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

ored member; so were Col Charles s. Mil
lard, prince among fishermen; Col. Eli
Lily, generous, progressive and hoSpitable;
Alex. G. Jameson, pioneer enthusiast; Ora
Pearson. also a pioneer caster; George z.
McDougall, David Earhart and Ignatius
Brown. MesSrs. jameson and Pearson took
bass from White river with flies while it
was moOted question whether the bass
would rise to a fly.
Some of the leading members yet living,
like Gen. George F. McGinnis, who has
whipped almost every foot of water within
a dozen miles of the city, have reached the
age when chair is more to their liking
than ten-mile walk over powders and
sand bars or tiresome wade through swift
water.
Many members of the old club however,
continue to fish with as much enjoyment
as they experienced years ago. Mahlon ID.
Butler Is an example. He has fished from
childhood and is as great an enthusiast
rods. He is the original cedar-rod man,
and is known in more than one State as
Cedar Rod, Butler. His intimate friends
say that letter dropped in a street box
in any city, from New York to San Fran
cisco, will reach him if it is addressed
simply Cedar Rod Butler" without name
OF city or State. Mr.. Butler was one of the
presidents of the Fly Fisherman's Club.
He is the most expert caster in the
city, and at the state tournament car
ried off the long distance honor. His
friends tell of an incident that illus
trates his skill and proficiency. A few
years ago, while fishing in the Tippecanoe
on a stump near the water. Gauging the
distance with his eye, he made a cast and
almost scalped the eagle. a bunch of feath-
ers in the air indicating the accuracy of
his cast
John L. Brush also had a penchant for
birds. instead of fish. when he went cast
ing, if a story once told by his friends
be true. His flies toated through the air
so gracefully and fylike that bullbats and
swallows mlstook them for the real thing,
and once or twice when at Broad Ripple,
he landed his winged catch.
Benjamin ID. Walcott learned trick that
might be cultivated with profit by persons
in the habit of throwing bootjacks, hair
brushes. etc, at feline serenaders. Mr..
Walcott practiced fycasting in his back
yard and it is alleged he once hooked a cat
on q back-cast The cat was a treSpasser
and of course had no ground for com
plant. yet it is said to have protested Wig
orously. The idea of catching cats with
imitation flies has not been patented. and
Mr.. Walcott will offer no objection if
fiyhshermen who have been aroused from
slumber by caterwauling serenade follow
his example
Indianapolis fycasters do much of their
fishing in the streams near the city and
many of the experts prefer cedar rods
made by themselves Some. however. think
Lakewood or bamboo rods are the best.
with the kind of rods they use and where
they cast:
Judge Byron X Elliott-Split bamboo or
lancewood rod. White river, near Martins
vile, is his favorite fishing water.
William E. Eliott-"Like father like
SON."
Addison c. Harris-Bamboo or any other
good rod. Tippecanoe river his favorite,
but recalls with pleasure the trout ponds
Benjamin Stevenson-Cedar rod; White
and Tippecanoe rivers.
John A. Butler-Cedar rod; White and
Tippecanoe rivers.
Horace A. Comstock-Probably the most
enthusiastic and indefatigable fiy-fisher-
man in the city. Knows where all the big
bass Turk in White river and other nearby
streams and has taken scores of good fish
out of Tippecanoe. Uses a six-ounce cedar
rod exclusively. Casts with either right
| or left hand and never carries a landing
| net or gait. Is already in camp at Broad
Ripple, where he will remain until the
snow flies.
Ray Williams-Cedar rod; White river.
MahlOn ID. Butler-Cedar rod: White
| river, Fall creek and Tippecanoe river.
F. j. Douglass-Cedar rod; White river
John A. Appel-Cedar rod; local streams
a. w. Hatch-Lancewood rod; White riv-
| er and Fall creek.
Frank w. McDougall-Cedar rod; White
and Tippecanoe rivers and Sugar creek IL
| Montgomery and Parke counties.
| Logan Scholl-Cedar rod; local streams
and the Tippecanoe.
| Ansel Fatout-Cedar and split bamboo
local streams and Tippecanoe river.
| Harry S. New-Split bamboo; White river
| and Turtle lake, Michigan.
| Harry Stout-Cedar rod; local streams
and Tippecanoe lake.
| George Alig-Cedar rod; White river AND
| Tippecanoe lake and river.
| Albert Baker = Any good rod Sugar
creek, near Charlottesville.
Jake" Dunn-Cane pole: biggest that
| grows in the swamps of Mississipp; must
not be less than twenty feet long; casts
| the largest fly that can be procured; fishes
in any water that is broad enough fol
| him to swing his flies without fastening
them in tree tops; delcacy of cast no OBJ
| ject and get more enjoyment out OF
catching an eight-inch bass than any Other
/ Democrat who ever studied law, wrote edi
torials, Juggied figures in a political cam
! paign or held the strings of a city's purse
Benjamin ID. Walcott-Bamboo rod back
! yard and local streams.
| Edward Drake-No particular choice
| White river.
| Henry n. spaan-split bamboo; White
! river.
Frank Hunter-Noted for skill in tying
Samuel Munson-Cedar rod; local stream:
| and Tippecanoe river.
| NJ II. Traylor-Cedar and split bamboo
| Big Eagle creek.
Joseph E. Bell-Split bamboo; White rive
and other Indiana streams
Steughton A. Fletoher-split bamboo
| White river and Tippecanoe river.
Thomas o. Morris-Split bamboo; Kan
! kakee and Tippecanoe rivers.
George ID. Mayfield, passenger agent o
the Wabash Railway-Cedar rod; Eel anC
| Tippecanoe rivers.
William j. Myers-Cedar rod; rivers o
! Arkansas, near Hot Springs.
| Charles A. Bookwalter. Ex-Mayor-Stif
rod of any wood lakes of Wisconsin. wher
| he is said to keep a live-box full of tam
| muskalOnge. One got away last year. an,
! Mr. Bookwalter spent an hour landing il
his friends say However, this may be al
| old political canard revived TO injure tn
| ex-mayor's coming piscatorial campaign.
Francis t. Holliday-Split bamboo an,
Lakewood; White river.
DIR. L. ID. Waterman-Split bamboo; riv
ers and lakes OF Indiana, Michigan an
| Canada.
| Among the well-known bait fishermen
| who either do not cast the fly or only oc
casionally use the imitation feathery lure
are Paul Krause. jr.. Harry Morgan. Harr,
| Dean, the Buschman brothers, William L
keay, Judge j. l.. McMaster. John S. Dun
can Judge James NJ feathers, julius c
Walk, Charles Nj. Walker. Septimus II
| Smith, George G. Morrison, DR.. A c. Kim
berlin and scores of other professional am
| business men. WIN. III. kAYLOR.