Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2021 - 43

or stone fence-like structures
across a stream) to funnel fish
into a woven trap basket. Seines
were pieced together with spun
grass and weighted with stone
sinkers. Plant fibers made hand
lines, while bone was shaped
for hooks. Native Americans
in the Great Lakes region often
canoed at night and speared
fish beneath torchlight.
Though summer with a rod
in hand is my son's preferred
time of year, a close second
would be late spring into
early summer with the field
at his foot. Like a flashing
fish, flint sparkles in the sun,
far more precious than gems.
The carefully worked rocks
patiently wait to tell a story.
Whispered words of a people
eking out a living only by
sensing nature's rhythms.
Last spring, Noah and I
worked the plowed field along a
knoll advantageously elevated,
just where the creek feeds
the pond. Intricate serrations
of blue and white came to
hand as my boy lucked into
an impeccable Jack's Reef
point. Brilliantly handcrafted from flint, the spot Noah
unearthed the treasure was within sight to where he
landed his largest fish-a 211/2-inch Largemouth Bass. The
pair of pinnacles occurred within weeks of each other.
Each event helped Noah sense nature's steady pulse and
realize a few more of its countless cycles.
A couple of seasons under his wide-brimmed fishing
hat, my boy stumbled into dozens of points piercing the
heart of the family farm. I joke that it has something to
do with him being closer to the ground. Inside, I know
the real reason for perseverant success, like my father and
his father, my son, too, is carrying on a tradition. One
honoring history, family, and the spirit of fishing.
Artifact hunting tips
Proximity to water is the number one factor of
arrowhead success. Ensure the water was historically
present. For example, a pond carved out for the interstate
would not yield concentrated activity.
One of the first lessons a dutiful scout learns is to camp
on high ground. Vantage points, weather, and flood all
receive elevated consideration. If pressed for time, more
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Noah with a flint arrowhead that he found in a plowed field.
than once I have narrowed in on this topographical
feature with great reward.
As a general guideline, walk fields once they have been
worked. To increase odds even further, wait for a strong
rain to help wash the flint. Opportune fields present
themselves as early as March and as late as October. Keep
in mind crops and farmers adhere to various schedules.
Gain permission from private landowners. Be
respectful of planted crops. It is unlawful to keep artifacts
found on State Game Lands, state parks, national forests,
and other public properties.
Sometimes, it is a few arrowheads an hour, other times
it is a few hours for one arrowhead. Also, prepare for your
heart to be broken by broken pieces. On average, I find
two or three broken points for every whole projectile.
Combine this waterside adventure with fishing. To
the devoted artifact seeker, purchase a fishing license to
add fishing memories to your treasures. To the dedicated
angler, take moments to appreciate your surroundings
and contemplate the history. Buried in the banks, stories
surface above the silt and are spoken with a gravelly
voice, telling of fish and of flint.
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * July/August 2021
43
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2021

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