The Wilmingtonian., 1884-08-30
SATURDAY AUGUST 30, 1851.
Miscellaneous 5Ottings Of IN More or les
FiSny Character.

Fishing for suckers is in ninety-nine cases
out of hundred pleasant illusion during
eleven months in the year The exception
is the solitary spring month when the fish
ascend the streams and runs for the purpose
of spawning. At these times they are
caught in large quantities with dip nets and
even by the hand, being Of course in a help
less and thoroughly UNBEATABLE condition.
But when this season is over, the fish return
to the creeks and ponds full of strength and
cunning, so that it requires all the skill Of
an expert to ill basket at their expense
There are many who say that suckers are
not TO be taken aG all with bait, and chal-
lengc an inspection Of the baskets of anglers
in support of their statement. Now and
then, however, an indiscroet member Of the
sucker fraternity dallics a little too long
with the tail-eud Of the worm, and presently
wobbles on the grass with a hook in his
jaws. Still it is the exception proving the
rule, which is that to catch suckers in any
quantity, requires not only the best skill of
an angling expert, but Of Il specialist at thai.
There are ways aud means peculiar to the
business which l shall try to describe.
To begin with, the tackle used in ordinary
angling (for bass perch, sunhsh Ec) is Of no
use whatever in dealing with suckers, and
the sooner this idea Is fixed in the mind the
better. Secondly you must know where to
go. Thirdly you must keep as quiet as il
mouse and have abundance of patience.
The tackle need not be costly but it can
not be too fine. The hook should be quite
small, in fact the smallest that can be pro
cured, and it should be on a gut snooding.
Also, there should be at least two feet Of
clear strong gut above this, and for sinkers
small split shot are best, none of which
should be within six inches Of the hook
The next point is to have a long light rod
and short line. Tie ordinary float used
for perch &c is Of no service in this class of
angling because it is too coarse TO indicate
properly the fine bite Of a sucker. Procure
goose quill and cut off the smooth end
some three or four inches from the tip. Into
this fit as nearly as possible piece of some
light wood, and wax the joint SO as to make
the affair water-tight. Fit a cap over each
end, and adjust it on the line SO that when
the tip of the float is flush with the surface
of the water the hook is just touching the
bottom AT fine spot van bave seloo+aJ ror
your sport. This is most important, for
suckers feed on tbe bottom and tbero yorr
hook must he. wbe IN Aha otbar hand 81
there is tno mneb sIock bot,vonr IA aoo+
and the hook, the bites will not be ndi-
Gated.
Choose place whore there is as little
stream As nossib,e. tho doaner IN bottor
Cast IN a little bread anakad u ,vater IN
loosely crnmb,ad II III hard n,i+ ,,o,,,
hook with small raj worm Icavinp ipst ]
small portion wriqelino fra "a H. n .,ttce
the fish If tbere arc anv sncl,ers ahon+ III
SPOT thew will soon visit your hook as ma
bread crumbs draw tbem togothcr Wills
thew dceida,ll, ,,er.r , ASH 4, r,,in,,a,,,.
diet.
The bite Of ! sncl,or 10 ororoo+o,is+io
From tho construction &c ~ mouth +ha an
cannot seize the bait IN tbo orainor, ,,orror
but sucks it in as if lies IN the hottnp,
rejecting by a s-asmodic ,,over,opt of A.
gills the mud and Iiohter matter which srr.
round it. In this wav the arttnl smoker viii
frequently draw tbe whole of n worm ,ioco-
meal from hook while the auplpr *
patientlv waitin, t,,, tba s.nih,,os, o. rosot,.o
themselves into 4 ..bito
The opno,+nnitv comes Of oo,,so ,,,ho,,
the anrIer has , sorsi+fy,. s,,o+ s,a, az. H..
been above descrihed and sl,,rrI,, ;,,i.. 4I,,
line at tbe instant +ho "a, t,1,os IL III II
the worm int, ne no,+h M MI, ~
utmost vatcbCnIness thc G.b ain ..o,,,,.
capture nine +ir,as on ,,r -o,,
II is proper 10 saw boro th,t vrI,it, a.t;no
for snclre-s is sln,, and ,,,l,,,,,t,,,a,, ,,'...
the true arg,er,s sn,,so ,f or,ct ,,it,.,1oari,,.
craft il davc,onsa i, -, o,.to,,t INA eaiIa5
f,rtb 10 any n4b.,. l,irl - ,,,,rIi,,,.
rrho t.ritsr AIT, 10 ,,n,.l,,,,',I III
4 recent ovnor;,,nn+ ,ri,is NM, ill.,,
nj sucker triho
tIosa \ ITocpcs.ir st.t;,,, l., I'LL p.,,
,,oro ,,,d pbii,1a,,t;a D..ra,
disrsod ,,its y,l,ioI, I,,,, Hi, a,,',,..i
+;n,es 49, e.. 1i,,,o I.a.,i,, r,,
IN, ana ,.iti, ,,.,t,,,sI..,.S,
rrnn, +ba 1yIit. rI.,, Gn,a,. ,,1,.,, J..
tha VANITY HANK, H. Il .i,,,.
M ir+o +l,oy, ,,,,,l. Y, III, *
increased batb II ,,,oi,I,+ All r,,a,r,a,.
wonderful ovtont Tn,;,,,aI .,.,.I
tackIe and bnrpin,r III H. y,,il, IL III LII,
ponds the writer cast II iii iine ,rd au.,itc5