The Keystone State's Official Fishing and Boating Magazine PROTECT • CONSERVE • ENHANCE , RESOURCE FIRST CONSERVE 2000 The Fish and Boat Commission recently adopted a new strate­ to our resource stewardship activities. The Conserve 2000 pro­ gic plan entitled, "Enhancing Fishing and Boating in Penn­ gram provides this new mechanism. The Commission is op­ sylvania - Strategies for the 21st Century." I hope you took timistic that the program will be well-supported. Clearly, the opportunity to review and comment on the plan in its conservation of the Commonwealth's natural resources is im­ draft form. If you did not, the final printed version will be portant to all Pennsylvanians. As part of the Conserve 2000 available very soon. If you reviewed the plan, you undoubt­ effort, proceeds from sales of voluntary water conservation edly noticed that the cornerstone theme for the Commission stamps and related promotional and commemorative items in the 21st century is resource stewardship. This focus is not will be deposited in a restricted receipt account. These funds new for the Commission. We have long recognized that quality will be used exclusively to support Commission resource stew­ fishing and boating opportunities depend on clean water and ardship activities including watershed protection, manage­ effective conservation of the Commonwealth's aquatic re­ ment, and enhancement efforts. sources. Indeed, conservation has been the hallmark of Com­ The Commission's new strategic plan emphasizes cooperative mission programs since our founding in 1866 to address efforts as a key to achieving the Commission's mission and declining American shad runs in the state's waters. How we legislative mandates. These partnerships are at the core of hope to increase funding for some of those conservation pro­ the Conserve 2000 program. We hope the Conserve 2000 grams will take us into new territory, though. program will energize a new wave of partnerships to enhance Currently, angler and boater dollars are the sole dedicated Pennsylvania's bountiful aquatic resources. The Commission funding source for the Commission's protection and conser­ will be seeking new partnerships with conservation-minded vation responsibilities. As you most likely know by now, the clubs, schools, and any other entities interested in selling the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission receives no General voluntary water conservation stamps as a fund-raising tool. Fund tax dollars, but instead relies primarily on income gen­ We will also seek partnerships to maximize the effect of wa­ erated from the sale of fishing licenses and boat registrations. tershed projects funded by the Conserve 2000 program. Clearly, This revenue provides for water quality protection, manage­ this new program will serve internally to focus staff efforts ment of Pennsylvania's fisheries, and conservation of the fish, on partnerships and the Commission's watershed protection, aquatic insects, reptiles, and amphibians that call our waters management, and enhancement efforts. home. Angler and boater dollars also contribute to ensur­ I think you will agree that the Conserve 2000 logo, which ing public access for the enjoyment of the state's many wa­ appears on this page, shows the Commission's resource con­ ters and the wildlife found there. Yet, many more servation focus in a modern and forward-looking manner. We Pennsylvanians who do not fish or boat benefit from and enjoy will feature this logo and the Conserve 2000 theme on all the state's waterways and aquatic wildlife. Commission displays and programs from January 1999 through Fortunately, these people, including your friends and neigh­ December 2000. The logo is also featured on Conserve 2000 bors, have expressed an interest in contributing to programs merchandise, which includes a pewter stocking truck, two types that support clean water and habitat conservation. A 1995 of knives, mugs, a letter opener, pin, watch, and wearing ap­ survey of all Pennsylvania citizens (not just sportsmen) in­ parel (see pages 41-42 in this issue). Sales of these items will dicated that over SO percent of persons in the state support support the program directly by returning a commission and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's water protection providing another source of exposure for the program. and conservation efforts. Of these people, a large number You'll be hearing a lot more about Conserve 2000 in the expressed a willingness to contribute to Commission programs months ahead. When you do, I hope that you'll take pride by purchasing a voluntary waterways/watersheds conserva­ in knowing that anglers and boaters have been long-time sup­ tion stamp or decal. porters of clean water and aquatic habitat. I encourage you This year, the Commission is introducing a program that to continue