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.

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.

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.