The morning call., 1892-12-25
ROD AND CREEL.
Very Poor Fishing at Point Reyes This
Year

At this season of the year angling for
grilse. or, as they are more commonly called.
salmon trout, in tide waters, should be first
class.
There Is vast difference between sum-
mer and winter fishing on this coast
Between the months Of April and Noyem-
Der anglers use light rods and light tackle
as the waters of the creeks arc clear and the
fishes small.
From December to March the angler dis
cards the light bamboo and fine tackle for a
heavy rod and heavy lines. The winter run
OF salmon-steeIheads and hook bilIs-com-
mences about the middle OF December and
continues until the rainy season is about
over.
The hookblll is the first to make its ap
pearance in the coast streams, and then
comes the steelhead, which is a very SYM
metrcal fish. and as bright as q dollar on
IL. arrival from the ocean.
The lure principally used for the capture
OF the hook bill is spoon, which is whipped
In manner much the same as a fly with
the exception that il is allowed TO sink and
Is drawn under water with Just pressure
enough on the line to keep il revolving.
The hookbill dashes at the silvered "wob-
bier" as Ii spins through the water, and sal
dom misses the mark.
When hooked IL III ikes one good run of
about twenty yards and then resorts to what
anglers term acrobatic performances. that
is tumbliDg and rolinge Unless firmly
hooked the hookbill generally breaks the
| hold when rolling and wishes the angler
| good-day. IL Is not gainy fish aud seldom
makes fight of more than five minutes
The steelhead Is the king OF the coast
| stream fishes, and its arrival Is always well
coined by the fraternity of the gentle art.
In some rivers this gamy visitor will taSe
spoon or fly with the avidity of salmon
| fry in the spring of the year. but as a gem
| eral rule the most tempting Of lures for the
| capture of this handsome fish is a piece of
salmon roe about the size Of a walnut and
| cooked shrimps. The hooks baited with roe
and shrimp are cast into pool where the
fishes rest after their journey from salt
| water.
Sometimes the angler must walt patiently
for hours before he Is surprised by the sing
Ing oil the ieel which means that piscato-
rial war 10 declared. The line speeds
| quickly through the alter and in iiffy the
fish has run out thirty or forty yards. Now
| the sport begins.
II the fish is well hooked the angler must
| Keep IL away from entangliDg in tree stumps
| and the hidden debris tn at is washed down
from the noun tains by the floods,
The steelhead Is a very cunning and gamy
fish. and will fight and resort to all means
| OF freeing itself while the battle between
| man and fish Is IN progress.
Point Reyes, in former years, was n great
resort OF anglers, who made frequent visits
to the fishing grounds within easy reach of
the railroad station.
For some reason the fish have disap-
pearcd this year, and anglers have come to
the wise conclusion that IL Is only waste
OF time and money to journey to that local
ity In quest of sport.
Dr. Burdell, who owns considera ble
marsh land in the vicinity of where the
pest hshlng Ia former years was had. has
announced most emphatically that he will
prosecute all persons found trespassing on
Ms land IN the future. A Deputy Sheriff
| Of Marin County, armed with the neceesaru
power and Instructions to arrest tresrass.
ers, Will traverse the land hcuceforth on
every Sunday until the shooting and fishing
1 season is over.
excellent reports have come from Shell.
| Vile Of the good catches that have hecn
made recently. Charley Precht caught four
nsn last Sunday. the smallest Of which