ANNUAL BASS NUMBER JUNE ,1941 TEN CENTS & ***2N/ OFFICIAL STATE VOL. 10—NO. 6 PUBLICATION ^ANGLER* JUNE, 1941 _y ARTHUR H. JAMES PUBLISHED MONTHLY GOVERNOR by the COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA PENNSYLVANIA BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS Publication Office: Telegraph Press, Cameron & Kclker Streets, Harrisburg, Pa. Executive and Editorial Offices: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Board of Fish Commis­ sioners, Harrisburg, Pa. CHARLES A. FRENCH Commissioner of Fisheries Ten cents a copy—50 cents a year MEMBERS OF BOARD • CHARLES A. FRENCH, Chairman ALEX P. SWEIGART, Editor EUwood City MILTON L. PEEK South Office Bldg.. Harrisburg, Pa. Radnor HARRY E. WEBER Philipsburg NOTE Subscriptions to the PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER EDGAR W. NICHOLSON should be addressed to the Editor. Submit fee either Philadelphia by check or money order payable to the Common­ J. FRED MCKEAN wealth of Pennsylvania. Stamps not acceptable. New Kensington Individuals sending cash do so at their own risk JOHN L. NEIGER Scranton PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER welcomes contribu­ JOSEPH M. CRITCHFIELD tions and photos of catches from its readers. Proper Confluence credit will be given to contributors. CLIFFORD J. WELSH AH contributions returned if accompanied by first Eric £lass postage. H. R. STACKHOUSE Secretary to Board Entered as Second Class matter at the Post Office of Harrisburg, Pa. under act of March 3, 18T3. C. R. BULLER Chief Fish Culturist, Belief onte /(S& IMPORTANT—The Editor should be notified immediately of change in subscriber's address Please give old and new addresses Permission to reprint will be granted provided proper credit notice is given Vol. 10. No. 6 ^ANGLER^^J^J VLCIV / JUNE, 1941 EDITORIAL The serious lack of Spring rainfall plus mid-June weather in April has served to bring about a rather serious situation. Streams which should be running full are really nearer the low levels of the August season and the watersnake is swiftly becoming a menace to the trout fishermen. Ordinarily, April is a month of colder days and heavy rainfall and the watersnake is more sluggish as he returns from his state of Winter hiber­ nation. Not so true this year, with an extremely premature season the predator of our streams came back into circulation too soon for comfort and his active presence is of much concern to the fisherman. If unmolested, the watersnake assisted by present low water levels, will cut deep into the supply of fish life. Capable of remaining under water for long periods, many are the numbers of fine trout which fall prey to his vicious jaws. A quick grab and the snake returns to the shore with the struggling trout where he finally devours it. Most welcome are the fine reports coming to the Board. Reports which recite of organized campaigns to exterminate this marauder. Some of the clubs, I understand, have enlisted the help of Boy Scout Troops and are really and truly doing a fine job. The watersnake must be checked. Heavy stocked streams providing a plentiful supply of food certainly serves to multiply snakes in large numbers. Boy Scouts and others cooperating with sportsmen and sportsmen's groups can certainly accomplish much in preserving our fish life if they will con­ tinue to stamp this nuisance from our streams. Commissioner of Fisheries 2 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER JUN* BASSING WITH THE FLY ROD By WILLIAM R. WALTON the limitations surrounding the average angler The mad black bass is just an ass; in this country, among which group I con­ He'll bite at brass, his wit is crass. sider myself. I work at a desk too darn much As game he's class, we'll let that pass. of the time, and the rest of us do likewise at But, is he smart?—That's apple sass. some kind of a job. Unlike the professional, Walton (not Izaak) we do not fish continually, day upon day, and for this reason our tackle including rods is HEN is a bass not a bass? The answer seldom put to the severe test imposed by con­ W is, when he is a sunfish because that stant use. really is what our black basses are—just Now, what I am driving at is this, some overgrown sunfish. However, folks insist on professionals in discussing rod requirements calling them bass and maybe that is what leave their readers with the impression that makes the fish crazy? Well, anyhow if they the possession of an expensive fly rod is ab­ ain't crazy, what makes them strike at the solutely