May 1993/$ 1.50 Pennsylvania *.f** -*«:, _ •/J0 4£ 4r <%3r | *<#'*• feffe :•:, \'i Fishing is Big in Pennsylvania Preliminary findings of the 1991 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife Associated Recreation were recently released by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Unfortunately, these findings have caused some confusion as people attempted to compare these results with those of previous surveys. A major part of the 1991 survey was done with a different methodology, thereby making detailed comparisons with earlier survey results inaccurate. The 1991 survey, which was done by the U. S. Census Bureau, contacted respondents every four months, but previous surveys were done at the end of 12-month periods. Recent research has revealed that people were over­ stating their participation and expenditures when asked to recall over a 12- month period. Therefore, indications are that the 1991 survey results are more accurate than earlier efforts. There continued to be a need, however, for comparative trend information. Program managers need recreational participation and spending trend data because it is an important ingredient of program planning. To meet this need, the Service determined that the methodology for com­ paring preliminary screening data was consistent with earlier results, and therefore the screening data could be used to determine trends in fishing and wildlife recreation. Interpretation of the screening data provides the following trends for na­ tionwide fishing activity during the 1980-1990 decade: • The number of anglers rose 20 percent over the decade while the num­ ber of hunters was essentially stable. • Spending on fishing rose 56 percent during the 1980s. • Overall there was a 15 percent increase in the number of days spent fishing. In addition, the survey revealed that from 1985 to 1990, there was an 11 percent increase in the number of anglers and a 27 percent increase in fish­ ing expenditures, even though anglers spent about the same number of days fishing. These trends closely parallel Pennsylvania's experiences. Increased fish­ ing participation has been apparent to all sportsmen this past decade. Although resident license sales have increased only about 3.5 percent, the number of non-resident licensed fishermen has increased nearly 50 percent. A great number of senior fishermen have purchased lifetime licenses, which has slowed the Edward R. Miller, P.E. rate of annual resident license sales. There are also indications that Pennsyl­ Executive Director vania fishermen are spending more time and money pursuing their sport, with Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission the resultant favorable effect on Pennsylvania's economy. The 1991 survey estimates that nearly 1.4 million adult Pennsylvania anglers participated in 1991 while spending nearly $678 million. Fishing continues to be big in Pennsylvania. 2 May 1993 Pennsylvania Angler M im VoL 62 No 5 Pennsylvania Pennsylvania *y - Fish & Boat Commission J. Wayne Yorks President ANGLER Benton The Keystone State s Official fishing Magazine ^^ James S. Biery, Jr. Vice President Swatara The Poconos' Fish for All Seasons by Tom Fegely Marilyn A. Black Pickerel can be caught throughout the year, but during the first few Cochranton weeks of the May season, that activity peaks. And the Poconos have Ross J. Huhn always been the stronghold for pickerel action 4 Saltsburg Donald N. Lacy Reading Northeast Pennsylvania Walleyes by Jeff Knapp Paul J. Mahon In northeast Pennsylvania you can find some of the state's better walleye Clarks Green waters, particularly in terms of producing big walleyes 8 T. T. Metzger, Jr. Johnstown Howard E. Pflugfelder My 80 Best Trout Outings by Mark A. Nale New Cumberland An avid trout angler analyzes his very best trout fishing trips, and the Leon Reed results might surprise you 12 Honesdale William J. Sabatose Brockport Conneaut Lake's Big Fish by Darl Black Conneaut Lake, Crawford County, supports one of Pennsylvania's best Boating Advisory Board warmwater fisheries. Use this information to score on Conneaut like Donald J. Little a pro 16 Chairman Philadelphia Headwaters Fly-Fishing School by Mike Bleech Clayton Buchanan Pittsburgh Check out the details in this advanced course on fly-fishing freestone Martin P. Eisert headwater trout streams 21 Erie Judy Obert The Magnificent Seven by JeffMulhollem Greentown There's no magic, rocket science or voodoo here—just seven nymphs Thaddeus Piotrowski Bloomsburg that work best in Pennsylvania and how to fish them 24 Magazine Staff Seeing Double by Charles R. Meek Editor—Art Michaels When different kinds of insects hatch on a stream all at once, which Editorial Assistant—Charlene Glisan one do you imitate to catch trout? Where in Pennsylvania can you Art Director—Ted Walke experience multiple hatches? 