PENNSYLVANIA'S ECONOMY NETS MILLIONS THANKS TO ANGLERS
By Compiled by NICK HROMIAK ; TOM FEGELY, The Morning Call
Allentown Morning Call
12/04/97
(Copyright 1997)

Angling is big business and the net result is a substantial contribution to the nation's -- and Pennsylvania's -- economy.

That's the word from an American Sportfishing Association survey released this week. The ASA is a non-profit recreational fishing industry association based in Alexandria, Va. The study was conducted by ASA economics director Dr. Vishwanie Maharaj.

According to the research, last year Pennsylvania sportfishing activities created:

* The equivalent of 16,677 full-time jobs.

* $357,441,359 in wages.

* $48,993,922 in state tax revenue.

* $37,205,929 in federal tax revenue.

"Anglers in Pennsylvania are fishing more days and spending more money on each trip," said Maharaj.

The study also provides a revealing list of specific expenditures, including rods and reels ($56.9 million), lines and leaders ($14.3 million), lures, flies and baits ($19.1 million) and electronic fishing devices ($681,000). Pennsylvania angler-generated expenses for everything from motel rooms and camping gear to ice and waders is included in the detailed breakdown.

In all, angling trip and equipment expenditures alone pour $649,762,961 into the state economy, the study revealed.

According to a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service report, which the ASA utilized, the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission sold 1,354,873 licenses last year. Only anglers ages 15 and over are required to buy the $17 adult resident tag or any of seven other licenses and/or permits.

"Sportfishing is more important to Pennsylvania than ever before," said ASA President Mike Hayden. "What an angler spends during a weekend fishing trip ripples through the economy to create jobs, wages and tax revenues.

"In Pennsylvania, these numbers are significant." For a copy of the report "The Economic Impact of Sport Fishing in Pennsylvania" write: American Sportfishing Assn., 1033 N. Fairfax St., Suite 200, Alexandria, VA 22314. Or call (703) 519-9691.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

And the winners are ...

Boating magazine has released the results of its 5th Annual Boat Names Contest, and humor and creativity are evident in the winning entries.

* "Slipless in Seattle" copped top spot from the Washington owner of a 23-foot Bayliner.

* "Marlin Monroe" is the name of an 18-foot Boston Whaler owned by an Arizona man.

* "Runaground Sue" is a Bayliner Capris owned by John and Sue Bentley of Phoenixville, Chester County.

* "Aquadisiac" is a 27-foot Thundercraft owned by Roseann and John Jenkins of Pottstown, Montgomery County.

* "Seas The Day" is another Bayliner, owned by a Colorado couple.

Occupational boat names that caught the editors' eyes were a dentist's "Offshore Drilling," an ophthalmologist's "Eye Sea," a firefighter's "Fire Escape," and a pediatrician's "Baby Docked Her."

Runners-up include "Da Boat Of Us," "Mako My Day," "Sea-Duction," "Erie-Sistable," and "Porgy and Bass."

FRESHWATER

Wallenpaupack Sports Shop, Hawley -- Fishing is slow due to hunting-season interest ... some anglers fished local streams at their hunting camps over weekend for trout ... for those who would like to try Lake Wallenpaupack for brown trout, Glenn recommends fishing the feeder streams where food sources enter the lake.

Pecks Pond Store, Peck's Pond -- Had 4 inches of ice but lost it before Thanksgiving ... ice starting to tighten up again but still not safe ... if cold snap continues weekend may have fishable hardwater.

Four Seasons Sporting Goods, Jim Thorpe -- "Several 8-pointers snagged this week," chuckles Brian ... some anglers fishing Mauch Chunk for anything that will hit ... most using medium spinners or shiners ... some bass and a few pickerel being taken ... no reports from Beltzville although anglers are on it.

Mike's Bait and Sport Shop, Nazareth -- Lake Minsi was stocked with lots of trout but fishing is slow ... Bushkill Creek from Jacobsburg State Park to 13th Street providing some sporadic trout action ... successful anglers using minnows.

Pro Am Fishing Shop, Kuhnsville -- Striper action really turned on over the weekend at Beltzville Lake ... at least four regular customers have been catching 5-10 pounders by trolling Christmas tree rigs with live and artificial baits ... fish have been hitting in middle of lake over deeper water ... Ray Nechetsky Jr., Allentown, took a 20-inch, 3-pound, 8-ounce rainbow ... his brother Andrew nailed a 22-1/2-inch, 3-pound, 10-ounce brown and their father Ray Sr. scored on a 27-inch, 10-pound Kamloops trout with an 18-inch girth ... all fish were caught in the lower Little Lehigh near the confluence of the big Lehigh ... smaller fish were taken on Power Bait, larger fish on salmon eggs ... fish are evidently leftovers from Lehigh River Stocking Association's spring release ... "Trout evidently found their way into the Little Lehigh," says Jeff at Pro Am.

Lehigh River Bait & Bow, Allentown -- Little Lehigh good for trout ... one guy had his limit from Allentown Water Works and dam area.

Nockamixon Sports Shop, Quakertown -- A few walleye being caught by trolling the deep portions of Lake Nockamixon ... success is coming with bottom bouncers ... a few northerns reported from the Delaware in the Riegelsville stretch ... best bet are extra large (muskie) shiners ... some trout action on Branch Creek, fish are leftovers from fall stocking ... try small fathead minnows.

