Farewell to Vincent Dam ... a.k.a. Yankee Dam

Do you remember the dam on the Schuylkill River near Linfield, Pa? We called it Yankee Dam but it's official name was Vincent Dam.  This picture is an old postcard that I purchased on EBay dated 1909.

Back then the Schuylkill River flowed over the entire dam breast with much gusto. During the 1960's a bunch of us Royersford boys would come there in the summer for a day of swimming and just general "messing around". A wall on the Montgomery County side had steps of various levels and provided platforms for jumping into the churning water.

No one ever told us of the dangers that the dam presented with the turbulence, rocks or other hazards that may be just under the surface. Chances are that none of our parents knew we were there. Anyway, Jumping in and swimming right to the waterfalls and then getting in the air space between the dam and the overflowing water was the triple-dog dare of the times. Coming face to face with a water snake was our only fear.

 Many years ago the dam started to deteriorate and slowly fall apart from the annual floods and ice jams. I often frequented the dam because the fishing was pretty good there. Water from the river had stopped flowing over the actual dam. The current carved a passage only on the Chester County side where a breach of about 20 feet let the mighty Schuylkill have it's way.

Walking out on the old dam structure was very  dangerous. These pictures show the state of demise around 2006 or so. You can also see the method of construction. Heavy timbers, then rotten and broken were embedded in large rocks and boulders. I' am sure it was an engineering wonder at the time it was built. When these pictures were taken O'l Yankee Dam was already scheduled for removal in the near future unless Mother Nature did it first. Each time I visited the dam to fish, I could recall the splashing and shouts of us boys on those summer days long ago. Swimming was the main event there when we were young but in later years it proved to be a great fishing spot for Musky, Walleye, Stripers, catfish and bass.

Here are two pictures of Yankee Dam as it was before it was taken out by the Army Corps of Engineers in 2009. Notice the massive timbers and large iron spikes. Let these pictures bid a farewell to not only the dam but some of my best summer memories.

 This first one is looking toward the Linfield (Montgomery County) side.

 This next one is looking toward the Chester County side. 

On November 9th, 2009 I took a walk back to Yankee Dam to view it's ghost.

The removal of the dam was completed just weeks prior to my visit. I expected that the change would have the flow of the river now smooth and with no sign of things that were. I was wrong. The dam abutments are still in place and the removal left signs of the old structure beneath the surface.




I can see now that it will still be a pretty good fishing area with lots of diverse current and underwater fish magnets. Still I miss the mighty structure that is no longer there. The remnants of the dam were piled in a nearby field at the time. Obviously taken apart with heavy machinery.

I took a few casts and sat on the wall in silence saying goodbye to this old friend. I really needed something more tangible to remember all of this. I decided to rummage through the piles of rubble that were left and dug out one of the rusty bent spikes used in the original construction. I thought for a moment, about the man that hammered this into the timbers many years ago. Also, I wondered, did the people that dismantle it take time to ponder the same? Well, I brought it home and cleaned it up with a wire brush to keep the memory with me for forever.

 Here is the huge eighteen inch spike.

At this time it sits on my workbench in the basement. It may just be the only thing saved from what was the beautiful Yankee Dam!

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© 2016 LCFdesign

Spring Perch fishing at Marsh Creek Lake

March 29, 2017

The water level in Marsh Creek is rising now. It is up 2 feet from last week. Fishing from the rocks at the bridge on Little Conestoga Road today was pretty good. A quick stop at Gordon's Sport Supply for wax worms and I was ready to go. Arriving at the bridge about 9:45 am I was surprised to see no one else. There was a breeze blowing from the northeast but I was protected on the lake side by the raised roadway. Air temperature was in the upper 40's and water was right around 50 degrees.

I set my slip bobber at four feet, impaled a wax worm on a long shank hood and tossed it out. After testing a few different depths I hooked my first yellow perch. Although there is no size limit on perch it was bit to small to keep. I was hoping for a few in the ten inch range to filet for dinner.

Another angler arrived and started fishing on the opposite side of the cut. He also took a number of casts in different directions searching for active fish. He began catching small crappies directly in the outflow under the bridge. Unfortunately they were also to small to keep but he continued to get one on almost every cast.

The bite continued for me but consisted of perch and sunfish. A few other people arrived and began fishing in the same areas. As I was sitting on the rocks enjoying the sun I caught a movement right in front of me. To my surprise a beautiful mink bounced up on a rock, not three feet away, and then slipped into the water and was gone like a ghost. In all the hours that I have spent outdoors in my lifetime this was the first mink ever to cross my path. Sure was a sight to remember and one that will never be forgotten.

