Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-07
THE FISHING FEVER.
It Has Already Broken Out and Will
Soon Be Endemic.

In the stores along F street and the ave-
nue. the clerks are putting out rods and
reels, bait buckets, coils Of fish line, books
Of flies, tin minnows papier mache frogs
and other lures. On the street corners men
stop and talk to each other with pleased
little smiles, shifting the air and throwing
open their coats and generally behaving in
a restless manner.
These men will tell you that, like Maude
Muller, on that famous summers day, a
nameless longing and strange unrest fill
their breasts. There is sort of laundering
feeling which has been gnawing for several
days, especially during those warm and
sunny days when the wind came out Of the
south with a soft and inviting caress,
and when the air was family tinged
with the odor Of fresh earth and dead
leaves. For some time they will tell
you, they were teased by that feeling, not
knowing what the matter was for a WHILE
until finally 1t dawned upon them that the
fishing season is fast approaching.
Down in the mud at the bottom of the
deep holes in the river the bass are be-
ginning to stir about uneasly. Soon they
will sluggishly creep out from the lairs of
stones, twigs leaves and mud in which
they have lain dormant all winter and will
begin to seek running water to cleanse
themselves. The bass is clearly fish, and
his first instinct after his long winters
sequestration is to get into swift water and
wash himself.
Then It suddenly occurs to him that 1t has
been long time between meals, and he
keeps a weather eye open for anything in
the way of breakfast food. Naturally, he
prefers minnows. but a fat earth worm
which has been washed out by the spring
thawS will not be refused, nor will young
crawfish or "helgamites"
Then 1t Is that the wise fishermen, those
chaps referred to as haunted by that feel
ing of strange unrest and who have found
it impossible, no matter what their hurry,
to get past those windows on F street and
the avenue without stopping, lie in wait
for Mr.. Bass Of the cleanly instinct and
hungry NAV. Risking colds, discomfort
and sprained ankles, they betake themselves
to the slippery rocks along the swift water
and with blue noses and chilled fingers go
after Mr.. Bass In approved fashion.
But there are others who enter into the
spirit of the season, though in a modified
fashion. In those F street and avenue
store windows, alongside the nickel-plated
reels and high-priced rods, occupying
grudging space in the display, are the
old-fashioned painted bobcorks, the honest
grass line and Sinkers and fish pole-not
rod. just plain pole. They suggest perch
and sucker.
And there are others who are feeling
that strange unrest. In every school house
in town the germs of longing and restless
| ness which foated insidiously in upon that
soft southern, sun kissed breeze this week
are getting in their work. No doubt the
teachers have perceived the effect. The
lduS nave lHdI ldT-dWdy lOOh WHICH, III
the springtime, betrays the direction of
the young mans fancy, but which in boys
suggests nothing more romantic than fish.
At recess and after school they produce
fish lines and sinkers and corkS from their
pockets to compare and swap. 1t will not
be long now until they are hiking off to the
tidal basin, the Long bridge, the George
town wharves the 1.-TWO Sisters" not to
speak Of Four Mile run, the Eastern
branch and the sea wall on the reclaimed
flats.
For Washington has notable resources
for the fisherman. The perch and big
mouth bass are found pentifully at the
city's edge and afford fine fishing. Up
river, from Dickerson's to Harper's Ferry
and beyond; out ON the Shenandoah,
couple Of hours ride or so the train,
the game fish, the small-mouth black bass,
soon will be striking and rising.
The season for bass will be closed be-
tween April 1 and June 1, but If there Is
any clear water between March Is and
April /, there will be good sport.