R FEBRUARY 1965

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At m Twenty-two-year-old Miss Margie Hollinger, of Lemoyne, Pa., uses a large scale validation sticker to remind boaters to get their applications in early for the 1965-66 season and avoid the rush. A graduate of Elizabethtown College and a teacher at the Manor School, in New Cumberland, Miss Hollinger has a variety of outside interests including, of course, boating, water skiing and swimming.—Bob Miller Photo. PENNSYLVANIA FISH COMMISSION Ptumaijluama Angler Published Monthly by the DIRECTORY PENNSYLVANIA FISH COMMISSION EXECUTIVE OFFICE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA ROBERT J. BIELO William W. Scranton, Governor Executive Director • GORDON TREMBLEY Assistant Executive Director PENNSYLVANIA FISH COMMISSION EDWARD R. THARP RAYMOND M. WILLIAMS, President East Bangor Assistant Executive Director ROBERT M. RANKIN, Vice President Galeton Watercraft Safety Division GERARD J. ADAMS Hawley JOHN W. GRENOBLE •••Carlisle WARREN W. SINGER JOSEPH M. CRITCHFIELD Confluence DOUGLAS MCWILLIAMS - •Elysburg Assistant to Executive Director WALLACE C. DEAN Meadville R. STANLEY SMITH Waynesburg HOWARD R. HEINY .... — Williamsport PAUL F. O'BRIEN Administrative Officer JOHN M. SMITH Comptroller FEBRUARY, 1965 VOL. 34, NO. 2 • DIVISIONS Research and Fish Management EN fi uss Chief GEORGE W. FORREST, Editor Propagation and Distribution 0 *ARD L. FOX Superintendent p Real Estate ConJtsjnJtA LE* SPENCER Chief j, Engineering 2 Art Clark's FISH'N DIARY ^ABD MILLER Chief 6 A MINNOW BY ANY OTHER NAME-Keen Buss-Chief-Division of v^ Law Enforcement Research and Fish Management, Pennsylvania Fish Commission O-UAM W. BRITTON Chief 8 THE SOLUNAR TABLES-John Alden Knight . Pathologist RTl«JR BRADFORD Chief 10 THE BIRTH OF THE LITTLE BROWN TROUT-S. R. Slaymaker, II • 12 HOW STRONG IS ICE? NORTHWEST REGION 14 A-U-DO-IT-FISHING CAMP-George R. Stahl a, p R Yl E 16 FISH COMMISSION NAMES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, l2l2* p - SHELDON Warden Supervisor E- Main St., Conneautvffle, Pa., OTHER STAFF CHANGES Phone: 3033 18 BOATING WITH ROBERT G. MILLER . SOUTHWEST REGION GLOSSARY OF FLY TYING TOOLS-Don Shiner K 22 R D *- JONES Warden Supervisor ' 2. Somerset, Pa Phone: 445-4913 24 NOTES FROM THE STREAMS 26 WELCOME TO THE SUCKER CLUB-W. W. Britton, Law Enforce­ CL NORTHEAST REGION ment Chief, Pennsylvania Fish Commission 3SI'T FLEEGEB Warden Supervisor ^rrace St., Honesdale, Pa., 27 CITATION AWARD PHOTOGRAPHS Phone: 253-3724 29 SCHOOL'S OUT! Ned Smith , SOUTHEAST REGION Cover Art-John F. Clark Jo"N S r» U3o *• °GDEN Warden Supervisor Hu*ton Rd., York, Pa. .. Phone: 854-3474 POSTMASTER: All 3579 forms to be returned to Dunlap Printing Co., Inc., Cherry and Juniper St»., Philadelphia 7, Pa. NORTH CENTRAL REGION The PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER is published monthly by the Pennsylvania Fish Commission, Jo: BU South Office Building, Harrisburg, Pa. Subscription: One year-$2.00; three years-$5.00; 25 cents CK Warden Super per single copy. Send check or money order payable to Pennsylvania Fish Commission. DO NOT O. B°* 5, Lock Haven, Pa., SEND STAMPS. Individuals sending cash do so at their own risk. Change of address should reach Phone: 748-7162 us promptly. Furnish both old and new addresses. Second Class Postage paid at Harrisburg, Pa., and at additional mailing offices. Neither Publisher nor Editor will assume responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or illustrations SOUTH CENTRAL REGION while in their possession or in transit. Permission to reprint will be given provided we receive „ **Oj.r> r- marked copies and credit is given material or illustrations. Communications pertaining to manuscripts, 5aj , SORBIN Warden Supervisor material or illustrations should be addressed to the Pennsylvania Fish Commission, Harrisburg, Pa. 1J* St., Huntingdon, Pa., NOTICE: Subscriptions received and processed the 10th of each month will begin with the Phone: 643-0355 second month following. OhL gfaAtiL

FISH'N DIARY

TYER'S DELIGHT! bing allow short end of material to extend to near eye< so the entire wrapping can be made over the short end' LARGE snowflakes are descending past the windows- This method eliminates hump in the dubbing near hook Jack Frost starts ice designs on the window glass. It's very bend, and leaves the body delicately tapered. cold outside—pile more wood on the fire. Tune-in favorite When blending furs lay portions together, mix, pu>' opera or symphony. apart, lay together again, etc. Add portions to give dc Take piece of nylon tying thread and attach hackle sired coloration. Some furs are easily spun on thread, aS pliers to one end. Untwist strands at the other end, hold red fox or mole. Seal and polar bear furs are livety! one strand in one hand and two strands in the other hand. translucent, but stiff and difficult to spin on thread, ft' Pull apart on strands and allow pliers to rotate. When the usually best to mix fine-soft fur of red fox or bay lynx wif1 single strand untwists detach pliers and attach them to the coarse-stiff furs. A bay lynx tail has all natural shade8 two strands. Pull these apart and allow them to untwist. from white, light cream—through to the darkest browf' These very fine strands of thread are used for tying with and black. , smoothest finishes of the heads. Nylon thread is ideal as Rabbit fur has a truly magical appeal to trout, and ' it's strong, holds tightly regardless of moisture content, and only one fur was used it would be that from the cottontai1' does not decay. Mole is also one of the very appealing furs. Mole fur >' For floaters the fine Scotch Hook, 5029T, is used. Gaelic soft and fine, easily spun on thread, and has a wonderf1* Supreme 7029T is used on other trout lures. Quality hooks luster that may make the burrowing Talpidae actuaW are quite essential. glisten in darkness of their home, or in a DARK recess ° When preparing dubbing arrange fur in narrow strip, the stream. Coarse guard hair, as on polar bear and mus* tapered evenly from thin to thick. After spinning fur on rat, is usually removed before spinning a dubbing; ho^' thread tie on the small end, then wrap (without over- ever, rabbit is an important exception and guard h*1 wrapping) around hook shank. When tying on the dub­ should be left in the fur.

2 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLE Fur is the best body material as the outer covering of polar bear" fur dubbing and body of oval silver tinsel. lnsects, nymphs, larvae, crustaceans, etc., is a horny Yellow Larva doubles for freshwater shrimp, a trout's Substance called chitin, and for all practical purposes furs delight! are chitin in handy-threaded form. While dyed fur may n GREEN LARVA-Green thread, rib of green seal" or polar °t be inferior we use the natural wherever possible, even bear" fur dubbing and body of oval silver tinsel. *ith considerable loss in realistic limitations as to colora- tl0n- As on our Larval Patterns, tinsel can be used to RED LARVA-Scarlet thread, rib of claret seal* or polar greatly enhance fur dubbing-one reason the Patterns are bear* fur dubbing and body of oval silver tinsel. So deadly. Quill from gamecock hackle makes fairly BROWN LARVA-Fiery brown thread, rib of dark brown Productive bodies, and condor quill is really first-class. bay lynx tail fur dubbing and body of oval gold tinsel. "What re these things you've been tying?" Brown Larva doubles for the streamlined, free-ranging Artistic creations—tyer's delight!" nymphs, and it's often more productive than Brown "Will trout take them?" Hackle. The snow starts turning to sleet with staccato pattering BLACK LARVA #2-Favorite sunny day lure 0r> the windows-then the rains-and then, SPRING! Same as #1, except omit tinsel and clip black hackle about %" to W, similar to Black Nymph, Page 38, "As Mr. Trout Likes 'Em". Tie on tip end of hackle at hook bend and allow hackle to hang. Tie on black fur dubbing, wrap and tie off. Spirally wrap hackle (3 or 4 wraps) over dubbing near to eye and tie off. Any long fibers should be clipped approximately one-half of hook gap.

DEADLY PATTERNS THE FISH FLY » *LE midge flies are very small, 22-20-18, midge larvae HAT could be more appetizing for a fish than a big, are w much larger, 16-14. The larvae and flies are very juicy fish fly? For many years we've been trying to tie Portant fish food in lakes and streams. During storms a productive imitation of the Fish Fly (Chauliodes ser- observed sheets of tiny flies huddling together near ricornis). Conventional wings were tried and finally e Under protection of heavy foliage. Violent wind was discarded as being too coarse and opaque. The IMPRES­ e ln of c P § them from wide-open spaces of lake under carpet SIONISTIC wings (see below) really solved the problem. °liage. Fish were gorging themselves by merely swim- Undoubtedly the coarse heavy wing materials on lures . 6 through the midge-masses, and soon had enough seriously reduce their productivity. Matter-of-fact, except tor the day, perhaps for a week. Any wonder fishing for tiny translucent hackle tips on Black Stone, we use . en poor immediately after storms. the impressionistic wings on our regular killers. The old- ass-feeding as in lakes is difficult to see in moving water fashioned coarse wings may captivate anglers, but not , ' however, trout gorge on midge larvae as the wary brown trout. We also reduced the lure to a size 10, T}i , ontls start wriggling from bottom toward surface as the browns often detect artificiality of larger lures in e large trout practically subsist on larvae, seldom ex- daylight. Posi: "n8 themselves by taking flies on the surface. Here are the deadly Patterns, tied on size 16 and 14 hooks

Ac 0 K LARVA #l-Favorite weaklight lure 1 §e thread (allow wraps of thread to show on hook di Kk-' t'6 °n dubbing of black fur at hook bend and allow ty,., lnS to hang. Tie on oval silver tinsel at hook bend The Fish Fly is a large succulent insect that appeals to 4 S^0rt end extending to near eye. Wrap tinsel (3 or the large succulent brown trout, and the insect is often ke * an<^ ^e °^' ^y wrapping tinsel over itself body is seen flying sluggishly along the stream. Poor thing—it just BFT"iU °rm m s'ze a^on8 shank. Wrap dubbing as a rib manages to keep flying, always appearing about to land tWEE^ENN WRAPS or>(f tinseHr.M.1l anrandl HtieB offnff. KnlartrEnlargpe wrapwran- Pill on the water and be gobbled-up by a trout. The Fish Fly 8 Of tying thread for the head. Use medium tinsel on has a black body. The wings are also black with a white and small tinsel with rib of sparse dubbing on 16. patch in the front wing, and the wings are sprinkled with EY a , LARVA^Primrose thread, rib of mole fur dubbing, white dots. body of oval silver tinsel. HOOK-10 regular or x fine. L ^ LOW LARVA-Yellow thread, rib of yellow seal* or THREAD-Gold nylon. TAIL-None fitted with some light bay lynx or belly fur of red fox- "endin 8 gives natural-fleshy coloration WINGS & LEGS-Creamy-white size 12 badger and

*EBR UARY—1965 3 Fish Flies do not hatch en masse as Mayflies—there is not the pre-flight nymphal activity in the water as a signal HOOK sues for trout to move up and sip the flies—so trout must be constantly alert or miss a solitary Fish Fly being carried along by the current. The old wary browns usually rest in front of boulders and are first in the food lane—just in case. When fishing the Fish Fly there's no particular concern Q7o whether it floats or sinks; it's deadly on a natural-drift at any water level. Trout may take the Fish Fly lure for a Fish Fly, water bug, June bug, cricket, beetle or the Fish Fly Larva—alias trout hellgrammite. Add some lead to leader when imitating the Larva. If long surface floats are desirable tie the lure on x fine hook. QjTo The Fish Fly is rapidly becoming one of our favorite all-season lures. Whip-up a few with the impressionistic wings and snag a trophy brown.

