Pittston Dispatch // PD Columnists // Don Jacobs - Outdoors With Jake

Sunday August 02, 2009 | 01:00 AM

It calls my name every time I cross it. It seems to lure unsuspecting anglers to it’s’ banks without rhyme or reason. In case you haven’t figured it out yet, the “it” I am referring to is the Susquehanna River. River fishermen have been waiting for the river to get low enough for some good old fashion bass fishing and the time has finally arrived.

I have a new tool for bait picking and successful river fishing. It’s called the internet.

The river levels could be found on wnep.com on the weather page. The Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center of the National Weather Service measures the river levels and posts them in an easy to read chart. From past experience, I know that when the river level in Wilkes-Barre is at or below 1 foot, the bait picking is easy and the bass should be biting. The river has been holding at that level for most of this week.

Besides the river levels on the Internet, I watch the water pipe above the Fort Jenkins Bridge. When it really starts to show I know it’s wading time in the river. The equipment list for a river wading trip is very simple. All you need is an old pair of sneakers, a pair of shorts and your fishing gear. The gear consists of a bait can to keep the bait after you picked it, a medium strength fishing rod and reel, split shots and number 4 snelled fishing hooks. You should take a stringer along if you plan on keeping any fish for the frying pan.

Artificial worms and tube style baits also work fine for a wading trip; it’s just that I grew up fishing with live bait such as catties and clippers (hellgrammites). These are usually caught by wading into the water facing upstream and slowly sliding your hands under the rocks until you feel one. It is not that easy until you get the hang of it. I consider myself pretty good at it because I’ve been picking bait for forty years.

Many river anglers enjoy trolling. Trolling is a very successful way to cover a larger portion of the river in a shorter period of time. I prefer small crayfish imitation lures. They are typically drug behind the boat as it motors along. The most action could be found when the lures are actually bouncing off the bottom of the river. It might sound like a good way to lose lures but the trick is to turn the boat around and pull it out from under the rock. The one problem with trolling is that as the river gets lower and lower, the ability to motor through shallow portions gets harder. Nonetheless, it is a good way to spend a day on the river considering the Susquehanna Smallies are calling.

Antlerless Deer Licenses

The first round of unsold antlerless deer applications will be accepted tomorrow morning, (August 3). Our area falls within Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 3B. This unit was allotted 43,000 permits for distribution and as of this week there are still over 26,000 to award. The application can be found online or on page 47 of the Pennsylvania Hunting and trapping digest you received with your license. They must be sent through the mail to the County Treasurer. The second round of unsold licenses will go on sale on Monday, August 17.

Bobcat and Elk Applications

Hunters and trappers who would like to get their hands on a bobcat permit have until Tuesday, September 1, to submit an application. The process can only be done through the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s new Pennsylvania Automated License System (PALS). There are 1,780 permits up for grabs. The application can be done at any of the license issuing agents or through the “Buy Your Hunting License Now” icon in the upper right-hand corner of the Game Commission’s website ( www.pgc.state.pa.us). The big change this year is that there are no paper applications available. There is a $5.70 non-refundable application fee to be entered into the drawing

On September 11, the 1,780 permits will be selected during a computerized drawing. The drawing will be open to the public, at the agency’s Harrisburg headquarters, 2001 Elmerton Avenue, just off the Progress Avenue exit of Interstate 81. Those selected will receive their bobcat permit by U.S. mail in early October. The bobcat hunting season will take place Oct. 24 through Feb. 20. The bobcat trapping season will be held from Oct. 25 through Feb. 21.There is a limited number of wildlife management units involved in the hunting area. They are Wildlife Management Units 2A, 2C, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4D and 4E.

Hunters hoping to participate in this year’s Pennsylvania elk season have until Friday, August 28, to submit an application through the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s new Pennsylvania Automated License System (PALS). Just like the bobcat application, this can be done at any issuing agent or through the “Buy Your Hunting License Now” icon in the upper right-hand corner of the homepage. Once again, there is no paper application process this year.

The elk application involves a $10.70 non-refundable fee. The winners will also be chosen on September 11, at the Game Commission’s public drawing. At that time, the agency will award the 59 elk licenses, the first 20 drawn will receive an antlered license and the next 39 drawn will receive an antlerless license. You don’t have to purchase a general hunting license to apply for the drawing. However, if you are chosen for one of the elk licenses, you will be required to purchase a general hunting license and view the elk hunt orientation video produced by the Game Commission before being permitted to purchase the elk license. The elk license fees are $25 for residents and $250 for nonresidents.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is planning to webcast the public drawings for the 2009 elk hunting licenses and the 2009-2010 bobcat season permits. To view the drawing, a special icon will be posted online on September 11, the day of the public drawing, for individuals to click on and watch the drawing. Good Luck if you entered.

Outdoor Life

Be sure to watch Pennsylvania Outdoor Life tonight at 6:30 on WNEP-TV. We will take a close up look at a few salamanders and frogs. We also have information on how you can help raise money for a scholarship fund by shooting sporting clays. Have a great day!