In a race against the privatization of Erie streams, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has purchased or helped townships purchase five properties that will benefit anglers.

   Using funds from the new Lake Erie stamps, which have generated about $900,000 so far, the commission has spent a total of almost $500,000 on the banks of on Elk Creek near Rick Road in McKean Twp. and off Park Road north of Rt. 20 in Girard Twp., on Walnut Creek off Zimmerman Road in Mill Creek Twp., and on 20 Mile in Northeast.
   At least 90 percent of Erie tributaries are on private property. Although much of it has remained unposted over the years, the boon in steelhead fishing now has fishing clubs and individuals looking to lease parts of tributaries from landowners. 

   The Spring Ridge Club, the central Pennsylvania fishing club operated by Donny Beaver that is being sued by the state for blocking public access on the Little Juniata River, has leased a half-mile stretch of Twenty Mile Creek from Mary Dohler, owner of a grape farm and guest cottages in Northeast. Dohler wouldn’t disclose the sum of the one-year lease except to say it is enough to cover her taxes, and indicated the section is fly fishing, catch-and-release only and limited to eight anglers a day.
   “The commission came to see me, too,” said Dohler, who decided to privatize the stream section because she was tired of anglers abusing her property. “I’m going to see how it goes with the lease.” 

   While it has bought at least one parcel outright, the commission’s preference is to partner with townships on property purchases or, ideally, to engage in recreational easements with landowners, arrangements that allow the state to get the most bang for its buck.  

   ”In most cases, what we’re paying is a fraction of what the larger property costs were because we’ve been able to leverage money for the townships,” said Tredinnick. “Where we can acquire several hundred feet of shoreline, that’s good.”
   The commission hasn’t sealed any easement deals yet. “It’s a time-consuming process. Valuation is the key component. What people feel is fair is the determining factor.”
   Tredinnick said prices are being driven up by competition from clubs and entrepreneurs seeking to lease stream sections they can turn into members-only water. “The last thing we want is to get into bidding wars. But it’s hard to convince a landowner to provide access for free, when they see what their neighbors are making from private interests.”
   Tredinnick said it’s not illegal to lease land for ‘pay to play’ ventures, “although many anglers find it distasteful, especially when the private sections are benefiting from state-stocked steelhead. That’s especially true when land is on a lower stream section. Fish move.”
   ”That’s what sticks in our craw, too,” said John Fuhrmann, president of the Pennsylvania Steelhead Association, “that private individuals would profit from public stockings.”
   Fuhrmann described the stream Dohler is leasing to the Spring Ridge Club as “prime, prime steelhead water … a traditional, heavily numbered steelhead holding area, and a real loss.”
   But Karl Weixlmann of Erie, who guides for the Spring Ridge Club in Erie and in central Pennsylvania, said, “It’s about time Erie property owners get some compensation for the angler pressure they’ve had to endure on streams. They’ve had to deal with negative human impact from the commission stocking so many fish, and all the nasty things that come with it. The commission should have had the foresight to buy public access a long time ago. They created a monster.” 

   Steelheading contributes more than $9 million to the state economy, accounting for a quarter of the overall Erie sport fishery, and almost 90 percent of steelheading is on the tributaries, Tredinnick said, indicating that big money is at stake in improving public access. While Lake Erie stamps were down in the first nine months of this year by 19 percent, the combo stamps that cover steelhead were up by 18.5  percent, with 80,063 sold.

At Last! A New Fishing Gadget That Really Works

 

 

There you are, standing in the middle of a gushing trout stream. You notice that a new tippet is needed. You tuck your fly rod under your arm to secure it while you attach a new tippet, hoping you don’t inadvertently drop your fly outfit into the water.
Or maybe you decide to change to a different fly. You shove your rod down into one of your wader legs to get it out of the way -- cumbersome at best and very dangerous to the rod and line guides.
Or perhaps you just landed a trout and plan to release it. You clamp the rod in your teeth, a practice universally frowned upon by both rod makers and dentists.
Sometimes on the creek, three hands would be better than two. What we need is some gadget to solve the problem (oh how we fly anglers love gadgets!).

Well, a solution has arrived! Dave Walko has come up with an ingenious rod-holding accessory that works perfectly because it’s so simple. It’s called the Fish Hands Free rod holder. It consists of two lightweight, durable plastic hooks – one turned up and the other turned down – that securely attach to your vest or wader suspender straps. Simply lay your rod  – fly, spinning or bait casting – horizontally into the hooks, and your hands are free to attach a tippet, change a fly or release a fish.
It’s that practical. It’s that simple. It’s a fly fishing gadget that lives up to Dave’s claims and to user’s expectations.

PWWTU has purchased a number of Fish Hands Free rod holders and will demonstrate them and have them for sale at our general members meetings. The cost is $10. If you can’t attend the meetings, you can order one from the chapter through the mail for $10, plus $4 to cover the cost of shipping and postage. Make your $14 check payable to PWWTU and send it to: PWWTU, PO Box 9, Wildwood, PA 15091.
For every one sold, Dave will generously reimburse $4 to the chapter. The Fish Hands Free rod holder is one accessory (gadget) that really works. Try it. You’ll like it. 

 

FYI

The FLY TYERS “VICE” is still in business. As a matter of fact I have

Been busy remodeling.  So come and visit our remodeled store and see

what has done.  I have found a lot of stuff that I did not know that I had. All of my inventory is now discounted.   Some items as much as 90%  all remaining books are being sold at 50% off the jacket price. Sucker Spawn yarn @ $1.00.  Dubbing ( nymph or synthetic) 10 pac’s  for $1.00 All other fur or yarn @ ½ price. This is only a sample, come and see all of the other items that are discounted or on sale. How about chemically sharpened hooks @ 25 for $2.50

If anyone is interested in starting their own shop my entire inventory is still for SALE .

 

 

2225 Swallow Hill Rd.

Pittsburgh , Pa

412-276-2831

January Great Fly Sale

 

  With the dreary winter days and nights now upon us, like many tiers you are probably spending more time at the vise and beginning to re-stock your fly boxes for next year. While you’re at it, please consider tying up some extra half dozens for our January Great Fly Sale. It’s an important chapter fund-raising event. You select the patterns and sizes; the chapter will package them a half dozen per box and label them to give credit to the tier.
  Give your fly donations to Joe Kline at the Nov. 13 and Dec. 11 general members meetings. If you can’t attend, call Joe at 412-761-9762 for mailing instructions.

  The annual Great Fly Sale will be held during the Jan. 8, 2007, general meeting. Hundreds of flies will go on sale for only $5 per half dozen. That’s just 83 cents per fly!
  The skill at the vise of many PWWTU members easily ranks them and their work at the professional level. As in past years, there will be a wide range of traditional patterns to choose from, including nymphs, emergers, attractors and dry flies, some of which the trout around here have never seen.
  So come early and bring extra money, because like a kid in a candy store, there will be ample “goodies” there to tempt you.