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c /8 r^ Mr RABBIT-FUR MAGIC 14 T HERE are more "chewed-up" imitations of March Brown Nymph in our collection of valuable souvenirs than any other lure. This is not too surprising, merely inevitable) because all these souvenirs have bodies of rabbit fur. tz The boys and 1 spent several years examining streams for nymphs and larvae. Before releasing them they were C7P placed in white porcelain pan of water so their movements and colorations could be observed. Our prize find was March Brown Nymph with light amber gills on sides of body. These gills were in continuous undulating motion, even when the Nymph was at rest. Upper half from skin or outer part of rabbit fur makes an excellent imitation in color and life-like motion in water of gills and body' We tried other body materials for the MBN, but they c were not even a close match for rabbit fur. We also found several kinds and sizes of stone nymphs- tiger stone, creeper, and water cricket—some that measured Us". We experimented with imitations of the stone nymphs, but finally discarded them as very poor lures- size 10 black hackle. Tie-in tips of the hackles at We used the MBN imitation as double for the stone hook-bend, and let them hang while body is nymphs. The dark-brown bay lynx tail-hair wing on wrapped. MBN BODY—Dubbing of black (dyed) polar bear hair. gave this lure a dark back in imitation of stone nymphs- After body has been completed, wrap badger Our 12" x 14" stream chart with cross section repre' hackle with three or four tight turns around body senting riffle, run, pool, sunken log, leafdrift, etc., show's to front of body and tie-off the hackle. Wrap black we tied thirty-seven imitations of nymphs and larvae, and hackle over the badger hackle and tie-off. The these were attached to section of stream chart they i°' mixture of creamy-white and black hackle fibers habited. The display definitely fixed in our minds the im­ gives a mottled effect that imitates the wings of the portant nymphs that live in each section of a stream- Fish Fly. However, only a few of the imitations ever proved ° value as fish-takers, and the stand-out was MBN. 4 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLE# Please note overlapping in June—no special problem, however. Merely switch patterns as well as size. Size is very important, whereas the patterns may be equally effective. Perhaps reason an authority could count 10,000 patterns. During early season start with size 10 and work down to 18. However, when water temperature is around 45 degrees start with the 18. After June reverse the sizes, try 18, 16, 14, 12, then 10. Sizes 18, 16, 14 in Light seem to be the best after first of July, certainly during August. Exploration of streams revealed some interesting in­ stants. The shy, slender damselfly nymph walked back­ If you wish to fish all season with one size use 12—day- ed with mincing steps. The chunky, vicious dragonfly after-day it's hard to beat. When one weight hook is used ^Ph had membranous flap covering his face like a make it 2x fine for the surface feeders, and attach lead to mas leader when needed to fish the FEEDING LEVEL. ked bandit. The water worm or crane fly larva riggled continuously as if in a hurry to go places, al- Just match the SIZE in Dark or Light for dark or light °ugh he actually stayed in one spot-because the nymphs-insects. Ut '° «erend movements eliminated any progress. Current Inquiries on fly materials, patterns, etc., should be ad­ a % carried away the wriggling phenomenon to lodge- dressed to the Editor. ent in another leaf drift or stomach of a fish. Experiments have always continued and probably w ays Wji] However, in recent years we have settled **8 definitely for the rabbit fur in hook sizes 18, 16, 14, ' and 10-with our MBN pattern evolving to just a body rabbit fur and a few brown partridge hackle fibers for ' a'l- The body is tied thick by using sticky rod varnish on read and overlapping the dubbing. Perish the thought- ,y fishing the five sizes all the time one might easily eco ^e a fish hog! batches of trout on March Brown Nymph have been enornenal, hardly creditable except for the body of rabbit fur.

DARK NYMPH-SIZES 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 For April, May, June trout fishing

HOOKS-Regular HOOKS-2x fine

Few partridge Few blue dun hackle hackle fibers fibers

*ODY Dubbing rabbit un­ Dubbing muskrat der-fur under-fur

HA CKLE Half-dozen par­ Small-size blue dun tridge fibers (two-turns)

LIGHT NYMPH-SIZES 18, 16, 14, 12, 10 For June, July, August trout fishing

HOOKS-Regular HOOKS-2x fine TAIL Few ginger hackle Few ginger hackle fibers fibers fiOD Y Dubbing mixture Dubbing bay lynx rabbit . outer-fur tail fur and red fox belly fur HACK LE Small-size ginger Small-size ginger (two turns) (two turns)

FEBKUARY_1965 (L Wlmww fiij^ Cbu^ QMIA/L VIXWVUL

By KEEN BUSS Chief Division of Research and Fish Management Pennsylvania Fish Commission

WHAT is a minnow? The answer may surprise you but of our trout streams. These little fish sometimes known as a minnow is not just any small fish or the young of larger "stripers" are often brilliant red and black striped in the fish. In fact, a minnow may be large, very large, as is the spring of the year. case of the Colorado squawfish which grows up to 40 or No article on minnows would be complete without enu­ 50 pounds. The large minnow with which all Pennsylvania merating the little fishes which people think are minnows anglers are familiar is the carp. This well established im­ but "ain't." The little darters, and particularly the johnny migrant to the United States has been taken up to 59/2 darter of trout streams, are often thought of as minnows. pounds in this country. The world's record came from The silversides, sticklebacks, killifishes, herring, smelt and South Africa and balanced out at 82/2 pounds. The largest muddlers are not minnows but are in separate families. A native Pennsylvania minnow is the fallfish which may little confusing you say. Well the mudminnow isn't a reach 16 to 18 inches and is considered to be quite a game minnow and the trout-perch is neither a trout nor a perch. fish on light tackle and artificial lures. Have you ever wondered of what value minnows are? Before we leave the impression that a fish must be large A few of the larger ones are caught by anglers and a few to be a minnow, it should be pointed out, as you suspected are used for bait but what about the myriad of lesser ones in the first place, that most true minnows are small. Many which populate our waters? These are the energy con­ of these little fishes such as the blacknose dace of our verters which eat the microscopic animal and plant life trout streams seldom exceed three inches in length. and convert it into a form the larger animals and particu­ Now that size has been eliminated as a criteria for min­ larly the game fishes can eat. They are the link in Nature's nows, how is a member of the minnow family described? food chain between the product of the sun's energy ana The native American species have no scales on the head, the larger fish. a dorsal fin with less than ten soft rays, no spines in the If we wish to make martyrs out of minnows, we coulo fins and no teeth in the jaws. The carp—not an American say that unless they sacrifice their lives our warm water species and thus an exception to the above description—has fishing would be doomed. So be kind to your goldfish. Ifc a spine in the first ray of the seventeen ray dorsal fin and too, is a minnow—but keep it in the fish bowl. in the first ray of the anal fin. Don't worry about the minnows having to gum their food all their lives because of the absence of teeth in the jaws. Nature has fitted them with a set of teeth (called pharyngeal teeth) deep in the throat just at the beginning of the esophagus. These deep-set teeth do an adequate job of grinding the ingested food. To complicate the classification of minnows, or the fam­ ily, Cyprinidae, as the scientist knows them, the common names do not always contain the word minnow as "fat­ head minnow" but rather they may be called dace, shiners or chubs. The species of shiners are most confusing and also most numerous. There are 99 species called shiners, 35 species designated as chubs and 17 species known as dace of the 192 cyprinid species found in the United States. CREEK CHUB Probably more people are familiar with the golden Semotilus atromaculatus shiner than any other minnow. It is usually very numer­ The creek chub is bluish-olive above with a faint bluish' ous in our lakes and grows to be about ten inches in length. gray lateral line. The sides below the lateral line are gray This is the minnow most commonly sold as live bait by to silvery. There is a dark bar immediately behind the commercial dealers or caught on kid-size baits. Many spe­ opercle following the edge of the gill cover. Maximum cies which look "chubby" are erroneously called chubs. length, about twelve inches. The true chub familiar to Pennsylvania anglers is the Identifying characters: creek chub which may reach a size of 10 to 12 inches. It is one of the larger of the native minnows and is often 1. Black spot at base of dorsal fin near front. caught by anglers or used for bait. Many trout fishermen 2. Upper jaw extending at least to front of eye. are familiar with the dace because they are the minnow 3. Scales crowded toward head.

(. PENNSYLVAMA ANCLE" THE DACES The daces are the colorful little minnows which are Usually so abundant in our trout streams. They are hardy 'We fishes that are so colorful in breeding season in the s Pring and earlv summer months. These minnows are oft,e n over-harvested by fishermen.

GOLDEN SHINER Notemigonus crysoleucas This species of minnow is one of the most abundant of the fishes of Pennsylvania. It is deep-bodied and has a small eye in the small, pointed head. The color on the sides ranges from silver to gold depending upon the size and water factors. Maximum length, about twelve inches. Identifying characters: 1. Small, pointed head. 2. No spine. 3. Lateral line decurved.

BLACKNOSE DACE Rhinichthys atratulus This minnow is probably the most common and wide- Pread of the daces. The back is blackish and the sides re light with a black lateral stripe from the end of the °Se to the caudal fin. Spring males have the lower fins j^nge and a little red on lateral band. The lining of the nominal cavity is silvery. The body often has dark Recklings. Maximum length, about four inches. identifying characters: *• Black spot on dorsal fin. CARP *• Wide, black or brown lateral stripe. Cyprinus carpio J - Dark spot on caudal fin. This introduced European fish is the largest of the min­ now family in the United States. There are three varieties of this species, the scale carp, leather carp and mirror carp. The difference lies in the scalation. The scales, when present, are exceptionally large on the sides and have a brassy appearance. Maximum weight, about forty-five pounds. Identifying characters: 1. Two pairs of barbels. 2. A dorsal spine.

