Susquehanna Ripples Newsletter of the #044 September 2015 Fishing Picnic to be held for September 9 The September meeting will be held at the Greenwood Hunting Lodge, courtesy of member Chuck Knowlden. The very large hunting camp contains two lakes one about 20 acres and holds a variety of fish Fishing will be all-tackle. A gas grill will be available for cooking, and the chapter will have some hot dogs and rolls. Bring your own meat if you wish, and a dish to share if you can. Our students in the Healing Waters program are invited. Our program will be a discussion regarding how we might market the large inventory of fly tying materials which we now have. You are welcome to arrive anytime after 2 P.M. We will adjourn at dark. Plan to eat about 6 P.M. Directions to Greenwood Hunting Club are as follows: Take Rt. 14 north. 1 mile north of Marsh Hill Meat Market, turn left on Frozen Run Road (dirt road) proceed 4 miles up to the Greenwood Hunting Lodge. If you need a ride, contact either Bob Baker or Dave Craig (contact information page 2) and we will do our best to arrange it. We hope to see you all there. Volunteers Wanted for Sorting Dave Craig The chapter has a very large inventory of fly tying materials and fishing related items which needs to be sorted and organized for future sale. We have made progress with this during our twice monthly Healing Waters fly tying lessons when we have been fortunate to have more instructors than we need. However, we need help in order to get the job done. Healing Waters meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month at the First Presbyterian Church (east entrance 2nd floor) from 6:30 until 8:30, and sorting takes place in a separate room. We would appreciate your help. Please come and give the chapter a hand.. You will be amazed at the quantity and quality of packaged merchandise which we received from the former E. Hille fly shop. It is really interesting when you get in to it. A successful sale of this material could fund the chapter for several years. Dave Craig PA Council of Trout Unlimited Annual Meeting The PATU Annual Meeting is scheduled for October 3, 2015 at the Shaver s Creek Community Building near Petersburg, PA. There will be training, networking and other great opportunities for chapter leaders and members, as well as annual awards and a prize raffle...and not to be forgotten is the annual pig roast! For more information, please see the PA Council Website at http://www.patrout.org/.
Register now for National TU's Annual Meeting in Scranton September 16-20 For the first time in 25 years, TU's National Annual Meeting is coming to Pennsylvania on Wednesday, September 16 through Sunday, September 20, and will be held at the Center City Hilton Hotel and Convention Center in Scranton. While National TU will be doing most of the work to set up these meetings, PATU and its chapters will play a key role in ensuring the success of the 5 days of planned activities. On Wednesday, anglers from all over the country will arrive to fish with local volunteer guides who will each accompany one or two fishermen on our local waters. A conservation bus tour is scheduled on Thursday to visit conservation projects and highlight environmental issues being faced by Trout Unlimited in northeastern Pennsylvania. Friday is the first full day of meetings and breakout training sessions, and the Friday evening Awards Dinner. Saturday's schedule will begin with President and CEO Chris Wood s State of TU address followed by reports from the Board of Trustees, National Leadership Council, and the chief financial officer s budget report. Saturday night is the Banquet and Fundraising Auction. There will also be tours and special programs available at a reduced rate for all spouses who register for the meeting. The NEPA Fly Girls will host a special welcome reception for wives, and a hospitality suite will be available at the hotel each night for attendees to unwind, relax, and socialize. Officer and Directors President: David Craig Email: davsalc@comcast.net Phone: 570-326-1002 / 570-971- 4744 Vice President: Walt Nicholson Email: walt.nicholson10@gmail.com Secretary: Kevin McJunkin Email: kevinmcjunkin@comcast.net Treasurer: Bob Baker Email: boblbaker@comcast.net Phone: 570-337-1279 Board of Directors Jim Latini Joe Radley Carey Entz-Rine Bob Spencer Steve Szoke Chapter Advisors Bill O Connor Bob Rinn Newsletter Editor/Webmaster Bob Baker Newsletter Team members Cheyenne Baker Dakota Baker susquehanatu.wordpress.com susquehannatu@gmail.com September 2015 2
