Though we are in the start of Pennsylvania hunting season and archery hunters are out in the woodlands hoping to cash in on early deer hunting, my thoughts are turned to fishing for now.

I have been reading some information about PA Fish and Boat Commission activities and I thought I would share my thoughts on a few of their recent posts.

Many of Pa. anglers are aware that the PFBC has been very proactive about protecting resources, including the waterways as well as the fish that reside in them.

An interesting story that has great implications in Pennsylvania as well as the entire eastern seaboard states is about the American Shad.

The American Shad are an anadromous fish, meaning that they spends most of their lives in saltwater, but spawn in freshwater.

Though I have read about the plight of the American Shad in the Susquehanna River basin, I never thought much about their importance until I made a trip to visit friends and family in the Richmond (Va.) area.

The major river in the area is the James River, which of course eventually flows into Jamestown and the Atlantic Ocean.

While we were visiting the area, we made the trip to the Jamestown Colony and had the opportunity to get acquainted with history once again.

History can really put things into perspective for you, including the American Shad.

American Shad have been called the poor man’s salmon.

The exquisite taste of their meat is reflected in their Latin species name, sapidissima, meaning savory according to the (USFWS Chesapeake Bay Field Office).

Historically, Native Americans taught colonists how to harvest the bountiful shellfish in the bays and the shad during the annual spring spawning runs. Dried shad was credited with saving George Washington’s troops from starvation as they camped along the Schuylkill River at Valley Forge.

The shad were prized for their succulent meat and tasty roe.

If you ever look at the menus of colonial homes, it was often a featured dish with Washington, Adams and Jefferson as well as many other significant forefathers.

However, as our populations and industries increased, it started taking its toll on the American Shad. Over harvesting the fish, water pollution and damming of the historical spawning areas greatly affected the quality of the fisheries.

Fast forward, we find the PFBC taking part of the massive reintroduction of American Shad all along the east coast of the U.S. The PFBC is initiating a project to partner up with Virginia to collect American Shad eggs taken from fish in the Potomac River to support restoration in the Susquehanna River basin.

The PFBC recently received a settlement of $240,000 dollars from the Electric Utility Companies due to their role in river construction activities.

This will be a start for the restoration of the American Shad and just maybe every Pennsylvania angler that chooses to do so will be able to take part of a historic tradition for many years to come.

To find out more about the plight and work for the American Shad, check out the PFBC and the S.O.S. activity page.

A little closer to western PA, the PFBC announced that Pymatuning Reservoir found along the border of PA and Ohio has been designated as a Pan Fish Enhancement Lake for Crappies in 2017. The new limit has been set at 20 fish per day, creel limit with a minimum size of 9 inches. Anglers have noted a decline in the fishery since its boom days in 2012. Over fishing has played a large role at the lake and it has been a hotspot for walleye and crappies for years. This past season, many of my fishing partners commented on a noticeable decline in the fishing activity.

The PFBC also has announced a great deal in fishing license sales for the remainder of the year. The price for the remainder of the 2016 license year will be 50 percent off for new angler sales. This gives a great incentive for new anglers to try out the sport of fishing and fall is a great time to fish!

Also, the PFBC reminds anglers to vote on the new fishing pin for 2017. They have some great colors and patterns and the pin is a collectible and matches your fishing license CID number. The button can be worn on your person as an alternative to the yellow fishing tag in a folder.

Until we meet again, let’s support fish and wildlife and its role in our history and survival. So goes the environment, so goes all of us!

Jay Hewitt is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle