Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019 - 13

will also think about beating the
odds of drowning by wearing a life
jacket when kayaking.-WCO Scott
J. Christman, Southern Carbon and
Southwest Monroe counties.

That's my name

While on patrol in the fall, I
swung by Lyman Run Lake, Potter
County. I found some hunters taking
a break from deer hunting to go
trout fishing. As I stood lakeside,
checking the anglers and talking
with them, I noticed that one angler
repeatedly looked at my name badge,
then looked at my face while I was
talking to his friend. Eventually, I
looked at the man, which got his
attention. With a puzzled look on
his face, he made a statement with
an inquisitive tone and said, "I get it,
Boatwright-that's like your position
within the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat
Commission (PFBC)." I could not
help but laugh while replying, "no
that would be my name." A little
embarrassed, the man laughed at his
mistake. The conversation quickly
resumed to the topic of fishing.-
WCO Justin Boatwright, Clinton and
Western Lycoming counties.

Cherished memories

As a WCO, we sometimes overlook
the impact we may have on the
public. What seems like a momentary
interaction may provide lasting
memories for both anglers and WCOs.
Towards the end of the stocking
season, I was about to complete the
final inseason stocking of Roaring
Creek when I was approached by
an angler named Mike. Like many
anglers, Mike had a preference of
where he liked to fish and where
he believed fish should be stocked.
Mike was not shy about letting me
know his preferences. Sometimes,
WCOs may take these comments in
stride. However, there was something
familiar about Mike-something I
could not pinpoint, but something
that made me want to listen to what he
had to say. Mike insisted that he had
suggestions about additional stocking
points along the creek. I told Mike
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that it was the last stocking of the
season, and we could not make any
changes at this time. However, I told
him we could meet to discuss a plan
for the following year. I gave him my
business card, and we parted ways.
Several months passed, and I
almost forgot about Mike, but I
did recall what was so familiar
about him. Mike reminded me of
my grandfather. He looked like he
worked hard his whole life. He was
a big man, with large hands. He also
had a passion for hunting and fishing
that I so often saw in my grandfather.
Mike was older now, no longer able
to hunt, and his fishing was limited
due to bad knees. Therefore, he
continued to live vicariously through
his own grandson, whom he would
speak of often.
Mike called me one day to set up
a meeting to discuss his stocking
suggestions as I promised. I could
tell by his tone that there would
be no denying him. So, I agreed to
meet Mike for breakfast on a Sunday
morning. He gave me directions, but
I got lost and was late. His daughter
was a waitress at the restaurant he
chose, and she loved having him
there on Sunday mornings. When
I arrived, Mike shook his head,
sighed and said, "You are late." Little
did Mike know, he would repeat
those words to me often over the
next few years. We ate, talked about
trout fishing and our families. We
discussed some new trout stocking
points along Roaring Creek, and
Mike asked about some other creeks.
Before long, we scheduled another
breakfast meeting (this would
become a tradition of ours), so I
could show him some additional
trout creeks in the district.
As time passed, Mike and I
became good friends. We would
often meet for breakfast and fish
together. He would help me stock fish
and always arrived with a fresh pack
of chewing gum for me. He met my
family, and I met his family. At times,
it were as though I was with my own
grandfather again.

Mike's health was deteriorating,
and he recently passed away. When
his wife called to tell me the news,
I could barely speak. I attended the
funeral service and was shocked
at how many people knew about
me. Apparently, Mike had regular
meetings with friends and neighbors,
and he would tell them stories about
"his fishing buddy, the fish warden."
I think of Mike often. I am
thankful for his friendship and
will cherish the memories. I hope
this recollection reminds us all of
the impact a WCO may have on
the anglers we serve, as well as the
impact they may have on us.-WCO
Aaron Lupacchini, Southern Luzerne
and Columbia counties.

Enthusiastic angler

While on a routine patrol leaving
Lower Burrell Park, I looked out
of my rearview mirror and saw a
little boy trying to get my attention.
After parking and getting out of the
vehicle, the little boy came across the
parking lot to tell me it was the first
time he was ever going fishing. He
had a fishing rod and a tackle box.
He said he was going to catch lots of
fish. After talking to the boy and his
father, I gave the boy a Pennsylvania
Fishes Identification Guide, and he
put it in the top of his tackle box. I
also told the father about First Fish
certificates on PFBC's website,
www.fishandboat.com. As I left, the
father and son walked to the lake.
About one month later, I saw
the same father and son fishing at
another nearby lake. The boy once
again waved me down. I saw him
digging in his tackle box. The little
boy pulled out his Pennsylvania
Fishes Identification Guide and
had multiple species of bass,
sunfish and trout circled. He told
me the next fish he was going after
was a sturgeon.-WCO Matthew
Kauffman, Northern Westmoreland,
Southern Armstrong and Southern
Indiana counties.

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * September/October 2019

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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2019

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