`oklahoma' Auditions Scheduled 
Little Theatre Of Wilkes-barre Will Hold Auditions For The Musical 
``oklahoma'' 7-9 P.m. Sunday And Monday At The Theater At 537 North Main St.

Archie Schappert 
Aug. 6, 1996 
Archie J. Schappert, 72, Of Sweet Valley, Ross Township, Died Tuesday In The 
Department Of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Wilkes-barre.

Friday, August 09, 1996 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1B 





A different breed of Trout &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Jerry Ragantesi was cool and calm piloting his 16-foot Bass Tracker atop
Lake &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Winola's still water late at night in search of troutBut Ragantesi, 58,
from Wyoming, would have been just as comfortable submerged beneath the waves
inside the Trout for two or three days. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ragantesi is no modern-day Jonah. He's merely a former Navy man with 15
years of experience aboard pre-nuclear-powered diesel submarines that are no
longer commissioned. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 And while we fished for Winola's trout as darkness fell and pink wisps of
clouds faded into a starry Wyoming County sky, Ragantesi explained what it was
like to serve aboard his first submarine. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 That sub was named the Trout. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I loved the Navy," Ragantesi said as we dropped anchor in 30 feet of water
that registered 75 degrees on the sonar. "On the Trout we could go down to 600
feet. It was known as a fast attack sub and we could stay under for three days
at a time. Then we had to surface to recharge our batteries." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The anchor held and we dropped three fishing lines overboard. It was simple
fishing, no more than basic rigs using 4-pound-test monofilament, split-shots
and hooks. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We would spend three months at sea and come in to port for one month. I
must have been in ports in 40 different countries," said Ragantesi, who was a
Navy electrician. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 We fished at 14, 16 and 18 feet. Ragantesi said that 4-foot target zone
would allow us to key in on the proper depth when the trout started hitting. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 When we took a fish at a certain depth, we could adjust all the lines to
that depth. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ragantesi's career as a submariner took him all around the world, including
beneath the Arctic ice pack. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But during those 15 years, he was able to fish in exotic waters just once
-- off Alaska. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He took no memorable fish on that outing, but did manage to lure a king
crab with cut bait. He said he savored the delicate white meat from the crab's
incredibly long legs after he cooked the crab below deck. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 We used grubs at first at Winola, but the initial trout was taken at 9:25
on Berkley Power Bait. Berkley yellow glitter Power Bait that had been molded
in the palms of our hands into balls the size of jumbo salmon eggs. Power Bait
that had been skewered on size 14 hooks. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The fish grabbed the bait and took two long runs and almost bent the rod
beneath the boat. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Sometimes they whack the heck out of them. Sometimes they bite delicate,"
Ragantesi said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 We easily netted the thrashing, 15-inch rainbow. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 All the fish we took were rainbows. All were about 15 inches long. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The second fish hit at 9:35. It appeared identical in size and shape to the
first; they could have been twins. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The trout had wide, dark olive green backs and pronounced black lateral
lines upon which lay broad bands of pink. The bellies were firm and whitish.
Small, irregular black spots pocked the upper parts and fins. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A third fish struck and bent the brown Fenwick at 9:40. Another hit at 9:58
and still another at 10 p.m. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 We waited about 40 minutes as the school of rainbows roamed the waters,
turned and again made a pass beneath the boat. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 While we waited in the silence of night, I saw Ragantesi study the pale
orange moon. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 That waning moon rose ghostly in the west and cast long shadows of
shoreline trees across the flat water. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In the silence, I wondered what Ragantesi was thinking. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I wondered if he wished he was working 600 feet below the Atlantic aboard
the Trout instead of anchored atop Lake Winola waiting for rainbows. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 George Smith is the Times Leader outdoors editor. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

A Different Breed Of Trout 
Jerry Ragantesi Was Cool And Calm Piloting His 16-foot Bass Tracker Atop Lake 
Winola's Still Water Late At Night In Search Of Trout.

A Different Breed Of Trout Jerry Ragantesi Was Cool And Calm Piloting His 16-foot Bass Tracker Atop Lake Winola's Still Water Late At Night In Search Of Trout.