Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 14

Pane 14 April 24, 1 980 fast Fishermen join 'spy' network Russell ranks high in business world I man in Beaver County, was telling about a car full of anglers that followed a truck from the TionesU hatchery to North Park Lake last year just to pick up a limit of rainbows each. "The truck pulled into Zelienople and stopped to get directions to North Park," Barry relates. "When it stopped the 'sportsmen' ducked into a service station for gasoline. The attendant no more than had the hose in the gas tank than the truck took off again. "One of the men jumped out of the car, thrust a $10 bill into the attendant's hand, shouted that they stop by en route home, and then took after the truck." They got their fish without too much trouble after the 120-mile trip from Tionesta, Mechling says, but there also was some frustration to go along with the rainbows.

"When they got back to TionesU they learned that Joe Kopena (Forest County waterways patrolman) had stocked Tionesta Creek while they still were on the first leg of their 240-mile round trip," Mechling says. Makes one wonder if they'd make that trip just for eight small trout each in these days of sky-high gasoline prices. Several streams and lakes in the Pittsburgh area will be stocked next week. These include North Park Lake, Big Deer Creek, Pucketa Creek and, Sewickley Creek in Allegheny County; Slippery Rock Creek in Butler County; Lower Hereford Manor Lake in Beaver County; Canonsburg Lake, Dutch Fork Creek, Dutch Fork Lake, Enlow Fork, Templeton Fork and Ten Mile Creek in Washington County; Linn Run, Loyalhanna Creek and Little Sewickley Creek, Westmoreland County; and Buffalo Creek and Glade Run in Armstrong County. Sometimes they get there before we do.

It's unusual when there isn't a parade of them behind us." Most trout fishermen frown upon such activity, considering it a travesty upon the definition of sportsmanship. The trout, reared in proximity to humans, consider humans their benefactors rather than enemies because they had been fed by men all of their lives. They just don't "spook" when first stocked, although they do become spooky within a day or two. Usually hungry, they grab the first delight that drifts within their vision. Because of the ingenuity of these truck followers in getting to the creek on time, a lot of fishermen who work during the daytime are denied the opportunity to catch some of these fish at a later date.

Many of the fish are hooked and headed for the skillet even before they have had a chance to explore their new surroundings or even to find out just how tough the kid on the next block may be. There probably are methods of getting trout stocked during the season which would frustrate the truck followers, but it probably would take an act of the Legislature to implement them, and too often help from that source is hard to come by. Why not institute procedures that would automatically make it illegal to fish an area until at least 24 hours after an in-season stocking of brookies, browns or rainbows? Or would that be too complicated? Some truck followers have been known to take up stations near Fish Commission hatcheries and then follow trucks loaded with trout as they make their appointed rounds, occasionally with unusual, and comical, results. Barry Mechling, waterways patrol By JIMMY JORDAN Pott-Giittlt Outdoor Writer Some of Pennsylvania's trout fishermen have organized a "spy" network to determine when and where in-season trout stocking operations of the state Fish Commission are taking place so they may be present, hook line and sinker at the ready, as soon as the fish are dumped into the stream. "They seem to have some sort of communications network, because the word gets around quickly once a hatchery truck is spotted," says Stan Hastings, waterways patrolman in Cameron County.

It's not actually a cloak and dagger operation, just a means of out-maneuvering the Fish Commission in its efforts to mask in-season contributions for the fishermen. Last year the commission, in an effort to discourage the "truck-follower" breed of angler, stopped announcing the date, time and place that a stream or lake would be stocked. That information, in previous years, invariably drew dozens of fishermen, whose sportsmanship credentials were rather vague, to the stocking site before the truckload of fish had arrived their rods assembled, hooks baited and lines tossed into the stream in anticipation of the first bucket of trout hitting the water. "Our reluctance to provide specific information hasn't stopped very many of the truck followers from getting to the creek on time," Hastings says. "They just have somebody waiting at a strategic location along the road which they are quite certain the truck will take en route to any given creek, pond or impoundment.

They know it has to come along during daylight hours some time during the week. They have lots of time and lots of patience, so they just wait dynamic linebackers. PG: Did you think Terry Bradsbaw was going to turn out to be as good a quarterback as be has? Yeah, I did. He's one of the real super talents, one of the best I've ever seen. It takes every player so much time to develop.

