The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-09
VICTORY OVER 4 BIG MCSkY.
SpeerinG began the right With . Rod and
Ended II With His Arms.

John H. Speerng Of Milwaukee had a
recent experience which has taught him
that really good bass tackle, properly
handled. may I've depended upon for al
most any emergency likely 10 occur In lake
fishing He il still wondering how II hap
pened, but II did happen.
With a guide in the boat he starte" out
in the morning 70 fsh for large-mouthed
bass In Gun Lock Lake. northern Wis
consin. He had fve-foot steel rod and
No. silk line carrying a No. 4 spoon
with single hook attached, and a strip Of
salt pork on the hook,
He began trolling as soon as he left the
pier. thinking to pick up bass on his way
10 the fishing ground a mile further down.
The boat had progressed not more than
fifty yards when he felt a savage strike
and knew from the weight Of It that he had
either hooked the monster of all bass or
else had fish Of a bigger species.
A moment after the fish came 70 the top
Of the water and rolled over hard. and he
saw that it was a muskallonge. Yelling
20 the guide 70 turn and make for the pier,
he settled himself 10 a conservative fight.
When tho fish rushed. he gave II line
When II came In. he reeled a. fast as possible,
When IL WAS Quiescent. he gave II the butt
managing always TO keep the strain of the
bending tip on his foeman. He could not
attempt 10 check the fish hard at any time
| for fear of swapping his line. though Il was
a new one warranted 10 withstand fifteen
pound strain.
The guide went back slowly with the
| boat, governing himself largely by the
humors of the mus kallonge, and quite
| fifteen minutes was consumed before the
| bow touched the pier. Meanwhile the
| fish was fighting IA hard as ever, had out
more than f:ty feet Of line and acted as
| if il had Just begun 20 enjoy the war.
Speering leaped out when the pier was
! reached and from the vantage Of standing
1 up continued tn put the strain on. Five
1 minutes later the m,isky showed signs
| Of weakening and when another Ave minutes
ten feet Of the pier
| There ia a little sandbar running along
| the pier and 1t was Speerin9's object 10
| work the fish into shallow water and beach
| IL II possible. Gradually the muskallonge
came In very tired. with its jaws opened
IL made little protest when near the
| sandbar.
When it found itself In shallow water
| however, and saw the angler standing
| triumphant on the planking, II rallied its
effort In this effort 1t went clear of the
water by Two feet, throwing all of its weigh,
against the line.
| The spring was so sudden and severe tha,
| Speering failed to meet IL. The line parted
| foot above the hook at the same instant
| the top Joint of the rod bucked and came
| In two. Tho muskallongo was free. II
fell. however, In water not more than six
inches deep and lay still In exhaustion.
Speering was not going TO lose that fish
He made flying leap, landing on the far
side of the muskallonge, whirled, dug hi,
two hands under it, belly and with might y
heave sent il flying to bank. He followed
II fast, falling over himself, and tumbleG
! on top Of II. grasping II around with both
arms He was nearly as tired a. the fish.
The guide who had been swearing jerkil,
in wonder and excitement jumped out anC
came to his assistance. Together the,
captured the muskallonge and brought 4
to the camp on the hill
| There it was hung on the scales anC
pulled down twenty-five pounds fiat
Not because It was the biggest muskal
longe he ever saw, but because II gave hin
the fight Of his life. and was nearly con
quered with bass tackle, Speering IL goinl
to have 1t mounted.