Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Home Page
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Pennsylvania MARCH 1983 / STRAIGHT TALK Recently we called attention to our assessment of sedimentation, mainly from soil erosion, as the worst pollutant in Commonwealth streams and lakes. A great deal of the problem comes from agricultural practices. And with changing agricultural land use and practices and an increased demand for food and forest products, there is great pressure for increased production, and thus, increased stress on our land and waters. Many of these changed practices have effects on fish and wildlife habitats, and many of those impacts are negative. The major trends include more intensive and efficient use of existing cropland, conversion of pastureland and forests into cropland, and the loss of prime farmland to other uses. We are extremely concerned about the use of some agricultural chemicals. Many of these chemicals are toxic to some species and can disrupt ecosystems by eliminating certain plants or animals necessary to support wildlife. Some forestry practices decrease plant species diversity, and we see a conversion of some forests of hardwoods to conifers. We advocate zoning that protects streams, steep slopes, and other sensitive areas, and we encourage silviculture treatments that will retain a variety of vegetation zones, enhancing habitats and resulting in a greater diversity of wildlife. The channelization of streams to prevent flooding changes the diversity and abundance of both fish and wildlife. Chemical runoff from farms tends to alter the ecological balance in ponds, lakes, and streams by killing certain plants or animals, or in many cases enriching the waters so that AGRICULTURE there is high production of algae, which occludes sunlight and eventually AND decreases the amount of dissolved oxygen. The future offish and wildlife and the habitats they require are in danger CONSERVATION where intensive agricultural practices are employed. This points up the absolute need to balance the value of using the most efficient and economical agricultural practices with other values. The Commonwealth, in fact, the whole nation and the whole world, has to make the best possible use of all our resources instead of maximizing the output of agriculture alone. This will require some changes in attitudes and in public policies. <3^gjt&(^ ud- C^UJL^ 2 Pennsylvania Angler 'Pennsylvania MARCH 1983 VOL. 52 NO. 3 4 A Pennsylvania Walleye Primer by Jim Bashline Fishing slow and deep is the ticket to taking walleyes. The author offers other useful ideas. 7 Jumping the Gun on the Yough by Mike Sajna Get a jump on the trout season by trying out your tackle on this waterway right now. 10 Build a Marker Buoy by Mike Bleech Draw an "X" in the bottom of your boat, right? The author shows you a better way. 12 SINKERS by C. Boyd Pfeiffer This article gets down to the basics of sinkers. Using them properly can help you increase your catch. 16 Jigging Happily Ever After by Don Shiner Here is a step-by-step description of how to make these effective lures. 25 PFC — In the Air Everywhere by Lxirry Shaffer The Fish Commission is livin' on the air in Pennsylvania, up and down the dial. Here are the details. 26 Low-Head Dams by Virgil Chambers Did you know there are about 2,000 low-head dams in Pennsylvania? Read this article to protect yourself against a river's self-operated drowning machine. 28 Acid Precipitation Update by Fred Johnson This article details the latest information on what many people think is the most important bill awaiting the action of Congress. Straight Talk 2 Anglers Notebook 22 The Cover Currents 20 jviail 23 The Law and You 20 Boating 26 Book Review 21 Profile 30 The trout on this month's cover, painted by Mark Acid precipitation pi Anderson, is waiting for a meal to drift by at the^ bottom of his pool. You can begin curing your Staff cabin fever in March, but before you run to a EDITOR/Art Michaels stream, check your summary of fish laws and ART/Tom Duran regulations, and turn to page 7 for additional PHOTOGRAPHER/ Russ Gettig details. CIRCULATION/Eleanor Mutch PENNSYLVANIA FISH COMMISSION BOATING ADVISORY BOARD STAFF ASSISTANT/Jayne Calvin J. Kern. President John A. Hugya Clavton Buchanan. Chairman Povleski Whitehall Johnstown Pittsburgh J. Wayne Yorks. Vice Ross J. Huhn Nicholas Apfl POSTMASTKR: Send .1579 forms to Pennsylvania Benton President Saltsburg Fairless Hills Fish Commission, P.O. Box 1673. Harrisburg, PA 17105-1673. Pennsylvania Angler (ISSN 003I-434X),® Marilvn Black Robert L. Martin Charles Chattaway 1983. is published monthly. Second class postage paid Meadville Bellefonte Monongahela at Harrisburg. PA. Subscription