Streamside on Line
Volume 8 |
The
Quarterly On Line Newsletter |
Spring |
In this issue:
Notes
from the Tying Bench (Bob Molzahn)
Bob Bachman DHFFO
Comments
Bottom of the Creel (Chuck
Hodgson)
Fly Tying Tips (FFF Club
Wire)
Dillon Wants to Know (Chuck
Hodgson)
Remembering Mel (Bob
Molzahn)
They're Back (Chuck Hodgson)
Articles, news and fly tying tips are gratefully accepted. Please e-mail them to us using the Feedback section shown on the left.
| Notes from the Tying Bench by Bob Mozahn |
A lot of things are going on
with French Creek these days. Besides
very little water in the Creek, some of you may have noticed the rocks that line
the old fisherman’s parking area on the corner of Hollow and Pughtown Roads. The
parcel was bought by a private individual (not the Green Valleys Association) at
Sheriff’s auction and reportedly is planning to build a house on it.
Oh well!
This
may be a blessing in disguise, especially if the Pennsylvania
Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC) decides to convert the stretch to Delayed
Harvest Artificial Lures Only. The
new parking arrangement will certainly will limit the number of fisherman
on-stream. The PFBC is going to
vote on this change at their April meeting.
The League has tried very hard to alert our membership and others on the
proposal and how ludicrous it is. Senator
Gerlach and Representative Schroder
have both sent in letters opposing the PFBC proposal. I am hoping that many of our members have done the same and
that the decision by the Commissioners will be to keep our area as a Delayed
Harvest Fly Fishing Only Area. If
it isn’t, landowners will post it and we will lose it forever.
The
PFBC continues to act with no regard to fly fishers or their interests.
I am personally convinced that they are pursuing this because the fly
fishing community took an active stance on the pollution the PFBC fish
hatcheries were having on source waters, most notably Big Spring Run in
Cumberland County. Unfortunately, PA
Trout Unlimited, one of the largest state TU organizations in the country,
decided not to take a position on the PFBC proposal leaving the Federation
of Fly Fishers and the fly fishing community to work alone in the opposition
effort. As a local TU Chapter
member, and at the risk of offending the PATU officers, I am very disappointed
by their short-sited stance. However,
I can say that many individual TU chapters are working very hard to oppose this
change. I applaud those TU Chapters
and their members that are helping! The
PFBC proposal doesn’t make any rational sense
given that only 46 miles of DHFFO water are effected, a mere 0.1% of water the
PFBC stocks. Most of these areas
are already overrun by fly fisherman. Why
add lure fisherman to the mix and make crowding worse then it already is.
Moreover, why does the PFBC want to upset numerous constituencies at the
same time they want to raise license fees by a significant amount to pay for
hatchery discharge treatment systems?
Is their license fee proposal going to receive the fishing community’s
support? I don’t think so!
Enough said. We will find
out in April what the PFBC decision is. By
the way, the DHFFO area will be receiving a hundred trout less than last year
because of the hatchery closings.
On
another note, I continue to look for a person who will step up and take over the
Program responsibilities for our monthly meetings.
This entails finding speakers for six meetings a year.
Not a big job but it does take a little time and effort to find speakers.
If you are interested and don’t mind calling a few folks, please call
me.
Once
again, our Learn to Fly Fish Course
filled up as of late February. Many
thanks go to French Creek Outfitters
for pushing the course and giving us a 10% discount on tackle.
I also
want to thank Todd Palmer of Virtual Farm Creative for developing a new tabletop display.
Todd and Virtual Farm have also created a new DJL membership brochure that
was printed by Bentley Graphics with
the help of member Dwayne
Fetterman. The new brochure
features a fantastic map of French Creek that came from an idea and stream
tracing by our new Outreach Chairman, Ted
Nawalinski. Please be sure to
thank these folks for all their efforts in bringing our club to a new level.
