A Newsletter of Schuylkill County Trout Unlimited

Transcription

1 A Newsletter of Schuylkill County Trout Unlimited Vol. 1 No. 5 May 2018 Trout in the Classroom Program What Trout See by Dave Derbes This week my Fly Fisherman magazine arrived and as usual everything else that I was doing stopped and I went through the magazine page by page giving it my initial cursory read. I have subscribed to the magazine for over 30 years. I never ever throw a copy away. In fact, the stack of them got so high and were subject to tipping over that my wife suggested we find another way of containing them (she meant putting them in a garbage can or bag and out on the curb). I promised her I would take care of it soon (4 years later). I did(my way). Sorry, I m off subject. I noticed a headline on the cover What TROUT SEE from below and that was the first article I flipped to and briefly read. The article is titled The Missing Link and goes on to say, What fish see and the process of creative fly tying. I don t want to go into the details of the article but I do recommend you read it. However, what I want to say is that we so often seem to forget that if we are going to be successful fishing we need to always keep in mind WHAT THE TROUT SEE. I remember when I first started fly fishing I was down on the Tulpehocken below Blue Marsh. I had a trout taking caddis in front of me. I would cast to him and watch as he would come up and look at my fly and follow it a few feet and then go back down. At a meeting of Schuylkill County Trout Unlimited (SCTU), Mrs. Kaye Schwenk, Biology Teacher, third from left, accepts a $400 start-up check for the Trout in The Classroom Program (TIC), a new program at the High School that she will be instituting next school year. Making the presentation are (l->r) Wayne Lehman, County Natural Resource Specialist and Schuylkill County Conservation District s liaison to SCTU, Brian Lengel, SCTU President, and Tony Mione, SCTU TIC Coordinator. Other sponsoring organizations and program partners who each also provided $400 start-up money include Schuylkill Headwaters Association See Classroom Program on page 2 Over and over he would look but wouldn t take my fly. I would change to another fly and he would refuse to take it. What was I doing wrong? Was my fly too big? Wrong color? Who knows? Finally, I gave up and went on to another spot and finished the night skunked. We all have days like that. Months later I came across a book titled The Trout and the Fly by Goddard and Clarke. See What Trout See on page 4

2 2 Freestone or Limestone? We all heard the talk about a stream being a freestone or a limestone but some ask ourselves what is the difference? Well, we can discuss this but it s pretty easy to distinguish the difference but sometimes it gets confusing. Here is the confusing part, a freestone can turn into a limestone but a limestone cannot turn into a freestone, but can take on a freestone appearance due to influences of other freestone creeks. hmmm. Ok, let s break it down. A freestone is just that. A freestone stream is a stream that starts in the mountains as a small trickle coming out of the ground and flowing downhill. This can be on top of a mountain as a swamp, a small trickle in a valley between two mountains or just about any location you find the water rising from underground. All of the water that flows into this is directly or indirectly influenced by rain and snow melting. As the weather gets warmer or less precipitation, the flows will decrease. Also this stream has a lower alkalinity, higher acidity and less fertile. Insects can have a harder time adjusting or even living in this type of water. Here in Pennsylvania, we have an abundance of freestone streams all over our state. The longest stream, as the state recognizes it, is the Pine Creek that starts in Potter county and flows thru Tioga county and onto Lycoming county, where it joins the Susquehanna River. The only difference in a river and a stream is what our state classifies that body of water. Both rivers and streams can start out as a freestoner. As for a limestone stream, most in the state are located in the central and south-central part of our state. This is known as the Great Valley. This starts at the Kittatinny ridge and travels southward. This belt is made up of marble and limestone under the ground. The most famous is Penn s Creek. This creek comes out of a cave as a high volume stream and boat tours into the cave are always a great trip to experience. Other classic limestoners are the LeTort, Big Fishing Creek and Spring Creek. A limestone stream is a body of water that flows underground and passes thru a limestone base of stone and rock, giving the water a nutrient rich amount of chemicals to allow insects to thrive. The water is usually more stable, temperature wise, throughout the year. A higher alkalinity in this stream usually is dominant unless it gets influenced by other creeks and watersheds that are freestone in nature. Clear as mud?? Yep, that s true. So we ask ourselves what is the difference and how does it affect you? It doesn t. Most of the limestone creeks will have a constant flow and even temps. Most are located in a meadow area and have constant insect activity. Freestone streams will be influenced by air temperature, precipitation, and acid rain. Insect activity will be usually in the spring time and early summer. Temperatures will range from freezing to as high as 80 degrees or even higher. All this means is that you need to get out there and go fishing when the fish are biting. Good luck. Classroom Program continued from page 1 and the Schuylkill County Sportmen s Advisory Board. Pennsylvania Trout In the Classroom is an interdisciplinary program that introduces coldwater conservation education in Pennsylvania schools by raising brook trout, a native coldwater species, from eggs to fingerlings, during the school year, by observing and monitoring a coldwater ecosystem in a classroom aquarium, identifying stages of the brook trout lifecycle, recognizing brook trout as indicator species for healthy coldwater streams, understanding conditions needed for brook trout survival, participating in activities and field work coordinating with the program, and releasing trout into an approved stream in the spring.

