The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-22

most southerly of the Barber lakes
in Koscusko county. l was casting a
spoon, that being the best lure for bass
in the waters l was nshlng. one round
of the shore had been made and several fine
bass secured. when Z cast to the edge of a
mass of reeds near the outlet. The spoon
was taken as soon as ii struck the water,
and the fish darted past the boat with
limited-train speed. 1t didn't stop. for when
it drew the line taut il sawed the snOod in
two with its teeth and kept on going. The
boatman and myself the fish plainly
1T was a pike about four feet long. The
snood was gimp, or finely woven wire, and
the teeth of the pike cut il as cleanly as il
1t had been severed with razor. Nothing
but a steel chain would have held such a
fish, Cases like this. however. are rare.
and should not be taken into consideration
when purchasing an outfit.
Many fishermen prefer steel rods to those
made from wood. They are cheap and
durable. Greenheart makes a tough, last
ing rod. but RED cedar. in the opinion of
some experts, including "Cedar-rOd' Butler,
local manager of the Western Union Tele-
graph Company makes the lightest and
springiest rod. Lightness is a desideratum
In hy-casting rod, but the beginner will
have mere confidence in himself if he prac-
tees with an eight or ten-ounce rod than if
he attempts to whip dainty five-ounce rod
about his head.
Costly reels are unnecessary in fly-cast-
ing. \ light nonmultiplier will serve the
purpose better than a heavy silver ''quad.
The guides of all fly rods should be large
and the best check is the thumb. Any
kind of line may be used, but best results
in casting obtained with a silk tapered
line costing from SIPS up.
Over one hundred different kinds of imi-
| tation flies are offered for sale, but the
| enthusiastic caster ties his own, and gen
orally succeeds in making killing lure
| for he has the benefit of his own expert
| ence TO guide him in choosing colors and
| tying shapes. Among those displayed by
the fishing outfitters. the best for bass and
| redeyes are the Lord Baltimores the
| hackles and the millers. A fybook is ar
| economical and necessary part of the out
| nit.
In river fishing, where much wading is
| to be done, macintosh wading pants are
| preferable TO rubber boots.
| Indianapolis fishermen, thanks to the
| development of the interurban trolley sys
| TENS, can now easily reach many good
| fishing streams in an hour or two's ride
| Sugar creek. Eagle creek. White Lick, Blue
| river and the Brandywine have been long
| noted for their bass. White river, from
| Noblesville to Riverside Park, is an idea
bass stream, and il is also good from
| Waverly TO Martinsville and below. The
| stretch between Riverside Park and Wa.
verify is polluted and is fished mainly by
persons who want catfish or carp
One of the prettiest bass streams in the
| State is Rock river or Sugar creek, which
| flows past the Shades OF Death and Bloom.
ingdale Glens. l have waded many miles
| of its gravelly, sandy and rocky bed. and
| lured dozens of bass from its clear spring
| fed waters. On one occasion | saw fish
| feeding under tree that was leaning over
\ the water. After every gust of wind the
water fairly swirled. Investigation showed
| that the tree almost covered will
| gray caterpilllars and that every time the
i wind blew strong enough a number of the
| insects fell. This knowledge was quickly
| made use of. l selected two flies resembling
| the caterpillars in color and shape tied OF
/ one for dropper and the other for tn,
| stretcher. and cast. Reward came quickly
| In second L had two fish hooked. botf
| weighing about three-quarters of a pound
| and in three minutes both were in my creei
| L waited five minutes and then made an
| other cast. Two more nsh struck but only
| one was hooked. 1t weighed pound Tn,
| performance was repeated until / hat
| eleven bass that averaged nearly a pounC
| each.
Another time while fishing below the cit,
| about ten miles | saw a swarm of brown
| butterflies on a bush near the edge of tn
| water The lower part of the bush wa
| washed by the current. and OCCASIONAL,
| a butterfly would lose its hold and fall
| toward the water before il gained US,
/ of its wings school of bass was en-
| joying a picnic leaping sometimes nearl,
/ foot above the surface after the fallin,
| butterflies. Here again / took advant 4 &,
| OF the eagerness of the fish for insect food
| After chasing the butterflies away | tas
| brown hackles toward the bass and caugh
| five before they took alarm and swan
| away.
These incidents are mainly given to show