LONGNOSE DACE Rhinichthys cataractae i, inis fish is often found in the same locality as the GOLDFISH a°knose dace. It is dark green or brown above, sides Carassius auratus i e blotched with brown. Lips, cheeks and lower jaw This is another introduced species. Although it was fi c°rne red in breeding season. Maximum length, about originally intended for an aquarium fish, it has been pro­ V? inches. miscuously introduced into our lakes and streams. Because entifying characters: of its long domestication, it is found in a variety of forms Upper jaw extends well beyond lower jaw. •jnd colors. Maximum length, about twenty inches. ~' Dusky spot on opercle. Identifying characters: ^ Indistinct lateral band. 1. No barbels. • Lateral line a little decurved. 2. A dorsal spine. p EBR UARY—1965 ans

^Jke ^otunar ^Jable5 *r V ^ A- *

^Jkeir KJriqin and Jheir L4dded

By JOHN ALDEN KNIGHT

A new generation of sportsmen are showing curiosity about th* widely read SOLUNAR TABLES. Pennsylvania n John Alden Knight' originator of the tables, tells the youngsters how they evolved

tVERY outdoorsman—fisherman, hunter, naturalist, biro watcher—has observed, over the years, certain patterns of behavior which govern the creatures of the wild. Se knows that at some times game is easy to find and tha1 fish respond to his offerings, be they natural or artificial' Then at other times, to all appearances every bit 3s favorable, game will be in hiding and the fish definitely on a hunger strike. The outdoorsman, if he should be * student of nature and a keen observer, quite naturally wonders about this variance in behavior. What causes i( and why should it exist? Many years ago it was my good fortune to stumbl6 across the key to this perplexing problem. I was fishing with a Florida guide in a lake called Lake Helenblaze5 (that's the way it is listed on the old Florida maps) well back in the St. Johns marshes of central Florida' He called the turn on the fishing that day—told me, we'' in advance, when we would have our good fishing. AnO have it we did. Late that afternon we poled our wear)' way back to the open waters of the St. Johns River. I" our boat was a catch of largemouth bass such as every fisherman dreams about but seldom or never sees; nine bass whose total weight was seventy-eight pounds. After intensive questioning, with obviously reluctan1

PENNSYLVANIA ANGL E* answers, I learned that my guide had been given the S^ret by his "gran'pappy," a market hunter of South eorgia. He, in turn, had learned it from the Seminole •Wians with whom he hunted and fished as a boy. To be sure, the calculation of this daily cycle of activity ,ri0- rest periods that governs the behavior of the wildlife as loosely done by these people. Actually, it was little m°re than a bit of folk lore, and "old wive's tale." My "de gave it to me as he had learned it from his grand- fath,e r. That was the start of forty-odd years of investiga- ,°n> experimentation, observation and study. In brief, ls process encompassed the examination of just about everytn ing in our modern science which could possibly r°w some light on this perplexing problem. Working from a known result back to a probable cause Ways is a puzzling piece of business. You find yourself in md alleys and up dead-end streets. Then there is nothing do but return to your starting point and try a different elPproach:.'"^nation . , Atht e lonSOLUNAg last, Rlargel TABLEy througS werhe firstthe formulatedprocess of. The name, as can readily be seen, was coined from the Hi S "s°lar" and "lunar"—roughly, "sun" and "moon"— e theory being at that time that these two heavenly bodies ,pere, in some way, responsible for the basic phenomenon. „ ."ay, of course, we know better, but we still stick to the 0r 'ginal name. J he daily cycle of feeding and activity periods and of s^ or inactivity periods among wildlife is in no sense ^ to the biologists and naturalists of the world. Ar- ^enius, the famous Swedish scientist (1859-1927) spoke " in his writings as did Darwin. Today, the biologists — . ,°el the cycle rather loosely as one of the "biological cks". However, we (my son and I) have been able r emove a]j guesswork from the formula and we can now ,. °ulate, several years in advance, just when, at what where their natural food lives—in the shallows, along the /"e or times, you can expect to find the best fishing or shore lines, the riffles, or the rocky bars. In streams the e >T best shooting which any particular day has to offer. heads and tails of the pools are apt to be the most pro­ /•fortunately, there are many factors which tend to ductive; in lakes and ponds, the shore lines, shallows, Set the effects of a Solunar Period on wildlife. Adverse and rocky bars usually give best results. eather conditions, a falling barometer, unfavorable tem- When you use the tables for hunting, the same general ratUreS; ygi-, wjn(jS) a]l SOrts of things, often will com- rules hold true. During Solunar Periods the game is tely neutralize the response. But you, as an outdoors- usually in the feeding covers; during the in-between or fisV' know perfectly well that you do not have good rest periods, the game as a rule returns to its resting lrig or shooting every time you go afield. Thus, don't cover. XPect miracles from the SOLUNAR TABLES. One of the characteristics of wildlife behavior is that . ut this we do say, and we can't say it too loudly or both fish and game seem to lose much of their natural dai en; ^ y°u ac<9un"e the habit of keeping track of the caution during Solunar Periods. Game fish move into the 0 Jjy Solunar Periods, the sport that you will find in the shallows, exposing themselves to their natural enemies, a V, 1 °rs w^ ^e tremendously improved. Believe me, it is and they prefer surface lures to the under-water varieties; Olt that paynavs bih\cg dividends. birds will lie well for the dogs; large game is more easily Pa to regard the SOLUNAR approached. 0t ?^ES as useful only for fishing. Viewed in the light It must be remembered that response to the promptings „ developments during the past forty-odd years, we know of the Solunar Periods varies considerably from day to 5 I oil living things respond to the promptings of the day, depending upon conditions. When the weather is fine 0 unar Periods. Fish, birds, animals, reptiles, even plants, and temperatures favorable, the Solunar Periods are apt ,j ers and people, all of them react to a greater or less to "come in" somewhat ahead of schedule, and to last TK depending on the order of their development. longer than usual. When conditions are not favorable, U f' you wil1 find the SOLUNAR TABLES every bit as response to the Solunar Periods is apt to be tardy or lack­ Se ing entirely. You must learn to make allowances for con­ tul for nunting as they are for fishing, a T en y°u use the tables for fishing, always remember ditions. b ,, the selection of water is important. Game fish have As stated earlier, the SOLUNAR TABLES are not Uv *heir resting stations and their feeding areas. Be­ based on guesswork. They are based on a definite, recog­ ds 6n Solunar Periods the fish are most likely to be in nized natural law and they prove out exactly because of jj Per water where they can find security and safe cover, that. So, as we say, get the habit of keeping track of during the Solunar Periods they move into the areas the daily Solunar Periods; it pays off. *EB R UARY—1965 "Jhs. £vdh 0% But dtitih fi/wivn JhDidttt

Famous streamer patterns usually evolve from years of angling experience. But even a rank amateur can work wonders at the fly vise with the help of a mid­ winter night's dream.

By S. R. SLAYMAKER II

Sam Slaymaker began his writing career ten years ago Here was a way to be therapeutically productive! I was with an article in the PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER. During just that, until late in the snow-filled night, comfortable recent years his extensive writing on streamer fishing has and warm at a card table by the hearth's blaze—spark- led to the popularization of some of his own patterns, the lingly animated by tinder-dry pine logs. Four candles most famous of which is the Little Brown Trout. Its imi­ and a gasoline lantern provided light which seemed eX' tation and use has been widespread enough to result in otically adequate at the time. But the next day's oculaf a diversity among dressings. hangover proved conclusively that one should never tie In this article, the author sets down for "Angler" trout flies by candlelight! readers his ORIGINAL "tie" . . . and the fascinating After a few dry Cahills, relaxation began to take hold' tale of how it came about.—ED. An hour and a dozen wet March Brown and Hare's Ears later, relaxation gave way to downright felicity and al urge to eat. IT was 6 p.m. on March 20, 1958. The driving blizzard Bacon, eggs, and the coffee pot—simmering with sno^ was fast turning into one of the worst climatic catastrophes water—gave off their familiar smell. It blended with the in the memories of southeastern Pennsylvanians. Devoid aroma of burning logs into the singular scents of Otf* of its customary roar from trucks and the whine of tires, Pocono "woodsmen breakfasts." Only frying trout weVe the now deserted highway made my farm house seem life­ lacking. It was time to dream a bit . . . less. Its glistening white shroud had embraced lightly at Now Colonial fireplaces just don't transform themselves first. Now, it was growing heavier by the minute. in a wink, like Scrooge's door knocker when Marley5 Alone—without lights, central heat, phone or running face shown through it. But by candlelight, when a sens6 water—I listened to the periodic roar of crashing pine of the here and now gets pleasantly dulled, their ectc trees. They were going more rapidly than earlier. Those plasmic qualities can get mixed up and render them qui'e far out in the grove went with dull thuds; the nearer ones different. Metamorphosis made this one appear no longer cracked sharply. possessed of a classically carved white mantle; rather '' The sounds reminded me of anti-aircraft fire during the seemed hazily larger and rough hewn. Dimly, too, thf* war. All the more so when I realized that waiting for the walls became pine boarding; a Chippendale sofa turned barn and-outbuilding to collapse was very much like an­ into a cot. ticipating the shell with my number on it. But what had My dream began to focus. I heard the throwing arou»" our B-17 crew done about the flak? Nothing. We just of waders, the reeling of line, the talk of my companions' sat and took it. When it got too rough for too long they Their familiar voices chatted on in this dream world, t^ sent us to the flak home to rest up. Those who really had essence of which was so strangely mixed up in space a11 the shakes were sent to other places for therapy. time as to cause me to wonder later whether the see'1 Just the answer, I thought to myself. I would relax had been experienced before or was yet to be. The subjec and forget about the snow on farm building roofs. And was streamers. to stay relaxed I could heed the head shrinkers and turn All agreed that bucktail-wise there was one always effeC' to something absorbingly constructive, like bead string­ tive pattern, the Black Nose Dace. My friend, Art Flic*' ing. There were no beads, but there was the fly-tying kit. of Westkill, N. Y. had designed it. He meant to imita'e

