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June 23rd, 2008... Submit your trophy to the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame
Read This Before Submitting Catch and Release Application...
This Hall of Fame program encourages "water release". Fish should be released at the catch site as quickly as possible to minimize stress.
Record released fish are recognized by length only and listed in the record book and quarterly updates by line class in their respective
division. Include an accurate measurement of the fish. A clear full length photo. (Fish should always be held in a horizontal position to minimize
stress). One witness is required. The fish must be hooked and played by only one person and only that person should submit this application.
Angler may be assisted in landing the fish. Angler species identification is accepted. Fish weighing is defined as stressful and will disqualify
entrant. "Catch and Release" is largely an honor program and fish survival of high priority. *NOTE: All fractions in length dropped to even
inches.
YOU WILL RECEIVE AS A WORLD RECORD HOLDER: If qualified as a world record holder, you will receive a parchment certificate for
framing, and a colorful garment sleeve emblem. Your record will be listed in the annals of the Hall of Fame for posterity and in the Halls annual
official world book of records. For more info and applications go to... http://www.freshwater-fishing.org/pdf/catch-n-release-application.pdf
July 27. 2007... Does High Horsepower Affect Fishing?
I recently suggested that the unlimited horsepower allowed at Curwensville Lake may affect the fishing. I received several emails saying that I
was full of *&%$ and that the high horsepower has no affect on the fishing. When I first suggested this possibility I was not criticising fishermen
who have high horsepower boats. In fact, I would love to own a boat with that kind of power but, unfortunately, I can't afford the gas. In light of
this controversy I wrote the Fish & Boat Commission for their opinion and this is what they said:
"The influence of motor boat operation on fish is such that motor boats can alter the behavior of fish, in my opinion. Operation of large motor
boats is limited on waters where public safety or water body size necessitates a limit.
On most all lakes/reservoirs where large power boats are permeated, boat operation is confined to main lake "channels" so fish behavior is
likely altered in a manner similar to that caused by a windy day where wave action is particularly great near shore.
Although avid anglers may not aspire to use boats for the same purposes as recreational boaters they must, nonetheless respect all water
users. Where there is a breakdown of respect chaos results and everyone suffers. Any challenging condition presented by recreational use is
similar to any challenging weather condition and requires anglers to alter tactics and perhaps focus on locations (no-wake zones), times (early
and late in the day ) and on days of week (weekdays) and water depths (deeper water) where fish are less affected by recreational use.
I wish I could provided you with a more appealing answer, however, obeying the law and respecting all users of our waterways is simply the
only answer".
Robert M. Lorantas
Warmwater Unit Leader
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
June 24, 2007... The Real Scoop On Moon Phases
This is a very informative article on Moon Phases by renowned fisherman Joe Bucher:
Full Moon or Dark Moon? Major and minor solunar periods? Which is best? Does any of this moon mumbo jumbo make any real sense nor
does it actually work? These are legitimate questions asked by thousands of anglers each year, and they deserve concrete answers backed
up by some bonafide data. Yet as much as pro anglers endorse the effectiveness of moon charts and outdoor publications of every niche'
continue to print them, rarely does either source validate these solunar claims with data.
It's not hard to find a solunar table of some kind. Nearly every fishing publication today publishes some kind of monthly solunar table, moon
chart, activity calendar, action graph, or other similar version. All of these tables, charts, and calendars claim to predict daily feeding activity of
fish with accordinance to moon and solar influences. Yet, I, like so many other anglers, rarely find any consistent correlation with most of these
references.
Finally, back in 1976, when I got into the fishing guide business full time, I really made it a point to compare my fishing catches to a number of
popular solunar charts. Once I started logging my catches on a daily basis I developed a good data base. This finally put me in a position to
compare hundreds of muskies, and thousands of bass and walleyes on a daily, monthly, and yearly basis to any printed solar/lunar reference.
One of my key entries was TIME of day. I figured a daily entry of fish activity would finally give me a mound of fishing data to compare with the
various solar/lunar references on a given day to day basis. What followed convinced me that certain solar/lunar criteria simply had very little or
no daily influence.