Little Lehigh Fly Shop, Allentown -- Water is clear, 44 degrees ... successful patterns are Honeybugs, Al's Rat's (#20), BWO emergers (#24), Griffiths Gnats (#24) ... call shop for personal fly tying and or fly fishing instructions.

United Tackle & Gun, Allentown -- Big Lehigh still producing big rainbows on crankbaits ... best bets #13 & #18 Rapalas, Cotton Cordells, big Mepps muskie spinners ... Little Lehigh still producing limits of trout on nightcrawlers and minnows ...receiving reports of decent bass action from small farm ponds to large lakes ... fish are falling for topwater lures and large shiners ... spotty reports from Oswego and Salmon River ... don't forget Dec 12-13 party ... Capt. Hank getting loads of fishing tackle for kids.

Bucks County Outfitters, Perkasie -- Lake Nockamixon slow right now ... Branch Creek still producing trout ... glitter green Power Bait is hot ... Peace Valley Lake crappies hot in 30 foot depths ... anglers must cruise lake to find them ... twister tails on one-sixteenth and one-eighth-ounce jig heads ... on the saltwater scene, North Jersey herring are in Raritan River in record numbers ... 10-12 pound stripers feasting on them ... best bait is whatever resembles herring ... partyboat traffic light ...captains switching to bottom fishing for blackfish and ling around Atlantic Highlands ... bluefish in 15-20 pound range being caught ... at Barnegat, stripers in surf taking surface poppers imitating herring ... seabass to 4 pounds falling for cut bait ... Ocean City ... seabass and blackfish still being found in 50-80 feet of water... appears run is almost over though ... Townsends Inlet: surf anglers having good striper luck using live eels, swimming plugs and metal (like Hopkins and Ava lures) ... flounder action should be picking up soon ... at Cape May Rips, striper action is hot on clams and eels ... seems most fish are following baitfish down the coast.

Silver Springs Outfitters, Kunkletown -- Salmon River, N.Y. ... fish are scattered over entire river ... water is low, therefore fish are lying low ... if fly fishing, best patterns are stoneflies, hellgrammites and nymphs in natural colors ... no flashy stuff ... local fishing slow ... trout somewhat productive on big Lehigh River ... recommend big streamer and nymph patterns fished deep and on bottom ... brown trout are spawning right now and normally will not hit anything thrown at them ... spawn typically lasts 2-3 weeks.

Evening Hatch Fly Shop, White Haven -- Pat D'Amico, Hazleton, caught several rainbows over 14 inches on Cone-Head Wooley Buggers from Tobyhanna River ... water temp on Saturday was 37 degrees ... fish were actively feeding ... Maxwell has about 10 vintage bamboo rods for sale.

SALTWATER

North Jersey -- Capt. Phillip of The Tackle Box in Hazlet reports stripers still hot with lots of small fish being jigged on New York side of channel ... some bass being taken from the beaches on sandworms ... excellent blackfish catches using crabs.

Brielle Region -- At the Brielle Fishing Center, 125-foot Jamaica will now sail to offshore wrecks every Saturday and Sunday ... additional trips after Christmas ... Saturday trip produced lots of seabass, largest was 4 pounds ... some cod, pollock hake and ling ... pool winners included a 17-pound cod and 9-pound pollock ... Wreckathon resulted in high numbers of seabass and ling ... offshore trips to the 50-80 mile wrecks sail at 12:30 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday ... for reservations info call 732-528-5014.

Belmar/Atlantic City -- The American Eagle is sailing daily ... fishing slowed somewhat for stripers although blackfishing activity is up ... mackerel are coming around ... bottom fishing good ... taking lots of seabass from offshore wrecks ... flounder fishing really picking up in Shark River ... use sandworms and chum blocks ... guys are banging them on the incoming tide.

Cape May -- Most anglers did very well Saturday during warm spell, according to sources at Jim's Bait & Tackle ... lots of stripers but many shorts ... fishermen had to catch good numbers of fish before they'd get a keeper ... regulars are drifting eels in the rips at Falls Shoals for stripers ... Matt says bucktail jigs in chartreuse, white and red with pork rind or rubber worm trailer also productive ... may also want to try Hopkins lures and banana jigs with green tubing on hooks ... plenty of bluefish activity at Five Fathom Bank ... loads of offshore stripers but they're beyond the 3-mile federal limit.

Cape Hatteras, N.C. -- Half Day Charters with Capt. Doug Martin reports striper fishing is phenomenal ... Saturday he boated 20 stripers in 2 hours of fishing ... fish ranged from 14-20 pounds ... linesiders were found on shelves in the Oregon Inlet area ... used chartreuse and white bucktail jigs ... big red drum from 30-50 pounds being caught off Cape Point in Buxton area ... last Thursday his party of two nailed 40 blues in a half day ... fish averaged 13-20 pounds and all fell for white bucktails ... speckled trout action remains good as well as yellowfin tuna offshore ... Dr. Eugene Ordway, an Allentown cardiologist who owns a summer home in Buxton, flew there Friday morning and spotted huge schools of fish all along the coastline and Oregon Inlet ... fishing is hot in Hatteras if you don't mind the 9-hour drive to get there.

ANGLER'S NOTEBOOK

If you're in the market for a new foam-type minnow bucket for ice fishing, choose one to which the lid is attached to the bucket with a cord. Otherwise, you'll spend some of your fishing time chasing the lid across a windy lake.

DID YOU KNOW?

The world record American eel was caught in Cape May, N.J. in November, 1995. It weighed a phenomenal 9 pounds, 4 ounces.