Our trip to the Hungry Trout on the Ausable River in Wilmington, New York is coming up on May 17-20. By the time you receive the newsletter it may be too late but if you are interested, check with me anyway for room availability. Our Webmaster, Gil Padovani, is running the trip. This is my 12th year on this trip and it has always been much fun.
| Bob Bachman DHFFO Comments |
Editor’s Comments - The following exerts are reprinted with permission from the author, Robert (Bob) A. Bachman, PhD. Bob Bachman provided the comments, which relate to the PFBC's proposed elimination of the DHFFO areas, March 1, 2002, in a letter to the Director of the PFBC, Mr. Peter A. Colangelo.
Bob Bachman is retired and is a resident of Pennsylvania. Prior to retirement he served as the manager of the state of Maryland's Trout Fishery. He is also credited with doing pioneer work to help establish wild trout in Spruce Creek.
The unidentified paper that Bob references in his comments can be found in the current "PFBC Information Paper - Proposed Rule Making On Delayed Harvest Regulations." This "paper" can be read by visiting the PFBC Web site at http://sites.state.pa.us/Fish/. The PFBC "paper" is very opinionated against fly fishing and also makes some questionable claims. The following exerts from Bob's letter to Colangelo take exception to these opinions and claims:
I [Bob Bachman] am in receipt of a letter that you [Peter A. Colangelo] sent to Senator James W. Gerlach on August 27, 2001 in which you stated that comments I made in some unidentified paper were “based on wild trout and on a misunderstanding about the scope…” of the proposal to do away with all delayed harvest, fly fishing only (DHFFO) areas.
Without
knowing to which of my papers to you referred, it is difficult for me to respond
to your assertion that my “comments were based on wild trout” but I would
like to set the record straight for you and Senator Gerlach on one matter.
I read very carefully the delayed harvest proposal that you posted on
your web site and the accompanying justification for that proposal. There was,
and still is, no misunderstanding on my part of what the proposal would do.
If adopted, there would no longer be any delayed harvest, fly fishing
only areas in Pennsylvania.
When I read the justification
for the proposal on your web site, I pointed out to a number of people,
including members of your staff, that there was an error in the
justification—that there is no significant difference between the hooking
mortality of trout caught on artificial lures and artificial flies.
Pete, that’s just not true, not for wild trout or for hatchery trout,
and it is well documented, contrary to the assertions accompanying your
proposal. Whether or not such
difference is important in a delayed harvest situation is another matter. But such a statement in an official document tends to
perpetuate the all-too-commonly-held belief that the type of tackle used when
angling for trout has no affect on hooking mortality.
Dick
Snyder sent me a copy of the “PF&BC Information Paper on DHFFO Proposal”
dated August 28, 2001. It touches
on all the issues surrounding the proposal but in my opinion it contains
contradictions and reflects a prejudice against fly fishing that I think has
permeated the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission for a long time,
notwithstanding assertions to the contrary.
Without going into too many details regarding the information paper, permit me to make some
observations that lead me to this conclusion.
1. Among the various methods of angling, fly fishing
results in a lower hooking mortality among trout, BOTH
wild and hatchery than other methods of angling. Recent papers support and reinforce earlier studies
that suggest that with careful handling, inadvertent hooking mortality
associated with fly-fishing can be held close to zero.
The PF&BC consistently denies this in public documents.
2. By definition, no-kill and delayed harvest areas (during the no harvest period) provide no opportunity to take trout home. These areas are essentially a place for a person to relax and “play”, if you will. They can be viewed as a place to practice one’s sport, not to see how many one can catch or take home to eat.
3.
If, as I and many others contend, fly fishing is, for a number of
reasons, kinder on wild trout populations, wouldn’t it make sense for the
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to encourage, not discourage, fly fishing?
4. If, as I and many others contend, there is an intrinsic conflict between fly fishing and other forms of angling, doesn’t it makes sense to set aside some areas where a person can practice the skill of fly fishing without the inherent conflict with other kinds of angling? (I found the section entitled “INCOMPATIBILITY OF FLY FISHING WITH OTHER TYPES OF ANGLING” the most biased, misleading and ill-informed section of the so-called “Information Paper”).
