Los Angeles herald., 1910-04-15
RAINBOW TROUT
HARD TO CATCH
Seem More Scarce Now Than
Last Year in Streams of
San Gabriel Valley
STEELHEADS ARE PLENTIFUL
Beauties Are Shorter by Months
Growth Than at Same Time
Last Season
STEELHEADS ARE PLENTIFUL
BY EDWIN L. HEDDERLY

miles over the San Gabriel, from the
canyon mouth down to the Santa Fe
bridge, it might be said that the con-
duions along that part of the river are
less favorable than last year. The fish
are nearly all steelheads; not one in a
limit catch is apt to be q rainbow, even
this month, and a bad complication of
the situation is the probability that this
occasional rainbow is likely to be a
large one. 1t is asking good deal OF
the angler to throw back a foot-long
fish when his basket contains nothing
longer than seven inches, but unless
he accept the Jordan theory and call
it another names for the same thing,
nothing else can be done. And this,
of course, is contrary to law.
Whether the small size OF the trout
now in this part of the San Gabriel is
due to the fact that they are shorter
by a months growth than at a corre-
spending stage of the trout season last
year, or is due to the lower condition
of the stream, is a question: but prob
ably the former is the reason. The
small steeheads are well filled with
caddis larvae and like food; so well
that they bite gingerly, If at ALL and
very ly4S, in the afternoon. Worms
seem - the best bait The lie close
to the bottom, out in the rifles as a
rule, and the bait must be put right to
them or they will not go out of their
way enough to nip at 1t.
Steelhead trout are conceded to be
shy biters when in fresh water and
while small in size. For test of a
mans trout fishermanship, the San
Gabriel Is the piscatorial third degree.
He who passes the ordeal unscathed
of skin, unbruised of foot, without
proving the first part of the adage re-
lating to fishermans luck, is far on the
road to Waltonian perfection and he
who adds to this not mean accomplish
ment of itself, a mess of fish, finger
lings though they be, may rest assured
that on better waters he need ask only
fair field.
Game Warden Morgan, who is just
getting about after a very severe Ill
ness in which he lost fifty-six pounds,
has instructed his deputies to disre-
gard the trout law as regards variety,
owing to the complication and diff
Guilty of securing a conviction. Five
inches Is the minimum length OF any
variety of trout, and all smaller must
go back on the other hand, Deputy
Fish Commissioner Pritchard says he
will enforce the law to the best OF his
ability, and this In the event of arrest
might mean a test case, perhaps the
best way to set about securing q sane
In such years as 1909. opening the
trout season April 1 would result in
little havoc worked among the fish as
the water would be so high that 1t
would be extremely difficult to make a
catch. This year. the streams being
lower and pools more accessible, there
would seem TO be a danger of the
stream becoming fished out; but the
first days rush met such a general dis
appointment that the fish have been
left alone most OF the time since. In
the San Gabriel above the intake no
one should fish uptll May l. Rainbow
trout are cutie certain to be found
there early in the season, being as
much in the majority as the steelheads
are in the lower part of the stream.
Considering its proximity to Los An
geles and the splendid little stream
that 1t is, the San Gabriel should be
cared for much better than ever 1t has.
An organized effort to secure annual
and heavy paintings of fry should be
made to assist the protective officials
in their work, which has been of great
service in this regard. 1t may safely
be said that inasmuch as the sports
men of Southern California have been
paying for their full share of the fish
propagation work of the state, although
they have not per cent of the waters
available in the north, they are entitled
to have that share of the states pro-
pagated fish concentrated upon their
streams. In game and fish matters,
this end of the state has taken what
the north didn't need about long
enough, and If the taxation Is to go
on the proceeds thereof, in full pro-
portion, should be insisted upon. The
south can do without tame turkeys or
Hungarian partridges, that are virtually
tame fowl, bred by keepers and often
Matched under hens, for these are only
Vermin food at best, but fish culture
is no experiment, and the benefits are
both practical and real.
If the trout fishermen have had occa-
sion for mental unrest all is placid on
the sea. The piccatorial horizon is un-
ruffled by fish as far as can be seen.
An unreasonable squirt of yellowtins
along the west coast scattering POM
pano runs at the longer piers, particu-
larly the cement wharf at Santa
Monica, where Al Green has his seat,
and occasional catches at Port Los An
gees have kept alive the hopes of the
small-tish fishermen.
Nobody knows just what might be
written, of the fishing at Catalina If
bait could be had. The scarcity of this
Indispensable adjunct to angling is rap
idly assuming serious proportions at
Avalon, anu unless In6 fT6elOlQ6rS'
association there takes the matter in
hand promptly and vigorously, consid-
cradle patronage that preferably would
visit the island for the fishing will be
diverted to other channels. Not for six
weeks has there been good supply of
bait, although the difficulties are not
natural, but artificial; for sardines are
plentiful enough about the island The
Tuna club has put the matter squarely
up to the Freeholders, it being out of
the island companys hands under the
existing arrangements, and promises
have been made that something will be
done promptly to remedy the situation.
Yellowtail, white sea bass rock bass,
albicore, all might be had and in good
ly numbers were fresh bait obtainable.
The bait arrangements have not been
satisfactory to anglers for several sea-
sons past, but are decidedly worse now
than ever before. Up to the time when
bait ceased to be, the fishing was good
enough; in fact, some splendid sport
was enjoyed in the bay with live sar-
dimes "snagged" as wanted The law
making it a misdemeanor to seine with
in mile of a sewer prevents the OBJ
tanning of bait in Avalon bay, but there
are other places. l cannot help believ-
ing that If those who have been getting
bait in the past really wanted to get 1t
now, they could find a time, a place
and a way to do It, Certainly the
anglers who go to Avalon have right