10 PENNSYLVANIA ANGL# e^ familiar minnow with the black stripe down his side. ster brown from Spring Creek in Centre County. Natu­ jV*s imitation proved a killer because it looks to trout rally, John became wedded to the bucktail. In conversa­ , e a very familiar food—fish. The discussion had turned tion he referred to it as "the little brown trout." The gically from minnows to trout cannibalism—the habit of name stuck. ating their own kind. I was on the verge of passing on Many successful experiences with the Little Brown ^ belief of Doctor James Trotter of Yonkers, N. Y., to the Trout led to my doing a piece on it in the 1960 issue ect that the best possible streamer pattern ought to con- of "Sports Afield's Fishing Annual." Tying instructions aitl the colors of a young trout. At this point the coffee were included. Within weeks of the opening of the 1960 J- "it a high boil, and I woke up. trout season, I was receiving letters from the country over. My living room and its fireplace were now back to Comments were definitely favorable By mid-season, it j°fmal. The fly vise held a half finished March Brown. was being manufactured and promoted by a leading tackle decided to whip it through and then try my hand at a manufacturer. Others soon picked it up. earner that might appease the trout's cannibalistic Over the next four years it was mentioned in five maga­ ns tinct. zine articles that I know of—maybe more. My mail in­ p *yhat with the varied hues of trout I guessed that a creased steadily. Some letters were from famous members t {nered streamer might prove more opportunity for ef- of the angler-writer fraternity such as Arnold Gingrich, 1Ve s, imitation. But for the average tier, feathered Irwin Baur, and Ernie Schwiebert. j earners are not as easy to work up as the bucktail type. Christened by the experts, then, the Little Brown . as very average, not to mention that my feather sup- Trout's future as a streamer pattern was secure. So I was y Was limited. So I decided on a bucktail imitation of very happy; but embarrassed. young trout. I had written about an effort to separate a young brown , ^ow this took no mean quantity of presumption. For trout's colors through use of a prism, so as to arrive at the _. 'ate, great artist, Jack Atherton, once told a friend of most authentic imitation possible. This lent an aura of n sP *• *-° is mind no painter had ever truly repre- "science" to the development of the streamer. It was an a uve trouts hues with paint and brush. Not being unfortunate. For experience was to prove that an exact­ cnl ert:on, small chance that I could hit an adequate ing imitation of color was unnecessary. I came to be in­ W'tv,r cornbination with a fly vise by candlelight, let alone creasingly sold on the importance of impressionism; the ub Paint and brush. theory that in riffled water a trout can only get a fleeting jj ut one of the nice things about fly tying, besides its view of his quarry—not a long look. Thus, a streamer can never look like a little fish unless it's presented so that the p Pmg you 0ff t-he streets, is that there are no rule books, br ^'?la^sm reigns supreme. You can even tie imitation trout can't get too close a look at it. Wn 1 crumbs and you'll only be judged on how well they Under these conditions it's only necessary to give the trout a rough approximation of the size and color of his "°t having a good color plate of a "brookie" in my ref- food. This is all that I had done with the Little Brown >i nce books, I studied an excellent one of a brown trout. Trout. e i hues, it seemed, should be (from back to belly) dark I've enjoyed scribbling from my good friend, Editor n sli k' ' blending into a lighter brown interspersed very Forrest for lo, these many years. Of all the tasks he has , gntly with yellows and reds. The under side was white, set for me, however, none is more pleasing than writing ever so slightly tinged with orange-pinks. the tale behind the birth of the Little Brown Trout. Pisca­ gl ^6re Was fhe result: body white spun wool, intermin- torial research played no part at all. It was born of the very sparingly with wool dyed orange-pink and union of a blizzard and a dream, the likes of which can hj jPPed with thin wire copper ribbing which served to only be experienced by a trout fisherman in the dead of 'rid tne veN°w effect, promoting also the quality of winter. scence common to fish under water. int toP ^ayer °f bair was dark brown squirrel, receding j^. the next layer of it comprising lighter brown squirrel s ta:i Parsely with strands of dyed yellow and red buck- $', ^be head: jungle cock. The tail: I removed the Th cen'er of the breast feather of a ring-neck pheasant. \vjj-..', bad a mixture of reds, yellows, browns around til sn orange-pinks to carry out the basic coloration of j brown trout. le ra„ _. °- up a dozen such streamers while the blizzard st>„ ' They were all dressed on number six long shank gner hooks. ou S0 ghout the night I had been oblivious to the storm. n e^s ^nocking off in the small, dawn-lit hours, I was at ttiB now had tapered off. The buildings had weathere storm. e o e

s0rn -L opening of the '58 trout season, I distributed iw Drown trout streamers among friends. Their results H. 3 mv nu/n- tlip npw VmrVfail was as effective as th,e my own; the new bucktail was as effective as Stav+i b. e ' °f the old standby patterns. It produced a lng take for John Stauffer of Lancaster, Pa.—a mon­ *EB RUARY- -1965 11 Much of the research has been carried out to aid the armed forces in their Arctic area activities, as in construction o> kow strong is ICE? aircraft landing strips on frozen lake and sea waters. By RUSSELL McKEE Ice Strength With respect to ice strength, a point of much importance to ice fishermen, ice boaters, skaters, and others, SIPRP finds that you can't always tell the strength of ice simpl) by its look, or its thickness, or the daily temperature, <" whether or not the ice is covered with snow. The strength of ice, in fact, depends on these four factors plus a numbe' of others, including depth of water under the ice, surface size of the body of water, chemistry of the water, the dis­ tribution of any load placed on the ice, and local climatic factors that vary considerably from place to place. In general, however, new ice will be much stronger tha'1 old ice. Ice formed by direct freezing of lake or streaf water will be stronger than ice formed from melting sno* or than from refrozen ice, or than ice made of water tha' bubbles up through cracks and then freezes on the surface In other words, clear new ice is generally stronger than ice clouded with air bubbles. And a couple of inches of this new ice may be strong enough to support you while s foot of old ice, or so-called "rotten" ice, will not.

Water Supports Ice Another point of interest to fishermen is the strength given to ice by water under the ice. This matter is give'1 frequent and careful study by country school kids, youfif> scientists who may be seen on any given winter afternoo11 11 NICE PICKEREL, caught by Robert Moose, last winter at Belmont Lake. engaged in attempts to cross any puddle covered by th' ice. The ice, you will note, often bends under the weigh but does not break through very satisfactorily, so co*1' The thickness of ice on a lake or stream is not always siderable lively hopping is necessary before the ice give* a good measure of its strength. in. If you look at this ice carefully after it breaks, you wi> Unless ice is obviously thick enough to be very safe, cars note how thin it can be while still offering quite a bit oI should not be parked in one place any longer than neces­ support. sary. Parked vehicles should stay farther apart than However, SIPRE also says that if you drive your cajj moving vehicles. onto a lake, parking in one spot tends to weaken ice, ai^ Cars moving over ice cause "reasonance waves" in the at times when the thickness of ice is marginal, prolong^ ice itself, and when one or several cars follow one another, parking in one spot is not recommended. Vehicles shoo'0 these "waves" may crack ice that otherwise would normally be moved around and parked at alternate locations frotf be safe for travel. time to time to allow ice to recover its earlier or "normal; The bearing capacity of ice is not based on the fact that shape and position. A car parked on a foot of ice vv>> ice is lighter than water, but on its resistance to bending depress that ice about an inch in a saucer-shaped are under a load. Water under the ice gives much of the 200 feet in diameter. In other words, cars parked clos strength needed to support heavy loads. together on such ice may increase the weight enough The bearing capacity of ice is substantially higher than pass the point where it will do any more bending. Ho* the load that produces the first cracking sounds. ever, SIPRE then notes that this bending under weig'1 These are some points of interest gathered in a long gives added buoyancy by making the ice somewhat boa series of engineering studies on the strength and per­ shaped. But if ice has many large cracks, the buoyant formance of ice. These studies have been carried on in of this boat-shape is lost. In fact, a car surrounded by )C various ways for several decades, but were given a formal cracks has only the buoyance of that single piece of ice focus some years ago when the U. S. Army Corps of support it. In any case, when driving across ice that h»s Engineers set up an organization called SIPRE-short for frequently cracked and refrozen, try to cross cracks at rig11 Snow, Ice, Permafrost Research Establishment-at Wil- angles, and then be sure not to park near cracks. mette, Illinois. Since then, SIPRE has published a large The matter of "reasonance waves" is also important { number of research and technical papers and translations anyone driving on lake ice. Ice is really a film across W of foreign language studies dealing on these same subjects. surface of water, and this film bends up and down

12 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLE GOOD BAITS FOR ICE-FISHING WINTER SMELT FISHING Having trouble locating baits for ice-fishing? Visit a Ice-fishermen at Erie, Harveys Lake and elsewhere in *eed choked field on the outskirts of town, where golden- deep, cold lakes, devote time catching smelt, sometimes ,°d bloomed during the summer. Search the field for called Frost Fish. These are long, slender, iridescent, sil­ oall-ljkg cysts on the dry, woody stems of this wild flower. very fish that average 7 to 8 inches in length. They are nside galls are one, sometimes two or more little grubs, essentially a cold water fish, living in the greater depths arvae of next year's stalk borer insects. These grubs are of lakes during the warm summer period, moving into Xcellent baits for bluegills, sunfish and perch too. Use a the more moderate depths during the winter. True, smelt No 12 hook with the small grub. are small, almost not worth bothering with. But don't ^»alls on goldenrod stems are so numerous that a day's say this to a veteran smelt fisherman. These seasoned gPply of baits can be gathered within a few minutes. ice-men agree that smelt, fried in deep oil, is a delectable ,™ a bagful of galls, then go have some fun ice-fishing morsel and among the sweetest tasting of all fresh water ttlls winter. fish! Get on ice, chop holes before sundown, then light your lantern and be ready for a school of smelt to pass your eight moves across its surface. This bending up and way. You'll flip these little fish topside as fast as you can ^ takes the shape of long waves, which roll outward return the bait to the water. Use small No. 10 or 12 hooks, with tiny minnow or golden grub baits, better « away from a car as it is driven along the ice. If you known as mill worms. Ve your car at what is called the "critical speed," you ay crack this ice by the wave action, somewhat as the Q of a long rope will crack when the other end is ^Pped up and down. You can drive either slower or ICE FISHING CONTEST FEATURED ter than this critical speed and substantially reduce the AT 1965 SOMERSET WINTER CARNIVAL nger of cracking. However, driving faster than the ICE FISHING will be a feature at the 1965 Somerset tlcal speed is dangerous for other reasons in most depths Winter Carnival sponsored by the Somerset Jaycees. The water, so slower driving is recommended except over contest will take place Saturday, February 13, from 9 ry shallow water. Also, don't follow close behind other a.m. to 5 p.m. on Lake Somerset. Hourly prizes will be ., s' as you may interrupt their wave action with your own, awarded plus prizes for fish caught. The contest is open ereby causing a breakthrough in what would otherwise to everyone. Details at the Carnival Information Center sate ice. The "critical speed" for various depths of water at Somerset. s shown below. ^ther points of interest about ice: Sh • nore ice is often broken and refrozen during the winter ause of the constant buckling action of ice on a lake. J* ice, near shore, is always weaker than "refrozen" ice. , 0 cold days, or still evenings, the ice on a lake may be r°- to crack more or less continuously. This doesn't i n *ce is dangerous; merely that it is changing its Pe as the temperature changes. From Michigan Conservation

