be done involving pre-race planning. For able to carry them out remains to be seen. example, Maley said, the boat club began planning the For example the club would like to herald the even 1965 races last December particularly making personal with a boat parade, probably the day before when W6 stores are open, through Harrisburg. The boats would °6 trailered over a designated parade route to stimulate loca interest, get the people out onto the streets and thus pr°' vide an extra bit of business for the local businessmen Secondly there is the possibility of selecting a "MlS .^mj Regatta" to reign during the activities of those two days' The selection would be made from among candidate* supplied by the three area high schools. Incidentally, this is not a money making proposition' Last year, after all expenses were paid, the club had abon $88 clear and this was shared among three area charitieS' "It's not much," Bob said, "but every little bit helps." Years ago the races attracted mostly small craft, out' boards for example, but they have since grown to incluo heavier craft, such as, the 266 cubic inch class boat*' modified 280s, which have reached record speeds of X*. miles per hour. Other classes scheduled for this year are the 44s, 48S> 150s and a new class involving ski boats. The latter • entirely new and Maley has no idea just how many wU compete in the local events. Because of their weight and the type of trailers re' BOB MALEY, of Wormleysburg, commodore of the Greater Harrisburg quired, the city's ramp cannot be used for launching' Boat Club, exhibits a few of the trophies symbolic of the type to be Instead two large cranes, equipped with slings, will hois presented at the close of the Fourth of July weekend regatta on the f Susquehanna River, at Harrisburg. the boats from their cradles and lower them into the wate '

18 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLE This year's races, which will cost between $4,000 and $5,000, will be climaxed by a city sponsored fireworks display—good reason for staying home rather than be­ coming a part of that weekend's traffic death toll. Something new for the younger set—the Lake Clarke Aquatic Club—is in the process of being organized on the lower Susquehanna. With an office at 18 S. Third Street, Columbia, the club is open to memberships from the surrounding areas and will feature water skiing and swimming lessons, first aid and life saving courses, and social gatherings especially over the winter months. Marilyn Peters, who is serving as secretary until the first permanent officers are elected, said the primary aim of the club is to serve the teen-age set but there is no age limit and entire family memberships will be accepted as well. Miss Peters usually "mans" the office every day E. D. PLUMMER, JR. Susquehannock Power Squadron except Saturdays and Wednesday afternoons when she works on her Red Cross life saving course at the Millers- The various events will be run off on an oval shaped ville State College pool. C°urse, having a circumference of one and two-thirds miles, The club is not officially accepting any memberships ^it;h straight-a-ways about seven-tenths of a mile long. until it receives its charter, she said, but we have been ^e course will extend from the vicinity of the Walnut in touch with prospective members from as far away Street bridge northwards under the Harvey Taylor bridge as Maryland as well as Lancaster, York and Dauphin 0 a point opposite Broad Street. Counties. , This is not considered a surveyed course which would Except for the one-room office, the organization has ^e Perfectly round permitting racing craft to maintain no permanent headquarters but Miss Peters said they '°P speed as their drivers attempt to stay ahead of the hope to lease a portion of land at Long Level and eventu­ eld- The oval shaped course requires cutting speed to ally construct a lodge for year round meetings and other make those sharp turns without too much skidding. activities. Eased on previous years' turnout, the top drivers of E. D. Plummer, Jr., Chambersburg, was installed as !j*ch class are expected to compete for points this year, commander of the Susquehannock Power Squadron dur­ y^y will arrive from all over the eastern seaboard, in­ ing the group's 23rd annual graduation dinner and change- king Canada and some who made the Hall of Fame in of-watch ceremonies at the Hamilton Club in Lancaster. |"e boat racing world, such as Paul Bauer, of Cincinnati, Plummer, a contractor by profession, succeeds William Ohio. F. Hoke, a Lancaster banker. Unwilling to sit along the sidelines when race day Other incoming officers are: Robert L. Jones, Ephrata, j^Wris, Maley takes an active part in his 280 class boat, lieutenant commander; John L. Stehman, Lancaster, j e's been racing, with the help of Mrs. Maley, since educational officer; Nelson P. Reynolds, Willow Street, 95e; been thrown into the drink more than once and has secretary; Jack S. Belsinger, Lancaster, treasurer. Jute a few trophies as proof of his winnings here and New executive officers are: Paul Cressman, Harrisburg; there. F. E. Reichard, Neffsville, and Richard J. Faith, Cham­ However, he has a business to operate and doesn't bersburg. Six area lieutenants were also inducted repre­ . ave the time to be one of those "dedicated" fellows who, senting Chambersburg, Ephrata, Lancaster, Lebanon, n lheir campaign to compile points, race almost every Harrisburg and York. ekend wherever a race can be found. "The squadron is," as Plummer put it, "dedicated to We expect this year," Maley explained, "a field of the teaching of safe boating practices to the general least sixty to seventy boats with most of the competi- public. Anyone in the area interested in taking these free ,0n between the 145 and 280 classes." boating classes should contact S/Eo John N. Stehman, "Tt, yone in *e c*uk Pitcnes in t0 help," Bob said. 125 Oak View Road, Lancaster." here's Bill Murphy, secretary to Governor Scranton As mentioned in previous issues of the ANGLER, I'm nd a r club member; Casey Stine, who handles public interested in club activities throughout the state and tio s! ns; Bill Fritz, Donald Liles, Bob Everett and Les generally spend at least one weekend each month visiting

