Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2022 - 57

Most spawning occurs in
June and July, when water
temperatures approach
70 degrees F. Males
and females dart about
frantically, sometimes
leaving the water before
gliding toward the bottom
as the female releases her
eggs. Eggs hatch in eight to
nine days, and the rapidly
growing larvae reach ½ inch
in length in 2 weeks. It grows
about 80% of its total length
in its first year. Its total life
span seldom reaches 2 years,
and fish do not survive into a
second breeding season.
The diet is variable
but consists generally of
aquatic insects. The Brook
Silverside's affinity for the
surface and shallow water
allows it to seasonally
augment this menu with
terrestrial and flying insects,
as well as spiders. Fry of
sunfishes and even its own
offspring have been found
in the stomachs of these
fish. Fish stop feeding when
waters become discolored.
Inland Silversides are
Those are not wings on the Inland Silverside-just high-positioned pectoral fins.
active during daylight
hours but lie suspended
and motionless on dark nights. Fish are positively
phototropic, and moonlight often precipitates
activity. One account describes observations during
a full moon: " The silversides seem to go crazy, as if
they were moonstruck. The fish darts about at a most
startling speed, dashing here and there, leaping out
of the water again and again, bumping into each
other, splashing, circling, behaving in a most
exaggerated manner. "
Brook Silversides are also attracted to the
artificial lights of nighttime anglers-spotlights,
headlamps, and lanterns. One biologist led a school
of silversides nearly a mile across a Wisconsin lake
with his flashlight.
In another account, silversides basked in a spotlight
beam while Yellow Perch lurked in the shadows.
When the spotlight was moved, the skipjacks " en
masse " would rapidly follow to keep within the
illuminated area. Any unfortunate skipjack that was
unable to adjust rapidly enough and follow the beam of
light was immediately taken by perch, which remained
in the darker zones.
In areas where fish are common or abundant,
silversides are important forage fish and support
populations of gamefish. Silversides have been reported
in the stomachs of Bowfin, Cisco, Largemouth Bass,
Longnose Gar, Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, White
Perch, Yellow Perch, and at least four species of sunfish.
These fish are likely fed on by Saugers, Walleyes, and
other larger species. Unfortunately, silversides are
difficult to keep alive in captivity and have little value
as baitfish.
For a time, the Inland Silverside was considered
a " candidate species " for listing as threatened or
endangered by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat
Commission, but with improvements in water
quality, Pennsylvania's flying fish now plies the
Commonwealth's waters in healthy numbers.
May/June 2022
57

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2022

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Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2022 - Cover1
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2022 - Cover2
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2022 - Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2022 - 4
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2022 - 5
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2022 - 17
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2022 - 18
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2022 - 20
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2022 - Cover3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2022 - Cover4
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