(T Pennsylvania Aueu8t 1986/80* ANGLER ^ The Keystone State's Official Fishing Magazine JSJ, m- m ' m: '#• je ft. > - r*--*-« Service, and the Susquehanna River This is over double the amount of Basin Commission filed some minor fish that have been moved upstream exceptions to the decision, which are above Conowingo since 1972. It is Straight more editorial than substance, we quite probable that many of these are could live with that decision just as it the result of eggs hatched and reared is. The next question was whether the several years ago at our Van Dyke Talk Philadelphia Electric Company and its facility above Thompsontown. During subsidiaries would file exceptions, 1981-1983, we stocked over 11 million which could take up to two years of shad fry and 163,000 fingerlings in the what might also be called appeals. Juniata River. We urged the president of the Just as we predicted—it is working. SHAD RESTORATION Philadelphia Electric Company not to To extrapolate these figures, the file exceptions or appeal—it is not in Maryland Department of Natural MILESTONE their interests, and we asked their Resources estimates that over 21,000 management to cooperate in the fish were in the lower sections of the On March 19, 1986, FERC immediate implementation of this river in 1986, compared to an average Administrative Law Judge David initial judge's decision so that the of only 7,000 shad during 1981 Harfeld ordered, in an initial decision, demonstration can now go forward. through 1985. Richard St. Pierre of that the operators of the Conowingo However, PECO went ahead and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Dam on the Susquehanna River argued that fishlift improvement and coordinator of the Susquehanna River participate in a program to expansion is premature and wasteful. Anadromous Fish Restoration demonstrate the feasibility of restoring Shad moved into the tailrace at Committee, attributes the success to alosids to the Susquehanna River and Conowingo during this year's early natural reproduction of transplanted its drainage. This involves the spring warm spell, and about 2,200 adults and fry stocked from the Van construction of a new fish lift on the were moved upstream—above all four Dyke Hatchery in 1982 and 1983. east side of the powerhouse, dams. Considering that more shad The Pennsylvania Power and Light improvements to the west bank fish were attracted to Conowingo Dam Company, Safe Harbor Water Power lift, and trapping and trucking of all than ever before, this is really a Corporation, and the York Haven adult shad captured at the expanded milestone. Since 1972, the trap catch Power Company all signed an and improved Conowingo facilities. of adult shad has been averaging only agreement of settlement with the This decision was an absolute major about 385 fish per year. license intervenors in December of breakthrough in the efforts to restore that fishery of shad and river herring With a change in water 1984, and have been cooperating in to the Susquehanna River. Although temperatures, a second run came into egg collecting, adult transport from the Pennsylvania Fish Commission, the tailrace at Conowingo beginning other rivers, and in the expansion of Maryland Department of Natural on May 29, and it's fortunate that hatching and rearing facilities. The Resources, U.S. Fish & Wildlife these were not spent shad, but still in Van Dyke facility is almost doubled in pre-spawn condition. Before the run size, and the cooperation from the ended, about 5,200 shad were taken at three upstream utilities has been Conowingo, with 4,265 of them outstanding. hauled upstream above the dams. We have to remind anglers that Twenty-six radio transmitters were there is a moratorium on shad fishing implanted in the Conowingo fish in the Susquehanna and its tributaries, stocked at Harrisburg, and except for and that creeling shad there is illegal. the first batch released in early April, But isn't it a great feeling that most of these fish began migrating American shad are swimming again in upstream or spent considerable time the waters of the Susquehanna and its in the release area. tributaries, thanks to the persistence One fish traveled up to the Beach over 100 years of the Pennsylvania Haven/Shickshinny area; several Fish Commission and its allies? There reached Sunbury, Selinsgrove, have been many frustrations and Halifax, and Dauphin; several moved "courtroom" battles. Yet, the about the Harrisburg area from the American shad is coming home and Dock Street Dam to the 1-81 bridge we think that this year's record-setting crossing; and at least five fish were figures are a good indication that it located in the Juniata River. These will not be long before shad are five covered a 50-mile reach from the abundant in the Susquehanna once mouth of the Juniata to Lewistown. again. Ralph W. Abele Executive Director Pennsylvania Fish Commission ^^j^ad.Qu^ Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Fish Commission Theodore T. Metzger, Jr. President ANGLER Johnstown August 1986 Vol 55No. 8 Joan R. Plumly Vice President Controlling the Sea Lamprey by Robert M. Lorantas Jenkintown The Fish Commission, other state agencies, the Marilyn A. Black federal government, and Canadian authorities are joining Meadville forces to beat back this threat to Lake Erie 4 David Coe State College Some Thoughts About Pluggin' by Jim Yoder Mark Faulkner Plugs and pluggin' have a rich history, and through the years Boalsburg anglers have been most finicky about how they use their plugs 6 Leonard A. Green Carlisle File a Float Plan by Pete Grossetti Ross J. Huhn A float plan is a vital part of your fishing trip 9 Saltsburg Calvin J. Kern Fly Fishing During the Dog Days by Jeff Mulhollem Whitehall Add this information to your vest, score better on the stream 10 Leon Reed Honesdale Crayfish Imitations and Smallmouth Bass Action by Bob Clouser J. Wayne Yorks Smallmouth bass action with these unique offerings can be terrific.. 12 Benton County Features — Wyoming County by Steve Shabbick, Boating Advisory Board Clinton County by Jay B. Johnston, and Jefferson County by Porter Duvali 14 Helen B. Lange Chairwoman Modify Your Trailer into a Drive-on by Darl Black Sharpsville These trailer changes can turn your rig into an efficient, Clayton Buchanan hassle-free unit 20 Pittsburgh Leroy Guccini Finding Your Own Faraway Place May Be Easier Greentown than You Think by Bob Wilberding Edward J. Rogowski This advice comes from a guy who's surveyed hundreds of Holland miles of Pennsylvania trout streams 24 Staff Pennsylvania's Biggest Bucketmouths: Where, When, EDITOR/Art Michaels and How Anglers Catch Them by Art Michaels GRAPHICS/Ted Walke Want to land Pennsylvania's largest largemouths? These PHOTOGRAPHER/Russ Gettig specifics can point the way , 26 CIRCULATION/Eleanor Mutch STAFF ASSISTANT/Jayne Povleski Pennsylvania Angler is published monthly by the Straight Talk 2 Pennsylvania Fish Commission, 3532 Walnut Street, Harrisburg, PA 17109. ©1986. Sub­ Anglers Currents 28 scription rates: one year, $6; three years, $16; Mail 28 single copies are 80 cents each. Second class post­ age is paid at Harrisburg, PA. POSTMASTER: Anglers Notebook 30 Send address changes to: Angler Circulation, The Law and You 31 Pennsylvania Fish Commission, P.O. B6x 1673, Harrisburg, PA 17105-1673. For subscription and change of address, use address above. Send all other correspondence to: The Editor, Penn­ The covers sylvania Angler, P.O. Box 1673, Harrisburg, PA 17105-1673. Editorial contributions are wel­ This month's front cover, photographed by Angler editor Art Michaels, comed, but must be accompanied by a self- is a downstream view from the boat launch ramp at the Commission's addressed, stamped envelope. Submissions are Fort Hunter Access, just north of Harrisburg. The fisherman in the handled with care, but the publisher assumes no picture is going for catfish, carp, and smallmouth bass, which provide responsibility for the return or safety of submis­ sions in his possession or in transit. The authors' good action in this spot for shore fishermen and boating anglers. views, ideas, and advice expressed in this maga­ This month's back cover, also captured on film by Art Michaels, is an zine do not necessarily reflect the opinion or offi­ upstream view of a lucky angler netting a nice one on the Delaware River cial position of the Pennsylvania Fish Commis­ about four or five miles north of Stroudsburg. Along these lines, there's sion or its staff. useful information for boating anglers on page 9 of this issue. Controlling the ea Lamprey by Robert M. Lorantas an abundance of prey species in the he sea lamprey is a parasitic colonized Lake Huron, Lake form of lake trout, Pacific salmon, anadromous fish that gained Michigan, Lake Superior, and Lake and steelhead trout have lead to the Taccess to the Great Lakes above Erie. Lake trout populations in lakes identification of readily perceptible Niagara Falls after construction of the Huron and Michigan, although impacts of sea lamprey in recent years. Welland Ship Canal in 1829. The stressed by overexploitation, were These impacts were evidenced by the canal linked oceanic and Great Lakes virtually eliminated by 1950 due to sea presence of fewer older and larger lake shipping routes by circumventing lamprey predation. trout in assessment surveys, with a Niagara Falls, and coincidentally In Lake Erie, lake trout populations relatively high percentage of these provided the sea lamprey with access were already at low levels by the early trout (20 to 30 percent) bearing sea to the four Great Lakes above the 1900s due to habitat deterioration and lamprey wounds. With the upper falls. overexploitation, so the impact of the lakes sustaining the earliest and most The first sea lamprey observed sea lamprey was largely imperceptible.