M°P> the club treasurer." various boating areas for photos and stories. Vrl- We cant f°r§et tne people responsible for pro- If your club has scheduled some special activity for 1 m g § ambulance facilities on race dates, the doctor, this summer, an election of officers, a boat parade, or if e men, River Rescue, Inc., under the direction of Dean you are just interested in seeing something in print about n ' ger, Steve Sansone; and the many other individuals the club, with a photo or two, drop me a line and we'll ° have been working hard since last December to get together. Thanks. tnis a success, he stated.

M ^196S 19 WlANY fishermen never enjoy maximum fun and success with spinning tackle because they forget the simple rules for trouble-free spinning. These ten are important. To do justice to them, this article will be published in two parts. The first five rules appear here. The second five tea tlfrb will be published in the June issue. Why not check yourself and allow ten points for each rule you now observe? If you don't rate yourself one hundred points, some of these tips can be valuable to you!

1. CHOOSE SPINNING TACKLE Naturally—and of course, you say. But there's excellent spinning tackle and there's excellent plug casting tackle— and there's a lot of stuff in between which may be neither A lighter line in the two pound test range will cast y°u one thing nor the other. This borderline equipment may u be very good gear. It may be called "spinning" tackle quarter-ounce lures farther, but unless you are very carei or "spin-casting" tackle, or something else. Be sure it's and are fishing in open water without much current y° what you really want before you buy it. will break off too many lures with it, and lose too maw fish. Such lighter lines border requirements for ultra-Bg A true spinning reel must be an open-spool reel to spinning, which in turn calls for lighter tackle to 8 provide minimum drag on the line in casting; that is, to with it. get maximum distance with light lures. The main ad­ For this medium power tackle using quarter-ounce lure.j vantage of spinning is unimpeded outflow of line. You 1 don't get it to its fullest extent with a covered spool reel three or four pound test lines, and a rod which V handle them, select a true spinning reel weighing betwee because usually with this type of borderline tackle the e line has to travel over the covered spool lip and then six and eight ounces which will hold three or four hundr down and out through a hole no bigger than a shoe-lace yards of three or four pound test monofilament. tn eyelet. These covered spool reels may be good tackle, Test the reel, line and lure on the rod to be sure but they are not true spinning reels. A true spinning rod casts this weight of lure properly. With the lure reel hangs conveniently under the rod-grip, rather than foot from the rod tip, the lure should depress the W being perched on top like a plug casting reel. It has a slightly, but not too much so. The rod should cast 11 widely adjustable brake; an efficient anti-reverse, and a without tip quiver. Beliable dealers and expert spinm * line recovery ratio of at least three to one. It operates anglers are a big help in selecting balanced tackle. A" a efficiently with lines of usually not over four pounds test buying this power range of tackle you later may * , for fresh water spinning, and it casts lures in the quarter- other sets of gear handling lighter or heavier lines aO ounce range farther, easier and more accurately than most lures. Buy the right outfit for the type of fishing y° c borderline equipment. do most—and avoid using it with lures and lines v/hi are too heavy or too light. The rod, be it of split-bamboo or of fiber-glass, should have a cylindrical grip that will fit the underslung spin­ 3. FILL SPOOL PROPERLY ning reel. It should have a large butt guide, with the Fishermen often think that 300 or 400 yards of maaT remaining guides tapering in size toward the tip. It should c have a well distributed action which will cast your favorite filament is too much, because they'll never use that mu 7 True—but line is cheap, and enough is needed to pa weight range of lures without underloading or overloading T and without tip quiver. the spool tightly to its lip. Never partially fill a f spool, and never pack on too much. Too little " 2. BALANCE YOUR OUTFIT penalizes anglers in casting distance. Too much resV Its Face the fact that one outfit can't do everything. Your in snarls. The line deep in the spool which you rafe rod is the principal element which decides what your set use may come in handy in case of a break. The line c of tackle will do. If the rod is ideal for casting quarter- be reversed when the forward end becomes worn. ™ ounce lures, it is too much rod for ultra-light lures, and few casts result in snarls when the rest of the line it is too light to do a good job with lures weighing half tight on the spool, break off and discard enough lme , an ounce and over. Decide on the weight of lures you prevent them. No snarls should occur if the reel is "" want to use, and stick to it fairly closely. For the greatest to the lip of the spool only, with not more than a quar range in all fresh water spinning, you'll probably find that of an inch of flange on the spool remaining uncovere lures in the quarter-ounce range are just what you want. These cast nicely with monofilament lines in the three 4. KEEP LINE TIGHT ON REEL on or four pound test range. If you sometimes fish in waters People who promote spinning tackle often say y; with weeds, pads or other obstructions, you may need a can't get a backlash with this gear. Well—if the Hne $0 second line-spool holding line in the five or six pound not tight on the reel spool, you can get something test range. This heavier and stronger line won't cast your much like a backlash that you might call it that—or may quarter-ounce lures as well, but it helps in snaggy waters. call it a "snarl." Such troubles are easy to avoid, a

