The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-21
WHEN THE WIND ~ IN THE EAST.
Tue Hest Time for Pickerei Fishing
Through the Ice.


"rd Just as soon think Of going out coon
hunting at noon as to start out for days fish
ing during the winter season with the wind
blowing from the west" said veteran fisher
man. Every fisherman knows the old rhyme
about fish biting best when the wind Is in
the west, and It is accepted generally rs u true
statement. 1t may DO true in summer fish
ing, But my experience and my observation
have shown to my entire satisfaction that the
reverse is true in winter, for II want success
full day with pickerel. through the ice choose
q day when the wind is stiff from the east.
when you come to think Of II, though. you
would hardly suppose that, with a foot or 80 OF
ice between them and the outside world. to say
nothing OF the depth OF water over them. the
direction the ind would make any differ.
ence to n pickerel. considering the question OF
going for fellows minnow: but. somehow or
other, II does make big difference. can't
begin TO tell you why, because / don't know;
but do know that time and time
again when | have been plckercl fishing
in n strong east wind, and hauling In
tho big fellows as fast rs l could run
from one tip-up to another, the wind has probs-
bly, shifted until II has come out of tho west.
Now, to make that change. IL always works
around by tho south. and ! learned from that
line, which also declares that when tho wind Is
In the south IL blows the bait IN tho fshs
mouth, and that thing was that II the declara-
tion was true the south wind must have blown
the halt right out Of the fish, mouth again,
for as the wind vcercd southwark my eaten
always grew less AMI lcss, until nv
Was weeping weep Z rom ne WWr't not q
| noticed this | attributed the change in the
biting Of the fish 10 their capriciousncss. and
kept on fishing with no success, though, unless
| the wind got back again In the east. or course.
| through this was not long In satisfying myself
| that II was some mysterious influence Of the
wind on them and not a within OF theirs that
caused the change, and so mover leave my tip
ups in tho holes any more IL the wind leaves the
east for the west for know 1t will be only a
waste of time.
| "A good many piekerei fishermen. especially
| in Connecticut, believe that tho best winter
| fishing IL always through the nr,J lrr TINT
| comes strong enough Ia hear their weight.
| have known men to be 80 anxious 10 get u sumu
faNorite cove on the first ice to NeNtury thrrp
when every step they took bert the H." hruentli
| them, risk That would not add to the criuy.
| meut ~ the hpnrt with me. But idun't bcIrNt
that the ilrst ice necessarily giC~ the hest fish
| Ing. am willIUg to let every one else have his
outing on It, and then | viii inyc mlne on
thicker and safer ice, and rs many fish and "A
great deal more sport
| There Is an excitement and u thrill about
| the sport OF winter fishing through the ice in
the face, perhaps, of "a tOlerRbly well .dcyclopnI
| warm weather fishing unless II may be black
bass fishing Mt night, along in November and
December and i"llow has got To he rGgE d
and tough and with II liking for n dash OC IL,
wind in hiN sport ~ ENJOY that. Then, one
| pickerel caught IN winter is worth II dozen ot
the same l.h taken IN the summer time.
| There Is "A soldity and IA flavor to the flesh Oi
| the pckerel yonked out OF water covered by II
foot or two OF Ice that is lost under the lntlu.
ence OF the higher temperature OF the Same
| water In summer. ! had some prime pickere
fishing In sullivan county during the G r-enla nd
| weather OF two weeks ago. but ] had to cul
through nearly TWO feet VI Ice TO yet IT,"