Mike,
I sense that you have recently familiarized yourself with this tailwater, because you took part in the electroshocking that took place today and will take place tomorrow.
What would I like the pfbc do to further enhance the Po? Let's start with them releasing the grant money that was allocated to the LRSA, by the Zinc fund, to install an Alaskan steep ladder to the Parryville monstrosity of a dam.
Next, I have recently witnessed some horrible acts of illegal fishing. Blatent snagging, herding fish and spear fishing them, taking illegal limits, and killing of wild trout that are too small to keep. Basically, as you know, the size of the fish is not great on this stream, but the beauty and amount of wild trout is. The locals have finally realized "holy crap, the water stays cold all year!" and have gone in and begun butchering the wild trout population. I and a few other local conservation groups are looking to persue one or more catch and release sections. The most important being a non stocked portion that provides thermal refuge to wild and stocked Lehigh river trout.
Unfourtunately, I have even called our local officer about an incident. I left my name and phone number with a clear and consice explanation of what I witnessed. I requested a call back, so I could explain what I witnessed again, I NEVER received a call back. This left me sick and disappointed in our officer. I have now resorted to contacting the state parks officer when I witness something. He immediately attends to the situation.
I feel that this stream could be so much more, with the help of the pfbc and local conservation groups. The section of stream that was electroshocked today, that produced fish, could be amazingly better with some structure. I would think you would agree. I hope to be a part of that. I wish you would have electroshocked it a month ago. You would have pooped your pants in the amount and size of the fish. They are gone.
Further, I wish you would electroshock a section that does not get the angler traffic and has some structure. You could then see what I know is possible. This summer I have fished with a few members and have showed them around. Each time when they begin asking about the Po, their first question is....."Are there any special regulation areas on this?" I answer "no" and they are flabbergasted.
I am not out to say the littering is because of bait guys ( it is, I do a stream clean up every year with the Pohopoco rod and gun club. I witness the garbage collected) I am not saying the bait anglers are killing the small wild browns because the hooks are being swallowed, they rip them out and toss them back belly up and bleeding ( they are, I have witnessed it, and received reports from friends that are ethicle bait anglers), but we need an artificial lure section. It only takes a few idiots with bait to give the non idiot bait guys a bad name, and those guys are sick of it, and are supportive of what we are trying to do. When you begin to see a certain ethnicity pull up and 5 guys with deep sea poles get out with salmon nets, you know something has got to change. Lastly, I would even begin to hope the pfbc stops stocking with adult trout.
So Mike this might not have fully made sense ( its 12:15 and I am typing on my phone) but basically I am very passionate about this stream and I and others have begun to see its demise. It needs further protection. O, and don't even get me started on the Hydroelectric plant.
P.s. I hope a few other known anglers on here back me up with their first hand reports.
Shane