Anyway, I did change spots a few times but eventually came back to the rock and caught a few more fish. Ended the day with five nice Yellow Perch and about twenty Sunfish. All were released to get a little bigger. Headed for home at 1:45 pm glad to see that spring is upon us.

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FINDING LOST GOLD IN LOCAL LAKES !

 In this neck of the woods, Southeastern Pa, we have many man made reservoirs that provide a source of water, recreation and flood control. Most are part of the State Park system. In the fall many of them are drawn-down to allow for the spring snow melt.

Usually they will drop around four to six feet which exposes a lot of the fishing structure.  Here is a good example of fish holding habitat that is normally three feet below the surface. I believe it is part of a old building foundation that was there before the lake was constructed.

I always visit one of the lakes in late winter, before the water rises, and walk the shoreline to make note of where these fish holding structures are located for future reference. This one, pictured to the right, is man made and will usually hold fish in the spring and summer. At normal pool level it would be three feet below the surface.



Ah, but there is also another reason that I walk the exposed shore lines.

 With the water low I can usually navigate the bank without worrying about bushes and other normal obstacles. My goal here is to look for hidden treasure in the form of lures that were snagged and lost by anglers during the previous fishing season.

It never fails that I come up with a few nice ones and some old crap too. Sometimes you have to look carefully and other times they just jump out at you. This picture, taken in 2013, shows one of the many man-made rock piles and posts. During normal water levels you would only see a foot or so of the top of the logs. A great fish attractor and one that could hold the riches that I'm looking for.

Finding these lost gems takes patience and concentration. I have learned to look high and low but especially in the prime target areas that I would be tossing my lures if fishing the shoreline from a boat. This picture was also taken in 2013 when the lake was dropped much lower than normal. Marsh Creek lake is full of old stumps like these that are hidden under the surface.

Last week, while on my little tour, my eye caught a bright glimmer coming from a old downed tree that would normally have been in three feet of water. The sun was at the right angle and it was obvious that this was a fairly new lure.  A beauty of a lure just waiting for me to free it from the snag.

 Turned out to be a Lucky Craft Pointer SP 128  in perfect condition.  I also found a few old rubber worms and various other old hooks and sinkers but no other keepers.


 Anyway, the Lucky Craft lure sure will get some new life now that I have it in my tackle box. Pure Gold for sure!

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Is it "Cabin Fever" or "Impatiens Captat ?"

 

"Cabin fever is an idiomatic term for a claustrophobic reaction that takes place when a person or group ends up in an isolated or solitary location, or stuck indoors in confined quarters for an extended period. Cabin fever describes the extreme irritability and restlessness a person may feel in these situations. When experiencing cabin fever, a person may tend to sleep, to have a distrust of anyone they are with or to have an urge to go outside even in the rain, snow, dark or hail."

(Definition from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

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 But now I wonder, could there be something else? From time to time, especially in the winter, people claim to have "Cabin Fever" because of the lack of outdoor activities. This no doubt effects anglers to such a degree that they will spend hours on the computer looking at pictures of fish, lures, rods, reels, boats and just about anything that pertains to fishing.

 For most people a temporary cure for this malady is simply going outdoors. Not so for a avid angler! Visits to the local tackle store just make it worse. Driving by the lake only intensifies the sickness. Opening our tackle boxes and fondling the lures will result in flashbacks of fish gone by but will make us even more anxious. The only cure for us is to actually go the lake, river, pond or stream and take a cast or drop a line down the hole in the ice. This usually results in immediate relief from the ailment.

 Once the weather improves normal people rarely complain of "Cabin Fever" due to the regular doses of outdoor exposure. However, anglers are not normal people and there is another syndrome that attacks us, and is even more debilitating than any form of "Cabin Fever". It is called "IMPATIENS CAPTAT" which is Latin for Impatient Angler. Strangely enough this disorder is initiated by actually curing "Cabin Fever!" The initial symptoms, although negligible, sneak into our subconscious minds long before the real dilemma hits us.

 It works something like this... You arrive at the lake just before dawn full of anticipation and a feeling of absolute joy. Everything is going fine, the fish are biting, the weather is comfortable and the sounds of nature abound. Then, without warning, you receive a little message in your head that tells you that all of this will end and you will have to return to reality. Early on, this scant reminder has a very minor affect and is dismissed without a second thought. Then as time goes on and you are engrossed with the adventures taking place it hits home again. A glance at your watch tells you that five, of the planned eight hours, have already passed. There are only three left before it is over! This is when your mind starts haunting you with the realization that the end is near. Thinking about the upcoming deadline begins to overwhelm your thoughts. The final hour is so despised that you may wish that it was here now just to get it over with. Once the closing minutes arrive you give in and commit to that final and last cast of the day.

