The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1902-12-11
LANDING A BIGsFISH.
AN EXCITING ENCOUNTER WITH A
LIVELY MUSKEILlJNGE.

the Boat Would Be Captured.
It 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 find, we decided to
go to a certain region which we will
call x.
We had two weeks for the trip; but,
after spending the greater part of the
first week in 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" F,
GAIL right" I replied. s'I'll catch a
few fish for breakfast; so wake me ear
ly, and we won't fish for the rest Of the
day" a
When I awoke next morning, look
ed at my watch and found that it was
but p quarter after and Frank was
sound asleep.
j quietly dressed and went down to
Tho hoot Thoro xxyoro iootiopS 0f mn
approaching storm, and quite sea
was running, which made it difficult
for me to manage the boat and trolling
line. Placing a ballast In the fore part
of the boat, I started to cross the lake,
but had gone only few rods when
felt sudden jerk on my. line. Then
an unusually large fish leaped above the
water about fifty feet from my boat. :
had hooked a muskellunge. 1 stop
ped rowing and tried to 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 ''..i-t'}e: !,
| After racing him about for fifteen CT
| twenty minutes. succeeded in getting
my game alongside the boat. Surely, +
thought. he must be played out by this
time Taking firm hold Of the line,
tried to lift him into the boat, when
there was a quick, pull on the line, and,
losing my balance, fell overheard,
1 soon reappeared and saw that my
| boat was at least thirty feet from me,
In an upright position, and'was under
| motion.
Was it drifting, or was it that the
monstrous fish had 1t in tow? These
thoughts flashed Though my mind, and
I,soon. realized that was being left be-
hind. Il had fastened my line to the in-
| side Of the boat, making it easier to
I Handle the boat.
:. The, distance between ME and the
boat began toswiden, and, as was at
isleast,.5 three@fourths of a mile. from
! shore, my only hope seemed to be- in
| reaching the boat, which I immediate-
1 ~ Started After had begun a race
ffor life! The boat would stop and then
h suddenly so forward. Once almost
reached it, only to see it move away.
| Would l ever reach it?
/
/ twenty minutes, which seemed as
many hours, and I began to lose hope
| Of ever reaching the boat or shore
when 1 called to Frank, who, 20 doubt,
was fast asleep in the tent; but, finding
this would exhaust my remaining
strength, | turned over on my back
and foated for a rest. When I again
| :r,,r T
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.
Il 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 rQwed in the direction Of
camp. Again calling Frank, he sooa
appeared from the tent. He must have
been dressing, for he had neither hat,
coat nor shoes on.
Throw out the gaff. Throw out the
gaffv' cried at the top OF my voice.
He understood, and was soon back
from the tent with the hook.
By a well directed throw the hook
landed but a short distance from my
boat, and, its wooden handle prevent
ing it from sinking, it was soon in my
possession.
/ was now sure OF landing my fish.
Drawing him alongside the boat, l
reached over the gunwhale and hooked
him.
Zip! The handle went through my
fingers, and the line in my other hand
snapped in two.
The muskellunge now had the gaff
hook and short piece OF line and a
No. 10 spoon.
My first impression was that l had
lost all until l heard Franks voice
from shore?
1.-THE gaff! Don't you see the gaff %
/ heard him say, and, looking in his
direction, Il saw the wooden handle
dancing on the waves about three rods
from the boat.
| "EIurrah" I cried as I rOwed in the