3 While trying to decide who was going to be our next victim on our spotlight of 20 questions, a familiar voice spoke out during our last meeting. It was our vice president, Bruce Herb. We all know Bruce, as he s been with the chapter for quite some time. He s a regular on a popular social media page always starting off the morning by wishing everyone a Good Morning. Let s start the questions. 1. How long have you been a member of TU.? A. About 29 years. I started right after the chapter was formed. Also a life member 2. How long have you fly fished? A. 55 years. 3. Who influenced you to start fly fishing? A. My uncles, Ray and Carl. 4. Who taught you to tie a fly? A. Same two uncles. Both told me that if I wanted to fish, I had to tie my own fly, so I did. 5. Do you remember your first trout? A. Yep, it was a rainbow trout that I caught at Whipporwill Dam. 6. Who was your biggest influence to you in fly fishing. A. Lefty Kreh 7. What was your most memorable trout that you caught? A. That would be a 14" brown trout caught in a feeder stream with wild brookies in it. I caught May 20 May 23 May 26 May 27 June 3 June 16 Bio of Bruce Herb By Randy Big Dady Emerich DATES TO REMEMBER MAY & JUNE Black Diamond Support or help TU with our Table...8 to 4pm. Sweet Arrow Lake...Blue Mt. Elem. School...9 to 1:30 pm. Cabelas...Meet at Pond in Back...11 to 4.pm. Cabelas...Meet at Pond in Back...11 to 4 pm. Bear Creek Festival...Sch. Co. Fairgrounds...10:30 to 4 pm. Friedensburg Field Day...8 to 4 pm. 3 it about 10 years ago on a 2wt fly rod. 8. What is your toughest fly to tie? A. The humpy. 9. What do you do that most people wouldn t know about you? A. Well, I do very well cooking. 10. How far have you traveled to fly fish? A. Labrador and Key West 11. What was your occupation before you retired? A. I was a floor supervisor and lead operator at Honeywell. I worked there for 40 years. 12. What other interests do you have besides fishing? A. I love to shoot and hunt with a muzzle loader and black powder. 13. What is your favorite rod to use? A. My old Fenwick 6 6" 5wt. 14. What would you like to contribute to further trout fishing? A. I d like to teach others how to tie flies and fly casting. 15. What is your favorite trout to fish for? A. Brook trout 16. What was your best day on the water? A. Fishing one October on Cedar Run in Have you always lived in Schuylkill county? A. Yes, I m originally from Pottsville 18. If you couldn t fish any more, what would you miss the most about fishing? A. Trying to reach out to that one trout on the far bank. Youth Fishing Derby, Saturday, May 19 th 9 am. to 12 Noon On the Schuylkill River at the James Clark Memorial Park in New Philadelphia Ages 15 and younger. Sponsored by Schuylkill Headwaters, Schuylkill County Trout Unlimited and the Borough of New Philadelphia