20 PENNSYLVANIA ANGL >t 0 * *

By COL. JOSEPH D. BATES, JR. {Author: "Spinning For Fresh Water Game Fish" and other angling books)

Hen they occur they usually are much easier to straighten 5. LEARN FOREFINGER CONTROL ut ° than the proverbial backlash. Snarls happen when The forefinger of the rod-hand is vitally important in ^herrnen regain line under varying tension because, in c accurately casting and in accurately stopping or slowing asting) a tight coil may pull off several loose ones pre­ down the lure. It is important in helping to keep line maturely. Thus, too many coils travel through the line tight on the spool. It also is important as an auxiliary ^'des too soon and get knotted up. brake, as we shall see. A good rule is to glance at the reel spool before every Hold the rod so the tip of the forefinger easily can Cast- If the line looks loose, make a cautious cast to be placed against the forward flange of the reel spool. Cast off the improperly wound line, and then regain it This usually means that the leg of the reel is between nder proper tension. A better rule is always to regain the second and third fingers. In casting, hold the line ,'ne under proper tension, which is a habit very easy to over the tip of the forefinger—not in the cleft of the joint. learn. As the cast is completed, the line is released merely by Before starting to fish, check the line on the spool. straightening the forefinger and pointing it at the target. *t looks a bit loose, fasten the lure to a stump or some- This can't be done properly if the line is held too far 'ng similar and back away until all the loose line is off back on the finger. e spool. Then engage the anti-reverse and walk forward, • the same time reeling in under proper tension. Also, To slow down the cast, merely hold the finger where etore regaining line, it's a good idea to pull on the line the uncoiling line will slap it; thus braking the cast. Of j irately. This stretches out coils which may have course, this usually is done when the lure is approaching ^ed in storage, and it also tests the line for weak spots, the target. Stop the lure over the target by placing the loops or knots occur, remove them promptly, be- forefinger against the forward flange of the reel spool. use even small loops ruin casting distance and accuracy. This snubs the line, at the same time keeping the re­ ev mainder tight on the reel spool. Then, at your leisure, e also weaken the line. If a loop can't be removed i Slv> it may be best to break the line; to cut out the start reeling to close the pick-up, thus putting the line •3*> and then to splice the line with a "Barrel Knot." under control of the reel. Ij, !s type of knot (as used in tapering leaders) does The wrong way is not to use the forefinger for these J* or no harm and is adequately strong. purposes. Closing the pick-up to stop the line results in tj i t*ler Points in this article will help in keeping line loss of accuracy in casting, and often causes loose coils

0j V spooled on the reel. Tight spooling is a secret to form on the reel. Forefinger control is very easy to trouble-free spinning. Improperly spooled line harms learn. Use it for accurate and trouble-free casting. m a g accuracy and distance. It can result in line snarls (The next five tips on trouble-free spinning will be W fish covered by Colonel Bates in the June issue. ED.)

