VOL.3 ± PUBLICATION AUGUST NO. 8 BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS 1934 OFFICIAL STATE AUGUST, 1934 PUBLICATION ^ANGLER/ Vol. 3 No. 8

PUBLISHED MONTHLY Want Good Fishing? by the OBEY THE LAW Pennsylvania Board of Fish Commissioners #

S3 S3 S3 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS

Five cents a copy «*» 50 cents a year 9 OLIVER M. DEIBLER Commissioner of Fisheries

B2E5S3 S3 S3 S3 Members of Board OLIVER M. DEIBLER. Chairman ALEX P. SWEIGART, Editor Greensburg South Office Bldg., Harrisburg, Pa. JOHN HAMBERGER Erie

DAN R. SCHNABEL S3 S3 S3 Johnstown LESLIE W. SEYLAR McConnellsburg

NOTE EDGAR W. NICHOLSON Philadelphia Subscriptions to the PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER should he addressed to the Editor. Submit fee KENNETH A. REID either by check or money order payable to the Connellsville Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Stamps not ac­ ceptable. ROY SMULL Mackeyville

GEORGE E. GILCHRIST PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER welcomes contribu­ Lake Como tions and photos of catches from its readers. Proper credit will he given to contributors. H. R. STACKHOUSE Secretary to Board All contributions returned if accompanied by first class postage. C. R. BULLER Deputy Commissioner of Fisheries Pleasant Mount

IMPORTANT—The Editor should be notified immediately of change in subscriber's address

Permission to reprint will be granted provided proper credit notice is given PENNSYLVANIA ANGLEIt L

^ANGLER/

AUGUST, 1934

VOL. 3 No. 8

EDITORIAL

KILL THE WATERSNAKE [TH low water general in many W of our trout and bass streams, the nature was a vital factor in all of our ment they have bettered natural con­ menace of natural destroyers of fish life streams. It is just as important today ditions under which trout may live on becomes increasingly serious. When insofar as retaining the proper balance a number of our trout waters. To water levels are high, or even at normal between species of fishes is concerned. make stream improvement even more stages, trout, bass and other fish have However, modern conditions in our effective, it is necessary that watersnake a fairly good chance of eluding natural fishing Avaters are almost in direct con­ control be rigorously carried out. enemies. The reverse applies under low- trast to those prevailing when William Just how many fish a watersnake of water conditions. Concentrated IB Penn founded his colony. Today, thou­ shallow pools and riffles, fish afford an medium size may destroy from the time sands of fishermen invade the streams it leaves hibernation in the spring until easy prey, and the toll taken on them for sport. Pollution has drastically is extremely heavy. This month, thou­ it again enters a dormant state in the curtailed waters capable of sustaining autumn is not definitely known. It is sands of female watersnakes will bring fish life. Natural reproduction of fish forth their young, and if only a small adept at catching fish and frogs and is augmented by the stocking of suit­ voracious in appetite. Assuming that it proportion of the season's brood sur­ able waters with millions of fish from vive they will represent just that much will capture and consume on an average hatcheries maintained by the licensed one fish of medium size a day—and this additional drain on the fish supply. fishermen. Obviously, the present day is an extremely low figure when its fishing problem is one demanding a habits are taken into consideration—a One of the most commendable fea­ maximum number of fish in every tures in the drive for better fishing here watersnake during its season of activity stream being fished, it is at this point would destroy 200 fish. Probably a in Pennsylvania has been the whole­ that the watersnake enters the picture. hearted cooperation of our sportsmen, more accurate figure would place the Not only is it destructive to forage number of fish consumed at 500 or Boy Scouts and others in thinning down fishes such as the minnow, but its toll the number of watersnakes. Real pro­ more. Multiply this seasonal prey of on bass spawn, young bass, and other an individual snake by the thousands of gress has been made on some of our game fish as well as food fish repre­ outstanding bass and trout waters. But watersnakes on our fishing streams and sents a direct loss to the anglers of the the annual toll taken from the inland the snake-killing campaign is now only Commonwealth. well under way. This month and Sep­ waters is staggering. tember should mark extensive destruc­ Watersnake control, if drives are or­ tion of these reptiles on our fishing ganized, is not difficult. Covering a Should low water, prevalent in vir­ waters. Under present conditions it snake-infested trout stream or bass fish­ tually all sections of the state, continue will mean the saving of thousands of ing area in a single day, five sports­ through September, the cooperation of sportsmen in saving fish of all species fish for the fishermen. men armed with small calibre rifles may in the fresh water will be highly essen­ destroy dozens, and possibly one hun­ Increased fishing on practically all of tial. If we are to have the kind of dred of the reptiles. Shooting water­ our waters in recent years has served fishing that is the desire of every angler, snakes is ideal practice with small arms to stress the need of predator control. our army of fishermen will be an out­ and perhaps the most effective method The inland waters, as the red man knew standing factor in deciding the issue. by which they may be thinned down. them, teemed with fish. The presence Destruction of watersnakes on a state­ of thousands of fish destroying reptiles, Pennsylvania fishermen during the wide scale is a major step in the cam­ birds, and animals was an essential fea­ past few years have demonstrated one paign for better fishing. ture, in the scheme of things. Uncon­ fact with emphasis—they are conserva­ trolled by natural predators, the vast tion-minded. The sportsman's code is supply o"f fish in the streams would a by-word with the majority of our eventually have brought about a state anglers and their efforts to improve of over-population of the waters. In fishing conditions are worthy of high­ primitive Pennsylvania, the balance of est praise. Through stream improve­ Commissioner of Fisheries. PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER THE CARP PROBLEM IN PENNSYLVANIA

T is significant that two speeies of fish in preserving a proper ratio of nitrogen and I introduced from Germany to Pennsylvania oxygen in the streams. A school of large waters have become abundant. One, the carp feeding among the weeds is usually German brawn trout, today is a favorite not difficult to locate, for in their wake game iish and in many of the major trout silt and mud stirred by their activity is streams outnumbers our native species, the much in evidence. Naturally, in feeding on brook trout. The popularity of the brown vegetable matter, they also secure some of trout, however, is not shared to any great the tiny organisms known as plankton. Oc­ extent by the other introduced species, the casionally carp may be seen, their dorsal German carp. Many Pennsylvania fishermen tins and the upper portions of their backs regard this fish as a menace to native species protruding above the water, as they forage in areas it inhabits, although an increasing or bask in the sun near the shoreline. They number of anglers arc deriving some spor! somehow give the impression of a group of in fishing for it. Pacing the facts in the fat hogs wallowing in the mud, for laziness carp situation, however, it is here to stay, is an attribute of the carp as well as of and perhaps the most effective way by which the hog. its numliers may be controlled is an in­ Having available an abundance of natural crease in carp fishing with hook and line. food, these introduced fish will attain great Just how difficult carp control by netting weight. The largest caught on hook and may be was illustrated last year in Con- line in Pennsylvania waters last year, and neaut hake in western Pennsylvania. So now on record at the Fish Commission, was abundant were carp reported to be in this taken from the Susquehanna River near lake, that the Fish Commission arranged Harrisburg. This car]) measured over 40 with a commercial fisherman on Lake Erie inches in length and weighed more than to bring his nets and equipment to Conneaut 40 pounds. While carp of this size are not to reduce the number of carp. Skilled net taken on hook and line very often, many fishermen operated the great seines, many weighing from eight to 15 pounds have been game fish and other popular species of fish reported. One trapped by receding water A CATCH OF CARP were captured and released, but compara­ in an eddy at the Safe Harbor dam last year tively few carp were taken. Whether they weighed 50 pounds. escaped the meshes of the nets by burrow­ tion. let us turn to the famous North Branch ing into the mud of the bottom is a matter "Domesticated" Carp of the Susquehanna River. Generally recog­ nized as an outstanding producer of small- of conjecture, but certainly the attempted An early report of the Board calls atten­ netting resulted in failure. mouth bass and wall-eyed pike in the East, tion to the fact that German carp have for this stream harbors thousands of carp. It The carp is by nature a vegetarian, that centuries been domesticated in Europe. So is subjected to probably the most intensive is, it secures a large portion of its food long has it been known to European waters fishing of any Pennsylvania stream, not only supply from aquatic plant life and vegetable that its origin is somewhat obscured. Its by residents of this state but by non-resident matter of the fresh water. In this respect. original habitat is believed however to have anglers, and annually, the catch of bass it is perhaps most harmful, rooting up many been central Asia. Even in the thirteenth measures up to or even surpasses that of forms of aquatic plants that aid in the pro­ century it was regarded as an important the year before. To a lesser degree, the lower duction of tiny aquatic organisms and help food fish in Austria and was extensively Susquehanna, particularly in the great dams, cultivated. Conowingo, Safe Harbor, and Holtwood, all It is believed that carp were originally carp-infested areas, provides excellent fish­ introduced into Upper Lusoatia, Saxony, ing for game and other food species. The Silesia, Bavaria, and Poland at the beginning Allegheny River in northwestern Pennsyl­ of the fourteenth century and to English vania, the Conodoguinet Creek in Cumberland waters in 1504, By 1900, nearly every lake county, the Juniata River and the Rays- and river in Europe swarmed with them and town Branch of the Juniata in the central they were even said to be numerous in the counties, and the upper Delaware in north­ Black Sea and Caspian Sea. As much care eastern Pennsylvania are streams frequented was given to the cultivation of carp in by carp in large numbers yet good producers Germany as was given to raising domestic of game fish, panfish, and food fish. fowls and animals as food. Hundreds of Two notable exceptions to waters in which acres were devoted to carp raising by private both carp and other species of fish mingle individuals, and carp were said to be looked are Lake Wallenpaupack in Pike and Wayne upon by Central Europeans in much the counties, and Lake Gordon in Bedford coun­ same light as cows, sheep or fowls. The ty. These fishing areas have been created leather carp was and is considered a fine in recent years, and every effort has been table fish, ranking with the best, while the made to prevent introduction of foreign mirror carp also has many admirers. species of fish not believed desirable. Newly created bodies of water of this type may be Destructive to Fish? stocked on a scientific basis only if no-un­ Perhaps the most effective way to deter­ desirable species of fish were present prior mine just how destructive the carp may be to flooding. Obviously, this plan is feasible to other species of fish in its environment in comparatively few instances. Lake Koon, is to consider Pennsylvania bass waters in in Bedford county, a sister lake to Gordon, TYPICAL SPECIMEN OF THE which it is abundant. As a first considera- is the latest example. It is extremely diffi- GERMAN CARP PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER s

