H ^"S " F* A m li M * 1 /4;. /. M w I StimgJti (Jalk Reflections By the time most of you read this column, I will have completed my tenure as Execu­ tive Director of this great agency. During my nearly 35 years of service to Pennsylvania's anglers and boaters, it has been my pleasure to work with 38 different Commissioners, four different Executive Directors, hundreds of co-workers and many thousands of an­ glers and boaters who shared a conservation ethic and a common goal to make Pennsylvania's fishing and boating programs the very best. Occasionally I encountered shortsighted individuals whose personal agenda was to­ tally out of step with the public's best interests. Fortunately, those "small thinkers" are in the minority, and level heads usually prevail. Level-headed thinking is essential if Pennsylvania's fishing and boating resources are to prevail. As I leave the public service arena, I am compelled to reflect on some of the more important advances made by this agency during my years of service. The results of these actions provided millions of hours of public recreation, and will provide billions of hours of fishing and boating recreation for centuries to come. Some of the more significant achievements include: • Guiding the Susquehanna River Anadromous Fish Restoration project to a state of near completion through a variety of agency efforts. Also guided installation of perma­ nent fishways on five major Pennsylvania dams. • Gaining national recognition of fishing programs as the "Best in the Nation." • Purchasing of seven of the largest springs in the Commonwealth, including the two largest (Boiling Springs and Big Spring). •Directing production of more than 130 million adult trout, nearly 2 billion gamefish fry and fingerlings, and millions of Pacific salmon for Pennsylvania anglers. •Acquisition of valuable streams, including Big Spring Creek and sections of Spring Creek, Cedar Spring Creek, Penns Creek, Yellow Breeches Creek, Delaware River, Susquehanna River and many others. • Creation of 34 fishing and boating lakes. •Establishment of a fisheries management organization, conducted a statewide coldwater stream survey and inventory, and implemented innovative, scientific and user-based fishing regulations designed to increase angler opportunities. • Development of nearly 300 fishing and boating access areas on lakes, rivers and streams. •Strengthening the agency's resource protection and enhancement capabilities by expansion of law enforcement staff, creation of Adopt-a-Stream and Environmental Services pro­ grams, updating of fines and penalties, protection of naturally reproducing fish popula­ tions, upgrading stream quality standards, and acquisition of valuable aquatic resources. •Development of three new fish culture stations and reconstruction of current propagation facilities into one of the best and the most versatile hatchery systems in the country. • Changing the name of the agency to "Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission" to describe fully the agency's responsibilities. • Creation of the Aquatic Resources Education program and expansion of the Safe Boating Education system to attain national recognition as the best state programs in the nation. •Development of improved office and training facilities for Commission staff state­ Edward R. Miller, P.E. wide, and obtained necessary lands, conceived project plans, and obtained approvals to move ahead with development of a central headquarters facility. Executive Director • Defense of the agency's independent status by filing a lawsuit to deal with Admin­ Pennsylvania Fish & Boot Commission istration assertions of policy supervision and control. Won preliminary injunctions on four issues of concern. • Implementation of agency-wide strategic planning effort. •Strengthening of staff selection, training, performance and recognition efforts in all program areas. To the many people who helped establish this heritage, I say thank you, and God­ speed. It has been my pleasure to work with you for such worthwhile purposes. You have earned my heartfelt respect and appreciation, and I ask that you continue to sup­ port this agency and its mission. Farewell, good friends. March 1994 Pennsylvania Angler March 1994 Vol. 63 No. 3 Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission Pennsylvania James S. Biery, Jr. President Swatara Paul J. Mahon ANGLER Vice-President The Keystone States Official fishing Magazine ^^ Samuel M. Concilia North East Ross J. Huhn Southeast Corner Trout Waters by Ed Howey Saltsburg The five-county region of Bucks, Philadelphia, Montgomery, Delaware Donald N. Lacy and Chester counties includes plenty of places to hit on opening day 4 Reading Clarks Green T. T. Metzger, Jr. Spinners