Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1901-11-01
LANDING A BIG FISH.
AN EXCITING ENCOUNTER WITH A
LIVELY MuSKELLUNGE.

Founder Had Been Hooked IL Was
a Question Whether the Fish or
the Boat Would ne Captured.
1t was my good fortune in company
with an eastern dry goods salesman to
visit the lakes OF northern Wisconsin
on fishing trip.
After procuring all the maps and in-
formation we could End. we decided to
90 TO a certain region which we viii
call y.
We had two weeks for the trip; but,
after spending the greater part OF the
first week I'm visiting different lakes,
We began to think we should have to
return without the big fish we started
after.
The last lake we camped on proved
TO be an excellent one for wall eyed
pike and muskellunge.
"Well, John" said my companion,
whose name was Frank Smith, "we've
been travelling and fishing almost
every day since we started. and what
do You say to staying around camp to.
morrow and spending the day in rest.
ing up?"
IAN right" l replied. 'In catch a
few fish for breakfast; so wake me ear.
ly, and we won't fish for the rest OF the
day
When L awoke next morning, 1 look
ed at my watch and found that II was
but a quarter after and Frank was
sound asleep.
l quietly dressed and went down to
the boat There were indications of an
approaching storm, and quite n sea
was running. which made It difficult
for me to manage the boat and trolling
line. Placing n ballast i'm the fore part
OF the boat, L started to cross the lake,
but had gone only n few rods when
felt sudden jerk on my line Then
an unusually large fish leaped above the
water about fifty feet from my boat
l had hooked a muskellunge. / stop
ped rowing and tried 90 pull him in,
but, alas, he would not come. Think
ing that It would be useless to try
more, l gave my fish more line and
rowed for deeper water.
After racing him about for fifteen or
twenty minutes, succeeded in getting
my game alongside the boat. Surely,
thought, he must be played out by this
time. Taking n firm hold OF tho line,
tried TO lift Linn into the boat, when
there was quick pull on the line, and,
losing my balance, ] fell overheard.
1 soon reappeared and saw that my
boat was ut least thirty feet from me,
In an upright position, and was under
motion.
Was IL drifting, or was It that the
monstrous fish had II in tow? These
thoughts flashed through my mind, and
/ soon realized that was being left be,
hind. | had fastened my line TO the I'm,
side Of the boat, making il easier to
handle the boat
The distance between me and the
boat began TO widen, and, as l was at
least three-fourths OF n mile from
shore, my only hope seemed TO be in
reaching the boat, which | immediate.
| ly started after. l had begun race
for life. The boat would stop and then
suddenly go forward. once ! almost
reached it, only TO see it move away
| Would ever reach It?
had been swimming some fifteen OF
twenty minutes, which seemed ms
many hours, and began TO lose hope
OF ever reaching the boat or shore
when l called TO Frank, who. no doubt
was fast asleep in the tent: but, finding
this would exhaust my remaining
strength, / turned over on my back
and iOated for n rest. When / again
assumed a swimming position, / was
surprised To find the boat quite near.
In few moments It was within my
reach, and after several unsuccessful
attempts l succeeded in getting inside
n strong pull on the line, which was
still fast to the boat, convinced me that
it would be useless to try to bring the
fish inside the boat. looked for my
gaff hook, but it was nowhere to be
seen. ! then rowed in the direction Of
camp. Again calling Frank, he soon
appeared from the tent. He must have
been dressing. for he had neither hat,
coat nor shoes on.
Throw out the gaffl Throw out the
gaff!' cried at the top of my voice.
He understood, and was soon back
from the tent with the hook.
by well directed throw the hook
landed but n short distance from nv
boat, and, its wooden handle prevent.
ing 1t from sinking, it was soon In my
possession.
was now sure Of landing my fish
Drawing him alongside the boat.
reached over the gunwhale and hooked
him.
Zip! The handle went through nv
fingers, and the line In my other hand
snapped in two.
The muskellunge now had the gan
hook and short piece OF line and o
No. 10 spoon.
My first impression was that / had
lost all until / heard Franks voice
| from shore?
THE gaff! Don't you see the gaT?"
L heard him say, and, looking in his
direction, saw the wooden handle
dancing on the waves about three rods
from the boat.
"Hurrah!" l cried. as l rowed in the
| direction Of the gaff.
My antagonist was played out, and
4 n