The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-07
ANGLING.
How to Catch Striped Bass - The King
Salmon.

How to Catch Striped Bass The King
Salmon.
Although;it would seem that sufficient
rain has fallen to flood the creeks and glens
which empty into the bay or ocean, sports
men who have recently returned from the
country state that the creeks still retain
their summer appearance and that the
country has absorbed every bit of rain that
has fallen. Fish of the salmon species have
been waiting for weeks in the sloughs and
estuaries for an opportunity to ascend to
creeks iii which they deposit their spawn.
Anglers who have wetted their lines in salt
or brackish waters have been having toier
ably good sport Of late catching these grilse
with shrimp, roe, spoon and other lines.
The pastime will not last much longer, how
ever, MS the next storm will give the fish
right of way to the streams where they can
not be lawfully taken until next April.
The Board of Supervisors of Tehama
County has passed an ordinance regulating
fishing with nets in that county. which will
give fishermen an opportunity of catching
hsh of a size which the general law aims to
protect. Section l of said ordinance reads:
For The purpose of catching shad, or salmon,
or any other fish in The public waters Of the
State, within this county, The size OF the meshes
and nets shall he four inches in length when
drawn close together and measured inside The
knots, or OF some greater siZe provided that
from the time THIS ordinance taxes effect until
December !, 1890 1t shall be lawful to fish with
inches in size.
In reference to the above, the Marysville
Democrat says:
This ordinance if legal would have the effect
OF an amendment 10 Section 634 of The Penal
Code. which provides that the meshes must not
be less than seven and one-han inches. But The
ordinance is entirely illegal and Is liable 10 lead
10 trouble, because any person using net or
seine for catching salmon or shad the meshes
OF which are less than seven and one-half inches
Is liable TO arrest and hne of not less
Ia
or is lie not consulted by The Board OF SupeIvis.
ors on the repeal of part of The Penal Code?
Notwithstanding the fact that large num-
bers of striped bass have been caught within
the past year in this bay by means of nets.
not single fish with the exception of one
land-locked fish taken by DIR. Dean, near
CaZadero) has been captured by anglers who
have tried for bass in many parts of the bay
where the locations looked favorable for a
catch. Experienced anglers, who had made
elaborate preparations for the capture of
this gamy fish, cannot understand why it is
that success has net crowned the efforts of
some of the fraternity The fish are here
ana the question now asked is. Have We
yet hit upon the right kind Of bait TO suit the
taste OF the lordly bass?" Echo answers,
perhaps not, and the only means of solv-
ing the problem of what these fish exist
upon in this bay is by furnishing them with
the different kind OF grubs and fishes found
along the shore where the bass are known
to frequent. "He is a gallant fish and a
bold bitter" writes Frank Forester, and
Genio Scott puts him first among the game
fishes OF the coast of Great Britain.
ApiOpos of striptd-bass fishing, the fol-
lowing notes from the pen OF an old and eX-
perienced Eastern angler will undoubtedly
interest lovers of the SPORT
The striped bass is deservedly favorite with
the angler, whether he fishes with shrimp or
clam bait In The brackisb creeks, entIces with
the aitiflcial fly at The Little OF Great Falls of
the Potomac, trolls in The swift tideways. tolls
WIN inenhaden bait from the stages at
PasQue and Cuttyhunk, stilbats i'll the
bays or ''heayeS aud hauis" in the wild
surf OF the outer shores. The last mentioned
method is, PEI haps the most peculiar, and de-
serves few word, of dissertation by Scott, viz:
Casting menhaden bait for striped bass from
The rocky shores OF lie bays. esluafies and Isl,
highest branch OF American angling. 1t is in
deed question: ble-when considering all the
e le sn which contribute to the sum To-
OF striped-bass fishing is not superior TO
fiyfsling Tor salmon, and if so. it outIanks
any angling in the world. The method is
emineniy American, and characteristic OF the
modern angler by its energy of style and the ex-
ereise and activity necessary to success
The rods used in this Kind of fishing must not
exceed nine feel in length, and are very light,
often less Than pound IN weight. Tile lines of
linen or hemp, 200 or 300 yards long, must be
OF the utmost strength and elasticity The reels
must represent the perfection OF the tackle
makers skin, triple mutipliers. with jewel
mounted wheels and deiicateIy adjusted balance
cranks. 1he unsuspeciing bass are lured in by
the use of a toll bait OF chopped menhaden which
Is cast upon The water unttl an oily surface or
slick Is produced, which extends half a mile or
more from The shore This attracts the fish,
which swim toward the angler. stopping now
aud then 10 SEIZE The floating bits OF fish. When
they come within reach oil the hsheTman's line
a strong hook delicately baited with a bit OF
menladeD, pork or parchment Is quickly offered
them.
With dexteiity which practice alone can as
sure, the experienced angler carefully sways the
rod until The squid describes It's slowly moving
circle around the head, and then by a quick, in
eXplcable movement, causes il TO dart like an
arrow straight out far over the sea, and the reel
whZZes and whirls until IL seems to fla sh fire.
and you walt long and patiently for the cessation
OF tile hum, which indicates that the squid has
dropped full 100 feet, perhaps 100 feet away.
The pleasure and excitement OF capture are in
tense, and often the struggle lasts for an hour
WHEN the fish is large.