Ice cold no problem for ice fishermen
MUDDYCREEK TWP — There's something fishy about Lake Arthur.
Instead of an empty and vast white expanse awaiting the return of spring, tiny huts containing year-round lovers of the outdoors can be seen dotting the 3,225-acre lake after a prolonged cold snap.
Several huts, or “shanties” were set up on the lake near the Route 528 boat launch on Saturday.
One included the bubbling livebait tank, heater and ice-fishing rods belonging to Renfrew native Dennis Brownley.
Brownley fished on Saturday with his niece, Shelley Zoelle of Forward Township and her friend, first-timer Heather Ishenbaugh of Forward Township.
The layered-up trio fished two holes in the floor of the shanty and four holes outside as steady snow fell in 16-degree temperatures.
“It's being out here,” Brownley said of his 50-year hobby. “Look at this. It's beautiful”
He explained that each fisherman is allowed to use five fishing devices at a time and no more than two devices per person in each hole, which can be no wider than 10 inches.
Fishermen can catch up to 50 panfish a day of any size, but the small fish are normally thrown back because the amount of meat does not make cleaning the fish worthwhile.
Most anglers nowadays have shanties like Brownley's, which can be set up or torn down in two minutes.
A full story will appear in Tuesday's Butler Eagle.