MAY. -1965 21 Variations On A Familiar Theme By CHAUNCEY K. LlVElY 1 I HE Light Cahill has been around a long time and it's mottled wings and distinctly barred legs. (See cU I N easy to see why its popularity as a dry fly has not dimin­ When ithaca is on the water in numbers the trout see ished over the years. In a general way it imitates many to relish it to the exclusion of other flies hatching at * of the pale mayflies which hatch on Pennsylvania's same time. The fisherman bends on a Light Cahill. s# streams from late May through early July. In fact, many #12 or #14, and he's in business-generally. But vvl>* fishermen refer to all light-colored mayflies as "Cahills" are we going to do about that flat-water brownie &§. and simplify imitation by selecting a Light Cahill to ve keeps tipping up in slow, unbroken cadence, taking e * match the size of the fly on the water. On fast water, fifth or sixth mayfly that passes over him? He's even &s where a trout has little time to inspect the fly, this gen­ picious of the naturals; look at the way he drifts under eralization of fly imitation is usually adequate. But a each fly he takes, looking it over carefully before samp''™ hatch of mayflies from a slow moving, mirror-smooth pool it. Fussy? You'd better believe it! can be an entirely different situation, for here the trout's It would be presumptuous to suggest an "impr°ve decision to take or not to take is not rushed by the im- ment" on an already successful fly pattern. But on $ minency of a strong current snatching away the fly. Every premise that the Light Cahill was perhaps designed |° fisherman who fishes the dry fly for brown trout knows imitate a general class of mayflies, let's tie a Special Cah»'' the frustration of placing a perfect cast over a slow riser, incorporating two distinct changes from the original Pat' only to watch helplessly as his quarry detaches himself tern, and see if it won't satisfy our slow-water bro*"1 from the bottom and drifts with his snout just under trout when he's dining on Stenonema ithaca. the fly, seemingly inspecting its every detail, finally to Ithaca's legs, honey-cream colored with brownish barf' disappear from view with a swish of his broad tail. Here, imprint themselves too plainly in the surface film for ^ even when presentation of the fly is correct, the selective Nibs to overlook. So instead of ginger hackle let's use % feeder requires more than ordinary attention to detail in pale honey or honey dun and a brown grizzly, mixe(\ the fly. For tails well use just two cream polar bear hairs instea Stenonema ithaca (or canadense, its close relative) is of a bundle of hackle fibres. The rest of the fly is Pur" > the mayfly with which the Light Cahill is most commonly Cahill: easy to tie, easy to use and a go-getter. ^ matched. It is a relatively large, light-colored fly with photos show the tying sequence. K S

THE Special Cahill, completed. Stenonema ithaca, prototype for the Special Cahill.

22 PENNSYLVANIA ANGL t* 1 °CK FOR tails, select two straight cream-colored FOR wings, pick a well-marked wood duck "I"1 'ecu" S'1" *14' fine wire hook in vise flank feather and draw lateral fibres back ,yin silk polar bear hairs and bind to top of hook '""J O«'L 9 >>y half-hitching just as shown. Cut off tip of feather and fold bend. shank. Spread tails as shown and take a turn of thread under hair at apex to hold it along its center rib. (If the feather is proper angle. Spiral thread to wing position large, additional pairs of wings may be had by cutting paired strips from the sides and and trim off butts of hair. Tails are twice folding.) the length of hook shank.

WIND dubbed thread forward to wing, al­ ed fea,ner on ,O of hook firm, SPIRAL thread back to base of tail. For lowing a little space to tie in hackles. Sb** fV P ' y body dubbing, spin cream-colorod belly fur nd h00l, Wi,hout releas V| '"P. Wot ' ° • " of red fox on tying silk. Dubbing should be tKt"*'*»r« « ** " loop of thread over feather. UniD sparse and tapered. j0 and forefinger, and pull 5? "row n^""^- Take two more similar J"1 feather and half-hitch. Pull SL.'H.itt <>nd take a couple of turns of 9 ln front of base of wing. With Point, s •' a i>divide fiDres equally and wind n^'tur, 9ur« 8 between base of wings 81,1 of «h8,,ti°n- WinBS are Vh ,ime$ the

GRIP end of one hackle (either one) with HOLDING hackles on edge and at right select a pale honey dun and hackle pliers and carefully wind forward, angle to hook, bind securely behind wings. °Os«,Jly Wi,h sood' $tiff fibres" S,rip taking last turn in front of wing. Secure end '\ fibres from •>>•_' The combino- Bend hackle stems forward under hook and Si*f «•".,.*from !,em: of hackle with two turns of thread and half- tw soft. bind with thread. Trim excess stems in front %y «ffec, . .° hackles gives hitch. Trim off excess hackle tip. Repeat '«. "> imitating legs of Stenonema of wings. Glossy side of hackle should face operation with second hackle, carefully wind­ tails. ing through first to avoid binding down fibres. Tie off in front of wings and build a neat, tapered head with thread. Whip finish and apply head cement or lacquer to head.

