Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-04-30

the scenery is grander and more varied,
and there is more room to fish and frolic
around, and the trout streams are con-
veniently near, when one wants a change
from heavy fishing to sal'eo fontiaalis.-
1t greatly enhances the excitement and
pleasure of fishing to be able in one day
to catch three or four kinds Of bass, two
of pickerel, two of pike-porch, the mas
calonge, and a dozen kinds of other Gu
rious and gamey, handsome fish--to say
nothing of now and then ''lunkhead,"
which is the name which DR.. Estes and
have agreed upon for the fish that are
not gamey, till future generations shall
find better one. Aeassiz would be lie.
lighted with some of these lunkheads for
his cabinet, and few Of them-as the
bill fish, the gar. the sturgeon, sword
| fish, etc.-are curious and interesting
Where there is such large variety of
game fish, each member of fishing
party is likely to have fayorite among
them, and excel in angling for that par
\ ticuIar sort; and if there is one Of the
party who eau excel in nothing else, he
will be likely to beat all the rest in "lunk-
head" fishing. For gaminess the mas
calonge heads the list up there--he has
no peer anywhere but the samon and the
striped bass of tide.water. Next comes
the black bass and the striped bass of
the lakes; then the speckled bass, the
golden, crappie, the pike-perch, the pick
erel, etc.
l hope no one will 90 there with the
expectation that he can catch any ever
lasting great quantity Of fish every time
he goes a-fshing, or succeed Mt all with
out studying the prime conditions of
weather, time Of day, and localities, or
catch many without being good fisher
man. Anybody can have good fun in
boating and take some fish; but il needs
workman, ordinarily, TO bring home a
good string, if fairly caught; aud | know
of no place elsewhere to which the same
remark is not applicable.
The best catch L ever had at one fish
ing was last summer at Lake Pepin. A
boy brought me fifteen clubs from
brook, twelve of than alive. With these
l went out upon gravelly beach, on
point mile below Lake City, at about
five o'clock in the afternoon. and, in an
hours time, bad nine pike perch at my
feet, which weighed in all over fifty
pounds; also one black bass, one striped
bass of the lakes, and one pickerel. The
last pike perch--a seven peunder--broke
my rod, or, rather, brooks it myself in
striking too vigorously. l had got excl
ted somewhat, and had been annoyed by
losing few large ones by the hook slip
ping or tearing out before [ could land
them. This time struck to kill, and
fixed the bark; throwing down my bro
ken rod, and saving my fish by holding
the line in my hand. He had left the
bait unhurt; so reeling out some twenty
yards | made one throw with hand
line, brought in the striped bass of the
lakes, and, having no more clubs left,
went home. But this was extraordinary
luck. A stiff wind had been blowing
upon that shore for three days and nights,
and had either driven the fiji upon that
point, or else the agitation of the lake
had compelled them to come there in
crowds for food. Whatever the reason
was, the water was alive with the pike
perch at that time, and it seemed to me
rs if | might have caught hundred Of
them if my rod and my bait had held
out. No sooner did the club bait touch
the waves, which were rolling lively, than
every "white-c cap" seemed TO ha, Q fish
in it, darling for the prey. My fish were
so heavy that was obliged to 60 to the
nearest house and borrow wheelbarrow
to get them home in. Come and see
me, any brcther-angler, next summer,
and will give you a piece OF one of that
lot of pike-perch, and you will find it
next thing to the best smoked salmon.
Ny favorite project for Lake Pepin
fishing is to organize good party and
90 round the lake; take couple of
boats-one row and one sail-with camp
ing things, ETC., and do the lake leisurely
and thoroughly. 1t would require ten
days or two weeks time, or more, and
be delightful excursion. We should
be able TO catalogue all the varieties of
fish in the lake, and Lake City would
furnish the party with good naturalist
and taxidermist to preserve the finest
specimens, and photographer and
painter for landscape and fish pictures.-
In addition to this, the party would have
a collection of agate and cornelian gems
TO take home, such as no place but Lake
Pepin could supply. Some Of these
gems, when cut and polished by skilful
lapdary, make beautiful settings for jew
elry-brilliant and imperishable; and no
paste work can counterfeit them, az il
does the most of the more fashionable
gems; no file can scratch them, nor any
wear injure their perfect polish and bril-
liancv.
The two largo towns most convenient
and desirable for general fishing and
boating-handy to the best trout and
lake and river angling-are Prescott, at
the mouth of Lake ST. Croix, where it
joins the Mississippi, twenty five miles
below st. Paul, and Lake City, on Lake
Pepin. The mischief at Prescott used
to be that it had no good hotel; wheth-
er it has improved in this respect do
not know; but it is beautiful town, the
fishing of all sorts is nowhere better fun
loss of Lake peninl and If ouoht 10 ha