The Washington times., 1895-05-10
Bass, Perch. and Other Fish 10
Shady hooks.
SEASON FOR SPORT HAS BEGUN
Potomac Water Is Clearing and Yarns
Are Being UnwOund by Men Who
Resorts Along the River-Lfve Bait
Raised in a Tub-FavOrtte Tackle.

Every foot or water along the Potomac
will, before the summer is over. have been
thrashed into foam by the local Isaac
Waltons, aud with what results no one ever
knows, for there Eeyer was a man who
could tell a straight fish story. Many
WashiugtOuians who desire a days ouIing
go after the gudgeon and other small fish
which abound in the Maryland streams
Others somewhat more scientific in their
angling, seek the hiding places OF the
perch.
The true sportsman, however, dis
daiHs this style of fishing and goes forth
10 battle with the game, WHY bass, which
will make him Eight for victory From
the Little Falls 20 South Branch this noble
fish now rises to the surface OF the broad PO-
tomac to take the fIy, aud some were re
Gently caught even near Oceoquan. Live
bait has always been used in fishing for
bass until within the last few years.
Now the spoon aud fly are employed al
most exclusively. Mr.. NJ. A Tappan,
who loves sport for its ownsake aud Is "A true
disciple OF Walton, yesterday expressed
the opinion of many of his class when be
said: Using the spoon is q sort of
butchery. 1t is brutal, and doesn't give
the fish a chance"
YET IN ITS INFANCY.
Fly fishing for bass is as yet only in
t Ilo OUt NuE AAo1 IA cOOH DC C0A-
Gated up to taking the fly, aud the ef-
forts of lovers of fishing are directed to
wards bringing about this result.
The water has been muddy all spring
and this has spoiled the sport in large
measure, but during the last few days it
has commenced to clear nicely, ana the
anglers OF the city are testing their tackle
/ in anticipation o big fish.
/ The perch are now going up the river
/ and they are being caught in great num-
i bers by the persons who line the banks
I and also from boats. The stories that
come fEOm the Potomac are assuming their
usual piscatoTial flavor, and there IS, even
\ this early in the season, man who swears
/ that be had a fish on his line which " as as
/ big as a gOOd-SiZed dog. This fish, OF
course, got away.
/ Here comes one from that old veteran,
/ Joe Farrell, name dear TO the heart OF
T every angler. He, with some friends,
/ the other day caught six white perch that
weighed over seven pounds. When this was
/ told to a Washington man yesterday his
\ lips puckered up and prolonged whistls
/ followed. After a while he managed 10 sUf-
| ficiently recover and gasp, who caught
''enI?" When told that Joe Farrell was tns
lucky man, even then he with difficulty
managed to swallow the story. But al
( angling cranks believe implicitly in Far
I rell, and anything that he says goes So
/ this catch, which breaks ali existing rec
/ or1s, Will go down in the annals of fishing.
Two men caught between 25O and 800
perch one day last week from boat below
I Little Falls, between The AquedUct and
Chain Bridge
FINE SPORT THERE.
There are any number of resorts along
the river where fine sport may be obtained,
such as Big Falls, Point of Rocks, wevertOn,
and Harper's Ferry. The old guides and
tavern keepers are getting ready new
stock of yarns for their city visitors, and
1t is said that George Chick, so well
known to local fisher men, has some
stories that recount things little short
of the miraculous.
In the matter OF tackle, there is a wide
I range from which to select. The split
bamboo is preferred by some, While 9th
/ els are more fond of the IancewOOd. The
I Betharaba, the GTeenhart, and the steel
rod all have their admirers, who swear by
| them
As far as bait is concerned, in nv fish
| ing il requires the eye of the expert to de-
/ termine what color, shade, and kind OF
insect is suited TO the water, weather,
and fishing place. This cannot be learned
from books; experience is the only teacher
For ordinary hook and line casting it was
formerly necessary TO go over to George
! town to get bait, and then to return, before
going on an expedition.
Some euterprisiug young men in the
neighborhood of Sixth aud d streets have
fitted up a bath tub in the cellar OF one OF
their homes for bait, aud they are now en-.
loving a lucrative trade. From now on
the fishing will be good aud great num-
Der of persons yesterday took advantage
OF the fine weather to try their luck
PROTECT THE FISH
There Is a subject which is being agitated
among those of the District who have the
good of the sport at heart, TO secure Iegis-
lation which will preserve the fish now
found in our waters. At present there is
no close season. From one end of the year
to the other men may fish for the noble
bass whenever they choose
The fish spa wa between the first of May
and June 10. In that period fishing
should be prohibited by law. III the
present conditions are allowed to exist is
will not be long before the bass Will be
unknown in our waters. The big-mOuthed
bass obtained from the fish commission
about three years ago by Joe Hunter
aud then put into the Potomac, are large
enough TO bite this year. Uuess some
measures are made for the protection OF
these fish, in a few years the river Will
be as bare Of them as formerly.
/ -