M4Y_ 23 1965 CARP AT THEIR BEST

By EDWIN L. ATT$

Probably no fish inhabiting Pennsylvania's lakes, rivers, among the lily pads and other underwater obstruction streams is the recipient of more contending feelings than A canoe is the best craft for supplying transportati the big brown carp. Ask a trout or bass fisherman to through the swamps where the room for mobility express his opinion of the carp and you will hear nothing limited. Two archers merely team up and take W* but scorn, for he contends that the carp makes the water handling the canoe while the other stands in the fr° ' unfit for game fish. Ask a bowfisherman to express his ready to send an arrow toward any carp he spots. opinion of the carp and you will hear nothing but delight, Flat bottom boats will also work satisfactorily if ° for the carp makes an excellent target for his arrows is in relatively open water where there is plenty of r°° during the warm months of spring and early summer. for movement. They have the advantage of being m°_ Spring marks the time when most anglers are readying stable than a canoe, so one is less likely to take a "* their favorite fly or spinning outfits for the approaching in the cold water of early spring. By the first of May the carp are becoming more act1 fishing season. However, another group of sportsmen are fish readying their equipment for a different form of fishing— since the temperature of the water is rising and the Bowfishing. Hunting bows are removed from their racks, know the spawning period is near at hand. Now the w fishing arrows and points are checked for malfunctions, are moving around more in open water so one is liKy 1 and heavy line is tested to see if it can withstand the to get more shooting in a day's outing than he did ean battle of a thirty-pound carp. in the year. Bowfishing can begin anytime during the early part As for myself, I am anxious for the middle of M ^ of April in the state's shallow lakes and swamps. The when the water reaches a temperature between 55 and ° e carp are not spawning this early, so one has to move degrees. Now the fish begin to move in the rivers wh slowly through the water, searching for the fish lying they can only be hunted when they are spawning. * carp congregate in large schools and come into the graS flats and shallow backwater areas to lay their eggs. * females select a place close to shore where they dep°s their eggs and the males follow close behind, fertiliz111* them as they settle to the bottom. This is not a quiet affair, but a turbulent time wbe the activity can be seen for long distances. The sharP eyed bowfisherman who patrols the shoreline can dete:C' t the action from long distances and have some of tfl most fabulous action anyone can imagine. Most of my carp shooting is done along the AllegheI1^ River and French Creek in Venango County. While b° these bodies of water provide excellent shooting, they a no better than some of the other rivers in the st* ' In fact, just about any river or creek that has a W» population of carp will provide excellent shooting if i hit the right days. Anytime after the middle of May I can expect to ha action in the area I hunt. I have seen the spawn Si* as early as the second week of May, but more often t" not it is closer to the first week of June. There is no se1 BOB BLEAKELY of Franklin, Pennsylvania, demonstrates the tackle rule for the exact time, and I have seen it be as mu needed for bowfishing. The bow reel is fastened to the bow with as a week apart in two areas that were only two rfl" electrical tape; the line is eighty feet in length and tests at ninety pounds; the arrow is made from a solid fiberglass shaft. When the from one another. The fish that spawned first came fr° arrow is shot the line flows off the reel on the same principle as a shallower water than did the fish that spawned in j spinning reel. The carp are landed by wrapping the line back on tJ1 the bow in a clockwise direction. second location. This is what leads me to think

P 24 PENNSYLVANIA ANGL# e time of spawning is influenced by the temperature 0t fte water. , J* I am lucky, I have a week or more of action along . e Allegheny each spring. It takes a lot of work to °cate the carp when they are spawning, but the action ^follows is well worth the effort. The first day's action I had last spring came in a a°Water area that is completely separated from the ain river channel during periods of low water. This area is approximately 300 yards long, 50 to 75 yards wide, an

Q, I knew it was too much to hope for a hit. Instead single shot, but I realize the chances of this are exceed­ i tne line going limp as it does when an arrow settles ingly small. However, to really take carp at their best ^^nlessly to the bottom, the line cut an arc in the they have to be taken with bow and arrow, even if it is a er as the fish tried to swim in a circle to escape. I only one at a time.

25 FROM THE STREAM* te^*

• Each year it becomes more and more noticeable that • Since being assigned to my district, I have been great'? the population of muskellunge is increasing in north­ impressed by the enthusiastic attitude of license issuin* western Pennsylvania. Up until last year or so it was agents I have contacted in regard to our new almost unheard of for a fisherman to catch a musky VANIA ANGLER distribution plan. They think it's a top' through the ice or from the streams when they were partly notch publication that no fisherman should be with00' ice covered. During the winter months it was a weekly I've also been impressed by the very friendly recept*0 occurrence to receive a call or talk to someone who had given me as the Fish Commission's representative in tnl taken a nice musky while winter fishing. Walleye fishing area.-District Warden ROBERT J. PERRY (Columbia, also was good over all the region—Regional Supervisor and Northumberland). S. CARLYLE SHELDON. Last season on a nice winter day I saw four men • Most frogs come out in the spring to croak but one the ice at Belmont Lake in Upper Wayne County. ^ , found by Wilmer Peoples, land manager for the Game had a large folding picnic table, four folding chairs an Commission, got confused. On one warm sunny day a large charcoal burner with grill. I went out to eheC recently, this frog must have figured it was spring and them and noted enough food and spirits to feed an am1- came out on the ice. That night the temperature dropped but nobody fishing. They had driven 40 miles just to zero and the next day Peoples found the frog frozen have a picnic out on the ice'.-District Warden HARLAN" solid, sitting out on the ice.—District Warden JOSEPH BARTLEY REYNOLDS (Wayne). (Pike). • While at the Sharon Boat and Sports Show I was ^' • An angler fishing Hills Creek Lake told me he and his prised to note the few anglers aware of the fine wall^ son were ice fishing the lake over a previous weekend. and panfish fishing at Conneaut Lake. Early spring >s, While the boy was jigging for perch, there was a sudden good time at the lake for fine catches. The Pennsylva111 commotion and then a muskrat stuck its head up through Fish Commission has a boat launching area there f° the hole, eyed the boy and then disappeared again under boat fishermen.—District Warden THOMAS L. CLARK (Crawf°r '' the ice.-District Warden RAYMOND HOOVER (Tioga). • While checking ice fishermen last season a man t0 • A new tip for early fishermen in the Delaware River me of opening the door of another fisherman's ice was revealed by Guy Weidner and Harvey Schloyer, both shanty of Hellertown, Pa. The two started fishing the river at and was surprised when the man inside almost fell °u Foul Rift, caught a few suckers using small red worms on the ice. It appears he was using a gasoline stove > called cider pulp worms. They had a few grub worms the shanty which was not vented. The man inside ^a (tree stump worms) and started to use them. They got nearly asphyxiated. This is a warning in the future t0 hit after hit on the grubs but ran out of them. A search ice anglers to vent their ice shanties.-District Wo*" made for more in the woodlots and two bags of big KENNETH G. COREY (Warren). suckers in the 16-20-inch class resulted. Sucker fishermen • Paul Sunday, Carlisle, knocked on my door one Sunda> should carry along a supply of nice big wood grubs for evening, displaying a 36-inch, 13-pound muskellunge n,S plenty of Sucker action.—District Warden MILES D. WITT (Bucks friend Richard Walter of Carlisle caught at York Havfj and Northampton). on the Susquehanna River. These gentlemen had caug11 a total of five muskies that day, all but two of legal size' • At the recent sports show held at Kingston our Fish In addition, these anglers caught nice walleye. **' Commission display was situated directly in front of a Sunday declared if fishing licenses were $25 he won live trout fishing tank. The band struck up the music buy one for this type of fishing, praised the Fish Corfl indicating the stage show was about to begin. Warden mission for the good work it is doing.-District Wo*" Shabbick (Wyoming) directed my attention to a patron PERRY HEATH (Cumberland and Perry). intent on catching one of the trout in the pool. As the show announcer proclaimed . . . "Ladies and Gentlemen • Emerson Foster, Apollo, caught two nice mus*1 . . . our National Anthem," ... the fisherman shifted measuring 35 and 36 inches on the Allegheny River n^ his rod to his left hand, grasped his hat with his right Trunkeyville during the early part of this year, and held it over his heart, his gaze never leaving the walleye catches were also reported from the Alleghhenel'y' trout pool throughout the familiar strain!—District Warden River at Tionesta.-District Warden NORMAN L. BLUM (Fore JAMES F. YODER (Luzerne). and Clarion).

26 PENNSYLVANIA ANGL ROBERT M. BETTS PASSES SUDDENLY Robert M. Betts died unexpectedly at his home, 69 lnda Avenue, Lancaster, Pa., March 13, 1965. arden Betts came with the Pennsylvania Fish Com- Sl0n a "! March 16, 1950, as the fish warden for Lawrence CQ Mercer counties. He was later transferred to Warren nJ^ty and later to Lancaster county where he served mhis death. n j)e °r to becoming a fish warden he had served as a ntlsylvania State Policeman from 1946 to 1950. Bob was of an ardent temperament, quick and impul- siv, ' and ever ready to resent an insult, but was generous and { IOr {e giving. He carried out his official duties without •j,, °r favor. His honor was never for sale at any price. enf6Se c,laracteristics pointed him out as an excellent law dement officer. to},-6 ^ennsylvania Fish Commission extends sympathy Is wife Caroline and his two brothers.

RETIRED WARDEN DEAN R. DAVIS DIES AWARD WINNERS in Harrisburg Hunters and Anglers Association, Inc. 27th Annual Big Fish Contest. First row, seated, left to right— ean w R. Davis, retired fish warden, died suddenly Donald Baumbach, Daniel Srahl, John Bisrline, Contest Chairman, M 19' 196^ at his winter home in Leesburg, Florida. Douglas Miller, Edward Kinter and Geary Wright. Second row (l-r)— f avis Gordon Trembley, Assistant Executive Director, Pennsylvania Fish Co ' started working for the Pennsylvania Fish Commission, Joseph C. Chambers, Thomas E. Grubic, George E. 1, jcf1185'011 as the Jefferson county fish warden October Pressley, David E. Nye, Robert Miller, Ben Brubaker and George W. bef He retired December 28, 1962. He was a barber Angeli. Third row (l-r)—Robert Chapman, Anthony B. Fanus, John Shaeffer, Wilson Miller, Richard Eshenour, and John M. Minnich. corning with our Commission. Port of entry for catches in the contest was Shenk & Tittle, Harrisburg. e ls atl, ^ survived by his wife, the former Marion Watts, a daughter, Mrs. Miles Harten, and two grandsons. NORTH PARK LAKE FISHING DERBY 1)ea, n 3S Davis will be remembered by all who knew him SET FOR MAY 22-23 % • icated employee of the Pennsylvania Fish Com- n Thousands of anglers will compete for fun and prizes !'° - His ability to get along well with all sportsmen es err >blematic of his pleasant personality. At his retire­ in the WIIC Family Fishing Derby to be held May 22 nt d Wrier he said, "The Fish Commission has been and 23 at North Park Lake, Allegheny County. The annual ve •j^f y good to me over the years and I am most grateful. event, which in past years has attracted crowds exceeding 0vve 35,000, is sponsored by television station WIIC, Channel reo , me nothing and I shall always have the highest 8 rd 11, in cooperation with the Allegheny County Sportsmen's " for them." e League. sUh. P'sh Commission extends its sympathy to his lvors. To assure a plentiful supply of fish, the Fish Commis­ sion will supplement its pre-season stockings with weekly releases of trout from April 19 through May 21. The May 21 trout stocking will include eleven tagged fish; PETE MURRAY PASSES lucky anglers catching tagged trout will receive spinning ER reels. Cons "PETE" MURRAY, well known sportsman and Vation Prizes valued at over $2,500 will be awarded for the Mea? ist, who resided at 78 Church Street, Beaver Ws largest fish caught. They include a trailer, fishing and ° . Pa., died April 14, 1965. M" camping equipment, bicycles and cameras. The contest f^ ' Murray served as president of the Carbon County ratior is open to the public with no registration required. The ti^e i of Sportsmen's Clubs for 20 years and at the hours are from 2 to 7 p.m. daily (D.S.T.) Vj : °* his passing, was president of the Northeast Di- s Red Donley, sports director of WIIC, and Frank J. a1d ' ennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs Shean, first vice president, Allegheny County Sportsmen's state director of the organization. League, are chairmen of the contest. Judges are Roger lte h^jo ^ a grevious heart ailment, he was always on Latham, outdoor editor, The Pittsburgh Press; Jimmy 1M ° SCraP and battle on the floor of the state meetings Jordan, outdoor editor, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; Bill Walsh, en from all over the state admired his tenacity conservation director, the Duquesne Brewing Company; 'the Promotion of conservation. William E. Guckert, executive secretary, Allegheny County ITla n Sportsmen's League, and Fish Warden Stanley Paulako- ">'*te t ' hobby was showing his beautiful setters at 0 lp dog shows in the East. vich, Oakmont.

1965 27 * NOTICE * dip-O'-Jha-Wlonth Additional places where both new and renewal By C. BOYD PFEIFFER subscriptions to the Pennsylvania Angler may be purchased

Susquehanna County—Hall's Sporting Center New Milford, Pennsylvania York County—Harry Haines Lincoln Highway Garage York, Pa. Warren County-Erich's Rod Repair Shop Irvine, Pa. Jefferson County—Deman's Sporting Goods 295 Main St., Brookville, Pa.

FREE COLOR I' » % •- CARRY A SPARE SPOOL Most fly reels are made so that the spools are rea(0 CHART interchangeable while on the stream without resorting , a tool kit. This means that two fly lines can be catf1 COMMON FISHES of PENNSYLVANIA while fly fishing-one on the reel and one on the spa , spool. This makes it unnecessary to carry an extra r ose and avoids the tangles of carrying an extra line '° w TO ALL NEW a pocket. What lines are carried will depend upon . fisherman and the fishing conditions. The dry fly an? * AND RENEWAL SUBSCRIPTIONS might want two identical floating lines so as to na s a fresh line when the evening rise begins. The fly & . ( man on big water would want to have a floater on c reel and a dacron sinking line on the spool in his p° f to t&e ne Or vice versa. Some anglers might want a level l' g drifting worms or salmon eggs and a double tapered » for the more delicate presentation that flies re

Clip Coupon Below A SIMPLIFIED COURSE IN

Enclosed is $ for my (New) (Renewal) (Gift Subscription) 1 year (12 issues) $2.00 3 years (36 issues) $5.00 IS NOW BEING OFFERED FREE TO ALL ANGLE** Please send to: WHO WOULD LIKE TO LEARN TO TIE THE'K Name OWN FLIES, STREAMERS, BASS BUGS. Address THE COURSE, WRITTEN BY WORLD RENOWN&P PROFESSIONAL, GEORGE W. HARVEY, IS CLEA* Town Zip Code CONCISE, WELL ILLUSTRATED WITH LAR^ Make check or money order payable to the Pennsylvania SCALE INSTRUCTIONAL ART. Fish Commission WRITE FOR YOUR FREE COURSE NOW Mail to-PENNSYLVANIA FISH COMMISSION Editor—Pennsylvania Angler HARRISBURG, PA. Pennsylvania Fish Commission—Harrisburg Cash sent at your own risk. STAMPS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

