Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 4

DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE
STATE PARKS ARE GREAT PLACES
TO FISH AND BOAT
by Timothy D. Schaeffer
Executive Director
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
A
fter reading this edition of Pennsylvania Angler
and Boater, one thing will be abundantly clear.
Pennsylvania's numerous state parks are great places
to fish and boat. Pine Grove Furnace, French Creek, and
Lyman Run state parks are all featured on the following pages,
and they just scratch the surface of the waters that await state
park visitors.
Statewide, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
(PFBC) collaborates with our partners at the Pennsylvania
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (PA
DCNR) to implement our mission to protect, conserve, and
enhance aquatic resources, and provide fishing and boating
opportunities. We install fish habitat structures, restore
eroding shorelines to improve angler access and protect water
quality, stock trout and other fish species, conduct fishing
and boating programs, offer fishing tackle loaner sites, and
patrol the waters to keep park visitors and the local aquatic
resources safe and healthy.
Just last weekend, I met Waterways Conservation Officer
Robert J. Bonney, Southern Bucks County, for a ride along
at Marsh Creek State Park, Chester County. After a pleasant
visit with PA DCNR staff, we boarded the PFBC patrol boat
to see the park from the water. I was immediately struck
by the beauty of the park. Nestled into a populated area of
4
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater
photo-Linda Stager
Lyman Run State Park, Potter County
Pennsylvania, Marsh Creek State Park is a real gem-and a
dynamite Muskellunge fishery. Even more impressive was
the degree to which every boater we saw was following the
rules of the water, most notably with life jackets. It is hard
to recall a lake where I have seen more people wearing their
life jackets.
That day, people flooded into the park. In recent years,
many state parks have seen historic numbers of visitors,
with overcrowding sometimes prompting closing park
entrances to ensure visitor safety. If your state park trip
ends with a closed entrance, or if you are looking for a new
place for your next fishing or boating adventure, try the
FishBoatPA mobile app. We have lots of options to choose
from, and locations are likely close by.
When you open FishBoatPA, the opening screen has
a " Near Me " tab at the bottom. Click on it. Then, scroll
down and swipe " Boat Access. " The app automatically lists
public boat accesses 5, 15, 25, and 50 miles away, waterway
horsepower limitations, launch ramp and/or dock areas,
shoreline fishing availability, parking, and directions.
After time on the water at Marsh Creek State Park,
WCO Bonney and I drove to nearby Struble Lake, Chester
County. The PFBC manages the lake in partnership with
Chester County and the Natural Resources Conservation
Service. Struble Lake is a great alternative if Marsh Creek
State Park is too crowded. Struble Lake had significantly
fewer boats on the water and would have been a nice nearby
alternative-and easy to locate just a few clicks away at
FishBoatPA.
fishandboat.com
http://www.fishandboat.com
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022

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