The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-25
THE MODERN IZAAK.
How His Fishing Tackle Differs
From the Old Timers.
A yetern Gives . Youngsser Some valu-
able Hints and Breaks the
Spell of nl-Luck.

Fishing, as pastime or recreation. finds
favor with the old and young. rich and
poor in all countries and localities. There
was time when the old settlers or WELL
known characters of famous fishing
grounds looked with ill-concealed con-
tempt upon the elaborate tackle of the city
sportsman, and chung tenaciously to the
old-fashioned paraphernala. No doubt
there are many anglers in Seattle who can
remember when they used to fish with
cut pole. cotton or possibly linen line,
ohlong lead sinker and ringed hook. In
those days smell hooks were high-toned,
were fancy. To use a silk line was going
too far, and the climax was reached when
a jointed ''store fishing pole'' was pro-
duced
But time has changed the customs in
this respect, until it is a source of pride
and cause for congratulation to have a
frst-class fishing outfit. Manufacturers
have kept pace with the demands of the
angling pubic, and the rods which are
light as feather, compared with the old
style, are guaranteed, in the hands of an
ordinary fisherman, to hold fish weighing
from one to seven pounds. Such a rod Is
expensive. costing from $25 TO $35. 1t is
made of split bamboo, and from nine
to twelve feet long. Each of the
three lengths, excepting the tip,
is made of six or eight sep
arate pieces bound together. So great
has been the improvement in this line
of work that the rods are almost round.
and it is with difficulty that the
eye can detect where the ribs meet.
The tip is a beautiful piece of work and is
in perfect proportion to the other parts of
the rod, Notwithstanding the increased
difficulty in making it. Trout rods vary
in weight from four and one-half to ten
ounces, and In cases where the butt and
middle joint are made in eight pieces, the
tip is made of six. This reduction is neces-
sary to maintain the proportions and pre-
vent the rod being top heavy. Bass rods
are trihe heavier than those used for
trout and range in weight from ten to fif-
teen ounces, lengths being nearly the
same. As rule bass fishers prefer a rod
ten and one-haf feet in length and trife
sitter than that used for trout. Salmon
rods are not used to any extent on the
Sound, owing doubtless to the siwash GUS
tom of trolling having been adopted as the
proper thing. 1t is also doubtful if the
Puget sound salmon can be compared as
game fish to the salmon which inhabit the
Metapediac and Restigouche rivers in New
Brunswick. The rods used at the latter
places are eight-strip split bamboo, sixteen
feet long, and weigh from twenty-four to
twenty-eight ounces. The strongest line
and the best reel must be used. From the
time the salmon is struck until he is killed
it is fight in which none but an expert
angler stands an equal chance.
Salmon fishing in Elliott bay will COM
mence to be good in a week or two, pro-
vided the fish run as may be reasonably
expected. Some of the fishermen are now
on the watch for signs of schools and at the
first indication of game the big nets will
be dropped and the troller will launch his
boat.
The trout season has been fair notwith-
standing the varities of weather and the
continued high waters both i'll rivers and
lakes. The sport in Lake Washington re-
ceived a severe setback at the time of the
dynamite outrages. The first attempt to
slaughter fish with explosives, said to have
been very successful, was followed by such
a vigorous protest from the public, both
through the press and town talk, that the
perpetrators remained inactive for several
days. This did not effectually stop the
crime. for on two occasions since then I'M
mistakable reports have been heard and
the Sportsman's Association OF the North
west was notified that the practice was be-
ing kept up.
1t may have been due to dynamite or
lack of knowledge of the tastes of lake
Washington trout that the writer was not
successful; however that may be, it is an
acknowledged fact that tried Union bay
five times and the bays on the east shore
once without enticing one speckled beauty
to grab for the troll. Captain A. X. Leake,
who knows the peculiarities of lake Wash
ington's hnny population like book,
often spoke in sympathetic way, and at
last became so anxious that 1.-The unforIu-
nate" should taste success that he pro-
posed trip. No hungry fish ever jumped
more eagerly after the shining spoon than
did the WORKOUT, disheartened wOuld-be
fisherman at this proposition. The follow
ing Tuesday was named as the date, and
on that morning, alter making rather
unusual effort, got up at 80 o'clock, ate
breakfast and reached the end of Madison
street in about an hour. The captain was
waiting, and, as l came down the walk,
remarked with twinkle in his eye: II
didn't know as you'd be able to get up so
early. Well, | guess il the sun don't come
out too strong Wen get some oyer across
the lake"
Following these words the captain got
his minnow scoop, and in few minutes
had plenty of bait. AS good luck had 1T,
the steamer Katherine was at the wharf,
and the captain kindly agreed TO tow us
across the lake. By some oversight the
row boat was not tied close enough to the
steamer, and when she swung from the
wharf the water rushed in over her sides
in a threatening manner. For moment
il did look as if the little boat would be
swamped, but Captain Leake managed to
shorten the tow rope and averted the dan
ger At the entrance to Fairweather bay
we left the steamer and at once got ready
for work. The sun had broken through
the clouds and as it advanced slowly on
its course drove them away. The appear
ance of big patches of blue sky caught the
captains eye and, as he was getting the
lines ready, he remarked:
al don't like the looks of the sun. am
afraid the day will be too bright for big
string Anyway. guess We'll strike EN-
5omew here"
By this time the tackle was ready, and
during the process of fixing it | had
watched the captain with more than pass
ing interest. He had told me on more
than one occasion that things ought TO be
Just so. and now fully agreed with him.
The rod was rather heavy, three jointed,
and in fact more of bass than trout
rod. The line was beauty, and if prop