for Trout by Darl Black Johnstown Some anglers catch many more trout with spinners than do other anglers. Howard E. Pflugfelder Raise your score by using these fine points of spinner fishing 8 New Cumberland Leon Reed Honesdale 1994 Expanded Trout Fishing Opportunities by Tom Greene William J. Sabatose Check out these new trout fishing places across the state for action Brockport this season 12 J. Wayne Yorks Benton Start with Steelheads by Mike Bleech Boating Advisory Board Steelheads can be in the Lake Erie tributary streams anytime from Donald J. Little September through the following June. March, April and May are Chairman excellent months for this fishing 14 Philadelphia Clayton Buchanan Pittsburgh Southwest Pennsylvania Trout Lakes by JeffKnapp Gary Miles Five lakes in southwest Pennsylvania offer action for stocked trout from North East shore or from a boat 16 Thaddeus Piotrowski Bloomsburg Lower Delaware River Shad Spots by Rick Methot Vincent P. Riggi Clarks Summit The area from Morrisville to New Hope is the place where shad anglers draw the season's first battle lines with these annual spring visitors. Magazine Staff The author tours the best spots 20 Editor—Art Michaels Editorial Assistant—Charlene Seifert Early Spring Smallmouths by JeffKnapp Art Director—Ted Walke You have a chance for a trophy stream bronzeback during the first few weeks of April, just before the close of bass season 23 Circulation—Eleanor Mutch Circulation—Patti Copp Staff Assistant—Rose Ann Bartal On the Water with Carl Richardson Staff Assistant—Nita Lynch Responsibility 30 Regular contributors SMART Angler's Notebook by Carl Richardson Darl Black Hooks 31 Mike Bleech JeffKnapp Rainbow trout cover photo by JeffKnapp Pennsylvania Angler (1SSN0031 -434X1 is published monthly by Ihe Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, 3532 Walnut Street. Harrisburg. PA 17109. ©1994. Opportunity Nothing in this magazine may be reprinted without Ihe written permission of the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. Subscription rates: one year. $9; three Isn't it thrilling to hook and land a really BIG fish? There are fish and there's fishing, and then years. $35; single copies are $1.50 each. Second class postage is paid at Harrisburg. there's catching a really BIG one. It's so special, we remember the event a long time. We tell our PA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: /VnHxv/ratmiAue/erCirculalion. friends and relatives and business associates. We tell our children, and our grandchildren. And we Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. P.O. Box 67000, Harrisburg. PA 17106- 7000. For subscription and change of address, use above address. Please allow six tell them-and anyone else who'll listen-over and over again. weeks for processing. Send all other correspondence to: The Editor, Pennsylvania This anticipation, this hope, is part of the sizzle that crackles louder and louder as opening day, Angler. P.O. Box 6700O. Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000. Editorial queries and contributions are welcome, but must be accompanied by self-uddrcssed, stamped envelopes. Material warmer weather and a new season approach. accepted for publication is subject to Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission standanls The spark begins with opportunity. The Commission's charge is to provide fishing and boating and requirements for editing and revising. Submissions are handled carefully, but opportunities through the protection and management of our resources. Opportunity is also the fo­ the 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 cus of this issue-providing useful information on where to fish right now, and where iNTEO magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinion or official position of the Pennsylvania to go on opening day and early in the season. When you do catch that really big fish, Fish & Boat Commission or its staff. The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission receives federal aid in sport fish restoration. Under appropriate federal acts, the U. remember to photograph it quickly. It is wise to return most of your catch. Send us S, Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, a sharply focused, clear photograph of you with your catch, and include the details 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 of the catch. We'd love to consider it for publication in our "Cast & Caught" sec- information, please write to: The Office of Equal Opportunity. Department of the tion.-/4rt Michaels, Editor. Interior. Washington, DC 20240. March 1994 Pennsylvania Angler Southeast Corner Trout Waters byEdHowey How well does reality reward the dreams of trout anglers among West Chester