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Outdoors with Ken Hunter
Ultralight Wet-Wading
Ultralight wet-wading is
a phrase I coined to describe a simple but enjoyable form of
fishing fun; it’s simple because it requires a bare minimum of
equipment. This kind of fishing is usually done on the lower
reaches of a stream well below where the stocking truck stops.
It’s also best reserved for the warmer summer months so a pair
of old sneakers and old pants or shorts are all that’s needed to
wade into some great spots. I prefer long pants rather than
shorts or cut-offs to help protect against ticks, poison ivy and
stinging nettle-all very prevalent along the banks of the
streams in central Pennsylvania. Hip boots or waders are
obviously a better choice if you plan to wade during the cooler
months. I like to use ultralight equipment since the fish tend
to be a little smaller on average in these medium sized waters.
A tiny rod and reel spooled with four or at most six pound test
line makes a 12 inch smallmouth feel like a real lunker. Small
two inch minnow-type lures as well as the tiny Rebel crayfish
lures are great choices since both imitate food that is abundant
in such waterways. I am especially fond of the jointed minnow
lures in black and silver or black and gold. Most of the time a
steady retrieve is all that’s needed but don’t be afraid to mix
up your retrieves. A definite must in your arsenal of lures
would be a selection of crappie sized grubs and tubes in a
variety of colors. White and brown always seem to produce some
action but there’s a multitude more that may be equally
effective. An eighth once round jighead is about the right size
if water is of average flow. A selection of small trout spinners
should also be included. You can often carry everything you need
for the outing in a small, compartmentalized plastic box that
can be shoved into your back pocket.

Good lure choices for ultralight
fishing (Photos by Ken Hunter)
While the ultralight
gear enhances the enjoyment it’s also a lot of fun not knowing
what species of fish is putting a bend in your rod after what
felt like a vicious strike. Many fishermen today have become
very species specific; that is they target a particular fish be
it a bass, trout or some other species each time they head out.
On occasion of course we do catch other species other than the
one targeted but for the most part we usually find what we’re
after at the business end of the line. Fishing these medium
sized flows with small lures offers a real assortment of fish
species. Using ultralight outfits enables the fisherman to
utilize the much smaller lures which in turn allows for fish
with smaller mouths to chomp down on your offering creating more
action. It’s common for this kind of fishing foray to produce
smallmouth bass, rock bass and fallfish. Once in a while you get
a real surprise when you hook into a nice walleye or even a
trout. Remember you’re fishing the lower end of the stream well
below the trout waters. In fact when looking for this kind of
fishing adventure I look for averaged sized streams that flow
directly in a major river like the Susquehanna thus fish from
the river can make their way up these smaller rivers. Some of
the trout stocked in the upper reaches may also make their way
downstream creating some pleasant surprises of their own. Just
last week I was wet-wading with ultralight gear expecting to
catch a rock bass or smallmouth when I had a powerful hit in the
medium fast water. The fish darted out from under a rock ledge
and smashed my eighth once brown Berkley Power Grub. After some
spectacular jumps and runs I landed a beautifully colored 15
inch rainbow; no doubt a hold over trout from up stream.

Wet wading is a great summer
technique
We are fortunate to have
a good number of streams that fit the bill for this kind of
fishing including Pine Creek, Lycoming Creek, Loyalsock Creek,
Muncy Creek, Penns Creek, Little Juniata, Buffalo Creek, Fishing
Creek and many more. Don’t go to these places expecting to catch
a lot of big fish because it’s not very likely; this is just
fishing for the fun of it and it’s also a good way to cool off
on a hot, muggy day.
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Fishing with
Mike O'Brien
In
Praise of Rock Bass

Rock bass (Ambloplites
rupestris), rupestris meaning among the rocks,
belongs to the sunfish family. Common names include goggle eye,
red eye, rock sunfish and rock bass, a name indicative of their
preferred habitat of stones and boulders. They inhabit creeks,
rivers and lakes providing great sport for anglers equipped with
ultralight spinning or fly rods. They are indigenous from the
Northeast U.S. west to Manitoba and south to the Gulf States,
and have been widely introduced through transplanting.
When viewed head on,
rock bass are laterally compressed. They are typically dark
olive, with a bronze tone on their backs and sides, which are
splashed with brown or bronze blotches. They look more like a
bass than a sunfish, in part because of their more camouflaged
coloration. Dark spots at the base of the scales form horizontal
rows below the lateral line. The belly is whitish or beige. The
eyes are red or orange, and a dark blotch appears on the ends of
the gill flaps, which are edged in gold or white. Five to seven
spines on the leading edge of the anal fin can further help
identify rock bass.
Rock bass are good
feeders and can be caught on a variety of live bait and lures
including small minnows, crayfish, hellgrammites, jigs,
spinners, worms, grasshoppers, crickets and an assortment of
flies. A size 4 hook with 4-lb. or 6-lb. test line is a good
setup. They will also attack bigger baits, sometimes with
success due to their large mouths. A rock bass’s strike is
energetic and the beginning battle vigorous, but the fish gives
up rather quickly. They are generally schooling fish; where one
is caught, more action should follow. This provides fun and
excitement for young anglers or those new to the sport of
fishing. Rock bass are decent to eat if caught from cool, clear
water; filleted, battered and deep-fried.
Rock bass seek out
deeper water during the warmer summer months, and in particular
shaded areas. They often move to the riffled areas of creeks and
rivers when feeding heavily. Structures like brush piles, bridge
pilings, rocky points and drop-offs, and riprap are good
locations to concentrate your fishing. The West Branch
Susquehanna River, Lycoming Creek, and Loyalsock Creek all offer
productive rock bass fishing, although certain areas of each
will have better populations. Rock bass typically average 5” to
8” with some specimens reaching a longer length. I have caught
my largest rock bass from Lycoming Creek while night fishing for
trout.
The All-Tackle World
Record rock bass is a tie — both 3-lbs.— between a fish caught
in 1974 by Peter Gulgin from the York River in Ontario, Canada
and Herbert Ratner, Jr.’s rock bass captured from Lake Erie, Pa.
in 1998. The Pennsylvania State Record rock bass was a 3-lb.
2-oz. specimen caught from Elk Creek, Erie County in 1971 by
David L. Weber, Lake City, Pa. Apparently this fish was not
turned in for World Record consideration.
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Little Pine Kayaking
Have you ever wanted to
try kayaking, but didn't have the opportunity?
Well, now you can! On
Saturday, July 12, Rock, River, and Trail Outfitters will be at
Little Pine State Park giving free basic kayaking lessons.
Participants can learn basic water safety, equipment and
paddling techniques. Lessons will be available from 2 to 5 p.m.
Then join the park naturalist at 6 p.m. for an evening paddle
around the lake. Kayaks will be available from Rock, River, and
Trail Outfitters. Meet at the boat launch area for both
programs.
Sunday at 1 p.m. a
Children's Story Time will be held at the beach area. This
program is suitable for ages five and up.
The nature center,
located in the office building, will be open Sunday from 2 to 5
p.m.
For information on
programs at other Pennsylvania state parks, check our website at
www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/index.aspx and click on
"Calendar of Events".
If you need an
accommodation to participate in park activities due to a
disability, please contact the Pennsylvania Bureau of State
Parks at 888-PA-PARKS (voice), 717-558-2711 (local or
international voice), or 711 (AT&T Relay Services). With at
least three days notice, interpreters for people who are deaf or
hard of hearing are available for educational programs.
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