Lackawaxen Connection

S PR ING/S UM MER 2016

D IS COV E R YO U R TOW N S H I P

IN THIS ISSUE

Township News

Channel Cats of the Delaware

By Ron Tussel While most anglers will own up to their pursuit of fish species such as largemouth bass, walleyes, trout and even crappies, most would not admit that catfish trip their triggers. There are a few however, who aren’t afraid to sing out in honor of the whiskered one, and give the catfish the respect they deserve.

Catfish, bullhead they are all the same right? Well, not exactly. The channel catfish, Latin name Ictalaurus punctatus, is bigger than your average bullhead, and smaller than a blue or flathead, most of the time. Ictalaurus is Greek and punctatus is Latin, meaning “fish cat” and “spotted,” respectively. Channel catfish are easily distinguished from all others, except blue catfish, by their deeply forked tail fin. Unlike flathead catfish, the upper jaw projects beyond the lower jaw. The channel cat’s coloration is olive-brown to slate blue on the back and sides, shading to silvery-white on the belly. Typically, numerous small, black spots are present, but may be obscured in large adults. The anal fin has 24-29 soft rays, in contrast to the blue catfish, which always has 30 or more rays in the anal fin.

New Accounting Procedures in Place and Operational

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Options For Local Fishing

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Lackawaxen’s Rich Railroad History

7

Fire Department Events

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Plenty to Do in the Summer Months

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Upcoming Educational Retreat for Women Forest Landowners

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Special Paving Project Completed 10 in Pike County Delaware Highlands Conservancy 11 Upcoming Events Fishing Report

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In the northeast corner of Pennsylvania, the Delaware River provides some awesome opportunity to catch good numbers of channel cats, and some that are fair-sized and excellent eating.

Along its miles of winding water, the Delaware River contains lots of places where you can hunt for channel cats. With a map of the river in hand, look for holes and changes in the bottom depth where swift water stops or starts and forms pools. Channel cats will hang out in these pools, and prefer the deepest depths. Rocks, trees, rip rap, brush piles and other structure around these holes often hold catfish. Channel cats love to eat their prey live, and don’t mind chasing it down. Look for them near breaks in currents where baitfish hold up and pass by. Catfish lurk in these areas and wait for Continued on Page 6

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169 Urban Road, Hawley, PA 18428

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New Accounting Procedures in Place and Operational

By Supervisor Tom Cardinale

169 URBAN ROAD, HAWLEY, PA 18428 Main Office: 570-685-7288 Road Dept: 570-685-3200 After Hours: 570-685-7825 Building: 570-685-2990 Zoning: 570-685-2990 Sewage: 570-685-2990 MUNICIPAL MEETINGS: SUPERVISORS WORKSHOPS Are held on the third Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at the Township Building on 169 Urban Rd, Hawley, PA 18428.

SUPERVISORS MEETINGS FOLLOW AT 7:00. Both meetings are open to the public.

PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS Are held on the first Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m.

We approve minutes from the previous month at our regular meetings. Our Supervisor meetings are where the regular business of the township are conducted. Comments from the public are of value and often influence public policy and our laws. We encourage residents to attend regular meetings, hearings, and workshops.

We’ve come a long way! Although reading about procedures can be a little tedious for our readers, it is still our pleasure to let you know of the measures we have taken to help avoid situations we have experienced in the past. Even if this article may appear a little dry, the importance of maintaining transparency in our financial procedures is our goal and we are proud to have made such progress in our efforts.

For 2016, we have established new procedures that make abuse of the system harder to execute, easier to detect, and which will allow for greater accuracy. Only a few years ago, a single person within the office could conclude a transaction with the addition of only one other signature. We learned the hard way that this procedure was far from adequate.

To illustrate the old procedure we can look at the processing of a typical payment as an example. A bill would come in and be approved, and then it would be entered and paid through our accounting software. It would then be printed to a check and signed by the secretary/treasurer. That same person would then handle the bank reconciliation. The final step would be the additional signature of a supervisor. Unfortunately, we found this system to be problematic.