essential to good, practical fly cast­ outre monstrosities thrown continually at ing which is all just so much h-o-o-e-y. The them by fishermen? Just you answer me that truth is that some low priced, modern, ma­ if you can. chine-made rods approximate closely in dur­ A kid whom I knew, went bathing au ability and action many of the most expensive naturel, in a back channel of Plummer's Is­ rods made. The differences are chiefly in the land in the Potomac, one hot July day, when finish, ferrules and other things although darned if a nutty bass did not swim up and better wood and balance should be found in bit him on the—Ouch! it hurt, and bathing the more expensive rods. was all finished for that day. Now, this is For example, in my own collection of a a gospel true tale and is related as proof posi­ dozen or more rods, (among which is a beau­ The black bass is a savage guy. tive that the black bass is afflicted with de­ tiful old Orvis stick which I rescued, years He'll steal your bait before your eye; mentia whatchamacallit. But every so often agone, from the irreverent hands of a Wash­ the bass have lucid intervals and then you He dines of birds, or boys, or frogs, ington, D. C, pawnbroker) I have a six ounce might as well do a Simple Simon in your And lurks behind great rocks .and logsf rod that cost new, some 8 years ago, less than wife's washtub or washing machine. To gulp what e 'er his jaws will pass; ten bucks. This rod has cast flies, bugs, spin­ Oh! Do beware the bad black bass! You know, fishing just comes natural to ners, small spoons (and sometimes big ones) some folks, it's like playing the fiddle. Some and I have landed many good heavy fish on play the fiddle entrancingly; others play it not it. Nevertheless, it is still straight and supple Now, by all this I do not mean to ii»P~ so entrancingly. Yet others, who think they as ever, and its ferrules are firm as when new. that a fine, high priced rod is not a desira* , play it well—but why drag unpleasantness This cheap rod has serrated nickel silver possession, but my argument is in favor into a pleasant subject? Then there are some ferrules as in Fig. 2, a feature supposedly found the fellow who cannot afford it—to insist tH folks who could not learn to play Yankee only in more expensive rods. It is possible good fly casting and satisfactory service I*1 Doodle to save themselves from a Nazi con­ of course, that in this case I may have been be had with a low priced rod bought fro"1 centration camp. Now, I claim angling is fortunate in getting an unusually good piece reliable dealer. One does not have to h? , something like that, one's natural aptitude, of wood, but this rod was purchased from a millionaire or plutocrat to enjoy fly fish1.. plus practice, determines his proficiency in dealer whose reputation for furnishing ex­ especially if he ties his own flies—but that the sport. But this fact should not deter any­ traordinary values is well known to his cus­ another story. I one from essaying the fly rod for bass be­ tomers, and I should be glad to give his name Fly rod lures—look at current sporting "jj cause he may be among the lucky few who to any interested brother of the angle. other magazines to be convinced that there ^ can become a virtuoso of the rod. The question of ferrules for a fly rod is an not a fish that swims which has as great* My personal addiction to the fly rod dates important one because these should fit both variety of weird lures tossed at it as the b*a back many years and may be due to the the rod and each other perfectly. Now, it has bass. Flies great and small, spinners, sp°° e liking for the delicate and artistic things of been argued by experts that only hand-made bugs and plugs, of all sizes and sorts, in 1° ,j life. That whippy old stick in my opinion has ferrules (Fig. 4), can be made to fit each colors than ever disported in any celes, < them all faded to a pale pink, and I don't mean other perfectly, but the truth is that modern rainbow. However, there are certain old, t* . maybe. I used to prefer it to fish bait, even machine-made ferules are as near perfect in and accepted patterns of conventional *r,t e for catfish, and I still do. fit as can be desired. The hand-made, or more that constantly inhabit the fly boxes of .e Not to cast any aspersions on the casting expensive, rod is fitted with female ferrules perienced bass anglers Among these are , or bait rod. It is a wonderful tool in the which have hand swaged rims or lips, as in following: Colonel Fuller, (Fig.