CARP ARE ABUNDANT IN SAFE HARBOR DAM ON THE LOWER SUSQUEHANNA cult to draw a comparison between the bass Carp Fishing the sport angle, this type of rod has the fishing in Lake Wallenpaupack, for instance, One fact has stood out during the past additional advantage of recording every or that in the North Branch of the Susque­ ten years in dealing with the carp in Penn­ movement of the fish in its struggle to break away. Sinkers heavy enough to hold the bait hanna. Certainly, the smallmouth bass yield sylvania. The most effective system of carp of the famous Branch, in spite of the carp, on the bottom of the stream are also used in control is by hook and line fishing. This carp fishing. is second to that of no other inland water type of fishing has become increasingly popu- area of Pennsylvania. Another carp fishing method employed fre­ lar in recent years, and hundreds of fisher­ quently, particularly by fishermen using What Happens to Young Carp? men are skilful at it. Obviously, even in­ canned sweet corn for bait, is to scatter Female adult carp are very fecund, that tensive still-fishing cannot exterminate the some of the corn in the water a short time is. they spawn, individually, many thousands carp, but it does serve in reducing greatly before casting the line. The hook baited of eggs a year. There is little doubt that, the number of these fish. The year round, with corn is then dropped to the bottom under average conditions in most of our Sundays excepted, carp may be legally taken, in the same location. Usually the largest fishing waters, thousands of young carp are and there is no size limit. To remove any corn obtainable is used, and very early morn­ batched. Yet, while perhaps in one great ing or late evening fishing is preferred, al­ Pool a school of possibly thirty or forty doubt concerning the dogged resistance of though many carp fishermen try their luck adult carp may be frequently observed, the which a 10-pound carp is capable, it is only after nightfall. proportion of adult fish in comparison to necessary to talk to a veteran carp fisher­ the thousands of young reproduced annually man. He will probably tell you that to land Preparing Carp for the Table is extremely light. What happens to the a fish of this size, at least fifteen minutes young carp? It is improbable that the death of playing is necessary, and frequently half While exceptionally large carp are not rate of carp fry, members of one of the most an hour. The small book used in carp fish­ attractive as food fish, carp weighing from hardy species of the inland waters, can be ing permits little forcing of the fish, as it four to 10 pounds are suitable for eating if so abnormally high as to explain the com­ prepared properly. Some fishermen take live paratively few fish that develop to maturity. is easily torn from the carp's tender mouth. carp and place them in pure spring water for Carp fishing, like fishing for suckers, re­ a period of from one to two weeks. It is The manner in which nature controls the quires patience. Often, after locating a numbers of any species of fish is vividly believed that the clear water serves to re­ school of the big fish, the fisherman decoys move much of the objectionable muddy taste illustrated in this instance. Young carp, it them to a certain location by scattering is believed, form a considerable portion of from the fish. sweet corn or corn meal near the spot he the food of game fish, that is, pickerel, bass, If it is not possible to follow this plan, and wall-eyed pike. A voracious bass, hap­ intends to try. As carp do a great deal of carp may be prepared by scaling and then pening upon a school of the young will their feeding during the night, this pro­ skinning. A veteran carp fisherman said re­ slaughter many of them. Similarly, a wall­ cedure may be followed covering a period cently that in cleaning one of the fish he eyed pike or pickerel, equally active and of one week. Attractive carp bait includes cuts away the flank, or lower portion of the voracious, may destroy many of the young. doughballs, in which some fishermen use carp and discards it. The fish is first scaled, And since game fish forage, that is, an molasses, corn, and cornmeal. Occasionally and then the skin is removed, starting at abundance of live food in game fish waters, after a carp has taken the bait, which it may the base of the tail and pulling it forward. is a first requisite to good fishing for the toy with for possibly ten minutes, it starts Frequently, a pair of pliers simplifies the popular game species, the carp is, at worst, moving away and the battle is on. Some skinning, and care should be used not to a mixed evil. Balancing any good qualities anglers who fish for carp prefer a rod with tear the skin while removing it. with bad, this comparative newcomer to our plenty of backbone, yet limber enough to With the increased interest in carp fish­ waters assumes a somewhat neutral position. insure against tearing out the hook. From ing in many sections of the state, it is prob- 4 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER able that during the next few years thous­ BIGGEST BROOKIE LACKAWAXEN BASS MAKE ands of these fish will be taken from the Schrader Creek in Bradford County has THINGS LIVELY inland waters. As a control measure, carp yielded the largest brook trout reported to fishing ranks as an important feature in the the Fish Commission this season. Warden Bass are becoming plentiful in the Laeka- better fishing program, for certainly a sharp Myron Shoemaker of Laceyville reports that waxen. River, Wayne County, according to reduction in the number of these fish in Bert Haines of Powell made the catch, a Special Warden A. M. McKinstry of Phila­ Pennsylvania waters is highly desirable. brookie measuring 16J inches in length. delphia. Fishing fly for trout in the Lacka- waxen near Hawley, he caught seven small- Other good catches are also being reported mouth bass, the largest measuring 17 inches. ANOTHER REMEDY FOR IVY from this stream. Morris Allen of Towanda As the bass season was not open, he quit recently caught 20 fine brookies in a day's fishing in that section of the stream, al­ POISONING fishing. Trying the Tioga River, Harvey C. R. Bersen, of Reading, a member of though the fighting bass certainly made .Tenkins of Canton landed a mixed creel of things lively on his light fly rod, before the State Board of Directors of the Izaak 20 brook and brown trout. Walton League, offers the following formula subjecting themselves to careful release to for relieving ivy poisoning. the stream. One ounce of liquid blood root mixed in He then tried the Brodhead Creek at one point of good cider vinegar. Mix well TROUT FISHING IN PINE CREEK Canadensa and caught seven fine trout, the and apply it to the afflicted parts daily. BEST IN YEARS largest measuring 144 inches. Fly used. This should reduce the swelling in a short Hare's Ear, tied on a No. 10 hook. time, and has worked well in a number of From Warden Horace P. Boyden of Wells- severe cases of ivy poisoning, according to boro, Tioga County, comes word that big Mr. Bersen. brown trout have been taken consistently on the fast waters of Pine Creek. Kettle Creek, Cedar Run and the headwaters of TEMPLETON SPORTSMEN RALLY the Tioga River have also been fished heavily Well over a hundred enthusiastic sports­ BROKENSTRAW TROUT and yielded good creels. The smaller trout Speaking of big trout in Warren County men of Templeton met recently and organ­ waters have been too low owing to dry ized under the name of the Templeton Rod is synonymous with mentioning the beauti­ weather. ful Brokenstraw Creek. Word comes from and Gun Club, bringing three well known R. C. Bailey, warden at Youngsville, that An evening's checkup on Pine Creek re­ and very highly respected marksmen's clubs this stream, equally famous for its superb cently, Boyden writes, revealed that 27 together. bass fishing, has yielded some unusually fine brownies, some 19 inches in length, had been Officers elected were as follows: Harry taken by fly fishermen. B. J. Northrup of brown and rainbow trout this season. Hold, President; Wm. Sharrer, Vice-Presi­ Asaph took 16 brownies from the stream, Three big brownies were taken during the dent ; Frank Rebolt, Secretary; H. H. Yager, nearly all of them over 12 inches in length. Treasurer. week of May 27 by F. M. Geer of North Anglers not only from Pennsylvania but Warren. These trout were 22J, 22, and 18$ other states have been fishing Pine Creek's inches in length respectively. Romeo Fic- fast waters and pools this year. cardi of Corry caught a brown trout 24 inches and a rainbow 19 inches in length. An unusually large number of bass spawn­ Always be sure to soak a leader thoroughly ing beds are reported in lower Pine Creek and some fine bass have been taken by before fishing. This applies n»t only to fish­ Save your nerves, save the doctor bill—go minnow fishermen as far upstream as An- ing for trout but in angling for any other fishing. aonta. fresh water species of fish.

