The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-03-07
CHECKING BASS IN THE ICE.
An IdeaI Ha1nt in Missouri for the BIack
 Brauties.

tE
 An Ideal Haunt in Missouri for the BInck
 Bsarties.
 From the St. Louis Gobe-Democrat.l
 The present winter has been the cold est known in tliY section for many years and Big riSef has been frozen longer and more solidly than was ever before known. This continued freeze has made the fish 3ery eager for food, being unable to obtain any in the deep pools where they have taken refuge for the winter All the minnows have sought safety iHa the spring branches for which Washington county is noted This fact has lead to great deal of fishing by people who, under ordinary circumstances, never go near the river The sight of fifteen or twenty black bass layng on the ice at one time is n sight to please the most skillful angler, and this is by no means an unusual sight at Irondale this winter. Big riv- CT is an ideal haunt for bass on account or it's banks being lined on either side by towering bluffs of solid rock, and the bed is covered with big powders, forming a perfect elysium for the black beauties In the summer time one can see them calmly laying in the shadows of these rocks, or else shooting up the currents in pursuit of the agile minnow, which he is so anxious to secure for his dinner. The only bait used for the bass by the native fishers is the "top-water' minnow, which is remarkable for it's vitality, living for hours where a min- now of any other variety would die in a few minutes These mfnnows can easily be Obtained In the small creeks which flow into the river, by setting a net and driving them into it, as many as one hundred being caught at one time. It Is easy, even at this time of the year. to procure them, by going near a spring where the natural warm ness prevents its freezing. Instead of the pole, the fishers use a long line, with a cork attached to regulate the depth of line to be let out, and to pre- vent the minnow from getting under rocks lon the bottom The other end of the line is attached to a heavy piece of wood, which is left lying on the ice near the hole. These holes are cut every few steps, and have a baited line in each. The fisher stands where he can watch his "bobtNrs,' and it is very seldom he has to wait long. for the fish are all ways hungry, and bite fast in the win ter As soon as the ''bobber" disap- pears, the fisher draws in his fish and baits again. He sometimes has two or three lines out at q time on account of the numerous bites.
 It is interesting to watch the fish strike the bait. The water is as clear as crystal and one can lie down on the ice and see the performance very plain ly. I have often noticed school of four or five bass come up to a bait and swim slowly around it as though de- batting which should have the first bita. Directly one-generally the largest will make a run, grab the minnow 4nd start for some large rock or the boa tom. By the time he has all the slack line out he Tias the bait swallowed ard himself hopelessly hooked. The others will dart away when the struggle be- gins but when the noise ceases they will come cautiously back to see what he trouble was The same perforrn- lnce is gone through again, and some imes until the entire school has been | taught, but frequently they become suspicious and will not touch the bait again, but after moving up close and | lowly backing away time or two, | hey will all suddenly dart away and | ,e seen no more at that hook. but they | Ire almost sure to be caught on some [ me of the others. It is a curious fact | hat only the larger fish will bite dur ng the winter, very small one being | carcely ever seen. In the summer the