Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 61

Angler's Notebook
by Jerry Bush
Most fly anglers understand that the most appealing
presentation for luring a bite from any gamefish with
an imitation insect or egg is to avoid drag, and let the
offering move at speed equal to the current. There are
two exceptions. One exception occurs when retrieving
streamers intended to imitate baitfish. The other
exception occurs when some insects occasionally fight
current before being swept away. Therefore, a twitch or
a few sudden movements from a large terrestrial may be
the ticket to attract a healthy gamefish otherwise ignoring
common presentations.
Inspect life jackets before storing for the winter. Search for
tears or holes in the primary encasing material. Look over
seams and straps for any signs of tearing. One component
often assumed to be intact are plastic buckles, but the buckles
may crack, so look carefully. Throw away any life jacket in
less than optimal condition. Most life jackets may be washed
by hand with a mild detergent before storing. Never dry life
jackets near a radiator, heater, or other direct heat sources.
Instead, hang life jackets in a well-ventilated area to dry.
Proper storage of fishing line will greatly determine its
usefulness the next season. Line that " remembers " tight
coiling will be difficult to cast and will almost certainly
cause snarls within the fishing reel. It is best to snip 3- to
6-feet from the end and properly dispose of it before
winding the remaining line around a large diameter item
Fishin' from the Kitchen
Pistachio Crusted
Walleye Fillets
by Wayne Phillips
Bring back memories of summer with baked Walleye fillets
crusted with bright green crushed pistachios.
Ingredients for four servings:
* 4 6-ounce boneless,
skinless Walleye fillets
* 1 to 2 cups pistachio nuts,
shelled and crushed
* 1 Tbsp. canola oil
Procedure
Zest and juice the oranges. Roll the basil leaves into a cigar
shape and thinly slice. Mix juice, zest, basil, and olive oil. Let
stand, so the flavors combine. Shell the pistachios, and place
the nuts in a heavy plastic bag. Crush the pistachios. Season the
Walleye fillets with salt and black pepper. Oil a glass baking dish
with the canola oil. Place the fillets in the dish, and gently press
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* Juice and zest of 2 oranges
* 1 cup fresh basil leaves
* ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
* Salt and black pepper to taste
the nuts onto the fish.
Bake in a 350 degree
F oven until cooked
through, about 15 to
20 minutes. Do not
attempt to turn the
fish while it bakes.
Remove from the oven
and drizzle the fish with
the orange/basil sauce.
Serve
Serve over a bed of steamed rice. If
you wish, drizzle some sauce on the rice. Roasted beets
or carrots go well with this dish.
Tips
Try not to make the crushed nut pieces all the same size.
Leave some bigger pieces for extra texture.
Crusting fish with nuts gives the fish crunch and flavor.
Pecans, hazelnuts, pine nuts, and almonds all work well with fish.
Feel free to combine two different nuts. Finely chopping the nuts
increases the flavor. For more crunch, leave some nuts chunky.
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * November/December 2021
61
for long-term
storage. This tactic
will minimize
coiling next season.
Empty 1-gallon milk cartons work well. Simply tape the
lead end of line to the plastic carton and carefully wind it
while removing it from the fishing reel. Use another piece
of tape to secure the tail end.
Whether fly fishing or using spinning gear, a long rod
is almost always better when targeting steelhead. This is
especially true as ice forms along tributary edges. A long
reach will allow baits, flies, and lures to be placed into
the strike zone while avoiding traversing frozen edges.
Longer rods will normally flex more to absorb shock,
which helps prevent broken lines after a hard-fighting
steelhead is hooked.
Ice fishing and steelhead are not the only opportunities
to fish during the winter in Pennsylvania. Many of the
state's waters fail to freeze over or only freeze for short
periods of time. The fish do not disappear but become
less active due to a slower metabolism. The key is to
be patient and slow your presentations. By nature, fish
will determine if the nutrient gain of food is worth
expenditure of energy. Get the bait close and keep
movement of the presentation slower than normally
performed during warm weather conditions.
photo-Jerry Bush
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021

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