27 Circulation—Eleanor Mutch Circulation—Patti Copp On the Water with Dave Wolf Pushing it to the limit Staff Assistant—Rose Ann Bartal 31 Staff Assistant—Nita Lynch Many Trout, Few Anglers by Tom Greene Regular Contributors In May and June, the crowds of trout anglers have dispersed, leaving Darl Black many streams with plenty of trout and few anglers. Here are 46 terrific Mike Bleech spots across Pennsylvania .32 Tom Fegely Jeff Knapp The cover Pennsylvania Angler (1SSN0Q31-434X) is published monthly by the Pennsylvania This issue's front-cover crappie was photographed by Wally Eberhart. All of us anglers would Fish & Boat Commission. 3532 Walnut Street, Harrisburg, PA 17109. ©1993. Nothing in this magazine may be reprinted without the written permission of the like to score as this issue's cover suggests.But sometimes becoming a better fisherman requires Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. Subseription rates: one year, $9; thtee momentarily stepping back from the stream bank and studying one's fishing. At what time of years. $25: single copies are $1.50 each. Second class postage is paid at Harrisburg, PA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Pennsylvania Angler Ckcuhwn. day do you catch the most fish? Which month is your best angling month? What is the water Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. P.O. Box 67000. Harrisburg, PA 17106- temperature when you catch the most? Trout fisherman Mark A. Nale examines his 80 best 7000. For subscription and change of address, use above address. Please allow six weeks for processing. Send all olhet correspondence to: The Editor. Pennsylvania trout outings exactly this way, and the results, which begin on page 12, can help you score more. Angler. P.O. Bos 67000. Harrisburg, PA 17106-7(100. Editorial queries and contributions The results also show you how to survey your own success. In the article on page 21, author arc welcome, but must be accompanied by self-addressed, stamped envelopes. Material accepted for publication is subject to Pennsylvania 1-isli & Boat Commission standards Mike Bleech guides us through the specifics of how to fish freestone headwater trout streams, and requirements for editing and revising. Submissions are handled carefully, but and on page 24, Jeff Mulhollem makes a strong case for the seven nymph patterns than can lite publisher assumes no responsibility for the return or safely of submissions in his possession or in transit The authors' views, ideas and advice expressed in this handle all of our state's nymph-fishing possibilities—and how to fish them. Warmwater op­ magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinion or official position of the Pennsylvania portunities abound this month, too. Tom Fegely reveals the best Pocono pickerel places on Fish & Boat Commission or lis staff. The Pennsylvania Fish & Boal Commission receives federal aid in sport fish restoration. Under appropriate federal acls, the U. page 4, and Jeff Knapp points out northeast Pennsylvania's best walleye spots. Anglers in western S. Department of the interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, Pennsylvania will want to check out Darl Black's article on Conneaut Lake, on page 16. national origin, age. sex or handicap. If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility as described above, or if you desire more information, please write to: The Office of Equal Opportunity, Department of tire Interior. Washington, DC 20240, May 1993 Pennsylvania Angler The Poconos' Fish for All Seasons by Tom Fegely Of a hundred or so fishing books in my library, none features I've never caught them on cane poles, but maybe one of these the pickerel. Authors have penned works on bass, trout, pike, days I'll give it a try. Sounds like fun. salmon, catfish, panfish and stripers—even caip. But the lowly The first pickerel I ever saw came thrashing to the side of chainside—the Rodney Dangerfield of the fish world—gets little the canoe back in the early 1950s during a family vacation at respect. Promised Land State Park in Pike County. I had no idea what Bass fishermen who hook "hammer-handles," the nickname it was, and when the old-timers manning the canoe rental told for the skinny, sub-size fish, curse them. But many anglers cast me it was a "snake," I became even more confused. specifically for pickerel, enjoying the steady action they pro­ Later that day, as I proudly paraded my 20-inch "snake" around vide throughout the four seasons. the neighborhood, another angler told me it was a chain pick­ You won't come across many pickerel specialists. Afew senior- erel—not a species that lived in the streams and farm ponds citizen friends like to spin tales of the early days of pickerel near my Lehigh County home. fishing on Pecks Pond, still a popular vacation spot for folks The last pickerel to test my line was caught last February— in neighboring New York and New Jersey and south through through the ice on Shohola Lake, another Pocono Mountain the Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia.