Hunting and Fishing

Along with social functions and having meals together, fishing is a wonderful way to build family bonds. For many anglers, fishing memories frequently include family members. Early experiences usually involve a relative. But it goes beyond the fishing experience itself. The things that happen when you’re on the water become lasting memories. more»

The wind that had wrinkled the face of the lake just an hour before sunset had subsided. The moon, just one day short of full, shimmered on the mirror-like surface and created shadows along the tree-lined shore. A cork popper delivered to the darker-looking water was greeted by a glistening surface reflecting what seemed to be a billion stars. more»

Weeds. Fishermen know they hold bass. The problem is fishing them effectively. The warm summer months are typically dry and most aquatic vegetation grows fast. With the water shrinking, the vegetation increases, often choking smaller impoundments and concentrating bass. Bass frequently avoid the bright sun by relocating to deeper water. more»

Anglers that frequent large bodies of water understand the importance weather plays; not only on the fishing, but safety as well. They also recognize how quickly conditions can change. Change that often affects fishing; sometimes for the worse, sometimes for the better. more»

Here are a few fishing quotes that I have found both entertaining and thought provoking. My favorite, and one I wholeheartedly practice and regard as true, appears last. Credit is given when known.

Wind from the East, fish bite the least.
Wind from the West, fish bite the best.
Wind from the North, the fisherman doesn’t venture forth. more»

The Memorial Day Weekend marks the unofficial start to summer. Although nighttime temperatures can drop quickly back to uncomfortable levels, a late morning shower of sunshine will once again warm the air and lift the angler’s spirit for a fruitful day on the water. Spring now starts to merge silently into summer, frequently with little notice. more»

WILLIAMSPORT -- Many fish species use the olfactory sense to detect food sources. Catfish for example are reputed to be able to smell some compounds at one part to 10 billion parts of water. This scent stimulus becomes even more important when a fish’s vision is impeded, such as in off-color water or in darkness. more»

Turkey hunters, fisherman and backwoods hikers:  Have you had a hawk dive at you, knock your hat off or show aggressive behavior in the spring?  If so please contact Mike Dupuy, a licensed Pennsylvania Falconer interested in continuing to update a census of the Northern Goshawk in PA. more»

Prologue: Free Range Trout

“Give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day.”

“Teach a man to fish and you give him an excuse to get away from his wife for a lifetime.”              

Lao Tzu – from the Tao Te Divorce more»

WILLIAMSPORT -- I was certain the confrontation would get physical. Fortunately it did not. The ranting and raving was over rights to a stretch of water. The fisherman and the canoeists each protested the other’s presence as if they owned the creek. Their antics ruined the fishing experience for the rest of us. more»

Opening
Day: Saturday, April 17 (how this date is
determined)
Regional Opening Day: Saturday, April 3
Regional Opening Day counties: more»

A New Program to Help Protect Ocean Resources

For years, saltwater anglers have expressed concerns about the data used to estimate the effects of recreational fishing on ocean resources, and the subsequent impact on local economies. One such scenario quickly comes to mind -- the striper fishing on the Chesapeake Bay. more»

All Litterbugs Are Sons of Bees; Some Are Buttheads  more»

Last year I was approached by a single-parent mother who expressed concerns in taking her young son to a large outdoor show or traveling a great distance. “Isn’t there anything close to home and something less intimidating?” she said. She was also concerned about expenses. more»

The first month of this year’s calendar has been turned. Cold temperatures and persistent winds remind us of winter’s presence. There is little consolation for fishermen and the major hunting seasons have come to a close. Winter’s firm grip forces most indoors. Only the heartiest of anglers venture forth, and then with only a minimal amount of hope and even less expectation. more»

Even though we are presently experiencing a January thaw, fishermen can still find their enthusiasm numb. For some, there is ice fishing, for others a trip to a steelhead fishery, while others find solace in a visit to a limestone stream in hopes of catching a few trout. But most anglers simply accept the fact that there is no harmony in winter weather and fishing. more»