^fammammmtmmi^immmtmiB^mmm^m^m:^ .• Pennsylvania April 1994/$1.50 1994 Pennsylvania Trout/Salmon Stamp Artwork Shwgkt&alk Working Together to Focus on the Future This past January, sportsmen and conservationists representing the angling and boat­ ing public met as a "Roundtable for Pennsylvania Sportsmen" and discussed the fu­ ture direction of your Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Seventy-two guests with diversified backgrounds from 25 counties shared their views and expertise with 42 staff members. Four important issues were considered. Participants focused on their ideas on how the Commission and the public should work together to: 1) pro­ vide boating opportunities, 2) provide fishing opportunities, 3) protect and manage aquatic resources, and 4) identify ways to obtain public input into the Commission's planning efforts. For an entire afternoon a friendly but inquisitive dialogue addressed the Commission's future direction. At times discussions became heated, but a sincere attitude of "how we can do things better" prevailed. As the session progressed, it became obvious that the Commission needs to continue to reach out to the non-traditional public to obtain a broader perspective and develop a closer working relationship in providing service to the public. Overall feedback from the participants was positive and included spe­ cific suggestions for consideration in future gatherings of this kind. Suggestions for providing boating opportunities concentrated on three general ar­ eas. One area frequently cited was to improve and upgrade boat launch, parking and mooring sites. Quality of a particular access site was more important than quantity of accesses. Establishing priorities of work and allocation of resources was considered essential in developing new and repairing old accesses. The idea of entering into co­ operative partnership agreements with private and public landowners was emphasized. A second area cited was establishing more effective communications and providing timely information about boating opportunities. Many comments focused on regional dissemination of news and publicizing opportunities. The last area of importance was the need to increase the number of boater education courses, coupled with the thought of making operator education and licensing mandatory. Fishing opportunity suggestions ranged from more aggressive fisheries management, especially in warmwater and coolwater resource areas, to expanding opportunities through various regulation changes and incorporating new initiatives. Additional suggestions included more outreach efforts and partnerships to offer fishing and environmental education programs and expand general awareness of what is currently available. Closer and more supportive efforts of the cooperative nursery program were also cited. Resource protection and management suggestions focused on expanding the Commission's involvement with local governments, and private and public interest groups. Sugges­ tions included involving a larger variety of people in management, education, protec­ tion and improvement of aquatic resources. Water quality and quantity was addressed as a concern. The Commission needs to involve a larger group of citizens in promot­ ing its motto of "Resource First—Protect, Conserve and Enhance." A greater Com­ mission commitment to hold meaningful public involvement sessions throughout the Commonwealth and to be more active in surveying user needs is a means to do so. Lastly, suggestions regarding public involvement and input into the agency's com­ Lawrence W. Hoffman prehensive planning effort resulted in a desire to hold regional meetings, workshops Acting Executive Director and information sessions and conducting public surveys to address future efforts. Emphasis Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission was placed on the use of multi-media to get the word out to the public. Regional dis­ semination of information was highly supported. Considering all these ideas, the question is, where do we go from here? The Com­ mission is totally aware and dedicated to the idea that public input and involvement is instrumental in successfully establishing the future direction of the agency. Therefore, consideration is under way to conduct regional meetings to receive additional public input regarding the Commission's future direction. Announcements concerning loca­ tions and dates of these gatherings will be forthcoming. Your participation in this most worthwhile venture is encouraged and needed. April 1994 Pennsylvania Angler April 1994 Vol. 63 No. 4 Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission Pennsylvania James S. Biery, Jr. President Swatara Paul J. Mahon ANGLER Vice President J7ie Keystone State's Official fishing Magazine ^^ Clarks Green Samuel M. Concilia Tactics for Opening Day by Charles R. Meek North East Ross J. Huhn High water, low water, warm weather, frigid temperatures-what will Saltsburg opening day be like? Be ready for anything by following the author's fly Donald N. Lacy fishing advice 4 Reading T. T. Metzger, Jr. Opening Day Gems by Robert L. Petri Johnstown Howard E. Pflugfelder