When the body is young, you play with it as you develop a head for the game. When the body grows a little older, you have to play with your smarts more. If you're lucky, there are two or three years in there when everything comes together. Everything came together for Bradshaw. PG: Are you a millionaire? Well, I don't like to talk about what I'm worth.

I've been awfully fortunate. I'm making a lot more money now than I was as a football player. PG: Every once in a while you do color commentary for Steeler games. Do you plan to do any more broadcast work? I've done the Steeler exhibition games every year since I retired. I did work one year for NBC as a color man right after I retired.

But I decided that I didn't have any career objective in that business. I didn't like traveling all over the country every weekend. I enjoy the Steeler exhibition games. I find it a fun way to keep involved with the Steelers and the game. I'll do the exhibition games again this year.

PG: You played fullback at Missouri. Do you ever have any regrets that you didn't play offense in the pros? When Bill Austin was the coach here, he tried to convert me to a fullback. That was 1966. We were playing the San Francisco 49ers in an exhibition game in Portland. I didn't want to play fullback.

I was just learning linebacker at the time and I wanted to play defense. I love the psychology of defense. Well, we had a rookie named Bill Asbury at fullback for the 49er game, and if he didn't do well, I was going in. Asbury ended up having a good game. We picked up another fullback the next week.

I never did play offense. I have never regreted not playing offense. I'd rather be the hitter than the hittee, anyway. I like to play away games and stop the other guys' drive short. One of my favorite things has always been making a play and bearing 80,000 fans go silent.

PG: Some people say you can't compare the Steelers' dominance in tbe seventies to the Green Bay Packers in the sixties. You've played against the Packers during their good and bad years and with the Steelers in good and bad-times. What's your opinion on the NFL's greatest dynasty? I argue this with Ray Nitschke all the time. There's no comparison at all. The Steelers are better because, first of all, professional football has improved dramatically.

Players today are more dedicated, in better condition. Players used to come to camp in July in order to start getting in condition. Now they come to camp and their best condition is that first day of camp. Secondly, the game has gotten more complex. The Steelers do things now that the Green Bay Packers never saw.

(Continued from rage 11.) football. PG: Is Chuck Noll as bland as be teems to the media aod the public? He's not bland at all. He's just extraordinarily careful with the press. In my own judgment, the press tends to simplify the game too much. Much of the time, they have no understanding of the technicalities of the game.

All players soon learn that, and Chuck Noll knew that. I was always opening my mouth and inserting foot. But, no, Chuck Noll is a dynamic personality. He runs a tight ship. He's a very complex man.

He knows his business ana is the most technically proficient coach I've ever had. But if you knew him, there is no way you would call him bland. PG: In two years you will be eligible for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. From all indications, you seem to be a shoe-in. It would be a great thrill for me to make it.

But you never count on anything like that. Other than making the Hall of Fame, the only thing that means anything, really, is praise from your peers or your coaches. Chuck Noll hands out compliments rarely and to get a compliment from him, you know you must have done something. Also, when the football publication picked me for the All-Decade team, it meant a great deal. Also, I guess when you make All Pro on 1-13 and 2-12 teams as well as in the good years, that means something.

If you play on a good team, they say, "Well, he has a great team behind him." But if you're on a real loser and still make it, then that's something extra. I almost retired in 1971. 1 had a bad year that year and was injured. People came out and said I was washed up. The newspapers were on me.

I decided that I was either going to retire and go with my business interests entirely, or come back and show them that I still had it PG: I guess you showed them. Well PG: Did you ever want to coach? No. I was never interested in it. I don't like to teach people. After I was done playing, I put football in the past.

Football is over and done with. Personally, I don't relate to being an ex-football player. When I'm with people, I try not to talk about football or my career. In fact, I'm not even a fan. I might see three regular -season games a year.

Sunday afternoons I might want to take my son fishing. PG: When you played in the seventies with Jack Ham and Jack Lambert, the three of you were called by some the greatest linebacking crew in history. What's your observation? I like to let other people make those decisions. We're the only team to have three linebackers go to the Pro Bowl in one year. We were all three very proud of that.