5. It appears that the term “heritage” area was intentionally coined to reinforce the idea that there is no “biological” justification for designating a stream or section of stream as fly fishing only. Fly fishing inevitably results in lower harvest where harvest is permitted and lower hooking mortality where harvest is not allowed. If that isn’t a “biological” justification, I don’t know what is. Repeating the assertion that fly fishing is just a social issue doesn’t make it true.
6.
We read throughout the information paper and elsewhere the inference that
fly fishing only regulations “exclude certain anglers”. This is perhaps where the anti-fly-fishing prejudice is most
revealing. No anglers are excluded from
fly fishing only areas, only certain tackle
is excluded. Nothing prohibits an
angler from using the proper tackle and fishing there.
Other tackle is excluded for a number of reasons, but “tradition” is
not one of them, nor is “heritage”.
7.
The information paper states that 69% of the anglers that fish in delayed
harvest, artificial lures only are fly fishers.
I submit that this is evidence that fly fishers are less interested in
harvest than other types of anglers, refuting the conclusion that there is no
biological justification for fly fishing only and the assertion that there is no
need for delayed harvest fly fishing only areas.
8.
Fly fishers use delayed harvest, artificial lures only areas because
there are trout there and they will put up with the conflict (with lure anglers)
in order to make use of the opportunity to fish where there are trout.
That should in no way be construed that conflict does not exist.
It does support, however, a demand for DHFFO’s.
Pete
[Peter A. Colangelo], I offer these comments with the most constructive and
helpful intent possible. I have no
objection to hatchery fish, spin-fishing, bait-fishing or eating trout.
But I do object to inaccurate information.
I believe that fly fishing can be an effective management tool, that the
PF&BC should encourage fly fishing and that DHFFO’s should continue to be
part of your management strategy. My
sole interest is to enhance and restore Pennsylvania’s wild trout resources
and to see a fair and equitable allocation of these resources, be it fish or
space, to the varied angling constituents.
To do this, I submit that the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission must,
indeed, put the resource first. And
it must, above all, have credibility. I
stand ready to assist you in this wherever possible.
Please make this letter a part of the public comment on the DHFFO proposal.
Sincerely,
Robert A. Bachman, PhD [Signed]
Cc:
Senator Jim Gerlach
Hon. Curt Schroder
Leon Reed, Pres., PFBC
Dick Synder
| Bottom of the Creel by Chuck Hodgson |
PFBC Harrisburg - The Pennsylvania Fish and
Boat Commission (PFBC) will soon meet to decide the fate of the DHFFO regulated
areas. All of our members are to be
commended for their efforts in opposing this PFBC proposal.
Thanks also go out to all the local conservation and sportsmen
organizations for their opposition support.
Fly Fishing Show, Aston - Just a few comments
regarding the Fly Fishing Show presented at the Tri-States Sports Complex in
Aston, PA., March the 9th and 10th.
This show’s location has been pretty dynamic over the past years.
Held in a number of different locations; such as, Fort Washington, Valley
Forge and Aston. Other than the
challenge of driving or finding the show’s location, there has been a
noticeable improvement to the quality of the show’s content, exhibitors,
vendors, and associations. Hopefully
the show’s management will settle down on a yearly location and continue their
improvements to the show.
Kudos goes out to the DJL members who volunteered to set-up and reside in our booth. Our new foldout display and application handouts also contributed to a successful show. We can be proud that our booth not only attracts visitors, but it also prompts them to ask for more information. Thanks go out to all our members who attended the show and stopped by to say hello and/or ask if they could relieve us or bring us anything. Our booth attracted a lot of attention and we were pleased by the many nice comments paid to us by the show attendees. And from the interest generated by our visitors, I believe we will experience an increase in our membership as a direct result of these discussions.
| Fly Tying Tips FFF Club Wire |
Just
about everyone suffers from dry, chapped, rough skin on your hands and fingers
during the winter months. Floss,
threads, dubbing and tempers often fray and tying becomes more difficult because
of this. Well your local stationary
store or business supply store has a product called “Gatherette,” a finger
moistener for bank tellers and cashiers that works great for fly tiers.
