Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-02-06
BASS FISHING In The SHENANDOAH.

"a. E. Richards in Sou; hem Bivouac for February
| We entered The river 1t the foot of an
island where many years ago : lish-dam
had been omit across Inc longer branch.
The waite now flowed over i! at every point,
passing with swift current over the shlev-
ing rocks beyond. Heavy timber skirted
the banks, often projecting far over the
water. Occasionally failcn tree remained
half submerged Il YVES just suci! Il place
as imagined the noble game fsh mcst frc
uuented. Remembering it was the season
when the bass subsist much upon insects
that fall into the water from the overhang
ing bushes, determined 10 try my luck
along the shore, while my companions were
trying the rifles below The dam. Seeing q
fallen willow with lis branches still covered
with green foliage projecting over spot
where the swift current ended i'll q pool /
fanced 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 iuto the air, carrying my
Ferguson" in his month. For moment
his bright scales sparklcd in the sunlight,
then, falling back with q splash, be
rushed directly toward me, making for
the centre of the stream with such
rapidity that | WAS unable to keep my
line taut. Before he had passed my position
he had thrown the hook from his mouth, a
feat the bass is almost sure 10 accomplish
whenever the line is slackened. ! saw
must maneuver for better position; so
moved up the stream before again casting
beneath the willow. From this point land
ed six fine Dass without moving from my
| tracks. l then passed down the stream,
| casting in near the shore AZ W"ht, but meet
| ing with little success until reached fence
| that had been built out into he water as 81
| cattle guard. Approaching this steailhiiy
and quietly looking bcS Gna. | saw quite
number of bass Of various sizss basking in
the sunlight in the ans between the lencc
| and the shore. Selecting u favorable stand,
| | attempted 10 Cast my flies into this angle,
hui, "gllated hy the exciting prospect, ~,
| haiml had become 50 unsteady that my il!t s
actually dropped on The wrong siie i the
fence. Withdrawing them gently, and at
the same time recovering my composure,
sent them in an artistic curve 10 settle a.
| gently ~ thistle down over the very spot
aimed at. II seemed AZ if every fish das:ed
| Simultaneous; ut the tempting Gc'ioES.
causing the water 10 ic:ro il their fiery zeal!
In an instant my "Grizzly kirg" and "Gov.
ernor Afford" were each deeply imhedded
in the throat Of Il large bass Now the con
test commenced WITH a vim | have never
seen surpassed AT first they pulled against
each Other, desiring to scc!; safety in oppv
site directions; then They dar'ed down the
stream side rs side, like Kentucky :hor-
oughbreds. With their united strength
against ME, / could do uothng hut
give them line. The music OF my reel
was sweetcr far than any chorus ever
awakened by enthusiastic hunter. | dared
not attempt n first to check them in their
! wild rush. Ny large sized reel was almost
empty, when noticed the pressure lessen
| ing they were again attempting to diverge
in their course. Quick TO take advantage
of their unskiliul tactics, l commenced 10
reel-in. The effort to regain my lost ground
was slow at first.
| I'm curviug reaches,
Back and forth they dart in conscious strength,
Describing arcs and scgmcnts in the shadows of
the rittied pool"
| But gradually and surely am forcing 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
a thrill of victory as see them submissively
yielding to the landing net.
| No one witnessing scene like this could
ever doubt the appropriateness of Dr.. Hen
shal's eulogy on this emineutly representa-
tive American fish. This delightful author
says He is plucky, game, brave, and un-
yielding to the last when hooked He has
the arrowy rush aud vigor of the trout, the
untiring strength and bold leap of the sal
mon, while he hasa system of fighting tao
for inch and pound for pound, the gamest
| fish that swimsn