Notebook: Carp not glamorous, but impressive nonetheless
Carp don't get the most respect in the fishing world, but that doesn't mean they can't get pretty impressive.
The state record fish, after all, is a 52-pounder.
No one came especially close to breaking that 1962 record last year, but anglers did manage to reel in a few dandy fish. A look at the carp citations issued by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission for 2002 reveals some nice ones were caught.
To earn a carp citation, anglers have to catch a fish that weighs at least 14 pounds. Junior anglers younger than 16 can get a citation for an 11-pound, 8-ounce fish, while catch-and-release anglers can get one for a 28-inch carp.
William Korp, of McKeesport, caught what was far and away the biggest carp reported last year. It was a 39-pound, 3-ounce fish that he pulled from the Monongahela River. He caught it June 29 on a dough ball.
Dusty Shay, of Meadville, caught a 21-pound, 8-ounce fish from French Creek June 20, fishing with bread. The fish was 36 inches long.
Just slightly smaller was the 21-pound, 6-ounce carp caught from Lake Arthur Aug. 18 by Aliquippa's Eric Kasunic. He was fishing with a shad rap when he caught his big fish.
Richard Leonard, of Indiana, was fishing Keystone Dam June 8 when he landed a 19-pound carp. He caught his 35-inch fish on a locust.
Harold Hanford, of Hyde Park, turned to the Kiski River to catch a 17-pound, 3-ounce carp. He caught it Sept. 3.
A dough ball was the bait John Lightner used when he caught a 16-pound carp from Crooked Creek. The Apollo angler landed his fish last Aug. 3.
Three area anglers checked in with 15-pound carp last year.
David Milanak, of Vandergrift, caught his on a crayfish July 28 from Crooked Creek. Mark Brestowski, of Nuremberg, caught his from Pymatuning lake Aug. 24 on a dough ball. And junior angler Tommy Kress, of Belle Vernon, caught his on bread March 14 from the Monongahela River.
Kittanning's Aleena Howard was fishing the Allegheny River near lock 7 when she caught a 12-pound, 81/2-ounce carp. She made her catch May 1 using a dough ball.
Kenneth Kennedy, of Crescent, earned a catch-and-release citation for a 34-inch carp from the Allegheny River. He caught it Nov. 9 using a creek chub as bait.
PENNSYLVANIA BOOKS
Two books that might be of interest to people who love Pennsylvania's outdoors are available.
One is "Pennsylvania Overlooks: A Guide for Sightseers and Outdoor People," written by Art Michaels, the long-time editor of Pennsylvania Angler and Boater magazine.
His book describes nearly 50 places in the state that offer great views of Pennsylvania's scenery. All of the overlooks are easy to reach by car or by a hike of no more than 15 minutes. Chapters describe each site's distinguishing features, height, and recreational activities nearby.
Some of the overlooks in western Pennsylvania featured in the book include those in Clear Creek State Forest, state game lands 314 and the Bradys Bend Scenic Overlook.
The 184-page book costs $15.95 and is available at most bookstores and from Penn State University Press. Call 800-326-9180.
Another book that just came out is "Backroads of Pennsylvania: Your Guide to Pennsylvania's Most Scenic Backroad Adventures." It was written by Marcus Schneck, outdoor writer for the Harrisburg Patriot News.
The book offers suggestions for one-day and weekend getaways. It highlights trips to the rolling farmlands of Pennsylvania's Dutch country, the battlefields of Gettysburg and the wilderness of the Poconos and Appalachian Trail.
The book costs $19.95 and is available in book stores, by calling Voyageur Press at 800-888-9653, or by visiting www.voyageurpress.com.
BEARS EUTHANIZED
The Pennsylvania Game Commission euthanized two bears in northeastern Pennsylvania that had become threats to public safety.
The first bear that was put down was caught in Lackawanna County after roaming through several neighborhoods and approaching several people. It had previously been captured and moved five times after forcibly entering homes.
The second bear, also a female, was euthanized after injuring a 12-year-old boy at a Boy Scout camp in Wayne County.
According to reports, the bear entered the sleeping boy's tent. The bear, startled when the boy woke up, swatted him on the right side of the head, cutting him from the top of his head to the bottom of his right ear.
The bear then entered three other tents, once pulling out a bunk that still had a boy sleeping on it.
Only after chewing through a footlocker and eating its contents did the bear move on.
Article by Bob Frye,
Everybody Adventures,
http://www.everybodyadventures.com
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