Youth Fly-Fishing Team Captures Gold The 2015 Youth World Fly Fishing Championship was held in Vale, Colorado August 10-16 and the team from the United States finished in first place and received the gold medal. A total of 8 teams from around the world competed in the annual event. Team USA finished with 285 fish caught and was followed by teams from Poland, Czech Republic, South Africa, and France. Team USA earns Silver in Fly Fishing Championship The 35th annual Mouche World Fly Fishing Championship was held in Jajce (Bosnia i Herzegovina), June 16-22. Team USA finished in second place after catching 153 fish. The team from Russia obtained the gold and Bosnia I Herzegovinian (3), France (4), and Slovenia came in 5th place. A total of 27 Teams competed in this years event and team members also competed for individual awards. Team member Devin Olsen finished in third place and Pat Weiss from Centre Hall, PA finished 18th out of 141 competitors. http://www.southeastflyfishingforum.com/forum/terresterial-japanese-beetle-t43029.html September 2015 3
Big Trout Program Trout anglers will have an exciting opportunity to fish for big trout in eight streams next year under a new program being launched by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC). And the PFBC wants anglers to help name the program by casting votes online at http://fishandboat.com/stocking/large -trout.htm. Under the program, approximately 10 percent of the larger 2- to 3-year-old trout in the PFBC hatchery system that are stocked each year will be allocated to eight streams currently managed under Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only regulations. These fish will measure from 14 to more than 20 in length and will be stocked at a rate of up to 250 trout per mile, which is comparable to the numbers of fish of this size in Pennsylvania s best wild trout waters. By contrast, the current stocking rate for 2- to 3-year-old fish statewide in the adult stocked trout program is about 5 to 10 per mile. Similar programs initiated by several groups have proven very popular on other waters, such as Pine Creek in Lycoming County, said PFBC Executive Director John Arway. These programs have successfully demonstrated that destination fisheries can be created, drawing anglers from across the state and even the country LIVETARGET BaitBall Glass Minnow Jerkbait and providing an economic boost to local communities. The eight streams will be distributed broadly across the state so that at least one water is located within a reasonable distance of all of Pennsylvania s anglers. The PFBC has traditionally spread out the stocking of these larger trout with a moderate number allocated to each water statewide. While this will still occur, the new program will considerably increase the number of larger trout in the select locations, significantly increasing the opportunity for anglers to catch a large trout, said Jason Detar, Chief of the PFBC Division of Fisheries Management. We re creating unique opportunities for anglers to experience trout fishing at its best and the Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only regulations will allow the fish to be caught multiple times by anglers, he said. We re confident anglers will enjoy the experience and share it with friends and family. Currently this program is unnamed, and the PFBC is seeking the public s help in naming the program. Individuals can either vote for one of the names provided, or write in a proposed name. PFBC staff will review all of the suggestions and a name will be selected prior to the next PFBC quarterly business meeting on September 28-29. Both the program name and the names of the selected waters will be released at the September meeting. The public voting process will close on Sept. 4, 2015. To vote, go to http://fishandboat.com/stocking/ Recipe of the Month Perch Cakes The LIVETARGET BaitBall Series revolutionizes the way anglers think of jerkbaits. By placing multiple baitfish in the middle of the lure, this Glass Minnow Jerkbait recreates baitfish's natural defense of swimming in a tight bait ball, making it as close to the real thing as predator fish can get. It mimics a small line of Shiners swimming erratically. The LIVETARGET BaitBall Glass Minnow Jerkbait is designed for life-like action that's perfect for casting or trolling for Bass, Walleye, Trout, Salmon and Northern Pike. 1 lb. fillets, cooked, flaked 1 egg, beaten 1 onion, minced 1 tb. lemon juice 1 tsp. parsley flakes 1/4 tsp. pepper 1/4 to 1/2 cup cornflake crumbs 2 tb. mustard 1/2 tsp. salt Vegetable oil Directions: Mix egg, onion, mustard, lemon juice, parsley, salt and pepper in a bowl; toss with flaked fish. Add enough cornflake crumbs to shape 4 to 6 fish cakes. Roll each cake in extra crumbs to coat the outside. Heat the oil in a skillet, and fry cakes until crisp and brown. http://www.outdoorlife.com/articles/fishing/2007/09/fivesimple-panfish-recipes September 2015 4