Through new procedures we have adopted this year, a typical bill has many sets of eyes on it before the bank reconciliation is complete. When a bill now comes in, the office manager begins a regulated process beginning with the check’s coding to its proper GL account and retains it in a “to be paid” folder. On a weekly basis, the treasurer consults with the office manager as to which account will be utilized and the signature of a supervisor/treasurer is obtained in order to make payment. At this point, different expenses are itemized (everything from plow parts to welding rods) and “split out” as separate line item expenses and entered by the office manager and the treasurer into accounting software. These bills are reviewed several days in advance of each Board of Supervisors meeting by the Supervisor, who reviews and signs-off on each invoice. At the meeting, payment of the bills

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All advertising, including photographs are the property of Niki Jones Agency, Inc and not that of the advertiser. The advertiser has purchased rights of reproduction in Lackawaxen Township and does not have the right to reproduce ads in any other place or publication without written permission from the publisher. Lackawaxen Connection reserves the rights to exercise its discretion in the selection of advertisements.

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January 4, 2016 The Regular Monthly Board of Supervisors Meetings will now be held on the third Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m.

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LACKAWAXEN CONNECTION | SPRING/SUMMER 2016

is voted on and the office manager prints those checks the next day. Two of the three supervisors (the only legal signors) are required to sign these checks.

Other new procedures that have been set in place include detailed Treasurer’s reports, which are now available at monthly Board of Supervisors meetings. No person in the office performs the bank reconciliations. Instead, this part of the process is performed by our elected auditors, who are restricted from creating any transactions in the accounting software. Further checks and balances have been instituted by the elected auditors conducting a “review” each quarter.

This review is similar to an audit, but with less amount of testing. This past April, the first review by auditors was performed which yielded several issues we are addressing.

In addition, we have retained an accountant in the position of Executive Financial Administrator

in order to make the 2015 financials accurate. He has lead us through the annual audit and helped put us in the right direction for 2016, ensuring that our record keeping stays accurate and everything keeps operating in the right direction.

Although retained initially on a temporary basis, we have voted to keep this accountant active on an “as needed” basis for our quarterly payroll tax filings and the review of financials prior to their presentation to the township.

We are aware that outlining procedures don’t necessarily make for a great read, but this story’s message is more than just entertainment. One of our first goals as supervisors has been to provide accurate and transparent financial information to the residents of this township and we are eager to let you know we are meeting that goal ahead of schedule. We are proud to report that we have come a long way.

Building Department Rich Tussel, Building Inspector 570-685-2990 Ext: 17 Fax: 570-685-2550 building@lackawaxentownshippa.gov

Zoning/Code Enforcement Department Jim Dolan, Zoning Officer 570-685-2990 Ext. 12 Fax: 570-685-2550 Answering service- 570-226-2344 code@lackawaxentownshippa.gov

Commercial Building / Electrical Inspector Todd Klikus 570-493-1229 Todd@lackawaxentownshippa.gov HOURS: By appointment only

Sewage Department Sewage Officer Jim Dolan 570-685-2990 Ext. 12 Fax: 570-685-2550 Answering service- 570-226-2344 code@lackawaxentownshippa.gov Hours: Mon.- 8:30-10:30 am Tues.- By Appt • Wed.- 8:30-10:30 am Thurs.- By Appt • Fri.- By Appt Sat. and Sun. CLOSED

Road Department Gregory Scigliano, Roadmaster 570-685-3200 Fax: 570-685-2550 Emergency/After Hours: 570-685-7825 Roadmaster@lackawaxentownshippa.gov HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 7 am-3:30 pm

Office Manager/Assistant Treasurer Denise Steuhl, Secretary Denise@lackawaxentownshippa.gov HOURS: Mon-Fri. 8 am-4:30 pm

Treasurer Tom Cardinale 570-685-7288 Tom@lackawaxentownshippa.gov HOURS: By appointmentm

Chairman Mike Mancino 570-685-7288 Mike@lackawaxentownshippa.gov HOURS: By appointment 169 Urban Road Hawley, PA 18428

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Township News Options For Local Fishing

Meetings & Events

By Ron Tussel

Living Lackawaxen Parks & Recreation This can be a tough month for general outdoor activities. With daytime temperatures pushing the upper limits of comfort for even the slightest activity, outdoor enthusiasts need to alter their routines to still enjoy some quality time with nature.