The moment your line is retrieved and secured is when "IMPATIENS CAPTAT" hits you like a brick wall. You now become impatient and can not wait until the next scheduled fishing day.

 Although you continue with the normal everyday things like family, work, school or whatever, you are obsessed with figuring out when you can go fishing again. People around you might notice your restlessness as you interact with them. Visions of the lake keep distracting your daily activities. Planning your next fishing day is a priority and the thought of any other obligations quickly irritate you.

 These symptoms begin to ease up once you have finalized a plan to get out again. Everyday things become easier to focus on and accomplish. As the big day gets closer you become less annoyed by little setbacks around the house or at work. Still impatient but under control knowing that you will soon be out there again to enjoy the start of another day on the water.

 Many years ago a friend and I were struck with this sickness in the worst possible way while returning from a three day fishing trip to Canada. We had literally fished 22/7 (yea we needed two hours of sleep each night) and could not keep count of how many fish we caught. The fins and teeth of numerous Bass, Walleye and Pike had scarred our hands and fingers till they bleed. We were tired beyond belief. His boat and all our equipment was in need of some TLC. In the middle of the trip home on U.S. 81

we were hit with "Impatiens Captat". We could not face the fact that our trip was over and normal life awaited our return. Our solution or you might say antidote was simple. Right then and there, we decided to not go home but instead head right to Marsh Creek Lake, which was close to home, and continue fishing for the remainder of the day.  We forgot that deep down in the depths of our minds, lurked another round of "IMPATIENS CAPTAT!"


So therefore I give you the first definition for this wide spread ailment called ...


"Impatiens Captat is a term that is used to describe any angler that has finished a day or days of fishing and is somewhat distraught because it has come to an end. When experiencing "IMPATIENS CAPTAT", also known as Impatient Angler, the unfortunate victim initially goes through a period of deep depression. He or she also has a tendency to irritate others by a general disregard for what is going on around them. As time passes slow improvement can be expected but is governed by how soon the ailing person can see that there is a chance to go fishing again in the near future. It is best to stay clear of the sufferer until noticeable change is obvious. You may first detect a smile, be it so slight, or even a sliver of interest in a project that doesn't pertain to fishing. This will be a sign that things will be back to normal soon. As a word of caution it is best to remember that "Impatiens Captat" is bound to happen again and is unavoidable."

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© 2016 LCFdesign

2017 PHILADELPHIA OUTDOOR SPORTSHOW

 The last time I attended a Sportsman show was 1983 in Harrisburg, Pa. Since then I really did not have the urge to do so again. Perhaps it was the crowds or the two hour commute that turned me off.

 Ah, but now, right in our backyard, we have the Greater Philadelphia Outdoor Sportshow which is held in Oaks, Pa.  I happen to live only two miles away but have never visited during the annual four day spectacle. This year it was held February 23-26.  I was looking for some relief from my current bout with "Cabin Fever" and figured, hey why not!

A quick text message to a good friend, that I knew never missed the show, easily set the plan in motion. Fishing, of course, would be our primary interest. We would meet at the main entrance on the first day of the big event. Dennis also told me that Hank Parker would be one of the attractions not to miss. Since Den is a veteran of these shows he also told me that he would only bring $10 so as not to overspend  on lures and other fishing junk. Probably good advice to follow but I folded up a few twenties and stuffed them in my wallet just in case.

 An event of this magnitude attracts large crowds. We planned to avoid the weekend onslaught by going on the first day which was a normal work day for most folks. Tickets were available on-line so we took advantage of that option. This saved two bucks off the regular price plus some time waiting in line.


I arrived about an hour early and found plenty of parking close to the main entrance. A few other folks were already there and just hanging around outside in the warm weather. Dennis arrived shortly thereafter and at the stroke of noon the doors were opened. Turns out that we picked the right day as the crowd was very light which made it easy to browse around without getting trampled.

The fishing venues were staged right inside the door and continued up and down the next four isles. Rods, reels, lures, freshwater and saltwater. Each vendor was more than happy to engage anyone in conversation and present what they offered. Most were easy going and very polite. Only one or two were just a bit to aggressive for my style.

Trips to Canada were featured by a few outfitters offering fly-in or drive to lodges. Canada offers some fantastic fishing for Bass, Pike, Walleye and Muskie. From our area it is just a seven or eight hour drive to some of the best waters without spending a fortune. Many of these areas can be found on-line with a simple search or two.

