Morning journal and courier., 1886-02-17
BASS FISHING.
Rare Sport on the Shenandoah-A Fine
 Double Taken.

From the Southern Bivouacl
 We entered the river at the foot of an is- land, where many years ago fish dam had been built across the longer branch. The water now flowed over it at every point, passing with swift current over the shelv- ing rocks beyond. Heavy timber skirted the banks, often projecting far over the wa ter. Occasionally fallen tree remained half submerged. It was just such a place as I imagined the noble game fish most frequent ed. Remembering it was the season when the bass subsist much upon insects that fall inte the water from the overhanging bushes, I determined to try my luck along the shore, while my companions were trying the rifles below the dam. Seeing fallen willow with its branches still covered with green foliage projecting over spot where the swift cur rent ended in pool, I fancied there must be fish lurking beneath the shade of those boughs. So, standing some forty feet out into the stream, I cast my flies into the eddy at the head of the pool. A we'll 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 sparkled in the sunlight, then, falling back with splash, he rushed directly toward me, making for the center of the stream with such rapidity that was unable to keep my line taut. Be- fore he had passed my position he had thrown the hook from his mouth feat the bass is almost sure to accomplish whenever the line is slackened. l saw I must manou- vre for better position, so I moved up the stream before again casting beneath the will low. From this point I landed six fine bass without moving from my tracks. I then passed down the stream, casting in near the shore as I went, but meeting with little sue cess until I reached @ fence that had been built out into the water cattle guard. Approaching this stealthily and quietly looking beyond, I quite 8 number of bass of various sizes basking in the sunlight in the angle between the fence and the shore. Selecting favorable stand, I attempted to cast my flies into this angle, but, agitated by the exciting prospect, my hand had become SO unsteady that my flies actually dropped on the wrong side of the fence. Withdraw ing them gently, and at the same time recov- ering my composure, sent them in an artis- tic curve to settle gently as thistledown over the very spot aimed at. It seemed as if every fish darted simultaneously at the tempting fctions, causing the water to foam in their fiery zeal. In an instant my ''Griz- zly King" and Governor Afford" were each deeply embedded in the throat of 8 large bass. Now the contest commenced with a vim I have never seen surpassed. At first they palled against each other, desiring to seek safety in opposite directions; then they darted down the stream side by side, like Kentucky thoroughbreds. With the1r uni ted strength against me 1 could do nothing but give them line I dared not at first to check them in their wild rush. My large sized reel was almost empty when I noticed the pressure lessening; they were again at tempting to diverge in their course Quick to take advantage of their unskilIfu1 tactics, I commenced to reel in. The effort to re- gain my lost ground was slow at first. But gradually and surely am forcing the fight at shorter range; weaker and weaker be- comes the resistance of the enemy, until at last I have the satisfaction of seeing the white bellies of both turned up in token of their capitulation