Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1886-03-02
MISCELLANEOUS.
Bass Fishing in the Shenan-
doah.


We entered the river at the foot of
an island where many years a fish
dam had been built across the longer
branch. The water now flowed over
it at every point, passing with swift
current over the shelving rocks be-
yond. Heavy timber skirted the
banks, often projecting far over the
water. Occasionally fallen tree re-
mained half submerged. 1t was just
such & place as 1 imagined the noble
game fish most tfrequented. Remem-
bering it was the season when the
bass subsist much upon insects that
fall into the water from the over
hanging bushes, / determined to try
my luck along the shore, while my
companions were trying the rifles
below the dam. Seeing a fallen will
low with its branches still covered
with green foliage projecting over n
spot where the swift current ended in
a pool, fancied there must be fish
lurking beneath the shade of those
boughs. So, standing some forty
feet out into the stream, cast my
flies into the eddy at the head of the
pool. A well-grown bass darted at
the bait with such eagerness that he
leaped fully twelve inches into the
air, carrying my '' Ferguson" in his
mouth. For a moment his bright
scales sparkles in the sunlight, then,
falling back with a splash, he rushed
directly toward me, making for the
center of the stream with such rapid
ity that l was unable to keep my line
taut. Before he had passed my po-
sition he had threwn the hook from
his mouth, feat the bass is almost
sure to accomplish whenever the line
is slackened. / saw l must maneu-
yer for a better position: so moved
up the stream before again casting
landed six fine bass without moving
from my tracks. then passed down
the stream, casting in near the shore
as went, but meeting with little sue
cess until reached fence that had
been built out into the water as cat
tle-guard. Approaching this steathily
and quietly looking beyond, I saw
quite n number of bass of various
sizes basking in the sunlight in the
angle between the fence and the shore.
Selecting favorable stand attemp-
ed forecast my flies into this angle,
but, agitated by the exciting pros
pect, my hand had become so I'M
steady that my flies actually dropped
on the wrong side of the fence
Withdrawing them gently, and at the
same time recovering my comPosure.
l sent them in an artistic curve to
settle as gently as thistle down over
the very spot aimed at. 1t seemed
rs if every fish darted simultaneously
at the tempting fictions, causing the
water to foam in their fiery zeal. In
an instant my - Grizzly King" and
Governor Afford" were each deeply
imbedded in the throat of large bass.
| Now the contest commenced with n vim
l have never seen surpassed. AT first
they pulled against caclI other, desir-
ing to seek safety in opposite direc-
tions; then they darted down tue
stream, side by side. like Kentucky
thoronghbreds. With their united
strength against me, I could do moth
ing but give them line. The music
of my reel was far swccter than any
chorus ever awakened by enthusiastic
hunter. / dared not attempt at first
to check them in their wild rush.
My large-sized reel was almost empty,
when noticed the pressure lessening;
they were again attempting TO diVerge
in their course. Quick to take ad-
vantage of their unskiIlfuI tactics i
commenced to reel-in. The effort to
regain my lost ground was slow at
first.
"In curving reaches.
Back and forth they dart in conscious strength
Describing arcs and segmcDts in the shadows
of the riffied pool"
But gradually and surely am fore
ing the fight at shorter range; weaker
and weaker becomes the resistance of
the enemy, until at last have the
satisfaction of seeing the white bellies
of both turned up in token of their
capitulation, and my heart throbs
with thrill of victory as 1 see them
submissively yielding to the landing
net.
No one Witnessing a scene like this
could ever doubt the appropriate
ness of DR.. HenshaII's eulogy on this
eminently representative American
fish. This delightful author says:
He is plucky, game, brave, and un-
yielding to the last when hooked
He has the arrowy rush and vigor of
the front, the untiring strength and
bold leap of the salmon, while he has
a system of fighting tactics peculiarly