Alaska, Mexico and other destinations were displayed as well. There were also a few local exhibits to appreciate.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission was well represented and welcomed any and all questions and comments.

 Dennis does a lot of web surfing and recently ran across a new local bait company on Facebook. ZEE BAIT CO. was on the list of vendors and their booth was one of our priorities during this visit. Zee Bait is based close by in Chester County so I will wave their flag here for a moment.

These two entrepreneurs, Dominique and Hunter, have a few new twists on the rubber bait scene along with a unique jig head to compliment it. They had a small but very well organized display. Turns out that their "Muddpuppy" might be just what we were looking for to catch a few hawgs this year. Anyway, after a extended chat about their offerings we bid them good luck and promised to send pictures of our assumed future catches.

Another attraction that is always fun if you bring children is the Trout Fishing Pond. For a small fee the kids can enter the pond and catch trout. There were no kids around when I stopped by but no doubt there will be plenty of excitement on the weekend days.

Then of course there was the HAWG TROUGH. A 5000 gallon fish tank on wheels full of Largemouth Bass (Hawgs).
This was also the backdrop for the many seminars that were given, free of charge, during the shows schedule.

Ah, the boats! Just the sight of all the new bass boats made me weak in the knees. They were all there to drool over. Whatever you ever dreamed of was displayed in full living color! 

Ranger, Triton, Skeeter,Tracker and others were all set up with every accessories possible. The 225HP engines were gleaming in the lights. Anyone with a meager $60,000.00 or so could hook up and pull away with the best of the best!  For those with a bit more self control there were nice rigs for well under $20,000.00 that would be just fine.

In recent years kayaks are becoming popular with many anglers. There was a nice area that featured different brands for any budget. There are Kayak fishing clubs that are active in our area and information can be obtained here Kayak Anglers Eastern Pa. Back a few years ago I did some Kayak fishing and found it to be pretty darn enjoyable. Looking over the display here has me pondering a possible purchase.


This show was well organized although much smaller than the extravaganza that you would see at the Harrisburg Fair Grounds. Dennis and I went a little over our $10 dollar budgets, which was no surprise, and picked up a few new jig heads and rubber baits. We also gained some new tips from attending two seminars.

O, and yes Hank Parker saw us and begged us for a picture. We just couldn't say no!


 From left to right ...Dennis, Hank and yours truly.

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WELCOME TO "ONE CAST ... ONE FISH !"

Congratulations!
You somehow stumbled upon my new blog. A few of you folks might recall that I did a blog titled "Fishing Fever" for the Royersford-Limerick PATCH back in 2012.

I think that exposure captured at least a dozen followers! Fishing Fever ended after one year and 52 blog posts because I did not get 1,000,000 likes on my Face Book page! I did, however, turn that blog into a published book form.
I'm just a regular guy that enjoys writing and is addicted to fishing but this time I'm shooting for the masses. I just hope I can keep up with answering the comments once the word get out that I'm back. Also, please be patient with me as I get the hang of this blogging thing. Feel free to hand me any advice that would improve your reading experience.

"One Cast ... One Fish" will feature a variety of fishing twists and turns as I recall some old times as well as new fishing adventures. Some content may be current and true, some may be fictional and far fetched. I plan some, but not to technical, advice along with bits of humor and just plain fish tales.

Anyway, thanks for clicking the link that brought you here and I hope you continue to read

"ONE CAST ... ONE FISH !"

© 2016 LCFdesign

Len's Secret Fishing Spots !

An "Interactive Map" and guide for day trip fishing.

 Next will be my personal Google map that will show a few of my favorite, but not so secret, fishing spots. At this time all of the areas are within a short drive if you are in Montgomery, Chester, Berks or Bucks County. As time goes on I may add to the map and include other lakes, streams or rivers. There is information about the body of water as well as access points, parking and species of fish.

Instructions for using the map:

You will be able to left click on the blue icons to access information about that particular spot. Here is an example of what it will look like when you go to the link below.

 Also you can zoom in and out with the roller on your mouse or use the "+ and -" sign in the bottom right hand corner of the map. Move the map left, right, up or down by holding your curser down with the left button and moving your mouse in the desired direction. You may also access the different areas by clicking on the names in the left hand box. This feature may not show if using IPhone or other similar doohickey.

Here is the link to get started: Len's Secret Fishing Holes !

Thanks again for reading "One Cast ... One Fish !"

© 2016 LCFdesign