It contains glycerine, glycos and lanolin and makes handing fragile
materials a cinch, regardless of season. Highly
recommended.
Contribution
thanks go out to the Rainland Fly Casters of Astoria, Oregon and the FFF
ClubWire Email News Wire.
| Dillon Wants to Know by Chuck Hodgson |
"Popple,” asked Dillon
as he watched his Grandpa tying a fly. “How
come you using such a small hook?”
“Because the real bug is real small, so I have to tie the fly real
small,” Grandpa replied with a smile.
“I don’t think your hook is big enough Popple.”
“Well, the next time we go
fishing, I’ll show you how small the real bugs are.
And most fly fishermen try to copy the real bugs.”
“But Popple, you can’t
catch a fish using that hook!”
“Why not?”
“Because you have all that stuff wrapped on it and you don’t have any room to put the worm on.”
Editor's
Comments - Looks like it is time to introduce Dillon to the techniques of fly
fishing.
| Remembering Mel by Bob Molzahn |
W. Melvin (Mel) Walters
Mel Walters, 63, passed away from a yearlong bout with cancer on January 15, 2002. He was one of us.
Mel
was one of the bunches of us that took the Dame Juliana League to a new level. He was on our Board of Directors serving as the League’s
“Outreach Chairman” for many years.
Mel was often seen at outreach events like the Orvis Day or the Calvary
Church Show. He represented the
Dame Juliana League well. Often
when I talked with prospective fly fishers they would mention Mel as the guy who
hyped them up
about the fly fishing
experience and also about joining our club.
They liked his approach and joined without question.
When
I first met Mel maybe 15 or so years ago, he was helping with another water
resources group I was a member of because he was Sharon Walter’s spouse who
worked for them. He and I started
to attend DJL meetings in the early 90’s together.
When Jeff Nissle passed the Presidency on to Bob Moser in 1994, and the
rest of us followed as officers, Mel was right there to help us through the
transition.
Mel
was often seen on-stream with his hip boots and creel. We wondered about his
creel and its use. On questioning
him about it we found out it was to carry some of his gear and also act as a
storing place for trash that he would pick up.
Mel was an environmentalist who cared about our streams, the French Creek
in particular. He was a past member
of the Board of
the French and Pickering Creek Conservation Trusts and
provided outreach for them as well. He
was always there for all our stream improvement project workdays and was a
regular member of our float stocking crew.
He was devoted.
Mel
was able to attend our December 5, 2001 DJL Christmas Party and although he
didn’t look very well at that time, all of us were hoping for the best.
At one point, I remember seeing him at the bar, looking back at our
group. As I looked at him, his wry
smile transcended that moment. Looking
back, I think he knew his fate, but in that grin I knew how much he loved the
club and all that we shared and he shared with us.
Mel made significant contributions to our club and he was a devoted
friend and he will be missed.
| They're Back by Chuck Hodgson |
A
brief saga of the Susquehanna Shad
A
few years ago, I was obligated to make two or three Amtrak roundtrips a week
between Wilmington, DE. And Washington, D.C. to meet with our US Navy and Marine
customers in their Crystal City, VA. offices.
After you spend weeks watching the same landscape zip by at 100 plus MPH
you soon learn to automatically ignore it.
However, this was true with one exception.
I always anticipated the short period of time when I could look and
daydream while crossing the mile-wide Susquehanna River in Maryland. The Amtrak rail bridge is approximately two miles upstream
from the quaint village of Harve de Grace, Maryland. This is where the Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay
meet. Further upstream from the
bridge is the PECO Conowingo Dam, the first of many manmade obstacles to
traveling the Susquehanna.
The
Susquehanna immediately impresses you by its size, its broad width, the clarity
of its water and the colossal rocks jaunting out of its water.
You can look through the swallow clear water and see massive
stair-stepped terraces of rock barely hiding beneath the river’s surface.
Looking down upon this river scene from the train always triggered my
curiosity wondering about the river’s history and what it would be like to fly
fish this enormous stretch of inviting water.