For our family, this includes getting up a little earlier in the day and hitting the water for a little fishing before the temperatures and recreational boating activities soar. It can be tougher to get kids up early since school is out, but planning ahead can be the key. When we decide that tomorrow is going to be a day at the lake, we

spend the evening preparing. The boat is loaded with all the gear, food is prepared ahead of time, and the bait is in the cooler.

Yes, even the bait gets a cool ride this time of year.

Worms and crawlers perish quickly if left in the summer sun. I convert an old hard-sided lunchsized cooler to the worm container and just keep it in the basement refrigerator. When we head out, I set an ice pack in the cooler on top of the soil to keep them cool and moist all day long. Lively bait will definitely get you more action.

Once everything is loaded up and ready to go, all

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we have to do is get out the door on time. The odds of this increase greatly because no one is stumbling around looking for things while half awake. Some of the best time on the water in August can be those first couple of hours of daylight. Fish also respond to the warmer water temperatures, and often switch to a nocturnal feeding pattern. Early morning will find these big fish still cruising the shallows in search of a meal before heading back to the sanctity of deeper water when the sunlight and boaters hit.

Of course this does not mean that you cannot catch fish during the day during August either, you just need to apply your efforts where the fish are. Often during the dog days, this means fishing deeper. This can include deeper depths of water, and also deeper within available cover.

Bass for instance, will school in deeper water in places such as Lake Wallenpaupack. Within this huge impoundment water depths can run to sixty feet. Bass will find a submerged hump or other structure in deeper water and hover here. These fish are tough to find without sonar, but once you locate a school, you can pick them off one at a time.

If we look at a more shallow lake for bass angling this month, such as Shohola Lake in state game lands 180, you will need to be rigging weedless or fishing topwater in heavy cover. Shohola Lake is loaded with cover such as stumps and submerged logs as well as plenty of areas of aquatic weed growth. Bass will seek the cover to avoid the sun and heat. There is plenty of gear available these days to allow one to fish these areas. In the old days I would be running a topwater plug with hooks dangling everywhere, and most of my time was spent untangling and unhooking rather than catching fish.

LACKAWAXEN CONNECTION | SPRING/SUMMER 2016

Of course, bass are not the only species available this time of year, as panfish, bullheads, channel cats and even stripers are all on the menu.

Bullheads really start to turn on as the sun goes down. Same goes for channel cats and stripers on the Delaware.

When we set up for either bullheads or channel cats, we plan to bring the grill and enough fixings for a shore dinner. It never hurts to cast a few lines while the grill is getting hot, because we usually catch a few smaller fish to cut into chunk bait for later. I have found over time that fresh cut bait, chicken livers and similar larger baits, will produce bigger bullheads and channel cats on the stringer. As the sun goes down we hook up the lighted bobbers, load up the hooks with bait and get to work. Bullheads often inhale the bait and just swim off. One must pay attention, as often the bobber moving away almost imperceptibly slowly is the only indication that a fish is on.

Casts in the river are a bit different, as they are more aggressive feeders. Here we fish on the bottom with some stout waits to anchor the bait in the current. A small bell clipped to the end of the rod will help signal a bite while saving you some time on the flashlight batteries. Big catties often just nail the bait and run with it and the rod reaction is equally violent. Care should be taken not to leave rods unattended or lightly propped with a forked stick as a ten-pound channel cat can run the entire rig into the drink before you even know it is gone.

holes, as do walleyes. There are some huge muskies clinging to places such as bridge pilings.

