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Show Do THE DAILY HERALD, Provo, Utah, Thursday, May 13, 1999 Time spent astream is precious for folks who fish By CONRAD GROVE Kinight Ridder Newspapers LIBERTY, Pa, Twelve: year-old Emily Bastian snapped awake at 5:22 a.m She does not like to come in second, but her father, Larry, had beaten her to breakfast by 12 minutes. What had greeted him was thesight of his brother, Don, hunchedovera fly-tying vise at the family’s retreat, where he had been busy since 4:30. Rain laced the roof of their cabin in southern Tioga County, Their destination was a foggy 90 minutes away, and the forecast called for an all day soak Big deal. Because nonstop, the Bastians were going fish Serenity: Ing. There are many measures of Lionel Austin, of success In angling. Learning American Fork, says he something each time out is one. Passing it along still bet. ter But those who have spent some time astre um with the n that Bastians soon foulest ee a all the ae) individ - ey Is usu doesn’t much care that he’s having no luck pulling trout out of Deer Creek Reservoir. He ally meaningless. Success, their companions come to real be stand ize, is merely to still £ says, “You just couldn't askfor a more ing at the end of theday “They go from daylight to x Ne and then some,” said uman McMullan, 49, a tooland-die makerfrom Williamsport, Pa.. who has fished with the brothers for 25 y We call them Kirby and Hoover, because if it's got fins onit, they'll suck it out of the river. And Emily gos harder than both of them.” Fittingly, the water the Bastians choose to vacuum this day was Spring Creck in Centre County, arguably the best trout stream in Pennsylvania and itselfa tes: tament to resilience. History In 1957, in the first of decades of insults, a massive sewaye-plant spill killed most of Spring Creek's aquatic life. After subsequent abuses, many gave up its waters which were once heavily stocked but now host an astounding popu- MARC TESTER The Daily Herald What it needs is a break. Growth Centre Countyis one of the state's fastest growing areas. plants, which dumpback heated wastewater, In addition, Bellefonte draws its water supply from the creek, and a major glass-manufacturing plant siphons off waterfor a coolant “I'm amazedthe streamis us good as it is, given the degree of urbanization,” said Bob Carline, a fisheries profes- sor at Penn State who has directed researchprojects along the stream since 1985 “So far this stream has: as the trout population goes. ticking. But sooner or later, There's alot offish anda lot of there's got to be awlimit fish of good size,” said Dwight Landis of Bellefonte, authorof thedefinitive book “Trout take” ( said Don Bastian, 46, of n Station. He isan Instructor and guide with Fishing Creek Outfitters in Benton Nhat said, the Bastians pro- eovded to yive it all they had Vhese days, a reborn but still threatened Spring Creek draws anglers from across the country, just as it did 40 years io In fact, observed Jim Strivuss. a biology professorat Ponn State and a formerpresident of the Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited Nhe last thing it needs is more fishermen “Guiding Elliot” by Robert Lee on the main stemofSpring Creek alreadydot the stream’s watershed, sucking waterfor their operations. So do two sewage-treatment Streams of Pennsylvania.” That Spring Creek reboundedat all is amazing initself. The 1957 sewage-plant breech was followed within a couple ofyears by a cyanide spill from chemistry labs at Penn State andby gasoline leaks elsewhere that wiped out one of the stream’s most glam orous insects, the huge and floppy mayfly known as the greendrake. By the 1970s, scientists dis covered that two pesticides had leached into the stream In 1981, the state fish commis it now, it’s going to be too late.” beautiful eautiful day, Bastians — Emily and Larrylive in New Gloucester, Maine — set aside a coupleof weeksforfishing “This is really what brings hing family \t least twice a year, us together,” said Larry, 45, a the See FISHING, D7 sion, concerned about the healtheffects on humansof to abate further diminishment of the groundwater supply, as the pesticides, instituted a no- well as to prevent storm-water mile length. Stocking stopped that year as well — andfish- choking the creek to death. For much of its length, paved roads: ing pressurefell by the way- areno farther than 100 yards from the stream kill policy along the creek’s 22- side. The trout, left alone, grew “These things aren't just con finedto Spring Creek studyby Carline’s team said. “The more important mes sage is that many other streams showedthat somesections of Spring Creek supported up to 200 pounds oftrout per acre, r exceeding the 36-p pel standard the fish comc missionuses to define premier wild-trout water. And, Carline pointed out last year, small and scattered populations of wildrainbow trout were found spawning forthefirst time. Concern But long-term concerns remain. Spring Creek has no closed season, meaning anglers. can fish it year-round. Stri suggests that a closed season to protect spawning brown trout in thefall be instituted and that no fishing be allowed in the winter, when a trout’s 1950 N. State, Orem 655 E 300 S., Provo 340 S Main,Springville runoffand sedimentation from fat and prospered. By 1988, a in Pennsylvania need help, too Fishing Gear Licenses ¢ Rods & Reels Lures, Line e Tackle Boxes “31 Years” Miller Trailer Sales:2: Spring Specials! energy and fat reserves arc low Meanwhile, the local Trout Unlimited group, which won a national award for its efforts to protect the watershed, and other area environmental organizations continue to work WinewreINESSRV “Selling Family Fun” v& Trailers and 5th Wheels % Vishing is great family activity, but you'vegot to have habitat. 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