Even though you might have a special fishing spot picked out for New Cumberland opening day, do you wonder if the fishing might be even better over Leon Reed the next hill or in the next valley? Check out the author's Honesdale region-by-region suggestions for opening day 7 William J. Sabatose Brockport J. Wayne Yorks On the Water with Charles F. Waterman Benton Special flies 11 Boating Advisory Board Another Look at Damselfly Nymphs by Chauncy K. Lively Donald J. Little The trout's aquatic pantry is full of these insects. Tie some up, work Chairman the water with them, catch more fish 12 Philadelphia Clayton Buchanan Pittsburgh Pine Creek by Seth P. Cassell Gary Miles Northcentral Pennsylvania's Pine Creek is one of our best trout streams, North East all season long. Of its 86 miles, some 50 miles are stocked. The author Thaddeus Piotrowski Bloomsburg explains exactly where to fish and how to score 14 Vincent P. Riggi Clarks Summit If I Had Only One Fly by Jeff Bryan Consider the Woolly Bugger-easy to tie, easy to fish, and at the top of Magazine Staff most Pennsylvania anglers' fly boxes. Check out how to fine-tune Editor—Art Michaels your tactics with this amazing fly 18 Editorial Assistant—Charlene Seifert Art Director—Ted Walke Lake Arthur's Bass Double-Header by Darl Black • Circulation—Eleanor Mutch The angling success story at this Butler County waterway is the duet Circulation—Patti Copp of black bass and striped bass 21 • Staff Assistant—Rose Ann Bartal SMART Angler's Notebook by Carl Richardson Staff Assistant—Nita Lynch Care of the Catch: Trout for the Skillet 31 Regular contributors Darl Black This issue's front cover shows Pennsylvania's 1994 trout/salmon stamp, Mike Bleech painted by Pennsylvania artist Robert Clement Kray. JeffKnapp Charles R. Meek Pennsylvania Aneler (ISSN0031 -4.14X I is published monthly by the Pennsylvania A little goes a long way Fish & Boai Commission. 3532 Walnut Street, Hanisburg, PA 17109. ©1994. Do you think that raising children these days is tougher for you than it was for your parents or grandparents? Nothing in this magazine may be reprinted without the written permission of the I recently talked with parents who are frustrated and angry because they believe that the values they Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. Subscription rales: one year. $9; three years. $25; single ettpies are $1.50each. Second class postage is paid at Harrisburg. are trying to teach their children are increasingly more difficult to reinforce. PA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Pennsylvania Angler Circulation, On the other hand, I've received letters from Angler readers and I've talked to anglers who say Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, P.O. Box 67000, Harrisburg. PA 17106- 70O0. For subscription and change of address, use above address. Please allow six things like, "my son and I enjoy fishing and your magazine," or "our whole family loves to fish and weeks for processing. Send all other correspondence to: The Editor, Pennsylvania read the Angler," or "the kids enjoy fishing and the Angler as much as I do." Angler, P.O. Box 67000, Harrisburg. PA 17106-7000. Editorial queries and contributions So as I prepared this issue, I pictured families fishing-parents with children, and grandparents an.' welcome, but must be accompanied by self-addressed, stamped envelopes. Material accepted for publication is subject to Pennsylvania Fish .VI Boat Commission standards with grandchildren, even though this idea isn't the focus of the material. I realized that influencing and requirements lor editing and revising. Submissions arc handled carefully, but our children is like using garlic in cooking: A little goes a long way. I vowed to continue to take the publisher assumes no responsibility for the return or safely of submissions in my own children fishing this season-if 1 didn't, the kids would think that not going fishing is un­ his possession or in transit. The authors' views, ideas and advice expressed in this magazine do not necessarily a-llecl the opinion of official position of Ihe Pennsylvania usual. They're already hooked. And that value certainly hasn't been difficult to encourage. Fish & Boat Commission or its staff. The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission At this traditional beginning of the fishing season, let's just keep teaching the young-and others receives federal aid in sport fish restoration. Under appropriate federal acts, the U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, new to fishing-about catching and releasing fish, about keeping fish, about camaraderie, and about national origin, age, sex or handicap. If you believe that you have been discriminated environmental awareness. Remember stick-to-itive-ness and patience. And let's remember that a against in any program, activity, or facility as described above, or if you desire more little really does go a long way.-Art Michaels, Chief, Magazines and Publications. information, please write to: The Office of Equal Opportunity, Department of the Interior. Washington. DC 20240. April 1994 Pennsylvania Angler Br Opening Day by Charles R.