YOUTH TAKES A LESSON IN TROUT FISHING. W. S. LAY OF LOCK HAVEN IS THE TEACHER AND THE SCENE IS FISHING CREEK PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER ."» BLACK BASS ARE SELECTIVELY FALL-FISH HITTING ANNUAL OUTDOOR MEETING BRED Bald Eagle Creek in Centre County pro­ The fourth annual outdoor meeting of the It is a recognized fact that the fish en­ vides not only good trout and bass fishing Pecks Lake Association was held on Sinitli's dowed with the most cannibalistic traits are but offers real sport for panfish as well. Landing at Pecks Lake, Pike county, July our finest game fish. They are the finest From up Bellefonte way comes word from 4, at 10 A.M. This meeting is always well game fish because only the most vigorous Pete Hoffman that an unusually large catch attended as the election of officers is held at and the most alert are permitted to survive of fall-fish was made recently on this stream this time. Harry Hil'er of Allentown was from a season's hatch. Science claims to by Chief of Police Harry Dukeman and M. selected as president, Joe Elsonburger of have made great strides in the selective T. McAlarney, Bellefonte. Stroudsburg, vice-president, O. Howard, breeding of animal life, yet when compared McAlarney and Dukeman each caught 25 Philadelphia, as chairman of the board of to nature's method of selective breeding in fall-fish whi'e trying their luck on the Bald directors, and George W. Schantzenbach was fish life, scientific efforts are puny. Eagle on May 19. The scrappy fall-fish, again elected secretary-treasurer. The next ranging in length from 12 to 10 inches, outdoor event will be the annual c'am bake were taken on wood sawyers. sponsored by the association. The yearly fishing contest opened July 2 with three fine prizes for the three longest HOLD RALLY pickerel taken out of Pecks Lake. The largest pickerel taken was 25 inches in A recent rally of the Pottstown Sports­ length, and was caught by Charles George men's Club was a splendid success, according of Allentown. This was the only affidavit to a report of its Secretary, Edwin Ibach. on record when the meeting was held. Will­ Wilbur M. Cramer, Division Game Super­ iam Miller, a native of Pecks Lake, dis­ visor, and Norman M. Wood, of the Educa­ played two 23-inch pickerel at the meeting. tional Department, were the principal speak­ Last year's contest was won by John W. Take the black bass, for instance. Gener­ ers. Eckert of Wernersville with a 29-inch ation after generation, only the most rapid- pickerel. The Pecks Lake Association offers growing individuals and those endowed with a reward of fifteen dollars for information the keenest sense of self-preservation are THE GOLDFISH AS LIVE BAIT leading to the arrest and conviction of any permitted to live. When a baby bass slack­ Because of the bright coloration of the person or persons catching undersize ens its alertness for an instant it is devoured goldfish and its tenacity of life, it has be­ pickerel, and for taking frogs or food fish by its fellows or other natural enemies. If come more or less popular as a live bait unlawfully. it lacks vitality and energy through disease for bass and pickerel. Our Board is very or a deformity it is likewise quickly de­ much opposed to the use of goldfish as live stroyed. The slow growers or poor feeders bait. The goldfish belongs to the carp family are soon outstripped by their more vigorous and when given free range grows to a length brothers and sisters which in turn devour of from twelve inches to fifteen inches. It the runts as food. This same method of is very hard, when uncolored, to distinguish survival of the fittest is nature's ruthless this fish from the true carp. High coloration method of perpetuating most strains of wild in goldfish was brought about by selective Jyi/ Seth Says life. breeding. Certain individuals, however, do not breed true to color and always retain tS^T(iJ-i/) Jest t'other day I The brook trout, for example, is not re­ the dark, dull, carp color. Goldfish that are garded as an extremely cannibalistic or released in open waters and are in competi­ ^Sr^H* went up along our trout voracious fish. It is not equipped with fhe >5^C\ sSv run' an' * reckon I ain't tion for their existence with other species ever S1 fighting armor of the black bass and is given of fish, in a few generations almost entirely r|ffifr.. ijSPk^r^Tr^. '''" '' lower afore. but little protection so far as scales and out­ lose their brilliant coloration. This is owing *lf|iy^|P ^l|£ An' right now, I'm say- side covering are concerned. Yet nature had to nature's method of selective breeding, as ^ ^ y^ in' thet them piles o' to have some way of perpetuating the strain the more highly-colored portion of the brush an' tree tops I of these fish to make them what they are season's crop readily fall prey to natural throwed in a year back is a right good thing today—one of Pennsylvania's most favored enemies and eventually a dull-colored strain fer the trout. Us boys put in some dams fishes. The method of carrying on the strain will appear. This dull-colored strain is than an' rocks this summer an' thet helped con­ of brook trout is not quite so ruthless as that assumed to be a carp and is certainly not siderable too. Ef it wasn't fer our helpin' of the bass because natuie does not permit, a desirable fish for our inland waters. out a little, trout'd stand mighty pore show under ideal conditions, any but the most this dry season. vigorous to sire the next season's crop, thus Another reason why unthinking sports­ I was a-walkin' along quiet like when I thinning down the weaklings in number and men try their luck with goldfish is because sees a right big watersnake slip inter a developing individuals that nature must elim­ indiscriminate bait handlers may induce hole where I knowed some sizable trout to inate in its most ruthless way. them to buy them. They, in turn, can buy be. Well sir, them trout run every which these fish at a very nominal figure, and hold Many sportsmen who are not keen stud­ way an' one of 'em, mebbe ten inches long, them in tanks for an indefinite period with­ runs under a big rock slopin' ter the water ents of nature's beautiful set-up cannot un­ out a serious loss which makes a big turn­ derstand why trout are endowed with the edge. Thet snake didn't pay no heed ter over in investments. Our native species of enny trout but the one thet goes under the pugnacious instinct that they have at the bait fish are more difficult to retain in cap­ spawning season, when it is not uncommon rock. Under he goes too, an* when he comes tivity. One reason that these goldfish are out he's hangin' on the trout fer dear life. for a heavy mortality to result from their so readily secured is that they are the culls fighting during the mating season. This of the season's crop produced on the gold­ I grabs a club handy an' when mr. snake fighting instinct drives back or keeps the fish farms and have no commercial value pulls inter shaller water, I lambasted him smaller or weaker male fish from impregnat­ other than for this purpose. an' broke his back. Thet's one snake less ing the egg crop, giving the most vigorous an' one trout more, I figger. and active males an opportunity to perpetu­ Watchin' them snakes ketch fish hes ate the race. showed me" one thing. Ef they kin corner a Insofar as under-developed female trout NOT COMPLAINING trout, they'll do it most every time, jest the seeding the water areas of small streams Two anglers who are not complaining same as they ketch catties in the big crick. with fish, this also is wisely taken care of about trout fishing this year, writes Warden An' thet's sure hard on trout, fer the first by nature to a great extent. The smaller R. C. Bailey, are Mr. and Mrs. George Zo- scare they gets, they heads right fer under the female the smaller the egg. Naturally, brcst of East Warren. To the contrary, they the first rock or bank they kin find, and the smaller offspring stands less chance of are highly enthusiastic, for both have made then the snake nabs 'em. Minks likewise survival than the offspring from a larger egg splendid catches on Warren County streams. ketches fish thet way right often. or, in other words, from a larger parent fish, George, with 80 trout, is leading in number I'm say in' right now, the sooner we kill and therefore, the weaker strain has little but Mrs. George, having caught 81, has the off some of these dirty sneakin' watersnakes, chance of being perpetuated. largest to her credit, a 13§ inch brownie. the sooner we're goin' ter have better fishin'. « PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER Native Trout Flies By Chas. M. Wetzel

UCH has been set down in print con­ it is an occasion seldom witnessed on other was so plentiful that the protruding rocks M cerning methods of fishing for tront, hatches and fortunate indeed is the angler and banks were literally plastered. Needless but comparatively little has hitherto been at such a time who is provided with artifi- to say that plenty of brown trout met their written for the practical fisherman, on that cia's resembling the natural insect. "Waterloo," at that time. When fishing this fascinating study of entymology, or the Belonging to the family of Ephemeridae, stream around the latter part of May, one study of flies and insects.—those small they are easily distinguished because of their invariably inquires: "Have the Shad Flies winged creatures which in varying stages, peculiar reversed and elevated position of been on the water already?" And receiving comprise the trout's principal diet. It is a the tail or stylets. The body is very long subject which should claim the attention of and sender, consisting of joints tapering to a neg itive reply, comforts himself with the every fly fisherman and aside from the pleas­ the end and terminating in two or three long thought that the hatch might materialize lie- ure derived in its pursuit, every angler will delicate stylets. The length averages around fore nightfall and in the meantime, Indulges be secretly pleased in the knowledge that three quarters of an inch, although I have in pleasant memories of the hatches of by­ another rung in the ladder of piscatorial seen larger specimens. It has a pair of gone years. achievement has been scaled. transparent wings, oblong, net veined and The mature insect exists but a short time 1 have endeavored in the following articles slight'y mottled. When it rests these wings (probably a few days) and for the purpose to present a brief description of our more Stand upright like the wings on a butterfly. of reproduction only. During this time it common stream flies with the hope, that the At the base of the large wings are two exists in two distinct stages, the sub-imago advantages derived will enable the average smaller wings. The bodies are soft, easily and the imago; in these forms they possess crushed in the fingers, and in the imago or angler to approximate the true insect more on'y the most rudimentary mouth parts and perfect stage, it assumes the most delicate nearly with his artificials: and furthermore, partake of no food. Their eggs are laid upon that he will be ab> to distinguish and class­ shapes and colors, in seemingly endless ify the more common flies and can then con­ variety. They are eccentric in their choice the water and from these eggs are hatched verse intelligently with those "High Brow" of habitation as probably a hundred yards the larvae. This larvae changes to the pupa, anglers,—who speak learnedly on flies, tie further upstream, from where the hatch is progressing towards the perfect insect: but their own artificials and confound the novice the thickest, not one will be visible. as larvae and pupa, they probably live for two or three years, burrowing in the mud, with their superior wisdom. In different localities they are known In this issue we will first take the Brakes, under various names, as, "May Flies," "Shad hiding under stones and among grass and as they are perhaps the favorites in the Flies," "Day Flies" and others. On Penn's weeds. It is strictly an aquatic animal and fisherman's lists. When a hatch first appears Creek they are commonly known as the Shad is being constantly preyed upon by trout on the water—the trout, seemingly actuated Flies and rise to the surface around Mem­ seeking nymphs. As the larva and the pupa by a common impulse, rise frenziedly and orial Day or slightly earlier, depending on it is a voracious creature, constantly feeding with reckless abandon to gorge themselves, the season. They seem to arrive on the long on other insects. while the opportunity is present.—as if know­ still water earliest, later on in the riffles. A Finally the pupa case or skin splits open ing that the stay of this fly is very brief. few years ago on Penn's Cre^k, the hatch and the fly emerges, with wings now fully

WHERE THE DRAKES SWARM. ONE OF THE POOLS IN PENNS CREEK PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 7

formed. One wonders on seeing these flies I have seen times on Penn's Creek, when it Possibly my equipment was better than regu­ apparently springing from all parts of the was absolutely impossible to get the atten­ lation as I purchased one of the well known y water but in looking c!osely w e may discover tion of the fish, regardless of how closely the steel casting rods, an anti-l>acklash reel cost­ the cracked and empty pupa eases, floating fly was imitated. At such times, the natural ing more than a respectable watch, an eigh­ away with the current. It is now in the fly seems to be the only attraction, and many teen pound test line and one or two of sub-imago stage and at first flies slowly, are the successes re'ated of fishing with the those monstrosities known as plugs. pausing often to rest in the shady quiet of same, when imitations had failed. an overhanging branch, or to sleep half "I was successful and how! I caught them hidden among the blades of grass. It is at I have had great success on a fly I have in the belly, in the tail and anywhere else this stage—when, being weak and sluggish tied myself, while trying to imitate the Green they happened to rub against these artificial from their long captivity and having had Drake. The body is of a pale, straw color porcupines. I did a slashing business of T no opportunity to exercise their w ings, they floss silk, ribbed with silver tinsel; the ex­ catching bass until the unhooking business are eagerly preyed upon by the trout. tremities are of a peacock heel, with three became nauseating. Among the species best known are the fibres of a wood duck feather for stylets; "The next year I didn't fish as often. Green Drake (Yellow Drake I, Grey Drake the wings are the short curled and mottled There wasn't the fun in it. The only time (Brown Drake generally known as the breast feathers of a mallard duck, stained a I went for bass was when some friend "March Brown") and the Black Drake. The pale green, and the fly tied fan wing style wanted to go with me in my boat. I did Green or Yellow Drake female is the sub- on a number ten or twelve hook. Brown the rowing and let him fish. imago, as a short time later, the fly under­ trout especially like their flies dry and the goes another transition, casting away the "Last year we had a dry spell, the lake imitation described above, is rated as one of became very low. Weeds that normally were garb of pale greenish yellow and appearing my most successful creations. in one of soft grey. The wings become more three feet under water covered the surface. sparkling and iridescent, the segments of its Try tying one yourself and probably some Plug casting was next to impossible. No­ body are more clearly defined, and the fly warm spring evening, when the May Flies body was fishing. is more active in this, its final existence. It are winging their fluttering, fairy-like course, "One evening I took my fly rod to the is now called the Grey Drake or imago. The over the water—a p'easant surprise may be lake and figured to practise casting a dry Black Drake is the metamorphosis of the in store for yon, as you connect with an fly. With a six foot trout leader fastened male Green Drake. '•Old Brown,'' on the fly you tied from the to a number ten neutral colored bi-visible When the Green Drakes were on the water, above description. I started in. You know what happened. I caught, lost, muffed more bass than in any equal period before. "I've destroyed the plugs, I've been saving my short trout leaders, I've gone completely over to the dry bass bug. I'm having more fun and 'DESTROYING NO FISH.' I heartily recommend a trial of this sport to fishermen who fish for fun and not meat." it. 111 RAYSTOWN SMALLMOUTHS Those old-timers of the smallmouth bass clan in the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River apparently have a weakness for the IMAGO lures of Walt Evans of Everett, according to Warden Bill Keebaugh of Hustontown. Fishing in the Branch recently, Evans LARVA landed two big bass, one measuring IS inches and weighing 3 pounds 4 ounces, the other DRAKES. 19 inches with a weight of 3 pounds 6 ounces. Keeltaugl). who patrolled Lake Gordon in SKETCHED BY THE. AUTHOR. Bedford county on the opening day, reported that the largest largemouth bass taken ALOrv/Gf PENfNl5 CREEK. weighed four pounds.

