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Raystown
Striper Club, Inc.
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In
August, 1984, The Raystown Striper Club was formed by 19 charter members
and recognized as a chapter by Stu Tinney of Striper Magazine.
The Club was originally formed to help put a stop to the illegal taking
of stripers on Raystown Lake. Members patrolled the Lake at night and
worked with law enforcement to accomplish that goal.
The
RSC, Inc. celebrated the 20th
anniversary of it's founding in 2004. Over the years members have
worked to "protect, promote, and enhance" the striper fishery
on Raystown Lake. Our membership has grown over the years from the
original 19 members to the present nearly 300 family memberships. We are
PROUD of our accomplishments!
WORKING
WITH AGENCIES & ORGANIZATIONS:
- The
RSC established communications with the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat
Commission (PFBC) and have continuously pursued various means of
improving Raystown's fisheries management, stocking procedures, fish
habitat, law enforcement, etc.
- RSC
members participated in Striper Magazine's "Striperama", a
national fish-off where state teams from across the nation competed
for team prizes, which were cash contributions to the winning team's
state fisheries agency. RSC members participation in "Striperama"
helped contribute 5,000 in 1987 and $2,000 in 1988 to the P.F.B.C.
- Live
bait (gizzard shad and alewife) if often used in fishing for striped
bass, and the use of cast nets to take live bait was a common
practice on Southern lakes, but was not legal in the state of
Pennsylvania. The RSC negotiated with the P.F.B.C., and starting in
1992, fishermen may now use cast nets on Raystown. (A permit is
required to use a cast net on Raystown Lake from the PFBC, cost
$10.)
- "Float-stocking",
simply defined is taking fish for a boat ride! The RSC provides the
tanks, pump, aeration equipment, and the manpower, working with the
US Army Corps of Engineers who provide the Corps barge and personnel
to transport all species of fish that the P.F.B.C. brings to
Raystown to various points around the Lake. Shoreline stocking at
the wrong time of year leaves small fish vulnerable to predators,
and float stocking has been proven to increase the chances of fish
survival. The RSC initiated float-stocking on Raystown in 1990.
-
- The
RSC funded the P.F.B.C. 1991 "Angler Use, Preference, &
Harvest" study, or the "Creel Survey" on Raystown.
The Club donated $5,000 to the Commission, enabling them to gain 3
to 1 federal matching grants, which made $20,000 available for the
survey
- Some
RSC officers and members were instrumental in the formation of the
Coalition of Concerned Pennsylvania Anglers, an organization formed
to protect, promote, and enhance sport fisheries across the state of
Pennsylvania.
FOR
RAYSTOWN LAKE:
- RSC
members built and outfitted a Rearing Facility building to raise
small stripers to stock larger fish in Raystown, because it has been
proven that larger stripers have a greater chance of survival. The
RSC is recognized as a co-operative nursery of the PA Fish &
Boat Commission. Between 1991 and 1993, the Club raised and stocked
nearly 20,000 four to six inch stripers, 6,500 in 1994, and 13,000+
in 1996, for a total to date of nearly 40,000 striped bass.
- The
RSC supported the Juniata Valley High School Aquaculture program
from 1991 to 1994 by donating striped bass to the school. These fish
were raised through the winter months by the students and returned
to Raystown Lake as 10 to 16 inch stripers in the spring.
- Between
1991 and 1993, the RSC purchased 90,000 striper fingerlings from
out-of-state growers to stock Raystown Lake.
- In
1994, RSC members traveled to Maryland to seine ponds and load
stripers on PA Fish & Boat Commission trucks. They brought back
40,000 6 to 9 inch stripers to stock Raystown Lake, at a cost of
approximately $10,000 for the Club.
- In
1994, the Club purchased 32,800 1 1/2 to 2 inch stripers to stock in
Raystown at a cost of about $6,400.
- 1995
was not a good year for striper production along the eastern shores.
The state of Maryland suffered "catastrophic losses",
Virginia lost fish due to severe flooding. But in spite of it, the
RSC was fortunate to be able to purchase 31,000 1/2 inch to 2 inch
striped bass to stock in the Lake. . . the ONLY stripers stocked in
Raystown in 1995.