rates: one year. S5: Walter F. Gibbs Jerome E. Southerton Sherwood Krum three years. % 14: single copies are 5(k each. Send check Titusville" Honesdale Hawley or money order, and all correspondence to Pennsyl vania Fish Commission, P.O. Box 1673. Harrisburg, Leonard A. Green Leon Lyon PA 17105-1673. Carlisle Bellefonte A Pennsylvania Walleye Primer by Jim Bashline alleyes, according to most pounds will put up a dogged battle, Allegheny below the Kinzua Dam is gourmet anglers, are the and catching one is not a foregone full of sizable fish, and they spawn W finest freshwater table conclusion by any means. I can't there with good results. The fare. In Pennsylvania, though, the think of a more moody fish in fresh Susquehanna River has long been a walleyed pike for many anglers is an water, and that may be part of the walleye hotspot with the fish having almost incidental species—something reason for the walleye's low position been known as the Susquehanna to be fished for when nothing else is on the preference polls. Deride the Salmon since colonial days. Walleyes available, or as a chance fish caught moon-eyed one if you wish, but the introduced into Lake Wallenpaupack while fishing for something else. The fact is, few fishermen do well and into the Delaware River have walleye, like Rodney Dangerfield, pursuing it on a regular basis. They thrived, and many other lakes and deserves more respect. don't come all that easy. rivers offer excellent walleye The walleye doesn't come to the populations. Given deep water for surface to slam a floating lure or fly Walleye whereabouts winter cover and a plentiful supply of as might a bass, musky, or trout. It Pennsylvania fishermen have food, the walleye takes care of itself doesn't jump when hooked, nor does plenty of walleye water—this relative quite nicely. It is a good forager and it make sizzling runs like a salmon or of the perch is found in all three of can do well in a wide variety of water shad. But a walleye over three our major river systems. The middle temperatures up to 80 degrees. Here's how to locate and catch these critters. Favored depths early morning hours, late evening, or about trying to overcome a baitfish The most common mistake anglers at night. When walleyes are taken with sheer speed. It simply lies in make when trying to catch walleyes is during the middle of the day, you can wait on the bottom, blending in with they fish too fast and don't fish deep usually bet that they'll be found in its surroundings perfectly, until a enough. Walleyes will occasionally water deeper than eight feet. minnow comes within range. A quick rise from the bottom to hit a trolled snap of the head and the minnow bait or lure, but to get their attention Minnows on the menu finds itself impaled on a mouthful of the offering has to be close to the Walleyes are predominately needle-sharp teeth. bottom in the first place. Those big, minnow eaters, and they aren't too The same fate awaits crayfish, chalky-colored eyes serve a special selective about which species. Many small frogs, leeches, and some other purpose: They gather the low light of anglers think that muskies, trout, and creatures that move in an entrancing deep water and let the walleye feed bass are the most effective predators, way. The walleye is not all that fussy, and move confidently. Shallow water with their flashing speed and nervous and large nightcrawlers trolled with its resultant bright light attitudes, but the old yellow and behind a spinner or small spoon will apparently causes some bother, and brown walleye might be a better do the trick as well. If the live bait is as a result walleyes prefer to do most minnow catcher than any of them. deep enough and moving slowly of their serious feeding during the The walleye doesn't race and dash enough, the walleye will seldom miss a chance to investigate. Walleyes are school fish, so Why not simply dunk a minnow when one is caught, you'll hooked through the back down to probably tangle with more. A the bottom and allow it to hang there walleye of 36'h inches and 17 until a walleye cruises by? Such an pounds, 9 ounces is the current approach will indeed catch walleyes if state record. The monster came the fish happen to be where you're from the Allegheny Reservoir, fishing, but too often the fish won't and was fooled with a live shiner. be there. Walleyes are not solitary The minimum weight re creatures as trout, bass, or muskies quirements for walleyes in the tend to be in stream situations. There Angler Recognition Program are may be the odd fish here and there in 10 pounds for senior awards and rivers, but not usually. Walleyes are five pounds for junior awards school fish and move in "hunting (persons under 16 years of age).