MAY 1965 —DELAWARE RIVER SHAD PENNSYLVANIA fifomtaijluattra Angltt FISH COMMISSION Published Monthly by the DIRECTORY PENNSYLVANIA FISH COMMISSION COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA EXECUTIVE OFFICE William W. Scranton, Governor ROBERT J. BIELO Executive Director • GORDON TREMBLEY PENNSYLVANIA FISH COMMISSION Assistant Executive Director RAYMOND M. WILLIAMS, President -East Bangor EDWARD R. THARP ROBERT M. RANKIN, Vice President —Galeton , Assistant Executive Director GERARD J. ADAMS - -Hawley JOHN W. GRENOBLE — A Watercraft Safety Division JOSEPH M. CRITCHCTELD Confluence DOUGLAS MCWILLIAMS Ely8'' > WALLACE C. DEAN - Meadville R. STANLEY SMITH — Waynes^ WARREN W. SINGER HOWARD R. HEINY —Williamsport Assistant to Executive Director PAUL F. O'BRIEN Administrative Officer i JOHN M. SMITH MAY, 1965 VOL. 34, NO Comptroller GEORGE W. FORREST, Editor DIVISIONS Research and Fish Management KEEN Buss - -• Chief ConisniA Propagation and Distribution HOWARD L. FOX Superintendent 1 DELAWARE RIVER SHAD FISHING-Ben Callaway i$ Real Estate 4 RETURN OF ANOTHER NATIVE-THE AMERICAN SHAD OF GLEN SPENCER - .- Chief DELAWARE RIVER Engineering 9 THEY'RE CRAZY ABOUT SHAD-Charley Zaimes EDWARD MILLER ... Chief 12 ULTRA-LIGHT DYNAMITE AND SHAD RECIPES-Charley Za^ Law Enforcement 14 MR. SIBLEY BONES A SHAD-Margaret Karch Zaimes WILLIAM W. BRTTTON - Chief 16 ACTION AT LINESVILLE OPEN HOUSE-John S. Ogden Pathologist 18 BOATING With Robert G. MILLER ARTHUR BRADFORD ... Chief 20 TEN TIPS FOR TROUBLE-FREE SPINNING-Joseph Bates, Jr. • 22 VARIATIONS ON A FAMILIAR THEME-Chauncey K. Lively 24 CARP AT THEIR BEST-Edwin L. Arts REGION ONE S. CABLYLE SHELDON Warden Supervisor 26 NOTES FROM THE STREAMS Tionesta 16353 Phone: 814-755-3567 28 TIP-O'-THE-MONTH-C. Boyd Pfeiffer 29 SCHOOL'S OUT-Ned Smith REGION TWO MINTEB C. JONES Warden Supervisor Cover Photo—Ben Callaway R. D. 2, Somerset, Pa Phone: 814-445-4913 /n<" POSTMASTER: All 3579 form* to be returned to Dunlap Printing Co., REGION THREE Cherry and Juniper Sis., Philadelphia 7, Pa. CLAIR FLEEOER Warden Supervisor The PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER is published monthly by the Pennsylvania Fish Comrn^g 351 Terrace St., Honesdale, Pa., South Office Building, Harrisburg, Pa. Subscription: One year-$2.00; three years-$5.00; 23 ^ffl per single copy. Send check or money order payable to Pennsylvania Fish Commission. p¥ ,&& Phone: 717-253-3724 SEND STAMPS. Individuals sending cash do so at their own risk. Change of address should jf., us promptly. Furnish both old and new addresses. Second Class Postage paid at Harrisbuw and at additional mailing offices. ^ REGION FOUR Neither Publisher nor Editor will assume responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or ill"5''^!''' while in their possession or in transit. Permission to reprint will be given provided we jpt*' m a u cr marked copies and credit is given material or illustrations. Communications pertaining to . £ rrf, ?*' HAROLD COBBIN Warden Supervisor material or illustrations should be addressed to the Pennsylvania Fish Commission, Harrisbu"" H. D. 2, Annville, Pa. Phone: 717-273-2601, Ex. 86 NOTICE: Subscriptions received and processed the 10th of each month will begin «" I. G. M. P.. 19003 second month following. DELAWARE RIVER SHAD FISHING By BEN CALLAWAY Philadelphia Daily News A BIG NET is a necessity in shad fishing, because the battle isn't over until the soft-mouthed shad is firmly entwined. "HE return of a native presents a new challenge to an to the exclusion of bait. The way he thumps, then jumps, «nt ire generation of "amateurs." And the miraculous pulls with authority and runs with speed, his growing *od oj^-day revival of an old spring migratory run is army of addicted anglers includes trout transfers, bass ering what may well be the local "best bet" for fresh- buffs and walleye workers. fisnin These "Delaware River tarpon" or "poor man's Atlantic for -—«**igg- . Thi uee namname oUfi thmec speciespcuicsa iisa shadaiiau.. Thx i*e^ localw\.tue^ tfltn of ,(j? e new-found eexcitemen t is a lovely long stretch salmon" couldn't have picked a better place or time to ^ e Delaware River. stage their spectacular comeback. The 100-plus miles of sPo silver-plated gladiator is, indeed, a city-plagued Delaware shad water is within reasonable reach of a huge Oman's friend in need. The shad even prefers lures chunk of U. S. population. 1 to the species was upon crushed ice in the market. " since that first big 1961 showing, license plates from tn states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York ha moved towards the mighty Delaware where the t"* states converge. Since we're almost all "amateurs" at this particu'3 phase of local fishing then, because of its very newn^' it might be comforting to know, before our first n11 adventures, that more hooked shad escape than make into the net. Even the best shad fisherman, especia1' the bank-based spincaster, loses more than he lands- Overwhelming first choice for tackle is a light spinf'"* rig. Line test varies from two to eight pounds, but &*e those normally addicted to ultralight shenanigans ha often switched to heavier gear rather than fight the fr" tration of continually losing husky shad on light line. For the ultimate in enjoyment, and where the fish-fil'e water is shallow enough (four feet or less in depth)' fly fling is worth a try. On this, an 8 to 9 foot fly rod, of about five ounceS weight, with a sinking weight-forward line is reC^ mended, along with plenty of backing and a sturdy ' foot leader. The blossoming of interest in shad fishing has led hundreds of new lures swamping the market. Yet, fat a these creations, each locale each season seems to have °n "hot" item which everybody is using or wants to ^ For the Delaware River, generally, a "shad dart" W" THE "HOT LURE" varies from place to place and from time to time, c hence a full tackle box of assorted shad artificials is essential in small, tapered soft metal body with tail—is the ch°' the angling arsenal of the compleat fisherman. over flies and metal spinners. Combinations of red, ^1" and yellow are most popular as an inventory of Dela*^ River shad fishermen's tackle boxes will attest. Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York, Yet, almost every angler who's given shad fishing seri°^ overly-rich with humans and generally regarded as under- study has become convinced that the presentation of t(1 endowed with piscatorial population, welcome any added lure rather than the details of design, including coW' action for freshwater devotees. And the shad has indicated are most important. Although there is no particular & that rod-and-reel pressure is probably the least of his in casting, there is one basic, universal rule: problems. Go slow and low-fish the lure deep. Distance ' The Delaware River is paralleled along much of both casting is helpful, of course. The longer the cast, vf sides by good highways, but there are many more miles more water covered on such a wide flowage as & of rugged terrain which separate the men from the boys- Delaware. climbing and scrambling down steep, wooded sides to Proper fishing for shad means the lure is on or ne3 find seldom-fished water. the bottom. Using light line (eight pounds or less) ^, Depending upon your approach to the subject, Dela­ get some distance with the tiny lures. Yet, this ^ ware shad can be considered either the oldest or the necessarily mean loss of much terminal tackle. Be Pe newest nearby fishery. Recorded catches date back more pared: tote a well-stocked tackle box. than a century. Entire communities' economies were once The real skill comes in playing the fish. The anato1^ largely dependent upon the annual "silver tides" which of these anadromous acrobats includes a paper-thin motjt surged upriver. By the turn of the century, the shad The angler who hooks one in the corner of the lip ° provided the Atlantic seaboard's most valuable river heavy line may possibly strike a bone, getting back fishery. Yet, by some 25 years ago, the previous huge straightened (and empty) hook. But anywhere else, * runs had dwindled down to a precious few. Pollution soft tissue is such that setting the hook too hard at *J! from Trenton, Philadelphia, Camden and Chester was con­ initial strike, or "horsing" a husky shad netward & sidered the most likely culprit in killing off almost all more likely simply tear out the hook. of the previous abundance. Now, as the pollution has Playing the fish requires a tight, but not unyield'1* subsided somewhat, the shad run has shown a spectacular line. That involves a steady hand, a smooth drag- revival. proper knot attaching line to lure, and no nicks in c Because of those 25 or so "nothing years" which pre­ line. The latter should be examined carefully and ofte , ceded the big spring comeback of 1961, shad bypassed The lighter the line, the more often the inspection, almost an entire generation of anglers. Their only exposure course. In deciding upon which line to use, the ang1 PENNSYLVANIA ANGt$ torn between casting distance (two pounds works for concentrations of other anglers, letting them do his °nders with these tiny shad darts) and strength (eight scouting for him. l°Unds much the better to do a big shad in, or shaking To make the most of the spring shad run (only nature , Se from a rocky river bottom). Some among those limits the catch, since there are no restrictions as to °osing heavier line have employed a sinker some minimum size or maximum number), the serious shad K) a a ° 12 inches above the jig, adding distance to the cast fisherman will work the early part of the season (late s w keeping the lure lower in the water.