Arizona republican., 1896-05-05
WINTER FISHING.
Fine Bass Caught in the Big Mis-
 sOuri River.
Only the Larger Fish Bite During the Cold Weather-Bobbers and Floats Used Instead of Poles at
 This Season.


 This Season.
 The past winter has been the coldest known in the Irondale (Mo.) section for many years, and Big river has been frozen longer and more solidly than was ever before known. This continued freeze made the fish very eager for food, being unable to obtain any in the deep pools where they have taken refuge for the winter. All the minnows sought safety in the spring branches for which Washington county is noted. This fact led to great deal of fishing by people who, under ordinary circumstances, never go near the river. The sight of fifteen or twenty black bass lying on the ice at one time is one to please the most skillful angler, and this was by no means an unusual circumstance here the past winter.
 Big river, says the St. Louis Globe Democrat, is an ideal haunt for bass on account of its banks being lined on either side by towering bluffs of solid rock, and the bed is covered with big powders, forming perfect elysium for the black beauties. in the summer time one can see them calmly lying in the shadows of these rocks, or else shooting up the currents in pursuit of the agile minnow, which he is so anx- ious to secure for his dinner. The only bait used for the bass by the na- tive fishers is the ''top-water" minnow, which is remarkable for it's vitality, living for hours where minnow of any other variety would die in a few minutes These minnows can easily be obtained in the small creeks which flow into the river by setting net and driv- ing them into it, as many as one hun dred being caught at one time. It is easy, even at this time of the year, to pro- cure them by going near spring where the natural warmness prevents its freez- ing. Instead of the pole the fishers use long line with a cork attached to regulate the depth of line to be let out and to prevent the minnow from get ting under the rocks on the bottom. The other end of the line is attached to heavy piece of wood, which is left lying on the ice near the hole These holes are cut every few steps and have baited line in each. The fisher stands where he can watch his ''bobbers." and it is very seldom he has to wait long. for the fish are always hungry and bite fast in the winter. As soon as the ''bobber" disappears the fisher draws 'n his fish and baits again. He some times has two or three lines out at a time on account of the 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 a school of Sour or five bass come up to bait and swim slowly around it as though de batting which should have the first bite. Directly one, generally the largest, will make a run, grab the Ininnow and start fer some large rock or the bot tom. By the time he has all the slack line out he has the bait swallowed and himself hopalessly hooked. The others will dart away when the struggle be- gins, hUt whom the noise ceases they will conc cautiously back to see what the troulic was. The same perform ance is Goz.o through again, and some times until the whole school has been caught, but frequently they become suspici31s and will not touch the bait again. After moving up close and slow ly backing away time CT two they will sad ;enly dart away and be seen nc more a5 that hook, but they are almost sure D be caught cn some one of the others. U is 8 curious fact that only the larger fish viii bjje drIiag the win ter, very small ore being scarcely evcr sen. In the su12al.ler the large ones vii l.crlly ever notice tho bait The l.r:s5,oat bass ever known to have been caaght in this vicinity was a foul and one-E&if-pounder. This is consid cred a re9n&lkably large one, as the average is about one pound. fine fsf caught q: this season are very nice 1T the flesh, being firm and sweet, while in sumneT they are soft and not good