St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-05-02

oIdlIou anu uldThlllSS, just DIS Tue uill-
versal sunfish ranges from the most
gorgeous hues to sober and even sOmber
tints, according to their distribution.
l suppose the Graphic of Lake Mime
tonka and the midland lakes of Mime
sofa is the perfection of his kind as re-
SpectS size, flavor, beauty and activity.
In those waters they are caught with
hook and line by the ton, from spring
to fall. Their game qualities afford SUI
perlative sport to the average angler
who has never enjoyed the acme of
highest art. while ladies and youngsters
OF both sexes, as well as Sedate and very
proper old gentlemen, find constant re-
Taxation and enjoyment in angling for
them in the summer days, receiving
withal higher commentator for skill
than those are Likely to obtain who con-
tent themselves with catching the
grOSSer sorts of pond fish, such as perch,
Suntish, oullheads, and even pickerel.
Really, some tact, gift or talent is re
quired to persuade and WOO the coy and
capriciouS Graphic as well as to handle
him while on the hook, or to take him
safely 10 your bosom in tranSItu over
the gunwale of the boat; and there are
critics who allow that those methods
successfully employed are higher art
than sitting IN the stern sheets with a
trolling spoon, and taking chances on
some fool pickerel fastening himself
thereto, even if he should prove to be
of abnormal weight and inches.
The principal lakes of Minnesota are
no longer virgin sheets of water. They
opened out long since into the full ma
turity and maternity of popular water
ing places, and became invested with
all the mysteries and modes of modern
watering-place society. But whatever
frnt c,Ni, oil %I,,r, oh nr
their waters. either by moonlight or by
placid summer noon, tranquil in their
serenity, they permit no reflections
which may at all mar their regulations
as firSt-class fishing grounds for crap
pies. Fish lies, whoppers and lmprob-
able yarns will arise betimeS from the
waves, but they break like bubbles Oh
the surface, while the glitter of the I'M
furnished truth is always visible, like
empty sardine boxes upon the bottom. 1t
is useless to inveigh against the credi-
bllity of witnesses who declare that
there are no waters i'll the world equal
to Osakis and Minnetonka for crappies.
Experienced young ladies hold up their
Sun-browned arms in testimony, and so
do all the dudes and matrons, old maids
and bachelors, youngsters, chronic in
vallds and clergymen on leave. But
the trick is to know just where to find
them, and afterward, how to catch
them. Aye, there's the rub!
The Minnesota crappie is truly a COM
fort and omega to the not too ambitious
angler IT'S true he does not run with
the line like a volunteer fire company,
cavort like black bass, and throw
himself out of the water as if he wanted
to butt his brains out against the
sky, but when you have one
hn
substantial, like a silver dollar in your
trousers pocket. Perhaps you tempted
him with piece OF raw beef, frog,
cut fish bait, live minnOw, or even
worm. No matter which-there are
temptations all around us-and even
grown men are misled by seductions
less reasonable than these. A minnow,
however. is the best, and of all minnows
none so good as a small sinner. You
can catch your mlnnowS with a small
net along shore, or you may buy them
at dollar bucket from your host, the
boarding house keeper, returning the
bucket with the unused balance, for
him to sell over again to some other
fisherman and giving him all the fish
you catch, which, if you have good luck,
will furnish the table for thirty-siX
bOarderS, all at the reasonable charge
of $40 per week, extras not included.
You should have light rod and reel,
gut snood not important, and small
sinker to take your bait quickly to
place, or help you sound the bottom.
If the weeds are long, it is well to use a
float to keep your hook clear, The bait
should move just where the tops of the
long weeds float. 1t should be kept
hither and yon, constantly testing your
perception for Intangible Dibbles. You
cannot be always certain when you
have bite-indeed, you are usually so
positive that you have not, that when
you lift your hook you find the
bait gone. 1t has been gone
for fifteen minutes! To fish too
high above the weeds will be as fruit
less as too deep. 1t is as disappointing
and more eXaSperating to catch big
bunch of weeds than nothing at all.
Bad luck is worse than no luck. A
couple of yards difference in your loca-
ton will sometimes make great differ
ence in your catch. for there are always
favorite pockets called ''crappie holes"
where the fish seem to congregate, and
your neighbor may be lifting them out
rapidly while you catch none. AS an
axiom it is we'll to avoid holes, but this
is one of the sort TO get into. Wien
you are sure you have, or have had,
nibble. operate circumSpectly. The
crappIe is not timid, but he is cautious.
He would scarcely start at the iab
of an oar, but he is dainty of
fish hooks. just let him use the bait for
a few seconds as if it were his own Per-
haps he Will think it legacy from
rich uncle. Don't jerk! You will either
disgust the fish by violent proceedings,
or tear his mouth. Be careful. Crap
pies have tender mouths. Now lift him
steadily and firmly. ALI a heavy fish,
by JOve, and we'll hookedl Would weigh
as much as! Great Caesars ghost!
he's gonel That's just the way it is:
perhaps you have him, perhaps not
more likely not. You see there is
knack in catching these fellsws, and
you are never sure of your fish after he
is caught, that is, after he is hooked.
That is where the excitement comes in.
Now, cTapples run from pound to two
pounds weight. Give a two-pound
crappie line and he will take it
with him as if it belonged to
him. He seems to want it. At
the first pull you think You have four
pound fish. Sometimes you think you
have the anchor. Then he gives two or
three business tugs, and often a short,
sharp run, like black bass. If youa are
not familiar with his ways you imagine
the fun :aS just begun, and so lay your
self out for sport. Vain thought In
simultaneously the strain ceases, as if the
line had beeu cut, and you reel up the
slack. 1t comes in so freely that you
are sure the fish is off, but he is not. AS
the Irishman said, He is not dead, but
inanimate," and you may slue him
gently alongside of the boat and lift him
into the boat with the landing net or
over the side with your hand. This is
about all there is to crappie fishing; only
when they once begin they usually bite
fast, and you have your sack full before
you know it.
AS the Graphic comes fresh from the
water he is beautiful. His colors are
vivid-a dark olive back, shading to
brassy hue on the belly, with the black
mottlings all over body and fins; and as
| have said before, believe he is the
best Panfish that comes out of the lake
"a solid chunk of juicy sweetness
devoid of bones. When he comes hot