Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-09-07
AMAGNETAWAN A BASS.
fwrltlen for This Paper. J

from the Iron City. Often they have as
guests men of national prominence, and
Gov. Stone, Senator Quay, congressman,
foreign ministers and others have slept in
the handsome buildings of the club, and
6shed for the gamey bass in the beautiful
river and lakes
1t was to this place that Hedden Went
Now Hedden was not fisherman; he only
wanted to be. As preliminary to attaining
this desire of his heart he had purchased be-
fore leaving Pittsburgh rod and reel of the
latest improved model, and all the way north
had dreamed dreams Of the fish he would
land with them. A novice in the art is al
ways welcomed by the professionals at
Rocky Reef for the amusement he affords,
and to Hedden was extended the right hand
of fellowship as soon as he set foot upon the
dock. SJ 3,
One of the first men to welcome the new
arrival was Christy, the commodore's father.
| Tufts was Christys keenest competitor at
fishing and Tufts rather resented this ap-
preparation of the latest arrival, but Christy
had captured the prize and he intended to
hold on to him.
Inside of an hours time Christy had He'd
den out fishing with myself along to swear to
thestories. The gentleman pulled the punt
down the river to a small rocky islet, where
he announced that bass of unusual size were
to be had for the asking, and there he set
Hedden to fishing
| Now, when they begin to bite let them
have plenty of line, and when you are sure
of them strike them quick" began the old
man.
mot that wayl" yelled Chrsty, as He'd,
den threw a small-sized sunfish into the air
as far as the rod and line would permit it to
60. Strike them first and then real them
in, you fool" W.
| Hedden unhooked the sunfish after a
| great amountgof labor and went to fishing
again, He vas disappointed and paid but
| little attention to the old gentleman's re-
marks He had expected to catch at least
a ten-pound bass the first pull, and to get
nothing better than a little sunfsh was dis
couraging
"Now," began the old gentleman again,
"the next time you must be"
Swish went the rod into the air and VIZ
z-z-z-z-z-z-z went the reel as yard after yard
of line was wound of by something at the
other end.
you've got him." yelled Christy. Hold
that line stiff, you fool. Don't let him get
away Now reel him in"
Hes not an ounce less than so pounds"
declared Hedden, as he tugged at the crank
of the reel and wound in the line inch by
inch.
Keep that line Tight" yelled Christy, as
the fish made a rush towards the boat, and
Hedden reeied it in as fast as his shaking
hands would permit.
Inch by inch the fish came towards the
boat, fighting all the way, and with every
turn of the reel Hedden shook harder.
Hold your rod down." yelled Christy, as
the bass jumped out of the water hundred
feet from the boat.
"D-d-did you see-him?" said He'd
den, SO badly excited he could hardly talk
Hes every inch of six feet long I'll never
get him."
Keep that rod down, say!" again yelled
Christy, as the fish showed signs of coming
to the top again.
Round and round went the reel, and near
er aud nearer came the fish.
Catch him, will you?" pleaded Hedden.
Catch"
W-z-z-z-z-z-2-z-zZ-z-z-z went the reel,
as Hedden's fingers slipped from the crank
until more than 100 yards of it had disap
peared after the monster on the other end.
"Give him linel" yelled Christy, as He'd
den was making frantic efforts to catch the
crank of the reel. Let him go, / say"
"B-b-ut he'll get away" walled
Hedden.
Don't let him, you fool; keep your line
tight, do you hear" III, u,
"You get him out, I can't" pleaded He'd
den.
Get him out yourself; he's your fish, " an
swered Christy. Now reel him in again. 4"
Il know he'll pull me in" cried Hedden,
now trembling all over. 81 know he will. 4"
Don't let him get around that anchor
rope yelled Christy, as the fish made sud
den dart in that direction.
"He-he-he's going to break my rod"
cried Hedden, now turning the reel again.
yours won't be the first one broken by
a Magnetawan bass if he does, said Christy.
"The-the-reels stuck, +" said Hedden, as
he tugged at it, seemingly in vain. "It wont
turn any further"
"Let him"
W-z-z-Zz.z-z.zzz,z-z-z-z went the line
again, out and out, as though it would never
stop.
''What shall do?" cried Hedden, getting
more excited every moment.
LET it CO." yelled Christy, "but keep the
line tight"
'I-I-I-can't get him in" walled He'd
den. please take the rod for me-"
"Reel up that line, now," yelled Christy,
as the fish again came towards the boat.
Hedden turned the crank as fast as he
could for a little time, and then it stopped,
and the rod bent lower into the water.
81 think he's fast" he said.
Keep your reel going easy now" coun-
seled Christy, who saw that the fish was be-
ginning to tire little.
"B-b-ut it won't move" answered He'd
den. ..- .,r
Then let it out, little"
! W-z-z-z-zz-z-z went the reel again, as He'd
den ,loosened his hold upon it, but not so far
as before, and after'a few terse words from
Christy Hedden began to reel it in again.
4"1-I-l think you had better cut the
line" raid Hedden, as the reel took sud
den stop, and Hedden was shaking so vio-
lently that he was in danger of falling out OF
the boat. 81 don't think can land him."
Keep your reel going; easy now he's
coming" counseled Christy, taking compass
sion on the trembling figure before him.
Again the fish came up inch by inch, some
times making a dart first in one direction
and then another, but gradually drawing
nearer to the boat, as Hedden tremblingy
reeled in the line.
"Tll get him in the landing net for you,
said Christy. "Just keep him coming lit
tie more"
As the old gentleman pushed the landing
net under the fish Hedden collapsed, and
when he came to again he found as neat 9
little. two-pound small-mOuthed bass laying