TRIES HIP BOOT FOR LANDING MASSACHUSETTS ANGLER AD­ FINE CATCH OF PERCH NET VOCATES FLY FISHING FOR Lake Koon, located above Lake Gordon Fishing' fly in Yandermark Brook, Pike BASS FISHERMEN in Bedford County, is furnishing exception­ County, Ken Wolfe of Milford lured a big In a recent letter to Commissioner Deibler, ally good fishing for yellow perch this year, brown trout to strike. The brownie made Freeman C. Hatch of North Andover. Mass., according to a report of Lincoln Lender, things plenty lively for Ken before it finally tells of his experience in fly fishing and warden at Bellwood. Frank Billmyer, of Cumberland, Md., recently caught 13 yellow was landed. Several times he had worked just why he considers it the greatest form of sport at the disposal of the average perch ranging in length from 10 to 15$ it into position for use of a landing net, inches. but the only thing he had at hand on these fishermen. His letter follows: occasions was his boot. It didn't work with "Please let me commend you on your the fighting brown trout at all. editorial in the June issue of the 'Pennsyl­ vania Angler' regarding 'Ply Fishing for MUSKIES FOR BREAKFAST Finally, his brother came downstream, and Bass.' observing Ken's difficulty, ran to a nearby On the morning of Ju'y 2, first day of the "Four years ago I had never caught a bass open season for mnskellunge, Charles Bur- garage where he secured a landing net, and of any kind, but moving into the vicinity of dick, deputy game protector in Erie county, subsequently Ken's brownie. The big fish a large lake which was well supplied with had a try for muskies in Lake LeBoeuf. measured 194 inches in length, according both large and smallmouth bass, I decided Before breakfast he had taken two of these to Warden Frank Brink, and tipped the to try my luck. fine game fish, one weighing eight pounds, scales at 3 pounds, 2 ounces. "I was outfitted with the regulation tackle. the other fourteen. s PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER THE SUNFISH By C. R. Buller Deputy Commissioner of Fisheries

"Slowly upward, wavering, gleaming doubt, when at the proper age would spawn Rose the Vgudwash, the Sunfish; during that month. Seized the line of Hiawalha, The male fish prepare the nest, which Swung irith all his irdght upon it. consists of a place in the shoal waters along the shoreline, ofttimes in from five to six But iclien Hiawatha sair him inches of water. When the fish decide upon Slowly rising through the water, the location of the nest, the small stones are Lifting up his disc refulgent. loosened with the snout and by a body and Loud he shouted in derision fin motion, all lighter sand and sediment is 'Baa! Baa! shantf upon //OH. removed for a space varying from twelve You are Vgudirash, the Sun fish ; inches to several feet in diameter. When You are not the fish I wanted; complete, the nest will be a more or less You are not the King of Fishes.' " circular place on the bottom, with only the LONGFELLOW. large stones remaining. The female then enters the home, deposits the eggs, and S A rule this poem and the sunflsh are leaves them and the young fish entirely to A- equally well known and appreciated by the care of the male parent. the boy angler, for in nine cases out of ten The eggs of the sunfish are very small the first fish to dangle from the hook and and adhesive or sticky. As they are ex­ line of the small fisherman will be the truded by the female, they cling to the clean sunny. The e'ectric thrill of that first strug­ surface of the stones in the nest. A female gle with the gamey sunfish without doubt. in many instances, opens to childhood the will deposit from two thousand to six thou­ door to the great wonderwork! of fish and sand eggs, the number dependent upon her fishing. It might be said that this fish, like age and size. The per cent, of fertilization the egg rolling rights on the White House is usually large, but often nests will be lawn every May Day, belongs to the little located very close together, and where this citizens. is the case, the per cent, of fertilization is not so great, due, no doubt to the interfer­ What angler, easting for the lord'y bass ence of neighboring fish during the spawn­ or pike, equipped with all the modern para­ SUNNIES AND YELLOW PERCH ARE FAVORITES OF BOYHOOD ing period. phernalia for its capture, has not seen the The period of incubation varies from little barefoot urchins, perched on a log, or seven to ten days. At this time the parent as far out on the edge of the marsh as it is seems to appreciate the sun. On warm sun­ fish is constantly guarding the nest from in­ possible for them to get, busily throwing in shiny days they collect in schools in quiet vasion of other fish, bent upon destroying and baiting the hook with worms, carried waters along the shoreline, swimming very eggs or young. Although the sunflsh is in old tomato cans? Their tackle usua'ly near the surface, ofttimes with their dorsal small, it is possessed of wonderful courage consists of black thread, "hooked" from fins appearing like miniature sails above the and is well able to protect its home, even mother's sewing basket, perhaps a bent pin water line. If caution is used, one can ap­ from the large carp or sucker. During the for a hook, and any kind of a stick that proach very near the school, but when once period of incubation and the early days of they can lay their hands on for a pole. If discovered, as if from a given signal, a the life of the baby fish, all sediment and you chance to ask them what they are fish­ slight splash is heard and the entire group foreign, substance id kept from the nest and ing for, they will look at you in wonder­ d'sappear, seeking the protection of deeper a good circulation of water provided by the ment for asking such a question and answer, water. If undisturbed they will return in a fin motion of the parent sunflsh. If the "Sunnies, of course." And the sight of short time to. their place in the sun. foreign substance is too heavy to be washed these busy little fishermen will always bring The food of the sunflsh in their natural from the nest, it is taken up in the mouth back fond recollections of boyhood days. heme is chiefly small forms of animal life and carried away. The sunfish is one of the gamest of all present in the water. The larvae of vari­ Many times this object may be the hook fresh water fishes for its size, and as a pan ous insects, some plant life and occasionally of a thoughtless fisherman, and the sunny, fish ranks very high. While it might be a small fish wh'ch may be a small individ­ endevoring to protect its nest, picks up called the boy's fish because of its gameness, ual of their own kind also provide forage. hook and bait, not -with the intention of it is commonly fished for by the grown Sunfish spawn in late spring or early sum­ eating it, but to carry it from the nest. Its angler. The tack'e used in its capture is mer, the spawning season extending over a capture results in entire loss of the nest of usually a light rod, hook and line. Sunfish period of from two to three months. By eggs or young fish, as neither the eggs or are ravenous* feeders and arc ever in search this it is not to be understood that the egg young fish can survive long without the of food to their liking. Consequently they laying period of a single fish extends over parent's protection and care. are caught in almost any depth of water. this long a period, as when the nest is pre­ When the little fish first hatch they are They will bite on almost any kind of bait. pared, the actual egg laying period proba­ so tiny that they can be seen only with dif­ The angleworm improbably the best for still bly will not exceed a few hours. ficulty by the unaided eye. When they fishing, but the grasshopper, white grub, In many of the sunfish. sexual maturity break through the shell of the egg, they have small mussels, and small pieces of fish are is reached at the age of about two years. attached to the lower portions of their body also good. They will rise occasionally to The long extended egg laying period is no a tiny yolk bag or food sac. This provides the artificial fly. Sunflsh travel about In doubt due to early or late hatching of in­ food for the little fellows until they gain groups or small schools and where one is dividuals. For instance, if a sunfish was strength enough to leave the nest in search captured, by a little patience, the angler hatched in August and attained sexual ma­ of food. By close observation, with the sun many times may succeed in capturing the turity at the age of two years, it would directly overhead, the bottom of the nest entire school. reproduce during the month of August. If will appear like a mass of small diamonds The sunflsh is well named as it certainly another individual was born in May, it, no scattered over the stones. These will be the PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER !»

A GROUP OF COMMON SUNFISH. BOYS OFTEN CALL THEM PUNKINSEEDS" bright little eyes of the baby fish. For the gret that it is not larger. In the United gill do not possess all the colors of a mature first few days after hatching, the young States it is found from Maine to the Great fish. Their sides are more or less silvery will lie on the bottom of the nest being Lakes and southward to Florida. It also in­ with vertical greenish bands. habits the waters of the upper Mississippi gently fanned by the fins of the parent fish. Production of the blue gill sunfish at our Valley. It is a very beautiful and compact As they gain in strength they will swim hatcheries is an important feature in the little fish, colored greenish olive above, nearer the water surface, and when evening Board's propagation program. At the ap­ approaches will settle back among the stones shaded with blue and the sides spotted or proach of the spawning season for sunfish, in the nest. The parent sunfish are con­ blotched with orange, the belly orange yel­ a number of pairs of brood fish are allotted stantly on guard to protect them from ene­ low, cheeks orange with wavy blue streaks, to each nursery pond. In order that the mies. and lower fins an orange color. most favorable conditions obtain in these If the same body of water is inhabited The Red Breasted Sunfish ponds, they are made as natural as possible by the black bass, this is a trying and dif­ This sunfish enjoys a wide range as it is for the adult fish. After spawning has taken ficult task, as five or six hungry little bass found from Maine to Louisiana. It attains place, the male sunfish hovers constantly will surround the nest. If one approaches a length of from six to eight inches and is over the nest. When the young have too closely, the parent sunfish will dart at considered a good pan fish. In color it hatched, the parent sunfish are retained in It. The little bass, being very quick and somewhat resembles the pumpkinseed, the the nursery ponds and are permitted to care active, easily gets out of harm's way. but in two being very hard to tell apart, except by for the baby fish in their own way. the meantime the other bass have entered the trained student. It grows to a larger Development of a hatchery strain of brood the home and devoured a number of the size than the pumpkinseed, body not as sunfish has been an important factor in baby sunnies, getting out of harm's way much elevated, mouth larger in proportion raising sunflsh under hatchery conditions. when the parent sunfish returns. and black spot on the cheek much longer. Accustomed as they are to conditions at the When the yolk bag is absorbed the little The Blue GIB Sunfish hatchery, mortality of the brood fish is com­ fish leave the nest and protection of the The blue gill is the aristocrat of the sun­ paratively light as compared to that at­ parent sunfish and seek food along the shore­ fish family and most important of all true tendant to introducing brood sunfish from lines or in the dense growth of aquatic sunflshes. It is known by many different wild waters. Each year, following intro­ plant life. Their chief food consists of tiny names, such as the Blue Bream, Blue Fish, duction of this system of using hatchery- animal life present in the water. When Coppernosed Sunfish, Dollardee, and many raised sunfish for brood purposes, has been first hatched, they will not resemble sunfish others. It is found in almost all parts of marked by considerably less mortality in shape, but by the time they are, from six the United States, either being native to the among sunfish of all sizes retained. to eight weeks old, they can be easily recog­ waters or introduced. As a food fish it Is The parental instinct in wild animal life nized as sunfish. On sunny days they can of much importance and of the sunflshes is has been studied for generations with keen be seen in small schools lying near the sur­ the one most often seen on the market. It interest, yet little is known as to what face among the lily pads and aquatic is the largest of the sunflsh family, reach­ really endows the parents to do certain ing a length of from ten to fourteen inches grasses. When disturbed, they quickly set­ things for the best protection of their off­ tle to the bottom among the plant life. and as a pan fish, it is said to equal the yellow perch, as its flesh is Arm and flaky, spring. In the various fish families we have In the United States there are between and possesses a delicious flavor, it also very striking contrasts. Some species will thirty and forty different kinds of sunflshes, ho'ds very high rank as a game fish and not hesitate to devour their own eggs or the all native to the fresh waters of North when a fair sized specimen is hooked, puts newly hatched young, others take great care America. In Pennsylvania three different up a battle that will test the skill of any in the building of nests or homes, protecting species are commonly found, either one or angler. the eggs and young fish from their enemies all being present in most of our lakes, ponds with a persistence that is to be greatly and quiet streams. They are known as the It is easily distinguished from the other admired. Common Sunfish, or Pumpkinseed, the Red sunflshes as its color is a greenish olive on The sunfish is of the latter type. Just breasted or Yellow Belly Sunfish, and the the back, becoming pale on the sides. The why nature endows the male sunfish with Blue Gill Sunfish. top of the head is dark green, cheeks have an instinct through which he places the value a bluish tint, the spot on the cheek is a rich of his own life higher than that of the nest The Common Sunfish velvet black, the sides have three or four of unhatched eggs is not known. As soon This little fish never attains a size large broad greenish bars and the lower fins are as the eggs develop into true fish, the re­ enough to satisfy any but the boy angler, all greenish. Old individuals often have a verse is the case and he then places the value yet it bites with a vim that makes one re- coppery red belly. The young of the blue of the lives of the baby fish higher than 10 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER BIG BLUEGILL ENTERED IN FISHING CONTEST The annual fishing contest sponsored by the Lappawinzo Fish and Game Protective Association of Northampton is now under way, and a number of fish have already been entered, according to Carl Fulmer, secretary. An unusually large bluegill sunfish, caught in Saylors Lake by Ernest Benning of Beth­ lehem will certainly give any other entries in this class a stiff run for first honors. The bluegill measured 11 inches in length. Saylors Lake also provided another entry, an Oswego or largemouth bass measuring 17 inches and caught by Oscar Kresge, while Samuel Gougher entered a big smallmouth bass caught in the Upper Delaware.

A CORRECTION THE ANGLER welcomes an opportunity to make this correction, for it concerns one of Pennsylvania's angling veterans who has probably accounted for more muskellunge, those fighting tigers of fresh water, than any man living. We refer to Fred J. King, of Waterford, Erie county. In the June issue, Mr. King's experience in landing a 171 pound muskie on an oversized "emer­ gency" bait and losing another on the same THOUSANDS OF SUNFISH ARE DISTRIBUTED EACH YEAR FROM bait was related in "Days Astream." In THE PONDS AT TORRESDALE HATCHERY some way, the best feature of his experience, the taking of a 211-pounder in addition, was that of his own existence. This has been sunnies as any trout fisherman would be of omitted, hence the following correction. And frequently observed as one approaches the a creel of beautiful brookies. the veteran muskie fisherman has indis­ nest of eggs. The parent flsh will readily The next Monday morning, bright and putable records to back all claims. He wrrites: seek protection by darting into deeper water, early, he was again at his favorite fishing leaving the nest of eggs more or less at the spot. But on this occasion the sunfish were "In my letter of January 16, 1934, relat­ mercy of enemies. When the little fish ap­ not accommodating and Jimmy returned to ing this experience, I stated that on Septem­ ber 14, 1914, I caught one muskie weighing pear, however, he will not leave the nest the store empty-handed. at the approach of a foe but instead gives 171 pounds, and that on September 15, 1914, "Where are the fish, Jimmy?" his father 1 caught another muskie weighing 21 i pounds, battle with all the vigor at his command inquired. to keep harm away from them. and that on the next day I had a strike "Darned if they'd bite today," came the from another but lost this one, all on the The parental instinct in fishes seems to answer. "But that's all right. If I'd get same 13-inch mullet for bait. In looking increase in proportion to the toll that nature 'em all now, I wou'dn't have any fish for over my records to verify this yarn, I also intended to be taken upon them by enemies. next year." find that on July 8, 1914, that I caught a The pickerel, for instance, has no parental muskie on another large bait, a 141 inch instinct, giving the eggs or young fish no A brown trout measuring 23 inches and white sucker. This muskie was brought to protection whatever. The baby pickerel gaff in 15 minutes, after taking 30 minutes makes its appearance in the water world weighing four pounds, one ounce, was taken from the Brokenstraw Creek in Warren coun­ to eat the bait. This muskie weighed 32 early in the spring when there are few pounds, length 511 inches, girth 224 inches." enemies present to destroy it. The sunfish ty during the trout season by Milton Munn make their appearance at the season of the of Garland, writes Warden R. C. Bailey. In making this deserved correction, the year when they are readily preyed upon by Bill Miller of Spring Creek caught several ANGLER extends best wishes to Fred King the minnows, yellow perch, black bass, pick­ brownies' from 14 to 18 inches in length and for another successful season in fishing for erel, and others of the same season's hatch. a brookie measuring 13% inches. the water tigers of Lake LeBoeuf. In a natural state, sunfish are classed as shore feeders. By preference, they usually lurk nearer the shores of waters in which FLASH FROM THE FISHING FRONT- they are found, taking food that may fall to the surface such as grasshoppers, crickets WEASEL TAKEN ON FLYROD and other types of forage. They also feed Berks county bass waters have produced the prize fishing experience of the year. near or on the bottom on aquatic types of For confirmation of this fact, consult Warden Bill Wounderly and Henry Blanford forage. of Reading. Blanford, fishing in Maiden ("reek, Berks county, below the Len- hartsville duni for bass on July 5, hooked and landed a weasel on a flyrod. The flyrod's list of victims not in the fish category now includes watersnakes, bats, GOOD BOY, JIMMY chickens, and that most bloodthirsty killer for its size in the animal world, a. That Pennsylvania's boy fishermen are weasel, a checkup on reports to the ANGLER reveals. taking an ardent interest in conservation of Coming back to the weasel episode, Blanford was fishing helgramite on a light flyrod for the fighting bass of Maidenereek, when he observed a commotion aiid", fish as well as i* fishing is Illustrated by fluttering in a group of young ducks a short distance downstream. Watching an incident reported to the ANGLER by closely, he saw a weasel perched on a rock near the ducklings. Warden Charles Long of East Waterford. Quoting Wounderly: Jimmy Patterson, 7 years old, has been "Blanford retrieved his line, cast for the weasel and hooked it in the neck at making numerous fishing excursions to Tus- a distance of 20 feet. He still had a helgramite on the hook with which he had carora Creek, which flows through East been fishing for bass. Just who would he victor in the struggle that followed Waterford. After digging some plump angle­ was in question for half an hour, but eventually the fisherman won out by drown­ worms on May 19th, the youthful disciple ing his unusual catch as it struggled in the water to free itself from the hook. "Blanford told me later that he never experienced such a tussle as the weasel invaded a suntish pool and returned to his gave him. To use his own words 'those critters sure can give you one real father's store with two fine sunnies, one 8 battle.' " inches long. He was just as proud of those PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER II

Every once in a while he stops casting long enough to throw the beams of the flashlight over the water. Spotting a snake, he ap­ proaches it quietly in the boat, slips the wire noose over its head, and presto, the snake is in an instant no longer an active menace to fish. On the night Lender met him, Cook had already killed six watersnakes in this way.

BEAVERKILL GOOD The beaverkill ranked as an A-l bet for fishing north Tier waters early in June, ac­ cording to Warden Horace Boyden of We'.ls- boro. Boyden also said that while fishing with the ginger quill, he caught eight fine brook trout. One of the trout was 11 inches in length, two were 10 inches, and three ranged from seven to nine inches.

FISHING CONTEST IN YORK- ADAMS COUNTIES Simultaneously with the qpening of the bass season, the York and Adams Counties Game and Fish Association announced the start of a contest in which prizes will be awarded for the largest game fish taken dur­ ing the 1034 fishing season. Prizes wi'l be awarded for the biggest sinallmouth black bass, the biggest pike and the biggest rock bass. Second and third prizes will be given in the black bass and HIST TWO OF THOUSAND,rI u S OF REASONS WHY THE SPEAR OR GIG pike classes. In the smallmouth bass com­ JUST iwu ur is AN ENEMY TO GOOD FISHING petition, first prize will be $10 in merchan­ dise or credit at the Hanover Hardware Company's store. Second prize will be $5 HALF-PINT FISH EGGS, SIX NORTH BRANCH CATCHES in merchandise or credit and third prize BLUEGILLS, BASS TAKEN The North Branch of the Susquehanna $2.50. In the pike class, merchandise or FROM SNAPPER River is living up to its reputation as one credit slips will be given as follows: First, In Genesee county, Ivan Kesten, conserva­ of the outstanding bass waters of the eastern $5; second, $2.50; third, $2. The prize in tion officer, organized spearing groups for seaboard this year, reports indicate. Early- the rock bass division will be $5 in merchan­ the purpose of ridding Buell and Hassler season bass catches were uniformly good, dise or credit. lakes of as many noxious fish as possible. and the best creels were taken according to The contest will be limited to fish caught The spear was wielded so efficiently that Warden Myron Shoemaker, who patrols the in the legal season in the State of Pennsyl­ 17 carp and 26 dogfish of a combined weight Branch, in the swifter water, riffles and vania, with rod, reel and line. No specific of 330 pounds were taken. Whenever a eddies. While the deeper pools are best lure is required. Competition is open to turtle came into view, the members of the for autumn fishing, Shoemaker advises try­ everyone—men, women and children, mem­ group tested the sharpness of the tines on its ing the shallower water early in the season. bers and non-members of the game and fish armored back. So successful were they that Leonard Wilbur and a companion from association. All who desire to enter the 14 turtles, scaling 130 pounds, were removed Wilkes-Barre had taken thirteen nice small- contest must be registered on or before Au­ from the lake. mouths by noon of the first day. An unusu­ gust 1, at which time the register will be ally heavy catch of wall-eyed pike was made closed. Persons who have registered will Kesten examined the stomach contents of by Joe Connor and party of I'ittston. Troll­ be the only ones eligible for prizes. No fish one of the turtles to determine the type ing, they caught 24 big wall-eyes, the largest caught from a state, club or private hatehery of food it had eaten. He found six small 20 inches in length and the* dthers averaging will be eligible for entry. bluegills, a black bass and a half-pint of 21 inches. An affidavit blank will be given to each fish eggs. AVyalusing Creek also yielded fine catches person registering upon receipt of a 25-cent Such data, which indicates that the of bass. Twenty-one fishermen interviewed registry fee. The blank must be signed by snapping turtle preys upon the fish life of had taken on an average four bass apiece. the person catching the fish and by two the lakes and streams, is being gathered by witnesses who examined the fish and verified the Institute for Fisheries Research, Uni­ its weight and measurements. Herbert V. versity Museums, Ann Arbor. The Institute, AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO KILL Jordan, Wilson C. Jordan and Donald of which Dr. C. L. Hubbs is director, is Michael will serve as judges. The length, making a study of fish predators in Michi­ WATERSNAKES girth and weight of each fish entered must gan. Lloyd Cook of Meyersdale has devised a be included in the affidavit, together with In Michigan there is an open season the unique method by which to kill watersnakes, data regarding when and where it was year around on snapping turtles,—Michigan according to Warden Link Lender. Bell- caught and the type rod, reel, line and line Department of Conservation Monthly Bulle­ wood. Lake Gordon, his favorite fishing or bait used. All fish must be weighed on tin ground, is noted for its largemouth bass, tested scales at the Hanover Hardware store, and Cook follows a popular method of tak­ and must lie measured with a tape measure. Ollie Narnhold of Middleburg ranks as ing the big fellows, namely by plug casting one of the ace watersnake hunters in Snyder at night. county. A recent report placed the number Two items other than his bass fishing Your fly casting line should be dried thor­ of snakes killed by Ollie this year at 8a paraphernalia are also taken on these fish­ oughly after each trip astream. Run It Every one of the reptiles had either fish, ing trips. One is a powerful flashlight The through a soft cloth to absorb excess moist­ frogs or tadpoles in it. other is a wire with a loop on the,end. ure before it is put away. 12 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER DAYS ASTREAM A Section Contributed by Readers of PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER

CONQUERS SNAPPER ON FLY- made a channel 3 to 4 feet in depth, with This had given me more than my share ROD many large rocks, just the kind of a place for one night and when I finally attracted you expect to find a big fish or two waiting by the attention of Dalton Hardy, my other for you. This was ideal fly water and I fishing companion, who was then working JOHN C. MUSSER, Columbia liked to fish it in the evening, fishing down up my way using a casting rod, I told him Fishing in Kerbaugh's Lake, a landlocked stream before dusk with a streamer fly and of my experiences and suggested he might section of the Susquehanna river, about a a No. 1 spinner and back to camp after dark still arouse them with a surface plug which mile north of Columbia, early in May. George with a bass bug. This would usually pro­ he did and caught two more beauties and Sainton, a Columbia fisherman, landed a duce two or three nice size bass. had three other strikes he missed. fifteen pound snapping turtle, but only after Now I know my Doctor friend was telling a State Policeman from the Columbia bar­ The first evening in camp my companions and I were fishing up stream on the far side the truth. They were not rock bass. racks came to his aid. The feat was more I see now that bugs were hatching on the remarkable considering the fact that Sliinton of the island, when just before dusk I noticed quite a commotion off the lower end of the weeds and bass in great numbers had was" using a four ounce fly rod when he gathered there to feed. made the catch. bar some distance below us. From where we were it locked as though there were forty When the turtle struck, Shinton knew or fifty fish that would come to the surface something large was on his line and at first and go down, this would be repented at very thought he had hooked a large bass. How­ frequent intervals and last for about fifteen HUNGRY OR CRAZY? ever it moved too slowly for a bass and minutes. by he then thought it was one of the large GEORGE W. CONWAY, JR., New Castle carp which make their home in the lake in Thinking this to be a school of rock bass at play, I jokingly suggested to one of my I have not had a great deal of experience great numbers. with trout, but one incident which hap­ He played his catch carefully, fearing companions, Dr. Millison, that he go down and cast it out and determine the cause of pened May 25, this season, was really re­ the strain would prove too great for his markable. rod. However his fishing skill (he is the all this disturbance. On his return he re­ ported quite excitedly that he had two I was fishing with two friends, one of them type of fisherman who makes his own rods had never even seen a trout before this oc­ and flies) came to his aid and in half an strikes, but, had been unable to hook either one of them. Dal and I smiling to ourselves casion. He caught two trout that day how­ hour's time his quarry began to surrender, ever, and I arrived on the scene just after but stubbornly. told him he had a delusion as they were only rock bass. he had lost a third. Along with that trout An additional fifteen minutes were neces­ went one of the hooks I had given him. sary before he had the turtle close enough The second evening I was fishing down­ He had no idea what size the trout was to shore to identify it. Then his troubles stream when I noticed three fly fishermen and I tied another hook on his snell and began. Mr. Turtle when he was dragged working up towards me. They were just forgot it. Since he had also caught one of so close to shore that his head was above opposite the lower end of this bar when the water propped his four feet on the rocky his two trout in that same hole, we moved same school of "rock bass" started cutting on for they had stopped biting there. bottom and refused to budge. He called for capers. I could hear one man say to the help and State Trooper, Cyril Edwards of On this particular day we had both min­ others that there were bass feeding and to nows and worms, a worm being the bait he the Columbia barracks who was on the fish­ get out to them with their flies. They ap­ ing party ran to his aid. had on when he lost fish and hook. parently couldn't reach them as nothing This happened about 5 :00 in the evening. He offered all sorts of vocal aid but when happened and from my location I was still Sometime between 7:00 and-7:30 the same he saw that the small hook Shinton was us­ satisfied that they were rock bass. ing was slowly straightening out he lived up evening I came back to the hole where the to the slogan of "always get your man," The next, my last evening on the river I fish had been lost for I thought there might leaped into the water up to his waist, grab­ had worked down opposite the lower end of be others there. bed the turtle beneath the shell and tossed this bar and had taken a little time out to As soon as my bait hit the water a fish him to the bank. smoke my pipe and wait for it to get a little took it and I caught him. it was my seventh The turtle was sixteen inches long from darker before working back towards camp. and last for the day. (Five of the seven the front to the back of his shell and with While smoking and meditating I noticed just were taken on minnows.) its head and tail extended measured almost off the lower end of the bar my school of When I got no more from that hole I thirty inches. Across the back it was four­ "rock bass" were again in session. I watched stopped fishing and cleaned that fish which teen inches wide at the widest point. It them for some little time not paying much was exactly nine inches. The other fish I weighed several ounces over fifteen pounds. attention to them as I certainly had not had cleaned when ca.ught. Then I got a Others on the fishing party besides Shinton given it a thought other than they were surprise for in its stomach I found the hook and the state trooper were James G. Hinkle rock bass. It just looked like a great many I had given to my friend and it was still and J. Leroy Myers, also of Columbia. minnows or rock bass sucking small insects baited with a good sized garden worm. I from the surface of the water. am sure that the hook was the one he lost As it had now become dark enough for me a couple of hours earlier in the day for if it AND THEY WEREN'T ROCK to work back towards camp, I waded out as had been in the fish's stomach much longer far as I could and for curiosity's sake than that, the worm would have been di­ BASS, AT THAT dropped my cork bug right in the midst of gested. It was the same size and shape by my school of "rock bass." Just then things hook, and as we did not see another person RALPH W. ROBERTS, Sharon began to happen. The whole school seemed on the stream that day it must have been While spending a few days along the Alle­ to go for my bug at the same time. After the one he lost. gheny fly fishing for bass, I had a very un­ several attempts one big fellow crowded his I have heard of other cases where hooks usual experience, one of those you will look way through and nailed it and was I excited; or flies or such things have been found in back to in years to come. I had a nice 13% inch smallmouth bass and fish but I can't see why a trout who was on Opposite camp there was an island, the in the seven succeeding casts I landed five the end of a line once in a day and only lower end of which formed a long sand bar, bass as nice as you would care to lay eyes escaped would grab another in two hours. well covered with weeds at this season of on and had two others hooked but did not He must have been very hungry or slightly the year. The water cutting across this bar land. crazy. PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER 18 •'This is the type of fisherman who em­ C.C.C. BOYS IMPROVE STREAMS bitters the farmer and makes him anything but pleasant when real sportsmen come along. Boys stationed at the C.C.C. camp located I have a nice place, take a lot of pride in on Straight Creek, Elk County, have been keeping it nice, and it takes a lot of work active in stream improvement work this to keep it that way. Then to have some summer, according to Warden Robert J. cheap skate come along and mess it up just naturally riles me. Fellows like this have Chrisman of Kushequa. Straight Creek and no consideration for anyone but themselves South Forks are the streams in which the and they are the ones who make it hard improvement work has centered. Thirty- for decent fishermen to get along with seven well-built dams have now been placed farmers. Unless such men are curbed, the in Straight Creek. farmers eventually may be forced to post many streams in the county, just to pro­ tect their property. In hunting, too, un­ pleasant things often happen. I have had hunters go through my property and tear TRY COCKROACHES down two or three rods of stone wall to Just give Lowie Foyson of Steelton get a rabbit, leave it and go on. Let that sort of thing happen two or three times a supply of good fat cochroaches and during a season and it means two or three he'll be satisfied that a catch of bass days work laying up these walls. is in the offing. And to back his belief that you can't beat cochroaches as "Believe me when I say that, as a class, bait, Lowie returned from a recent farmers are a first rate bunch of fellows. They are not mean and hard if they're used fishing trip to Hawk Rock on the Sus­ right, and they are willing to meet you half­ quehanna with as nice a smallmouth way. Common sense dictates that when a bass as any angler could desire. It fisherman finds his sport on another man's measured 171 inches in length and property, he should use it as his own. And weighed two pounds, 11 ounces, accord­ why not? It is quite possible that he is ing to Warden Frank Sanda of Steel- JUST BEFORE THE LANDING using it for this particular purpose even ton. NET. FRANK DUNKLE OF YOILLE more than the owner himself. If this rule is Lowie says that the cockroach is one PLAYING A BASS ON THE followed, I honestly believe that in most ALLEGHENY of the most active baits he ever used, instances, no trouble will arise between buzzing about on the surface with a sportsmen and property owners." persistence that is almost certain to THE FARMER'S SIDE IN THE attract bass. POSTED LAND ISSUE Keep stone catfish or helgramites on the One careless fisherman, disrespectful of move while fishing them. Both of these the rights of a landowner on whose property natural lures will seek the first rock crevice he is permitted to fish, often will spoil the available, and broken hooks or lines may STANDS IN ONE SPOT, LANDS sport for hundreds of others. The farmer result. Some anglers use a cork in keeping 18 BROWNIES who posts his property frequently is driven stone catfish off the bottom. to it by acts that tinge on vandalism. A pool in the Tobyhanna Creek provided Van L. Swikert, who owns a farm in Wayne unusual trout fishing for A. S. Burnaford of County, has presented the farmer's side very B'.akeslee one day in midseason, according ably in the following letter to the ANGLER to Warden Russell Womelsdorf of Kingston. headed "Posted Property and the Cause." Casting dry fly without moving from the spot He writes: where he started fishing, Burnaford caught "Perhaps some of you real sportsmen 18 brown trout ranging in size from 10 to would like to know just why some of the 12 inches. Two days before, he took 17 farmers post their property. Let me give you something of the farmer's side in the brownies from 10 to 12 inches from the self­ case. I am a farmer, also an officer of the same pool. law, and live beside one of the finest trout streams in Wayne County. This stream runs through my property and is open to the STILL-FISHIN' Bare you lost your "pep"t Try fishing. public. Here is just one experience I have had. "A short time ago, a big car drove up in the driveway in front of my garage, so that I could not have gotten my car out had I Fish Commission Sponsors Campaign wanted to. The men in it did not have decency enough to ask if they might fish, but walked across my lawn, jumped over Against Watersnakes the wall beside the creek and started to fish. Then they came in at noon, ate their lunch, ENNSYLVANIA boys are key figures in the Fish Commission and the boy will be and away they went. Well sir, you ought to Pthe Fish Commission's campaign to thin given a fine medal inscribed "Junior Con­ have seen the mess they left. They turned down the number of watersnakes this year, servationist." A boy who is not a member their car around on my lawn and left it in Oliver M. Deibler, Commissioner of Fisheries, of a Scout troop will be awarded a medal wonderful condition, and where they ate has announced. Appropriate medals will be if he reports, on his honor, the killing of ten their lunch they left papers, bottles, bait awarded to each Boy Scout or any boy, who snakes to a fish warden, game warden, or cans, orange peels and other rubbish all over kills ten or more of these destructive rep­ official of a sportsman's organization. A the place. When they came back a few days tiles and furnishes proper proof of his snake, to be entered in the total killed, must later, believe me they got an earful. I ordered achievement. be twelve inches long. them off my place and told them to keep Simple rules govern the snake-killing cam­ It is believed that a great many boys, off. I believe any man or party of men who paign now under way. Any Boy Scout who who have taken keen interest in the killing do things like that are not deserving of the kills his quota of snakes will report the of watersnakes to better Pennsylvania Ash­ right to fish on a self-respecting man's prop­ killing to the scoutmaster in charge of his ing, are already qualified to receive one of erty. troop. In turn, the scoutmaster will notify these Conservation Medals. M PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER

Bradford—trout, Schroder Creek. Butler—trout. Blacks or Furnace Run. Bear Creek, Little Connoquenessing Creek, Thorn Creek. Cambria—trout, Saltlick Run, Chest Creek. Cameron—trout. East Branch Hicks Run, l.ushbaugh Run, Sinnemauoning Portage Creek. Hicks Run, Clear Creek, Mix Run, Driftwood Branch. Carbon—trout, Aquashicola Creek, Qua- kake Creek, Hays Creek. Ceiilre—trout, Spring Creek, Logan Branch, Penns Creek, Wallace Run, Pine Creek, South Fork Beach Creek, White Deer Creek, Laurel Run or Synagogue Stream. Elk Creek, West Branch Big Run, Penns Creek, Bald Eagle Creek. Chester—trout, Doe Run. Two Log Run. Buck Run, Pusey Run, White Clay Creek. Clarion—trout, Mill or Big Mill Creek, East Sandy Creek, Toms Run, Deer Creek. Big Mill Creek, Piney Creek. Clearfield—trout, Little Laurel Run or Beach Run, Mountain Run. Wilson Run, Medix Run, West Branch Montgomery Creek, WM. PINKERTON. 12. OF FAIR- Lick Run. MOUNT PARK. PHILADELPHIA. Clinton—trout, Tangascootack or Scootack WITH A "STRING OF WATERSNAKES Creek, Lick Run, Big Fishing Creek. Columbia—trout, Mugser Run. West Creek. West Branch Fishing Creek, Fishing Creek. TROUT FEATURE JUNE Crawford—trout, Sandy or Little Sandy BOB GILCHRIST AND OAKLEY STOCKING Creek, McLaugh'.in Run. MENHENNETT WITH WALL-EYES Dauphin—trout, Manada Creek. FROM LAKE COMO. WAYNE COUNTY. LARGEST PIKE. Brook and brown trout above legal six- Delaware—trout, Ridley Creek. 6 POUNDS inch skx featured the stocking program of Elk—trout, East Branch Clarion River, the Fish Commission during June. The Bear Creek, East Branch Spring Creek, Max­ Mifflin—trout, Kishacoquillas Creek. hatcheries restocked approved trout waters well Run, Straight Creek, Paiges Run, Spring Monroe—trout, Big Bushkill Creek, Buck- with 114.200 trout. Creek, Wolf Lick Run, Kersey Run. Big Run, hill Creek, Lehigh River. In addition to 81,500 brook trout from 8 Vineyard Run, Mix Run, South Branch Northampton—trout, Little Martins Creek, to 9 inches in length and 32.300 brown trout, Straight Creek, AVyncoop Run, Bear Run, Saucon Creek. Bushkill Creek. 7 to 12 inches. 400 rainbows were released. East Branch Hicks Run, Hicks Run, Big Mill Pike—trout, Red Rock Creek. Following are the streams stocked in the Creek. Potter—trout, Long Run. Sartwell Creek. various counties: Brie—trout, Beaver Run or Beaverdam Nelson Run, South Branch Oswayo Creek. Adams—trout, Conococheague Creek. Run, South Branch French Creek. South Fork of First Fork of Sinnemahoning Berks—trout. Swamp Creek. Northwest Forest—trout, Prathers Run, Little Salmon Creek, Lyman Run or North Branch. Corbet Branch I'erkiomen Creek. Hay Creek. Pine or Indian Doctor Creek, Salmon Creek, Branch. Bailey Run. Tront Run. Allegheny ('reek or Oysterdale Creek. Spring Creek. River. Oswayo Creek, Pine Creek. Hlair—trout, Blair Gap Run, Bald Eagle Franklin—trout, Conococheague Creek or Sutliran—trout, Sullivan Branch. Lewis Creek. Piney Creek. Each Branch Conococheague Creek. Creek, Ogdonia Creek, North Branch Mehoo- Huntingdon—trout, Shaver Creek, Little pany Creek, Rock Run, Rock Run or Rocky Aughwiek Creek, Standing Stone Creek. Run, Pigeon Creek, Little Loyalsock Creek. Indiana—trout. Little Yellow Creek, Mud- Union—trout. Corl's Run, White Deer lick Run. Creek, Penns Creek. THIS BROWN TROUT Jefferson—trout, Camp Run, Clear Run, Venango—trout, East Sandy Creek, Cherry WANTED MINNOWS Little Sandy Creek, South Branch of North Run, Upper Two Mile Creek. Fork Red Bank Creek, Five Mile Run, Camp Warren—trout, Little Brokenstraw Creek. Big brown trout apparently want a Run, East Branch Mahoning Creek, Little Wayne—trout, Calkins Creek, Beaverdam mouthful when they go to the trouble Mill Creek, North Fork Red Bank Creek. Creek, Wilcox Creek, Johnson Creek, Equi- of striking. On more than one occa­ Juniata—trout, Lost Creek. nnnk Creek, West Branch Lackawaxen River. sion, you'll hear fishermen on certain Lancaster—trout, Indian Run, Big Chickies York—trout, Leibs Creek, Otter Creek. famous brownie waters say that al­ Creek. most all of the trout over 20 inches in Lawrence—trout. Taylor Run, Little Nes- length are taken on minnows or night- hannock Creek, Big Run. crawlers. After an experience on Bald Lebanon—trout, Big Chickies or Pen Ryn NEW TRAP EFFECTIVE IN Eagle Creek, on May 7th, Irving Creek. Bachman Creek. WATERSNAKE CONTROL Martin of Beliefonte, may be inclined Lehigh—trout, Little Lehigh River, Cedar A fair analysis of the watersnake and its to agree with them. Creek, Trout Creek. habits, weighing any good qualities it may A 22-inch brownie in one of the Luzerne—trout, Linesville Creek, Bolward's possess against its destructiveness to fish famous Bald Eagle pools tempted Run, Little Shickshinny Creek, Nescopeck life, leads to its conviction as an outstand­ Irving, and in trying for a rise from Creek, Wapwallopen Creek. ing enemy to the sportsmen in their ef­ the big fellow, he used every pattern Lycoming—trout, Lycoming Creek, Lyco­ forts to better fishing in Pennsylvania. of flies in his possession. But the ming or Antis Creek, Slate Run. Snake-infested streams and ponds yield a trout in question turned up its nose McKean—trout. East Branch Tionesta heavy toll of all species of fish to this vor­ at the fragile lures. Creek, Portage Creek, potato Creek, Marvin acious reptile each year. Their rapid in­ Finally Irving resorted to different Creek, Willow Creek, West Branch Clarion crease constitutes a threat to the drive for tactics. He put on a minnow, the River, Two Mile Run, North Branch Sugar good fishing that may not be taken lightly. brownie struck it savagely and was Run, South Branch Sugar Run. The best time to kill watersnakes is during forthwith landed. Mercer—trout, Wolf Creek, Little Sandy July and early August, before they have Creek, Lackawannock Creek. given birth to young. PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER IS