FEBRUARY—1965 13 ChwthsA Qfaa/i, (fowthsA Ssmun Qominq. lip—

b-U-DO-ll-JiAking gamp

By GEORGE R. STAHL

nail the W x 4" x 8" plywood sheets (Good one side) to P ERHAPS, you have dreamed of having your own camp the rafters and cover with either asphalt shingles or the at that favorite fishing spot, but like many of us consider less expensive roll type asphalt covering. the cost too prohibitive, the task too difficult, and the Next, lay the %" x 4" x 8" plywood (Good one side) time too consuming to make that dream become a reality. floor. However, before nailing, install batten type insula­ Well, here is one that can be constructed for less than tion between the joists. $400.00, can be pre-cut at home, hauled to location, and To complete the ends, nail 2" x 4" studs, 16" on centers assembled by two amateurs in a weekend's work. from base to rafters at the second "A" frame, allowing Patterned on the "A" frame type construction, it con­ openings for doors and windows. The 12" extension at sists of assembled (bolted) rafters to joist units made out each end of the building is the roof overhang. For an of rough 2" x 6" sawmill lumber, plywood floor and roof, exterior covering, you have a wide choice, ranging from front and back of vertical siding or exterior plywood, and exterior plywood and duron wallboard to vertical siding a base of three creosoted telephone poles resting on twelve and log slabs. Homosote is another excellent material, concrete blocks, spaced equidistant. The dimensions are being both waterproof and a fine insulator, but it should width 16 feet, length 18 feet, and height approximately not be used where porcupines are prevalent as they will 15 feet, ample room to accommodate two to four adults gnaw through it. You can make both ends, as illustrated, in comfort. with both doors and windows or wall up the back solid Your first task will be to cut a pair of 18 foot rafters to with a small window for light at the eaves. Also, you can join at the peak as shown in Figure A. Then, assemble save a few dollars by purchasing your windows and doors the joist to the rafters at the base as shown in Figure B second hand. with 2-%" x 3" bolts. Next, bolt the rafters at the top, Your final job will be to cover the interior walls. Here, using a plywood gusset %" x 16" x 16" cut to fit (Fig. A). W x 4" x 8" sheets of homosote are used to serve as a Now that you have your pattern, disassemble it and covering and insulator. Prior to installing, thoroughly soak make ten more units exactly the same, cutting rafters and each section to avoid any future warping from moisture gussets and drilling holes for bolts in the same position. expansion. After the panels have been nailed in place, When finished, you are ready to start construction. As cover the joints with furring strips. soon as the site is cleared, position and level the three One advantage of the "A" frame is that the added creosoted logs on the concrete blocks. Find the correct height allows for additional sleeping quarters to be placed width by setting up an assembled "A" frame at each end below the ceiling. Starting at the end opposite the entrance, and adjusting the two end poles accordingly. nail 2" x 6" collar beams across four of the rafters at the With the base leveled and positioned, you can set up height desired and nail plywood down as a base. Mat­ your first assembled "A" frame, toe-nailing 16 penny nails tresses can be used directly over the plywood to save through both sides of the joists into the logs (Fig. B) space. For access, a ladder or swing-down stairs can be and temporarily bracing the top of the frame with a 2 x 4 utilized. running diagonally to the ground. By dropping a plumb Furnishing the cabin is a matter of preference. The floor bob from the top to the base, you can level the unit ver­ can be covered with linoleum and closets can be built tically. along the side walls to use up wasted space. A stove Follow with the second "A" frame, set the base 12" should be installed at the rear where a block chimney can from the first, then toe nail as before and after measuring be laid up with little effort. Also, if you decide that you an equal distance at the top, brace this unit to the first want a porch, simply add more "A" frames to the base with several lengths of 1" x 6" boards nailed to each unit and increase the length of the creosoted logs to rafter. correspond. Place the third frame 24" from the second, nailing and So, lets get busy you dreamers and start planning for bracing in the same manner. that woodland retreat. You can't go wrong if you build an Now that the rafters and joists are erected, you can "A" frame camp. Try it and see for yourself.

14 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLE*1 04- i^xS'^c^r A> #*Fft

f a/oc/c f'6. # F 3

pfcB RUARY—1965 15 Commission Names Robert J. Bielo Executive Director

STAFF PROMOTIONS APPROVED

ROBERT J. BIELO GORDON L. TREMBLEY New Executive Director New Assistant Executive Director

r 4 fflPc

*'

i * Tpi ' * -

4 * i

KEEN BUSS ARTHUR BRADFORD GLENN SPENCER New Chief New Chief New Chief Division-Research and Pathologist Real Estate Division Fish Management

I(> PENNSYLVANIA ANGLE COMMISSION NAMES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, STAFF PROMOTIONS

I HE Pennsylvania Fish Commission named Robert J. *>ielo to the position of executive director at their meeting °n Monday, January 11, 1965 in Harrisburg. Bielo, who has served as acting executive director since

July 27; 1964, had been assistant executive director of "e Commission since April, 1963, when he was appointed to replace Dr. Albert S. Hazzard, who retired. •He has been employed by the Commission since 1950, aving served for six years as a regional fishery manager, n°- for five years as a district fish warden. He also was mPloyed in the hatchery division in the Northwestern Se«ion of the state. •The new director holds a Bachelor of Science degree biology from Elizabethown College and a Master of C1ence degree in marine sciences from the University of D elaWare His starting salary will be $13,000. We is an ardent fisherman, and through his previous rvice with the Commission, has become familiar with stung conditions and problems as they exist throughout he Commonwealth. oielo resides in East Petersburg, Pa., and is married to e former Shirley Beckman. They have one son and two daughters. The Fish Commission also named Gordon Trembley distant executive director. He has been chief aquatic lQlogist since 1946. Prior to that time he was assistant Pr°fessor of zoology at Pennsylvania State University r ten years. Trembley is married to the former Anna 0fmson, and has one son, Dr. Edward L. Trembley. His Starting salary will be $11,500. Keen Buss, who has been employed by the Fish Com- lssion since 1951 as research biologist, was named to tne position of chief aquatic biologist being vacated y Trembley. Buss, who resides at Boalsburg, has three children. Arthur Bradford, of Pleasant Gap, who is 44 and has etl employed by the Fish Commission since 1942, was named chief pathologist. "e Commission also formally approved the appoint- nt of Glenn Spencer, of Harrisburg, as chief of the Heal Estate Division. He served as general foreman of e Pleasant Mount Hatchery from 1945 until 1958 when Was transferred to the Real Estate Division. Spencer is Carried to the former Alta Stark. They have three Chi ldren. n other action, the Fish Commission approved the a. minary draft of a ten-year program presented to thei* by Bielo.

PEB RUARY— 1965 17 does all it can to promote the lake and the surrounding area located in the midst of the Laurel Highlands, called southwestern Pennsylvania's vacation land. Jack, incidentally, grew up in the Somerfield area. He operates a motel and marine supplies store near the lake and is as familiar as anyone with what the area has to offer tourists and transient boaters. Built as a flood control project by the Corps of En­ gineers, Yough dam extends a distance of 17 to 18 miles from Confluence, Pa., to about two miles into Maryland, near Friendsville. It has about 75 miles of shoreline and ranges in depth up to 150 feet. The dam, an earth filled structure 184 feet high, is 7Vtt& Robert G. Miller situated about one mile above Confluence. It has a drainage area of 434 square miles and provides a maximum storage area of about 254,000 acre-feet of water. FOLKS with the time, and the money, to travel generally Authorized by the Flood Control Act of June 28, 1938, return home raving about the swell time they had swim­ construction of the dam was begun in November, 1939. It ming and boating in the blue waters of the Mediterranean, was essentially completed in October, 1943, except for the Pacific or the waters off the Florida coastline. certain facilities which were deferred until after World I, for one, may eventually have the time for travel, War II, and was not officially declared completed until never the cash required, but if I'm looking for blue waters June, 1951. to cruise or to splash around in I can find them right Known locally as the Turkeyfoot Valley area (formed here in Pennsylvania or, to be more specific, the Youghio- by the confluence of the Youghiogheny, Casselman and gheny River reservoir which separates Somerset and Laurel Hill rivers) the reservoir offers something for every­ Fayette Counties. one in the way of recreation. The Youghiogheny reservoir, built at a cost of $9,675,- Fishing is good to excellent (depending on the time of 000, is quite easy to locate on any up-to-date map of the the year) with bass, northern pike, walleyes and bluegills Commonwealth and a network of roads, coming in from there for the taking; there are boat ramps at the Con­ all directions, makes it just as easy to reach by car. fluence recreation area above the trash boom, Somerfield I made the trip, one of those spur of the moment de­ recreation area (I understand this is the more popular cisions, one Saturday last August via old Rt. 30, from launching site), at Big Bend, Tub Run and Mill Run; two Columbia, Lancaster County, and wound my way through public camping areas, plus picnic sites, bathing beaches some of the most beautiful mountainous areas across the and hiking trails. southern section of the state. In fact, I would like to make the trip during the autumn months just for the sake of the Transient boaters from all sections of the state, plus scenery it provides. large numbers from Maryland and West Virginia, make good use of this ever increasingly body of water each Except for one stop at Bill's place, near Breezewood, summer in addition to the members of several area boat for a sandwich and soft drink, the driving was non-stop clubs, such as: Connellsville, Laurel, which maintains a and it took about four and one half hours to get there. boat house on the lake shore; Mountain, Fayette, Somer­ However, on a good clear day, allow yourself an extra hour field and Big Bend. and take advantage of the many observation sites along the way to view the scenery. Better still, take along a basket Because of its widespread use, certain regulations gov­ lunch and relax at one of the many picnic areas along old erning the use of the lake and surrounding shoreline have Rt. 30. been established by the Corps of Engineers in the interest Of course, if you're interested in speed, there's always of the safety and general welfare of the public and for the Pennsylvania Turnpike which will take you right into the protection of government property as follows: Somerset then down Rt. 53 to Rt. 40 which leads right to 1. Free use of the reservoir area by the general public the lake and the popular public launching ramp and float­ for picnicking, camping, swimming, boating, bathing- ing dock at the Somerfield Recreation Area. fishing and hunting is permitted, except between the dam Yough Dam is well worth the drive but to make it more and trash boom and on other designated prohibited areas- interesting, especially if you have two or three days to 2. Recreational use of the area is subject to all apph' spend there, I would suggest writing to the: District En­ cable Federal, state and local laws and sanitary regulations- gineer, U. S. Army Engineers District, Corps of Engineers, 3. All boats to be left on the reservoir for more than 925 New Federal Bldg., Pittsburgh 19, Pa., for more three days must be registered with the reservoir manage' detailed information concerning the recreation facilities and inspected for safe operation. open to the general public. 4. Loaded firearms and explosives are prohibited i11 You might also contact Jack Cornish, Yough Dam, Ad­ the reservoir area, except during the hunting season, when dison, Pa., a member of the Confluence Lions Club which shotguns, or rifles for deer hunting, are permitted.

18 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLE*1 Ik T LAUNCHING AREA and floating docks at Somerfield recreation area from Route 40 bridge over 6 'oughiogheny reservoir.