Crawling along the bottom of the river is a good supply of American eels that will be caught while dunking for channel cats. These eels are excellent when smoked or pickled.

If you need an excuse to cool off, you can spend the day wading the shallow riffles, tossing twister-

tailed grubs and similar imitators to the wonderful population of scrappy smallmouths found here.

They may be called the dog days of summer, but indeed if you are willing to alter your efforts just a bit, you may be calling the best days of the season.

Photos courtesy of the Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC).

The Delaware is a great choice for August angling. There are plenty of big fish here, and you almost never know what you might hook into.

Big channel cats hang on the ledges in the deeper

LACKAWAXEN CONNECTION | SPRING/SUMMER 2016

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Channel Cats of the Delaware Continued from Page 1 TO ADVERTISE CALL

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the chance to ambush prey. Undercuts in banks where creeks and rivers turn and bend are also common catfish hideouts.

Anyplace that you can spot a break in the current, especially one caused by some sort of structure will be a good place to hunt for cats.

Good fishing for cats on the Delaware begins generally in May. As the waters warm, the cats move to the shallow water where activity is picking up among the smaller members of the benthic community. Later in the season, when temperatures rise, the cats will spend most of their time in deeper water during the day, where temperatures are cooler. At night they will cruise the shallows to hunt. They typically will still hold to structure and changes in bottom depth.

The nice thing about fishing for channel cats on the Delaware River is that you can catch just as many from the bank as you can from a boat. From the bank, position yourself where you can be on a point or rock that will let you get your bait into a hole. If you head out in a boat, anchor upstream at the head of the hole and drift your line back into it.

The most active feeding times and subsequent catching times, are early and late in the day, during periods of low light and at night. My best success has been right at dusk and into the dark.

Catching channel cats is not all that difficult.

For gear selection, you can go light to medium action in five and a half to six foot rod length. Channel cats average a couple of pounds on the Delaware, but they can put up a sporting fight. Spool your reel with 6- to 8-pound-test line for best results and the occasional “rock� fish. For terminal gear, rig with No. 1 to 4 baitholder style hooks. You will generally need at least a few split shot or slip sinkers to get the bait down.

Slip your line through the hole in the slip sinker, and stop it on the line about eighteen inches from the end via a smaller split shot. Attach your baitkeeper hook.

Catfish will respond to a wide variety of baits, and you can buy yours or make your own, or use live bait such as minnows or night crawlers. Stink-baits are common for cats, and if you can handle using them, they will work. A pair of rubber gloves will make the task easier.

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My preference is to just use live minnows, as they are neat to handle and cats love them.

Cast your rig upstream, quartering across, and allow the bait to roll down on or near the bottom till it catches. The best results with channel cats can be had if your bait is held on or just above the bottom. In swift waters a few extra sinkers might be required to keep your offering in the zone where you need to be. At night it can be tough to see the line to know when you have a hit, so a tiny bell can be attached to the rod tip to alert you when a cat grabs the bait. A small piece of bank grass split and hung on the bow in you line will make it easier to see when a fish picks up the bait as well. A fluorescent lantern, black light and headlamp will all make your night fishing adventure more fun. The black light will cause fluorescent monofilament to glow and look like a clothesline, making re-tying hooks much easier.

A few places on the Delaware worth noting for channel cat opportunity would be the Milford Beach area, Smithfield Beach, Zane Grey pool, and Narrowsburg pool. At the Zane Grey pool, one can access the deepest portion of this stretch, and the area of most current, by fishing from the New York side of the bank. If you have a boat, even a rowboat, you can get upstream of the confluence of the Lackawaxen and Delaware Rivers, and drop your line right into the place where the two currents meet. This is a great place for channel cats to sit in waiting for prey to pass.