An effective device for thinning down these reptiles is a watersnake trap that has been adopted and used successfully by members of the Eastern Anglers Association of Mon­ roe and Pike Counties. This trap is easily constructed and may be used on many streams and lakes. In principle, it is a square" box, the upper surface consisting of a balanced lid. This lid is pivoted in the center at both ends of the box, in such a manner that a slight weight on either side will cause it to tilt, dropping an object into the box. On both sides of the box are screens, giving a clear view of the inside. It is most effective when placed beside a log or other object near shore that is used as a sunning! place by watersnakes. A dead minnow or other bait placed on the center of the lid may serve as an effective lure. LIVE-BUCKET AND A STRING OF BASS. THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN ON THE RAYSTOWN BRANCH GOOD TROUTING IN COLUMBIA COUNTY LANDS BIG BASS ONEIDA DAM LARGEMOUTHS In a recent letter to the ANGLER, A. A. Franky peters of Gallitzin will tell you The Oneida dam in Butler county is fur­ Allegar, special fish warden of Berwick, that those old bronzebacks of the Raystown nishing great fishing for largemouth bass calls attention to the fine trout fishing pro­ Branch of the Juniata can put up a battle again this year, according to Special Warden vided by Fishing Creek in Columbia County. from start to finish. Fishing in the Branch J. H. Bergman of Butler. Casting plug for "Want to call your attention to our trout on the evening of July 3, not far from the big fellows has resulted in some out­ fishing in Fishing Creek here to Columbia Huntingdon, he landed a black bass weigh­ standing catches. County," he writes. "During the 1933 trout ing f>M> pounds. And since this stream is Topping the reports is a catch of bass by season, I saw numerous catches of from 10 predominantly smallmouth water, it is pos­ Alex Skinder of Pittsburgh, five in number, to 20 brook trout, ranging in size from eight sible his catch was of this species. At any having a combined weight of 20 pounds. Four to 14 inches. These trout had been taken rate, it will take a monster to trim it for of the bass measured 18 inches apiece wlii'e on the dry fly. Some large brownies were the season record. Displayed at Gallitzin, the fifth measured 16 inches. Joe Curts of also caught. I fish in a number of the the big bass attracted a lot of attention. Butler caught 10 bass on the first day streams in the Commonwealth, and I find measuring from 13 to 19% inches. The Fisliing Creek as good as the best." largest bass weighed 4% pounds. Clyde Guiney of Butler, R. D. 1, landed three bass, BIG TROUT CAUGHT STREAM IMPROVEMENT each measuring 19 inches in length. Other bass waters in Butler county that The closing days of the 1934 trout season PROJECT UNDER WAY Sportsmen of Williamsburg, Blair County, attracted many fishermen when the season in Pennsylvania were marked by splendid opened were the Big Conoquenessing Creek catches of big trout on Pine Creek, Potter are determined that trout streams in their section shall be brought to a peak in pro­ and Buffalo Creek. One of the catches re­ County, the Lackawaxen, Wayne County, ported from the Buffalo was that of Ray and Wapwallopen Creek in Luzerne County, ductiveness, and an active stream improve­ ment campaign, modeled after the Spring Strong of Kepple, who landed three small- according to Nick C. Ratamess, special war­ niouth bass measuring from 13 to 15 inches. den at Berwick. Creek project, has been undertaken. The Fishing in Pine Creek below Galeton, work has 1 een concentrated on B'g Piney Creek, Blair County, one of the outstanding Ratamess caught two brownies, one 24y2 TO STAGE INTENSIVE DRIVE ON inches in length, the other 17% inches. The trout waters in that section. Stone wall and WATERSNAKES larger trout weighed, dressed, two pounds log deflectors placed at suitable locations are At a recent meeting of the Salisbury- and 12 ounces, and the smaller dressed at expected to be vital aids to trout in the Meyersdale Sportsmen's Association, an ac­ one and three-quarters pounds. stream during the low water periods this tive campaign against the watersnake was The Wapwallopen yielded a creel of 18 summer. While Big Piney has never been planned. It was decided to pay a bounty known to go dry, this improvement work fine trout to Joseph Marsicano. One of his of ten cents for every watersnake killed, ranks as an important Step in the Blair covering the period from June 28 to July catch measured 18 inches and two others County drive for better fishing. each 16 inches in length. Peter Randone of 10, both dates inclusive. Rules regulating Wilkes-Barre creeled 19 big trout from the So much interest has been aroused in this the payment of this bounty required that Lackawaxen in a day's fishing, the smallest enterprise, it has been reported, that a num­ any person making a claim should present measuring 11 inches in length and the ber of new members have joined the Wil­ at least five inches of the tail of a water­ liamsburg sportsmen's association to partici­ largest 19% inches. snake prior to 6 o'clock Tuesday evening, pate in the work. July 10. Big brown trout, when they strike a min­ now, usually settle to the bottom for a short time, somewhat after the fashion of a pick­ BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS erel that has just struck a natural lure. Give them plenty of time before setting the HARRISBURG, PA. hook. SUBSCRIPTION BLANK During at least a week or more in every trout season, grasshoppers and crickets make Enclosed find fifty cents ($.50) for one year's subscription to PENN- excellent bait for trout. The grasshopper, SYLVANIA ANGLER. yellow bodied, is more firm than the cricket, and can be cast and floated much as is a fly. Name . To fish a cricket effectively, float it with the (Print Name) current and don't try casting it too much. Street and Number Don't neglect the reel. A drop or two of oil in the bearings after a hard day astream is often advisable, particularly if it has City fallen into the water. HERE \ THERE

N ANGLERDOM

Ge'orge Cross, special warden at Renovo. five pounds. 14 ounces, and five pounds re­ beads a recent report of trout fishing in his spectively. territory as "The Biggest Catch and the Smallest Catch." The best catch, Cross Two fine brown trout were taken from the said, was made by Tom Hosier, district game Kishacoquillas Creek in Mifiiin county by E. protector in Centre county, who creeled five L. Alexander of Belleville. Each trout brown trout while fly fishing. The smallest weighed three pounds, one measuring 20} brownie taken measured 17 inches, and the inches and the other 19} inches. largest 22| inches. Fishing at the head­ waters of Youngwoman's Creek, Arthur An ardent advocate of conservation, W. Logue, Coudcrsport, Bill Foote. Roulette, and J. Getman, superintendent of the Middleburg Henry Quick, Germania, all with the Game silk mill, has laid down a rule that any Commission, caught five brook trout, and person in his employ guilty of violating the invited Cross to a "trout dinner." The five fish law or the game law will be dismissed trout averaged 6i inches in length. immediately. Warden Charles Long reports that Mr. Getman recently learned of the Perkioinen Creek has yielded some fin' use of a set net by one of his employes. Until catches of toss this season, in spite of the the net was destroyed, he said, the man low water, according to Warden J. Clayton could not come back to work in his mill. Reed of Ambler. Alfred Moor of Center A lo-inch watersnake captured a short time Valley landed a largemouth bass measuring ago by the Middleburg sportsman was found. 20% inches in length and weighing five when opened, to contain a large chub and pounds. W. W. Robinson of Sehwenksville a catfish. caught a big smallmouth bass weighing four pounds. It was 10% inches in length. Both Rock bass and sunnies are the realizatio'n bass were taken from the stream between of more than one boy's fishing dream. Oaks and Green Lane. Leonard Bartilkowsky, of Wilkes-Barre, all of seven years old, caught fifteen big rock Fishing in Kettle Creek during the wan­ bass in the North Branch during a day's ing days of the trout season. Ed Sheesley of ED SHEESLEY. HARRISBURG. fishing. Russ Womelsdorf, warden, tells us Harrisburg caught five brown trout of which DISPLAYS A NICE PICKEREL that Leonard was one happy boy on that any angler might be proud. The largest, 20 FROM THE YELLOW BREECHES eventful da v. inches, weighed Si pounds, and was taken on a minnow. Runnerup was a 16-inch LANDS CARP caught thirty big p:>rch in a day's fishing brownie taken on a locust. Two other trout While fishing at Cook's Deep Hole, be­ in the catch each measured 14 inches, while Two-thirds of the catch measured over a tween Burkett's Bridge and Way Bridge on the fifth measured 13 inches. foot in length and some topped sixteen the Raystown Branch of the Juniata, Wil­ inches. Fourteen big bullhead catfish added liam Foot of Everett, R. D. 2, recently Writing from Twin Lakes, Pike county, variety to the catch. Some exceptionally caught a carp measuring 31% inches in Frank V. Stutsman reports great fishing for large red suckers were also taken this year length and weighing 15 pounds. Harry yellow perch. John Dietrich, A. Lewis Sher­ in the Pike county lakes. The two largest Moore, special warden of Hopewell, reported man and Bernard Brown, all of Reading, weighed by Stutsman tipped the scales at the catch.

TO ALL FISHERMEN Will you kindly answer the following questions and return to PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER, Fish Commis­ sion, Harrisburg, Pa. By filling this out you not only will be helping this Board but you will be supplying statistics which will mean more service and better fishing. WHAT FISHES DO YOU PREFER TO CATCH? l 2 3 WHAT METHOD DO YOU PREFER? Fly DO YOU FISH AT NIGHT?

NUMBER OF FISH CAUGHT 1934? MAIN HATCHERY BUILDING AT TORRESDALE, PHILADELPHIA COUNTY PAUL L. SWANSON R. D. NO.2, Sec. 562, P. L.&R. POLK, PA. U. S. POSTAGE P-A PAID Harrisburg, Pa. Permit No. 270

For Better Fishings Kill the Watersna\e