28 PENNSYLVANIA ANG h** HOOL S OUT/ Sy MEE> ©ftAlTH-

Keep 'Bm t'hating

These three flies are not only buoyant—they are also excellent fish getters. You would do well to buy or tie a few for fishing the riffles. Flies should be dressed with a good floatant before using. Ordinary dry fly dressing is fine for most condi­ tions, but for really rough water I rub a small amount of line dressing into the hackles and tail. This heavier preparation really keeps out the water. After catching a fish you'll notice that your fly sinks more quickly than before. This is due both to having been thoroughly soaked and to the slime from the fish's mouth. If you don't want to change to a fresh fly care­ fully wash the soggy one in the stream to remove the slime, then press it repeatedly between wads of facial tissue until dry. (I never go fly fishing without a supply of this handy stuff.) Whip the fly back and forth to fluff W4V . , out the hackles, then apply dressing. You'll find it floats for Is tne month most flv fishermen have been waiting as well as before. atlC this ^ ^ you've never tried catching trout on a dry fly BAIT AT YOUR FEET Q1S your golden opportunity, fly °e °f the angler's toughest problems is keeping the If nothing else works, perhaps a caddis worm will tjj a"°at, especially in fast, rough water. Fortunately, tempt a trout into biting. These small creatures, the . are several things you can do to make this easier. larvae of the moth-like caddis-fly, live in a variety of M|'s begin with the line, because a fly line that sinks underwater "houses" they build themselves. One type is ra cj ,. g the best floating fly beneath the surface, espe- made of small sticks fastened to the underside of stones; y when it is picked up for another cast. Always use another is a case of parallel twigs lying on the stream

1 -calle(j permanently floating line and dress it lightly bottom. Some are tube-like cases of grains of sand or J( "j~ each use, even though the manufacturer claims fine gravel, others are made of leaf sections or carefully to . rorever without dressing. Wipe off the excess cut plant stems. gVoid picking up dirt and grit. In most trout streams they are not hard to find. Care­ W}) y only the best flies, and use only first rate materials fully pull the case apart and extract the inhabitant, im­ Wkle tying your own. They must have stiff, springy paling him on a fine wire hook. As with all live bait, S anC tai s Soft * ' ' Nothing will sink a fly quicker than use it only when artificials won't do the job, and don't sf, ' ^ebby hackle that soaks up the water. Dry flies collect more than you need. To destroy them needlessly g be tied on light wire hooks, is to deprive the trout of their natural food. ot}] e Ay patterns are naturally better floaters than tif.i ' The Bi-visibles are excellent, for they consist en- 4/°' hackle wound the full length of the hook shank turns of contrasting white hackle at the head give

29 x

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PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER MAGAZ^ Tishing CitaM MINIMUM CITATION SIZES: RULES:

a Species of Minimum length Species of Minimum length Species of Minimum length Fish must be caught in Pennsylvania public W ' ^ Fish in inches Fish in Inches Fish in Inches by legal methods during seasons open for the American Shad 25 in. Caffiih 30 in. Northern Pike 36 in ing of the species involved. Bluegill 11 in. Crappies (includes black Rainbow Trout 27 in. ro Brook Trout 17 In. and white) 15 in. Rock Bass 11 in. Fish must be measured, weighed and reco 5 Brown Troul 28 in. Eel 40 in. Sheepshead 25 in. by fishing license issuing agent or tackle ' Bullhead IS In. Fallfish 18 in. Smallmouth Bass 20 in. within the state by the owner, manager, or an Carp 36 in. lake Trout 30 in. Walleye 30 in thorized agent of the respective establishment' Chain Pickerel 25 in. Largemouth Bass 23 in. fellow Perch 14 in. Muskellunge 45 in. Photographs are desirable as further proof catch but are not required. APPLICATION FOR Non-residents as well as residents are eligible c PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER FISHING CITATION citations if fish are caught under the above ditions. The Editor—Pennsylvania Angler Date Pennsylvania Fish Commission, Harrisburg, Pa. Only fishing citation applications received wi 90 days from date of catch will be honored. Please send me the Pennsylvania Angler Magazine's Fishing Citation with the inscribed data listed below: HOW TO MEASURE: Name (please print)

Address City State..

Species Length Weight -

Type of Tackle

Bait or Lure Used

Where Caught ;„ -County

Date Caught Catch Witnessed by

Measured and Weighed by

At