The Narrowsburg pool can be accessed from a launch on either side of the river. This hole is very deep, and holds a lot of cats, and other big fish. Almost every pocket and hole along the Delaware River can hold some channel cats.

They provide some excellent angling opportunity and are perfect for a summer fish fry. The fillets of the channel cat are delicious and almost sweet to the taste. A Kevlar glove and sharp knife can make quick work of the cats, and the fillets can be halved for frying. Rolled in cornmeal, the meat can be deep fried in hot oil. If you are watching your diet, simply arrange fillets in a glass baking dish, season with Old Bay, salt and pepper, and smother with cheddar cheese and sliced green scallions. Bake about a half hour in a pre-heated oven at 350 degrees for the ultimate in cheesy-baked catfish! They may not be pretty to look at, but to some, they are the perfect game.

LACKAWAXEN CONNECTION | SPRING/SUMMER 2016

Lackawaxen’s Rich Railroad History

By Albert Weisel

Fire Department Events Lackawaxen Volunteer Fire Deptartment December 3 Craft Fair - Doors open at 10:00 am May thru the end of October Train rides - Dates to be announced

Lackawaxen Township has a long and rich history with the railroads. One railway runs along our New York border while another bisects our township. At one time the railroad was very important to the area’s financial stability: employing resident’s and transporting tourists and freight to and from.

From early on the village of Lackawaxen had it’s own depot. After several accidents to both railway and depot a new depot was built in the village in 1902. It served the area well for many years but that was all to end in September 6, 1950.

Greeley Volunteer Fire Department October 29 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Pork Roast Dinner A freight train was traveling through the area heading to Boston. A car derailed and 25 cars behind it accordianed into the Lackawaxen station the ticket master quickly dove out of the window, saving his life. Nobody was injured and the railroad quickly had the railways in operational form but the depot was a total loss.

Lackawaxen never rebuilt it’s depot and the last passenger run to the area took place on November 28, 1966.

Forest Volunteer Fire Department September 4 1:00 pm to 11:00 pm Clambake with live music November 25 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm Gun raffle

The Central Volunteer Fire Department of Hawley Date To Be Announced Yuengling Brewery Bus Trip September 12th 9:00 am Annual Golf Outing September 17 6:00 pm

Country Dinner and Dance

October 8 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Spaghetti Dinner December 10 9:00 am - 11:30 am Breakfast and Pictures with Santa

LACKAWAXEN CONNECTION | SPRING/SUMMER 2016

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Plenty to Do in the Summer Months

By Ron Tussel Things have been hot and dry this summer in the northeast and the resulting conditions have affected our fishing and outdoor activities. That is not to say however, that you can’t beat the heat and still get in some summer fun.

Shooting is fun no matter what time of year it is.

Whether it is a target shooting competition with a buddy or just some quality time with the kids sighting in for the coming fall seasons, making some noise and punching some holes is timeless.

Unless otherwise posted, these ranges are open year-round, from 8 a.m. until sunset, Monday through Saturday, and noon to sunset on Sundays.

Users should review and follow the posted regulations, and be considerate of others, too. Of course, all rules of safety need to be followed, and by all means wear proper eye and ear protection. Also, anyone under 16 must be accompanied by someone 18 or older.

Users should also practice good shooting etiquette. The regulation, for example, that limits a shooter to having no more than three

rounds in a rifle (six in a handgun) may not seem to make much sense.

and programs, shooters should adhere to some personal ethics.

What it does, though, is give shooters a chance to check their targets without having to wait for those who may want to shoot long strings.

This same regulation prohibits people using firearms with large capacity magazines from monopolizing time on the range, and also causing inordinate damage, particularly to backstops.

Be careful not to shoot up the framework used to hold the backstop material. Always clean up your spent cases, remove targets from backstops, keep shooting benches clean and dispose of all other litter.

If there are a group of you looking to go shooting, you may reserve a range from January 1 through October 1 by calling the Game Commission regional office at least 20 days in advance. The range is closed to individuals when it is reserved, and signs may be posted at other times indicating a closed range.