HISTORY - The history of the Susquehanna River includes an early
survey by Captain John Smith (Pocahontas fame) in 1608.
Captain Smith’s team may be responsible for the corruption of the local
Algonquin Indian name of Sosqo-hanna to today’s Susquehanna.
The Susquehanna River system and valley was carefully avoided well into
the 1700’s due to the fierce Indian tribes in the region.
In
the 1800’s the river supported a tremendous commercial fishery based upon the
spawning runs of the Striped Bass and American and Hickory Shad.
Since the river was basically non-navigable due to the rocky swallows and
the absence of a main river channel a system of locks and canals were built in
order to move commercial barges between Harrisburg, PA. and Baltimore, MD.
Then came the downfall of the river's fishery, progress demanded electrical energy. So the first hydroelectric dam was built. This dam, the Conowingo, owned and operated by PECO, is the first of many man-made obstacles, which spelled the doom of the migratory fishery in the Susquehanna River system.
SHAD
FISHERY
- Today, PECO in partnership with the Maryland Fish and Game department are
reinstating the Susquehanna migratory fishery.
This effort is proving to be highly successful, as large numbers of Shad
have started returning due to the clever fish elevator systems deployed at the
corner bases of the Conowingo Dam. Today’s
Maryland Susquehanna fishery is strictly limited to catch and release.
Shad
are an interesting migratory fish, as they don’t necessarily return to their
birthplace as salmon typically do. They
are opportunists and this may explain why they are successfully reestablishing
themselves on the East Coast as polluted waters are improving (Maine to Florida)
and why they are giving salmon a run for their money on the West Coast
(California to Washington). West
Coast Shad are all descendents of an early stocking of Hudson River Shad in the
Sacramento River in California and Shad are capable of
returning to the sea following spawning and then return again, similar to
Steelhead and Atlantic salmon.
THEY’RE BACK – Shad arrive in the upper Chesapeake Bay in
late March, early April, and they ascent the freshwater tributaries to spawn
based upon water temperature. The Susquehanna fishery generally occurs the heaviest during
the months of April and May. The
preferred fishing methods for Shad are spinning and Fly Fishing, both methods
deploy brightly colored artificial lures/jigs and wet flies.
FLY FISHING – Susquehanna River and tributary fly fishers
are equipped with 8 to 9- foot rods with 4WT to 7WT weight forward floating
lines. I normally use a 9-foot rod
with a 5WT weight forward floating line, which has a sinking tip.
Unless I am wading the Susquehanna Flats, then I switch to a 9-foot, 7wt
rod, still using a sinking tip. There’s
nothing sophisticated about leaders and tippets, and frankly Shad have a Rhett
Butler attitude regarding this. I
normally tie on a 4 to 6-foot 5X fluorocarbon leader/tippet.
Flies are brightly colored, predominately reds, yellows, and oranges, with #4, #6 and #8 hooks. Four years ago when I first discovered the Shad in Deer Creek, MD. I was using a simple modified Mickey Finn. I substituted the Mickey Finn’s red and yellow bucktail with fluorescent marabou feathers. I continued to experiment and discovered that Shad like gold and flash. So my tying has now evolved to producing what I labeled as a C-Shad Dart. This fly is relatively easy to tie and it is based upon the same weighing and retrieving principles as the eyes on a Clouser Deep Minnow. However, the C-Shad uses gold dumbbell eyes tied onto a gold hook (I have been using Eagle Claw Laser Sharp gold finish hooks, sizes #4, #6 and #8). The C-Shad’s body is wrapped with Ice Chenille or Estaz. The upper wing is white deer hair with Crystal Flash and the lower wing is deer hair the same color as the body. Successful C-Shad colors have included fluorescent red, orange, hot pink, and black. I have accidentally caught several Smallmouth Bass with this fly along with a sizeable Maryland Bonefish (Carp). Today’s Shad fishery is an exciting, rewarding adventure. Need more information, drop me a note at chodgson@voicenet.com