You would have thought that my accumulated research would have cured me from ever looking at a solunar chart again, but it did just the
opposite. Why? Because I ended up discovering a certain solar/lunar influence that really did work. In fact, it worked so well that it was hard to
believe at first. My daily fishing logs had surely disputed the commonly accepted correlations, but they just as surely pointed to indisputable
evidence that a "certain" solar/lunar factor was really important.
Yes, I had flipped 180 degrees on the entire solar/lunar deal. I went from totally disbelieving to being totally convinced. In fact, I eventually got
to the point where I myself began to predict the most probable daily, monthly, and even yearly times when the biggest fish were most apt to
bite. And, what's even more incredible, was that I was right almost every single time! But perhaps what was even more unbelievable to me
was that everyone else had missed this simple but really absolutely TRUE key.
The real secret, I discovered, to solar/lunar influences on a daily basis was nothing more than knowing when the sun and moon rose and set
on a 24 hour basis. That's right, it was simply a matter of knowing, to the minute, when the sun came up and went down, and when the moon
came up and went down each and every day. My 21 year old fishing log revealed without question that more fish were active during a 90
minute window surrounding each one of these four daily influences.
Now, I realize this sounds overly obvious, but I told you it would. Most of the solar/lunar charts, tables, and graphs you see depicted in today's
publications do NOT reveal nor coincide with these four vital factors: 1) sun rise, 2) sun set, 3) moon rise, and 4) moon set. Yet it doesn't take
an astrologist to figure out how important the rise and set of both the sun and moon has to be.
It's certainly no secret that feeding movements of both fish and game have been traditionally accepted as key during dawn and dusk -- this
correlates with sun rise and sun set. Moon rise and set is a bit more tricky to key in on though since they can often occur at mid day or mid
night. Overcast weather can also make it impossible to see a moon rise or set, and of course a dark/new moon is not visible to begin with.
This information is readily available in several national weather publications, but your best bet is to take a look around this website for Joe
Bucher's Moon Secrets.
The other "super secret" my logs revealed was the predictable frequency of big fish catches during the peak moon phases of full moon and
new moon. Specifically, a lot more big muskies, walleyes, and bass were taken right on the actual scheduled calendar day of both the full or
new (dark) moon peak, and continued for a three to five day stretch afterwards. In other words, if the full moon peak is on June 10th, June 10
thru 15 have great potential for trophies.
Backing up a bit, the four daily factors previously discussed (the rise and set of both the sun and moon) inside each one of these predictable
monthly moon peaks (four days on the back side of the full or new moon) further nails it down. In other words, you want to plan your fishing trips
to hit the peak of the full or new moon. Then you want to be fishing on your favorite big fish spots during the daily rise and set of both the sun
and moon.
Finally, my logs revealed a third factor that really adds impact to this entire solunar secret. That unpredictable third influence is local weather.
Whenever a local weather change coincides with the daily rise or set of either the sun or moon, during a peak monthly moon period, BIG
things happen in bunches. BIG things meaning BIG FISH. For example, give me a severe summer T-storm right at sunset, and just before
moon rise during the new moon period and it's almost a sure bet that I'm going to bag a big muskies or the year's biggest catch of lunker
walleyes. Or just as good -- put me on a steep rocky shoreline with some spawning ciscoes right at the start of a snow storm in the late fall just
after sunrise and right before moon set during a full moon period. Big muskies, big pike, big walleyes, and big lakers will be snappin'.
Could there be a fourth factor? Absolutely. In fact, there might even be a 5th or 6th. However, an easy-to-detect 4th factor of influence that
adds even more impact to an already good situation is a change in the photoperiod, or laymen's terms -- a change in season.
Photoperiodism is actually the measured ratio of daylight to darkness. The most drastic changes in the photoperiod occur in the spring and
fall, but mini-differences are detected inside all seasons which are quickly detected thru their eyes and transmitted to their pituitary gland. The
responses to these changes in the photoperiod trigger sexual responses such as reproduction and the development of eggs. This, in turn,
also triggers increased movement and feeding binges by normally less active trophy fish.
I do realize how controversial my comments on solunar table validity may seem to some, but the facts speak for themselves. My data clearly
points to sun rise, sun set, moon rise and moon set as The most important factors. The simple rise and set of both the sun and moon has far
more impact than any other daily sun or moon position. That is, bar none, the single most important daily triggering factor of both fish and
game.