Maintaining these public ranges costs more than $200,000 per year. These dollars come out of the coffer funded in part by our hunting license dollars and could be used for other important items such as law enforcement. To help keep maintenance costs down, which will allow these funds to be diverted to other projects

Highlighting the region’s public ranges by county is as follows: Carbon County SGL 141 with access via Route 93 contains 7 firing points with yardages of 100/200/300. It also maintains 11 handgun firing points with ranges of 25/50 yards. Columbia County SGL 58 with access via Route 339 has 7 with ranges of 100/150 yards. Lackawanna County on SGL 300, access via SR 1012 has 17 firing points with ranges of 50/100/200 yards and also has 6 handgun stations with ranges of 25/50 yards. Luzerne County on SGL 91, access off SR 2035 has 10 firing points with ranges of 50/75/100 yards.

Luzerne County’s SGL 206 off Route 118 has 10 firing stations with yardages of 50/75/100 and 8 handgun posts with a single 25 yard range. In Monroe County on SGL 127, access via Route

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LACKAWAXEN CONNECTION | SPRING/SUMMER 2016

423 has 12 stations and yardages of 50/100 and 6 handgun stations with ranges of 10/25 yards.

In Pike County on SGL 183 off Route 6 near Lake Wallenpaupack there are 11 shooting points with ranges of 25/50/100. In Wayne County the range is on SGL 159 off SR 4007 and has 11 shooting stations with ranges of 25/50/100 yards.

gear is in top condition if you decide to give a red eye on the “Pac a go.

If you prefer to get wet and cool down yourself, then give wading for smallies a try this month on the Upper Delaware River. The upper stretch of the river offers cold, oxygen-rich water. Smallies hold in the riffles and at the heads and tails of We are privileged to have so many public eddies. With water levels down, you can put on shooting ranges available to us in the region. shorts and some old sneakers and get right out They are a great resource to be enjoyed by all, there with them. A PFD is a good idea for this and provide a place to spend some time during style of summer angling and a walking stick or the summer with family and friends. long-handled net can help with balance. Twistertailed jigs, especially white, will produce plenty Of course there are also plenty of places to drop of action early and late in the day. Adjust your a line this month in the northeast despite the heat. activity times and you will find plenty to do Switching to fishing at night or first and last thing outdoors this month despite the time of year. during the day are ways to beat the heat and key in on peak activity times for feeding fish. es and Rela om t

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Lake Wallenpaupack gets more than its share of boaters during the day, but at night it is a different world. Anglers looking for the change to hook into monster fish will be the only ones out there after sundown and for good reason.

Stripers in the sixty pound range lurk these dark waters, as do huge walleyes, large and smallmouth bass, giant trout and truly tacklebusting channel cats. When a bait goes into the drink on this big lake at night, one never knows just what might make the grab. Be sure all your

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Upcoming Educational Retreat for Women Forest Landowners Upper Delaware River Region, PA and NY – Women across the mid-Atlantic region who own, care for, or are interested in learning more about forestland are invited to apply to attend the Women and Their Woods (WaTW) Educational Retreat from September 15-18 and the Highlights Foundation Facility in Boyd’s Mill, Milanville, Pennsylvania.

The four-day workshop is full of exciting educational programs and field trips related to the care and management of forestland. The result is a friendly, peer-learning environment and connection to a network of educated landowners and natural resource professionals.

Topics and activities in indoor and outdoor sessions include forest ecology, wildlife, estate and financial planning, calculating the value in your forest, forest plant identification, and more.

WaTW graduates go on to serve as mentors for other landowners in their communities in the proper stewardship of their lands.

According to Christine Foland, PA Landowner and WaTW Retreat Graduate, “It is hard for me to believe how differently I view my woods after our four days together. In addition to loving my woods, I feel a strong responsibility to care for it in a purposeful way. The network of support available is wonderful. I am embarked on a new, beautiful, and heretofore unexpected relationship with my forest.”

