Outdoors with Jim Collins: Trout season memories part III

Published: May 8, 2011

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One year, on that treasured stretch of Lycoming Creek which we called "The Culvert," the opening day was cold. One could not wade in the stream for more than one hour or even less without becoming chilled, with legs and hands that were numb.

The landowner, whose name I cannot remember, to my regret, was busy raking his yard of leaves and fallen tree branches as one does in mid April. When I went back to my car to get some coffee and a sandwich, he observed my rather cold condition. He asked how the fishing was going.

I gave him my report that the cold weather and cold stream temperatures were quite challenging and not much fun. I had only had a few strikes on my wet flies, creeling a couple of fish. I asked him if he did any fishing. I will always remember his answer. He stated that yes, he did enjoy trout fishing along his property and beyond the tree nursery. He said that he started trout fishing in mid May, when the leaves started coming out, thus the weather was constantly warmer.

In later years, I have taken his advice to heart. Now I start trout fishing with my fishing buddy Gary Avery of Cogan Station, in mid May. The weather is much nicer and trout are active. We fish the smaller trout streams; they have much character and casting is an ongoing challenge. The key here is that the weather is warm.

You may be interested in why we have an "opening day" for trout fishing in Pennsylvania. I am privileged to tell you the reason. As a member of the Susquehanna Chapter of Trout Unlimited, domiciled in Lycoming County, I was privileged to be selected as one of two chapter representatives each to a biotic index seminar at Camp Hate To Leave It, along Fishing Creek in Centre County in 1977. The idea of the biotic index, sponsored by the State Chapter of Trout Unlimited, was to train us in numbering aquatic insects in a stream to determine the health of that stream. Mayflies were given the highest number, followed by stoneflies, then caddis flies and other invertebrates. The higher the biotic index was, the healthier the stream.

During one of our Susquehanna Chapter's annual Trout Kickoffs in Williamsport, at Roosevelt Junior High School, I had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing Ralph W. Abele, executive director of the then named Pennsylvania Fish Commission for my local radio show. If you have a computer, goggle his name and you can read about his lifelong career in conservation and fisheries management. Ralph W. Abele was a straight forward type of guy; when you asked a question, you got a direct and concise answer.

During that biotic index seminar along the limestone stream Fishing Creek, I got a chance to have a private conversation with Mr. Abele. He told me to call him "Ralph," I explained that I could not do so because I respected him and his position. He was one person who I have met who was not enamored with his title. I certainly respect that type of person. I like humble folks who do not take their title as some sort of royalty.

I asked him this question: "why, since 17 western states have year around trout fishing, why do we have a closed season for trout and then an opening day?" He explained that the Fish Commission is in business to sell fishing licenses and by having a closed season, there is a significant run up in license sales to an opening day. I never forgot that lesson in marketing.

Next time, we will address ethics in hunting and fishing, and landowner relations.

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Jim Collins is an outdoor columnist for The Sunday Review. He can be contacted by e-mail at jimcollinsinsurance@frontiernet.net or by mail at Outdoors with Jim Collins, HC, 1: 87 Windfall Road, Alba, PA, 16910.

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