0- The destruction, injury, defacement, or removal of "All boats, barges and other vessels will be moored only Wic property or of vegetation, rock, or minerals, except in designated areas and when not in actual use must be sPecifically authorized is prohibited. either removed from the reservoir, securely moored at "• Camping for a period of two weeks or longer on authorized docks or boathouses where supervision by the vernment property requires a permit. owner or his representative is provided on a 24-hour day , '• Disposal of refuse, garbage, rubbish, or waste of any basis, or placed in the care of marina concessionaire or nd shall be by removal, burning or burying, or as other- other party authorized to care for floating equipment on Wise directed. a 24-hour-day basis." . "• Campfires must be fully extinguished and the area "A permit shall be obtained for any special boat moor­ neat and clean after use. ing facilities." y- Commercial activity of any kind or the installation "The permit for either the boat or mooring facilities will a boat dock or other facility is permitted only under a be revoked upon the failure of the permittee to comply Se. license, or other agreement with the Department of with the terms and conclusions of the permit or with these ^ Army. regulations." ^mce we are primarily interested in the boating phase I might add that each year Jack Cornish is instrumental ~ following regulations are in effect: in sponsoring a boat show the week after Easter and fk operation of boats, houseboats, cabin cruisers and there is also the Lake Side beauty contest in early July er vessels on the reservoir for fishing and recreational so perhaps we might just find time to at least see what ls a permitted except in prohibited areas." the beauty contest has to offer this year. A permit shall be obtained for placing and operating Two states, according to an AP dispatch, are now using oat or other vessel on the reservoir for any one period aircraft to combat litterbugs on the water,

ger than three days. No charge will be made for this * o a "lit. The permit shall be kept aboard the vessel at all J s that the vessel is in operation on the reservoir." In New Jersey helicopters have been placed in service All boats permitted on the reservoir shall be equipped patrolling off-shore waters. The crew warns water-borne for s

—1965 19 SUNBURY INFLATABLE DAM 1966 TARGET A 227-foot-long inflatable dam section, which is about the size of some of the sections to be installed in the proposed 1,900-foot-long Indications now are that the 1,900-foot-long inflatable dam at Sunbury, on the Susquehanna, is in use at Bay City, Colorado' It was erected by the Lower Colorado River Authority. That dam dam, which fishermen of the entire Sunbury region are is 13-feet-high. eagerly awaiting, will be completed and functional in 1966. great new pools along the Commonwealth's streams. He Since approval was given for building a Fabridam at said he looks forward with the greatest interest to the Sunbury, and since Gov. William W. Scranton approved erection of the Sunbury dam. Surveying and test drilling use of receipts from oil and gas leases, to private industry, are complete. on state-owned lands, more dams of this type have been One of the highly successful inflatable dams installed put into successful operation in other states. in the past year is one at Austin, Texas. It has provided The delay here has been caused by some slight changes a seven-mile-long lake. Another is a 227-foot-long and 13- being worked out in regard to bag construction and ma­ foot-high dam at Bay City, Colorado. That was built by terial. The bags are the fabric sections, which are inflated the Lower Colorado River Authority.—Ted Fenstermacher with water and air, that extend from abutments to piers and between piers. In the Sunbury dam the fabric sec­ tions will range from 200 to 300 feet long. 1215 Querida Drive Homer K. Smith, a Sunbury civic leader and one of the Colorado Springs, Colorado November 9, 1964 principals in getting approval of the dam at Sunbury, Pennsylvania Angler said it had been discovered that in bag sections as long Pennsylvania Fish Commission as the longest to be used there, the water had a tendency Box 1673 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120 to concentrate its flow at the center instead of flowing evenly over the entire length of the section. DEAR SIRS: Enclosed is my check in the sum of five dollars ($5.00) a* Mr. Smith said such concentration of flow would have payment for a three year renewal to my "Pennsylvania Angler no effect at Sunbury because the stream of water would subscription. be landing on bedrock and could not cause washing-out I would like to tell you once again how much my family and I enjoy the "Angler" and how much the articles have of the river bed below the dam. He said the manufacturer assisted us in our trout fishing in all parts of the country. En­ and engineers did not, however, want such a condition closed is a recent snap of some rainbow trout (the small one and an improved bag material has been the result. An was 2% pounds) which I caught using a technique which I had read about in "Pennsylvania Angler." Incidentally, I released "electric brain," entered into the computing of the elabo­ about twenty other rainbows averaging 2K pounds or so on that rate mathematical equations is needed, Mr. Smith said. same day, and all of the trout were caught on flies. This photo The dam, when completed, will provide a pool with should give pictorial proof of why it pays to read your outstand­ ing Dublication no matter where you live. 30 miles of shoreline. The pool will extend past Sunbury Thank you once again for your fine magazine. to the confluence of the west and north branches. It will Very truly yours, extend up the west branch to within a mile of Lewisburg ROBERT W. STORM and up the north branch to a point halfway to Danville. Lt Col, US Army

The proposed dam will cost about $920,000, which e is about one tenth what a conventional dam would cost. Although fish have no external ears, its internal ears af extremely sensitive to any vibrations carried by the water- Secretary Maurice Goddard, of the Department of The nostrils of fish are used for smell only; a fish neO& Forests and Waters, feels the inflatable dams promise breathes through its "nose."

20 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLE? LITTLE SHENANGO RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE WEEK By DAVID S. BAIR T MARCH 14-20 1965 p E Little Shenango River headwaters above Stoneboro, a-> flows about 15 miles and ends up in the Big Shenango THEME-"WATER POLLUTION" ,1Ver at Greenville, Pa. It flows northwest. Just above pe Little Shenango River and flowing southeast is Sandy IT'S EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS TO ,jjeek. One ridge of low hills separates the two streams. o> e Little Shenango is shorter, certainlv smaller than "FIGHT DIRTY WATER.'" ^dy Creek and why it was ever called a river, no one -?.s t0 know. course, the Little Shenango flows into the Big Sh,er >ango that flows into the Beaver River so maybe the Word- river just came upstream from the Beaver River AWARDS COMMITTEE CHOSEN FOR '65 . at flows into the Ohio, and everyone knows the Ohio CONSERVATIONIST OF THE YEAR ,ariver. The Little Shenango River is just 12 miles north Q Seven leading conservationists, including Governor Mercer, Pa. on Route 9, Mercer being only a stone's r°w north of Pittsburgh, Pa. The river is little fished William W. Scranton, have been appointed to the Awards r, there must be fish in it that die of old age. Committee for the Duquesne Brewing Company's 1965 j, he first day of trout fishing calls trout fishermen to Conservationist of the Year Awards. . °anks. Route 58 parallels the river going into Green­ The awards, sponsored by Duquesne in cooperation with ly .*? for about 5 miles. There, at every little country the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, are made °-ge you find the trout fishermen, their cars clustered annually for distinguished service, contributions and ac­ U ne tli ^ bridges. And, they take trout. They should, tivities in wildlife and natural resources conservation. rish Commission stocks these areas. The Committee members, all recipients of last year's , he stream is clean. It may become muddy from farm a awards, are: Governor William W. Scranton; William of Washing into it after a heavy rain but it is not full Vil s industrial waste and raw sewage. Find it, park Guckert, Executive Secretary, Allegheny County Sports­ i lr car and walk its banks, or even better fish it. It men's League; State Representative John Laudadio; Ray also Produces bass; both largemouth and smallmouth, Sickles of the Pennsylvania Game Commission; Fred Jones chubs, shiners, catfish, carp, clams, ducks and of the Pittsburgh Press; Gene Shaw of Outdoor People of wat eerdogs . It's a lovely little river. Pennsylvania; and William Baer of the Butler City Hunting ne ay wa s ^ * 'ked the bank cf the Little Shenango and & Fishing Club. a un "t> y° S boy I knew and said, The Committee members will work with Bill Walsh, "aul humor an old man and move up the river to a Duquesne's Conservation Director, and the Pennsylvania aul pulled his line, gathered his gear and moved up- Outdoor Writers Association in screening nominees and eam with me. arranging for the presentation ceremony. A panel of rv Se it here," I requested, real proud because I had judges selected by the Outdoor Writers Association will "Vr ^asmng mirror sides of fish in the riffle. pick the winners in four categories. The categories are: ..Nothing in there but chubs." (1) A professional conservationist; (2) A lay person; «b what were you fishing for down there?" (3) A sportsmen's club or conservation organization; Bass." and (4) A newspaper, radio or TV writer or broadcaster. i*et any?" „^°t today, as yet." «v1(^ y°u get any there." , *eP." One 5 o'clock morning at a private spot I had them ,!^hat did you get?" mad but they weren't too big and I released them. Fish­ ah> ,,ne was 16, one was 14, and one was 13 inches, we ing for sport with a barbless hook plug is fun. Try it. Use a pair of pliers to squeeze the barbs off the hooks w p ell let's go back." on an old plug. hole anc* * oarried bis gear back to Paul's bass fishing I climbed the hill to home and thirty minutes later came a knock on the door. It was Paul. Goodby, Paul." "See what I got." By" "WOW." 'hto if down the river bank; three ducks exploded "Ain't he a beaut?" Up ne air and their wings beat doubletime all the way "Let's measure him." Sairfri arourld- They took a hard look at me as they "I have—he's 16 inches." rnUca ? altitude and circled and were gone. I sniffed the "My-oh-my, I'm glad you moved back." Dan \vjnj k smells, saw a turtle, jumped a rabbit, felt the bo am 1. 0n m cau i y face and mused about boys and bass. I Well men, you may not do as well as young boys, but mor Th6 e bass as a boy than now. I fished differently. on your way to Lake Erie or Pymatuning Lake you may p]u * used crab tails and a cane pole. Now I use a cross over the Little Shenango River. Stop and fish it some­ « and try to make big old bass mad. time, neighbor. Oh, about Sandy Creek—it holds pike. pfifc RUARY—1965 21 ] 22 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLE GLOSSARY OF FLY TYING TOOLS