Special Paving Project Completed in Pike County Last year legislators asked PennDOT to get creative in addressing community concerns about road conditions in Pike County. Today, Sen. Lisa Baker (R-20th) and Rep. Mike Peifer (R-139th) joined area residents and local officials to learn more about a special program PennDOT is using to pave several roads in Pike County.

For more information on Women and Their Woods or for an application, visit www.DelawareHighlands.org/watw, email Amanda Subjin of the Delaware Highlands Conservancy at conserve@delawarehighlands. org, or call 570-226-3164 ext. 2. The cost to attend the four-day retreat is $200 and covers lodging for three nights, three meals per day with snacks, and all workshop resources and materials. The application deadline is August 15, 2016.

Recycled Asphalt Paving, or RAP, is a process the department can employ to reclaim construction materials and repurpose them for other projects. In this case, millings from the ongoing I-84 expansion were grinded and mixed with oil to create a combination ideal for paving other, less traveled roads.

“RAP is great for the environment and more cost effective,” said Dennis Giordano, PennDOT District 4-0 Assistant District Executive for Maintenance. “It allows us to improve selected four-digit state routes at a lower price, thus allowing us to do more.”

Women and Their Woods is sponsored by the Delaware Highlands Conservancy, the U.S. Forest Service at Grey Towers, the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

PennDOT crews utilized RAP to pave all of Egypt and Greeley Lake roads and a section of Blooming Grove road. An oil and chip treatment will then be added to help extend the life of the roadways.

“These are roads that would not have been paved otherwise,” said Peifer. “We are already hearing from folks thrilled by the thought of a smoother drive and fewer car repairs.”

“PennDOT’s quick response to our request is encouraging,” Baker added. “This is a great start, and we are looking forward to seeing more improvements next year.”

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LACKAWAXEN CONNECTION | SPRING/SUMMER 2016

Delaware Highlands Conservancy Upcoming Events Summer Nature Walk with the Delaware Highlands Conservancy: August 7, and August 21, 1 pm Join the Conservancy for a free guided Nature Walk this summer at our office in Bethel, NY. You’ll learn about what you see and hear as you enjoy the outdoors on a hike on our woodland trail, led by one of our knowledgeable volunteers. Advance registration is NOT required for these events and they will be hosted rain or shine. The walks will depart at 1 pm—meet at our office to join the group. Kids must remain

accompanied by an adult at all times. For more information and directions, contact us at 845-583-1010, email info@delawarehighlands.org, or visit www.DelawareHighlands.org.

free ice cream, a kayak raffle, and more. The event is free, but please RSVP if you plan to attend at 570-226-3164, 845-583-1010, or email info@delawarehighlands.org to reserve your space and receive directions.

Community Picnic with the Delaware Highlands Conservancy: August 27, 12-4 pm Join the Delaware Highlands Conservancy for our annual free picnic to say thank you to our wonderful members, volunteers, and supporters outdoors at our beautiful Bethel, NY office. Bring your own picnic lunch and enjoy crafts, games, educational entertainment,

Fishing Report

By Dimitri Zaimes The trout fishing on the Lackawaxen River has not suffered with the hot weather. The Lake Wallenpaupack Dam has continued its cold water releases. These releases are small and leave the river levels at a wadeable level. Bass fishing in the Delaware is best in the fast white water. That water is cooler and holds more oxygen. The area lakes are slow fishing during the heat of the day. It’s best to fish early morning and late evening, also

at night. Look for the fish to turn on as the barometric pressure changes with the passing of each thunderstorm cell. I’m getting reports of nice sized Stripers being caught in the Delaware river this month. Good Luck! Feel free to stop by our tackle shop at Two River Junction for your bait, tackle and an updated fishing report.

LACKAWAXEN CONNECTION | SPRING/SUMMER 2016

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