The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-11-24
THE SKILL OF EXPERT ANGLERS.
Remarkable Fish Stories Related BY Gentle
men Whose yeracity Cannot Be Questioned.

II is about this time in the year-the
close of the fishing season-tbat the skillfnl
angler puts aside rod. reel. landing net and
creel for the winter, and brings out his col
lection of fish stories for the wonder and
admiration of other fishermen. The latter,
however, after taking in his stories
without question or comment, pro-
coed TO suppress him by mar
rating even more astonishing things
from their own personal experience.
Mr.. w. p. Fishback has a choice collec-
tion of fish tales, which he is now deliver
ing to his friends. During a trip to the
Nepigon, in 1875" said he yesterday. II
caught a specklcd brook trout which
weighed five and three-fourths pounds.
While he was still alive placed him upon
a board. and with a pencil drew the out
lines of the fish and put down the day and
place of his capture. When Judge Living
ston Rowland was shown the diagram. he
knocked the ashes of his cigar and quietly
remarked that / could have drawn that
figure at Indianapolis as well as upon the
Nepigon. / was shocked at his i~ncredulity,
and resolved thatI would never tell another
fish story. What | propose to do now is to
repeat several which have been narrated
to me by reputable people.
The first is about a black bass taken by
Mr.. Charles Myers. n young attorney of In
dianapolis. Mr.. Myers. during a visit ut
the ranch of Mr.. g.. C.. Gale. in Texas, was
fishing in a stream in the neigh bOrhood,
when he heard q splash in the water near by,
and looking mp. saw the limb of a tree which
hung over the water shaking violently.
In q little while he had a big strike and
landed a large black bass. When the fish
t. -.
and all. was found in the stomach of the
fish. The bass had seen the bird on
the limb and by a vigorous leap had
captured it. and had then proceeded to
swallow MI. Myers's minnow. l have seen
bass seize dragon-tiies in this manner among
the bullrusbes. but this is the only in
stance l have heard of in which the bass
climbed q tree and caught q bird.
Col. j. s. Cooper. of Chicago. is a gentle
man. scholar, a lawyer. and a man of
interior lakes of Wisconsin. This fish is
exceedingly vOracious. and not very dainty
in his choice of food. In the lakes where
the Colonel fishes, maskelOnge are taken
with wild ducks and mnd-hens in their
maws, and. in one case, q large one was
caught that had swallowed a good-sized
muskrat. A diet of muskrat and mud
hen doubtless gives the fish a fine flavor.
THE next story rs about the capture of a
Foreground pike. at the mouth of Salt
SLOCofh OoA BCoANA Ah'ss ~ S0Rtolh OaA
b~ertson, a highly esteemed gentleman
of that town, who died within the
last two or three years. The Captain,
when he went pikeing. wasted no time on
small fry except To procure bait. His fav-
orite bait was a lively black bass weighing
about two pounds. Late in November
when the ice begins to form about the
edges of the pools the large pike come down
from their baunts in the deep holes and
drifts of Salt creek to forage where the
creek empties into White river. For
rod or pole with heavy line and large reel
The hooks. W or three of them. were
fastened to a small chain or strong wire.
and the minnOw (bass) was tied close and
fast near the hooks. To keep HIM from
being too lively the bass was handicapped
with a slug of lead weighing several ounces.
A big bob about eight feet from the hook
completed the outfit. The bait was then
thrown INTO the deepest part of the pool,
the pole was set and the angler would sta
ton himself upoD the bank to await deyel-
Opments. Perfect qniet must be observed,
and the greatest patience is required. One
strike in a day is big luck. The first sign
of promise is when the bass PUSHES frantic
ally to the surface. He makes n number of
such efforts, but the weight of the lead is
too much for him. and he sinks back and is
seized 10y the pike. The angler must be
patient now. Your large pike takes his
time when at dinner. He settles to the
bottom of the pool. and after masticating
his prey gorges it-and starts off. The ang-
Ter gets into a boat with his rod. and fol
until he Is worn out and gated. The fish
caught by Captain CulbertsOn weighed
forty pounds-which, for an Indiana game
fish. was a pretty fair catch"