Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2020 - 20

by Marshall Nych
photos by the author
Much has been said of the "dog days of summer," though
most of it is incorrect. Often, it is assumed "dog days"
refer to lazy summer times or the hottest days. Actually,
the phrase's derivative has more to do with star alignment,
specifically Sirius. Nevertheless, I say let the dog have its
day. I will save the nights for cats. Reflecting upon the
precious summers of my youth, many evenings were spent
preparing for a night of catfish fishing.
Teenagers and catfish have more in common than either
party would care to admit. Both creatures of the night fill
voracious appetites with relentless midnight snacking.
Teens and catfish alike enjoy predictable hangouts, be it the
middle of the mall or the bottom of a deep hole. Typically,
fellow and fish are not picky with respect to diet. Finally,
teenagers and catfish are subject to remarkable growth
spurts. Something bordering magic is conjured when
kindred creatures connect.
During my childhood, I gained experience and
confidence along the banks of local farm ponds. Though
most daytime frequenters, including bass anglers and
swimmers, never even knew catfish were present, the
murky waters teemed with "bullheads". Respect came

20

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * July/August 2020

naturally. A catfish's formidable dorsal fin and pointed
pectoral fins earned it a tough reputation. Second only
to catching the catfish was sneaking along the green, wet
grass after a storm to snag nightcrawlers.
My buddies and I would meticulously thread our
bait along small circle hooks, allowing an enticing end
to dangle free. Roughly 12- to 18-inches above the bait,
we would apply weight to our lines as generously as
we did laughter. Our farm pond forays were generally
illuminated by lantern, the well-coordinated ones by
campfire. It seemed with more light, there was more bite.
From flashlights to bells, we tinkered with various strike
alarm systems. The most effective, in my opinion, proved
to be small glow sticks affixed to the rod tip. Some were
marketed, most were handmade. The slightest interest
from a bullhead sent a vibration through the rod like a
shooting star across the night sky.
As most evolving anglers experience, our sense of
adventure grew along with our travels and, accordingly,
our fish. So began our quest for Channel Catfish. As the
name suggests, the silver stud prefers deeper channels of
larger river systems. A few flowed within driving distance.
One favorite spot was the Shenango River. A colorful cast
of friends and anglers reunited along the tailrace.
Worlds apart from the farm pond, methods and
techniques had to be adapted. Through trial and error,
we found live baitfish were the best producers. Though a
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2020

Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2020 - Cover1
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2020 - Cover2
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2020 - Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2020 - 4
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2020 - 5
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2020 - 6
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2020 - 7
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2020 - 8
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2020 - 9
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2020 - 10
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2020 - 11
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2020 - 12
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2020 - 13
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2020 - 14
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2020 - 16
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2020 - 17
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2020 - 18
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2020 - 19
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2020 - 20
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2020 - 21
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2020 - 23
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2020 - 25
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2020 - 26
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2020 - 28
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2020 - 66
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2020 - Cover3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2020 - Cover4
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