The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-05-16
CANTON FISHERMEN.
What They Like to HoOk--The Fish
ing in this Vicinity-Local
Enthusiasts,

ing in this Vicinity-Local
Enthusiasts.
Canton. situated as It Is in the center of q
number of good fishing resorts, contains numer-
ous expert fishermen. Which ever way you
CO. east, west, north or south you will strike
good fishing. On the north is Congress lake,
Fritz's lake, and the north branch of the
Nimishillen. On the west is Meyers lake,
Sippo lake, the Tuscamwas river and the
canal South of Canton is the canal Sandy
vile, Zoar and Bolivar on the Tuscarawas and
all are noted for some kind of fishing peculiar
to themselves.
while none are found in Meyers lake, Zoar is
noted for catfish. Catfish can be caught at
Zoar weighing twenty pounds and upwards,
weights which are not equalled at any other
point patronized by the local fisherman.
Turkeyfoot lake is the home of the true blue
gills. Fish called blue gills are caught in
other waters surrounding Canton but the true
blue gill is habitat of only Turkeyfoot lake
For sun l!sh Meyers lake furnishes the best
specimens.
In regard to Meyers lake an erroneous im.
preston has gone abroad that the lake is be.
ing ished out This is a mistake, There are
more fish in Meyers lake than ever before
There are great quantities of salad grass and
weeds which form what are called salad beds.
Years ago these beds were confined to few
feet ont from the shore. But lately they have
been extending themselves until now they
are found in almost all parts Of the lake. In
former years the fish went in shore to these
salad beds to spawn and raise their young,
while now, since the beds have become so
numerous, they spawn even in deep water
protected by these beds. Here they raise their
young and the fisherman is indeed lucky who
can find an open spot between these beds and
cast his line. He is almost always sure of
good CATCH
A BIG MISTAKE
In the opinion of many fishermen the great
est mistake made by Anton Reyman, the pro-
prietor of Meyers lake. was the planting of
1000 German carp. The carp is a fish that
growsapidly and breeds something like rabbits
and in the early spring and summer the large
carps feed on the young of the bass and the
sun fish. In this way numbers of the true
sporting fish have been destroyed. There is
no sport in catching a German carp any more
than there is in catching cat
fish. For sport you want bass
or lake shad Very few black
bass are caught in Meyers lake. The
bass are mostly Of the blue variety, and while |
they are quite game fish they are in no way
equal to the black bass. One of the best places |
for bass around Canton is in the race at Mid |
dlebranCh. There you can catch bass of su.
perior size and quality. The water works race |
is another good place and that is little fshed |
Up at Henrys mill Or the Valley railroad |
after freshet there are number of deep holes |
that afford excellent fishing. For sunfsh you
should select sultry, cloudy day and before |
rain. As a general rule, Just before a rain is
preferable to any other time for fishing.
ED wIKIDAL's TRICK.
One of the slickest tricks worked on the Can
ION fisherman was done by Ed A. Wikidal sew.
eral years ago. Ed is quitea sport He has
,ne of the most complete fishing outfits owned
N Canton. In his kit can be found spoon
hooks Of various sizes, flies for every month in
The year and most complete assortment of
common hooks, lines and reels. Several years
lgO Ed took bag of bran to the lake and row
ng out quite distance, sank his bag of bran
md anchored it after carefully marking the
,lace so he could locate it in the future. This
vas done in the month of February. The local
fshed and fished without success
I'd on the contrary was always sure of a good
atCh. He would row out to where he had
unk the bag of bran and was always sure of a
Ood string. The other fishermen wondered at
Id's phenOminal success but never could solve
he mystery.
AN oLD-TIME FISHERMAN.
Jerry Lind, who is now probably the oldest
esident of the city, was great fisherman in
lis day. He knew Meyers lake from one end
0 the other. Knew where the channel of the
AXE was located and where the favorite spawn.
ng places of the different kinds of fishes
Gere.
In this place it might be well to mention the
Inference between Meyers lake aud any other
Ike surrounding Canton. Meyers lake is fed
y springs and is strongly impregnated with
me, and fish caught from Meyers lake, even
n the middle of August, are solid and meatey.
his is not so with Turkeyfoot, Fritzs or Con
ress lake. These lakes have a mud bottom
nd fish caught in them in the hot weather
ave muddy taste that is entirely foreign to
he Meyers lake fish.
THEY CATCH BIG ONES.
John Rigler is probably the banner fisher
lan of Canton. Next to Jerry Lind he has
ne most thorough knowledge of Meyers lake,
S channels and fish beds, of any man in Cam
IN. He very rarely goes fishing without
ringing home n creditable string of fish when
thers ON the lake are returning empty
anded.
Charles Poyser is one of the greatest sun.
shers in Canton. Sun-fsh seem to be at
acted to his hook like moth to lighted ,
lndle. His greatest force as a fisher is on
ln fish.
II. H. Shanafelt is quite a noted fisher but
My has one place in the lake where he has
success That is near the barrel in
ne south end of the lake. Shanafelt delights ,,
} fish in deep water and you will almost al
ays find him with Is or 20 feet of line out.
LAWYER AND PROFESSOR.
Judge Fawcett and @. l.. Hiner are both en-
lusiastic fisherman, although the jugde can
most always catch more fish than Hiner
heyare both what is known as hunters That
!, they have no definite knowledge of where !
he channels and beds are located, but fish first
ere then there until they strike bed The
ldge, however, is not so nervous as Hinerand
more contented TO wait in one place. And
everything comes to him who waits the !
ldge more often brings home a large string
nan does Cicero. In addition the Judge is a .
caster and troller for bass, and often
rings home good string of this game fish.
Speaking of bass, Henry Elmer is conceded