A clear lake with the exception of its upper third, Keystone is similar to Conneaut in that muskies often come tough on this lake. However, it has produced its share of fish in the upper 40- to 50-inch-plus range.

One of the attractions of Keystone Lake is its lush, green weedbeds. Because of its clear water, weed growth extends out well past 15 feet in many areas. Though much of the weed growth is of the milfoil-coontail variety, significant amounts of broadleaf cabbage are also present. In the Wisconsin's famed "muskie belt." they call this plant "muskie weed."

Not only does the growth provide excellent cover for baitfish and game fish, it fishes better. You can pull a bait through it better than the clinging milfoil.

It will be late summer before the weeds reach the surface, so these weedbeds are tailor-made for a jerkbait or minnow bait fished over them. Expect to find stands of weeds in the upper portion of the lake near the pipes, near the three points close to the Atwood Boat Launch, and along the western shoreline.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission discontinued the stocking of pure muskies in Keystone a few years ago, saying purebreds were not showing up in surveys, while tiger muskies were, including some large ones.

The lake continues to produce big muskies, and there is a bit of controversy regarding the identification of some of these fish. Whether they are pure or hybrid muskies is up to the professionals to decide, but for the time being at least, the lake will only be stocked with tiger muskies.

Keystone Lake is in eastern Armstrong County off Route 210. Fish and Boat Commission access areas are at Atwood and NuMine. Motors are limited to 10 horsepower. The Allegheny Map and Design Company produces a good map of the lake.

Visit the county tourism Web site at www.armstrongcounty.com for travel information on Keystone Lake and the Allegheny River.

WARM-WEATHER WARNING
Much of the credit for the improvement in Pennsylvania's muskie fishing, both in terms of size and numbers, is the evolution of muskie anglers from the catch-and-kill mentality to the catch-and-release ethic. Most serious muskie anglers strive to successfully release the fish they catch, and are constantly seeking ways to improve in this aspect of the game.

During the warm-water periods of midsummer, muskies are particularly vulnerable to succumbing from the stresses related to being caught. Successful releases are dependent on minimizing each of the many stresses involved.

The duration of the fight should be kept as short as possible. This is no time to play a fish to exhaustion. Proper muskie tackle is heavy enough to keep battle time to a minimum.

Though "hero" pictures depicting the angler and fish are a part of most anglers' routines, as water temperatures approach the 80-degree mark, you should consider a water release, where the fish is not removed from the lake.

If you have a partner, let him take some shots of you releasing the fish. If you decide to bring a fish into the boat for a quick photo or two, have the camera ready ahead of time. Time out of the water should be kept to the 10-second range. Horizontal holds are considered much easier on the fish than vertical holds, particularly on larger fish.

Large landing nets specifically designed for catch-and-release fishing serve as in-the-water livewells where the hooks can be removed or cut without taking the fish from the water. Keep the fish's head in the water as much as possible. The mesh of these nets resist tangling, and is easy on the fins and slime coating of the fish.

Because of the location of their air bladder, tired muskies tend to go belly-up. The release process includes holding a fish upright, by the tail, until it regains the strength to swim off on its own.

All muskie anglers should carry with them the tools to safely and efficiently remove the hooks from a muskie. This includes long-nosed pliers, mini bolt cutters and jaw spreaders.