The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-05-27

Ole Judges Story Of His Victory
Over a Founder.

down through a crack in the bridge
floor. 1t fell just over the tTOut's lair
ana hOated on down stream undls-
tUrbed- A green hopper followed after
the same manner. \ brown one with
big wings padded himself to shore UNI
molested. He certainly booked Ike
tempting bait to me The big trout
stuck his nose out from beneath the
snelVing pier in half interested way,
but moved no farther.
The last hopper in my closet fire vas
snaai broth notified with black and
hao little wings with red streaks in
thsm- dropped him half reluctantly
Ny eyes fairly bulged as / saw the
great trout leap after it and spring en-
trely clear of the water By the time
ne hcpPed back to his hiding place I
was CHASING wildly across the meadow
70 get my rod ] found Jim at the
house. and grabbing rod and creeI and
net yelled for him TO be in at the death.
lie came, and we hurried back TO the
bridge. Both of US thsn began a
srasshopper chase that would have put
an entomologist to shame. After catch
ing about a dozen of every kind but the
one wanted, Jim got hold of the mate
TO the one swallowed so eagerly a few
minutes before. I strung the finest
leader 1 had and my smallest Aberdeen.
I put on the hopper with great care
Then I gave Jim instructions and we
crept MP to the bridge. stood back
two PAGES from the edge of the pool
jim took the bated hook in his hand
and crawled onto the bridge. I was
going to take no chance with a danger
warning cast. Stealthily the squirming
bait was dropped over the upstream
edge of the bridge. / gave line and the
lure fiOated down with the gentle swirl
of the current A tense moment of ex-
pectancy. and then came a vicious
strike A turn of the wrist and I had
the hook fast in him. 1 shouted, and
50 did Jim.
Then Came the Battle.
AT the first prick of the steel away
ne went down the pool. down into the
RIFLES at racing speed, carrying half the
line out before 1 could put the drag on.
stepped up to the pool to be ready for
the fight. As the big trout felt the
strain he turned and came back more
furiously than he had gone down.
FTantically I reeled in, trying to take
up the slack that his swiftness had won
Tor him. Clear up the pool he rushed,
among the rocks at his head There he
stopped and had the line taut once
more. He sulked and hung on the line
as a dead weight. All the strain that
the tackle would stand I put on him.
For a moment, for ten, he stood it, and
then down he came. Now to this side,
now to that, he rushed. shaking himself
fiercely. The siIken line sang with the
strain, the silvery leader Kissed through
the water; the four ounce rod was a
circle always Twice the big trout,
starting for freedom. leaped in splendid
circles above the water. What a fish
he wasl
He rushed for the hole beneath the
pier and it took my supremest skill and
the uttermOst strain on the line to stop
him. He fought around the pool madly.
The water was streaked in white with
his rushes. Jim shouted and / tram
bled- Then his herceness gave way to
the sul5s and he dropped down to the
lowest depths. I kept the strain stead
lily on him for what seemed five min
utes. Suddenly, almost Unexpectedly.
he began his battle again. And all his
strength burst out in the last tremen-
COus effort to tear the steel from his
mouth I tell you. boys, that was the
hardest fighter I ever hope to hook.
How he did-rip and tear about that
pooli Twice he got slack on me and
came near breaking loose with a swift
rush. He seemed to be winning his
Sight. But of a sudden his strength
went. And I drew him, Topping weak
i, to the edge of the pool among the
long grasses. He
stop right there Judge" said the
banker. Don't spell that splendid bat
tie by telling US how much he weighed.
He was. a game fighter. Don't let's
measure him at all. Let's drink to him
instead
And they drank.