Monthly peaks in both the full and new moon are a second factor definitely worth considering. When fish of all sizes are feeding infrequently
due to a prolonged streak of bad local weather conditions, that small "window" of three to four days right after the actual moon peaks, full or
new, may be the only time that the largest fish of any species is truly catchable. Fishing during the daily rise or set of the sun and moon during
these key monthly moon phases is paramount.
Weather is also a legitimate third factor, and helps to elevate the impact of the daily rise and set of the sun or moon. It further elevates the
entire realm of big fish possibilities when all three factors happen at relatively the same time. A changing weather pattern combined with a
good monthly moon phase and rise or set of either sun or moon can activate some major movement from big fish. If all of these things happen
during a good photoperiod, LOOK OUT! This is when the biggest fish of the year are generally caught. If your serious about taking such a fish,
I'd suggest you start really paying attention to the real scoop on moon phases! Trust me -- thousands of entries in my fishing logs can't be
wrong. This stuff really works!sun set, moon rise and moon set as The most important factors. The simple rise and set of both the sun and
moon has far more impact than any other daily sun or moon position. That is, bar none, the single most important daily triggering factor of both
fish and game.
April 4, 2007... Most Common Fishing Mistakes-
The Confidence Bait Flaw. This is probably the biggest mistake I see anglers make on the water. Every fisherman has a confidence bait. That
one lure that always seems to catch fish and outdoes the other lures in your tackle box. So what is wrong with having a confidence bait?
Nothing, but if you are going to throw that confidence bait, you better know how to catch fish with it day in and day out in all conditions. I see it
all the time. Fisherman will catch a ton of bass one day on say a worm, and the next day they are trying to do the same thing. I know I would be
trying to do the same thing as the day before, but if it isn't working, it isn't working. I've seen fisherman go the whole day fishing one bait,
changing colors thinking a little blue fleck may be all the change that's needed to get those bass striking again. You have to be cognizant and
realize when it's time to make a change. When you find yourself fishing a lure and not getting any bites, two things should come into your mind.
One, do I need to change location? Or two, maybe this bait has lost its appeal to the fish. I used to be the kind of fisherman to fish a bait for
hours even without a bite, convincing myself that if there were a fish to be found, he would hit my lure I was fishing. Now, I have realized it is
much better to constantly change. I think a lot of anglers watch shows like BassMaster and FLW Tour and see these pros spending the whole
day throwing the same bait, even though they may not be catching fish. But you have to remember, these pros have spent hundreds of hours
pre-fishing their waters, so what is on their line they probably have good reason for it. So next time your out on the water and your not getting
any strikes, change up! Adapt to the situation, and seek out an answer. Don't assume the fish will start biting and what you have tied on is your
best bet, cause if you aren't catching fish, changing up should be the only thing on your mind!
Don't Be A Camper. This is another common mistake I see anglers making. Whether the particular cover they are fishing has given up good
fish in the past, or just looks like a winning hotspot, fisherman often make the mistake of camping out on a certain piece of cover. Have you
ever been fishing down a relatively bare bank and come across a massive tree that has fallen into the water. This tree has hundreds of
branches and every nook and cranny would have to hold a ten pound bass. Sure, sounds like a great laydown to me.... I'd fish it! But if I hit the
main spots of the laydown with my jig, and maybe toss a spinnerbait or crankbait to it a few times and get nothing, I'm out of there! Your fishing
time is a precious commodity. Especially in a tournament, if your not getting bites on a piece of cover, disregard it and move on. I've seen
fisherman spend hours fishing one single tree. They will tie on every lure and color combination imaginable. They have it in their mind that this
tree, rock pile, or pier looks too good not to have active fish on it. If you spend hours on a piece of cover, there is a chance that you will find a
nice fish hidden somewhere where your first hundred casts didn't reach. But you need to take the 'chance' out of fishing! So don't put all your
faith on a single piece of cover, or your asking for disappointment.
February 16, 2007... This is interesting: I found a history of Clearfield County fishing that is quite interesting. According to the article... "Fishing
in Clearfield County has gone through a major swing in the past 100 years. In the 1890's and early 1900's, eels and shad would migrate up the
Chesapeake Bay the whole way to Cherry Tree. Hydroelectric dams in the southern part of the state eliminated these phenomena, and the abuse of our
waterways followed. From 1900 until 1965, waterways were dumping grounds in this state and the country. The Susquehanna, which was once abundant
with fish, was literally dead by 1920 due to a combination of acid mine drainage and dumping of chemicals from the Curwensville and Clearfield tanneries,
plus all the sewage from these two towns. In 1895, a Clearfield editor stated that few, if any, pike are caught in the river. By 1918, the Moshannon,
Anderson and Clearfield creeks, three of our largest and most beautiful waterways, were completely dead of aquatic life due to mine discharges. Only the
headwaters of these streams, whose origins were in the mountains, sustained brook trout. Several events would change this tragedy drastically. A new
attitude occurred in the 1960's when some of the larger rivers in the country were being used for drinking water. The Federal Clean Water Act of 1965
was the beginning of the restoration of the streams, and it impacted Clearfield County dramatically. DuBois, Clearfield and Curwensville immediately
installed sewage treatment plants followed by Houtzdale, Mahaffey and Grampian. The tanneries were put on strict discharge permits. By 1975, aquatic life
started to return to the river, and since 1990 large fishing derby's are held on the rivers, which catch hundreds of various species of fish such as bass,
catfish, trout, fall fish, suckers, carp and pickerels. Over 15,000 trout were placed in the river below Curwensville in 1999. The Curwensville Dam was also
part of the river restoration in 1965, as it became a natural settling basin for iron and manganese from acid mines upstream. The dam hosts all sorts of
fish, which have been stocked in the waters. The state and local groups are, in the year 2000, focusing on new technologies to clean up the acid
damaged streams. Anderson Creek and Clearfield Creek have formed groups for early assessment. Many of our pristine trout streams were taken off
stocking programs in the 1980's due to their natural reproducing capabilities. However, the county still has the Shawville Power Plant, which emits tons of
sulfuric emissions that dissolve clay and challenges trout."
In the coming months I will be bringing you the latest news concerning the fish stocking and structure reclamation which is going to be started this spring
by the Curwensville Anglers Restocking Program as well as the PA Fish and Boat Commission. Should have a lot of good pics.
Read This Before Submitting Catch and Release Application...
This Hall of Fame program encourages "water release". Fish should be released at the catch site as quickly as possible to minimize stress.
Record released fish are recognized by length only and listed in the record book and quarterly updates by line class in their respective
division. Include an accurate measurement of the fish. A clear full length photo. (Fish should always be held in a horizontal position to minimize
stress). One witness is required. The fish must be hooked and played by only one person and only that person should submit this application.
Angler may be assisted in landing the fish. Angler species identification is accepted. Fish weighing is defined as stressful and will disqualify
entrant. "Catch and Release" is largely an honor program and fish survival of high priority. *NOTE: All fractions in length dropped to even
inches.
YOU WILL RECEIVE AS A WORLD RECORD HOLDER: If qualified as a world record holder, you will receive a parchment certificate for
framing, and a colorful garment sleeve emblem. Your record will be listed in the annals of the Hall of Fame for posterity and in the Halls annual
official world book of records. For more info and applications go to... http://www.freshwater-fishing.org/pdf/catch-n-release-application.pdf
July 27. 2007... Does High Horsepower Affect Fishing?
I recently suggested that the unlimited horsepower allowed at Curwensville Lake may affect the fishing. I received several emails saying that I
was full of *&%$ and that the high horsepower has no affect on the fishing. When I first suggested this possibility I was not criticising fishermen
who have high horsepower boats. In fact, I would love to own a boat with that kind of power but, unfortunately, I can't afford the gas. In light of
this controversy I wrote the Fish & Boat Commission for their opinion and this is what they said:
"The influence of motor boat operation on fish is such that motor boats can alter the behavior of fish, in my opinion. Operation of large motor
boats is limited on waters where public safety or water body size necessitates a limit.
On most all lakes/reservoirs where large power boats are permeated, boat operation is confined to main lake "channels" so fish behavior is
likely altered in a manner similar to that caused by a windy day where wave action is particularly great near shore.
Although avid anglers may not aspire to use boats for the same purposes as recreational boaters they must, nonetheless respect all water
users. Where there is a breakdown of respect chaos results and everyone suffers. Any challenging condition presented by recreational use is
similar to any challenging weather condition and requires anglers to alter tactics and perhaps focus on locations (no-wake zones), times (early
and late in the day ) and on days of week (weekdays) and water depths (deeper water) where fish are less affected by recreational use.
I wish I could provided you with a more appealing answer, however, obeying the law and respecting all users of our waterways is simply the
only answer".
Robert M. Lorantas
Warmwater Unit Leader
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
June 24, 2007... The Real Scoop On Moon Phases
This is a very informative article on Moon Phases by renowned fisherman Joe Bucher:
Full Moon or Dark Moon? Major and minor solunar periods? Which is best? Does any of this moon mumbo jumbo make any real sense nor
does it actually work? These are legitimate questions asked by thousands of anglers each year, and they deserve concrete answers backed
up by some bonafide data. Yet as much as pro anglers endorse the effectiveness of moon charts and outdoor publications of every niche'
continue to print them, rarely does either source validate these solunar claims with data.
It's not hard to find a solunar table of some kind. Nearly every fishing publication today publishes some kind of monthly solunar table, moon
chart, activity calendar, action graph, or other similar version. All of these tables, charts, and calendars claim to predict daily feeding activity of
fish with accordinance to moon and solar influences. Yet, I, like so many other anglers, rarely find any consistent correlation with most of these
references.
Finally, back in 1976, when I got into the fishing guide business full time, I really made it a point to compare my fishing catches to a number of
popular solunar charts. Once I started logging my catches on a daily basis I developed a good data base. This finally put me in a position to
compare hundreds of muskies, and thousands of bass and walleyes on a daily, monthly, and yearly basis to any printed solar/lunar reference.
One of my key entries was TIME of day. I figured a daily entry of fish activity would finally give me a mound of fishing data to compare with the
various solar/lunar references on a given day to day basis. What followed convinced me that certain solar/lunar criteria simply had very little or
no daily influence.
You would have thought that my accumulated research would have cured me from ever looking at a solunar chart again, but it did just the
opposite. Why? Because I ended up discovering a certain solar/lunar influence that really did work. In fact, it worked so well that it was hard to
believe at first. My daily fishing logs had surely disputed the commonly accepted correlations, but they just as surely pointed to indisputable
evidence that a "certain" solar/lunar factor was really important.
Yes, I had flipped 180 degrees on the entire solar/lunar deal. I went from totally disbelieving to being totally convinced. In fact, I eventually got
to the point where I myself began to predict the most probable daily, monthly, and even yearly times when the biggest fish were most apt to
bite. And, what's even more incredible, was that I was right almost every single time! But perhaps what was even more unbelievable to me
was that everyone else had missed this simple but really absolutely TRUE key.
The real secret, I discovered, to solar/lunar influences on a daily basis was nothing more than knowing when the sun and moon rose and set
on a 24 hour basis. That's right, it was simply a matter of knowing, to the minute, when the sun came up and went down, and when the moon
came up and went down each and every day. My 21 year old fishing log revealed without question that more fish were active during a 90
minute window surrounding each one of these four daily influences.
Now, I realize this sounds overly obvious, but I told you it would. Most of the solar/lunar charts, tables, and graphs you see depicted in today's
publications do NOT reveal nor coincide with these four vital factors: 1) sun rise, 2) sun set, 3) moon rise, and 4) moon set. Yet it doesn't take
an astrologist to figure out how important the rise and set of both the sun and moon has to be.
It's certainly no secret that feeding movements of both fish and game have been traditionally accepted as key during dawn and dusk -- this
correlates with sun rise and sun set. Moon rise and set is a bit more tricky to key in on though since they can often occur at mid day or mid
night. Overcast weather can also make it impossible to see a moon rise or set, and of course a dark/new moon is not visible to begin with.
This information is readily available in several national weather publications, but your best bet is to take a look around this website for Joe
Bucher's Moon Secrets.
The other "super secret" my logs revealed was the predictable frequency of big fish catches during the peak moon phases of full moon and
new moon. Specifically, a lot more big muskies, walleyes, and bass were taken right on the actual scheduled calendar day of both the full or
new (dark) moon peak, and continued for a three to five day stretch afterwards. In other words, if the full moon peak is on June 10th, June 10
thru 15 have great potential for trophies.
Backing up a bit, the four daily factors previously discussed (the rise and set of both the sun and moon) inside each one of these predictable
monthly moon peaks (four days on the back side of the full or new moon) further nails it down. In other words, you want to plan your fishing trips
to hit the peak of the full or new moon. Then you want to be fishing on your favorite big fish spots during the daily rise and set of both the sun
and moon.
Finally, my logs revealed a third factor that really adds impact to this entire solunar secret. That unpredictable third influence is local weather.
Whenever a local weather change coincides with the daily rise or set of either the sun or moon, during a peak monthly moon period, BIG
things happen in bunches. BIG things meaning BIG FISH. For example, give me a severe summer T-storm right at sunset, and just before
moon rise during the new moon period and it's almost a sure bet that I'm going to bag a big muskies or the year's biggest catch of lunker
walleyes. Or just as good -- put me on a steep rocky shoreline with some spawning ciscoes right at the start of a snow storm in the late fall just
after sunrise and right before moon set during a full moon period. Big muskies, big pike, big walleyes, and big lakers will be snappin'.
Could there be a fourth factor? Absolutely. In fact, there might even be a 5th or 6th. However, an easy-to-detect 4th factor of influence that
adds even more impact to an already good situation is a change in the photoperiod, or laymen's terms -- a change in season.
Photoperiodism is actually the measured ratio of daylight to darkness. The most drastic changes in the photoperiod occur in the spring and
fall, but mini-differences are detected inside all seasons which are quickly detected thru their eyes and transmitted to their pituitary gland. The
responses to these changes in the photoperiod trigger sexual responses such as reproduction and the development of eggs. This, in turn,
also triggers increased movement and feeding binges by normally less active trophy fish.
I do realize how controversial my comments on solunar table validity may seem to some, but the facts speak for themselves. My data clearly
points to sun rise, sun set, moon rise and moon set as The most important factors. The simple rise and set of both the sun and moon has far
more impact than any other daily sun or moon position. That is, bar none, the single most important daily triggering factor of both fish and
game.
Monthly peaks in both the full and new moon are a second factor definitely worth considering. When fish of all sizes are feeding infrequently
due to a prolonged streak of bad local weather conditions, that small "window" of three to four days right after the actual moon peaks, full or
new, may be the only time that the largest fish of any species is truly catchable. Fishing during the daily rise or set of the sun and moon during
these key monthly moon phases is paramount.
Weather is also a legitimate third factor, and helps to elevate the impact of the daily rise and set of the sun or moon. It further elevates the
entire realm of big fish possibilities when all three factors happen at relatively the same time. A changing weather pattern combined with a
good monthly moon phase and rise or set of either sun or moon can activate some major movement from big fish. If all of these things happen
during a good photoperiod, LOOK OUT! This is when the biggest fish of the year are generally caught. If your serious about taking such a fish,
I'd suggest you start really paying attention to the real scoop on moon phases! Trust me -- thousands of entries in my fishing logs can't be
wrong. This stuff really works!sun set, moon rise and moon set as The most important factors. The simple rise and set of both the sun and
moon has far more impact than any other daily sun or moon position. That is, bar none, the single most important daily triggering factor of both
fish and game.
April 4, 2007... Most Common Fishing Mistakes-
The Confidence Bait Flaw. This is probably the biggest mistake I see anglers make on the water. Every fisherman has a confidence bait. That
one lure that always seems to catch fish and outdoes the other lures in your tackle box. So what is wrong with having a confidence bait?
Nothing, but if you are going to throw that confidence bait, you better know how to catch fish with it day in and day out in all conditions. I see it
all the time. Fisherman will catch a ton of bass one day on say a worm, and the next day they are trying to do the same thing. I know I would be
trying to do the same thing as the day before, but if it isn't working, it isn't working. I've seen fisherman go the whole day fishing one bait,
changing colors thinking a little blue fleck may be all the change that's needed to get those bass striking again. You have to be cognizant and
realize when it's time to make a change. When you find yourself fishing a lure and not getting any bites, two things should come into your mind.
