The Worthington advance., 1897-07-29
Romance Of the Golden Bass.

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THROUGHOUT the Thousand lakes
oTegion of northern Wisconsin Dave
Gallup il famous as guide and'angler.
The submerged secrets of ten scores of
tiny island seas have been wrested from
their pellucid depths by this remark
able native of the great pine belt.
If there be shaded pool in all this re-
gion where dwells the mighty muskel-
lunge or the fighting bass, a hidden bar
where turks the green-coated, wall
eyed pike, or bed of reeds from
whence the voracious pickerel darts at
spoon or minnow, to which Dave Gal
hp cannot pull his client, no man has
discovered it. In his day he has con-
Quoted many famous men to such royal
sport that falsehood fell into disgrace
and truthful yarns of rod and reel are
, bitter fruit and held up their REALTORS
to 3corn and contumely.
Men of well-known varacity like w.
S. Forrest, Jacob Newman, Moritz Ros-
enthal, A. H. Darrow and Tom Prior,
when telling of catches made in waters
to which Dave Gallup had led them
have been outrageously derided, and
friends Of ancient standing have gazed
with stern reproach ere they fled from
the presence of the returned pilgrims
to the north woods. But the fame of
Dave Gallup did not rest entirely upon
his abilities as guide. In the region
round about his prowess as a slayer
of muskellunge or bass or as the sue
cessful caster for speckled trout was a
subject of familiar gossip, and over
the camp fire in the black depth of the
wilderness or in the ruddy glow of the
barroom CRATE such tales of fnny bat
ties and victories were recounted that
would have driven the late MIR. Walton
into retirement or a madhouse.
More than all, Dave Gallup was a
specialist in the art of angling. From
distant lakes frequently came stories
of Strikes" of ''muskies" of rodigious
size, or of mammoth bass that gave the
merry laugh to the cleverest of fisher
y
their noses adornments of pretty
spoons with triple hooks and
gaudy feathers. Well-authenticated
stories of this character coming to
Dave Gallup's ears we're but signals for
immediate preparation on his part for
a journey. Then his acquaintances
would lay bets, even to the extent of
all their possessions, as to the size of
the fish Dave would bring back with
him. So great was the mans success
that the fortunate outcome of his VEN
lures carried heavy odds.
It was In the spring of 1890 that the
golden bass" of Clear lake was first
heard of in the Tomahawk region. Ac-
cording to the story Chicago man of
the name of Finnegan, while trolling
along the west bank of the southern
bay had received strike that set his
sporting blood on fire. The whizzing
reel, the tremendous pull that met his
attempt at snubbing, as well as the
mighty dashes made by the fish, told
him that he had battle before him en-
tirely beyond anything he had ever ex-
perienced. Finnegan was sportsman
of rare accomplishment. The fight was
magnificent. Twice the great fsh
leaped in the air, but the silken thread
Hike line, reeled by master hand, re-
mained taut and the battle went on.
A half hour passed. The great bass
eight-pounder at least-was the fresh
er Of the two. At last, while Finnegan
was reeling home his catch his tired
thumb momentarily relaxed its pres
sure on the shining spool and in that
instant the great bass leaped three feet
above the surface of the water, shook
himself clear of the spoon and darted
into the depths.
While the monster bass was in the air
a ribbon of sunlight fell upon his shin
ing sides. Finnegan was astounded to
notice that his body back of the gills
for at least three inches and extending
in q band across the belly was bril-
liant gold color, while the middle and
tail of the fish were of the dark green
which distinguishes the full grown
black bass.
The story of Finnegan's lost strike
was received by Dan Gallup with con-
tempt. That part of it concerning the
golden band was what prejudiced him.
In all his experience he had never met
with such freak. of nature. The fol-
lowing fall two men came to Gallup's
camp and told a story almost identical
with the one that concerned FinneSan's 3
experience. This set Dan to thinking,
but the band of gold caused doubt.
Next year the golden bass.'' as it had
now come to be known, was heard of
i've times. always in the southern bay
Of Clear lake By this time the bass
was declared to weigh at least II
pounds and to measure three feet. But
Gallup made no move. much to the Won
rlerment of his friends.
The autumn hnts gave way to winter
and the spring came again ere Gallup
emerged from the logging camp to ac-
cept the position Of head guide at Dar-
rows, on Kewanquesaga lake. And
here something happened that brought
disaster to the golden bass and wrought
a great change in the life Of the famous
guide. With the opening Of the resort
came on the last day Of May . quar-
tette of Chicago men anxious to take
advantage of the first days legal fish
ing. Gallup was busilY engaged In