taking the lead by investing in Conserve 2000 and creates a new mechanism enabling these conservation-minded inspiring others to do so. individuals to partner with the Commission and contribute CONSERVE Peter A. Colangelo Executive Director Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission I'ROIRT PENNSYLVANIA'S WATERS Pennsylvania An§er& Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime January/February 1999 Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission Volume 68/Number 1 Enoch S. "Inky" Moore, Jr. President Newville Donald K. Anderson Vice President Meyersdale Samuel M. Concilia North East The Keystone State's Official Fishing and Boating Magazine Ross J. Huhn Saltsburg Ted R. Keir Athens Donald N. Lacy Protect • Conserve • Enhance by Peter A. Colangelo 2 Reading Mail 4 Paul J. Mahon Clarks Green Top Fishing Prospects for 1999 by Mike Bleecb 6 Howard E. Pflugfelder New Cumberland Nockamixon: Best It's Ever Been by Vic Attardo 10 Leon Reed Progress with Paddlefish Restoration by Dudley Parr 13 Honesdale William J. Sabatose Reclaiming Schuylkill County Streams by Robert L. Petri 17 Brockport Modern Walleye Patterns byJeffKnapp 20 Boating Advisory Board Steven M. Ketterer SMART Angler's Notebook by Carl Richardson 23 Chairman Harrisburg Which Fly Should I Use Today? by Charles R Meek 24 Richard W. Czop All About Gasoline by Alex Zidockjr. 28 Collegeville G. Edwin Matheny "Fishing & Boating Memories Last a Lifetime" Contest Greensburg Gary Miles Winning Entries 30 North East Casting Lines with Dave Wolf. 32 Thaddeus Piotrowski Bloomsburg Winter PLAY Newsletter 33 Ex Officio Members: Conserve 2000 Promotional Items 41 Peter A. Colangelo, Executive Director; John F. Simmons, Director, "The Day I Didn't Catch a Shad" by Terry Brady 43 Bureau of Boating and Education; Outboard Engine Maintenance by John P. Kaufman 44 Gary Smith, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources The Black Ghost by Chauncy K. Lively 46 Magazine Staff Cast & Caught 48 Editor—Art Michaels Art Director-Ted Walke Aquatic Insects 49 Circulation—Eleanor Mutch Circulation—Sandy Patrick Trials and Tribulations of a Rookie by WCOR. Vance Dunbar S3 Regular Contributors Notes from the Streams 55 Vic Attardo Charles R. Meek Karl Blankenship Robert L. Petri Seeing Spots: The Northern Leopard Frog by Andrew L. Shiels 58 Mike Bleech Mike Sajna Currents 62 Terry Brady Linda Steiner Seth Cassell Dave Wolf Fishin' from the Kitchen by Wayne Phillips 62 Cliffjacobson Walt Young Angler's Notebook by Seth Cassell 63 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater (ISSN 1093-0574) is published bimonthly by the Pennsylvania l;ish & Boat Commission, 3532 Walnut Street, Harrisburg, pA 17109. ©1999PAFish6:BoatCommission. Nothing in this magazine may be reprinted without the written permission of the PA Fish & Boat Commission. Subscription rates: oneyear, S9; three years, S25; single copies areS3.00each. Periodicals postage is paid at Harrisburg, PA. POSTMASTER; The cover Send address changes to: I'eimiylvatiiaAnglererfoaterCirriilaaon, Pennsylvania Steve Kepler takes a pH measurement in Centre Fish & Boat Commission, P.O. Box 67000, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000. For subscription and change of address, use above addtess. Please allow six weeks County's Lick Run. Kepler is a Fisheries Biologist for processing. Send all other correspondence to: The Editor, Pennsylvania in the Commission Division of Environmental Ser­ Ane/erOBOB,er,P.O.Box67000,Harrisburg,PA 17106-7000. Editona] queries and contributions are welcome, hut must be accompanied by self-addressed, vices. Taking measurements like these is a small part stamped envelopes. Material accepted forpublication is subject to Pennsylvania of the effort to stop the acid mine drainage that taints isn & BoatC.ommission standards and requirements for ediringand revising. • ubmissions arc handled carefully,butthe publishetassumes no responsibility some Pennsylvania streams. Please turn to page 17 for the return or safety of submissions in his possession or in transit. The to read about the successes in combating acid mine uthors' views, ideas and advice expressed in this magazine do not necessarily "flea rhe opinion or official position of the Pennsylwmia Fish & Boat Commission drainage in Schuylkill County. Cover photo by Art its staff. The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission receives federal aid Michaels. m sport fish restoration. Under appropriate federal acts, the U. S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national Note: Your March/April 1999 issue will arrive a °ngin, age, sex or handicap. If you believe that you have been discriminated little late so that we can include in that issue the 1999 in any program, activity, or facility as described above, or if you desire more information,