Spillway, lake memories overflow

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The older you get, the more you find that the earlier years in one's life seems to become more prominent.

The reflections from the past are almost always reminiscent of the "good old days" when growing up had a way of cementing things in one's mind.

It was the time when things that happened had a way of remaining in the cranium for years to come only to become a conversation piece whenever the family gets together.

A number of those favorite memories refer to Pymatuning Dam and the many family picnics held at the site.

Years ago, Pymatuning was a place of beauty. It still is, however it is not the Mecca it once was for family outings like picnicking, boating, fishing, swimming, horseshoes and almost all other outdoor festivities.

Often times, it was hard to find a picnic table due to the many people that used the area's facilities. The glitz has since worn off Pymatuning; however swimmers, fishermen and hikers still turn out in abundance.

The lake's beauty has never diminished and special events still are staged at the lake each year.

Ducks on fish

As a child, I remember heading up to Pymatuning Dam with mom and dad and then off towards Linesville, where "the ducks walk on the backs of the fish." That title was a little tough for me to comprehend until I saw for myself just what people were talking about.

The ducks actually do walk on the back of the fish, carp to be exact, a species not native to this country but to Germany. They arrived in this country in the late 19th century. Some eat carp; however, they are a mud fish and usually wind up as garden fertilizer.

The thousands of carp at Pymatuning's Spillway are a hungry crew and thousands of spectators line the walks each day to feed the fish, which wallow in the waters below. It is a sight not often seen in Pennsylvania waters.

At one time, day-old bread could be purchased for feeding the fish from a building adjacent to the spillway.

The spillway is located in Crawford County in Pymatuning State Park, south of the town of Linesville on Hartstown Road.

Some fishing permitted

Directly across the road from the spillway, where fishing is permitted, was one of our favorite fishing holes in year's past, with walleye, bass, catfish and crappies taking up habitat in the area.

Pymatuning Dam itself is a large man-made lake that was created in an old swamp area after the completion of a dam in the Jamestown area back in 1934. Since, it has been a haven for walleye and muskie fishermen.

But the big draw is still the spillway where big carp, medium carp and small carp all battle for the pieces of bread that come their way each day.

The spillway is still one of my favorite areas to visit at Pymatuning. However, the area has been closed now for renovation, as officials are hoping to make it more tourist-friendly for the many visitors.

Some of the officials say the walkways now will be closer than before, making it easier to pitch a loaf of bread to these hungry fellows.

The area will re-open on Memorial Day 2007.

Sunday, August 13, 2006