- In
1996, the producers had a banner year in striper production, and the
Club was able to purchase 233,680 striped bass, between 1 1/2 to 4
inches at a total cost of $46,269!!
- In
1997, the RSC purchased and stocked 22,970 stripers between 1 1/2 to
4 inches, at a cost of $5,500.
- The
RSC initiated a discussion with the PA Fish & Boat Commission of
raising the minimum legal size of stripers on Raystown Lake to 24
inches. The Commission decided to raise the minimum size to 20
inches on both purebred and hybrid stripers across the state.
- For
a number of years, habitat improvement had ceased on Raystown Lake.
The RSC initiated efforts to place habitat structures in Raystown,
which resulted in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
"adopting" Raystown in the PA Fish & Boat Commissions
"Adopt-a-Stream" program. The Corps "adoption"
of the Lake made it possible for various fishing clubs to place
habitat in the Lake. In 1993, the manpower of various clubs was
combined, under the Corps of Engineers and Raystown Striper Club
leadership. More than 600+ wooden structures have been placed in
Raystown Lake. RSC members were instrumental in procuring materials
to make the project possible.
- Members
of the Raystown Striper Club participate every year (on the last
Saturday in August) in the annual Raystown Lake Clean-Up Day. It was
once sponsored by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and local
organizations to clean the shores of Raystown Lake.
- In
1997, the RSC was involved in helping combine the Lake
Clean-Up committee and the habitat improvement project under a
non-profit group, "Friends of Raystown Lake". The Friends
of Raystown Lake works closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
to accomplish it's goals. The RSC received certificate #1 as the
first club/organization to join the "Friends". The
Raystown Striper Club, Inc. always has the largest club turn-out for
the above work days!
- In
1995 and 1996, the RSC was involved in the "Water Safety
Fests" on Raystown Lake, sponsored by the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers and the PA Fish & Boat Commission.
- The
Raystown Striper Club, Inc. annually budgets and spends $20,000 to
$25,000 to buy, raise, and stock stripers for Raystown Lake.
RSC
AWARDS & RECOGNITION'S:
- The
Raystown Striper Club was recognized as Striper Magazine
"Chapter of the Year" in 1985 and 1987.
- The
RSC was recognized with the "Conservation Service Award"
by the PA Fish & Boat Commission in 1989 for "beneficial
and valuable contributions to the programs and objectives of the
Pennsylvania Fish Commission".
- The
RSC was recognized with the "Take Pride in PA Award" in
1989 and 1990 by Governor Robert Casey.
- The
RSC was recognized with the "Raystown Lake Take Pride in
America" program award in 1991, 1992, and 1993.
RSC
PUBLIC SERVICE:
- The
RSC gives striper fishing seminars at sport shows, to other fishing
clubs, and organizations.
- The
RSC has held numerous tournaments on Raystown Lake, open to the
public.
- The
RSC sponsors "Striper Derbies", open to our members and
the general public.
- The RSC holds "Panfish Derbies"
for kids, to encourage children to fish.
MEMBER
SERVICES:
- The
RSC is a family-oriented organization, with Family Memberships, and
activities are provided to involve the member and their entire
family, such as a yearly banquet, family picnics, kids tournaments,
etc.
- Club
membership has enabled many members to travel as a group to a
variety of striper lakes in other states, including Virginia,
Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina, etc.
- The
Club hold several Member/Guest tournaments on Raystown each year.
- The
RSC publishes a monthly newsletter to keep our membership informed
and current on all Club news and happenings. The newsletter provides
many articles on striper fishing techniques, products, locations
across the United States, as well as communications from other
organizations, state and federal agencies, and a variety of other
information pertinent to Raystown Lake and striper fishing.
Throughout
the existence of the Raystown Striper Club, Inc., we have worked to
protect, promote, and enhance the overall fishery on Raystown Lake.
Although we are proud of our accomplishments, we recognize that we must
continue these efforts to improve Raystown's fisheries for now and for
the future. . .
WON'T
YOU JOIN US??
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