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) today announced that it has launched an S.O.S. - Save Our Susquehanna! campaign to fund water and soil conservation projects along the Susquehanna River, whose young smallmouth bass population has been plagued over the last decade by illness and elevated mortality rates. The Susquehanna River is sick and someone has to take steps to fix it before it is too late, said PFBC Executive Director John Arway. This is about conservation and protecting our aquatic resources so they may be enjoyed by future generations as guaranteed by our state constitution. We need leadership to begin working on fixing problems that we know exist. The PFBC s very mission of Resource First requires us to step up our efforts to help our smallmouth fishery before it s too late, he added. The time for action is now. This campaign will help fund projects to reduce known sources of pollution in critical areas where diseased bass have been found. Examples of some projects include: Identifying sites and working with willing farmers and colleges and universities to test soils and reduce nutrient and sediment run-off to control nuisance algae blooms that produce low oxygen levels and high ph conditions that are harmful to young bass; and Working with physicians and hospitals throughout the basin to keep pharmaceutical drugs and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) out of the river because of the harmful effects that they cause to fish. From now until the end of the year, the PFBC expects to receive $3 million in revenue from sales of approximately 130,000 resident annual, senior resident annual, and non-resident annual licenses. Under the S.O.S. - Save Our Susquehanna! campaign, once the $3 million threshold is met, all additional sales from the three licenses will be dedicated solely to funding Susquehanna River projects. To kick off the campaign, we are pledging $50,000 in matching funds from the Commission, Arway said. I m optimistic that we will raise and exceed the $50,000 from anglers, other conservationists, and anyone who cares about our natural resources and supports our efforts to do everything in our power to protect and conserve them. Once we raise $50,000, the S.O.S. - Save Our Susquehanna! campaign will have its first $100,000 to begin working on projects to fix the river, he added. The campaign coincides with the upcoming start of bass season on June 13. Bass fishing is about to start, and memories of what bass fishing used to be like on the Susquehanna are on the minds of all anglers, Arway said. By announcing the campaign now, we hope that our avid anglers will share the news with colleagues and friends who may not fish, but care about the river and will want to contribute to help save it. Arway added that anyone can contribute to the campaign by purchasing a fishing license. The fishing license is simply the mechanism we re using to raise the funds, he said. You don t have to be an angler. You just have to care about the Susquehanna River. By buying an annual fishing license, you can help make this campaign a success. Arway added that by supporting this campaign, individuals can also help the Chesapeake Bay, which is fed by the Susquehanna River. If you care about the Chesapeake Bay, buy a Pennsylvania fishing license to help us fix the river, which will also help to Save the Bay. A resident annual fishing license is $20; senior resident annual $9; and non-resident annual $50. Also, individuals can further demonstrate their support by purchasing a special S.O.S. - Save Our Susquehanna button for just $10. A fishing license is required in order to purchase the button and all proceeds from the button sales will also go to fund the campaign. Buttons will be available to purchase on June 8. Arway added that anglers and individuals also have the option of contributing to the campaign by writing a check to S.O.S. Save Our Susquehanna and mailing it to the PFBC headquarters at P.O. Box 67000, Harrisburg, PA 17106. Fishing licenses and buttons can be purchased online through the PFBC s Outdoor Shop or at any of 900 licensing agents across the Commonwealth. Help us help the river, Arway added. The smallmouth bass need your support today. http://fishandboat.com/news/2015pr/sos -bass.htm September 2015 5
Susquehanna Ripples PO Box 1132 Williamsport, PA 17703-1132 The Mission of the is to work to conserve, protect and restore Central Pennsylvania s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds Upcoming Events Project Healing Waters Held the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm September 8, 2015 Extended Trout Season Begins September 9, 2015 Chapter Picnic and Family fishing event - 2 pm until dark (see front page for more information) September 16-20, 2015 National TU meeting in Scranton, PA October 3, 2015 PA Council of Trout Unlimited Annual Mtg October 14, 2015 November 11, 2015 January 13, 2016 - Annual Watershed Meeting February 10, 2016 March 9, 2016 April 13, 2016 WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Gage Avery David Bower Jim Cunningham Gary Eiswerth Derek Hart Vincent J Majikas Sr. Sam Shaheen Our membership currently stands at 261 Members Chapter meetings Held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month and are open to the public and begin at 7:30 pm. Meetings are held at the First Presbyterian Church of Williamsport in the Fellowship Hall (unless otherwise noted), 102 East 3rd Street, Williamsport. Parking is in the rear of the Church along Mulberry Street. No meetings are held in May, June, July, August or December