By DON SHINER 8. Hackle Pliers This tool assists in winding hackles on dry flies. Jaws 1 • Magnifying Glass are finely slotted to provide a good gripping surface. These pliers are available in two sizes for tying small or The adjutable magnifying glass permits viewing the large flies. Prices range from 50? to 75? for this tool. tyining process through a 2X or 3X lens. This tool aids in ^lng the small 18 through 28 size flies and especially *ose tiers whose eyesight is not perfect. The glass is 9. Material Clip clai«ped beside the vise so that it can be swung in and This little 15? accessory clamps to the barrel of the vise ut °f position as needed. and holds body tinsel, floss, herl out of the way while you are working on other parts of the fly. For example, tinsel, 2 tied in with floss, is held out of the way while the floss - Mmor body is being wound in place. This clip saves time, tem­ j j'his mirror reveals the side of the fly opposite the tier, pers too. "rackets the vise stem, is easily swung out of the way en not required. No trouble now when winding hackles Jungle cock feathers on the opposite side of the fly. 70. Hackle Guards This guard, available in assorted sizes, makes it pos­ sible to wind thread on the smallest fly without having • Whip Finisher hackles damaged or wound under. The guard slips over e U tied knots prevent flies from unraveling and thus the eye of the hook and funnels the hackle in a backward J^le the life of the feathered hook. The Whip Knot is position while tying the whip knot. This guard remains °r the very best ties for this purpose, and though it in place too when applying cement to the fly head. Avail­ °e easily tied manually, this 50? tool speeds this op- able in three sizes, each costs 25?. 10n. Available in several sizes to match the size of fly bei»g tied. 11. Bobbin 4. The bobbin, which holds a spool of tying thread, gives m thread as needed. Large diameter body also gives a good , ***8 needle sharp bodkin is used to pick out covered gripping surface to hold while winding thread in place c kles, combing tangles from fur, cleaning varnish from around the hook. The bobbin's weight also prevents the V®| of hooks. Three thin dimes buy one, or one can be thread from unraveling during the tying operation. e by pushing a needle into a lollypop stick. Thread tension is adjutable. Surplus thread can be re­ wound on the spool with a flick of the finger. This tool, W"» 9 Pliers designed for the fly tier, is also an aid when winding guides on rods. Cost is less than a dollar bill. h U t00' aic*s in ty^S wmgs on small flies. The pliers wing material at the desired position while tying them nto os 12. Vise thba i P ition on both wet and dry flies. It costs less n 50? Some skilled tiers are able to whip flies together while holding the tiny hooks in their hands. Most of us, how­ 6. Seissors ever, find the fly vise necessary. An adjustable jaw vise holds the largest to the smallest hook securely, freeing P quality manicure type scissors do the job of cutting both hands for the tying operations. g Materials, snipping tinsel, cutting thread and trim- There are approximately 12 different vises on the mar­ tie. entire hair bug bodies to shape. A good pair is a ket ranging in price from 75? to as much as $6.00. Some­ doll T^ to ^e fly tier. Cost is generally less than a two llar bill. where between these amounts lies the vise suited to the advanced amateur's needs. 7 In an emergency a machine's vise grip, pliers or an ad­ " Hoefc/ Gauge e justable wrench could be substituted for the fly vise. ton y tiers use hackle too large on dry flies. This gives These handyman tools are helpful too for the newcomer ha Ui effect to' every fly. But these long, slender when he is discovering whether or not he has talent, time s cas. bend too and mat down after the first half dozen and inclination for tying flies. Eventually, however, he tjj„ r ^ hackle gauge will let you measure the width of will need a sturdy, standard vise for serious work. When 12 bers and reveals whether hackles are suited to a he does, he will find a good model available at most sport 6 or 18 size fly. It costs less than 25?. shops.

PEBR UARY—1965 23 FROM TIME STREAMS tt^m m ^ m m +

• Anthony Galenas of Scranton related this story to me. • Low water conditions last year caused many comments Earlier in the year he was fly fishing Tunkhannock Creek on how the raccoon has fished trout out of the smaller (South Branch), Lackawanna County, when he saw a streams. But, a resident of Tioga County told me of an woodchuck aimlessly potting around. He checked further experience he had on different occasions with a pet and saw the 'chuck's head stuck in a can. Galenas re­ raccoon. He took the animal to a small stream known moved the can and the whistlepig scurried away. The to house native brook trout. The raccoon did appear to can still had some peas in it, probably the reason the be fishing the stream but the owner never saw him catch 'chuck didn't trv to shake it off.—District Warden WALTER LAZUSKY (Lackawanna). a trout. Crayfish and other aquatic insects made up the main diet while the animal was on the creek. In one • Michael Krisevich, Scranton, Pa., caught a 29-inch, 7-lb. instance the raccoon did catch a minnow about four inches walleye on live bait while fishing the Susquehanna River long but returned it to the stream as the animal continued at Hallstead last autumn.—District Warden WALTER G. LAZUSKY to hunt for crayfish.-District Warden RAYMOND HOOVER (Lackawanna). (Tioga).

• A Mr. Bokert, Manns Choice, Pa., caught a 41-inch it muskellunge from Shawnee Lake on November 25. This • While on routine foot patrol along the "Fish-For-Fun is the largest musky known to be taken by a Bedford section of Spring Creek, I noticed an unusual amount o» County resident from Shawnee. As of December, we commotion among the fish in the stream during the early know of 29 legal muskies taken from the waters of Bedford morning hours. I observed at one jack dam, in the course County during 1964. The fish were caught in Shawnee, of 45 minutes, 17 trout leap over the spillway on migration Gordon lakes and three from the Raystown Branch of the upstream. There was very little water spilling over the Juniata River in the vicinity of Manns Choice.—District dam and several trout made five or six attempts to shinny Warden WILLIAM E. MclNAY (Bedford). up over the 20-24-inch barrier. These trout were in the • While checking Issuing Agents and picking up license 16-25-inch class and I regret I did not have my camera applications, I came across an application for a Five Day handy.-District Warden PAUL ANTOLOSKY (Centre). Tourist's License, which was made out by a person from Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. Since this license costs the • Weather permitting, there should be excellent ice fishing same as a Resident License ($5.20) but only allows a at Lyman Run Lake for trout. The Potter County Angled person to fish for five consecutive days instead of the Club assisted by Fish Commission personnel and loc& sportsmen have stocked the lake with brook trout, brown entire year, and since the applicant was without doubt a e resident of Pennsylvania, I asked the agent why he didn't and rainbow trout. The Fish Commission stocked th inform the person that he was entitled to purchase a lake with nice two-year-old brown trout for the ice fisher"' resident license. He told me that he did let the applicant men.-District Warden KENNETH ALEY (Potter). know that a resident license would be his best buy, but • If telephone calls are indications, ice fishing for trou1 was told by him that since he didn't fish very often due in Chapman Dam should draw large crowds of winter to a lack of time he would like to purchase a license each anglers. Chapman is the only lake in Warren County where time he did fish. It certainly was surprising to find a person who is willing to pay for the sport of fishing the ice fishing can be done and interest is at an all-time high'' District Warden KENNETH G. COREY (Warren). Same as he Would for bowling, or golf.—District Warden FRANK A. KUUKOSKY (Cambria).

• The Susquehanna River adjoining York County was very Clifton E. Iman productive last fall. Numerous fishermen found little dif­ District Fish Warden ficulty in landing limit catches of smallmouth bass in Evans City, Pennsylvania many sections, especially in the Goldsboro, York Haven DEAR MR. IMAN: and Saginaw areas. Also in the Accomac section down river from Holtzingers Boat Landing. Many walleye were Will you please cancel permit No. 1486 for boat mooring *j Glade Run Lake. Due to a transfer in my work it has bee landed and good muskies caught in the York Haven area necessary for me to sell the boat I so recently bought. chiefly on bucktails.-District Warden PAUL MARTIN, JR. (York- 1 East Adams). My wife and I enjoyed the privilege of fishing at Glade B !' Lake and feel the Fish Commission is to be congratulated • On November 2, Lake Pleasant, Erie County, was making such places available. stocked with large brook trout. The ice trout fishermen Thank you for your courtesy and service are patiently waiting for good ice and a crack at these JAMES DUNN fine fish.-District Warden NORMAN E. ELY (Erie). Cheswick, Pa-

24 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLE SUPERVISOR CORBIN PENNSYLVANIA'S AND THE BIG BEAR LARGEST CATFISH

of TU ^ * sPend several days at a hunting camp north Bla trj ckwell in the Grand Canyon country. This year's P Vv provided some unforgettable experiences. Two days er j^ e spent: hunting Tioga and Potter Counties for turkeys. y hunting buddy and I each killed a turkey. n tfl Ca e Friday evening before bear season I was at Ca P alone. I had taken several sacks of corn along to Por k t0 ^ a Same feeder, piled the corn on the cabin Ab thu out 10:00 P. M. I was reading and heard a look1?, °n t^le Porcn' I took my flashlight to the door, 0£ « out and there was a bear dragging one of the sacks the °rn °ut 'nt0 tne wo°ds- On seeing me he dropped Sa cab; , ck, took an ear of corn off about 100 feet from the *n and ate it. 0r atl ^e next two hours I had one of the best floor shows e s;„i °" will see. During all of this time he was out of (Jj , tor a few minutes on several occasions. He was not W,0 •}°ed by the lights in the cabin or flashlight when I see K- USe **' ^e moon was very bright and you could m oCc without any difficulty without a light. On one Sl0n saw a tr * him sitting on his haunches backed against ee eat- holding an ear of corn in his paw and forearm enio • lt- ^ l°°ked as if he was sitting in an easy chair ov '^S himself. On another occasion he was slumped aHim 1 top °^ t'le garbage pit eating some apples another al fro^ had piled up there, left after eating the seeds e n0jsi *^ apples. He also upset the trash barrel and V rolled tin cans around, deal 6 Payo^ on the whole experience was the refrigerator the ^ter ^e nad taken one of the sacks of corn I brought Cc n A.ro * into the cabin thinking that he would then leave. On July 24, 1959, the late William Yates, Sr., of Acme- I {JPr H:00 P. M. things were quiet for some time and tonia, was fishing with hook and line, using a minnow a n . he had left for the night. However I soon heard erat S6 °n ^e Porch and could tell he was at the refrig- as bait, at "Panther Rocks," below President, Venango r Co., Pa. He surprised himself, and Carnegie Museum's ° that sits out there. Sus ec biologists, by landing a rare giant-41 inches long, 28 do0r P ted he had taken something. I opened the a inches in maxium girth, 45 pounds in weight-apparently o,UaM. he jumped from the porch. He had spilled a the first Flathead recorded from the Allegheny River. \vajt ,°* JUiflc all over the place. I closed the door and anc soon the rl ' ^ heard him again on the porch. I opened The largest Flathead ever taken in Ohio, where the 0T anc the n° , * there he was with his front feet up on species occurs in deep, quiet pools of the Ohio River and 0rc hirn. f h lapping up the spilled milk. I held the light on other large streams, was about 53 inches in length and 0r at least three minutes while he cleaned up the weighed 82 pounds. The only larger catfish in the United Aft , this time he was not over 8 feet from me. e States is the Blue Catfish of the Mississippi and tribu­ s'de r PP'ng up the milk he wandered around the out- taries which reaches almost 100 pounds. he w„ .''he cabin for some time before leaving. I hoped 1 l Wo--oul d! return when the rest of the crew came to camp Mr. Yates generously presented his prize to Carnegie and did not come back. This was a legal size bear Museum where this exact cast was prepared by Harold w ^ °uld have weighed about 125 pounds or more. J. Clement. u tty0 ° nday when the rest of the men came to camp, oi of ti them sighted 8 bear at one time on the east side Pino \ canyor> above Blackwell. Many hunters were stop- •^ ° look at these bear feeding, CORRECTION any f broke camp on Tuesday evening without sighting a 6ar 8ain determined to return again next year and try The size of Jack Gearhart's musky was shown in error on page 26 •"-HAROLD CORBIN, Southcentral Regional Warden Supervisor. of the January issue. The fish measured 37 inches. "*% UARY- -1965 Welcome to the Sucker Club