I was lucky to have the opportunity to play with them. Jack Ham and I were really close, because we both played outside. We were always helping each other out. PG: What do you think of the linebackers the Steelers have now? They're the best five I've ever seen on one team. Loren Toews is a very fine linebacker.

Robin Cole is tough, he's a superb player. Dennis Winston impresses me a lot. They have five absolutely Canoeing activity picks up steam Rich Doverspike Central slugger on a tear By MARK MADDEN Central Catholic first baseman Rich Doverspike was one of the primary reasons that the Vikings made it to the state baseball playoffs last year. But, while he hit some long home runs in the East athlete of week state tournament at Shippensburg, his most impressive feat was probably recorded at the dinner table. "Rich eats and eats and eats," Viking Coach Joe Emanuele said.

"He hit some tremendous homers at states, but he never stopped eating. His eating was right up there with his home runs as a number one attraction. He was constantly seen with food." The 6-foot-l, 220-pound Doverspike, however, is not being honored as this week's P-G East Athlete of the Week because of his accomplishments on the knife and fork circuit. After all, Doverspike's accomplishments on the baseball field are noteworthy. He is currently hitting .461 with one homer and eight runs batted in Central Catholic (7-3).

He has made just one error in seven games. "Rich is hitting up a storm," Emanuele said. "He missed the first ten days of the season with the flu, but he's making up for it now. He doesn't look like a baseball player at all he looks more like a defensive tackle or a pub bouncer. But he hits well, he fields well and he's always diving for balls.

He gives 200 per cent, and it takes an individual who's a little nuts to do that." Doverspike, in fact, was a defensive tackle for Central, and plans to play both football and baseball at Lafayette next year. Despite his big frame, he has also stolen five bases this season. "Our goal this season is to win the last game, meaning the last game in states," Doverspike said. "Personally, I'd like to hit .600. It's a lofty goal, I know, but I feel I can do it." Doverspike hit .393 last season, and attributes his improvement to concentration.

"Last year, I was getting ready for my senior year of football," Doverspike said. "I was already psyched up for football practice and all. Now, I'm just thinking about baseball. I'd say my biggest strengths are my attitude, strength and power hitting." Doverspike downplayed his eating accomplishments, I have a big appetite, but my habits are blown out of proportion. It was because of the states I got the reputation.

I'm not just a quantity eater, either, my style is well-known. I'd rather not elaborate on that." Regardless of style, Doverspike is eating up Section 5 pitchers this year. And he does not plan a diet. Wagonmaster on the bus for their car and return to pick up the canoe." At the state park, the family camping area is about a mile from Cooksburg. The Ridge Camp, which was rehabilitated and expanded in 1976, now includes 226 tent and trailer sites with modern wash houses with hot and cold running water.

The fee for all such Class A sites is $5 a night. Under the state's new setup, you may reserve a campsite at Cook Forest by writing the park superintendent, P.O. Box 120, Cooksburg, Pa. 16217, or by calling him at (814) 744-8407. You may also reserve one of the 23 rustic cabins at Cook Forest, but you had better move fast because those cabins are usually booked up well in advance in the summer months.

Whether you are a paddler or just a thin-lipped, white-knuckled first-timer in a canoe, a view of the Clarion River from midstream should be an enriching experience if only when you stop and think that the river, once a sewer of industrial waste, has responded so well to conservation measures. The Allegheny Canoe Club of Northwestern Pennsylvania, in cooperation with the American Canoe Association, the Red Cross and the League of Small Craft Instructors, will hold a river paddling workshop and training class May 3 and 4 at Two Mile Run County Park, between Titusville and Franklin, Venango County. The course, open for people over 12 years old, will be limited to 25 persons. Deadline for applications is tomorrow. Send your applications to Walt Pilewski, 755 W.

Spring St, Titusville, Pa. 16354. If you miss that, the Allegheny Canoe Club will offer its basic canoeing course June 7 at Drake Well Park, Titusville, and July 12 and 13 at Two Mile Run Park. Even if you are just a watcher, you 1VICT0RIA By GABRIEL IRETON Pojt-Gwelt Stjtf Writer People who go camping do so for reasons other than just sitting at the campsite, roasting hot dogs and watching the fire. People like to do things related to the outdoors when they go camping.

So, from time to time, we will explore other outdoor activities not directly related to camping such as canoeing. Canoeists are like campers if, indeed, they are not the same. They can't wait to get outdoors in the spring. So it is no surprise that as soon as the spring white waters have subsided to allow for safe canoeing, there is a lot of activity in Western Pennsylvania along the streams and rivers. Where better can you combine both outdoors activities than at Cook Forest State Park in Clarion County? Mindful of this, the Greater Clarion Area Chamber of Commerce will sponsor an 11-mile canoe trip down the Clarion River on May 31 starting at Cooksburg right at the edge of the Clarion and extending to the confluence of Mill Creek.

Because the whole trip is downstream, it will not be one of your major efforts of the season. Even if you do not have your own canoe, you may rent one from the chamber for $12.50 so long as you make reservations for the trip with the chamber by May 28. It will cost you $2 more if you arrive unannounced. And, there is the possibility that no more canoes are available. Make your reservations to the chamber at 517 Main Clarion, Pa.

16214 or call (814) 226-4000. Canoeists will meet at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at Cooksburg for a 9:30 a.m. departure. Small children may make the trip at parents' own risk, but children's life preservers will be supplied.

For another 1.25 a person, shuttle bus service will be available at Mill Creek to take canoeists back to Cooksville. Cook Riverside Outfitters, which is providing the canoes to the chamber, will have a truck on hand to take rentals back. "For people with their own canoes," the woman at the chamber advised, "usually one person in the party waits with the canoe while the others go back Thf nivERS tIiree ICHJNqE Softball league leader looks for local support (Continued from Page 11.) remaining club is strong. Besides worrying about the future of his Hard Hats, which sprung from an amateur team sponsored by Jim's, Dilorio has to administrate the entire league to fulfill his title of commissioner. "I generally operate the league, provide the stats, public relations releases, media guide and supervise scheduling and marketing," Dilorio said.

"Carl Grande, who owns the New England Pilgrims, worked with me in getting the TV deal, and we got a pretty nice contract. We really sold them on the sport." Ol While Dilorio and Grande were able to convince the ESPN network to accept softball, winning over Pittsburghers has been more difficult a situation Dilorio does not understand. "Softball's the type of game everyone participates in," he said. "Everyone hits and runs, but the games are still close and exciting, much more exciting than baseball in many respects. But we're so indoctrinated to baseball, we don't see that." Besides, over 66 million can't be wrong.

Going East is your guide to entertainment in the East suburbs. It's a regular feature of PG East. 10 i UDoer might want to attend the Allegheny Canoe Club's nationally sanctioned canoe race in cooperation with Oil City's Oil Heritage Week, to be held on the Allegheny River from President to Oil City on Sunday, July 20. It could be a perfect way to combine camping with the excitement of watersport competition. Incidentally, the Oil City area offers some great camping opportunities, a subject we will cover in later columns this season.

C'mon, you guys we are offering all this money ($5) for the Golden Tentstake Award, and we have no comers this week. So, I will throw in one of my own, even though the boss said I couldn't collect the award myself: A lot of neophyte campers apparently believe that campground food fare is limited to bologna sandwiches, hot dogs and beans and roasted marshmallows. But the things you can do over a campfire are only as limited as your imagination. Take a pot roast, for instance. There is something special about cooking a pot roast over the fire because the succulent smoky taste improves the flavor even though you have had the lid tightly over your pot.

To save time and trouble at the campsite, peel the potatoes and carrots before leaving home and place them in a container of cold water to prevent discoloration of the potatoes. Peel two or three onions at the campsite and put them together with the vegetables in the pot in which you have already seared the chuck roast in a couple of tablespoons of oil and covered it with water. Add a couple of bay leaves, salt and pepper, and watch your camping neighbors get downright friendly when the aroma of the pot roast gets around the campground. Send your camping ideas to The Wagonmaster, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 109 DeWalt Pittsburgh, Pa. 15227, and you, too, may be among the select winners of the Golden Tentstake Award.

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