june 1963 boating issue - Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission

FROM THE STREAM*
m + •
Sucker fishermen at Koon Lake, on March 10 last, were
taking fish that I feel might have been record catches. Quite a
number of the suckers weighed over five pounds; one weighed
several ounces over seven pounds. It was the largest sucker I
ever handled—District Warden William E. Mcllnay (Bedford)
#
While watching the ice jam on Conewago Creek I was surprised
to see one large cake of ice twist and turn and in the
process throw up a large carp. While he lay there flopping
about I overheard two young men talking about going down on
the ice to pick it up. Just as one of them decided to go after
it a great surge of water picked up the ice cake and practically
threw it back into the open water. The carp was tossed like a
cork into the water. Was that guy glad he didn't get to the ice
cake!—District Warden Kenneth G. Corey (Warren).
#
Our nets were set in Conneaut Lake and in three days of
fishing we took over 300 northern pike to be taken to Union
City Hatchery and stripped of their eggs. All of these fish
were there for anglers last summer and fall but for some reason
these fish were not harvested. Fishermen who say Pennsylvania's
waters are fished out should first find reasons for not
catching fish and learn more about the lake's bottom, weed beds
and then go to work with angling techniques, proper lures
and baits to catch them.—District Warden Raymond Hoover
(Crawford).
#
District Fish Warden Lee F. Shortess (Lycoming) observed
that when the ice broke up in Muncy Creek, a sucker run
occurred that surely exceeded all expectations. One Saturday
as this officer was approaching the stream mouth four anglers
were leaving with their limits of SO suckers each. Each man
carried over 100 pounds of fish on their backs. Each had been
fishing four hours that day. Upon seeing them, I decided to
make a check count. There were 21 fishermen with some 40
odd suckers each. Many more anglers had between 3 and 20 fish
each. Of this latter group, all claimed catching many more but
had thrown them back when they had enough for a fish dinner.
The "limit" fishermen claimed their wives canned or cold
packed the fish after cleaning and then used the suckers as the
average family uses canned salmon . . . fish cakes and sandwiches.
It was claimed the bones become soft and edible as
do salmon bones upon canning. As for flavor, they said it
far exceeded canned salmon.
#
The 1963 trout season stocking program was aided considerably
with the fine cooperation of sportsmen's clubs in my
district. Due to the extended cold season this year, stocking
conditions were pretty rough. Many cancellations were prevented
by help from the various clubs. Bulldozers and highlifts
were used to open snow-clogged roads. Jeeps, pickup trucks
and good drivers with plenty of strong backs and legs were
there when and where needed. Nobody can convince me fishing
is going downhill in Pennsylvania when fishermen will cooperate
in this manner to enjoy better fishing.—District Warden
Paul Antolosky (Centre).
mm II» nr mfti.—^ mr*'*
ANGLING ASSIST goes to Bobby Davidson, Bellefonte, P a "
from District Fish Warden Paul Antolosky on proper casting
methods.—Photo by Jack Yeager—Centre Daily Times.
Warden Antolosky Directs Angling
Course at Bellefonte YMCA
An angling techniques course was presented recent')
at the Bellefonte YMCA prior to the opening of th e
1963 trout season. The course was under the directio"
of Centre County District Warden Paul Antolosky-
The course, held one night per week, two hoitff
nightly, for three weeks, consisted of basic funda'
mentals of fishing, use of the fly, spinning and castifc
rod technique. Also, proper presentations, selection a nfl
care of equipment, bait and fly casting, fish identic'
cation, safety and valuable tips and instruction f|
angling.
George Harvey, noted authority on angling frofl 1
Penn State University, demonstrated fly-casting aft|
bait-casting techniques to the interested classes. Darri e '
Lonaberger also assisted in presenting safety tips afl"
other valuable fishing information. The course W aS
well received by about a hundred persons attending
each session. No admission charge was made and th e
project was sponsored jointly by the Pennsylvania Fi s *
Commission and the Bellefonte YMCA.
Education that includes some thought of environment, for th e
cherishing of our wild places, should be the number one projec'
of the human race.—Dr. O. I. Murie
22 PENNSYLVANIA ANGLE"