By W. W. BRITTON

enjoying the blessings of nature. That's why Gus, Ik* and Ben can meet their disappointments with stout heartS' What the average business man needs today is a heaping dose of good cheer. This he can find in abundance aloflf! our waterways. The American public is, and has beeft in a state of locomotion ever since World War I. We ma/ blame it on the automobile or a dozen other things, bfl the truth of the matter is: it is ourselves. Man in his quest for fame and fortune has often close'1 the door on his health and happiness. He has been slo^ to learn that nature keeps books pitiously. She always collects and there is no place we can go to escape hej Some men have so little time for their families that the)' scarcely know their own children. Not long ago I hear'1 a story about a salesman who had a large family and otw got home every five or six weeks. One Friday night he came home and the kids started fighting. He grabbed WH of them and took them to the front door and told thei" 11 YELLOW BREECHES SUCKER CLUB . . . Gus, Ike and Ben in upper right to go home, when his wife said, "John, those two you p 'Or with Paul O'Brien and W. W. Britton of the Pennsylvania Fish Com­ out are our children." mission as guests. Ye Ed took photo. Driving through my old hometown of Chambersburg one day a city policeman directed me to pull over alow the curb. Not being able to recall any wrong I had dofle T HE Yellow Breeches Creek in Cumberland County was I was surprised to learn he merely wanted to tell me oftM running almost bankfull. Her tributaries were bringing wonderful sucker fishing he had been having in the the last remnants of the dying snowbanks from the country­ Branch of the Conococheague that Spring. Here was * side. man who may never have known the pleasure of sucKe Each Spring for thousands of years this has been going fishing if it had not been for the Great Depression whic" on. To the average person it merely meant high water. had closed down the factory in which he was employe1a But it was Mother Nature's way of purging this fine stream and placed him on the idle list. To pass the time he ha of impurities and undesirable elements . . . getting her gone sucker fishing with an old expert. house in order for natural reproduction of fish and fishlife. To hear him describe his successes would have bee Three sucker fishermen, Gus, Ike and Ben, alight from manna for the spiritually starved. During some of u1 an automobile and walk to the water's edge and look upon darkest hours of his life he had been introduced to their favorite stream with admiration and exaltation. It friend in whom he had found courage, hope and comi0^ is not only anticipation, but memories of glorious days and he was not about to forsake her now during his m°r. they have spent together fishing for the unsung hero of prosperous years. She had been a shield for his faith a*1 the deep, the lowly sucker. This slow moving fish has a glowing light to which he could ignite his own cand^ been the bread and butter dish for all species of voracious when clouds would shut out his sunshine. . fish and many birds and animals since the beginning of To those of you who have never fished for suckers, time. Gus, Ike and Ben know this and have come to recommend it to you. It is one of the greatest nerve toni^ regard him with the respect which is due him. to be found inside or outside apothecary shops. In my long career as a conservation officer I have seen Oh, yes, I almost forgot, you are wondering just vd1 men fishing for trout and other game fish with such fervor Gus, Ike and Ben are. Well, I'll tell you how to find OW they were completely exhausted at the end of the day, Just get your fishin' tackle out and go to the Yell0 while the sucker fisherman gets up off his stool or tackle Breeches Creek any nice day this Spring and somewher box and goes home refreshed and relaxed. He has had between Williams Grove and the Susquehanna River y° ' time to notice everything within his sight and hearing. will see three men fishing for suckers. You can recognl , He saw crows flying overhead; heard a red squirrel chat­ them by their friendly greeting. If your bait runs a tering; a jet passing by; and, best of all, he has had time they will be glad to share theirs with you and offer y° > to think. Maybe take a little inventory of his life and a mess of suckers. And if you see a smiling, elderly ma be thankful for all of God's gifts to mankind. A man's he will be Elmer. Occasionally, you will find the Minis u" mind cannot wallow in the dark corners of crime, de­ fishing with them. They are a grand group of fell0* bauchery or despair when he is sitting along a stream and sucker fishing has helped to make them so.

26 PENNSYLVANIA ANCL*' *965 &t

7-1^4 i»i^,-

*** "''1

• - •"IS* ^ S&i! !,'• V.jfc& - , |f 1

'* 0 n *

f,

PICKEREL, 28-inches, 5'/ -lbs., taken nche5 3% ,bs SMALLMOUTH BASS, 22-inches, 51/2- SMALLMOUTH BASS, 20'/4-inches, 2 S Jud-£' ' ' - 4-lbs., caught in Susquehanna River in Manor Lake by Paul Dickes, Ibs., caught by Albert R. Gretz, Jr., ^•'Cp^W^wick, Center by Christopher Elbert, 4, Lancaster. Levittown. Pecl Punsutawney, in the Allegheny « Pond. River.

SMALLMOUTH BASS, 21%-inches, 5- LARGEMOUTH BASS, 23-inches, 6- Ibs., 13-oz., caught in Delaware Ibs., 2-oz., caught in Chamberlain River by Tisiano Uliana, Pen Argyl, Pond, by George Sherman, Clarks Pa. I Summit, Pa.

SMALLMOUTH BASS, 20V' -inches, 4- SMALLMOUTH BASS, 213/4-inches, 5- 2 Ibs., caught by Edward R. Friedline, Ibs., 2-oz., caught by George Rose, York Springs, from Juniata River. Philadelphia, Pa. in Philadelphia Water Co. dam.

,LLEGHtW rllVER

DICK WIRTH, Rocky Grove, Pa. SMALLMOUTH BASS, 22l/2-inches, 5- 3 Ibs., 7-oz., was taken in Juniata caught this 30 /4-inch walleye in the River by Thomas Scanlon, Lebanon, Allegheny River near the Two Mile Pa. Run gravel plant at Franklin. This beauty copped a Pennsylvania Angler Citation Award.

l UARY-_1965 27 * NOTICE * Additional places where both new and renewal subscriptions to the Pennsylvania Angler may be purchased

Under a new plan adopted by the Pennsylvania Fish Commission, agents for the sale of the PENN­ SYLVANIA ANGLER who have sold more than twenty-five (25) or more subscriptions, will be listed in future issues.

Susquehanna County—Linus Moore's Sports Shop, New Milford, Pennsylvania

FREE COLOR > COMMON FISHES of PENNSYLVANIA CHART

COMMON FISHES of PENNSYLVANIA TO ALL NEW

AND RENEWAL SUBSCRIPTIONS to t&e

Pennsylvania Fish Commission • Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

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 ANGLERS Please send to: WHO WOULD LIKE TO LEARN TO TIE THEIR Name OWN FLIES, STREAMERS, BASS BUGS. Address THE COURSE, WRITTEN BY WORLD RENOWNED PROFESSIONAL, GEORGE W. HARVEY, IS CLEAR, Town Zip Code CONCISE, WELL ILLUSTRATED WITH LARGE 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 ANGL J3* *rruAf%rc AIIT/ <"*\~. BV NED

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\ ^W difficult is fly tying? Well, it requires plenty of regular or stout wire for wet flies and nymphs. Start with Patience and practice, but many lads in their early teens or sizes 10, 12 and 14; graduate to the smaller ones with ex­ y °unger tie ajj tneir Qwn trout £;es There are many good perience. For steamers and bucktails use long shank b ook:s on the subject — your local library probably has hooks. one or more — or if you know a tyer who is willing to e *P you, that's even better. tYHSV #£JO> i/P rO TME L/Gffr/JACKIE is it an expensive hobby? It needn't be, if you buy only the necessary materials in the beginning. Ceruse, rvzzr CEtsrff; &4X7~) fly tying kits containing tools, materials, and instruc- ns are an inexpensive means of getting started, but a W£& tter selection of higher quality ingredients can usually had by buying the items separately. Here's what y°u'H need to get started: first, you'll need a fly tying vice to hold the hooks. . good one for the beginner can be bought for a few dol- s- Be sure the jaws close tightly at their tips. When it comes to the actual fly tying materials there's no end of useful stuff, but the beginner can tie fish-catch­ ing flies with much less. Hackles are the most expensive items commonly used, and it simply doesn't pay to buy any but the very best for dry flies. If you can't afford complete or half necks, substitute the loose hackle handled by our most reputable dealers. Many of the feathers will be too large or of poor quality, but enough usable feathers can usually be found to make it a worthwhile buy. For a start you might settle for these colors — "red" (reddish brown), ginger or cream, black, and either blue dun or grizzly (or both). Later you'll probably want to add white, badger, olive, and others. A couple of eyed peacock feathers, an assortment of , Urprisingly good hackle pliers can be made by cutting n yarn and floss, plus whatever native furs you can pick t, the jaws of a wooden snap clothespin and wrapping up from trapline or road kills will provide all the body /n with rubber bands for added holding power. materials you'll need. °ull need a pair of sharp-pointed scissors. Fly tying For fly wings you should have a few pairs of duck els are best, but Mother's embroidery scissors will wings in various colors, some flank feathers from mallards * ~~ if she doesn't object. and wood ducks. For bucktail wings use deer or impala B U y a ew S S tofor ^ P°°^ °* ^ tying thread, sizes 00 and 0000 hair, natural or dyed. a start, in both black and white. A block of wax will Admittedly, this list contains no frills, but with these •»ak,e your thread behave. You can use a bobbin to hold items and a generous amount of practice you can be s a , P°ol, or merely cut off a piece of thread for each fly catching trout on your own flies next spring. Cap a clothespin to the end for tension. For a bodkin p I, 0ut wrapped-under hackles, clean hook eyes, etc., A dead fish floats upside down because of the weight of the g a needle or cut-off hatpin into a wooden dowel head- heavy bony vertebrate and muscles which lie along the back trr ' small bottle of head cement or clear nail polish about the swim bladder. Death causes the fish to capsize and fro W'*n P°lish remover will keep head windings float belly up. J unravelling. Some fish lay as many as ten million eggs each in a single season. Were all these to hatch and live to spawn, the waters y regular fly hooks — light wire for dry flies, and of the world would be packed solidly with fish. How To Catch Fish Through The tee

1-NECESSARY EQUIPMENT FOR ICE FISHING Z- CUTTING THE HOIE WITH THE ICe BAR OR CHISeL. 3- LOOSE ICC SHOULD BE CLEARED FROM INCLUDES ICE CHEST, TIPUPS, MINNOW BUCKET FIVE SETS ARE ALLOWED AND SHOULD BE THE HOLE WITH WIRE BASKET, SCREEN OR AND BASKET FOR FISHING GEAR. SPACED SO THEY CAN BE O.UICKLY ATTENDED. PERFORATED DIPPER.

4-SOUNDING THE DEPTH OF THE WATER IS S-PLACE A MINNOW ON THE HOOK ANP REEL 6- SETTING THE TIP-UP. FLAG) IS BENT IMPORTANT. BAIT SHOULD BE SUSPENDED OUT THE PREDETERMINED RMOUNT OF LINE DOWN ON TRIGGER AND TIP-UP PLACED ABOUT ONE FOOT OFF THE BOTTOM. THEN LOWER IT CAREFULLY. IN THE HOLE.

7- FLAG, UP f SETS SHOWN ABOVE APE S-IBT FISH MAKE HIS RUN, SET HOOK 9-J/&6WS REQUIRES CONSTANT UP ANP DOW* SPACED CLOSELY AND CAN BE ATTENDED AND PULL IT IN . MOTION OF THE BAIT. PERCH EYES, MEAL WORMS. QUICKLY. ASSORTED JIG FLIES AND PLASTIC BAITS ARE Oil GfOD-