One, do I need to change location? Or two, maybe this bait has lost its appeal to the fish. I used to be the kind of fisherman to fish a bait for
hours even without a bite, convincing myself that if there were a fish to be found, he would hit my lure I was fishing. Now, I have realized it is
much better to constantly change. I think a lot of anglers watch shows like BassMaster and FLW Tour and see these pros spending the whole
day throwing the same bait, even though they may not be catching fish. But you have to remember, these pros have spent hundreds of hours
pre-fishing their waters, so what is on their line they probably have good reason for it. So next time your out on the water and your not getting
any strikes, change up! Adapt to the situation, and seek out an answer. Don't assume the fish will start biting and what you have tied on is your
best bet, cause if you aren't catching fish, changing up should be the only thing on your mind!
Don't Be A Camper. This is another common mistake I see anglers making. Whether the particular cover they are fishing has given up good
fish in the past, or just looks like a winning hotspot, fisherman often make the mistake of camping out on a certain piece of cover. Have you
ever been fishing down a relatively bare bank and come across a massive tree that has fallen into the water. This tree has hundreds of
branches and every nook and cranny would have to hold a ten pound bass. Sure, sounds like a great laydown to me.... I'd fish it! But if I hit the
main spots of the laydown with my jig, and maybe toss a spinnerbait or crankbait to it a few times and get nothing, I'm out of there! Your fishing
time is a precious commodity. Especially in a tournament, if your not getting bites on a piece of cover, disregard it and move on. I've seen
fisherman spend hours fishing one single tree. They will tie on every lure and color combination imaginable. They have it in their mind that this
tree, rock pile, or pier looks too good not to have active fish on it. If you spend hours on a piece of cover, there is a chance that you will find a
nice fish hidden somewhere where your first hundred casts didn't reach. But you need to take the 'chance' out of fishing! So don't put all your
faith on a single piece of cover, or your asking for disappointment.
February 16, 2007... This is interesting: I found a history of Clearfield County fishing that is quite interesting. According to the article... "Fishing
in Clearfield County has gone through a major swing in the past 100 years. In the 1890's and early 1900's, eels and shad would migrate up the
Chesapeake Bay the whole way to Cherry Tree. Hydroelectric dams in the southern part of the state eliminated these phenomena, and the abuse of our
waterways followed. From 1900 until 1965, waterways were dumping grounds in this state and the country. The Susquehanna, which was once abundant
with fish, was literally dead by 1920 due to a combination of acid mine drainage and dumping of chemicals from the Curwensville and Clearfield tanneries,
plus all the sewage from these two towns. In 1895, a Clearfield editor stated that few, if any, pike are caught in the river. By 1918, the Moshannon,
Anderson and Clearfield creeks, three of our largest and most beautiful waterways, were completely dead of aquatic life due to mine discharges. Only the
headwaters of these streams, whose origins were in the mountains, sustained brook trout. Several events would change this tragedy drastically. A new
attitude occurred in the 1960's when some of the larger rivers in the country were being used for drinking water. The Federal Clean Water Act of 1965
was the beginning of the restoration of the streams, and it impacted Clearfield County dramatically. DuBois, Clearfield and Curwensville immediately
installed sewage treatment plants followed by Houtzdale, Mahaffey and Grampian. The tanneries were put on strict discharge permits. By 1975, aquatic life
started to return to the river, and since 1990 large fishing derby's are held on the rivers, which catch hundreds of various species of fish such as bass,
catfish, trout, fall fish, suckers, carp and pickerels. Over 15,000 trout were placed in the river below Curwensville in 1999. The Curwensville Dam was also
part of the river restoration in 1965, as it became a natural settling basin for iron and manganese from acid mines upstream. The dam hosts all sorts of
fish, which have been stocked in the waters. The state and local groups are, in the year 2000, focusing on new technologies to clean up the acid
damaged streams. Anderson Creek and Clearfield Creek have formed groups for early assessment. Many of our pristine trout streams were taken off
stocking programs in the 1980's due to their natural reproducing capabilities. However, the county still has the Shawville Power Plant, which emits tons of
sulfuric emissions that dissolve clay and challenges trout."
In the coming months I will be bringing you the latest news concerning the fish stocking and structure reclamation which is going to be started this spring
by the Curwensville Anglers Restocking Program as well as the PA Fish and Boat Commission. Should have a lot of good pics.
A few words from Jim Comer
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