4 4 What Trout See continued from page 1 This was supposed to be about a new approach to fly fishing. The authors (both English) took a fresh approach to what trout actually do and not what others think they do. They researched and reported on what the trout see and how they react to what they see. It is a very enlightening book and one that I recommend if you can find one. A bit pricey today as I found out that a new paperback version goes for $142 through Amazon. I can t in a few short paragraphs begin to go into it. This was one of my better books that I had bought at that time. If you want to be a successful fisherman or fisherwoman, you need to know a few things about what the trout can see and what you should do about it. Get a copy of Fly Fisherman and read this article. Here are a few other articles on the internet that deal with the subject of trout vision. com/trout-fishing/what-does-thetrout-see/ The important thing is to understand how the fish sees in a variety of conditions and what the triggers are that make him eat. Armed with this information you can make smart choices both on the stream and at the vise. Don t be afraid to try new things. Trust your gut and see what works. Just try to see it his way. about-that-hook-what-do-troutsee/ About That Hook: What Do Trout See? blog/brody/how-do-trout-see How a trout sees can impact your fly fishing success. Their vision is uniquely adapted to locate food and detect predators from above, both things that anglers must consider. I m sure there are many other articles on this subject of trout vision you can find on the net. Read them and make them a part of your fishing skill set. Newsletter press deadline Chapter members wishing to submit information for the monthly newsletter should submit it to our address at sctu@schuylkillcountytu.org by the 10 th of the month. Officers & Board Members for 2018 BRIAN LENGEL President BRUCE HERB Vice President PEGGY HUTTON Secretary NICOLE SUTTON Treasurer Board Members TOM FOLINO CLIFF HUTTON ANN McCOLE CHARLIE MULL BUD NOEL DAVE SFARRA ROCKY SEIDERS On the Internet contact us at Like us on Facebook SchuylkillCounty TroutUnlimited/ 2018 PA Fish & Boat Commission Trout Stocking for Schuylkill County TroutStockingDetails_GIS.aspx

5 5 Schuylkill County Trout Unlimited June Fly of the Month Contributed by: John & Brenda Robertson March Brown Comparadun I was first introduced to the comparadun style of fly when reading the book COMPARAHATCH by Al Caucci and Bob Nastasi. Comparadun style flies are highly imitative and very economical to tie. The only materials you need are tailing fibers, fur, and hair. I look forward to fishing comparaduns to the March Brown hatch every year. March Browns hatch sporadically throughout the day affording the dry fly angler the opportunity to drift a fly to likely holding areas all day long. Give this fly a try, it is one of my favorites. March Brown Comparadun Hook: Standard dry fly # 10, 12 Thread: Brown 6/0 Tail: Ginger hackle barbs Body: Tan fur Wing: White tail deer body hair Tying Tip: Dubbing for comparaduns is up to the tier. Rabbit underfur, beaver, possum, all work well. For this example, I used red fox fur. It is helpful to make a small ball of dubbing at the hook bend before tying in the tail. This will lift and spread the tail for better buoyancy on the water. Tight lines, John Schuylkill County Trout Unlimited 2018 Meeting Schedule Date Event Location Time May 22, 2018 Monthly Membership Meeting Amvets Building 1300 Seneca St. Pottsville, Pa. 6:00 pm June 26, 2018 Monthly Membership Meeting Amvets Building 1300 Seneca St. Pottsville, Pa. 6:00 pm

6 6 Schuylkill County Trout Unlimited The Schuylkill County Trout Unlimited road and creek clean up crew, left photo, collected 25 bags of trash from Bear Creek and from along Route 895 on April 25, S.C.T.U. Clean up crew Trout in the classroom Thirty eight students from the Saint Clair Area Middle School observed a trout release in New Philadelphia. The Mayor of New Philadelphia Ed Slane left and John Bondura take a break from planting trees along the Schuylkill River. With shovels in hand S.C.T.U. Board Members Charles Mull, left, and Dave Sfarra were part of the group that planted 150 trees along the Schuylkill River in the Schuylkill Valley April 20, 2018.

7 7 Citizens Fire Company No. 1 of Middleport and the Borough of Middleport are coming together to present a day of fun for the kids!!!! Sunday May 20 th, :00 am. to 3:00 pm. There will be a 1 hour break for lunch from 12-1 Registration at the Park along 209 Fishing will be from the 209 bridge to The Bridge at the American Legion. Prizes awarded for Tagged Fish Raffles, 50/50 Hot Dogs and Drinks Ages: 15 years and younger Free entry Lunch available at the Coal Street pub and Grub ALL AGE FISHING FUN Sunday May 20 th - South End Field & Stream - Whipporwill Dam - 8 am.-2 pm. $50 GRAND PRIZE DRINKS 50/50 Fish for Autism 10 LARGEST FISH FOOD RAFFLES Wristbands available NOW and DAY of the event Pick up your wristband and license at the Tackle Box, Frackville Wristbands also available at the Black Diamond AGE 14 & UNDER $10 AGE 15 & UP $15 PA State Regulations Apply For more info contact Ken and/or Jeanmarie ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT AUTISM AWARENESS!!!