The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1889-03-15

D ~ tAAS anu MLlAL ~ EA
The minnow will keep TINS UUUUIl.s
around the water as long as he is all
right, but if a hungry pickerel carries
him off the cork will not move.
Fishing parties are made up in nearly
all Of the towns and smaller cities that
are in the vicinity of any lakes in which
pickerel or rock bass abound. If the
distance from the lake IS more than few
miles, tie party starts one day in ad-
vance and puts up at some convenient
hostelry. The fishing is not attempted
until ice four OF five inches thick has
formed, as an involuntary bath on cold
day is not included in the sport. A still
/ dag, whether it is clear or cloudy, is
/ preferable to a windy one.
Operations at the lake are commenced
at daylight. The party are warmly clad
Strong leather boots, heavy suit of
wool goods. fur cap and a pea Jacket
! make good rig. A fire of dead branches
and old rails is built at convenient
place on the shore, and one of the party
left in charge. The others take axe
and proceed to the ice. Cutting the
holes is no easy task, especially if the ice
is very thick.
Unless some member Of the party IS
familiar with the haunts of the fish in
the lake selected, local fisherman is
employed to act as a guide. The best
places usually lie from fifty to hundred
yards from shore, and where the depth
of the water ranges from ten to twenty
feet The mouths of small coves and
positions opposite the outlets of creeks
are good fishing grounds.
The holes in the ice are cut in a
straight line parallel with the shore, if
the shore Is regular, or ross the bays
and coves, if the shore is irregular. A
long row of holes in single line, or two
or three shorter rows side by side are cut
according to the locality, and to the
gradual or rapid increase in depth of the
water. The holes are square, and from
ten inches to one foot across. The dis
lance apart should not be less than tif-
teen feet and twenty feet is better. One
man can attend to from thirty to forty
holes, unless the fish are very numerous
and hungry-then he will need helper
to bait the hooks while he takes of the
captures.
The bait used are minnows from three
to four inches in length. They are
caught by the thousands in the fall be-
fore the lakes and streams freeze and
Kept in tanks in the cellar until they
are wanted for the ice fishing. some Of
the more enthusiastic fishermen have
elaborate arrangements for keeping the
bait and have a supply on hand at all
times of the year. The lines are about
fifteen feet in length and each one is
wound on a rough reel made of a piece
of cigar box wood. The hook is passed
through the minnow ust forward of the
tail, being careful not to strike the back
bone, or it is fastened in the minnow's
mouth. A bungler will main the bait
so they will not swim naturally IN the
water, but after a few frantic struggles /
they become exhausted and die without !
attracting the game. When properly |
put on the hook the minnow will live !
couple of hours unless be is gobbled up
by hungry gickerel.
The size of the fish caught varies from
the small ones weighing three-quarters
of pound each, to those of good size
weighing three pounds each. Occasion
ally big fellow FIVE or even six pounds
IN weight is captured. The large ones
are very likely to get away either by
breaking the hook or tearing it out Of
their jaws, unless the attendant is near
by and handles the line carefully when
he takes hold of it. A good days catch
for a party is from fifty to one hundred
pounds. of course they cook fish
dinner over the campfire, and by sun
down are ready to start for home.