The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1905-07-21
A Week Among the Bass.

| Bros. last season..
A Week Among the Bass.
1t was our pleasure last week to spend
few days wrestling with the willy bass
in the lakes tributary to Smiley, Mimi,
the summer home Of Hon. Judson La
Moure, and the only regret we have is
the days were too short and few, as is
generally the case when one that enjoys
the reel and gun strikes such places as
can be found along the M. s. l. railroad
at nearly every station after leaving
Brainerd going north.
A few years ago this section of the
state was known as "the wilds of north
ern Minnesota" and looked upon as only
good for the pine that it produced, and
as the country was being denuded of its
timber it was left to natures care, and
few ever thought it would ever become
the home of pleasure seekers, and those
in search of health, from all parts of the
country. Now there is hardly stopping
place along the road but one can see cot
tages and tents, and we doubt if there is
a township in Crow Wing county but has
as much lake surface as it has land.
From the nature of the soil these bodies
OF water have beautiful sandy beaches
and water so clear one can see the bottom
fifteen feet below.
Fish are abundant everywhere, in spe-
cies and size they vary according to the
lake. In 'land-locked" lake one don't
find any waleyed pike, because the pike
seeks running water spawning season,
and body of water, regardless of size.
that has no streams running in and out, is
poor place to look for them. The bass is
found generally everywhere, but more
numerous in some lakes than others.
The M. & l. railroad was constructed
years ago as logging" road, by the
large saw mill interests of the state, and
was operated exclusively as SUCH That
is, for time it did not cater to any 9TH
trade than that Of hauling logs to the
mills. Several spurs, or feeders have
been abandoned and the rails removed.
but the main line has now a daily pas
senger and freight service each way, from
Nortnome to Brainerd, with a he avy
traffic, and logging trans" are running
daily. The road is being pushed on to
Big Forks this year, and is expected to
end up at International Falls next
season, 1t is said the country farther
north is better adapted for agricultural
and Offers good advantages to
tile settler. This railroad is now OWL
ed and operated by the Northern Pacific.
Before the railroad was co1fstrucle ii e !
logs were placed ON the banks of lax, S |
and streams, when cut, and in the spring
were f1oated down to the main tributaries
of the Mississippi. To Get these logs
over the lakes where there Wits no cur
rent was difficulty chat took wears to |
in tae logs being boom
ed in one gigantic Aoat and raft with a
span OF horses and capstan would be
anchored ahead Of the float, and thus
to the other shore. The advent
of the railroad has done away with this
way of transporting logs, and lessened
the expense OF bringing them to the mill,
and thus the day of the river driver, like
that OF the cow boy, both characteristic
in their way, is fast disappearing.
Mr.. LaMoure's cottage is located on
the east bank of the Middle Fishtrap. a
body of water mile across, among a
cluster Of pines, that for some reason
were spared the ak, and has beautiful
and only few hundred
yards from the station. 1t lis the most
complete cottage around there, andi is the
place where many Of the state officials,
and other prominent men of this state
spend their vacation. Old glory is wav-
ing daily from tall flag staff on the lake
bank in front, and from the number OIL
exploded fire crackers and Roman can
pies scattered around, it was evident
that Smiley's youth enjoyed Jud's 4th OF
July that Pembina missed this year.
We had good luck fishing, although it
is claimed to be dullest time of the sea-
son. The best days catch was about
$50 pounds, and black bass every ounce
Of them, ranging in size from one to four
and a half pounds. We, in this instance,
includes ]. LaMoure senior and junior,
Albert Mountain and Tom Leigh, all
good anglers. Get.
For the next two weeks, Branchaud
will sell all Ladies' Oxfords and slippers
at 20 per cent of regular prices, and the
regular prices were not high either. AL
nice assortment Of children's slippers
will 90 AZ the same rates. 81 4, 4. 81